Random Facts About Me

I doubt anyone will read this. It's more for me to look back at in 10 years and laugh! (Thanks for letting me steal this from your blog, Wendy.)

Birth date: October 14, 1983 (Libra pride!)

Height: 5'4'' (that's why I wear heels nearly every day)

Eye color: Blueish-gray

Hair color: Real color=?, Current color=red/auburn

What does your name mean: Trisha=noble, Hepworth=home high on a hill, Reynolds=brave councilor

High school graduation year: 2001

Favorite TV shows: Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, The Office, South Park, American's Next Top Model, Project Runway, The Biggest Loser, Rescue Me, Nip/Tuck, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, So You Think You Can Dance, Weeds

What's on your mousepad: U of U Alumni Association

In the car- ac or windows: Windows, until it's about 90 oustide

Do you believe in yourself: 95% of the time

Favorite game: Ticket To Ride, Compatibility

Favorite drink: Beer, coffee, diet Coke

Favorite food: CHEESE, nachos, Greek, Mexican, Indian, Middle Eastern

Favorite colors: Black, purple, green

Favorite sounds: Music, laughing

Favorite smell: Fruity stuff, spicy stuff, good-smelling-boy-smells

Favorite thing to do on a weekend: Read, sleep in, catch up on Tivo, go out to restaurants/bars with my husband, attend sporting events

Favorite soundtrack: Cocktail, Sound of Music, Dirty Dancing

First thought in the morning: Can I get away with a few more minutes of sleep?

Do you get motion sickness: No, thank God.

Rollercoasters- deadly or exciting: Love them!

How many rings before you answer the phone: My phone doesn't ring -- it plays a different song depending on who calls.

Are you a good friend: Depends if I really like you or not.

Chocolate or Vanilla cake: Vanilla with cream cheese frosting.

What do you drive: 2009 Nissan Rogue (just got it and love it!)

Do you sleep with a stuffed animal: Nope

Thunderstorms cool or scary: Cool as long as they don't happen too often.

What do you wear to bed: Shorts and a tanktop if I'm feeling fat, nothing if I'm feeling sexy ;)

Guys- If a girl ever asked you for the shirt on your back, would you give it to her?

Girls- Would you ever ask a guy for his shirt? No that sounds dumb.

If you could dye your hair one color, what would it be: I've been thinking about going back blonde.

If you could have a tattoo, what and where would it be: I really want to get one this year! Some type of book or a stack of books, and probably on my foot.

Favorite brand of gum: Extra Spearmint (the green package)

What's on your walls in your room: A picture frame jewelry box, a big clock, and a contemporary art piece.

When you meet a person of the opposite sex, you notice their: Eyes and hair

What's under your bed: Plastic bins storing Joe's extra shoes

Who do you have a big crush on right now: Kate Walsh

Nickname: Shisha

Favorite Salad Dressing: Balsamic from The Bayou, ginger from Benihana, and ranch from Cafe Rio

One pillow or two: one

Pets: none. Ick.

Favorite Movies: The Sound of Music, Dirty Dancing, Good Will Hunting, Memoirs of a Geisha, Kill Bill 1&2, Overboard, The Hangover

Favorite type of music: Seems like my favorites fit one of the following criteria -- lesbians or foreign (or both) -- Brandi Carlile, Regina Spektor, Amy Winehouse, Gabriella Cilmi, Shakira, Tegan & Sara, Duggy, Kate Nash, Adele, Kings of Leon, La Roux, Florence + The Machine, Paolo Nutini, The Kooks

Hobbies: Reading, sleeping, TV, eating, drinking beer, trying new restaurants, sporting events, Sudoku, cooking, browing online, Facebook (sad but true), biking

Piercing or tattoos: 7 in my ears and 1 in my bellybutton

Do you get along with your parents: Not lately. It's an ongoing struggle.

Favorite song at the moment: "Rabbit Heart" by Florence + The Machine

Favorite Holiday: All of October -- my birthday, my husband's birthday, our anniversary, time for fall clothes, AND the World Series!

Were you named after anyone: some client in the database at my mom's work (health insurance company)

When was the last time you cried: Couple days ago when I heard about Steph's baby JJ maybe moving to another family.

Do you like your handwriting: Yes

What is your favorite lunch meat: Mesquite smoked turkey

Do you have kids: Not yet.

If you were another person, would you be friends with yourself: Yes, I'm fun!

Do you use sarcasm: Never ;)

Do you still have your tonsils: Yes, but I would REALLY like to get them taken out

Would you bungee jump: Already done it. Overrated.

What is your favorite cereal: Something peanut butter, sadly

Do you untie your shoes when you take them off: No

Do you think you are strong: Physically - no. Mentally - yes.

What is your favorite ice cream: I don't really like ice cream, but if I have to choose, I'll say Chubby Hubby.

Red or pink: Both!

What is the least favorite thing about yourself: Being lazy and unmotivated sometimes.

Who do you miss the most: Stephany!

What color shoes are you wearing: None right now

What was the last thing you ate: BMT from Subway

What are you listening to right now: Waiting for the Sox/Yankees game to get over the stupid rain delay

Who was the last person you talked to on the phone: My mom

Mountain hideaway or beach house: Beach house

Favorite sports to watch: Baseball

Do you wear contacts: Yes, but I hate them. I really want Lasik but I don't qualify b/c my retinas are too thin.

Scary movies or happy endings: Neither -- I like REAL endings

Last movie you watched: Bread & Tulips

What color shirt are you wearing: Lime green

Summer or winter: Summer

Hugs or kisses: Kisses

Favorite dessert: A cheese plate

Strength training or cardio: Cardio (bike)

Computer or television: Both at the same time!

What book are you reading now: The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson (love it!)

Rolling Stones or Beatles: Both!

What is the farthest you have been from home: Spain

Where were you born: St Mark's Hospital in SLC

Pornography

Today I'm at the 31st Annual Troubled Youth Conference. I'm at a very interesting breakout session about current research on pornography and how it affects our clients. Here's something for you to think about.

"David" by Michaelangelo

Is this pornography?

Would you be comfortable with you 4 year old seeing it? How about your 8 year old? 12 year old? 16 year old?

Would you have this statue in your home? What if your coworker had a picture of it in his/her office? Should it be shown at school as part of art history education?

What if your teenage son had it for the screensaver on his computer or cell phone?

Finally a Decision!

Joe's pretty indecisive. Since the beginning of the year, he has suggested the following projects, none of which have come to fruition:

• put our condo in the market
• buy a new furnace
• put new windows in our condo
• fix his broken-down truck
• buy a new Subaru
• buy a new ANYTHING

Well, he finally made a decision -- that I should get a new car! What a nice husband. So here I am, rolling around in my (barely used) 2009 Nissan Rogue. With tinted windows. I should get some rims and a sub woofer.

Dear Ty, my old boss from Jerry Seiner. He hooked me up. But he doesn't know SHIT about colors. I told him I wanted gray, black, or silver. Anything but red, blue, or white. So he calls me: "I have a really nice white one! Just come check it out."

So I show up, dead set against it. He pulls it out of the back. It's not white. It's DIAMOND white. BIG DIFFERENCE. Ty doesn't think it matters. But it does! White is boring and ugly. Diamond white is sparkly and sexy. I might have ranked that color had I thought about it. He almost lost that sale over a "white" Rogue.

Bottom line is, I love it!

No Dinner For Me

I bought some cookie dough to support a coworker's kid's school fundraiser. Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, if you must know. It sat in the freezer @ work for almost 3 weeks. She didn't tell me it was there for 2 weeks, and then it took me another week to remember to bring it home. I finally brought it home today. It was going to be my dinner since Joe is working late. I opened the peanut butter tub to find the plastic peeled back and some "samples" missing. Then I opened the white chocolate tub and even more if it was gone. I'm pissed. Not because someone ate it (I don't need the calories) but because I don't know if the robber wiped their ass without washing their hands before digging into my dough. Stupid a** social workers.

Public Service Announcement

This morning I got a call from some foster parents that I worked with last year. They called with concerns about their extended family. Apparently the 12-year-old female has been having sex with various boys in the neighborhood, including her younger brother. Finally the brother started saying "no" which triggered physical fights between the two of them. Both parents and both kids are both cognitively impaired.

The foster parents' question to me was, "What should we do?" The answer is obvious to me as a social worker, but maybe it's not that clear to the public. So here's a little quiz for you. Would you...
a. Try to give the family advice first. If they don't take the advice, then you should worry.
b. Call the police.
c. Call DCFS.
d. Do nothing -- it's their family's personal business.

And the correct answer is...C! These foster parents knew in their hearts they should call, but they were worried that it might not be true, or that the family would get in trouble, or that the family would find out who turned them in and retaliate, etc, etc, etc.

Let's consider what might happen if they did NOT call...
1. The kids could keep having sex with each other forever, leading to incestuous, even lower-functioning offspring.
2. The kids could end up emotionally scarred, angry, violent, suicidal, and overall a risk to the community and themselves. Think Mackenzie Phillips.
3. Flowers in the Attic. That's all I have to say.

versus if they DID call...
1. Maybe the report is false. Then DCFS will close the case "unsupported" after a thorough investigation and go on their merry way.
2. The family probably wouldn't even know who reported it because all referents are kept confidential. Even if they did assume who made the report, they might be mad for a while, but at least they would get the help they need.
3. The kids could end up in foster care or a treatment center for a while, but they would be SAFE and they would get HELP so they could go back home.

You many not know this, but Utah law requires ANY PERSON who is aware of abuse or neglect to report it. That means if you don't call, you are breaking the law and could be charged with a class B misdemeanor! And you are harming children! So if you have reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect, or if you have observed a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect, you shall IMMEDIATELY notify a peace officer, a law enforcement agency, or the Division of Child and Family Services!

(800) 678-9399

Experiment Week 3

Monday -- Went to the Jazz game. Offered to the be DD so Joe could drink. Got along all night!
Grade to myself: B

Tuesday -- Worked late. Didn't spend any quality time with Joe.
Grade to myself: D

Wednesday -- Went to sushi with the family and then hung out with Joe afterward.
Grade to myself: B

Thursday -- Don't remember!
Grade to myself: F

Friday -- Joe had the day off. Hung out with Steph who was in town from Houston! Went shopping, which I hate but Joe likes.
Grade to myself: A

Weekend -- Spent lots of time together over the holiday weekend.
Grade to myself: A

Experiment Week 2

Monday -- We had our annual Jazz/Celtics game date + dinner. Wasn't really quality time with Joe because he only goes for me. And I was pretty much a snotty bitch all night.
Grade to myself: F

Tuesday -- Got home from work late and Joe was already asleep.
Grade to myself: F

Wednesday -- Walked to the store with Joe, but passed on watching South Park with him because I was tired.
Grade to myself: C

Thursday -- Found time to watch South Park with Joe even though I was hosting a baby shower at our house!
Grade to myself: B

Weekend -- Did the typical stuff (dinner, movies, errands) but nothing out of the ordinary.
Grade to myself: C

Experiment Week 1

Monday -- Had plans to go to the bike store with Joe to get some new gloves. I got off work too late so we had to reschedule. Met up later with Joe and Kyle at the bar for the Jazz game. Joe was entranced by the game so I chatted with Kyle most of the time.
Grade to myself: C

Tuesday -- Censored for your protection ;)
Grade to myself: B
Could have had an "A" if I went to the grocery store with Joe at 9pm for eggs, but I was soooo tired!

Wednesday -- I think this might be starting to work. Joe gave me some nice "Words of Affirmation" this morning, which is MY love language. Had lots of fun together on St. Patty's Day.
Grade to myself: A

Thursday through Sunday -- Went to Vegas with Devyn (my sister) and Kyle (her boyfriend). It was hard to focus on quality time with Joe since we were a 4-some pretty much all weekend. I was probably more ornery than normal because I think I'm over Vegas for a while. Too much walking and staying up too late.
Grade to myself: D

Joe's Love Language

I just finished reading The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. It's been on my "list" for as long as I can remember. I finally picked it up a few weeks ago to use with some clients. Turns out it's been way more influential in my OWN marriage than with my clients!

The 5 love languages are:
-- words of affirmation
-- quality time
-- receiving gifts
-- acts of service
-- physical touch
It's pretty easy to identify yours and/or your partner's love languages, but here is an assessment if you need a little help.

I always thought that sex was Joe's preferred way of being shown love -- because he's a guy, and because he's Joe. However, I learned that it's more than just sex -- his love language is "quality time". I guess that could include sex, but it's not just sex, or that would be "physical touch".

I'm going to do a little secret experiment on him and document my experiences here for you all to read! Actually, it's more for my own purposes than for y'all, but why not let you learn from my marriage? My goal is to spend "quality time" with Joe two times each week. These have to be things HE enjoys and wants to do with me. The book has some suggestions of how to do this, but I'm not going to type them all out, so go buy the book if you want to know the details.

Watch for reports to come!

Things That Must Go*

Coworkers who continually ask you for help and reassurance
Coworkers who care more about what's convenient for them than what's best for kids
Coworkers who play their music too loud
Coworkers who complain too much
Coworkers who take my State car
Metro jail policies
Metro jail staff
Snow on my day off
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
My Zune
Furnaces that leak carbon monoxide
Water heaters that only heat 10-minutes worth of water
Microwaves that stop working for no reason
Computer viruses
Clients with bad boundaries
Clients with lice
Clients who don't follow through with homework
Clients who refuse to take their meds
Clients who try to control me
Old coffee
Houses without a washer or dryer
Dwight Schrute
The Nip/Tuck series finale
Noisy neighbors
Asshole neighbors
Neighbors who think they can park wherever they want
Neighbors who stack trash up next to the dumpster
Neighbors who doorbell ditch
Moms who enable their kids
Moms who blame their kids for stuff they didn't do
Judgmental people
Hateful people

*Title respectfully and thankfully borrowed from X96 Radio From Hell