Isn't it Ironic? No, probably not.

Don't you love this song?

I think it's great, BUT unfortunately, has perpetuated the incorrect use of the word ironic.  

Now let's be honest, I can't spell, I don't have perfect grammar, and there are grammar mistakes in this very blog, BUT I have decided I will learn the meaning of the word ironic, and use it correctly from now on.  

So, here's the English lesson for the day (well according the internet, correct me if I'm wrong, please!)

There are three types of irony.  Verbal, dramatic, and situational.

VERBAL:

I like to think of verbal irony as sarcasm without the intent of ridicule or mocking.  It's that remark that has an opposite intent of it's literal meaning.

For example, if you were trying to be ironic on a stormy, dreary day, you might say: “What glorious weather!”

Or if you were suffering from a bad cold, you might ironically say: “I feel like a million bucks.”

DRAMATIC:

This is in speeches or a drama and is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play. 

SITUATIONAL: 

This is the kind that I think is most misused and is my goal to use correctly.

Let's start with what situational irony is NOT:

It is not: 

• coincidence “This is the third time today we’ve run into each other. How ironic.”
• curiosity "That dog is mothering that cat, ironic."
• oddity “Yesterday was a beautiful, warm day in November. It was really ironic.”
• paradox "I've slept all day, and I now so tired.  How ironic."
• bad luck "winning the lottery and dropping dead the next day, meeting the man of your dreams and then meeting his beautiful wife." Insert Alanis song here.

It is:

An occasion where the outcome or intention of the action is significantly different from what was expected or considered appropriate.

Example 1:  I was watching The Voice tonight (yeah, I know, make fun), and Christina Aguilera made a comment about how she didn't like a contestants song because it's degrating to women.  I thought, that's ironic because you sing about and act as an object.  You yourself objectify women. 

Example 2:  A man takes a step aside to avoid getting sprinkled by a wet dog, and falls into a swimming pool.  (See it can be funny, but it also has to have a parallel)

I don't know if any of this makes sense, but hopefully I can use the word correctly in the future.  And don't worry, if you use the word incorrectly in my ear shot, I will not correct you.  I might smile, but I won't correct you ;)

References: 

http://hotword.dictionary.com/ironic/    

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/isnt-it-ironic-probably-not/   

http://grammar.about.com/od/tz/g/situationalironyterm.htm  

More Memories, but with Saving Space

A while back I posted pictures of items that had sentimental value, wrote why they were meaningful and then I threw them away. A digital record of memories. Well it's time again to clean out a box of memories.  (moving does that to you)

Marine Bear: Craig gave this to me when he left for Iraq. We dated off and on when I live in Orem in 2007. He was a dedicated Marine and even took me to the Marine Ball! He's home safely now.

Mascarade Masks: Mom helped me make these decorations for my mascerade ball in 2008. It was beautiful!

Young Women Quilt: I made this when I was 14, a Mia Maid in the Young Women's program. I loved my leaders growing up. They cared about me and helped me learn about the Gospel.

The backside was signed by my fellow beehives. I'm still in touch with many of them.

4-H Family Camp Flag 2007: my second year working for Utah County 4-H I brought Shalene Hardman with me, Kimi Jensen was working for us, so she came and brought Ryan. It was a great week. Kimi pulled me back from falling out of the raft in the rapids, and we were mistaken for professional camp counselors. I miss working directly with families and youth.

These are some of the ribbons I won when I was on the Utah State University Equestrian Team from 2002 to 2005  I made some of my lifetime friends on that team.  Tiffany, Annie, Pat, Mike and Leisa.  I will never forget being terrified driving on icy Montana roads, freezing at the horse shows (making Mike let me sit in front of him for warmth, my team mates asking me questions about my human sexuality textbook, mom helping with the show at USU and Rojo being one of the horses, and riding, how it was so awesome to ride while I was in college.

This was a questionnaire we filled out and also sealed in the 5 year high school box. I thought my answer to this question was worth keeping.

This small box was full of high school memories and was in a larger box the Posse sealed for 5 years with everyone else's memory items. It was fun to get together, open it and see what I thought valuable and the memories they brought back.

There is my first corsage from Homecoming 1999. This was also my first date. Reg (Craig) Bruening took me. It was a great date weekend. Reg is an amazing guy.

The horse was given to me by a friend, I can't quite remember at the moment...

There is my first 'car'. Kimi West Jensen gave me the little Beatle for my 16 birthday.

The blue bead and note, Kimi also gave me.

The drawing is from Jamie Kotter Moncur and Alli Murray Kogelschatz. - I think...they call me Lou the most.

The pill bottle was made by Ryan Willeitner when we were dating. It's a prescription for happiness. Inside are little pieces of paper with things to go, like take a bike ride, a hug from Ryan, etc.

As I've said before, I loved high school.  My friends were blessings sent from heaven.  I don't want to go back, but I will always remember the amazing times and grew from the few hard times.

Healthy Eating

Well for those of you who have not joined Pinterest, let me warn you- it's a time waster and an amazing resource all at the same time.  I wanted to share my latest obsession without Pinterest attached for those of you who are rightfully resisting (Lace).

Healthy Recipes!!

I have fallen in love with creative healthy recipes and I think it will be a long love affair.  I wanted to share some of my favorites.  The list is ever growing so keep tuned.  (Click on the words for the recipes - just a little help for my soon-to-be techie readers)

• Wonderful replacement for chocolate peanut butter ice cream/ milkshake
• Super yummy stew
• Great main dish with spaghetti squash
• Looking for a salty snack?  Try Kale Chips or homemade Salt and Vinegar Chips
• Another snack from one of my favorite blogs:  Cauliflower Poppers

Let me know if you try and like them.  Feel free to share with me your finds!

P.S.  I'm wearing my Snuggy right now.  Don't judge!  It's perfect when you're typing, watching the Grammy's and need a little more warmth!

Snowboarding in the East

That's right I said East...

Now lets start with what I'm use to:

• 8 resorts within an hour drive
• powdery wonderful snowy whiteness everywhere as you drive up
• powdery wonderful snow to snowboard on
• crisp mountain air phenomenal scenery. 

Before I describe what I got, let me say it was an awesomely fun weekend, and I am going to try to go again this season.  I find the following description so funny:

• 1 resort = 3 hours of driving (with an awesome girl, Val, in her awesome new car)
• brown brushes, trees, and fallen brown leaves everywhere as you drive up...though there there green hills with horses and cows closer to the city
• man made snow that was okay to snowboard on
• nice mountain air and good scenery

This is Val.  We went hiking the first day we were at the resort.  It was odd to go hiking one day and snowboarding the next.  Val is the best kind of friend- not only is she kind, giving and fun; she's willing to do whatever my crazy mind comes up with- even hike in January.  She doesn't really love the outdoors, but she still has fun.  

(p.s. this was my Christmas present from her- the 2 day stay, the lift tickets, yeah for discounts from Val's job and her generosity).  

Okay, here's the some of the resort.  I KNOW!!  Brown, and strips of snow where they were making it.  

Dear snowboarding boots, I'm sorry you touched dirt, I promise when you go back to the West you won't have to do that again.

Going though the snowmakers was a new experience.  You're trying to make your way through other people, get lots of turns and fun spins in, and then WHAM!  Your misted.  I used my face guard more than I ever have before!

All in all, it was a really fun day of snowboarding.  Val tried really hard and ended her day with a pulled muscle.  :(  She's a tough one though.  I took a bad spill on a blue run (they are more icy than the green runs).  My lift mates kept saying I could do the black, but by the time I got up my courage, I was tired and scared I'd hurt myself. Maybe next time.  

Yeah for snowboarding, even if it isn't in my beautiful Utah.

Resolutions for 2012

I've read that the more you tell others your goals, the more likely you are to stick with them, so I'm subjecting everyone who reads my blog (probably about 5 people ;) to my goals for 2012.
AND since we're half way through Jan. I can tell you how I'm doing on all of them.  Good accountability right?

General Resolutions

Eat out less - replace eating out with friends with activities with friends 
          I'm doing great with this.  Tennis instead of breakfast; making dinner instead of going out.
Get to my goal weight
          With support from some great girls, this is coming right along  :)
Respond to service requests, i.e. There's a service opportunity, call this person to chip in 
           I haven't noticed any requests yet, but I'm on the look out.
Ultimately organize room
           Oh this is SO happening.  I've already cleared out 4 totes, and my room my closet is looking         
           fine, fine, fine.

Daily Goals

Read scriptures and pray more
           I think I'm getting better at praying the morning.  Working on the rest...
Play my guitar 20 minutes or more per day
           Doing pretty well at this.  Beginning guitar done, Intermediate guitar class started, and awesome
Watch less TV
           Hum...I have been watching less TV, but less is more, so I'll keep trying
Be more kind
           The metro is my focus of this right now.  I've been smiling and letting people go in front of me, 
           etc. just like I did when I first moved here.  (still watching my wallet of course)

Weekly

Take pictures
           I'm reading my camera manual still, so I have taken some, but more to come.  I'm trying to       
          decide how to share them.  Any suggestions?

Monthly Goals

Work on Family History

          Good thing it's still January...

Find a regular service opportunity

          Again, I still have half a month to figure this out

Go on a date once a month - even if I ask him

          January's date just called me back.  No pressure, just a nice guy.

Go to the temple

          See 1 and 2 of this section...