Rain Rain Go Away

AGH! This last summer has appropriately been named "A Bummer of a Summer", but this is getting ridiculous. I can count on one hand how many times the temperatures flirted with the 70s, but that's not even what's gotten my undies in a twirl. I CANNOT STAND THE RAIN ANY LONGER!
If you could choose the worst possible summer to try to build a house, I would nominate this one. It has been a never ending game of waiting until the rain stops for a few hours, running home from the office, changing into grungy clothes and rushing through the siding, roofing, or painting on the outside until the rain begins again. The other night I was so desperate when we finally had a clear day that lasted into the night I used my Dad's incredibly bright utility lamp and painted half the trim on my house well into the dark hours just because it wasn't raining. Nothing like painting by flashlight to brighten your spirits.
In any case, for a status report on the house, the siding is on with the exception of the cedar shake accents we are using on the top of the cables (you can tell where the accent siding will be in the picture where plywood remains), the exterior paint has been finished (even though the picture below is pre-paint) and the front door has been trimmed out. The front door is my favorite part of the outside of this house, and it looks fantastic with base color and trim painted on it. Once I finish painting the actual door, I'll post more pictures next week. For now, here is a before and somewhat recent picture on the progress. If any of you know where I can match the original purple siding with the pink accent trim, I would greatly appreciate it. I think that will be the most missed feature from the original house.
So, it's on to the roof to finish the outside and then we'll be done with our fight with mother nature (this year). In the meantime, be sure to do any anti-rain dances you might know of and send the clear skies up our way...

BEFORE

AS OF LAST WEEK

Can't Stop 'Till I Get Enough

Lately I have been quite the political junkie. What very little time I do have is spent tuning into Foxnews and CNN. I know what you are thinking, "Bonnie, why in the world would you watch CNN, who is very apparently left-wing liberal, and watch Foxnews, a channel that all but runs pro-McCain ads through their oh-so-Republican shows and news reports?

The answer is simple. I love drama... and this election fills that vice for me daily. I don't know what else you can say about it. Between the surprise VP pick (who happens to be my govenor), the outrage it's gotten from so many democrats, particularly the self-proclaimed feminists, the attack ads (coming from both parties), the whining about the opponent's attack ads, the VMA award controversy with that weird dude with the weird hair that they allowed to host, The View with Whoopie and Barbara in all of their glory vs. Cindy McCain, I COULD GO ON FOR HOURS!!! Who needs Grey's Anatomy or The Hills when you have the 2008 Presidential Election?

It's not enough for me to see one side of this fight, either. I have to see the latest accusation, and after watching hours and hours of the breaking news story that is surely going to bury the candidate, I tune to the other channel and watch hours of closely reported arguments against the accusation.

I hated my political science class in college, but the recent events that keep my glued to the boob tube have got me rethinking my major. I can't imagine where I could get this much excitement in accounting!!

Anniversary? Who has the Time?

Long time no talk, Internet! I am making this brief and isolated post because today is my 4 year anniversary. Unfortunately, for the first time in a couple weeks, Jake actually has work to do at the business (It's slowed considerably). So even though we were going to take a day off and have a fun day to ourselves, we're working instead.

I also flaked on Sunday and when asked if I would hold a basketball practice for our upcoming young women's basketball season instead of mutual, I agreed not realizing that Thursday was the 14th...as in August 14th...as in my anniversary. So much for that romantic evening we've both been waiting for! (And by we both I mean me because Jake is still realizing that I'm cootie free)

In any case, I wish I could provide a very cute picture from our wedding or even a nice snapshot of Jake and I lately to post with this, but I can't. My wedding pictures didn't turn out that cute and I don't have any digital pictures anyway...plus my scanner is broken. As for recent pictures, unless you want to see a great shot of me complete with a caulking or nail gun and Jake carrying siding or shingles, we haven't done anything remotely Kodak-moment-worthy in a while. So, all you get is my dedicatory post to my spectacularly wonderful husband.

In four years of spending almost every day together, I have learned just a few things about Jake. He loves to learn how to do or make just about anything he's never done before. Things I have never even thought to notice, Jake pays close attention to, and then proudly points out what he's discovered. For instance, conversations that begin with 'Do you know what that extra piece of metal on that tractor does?' or 'Could you find your way out of the woods without a
compass on a cloudy day?' are all too common in our house. In Jake's mind, life is a puzzle. And to solve it you must pay close attention to everything around you at all times. Always ask why or how and you'll never stop learning. Though sometimes this gets exhausting and confusing for me, I appreciate all the knowledge I've gained--now if I could only remember it!

Jake is a perfect gentleman: if I'm carrying something heavy and he has an extra finger he might be able to balance my load with, he insists I let him carry it. If I'm too cold wearing two sweatshirts, he'll give me his jacket, even it if means he's left with a t-shirt. In my dating years, I found it annoying when a guy would make me wait to let him open doors, or never allowed me to get dirty by walking in the mud. Jake's found the happy medium between chivalry and smothering me with good manners, and I love him all the more for it. I knew he was a keeper when we were first dating and a friend noticed him wipe off a dirty seat on the train with his hand before I sat down. He doesn't do it because he wants all to see his generous and selfless nature, he simply thinks there are ways to act and doesn't think twice about it. His mama raised him right!

Since the beginning of the year, Jake and I have tackled the challenge of beginning a new business together. At first it was incredibly hard to let him take the reigns in the business and allow him to run it the way he wanted to. My control-freak tendencies caused their fair share of arguments, and it was stressful. However, I realized that the reason it was so hard to step back is because in our marriage, we are equal companions. From day one, we've always looked to each other for support, advice, and help with life's trials. As the world throws all variations of obstacles at us, we hurdle them together, hand in hand. Cliche? Yes. But it's this equality between us that has allowed us to grow together, work together, and enjoy life together.

Jake is a wonderful husband, a kind and generous man, and I am grateful every day that I was lucky enough at 19 (yes, 19) to realize I needed him in my life.

Four years down, and all eternity to go.

Belated Happy Birthday

Just wanted to say a quick Happy Birthday to my Mom (last Friday). I really meant to write this when it was actually on her birthday...and then I was tempted to cheat and just change the post date to make it look like I was on time...but I'm trying this new honesty-in-everything life strategy. I hear it's important.

In any case, Mom, I know you only get on this blog because it's the easiest way to navigate to Jonathan and Leah's blog where you can see pictures of your favorite grand baby, but just in case you stop to read this I LOVE YOU and want you to know that you are (and always have been) a huge example to me. I want to grow up and be the woman you are, minus the constant chatting on your cell phone. But without that cell phone ringing at the most inopportune times you wouldn't be who you are. Even though I acted horrified I was secretly proud that I had the loudest cheering mother in the stands at all my basketball games, and was even happy to show off your sweet dance moves at all the high school dances you chaperoned.

I know you hate Alaska but after living so far away from you guys for two years it's been a blast to have you right down the road. Hope you get acclimatized to the cold weather soon and quit wearing sweatshirts in 70 degree weather. This is the best it's going to get.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Think You Have it Bad?

The other night Jake and I, along with my father decided to take an all night 'suicide' fishing trip down to the Russian River for the Red Salmon run. Why an all night fishing trip, you ask? Because there are too many damn tourists on the Russian in daylight that claim to be serious experienced anglers but who in actuality just spent way too much money at Cabela's to complete their "Alaskan Outdoors man Outfit" and drive me to the point of insanity that many a time I've had to talk myself out of whipping my pole just so as to catch the guy's ear next to me for his failed attempts to squeeze me out of the fishing hole by standing thisclose when there's a whole 100 yards of empty shoreline.

How's that for a vent?

In any case, we prefer to fish at night to avoid the appropriately named 'combat fishing'.

Now that I've justified that point, I'll move on with my story. It was about midnight and we were geared up ready for the mile hike along the trail of the river that brings us to our favorite fishing hot spot. As we were descending down the stairway to the trail I was thinking aloud how I enjoy running across the occasional brown bear, but only if they are across the river and not paying any attention to many numbered anglers around them (or at the very least paying attention to me...as previously mentioned they are free to lick their chops at John Smith visiting from Florida who's standing too close to the guy next to him and snagging his line every cast).
After a couple minutes of expressing my fears of one day of rounding a corner and finding a bear in my path, I concluded that it would be one of the scariest encounters I've ever had and left it there for the boys to ponder.

No sooner had we cleared our first corner did I stop dead in my tracks, as there was a brown bear standing twenty yards up the trail. I pointed this little obstacle out to Dad and Jake, and we stood there for a minute deciding how to proceed. Within a couple seconds of us noticing the brown bear (for the rest of the story to avoid the over use of the words "brown bear" I've named him Snoopy), his head turned our direction and he proceeded to start moseying his bear paws down the trail towards us. This was enough for me to fish my bear mace out of my holster, and all three of us start searching off the trail to make sure we weren't going to run into a blazing mad mama bear pissed that we were yelling at Snoopy to get out of our way.

As Snoopy continued in our direction, we were trying to look out for a bigger sow, arm ourselves with mace (and in Jake's case his 44 Mag...I know, I have a hardcore honey...) and back off the trail without losing eye contact with Snoopy. It's funny, living in Alaska you always get all sorts of advice from random places on how to avoid bears and how to react to any encounters with them. It also adds to the complicaty of things because different kinds of bears deserve different reactions i.e. black bears vs. brown bears. What I managed to remember with brown bears is that you're not supposed to run away, but at the same time it's advised that you 'stand your ground' while making your way back off the trail and out of sight. Hearing that when you're not actually in the situation makes perfect sense. But tell me, when you're standing in front of a friggin' brown bear that is obviously not intimidated by your cries and whoops to go away, HOW IN THE HELL ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BACK OFF SLOWLY WHILE STANDING YOUR GROUND??? The short answer? You can't. And trying so only confuses and scares you even more.

After coming to this conclusion I finally just turned and walked slowing behind my Dad, while Jake was keeping his eye on the bear behind me. As I was in the middle of my 'please God don't let a small brown bear eat my face off' prayer, I caught something in the corner of my eye, and once I turned my head I realized Snoopy had picked up speed and was now running right at us. I let out a hair-raising scream and then started yelling, and as Jake aimed his pistol and I fidgeted with my mace (all the while yelling at the top of my lungs) Snoopy finally stopped. Standing no more than 10 ft. in front of us, suddenly realizing we were armed with weapons that would at the very least send him whaling back into the woods, he turned and started walking away from us, still on the trail.

All three of us let out a huge sigh of relief as we nervously giggled at how close Snoopy had gotten to us. In the meantime of us standing there in disbelief that we had gotten chased by a brown bear, four more anglers met us on the trail trying to pass us by and continue towards the river. We warned them about our encounter and after talking to them for a minute we decided safety in numbers was our policy for the evening.

Aside from following Snoopy back down the trail for another 100 yards or so (giving him a lot of room), and the once instance in which my incredibly near-sighted father mistook Snoopy for a man in waders, the rest of the trip was uneventful.

Moral of the story? No matter how prepared you think you might be for a situation to arise, when it finally does you will come to the realization that no amount of preparation compensates for the fact a five hundred pound bear is standing in your trail. Hopefully you have the luck I did and get to retain all of your limbs.

Goodbye Gurneys

Jake, Jeremy & Sheina with their catch off the Russian River
Sheina was a little excited to be fishing
Another one of Jake's catches---What a cute angler he makes!
One of my halibut of the day---though Jake did all the dirty work

Top 12 fish off the charter, the Gurneys had 4 make it on the rack!!
Poor sea-sick Jake taking a nap...and trying not to vomit again
The Gurney Gals
The gang at the look-out point in Homer, AK
Posing for a picture on the beach right below our campsite

Last night we dropped off the in-laws (Jake's parents, brother, and sister-in-law) at the airport. Dennis and Jeremy had been here since May 9th, Laraine had been here since May 17th and Sheina flew up for the last week of their trip. They came when our little house was standing ready to be remodeled and left a brand new framed addition in the footstep of the old garage. Much work still needs to be done but it's amazing how much progress they made in just 6 weeks up here...we will forever be grateful for their time and effort.

All day we've been walking around in sort of a daze, because already we're noticing that it's a little lonely when we don't have a big party going round the clock. We were especially busy these last couple weeks when the work was coming to a close and it was time to play in the beautiful weather we've gotten these last couple weeks. Enjoy the pictures; I just wanted to share a few of the many we took.

Perfect Day for a Whittier Trip

Jake and I enjoying some great seafood
Not sure why I didn't hop in this one, but it's Mom, Dad, and Squirt (aka Muriel)
Jake and I with his parents
Right before the fight broke out...
Bored in the back seat

We decided late Saturday night we wanted to be heathens and miss church on Sunday to drive South and see the sights. Jake's parents are in town with his older brother for the next month helping us with the remodel, and my little sister Muriel came to visit for the weekend. In any case, Muriel's favorite Alaskan town is Whittier, and she wanted to see it again before she left Tuesday.

Whittier is one of the most 'Alaskan' towns one could visit. Not only do you get to enjoy the beautiful fourty mile stretch of road that follows the Cook Inlet with views of mountain, ocean, waterfalls, glaciers, occasional beluga whales, and sheep on the mountains, but when you reach the Whittier tunnel you get to experience driving through the longest tunnel in North America. No kidding! As you can tell from the map below (Whittier is the green arrow) it is only accessed through this tunnel or by boat. It's the closest port from Anchorage, so it's a popular spot for boat-owners, but for us it is just a cute little port town that visit when we have a craving for the Swiftwater Seafood chowder. It will change your life. In any case, enjoy the pictures, we had a wonderful time excluding the racially charged fight that broke out in the restaraunt, but that's for another post.


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Still Recovering

Ok I know there is nothing worse than reading (or hearing) somebody else talk about a show you don't watch, but I can't help it today. For all you non-Desperate Housewives watchers...sorry...and go to abc.com and watch the past episodes so you can get in the loop because this season was c-r-a-z-y. If you do watch and were unlucky to miss last night don't read on because it's a spoiler.

Last night was the season finale. It wrapped up all the loose ends of each woman's story pretty nicely...and just when you thought you had actually watched a finale that didn't have the typical cliff-hanger tease ending where you were so irritated that you'd have to wait another four months to see what happens but yet at the same time so delighted that there was a twist, they fast forward the series 5 YEARS!!! Just like that!!! And all you got was a tiny preview in what's happening in everybody's lives. My favorite was Gabby all un-make-up'd and ugly with the twin Chinese girls (I'm not sure if she adopted or what...I'm sure we'll find out next season) and my LEAST FAVORITE was that Suzan isn't with Mike Delfino! What a tramp...

In any case, I'd have to rank that as seriously the best season finale episode I've ever watched...I knew there was a reason I loved this show!

Never a Dull Moment

There is never a dull moment in our house! Jake was sitting in the living room last night when he heard metal clanging around. Since we are in the construction phase of the remodel, at first he assumed it was some loose material getting caught by the wind. Then he looked outside and saw this right in front of the house! I guess an older lady was in the right-hand lane turning left onto a side street, but didn't have her turn signal on, and a younger man was impatient and pulled into the lane on the left to pass her as she was turning left...and since the young man was going too fast to begin with he ran over her hood and it flipped him over on the top. This guy had his 5 year old boy with him (they were headed to little league) and they must have been late because he was speeding and passing in a no passing zone.

In any case, nobody (thankfully) was hurt, Jake ran out and took this picture while calling 911 (he's the ultimate multi-tasker with his iPhone now) and it turned out to be quite the event of the evening.

McDUDnalds

Ok...maybe it's because I personally feel as though I have been a BIG contributor to the McDonalds organization via my daily McChickens in high school, my Big Macs through college and now my McFlurries, but I expect when I go to my local McDonalds franchise I will get what I want. I know "Have it Your Way" is coined by Burger King, but deep down aren't all fast food chains made equal?

Today I was craving my daily ice cream fix, and asked Jake to swing by the drive-thru on our way back to the office. I was in the back seat because my Dad was with us, and I was chatting away with my big brother shooting the breeze as Jake was ordering, so I didn't really catch all the confusion that the cashier had when Jake was explaining to her that no, we didn't want 6 McFlurries we just wanted 3 with an additional topping for each. We've already accepted that it's an extra 46 cents, and have mastered the ordering of them so there aren't any questions...'I want ONE Oreo McFlurry with ONE additional topping of M&Ms please' should suffice, right?

Well, it didn't, the lady went back and forth, first assuming we wanted a truckload of one topping ice cream treats, then mixing the Reese's with Oreo and the M&Ms with the Butterfinger, but Jake was quick to straighten her out and it looked like we were good to pick up our delectable desserts...that is until Jake pulled up to the window to pay and the cashier rudely said, "Um...just so you know we aren't going to mix the toppings any more." I was still on the phone talking so as I listened to Jake laugh in her face and ask why she would ever say something so silly, she very shortly replied "The head honcho here said that mixing the toppings causes cross contamination".

Are you serious McDonalds? Cross contamination of ice cream toppings?? Jake argued with her a little longer while even my brother Mark was getting fired up and threatening to tear her head off through my cell phone while I gratefully accepted that this might be my last Orea/M&M McFlurry...at least from that store.

Moral of the story is that sometimes, even for an extra charge, McDonalds doesn't always Love to See You Smile.

Finally Splurged

For over a year now, I have been hearing my friends who are more fashionable and 'up with the times' than I could ever hope to be tell me how fabulous the Chi brand hair flat irons work. My best friend Erin says it changed her life; some old clients of mine used their co-workers on a business trip and each of them ran out to purchase one the day after they returned home. So, after using my own cheaper straightener yesterday and experiencing all the hair snagging a girl can stand, I broke down and called Kelly.

Because Kelly has her beautician's license (is that what it's called?) she can purchase hair product/supplies at cost. However, it had to be a covert operation, because technically she isn't allowed to purchase items for the non-cosmetologist likes of me. So, internet, please don't reveal my true identity (or Kelly's) to any beauty supply store in the greater area of Anchorage so that she can help me work the system and I can maintain my hair with the best of the best products for cheaper, k?

In any case, she was kind enough to take me on her supply shopping trip today and I splurged on the coveted Chi straightener, hopped in the shower as soon as I got home even though I'd already taken one this morning, and whipped that baby out to work it's magic on my locks. AND...it...was...AWESOME! I have never bought into a lot of the hype that seems to go with all the expensive brand name clothes, shoes, purses, hair product, etc. because I figure my $8 shoes at payless look just as cute as your coach pumps; like Mom always said it's not what you're wearing it's wearing it with confidence.

So, to all those skeptics out there, borrow one if you must test it, but if you're in the market for a flat iron, save those pennies and splurge--it's worth it!

Now for those of you with any idea how to justify the purchase to Jake, please comment or e-mail me before I see him tonight to ensure the safety of my marriage.

Should She Pay?

'Marie Walsh kept a low profile for 32 years, trying to escape her past life as Susan LeFevre'

If you google this you can get the full story, but this poor lady was busted at 19 in Michigan for drug charges, and apparently her staunch Catholic family pressured her into pleading guilty, telling her to save them embarassment and take probation. Well, the judge didn't give her probation, he gave her 20 years in prison. After a year of prison, she was assisted by her grandfather and a friend and broke out. (Let me just say...can you imagine that conversation between her and her grandpa? I can totally see MY grandpa scheming an escape from the big house, but picturing this old crippled man sporting a walker and his orthopedic shoes driving the getaway car makes me giggle).

In any case, she hitches a ride to California with friends, and starts a whole new life, marries a man (doesn't tell him about her past life), has 3 kids, and now 32 YEARS LATER they catch her and are extraditing her back to Michigan for her hearing.

There are quite a few things that bother me about this story, but let me just focus on a couple of them. First of all, what kind of parents tell their kid to save them embarassment and take a consequence like that? If you're not ready to have your kids bring shame to your family, don't have kids---I think it's inevtible that your children at some point in their lives are going to make you look like the worst parent in the world. I know I did it to mine and I'm sure I'll be blessed with rebelious spirited kids myself.

Secondly, why in the world are we wasting resources to track down an escaped druggie from friggin' 30 years ago that's obviously learned her lesson and contributed to society? She isn't (and wasn't) dangerous to anybody else, was clever enough to make it by this long, I say live and let die. If anybody's to blame it's the dang prison who's security was shoddy enough that she literally walked through an open field, threw her jacket over the barbed wire fence and ran off. Take her escape up with them, and go find the people out there that escaped and actually pose a threat to the public.

The sweetest thing about this story is her husband, even after being shocked with this bombshell, is standing by her, saying she is a woman of integrity.

Quote of the Day

Today Jake and I were filling out a questionnaire for our health insurance (ah, the joys of self-employed health insurance premiums...I can't graduate and become a teacher soon enough!) and there were the list of questions, and with the three following columns; Y N DK

As Jake's filling it out, he stops and asks, "What does DK stand for? Don't care?"

After seeing the look on my face and thinking about it for a second, we both busted up laughing. It immediately was added to the inside joke book.

Are You Kidding Me?

Okay. So a certain sister-in-law calls me earlier this week and is throwing a bridal shower for a friend of hers that she has kind of a love/hate relationship with. Not sure why she thought I was the best consultant she had for cute theme/game/party ideas for this, but she did and I therefore contacted my consultant for those things---my friend Erin. She gave me some fantastic stuff and after brainstorming a little on my own, I called the SIL back and we chatted at length about this. Even though said SIL is extermely busy with her own obligations, she was taking all week to plan this shower for her fairweathered friend and was not even complaining about it---let's be honest, I WOULD BE!!!

So the shower was last night, and I called her today to find out how everything went after all her preparation. Want to know what happened? Of course you do...why else would you be reading?

The shower went very well---almost everybody had a wonderful time; everybody but the bride. Understandably, anybody getting married is entitled to choose if they will be that overly psychotic bridezilla you think only exists in reality TV until you actually deal with one, but this girl was over the top. I had given her an idea to spice up the present opening (because we all know that's the worst part about showers...saying 'ooo' and 'aaawww' every time a new present is opened and then acting interested as it's passed around. Like yes, I really do need to hold those terry cloth towels MYSELF or I just won't be able to appreciate them like I need to) by writing down everything the bride says and then, after it's done, reading the list saying that's what the bride will be saying on her wedding night. I know, for the LDS bridal showers this can be a little risk-ay but come on people it's all in good fun. And what's a bridal shower if you're not making sexual innuendos every five seconds, right?

In any case, the SIL said this game was hysterical, and left everybody laughing (at one point the bride had reacted to a gift by saying "Wow...is that really what it is?" If that's not good comedy I just don't know what is). And the brides reaction? Turning to my beloved SIL and saying "Well, that was inappropriate". Not convinced that's enough to justify this post? After the food and the games, she turns to SIL and says "So...is that it?" (To which SIL replies yes) "Um...okay. Well then, if that's all you've done I guess everybody can go home."

No kidding. She needs a spanking. Or a very stern lecture. And since I am not able to do either of these things I will just vent about such horrible behavior in a post and move on with my life.

Happy Birthday, Jonathan!!

Just wanted to write a quick blurb about my big brother, Jonathan, as it is his 26th birthday today. I wish I could put up some insanely unflattering pictures of him when he was youner, but all my baby pictures are still in a box in Idaho, and this is all I could offer---and even these I had to get off of my sister-in-law's facebook! Jonathan, we definately have to break out the camera next time we're together.

But I digress. Jonathan is my closest sibling in age (2 1/2 years) and the only brother or sister I ever shared a school with. All those girls out there that were freshman in high school when their brothers were seniors can relate---it wasn't always easy! However, even with his serious over-protective nature he discovered and the many clashes it caused in my attempts to flirt with the older boys in school, we both survived this experience with all limbs still firmly attached.

There was many a time Jonathan and I would act beyond goofy and do things we would never get caught dead doing in front of anybody else---rock out to backstreet boys, make up awesome dance moves and try them out on the living room coffee table, etc, but that's what's so great about him; there is never a dull moment and he's always up for a good time. That's his trademark in the family---taking everything one step further to get a rise out of us. This is a great trait to have in a big family, and even at 26 he's takes center stage because of he's willing to do or say anything, and I mean anything, to make us laugh. I will never forgive him for sharing horrifying moments in my childhood at my wedding luncheon, but everybody (including me) was hysterical by the time he finished, so it was hard to stay mad for too long.

Thanks brother for being such a great example to me, for showing me that no matter what, you can always make good decisions and that there's always redemption for the bad ones. I was lucky to have a brother serving a faithful mission during my critical years I spend at a crossroads and didn't know what I wanted in life, and will never forget the many e-mails and letters that truly inspired me to stand up for what I believed in. Simple phrases like "Keep the Faith" and "Go Big or Swim Home" made me realize who I wanted to be and where I needed my path in life to go.

Sure love and miss you like crazy Jonathan! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Conversation the other day...

We had just woken up, and I was trying oh-so-hard to find a reason good enough to drag my lazy and ever-increasing-in-size butt out of bed, Jake decided to strike up conversation:

Jake: I have a confession to make

Me: Well, out with it then

Jake: I don't want to be an appraiser anymore.

(Completely astonished and trying to approach this as a sensitive thoughtful woman that vowed to stand by her man no matter what idiotic ideas came out of his mouth) ME: Well...okay...what is bringing this on?

Jake: I am just burned out, and I hate dealing with everybody's problems, it's a hard market out there, (I'm sure he talked for another five minutes but to me it quickly turned into something as valuable as 'yada yada yada yada')

Me: Well, you do understand that even in a tough market, you are doing so awesome, and anybody else would love to own their own business that doesn't require working nights/weekends and that sets their own schedule and that is doing well right out of the gate and and AND...



Me continuing: Well, hate to break it to you buddy, but you better suck it up. We sacrificed a lot to get you certified and you get to make it worth while. If you want to change careers in five years, be my guest. But you are GOING to support us and you NEED to fulfill your duties as the man of this house and I am finishing school while you follow through with this. If you don't like your job we'll take a mini-vacation this weekend and then when we get back it's back to the grinding stone for you mister. I mean are you kidding me? Quit everything you've worked for because it's gotten a little harder than you thought? Who are you? Seriously?! Is today April Fools or something?

And then it hits me...it WAS April Fools. And Jake is giggling hysterically in his pillow. While I slap him, a little too hard, on the back of his head and hop in the shower cursing him under my breath.

As I got ready that morning Jake kept spontaineously walking in and saying things like "Man, you are really cold-hearted. 'Suck it up?' Who says that to their discouraged husband? It's a really good thing I like what I do."

I have NEVER liked April Fools Day. And that day validated more than ever my disdane for the holiday. What a waste of a holiday. Stay away from me Ashton, I handle getting "Punk'd" about as well as Justin Timberlake did.

Charles Barkley--O' Wise One

Quote from Jay Leno tonight:

Jay (To Charles): What was your favorite subject? Like, if you had to take a test on any subject what would it be?

Charles: Rebounding

(Amidst crowd laughter)

Jay: Rebounding?? Or the history of rebounding...right"

Charles: Rebounding, because I know if I can get ten rebounds a night, I have a place in this world. That's what I tell my kids: If they can get 10 rebounds in a game, they will always have a place in this world.

Bravo Charles, I couldn't have said it better myself.

AAAGGGGGHHHH!!!!

So this morning, after buying new tires for my Honda and getting my snow tires removed, I look out the window and find this--->

What a bummer! You know, I have become quite accustomed to spring time in Alaska.

I consider it a beautiful spring day when the weather is over 40 degrees and I can manage to walk around in my flip flops (yes, I wear flip flops in 40 degree weather here...when else would I be able to wear them?) without getting my feet covered in the snow/ice/mud mix that covers the entire state of Alaska this time of year. I was packing up my winter coat, putting away my snow boots in the storage shed out back, and bringing in all my short sleeve t-shirts that don't see the light of day for eight months out of the year. I was finally getting geared up for an early spring/summer this year, and now we have more than A FOOT of new snow on the ground, and it doesn't look like it's stopping any time soon.

I need a vacation somewhere tropical.

Sign of the Times My Friend

Joey McIntyre, 35; Jonathan Knight, 39; Donnie Wahlberg, 38; Jordan Knight, 37; and Danny Wood, 38. They will be visiting the Today Show on April 4th to address rumors of a reunion.

I found this when I logged into Yahoo to check my e-mail this morning. I can only describe this as a sign of the times....

I mean, did I have the nkotb lunch box that I proudly ate out of for three consecutive years? Who didn't? Was my first CD "Hangin' Tough" that I listened to every night while blowing kisses to my poster of Joey McIntyre on the wall? You betcha. But a reunion when they are pushing 40? The jury is still out on this one.

Boys will be boys

Yesterday my Mom decided to upgrade my Dad's very archaic cell phone (he has one of those Nokia square phones that were the best things out there when I was in high school...which was five years ago). After considering all her options, she chose to not just upgrade, but make him the coolest kid on the block by giving him an iPhone.

No sooner had Mom purchased it did Jake start thinking about all of the many things he himself could use such an advanced piece of technology for. It started with "Wow, it has Google Earth right on the home page? I could totally replace my eight street maps and use it to locate my properties" and throughout the night all I heard were excuses like, "I could access the MLS and pull more comparable sales while I'm inspecting a house!" As the possibilities seemed endless, my hopes that his excitement would fade dwindled away until I finally agreed that we could get him an iPhone this weekend. Poor Dad, he hasn't even been able to touch his prized present since Jake got his hands on it this morning.

What is it about boys and their toys? First it's hunting gear, then guns, then the 4-wheeler he uses only when it snows, and now it's the most expensive phone on the market.

And he thinks my never-ending shoe collection is bad! At least my beloved flip-flops only cost me ten bucks!

I wonder if I could gear him towards collecting more inexpensive items, like rocks.

Good Friday? It was a GREAT Friday

Just thought I'd share that I'm having a pretty spectacular day. Maybe it's because I decided to blow everything off and play. Much to Jake's annoyance, I kind of skipped out on completing any task I had at the office, but at least I got much needed one-on-one time with Kelly. I took her to her first sushi experience ever...and hopefully she wasn't just being nice when she said she liked it. It was hilarious to see her trying to use chopsticks for the first time, but she was getting the hang of it by the end. To see her face every time the waitress brought something new to the table was hysterical. She was a great sport and tried a little of everything, but was much relieved when the waitress finally brought out something she recognized: cinnamon tea (and the check! haha!). I love Fridays when I knock off the week early and go and do what I want...if only Jake was flexible enough to hang out. He's (thankfully) stayed very busy so he's getting burned out quick. Can somebody say it's time for a Vacay??? :)

Have a great Easter Weekend everybody!! Time for boiled eggs and candy---what a great combination!

Goodbye, Kathryn!

This is a picture from last night's going away party for my very good friend, Kathryn. Her husband took a new job in Spokane, so they fly out this Saturday. It was a great party, but just like any going away shindig, always has the damper of knowing it's the last hoo-rah with the person it's being thrown for.

So, this is a little tid-bit about Kathryn, and how much I'll really miss her. Kathryn and I served together in Young Womens over a year, and it has been a blast. Over girl's camp, baby showers, mutuals, Sunday Lessons, and the occassional girl's night out Kelly and Kathryn can manage, she has become one of my closest friends. It's never easy making friends when you don't have kids that kind of network you in to social circles, so when I find women I genuinely enjoy hanging out with, they are hard to give up!!

Kathryn, I will surely miss the simple things you do that's always good for a laugh-fest, your blunt honesty I can always rely on, and your ability to lift my spirits every time I'm near you. Can't wait until we see each other again!

Simply Me, Kelly, and Kathryn at going away party last night--->

Happy Belated St. Patty's

I meant to post something cute and fun on St. Patrick's Day...but what can I say? I didn't. So, instead, I'll post a belated St. Patty's Day tribute and that way it will give me something to write about. Why the sudden interest in a holiday I have hardly ever observed? (Okay...I do make an effort to wear green, and when I was in junior high I would wear red too because supposedly if you wear red you're supposed to get kissed instead of pinched.)

In any case, I have recently had a sparked interest in family history (only because it's already done for my whole Barrus side and I just get to read all the cool stories) and found that most of that side came from, you guessed it, Ireland. So, with that, enjoy some fun facts below that I found about the Irish.

*St. Patrick's Day marks the Roman Catholic feast day for Ireland's patron saint, who died in the 5th century. St. Patrick (Patricius in Latin) was not born in Ireland, but in Britain.

*34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

*According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14!

*One estimate suggests that there are about 10 000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.

*Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

*The harp is the symbol of Ireland. The color green is also commonly associated with Ireland, also known as “the Emerald Isle.”

So Sore...So Sore...

Well, it's official. My fragile ego has been shattered. And I'm in a lot of physical pain. When did my body get this old?

I got a call a couple days ago from one of the girls in my old ward (I was her leader in Young Womens). She is on the varsity basketball team for her school and her team made it to their state tournaments next weekend. Their coach is trying to run through all their offenses/defenses to make sure it's pounded in their head, but only has 8 girls on the team, and for those of you that don't know this and seriously need to watch more basketball, you need 10 (5 on 5) for a scrimage. So, knowing that I played basketball back in my glory days she volunteered me to come play with them this week and next until their tourney. I agreed, wanting to meet the head coach any way because I had heard they were looking for a new coach for their JV program next year, and showed up Thursday.

Well, long story short, after two days of playing with those girls, I feel as though I've been hit by a truck. Not to mention, the first day I'm not sure I ran more than five minutes with them and was literally holding back my urge to throw up all over the floor. Pathetic, I know. My 18-year-old self would be calling me all sorts of names for letting me get this out of shape, but it's given me new motivation to get back out on the court. After all, at 23 I can't imagine giving in to the notion that I have peaked on my physical abilities. The best news is, however, that I'm not there to be a good basketball player, I'm there to help the girls out, so at least all expectations of my basketball skills are decreasing low---right where I want them.

Jake's pretty happy because he remembers my athletic figure when we started dating and is excited to see if this ole' body can't return to it's original shape. I'll let you know how THAT turns out! :)

Top Five Tuesday

I have decided to implement one day a week to name my top 5 favorite...whatever. I hear by deem Tuesdays "Top 5 Tuesday". As my first Top 5 Tuesday (aka T5T...can you tell I'm a texter?) I will identify my Top 5 Country Songs of All Time. Being a Texas native, I grew up on Garth, George, Johnny, and Martina. So, here goes:

1. "Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash- The reason for giving this the number one spot is pretty simple; it was the first country song I ever heard. Most mothers sang lullabies, children songs, or hymns from church to their children. But my mom? No...we heard this on every road trip, errand run, or any other random time my mom decided to break out in song. She started every line for us, and we would all excitedly reply in unison. From the day my mom first taught me 'My daddy left home when I was three and he didn't leave much for Mom and me just an ole' guitar and an empty bottle of booze' I was hooked. The greatest part about this song is that I was convinced my Mom wrote it and had no idea it was a Johnny Cash original until I was in junior high and a friend of mine was listening to it on his Walkman. I was so disappointed, but it doesn't change the fact it is the greatest country song of all time.

2. "She's in Love with the Boy" by Trisha Yearwood- I think this was the ultimate "chick flick" country song. I'm always up for a good love story, so condensing it into less than four minutes and putting it to song only makes it that much better. When I was ten hearing this for the first time, I would fantasize about meeting my one and only love in high school, get engaged with my boyfriend's class ring at a Tastee-Freeze and have my Dad ready to beat the guy's brains in for proposing. That's true love I tell you.

3. "I've Got Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks- This is another favorite for similar reasons to number one; nostalgic sentiment. Again, thanks to Mom, Garth was a family favorite and many a time me and my four siblings would beg her to play this song so we could jam out at the top of our lungs. Just picture it: Five children ranging from 3 to 14 playing our air gee-tars and singing every word we knew. Teaching us kids what one must resort to in order to get over a bad break-up was top on the family moral list.

4. "All My Exes Live in Texas" by George Strait- What a great song. Between George's easy-on-the-ears melodic voice and the creative lyrics, I can always enjoy a great rendition of 'All My Exes" anytime. And of course, the fact it's all about my native state is a huge plus.

And Finally...Number 5...

"Lights Went Out in Georgia" by Reba McEntire- Oh yes. Reba is the Queen of Country. Enough said. But I'll say a little more. For those of you that haven't heard this song need to get on Itunes immediately and educate yourself in one of the best country songs ever. Where else can you get an entire scandal complete with a cheatin' wife, corrupt judges, a couple murders and one woman set out to make them all pay? Every time I hear that line "You see lil' sister don't miss when she aims her gun" I get chills. Reba, babe, you are the bomb.

So there it is. Any you would take off or add? Comment and give me your opinion!

One of those "Alaska Days"

That's what my friend Kelly calls it when she's getting tired of the blistering cold, depressing dark Alaskan winters...she says "I'm having one of those Alaskan days". I couldn't really relate until this week. I think it's because we were in the upper 30s/lower 40s last week and it resembled the break-up (The "Break-up" is what Alaskans call our version of spring; since there's a LOT of snow and ice to melt, it's usually disgusting, wet, and dirty for a couple months before everything dries out in May and the city cleans up for tourists to enjoy our beautiful summer) but now we have reverted back to cold cold cold 20s. I thought the break-up was coming early this year, meaning an early summer, etc. but it doesn't look like I'm that lucky.

In any case, today I was especially bitter at how long our winter lasts and how I was SO ready to be camping, 4-wheeling, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, whale watching, and anything else I can't do right now.

Well, I was driving up on the eastside moutains in subdivisions taking comparable photos for one of Jake's appraisals and I was driving on a road that was above the trees, and saw the above view. I immediately pulled over and had to take a picture; which is something I rarely do.

However, it's not everyday that you can see every peak of Mt. McKinley. It doesn't show up as brightly on my picture as it did in real life and everything around it looks brown and nasty, but McKinley was breathtaking.

In any case, it made me realize how lucky I am to live somewhere that may have its drawbacks with six months long of snow and three months where the sun hardly shines, but dangit every now and again even in the gross months I get to see a glimpse of the prettiest mountain ranges I've ever seen. And to think it's three hundred miles north!!!

It at least was enough to hold me over for another month before I start complaining about our long winter again.

Mean Tigers

Saturday our friend Haakon came to the office to look up a property with Jake, and brought his two adorable girls with him. This is Corinne's picture she drew on my computer. (She is 5, but if you say that in front of her you must recognize that she is 5 AND 1/2) In any case, as she was drawing this, I was studying the animal trying to figure out the last time I saw a four-legged creature that was lime green with brown stripes.

Fortunately, her little sister, Lauren looked at it and asked what we were both thinking,

"Corinn-eee, what is that?"

You could tell Corinne was a tad defensive when she replied "Can't you tell it's a tiger?"

Lauren pondered that for a moment, then stated, "Oh. Tigers are really mean."

(Corinne) "No, this one is a nice tiger."

(Lauren) "I don't like tigers. They are mean."

(Corinne) "Well then look" (She adds a smile to the tiger's face) "He's smiling, so he's not mean

now."

Why can't it be that easy to fix all the mean things in this world?

An Interesting Visitor

Yesterday my mom and dad opened their front door and saw the above. For those of you that can't make them out, those two prints on the door mat are moose tracks THAT CLOSE! I was laughing so hard at the image of my mom's face if she were to open the door and there would be a moose literatly standing less than 6 inches from the threshhold of her doorstep. I told them to knock on the inside of their door before they opened it, just in case this moose likes the idea of hanging out on their front porch. We decided that it was after the fake 3' tall trees they had for decorations...so maybe the poor moose was so disappointed the trees weren't real it won't come back around...but it's still something we'll all think about before we open that door again.

Tax Season is over...for Me

I was kidding myself to think that we could do something for Valentine's Day...we ended up WORKING until the wee hours of the night. Too much to do to play these days I guess. Oh well. In any case, I did take pictures, they are just of us taking a break and clowning around with the camera. We had some really funny ones but Jake said he would kill me if I put them up, so I only got to put up the attractive ones, at least attractive ones of him. Can you say "Alaskan Tan"?

But I digress. Maybe it's because this is the last year tax season will be easy, quick, and cheap, but I finished super early and am so proud of myself...it took less than an hour! I know next year doing taxes for our business is not only going to cost a lot of money, it's going to be a new (aka very challenging) experience. In any case, they are done and I get my $54 refund in 9-14 days. Not too shabby. Good luck to those of you that still have to do taxes...hopefully bigger refunds than mine are in store for you and *eek* if you have to pay may it be a small, small amount. Can you tell which political party I belong to? Haha!

Happy Valentines

"Is your father a terrorist? Because you're da bomb!"

Okay, not the most PC pick-up line I've ever heard but I got this cheesy V-day e-mail forward with all these lines and I hadn't heard this one before. Sad but true.

Happy Valentines Day! I finally took some updated pictures with Jake so I will upload soon, I think I'm going to take some more tonight...for our celebration (We never get gifts for each other) I'm making him a pile of shrimp. It's his favorite meal.

Unfortunately it's almost 6 and we're just finishing up because we've been so overwhelmed with business (Not a bad problem to have I know) it's been crazy. Can't complain though, business means $$ and $$ means finally paying off our credit cards!!

Hooray for Friday!

Don't have a lot to say about today...still cold (below 5 degrees during day and in negative at night) and will be until Tuesday. Tonight Jake and I are going to our local high school's varsity basketball games...well, I'm going to the girl's and he's coming later for the boys since according to him, the only people that enjoy watching girls basketball are those that used to play it or parents that have to suffer through it. :) Isn't he sensitive?
In any case, it will be really fun to watch them play, a couple of the kids on the teams are in the chuch so it will be good to support them.
Then we are picking up a blast from the past; an old friend, Tyler, during his late-night layover on his way back to Boise. Jake's never met him before, but they have a ton in common so I think it will be great to catch up! I love introducing Jake to good friends from a long time ago, he's hit it off with every one of them so I think it will be fun.
It's the first Friday night in a while that we actually have plans so it should be good! TGIF everybody!

Bundle Up Kids it's Cooooooold Out There!

This is what the little icon is every day for the next week. No Kidding. So after getting home last night, all I wanted to do was take a long hot shower. Just as I was enjoying the steam that was doing wonders on my clogged sinuses (is sinuses even a word?) the water ran out! In the past we have had these issues but thought Jake fixed them last summer. There is a tiny switch that is right next to our pressure tank that tells our well (yes, we are on well/septic...aren't we living the Alaska life?!) to kick on and pump more water. In the winters before, our well wasn't insulated very good and that switch would freeze frequently, often leaving me soaped up and screaming at Jake to go put a blow torch on the switch. He made quite the project last summer of completely replacing and sealing the entire well house casing, and since we've made it this far we thought it was resolved.
But, even the new and improved wellhouse couldn't survive the friggin' cold snap we've had (it hasn't gotten above 5 degrees in about a week, last night we were -15). SO, back down to the well house it was for Jake while I sat inside and enjoyed having a great excuse for not doing the dishes.

Simply Me's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Okay, maybe it's because I caught Jake's stupid cold and I have a stupid runny nose and my stupid medicine hasn't kicked in, but I am having one horrible day. I'm stuck working today with Jake in the office because I marketed for less than an hour last Thursday and got overwhelmed with requests. Not a bad problem to have, I know, but it is when you have that someboby-put-a-tiny-little-elf-in-my-brain-and-he-has-a-jackhammer feeling and yet you're still working. We've all been there.

So today I come in to work hoping to get one thing accomplished: Finalized E & O insurance for Jake's company. I have been getting quotes for the last three weeks from different local insurance companies, and have been equally appalled when they come back with $10,000/year premiums for coverage he needs. $10,000 a year!!! What's even more frustrating is when I look online the quotes in all other states are no more than $800/yr, but most of these companies don't *surprise* do insurance for appraisers in Alaska. You'd think Alaska was in a whole other country with how I've been treated by some of these out of state insurance brokers. In any case, it's been a very tedious process, but last Friday I came across a broker willing to talk to me, and today, they came back with their quote, and it's less than $1,000 premium which is exactly what I've been looking for. I know I should be happy, but I can't stop thinking about what a waste of time it has been for me to wait on these other local companies and how we haven't been able to work with a lot of mortgage companies in town that require E & O insurance. Boy am I a Debbie Downer today or what?!?!

At least it's accomplished, and now I get to go get back in my bathrobe and watch bad daytime television all afternoon.

Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, Passes Away

Okay...I wasn't really planning on posting about this because most of you who read it obviously know Gordon B. Hinckley passed away yesterday evening, but then realized if I post about Heath Ledger dying I certainly need to mention the prophet. So, I was doing a little reading about him and thought I would post that on here in honor of a great man that was an amazing leader and wonderful role model for me.

Gordon B. Hinckley was the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for almost 13 years, as he was called as prophet in March of 1995. He was the first president of the church to travel to Spain to erect a temple in Madrid.

In an interview in 2005, he told the Associated Press: "The more people come to know us, the better they will understand us. We're a little different. We don't smoke. We don't drink. We do things in a little different way. That's not dishonorable. I believe that's to our credit."

The above quote shows why I loved his talks, respected his counsel, and adored him as our prophet. He was so simple in his talks, but the truths he spoke always seemed to stuck with me because of the way he delivered him. The way he spoke was so absolute and certain it was as though he's never questioned for a minute whether the gospel was true.

He was a beloved prophet and will be missed dearly.

The Cold Season Has Arrived!

It's official: The cold season has formally arrived at the Simply Me household. I have the above picture in because Jake swears by it---he says it is soothing to take and helps him sleep, and doesn't leave him all groggy gross in the morning like other nighttime cold medicines can.

Three days ago Jake started sneezing, snoring (he only snores when he's sick...aren't I lucky?), and coughing profusely. Of course, he has been go go go since he was licensed and was working well into the nights trying to get new clients by doing his appraisals super fast. Although he's doing a great job because in the short week we've been in business he has three new clients and a ton of appraisal requests (part of that I'm sure being that the rates have been dropping like a swatted fly), he's also paying for it by continuing to get worse.
Yesterday I made him stay home most of the day and watch movies and veg, and today I'm quarantining him to the house. So, this morning I will have to go to church alone which I don't mind except it's redundant when I get asked three hundred times why Jake's not there. It just goes to show how much the people in our congregation care and I appreciate it, but for those of you who've been there it's always awkward when that one person lingers for a detailed explanation like they don't believe you and suspect that your husband is really bar-hopping on a Sunday morning. I'll let you know how it goes.
Time to stock up on Airborne and hand sanitizer!

Heath Ledger Dies at age 28

Did you guys see this?? Evidently he was found in an apartment owned by Mary Kate Olsen with pills around the bed he was in---so police think it's an overdose. I don't mean to turn into miss pop culture but thought it was a simple enough post and would be good so y'all are up on the times. How sad though, I felt the guy was really talented---even if I haven't appreciated any of his movies since The Patriot.

Mom's Mint Brownies

This is for you Lindsay! :)

This is a family favorite that we always make around the holidays. It used to seem like a much bigger project, but last week I made two batches and since it didn't seem that bad, I think I'll make them a lot more often! I will venture to say they are by far my number one favorite brownie. Period. That's how yummy they are...so if you love dark chocolate mint candies, cakes, etc. definitely give these a shot.

These are cooked on a jelly roll pan, so not only is it a HUGE batch, it yields about 64 brownies. That's why we always made them for the holidays; one batch is enough to give away to all your friends!

RECIPE

brownie layer:
8 squares unsweetened chocolate
3 cubes butter (1 1/2 Cups)
4 cups sugar
8 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla

Melt together chocolate squares with butter in a double boiler...or if you don't have one just make sure it barely melts the butter without boiling the chocolate. I can accomplish this even with my microwave if I just watch carefully. Mix in eggs and sugar, then fold in remaining ingredients. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Cool a little, but it's helpful if this layer is still a little warm to the touch because it helps smooth out the next layer.

mint frosting layer:

6 Tbsp butter
6 Tbsp cream (if you don't have it milk works fine)
1 box powdered sugar
1 tsp mint extract
3-4 drops green food coloring

You want this frosting to be stiff but still smooth. Add powdered sugar accordingly. When you spread it on the brownie layer, try your best to have the top as smooth as possible. Again, if the brownie layer is warm, it helps melt the frosting just enough to smooth the top out. Cool in freezer or refrigerator (I use freezer or in good ole' AK you can just put it out on your back deck) because it only takes about 20 minutes to get it cold enough. You want the frosting to be pretty hard.

dark chocolate layer:

6 Tbsp butter
6 squares unsweetened chocolate

Melt together in double boiler or (again) just barely melt butter in chocolate. Once you have the brownies cool and the frosting is pretty hard to the touch, it's ready for this final layer. This is the trickiest part because you want this to be a very glossed look. The easiest way I have found is starting in a corner of the pan, and using a large spoon to spoon on some of the chocolate mixture. Using the back of the spoon, spread a thin layer of the mixture, (thick enough to where you can't see the green frosting underneath). Adding spoonful at a time, smooth final layer on the brownies. Warning: Because the layer underneath is cold, work as quickly as you can because this will harden quickly and if you have to smooth over the hardened stuff it messes up the smooth look. Cool one more time for another 10 minutes.

Now, take a sharp knife, and a glass of hot water. Dipping the knife in the water every couple of cuts (and wiping the blade with a paper towel afterwards) cut your brownies. The hot knife keeps the top chocolate layer from cracking. Just a side note, my mom cuts all around the edges in about 1/4 inch and then cuts her squares because it makes for all the edge brownies to that that layered pretty look as well. The edges are still tasty and are perfect for your kids who probably don't care what they look like!