it's raining

We've been pretty busy with school this last week, which I'm sure is why I haven't updated in over a week. Ha. I've got 4 midterms this next week, and Eric isn't exactly lacking in tests either. We're going to be glad when we're done with school for good...unfortunately that just isn't for a while.

Fortunately though, I did get to go to Cafe Rio three times this week. It was heavenly, and well-deserved I think. Last night, we went with Mark and Lindsay to a house concert thing with a few bands that were pretty good (Lindsay knows some people in the band, and there were a lot of people from Oregon there). Afterwards, we reverted back to our freshman/sophomore years and went to throw eggs at things in the canyon. See Lindsay's blog for a great theory.

Tonight is the Academy Awards, and we only managed to see one that's nominated for best picture - Michael Clayton. I don't think it's really "best picture" material. I really wanted to see Juno, but I guess we'll wait til it's in the dollar theater at this point. Maybe the Oscars will be a good time to study for that midterm I have to take tomorrow...

valentine's day

Yesterday, of course, was Valentine's Day and we decided we weren't going to go out and do anything since we could save money and have whatever we wanted to eat and be by ourselves if we stayed home and had dinner. Before dinner, we gave each other little gifts: I gave Eric the new Jack Johnson CD, and he got me a bouquet of carnations and a box of Lindt chocolates. YUM! For dinner, I made my specialty salmon (wrapped in foil to marinate in the oven...delicious), baked asparagus with mushrooms and various herbs and spices. and garlic French bread. It was a really good dinner, and Eric bought some little cocktail glasses and Martinelli's so we made it a little fancy party. Of course, I had to take a picture of dinner because I was really proud of myself (this was a big cooking night for me, hah):


We also had candles. It was really nice. After dinner, we watched Lost, which made the night even better! It was another trippy episode, of course - because it wouldn't be Lost if it wasn't trippy and weird, but it was fun. Only 40 episodes until the series finale - and the everything will be answered...

tagged.

I convinced Eric to do this with me, even though he wasn't overly enthusiastic about it. He's a good sport.


1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

Eric: I was 15 and a freshman in high school. That was when I first started playing football. (He really didn't have much to say about this, obviously)

Adrien: I was 10 (haha) and I was just finishing up the fifth grade. I didn't listen to any popular music (all I had were my mom's tapes and CDs of Amy Grant and the Cranberries) and I didn't even think about the future. That's pretty much all I worry about now... I also was in band at school and I had been playing the flute for a whole year and a half.


2. Things On My To Do list?

Eric: graduate from college with a degree in Information Systems and Technology; see Coldplay, U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Jack Johnson in concert; go to bed within the next half hour; write a paper by next Tuesday; finish watching all the seasons of 24; build the cats a house out of plywood/carpet/rope; go to the Olympics, etc.

Adrien: graduate in December; consider re-adding the English minor (maybe?!?); throw the squirrel for Paris so she can chase it and bring it back; go to the gym tomorrow; write the paper for my grant; travel everywhere I can; eat healthier; go to those concerts with Eric; have an awesome summer...I have a lot of things I "need" to do.


3. Bad Habits

Eric: messing with the cats when they're pissed, stubbornness, procrastination, biting my nails when I'm nervous, eating out too much, being addicted to Chili Cheese Fritos and Diet Pepsi.

Adrien: stubbornness, impatience, guilt-tripping Eric into going to the store to buy butter for me, procrastinating, staying up too late, watching too much CSI, being addicted beyond belief to Cafe Rio. Although I wouldn't necessarily say that's always a bad thing...even though Eric doesn't agree with me.


4. Places I have Lived

Eric: Provo, UT; Beaverton, OR; Iowa (all of it); Provo, UT again.

Adrien: Fallbrook, CA; Provo, UT. I'm not very interesting. I'm trying to talk Eric into moving to Australia, but he's not too keen on the idea. Maybe he'll agree if Hillary Clinton becomes president (his words, not mine). Although after tonight's primary results, my chances are looking a little slim.


5. Things Most People Don't Know About Me

Eric: I have diabetes. I'm actually a really hilarious person (Adrien's words) even though I'm really quiet around people I don't know. I have eaten both squirrel and raccoon. I can throw a football 60 yards.

Adrien: I really like rap music. I would sell or get rid of almost everything I had to go and be a vagabond around the world. Eating meat really grosses me out sometimes. I love crime dramas (maybe that's not such a secret) and home makeover shows (that one might be). My dream job would be to be a curator at a museum and be the absolute expert on some subject.


We aren't going to tag anybody because we don't have any friends! Maybe Becca if she sees this, and Megan - you're tagged if you ever make a blog. There.

from adrien, although eric probably agrees.

If you get the chance any time soon, go see this - preferably in IMAX if that's an option for you. We went and saw U2 3D last night at the IMAX theater at Jordan Commons with Lindsay and Mark and it was just amazing. It had an overtly political theme to it, but I at least enjoyed it. I was reading in Lindsay's blog and how she mentioned that not all rock concerts are of the devil or whatever. In fact, it seems to be almost the trend with bands and other famous people to take a cause upon themselves (and usually one of a humanitarian nature) and then use their celebrity to get the cause out there. I think it's a great idea, and I love that so many people are willing to do this now. If people won't listen to "regular" activists, maybe they'll listen to celebrity activists. And I honestly don't care if people are following a bandwagon as long as its for something good.

Now that we're at this point in the conversation, I guess I'll plug for a few of my favorite development groups. The first is kiva.org, which I haven't had the change to participate in yet (due to a lack of extra funds), but I plan on helping as soon as possible. The idea behind Kiva is to give a small, short-term loan to a person or group of people in a developing country to help them get on their feet, provide for themselves and their families, and enrich their community. I think it's great.

The second is one.org, or "The Campaign to Make Poverty History." This is one that has had several celebrity-endorsed commercials, so it's probably familiar to a lot of people. They work with Congress and other government institutions to make sure that America is doing anything it can to help under-developed countries basically get a start on eradicating poverty, and also help those same countries provide education and supplies to reach the same goal. You can even donate $10 and get one of those fancy little wristbands that everyone seems to love so much (think Livestrong).

The last is oxfamamerica.org. From their website, "Oxfam America works on the scene, helping people gain the hope, skills, and direction to create a new future. We are also active in the global arena, addressing social injustice through our advocacy, public education, and emergency assistance programs." And they don't just work in other countries. Oxfam works in the United States as much as anywhere else. I remember getting an email from them to write to Congress to pass a bill that would help victims of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters (as well as education and poverty, but on a lesser scale it seems) in our own country. They also deal with such issues as advocating Fair Trade, providing small amounts of livestock to people in other countries (you can actually buy these and donate them in someone else's name!), and so many other things.

This has gotten really long.
In other news, we made brisket for dinner tonight, and it was delicious.

"i slipped on the had and that is why i have the snow"

We just got back from dinner at Cafe Rio for Lindsay's 22nd birthday - happy birthday Lindsay! Lots of fun and, of course, delicious food. When we got home I slipped on the ice and scraped my knee and tore my jeans at the knee. Now I'm upset, and really really wishing this winter would just end. It snowed just about every day in January, and things don't exactly look promising for the next couple of weeks. It's dismal, really. Or maybe I'm just mad my knee hurts and now I have to take my pants to Nordstrom to get all stitched up.

In other news (besides it being extremely cold and snowy all the time), Eric and I are really looking forward to this coming summer. Eric's been looking up different campsites all over Utah since we're planning on doing a lot of weekend camping trips this summer and finally breaking in the tent and sleeping bags we bought over a year ago (well, one of the sleeping bags got pretty good use for 2 months while I was at field school...). We have two trips to Oregon planned: one to Wallowa Lake for the Prince family reunion, and another to Portland for when Lindsay and Mark get married (yay for them, I'm still really excited about it). We might rent a cabin on the coast for a night while we're up there - that would be heavenly. And, Shannon's probably coming up to Utah for part of the summer and we're going to take a scuba diving class together and get certified. Fun times to be had ahead...as soon as we get out of this dreary, icy winter.

karaoke, groundhog day, and the superbowl

This weekend we went up to Logan to stay with Keegan and Martha, some of Eric's friends from back in Oregon. We had an awesome time, despite the six inches of snow and the scary drive home. Friday night there was a karaoke party at K&M's house, and tons of people showed up - we didn't know any of them. It was lots of fun. Eric and Corey rocked out to Back in Black, while Julie and I sang a little rendition of Goodbye Earl. After everyone left, we got a little more secure and Eric sang a song by the Eagles (I don't remember which one, but he did really well) and I sang All You Wanted by Michelle Branch. Fun times.


On Saturday night, we watched Groundhog Day (appropriate, of course - and Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this year...six more weeks of winter I guess). Eric also had a lovely time at the Utah State/Nevada game, and I got to hang out with Julie and get to know her a little better. Fun all around. After church on Sunday (where we spent 2 hours in the nursery hanging out with 3 kids, one of which who would not speak), we went to Corey and Julie's for lunch and a little fondue party. Oh yum. Chocolate-covered pineapple is heaven. The Superbowl was on after that, and we all know the outcome...Giants won. Boo. The Patriots almost had a perfect season anyway. The commercials were hilarious, though. The E-Trade baby was fantastic, and the Budweiser Clydesdale training like Rocky was also really great.

Anyway, it was a fun weekend, even though the drive back from Logan took about 4 hours due to heavy snowfall in the mountains and construction on the freeway. But we made it, and now we're back in Provo...and the cats missed us.