Hair Cut

Yesterday, Andrew entered a realm of insanity. Okay not really. But he did let me cut his hair. You may say, "Thamina I didn't know you cut hair." I don't (hence his insanity). But Andrew doesn't believe in paying someone to cut his hair if he can find someone willing to do it for free. Enter me.

The last time Andrew got a hair cut I watched what the hairdresser did so I could replicate it. Then I watched some YouTube videos to remind me what I had learned. When I got to his place, I realized we only had clippers so I ran to the store and bought some real hair cutting scissors. I admit I was completely nervous. I didn't want to mess up his hair. But after 45 minutes, I was finished and I hadn't completely ruined his hair and had only snipped myself three times. Blending was the worst part of the job but my sister-in-law Kaylene gave me some tips for next time. I realize I'm a perfectionist. I keep looking at his hair, examining what I did, and figuring out how to improve because I realize I have many years of hair cuts a head of me.

Parcheesi

Parcheesi is a great game of strategy and luck of the dice. The goal is to block your opponents, to send them back to start if possible, and to make it safely home before anyone else. I loved this game! As I drive back and forth from work, I find many drivers miss playing Parcheesi so much they decide it should be played on the freeways. They create barricades forcing you to go slower than you want and yes sometimes that is actually below the official speed limit. My "favorite" move is when someone feels the need to move into your lane disrupting your constant driving speed. Seriously?! No one was in front of that car! Then I remember some are still playing the game. They block your move, slow you down, so they can make it home before you. Make it past the blockade and you will have smooth sailing the rest of your drive...that is until you hit the next barricade. :)

PS - I like creating metaphors for driving. One day I'll post how I-80 in Nevada is like playing Pac Man.

Come, Come Ye Saints

Is this how the pioneers felt after crossing the plains?

Mormon Messages

I love the "Mormon Messages" the LDS Church has posted on YouTube. They are inspiring and are able to lift your spirits in just minutes. How grateful I am for words of living prophets and apostles for they bring hope, peace, and a sustained assurance in the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Plain Brown Box

To the world, I am a plain brown box
I am simple, even boring
I look uninviting and predictable.
But I am more than a plain brown box.
Inside I am a world of possibilities.
I am the spirit of adventure who has
smelled the streets of Moscow
breathed the air of the Alps
yet desires to explore more;
I want to feel the history of Jerusalem
swim in the seas of Santorini
explore the walls of China.
I am the serenity of the earth who has
looked into the sky with amazement
watched a sunset in awe
yet wants others to see what I see;
I want you to see the stars fall from the sky
view the majesty and quiet of the mountains
listen to the waves crash softly on the shore.
I am not just the calm before the storm. I am the storm who has
felt the passions and emotions of life
cried with many and for many
protected the young, old, innocent, and vulnerable
yet I too feel weathered by the storm
tossed to and fro by the waves
broken and bruised by the wind
strengthened and supported by the fire.
To you who see me as a plain brown box,
take a step and peer inside
I am more than what you see.

Poetry

I love the poems my friend posts on her blog and I wanted to share her latest with all of you.

Love
by Czeslaw Milosz

Love means to learn to look at yourself
The way one looks at distant things
For you are only one thing among many.
And whoever sees that way heals his heart,
Without knowing it, from various ills--
A bird and a tree say to him: Friend.

Then he wants to use himself and things
So that they stand in the glow of ripeness.
It doesn't matter whether he knows what he serves:
Who serves best doesn't always understand.

Short recap

I can tell people really want details based on the amount of traffic my blog is getting. So to procrastinate getting ready for bed, I'll give you the short recap with minimal girl insights.

Saturday Andrew asked me to get "prettied up" for the night because we were going to dinner and a play. I usually dress up anyway but when I asked if I should wear skirt, pants, or nice jeans and he said "skirt", I thought something might be up. We went to dinner at PF Changs, a place I had never been before. Great food! Then went to Costco to pick up food for a dinner group we are both part of. I was in charge and wouldn't have time to go on Monday. At Costco he asked me to pick out some flowers. I thought to myself that if he were going to propose I wanted roses. Truthfully he was going to propose at Costco (that is where we were first introduced to one another) with the flowers but accidentally left the ring in the car. So according to him, he had to rethink his plan. Next we went to the play The Giver. Most of you have read the book and know it isn't that depressing. Well, the play was awfully depressing! I'm glad he didn't propose right before because that would have been such a downer on the play. After the play we went back to his place where his roommate was throwing a "French Night" party. My thought was after that horrible play there is no way he will propose. However, right before curfew he asked if I wanted to go star gazing. We went to the base of Y Mountain and found a rock to sit on as we enjoyed the view. After talking for a bit he told me he talked to my dad that afternoon, pulled out a ring, and asked me to marry him. I was caught off guard with the ring because we hadn't gone shopping together. What he had done was gone to Walmart and picked out a nice "fake" ring that I could wear until we bought a "real" one. Truth be told, I'm getting attached to my fake ring and I'll probably continue to wear it on my right hand after we pick out a "real" one. I loved that he wanted to surprise me! The picture below shows the roses he bought at Costco and the ring he used to propose. Hopefully that recap is sufficient.