Peace out!

I leave tomorrow for St. George and Las Vegas. We haven't been there for almost four years, so I'm really excited. Plus, we are doing all different things from the previous times we have been. We'll be there for a week. I'm so thankful for breaks from school so we can do this.

Marriage (and a concert)

It's hard to believe I have been married for five years. Most of the time, I don't even feel old enough to have been married for five years. I was 20 when I got married, and in all actuality we probably were too young (Adam was 22). We have changed a lot, but fortunately, we have changed together for the most part. About a month ago, I was talking to this 18 or 19 year old girl at my work about popular songs. She told me about how her and her sister critique songs- the lyrics, the voice of the singer, etc. She then said, "There's this weird song playing on the radio a lot right now. The first line of the song says "The best part about tonight is that we're not fighting" and the chorus says "Tonight will be the night that I will fall for you over again." We just think it doesn't really make sense." I almost laughed (for a few reasons). One, the song is "Fall For You" by Secondhand Serenade, and it os one of my current favorite songs. Two, it just shows how young she is and that she has never been in a serious relationship. Anyone that has (and will be honest) knows that those lines are true. Sometimes, the best thing is that you aren't fighting. Things are never perfect. Along the same line, sometimes you do need to fall back in love. There's a quote I like that states "Marriage is falling in love over and over again with the same person." Marriage isn't always easy, and it's not always how I thought it would be when I was 20, but it is worth it to have your best friend by your side.

Now, the concert tie-in. Secondhand Serenade played at Thanksgiving Point last week. It was a great concert. I love live music. I love seeing people so passionate about what they are doing.

His songs are pretty romantic, so it was frun for an anniversary activity. I mean, just look at his name. He calls himself that because first he serenades his wife, then we get it secondhand.

5 Years

Five years ago (yesterday), Adam and I got married. I was going to write this yesterday after Adam took me out on a surprise date, but we never got home last night. He had reserved a room for us at the Castle Creek Inn, where we had stayed on our wedding night. Whenever he tries to surprise me, I usually find out, so he kept his secret this time. I really wasn't expecting anything, because we went to a concert last week, on Wednesday night we went to dinner and a movie because I thought he had to work on our anniversary, and we're leaving on a trip next week.

It was a great night. We took Trax downtown, and went to Cedars of Lebanon for dinner. We had gone there for my birthday too, and really liked it. After that, we went to the Sam Weller's bookstore. So big inside, and just what a bookstore should be. I could have spent so much more time there. However, we had another stop. Right next door, in fact. He took me to Keys on Main, a dueling piano club. I had wanted to go to both of those places for a long time, especially since I saw them so many times standing at the Gallivan Trax stop on my way to or from school. We will be going back to Keys on Main for sure. It was a lot of fun. After that, we went to the hotel.

Happy Day!!!

I'm so glad that Barack Obama got enough delegates for the nomination tonight!! That's all, just wanted to say that. :)

Favorites of 2008 (So Far)

Since we are almost halfway through 2008, I thought I would make a list of my favorite books and movies this year. This list will include things released earlier, just as long as I saw or read it for the first time this year. I watch a lot of movie and read a lot of books, so I'll be doing however many I feel have been a favorite.

Books

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
This book was so interesting to me. They really do explore everything. Stephen Dubner came to the U, so I got to hear him preview a chapter from their second book, which he said would probably be called Super Freakonomics.

The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
I read this is February, back when it was a complete toss-up who would win the Democratic nomination. Luckily, he is now likely to win. I really believe in his ideas, and I like that he is not from a political or powerful family.

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult
I have read almost all of her books. She is a good writer, not the best, but good. However, the issues and questions she raises fully make up for any lack in her writing. Each book deals with controversial issues, and this was is not different. An inmate is scheduled to be executed for his crimes, but he wants to donate his heart to the sister of his victim. Very thought-provoking.

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
This is a collection of short stories that deal with Indian characters. The last three are interwoven stories that are written so beautifully.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Like Jodi Picoult, she is not the best author, but she does excel at one thing in her books. Her characters. She writes the best characters, and the best stories for those characters.



Movies

Penelope
Very cute story, but best part about it is that my favorite actor is in it- James McAvoy.

Under the Same Moon
This movie shows the humane side to the issue of illegal immigration, which means a lot of conservative people wouldn't like it. To me, that part of it doesn't matter. It's about a mother trying to make a better life for her son. We are not any better than anyone else just because we were born here in America (Ok, off my soapbox for now).

Lars and the Real Girl
Ryan Gosling is an amazing actor. He is so talented. The premise of this movie is weird. He plays a man who has a blow-up doll for a girlfriend. He plays the character so well.

Iron Man
I've never been a comic books fan, but I do enjoy seeing all the superhero movies.

Other favorites:
Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day
The Kite Runner
Lions For Lambs
Sex and the City