Accountability

It's been a while since I've posted anything, and I'll update soon! But I just have to give a little rant about how hard it is for me to understand why people can't seem to take responsibility for themselves. At work lately there has been one girl who continually calls in sick, comes in late, leaves early, and just in general doesn't do her job. If you are hired somewhere, you are made aware of your job duties. And getting paid to just sit around and not fulfill those duties is dishonest, irresponsible, and unfair to the other people you work with who are picking up your slack. In the end, I can only take accountability for myself, and hope that people like this will be held to a higher standard at some point in their lives. But for now, it's causing unnecessary stress and frustration for everyone at work, and I'm hoping it comes to an end soon.

The Strait and Narrow

I've been having a lot of pressure in between my eyes and sinuses and in my head lately. The convenience of such symptoms is that I can have them diagnosed at work! So I had Marcy give me a Maxiofacial CT scan. Fortunately, the images don't show any sinusitis. But what they did reveal is what the doctor that read my scan referred to as "a massive deviated septum". Followed by the question, "can you breathe okay?!" Of course I said yes, but maybe I just don't know anything different!! So for your diagnostic imaging lesson of the day, here are a few films of my crooked nose.
















If you look at the two sections where the swirly things are in the middle, those are the two sides of my nasal cavity. Just note that the cavity on the left is much bigger than the one on the right.

















Here's where you can see the actual septum. It's that line that's running right down the middle of my nasal cavity.














Here's what that line is supposed to look like, straight up and down, with equal cavities on each side.
And here's what MINE does...













Surgery anyone?
I guess we'll see.

Name Dropping

It's official! I'm a Keaton. I say it's official now because I got my real license and Social Security card in the mail. A couple of weeks ago is when I spent almost an entire day trying to get through all the preliminaries and logistics. The social security office was my own personal form of purgatory, considering how much I hate Social Security/Medicare anyway. When I got there 20 minutes before it opened, there was already a line of no less than 12 elderly people outside the door. So I stood in the 20 degree weather for what I thought would be 20 minutes, but NO, they didn't open until 9 that day instead of 8. I left that office at 10:45, yes, I waited over 3 hours, and headed to the DMV.

Turns out the DMV in Provo does not do licensing, but I needed to change my registration as well. But they wouldn't change my registration until I change my car title, and I have to change my license first to do all that.

So they sent me all the way to Northwest Orem to the Driver's License division, where I had to show 3 items that proved my Utah state residency. Then I had to pay $30. And then I had to take the written test, because my previous license was from Washington, and to get a Utah license you have to take it again. So then I go to get my picture, and it's horrendous of course. And being the girl I am, the guy let me re-take it THREE times! But then when I signed my name, I of course accidentally signed GALE instead of KEATON. We had to re-run the whole thing so I could sign it again.

But in the end, it's all worth it. I am officially Shanna Marie Keaton. And yes, I kept my middle name and not my last initial or whatever is proper. Because I love my middle name! The two big things are done, but here's what's still left to change...

Passport
Car Title
Registration
BYU Alumni file
W-2 at work
UHEEA student loan
Hospital access login
Car insurance
Health insurance
Health savings account
Email
Credit card
Bank accounts
Lease agreement
School registration

And probably more stuff I haven't even thought of! I hope everyone on the Keaton side can appreciate my dedication to the family! =)

It's not goodbye, it's see ya later!

One of the dearest people in my life moved away yesterday. I could have written a more emotionally out of control blog amidst my tears when I got back to work, but I thought I should get it under control first. Mostly I just want this amazing girl to know how much I'm going to miss her. She's going on the most incredible adventure that I will admit I am extremely jealous of. New York is so lucky to get her. So Jess, now I Love New York, but only because you're in it.

Hello, Cupcake!

My dear friend Jess Deal gave me this adorable cupcake cookbook for Christmas.



















Then come to find out, my Mom got me the exact same one, and they each said "I just thought of you when I saw it and had to get it for you." Which means it's the perfect gift!! I'm so lucky to have people who know me so well buy me such wonderful presents.

As mentioned in the previous blog, we decided to make the edible ornaments cupcakes. Here's our spread of supplies.














Our colored sugars for dipping














And here are some of our masterpieces! They are cupcake Christmas ornaments.














This one was my very favorite that we did.














This is Austin's Christmas present cupcake. He insisted on doing one that wasn't an ornament. He's always gotta be different!














A whole box of ornaments ready to be delivered!














Thank to Jess and my mom for giving us something so fun to do on our Christmas Eve in Provo!

Our First Christmas

Inspired by my mother's incredible talent for writing poetry, and to avoid any ranting and anger that could come from relaying the story, here's an emotionally controlled version of mine and Austin's first, and somewhat tragic Christmas together.

'Twas two days before Christmas
And all through the state
Travelers were unsure
Of their holiday fate

With snow came delays
And cancellations a-plenty
It fell in record highs
In inches up to twenty!

Austin and I with our suitcases
Were well on our way
To the SLC airport
To catch our United plane

Everything went smoothly
We could not foresee it
We thought we'd be in the air shortly
Enjoying our complimentary peanuts

But after hours in the airport
And with much devastation
We learned we would not
Reach our beloved destination

The "customer service" agent
Was just a mean old man
Nothing could be done
We'd been dealt a terrible hand

Christmas was ruined
And I cannot deny
I wanted to punch a United employee
Right in their dumb eye

But what good would it do?
It wasn't their crime
As sad as I was
Holiday spirit we would try to find

We started right away
As soon as we got home
We prayed for comfort,
And peace, and hope

Our eyes were opened
And our hearts were too
We clearly understood
What we needed to do

We started off by counting
All the ways we are blessed
Even with such a tragedy
Our lives are the best

With friends and family
We are loved so much
A home, jobs, cars, schooling
We have more than enough

We have our health, the Gospel
Many talents to share
We could find a way to show others
How much we care

So we baked and frosted
Most all of the day
Then we went out
And gave our cupcakes away

It was something so simple
And so easy to do
But it lifted all
Of the sorrowful gloom

Now we are cheerful and grateful
And have certainly found
No matter where you are
You can spread love around

Gale family fun and tradition
We have undoubtedly missed
But there will be other years
That we can enjoy it

From anger to joy
In just a few hours
Your outlook on life
Is all in your power

The Lord's love is stronger
Than any hardship
Even the disappointment
Of a ruined trip

This Christmas tale
Our kids will surely hear
Of the greatest day
Austin and I had all year

What are sisters for??

Here's a conversation Siara and I had via text message today...

Siara: Good thing Mariposa reopened because I wasn't sure what to get you for Christmas...
Me: Oh my gosh no way. Why did they even bother bringing that trash back?
Siara: Maybe now that Mervyn's is closed they'll have the corner on the fugly clothes market.
Me: And the corner on the unorganized store and trashy employees market. That place blows.
Siara: Yeah no kidding. Pretty much every store here is gross.
Me: I can't believe the places like "Deb", or "UrbanWear", or "Papaya". They're all the same junk. Forever 21 is the only good cheap store.
Siara: Haha oh my those stores crack me up. Imagine working there....they'd probably pay you in tube tops.
Me: Hahahahahahaha