A good dinner party & a good tag

I'm a sucker for both.

Last night I was forced to play Nertz (sp?) at a truly divine little dinner party. Sure, I did the cooking (Kentucky Chili & Derby Pie...does it get any better than that?) but the divine part was being with people I know & love...people I'm totally comfortable with. That's a combination that's good for the soul.

Then the game of Nertz (I still don't know how to spell that) came. I feigned not liking the game. Truth is, I don't like showing to the world that sometimes I can be a bratty 7-yr old girl when I play games that are hard for my brain. This isn't a strategic game. It's more like a coordination/fast reaction game and truth is, I'm not overly coordinated (and not so much a fast reactor...OVERreactor, yes, fast reactor, no.). The only saving grace was that once we finally started keeping score, I totally won...and Bart was worse than me (thanks, Bart).

Bart & Lisa are truly good-to-the-core people. I want to be them when I grow up (yes, I realize I'm older...but marriage and kids always seem to make people "more grown up").

So, that was a good dinner party.

And this is a good tag from Lisa (and yes, I realize I'm behind on a few other tags...)

8 things I am passionate about:
-My family
-My testimony of the Gospel
-Politics
-Music (specifically a genius lyric)
-Connecting with teenage girls
-Doing hard things...(blind dates count)
-Trying my darndest to get healthy
-My job (and I feel REALLY blessed I can say that)

8 past books I have read: (or in other words, "an ad for some Deseret Book product")
-The Scriptures
-The Holy Secret
-Recovering Charles (the upcoming book by Jason Wright, his best yet!)
-The Great & Terrible series (brilliant! and I don't even love fiction)
-My Grandfather's Son (autobiography of Clarence Thomas)
-Wait! I Want to Tell You a Story! (children's book that is funniest when David's kids read it to me on the phone)
-God Wants a Powerful People (and it's on sale right now for a ridiculously low price!)
-My journal (and man, it's quite a read!)

8 things I often say:
-"the reality is"
-"SHUT UP!" (I know it's not the best thing to say, I'm trying to break it. I only occasionally say it at inappropriate times.)
-"Oh, Laurel. I can't take you anywhere." (I say it whenever I've messed up.)
-"Oh, Okay."
-something I don't want to admit but all who really know me, know I say it. let's just say it has something to do with stopping the progression of the devil...and really, aren't I just stating a fact when I say that?
-"Enough about me. Let's talk about what you think about me."
-"Amazing" (it's starting to get on my own nerves though, so I'm working on it.)
-"This is Laurel." (since I seem to always be answering a phone, this is in the top 8.)

8 things I look for in a friend:
-honesty
-being consistent (even when I'm not)
-open & like to talk about life & gospel
-help me want to be better than I am
-like to (or at least willing to) discuss politics/current events (and maybe let me influence their vote)
-a shoulder to cry on
-think I'm funny (I know that reveals all sorts of egocentric things about myself)
-gets as excited about a great "chick flick" as I do (and will walk out on a not-so-great one with me when need be)


8 things I want to do before I die:
-run a marathon
-skydive
-get a Mother's Day card (is that sweet to admit that or is it sad? I can't tell...)
-host a radio talk show
-do a voice for an animated film
-visit Prince Edward Island
-take that touristy Sound of Music tour in Austria (is it in Austria?)
-be in a musical (I've given up being able to be "Annie", but I'll find something else)

8 things I have learned this past year:
-blogging is addictive
-I can run farther than I thought
-real change is possible
-it's easier to be motivated to do something hard than something easy (I can't take credit for that. It belongs to SLD.)
-I don't like to be teased as much as I used to
-if you have a heart, it can be broken
-I'm not as strong as I like to pretend I am
-God ALWAYS...ALWAYS...gives me what I need.

-8 people I want to do the 8 things:
Karen & David
Fast & Queenie (both of you)
Tammy
Chrislyn (which would require you go public with your blog!)
Diane (can I call you that?)
Bri
Jill
"Elaine" & "tall dad" (email it to me...OR be cool & start a blog!) and sister Holly
...I know that's more than 8. Basically, if you're reading this and you have a blog, consider yourself tagged!