Wow is Right Benny

Benny was definitely right! I am several posts behind but I will save last weekends adventures for another day ... today let us discuss yesterday, I knew yesterday morning as I saw a rainbow over the West part of the Valley that it was going to be quite a day ~ a WOW day if I may.

This past weekend, in the midst of everything 'home', it was decided that I she be reacquainted with a brother-in-law of a good friend. Let us call said good friend L, her husband M, and said brother-in-law A. L was ecstatic as I walked in the house. Her little ones, two of the cutest little ones I know, had been told that I was going out with their Uncle. Her oldest, 6 ~ and we shall refer to her as such from henceforth ~ is quite articulate and opinionated for her age. One of the first things out of her mouth was "So when you marry A you will be my real Aunt, that would be great." I shot a look at her mother but had no time to chastise her for filling her daughters mind with such assumptive things because M & A entered. I thought that I would have more time ... I always think there is more time! ... but I spent a few minutes at an extra stop on my way up and lost the extra time in traffic on my way north. And we were off. Dinner at Union Grill. Not surprising, we folk from the Midwest enjoy our meat, M ordered a steak and I was pleasantly filled by the artichoke chicken. The conversation was nice and easy. We discussed our transportation ~ both of us huge fans of the F150! We discussed the Celtics and our hopes for them in the series. We discussed golf, okay, he talked about golf an I appreciated the education. It was a nice time (Make note of the word -nice-).

We returned to L & M's home to find little 6 and 2 in pajamas hoping for a bedtime story read by Uncle A and the bedbug song ~ a Mount speciality! How could I say no. It was in this moment of sweetness that I perhaps fell in love with A ... KIDDING! Breathe, I'm still me! It was in this moment however that I laughed hysterically at the dramatic bedtime reading and was laughed at during my own bedtime antics. It was a great moment, overly acknowledged by L but I love you in spite of that!

But I had to get going, I had a stop to make at the D's before heading home and drop of some Greys. Upon giving my excuse M looked at me with shocking disapproval, I'm not blind, I caught it. But I held firm, even next to these ginormous men (M's 6'9 and A comes in at 6'6). They did however take advantage of this girl, "Could you drop this book off at W's house on your way home?" I knew with a stop at the D's I was already putting myself home later than I had desired but how could I say no? I tried, trust me! But with directions previously prepared ~ my friends know me well enough to know I'll get lost in the neighborhood I grew up in without directions ~ and all three pairs of those ginormous eyes pulling on my heartstrings, I quickly caved. The night ended with embraces, as it should have. It was a a long hug with L ~ with obvious wishes whispered in low tones during the embrace. A rib cracking hug with M ~ with obvious wishes spoken in audible tones as he spun me around the room, the advantage of his ogreish size! And a nice hug with A, apologizing for the previous wishes ... he's nice.

I spent the drive down to the D's in thought. When did I become the dater? I'm the hangout -> makeout girl (sorry parental units) with obvious freak outs to occur six months down the line when discussions become necessary. I found myself lost in these thoughts when I realized I was at my destination ~ a bit scary when you don't really remember the drive! But I was safe and with DVDs in hand made my way in. There is something so great about D and Q ~ I would try to describe it but that's another post for another day. Q was sitting with Sweet Baby in his arms as D greeted me at the door. We spent a few minutes discussing politics, Q fulfilling my necessary daily dose. Then we got to the recap of the night. I used that -nice- word to describe things, D nodded in understanding while Q made a Dwight face (apparently something that's been pointed out to him many times before!) and began to inquire regarding my deeper thoughts. Before long we were laughing ~ it's not that A is a bad guy, it's rather that I am an ill-adjusted girl when it comes to this Mormon dating thing. I prefer the awkwardness at the six month point, not the six hour point (the length of many UT dates). Why have conversation when a movie and after activities are all that is truly desired? I'M KIDDING ... kind of. But it was definitely intriguing to discuss things with this couple. D gets my 'twisty' ways while Q is still adjusting and to be honest I'm trying my hardest to fix those 'twisty' ways into 'not-so-twisty' ways, I too am adjusting. I left the House on the Hill with a few more things to add to my already racing mind and a kiss to Sweet Baby's brow.

I was off, back on the 15 heading north ~ backtracking ~ because I could not figure out how to rectify the directions from the House on the Hill. I was mindlessly following the directions, thoughts lost in the ‘niceness’ of things and my need to adjust my way of thinking and doing this dating thing, when I found myself in a slightly familiar neighborhood. I didn’t think much of it as my mind was already at 110% capacity. It wasn’t until I called M to verify his handwriting that I realized I was in the neighborhood of a friend, whom I haven’t really spoken with as of late because sometimes life happens. As I drove past said friend’s house I saw said friend outside but I was looking for W’s house, mind whirling around D & Q’s conversation and the –niceness- of it all, and trying to pay attention to M giving me directions, I didn't stop. I was in such a whirl of thought that I went to the wrong house, twice. Should I have stopped to say hello? ... Wait, M, I'm sitting at that address ... no there is no basketball hoop ... Yes he looks like you ... turn left or right? ... Yes, A did open my doors ... does the house have blue shutters? ... I'm turning around now ... I eventually made it to the right house and W was there, the Teddy Bear he is, with arms wide open. I was tired and acting like a girl lost in a whirl. He attempted to make life better but I just wanted to get home, curl up in my blankets, windows down and fan on, and spend some quality time with John. He took the book, tried to hug it all away, and I made it out of the neighborhood, one wrong turn ~ AMAZING!

I made it home to find M and to soon be joined by the other M. All of us should have gone to bed but we stayed up and talked through the whirls that are our lives right now. It could not have been any more therapeutic, okay perhaps with Sundaes but we can’t have it too celestial! I made it to bed only to have even more to think about. In the midst of my thoughts I picked up my phone to look at the time, let's not discuss what time it actually was, I had missed a few calls and texts. One was from my sweet sister. The other, sent at 12:42 this morning, was from A, “Kas, tonight was nice. Let’s do it again soon.” It was nice … it was all nice, from Salt Lake to Kaysville to Ogden to Bountiful to Woodscross to home. It was so nice it was WOW. I fell asleep agreeing with Benny, WOW!

Backer-Inner not a Mall-DRIVER!

While living in California Robs and I decided (we are not a lesbian couple, rather an Aunt and Niece - for those you perusing random blogs) that I did not need to have Bella Bleu. She has two vehicles, MEGA MOUNT and MINI MOUNT (a Ford F150 and MiniCooper respectively). On most occasion I could be found driving MEGA because I had the kids and less of a commute.

Within my first month or so in California I was driving home with Robs, she was either working or simply sick of driving. As we pulled up to the house I pulled in, hood first, that was how I did things. Robs gawked, "Your Uncle would be ashamed," ~ obviously the Mount guilt gene carries over into our in-laws! I knew what she was talking about, Robs NEVER parked in her driveway hood first, she is a PRO Backer-Inner! I pulled out, turned us around, pulled into Bob's driveway (our FAVORITE neighbor!), breathed a bit faster, and after two shots made it in without hitting our Carpenter's - Andrew (my favorite Carpenter!) ~ ginormous F250 ~ YES BE IMPRESSED, KAS IS USING SPECIFIC CAR TERMINOLOGY! Over the next three days I practiced just at the house...

Now, I'm a pro ~ the Mega/the Mini/and all BLEU vehicles are backed-in no matter where I am!! Months after establishing this technique I had Jay, Darc, and Schief in the truck ~ we were going to Boomers for a bit of a competitive evening, I WON THE MOVIE GAME! After heading the wrong direction - not surprising if you know me at ALL! - for fifteen minutes we turned around and made it to said destination. It was a Friday night and all spots were taken but for one in the back of the parking lot. I pulled past it and the whole car was all "Kas!" FEAR NOT PASSENGERS!! I threw the truck into reverse and backed 'er in. Jay, a first time rider with Kas, was AMAZED!! "You totally just whipped her into place like it was no big thing. We're in a tight spot, this is a HUGE truck. Nice work Kas!" Shortly thereafter I had the truck on an LA-Adam run and again, a quick pass/reverse, and WALA ... an overly impressed Adam.

So, I've established that I can drive a massive truck with the best of them. How is it that I cannot get Princess Peach, driving a carriage, across a few bridges and to the finish line?!?!?

On Tuesday night, M&M&I took a nightwalk ~ so beautiful ~ and found ourselves at Peter and Dirk's. Dirk was working dilligently as was Pete ~ Pete's work however was to unlock the next driver on the Wii MarioKart. We spent the next little while playing. I SUCK!! Pete and Mare cruised right along, Dirk held Mar's hand as she made her attempt, and I died ~ multiple times in the water. Can someone explain to me how I can manage an accident-free drivers record but can't get Princess Peach through the mall? I vote the time we stop at D&P's we watch Greys ... I'll feel better about myself!!!!!

Quarter of Century

Alright ... tomorrow is the big 2-5! I've been saying for the past two and a half months that I am actually 25 for practice but it is officially here. I have thought more about this particular birthday than any other birthday - 'a quarter of century through life ... half way to fifty ... another step closer to thirty and single' ... I needn't continue, you get the point, in fact you've actually made the point to me, so I GET THE POINT, thanks! In the midst of all of this thought you have caused I have discovered much.

It's time to share those discoveries, if only that by making them public I am forcing myself to acknowledge them for longer than the moment I'm living in right now.

1. SPEAK. I have been given a gift, I can talk about all of the non-important things in life for hours, if not days. It is the important things that I clam up about. I have a difficult time giving up information that would make me vulnerable. I have a difficult time responding to information that makes another vulnerable to me. I have a difficult time expressing those emotions that make life more than just minutes but rather moments. BUT NOW - It's time to speak. No regrets.

2. TRUST. I like to have control - SHOCKING! I don't like when people say to me, "Kas (or whatever you choose to address me as), just trust me." It can be in regards to the events of the evening or the events for the next six months. To not have a list, to not have a plan or rather to not have MY list or MY plan ... is something I'm going to become okay with. I can trust other people with more than just an hour of my time. I can trust people with other aspects of life. It's in trusting others that I can build relationships in which I will be able to SPEAK.

3. PRODUCTIVE. A good friend responded to my question in regards to his happiness with this statement "I make myself busy to make myself look happy." I don't want to be forty only looking happy. I want to be happy. I tend to take on the world singlehandedly, not saying I succeed but I most definitely try. But taking on the world isn't happiness. Happiness ... well, that's the fourth and final, this is productivity. I have come to the conclusion that I will chose my activities with more thought, rather than simply saying yes because I can. And when I take on a project, whether work/school/church/political/social, I will use logical judgement to determine the best course of action. I will do more with my all rather than doing less with half the energy because I took on four projects when perhaps I should have simply taken on two. I will not counteract my productivity with productivity - it might not make sense to you but it does make perfect sense to me.

4. HAPPINESS. "We don't need that fairy tale thing right now, we just need a little happy." Happiness is defined individually. Over the past four months I've spent many a sleepless night contemplating happiness, my own and the happiness of those that I care about. And I've come to the not even a little bit original conclusion that ... happiness is found in the simple things. It's not the GRAND acts of life that prove life is dandy, it's the simple things. So I'm going to find, continue finding, happiness in the dirt underneath the fingernails, a night of Jim and Pam, a hand on the small of the back, a look conveying support, tulips in the side yard, tball games, and all other things simple.

So there are a few things on my list that I won't share, they all fall in the subcategories of the above. I have my check list and tomorrow it begins ... I'm turning 25. I'm preparing for all things tomorrow while enjoying every moment today.

Here we go ...

PS - CHECK OUT MARTHA'S BLOG TO THE RIGHT IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF A FUN KASI READING!

Curly vs. Straight

So today I walk into work and my coworker makes this statement, "Ah, you okay? Your hair is curly." I looked at him, made a face, and sat down to work. Does my hair being curly mean that life is a bit off balance? Yes.
Curly hair comes into play on days after long nights ~ it takes all of 2 minutes to do! For example, the hair was ALWAYS curly during theatre summers! I'm certain that Adam was shocked both times I walked into the theatre with straight hair after late nights of stair arguments or chandelier creations. It was also curly for 99% of the mission and it got dark ~ obviously.


While living in California not only did I go back to blonde, LOVE YOU KIM!, but the hair straightener and curling iron became essentials. I like my hair ... I take care of my hair (by burning it? Mrrr ... I use 'protecting product'!) ... and while living in So. California I had a Shauna who would spend an hour straightening it as we watched the Greys of the week, an Em that was trying to grow her hair to be as long as mine, and a Cassidy who was continually boosting my hair's ego by saying how 'princess' it looked. But this takes time and effort friends ...


Now I've moved to UT, took on a position with a campaign, took on a slightly demanding church calling, moved again ... no need to continue. But this has caused several things to transpire with the hair. One, it's darker. That was necessary because I live in a place where it is not 'summer' 75% of the year ~ my hair needed to reflect that ~ and it's much less upkeep. Two, I've discovered left over hair. For any of you that have thick corse hair like I do (with that and the nose we sometimes wonder if Uncle Joe is really Uncle ...?), you understand this statement. I can go FOREVER with left over hair! Here is the process: DAY 1 ~ STRAIGHTEN, DAY 2 ~ CURL, DAY 3 ~ 1/2 up, DAY 4 ~ all up ~ AMAZING! And it makes Barbara (my new hair stylest!) happy because it only puts my hair through the ringer 2x a week!

So ... after making this so much longer than it really needs to be ... here's the deal. If I have curly hair ... DON'T SAY ANYTHING (great coworker of mine!) ~ it's similiar to asking a gal if she is sick by saying 'do you feel awful, you look awful!' ~ NOT COOL! Curly hair does mean I'm having an off day. But give me 24 hours and I'll be back to normal, straight.

Mount Mania

In honor of ... no specific thing! Grams introduces the greatest men in my life (notice Gramps! ~ I WILL BE THE HAPPIEST IF MY SONS INHERIT HIS HAIR!) ~ minus Buba, who currently is getting the best missionary tan in VEGAS while converting the thugs! ~ diligently jamming out this past Christmas! I wish with my whole heart that you could have been there to witness this ~ Uncle Matt was SO serious about this whole deal, he yelled at me ~ and he's the melo Uncle! They played for forever that night ... it was a great Christmas Eve!!

Living a few thousand miles away from my family was never my intention but thank goodness for video (and phones, and texting ~ Buba taught Dad how to do that before he left! ~ and email, and letters ... YAY that I do not live in the time of horse and carriage correspondents~ we all remember how well the horses and I get along!) to remind me just how blessed I am to have the greatest family ever! I do have full intention of returning to my MidWest roots at some point ... this girl will always be a NorthShore girl and get confused at 'drive toward the mountain' directions ... THE LAKE IS EAST, tell me in reference to the LAKE!

Good times with Schief

Okay, if you don't know Schief (Mark Scheifelbine) this will mean nothing to you and you will be annoyed with the hideous video quality. For those of you that do ... you will appreciate! I was in the need of a little California reminder when I came across these videos on my camera ... YAY!

Schief had told a story in the car prior to getting to back to the house and I wanted Robs to hear it, he tells stories SO well ~ one of my favorite story tellers next to Kump (and Em has informed me that perhaps that was a bit biased seeing how he was the ONLY available storyteller for eight weeks!)! ... Schief did not want to be an camera ... obviously!

... But I hid the camera from his sight, YAY FOR GREAT FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS!, and got the story!

One is 'One'derful!

Good gracious! It amazes me who finds this page sometimes. Certainly, word of parents mouth and Facebook present spreading capabilities but … SERIOUSLY! I got an email, forwarded from my very first email address!, from an old friend ~ old as in haven’t heard from in over six years not old in age. YAY! He offered a sweet hello but then joined with two other ‘sweet’ boys of Kasi’s past in the ‘Kas does like flowers’ argument, each citing an incident that I had forgotten.

I was wrong (YES, I WROTE IT) … there is another exception to the NO FLOWER rule beyond weddings. I get all ‘girly’ when I get a SINGLE flower not a bunch, dozen, or bouquet. Friend #1 Case: After a show that he was not suppose to be able to come to because of an important ‘sporting event’ he showed up at the theatre with a single GERBERA DAISY – I got ‘girly’. Friend #2: After a show that he unexpectedly brought his parent to ~ MY FAVORITE (note the sarcasm! and if somehow said parent has found this blog and figured it is her sweet son, you are loved now but I was certainly overwhelmed at our first meeting!) ~ he left a single GERBERA DAISY on my car the next morning before I headed to the theatre – I got ‘girly’. Friend #3 Case: Prior to having a ‘talk’ he brought a single GERBERA DAISY to remind me that I was a girl (meaning I should be able to have a ‘talk’ without getting up and walking away) – I got ‘girly’ but just for a minute.

(I THINK WHEN I WAS AT A FUNERAL ~ shocking that my family would be attending one of those! ~ WHEN I WAS SEVEN OR SO I DECIDED NO BORING ROSES ON MY CASKET, GERBERA DAISIES ALL THE WAY ~ apparently my friend #1,#2,#3 knew that and brought it home!)

So apparently I like single flowers after shows and before and after awkward moments. Why? I think it is probably because of the first single flower I was ever given. It was back when I was seven or eight … I remember this incident with perfect clarity. It was in my backyard. We had friends over, Natalie Dayton and my older brother, Josh, had a friend over, a friend that I thought was nice and who shall remain nameless (he’s married with a kid now!). For those of you reading this and screaming – LIAR - no worries, I’m certain my true devotion was still for a Tyler A. Labrum at this point (my devotion unwavering until 14 years old). But said friend of Joshy got a sweet smirk from me after he bounced me off the tramp, caused some tears, and then brought a stolen flower over to me to make me happy – I got ‘girly’.

I concede … single flowers accepted.

Flowers ... No Thank You

Okay … so last year at about this time I was living in California far from many friends and continually MIA for many celebrations. One day upon returning from some activity with Cass and E I found a ridiculous display of flowers on our front porch. Cass, always the girl, was thrilled. I had my hands full of Tae Kwan Duo uniforms, Cass’ drawings, and lunch pales so Cass pulled the card from the flowers while E, with his macho 4 year old muscles, took the flowers inside. I didn’t think twice, knowing that my ever-hot Aunt Robin was in a relationship and it was near the 27th of the month, an expected anniversary. But then Cass popped out with, “Kas, it’s your name on the card.” (I still feel special knowing that my name was one of the first words Cass learned to spell and read!) Flowers for me? What? Ridiculous. What was even more ridiculous is that I had to explain to new friends how the old friend obviously didn’t really know me because … well, ridiculous!

So today, I come into work, sit down and begin the day’s routine. WHAM! I get a call from the front desk asking me to come down and sign for something. I assume that it is a package from one of my guys out in the field, he’s leaving HP this week and all of his info and jazz needs to come back into the office. I make my way to the desk only to see a ridiculous display of flowers and a smiling and curious Val (our receptionist) standing next to them. “Those are mine?” I ask. “Sure are.” What? Ridiculous.

Most girls are elated by flowers. But sometime between the age of 15 and 16 I decided that flowers are a ridiculous gift to give me, Kasi. (UNDERSTAND: This is a personal thing, please do not use this as your next excuse to your wife/significant other! 99% of all women like flowers!) I love flowers, growing in the ground. I think they are beautiful. It is my one of my favorite things to walk past a whole bed of tulips. I appreciate the gorgeous bouquets that are created to enhance wedding photos. But if you have made me mad, if you are trying to convey something to me through the flowers, DON’T!

Here is what I see … a bunch of flowers that will die within a week. A vase that will never be reused. And a reason to take some allergy medicine. I know the cost of flowers, RIDICULOUS! I would much rather receive a nice card! This is not me being a brat … this is me saying … SAVE YOUR MONEY! Certainly, if I live in Seattle and I can get a fresh bouquet of flowers at Pike Street for less than $8 every day … well, I believe in that.

So friend that sent today’s flowers – YOU ARE FUNNY and I LOVE YOU and one day when we live in the same state I will get you back for this (FOR ALL OF YOU THAT THINK I AM BEING RUDE AND HURTING HIS FEELINGS ~ I'M NOT, HE DID THIS AS A JOKE, KNOWING I AM NOT FOND OF SUCH THINGS, TO MAKE ME LAUGH AND SMILE TODAY ... OBVIOUSLY!) Dad, the Easter corsages are okay, that is tradition. And future admires, GET A HALLMARK CARD or offer a back scratch during the movie ~ it’ll get you further!
But if you must ~ and sometimes, I get it, you must ~ lilies are the only acceptable offering (I PREFER THE GLASS LILY - SEE PICTURE)

Lucky Girl

Okay … so I am a lucky girl …

I can say whatever it is that it is on my mind. I can not say whatever it is that is on my mind. I can make a face. I can bite my bottom lip. I can roll my eyes. I can bat my eyelashes. I can tear up. I can laugh at inappropriate moments. I can use the overused phrase, “I think I’m going to vomit.” I can call in the middle of the night because I can’t sleep and just need to hear that someone is still there. I can send a text message for a rescue and have an immediate response. I can watch a television program with one John Krasinski for three days straight. I can get an email from a super high tech Grandma Phyllis (Grandma Monica has been emailing for years!). I can get the sweetest text message from a super high tech Dad. I can wrinkle my nose. I can say that I’m fine. I can talk myself in circles. I can not pick up my phone for days. I can not return text messages for days. I can not return emails. I can use the kids as an excuse. I can have random moments of Grrrrrs and Mrrrrrs.

… and my people get all of it. Some of my people play leading roles in this show I call my life, some play minor roles, some play guest stars, while some have, for a time, taken a leave of absence from the cast. But I have people, not just a person. I have people that get me. I don’t think a lot of people get to say that there is one person that truly gets them … I get to say that I have a group of people, ranging from JoySchool friends to their wives to college friends to theatre cohorts to a great boss that know when to push and when to pull, when to talk and when to keep mouths shut and pretend nothing is going on, when to let me bawl and when to tell me to buck up and be a grownup.

Case and point: TODAY.

1 - Early this morning I got to go to breakfast with a Bunk ~ he tends to introduce himself as Ryan Bunker because he thinks that referring to himself as Bunk is a bit pretentious. (picture is from our St. Pats Day Extravaganza last year - Bunk and Baby Abby, the favorite melo baby!) First of all, he was in Utah – he hates Utah and it snowed while he was here! Sure it was less than a 24 hour visit but he was here. Second of all, he was up before his normal 8 am wake up time (unless the surf is good and then no hour is too early). Third, we didn’t have to talk about anything of consequence, unless you think that Monti’s love life is of great consequence, that was a MUST!, obviously. We laughed at our waiter, who was special. We laughed at our families, which are equally if not more special. We mocked ridiculous humans. We sat quietly. It was not a conversation that altered life the way I know it. Rather it was a time which let me be Kas, I was grateful for that moment.

Then Bunk had to get on a plane (he got there in spite of a few bad directions, between the two of us it’s amazing he got there at all!) to be at work in So. California today and I came into work in Utah. And then my mind had time to do what it does best right now, remember. I tried to throw myself into work but found that work was not as demanding as I had hoped. I found myself getting a bit overwhelmed with it all.

2 – Great Boss Bill ~ who can really say that they get along amazingly with their boss? I can! It helps that he's all of two years older than I am and has the same sense of humor as my favorite Schiefelbine ~ stuck his head over our little shared wall, I might have been sniffling. Without a question, he tossed me a tissue box and then sent me a link to a Jim/Pam YOUTUBE video … seriously. Then he rolled his chair over and we spent close to an hour discussing the Office. My mind was quickly caught up in the Michael/Dwight/Jim/Pam/Phyllis/Kevin/Oscar of it all, how could it not? For that time no sniffles occurred.

Shortly I’ll be leaving work and if I follow the pattern of the past little while I’ll find myself a bit frazzled by the time I get to 21st and 21st. My guess is that by the time I hit 2186 Bryan Ave I’ll be ready to throw in the towel for the day.

3 – Mar and Mar are there though. Tonight we are going to drowned ourselves in a 25’ version of Patrick and be girls. I won’t have to talk, I can shed a tear when I need to, throw out the random expletive if absolutely necessary ~ OR HEAR MARTHA THROW ONE OUT, WHICH IS SO MUCH BETTER! ~ and find partners in crime in this time of … whatever this time is.

I really am a lucky girl!