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| This was the coolest "Just Married" car decorating job ever! |
I am not naturally domestic... When I received a calling as "Homemaking" counselor at church (back in the day), my family and friends laughed. I am not crafty. My idea of making homemade bread is using the Rhodes frozen rolls. It even took me several attempts to figure out how to make those. If I have anything that needs to me hemmed, repaired, or otherwise mended with a needle and thread, I pass it off to Mom.
But for some reason, the past few weeks have brought out a new side in me...
For Charlotte's birthday party, I had the girls make cute frames to take home. And with Charlotte's thank you note, we included a picture of the girls to put in it. Scott was so disappointed he didn't get to make a frame that we had to go get more stuff for him to make his own. Frames are $1 at Michaels and we bought scrapbook stickers to decorate after paining. Go ahead and say it -- SHE'S CRAFTY! (Beastie Boys)
Then the other day, Charlotte brought a bread pan to me and asked to make bread. Why not? So I did, and it turned out pretty good for someone paranoid of yeast. The first loaf looked like this:
And the second one looked like this. Don't ask what happened. There is room for improvement, but I was very proud of my first attempt.
I tore out some boring bushes and Scott, Charlotte and I planted all these beautiful flowers.
Our garden is all planted and our seeds are starting to grow.
And I am now obsessed with the world of coupons! Thanks to my friends and some very helpful blogs I follow, I am saving a ton of money and my pantry, freezer and bathrooms are STOCKED! I know my stockpile would be put to shame by some of my friends, but I'm getting there! Anyone need body wash? I probably have 7 or 8 bottles that were all free. Same with Windex. It is fun game to play, and rewarding to get so much stuff for so little!
And if you are wondering what has gotten into me, no - I am not pregnant. There is no explanation for this madness, but I don't expect it to last forever.
When Cindy, Jeff and I were kids, at some point a conversation like this took place with my mom:
"Mom, there's nothing to eat in the house."
"Sure there is. You just aren't looking."
"OK. We have mustard, oatmeal and ice."
So ever since then, whenever the refrigerator gets especially bare, we will say, "We have TONS of food. There is mustard, oatmeal and ice."
We reached the point of mustard, oatmeal and ice this week. I was going to take a picture of my bare refrigerator, but the drawers and shelves were so dirty it would have been embarrassing. I had no bread, no vegetables, no fruit (not even in cans), no yogurt, and just a teeny bit of milk left.
So I finally went shopping last night. But as I was leaving I asked Holly (my wonderful sister-in-law who is staying with us for a little while) if she wanted me to pick up anything. And here was that conversation:
Holly: "Sure. I will make 7-layer bars if you can get coconut, chocolate and butterscotch chips, sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup, graham crackers and pecans."
Me: "Um, I think I have all of that stuff here at home."
So I have absolutely NO fruit or vegetables in the house, but I just happen to have every random ingredient for these fabulous cookies. What does that say about me?
Some of you may know that besides my full-time job of being Mom to Scott, Charlotte and Trevor, I work part-time for a company called SAS. The brief description of SAS is that it is data analytic software. Any industry you can imagine uses SAS to work with data, including creating reports, extracting information, and complex analytics. My specific job is that I write and teach classes for SAS. For more details about what I do, look at this post from a few years ago.
Today is a big day for our company because SAS was voted #1 as the best company to work for in Fortune magazine. Click here for the full article. And I would totally agree with this assessment. SAS has been an amazing company to work for during the past 9 years. The benefits are terrific and I do feel like they understand that family comes before work. My manager in particular is wonderful and has been willing to accommodate me and all my major life changes, including marriage, moving and 3 kids. Oh, and I also truly believe in the quality of our product, as do the rest of our employees and customers. I feel pretty lucky to work for SAS!
My birthday was a month ago, so this post is LONG overdue... We got back from Arizona, and waiting for me on my answering machine were about 13 messages from friends calling to wish me a happy birthday! And then I got on my computer and I couldn't believe all the email and Facebook messages from TONS of people also remembering my birthday. And if that wasn't enough to make me feel loved, my dear Friday lunch friends gave me a Cocoa Latte machine with super yummy hot chocolate! 
Today was cold and rainy so it was the perfect time to break out the Cocoa Latte and enjoy candy cane hot chocolate... There was a tiny moment today when I wished it was snowing outside while I was inside enjoying my fabulous birthday gift. So THANK YOU to all my wonderful friends for making my birthday special!
I'm feeling like posting a little something about me... So how about a little discussion of favorite commercials?
My absolute FAVORITE was one that came on during the NCAA basketball tournament this year. You have to know a little something about college basketball to get how totally hilarious this commercial is... I remember watching it for the first time, and with each coach that appears I thought, "Seriously? How did they get him to do this?" I especially like to watch Coach K in the background when he starts rockin' out:
There was a similar one that included some pretty big sports names. It gets my second place vote because I hate Kobe, and nothing could be funnier than Bobby Knight throwing the drums:
So what is your favorite commercial?
In an effort to have a positive attitude during my last month of pregnancy, I thought I should document the things I enjoy about being pregnant:
1) My hair looks GREAT! It is super thick and feels SO healthy. I can't remember the last time I ran my fingers through my hair and one came out...
2) I have an instant conversation starter with nice people I don't know who are just curious how far along I am, how many kids I have, etc.
3) I eat all the time, whatever I want, and don't feel one bit guilty about it.
4) My skin also feels fabulous and no cruel adult acne...
5) My Gap maternity jeans. Love 'em.
6) I have very crazy, often entertaining dreams that I can usually remember when I wake up.
7) I do not feel guilty when I am so tired in the afternoon that I just lay on the couch while Scott plays the Wii.
8) The hair on my legs completely stops growing.
9) How could I forget... I am going to be able to stay in the hospital for 4 days! I LOVE the hospital!
10) Friends and family are genuinely excited and interested in this wonderful event in our family.
Now just pray for me that I can go to bed and get a decent night sleep :)
Yes, I know I still need to post my Christmas pictures, but I got distracted with this idea... My friend Nicole did this on her blog, so I stole it from her. I have listed 10 of my favorite movie quotes. Can you guess what movie they are from? If you want to try this for yourself, use imbd.com to find quotes. You will see from my list I haven't seen many movies since, um, the 80s. I have posted the answers as a comment:
1) I'm your density. I mean... your destiny.
2) I hated her, so much... it-it- the f - it -flam - flames. Flames, on the side of my face, breathing-breathl- heaving breaths. Heaving breath...
3) You're five foot nothin', a hundred and nothin' and you hung in with the best college football team in the land for two years...
4) You know a lot of people go to college for seven years.... I know, they're called doctors.
5) I want to do something for her... but what? Well, there's the usual things: flowers... chocolates... promises you don't intend to keep...
6) I... had an experience... I can't prove it, I can't even explain it, but everything that I know as a human being, everything that I am tells me that it was real! I was given something wonderful, something that changed me forever... A vision... of the universe, that tells us, undeniably, how tiny, and insignificant and how... rare, and precious we all are! A vision that tells us that we belong to something that is greater then ourselves, that we are *not*, that none of us are alone! I wish... I... could share that... I wish, that everyone, if only for one... moment, could feel... that awe, and humility, and hope. But... That continues to be my wish.
7) I love you.... I know.
8) Oh, he's very popular Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, waistoids, dweebies - they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude.
9) I see you're drinking 1%. Is that 'cause you think you're fat? 'Cause you're not. You could be drinking whole if you wanted to.
10) You better get married soon. You're starting to look... old!
This is hysterical! Go to http://www.yearbookyourself.com/ and try it out! Here is what I might have looked (or did look) like in years past:
1990: My hair for junior high graduation looked pretty much just like this...
I first picked it up, commenting that it looked like a dress Mrs. Roper would wear (if you know who Mrs. Roper is, then you totally know what I am talking about). But when the sales lady said I needed to try it on, I was shocked at how cute it was! And by the way, the girl in the photo must be 6'3", because it is not nearly as short on me.
We arrived home to tired but happy husbands and kids on Satuday night around 8:30pm. We all agreed this needs to be an annual, if not bi-annual, event. Thanks to the Lauries and Amy for joining the party and helping me have SO much fun!
Monday was such a great day... We left the kids with a babysitter and escaped for the day to beautiful Lake Tahoe! Fortunately I was feeling pretty good that day, which may it easy to enjoy the quiet, peaceful drive and the gorgeous scenery. We stopped at Emerald Bay, Sugarpine Point to see a spectacular old mansion and walk along the lake, and then finished with a fabulous dinner at Sunnyside on the west side of the lake. Not a bad way to celebrate our 7th anniversary!
Here you go, Liz! Here are my answers:
1-What were you doing 10 years ago? I had just finished my first and only year of teaching high school math (enough for me!) and was one month into my master’s program. I had been home from my mission for a year and was feeling like I was the OLDEST single female in Provo…
2-What are 5 things on your "to-do" list today? Today was a “ME” day! 1) Go to the gym. 2) Take the kids to the library. 3) Go get my hair cut and colored. 4) Go shopping with Laurie! 5) Straighten up the house (didn’t happen, but my hair looks great and I bought some fabulous clothes!).
3-Snacks I enjoy? Dried mangoes from CostCo are awesome!
4-Places I've lived? Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Stockton, Lake of the Pines, Provo, London, Argentina, New Jersey, back to Palo Alto, Mountain View, Roseville - in that order.
5-What are five things you would do if you had a billion dollars? I could answer “Buy world peace”, but that would be boring. Here are the fun things I would do: 1) Buy the Sacramento Kings and make them good again 2) Buy a place on Maui 3) Buy a house with a spectacular back yard, including a pool with a massive water slide. 4) Build an In-and-Out in Provo (and make another billion dollars) 5) Do laser hair removal.
A couple of weeks ago I received one of those "Tag, you're it" emails from one of my most wonderful friends (I did it, Keri!) asking me to answer a few questions about myself. So here are my responses!
Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Human Anatomy TA (ask me about the time I had to use a turkey baster to keep the cadavers moist...)
2. Statistical consultant for the Men's USA and BYU men's volleyball teams (BYU won the national championship after my research. I like to think I deserve at least SOME credit.)
3. High school math teacher (I was paid less than $5/hour to teach pre-calculus. Sad. My students made more working at Jamba Juice.)
4. Statistician for Intel (I just danced around in the bunny suit in the clean room, like the old commercial.)
Four movies I would watch over and over again:
1. Tommy Boy ("Fat man in a little coat" just never gets old)
2. Rudy (I cry each time!)
3. Napoleon Dynamite (I love that my sister-in-law is from Preston, ID and her sisters and mom are in the movie! Sweet!)
4. Christmas Vacation (Some families reenact the Nativity on Christmas Eve. We watch Christmas Vacation.)
Four places I have lived:
1. Lake of the Pines, CA (Go LOP!)
2. London (with my wonderful roommate, Liz)
3. Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (Off the southern tip of South America, further south than the penguins.)
4. Westfield, NJ (America's best kept secret: NJ is beautiful, other than the Turnpike.)
T.V. Shows that I watch:
1. The Office (Favorite episode: the basketball game)
2. Oprah (Yes, I am a girl)
3. Dora the Explorer (not by choice)
4. Charlie and Lola (I'd watch it even if my kids didn't)
Four Places I have been in 2007:
1. Maui (without kids!)
2. Cary, NC (To the SAS mothership)
3. Pasadena, CA (For the Syphi Family Christmas Extravaganza)
4. Boston, MA (To see Cindy and watch the crazy Sox fans)
Four of my favorite foods:
1. Pumpkin pie (Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer)
2. Chicken Madeira from Cheesecake Factory (I'm counting down the days until the CF opens in Roseville)
3. Fillet Mignon (Although I really hate the name of the restaurant, Ruth's Chris Steak House serves the most amazing fillet...)
4. Pumpkin pie, again (Food of the gods)
Four places I would like to be right now:
1. Shopping (anywhere)
2. Italy (with Drew as my tour guide and translator)
3. Tahiti, in one of those bungalows over the perfect, turquoise water (with Polynesian guys in a canoe bringing us fresh tropical fruit each morning for breakfast)
4. In bed, since it is 11:30pm (But when else can I work on my blog?)
Things I am looking forward to in 2008:
1. Christmas with the whole Evers family together, hopefully in Mom & Dad's sweet new house
2. Going back to West Point in fall for Drew's 15th reunion
3. Trip to Maui (already happened!)
4. The day when BOTH kids sleep through the night!
Anyone learn anything new about me?
I actually remember as a kid my parents once going to a 60s party with their friends. I thought the 60s were like ancient history. Well, last night was our turn to relive our glory days at an 80s party! Famous guests included Billy Idol, Devo, George Michael, Sunny from Miami Vice (that was Drew) and women wearing enough hairspray to double the size of any hole in the ozone layer.
Unfortunately in this photo of Drew and I you cannot see how high my bangs and side ponytail were. But the gummy bracelets, acid-washed jeans, two pair of colored socks and Candies hi-tops should be hard to miss. And I am proud to report that NONE of my outfit actually belonged to me in the 80s, but I can't say I didn't wear a similar outfit back in the day...
My acquaintances know I have a job, other than being Mom... My friends know I teach and do something with numbers... My good friends and family know I work for a company called SAS and teach something about data... But that is probably about all anybody (including my mother) understands about my career. So if you have ever thought, "SAS? Is that the shoe company? Or maybe a European airline?" and are curious as to what my job is, read on!
SAS is the oldest and largest privately-held software company in the US. It was started by a couple of guys at North Carolina State who needed a tool to analyze some agricultural data. SAS originally stood for "Statistical Analysis Software" but since the software now does so much than just statisics, the acronym was officially dropped. Here are more details on the history of the company: http://www.sas.com/presscenter/bgndr_history.html
I was first introduced to SAS during my first semester in graduate school. I was told I had to take a class to learn the SAS programming language. I just about dropped out of the program right then and there because the idea of writing code truly freaked me out. But I learned in the world of statistics, there are a bunch of smaller, semi-helpful software programs out there to analyze data, and then there is SAS - the granddaddy of them all. Any career in statistics will most likely include a solid foundation in writing SAS code.
So I took the class and did fine, but really had no clue what I was doing. But since that experience, I learned in the real-world how SAS is used in just about every industry you can imagine. My internship during grad school was with AT&T, and I was asked to analyze a model that would predict how likely customers were to accept offers for additional services. SAS was the only tool I could use to collect the various types of data I needed and do the analysis to answer the question. I used SAS in my master's project to analyze data for the BYU and USA men's volleyball teams to help them determine those skills that were most predictive of a win. At my first job with Intel, I used SAS to help the engineers determine if the tools they were using to make the masks (think of a mask as a photo negative used to etch a pattern on a silicon wafer that will eventually become a computer chip) were accurate and clean. One of my specific tasks at Intel was to set up a SAS program that would flag masks that officially passed inspection, but has some unusual measurements. My knowledge of SAS had improved significantly, but I asked to go take some advanced training classes up in San Francisco to help develop this program.
As I sat in class, I thought, "This guy (the instructor) has such a great job. He gets to teach interesting stuff to different people from every type of work you can imagine." After class, I asked a SAS employee in the lobby for directions back to the freeway. Turns out he was also a SAS instructor and was a very friendly, chatty guy. Through our conversation, I learned that SAS was looking to hire another instructor in SF. I said I was definitely interested in finding out more, and he passed that on to the instructor for my class, who was the western regional manager for SAS Education. The next day after class, I had an informal interview. A few weeks later when the position officially opened, I did a more formal (but still pretty easy) interview and was hired!
That was 6 years ago. I absolutely love what I do... Now I teach and write classes for SAS part-time. My managers have been extremely supportive through the major life changes I have gone through since my hire date, including marriage, 2 pregnancies and a move. Some of my classes are on-line and I can teach from home. Other classes are in a traditional classroom, but most of the time they are local here in Sacramento. And when I work, my mom is my babysitter! It couldn't be a better arrangement. I have taught students from all over the world and from every industry you can image.
I doubt anybody has read this far, but if you have, thanks for reading while I ramble on about my job! And if you want any cool stuff with the SAS logo on it, just let me know. Here's my little bio on our website: http://support.sas.com/training/us/instructors.html#s
