1....2....cha-cha-cha

My friend Samantha has been telling me how disappointed she is that I have YET to blog about our Latin Dance Class. So, Sam - this one's for you!



...and yes - the above video was actually a song our teacher played.

Our teacher was seriously RIDICULOUS! This was one of those classes through Granite Education. It was $18.00 for 3 classes and seriously...for comedic value, it was worth every cent. Cheryl McLachlan (nice name for a Latin teacher right?) wore pink croc flip flops and dress slacks every class. She also, on the first class, proceeded to tell us how this class was going to "whittle our middle" - and the woman looked about 5 months pregnant! And then told us that her last baby she had was (wait for it) 18 YEARS AGO! WOAH! She was horrible! But her facial expressions while listening to the Latin sounds (as promised in the brochure) were priceless. Very intense and she would sing along. PS - the Latin sound was Ricky Martin "livin la vida loca", Michael Buble "Quando Quando Quando" and Santana w/ Rob Thomas "Supernatural" or whatever that is called. FUNNY!

Here is a picture of me and Samantha before the first day of class:

Also, a little video of Samantha during class! Wow I love this girl!
She's got moves you've never seen!

And here's to our next adventure! I'm thinking the forkbending class still seems interesting. Of course always up for Ghostbusting. We'll talk it out at the Bees game! Bring David! (shout out to David!!! Holla!)

Son of Rambow

I went with my friend "Frank" (he says I'm not allowed to leave his real name on here because he has this phobia of leaving a trace...dude whatever! you're about to be a published author, GET OVER IT!) last night, who is in town finishing up research for his book to go see

Son of Rambow (watch the trailer there). This film was HILARIOUS!
Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm obsessed with accents.
Wish I had one. Spell things like I'm British. Anything British I love.
I don't want to move there or anything, but I do love the films. I seem to "get" British humour (see!) more than American for some reason.

Anyway, this film is about schoolboys and their friendships and hard times, but with a hilarious slant on it. If this picture doesn't make you want to go see it - we can never be friends.

Also a lovely shot of "Frank" crossing the street with the flags. It's quite the phenomenon downtown Salt Lake City because 1) people actually use them 2) people actually put them back! I swear this is the only city in the world where there wouldn't constantly be a shortage due to people thieving the orange flag.

Interestingly enough, we went to dinner before the film to Pei Wei (i'm addicted to the Lo Mein noodle bowl!) This kind of couple sat down next to us on the outside patio and the guy got up to go do something and the girl just started talking to us. I'm not sure if she started it - or just looked at "FRANK" and made him awkward so then HE started the conv....i can't be bothered with the specifics. Anyway, then proceeds to tell us that she's taking a Communications class at the U and her assignment is to break a social "norm". She thought striking up a conversation with strangers at a table...a GOOD 5 ft away was breaking a social norm. SERIOUSLY! "Frank" then proceeded to tell her that at his college he teaches at he teaches a social problems class and has his students do the same type of experiment. His stories were WAY better. He showed her!

Also this week, more class! PS - my professor is a total HOTTIE! I totally took the wrong approach in college taking classes and not inspecting the professor before hand. Clearly that was the missing link on getting me to learn (to not look stupid in front of said hottie) and to actually ATTEND THE CLASS! I'm not gonna lie to you - I could go everyday this guy is that cute. YUM!

Okay - now you are caught up on my week. Lovely. (except for my Latin Dance Aerobics class.) Out of respect, that deserves it's own post.

shedding vs molting

Let's consult the dictionary:
Shed - to cast off or let fall (leaves, hair, feathers, skin, shell, etc.) by natural process.
Molt - To shed periodically part or all of a coat or an outer covering, such as feathers, cuticle, or skin, which is then replaced by a new growth.

Okay I'm officially going bald! Not really - I don't have patches or need Rogaine by any means. But seriously my hair is falling out in astronomical proportions. At what point do you become alarmed? Just curious. I mean I've always lost hair - but this is getting actually scary. When I was in Cali my mom was like "WHOA! Jamie that's a lot of hair on the bathroom floor! You should see a doctor. You know Grandma Close was bald. They can fix it BEFORE you go bald." GREAT! I really should pay more attention to family members. In my defense, she passed away when I was 10 - so who really pays attention then.

And what...do I just walk into my doctor and say - I may be going bald? Feedback welcome.

My Latin Lovers

This has been quite the week full of Latin men wanting my action. Let's not get too excited - NONE of them are attractive.

Story #1: Driving home from Cali - after stopping in St George I passed this Jetta full of 4 Latinos. I pass - the driver checks me out and then speeds up - thus causing me to look over. So he smiles. Okay so he was actually quite attractive - but still. Basically they would follow close, then slow down, then speed up. I met them again down the road where they proceeded to write me notes from the other lane.

First note: Call me (including some phone number)
Jamie: Shake my head No and mouth "no thank you"

2nd note: Call later 10pm
Jamie: Mouth - WHY?

3rd note: Mi Fono is DEED (i'm assuming that means cell is dead?) Great...they don't even speak English
Jamie: Again - shake head no and mouth "no thank you"

4th note: LOVE
Jamie: NO!!!

And thus my car full of Latin men speed off into the night.


Story #2: At night sometimes during the week I work a 2nd job. It's TOTALLY easy and basically I come and go as I please. Not too shabby. Lately one of the janitors has been getting friendly with me as he collects the garbage at night. He's actually quite nice. Probably 5'2'' and BARELY speaks English. But he tries. Right before I left for California the conversation went like this

Janitor (Francisco to be exact): Are you married? (way to not hold back with the big guns there guy!)
Jamie: NOPE
Francisco: Why not? You are very pretty. (awww!)
Jamie: Guess I'm just not
Francisco: I'm not married either - but I have 3 kids (ewwww!)
Jamie: That's nice.
**and scene**

Yesterday, my first day back working since I got back in town:
Francisco: Hello, how are you?
Jamie: Very well thanks how are you
*small talk continues - not very well due to the language barrier even though I fluently speak Spanish - I don't want to encourage. Time ends and Francisco leaves*
*2 minutes later he returns*
Francisco: (all red faced and shy) I'm going back to school
Jamie: (thinking) my that's random. (says) Good for you!
Francisco: I'm going to go to learn English because I really want to talk to you more and I don't know that much.
**seriously if I liked this guy - this would've been the cutest thing in the world**
Jamie: Your English is actually quite great (it really is)
Francisco: Well I need to learn more so I can talk to you.
(scene ends)

So many hombres (men)....so little tiempo (time).

Trip Sum-Up

The trip to Cali was just what the doctor ordered. Okay so really no doctor ordered it - but he/she should've (and no I don't have a hermaphrodite doctor - just being PC).

The car ride was great. I made fantastic time and REALLY should've registered with the Guiness Book before setting out. I'm pretty sure there was some sort of land-speed record set. Lots of shopping with the parentals, hiking on Sunday at Torrey Pines Reserve (see pictures). The worst thing was getting a makeover at the mall at the request of my mother. She's been trying to "girl me up" since 1902 and you would think since it hasn't taken thus far....she would throw in the towel. But OH NO! We Harker women do not give up so easily! And so I invested $185 of HER money in Bare Ecsentials. I have to admit I do like the idea of minerals on my skin instead of pore-clogging GOO. Walking around the mall looking like a beauty queen for the afternoon - was...slightly embarrassing. But - I was being a good sport UNTIL my mom requested we go for a bra fitting at Victoria Secret. My mom has an issue with my boobs (i think because she doesn't have any) and since Oprah said every woman pretty much wears the wrong bra - that must mean if I had the "right bra" my boobs would miraculously disappear! I know she means well - but c'mon! I nixed that one. I could care less if I'm wearing the wrong bra.

Then driving home today - I stopped my one Holly Jo's house. The intent was just for lunch but I got there early enough that we just gabbed and gabbed and gabbed. It was GREAT to catch up with one of my favourite girls! All in all - a great trip off!

Picture of the hike. Seriously if this was my weather/view - I would hike everyday!

This is a collage o' Holly. Well Connor mostly. He's a funny funny boy. The scenic pictures are reasons I LOVE Utah. Gorgeous. And the rest stop picture reminded me of Holly too. Remember when I thought it was SOOO funny during SLC construction all the signs that talked about "Emergency Pull-Outs". HILARIOUS. I'm a dirty girl!

What the deuce?

Week 3 of Biggest Loser DOWN! I'm not really LOVING my results. But whatever. I'm gonna keep on keepin' on and just hope somewhere along the lines it starts making sense.

Off to Cali for the weekend - where apparently a tornado touched down yesterday near my parents and it was hailing. Grrrreat. I wanted sunshine and lolipops! :)

Here's to 10 hours singing to my iPod in the car! Have a lovely long weekend. Back on Wed.

Helmut

Thanks to Heather, I found out that this is National Ride Your Bike to Work Day! On weeks like this I miss the bike-friendly city of Portland. Bike lanes everywhere and people who are actually aware of bikers. I'm not saying they have great drivers (they don't!) but at least they're aware of their surroundings. I'm not sure I trust people in Utah enough for this. Somedays I don't even feel safe inside my car!

So today I rode my bike into work. It's easy because it's just off the Jordan River Parkway. Quick fun ride! Ahh the Maiden Voyage of 2008! I love bike riding! i just wish the safety helmets didn't make you look like such a WENIS! With a name like Helmut (Lang), you're clearly designing the wrong thing!

*Side note: I'm signing up for a Latin Aerobic class (it's $18.00 for 3 classes) thru Granite - also how I took guitar class. My friend Samantha and I will be in attendance and I think the blog women should dominate this class! Email me if you want more details!*