We've Moved!

Okay, so we have moved in a lot of different ways. For one, Blaine and I are currently living in our construction zone of a house. If you don't know where to find us and want the address, let me know.

Email: krystlebassett@gmail.com

I know. I was super lucky to get my new name!

New blog address: http://www.gingersnapcookie.blogspot.com

I know. It rocks. Think about it for a minute and it will become the best blog name ever! :)

LOVE YOU!

Wedded Bliss

I was married on May 22 and it was honestly everything I could have wanted in a day. The ceremony was nice, the luncheon was lovely, the reception was well-attended and the wedding night was.

That's funny. I didn't tell you anything about the wedding night. Get it? I don't kiss and tell.

So, I pretty much love being married. It may have something to do with the fact that I married a fantastic man. We spend most of our free time painting walls and tearing out carpet. Then I get frustrated because I am overwhelmed with the home we have purchased and Blaine lets me be stressed out and then we kiss and make up. It's good to be me.

I like this picture because Blaine absolutely looks like he is trying to pick up on me, even though we are already married. Funny.

As for the house:
We were given a range and a side by side fridge, and they are both installed and working. We were also given a dishwasher and we are trying to tackle that. Tomorrow our goal is to move into the kitchen so I can cook meals. That will rock.

Today I painted our main bathroom, and gave it a good scrubbing. My husband tells me that I can get new floor coverings when I have the house painted. If anyone wants to help in project paint, come on over!

Bridal Shots

Yesterday Blaine's wonderful cousin took bridal photos of my smiling face. It was happy. There are so many pictures that I absolutely love. We went up around the capitol building and also to Memory Grove Park.

Emily Dunster (aforementioned cousin) has her own business. You can find out more about her HERE.

Also, if you want to see the images, you can go to the gallery HERE.

Password: (ask me for it and I will email you).

See, Blaine! This is the kind of cloak and dagger stuff I have to do just so you don't see the pictures.

I have offered a preview that is Blaine-friendly (no dress is pictured) :)

Peter Gabriel - Book of Love

I love this song. I put in on my wedding playlist, but today for the first time I realized that it includes a naughty word! What's a girl to do?

P.S. I am getting married in two weeks! Hurray!

The Saga, Part 1

Blaine and I have purchased a home, with occupants. This is certainly awkward, unpleasant, and not to be recommended. Please keep us in your prayers. Further, please pray for the former owners to find peace. It is very probable that there is a rough road ahead.

Not Homeless

On Sunday Blaine and I looked at a home that we found absolutely charming. It was built in 1922, came with animal rights and one share of irrigation. The outside has siding, the interior has a light wood floor, and it seems to be just the right size for us.

On Monday I met with some friends and they helped me prepare a bid for this home. I spent about two hours ironing out the details of the bid. The family from whom we were purchasing were out of town until tonight, so I brought the bid with me to school and planned to submit it this evening.

We did not purchase this home.

Today, at noon, my dad came into my classroom. A home was going into foreclosure and was going up for auction at 1 PM. Did I want to look at it? Did I want to submit a bid? Should I call Blaine while he is in Salt Lake and talk to him about the whole thing?

I called Blaine and asked him if he was comfortable with me submitting a bid even though he couldn't see it. He said, "Sure." (HE SAID "SURE!" SO CALM!) During my lunch break I ran and saw the house and then asked my dad to put in a bid. I gave him a bid limit and then asked him to go crazy. I went back to school and felt like a wreck! At 1:44 I received an email from my dad. "You have a house! Love, Dad."

We purchased the house without looking at the interior. It is three times the size we need. It has a brick exterior, and was built in 1981. It is several thousand dollars less than the 1922 home, and comes with a two car garage. Oh my goodness.

It's amazing. I'll offer pictures when I can. Cross your fingers that it all works out for us!

A Good Weekend

It's surprising to me that I can even say that because I have been without Blaine for many days now and it is strange that I can count any day as good without him around. I am attached to that man! That's all.

This weekend was ab fab. ShaNeil came to town and we talked my parents into going to watch the movie Date Night. We were crafty, watched a fun movie, and sat next to Deb Hall, who giggled non stop and made the watching that much more fun.

Then, on Saturday morning ShaNeil, my Mom, and I woke up and drove to Sugar House for a bridal shower that Michelle planned for me. I had who I can consider my heart friends there: Joni, Kim, Michelle, Nicki. It was lovely. We purchased my temple dress, just in case I cannot wear my bridal gown inside the temple (perhaps too much bling?) and I purchased a new swimsuit at Costco. It was $20 for a Speedo brand suit. Nice.

Sunday brought church, and a family gathering that was the tops.

Overall, pretty fantastic. And without fail, I am ready for Blaine to return.

The Me I Am

I was sad; I am happy.
I was lonely; I am loved.
I was sneaky, I am honest.
I was foolish; I am wise[r].
I was overwhelmed; I am zen.
I was angry; I am forgiving.

Design a Whirligig!

My English 10 students are reading Whirligig by Paul Fleischman. In the text, Brent kills a young girl named Lea when he is driving drunk. He then travels around the country and makes whirligigs in memory of his victim.

The prompt: Design a whirligig to memorialize, celebrate, and/or commemorate a person who has influenced you.

Requirements:

• Must be 3-dimensional

• Must have a part that will spin in the wind

• Must be colorful

• Must represent the person

• Can be any size

• Can use any material – wood, cardboard, recycled materials, paper, etc.

I decided to make my whirligig in honor of my friend, Cassi Ann Ricks. Some people call her Cassandra. She has been on my mind recently because she moved to Colorado for grad school and I miss her face. On the stem of the whirligig are maps and flowers and images of Africa. I admire Cassi a great deal because she loves to travel, dares to travel, and finds ways to serve people from all walks of life. I have glued the cardinal directions to each spoke of the whirligig in order to represent the fact that Cassi is often going in a lot of directions but regardless of where she ends up I have no doubt that it will be somewhere lovely.

She has influenced my life because she has loved me unconditionally, without hesitation. When I have been crazy and strange and tragic she has let me and loved me still. She has been on great adventures with me, offered favors that are beyond the bound of friendship, and inspired me with her frank goodness.

Dress? Check!

Yep. Don't you worry. I have found a dress and it is lovely! To those of you who want to see a picture of the dress in this post, you will just have to wait until I am getting married because I am sure that I will look that much better if my hair is done, etc.

I would love to post a picture (kind of) but I happen to be marrying a man who is wonderfully traditional and also modern enough that he subscribes to my blog. Thus, he would see a post of my dress and be sorely disappointed.

But, I am willing to try it on at my home if you stop on by. :)

And, Jamie...I will get a picture for you ASAP! Why? Because I love you so.

The Shoes

I have found my shoes, and I love them. When I say my shoes, I am talking about THE shoes that I will wear with my wedding dress on May 22.

I have found THE jeans to wear with THE sweater for my engagement photos, which we are trying to take this Sunday. I am marrying THE man who brings me joy, and anxiously awaiting THE big day.

And I am glad for it all.

Now, I am losing sleep because I need to find THE dress. Aargh.

Of Course I Said Yes!

On Saturday night, I went to the high school production of The Importance of Being Earnest with Blaine and ShaNeil. The first act was enjoyable, but I was incredibly antsy because we had already watched two "dollar" movies earlier and I was a little tired of staring straight ahead.

Don't worry. It became more jazzy.

After Act I, ShaNeil rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and saw Blaine walking toward the stage. The lights were out and stage crew had changed the scenery for Act II, but Blaine just kept walking up there. I whispered, "Blaine . . . Blaine . . ." because I wanted him to turn around and come back to sit with me, but no such luck.

In my mind, I thought that perhaps he had seen stage crew drop something dangerous and he was going to fix it before the lights came back on. Instead, he walked on stage and a spotlight came on.

He announced, "We are going to have a quick 10 minute intermission. But first, I have a question for Krystle. Miss Cook."

I walked up on stage and he said, "Krystle, will you marry me?" It was magical. He took a beautiful, perfect ring out of the box and placed it on my finger and I may or may not have kissed him a dozen or so times. On the stage. In front of my students. In front of my principal. It was amazing. And I cried.

Students clapped and cheered and whistled and Blaine and I were given a standing ovation. Incredible.

If ever I have imagined a proposal, it was never so lovely in my mind as it actually was. Blaine. Oh Blaine. I love that man.

We have set the date for May 22. The temple is booked. The luncheon is scheduled. We are happily, joyfully, blessedly in love.

Flash Game

I know, I know. We are lookin' good. :)

Ode to Salt Creek Cinemas

Oh movie house, I love you so!

My boyfriend and I were able to watch Valentine's Day in your soft, comfy seats. We were able to drink your Mt. Dew and eat your Red Vines. We were able to do this all a few blocks away from my home on a school night. And, forgive me, but I am glad that we were your only company this evening. :)

A night with you is worth every penny!

Dear Valentine,

You have changed the course of my eternities.

I am daily glad that we have the courage to be together, that we are moving forward in a direction of promise and love.

Thank you for my gifts...you went overboard.

More so, thank you for loving me like you do.

Yours,

Krystle

Please Profread!

As an English teacher, I have a chance to be critical of others' mistakes on a semi-frequent basis.

Some of my favorites:

A process analysis essay explaining "how-to" make the perfect bowl of cereal. "Open the panty and see which cereal looks best." Lucky Charms, anyone?

A newspaper article explaining procrastination. "Grab a handful of potato ships and dig in."

Funny. It's good to be me.

Tear It Up!

I am alive, and well.

We are reading Julius Caesar right now. The following conversation occurred in my 7th hour class today:

B: Miss Cook. What would you do if I ripped four pages out of this textbook?

Me: I would charge you 80 bucks.

B: For four pages?!

Me: Yep.

B: It's almost worth it... (he is seriously contemplating)

Me: Here. Let me give you something else to rip.

I walked to my cupboard and pulled out an old textbook, one that is musty and nasty and 22 years old.

Me: Go for it!

B: Really?

Me: Yep.

--------------

(A conversation overheard a few minutes later)

B: How much will you pay me for tearing out a page?

C: A dollar.

RIP!

B: How much will you pay me for tearing out a page?

J: 50 cents.

RIP!

----------------------

B then went out in the hall to see if anyone else would pay him for ruining a book.

He ended the day, frustration over Caesar released, $2 richer, thinking I am a loon.

And I had an amusing 7th hour.

Kisses!

I am fairly sure that I should not be allowed to blog right now because at present I am surviving on a mixture of liquid Lortab, IB 800 and herbal teas.

I am ill; in fact, I am suffering from the oh-so-glamorous mono, also known as the kissing disease. Yep. I am so proud. This is something that apparently is going around the high school, and is typically something mostly passed around 16 and 17 year- old hoodlums.

My throat is swollen to a point of extreme discomfort. I sleep and then wake up and have no concept of how much time has passed.

I am posting this in an attempt to get sympathy from the masses. Please! Send your good wishes my way.

KISSES!

My 2009

Choose Your Own Adventure

If given the choice between two submarines, which would you choose?

A) This submarine can travel only east to west. It does not have the capability to turn and travel north to south, nor can it travel west to east. You travel in one direction. Should a current snap you up, you will still travel east to west but will also drift a bit without your consent, perhaps to the north or the south. Your destination is unknown, but the submarine will pretty much move forward in the same direction, and will make it to the destination safely.

B) This submarine can travel east and west and north and south, but only with the help of powerful magnets. The over use of these magnets has made the submarine a little less reliable. In fact, while on the journey there is a chance that this submarine will split in half and sink because the magnets have weakened the ship so much. But, you are not at the mercy of currents. You are mostly in control of your travels, with the small exception of the danger that you are in while on this submarine.

I had to choose between these two in a dream I had this afternoon. What do you suppose my choice to be?

I also welcome any comments offering dream analysis.

Kisses!