"Embrace the Suck"

"Embrace the suck" is what I learned today after my visit to the torture chamber or as what I call the basement of my beloved personal trainer, Lisa.

After a long contemplation and introspection about 4 weeks ago, and a notice from Rod that we would be going on a cruise in May, I took a hard look at myself and decided that this fat body is not going to be squeezed into a swimsuit (or bikini, as I wish to wear during the cruise) any time soon. My body screamed immediate action. I noticed that my major problem areas were neatly packaged below my nose. Everything had to be shaped and pulled into some sort of non-flabby existence. STAT! Luckily I had almost 4 months to do this. But the question was, did I have enough willpower to do it? My 46 years of history of using my non-existent willpower told me, NO, it can't be done. It is impossible. I'm doomed to be fat and lazy.

And then, I found Lisa. My personal body shaper savior. I arranged a meeting with her, and she was exactly what I was hoping for...except that she lives in Saratoga Springs, about 1/2 hour from my office.

My first meeting was about how many calories I can eat a day, what to eat, what NOT to eat, how to exercise, how often and what my results might entail at the end.

I learned that I can have a piece of cake in May. I learned that I can eat 5 times a day, 300 calories per meal. I CAN EAT EVERY 2 HOURS! Those were the sweetest news I could have received!

Then came the harsh reality of exercise. The horrible, horrible words, that in fact, I would have to exercise to lose weight. So, I started to work this fact in my mind. Not an easy task I must say. For 46 years I have hated any kind of exercise with ultimate passion. If somebody asks me what I'm passionate about, I can truly say that I'm so passionate about not exercising.

A shift in the universe was coming. I felt it.

But now, after 4 weeks of exercising and happily eating, I feel so much better about myself. Mind you, I haven't had sugar for 4 weeks, which means, I haven't had one headache the whole time. Not one.

I feel my butt is not dragging the floor anymore, I think it is more like hitting my ankles now. I love eating and still hate exercise. But like I learned today, I have to learn to embrace the suck. There is no other way. And get over myself. Oh, and did I mention that I want to lose 20-30 lbs by May 14th? I have already lost 8 lbs. Yay ME!

I promise, I will post a picture of me in a bikini during our cruise. Just wait for it.

The exercise ball-my nemesis that awaits me in the corner of my bedroom, beckoning me to use it. So far, I glance at it with great disgust. I'm sure that by ignoring it, the ball will roll away, deflated and defeated. I'm still waiting...

Got Hit by Toilet Paper

This past weekend was a fun one, once again. Our date on Friday night was a movie night. We went to see "Valentine's Day". There is a part in the movie when Eric Dane runs on the beach and all the women in the audience just gasped for air. Then later you can hear all the same women booing the same guy.

Alex had a church basketball game on Saturday morning, which they lost by a couple of points. It was a good game but it was hard to play against 17 year olds when our team consisted of 12-14 year olds.

After the game we went to the BYU-Air Force game, which BYU won by like 40 points. We saw our old friends, Terry and Dixie Johnson, who used to live in Las Cruces. It was nice to catch up on their news.

After the BYU game we went to see "Percy Jackson and the Olympians; The Lightning Thief" and that was a good movie too. I felt movied out at this point.

Then we returned home and found this:


Ride of Passage for Alex. You haven't truly arrived at your teenage years if you haven't been TP:d.

On Monday, I decided to stay home, after all it was a day off celebrating the President's Day. To celebrate, I washed laundry ALL day. Rod and Alex celebrated the day by going skiing at the Canyons.

Middle-Aged Ambassadors

Our experience last night started with the words to Alex "culture is wasted on the youth" when he was sitting in his seat and looking extremely bored at the DeJong concert hall as we attended Young Ambassadors' 40th anniversary concert "The New Music Makers". I think he was relating last Friday's experience at The Living Legends as the most boring thing in the world. Surprisingly for Rod it wasn't the most boring thing in the world but according to him, it was on the list. Alright. Sorry guys for expanding your horizons in the world of culture and refinement! Back to last night...Last time I saw YAs was in the early 80s in the Finlandia-talo in Helsinki. They were still as good last night as 30 years ago. WHAT!!! 30 YEARS AGO. Oh boy.

Last night they had the alumni return and perform with the current cast. It was fun to see a couple of pregnant or extremely pregnant women sing and dance on the stage mingled with occasional heavy set men. What great memories all of those performers must have had.

Over the years, there have been many performers who have gone to Broadway or other performing groups all over the country. A few were able to join the group last night and performed to the audience's delight. One particular moment in time was when Dallyn Bayles sang "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables. I don't think there was one dry eye in the audience (well maybe Alex). While I was drying my own eyes, I heard sniffling right next to me (yes, Rod) and all around me. I could have listened to him for hours. Such a powerful performance. Another one was by James Conlee who sang The Prayer (made famous by Andrea Bocelli). So beautiful.

It was a great night and I could hear Rod still singing those songs from last night as he prepared to go to work this morning.

Next up: Alex Boye on February 20th.

For Alex this was another 3-hour "out-of class hours" booking for his art class. Although he said he enjoyed the performance. Liar, liar, pants on fire!

Marja Brings Home the Trophy

We met at Mike and Tai's house for Super Bowl XLIV Sunday on 2-7-10. New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts met in Miami to battle for the championship. Different venues for us but the fighting for the championship was as fierce at Mike and Tai's. Here are the bets we placed to win the coveted Super Bowl trophy.


Only Nikole, Andy and I were for the Saints. To win the trophy, you couldn't go over the placed bet (Mike tried to make new rules but I think the majority won. He claimed that because we were at his house, he can make the new rules....I don't think so, Mike).

Let's start with the end result first. Yes, that's me kissing the trophy with the statement "I Told You So!" (the winner always has to have a statement, like the real winning quarterback always says:"I'm going to Disneyland". I chose mine as "I told you so" because frankly, the people at the party didn't believe me. They didn't believe that the Larsen's are bringing home the trophy this year. We did. I was off for only 3 points for Saints. My bet was 34-17 for Saints. The final score was 31-17 for Saints. Yea ME!


The trophy is mine...all mine. I would have won big in Vegas.


Even Kailie was for Colts. What was she thinking! Ok, I'll give it to her. She used to live in Indiana so of course she was a fan.

Tai and Mike, the die-hard Colts fans. Maybe next year they will listen to me and choose their teams according to the bet I place. Thanks for hosting the party. Once again we had so much fun with all of you guys!

Jordan and Nikole. Jordan won the trophy last year and he wasn't even there because he was still dating Nikole and I guess she was more important than the game. This year they both were there, and sorry to say, Jordan lost.

Sarah and Andrew. Andrew also thought he was going to take the trophy home. But not so. If you haven't figured it out yet, I took the trophy home. Sarah and Andrew can now focus on getting engaged and then married this spring, summer or fall. Just don't do it between May 14-23. That would be bad because then we would miss another Jennings wedding. Aren't they just so beautiful? They will have super tall and beautiful kids.

Andy and Brooke. Andy was for Saints, so kudos for Andy. Brooke chose poorly. Was it peer pressure?

Dianne and Tim had just returned from Idaho where they celebrated Tim's mom's 85th birthday so Dianne didn't paint her face but she was for Colts. Her pearls are in the shape of the horse shoe. It tells the story. How I love this woman! I wish everyone could have a Dianne in their lives.

Grandma Dianne feeding baby Danika.

McKenzie, Brielle and Kailie decorated their bedroom with the Colts colors. So cute and creative.

Alex has the prime seat in the house. It sure looks like Rod is not that comfortable under that chair.

The whole gang watching the last minutes of the game.

Before the end of the game, we celebrated Rod's, Tai's, Nikole's, Isaak's, Sarah's and Hayden's birthdays.

Rod blowing his candle.

Jordan handing off the trophy.

Did I mention that I won the trophy?

The Twins are 90

We celebrated Rod and Whitney's 45th birthdays on Saturday night at the Spark restaurant in Provo with a dessert at Chocolate in Orem.

Happy Birthday Rod and Whitney!


The Twins turning 45.


So beautiful and handsome.


Whitney and Craig

Rod and Marja

Tournament: Lakeridge vs. Springville 2/6/10

We lost the game against Springville. The season is over. It sure was a learning experience for Alex. He learned that all the coaches are not created equally good. Some are worse than others and ours happened to be one of the worst coaches, ever. But onward we go and hope for a great summer full of basketball camps for Alex where he can learn and develop his skills even further.

We hope that next year's 9th grade team will have a new coach who knows basketball.

Tounament Game: Lakeridge vs. Mt. Ridge 2/5/10

Tournament games started today. Our first opponent was Mt. Ridge. Even though we were pretty even and often ahead of Mt. Ridge, we lost 49-38. Alex made three 3-pointers and played very well. We are so proud of him.

Tomorrow we play either Timpview or Springville in the loser bracket. Wish us luck.

Lakeridge vs. Oak Canyon 2/3/10

Final game of the season. Miserable loss to Oak Canyon 62-35. I think this might have been the biggest loss at any game this season.

Tournament starts tomorrow with a game against Mountain Ridge at 4pm.

Good luck!

Salmon Fry and Shanghai Circus Don't Mix

Last night we had tickets to the New Shanghai Circus that was performing at BYU. To get ready for it, I had to make a really quick dinner, which included pan frying a whole steelhead salmon from Costco. As we all know, the fish smell is not the most appetizing in the world, and we realized it again when Alex walked around with a air-freshener in his hand. The smell was quite bad. I got my salmon fried and eaten and then I decided to change my clothes so I wouldn't offend anybody at the theater.

When we were in the car, I realized that it wasn't my clothes that smelled, it was my hair. Couldn't do anything about it now except to open the car windows and let the fresh air come in, and maybe whisk away the putrid smell from my hair.

We arrived to the theather, sat down, and Alex looked at me with total disgust. "You smell so bad, mom", he said. I almost turned around and apologized to the people around me, but didn't. Was it bad not to?

The Shanghai Circus was incredible. Who knew that you can twirl plates with sticks, or climb a strap with just your hands and legs as quickly as possible. That was some exciting Jackie Chan stuff, for sure. What was with the bald spot of the guy's hair who juggled garden pots? But the best was the Big Wushu. I'm not sure we saw Big Wushu or if they performed it but I think we saw it. Actually, the best number was the hoop diving. That was our favorite. We clapped and cheered the whole 2 hours. Those 3 foot Chinese men and women were totally worth seeing.

Next up: Living Legends at the Conference Center on Friday night.


Alex is ready to see Tang Xingyong and Lin Chengyang to rip it up on the stage.

Lakeridge vs. Orem Jr. High 2/1/10

Another loss, BUT after a OT. 54-58. One more regular season game on Wednesday and then the tournament. With our record, we will be out in the first day. Then FREEDOM from this horrible season.

BYU is # 12 this week

We went to the BYU vs. Utah basketball game on Saturday night. Yes, surprisingly, I was there too. As you can see from the picture, we sat in the nose bleed section but nevertheless, we were there rooting for our team. BYU beat Utah, which was expected and excellent. For a while the game turned exciting because a ref got punched by a cameraman, accidentally, but the ref had to be taken out. Then at the last second, a fight occured and a Utah player was kicked out.

Is it strange that most of the time I watched the game on the monitor? Maybe it was because most of the game I sat behind an old man, who kept farting and the gas fumes got to my eyes, or maybe it was when I changed seats with Alex, I sat behind a giant, so the view to the monitor was not blocked but the view to the court was. Maybe this is the exact reason why I like to stay home and watch the game on my TV. No old dudes farting and no giants blocking my view.

Alex and Rod watching as the Marriott Center starts filling up.