I have a blog?

Seriously it's Sue's birthday

2011-02-22T09:20:00.000-08:00

Well my friends, I think it's only fitting that my mother share her birthday with the father of our country. Encyclo-Sue knows many a thing...ask her a question and she will give you the most detailed answer. It truly is amazing the information she's carrying around in her head. It's just one of her many talents. And while we're on the subject of talents, I'd like to elaborate on few more that my mom has. She has a way with color. I remember when she told us she was painting the door in our old house green....turns out she really knows what she's doing with color schemes. Anyone who knows my mom, knows she can cook. And she doesn't do anything half way. It's all our nothing. I remember when I was little and how excited I would get when she would make homemade pretzels with clam chowder, or apple turnovers with cheese, or chocolate chip cookies, or homemade chicken noodle soup (with homemade noodles). I mean, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. I would like to think that my affinity for baking comes from my mom. I can't cook all that well, but baked goods and I seem to get along. My mom has always been one to make sure she looks good. I remember her going to get her hair done by Roger, then Perry. I mean she's probably the reason Melissa got into makeup. My mom has fabulous skin and definitely does not look her age. I can only be so lucky to have her skin at her age...this adult acne isn't helping matters. I think one thing that I really love about my mom though is when she really gets laughing hard. There's nothing better and I love nights with the family when we're playing games and laughing. Everyone gets pretty competitive and makes their snide remarks, but it's all in fun. And another thing my mom is really good at is presents. She's very creative and thoughtful with gifts. One year she gave us new cookie sheets and cookie dough to go with it. This year we got earring/necklace holders with new earrings attached. She always makes sure to take good care of us on our birthdays and Christmas. So, happy birthday Mom! I hope you have a great day! Thanks for all you do! Love you!

Happy Birthday Jimmy!

2010-12-02T10:38:00.000-08:00

Today Jim is 61! I always acted like he and I were twins growing up because we turned the same digit in the same year. I mean, the twins have May 11th, Melissa and Sue have a week apart in February, so it's only natural that Jim and I, the brunettes....kind of be the sharers of the same single digit. So he's 61 and that makes me 31. He was probably hoping that I would have been married with some little ones by now, but regardless of my life situation, Jim loves me. He loves all of his girls and he's always shown it by doing. He does your laundry and knows just what clothes not to dry. He cleans your car and makes sure the oil has been changed recently. He always asks if there's anything you need. He's always willing. He's been used and abused over the years by seven ladies. But to be honest, I don't think he'd have it any other way. To one of the most selfless and loving dad's around, happy birthday!

Ingrid

2010-11-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday Dallin and I met our friends Tari and Cheryl at In the Venue for a little night music. Ingrid Michaelson was playing. Luckily I can always count on either Darby and/or Dallin to go to concerts with me. And let me just say that this was a fabulous concert. I was going to buy my ticket at the door, but as fate would have it, as Dallin and I were driving to the concert my friend Heidi Belnap sent me a text asking if I wanted two tickets to Ingrid. What luck! She was sick and couldn't go so I got to capitalize...The line was forever long and we were frozen by the time we got in, but our fingers thawed and our hearts melted as we all realized that if Ingrid lived by us, we would totally be friends. She is a rare talent. I'm pretty sure she has perfect pitch and she puts on a heck of a show. If you don't know Ingrid, get to know her. You will not be disappointed. http://www.ingridmichaelson.com/music/

Blessed with Twins

2010-05-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

Today is the 27th birthday for Darby and Dallin. To me they still seem like they are 13. I've always taken great pride in the fact that I have twin sisters. Melissa wasn't the typical bossy older sister, so apparently I felt the need to fill the role. Darby and Dallin have endured years of being bossed around. It was really nice having two little ones to "help" out with things. (Finally a little help around here...) It got worse for them in college. Everyone at USU knew who they were before their freshman year. They were basically the best known "twins" on campus. There wasn't an SAA meeting where the phrase, "the twins can do it" wasn't used. And the twins always did do it! They have been such good sports about their older sister always volunteering them for the following: babysitting, races, ironing, sandwich making, note card typing, mowing the lawn, household repairs, etc.

They are alike in so many ways, and so different at the same time. Darby has a quick wit and some serious PE skills. Once Darby decides she's going to do something, there is no stopping her. She has some serious focus and dedication. She is an excellent role model for the kids she has taught and I am so impressed by her leadership as a coach and teacher. Not to mention some pretty amazing tan lines....

Dallin on the other hand is a walking fountain of knowledge. She loves learning and is in the know about pretty much everything. She has the ability to read the news, form her own opinions and not come across as a know-it-all, when in fact she really does know it all. She has great faith and is innately good. It's not hard to be good around Dallin, she brings that out in anyone.

The twins have been two of my greatest blessings. Heavenly Father definitely knew that someone like me, needed each of them.

Happy birthday to my twins! Love you!

Lucky!

2009-10-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

I am a lucky girl. I just celebrated my 30th birthday and can I just say how lucky I am to have so many incredible people in my life! I got phone calls, text messages, Facebook wall posts...I was definitely feeling the love. My fabulous roommate Lacey bought me a one way ticket to St. George so I could spend some time with friends who were running the marathon. We watched/slept through conference (don't worry, we'll read everything we missed), had a tasty dinner and got pedicures. Could the weekend be any better? I submit that it cannot. Then on Sunday I had dinner with the family, play with the nieces and shared some laughs. Then to top it all off, I came home to a house full of friends! Lacey, still being her fabulous self, arranged with Dallin to have a surprise party! And she did all of this planning during her own birthday week. Not to mention hosting a party the day after she ran 26.2 miles. She's one incredible person. Everyone should have a friend like Lacey. And if you do, you should consider yourself LUCKY!

To Whom It May Concern....

2009-10-07T09:58:00.001-07:00

To whom it may concern:

Please remember to shut the gate to the dumpster. Backing into the gate in the wee hours of the morning (9:00 am is wee to me people) is not my ideal way to start the day. I now have a well-accentuated white stripe on the bumper. It doesn't help that I had previously backed into a railing while working at HAFB and impacted the same spot on said bumper. The white is a nice touch.....

Sincerely,

Erin Cowles
2893 S. Nibley Garden Place

Get back in the box, you girl!

2009-07-21T10:04:00.000-07:00

So last Wednesday night business time had a softball game. We were losing 20-4. Team morale was pretty low. It was our turn to bat. The other team had just switched out pitchers. The relief pitcher for the other team traditionally doesn't play pitch.....this became evident when in the course of switching out the balls (girls hit a smaller ball, boys hit the softball in co-ed slow pitch) homeboy hurled the softball, which turned out to be not so soft, and nailed me right in the face. I'm not quite sure who he was throwing it to, because as I was walking up to the plate I looked at the catcher and umpire. Neither was paying attention, both were engaged in a jovial conversation. Everyone is at fault here, I wasn't paying attention to the ball being thrown at my face. Nomo didn't realize it wasn't the world series and was still bringing the heat. And, the catcher and ump might as well have been sitting down to tea with each other. The irony in all of this: I've played catcher for the last 3 years and have yet to get hit by the ball. Then while going up to bat, not even in the box waiting for a pitch, I take one to the face. Luckily, nothing is broken, just my spirit. I kid, I kid. It was just a matter of time before it happened, let's be honest. Special thanks to Becca for taking me to the ER; Jenner, Joel, Ben and the twins for their support in the waiting room and exam room; and to the lovely ER staff, I definitely felt like a priority after being there for 4 hours.

Really though, I do count myself lucky to walk away with a black eye and a big bruise. It could have been much worse. I'll walk it off.

People are great and random

2009-05-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

First random happening: Today on the way to work I pass a mini van with a pretty sweet bumper sticker. It spells the F-word, but in place of the vowel there is a skull with cross bones. Following the F-word is cancer. These people have strong feelings of hatred towards cancer, can't say as I blame them. The irony of it all, it's an elderly couple driving the van, with pops smoking a cig in the front seat....Hello?

Second random happening: On my way back from lunch I stopped at the Rite Aid for some essentials. I'm standing over by the paper goods, which also happens to be right by the cat food. Enter Shirley. Shirley is a little old lady with facial hair that would put most pre-teens to shame and some grown men. She's missing her top teeth and has stringy salt and pepper hair. Bless her heart. She turns and asks my name with a handshake, tells me first I look pretty, then that I am pretty. Shirley then tells me her mother died in 1939, her husband in 1959. Her second husband was gay, but she didn't know it. He died of AIDS. I'm not quite sure how to react to sweet Shirley, so I tell her I'm sorry and to have a good day.

I love people.

Another Fallen Soldier

2008-12-17T11:41:00.000-08:00

It is with great sadness that I write that my sweet Gus passed away yesterday morning. The poor thing was in bad shape so it is a blessing that he is no longer in pain. He was really such a sweet dog. I'm really going to miss my Gus coming to meet me at my car when I pull up to mom and dad's. That's the thing with pets, you get attached and when they pass away, it takes a little piece of your heart. Rest in peace Gus. You are loved and missed!

Let's Be H

2008-12-10T15:00:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite terms while living on Kensington Avenue was "let's be H" translated means, let's be honest. That my friends is what I'm talking about today. Since moving to Salt Lake I have tried a new dentist and a new mechanic for the sake of convenience. Because said dentist and said mechanic were not H with me, I have decided that I will make the somewhat inconvenient journey to Ogden to my honest dentist and honest mechanic. The dishonest dentist and mechanic in Salt Lake can waste someone else's time. Dr. Shaw and Grant's Service, I thank you for being H.

"Seriously So Blessed"

2008-10-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

I decided to name this post in honor of Darby's favorite way to waste time. But, I must say, I am seriously so blessed.

Blessed because I have incredible people around me every day. Friends, family, co-workers, roommates.

Blessed to have 28 years under my belt. How's that for experience? And the best part is, I'm not even half way done!

Dear man who holds my heart:

2008-07-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you for one of the greatest nights of my life. Not only was your singing magical, your guitar-playing kick-A and your looks oh so hot, but you gave the people what they wanted; you!

Thank you sisters for being so much fun and for coming to the concert! I can't imagine who else I would want to spend the night with John with!

Thank you Colbie for starting the night off right with your sweet tunes!

Thank you USANA Amphitheater for bringing John back. Let's not wait until the next family reunion to get together again!

Monday Monday

2008-03-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

I just want to say thank you to this Monday. It has been probably one of the best Mondays I've had in a very long time. Although I didn't do my hair this morning, I did accomplish the following:

made my bed

lunch with 3 favorite friends

received link to new music from my music pimp Shaner

accomplished mucho at work

ended the day with a smile

I'm calling in ugly

2008-03-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

So last night I had the genius idea to wax my face. "The eyebrows; thin and separate, there should be two". I bought some Carefree wax strips, on sale, and started on my upper lip. Part of the preparation involves using the lotion that comes with the package and contains lidocaine for numbing. The lotion, apparently, is a very important step. Do NOT skip this step. Well, I skipped this step and now I am missing a layer of skin just to the left of my lip. To make matters worse, I had a 7:00 am dentist appointment that left the rest of my lower face red, stretched out and numb. Needless to say, I'm not having a pretty day. I should have called in ugly.

I have a blog?!

2008-03-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

So, I didn't even know/remember that I had started a blog. Shows you how much I like to write about the happenings in my life or share my thoughts and feelings with the world. I guess since I do have one, I could start putting a few things out there.

I feel like I would be playing catch up with a lot of "happenings" at this point, so I won't backtrack, I'll just start in the present.

Yesterday was my sweet friend Lex's birthday. We've shared many a birthday party together, but I would have to say that yesterday, and maybe the trip to Disneyland are the two that stand out the most. So, last night we had a little bonfire to celebrate Lex's 33 birthday. The boys planned it, I should give the credit where credit is due. Any who, the group was out at Lone Rock, just off of I-80, by the Saltair Marina. After being there for an hour we were informed that we were trespassing, that someone from our party had "broken in" the gate and that a police officer was on the way to check things out.

While waiting for the police, we talked to the park rangers, John Johnson, aka Vickie, and he informed us that we had chosen the "worst" place to have a bonfire. "This stretch of I-80 attracts all kinds of weirdos because it's the roadway for the East/West corridor." Vickie went on to tell us about the gangs, drug paraphernalia and bodies that had been found in the area where were bonfiring. Long story short, the officer was cool. He did bring his shotgun stating, "Any time I get called out here, I always bring my shotgun." Very reassuring. They told us we were welcome to come back any time, just to make arrangements before.

I don't know about you, but I think that might be my last bonfire on the East/West corridor now that I am well informed.

Happy Birthday Lex! It was another memorable one!

Blogging

2007-02-23T09:06:00.000-08:00

This is my inaugural blog. Very exciting. I'm not quite sure if it should say something earth-shaking or profound, so for now I will call it what it is: a blog. I don't really have much to contribute for my first time, but it's mine so I can probably write whatever I want, right? My sisters actually peaked my interest with the whole blogging thing; so, I am taking the first step. (mostly so I can make comments on their blogs :)