CRAZY!!!

The morning receptionist at work is marrying a man tonight who proposed to her yesterday. They met on LDSPlanet (an online dating service), have known each other a month and have had one date. They'll be married tonight by her uncle who is a Baptist minister and will be married for about a week before he's shipped off to boot camp for four months.

I actually met the guy on Thursday prior to the proposal. He came half-way through the CFF luncheon and had he been in a shirt and tie as opposed to the short-sleeved t-shirt which showed off his tattooed arms, he would've just blended in with the crowd. On my way back to the office, he rode in the same elevator. I asked how he knew the Davises and his slurred reply was, "I'm here to really see Stacie. She told me that there's free food upstairs and came to look at the view." Hmmm ....Anyone else seeing a gazzilion red flags popping up in this situation?

Update: Got an email from the firm this (Monday) morning at work congratulating said receptionist on her "engagement" instead of wedding. The wedding date is still pending. I'm guessing that some sense got knocked into her when she announced the hasty engagement/marriage to her family.

Eloping to Vegas

No, not me and no elopement either ... The last time I was in Vegas, my friend, Dave, took me to the Hilton to see the Star Trek bar. We walked by this ad and I just had to take a picture of it. Who knew that it'll come in handy to recommend to a co-worker who is going to Vegas with her boyfriend tomorrow for a long weekend. We've teased her about really going there to elope. I told her about the ad for a Star Trek wedding. I'm thinking with the movie coming out soon, they can go see it to celebrate. How can you not want an "out of this world wedding" performed by a Borg?

Thanks for calling ...

I was feeling a bit under the weather this weekend, but I am much better and back to work. There is still some achiness and coughing, but for the most part my voice is back and I am looking forward to tasting food again. Thanks to all who took the time to call or email to check up on me.

Hawaiian Foods

Last week, I met Joe and Carma, for some Hawaiian food at the South end of the valley at Lanikai Grill (10600 South 1072 West, South Jordan, UT). I arrived earlier than my friends and within the few minutes there managed to "make frenz" with the owner and his luau catering partner. They sat with me while waiting for Carma and Joe and chatted about island life. One of them brought to the table the chicken curry dish for his dinner. It looks and smells so good! But the curry will have to wait another day. I was disappointed that they ran out of Otai, but was quite happy that they were willing to make some fresh musubis (SPAM, Chicken Katsu, and Teriyaki Chicken) for me to take home (which sustained me through the weekend as I sequestered myself to do my taxes). Based on a friend's recommendation (her uncle owns the restaurant), we ordered the Half & Half (Chicken Katsu/Garlic Chicken) Plate. It was very good and I'll definitely order it again. The owner was also kind enough to bring out a sample of their Shoyu Chicken and Teriyaki Beef for the Browns and me to sample towards the end of our meal. Thanks, Carma and Joe, for being so gracious and willing to stay at the table and make new frenz with a couple of strangers!

Now, if you're North of the valley, I highly recommend Mo' Bettah Steaks (273 West 500 South, Bountiful, UT). You can't be disappointed with their Teriyaki Mix Plate (steak and chicken) and I also like their kalua pork. Ono-licious!!! I know that the owners are considering a menu change. As this restaurant is closer to home for me, I'm rooting that they'll add Shoyu Chicken, Katsu, Musubis, Loco Moco, etc.

I Want Your Money!

I sequestered myself to get the taxes done this weekend. I was awful this past year and had not organized my papers, so I spent quite a bit of time sorting through piles looking for everything tax related.

The good news, I'm getting a federal refund (YAY!!!). The bad news, I owe state taxes (BOO!!!). At least I'm only having to pay $50 to the State of Utah, so that's not too bad, and I'm getting a bit more in my refund -- not enough to pad my accounts the way I like it, but it's more than what I have to pay.

Of course, I promptly e-filed the federal tax forms, but I'm waiting to send the check to the great State of Utah until tomorrow.

Bananas

I bought a few bananas over the weekend and had one as a mid-morning snack today. No sooner had I finished my banana, my ears and throat started itching … really bad! So, I did some googling … according to the MyAllergyNetwork.com, "If you get an itchy throat or mouth, especially after eating fresh fruit or vegetables AND it gets worse during high-pollen times of year, you may be suffering from oral allergy syndrome." ARGH!!!! I don't want to have to give up this, one of my favorite fruits. I guess this means that I'll have to get my dose of bananas in other things like breads, pies, puddings, pancakes ... just not raw bananas ... not that that's a bad thing ...

On a side note, did I ever tell you about the time my mom and brother fed me two bananas in my sleep? Growing up in Indonesia, there was a variety show our family loved to watch. The only problem was that it came on past my bed time. My parents usually let us (the children) watch it if we napped in the afternoon. On this particular occasion, I didn't take that afternoon nap and I was, of course, really tired that evening. So, I made my family promise that they would wake me in time for the show and went off to bed. I awoke the next morning quite upset that they didn't wake me for the show. I imagine the conversation at breakfast went something like this ...

Inge: Why didn't you wake me? I really wanted to see that show last night. :(
Mom: You slept so soundly, we just didn't have the heart to wake you ... by the way, what did you dream about last night?
Inge: I had a dream that I was a monkey ... and I was in the jungle ... and I found a bunch of sweet bananas in the trees ... How did you know I had a dream?
Family: HAHAHA!!! HAHAHA!!!
Inge: What? What's going on?
Mom: Did monkey eat some bananas?
Inge: Yeah … why?
Harry: Mom and I came in to wake you and you were mumbling about bananas and wanting some, so we got you two bananas and fed it to you in your sleep.