Happy Birthday!

Today is the day that Sandy and I celebrate our day. It's the best birthday to have because it's the half way mark to Christmas and as kids we always knew it was six months away. LOL!

Anyway, here are a few pictures of the two of us as kids.

A few months old:

Our first birthday:
My favorite picture of the two of us (of all time!) I loved that purse! I remember what ruined it. I put red jello squares in there as my treasure and they melted and ruined my beautiful purse:
Our third birthday:
Our ninth birthday. I hated taking showers or baths, so my hair is all greasy (LOL!)

I love my sister! I can't imagine life without her and it has been my pleasure to walk through this life with her! We've had some fun memories! I love you, Sandy!!!

Friday Night Videos

I thought I'd post the songs I've recently added to my summer playlist. And in most cases, they've been added to my walking (attempt at jogging) playlist, as well. I will say this: it's not the videos that got my attention, rather the rhythm and sound.

A good song for warming up or cooling down. Linkin Park - Iridescent:

Adele - Rolling in the Deep:

Taio Cruz - Dynamite:

Pink - Raise Your Glass (has some swears and it's a weird video)

Cage the Elephant - Shake me Down:

30 Seconds to Mars - Closer to the Edge:

This one isn't surprising because it's the song used in one of the videos from a couple of weeks ago...it's a keeper. It's one song that keeps my goal in mind for myself....keep walking, keep walking, next step, next step, next step and it will pay off! Lady Gaga - The edge of glory.

The Pageantry

So I was watching TV the other day and there was 'nothing' on....so as I'm flipping through channels I catch Toddlers and Tiaras and pause to watch the episode. The episode I got was one where the 'famous' toddlers, MacKenzie and Eden, are going to face off against each other.

I cannot believe how ridiculous it was!!

First off: these kids are waited on hand and foot and have ZERO restrictions! Lots of whining, temper tantrums and fighting for attention in the most obnoxious ways.

2nd: the mom's are crazy!! "it's whatever Eden wants to do and mama's going to be right here pushing her." yeah, that's right, the FIVE year olds run the house!

I must get the ultimate grand supreme title! That said, I think it's okay to allow a girl to explore her competitive side in this way, but there has to be some level of parenting going on.

So, not being a mom, maybe I don't understand. What do you mom's think? Could you dive into the world of pageants if your daughter wanted to?

Tuesday's Thought

It's the first day of summer!! Yay! I had to find some summer quotes:

“I miss the days when summer vacation was about relaxing and hanging out with friends. Now it’s all about working and squeezing your friends in when you can.”
-Unknown

“Summer is kind of like the ultimate one-night stand: hot as hell, totally thrilling, and gone before you know it.” -Unknown

“So here’s to all those summer nights when my feet hit the sand and the waves break my fall and all my friends around me out number the stars.” -Unknown

My favorite things about summer (to name a few):
1. Sunshine
2. Long days
3. Water for boating, skiing, swimming & jet skiing
4. Summer rain storms
5. Camp fires
6. Everybody seems happier
7. Fun family outtings
8. Late night ice cream runs
9. Walking into the nicely air conditioned house

Friday Night Videos

I took a muscle relaxer last night so I wasn't awake to do my Friay Night Videos. I've had an emotional week with the accident and a funeral of a wonderful girl who I only met a few times, but her departure has left a family with a broken heart.

First, I have a video made by my sister Elida. She is a Farmer's agent in California and made this commercial and then used the sound bite to make the video.

I have Killer Queen - well done:

I love this commercial...it always makes me laugh. Of course, I like Frank Sinatra, too:

Cereal Killer...don't know who made it or why, but I thought it was very well done:

Witness to a Miracle

You may be aware from seeing my facebook, that I was involved in a car accident yesterday...24 hours ago. I am still in shock of how the events have played out. Let me share from the beginning. (The shortened version.)

Here's the set up:
My coworker, Bonnie and another coworker, Lisa and I decided we wanted to go to lunch. We decided to leave around 11:40 to get ahead of the lunch crowd. 400 S has a trax train track going down the middle of the road. Many of the left turn lanes on this road are on the actual train track.

We work in research park, so we headed down 500 S which changes to 400 South. 400 S (at 700 E) has two turn lanes (you can see it in the picture below). The left side of the two turn lanes is on the train track. There was already a car on the right hand side of the two turn lanes. We pulled into the left side lane and waited at the red light. (I've highlighted in yellow, where we were stopped.) Traffic was heavy on 700 E.


What happened:
Bonnie was driving her car. I was in the passenger side of the car. Lisa, was in the back seat behind me. Once we were stopped at the red light in the turn lane, Bonnie expressed her concern about being stopped on the train track and wanted to be sure it was an actual turn lane. Lisa and I pointed out the two turn lane signs that indicate that we were, in fact, in a turn lane, even if it is on the train track. I looked at the girl in the car to my right (who was in the right lane of the two turn lanes). We smiled at each other.

I heard a train horn and looked around and saw that there was a trax train coming in the opposite direction up 400 South. I mentioned it to my friends in the car, "the horn is from the Trax [coming Eastward up the other side]." No big deal. I looked back at the girl in the car next to me and then heard a very loud BOOM!! And then we jolted forward hard as we were hit from behind!

The instant it happened, I knew it was a train and I remember my head went completely clear before I thought, "well, this is it." It was the only thought I had as I waited for more...I waited for us to be hit by the traffic on 700 E...for the train to keep going right through our car....for our own screams and the sound of metal twisting. I waited for the physical pain that was surely coming.

I waited.....it didn't come. My head swam and I saw stars from hitting my head on the back of the seat. There was silence for a moment that lasted forever. I sat in my seat frozen...terrified to look around....to see if my friend was still in the back seat. I half expected to turn around and see myself in the twisted car as if in a movie where a ghost is confused by seeing it's own body. I was terrified to move at all, so I stared forward. All of this happened in mere seconds.

Finally, I looked at the girl in the car next to me who was looking at me with her mouth wide open. She was on the cell phone, now. A moment later, the light turned green and that lane moved through the intersection and made their turn.

The movement of the cars must have snapped us back to reality.

Bonnie asked if we were okay and Lisa answered first that she was, in fact, okay. I was so relieved. I made a mental note that I could feel my whole body...IN TACT and confirmed that I, too, was okay. I looked back at Lisa to verify her condition and noticed that the back window was completely blown out...and right behind us sat the full front of the Trax train! If it had a nose, I'd have been looking up the nostrils.

I called 9-1-1 and I heard my own voice, calm and collected, from a distance: Hello, my name is Tina and I am at the intersection of 700 East and 400 South and we've just been hit by a train.

The operator asked me how many cars were involved. I didn't look around, I knew it was just us and the train; I told her it was just our vehicle. She asked me if we were okay, I told her we were...and I remember it began to sink in that it was too unreal that were all okay. She must have thought the same thing and asked me again, "you said you were hit by a train, right? A trax train, right?" I told her yes. She told me she was sending the police. I asked her, confirmed with her, that we shouldn't move our car. She told me to stay where we were.

I kept thinking: "am I really here? I am alive, right?" It didn't make sense and I was confused by it.

UTA Trax:
I'm not going to go into all the detail of how shady UTA Trax behavior was...shooing us off the track and then taking pictures when we were off the track but not while we were on the track. But it was ridiculous! The Trax officials had us park in a nearby parking lot.

We got out of the car and found that there was not even ONE PIECE of glass in Lisa's hair...not one! The back window had shattered into the back seat where she was sitting. None was in her hair.

Several Trax police officers arrived and not one asked how we were doing...not one! They looked at us and congregated across the parking lot in a discussion with the two orange vests.

The first SLC Police officer arrived on a motor cycle and asked us how we were doing. He talked with Bonnie a while. Lisa and I were walking around taking pictures of the car with my cell phone and talking about the absurdity of the fact that we were WALKING AROUND! I could feel the tears waiting for me.

I called Eric to let him know the quick details and I lost it. I couldn't get out any words at first and finally squeaked out what I could: "Car accident....Trax train....we're okay....can't believe it......gotta go...." He reminded me that he loves me. More tears.

We began to talk with the various police officers that were arriving from Salt Lake City PD. There were about 10 or 11 officers and I'm sure passers by thought we'd just robbed the bank.

Several times the police officers went out the track and looked on the ground....I overheard them talking amongst themselves that the Train driver had mentioned that he'd hit the emergency break. When they do, sand drops from the train and there was none on the track. One officer mentioned to the other, "and it's not a windy day. There should still be sand on the track."

We finally found out why we were being grilled about our details. The train driver/operator had said in his statement that we'd pulled out from a parking lot or changed lanes at the last minute and essentially cut him off. Of course, we clarified that we'd sat at the red light long enough to have a full conversation about the turn lane being on the track, and making eye contact with the car next to us and the horn that sounded well after we'd been sitting there.......It felt like we were there FOREVER answering questions.

We were finally released (after two and a half hours). We were shaken and sore but it did not escape us how bad it really could have been.

My Theory:
So I think the driver of the train was slowing down for the red light (the same one we were stopped at) and didn't see us until it was too late. Maybe because he's used the the track guiding his train and he doesn't have to worry about staying in his own lane. Maybe because he was off in a daze through the monotony of the day. I don't know. But it's clear he was going slow for the red light. It's also clear that he didn't see us until just before he hit us because we were in the turn lane for a while before the honking began. And it's clear that if he'd been going any faster, I wouldn't be here typing up my story.

Reactions:
When we got back to work, one person told me that we have the worst luck because a train hit us. I told him that I was choosing to look at it a little differently....that we have to be luckiest people on the earth at this very moment.

Another person said, "could this day get any worse?" I was pretty shocked by that question because of the obviousness of the answer. So I told him, "It could have been the worst, and final day of my life, actually. So, yes, it could have gotten a whole lot worse."

I am fully aware of where this day could have gone......that has been the most emotional part of this day. I've been pretty stunned.

There's More
The story doesn't end here. The girl in the car next to us had left the scene. When she had turned, both Lisa and I noticed a pizza sign on her car. I didn't see what company, but we tracked her down and she has given her statement to the police detective in charge of our case.

She remembers us for this reason: She looked at our car when we pulled up and saw me in the passenger side of the car, chewing and sniffing my hair....It's an odd habit I've had since I was a little girl. Many people have made fun of that habit. She remembers it because she does the same thing with her hair and that's why she noticed me. She remembers that we were sitting there for about 30 seconds before we were hit by the train from behind.

Go ahead. Count out 30 seconds the next time you get to a red light and see when you feel safe from being hit from behind. I promise you, it won't be very far into your count.

How we're doing:
I'm still in shock and not sure how to express the confusion I feel inside. My mind wanders into the possibilities of what could have happened and I become overwhelmed. I am so grateful that we are okay! okay! We were hit by a train and walked away!
Walked away!
It's unbelievable!
I believe all things happen for a reason. There's a reason we were on that track at that moment.

I am sore. My back, neck and shoulders are sore. My head is still swimming a little bit; my vertigo hasn't loved that jostle. My back, neck and arms are slowly getting stiffer. I am going to the doctor this week just to have it on record just in case the pain gets worse. BUT! I'm okay! My friends are in the same place....sore with some pain, but we know how much worse it could have been.

This story can't be told without mentioning the car that absorbed the bulk of that impact. Clearly Bonnie's Dodge did it's job. I'm glad that cars are made in a way to lessen the impact to the passengers. I don't like the thought of me in Eric's small car (that we love) up against that train in the same circumstances.

Everybody who has heard the story has clarified: you said a train, right? I thank the powers above that kept us safe. We were being watched and it's humbling to think someone stepped in on our behalf. I can recognize a miracle when I see it. And this is a true and pure miracle.

Pictures of the car:




Thank you for the comments of support on Facebook. I know that I am incredibly grateful to be here today.

Tuesday's Thought

I thought this was a good piece of advice:


And the second thought is one we've all heard a million times but, it seems appropriate to say it again here. As my cousin, Lindsay put it: "life is precious... it can change in an instant... savor every moment with your loved ones!"

Friday Night Videos

eeek! I'm as giddy as a school girl! Cannot wait for this movie to be out in theaters. Yay!!

I don't know how this could be any more awkward!! An old style maturation video:

A strange tattoo indeed...I'm thinking I wouldn't want the Facebook profile pictures of my friends tattooed onto my body, but to each his own, right?

Looking Good in a Group Picture

I have been asked by a few people if I know of any tips they can use when they are asked to be in a group shot, so that they'll be happy with the outcome.

As a 'bigger girl' I have had to learn how to take the most flattering shots I can get - It's not like I'm going to get a face w/out chubby cheeks or hide the hundred or so pounds I'd like to lose; but I employ a few tricks to fool the camera so that my face and body appear a little more slender. For the most part, these are the tips I offer people when they ask and they are usually pretty happy with their next group shot (work, family, friends, etc.)

In no particular order, here are my tips. Keep in mind that many people have their point and shoot cameras and the settings are preset. When I take pictures, I use manual settings to maximize the lighting and certain surroundings that are out of my control. I also keep these tips in mind and have no problem (time and event permitting) telling people in the group how to stand and where.

If you can control the location of the shot:

1. Avoid taking pictures in harsh light - direct sun light is never good because no matter how hard you try, you will squint. Using florescent lighting is not at all flattering, either, so get out of the office! You will be washed out in the picture in both of these lighting choices. The best lighting is outside in the morning and evening hours. If you are going to be in an outside picture in the middle of day, try and hold off until it is overcast - not darkly overcast, though. The clouds act like a filter and help with the natural soft lighting.

2. Don't take your outdoor group shots under trees or with something that will cast odd shadows across your face. And watch for lighting where your eyes or half your face is covered in shadow...you'll be very zombish. You'll hate the picture and wish you had a better one. It won't be one you print up and frame.

So that is the lighting aspect. What do you do with your body, then? Here is what I have found (and learned) to do with my body to get the best pictures when I am not in control of the group shot - you know the ones where someone says, "get together so I can get a picture of you guys. Lean in." (when they say to just lean in...don't! Physically move to be in the shot in a flattering angle!)

1. Turn your body a little bit so that one shoulder is more forward. Remember the pictures from school? Remember how they moved your body a little bit so that you were turned to the side a bit? That's because it is WAY more flattering to be turned a little bit than having a shot with your shoulders square to the camera (and I don't mean a side shot, either - eek!). Oh, and don't raise the shoulders up when you do this (which makes for a stiff shot)...keep them down and natural.

2. Be a turtle. Sandy taught me this trick. If you are faced toward the camera, (keeping your shoulders relaxed and slightly turned) push your neck forward like a turtle and PUT YOUR CHIN DOWN. I'm not sure why, but our instinct is to put the chin up, which creates the double chin, or at least a broader chin that you'll HATE! You don't want to look up your nose, do you? Being a turtle will help eliminate the extra chin and cheeks that everybody hates when they take pictures. And, although it feels weird, IT WORKS! (I have had many people think I'm kidding when I suggest this to them, and there are some that refuse to do it when I'm taking their picture...they laugh and then do what they want, but I promise you, it works, and you'll be much happier with it.)

I would suggest you try it...try one where you don't do it and then try one when you do. See what you think.

3. Smile a genuine smile. It's not a mug shot! (unless it is and then none of these tips will truly help you) People will spot the fake in a flash! And so will you. Show a little teeth, but not the whole mouth. I usually get one of the two extremes...huge smiles (yikes) or no smile (very serious)...and these people will sigh at me like I've messed up their picture (see! this is why I hate my picture being taken.) Well, you need to smile a genuine, good smile, but don't scare the kids away with the big smile that includes all your teeth and gums. (My, what big teeth you have!)

4. Flirt with the camera a little. Keep eye contact and tilt your head a little bit (keeping your turtle out there, still). Sounds stupid, and maybe a little vain, but practice in the mirror. Practice with your own camera. Find the angle you like the best and use it to your advantage.

5. If at all possible, find a taller person to take the picture. Instinctively we put the camera in front of us at our own eye level. So if a short person is taking the picture, no matter how turtle-ish you become, you're going to get more neck/chin than you want because the camera is aiming UP at you or straight across at you. Someone who is taller has the camera aiming DOWN at you, even if just slightly. This angle will help narrow the face even more.

6. Last, if you are trying to hide the weight in a group shot, don't stand in front taking up the full shot! Let others close ranks in front of you...and lean forward a little bit (a little bit!)...again, people lean back instinctively (my guess is it's part of that personal space we are trying to protect).

Those are my tips for getting the best picture when someone else takes it with their point and shoot (or cell, or any camera) at a work party or family reunion, or whatever the event might be.

These are the tips I give you if you are the one taking the picture of a group, whether or not you know them. Help them set the memory the best way:

1. If you are using a digital camera, use the view finder and hold the camera up at the group so you aren't getting that shot looking up at the group, rather, you're looking down at them a tiny bit. Stand on a curb while they stand on the ground below. Stand on your tippy toes...something to get a few extra inches to help with the angle.

2. Use the Zoom feature!...You don't need to get the picture of the outfits....Nobody wants their bellies, belts, shoes, legs, etc. in the picture (unless it's bridesmaids or something where the outfits are relevant. But even then, consider the group). People want the faces, so keep that in mind and zoom in a little bit to get from the upper torso on up if at all possible, and still get the whole group....have them get closer if that helps. Try to keep it as the upper body - forget the lower body.

3. Focus! Keep them in focus! Many times, this event won't happen where everybody will be together again for a while and isn't it sad when people are out of focus? If you are unfamiliar with the camera, make sure you get this one piece of instruction! Take a few shots so they have more to choose from.

4. Count down out loud..1...2...3....BUT take the picture at 2 or 2 1/2 because this helps with blinking eyes. Strange, but true. I have more blinks at 3 than I do at 2. We Americans are maniquins when it comes to the pose (I visit my family in S. America and I have to constantaly tell them, "smile.") We'll stand forever with that ridiculous smile until the pictures are taken. But we blink. This is another reason to take 2-3 shots.

Those are a few of my tips if you are caught off guard and asked to be in a group shot. I'm a total amateur photographer, but this is what I've learned as I've taken group shots at work, weddings and funerals...and even portraits of coworkers for the web site.

That all said, though, I would say it is important to be comfortable in your own skin.
My best advice is this: Don't be afraid of your own face...it's yours for life. So many people don't even want to look at their picture no matter how good the shot is. I've been there. Those of you who know me, know that I've been doing a self portrait a day for 3 and a half years, now. It was about six months into the first year before I really became comfortable with my own image. I saw so many flaws: my face is crooked! One side of my nose is bigger than the other side...and because of this, my nose leans to one side. My eyes aren't even..one is lower than the other. My smile: totally crooked. AND the one side that tilts upward in a weird way, is the side my nose leans toward, so sometimes, I see this weird criss-cross of lines on my face. And I have a weird scar on my forehead! And even though I'm 37, I still break out!!! (makes me so mad!) All that said, I've learned to be more than okay with my own image! I love those weird flaws!

On top of the weird face, I'm heavy! (doesn't help with the self loving) And even though I'm trying to lose weight, I'm still heavy! And wouldn't it be nice to be a size 6 and not have to consider that as much when taking a group shot?! But, I am very proud of who I am. I am happy in my plump body. I don't think I'll be any happier in a thinner body (healthier? yes; able to run without passing out? yes! Not necessarily happier, though)...I'll still be me in that body and I better love it now or I'll never be happy with it. So accept yourself as you are RIGHT NOW!

And then use some of the tips to love it in pictures!!

Do you have any other tips that you use to get good shots of you in a group setting?

Friday Night Videos

So it totally sucks, but I have had that really terrible cough/cold thing that has been passed around.....I don't know who gave it to me, but I can say: I hope I return the favor some day......okay, maybe I don't really feel that way exactly, but I'm pretty mad.

Because this cough is so bad (I have asthma that I finally got under control), I went to the doctor because I was wheezing so bad I didn't feel like I was breathing well at all. He told me that he doesn't want me in the dirty dash, or to even go take pictures because I need to rest and do breathing exercises or I will get pneumonia. What a disappointment! A friend was kind enough to take my spot in the dirty dash and I will be home resting........truly disappointing.

Now I have plenty of time to put up my videos for Friday.

So, whenever I catch this commercial on TV, I stop what I'm doing because I love the images (can I find something new?) and I want this song!:

This video has been a hit and you'll see why. It really is a great proposal:

I can't help it, I love Lady Gaga Gaga and I think this commercial is brilliant:

This weekend is Pride and I will be resting as I walk around the festival tomorrow. I thought the next two videos were wonderful!

It Gets Better - for my friends who have struggled and been harassed in their lives for being who they are. I think the sentiment goes for anything in life, especially when we were young and we couldn't fathom how great life would be:

FckH8 - Teachers can't say GAY law - lots of swears in this, so don't watch it if it's not your cup OR wear your headphones!:

Dirty Dash Fears

This coming Saturday, I'm joining several of the girls from my office to participate in the Dirty Dash. And I have to say that I am freaking out!

I'm a wee bit accident prone, so I'm feeling like this might tempt Fate a little too much to pass up. I mean, what if I fall down in the mud and no one sees me and I drown in the mud, wouldn't that be just terrible!?!? Or I fall and break my ankle and my team has to drag me (literally) down the mountain.......ugh!

And I'm incredibly out of shape and I signed up thinking it would be good to have motivation to get out and get moving...and it worked. I've been up and moving but I'm still huffing and puffing my way around the 5Ks, I mean, there won't be any running on my part. I never want to be the last one to cross the finish line; BUT you have to cross the finish line as a team and I'm anxious about being the one to hold up my team!

And as I've mentioned, we'll be in the mud and what if mud clings to my most unattractive spots, or the water is too cold or I lose a shoe in the mud or the showers after the race are cold..............it's silly, really, to be this concerned over something so trivial.

*sigh*

It should be fun, right?!