Christmas Advent December 11

If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let 'em go, because, man, they're gone.

Christmas Advent December 10

When I found the skull in the woods, the first thing I did was call the police. But then I got curious about it. I picked it up, and started wondering who this person was, and why he had deer horns.

Christmas Advent December 8

Probably the earliest fly swatters were nothing more than some sort of striking surface attached to the end of a long stick.

Christmas Advent December 7

I hope if dogs ever take over the world and they choose a king, they don't just go by size, because I bet there are some Chihuahuas with some good ideas.

Christmas Advent December 6

Instead of having "answers" on a math test, they should just call them "impressions," and if you got a different "impression," so what, can't we all be brothers?

I don't even like ice cream but...

What I want for Christmas

Jane Austen Action FIgure - English Writer - Archie McPhee®

Jane Austen Action Figure Jane Austen was one of the greatest English novelists in history. Despite a rather sheltered life, she was able to capture the subtleties of human interaction so perfectly that her novels continue to be immensely popular to this day. This 5-1/4" tall, hard vinyl action figure comes with a book (Pride & Prejudice) and a writing desk with removable quill pen! Jane Austen Action Figure item 11513 $8.95 ea.

Christmas Advent December 5

I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate.

And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.

Birthday

I guess I had better say something about my birthday since it was the big one... 40!

It has been a bit hard because Frank Zigmunt is away at college and M is in 1st grade and gone all day to school. I am quickly realizing "it" is all running through my fingers like sand. It is like cornstarch in cold water. It is really easy until I let it sit for a minute. Then it is really hard.

Anyway, it snowed Saturday morning which was lovely. I LOVE snow falling, especially when I don't need to be somewhere. The kids made me breakfast in bed (with the requisite flower from the living room flower arrangement). They are so sweet. Bnlfan got up early and cleaned the whole house for my present. That was the best! Then Dilbert got the Christmas decorations out and it was a mess again. Phooey! But at least they are out of the attic.

N even made me pies instead of cake and ice cream (I don't particularly like cake and especially don't enjoy ice cream) so it was nice. We played Apples to Apples that night.

The next day I woke up and realized I was supposed to play the piano for the ward choir. I had to go into it pretty cold and one of the songs is a "Baptist" song with a LOT of swing in it... It was almost too much for this VERY white Mormon girl to sight read. I just don't have a lick of rhythm in my soul. Dilbert and I got to teach for the last time in M's class. Her teacher is recovering from brain surgery--something that has been very difficult for us to deal with since he has been a close friend and is our age... Anyway, we really enjoyed the chance to team teach. We haven't served together since we were first married. I can see why Dilbert really loves to teach Primary.

Mom and Dad had the whole family up to dinner for my birthday. Grandma Z was there, too, which was a very nice surprise. She had a card for me and everything. She's a hoot. The first thing she did was she went up to Bnlfan and said, "If my name was Hillary, I would change it!" Bnl didn't know what to say so she just smiled her shocked smile and shook her head. Later, to Dilbert she said, "Doesn't it get so cold with no hair?" Dilbert just had to agree. We are still laughing! So it was very entertaining, and the food was delicious (the kids couldn't stop raving about the salad (Mom! it had cucumbers AND avocados!) and the green beans (What was the secret seasonings?) I think they ate more veggies than the main course! And then--MORE PIE! I tell you what! Just when I think no one knows me...

So that was it. A great birthday celebrating something I would rather forget. It's all downhill from here, right?

GREAT Jane Austin quote

No man is offended by another man's admiration of the woman he loves;
it is the woman only who can make it a torment.

- Jane

Christmas Advent December 4

I think a good gift for the President would be a chocolate revolver. And since he's so busy, you'd probably have to run up to him real quick and hand it to him.

Christmas Advent December 3

To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography and the dancers hit each other.

Christmas Advent December 2

If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down?
We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason."

Christmas Advent: Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy

In honor of Christmas, my cute niece holds a Christmas Advent party on her livejournal blog. Last year I posted Christmas movies--check them out if you have such little to do that it sounds interesting. My nephew posted Chuck Norris trivia... Anyway, I have been a loss as to what I should post this year... You will all be so thankful to know I have decided to post pieces of wisdom and wit from Jack Handy.

So December 1: The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.

I'm feeling frustrated... and I need to vent.

Tonight was the baby blessing for my nephew's first baby. Dilbert didn't want to go since he had invited another family here, not realizing we had another commitment. We got in a big argument about it. I complained that he didn't respect my family and it was always a big argument to go to family stuff. I argued that we needed to attend to show our support of the new family, etc... He argued that we needed to spend time here with our family. After much back and forth, he finally reluctantly acquiesced. I hate fighting with Dilbert. I hate making him do things he doesn't want to do. I don't do it often, but when I feel it is really important, I bite the bullet. I only do it when I feel really strongly about something. It was a classic case of choosing something better over something good, I thought.

We headed over to Bountiful at the time I had been told to show up, with my plate of cookies. As I walked in I was greeted by my sister, saying, "I hope you don't mind, but we didn't wait for you. We already had the blessing." I stood there, not knowing what to say. I was just filled with this sense of dread that I made such a big deal about how important it was to be there to Dilbert and felt like I had compromised my relationship with him for nothing.

I had talked to my sister only the day before and confirmed we were coming so it wasn't like they didn't know for sure if we were going to come... Anyway, so much for my arguments. I guess next time there is a family "thing" that Dilbert doesn't want to attend, we wont be there because I wont be able to make any argument to Dilbert that our attendance is important. That's the part that makes me the most upset... that I had a fight with my husband over something that I thought was worth fighting over and I came to find out it wasn't.

Merry Christmas

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas. Which is much more important to you than nifty presents.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

I am thankful...

M and Scout after High School Musical

Halloween 2007

A bit late but here it is anyway...

I wanted SG-1!

Which sci-fi crew would you best fit in with? (pics) created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Deep Space Nine (Star Trek) You have entered the dark side of the Star Trek universe. The paradise of Earth is far from you and you must survive despite having enemies on all fronts. But you wouldn't have it any other way because you thrive in conflict and will know what needs to be done to take care of those around you. Now if only the Founders would quit trying to take over the galaxy. Deep Space Nine (Star Trek) 100% Heart of Gold (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) 100% SG-1 (Stargate) 94% Serenity (Firefly) 94% Galactica (Battlestar: Galactica) 88% FBI's X-Files Division (The X-Files) 88% Nebuchadnezzar (The Matrix) 81% Babylon 5 (Babylon 5) 75% Moya (Farscape) 75% Andromeda Ascendant (Andromeda) 69% Millennium Falcon (Star Wars) 63% Enterprise D (Star Trek) 56% Bebop (Cowboy Bebop) 50%

Gratitude

Today I am grateful for my cold. It got me out of a lot of stuff I didn't want to do yesterday and allowed me to be able to stay home and get some stuff done I needed to do (laundry, kitchen floor stuff, etc...)

Children... always I am grateful for them. They make me laugh--and cry--but mostly they make me feel important and who doesn't need that?!

DVR's. I love being able to watch TV on MY terms. I don't have to be home to start them recording, don't have to have empty tapes, I can flip past commercials and I can delete the crap. Oh, while I am at it, I am also grateful for remote controls so I can do all the above without having to more more than one finger.

Treadmills. To make up for the lack of movement as a result of the remote (above), I love having my own "George Jettson dog run" in my bedroom. I often find myself pondering the irony of the thing that makes me work so hard to do nothing but spin my wheels.

Gratitude

In honor of Thanksgiving and to pay homage to txmommy I am going to start a list of things I am grateful for. Feel free to join in!

Public Schools. What a good deal! Free babysitting for 6 hours a day! No, seriously. Education has been kind of a hot topic here in Utah for the last little while since we had a school voucher bill on the ballot yesterday. I have to issue a disclaimer here that I have taught in the Utah Public School System so my opinion is clearly suspect, but I think the public schools do a pretty awesome job turning our illiterate babies into literate, functioning human beings. Sure there are problems and sure there could be improvements. And yes, there are kids who fall through the cracks and teachers who shouldn't be teaching and classes that are too crowded and lunches that shouldn't be eaten, but consider the enormous task of educating EVERY child in the country! Bravo! to the schools!

Kleenex Tissues with Lotion. Tissues, hankies, sleeves, whatever you use for most days, just aren't enough when you have the BAD COLD. I am grateful for a little nose pampering on days like this.

Taking Time to Vent

I KNEW this was going to happen.

I volunteered to be in charge of the High School Musical playbill for Scout and N's play. I love messing around on the computer so I figured it was a good spot for me to put in my mandatory volunteer hours. I even had someone else sign up who WANTED TO HELP! How lucky was I!!!

The dad who signed up, we'll call him "Mr. Smith" (because that is his name), said he had done many of these sorts of things in the past and would love to do all the computer work if I did the other stuff (selling ads, confirming spellings of names like Karsyn and Jazmyne--someone shoot their moms!-- and talking cast pictures and stuff like that). Besides, the printer wanted it in a format I couldn't do on my computer and he said he could, no problem. I should have been suspicious when he didn't seem fazed by all the e-mails I was sending. As a matter of fact, he was completely silent on the whole matter.

The deadline for the publication to be to the printer was rapidly approaching and he still hadn't made a peep. Then the deadline came. Still nothing. The next day, still nothing and he wasn't answering my repeated phone calls and e-mails. Finally yesterday, three days past our printer's deadline, he showed up to practice with a few cd's. He handed them to me saying he didn't have enough free time to finish it. I asked him what I should do with what he had already done since I didn't have the program required by the printer. He said he did it in Word--NOT one of the formats the printer requested.

I just grabbed the cd's and went and found the director. I told her what was going on and told her it was my responsibility and that I would make it right. I ran home and started working on it. I had to miss 4B's concert last night because I was in charge of the book group discussion on "The Thirteenth Tale" (another thing I need to vent about--later!) so I couldn't ditch. Quickly the time between play practice and the book group was dissolving so I began calling around to see if anyone could lead the discussion for me so I could keep working on the program. Come to find out only one other person had finished the book and no one was coming because they didn't want it ruined (except the handful of ladies who found it too offensive to keep reading! What were they reading because I didn't find anything so offensive in it that I had to put it down. Maybe I am too liberal, I don't know, but honestly! I was more offended by "The Secret Life of Bees"). Anyway, I canceled the book group even though a very kind lady in the ward had prepared her home for our meeting and another very kind lady had prepared refreshments.

So there I was, stuck at my computer for hours, trying to manipulate files so huge I crashed my computer numerous times. My night was a series of "not responding" error messages. I finally fell into bed at two and got up at six to finish. Here it is, almost 2 and I am just finishing uploading it to the printer. Sigh... I am going to bed. I hope Mr. Smith is happily spending time with his wife and children. Mine had Halloween candy for dinner (thank goodness they got a lot of Reese--you know, peanut butter is a protein).

And I am ticked because Dilbert had to work today and probably tomorrow, too, which means my kitchen still isn't done and wont be for another week. I know he wants it done as much as I do, but I am really cranky now (lack of sleep will do that to a gal). I want grout. I want tools off my counter. I want a back splash. I want a nap.

So glad it is over!

I have had a stressful week--so stressful I haven't had time to write. I'm glad it is over!

Last week was a week of fall concerts for bnlfan_1 and Scout. Monday was a choir concert that bnlfan had to attend. Her orchestra was asked to accompany the combined Layton High choirs as they sang Vitas Opera #2. They even had to wear the black hoods. Freaky. But it was awesome to hear those boys hit the high notes.

Tuesday was the orchestra concert for both girls. They sound so good and it makes me so pleased to hear them play. I am impressed with their talents. I was asked to accompany the 7th grade beginning orchestra on the piano. They were simple songs but I managed to mess up royally, stupid performance anxiety. And, of course, it was still dance day so we had to come late and leave early. Typical.

Wednesday was the band concert but fortunately the jazz band wasn't ready and theirs was canceled. Yeah! A night at home!

Thursday was a primary Halloween party and the dress rehearsal for the Relief Society Music Contest Winners concert. BNLfan_1 and I had to be there instead of the party because she was playing the cello during one of the songs. That was a 2 1/2 hour practice. I was beat!

Friday was the actual concert at the Assembly Hall. It was amazing. The music was so wonderful! And it was awesome to sing for the composers. Janice Kapp Perry was there, having won with a song she wrote for her mother. I couldn't sing it, for the tears. We are supposed to get a CD of the performance so I will post it when I get it because it was truly amazing.

Finally Saturday rolled around and I got a reprieve, of sorts. I remembered I was asked to play a special musical number in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. I panicked and pulled out a song by Sally DeFord, "Come Follow Me". I practiced it so much I developed carpel tunnel. I got up on Sunday and was hit with the most severe performance anxiety panic attack I have ever had. I told BNLfan that she had to play the cello with me but she said, "Mom, this is a learning experience. Each time you do this, it will get better..." Guilt-ridden, I told myself I had to be the good example and I am really very grateful for the talent Heavenly Father has given me and I don't want to be the ungrateful servant and loose them all... So I took a bunch of Dilbert's herbs and had him give me a blessing. I was so calm all through Relief Society and Sunday School. I really thought it was going to be okay. But as soon as I sat down to play in Sacrament Meeting, I felt that flush of panic and everything began to swim. The notes looked totally foreign. I said my little prayer and messed up the very first note but I kept going. By the end of page 4 I was doing pretty well and was able to end with a flourish so all in all, it went okay. I was still shaking as I sat down, though. I hate that I am so debilitated by my performance anxiety! I know the song cold, but as soon as I am the focus of attention, I panic. At least I know I share my affliction with Donny gggg. My carpel tunnel is also improving as I avoid the piano for a few days.

So now I am fanatically working on the handbill for High School Musical (one week from Thursday) which has to be to the printer today, getting stuff together for M's 1st grade Halloween party and getting costumes reassembled after the Halloween party at Grandma Kay's on Monday. It is a typical week for me.

Hollywood

I forgot the funniest thing about our trip! As we were walking from the gate to the luggage carousel, guess who brushed past Dilbert... Yup. Ponch!

Now for many this wouldn't mean a thing (Dilbert didn't even recognize him!!!) but for me, who grew up dreaming about Ponch and Jon and CHiPs, hoping one day to actually be pulled over by those dreamy cops... It was a giddy moment.

Villains and Day 4

Day three in Disney

We spent Friday at California Adventure. We had been told it was not as much fun as Disney Land but we loved it. We got to the park early, before it opened, so we were in the front of the parade to the "Tower of Terror" which was sooo fun and then we went "Soaring Over California" which was also very cool. M was freaked out by then so we took a break and watched High School Musical Street Party, got soaked on the Grizzly River Run and went to the Aladin show. We loved Aladin. It was still so funny!!!

After that we rushed to Ariel's Grotto for our Disney Princess dinner. It was okay but certainly not as fun as seeing the villains afterwards. The princesses are so pretty and sweet and BORING. The villains were quite amusing, from having to kiss Prince John's ring before taking his picture to Cruella shaking her cigarette butt over babies heads. But my favorite, by far, was Maleficent. Her facial expressions were priceless as she told us to, "Have a horrible day!" I want to BE her, not some boring Princess!

After that we rode a few more rides then went home to rest for a while. We went back later that night for the best fireworks we had ever seen. It was amazing. And fun...

I forgot...

I forgot another cool thing about living in Utah...

At the last CSMP I attended yesterday, Sister Vicki Matsamuri was there (counselor in the General Primary Presidency). Her sister is the music leader in the ward I attended. She spoke for a few minutes about Primary. How cool that was! I have had the chance to meet her a few times through her sister and she is awesome. I want to be awesome like that someday. I need to grow up first, though. Yeah... I want to be awesome like that when I grow up. --snort--

A day of rest

I keep waiting for this to be true. I never even get a nap on Sundays! This Sunday was especially rough.

I had 3 Primary Sacrament Meeting Programs to attend (as stake Primary music leader I get to attend them all), plus I got to teach BNLfan_1's Mia Maid class (I want to be in YW's so bad!!!) so I was running from sunup. Okay, honestly that is an exaggeration because I slept in until 9 so I should probably shut my mouth right now.

Anyway, by the time I got home at 4:30 I was ready to be done but I wasn't. I still had 2 hours of Relief Society Music Contest Winners Concert practice. BNLfan_1 and I are singing in this choir and Fan gets to play her cello. The recital is this Friday at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square. How cool is that for Fan to get to play her cello in the Assembly Hall?! That is the blessing of living in Utah!!! The music is so amazingly beautiful. I often cannot sing because of the emotions. The director, Jan Felsted (I'm sure I am spelling that wrong) is a choral conducting doctoral student (and one of the winning composers) and is absolutely amazing and is challenging us to be what I never could have imagined a hastily assembled choir of moms from Layton could be.

By the time we got home at 8, I was ready for bed but Scout and Fan had a break-down last night. They shared a lot of things that had been going on in their lives (things I am so glad I already had an idea about or I wouldn't have slept last night, worrying). They are fine, just insecure like most teenage girls and they just needed to get it out. I hope I said the right things. I mostly listened and it seemed to help. Every girl needs a good cry every now and again.

Finally at 11 I stumbled into bed, trying to put out of my mind the hectic mid-term crush of concerts I get to attend this week and missing Dilbert whom I hardly saw, let alone spoke to yesterday. Sigh...

I think I am going to go run out my stress now. I will try to post my last batch of Disney pictures later today--after I fix my Word program. It suddenly wont display tool bars. I am afraid I will have to uninstall it and will loose all my Outlook information. That would be tragic, I can tell you. But I can't write my book if I can't save it! I am trembling with fear...

Disney Day 2

Day two was our first day at Disney Land. We took the shuttle from our hotel to Disney where we were promptly put in a line to wait. When that line was done we got in another line. When we got through that line we got in another line. That was pretty much the day.

It wasn't that bad. The lines went pretty fast, actually. We went on Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain then M said she was done with coasters. We did the Haunted House and Tarzan's Tree House, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tea Cups, Dumbo, etc... It was a lovely, cool, sunny day. By the time we got back to our hotel, we were happy and exhausted!

Day One at the Beach

Ahhh... It is good to be home. We had a great time in CA, but three days at Disney is at least one day too many, I think. I was--and still am--WORN OUT!

When we got to LA, we were given very specific--and very good--advice to go to In-N-Out Burger for a double double, jungle style. Yup. We did it. And it was worth it. Thanks, Tori! Then we explored a Trader Joe's (again, thanks to Tori). The two Princesses didn't think TJ's was that hot of a place but they survived. We headed to the cold, windy beach. The cool temperatures didn't dissuade them any. Here's the first day at the beach... And yeah, they didn't want to leave.

Check out my cousin!

I come from a VERY talented family. I wish I got some of it! Check out my cousin Aaron in his first staring role... He got an AWESOME review. I am off to buy tickets! Little Shop of Horrors

BNL

A testament to how big a fan I am and how big a fan I am not...

Dilbert and I were watching Big Bang Theory the other night. As the opening credits began to run, I was caught by the catchy tune so I watched the whole credits instead of my usual DVR-ing through them. As we watched, Dilbert said, "That sounds like the Barenaked Ladies."

"Haha" I laughed, "it sort of does!"

The next morning I read on BNL's blog that it WAS INDEED THEM! It is proof that I like their sound, even when I don't know it is them. And it is proof that I am not the fan I claim to be since I didn't even know they were doing the theme song for the show. A true fan would have known and DVR-ed it just to listen. Do I have to turn in my fan club bumper stickers and key fobs or can I keep them? I just don't know...

Disneyland

Only two more days and we will be off to Disneyland with the two youngest. It is their trip since they didn't get to go to Victoria to see Barenaked Ladies. They are already so excited, they can't sleep. I can't sleep either, knowing all I have to do to be ready and not wanting to do any of it. Oh well. Wednesday will come whether I clean the bathroom or not.

Choose

Another actual phone call...

"Mom, I wondered which was better... One black sock and one tan sock or two tan socks."
"Well, it depends on what else you are wearing."
"Concert black for my symphonic band concert tonight."
"Two black socks, Rob. That is better."
"But I don't have two black socks."
"Then get some."
"Oh. Can you bring me some?"
"Yes, Rob. Since I live in Layton, a full hour from your apartment in Provo."
"There's no rush."
"When I come to the concert I will bring you black socks. Just don't wear the tans ones, okay?"
"Okay."

College life...

An actual phone call...

"Mom, call me back as soon as you can. It's Rob. Thanks." --click--

"Rob? What's the matter?"
"I needed to know if it was okay to eat hot dogs that have white spots and are slimy."
"No, Rob. They are bad. Don't eat them."
"Well, it's a good thing you called back because I rinsed them off and they are in the microwave."
"Yeah, good thing. Slimy and spots equals bad. Write that down."
"Even if they were in the refrigerator?"
"Yes. They are bad, even if they were in the refrigerator."
"Okay. Thanks, Mom. That's all I needed."

4B's Concert

Last night was 4B's and Tishoo's BYU Symphonic Band Concert and it was hot! I mean they were were smokin'! I mean, they started the place on FIRE. Literally.

Well, okay, not literally, but kind of. After ditching the two youngest kids, I drove bnlfan_1, Scout and N, elle_cosette, and mzford to Provo, which was a nice drive. Thankfully the freeways were pretty clear the whole way. Huzzah for car pool lanes!

They played their first song which was a really nice typical symphonic band piece... then they played something else by some guy who had the audacity to be born in 1971 and be writing music (aren't composers supposed to be long dead?) which they followed by this same guy's amazing piece called "Ghost Train". It was so cool. We were in the nosebleeds so we had a bird's eye view of the percussionists who were having a blast using all their toys (I loved the bass drummer who was practically lying on his drum). Just as they were finishing the song, we noticed flashes of light, like someone was taking pictures. We looked around to see who was being so concert-etiquette-ly incorrect when we noticed it was coming from the fire alarms. We could hear the fire alarms but the band clearly could not. They kept building the sound of the Ghost Train barreling down the tracks, closer and closer until in a climax of choo-choo-ing and whoo-whoo-ing... then silence. The conductor held his hands up in the air in an act of approbation. We, the audience, were on the edge of our seats, both with applause for the magnificent piece they just finished, and the flashing fire alarm. Just then a recorded voice said, "Please exit the building." The faces of the band was priceless as they realized the beeping was NOT a percussion sound they had not previously noticed, but rather a full-fledged fire alarm. A collective breath from the audience was followed by a huge round of applause as everyone rushed to the exits. The entire HFAC was evacuated. It was a false alarm, BTW. We met up with 4B and Tishoo, and visited for a few minutes. We got to see weezerfreakzoid. She looks 5000 times improved from the last time we saw her at the family party. Thank goodness, poor thing.

4B took bnlfan_1 and Scout to check out the Harold B. Lee Library. They were overwhelmed with the promise of all that written word. It was funny. They were a bit light-headed, even. They rode the elevator, quoting Ministry of Magic announcements. Then we took 4B home to his apartment and stopped at the BYU Creamery to get some milk for 4B and, of course, ice cream. Yumm. It was a 5 hour ordeal for 15 minutes of music, but it was worth it.

4B's Concert

Anyone who may be interested, 4B has a concert at BYU on Wednesday. Tickets are $6 or 2 for $6 with coupon (I have them if you need them). Tishoo will also be performing (right?) so not only is it 2 for 1 ticket price, it is 2 for 1 Ford Family bassoonists! You can't beat that deal!

Tile and Stools

Here's a picture of another decision I had to make... The STOOLS, which I love despite the lack of brass brads, and the tile which is gorgeous and almost done. Soon, I hope, will be the great unveiling.

Let it Snow?

We got our first snowfall of the season yesterday. It is ridiculous, but here's the proof...

bnlfan_1 immediately went to her room to play Christmas music. The little girl's got on their sweaters and flip flops and tried to go play in it but only made it onto the driveway before they pronounced it too cold.

Now I Know What Time It Is

Thank you all for your input into my clock decision. Here's what I got... on clearance from JC Penney, which makes it even more my favorite because it was cheap... and, luckily, we love it, too. Oh yeah, we decided to put it over the fireplace instead of the stairs so I still need something for there... tune in!

Book Group Day

Book Group Day was wonderful. I felt smart yesterday after TWO book groups in the SAME DAY. Yup. I know. I am a lucky gal.

First was a wonderful birthday lunch (roasted tomato soup and herbed bread, made by my culinary artist mother) for my dear SIL. After we ate, we had a quick book group discussion on "The Great Gatsby". It was wonderful. Now if they would just decide on next month's book... I would love it to be Middlemarch (hint hint).

I had to leave early to take kids to cello lessons and HSM practice. We stumbled in here about 5:30, just enough time to change clothes and head back to the high school for the band fund raiser. I did go because it was Snow Canyon Book Group last night. We discussed "Keeper of the Bees". It was a good discussion. I didn't have as intense a reaction to it as some of the members of the group but I thought it was good. I thought the character's voice was very well presented but I think I was noticing it mostly because I have been struggling with my main character's voice this week. Next month's book is "The Thirteenth Tale" by Denise Shetterfield. It is a good read and kind of a spooky mystery for October.

This morning I spent my wad at the grocery store's case lot sale then I went to a new neighbor's house to can apple pie filling. Now I am tired and sticky but glad to have 7 bottles (and more to come) of yummy apple pie filling to take me through to next year.

Advice Needed

Since I have remodeled my kitchen, I am in desperate need of a new clock. I want to put it over the stairs to the basement. I need advice on which clock to put there since I have bought 3 and struck out each time. Here's my next three choices so cast your votes:

Clock 1

• With a look that suggests it just may be a family heirloom, this design lends antique-inspired interest to a living room, office or kitchen
• Made primarily of plastic
• Requires 1 AA battery (not included)
• Roman numerals; weathered details on dial
• 24" dia.
  

OR


• add material content- plastic
• 2.5" deep
• Ideal in a kitchen or hallway
• Requires 1 AA battery, sold separately
• 20-1/2" dia.





OR


• Matte finish
• Made of natural and synthetic stone, and plastic
• UL listed
• Batteries not included
• 24" dia.





Thanks in advance for your participation in my remodel.

Gatsby

I am all proud of myself... I finished the Great Gatsby in under 3 hours. Now on to the Secret Life of Bees! On the downside, I have a horrible headache and so does M but she has a fever, too so I am afraid IT is coming....

The Great Gatsby

After the Ford Family September Birthday party last night I came home and started reading The Great Gatsby so I would be ready for the Ford Sisters Book Group on Thursday... I am pleased to announce I am more than half-way done after only 90 minutes of reading! Whoot whoot! I have to finish it and "The Secret Life of Bees" before Thursday so I will be doing a lot of reading these few days, I think! Fortunately I am a quick reader and will have them done in no time.

The problem is I keep thinking about my book and how what I am reading relates to it... I look at the voice and style and then want to rush to the computer to make changes in what I have written. As a result, I have a chapter that sounds like Pride and Prejudice, a chapter that sounds like Twilight, a chapter that sounds like The Great Gatsby, and a chapter that sounds like Junnie B. Jones Dumb Bunny. I am definitely schizophrenic.

Happy Birthday to M

As I said, it was M's birthday on Tuesday. What a wonderful daughter she is. I love that she worries about me being here alone all day while she is at school. She often offers to stay home to keep me company but when I agree, she quickly changes her mind. She loves growing up. She's an awesome 1st grader with a tender heart and a silly sense of humor. She used to be Dora's #1 fan but now she's Dora's #1 Secret Fan (don't tell anyone). She loves Littlest Pet Shop, riding her bike and High School Musical. She's better on the computer than I was at 20 (who isn't!) and best of all, she looks just like me! She's practically perfect, I guess!

The First Day of School

In honor of locating my camera finally, here's the pic from the first day of school. Notice 4B in the back. He was on his way to the first day of Fall Semester at BYU so he had to stand in the picture, too. Yeah for school!

HSM

They posted the parts for High School Musical. I was pretty worried after Scout and N didn't get asked to stay to read that they would be cut but fortunately they still made the chorus. N was thrilled. She isn't comfortable being the center of attention. Scout was disappointed she didn't get a bigger part but is still glad to be in it. I keep telling her she needs to go out there and put in 110% so the director gets to know her and sees her abilities and then she will get cast in bigger parts. I know the kids who got the leads were in previous Farmington city productions and that personal acquaintance thing goes a long way in local productions of this type. She is still skeptical.

Days like Tuesday should be illegal

I have one day a week that is my DAY OF DREAD. It is usually Tuesdays.

Since it was M's birthday, I got up early and made her breakfast in bed. I got in the shower, rushed to the grocery store for Skittles for her classroom treat, picked up a few things for her birthday dinner, dropped the treats off at the school (along with a forgotten math assignment for N) and then went to Ogden to the mall to get my Clinique Bonus Days free-gift-with-purchase (okay, that has to be an oxymoron if I every saw one) and to Costco to pick up a few other essentials.

When I got back, 4B was home from Colorado. While I made M's requested burritos, we had a very nice visit about college and roommates as he waited for M to get home from school so he could say happy birthday. She was so excited to see him because I had told her he wouldn't be able to come home to celebrate. He left right after she got home to go to Provo to pick up a date and take her to a Dave Brubeck jazz concert at Abravanel Hall.

I had a piano lesson to teach and then raced to Farmington with Scout and N. They did really well at the call-backs but weren't asked to stay and read parts. N was fine with that but Scout was really disappointed. I thought they did really well and couldn't have done better, really. It seemed to be more a matter of knowing the directors or having a special skill (i.e. the Kelsey part required piano playing ability) so she shouldn't feel rejected. But I know she does.

I raced home to meet M and her Christensen grandparents. Bob and Kay have a tradition of taking the grandkids out to lunch for the birthdays and then to Toys-R-Us to pick out their presents so they had come by and picked up M after I left for Farmington and taken her shopping and for ice cream. Sadly she didn't have time for her birthday dinner before I had to take her to dance.

It was Young Women's and it was a combined activity (they were hiking) at the same time I was taking M to dance so of course Scout and H didn't go. After the rest of us had dinner, I went back to dance to drop off H and pick up M. She finally got to eat after everyone else was done. Poor M on her birthday! She opened 2 presents (a puzzle and a Littlest Pet Shop Old Maid card game) and we had banana splits (she didn't was a cake) and then I took N to dance and picked up H. When we got home, M opened the rest of her gifts (clothes, a Sharpee Barbie, some Littlest Pet Shop toy thing) and H had her ice cream. It was kind of sad to do the birthday thing in shifts.

Auntie Rachel (sounds old, doesn't it!) and her kids, Lindsay, Alyssa and Cameron stopped by on their way back from a meeting at Alyssa's new preschool. They brought a birthday gift for M and visited for about an hour. I love hanging with Rachel. She's awesome and was so sweet to remember M. I gave her another enormous bag of clothes. I hope some of them were wearable. I have a habit of giving her single shoes and stuff like that. 8 months later I give her another bag with the other shoe in it but by then she had tossed the first. How frustrating it must be for her to have me as a SIL.

Anyway, finally everyone was home and the day was over. It was just a constant rush of appointments. That is the part of being a mom that is exhausting. I can handle the other stuff but the "gotta be there by xxx" that wears me out.

For those needing pirate help!

M's birthday has made me remember...

It was M's birthday (yeah! My baby is 7! I can not believe she is that old!). I remember 7 years ago, anxiously awaiting her arrival so we could relocate to Utah, something we had wanted and prayed to happen for 9 years. It was heartbreaking to leave our wonderful friends in TX, but we knew we needed to raise our family close to their grandparents and cousins. I know we were right--it has been such a blessing to be able to form close ties with our extended family.

Anyway, when M was born, it was such a relief. We got a contract on our home shortly after she arrived and we were off to UT. She was just 6 weeks old when we got here. It was the Monday after conference in October 2000. That started a whirlwind of house hunting (with a newborn). I had seen this beautifully bricked home on the internet and fell in love with it immediately. I told the realtor, Nan Dantz (an awesome lady) I saw this home online and wanted to see it. She suggested we see it first so I could compare it to everything I saw after that. I knew the moment I stepped foot in our home in Layton that it was the right home but Dilbert didn't want to commit to a home so quickly. I saw nearly 60 homes from Tooele to South Ogden but still loved the home in Layton. Finally, exhausted, I asked Dilbert if we could make an offer. He agreed and we called Nan. She called us back within a few minutes and told us that 2 other offers were made the same day. We crossed our fingers and prayed hard.


Nan called us back later that evening and said our offer, the last of the 3 three submitted that day, was the one accepted. It was LESS than the other offers (by $500) but they wanted us to have the home. Shocked, but thrilled, we quickly closed on our home and were moved in during a snowstorm on November 1, 2000. We have loved it here, despite the ridiculous driveway and a teenage driver having to learn to drive on Highway 89.

I later found out that they accepted our offer because we had a purple minivan. Years before I had nagged Dilbert about getting a minivan. We were expecting another baby soon and were soon going to have outgrown our Geo Prism (I loved that car!). We were worried about affording it, but after searching and searching, I finally found one that we could afford but it was purple--a color I thought was hideous (I hadn't seem the green one I would end up with later or I would have been happy as a clam to take the purple one). Well, when we went to see the house in Layton, we parked the purple van in front of the house and went to see other homes in Nan's car. Laurie, the next door neighbor, saw the van and thought it was the home's owners because they had the SAME VAN. She excitedly called them to see if they were really in town. She then realized that it had Texas plates on it so she told the owners about us seeing the house every day (yeah, I loved it that much). So when it came time to choose which offer to accept (after 14 months on the market), they said they wanted to accept the offer from the family with the purple minivan from TX because it seemed it was meant to be. When I heard that, I was amazed to realize that Heavenly Father knew we would need THAT van, 4 years later and made sure we had it.

I have known I was sent here to this ward, this stake, these schools, etc... for a reason. That strong knowledge has helped me through many difficult times when I wanted to pack it all in and move to Delta (okay, probably not Delta but maybe Kanosh because it sounds like a yummy Jewish dessert.).

In Honor of National Talk Like a Pirate Day...

Since I be wantin' to join with all the other scallywags and scurvy sea dogs celebratin' this morn, I am markin' this day with a few of my favorite jokes.

What's a pirate's favorite instrument?
His arrrrmpit! (note to pirate: don't use the hook!)

How do you know a true pirate?
We've got scaaARRRGHHs!!!!!

What does a pirate eat at Burger King?
A Whopp-ARRR!

What does he do when he is informed that it is not on the menu?
Asks to see the manag-ARRR!

And lastly, my own personarrrrrl favorite...

How can a pirate captain tell if his crew is getting impatient?
The crew keeps asking "AAARrrgh we there yet?!"

HSM2

You made call backs!
Company Call Backs (includes all leads):


Tuesday 9/18/07 4:00 pm - 6:00pm. Community Arts Center.

Be able to sing first 11 measures of Breaking Free (Soaring, Flying). Sing it as if it is one solo part. Be ready to dance, again (same dance).

There were more auditions than we expected. Competition is tough, BE READY. There are copies of the music available at the Farmington Parks & Recreation Building.

Please respond to this email so we know that you received it in time for call backs.


Both Scout and N made call backs which is thrilling to them.

Elle_cosette is still talking to me, thankfully. Her boys made call backs, too, OF COURSE! But they are just too talented and have to choose between a totally cool play part OR a totally cool place in the Utah Youth Symphony. Stinking talented kids! Sheesh!

Oh! I HAVE to brag on bnlfan_1! Our stake has been given the honor of performing the winning entries of the Relief Society music competition, sponsored by the church. Anyway, in 5 weeks we will be singing the winner's songs in the Assembly Hall. So cool on it's own. Anyway, one of the songs has a cello accompaniment and she is going to do it (with another girl, but still! so cool!). Yeah #1 daughter for practicing and being a good girl and being willing to share your awesome-ness and talent with others! BTW, if you are around SLC and want to come, I will let you know more as we get further details. The music is AMAZING. I am learning so much about singing, too. FUN FUN FUN!

I've lost my memory!

I went to work on my book today...

I plugged in my jump drive--the cute red one that I put my HOT book on. It was empty.

I raced to the downstairs computer and plugged it in again. EMPTY.

I put it in the other downstairs computer. EMPTY.

I put it in the laptop. EMPTY.

Sigh...

Fortunately (or not), I had backed the story up on my hard drive late last week. I only lost 1/2 a chapter and some minor edits, but it was an especially difficult chapter. I had the hero stuck in the heroine's house and I couldn't get him to leave. I had finally solved that dilemma and moved on to the awkward scene where the hero got asked to Preference by ANOTHER GIRL so heroine asks ANOTHER GUY in front of the hero. Yeah, pretty soapy. Well, I made it through the hormones and heartache only to have it get lost. Maybe they aren't supposed to go with the WRONG DATES!

You know, if they would only COMMUNICATE!

I had an interesting conversation with a fellow novel-writer the other day. She was listening to me complain how my characters are getting a little too real in my brain and how schizophrenic I was feeling, trying to live in two worlds. She told me it was normal (at least in her experience). She described trying to have a conversation with her husband and hearing her character's voices in her head, working out dialog in the background. Yeah. I totally get that now. No wonder writers are freaks!

Anyway, moral to my story... BACK UP EVERYTHING!!!

High School Musical 3

Scout and N auditioned for HSM today in Farmington. It was a big deal for Scout who wants to be an actress (pronounced act-TRESS) someday. She came out of the audition electrified. She's a lot more like me than I realized, I guess. N came out mortified. She is so uncomfortable in front of a crowd but she keeps doing it, something I applaud her for. Not many 11 year-olds would face their stage fright by trying out for a musical! Scout said N did awesome on the dance part. N said Scout did awesome on the singing part.

The auditions were a little comical. They planned to double cast the show but they were overwhelmed by the response. There were over 300 kids who auditioned (they promise a part to everyone who auditions, BTW). I bet 275 of them were girls. And of them, 250 were shorter than N. It will be interesting to see if they make it (they obviously have to cut some kids!). Anyway, there was such a dearth of boys auditioning that I called and got my dear nephew Kenny out of bed. Since elle_cosette is out of town at the writer's convention, he was taking the opportunity to catch a few extra z's. I compelled him and his older brother Paul to give the kids in Farmington a break and come show 'em how it's done in Centerville. I called my Mom at 11:15 and asked her to hurry over there and pick up the boys and race them to Farmington by 12, the deadline for auditions. They got there at 11:55 (thanks so much for dropping everything and doing that, Mom!) only to find out there is a non-refundable $15 audition fee (thanks for paying it, Mom!). Oh yeah, all parents must volunteer at the practices and performances. I can't wait for elle_cosette to come home and find out what I did! I think I just gifted her with a pregnant cat. It is a gift that keeps on giving.

We found the phone!

Yippee! N found my phone. Booo! It was in the dryer. But it is clean. But it was already clean because it was BRAND NEW.

Thank goodness for American Express and it's Buyer Purchase Protection Plan! Tomorrow my replacement phone will be here.

One more thing...

Oh yeah, I forgot one more thing... Where the heck have the kids taken my cell phone? It's going straight to my voice mail which tells me they were taking pictures and video with it and now it is gone. grrrrrr

Random

Two random items are keep bugging me this morning, making it impossible to write:
1) Why did they stop making Buckwheats? Everyone I've ever mentioned them to agrees with me that they were the BEST breakfast cereal ever made but they quit making them. WHY?!

2) (and the real reason I can't write today) I was having trouble getting one of my main characters literally in the door of the other main character's house. Now I can't get him out again. Why wont these "people" and I use that term loosely, DO WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO?

Ahhh... Quiet

It has been very quiet around here lately. That's because all my kids are in school all day and it is great. Yes, there was that moment at the grocery store as I was following a young mom with her three little girls, all with their own little carts, helping rotate stock from one area of the store to the other, that I had a twinge of sadness that my babies are growing up and they don't do that anymore. But I got over it. There was another moment when I got the $150+ worth of groceries home and I realized I had to bring them in and put them away myself. But I did it and there were no arguments. What was the point? I knew I would loose anyway.

The quiet has given me a lot of quiet time to write. I am 5 chapters into my book and am still loving it. I go to bed at night, thinking of the next step in the plot, then wake up in the morning with the ideas flowing. I type all day, taking breaks to vacuum or occasionally eat, then write some more. I still think it is crap--it is poorly written and very formulaic, but I am having fun. When I come to roadblocks, I like hashing it out with my older girls. They aren't much help as their sarcasm gets in the way, but they make me laugh and I appreciate their willingness to be a part of the process. I also WAY appreciate elle_cosette's help. I am loving the quotes she sends from her writing book, and the tips are very helpful.

Anyway, enough of that! Back to writing!

Banana Cookies

When I was in Yellowstone, I mentioned I had a bazillion black bananas in my freezer, waiting to be made into banana bread. Jayne Garner heard me and suggested banana cookies instead. This is her recipe. I've made it twice since them, tripling the recipe each time (big family, lot of neighbors, etc...). They're wonderful. Give them a try.

Banana Cookies

1/3 C shortening

1 C sugar

2 eggs

1 C bananas

1 ½ C flour

2 t baking powder

½ t salt

¼ t soda

½ t vanilla

1 C chocolate chips

Cream shortening and sugar, add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Bake at 400 for 10-12 minutes OR for convection, 375 for 9 minutes.

DONE! But here's what I look like now!

This whole process of cataloging the pictures and uploading them and whatnot has been exhausing! I am so glad to be DONE, but they are there, preserved for posterity, right? So it was all worth it?

But this is what I look like now...

this photo was taken by a lady who posts a very entertaining blog called Confessions of a Pioneer Woman. She is a former city girl who married a rancher and lives in the middle of nowhere. She takes amazing photos... Anyway, they were checking the cows for pregnancies and she has a montage of pictures of the "expecting" ladies. This one was taken at exactly the moment they were... how can I put this delicately? confirming her good news? But I feel like I look like this most days so I have adopted her as my spokes-cow.

Geyser Hill pt. 1

Geyser Hill pt. 2

Old Faithful Area Trail pt. 1

Morning Glory Pool and Trail