Vernal was fun, it's a cute little town in literally the middle of nowhere and everyone seems to know everyone.  We got everything done the first day that we drove in - got all her paperwork done, found her an apartment, scouted the town, experienced our cousin Elaine that only talks about herself and not only that but CONSTANTLY talks about herself, and who doesn't like pie and told us that when I gave her my homemade pumpkin pie as a thank you for letting us stay.

The people are really friendly, I'm excited for Christine.  She hasn't had a second to breathe - she got the job last week, flew out Monday, found an apartment Tuesday, is flying back today, and is going to start driving up with her stuff tomorrow or Saturday, then she starts on the 25th.  But good for her

I normally hate it when people post recipies, but I couldn't resist.  I've made this dish about three times now and I absolutely LOVE it.  I wish it didn't take so long to make otherwise I'd make it every week.  The first time I made it, it took me 3 hours, the second time 2 1/2, the third time, 2 hours.  So for anyone who cares to make the best meal of their life:

Chicken Tetrazzini

9 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 pound white mushrooms, sliced  (or diced)
1 large onion, finely chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves  (or 1 tsp dried)
1/2 cup dry white wine  (or 1/2 cup chicken stock)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk, room temperature
1 cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature
1 cup chicken broth
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
12 ounces linguine  (or 12 oz. penne)
3/4 cup frozen peas (can omit)
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
1 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 cup dried Italian-style breadcrumbs (can omit)

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Spread 1 tablespoon of butter over a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish.
Melt 1 tablespoon each of butter and oil in a deep large nonstick
frying pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the hot pan and cook until pale golden and just cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate to cool slightly. Coarsely shred the chicken into bite-size pieces and into a large bowl.

Meanwhile, add 1 tablespoon each of butter and oil to the same pan. Add
the mushrooms and saute over medium-high heat until the liquid from the
mushrooms evaporates and the mushrooms become pale golden, about 12
minutes. Add the onion, garlic, and thyme, and saute until the onion is
translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the wine and simmer until it
evaporates, about 2 minutes. Transfer the mushroom mixture to the bowl
with the chicken.

Melt 3 more tablespoons butter in the same pan over medium-low heat.
Add the flour and whisk for 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk, cream, broth,
nutmeg, remaining 1 3/4 teaspoons salt, and remaining 3/4 teaspoon
pepper. Increase the heat to high. Cover and bring to a boil. Simmer,
uncovered, until the sauce thickens slightly, whisking often, about 10
minutes.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook
until it is tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally,
about 9 minutes. Drain. Add the linguine, sauce, peas, and parsley to
the chicken mixture. Toss until the sauce coats the pasta and the mixture is well blended.

Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Stir the cheese
and breadcrumbs in a small bowl to blend. Sprinkle the cheese mixture
over the pasta. Dot with the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Bake,
uncovered, until golden brown on top and the sauce bubbles, about 25
minutes.

I've been tagged to post the 6th picture in my 6th folder.
My 6th folder is my 'Family' folder.

This is my brother Coray in Iraq.  He's giving a thumbs up because the bridge is destroyed.  I think this is the only picture I've seen of him when he's smiling and he's in Iraq.

I'd like to see the 6th picture in the 6th folder from these following people (yes, I am tagging):
Christine, Candice, Caitlin, and anyone else who reads this because I can't remember right now (7:00 is too early to be awake for any reason at all).

George turned 38 today, but since I lost my job I wasn't able to get him any gifts and we weren't able to celebrate except with a fancy dinner at home.  The pictures were taken with my phone because we couldn't find my camera so they aren't the best.

I made boiled asparagus, dinner rolls, penne pasta with a cheese cream sauce and sun dried tomatoes, chicken cordon bleu with swiss cheese and black forest ham, and pumpkin pie with ice cream and cream and a white chocolate mousse pie for dessert.  We also had a $16 bottle of Pinot Noir which George said was a very, very good wine.  I'm not much of a wine person but it was the best wine I've had, although I still didn't like it.  Everything was made by me (no boxed, easy-make stuff) and it only took me 3 hours to make

My sisters came to town this weekend.  Friday the whole fam went to The Garden. 

Saturday I spent the whole day with the girls.  The morning we went to three bridal shops to find Amy a dress.  This is Amy, my sister that is renewing her vows in February 2010:

The wedding she had 11 years ago or whatever was put together in one month and it was really small in someone's back yard.  So she never had the wedding she really wanted.  Now she has over a year to plan her dream wedding.  She was out here to get her dress because she needed a modest dress, one with sleeves and that covers her "Jesus Jammies."  Since Utah is Mormon-land they have those kinds of dresses, so she made it an event with all of her bridesmaids except one.

So she's having five bridesmaids:

But nope, I'm not one of them.  The rest of the afternoon after she bought her dress was spent with all of them trying on bridesmaid dresses.  I was left to wander the mall on my own for roughly three hours.  This picture was taken at Foundry Grill in Sundance, about a mile away where Lindsay Lohan and Mary Kate Olsen stayed in rehab.

I feel sad and I feel depressed.  I can't work anymore, I have no motivation to.  I've done maybe an hours worth of work in 6 hours.

I need something to kick me out of the slump.

I'm losing my job.
December 15th.

Not because I'm not fucking awesome, but because the attorney here, my boss, is leaving the firm.  He just had an hour long conversation with me about how fucking awesome I am and how he's willing to give a really great recommendation to anywhere for me.