Work, Joy, and The Beatles

"As I turned up my mom's record player loud, what I heard changed my life. I heard The Beatles making mistakes. I heard them fumbling around to find their genius... It had The Beatles trying different tempos, different lyrics and different ideas. It had The Beatles fighting. I heard The Beatles failing. I heard The Beatles working. 

"But learning that they didn't have perfect blueprints from their genius was a revelation. It inspired me to start to practice and rehearse the stupid ideas that I had." -Penn Jillette, in his CNN Opinion piece today, Beatles, bootlegs and Vermeer. 

Image Source: Here

I'm ok with consciously placing things on a pedestal (e.g. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds), but the danger comes when we don't stop to recognize how much hard work went into those things getting up there. Sometimes it's easy to think whatever we admire just walked into that position, inherently just being all that we look up to. But in reality, anything admirable in this world requires a lot of work. Attaining and maintaining. 

Look at how easy it is to break a bad habit vs. making a good habit. How easy it is to make a mess vs. keep a room clean. This world just demands work, constantly. It's as constant as our need for nourishment, and sleep. 

Food, and sleep. They are just so good. (You guys, I'm such a grump over here without them.) And it's the same story for work. 

I think this world demands so much work, because work makes joy. And genius. And all things good. God sent us here to be happy. He sent us here to work to be happy, because that would make the truest kind of joy.

Image Source: Here

I just kind of loved reading this perspective on The Beatles and their work today. The Beatles sing to my soul. It has a lot to do with my dad, and the way that his career in radio combined with his trivia mind placed 60s music into my roots. He'd turn up the radio anytime a different song came on his oldies station, and tell me the year the song came out, where he was when he first heard it, a fact about the recording or the band, and then he'd listen or sing. I'd listen and watch. I loved the way he loved it all, and remembered his life through those songs and the memories and moments they brought him back to.

When I lived in London, I turned up The Beatles every time I ran through Hyde Park. I mean, how could I not? That just felt right. And when Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds came on, I ran with more joy than I ever had before or since. That song will always take me back to Hyde Park, to London. To a time when I realized how big the world was and how much I loved it. 

I don't remember where that particular Beatles song takes my dad back to. But I know The Beatles take both of us places, along with millions of others. Their work, turned into their genius, changed the world.

Life Lately: In Random Mode

I don't know what your September is like, but ours kind of looks like a tornado hit our calendar. But I'm ok with this, because September is the best month of the year. September means that summer's heat is out the door, and I get to be surrounded by scarves and crunchy leaves and apple cider. There is no transition more fun for me than summer into fall. So bring on the busy month, because it's just full of good, good stuff! And here are a few random updates to catch you up on our life over here in our little corner of Indianapolis.

Dogs. We have been going out of town so much lately that we decided to just have a relaxing Labor Day weekend. Somehow relaxing turned into watching four dogs, two of whom could very well kill me on accident and maybe not even know it happened. LOOK at these guys! They're called mastiffs. I call them small horses. I was not a lot of help when we went over to check on these pups...in fact, I actually screamed a few times and stood in corner a few more times, while Michael thoroughly enjoyed himself. They are huge animals, you guys. And they act like puppies - meaning they love to run at you and jump at you, making them as tall as Michael. Yikesies.

The other two dogs, of much smaller proportions, lived with us for the weekend. Do you know I've had the same Christmas dream for all (soon to be 25) years of my life? I have pictured a tiny sweet brown puppy with a big red bow around its neck under my Christmas tree for as long as I can remember. And THAT sweet little puppy on the left is exactly from my dreams! Watching her was kind of a last minute deal, but we couldn't refuse a golden retriever puppy. I mean look at that face....could you? And this is no offense to the wrinkly guy on the right...he's a good dog too. I've just, never had Christmas dreams quite that wrinkly, if you know what I mean.

So four dogs for Labor Day, sounds like a good idea, right? Actually no, it doesn't even sound like a good idea. We were so blind-sided by puppy dog eyes. But we made it through the weekend and promptly deleted our dog-sitting profile online because, oh my goodness. What a weekend that was. We're ready for a break. 

(And a little brown puppy!) 

(But we're not allowed to have pets.) 

(I hope my manager doesn't read my blog.)

We did make a quick trip to Louisville on Saturday, to go to the temple and to see Michael's parents. We wish we could have spent more time with them (again, four dogs? bad idea), but hopefully we will soon.

These guys went home on Monday, and our life got significantly less hairy. They really were a lot of fun. 

But sometimes they were not. 

Later that night we walked around downtown with the Naylors. Those little kiddos are so much fun. We love being with them. And look at that sky! It was such a beautiful day. We ended it with dinner at one of our favorites here, and then finished up the last episodes of Parks and Rec. Yep, all of them. We're done, and we're sad about it. 

And then I tried to start my normal work week but my throat and stomach and head said, no that's ok, we'll just stay in bed, thanks. So I worked from home Tuesday and Wednesday and spent my nights finishing the last season of Parenthood. Yep, all of it. I'm done, and I'm sad about it.

Also, a little embarrassed by those TV confessions. They're the only shows we watch, promise. And by we, I'm not talking about Parenthood, because Michael kind of twitches when he hears me turn that on and it's only watched when he's studying. I don't really blame him...why do I like watching other people's drama? And crying in every single episode? It's beyond me. I just know I keep coming back for more. And I had a dream I was a member of the Braverman family, and that was a little much.

Finally, football time. We had college gear day at work and I rocked my BYU shirt. I was the only one supporting BYU in my office? Weird. I love this picture from the @byucougars Instagram. BYU is just the coolest. I miss that place so, so much. Go Cougars! :)

That's life lately...with good things in our future [birthdays, picnics, regattas (for real), book clubs, girls' nights, cooking classes, orchard visits, warm sweaters....] 

Oh September. You really are the best.

Happy News from Our House

Ready for some good news, highlights version?

a) Michael and I are now the same age. 

Which means... he is still older. Dang it.

But I still enjoyed the happiest of birthdays!

Full of...

Fresh raspberries, funny movies, controversial pictures,

and a dinner at a delicious Turkish restaurant. 

Bring on 24!

b) The mouse moved out.

Something way better moved in.

There is now a wonderful, beautiful keyboard living in our extra bedroom.

I visit often.

Which brings me to other good news...

I just became the piano player for our primary at church!

Sundays just got a whole lot more entertaining.

c) We discovered downtown Indy and all its wonders.

This involved three and a half hours of walking, walking, walking.

Worth it though...see how nice it is?

d) The very next day we discovered the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

It's so much fun. Come visit, and we'll take you.

Plus, they have a greenhouse with the craziest plants.

Even Michael (a.k.a. Father Earth) said he had never seen some of them before, ever.

Look at that pretty one we took home with us...

And see the thousands of tiny people holding us up with their hands?

Modern art is fascinating. 

People are so creative, whether you enjoy how they express it or not.

e) I made our first successful batch of homemade jam!

First of many, actually... 

because I now know that Michael requires a constant supply of this to be truly happy.

I think I'm with him on that.

and finally, the best news of all....

f) I have a JOB! Hallelujah people, many prayers went into that one.

Starting in a couple weeks, 

I'll be a Marketing & Communications Coordinator for a company downtown.

This is happy news! And we're grateful for all the people who have been sending

prayers our way through the job search.

Other happy news includes:

We are gaining serious frisbee skills.

My arm is small enough to grab our frisbee out from under neighbors' fences.

The mouse is GONE. (Worth mentioning again.)

Rainstorms are awesome here. And frequent.

And...the mouse is gone.

Philly and back again

I think I've had my fill of solo flights. 

Planes and airports are so much more fun when 

you have someone to watch people with.

And someone to watch your stuff when you go to the bathroom.

It's the little things, you know?

But I headed out to Philly solo for a week, and people-watched by my lonesome.

I was out there to work a conference -- I sure love those.

Plus, we had cool neighbors.

They gave away flashlights that double as pencils.

Leave it to Google.

The best part of the experience was repeatedly walking through and eating

at this adorable market.

I'd say 85% of the food I ate in Philly came from this busy place.

I almost just listed all the yummy things I ate there...

but I'll save both of us from cravings and skip out on that.

Being gone for a week when you're getting married in three is no bueno.

Felt good to get back to the people I love!

p.s. If you knew that Fun. was coming to Utah on Saturday,

and you didn't let me know...

we're fighting.

This is the best song ever to belt out in your car.

Full Time Fun

My second home. Sometimes first.

I love my job, and I love event planning -- but sometimes when event time comes around...

...this is lunch. And days are crazy.

But hey, you'll never catch me complaining about chocolate on chocolate.

Sometimes I pinch myself to see if I'm really getting paid to plan events. Best job ever.

Except when I come home and plan my own wedding, part of me feels like I'm still getting paid.

Nope.

Wrapping Up Summer

Last day of work! 

Had to throw this up to prove I didn't just move to DC to play all summer.

I'm going to miss taking walks in DC, and constantly stumbling upon history.

The theater where Lincoln was assassinated is just a couple blocks away from my office.

And Lincoln himself (ok, the commemorative version) was just a couple blocks away from the Barlow.

I'm going to miss taking walks to his memorial and thinking about life on those steps.

That right there is my favorite spot in DC.

Midmorning Joy

Soon I will tell you about my very patriotic Fourth of July,

complete with a sisterly visit and 800-mile weekend road trip.

Yeah, 800.

But right now, I just want you to know how much I love this:

That right there is 4.6 oz of pleasure.

Is it bad that I need a snack every 90-ish minutes at work?

This one usually gets the 11 a.m. slot. And I always sincerely look forward to it.

Work (Play?)

Sometimes my job frustrates me. This is only because it's way more fun than school, so I'm always tempted to go to work instead of the library. I work in the Career Services office in the Wilk as a Fair Coordinator. Here's the Career Fair from September, please note how coordinated it is.


This was my first event so I was a little nervous...one detail missed and no BYU students get jobs this semester. Pressure. Ok so I actually couldn't mess things up that much if I tried (not enough power), but I loved planning it.

Halloween in the office! We turned Career Services into a Spook Alley for the day. Cody (the vampire on the left) is another Coordinator of Fairs, so our job was to stand in the hall all day and tell people to go inside. It required a lot of dancing to Thriller and persuasive bribing (there were doughnuts inside the office, always take advantage of hunger when you plan things for college students).

Cody found that the best way to get people to take a flyer was to hide and scare them. But then he got too good at it and had to stop. We planned an Opportunity Fair for on-campus organizations last week. BYUSA ordered 1500 servings of milk and 700 cookies (this math only works for weird people that drink ridiculous amounts of milk....so I was happy), which was a little bit of a problem. Cody and I took it upon ourselves to help the situation by having a milk drinking contest throughout the fair. After his 23 glasses and my 19 I realized it's not very effective to spend just as much time in the bathroom as in the fair. Lesson learned.

I wasn't the only fairy in the office, dang it! But that's ok. I don't take anything about Halloween too personally. The only reason I tolerate it is for Reese's pumpkins and because I know once it's over Christmas time starts.

So that's the job! Someday I'll post some of the daily office pranks or conversations that keep me laughing.

Distractedness, in Letters.

Dear Mom,

I thoroughly enjoyed walking you through the copy and paste process on my walk home from class yesterday. I even more thoroughly enjoyed your exclamation of surprise when you found success.

Love,
The Youngest

***

Dear Boston,

I miss your elderly Jewish people. And your 5-year-old Andrews. Your roads, parking, and angry drivers are not missed at all.

Please know that you are only borrowing my sister.

Love,
A Past and Future Visitor

***

Dear Job,

You're more fun than school. Please stop distracting me.

Love,

The New Girl

***

Dear Ali,

Thank you for keeping me updated on the elderly Jewish people of Boston. The Lillian stories make me laugh every time I think about them. Literally. In class, during church, walking home...instant laughter.

I told Boston that you're not permanent. Just sayin.

Love,

The Little Sister.