Too much space, too little time.

Two days until our going away get-together. Party dress time! I hope all of you come who can because this will be the last time we'll get to see you for a long time. Mom and dad, I wish you could come. But we'll see you in a week and then we'll have our own little going away party in Rochester! Can't wait to see Jens and Anna and the kiddies, too:)

I also can't wait to see our new home for the first time. We've seen pictures but that's it. For my birthday, my mother-in-law gave me several design/decorating books and I've been looking at them every day since. I'm getting so many ideas for our new place in New York. We'll be living in the same house for at least two years (maybe three) so I really want to make it the kind of home we want. Our apartment now is making me anxious and depressed:( It's so cluttered I feel like it's closing in on me!

Looking forward to Sunday:)

It's crunch time.

Today was my last day of work at the hospital. It feels a bit like the last day of high school before summer break. I'm excited to be done. I'm excited to move on. I have absolutely no idea what Rochester is going to be like. I'm trying not to have expectations about anything; I just want to learn as I go. There are goods and bads to all places and I'm sure we'll get a taste of them all:) I'm looking forward to the fun we'll have and preparing myself for the hard times. I've been through a lot here in Salt Lake and have learned that a life worth living needs suffering and rejoicing. So, in a way, I'm looking forward to the bads, too. Maybe I'll land a sweet job as a telecommunications switchboard operator at a hospital... ;)

Dave is still in China, he'll be there for another five days. I'm leaving for Napa tomorrow to visit my parents for a few days:) It will be a blast and definitely help with the loneliness of being in an empty apartment. I get to see friends and family!:)

Ahhh! I can't believe how close we are to leaving!! 26 days and we're outta here!

Berrybobs.

I was beaming this morning when I logged in to my computer at work and found Dave chatting with me... from the other side of the world!!:):):) We didn't think he would be able to use gmail while he's in China but he can and it makes it so nice. Not as nice as talking to him on the phone, of course, but it's good enough for now! I just had to share my excitement:)

I'm a Mrs. and you're a Mr.

Dave and I now have 37 days until we leave for New York! 37!! It's been such a crazy few months. First, planning on not moving to New York. Then really planning on not moving. Then kinda thinking we will. Then all of a sudden we've made reservations for a U-haul and shipping Dave's car. While I have 37 days to get ready for the move, Dave has closer to 20. He's going to China in the middle of July to play at the World Expo with the University of Utah Jazz Ensemble. I'm so proud of him, they are going to play a few of his own songs there! I wish I could go with him. I'm going to visit my parents for a couple of days instead. It's not quite on the "Big Travels" list as China is but at least I won't have to carry around my own toilet paper. And when I get home from California my parents are being so helpful and flying out to Salt Lake and driving east with us. It's going to be a long trip (about 1,900 miles) but it won't feel as long with them there. Thanks mom and dad!

Leaving Utah will be tough. I never thought I'd stay here for six years but I've loved it here. I've met some really great people and had some awesome opportunities. One being a movie with Danny Boyle! If you ever see the movie "127 Hours" look for me! I'm anticipating it coming out sometime this Winter. But moving to a new city with new opportunities will be great. It will be great for our marriage and for musical/career opportunities for Dave. I'm planning on using my ballet degree to teach and take classes. I'm excited to dance! I miss you, Artistic Movement! I also want to become certified in Pilates and teach that as well.
We have a lot of things to look forward to.

We love all our friends and family in Salt Lake and will be back to visit when we can. We'll miss you guys! Wish us luck!

Trainer!

Dave and I have decided to buy a trainer. No, not a personal one, but the kind you connect to your bike so you can ride your bike in your living room without going through the walls. I had no idea what they were called. All I knew was that my dad has one and I could picture it in my head. I knew they existed.

So, when I started looking for one I went to bike stores all over Salt Lake. As I had no idea what they were called (or really what they looked like; my dad made his himself so I doubt there are many in the world that look like his) I would walk in to the store and ask if they carried "those things you can connect your bike to that let you ride your bike in your house without going anywhere". And the very informed employee (there are many bike experts in Salt Lake City) would respond, "Oh, you mean a trainer?" The first time I heard the guy at the Sports Den on Foothill say that, I thought he said "trailer". I pictured those things you connect to your bike to put your kids in when you go on Sunday bike rides to the park. So I repeated my very uninformed description of what I was looking for, or some version of it. I'm sure he thought I was the coolest girl he had seen all day.

Sports Den guy and I finally got on the same page and that's when I learned the real name. It was also helpful when searching for them on Amazon.com... Anyway, it's not like we can fit many more equipment-type things in our apartment with all Dave's musical intruments (which I love, don't get me wrong) and my many decorative pillows (which I also love), but I'm excited to get one. It will make me look forward to working out.

Which brings me to another topic. I have kind of figured out what motivates me to exercise: new stuff. I can so see how my little brother and I are similar... Whenever I get a new exercise video, or new weights I am all about it. But once they start to feel old, I get bored with it and stop working out until I can get more new stuff and start again. I know, I'm really lame:-/...

Goal with our new trainer: ride my bike in our apartment in the morning before work like 3 to 5 times a week. Let's see if I can do it...

Dave and Hannah Learn to Cook, Part II

Marvelous Mac and Cheese! And some fried zucchini...
This time we attempted homemade macaroni and cheese. We thought it was a success; however, we did learn a few things about how to make it better. I'll explain later... I think my favorite part about this dish is that we used pepper jack cheese. It adds a nice kick:) Also, this makes great leftovers!

You'll need:
-One 17.6 ounce bag of macaroni noodles
-About 5 cups of grated cheese, any and as many kinds as you want. We used chedder, pepper jack, and gouda mmm.
-One garlic clove, roughly chopped
-One large zucchini, sliced
-1 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil
-1 T butter
-Salt and pepper to taste


Directions:
1. Cook the noodles, drain and cool. Heat frying pan with olive oil on medium heat. Turn oven to 325.
2. Fry garlic on pan for about 10 seconds. Cook zucchini, stirring occasionally.
3. Mix cheese and noodles in a large bowl. Place noodles in a glass baking pan. Sprinkle extra cheese on top.
4. Bake for about 10 minutes and when the cheese is melted, turn oven to broil for about 2 minutes or until cheese is brown on top.
5. Keep stirring zucchini on the stove. Salt and pepper to taste (add garlic salt if you want it more garlic-y). When zucchinis are to your liking (we like them a bit crunchy) stir in butter and turn heat to hi and cook and stir until butter is browned.
6. Serve and enjoy! Serves 4 to 6 people.


After talking to my friend Lori, I learned that she adds heavy cream and whole milk when she makes it. Not the healthiest, but it's probably best for the consistency and taste. Next time we'll try that. We're still learning...

There's still more to come. Dave found this awesome-looking dessert recipe that includes caramelized pineapples and coconut sorbet:):) Mmm! I think we will try to make it when my parents come to visit here soon. I'll keep ya updated!

Dave and Hannah Learn to Cook, Part I

Totally Awesome Taco Salad.
We get some pretty toasty Summers here in Salt Lake City; the past couple of days have reached 100 degrees. The heat makes it hard sometimes to plan and cook a good hot meal. Especially when your tiny AC unit is well, tiny, and while set to HI, doesn't cool off further than three feet in front of it. Although this recipe requires a bit of stove cooking, you're in and out of the kitchen so fast that's it's hardly a bother.

The Totally Awesome Taco Salad is totally awesome for a number of reasons. First, it's cheap. Dave and I didn't have to buy anything to make this, we already had all the ingredients at home. But if you do have to go out and purchase certain items, it will not break the bank. We even got free bananas for buying the lettuce a few days ago:) Secondly, it's very healthy. It's packed with protein and fiber, it's light but it fills you up. Since there's no creamy dressing, there aren't any extra calories loaded on. Lastly, it's oh so tasty and perfect for Summer!

You'll need:
About a tbl of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 can of black beans
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
About 2 tbls chopped onions
About 2 tbls of taco seasoning, more if you want a richer flavor
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups shredded cheddar and pepper jack cheese. You can use whatever cheese you want, these are just the two we had in our fridge. a Mexican cheese blend is good too.
1 bag of romaine lettuce
8 large tortilla chips
Salsa
Serves two with some left over :-)

Step 1. Heat black beans in a sauce pan on medium heat, stirring occasionally. When they reach boiling, turn heat down to low.
Step 2. While you have a frying pan, with olive oil, heating up on medium heat cut chicken into strips. I cut mine pretty thin and we thought it was conducive to eating it with salad but you can make yours as large or small as you want.
Step 3. Chop onions.
Step 4. Cook chicken, with onions, on frying pan. When chicken is cooked all the way sprinkle taco seasoning and water and stir. When the water has boiled turn heat down to low.
Step 5. While chicken is cooking shred cheese and distribute lettuce into two salad bowls.
Step 6. Serve. Pour black beans over lettuce followed by the chicken, cheese, salsa, and top it off with crumbled tortilla chips. The black beans and taco seasoning left in the pan act as a healthy dressing for the salad.

Do this all while watching game shows on Spanish Language TV. And then finish it with a game of Boggle (while you're digesting) and a bike ride to 7-11 to pick up dessert. Perfect summer evening...