Pink Pants Friday

For a year I've been trying to get AR to wear the hot pink pants, knowing he'd rock them. Friday was move day and Goodwill day and guess what I found? Not one but two hot pink pairs of pants! Yes Mike, you are marrying this guy on Saturday! AR and Mike love to tease me about my "vibrant" choice in clothing colors. Yes I not only own but wear the following: bright yellow capri pants, bright green pants, bright green skirt, coral shorts, etc. Typically I wear an equally illuminating top, i.e. coral shirt with the bright yellow capri pants. Are you visualizing the wardrobe? If not, please see a prior post here as your visual aid.

To top off matters last night AR made the greatest comment yet. Background: AR, Mike, and I were discussing the events of the evening, the "social mixers", the dynamics, the highs, the lows, the perplexities of it all and whether or not I was actually "trying". With the straightest of faces, AR says in defense of me "trying", pointing as he speaks: You wore ONE color and practiced great restraint! Who knew I could do it!? That one color was dark purple too mind you. Hehe...Mike and I couldn't maintain straight faces after that though. The hot pink pants went to Goodwill, they've had their moments in the limelight (including this last one with AR). Don't worry, none of the other vibrant colors that match my personality made their way into the Goodwill pile.

Jess Berry Quote of The Day!

"Morning and evening prayers—and all of the prayers in between—are not unrelated, discrete events; rather, they are linked together each day and across days, weeks, months, and even years."

David A. Bednar, "Pray Always, Ensign," Nov. 2008, 42

Sword Fighting Brings Families Together

Monday night for a little "post FHE" FHE AR decided that he wanted to wield his sword and see if he could gain the upper hand on me. Mind you that prior to the sword fight AR had already been defeated by me and had succumbed to "Name 10 Candybars". Obviously the photos show that our AR is fighting a losing battle. He was using this pillow literally as a shield and it was not very "effective" to say the least.

Even using two weapons AR was slightly losing his advantage.

I, of course, took my domination slightly overboard as I tower over the slain opponent.

This was just a sampling at the many "activities" one may find at Park Blvd on any given evening. Others include but not limited to: 12 minute Ab workout, headlocks, dancing lessons by HC, the charging of the bulls, constant teasing, and much more. You may want to call ahead for an appointment.

In Preparation For The Next Wedding

Below at T.Hammer's Wedding during the bouquet toss I demonstrate the proper way to conquer the bouquet toss. Girls please pay close attention so when you find yourself in such a situation that you'll know the most effective method to obtain your prize.

Step 1: Be in the middle
Step 2: Bear down, square up for the box out

Step 3: Use your hips for an effective box out with mouth open (most effective)

Step 4: Stiff-arm one of your opponents with the right arm while using the left to reach for the bouquet

Step 5: Continue to stiff-arm one opponent while the left reaches for the prize
Step 6: Use the left hip to continue to box out another opponent.

Step 7: Use right arm to take down one opponent while using the left to take the bouquet that barely is grasped by another opponent's hand (Bride blocking this visual).

A few additional hints:
Remove heels
Pull hair out of face
Make sure the strongest opponent is on your strongest side (i.e. my left)
Not tested but if soft surfaces surround the event tripping should be considered for added success

Next live event: Adam and Mike(y)'s wedding

JB Is Becoming JW...YES!!!

Remember this couple from last week? JB and Dave, the couple that I was inspired to suggest should date; followed by careful and persistent encouragement to Dave until he starting dating the greater JB. I remember the day quite well when the brilliant idea came to me, early August (August 2nd I believe) at JN's summer BBQ. The three of us sitting on a couch, me in the middle. The inspiration was immediate. I've been patiently waiting to see the fruits of the labor ever since and Saturday night they got ENGAGED!!! Congrats Dave and JB! I am so happy for you both. I've never enjoyed feeding someone the ball more.

Matchmaking efforts = success

I'm a Pepper!

Sharkfest: Team Hydro!

Totally worth watching!

Yankees In The Bay!

This week The Yankees came to town. It is more exciting than Christmas. We went 2-1 in the series but it was still amazing to be there LIVE! It caused my little heart to swoon just a little.

Matt and I at the Tuesday night game. My favorite baseball viewing partner. ;)

(Thanks Rach for the tixs)

Monday night with JB and Dave! Thanks!

My favorite true Yankee: Jeter!

I heart the best week of the summer!

From One Jess To Another Jess

Missing this Jess! She embarks on her Harvard adventure soon and we're really excited for her but hope she visits lots! What an amazing person this one is.

Best Way To Schedule A Week

Monday - Yankees game
Tuesday - Yankees game
Wednesday - Yankees game
Thursday - Is there anything else really worth making note of?
Friday - Ditto
Saturday - Ditto
Sunday - Day of rest

(Pictures of said Yankees games to follow)

Jess Berry Quote of The Day!

If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life.

Oscar Wilde

(Thanks KT!)

Jess Berry Quote of The Day!

I choose to look at it this way: my awesomeness was a filter for unsuitable men.

LRH

Leilee's First Baseball Game!

Leilee has lived in the Bay Area for almost 10 years and has never been to a baseball game. EVER. Actually a year ago when HP was giving us Giants tickets I kid you not, Leilee asked this question. "Now are the Giants football or baseball?" Pete and I of course will never let Leilee live that down. This week she finally made it to the ballpark! (She even enjoyed the game!) Plus it was a Giants/Dodgers game so there was obviously lots of excitement. We saw a manager ejected and both dugout empty as Sandalov was hit by a pitch. How can anyone not love baseball?

For all the times I've been to AT&T park I've never sat on the right field line and seen the view of the Bay Bridge that is available. It was gorgeous, which only increased Leilee's excitement.

I simply put this picture up to publicly state that Manny Ramirez is a punk to put it mildly and should do MLB and its fans a favor by retiring. PLEASE!

Again, the picture doesn't quite do it justice.

Inner Workings Of The Stanford Sophomore Mind Part 7

Romantic Escapades of Late

Engineering is a male dominant field. There are about one woman for every four men at my business. I interpret this to mean the odds are in my favor.

I am partnered with another engineer to work on a secret project. If I told you more about the project I would be arrested by the FBI.

That's a lie. The project is not a secret. However I do think you can imagine something far more exciting than the actual project. Your imagined product should involve intrigue and green camouflage.

So, my partner came and visited me in my cubicle last week to talk about a meeting or something... I can't quite recall. What I do remember is that he smelled really good... I mean really good. Like good enough to lose focus on whatever he was talking about good. I think I might have experienced my first "swoon". Yes I had to calm myself down and then ask him to repeat himself because I didn't quite get it the first time. He then leaned forward to show me what he meant. Not the best idea, because, well, I got another whiff...

Oh well. ;)

Editor's note: Stanford Soph I believe this will be the first of many swooning I am sure.

Mama Berry's Potato Roll Success in California

Today I decided that it was finally (well overdue actually) to attempt my Mama's rolls in California. I was slightly worried about rising and baking times given that I've never made rolls at sea level before, now 6700 ft is a different story. They turned out AMAZING! I have witnesses if the pictures don't do justice Mama.

Oh don't worry they were enjoyed with Mama Berry homemade raspberry jam immediately upon removal from the oven.

PETA Would HEART The Berry Boys

Joshy posing with the bull elk that Matty shot Friday morning. Matty saw the Elk on Thursday, purchased a tag that evening, and then shot the Elk on Friday. If that isn't efficient hunting I don't know what is. Well done boys!

7 was a GREAT Age

Bringing Out The Brooms

Tonight the Yankees and I both did a little "sweeping"! Yanks swept the Soxs. I swept in Acquire (AGAIN).

It was a glorious weekend for baseball and winning in general. See the recap of the game here. Several players were clutch this series with the Soxs. In case you were curious what the MLB standings are looking like post-game see here.

Yankees Thrash The Soxs

Watch and read great highlights of tonight's game where the Yankees BEAT the Red Soxs here.

I do heart The Yankees!

How Happy Are You Today?

People are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be.

Abraham Lincoln

Happy Day 100!!!

Last week I was reading a blog where a couple would purchase a cake and sing Happy Birthday randomly throughout the year, stating you don't need a birthday to have candles and celebrate. Given that I am the girl that celebrates her own birthday for a whole week this idea excited me. Last night was the WAKE UP WITH JESS DAY 100 slumber party celebration. BT and I prefer ice cream over cake, so we lite our 100 candles, sang Happy Birthday to Day 100, and splurged with cookies n' creme. We decided the next celebration would be Day 177. ;)

BT being the math nerd she is insisted that we take a picture with the binary 010 first. She is ridiculous but then again so am I.

Lighting the candles...in ice cream is slightly tricky.

Happy Day 100!!! Long live the Yankees!

(Yes, I slept with my Yankees blanket so the Trout wouldn't light it on fire!)

Learn more about Team Hydro and SUPPORT the cause!

If you remember last week I blogged about my friend, Pete, and his sweet sister Kate. Join in on the support of this great cause to fight Hydrocephalus. Learn more about Team Hydro and our dear friend, Kate. See more on the cause here!

Watch Pete explain more about Kate and the Swim that is on August 15th. Support and Donate to a cause that has life saving potential here.

We love our Kate!

WAKE UP WITH JESS DAY 100

What is WAKE UP WITH JESS?

Brooke Trout (BT) works in the city and leaves her little cottage every morning around 4:30 AM. 100 working days ago BT and I decided what better way to wake up than to find an email from Jess (that's me folks) in her inbox. Every Monday through Friday BT receives her very own WAKE UP WITH JESS email. Today is Day 100! In honor of our celebration that will commence WAKE UP WITH JESS DAY 100 will have its very own blog post.

What makes up the content of a WAKE UP WITH JESS email?

Random consistency!

I am a lover, slightly obsessed fan of the number 7 and BT is a math nerd so most emails start off something like this:

Day 72: 7 + 2 = 9 - 2 = 7 = AMAZING DAY

(Basic math that always gets to 7...weird yes but we embrace it)

Common topics of emails:

The Yankees and Red Soxs. I try to remind BT that it isn't worth going to Hell and she should give up being a dirty sox. One day she'll repent and see the light. I also consistently update her on the standings of the East. See here that the Yanks still lead!

Boys. No names will be named publicly for privacy purposes. Just feel safe in assuming that if you've ever made BT's radar or my radar that you've made one or more WAKE UP WITH JESS emails. If you're curiosity might just kill you, feel free to ask if you've made the cut. Whether you'll get an answer has about a 60 percent probability.

At least one random topic. i.e. (naming children, farming, golf, the boy from high school that drove me crazy, Jenn Peterson).

The worries and joys of our hearts. There is no sugarcoating in a WAKE UP WITH JESS.

ALWAYS signed "Your Yank".

Sample of WAKE UP WITH JESS Day 100:

Day 100: 100 - 23 (our ages for a few more weeks) = 77 = GREAT DAY TIMES 2! Happy early birthday to us both!

The Yanks won tonight! Praise Heaven! We lead the East STILL! Watching the Yankees win so much warms my little black heart like a hot DP in the summer heat.

Tonight I whipped some young men (WH, CT, and JT in particular) into shape by beating them at Acquire. AW said tonight that I was "lucky" he wasn't there to play. Hahaha, after being the Monopoly reigning champ this is really just a walk in the park...with or without him present. Competitiveness is definitely my strength and sometimes (at least I am told) my weakness.

Excited for our slumber party tonight! We'll eat ice cream, watch Baseball Tonight, talk about X, Y, and Z, and try to hit the sack before you have to catch your Tuesday morning train. ;)

Happy Day 100 BT! So grateful that we're friends, even if you are a dirty Red Sox (we can't both be perfect)! I love you BT!

Your bright smilin' Yank!

For The Beauty...

The joy of not sleeping well while camping is in the early morning you get to wake up to these clouds and enjoy the quietness of the morning break. I am definitely not a fan of camping however I am a fan of the meditation that happens in the stillness of morning. There have been few mornings since moving to California that I've experienced such mornings.

It isn't Teton Valley but it was still breathtaking to witness.

Opportunities in Differences

God will help us see a difference in someone else not as a source of irritation but as a contribution. The Lord can help you see and value what another person brings which you lack. More than once the Lord has helped me see His kindness in giving me association with someone whose difference from me was just the help I needed. That has been the Lord’s way of adding something I lacked to serve Him better.

Henry B. Eyring, “Our Hearts Knit as One,” Ensign, Nov. 2008, 70–71

Jess Berry Quote of The Day!

The reward of one duty is the power to fulfill another.

George Eliot