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Wednesday, March 3, 2010

A Hina Matsuri Day Challenge

I think I figured out why Utah ranks highest in the depression polls.

No Jamba Juice.

I haven't seen a single Jamba Juice since I moved here (unless Jamba Juice has changed it's name to Maggie Moo).

So today, in honor of Hina Matsuri (aka, Girls Day), I decided to find a Jamba Juice and get myself a Peenya Kowlada ASAP!

(Peenya Kowlada is Japanese, right?)

In ancient Japan people made dolls out of paper on March 3rd. In the process of making them they transferred their ill fortunes or sickness to the dolls. They would then cast their dolls, bearing all evils, into the ocean to rid themselves of bad karma.

I lub the idea that you can cast off all your ills each March, but did they ever think about where those ills were going? Pacific Ocean, anyone? For years they have been sending their bad karma straight to Hawaii.

I just couldn't do that to all my friends, so I decided instead of casting off bad karma I'm going to summon good karma. And I'm going to do it during the entire month of March. It will be like a whole new spin on March Madness--meaning every day I will do something crazy that makes me feeeeel goooood, but that I normally wouldn't do--like shaving my legs or eat flaming hot Cheetos before I exercise or getting a shaka tattoo.

Double dog dare you to do it too! 

(Wouldn't it be cool if we all had a shaka tattoo!)

This is what I've done so far this week: 1. Spent an afternoon eating Pork Salad and drinking guava Jarritos with my sis and my ma. 2. Bought myself a bouquet of fresh spring flowers. 3. Cooked steak for dinner then served Ding Dongs for dessert.  

AND, AND, AND, best of all, scored myself a local library card.  And I made a HUGE decision about what to do with it.  

I checked out a book.  A very special book.  A book that everyone on the face of this earth has already read.  Everyone but me. 

Anyone wanna take a guess at which book I'm about to read? 

Maybe you'll recognize this opening line?

My mother drove me to the airport with the windows rolled down.

I'll send a package of dried seaweed to the first person who guesses correctly.

(Mom, you're not eligible!)

Give you a hint--This is the book my daughter decided to burn after reading.



And she's not speaking to me anymore.

40 comments:

The Songer said...

Twillight! First?

The Songer said...

yay! How could i not know that line?

Happy Girls day to you!

To celebrate girls day i ate Shelly Senbei all day long.. and i didnt care about how many packages i ate!

What? No jamba? are you kidding me? did you find one? if not... i think i might just go drive the 30 miles to go and get one!

The Songer said...

Btw... no need to send the seaweed.. i have a costco size bag in my cupboard to finish off the cases of spam and bags of rice that we have left over from Tsunami Day!

AW Cake! said...

Silly goose! It's Twilight. Do I get anything for being second??? (P.S. There's a Jamba Juice on 54th & Redwood Rd in SLC - at least there was when I lived there a couple of years ago)

The Songer said...

ps. I love utah libraries! Especially the downtown branch!

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Hahahahaahahahahah


I am laughing that you guys knew it so fast. And Iwa, how lucky am I that you are the winner since I don't have to send seaweed after all. My luck definitely is turning around. lol

So can you believe I'm finally going to sacrifice my relationship with my daughter to read it. I hope I LUB it!

Oh, and Iwa, I'm soooooo jealous that you ate all those Japanese Rice Crackers. I wanted to do that so bad. And I eat as many packages as I want even when it's not Girls Day. Thanks for giving me the heads up about GD by the way.

Wixom, I'll buy you a Jamba Juice. I found one in Orem on State Street. But HELLO, there are only 9 between Salt Lake and Springville. NONE in my town. No Borders Bookstore either.

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Congrats on finding a Jamba Juice and getting drunk! Awesome.

I'm glad you are getting good vibrations for March.
Ding Dongs for dessert, wow Utah has done wonders for you. How did you serve them? Could you do a tutorial? I would totally lub it.

Excited for tomorrow to see what craziness you come up...oh, that's why it's called March Madness. Crash is doing madness this month! (slapping my forehead)

Poor me, I only get to go to work at the buttcrack of dawn. A full day in the ER.......hopefully I get to do an enema or something totally awesome like that.

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Congrats on finding a Jamba Juice and getting drunk! Awesome.

I'm glad you are getting good vibrations for March.
Ding Dongs for dessert, wow Utah has done wonders for you. How did you serve them? Could you do a tutorial? I would totally lub it.

Excited for tomorrow to see what craziness you come up...oh, that's why it's called March Madness. Crash is doing madness this month! (slapping my forehead)

Poor me, I only get to go to work at the buttcrack of dawn. A full day in the ER.......hopefully I get to do an enema or something totally awesome like that.

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Hahahahah Garden, for some reason your comment made me lololol. Buttcrack of dawn? hahaha That's when you arise? And then your do enema? OH MY! Allow me to catch my breath.

I served the Ding Dongs straight up. Which is to say, right out of the box. My 13 year old had never heard of a Ding Dong. He called it a Dong Dong. Can you believe that??? Am I that bad of a mother?

My25Cents said...

What the sam-heezy are you talking about NO Jamba Juice? Gina, there are 18 Jamba Juice's in your good ol' State of Utard. I don't want to talk about how far my closest JJ is (NY City!)! For the love of all that is good and Holy!

And how D.A.R.E. you reference the book of 'SATANNNNN' on this holy site. Refill your head with some sand and everything's gonna be alll-right.

*MARY* said...

They have BOOKS at libraries?!?!
All we ever get there are dvds. And there's a Jamba Juice pretty close to my house but I never go there because the people who work there are just too friendly and excited all the time, it really freaks me out.

Paily said...

Crash, I found another reason to be friends. There is a Jamba in my home town. Come on up, we'll bond and all that.

Dolly said...

I just barely read that book in November and finished it the day before I saw New Moon. I thought I was the very LAST person to read it.

Waiting to read New Moon and the rest of them when I get back to Saudi. They are great for reading material in the car when my driver is sitting in traffic and then I never feel annoyed when I have to spend so much time in the car to get groceries.

kasey kaufusi said...

DONT DO IT!!!!

CB said...

Came over from my friend Tauna's blog (Garden of Egan) to see what all the fuss was about! LOL!

I like you right away! Of course I knew the book was Twilight!!! How could your daughter burn it.,.oh the sacrilege-I may have to search your blog for That post!

And Ding Dongs...you rock!!

Cherie :)

I am LoW said...

Aw man, I knew it was Twilight too!! Bummer I didn't make it in time.

Speaking of time, about what time are you posting nowadays? So I know how to comment first? :-)

Sandi said...

I'm with Kasey. Read something GOOD instead! I just read the Book Thief and it was very good. I am considering reading the Hunger Games again. They were good. I am never ever going to read Twilight. Dang I thought you were with me on this one!
haha I love that your son thought they were Dong Dongs...love that! I used to live on those things when I was pregnant....oh but they had to be frozen and accompanied by Koolaid consumed with a straw. haha. Have a great Friday Eve!!

Braden Bell said...

The Orem library is especially beautiful--that stained glass window in the children's section.

As a new follower of your blog, I'm dying to hear the story behind the burnt Twilight book.

The Crash Test Dummy said...

OH NOOOOOO! NOOOOOO!!! I just lost a ginormous comment in which I gave my heart and soul replying to each of your comment. I don't know if I can do it again. Right now! I need to go take a nap first.

I am LoW said...

Oh, AND I disagree with those that read something else instead. I mean, sure, read other books, but it's worth reading Twilight, just so you can have an an edcuated (and your own) opinion on it.

It's not going down as one of the greatest books written (or anywhere near it) but it's worth reading.

I am LoW said...

*disagree with those that SAID read something else instead.

Oops

(and I should add- don't expect much from the book. but read it still)

:-D

val of the south said...

I am truly scared for myself that I knew it was Twilight!

Jump off the bandwagon - quick, while you still can - I'll catch you and then we can go refresh ourselves with a Jamba Juice...seriously...I'm waiting...arms open wide...

Barbaloot said...

I was about to tell you about the Jambas near the diagonal in Provo and at BYU. Last I checked, your husband worked near there, no?

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Oh Barb, I just KNEW you were going to say that. And you're right. You'd think my hub would pick me up a Peenya Kowlada every once in a while on his way home from work. If he really lubbed me. We live 30 minutes away so I rely on him for things like that.

Wait! I lived 30 minutes away from Jamba Juice in Laie too. What a whiner!

VAL!!! I'm so happy to see you again! Especially since you're standing there with arms open wide. But I'd be more likely to jump if your arms were wide open. But really we should meet at IKEA with Jamba Juice sometime. We could invite Jilly Bean.

Oh, LoW, you make so much sense. And you're so diplomatic, with emphasis on the dip. That's why I lub you so much. How's Wes, BTW? And hey, I've been on a night cycle with my posting. You're already in bed in the south. I'll be switching it up soon, I'm sure.

K, I'm hungry so I'll be back to re-respond to the rest of ya'll later.

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Okay, LoW, tonight's post comes out at 6:05 p.m. Hawaiian time. That's 9:05 p.m. Utard time and 11:05 p.m. St. Georgia time. If you can stay up that late and comment first, I'll send you a pack of dried seaweed (since Iwa doesn't need hers).

My 25 Cents, I know exactly where that Jamba Juice is in NYC (if you live on Broadway). Been there, done that. Many a time. And Mary, they don't smile freakishly in the NYC Jamba Juice. You'd lub it.

Mary, I'm so happy to see you back in the blogashpere, but I still haven't forgiven you for not blogging while you were in China. What were you thinking, girlfriend?

Paily, where's your home town. I'll buy you a Peenya Kowlada.

Dolly, so happy to see you back around too. Did you guys get the job???????? I wonder if I would like sparkly vampires more if I had a driver too.

Kute Kasey! SOOO happy to see you too! Wasn't that the same advice I screamed at you when you told me you were getting married? But did you listen? Touche. And now your initials are KKK.

Sandi, my sis is reading The Hunger Games too. Wow! Is it good? And my mom loved The Book Thief. I think it was my mom. Maybe it was my daughter.

OMGOSH everyone look at Cherie. Go look RIGHT NOW!

Ha! Made you look!

Click on her profile pic. Is it just me or is she a . . . vampire lady?

Cherie and Braden, the book burning post is in October of 2008. It's titled Untitled. Thought I'd save you the hours of searching I went through to find that burned book photo.

Braden our AF library has gorgeous stained glass windows too. Iwa's right, public libraries are so bee-U-tiful here.

Sandi said...

p.s. MARY if you come back here I want you to know that I love your blog too but I can't comment there to tell you myself....I don't know why?
p.s. and YES the Hunger Games is super good- not my type of book at all and when I heard what it was about I didn't even want to read it but i ended up loving it and my whole family read it and nobody could put it down- try it out!
p.p.s. I am at work listening to a Hawaiian radio station and wow. I wish I was there!

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Amen Sandi, I second the motion about Mary's blog. She is a comedic genius. I lub her.

I'm going to read The Hunger Games.

I wish I was there toooooo! sniff!

P.S. You forgot to laugh about KKK's initials. ;)

Tiffany said...

I cant believe your daughter burned Twilight. I she just not into love? Craziness.

Martha said...

I already knew you were reading Twilight because T announced it on facebook.

We are still trying to buy a house. Nobody will answer us though. So we need some of that good karma.

My kids don't know what ding dongs are either. I used to get them every day in H.S. at lunch. They cost like $5 a box here so I can't afford them.

katie said...

cheers!!! cheers to the burning of that book!!! it will forever damage our girls thinking that this relationship is reality or is simply so possible....

....don't even get me started!

Nutty Hamster Chick said...

I learned on the Bonnie Hunt show that one Jamba Juice drink has as much sugar in it as 17 bowls of Fruit Loops. Holy sugar coma Batman! So next time you need one, just put 17 bowls of Fruit Loops in the blender. Your welcome.

And I agree you should read it just for the heck of it.

Kritta22 said...

We don't have a Jamba Juice in MY STATE!!!

Count your many blessings, name them one by one...

Kritta22 said...

Hola my friend! How's your world?

I love your idea about positive girls day.

Kritta22 said...

I liked the Book Thief too. Not my fave but definately worth the read.

I wanna read the Hunger Games too.

Maybe when my world calms down.

Did you hear I popped out a kid early??

Robyn Lamoreaux said...

You live in AF???? Oh you are so rude not to have visited my mom or family. You could even see that 2 year old girl that got lost (on your watch:)) clear up on that highway....she has her own two little girls she tries not to lose now.

Love to check in on you every once in awhile...When I come up next it would be really fun to see you. I still imagine you in your beautiful wedding dress, and oh so amazing beaded veil!

P.S. We don't have a Jamba Juice in St. Horhey (makes my husband very sad)...but my husband I had one last weekend in San Diego while on a little get-a-way!

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Kritta ARE YOU SERIOUS??? You had the baby early? Oh my goodness. CONGRATS! I'll be over to take a peak. And what? No Jamba Juice in your whole state?

OMGOSH Robyn, I didn't know you checked in on me anymore. I must confess that my hub and I did drive around until we found your mom and dad's place one day. The whole neighborhood looks SO DIFFERENT. It's gorgeous now with all the trees full grown. Your parents weren't home and we didn't leave a note. Please let me know next time you're in town. Where do you live? Aren't you in Vegas? Is there seriously no Jamba Juice in Vegas?

Okay, Nutty, I laugh so much every time you open your mouth. I hope we can see each other again soon. Me, you and Val need to talk again. But THANKS a lot for SPOILING my Jamba Juice appetite. I don't think I can ever drink a Fruit Loop Peenya Kowlada again.

Katie, true that! True THAT! You just gave me some good ideas.

Martha, what do you mean nobody will answer you? What? In Hawaii? Nobody will answer you? ;) I heard your advice is to start doing personal progress rather than read Twilight. ha ha Fat chance. What do you think I am, the Young Women's President?

Sandi said...

Hey what happened to my comment where I laughed my head off at your KKK Komment? Weird! I laughed and laughed at you then I laughed at Pat's fruit loop idea. Then I went and watched Jim and Pam have a baby. The End.

Sandi said...

And then I came back to tell Kritta CONGRATULATIONS!!!

LiafromLaie said...

I wanted to do exactly what your daughter did to that very same book after I read it.... for the third time. For some reason it took the third time for me to realize I wasn't so much into sparkling. Give me brooding and mysterious any day. Instead of burning though, since I don't believe in burning books, well, most, I gave it away :)

Jami said...

I think I chose to read Twilight when I was at my sister's by myself and all I brought was Thomas Jefferson's biography. I wasn't really in a biography mood, so I became a Twi-twit. Meh. Not heinous. Not interesting.

Your daughter will likely forgive you. Just find that Jamba Juice in SLC