Valentine's Day: For Lovers and Friends

I know this post is coming a little late, but Valentine's Day is an awesome holiday. I mean, it's no Christmas or anything, but it's still pretty fun. And I know all the single people out there like to call it S.A.D. (Single Awareness Day) and spend a lot of time crying about it, but even without a boyfriend or wife or whatever it is you're looking for you can find people to love. You just might have to broaden the definition of love.

For example, I love my little niece Amaya so I made sure to send her something for V-Day. And my mom loves me so she sent me a card with a gift card to Coldstone. I got a valentine from a coworker. A random classmate gave me a sucker.

Then there are my friends, who I love almost as much as I love Brian. Almost. We decided to celebrate Friend Valentine's Day on the 13th, and it was a huge success. We made each other valentines and bought each other gifts. And we spent the night together bowling and playing Taboo. It was a lot of fun and I think more people should do something like that. The world needs more love and less cynicism in my opinion.

Then there was actual Valentine's Day on the 14th. After class, Brian and I went to dinner at California Pizza Kitchen, where we had pasta and drinks, and then it was home for games and a movie and... well... other stuff.

To wrap up my little post, I just want to say that I love my husband. I love our life together and I love the way he makes me feel. I also love my friends and my family and everything that makes me happy. Life is good.

And if you're ever feeling depressed and lonely on Valentine's Day, remember that Saint Valentine was violently martyred on February 14th so things really aren't that bad for ya now are they?

A Conversation in Hearts

Or:  How a Guy Can Eventually Wear Down a Girl

—Let’s talk.

—What now?

—U-R Hot.

—Wow...

—Red hot.

—Oh boy.

—It’s true.  Crazy 4 U.

—I’m sure.

—Hug me.

—I’ll wait.

—U + me, babe.  Kiss kiss.

—Time out.

—One kiss?

—Next time.

—Why wait, foxy lady?  Now.  Now!

—Save me!

—Say yes...

—Why not?

Blank Verse for English 3440

Pride

by Jack Garcia

 

I look upon the tree which proudly stands

with orange lace and bright maroon cravats,

bedazzled, dressed in jewels of autumn; gold

upon his fingers stretching out to me.

I wonder where the sycamore retreats

as winter’s snow invades his closet there

and throws his precious costumes out the door:

a crimson handkerchief, a hat, a glove.

Invading spaces that were never hers,

the winter wind has stripped the tree of pride.

Work-Inspired Tanka for English 3440

 

Ramblings on My First Week of School

Are you aware that we are about halfway through the month of January?  Did you know this?  I just now realized this and I'm thinking to myself, "Damn, Jack.  You haven't written a single blog post this month... heck, even this year!"  I better get on that.

School has started.  Much too quickly, I might add.  I barely had time to breathe after the rush that is Christmas and New Year's before plunging headfirst into another school semester.  I'm taking four classes this year--a full load--and I'm a little worried that I'll kill myself before the semester ends.  Full-time school and full-time work can be challenging.  Although, one of my new classmates was bragging about taking 7 classes last semester all while working full-time as well, so maybe I'm just a baby. 

Or maybe she's just a bragging b****.

Brian hates when I put asterisks in place of swear words.  He's a b**** too.

Anyway, I'm taking a Steinbeck class and I'm pretty excited for it because I've never read him before.  Yes, you heard me right.  I'm an English major who's never even read The Grapes of Wrath.  Somehow I skipped over that in high school, although I do remember falling asleep on my desk while watching the movie.  I had a string of drool connecting my chin to my trapper keeper.  Very embarrassing.  But I'm taking the class now and I'm on the brink of discovering one of America's most celebrated authors, despite what certain literary critics might say.  My classroom smells like an auto body shop though, considering it's in the Sparks Automotive building.  Perhaps it will help me to connect to Steinbeck's down-and-out, working class characters.  Or the fumes might get me high.

I'm also taking a poetry class.  Poetry's not my strong-suit, but we'll see.  The teacher seems interesting, but unfortunately one of the annoying kids in my American Literature class last semester has waddled his way into this poetry class as well.  That's mean of me, isn't it?  Waddled.  Not nice, but he is a bit hefty and penguin-like.  He gets under my skin because he has diarrhea of the mouth and a strong need to be the teacher's pet.  He literally serenades the professor.  Literally.  He sang a whole Gregorian chant for us in class on Thursday and I honestly have no idea why.  It was very strange.  In all honesty though, what bugs me most about him is his confidence.  Because no matter how socially awkward he might be, I'm jealous that he seems to live his life without fear of what others might think.  It's a trait I lack.  You couldn't pay me enough to sing in class, yet here he was, just singing his heart out.

My lack of self-confidence and worry over the opinion of my peers (or my "pride" as Brian calls it) gives me anxiety whenever I'm asked to openly participate in class, and my Rhetoric professor has made it her life-long goal to get students talking about themselves.  I hate talking about myself in class.  Or sharing my opinion.  I don't mind that sort of stuff here, on my blog, where I can't see anybody... but in real life with people I don't know, I'm pretty closed-off.  So that class is going to be an interesting one.  As is my fourth class, Spanish, where I'll not only be required to talk a lot but I'll be asked to talk in my second language.  Woohoo.  Or as they say in Spanish:  el woohoo.

Interesting fun fact about my Spanish class.  It's on Saturday mornings and it apparently started last Saturday and not today.  Oops.  I'm already a week behind!

An Ode to 2012

Looking back at our calendar,

2012 was full of fun.

Let’s take a little look

at all the things that we have done

In January we started fresh

and made our resolutions.

We started hanging out with Brett

who’s full of contributions.

We found a new apartment

and in February moved in.

“Happy Valentine’s Day to us,”

we said, and then we lived in sin.

In March we had some visitors

and got a little loud.

We threw so big a party

the Great Gatsby would be proud!

Michelle and I went travelling

in April, yes indeed,

to Manti and to Logan

to see our friends in need.

May had Cinco de Mayo

for which we threw a fiesta,

and then we celebrated mothers

by taking a little siesta.

In June we went to Salt Lake City

and celebrated Gay Pride.

Brett and Wes accompanied

—we had so much fun we cried!

At Stadium of Fire

we celebrated July 4^th,

then off to a family reunion

and Yellowstone up north.

In August we went to Colorado

for my sister’s wedding day,

then celebrated my birthday

with lots of PB&J!

September found us busy

with school again in session.

We went to a dog’s birthday party,

which is a strange confession…

Brian’s birthday is in October

as well as Halloween.

We also had a Bachelor’s Party

which was just a tad obscene.

November was the greatest month

with a trip to New York City.

Brian and I were married there

and our reception was oh so pretty!

In December we gave gifts

to our family and friends

and ate so many feasts,

we fattened our rear ends!

And now the year is over,

so we sing that famous song.

We’ll take a cup of kindness…

and thank God the Mayans were wrong!

HAPPY NEW YEAR’S!

Christmas Gifts, Part Two

My family mailed all their Christmas gifts and I opened them a little early.  Then we spent Christmas Eve and Day with Brian's family, waking up in the morning and opening presents just like we were little kids.  So fun!

A.  I managed to snag the game Yahtzee at the Kesler Family Christmas Party.  I was pretty pleased with myself.  Brian's cousin Emeli brought it... so, thanks Emeli!

B.  My mom and stepdad sent us a murder mystery party game called Pasta, Passion and Pistols!  They had me at pasta!  Ha ha... And I've never actually hosted (or been to) a murder mystery party so I'm really excited to throw one.  It should be a lot of fun!

C.  Continuing with the game theme, Brian's mom got us Chinese Checkers.  How did she know I was Chinese?

D.  My mom got me Backgammon, which I've never played before in my life.  I'm sure it can't be that hard... (see E)

E.  My mom also got me Backgammon for Dummies.  I stand corrected.  Apparently it's pretty complicated if you need a whole book to explain how to play!  But I look forward to the challenge.

F.  Brian's mom got us a new blue soap pump and toothbrush holder for our bathroom.  I'm hoping this new toothbrush holder gets less gunky than the last one... yuck!

G.  She also got us a new bathmat in brown.  (Both F and G came from our wedding registry... she's smart).

H.  New socks!  Most of ours are all holey and dingy... so I'm happy to Brian's mom got us some new ones.

I.  Brian's mom always gets us all pajama pants for Christmas and we open them on Christmas Eve.  This year she opted for athletic pants.  I think she's hinting that I'm fat and need to work out more.  She'd be correct.

J.  Brian's mom got me a really cool new shirt!  Gray and blue: my favorite color scheme!

K.  Brian's mom also got me a new tie.  Pretty snazzy.  Maybe I should start wearing ties to work more often.  Sometimes I'm too lazy and go to work looking like a hobo...

L.  My dad and stepmom got us a food scale (also from the registry).  Brian's really thrilled about it.  Like REALLY thrilled.  He's gotten so skinny from all his dieting that he needs a tiny little food scale to weigh himself!

M.  Jenny (my sister-in-law) got me the first season of I Love Lucy, just like Brian did.  Oops!  We're going to exchange it for the third season though, so no worries.

N.  Brian's mom filled a stocking for Brian and I to share... all I wanted were the peanut butter Santas!  Luckily Brian hates peanut butter, so he didn't even put up a fight when I claimed them all for myself.

O.  Brian's grandma gave us a book Cooking for Two, a homemade loaf of bread and a jar of cookie butter.  Kinda like the Santas (M), I claimed the cookie butter for myself!  I couldn't resist.  My two weaknesses--cookies and butter--all wrapped into one delicious, spreadable delight!

P.  Renee and Jaylon (my sister and brother-in-law) got us Mancala.  Games were a pretty popular gift this year!  Looks like we'll be hosting some game nights really soon!

Q.  Brian's mom got me a new votive holder.  It's long and wavy, and I think it'll go on top of the entertainment center once the Christmas stuff gets put away.

R.  Brian's mom also got me a candle warmer and lots of different scented cubes to melt.  Our house is going to smell delicious... like Grandma's Sugar Cookies or Apple Spice.

Not pictured, a gift card to The Cheesecake Factory from Daniel and Sofia (my brother and his girlfriend).  It came in the mail a few days ago and I forgot about it when piling gifts together for the photo... but that doesn't mean I'm not grateful!  Because let's face it, any gift involving food is one I'm going to enjoy!