Stephen's Snippets

Hello All! Just a quick note - I started a new page that I'm calling "Stephen's Snippets". Kind of a silly name, but at least I can remember it. Head on over for useful/entertaining/time-wasting links.

That is all. Move along.

What to do if you get pulled over

I have been pulled over twice (now three times!) and gotten 2 tickets. Someone else I know (cough, cough) has been pulled over 11 times and gotten ONLY ONE ticket. Yes folks, only one. How you may ask? By following these guidelines:

1. Pull to a safe spot as quickly as possible—slowing down and using your turn signal will signal to the officer you see them and are looking for the safest place to pull over.

2. Place your driver’s license and registration on your dash or lap—if you have your driver’s license and registration ready before the officer has gotten to your window. If you are unable to get them before the officer gets out of his car, wait until he gets to the window and tell him where these items are located. Keeping them in an envelope for easy access would be best!

3. Place your hands on your steering wheel while the officer is walking up—there are no “routine traffic stops” and if the officer can see your hands while he walks up, he will know you aren’t reaching for anything (like a gun!) and he won’t reach for his.

4. If you are stopped at night, it is a good idea to turn on your interior lights.

5. Avoid any sudden movements

6. Be polite! I cannot underestimate this! None of us like being pulled over, but the nicer you can be the better. “Yes, sir”

7. Answer only the questions asked. You don’t need to elaborate, just answer clearly and briefly! Don’t talk unless responding to a question by an officer.

8. In my experience, crying doesn’t help! It may get you a lesser ticket, but it’s never gotten me a warning!

I got pulled over in a speed trap of a town coming back from the beach. The speed limit dropped from 55 to 35. Oops. Additionally, I couldn’t find my registration for the longest time. When I did, the following conversation ensued.

Officer: Did you know it is a misdemeanor in the state of North Carolina to not have your registration signed?

Me: Oh! I’ll sign it right now!

Officer: That would be considered a felony, ma’am. You are not Stephen.

Me: Doh!

AND I STILL WALKED AWAY WITH ONLY A WARNING! BOO-YAH!

Steve-O's Update

It's been awhile since I've written, so here's a few random tidbits of things I've found interesting lately.

- Google released a new browser, called Chrome.  I love it.  It is still in really early beta, but it has the potential to really modify the browser scene.  Check it out here.

- My NCAA Football allegiance is about to be tested!  BYU is 2-0, as is ECU.  Both BYU and ECU had some terrific wins this week.  This article kind of sums it up.  Check out #3 and #5 specifically. Since I started college at BYU, and will end up finishing at ECU, I think it'll be an interesting season!

- Hurricane season!  We had a 'close call' this weekend with Hurricane/Tropical Storm Hanna.  It turned out to be a non-event for us in Greenville, which kind of made me sad.  For me a big tropical storm or a hurricane is kind of a must-have experience while on the East Coast.  If anyone is interested this blog is really interesting, and always kept up to date on tropical weather happenings.

Not much else new for now.  Hope everyone is happy!

The Husband Tag

Thanks Elise!

1- Where did you meet? In line at Taco Bell, the Saturday before school started our freshman year.

2- How long did you date before you were married? We dated for about a month after we met freshman year. Then he broke up with me to get ready to serve his mission. I was heartbroken, so I dated everyone I could find that year. We finally became friends again, and wrote his whole mission. Then I went to Romania. We became boyfriend and girlfriend online on Oct. 7, 2006 while I was in Romania. I got home December 14^th, he came down December 15^th, and we were engaged December 17^th. We got married March 17^th.

3- How long have you been married for? Almost a year and a half!
4- What does he do that surprises you? He can be super serious and business-like at work, and turn around and be super goofy and fun with me.

5- What's your favorite feature about him? His smile and his sexy man-hair.

6- What's your favorite quality about him? That he is really sweet and sensitive in a manly way, and that he is easy to talk to. Also he always does the dishes and helps around the house! Also, he is so supportive of my dreams, and moved across the country to help me realize them!
7- Does he have a nickname for you? What is it? Right now it’s “Jelly Bean”, when we first got married he called me “sweetie-pie, honey bunch, bundle of love”
8- What's his favorite color? Blue

9- What's his favorite food? I think he just likes food in general!
10-What is his favorite sport? Baseball

11- Who said I love you first? He did - of course!
12- When and where was your first kiss? September 5^th, 2003 under the tunnel by the Marriot Center at BYU

13-What are your favorite things to do as a couple? Travel, cuddle, watch movies, try out new restaurants, play board games, and go to the beach!
14-Do you have kids? How many? Not yet...hopefully when we are both done with school.
15- What's a hidden talent that he has? He has an amazing voice and plays the trombone.

16- How old is he? 23. We actually have the exact same birthday.

17- What's his favorite type of music? His music tastes are pretty eclectic, and is willing to listen to almost anything!

18- What do you admire most about him? He is such a hard worker, and does so much to provide for us. He actually still works for a company in Utah remotely because they didn’t want to let such an amazing worker go!

19-What's his favorite past time(s)? He loves current events and the weather, reading, watching movies, and taking pictures.
20- Do you think he is going to read this? Yes

I tag Emily, Colette, Brooke and Sarah!!!

Stand Up Lines

I've been listening to this station on XM in the car - its called Laugh USA. It is just standup comedians all the time. I found this one guy, who is the most hilarious deadpan comedian. His name is Steven Wright. I decided to post a few of his really funny one-liners:

1. "Did you sleep good?" "No, I made a couple of mistakes."

2. I was reading the dictionary; I thought it was a poem about everything.

3. I like my dental hygienist. I think she's very pretty. So when I'm waiting in her office I eat an entire bag of Oreo cookies. Sometimes she has to cancel all her other appointments.

4. I have a box of powdered water. I never know what to add.

5. I installed a skylight in my apartment. The people who live above me are furious!


That's all for now!

Wrightsville Beach

Can I just say, I LOVE the beach? It makes me so happy! The first time we went Steve and I were so sunburned, we were crispy and couldn't move for three days, but now I am finally getting tan(ner)! Something living in Phoenix for 18 years couldn't do. (You just generally avoid the sun there!)
This by far was my favorite beach so far! (Aside from parking being a nightmare, that is). The sand was the perfect texture for Steve to make sandcastles, and just generally relax! We went with our good friends the Stinsons-- you can just tell how excited Morgan was to relax!

He's a second year in the MFT program. I just keep thinking.... "That's going to be me in a year!"


We tried to write our initials the other way.... that didn't really work out so well though........


Our cute friends and neighbors the Stinson's!
What a perfect day!

Best Husband Ever!

I have the greatest husband! I was having a really rough day today, and he was so sweet! I started to cry and he asked, "You want to cuddle?" and wiped away my tears. And then he took me shopping! He bought me 3 shirts and a skirt, and then took me to Sonic for a slushy! He totally made my day!