I wish I had a camera for this one...

So last night, for the first time in a long time, I felt older then I really am! I am 28. I like to think that I am hip and up on my pop culture. I don't look 28 nor to I feel 28 most of the time. However...when the average age of the people in the room is 17, I felt more like I was 40. (And there's nothing wrong with 40!!!)

I went with my sister, Wendi, and my cousin, Mandy, and her friends to the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus concert at the Murray Theater. I went because Wendi needed a buddy, and because FACE DOWN is one of my favorite songs. So we get there...there are 5 other bands that are touring with them. The first few were NOT so good. However, I fell in love with one of the bands.

This is Monty Are I!!!

They are from Rhode Island and I had never heard of them before. But for being a scream-o band, they were awesome to watch! There was guitars, keyboards, brass and fantastic live vocals. Go to their website or even YouTube and check out their song "One in a Million". I am in love with that song now. Of course it was during their set that people were getting hauled out by security for violent moshing. One girl got hit and was knocked out cold. Another one passed out, but that's because she looked like she needed to eat a sammich and put some meat on her bones.

The best part of the WHOLE night was when Red Jumpsuit was singing FACE DOWN and the lead singer from Monty Are I came out to sing with him. It was totally worth the almost 5 hours we had waited for them to play and the ringing ears. (Memo to me...EAR PLUGS!!!) It was wonderful. We all had a good time, but we learned some good lessons from this.

1. If there are other bands opening, don't come for at least an hour after the show starts. It was not so fun and you can save your ears. I woke up with a pounding headache this morning and I wanted to die a little.
2. Don't stand near the middle! This is where the moshing is. I had to pull Wendi out of the way a few times but she still got attacked. Hope her knee is doing better today.
3. EARPLUGS!!! Always bring ear plugs! My left ear is still ringing today. You'd think I would have learned all of this by now. I'll need hearing aids by the time I'm 50.
4. And last, but not least...always bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer! I felt so gross by the time I left and needed to wash my hands or something.

I am very glad that I went though. Wendi even had a good time. But I know if we take these lessons we learned and put them to use when We the Kings come on February 26th, we will have a much better time. The Murray is a wonderful little venue and the acoustics were awesome. And the best part? The Murray is half a block from my house. I walked home in less then a minute. SWEET!

So...if anyone is interested in coming with Wendi and I to We the Kings in February, let me know. It will be a good time.

Thin-spiration my booty!

So last night I saw a VERY disturbing news story about the new web and blog craze of "Thinspiration". If you haven't guessed, these are websites and blogs that encourage women to be thin. And I don't just mean thin, I mean been-in-a-concentration-camp-too-long-needs-to-eat-a-sammich thin. As a lady, I understand the social pressures to be thin. I too, at one time, had an eating disorder. It started as a stomach virus and then I just kind of stopped eating all together. Now, this was about 10 years ago when I was a senior in high school. I was so busy all the time with school, work, plays, choir stuff and friends that it was easier to hide. However, there weren't all these websites devoted to this life style. There are sites that will show you how to hide your eating disorder from friends and family. There are even pro-annie sites, as they are called. It wasn't until a good friend of mine stopped me one day and said "What are you doing?" It was then that I realized that I had a problem.

Now, being a theatre major, I understand the pressures to be thin. I watched many girls in my classes go from healthy looking to yuck. In the bathrooms, there was always someone talking about how they were able to drop 10 lbs last week by living on caffeine and nicotine. Or there was the diet coke and wheat thins diet. Then of course it was very common to walk into the bathroom and hear someone chunking their lunch. I will admit that there were times that it was very tempting to get back into that habit. I knew that I would have been taken a lot more serious as an actor if I was thinner. When I worked as a costume person, I was always hearing about how these 95 lbs girls were "so fat!" I finally had to come to the point that I couldn't care about being thin and being 115 lbs.

Yes, there are some people out there that are just naturally thin. I get it. They can eat and eat and it burns quicker then a spider with aqua-net and a lighter. That's great. I have nothing against thin people. I even know of people who are trying to gain weight. I think people can be beautiful at any size, depending on what's on the inside. I don't care if you're an obese lady or a super thin super model - if you're a bee-otch, you're a bee-otch! I know that this all sounds very cliché, but it's true.

I also know that being over weight isn't healthy either. That goes to the other end of the spectrum. It's ok to be big and beautiful...but there's a point in which it's time to do something about it. There are so many healthy alternatives to weight loss then starving yourself or purging after every meal. It takes effort and will power to stay with this. I need to encourage myself more. But when it comes down to it, I will never 115 lbs and still be alive. I will never wear a size 4. I will never be able to shop at 5-7-9 or be a Victoria's Secret model. I will always look stupid in skinny jeans...mainly because I can't fit my size 11 feet through the bottom of the leg hole!

But guess what? I'm ok with all of this. I am fine knowing that my body isn't built for that. So all those people who are encouraging this unhealthy life style full of thin-spiration and eating disorders can kiss my wide back side! They are sick people and karma will come back and get them ten-fold! I know that this is one of Satan's tools to pull people down and ruin their self-esteem and dignity. Just remember, curves are beautiful...your hip bones sticking out is not.

PS - I want to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving. Enjoy the time with family and remember to give thanks to He who has blessed you with these things. Happy Turkey Day!

Making Waves...or something like that

Well, it's time for my monthly post. I would love to say that so much has happened and that I am bursting to tell you all about it...but it's been a lot of the same old stuff lately...and that's ok. Since we last met, Mike and I have been adjusting to our new apartment. In someways it s huge improvement from where we were. All I can say is AIR CONDITIONING! We haven't had to cook like eggs on the sidewalk this summer. Also, I have my own washer and dryer. Now, once upon a time, back in the day, which was a Wednesday you know...I could have cared less about a washer and dryer of my own. I was the one who was fighting against the traditional woman's role has homemaker and all around maid.

Now, just for the record, my mother was a stay-at-home mom and we were very blessed for that. It was back in a time where two incomes were not needed to survive and support a family of 8 children. Those days have long since past and now you need 2-3 incomes just to support a family of two! I always figured I would get bored being a housewife and would not be fulfilled as a person. However, marriage has taught me a few things that I would like to share with you at this time.

#1 - There is nothing wrong with wanting to be a trophy, housewife!
Being a homemaker is a wonderful blessing and is taken for granted by WAY too many women. Being able to not have to work, being able to keep the house clean, the laundry done, meals cooked and time for hobbies is an amazing thing. I honestly think I could find enough to do with my time if we were at the point where I didn't have to work.

#2 - Paying bills and being an adult BLOWS!
I was very blessed to have parents who tried everything to teach me about saving money and not getting into debt. We, like most Americans, have debt. Most of it is due to medical bills. BLAH! I think I have said enough there. But, I also know that each month, as we pay the bills down a little more, we are one month closer to being debt free.

#3 - Cooking is something that doesn't just come naturally...
No my friends...you must work on it! Now, I am a pretty good cook, if I say so myself. Baking is more of my specialty, but I have mastered the art of making chicken rolls. (I will post my recipe below for those who are interested.) But I have made some real nasty meals in the last year that Mike, bless him, ate and tried to enjoy. But someday, I will master the art of cooking and leave Julia Childs in the dust...may she rest in peace.

Now, I have learned a lot more then that in the last year of marriage, but those have been the main things that have been on my mind lately. I won't lie...marriage is hard. When people say it's the hardest thing you'll ever do, they aren't just whistling Dixie! It takes EVERYTHING you have to make it work and to be successful. But, in the end I am told, it will be worth it.

Also, as just a side note, Mike and I are doing a play! It's called Making Waves and it's for the Wasatch Theatre Company Page to Stage Festival. It opens on Sept. 10th at the Rose Wagner Theatre downtown. I will put more info up as it get closer. We are both actually acting in it and are looking forward to performing it. So, put it on your calender and I will put up more info soon.

Holly's Totally Amazing Chicken Rolls

1 tube of crescent rolls ( There are usually 8 in the tube)

1-2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded (or 1 can of canned chicken)

2 tablespoons of sour cream

1/2 package of cream cheese, softened

2 slices of cheese, cut into 4ths (I like provolone, but cheddar works too!)

1 cup of raw spinach

1 can of cream of chicken soup

2 tablespoons of milk

Salt and pepper

Warm the oven to 400 degrees. Separate the 8 rolls from the tube and put them on a flat surface. Add cream cheese to the shredded chicken. If canned chicken is used, reduce the cream cheese to 1/4th package. Lay a few leaves of spinach on the rolls. Add piece of sliced cheese on top of the spinach. Take a spoon full of the chicken mixture and place it on top of the cheese. Roll the dough up, making sure the edges are closed and place on a cookie sheet. Let the rolls cook for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

For the gravy topping: Add can of cream of chicken soup to saucepan. Mix in the milk and sour cream. Stir frequently. Allow to simmer. This should be done the same time the rolls are. Pour over chicken rolls and enjoy your dinner!

When life gives you lemons...

Usually, my comment on life giving you lemons would go something like "When life gives you lemons, be sure you slice them open before throwing them back." Or "Be sure not to get the juice in your eye" or even " return the favor by rubbing them into someone's wound." The last while has presented some interesting situations that have started, slowly, to work out in our favor.

About a month ago, our landlord told us that his daughter needed a place to live and our apartment would be the cheapest for her. So, we had two weeks to find another place to live and move. We were shocked, suprised, and down right angry about the whole thing. After some tears and a few prayers, we started to look. Four days later, we had a place to live. We found a cute place in Murray that is only 5-10 minutes away from work and has a washer and dryer. We moved in over ther 4th of July weekend and are so thankful that we have air conditioning. We are also grateful to our parents for helping us get into the place. It's nice to be semi-settled.

The best news of all is that Mike finally got a regular job! He is working at SLCC South City Campus at the information desk in the Student Center. This is great because he'll be right there for classes. It's nice to know the right people sometimes.

So things are starting to come together...slowly. Thanks for the love and support!

Almost a year!

Well, here we are! It's June, the flowers are in full bloom, the summer rain storms have begun and the house gets a little hotter everyday. The good news about the heat is that our landlord is putting central air in our apartment. The vents are already cut out and in the ceiling and the unit is in place. We are now just waiting for the electrician to hook everything up. We are praying that this will happen soon.

As I was at work today, I couldn't help but think about what I was doing last year at this time. It was the week before the wedding and Mike and I still didn't have a place to live. My family was getting ready to put the house on the market and I was trying to not get cold feet. As much fun as the wedding was, and as amazing as it all turned out, I'm glad I'm not doing it this year. Planning a wedding is fun and exciting. Planning your own wedding? Not so much. There are way too many factors you have to consider and too many people to please. But the day turned out perfect, accept for a little heat sickness after the pictures at the temple, and almost forgetting the marriage license at home.

If someone would have told me what this first year of marriage was going to be like, I think I would have laughed. Luckily, we've been able to laugh through most of it and cry during the rest. There have been a lot of prayers said in our behalf, and a lot of family support. We would not have made it through all of this with them.

On a slightly sadder note, my grandma, also known to the ladies I work with as Rehab Grandma, passed away on May 23rd. She was trying to fight cancer and her body, and mind, gave up and she let go. M. Elizabeth Gates was only 77 years old, but she had fought through a lot to get there. Before I was born, she had a brain aneurysm that should have killed her. A few years ago, she tried and almost succeeded at overdosing on pain medication. Then there was the anorexia, the bulimia, and, oh yes, the cancer. She was a tough cookie who was always right and she made sure that you knew it.

The funeral was very nice and well done by good old Pastor Bill from my grandma's church. I was able to see family that I haven't seen in years! I am hoping that the next time I see them, it will not be at a funeral. There was also a feeling of relief in the room that she was at peace and not suffering anymore. She was buried next to my grandpa and Aunt Maxine. Now they are together, and maybe Grandma will realize that we weren't as crazy as she thought...(Long story to be told at a later date)

It's Spring Time...I Think!

I love spring! I get so excited to see the flowers come up, the trees blooming, the grass trying to recover from the harsh winter...and two inches of snow on my car! The weather in Utah is so messed up! It had all winter to snow, but no. It decides to come now. Just when we are getting used to walks in Liberty Park and flip flops, Mother Nature decides to play mean tricks. NOT COOL!

But in other happy news, my mom and two of my sister, Wendi and Gina, participated in the MS Walk last weekend at the Gateway. It's the first 5K of the season, and it was the first one since I had surgery. The more exciting part is that it was Gina's first 5K ever. Gina and I had surgery about a week apart from each other. While I was getting ready for my gallbladder to be sucked out, Gina had a lap band procedure done. She has done so well with it too. I am so proud of her. She has lost 45 pounds in the last 7 weeks! So it was exciting to walk across the finish line with her and feel her excitement. Then we ran into one of the nurses that works with Gina and assisted in the surgery. She was so impressed and excited.

So now, it's time to start preparing for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on May 9th. This 5K is very important to me and my family. My aunt, Maxine Elizabeth Gates Newell, was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 16. Then she had almost any kind of cancer you can imagine, and then was diagnosed with breast cancer again later. She passed away in 1992 due to complications with the cancer. She was only 39 years old. It's amazing to see how far research and treatments have come in the last 16 years. So this race is very meaningful.

As a final note - I am healing very well from the surgery and feel amazing! I had no idea how poopy I had felt for so many years until the last few weeks. I have energy, I don't get sick every time I eat, and I can breath deeply without feeling the pressure of an enlarged gallbladder! So life in that realm is great! So, on to the next!

Drugged and loving it!

What an exciting time it's been in the Rohde house! Just when it seemed we were starting to get things under control and running properly, the Lord and his sense of humor had to come in to play. About a month ago, I starting having pains around my stomach and was getting nauseous. This was nothing new, as this has been a plague since high school, but this time it was enough to bring me to tears. I called my doctor and went in for some blood work and an ultra sound. Turns out...I had gallstones! I included the picture above to give you a reference of where the gallbladder is. If you can't see it too well, it's that green grape thing in between the stomach and the liver.

Many have asked "What is the gallbladder and what does it do? Can you live without one?" Well, according to Wikipedia "The gallbladder (or cholecyst, sometimes gall bladder) is a small non-vital organ which aids in the digestive process and concentrates bile produced in the liver." It helps digest the yummy, fatty foods you eat. Gall stones are crystalline bodies formed within the body by accretion or concretion of normal or abnormal bile component. They range in size from a spec of sand to the size of golf balls. Unlike kidney stones, you can't pass a gallstone. There is no way for it to escape from the gallbladder. So, in my case, the only thing they could do was remove my whole gallbladder!

The procedure is called a cholecystectomy. They did go in laproscopic style and sucked it out. If you would like to see pictures of what the whole thing looks like and how it is done, you can look it up online.

I went in on Friday, March 6th and was there for the day. I was at St. Mark's Hospital and the nurses were fantastic! I was in surgery for about 45 minutes and then spent the rest of the day trying to come out of the anesthesia! I went through almost 4 bags of saline before I could go to the bathroom and go home. Mike was there by my side the whole time I was in recovery. He was almost a little more stressed about it then I was!

I now have four war wounds on my abdomen and am still sore and stiff. I went back to work today for the first time since the operation, and it was a little rough. But, I am noticing a difference and there isn't the same pressure as there was before. OH...and my gallstones were about the size and look of Kix cereal! They let me keep one!

Some wonderful changes!

Happy New Year! Here we are again, starting a new year and some new adventures! I have decided to stay at my current job, which is medical billing for Orbit Medical, instead of taking a job with Valley Mental Health. After many talks and some demands were met, I realized that this is where I needed to be. It' s nice to know that I have a company that appreciates all of my hard work and that I can really feel apart of. So thanks to the raise, Mike and I can finally start paying off some bills and try to get ahead of life. Also, Mike is starting to get more jobs as a substitute teacher which is helping a lot. Unlike most people, I am excited to get started on the taxes this weekend so that we can begin to apply for financial aid and start school again in the fall. Thank goodness!
Just as a silly side note, Mike and I have now been married for 7 months and four days. But what is really exciting is that we got engaged on January 10, 2008. We are now celebrating other silly little things. Mike proposed to me on the back road above the Salt Lake Cemetery. Allow me to explain! The year before, I had taken Mike to this spot. It was my thinking spot while I was attending the University of Utah. There is a wall all around the cemetery and I would go sit up there and look out over the entire Salt Lake valley and think, pray, cry, or whatever.
So Mike decided to take me up there and that's when it happened. I was pretty sure that it was NEVER going to happen because he has asked my dad for my hand in marriage almost a month earlier. But he did it! He kneeled in the snow and all. I was so excited and started crying. I couldn't quit hugging him. He had given me his grandmother's wedding ring that was left to him after she died. It is a beautiful 1940s two-toned ring. I couldn't be more excited. He has since then bought me my own diamond ring, but this ring is very special to me.
That is the newest update from the Rohde clan. We are still standing and still very much in love.