The DH and I had a very nice Christmas. On Friday, we went on the Argosy Christmas Ships. Santa and a choir were there with us and we had a really nice time listening to the concerts, seeing the other decorated ships, and enjoying a night out together.

We spent the holiday at home with no other obligations except for cooking dinner on Christmas Eve for a few friends who joined us for the evening. It was yummy dinner. I even made cream pudding and Evelyn’s rolls. Mmm… It makes me hungry again just thinking about it.

On Christmas day, we got up around 8:00 and opened a few presents. Patrick had already had my windows tinted for one of my presents, but he also got me an iPod Nano, some gift cards, and shirts. It was pretty great. I gave him an authentic Raiders football jersey, hockey tickets, and some long john’s (to replace the crotchless ones he’s wearing at work right now – I guess that’s what wears out first with all the gas passing he does).

We didn’t do much more on Christmas day other than that and delivering a few straggler gifts. We also got in some naps and nibbled on more turkey. I think I could get used to staying home for Christmas.

Ringing, Singing On Its Way

The DH has found out something very odd about me. I know the words to a lot of Christmas songs. You may find this unremarkable. In the grand scheme of things, it really is. However, the DH finds it hysterical, mostly because I can’t remember the words to any other songs at all. I sing along all the time and just make up new words or fake words or whatever. It’s kind of entertaining if you don’t find it completely frustrating and annoying.
When you put that next to the fact that I can sing along to almost any Christmas song written, it’s pretty funny. The DH, on the other hand, can recite the words and tell you everything else about many, many songs. He doesn’t know any Christmas songs other than Jingle Bells.
Aren’t we a pair?

Christmas Meme

An Ordinary Mom put together a meme on her site, so I thought I’d join in.

1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate? I just love eggnog. The best thing though, is an eggnog milkshake.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? They’re sitting next to the stocking that has been taken down and filled, and they’re unwrapped.

3. Colored lights or white on tree/house? I like white lights on the tree, but colored lights outside on the house.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? I like mistletoe, but didn’t find mine this year while unpacking the decorations.

5. When do you put your decorations up? I like to put them up right after Thanksgiving, but it doesn’t usually all happen that quickly.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? I associate fondue with the holidays and I love it, especially with really good gruyere cheese.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child: this is tough as there are so many. I think I really love those childhood memories of checking out each other’s gifts. I remember one year when my older bother got a Flintstone’s sculpture kit. It was this set of weird plastic figures that you chipped off until you uncovered the Flintstone’s character inside. I also always loved shopping for gifts for someone we chose off the Salvation Army giving tree. Good times!

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What truth? That he’s real? I always knew that.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We only ever opened the Christmas tree ornament that Granny sent. My mother is very anti-opening-on-Christmas-eve.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? White lights, lots of ornaments collected over the years, and a fun gold star on top.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? I have to admit that I dread it. I love it in the mountains, but don’t enjoy it where I live.

12. Can you ice skate? I think the real answer is “no” even though I’ve been on ice skates numerous times.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I actually don’t remember a favorite. I got a Madame Alexander collectible doll from Santa most years and always looked forward to which doll he would bring. One year my dad bought be a string of fresh-water pearls that I really wanted and I loved it. Maybe the best was the beautiful ruby necklace the DH got me last year.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? I love the focus on the Savior and being in a spirit of giving. I also enjoy how it brings people together – whether by hearing from old friends in Christmas letters once a year or getting together with family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Hands down, cream pudding.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Christmas dinner by candle light was always my favorite.

17. What tops your tree? A star.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I love spending so much time focused on giving, but I’ll admit to enjoying the receiving as well.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? I love Christmas music, but I think my two favorites are Mary Did You Know and O, Holy Night.

20. Candy Canes – Yuck or Yum? I’m not a big fan of hard candy, but I love the flavor of candy canes.

A Mighty Wind

We just keep making the national news with our weather. I find it somewhat humorous -- only because I'm not one of the folks on the phone with my insurance agent. It's been a wild night, but my home is fine and I actually have power (hence the ability to blog). My thoughts are with the thousands without power and those who are cleaning up the many trees and other messes.

Trimming the Home for Christmas

I really enjoy decorating for Christmas. The picture here is the figure of Mary and Jesus from our nativity. I just love the simplicity of the figure. The nativity is a critical part of the holiday decor since it's one of the wonderful things that reminds us of the reason we are celebrating. It's a great time to remember the great gifts He gave us and to reflect on our relationship with Him. It's also a wonderful time to reflect on the other relationships in our lives and to present gifts that represent, in some small way, our feelings for those we love. All good things!

Of course, I also love the rest of the decorations. The tree is always good fun. I have some great decorations from Europe, from our honeymoon, and from my childhood. They all bring back sweet memories. I'm a sucker for tradition. I just can't get enough of it.

Shout Out to Annzy!

Everyone give a shout out to Annzy. She got an HR job yesterday. It's at this really sexy company too! She really rocks and she'll be able to do cool HR-y stuff there. It will even require skills she learned in her graduate school program. (I know! shocking!!!) She'll als be close to the porn wagon, where she used to work and Orson Gygi, one of the coolest kitchen stores ever.

I ask, who wouldn't want that job?!?

  

Annunciation

I'm not sure why the picture wouldn't post on this, but it's in the post above now.

Mormons aren't really devotees of all the dates on the Catholic calendar, but at this time of year I enjoy thinking of all the events leading up to the birth fo the Savior. The annuciation (when the angel visited Mary and told her not to be afraid of this overwhelming event that was taking place in her at the moment) is celebrated on March 25th.

Luke Chapter 1
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

I love this picture. It captures exactly the feeling I imagine Mary might have had. It was painted by Henry Ossawa Tanner, and african-american artist, in 1898. It is exquisite.

About the Artist:
Ossawa Tanner was raised in an affluent, well educated African-American family. Although reluctant at first, Tanner's parents eventually responded to their son's unflagging desire to pursue an artistic career and encouraged his ambitions. In 1879, Tanner enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, where he joined Thomas Eakins's coterie. Tanner moved to Atlanta in 1889 in an unsuccessful attempt to support himself as an artist and instructor among prosperous middle class African-Americans. Bishop and Mrs. Joseph C. Hartzell arranged for Tanner's first solo exhibition, the proceeds from which enabled the struggling artist to move to Paris in 1891. Illness brought him back to the United States in 1893, and it was at this point in his career that Tanner turned his attention to genre subjects of his own race.

In 1893 most American artists painted African-American subjects either as grotesque caricatures or sentimental figures of rural poverty. Henry Ossawa Tanner, who sought to represent black subjects with dignity, wrote: "Many of the artists who have represented Negro life have seen only the comic, the ludicrous side of it, and have lacked sympathy with and appreciation for the warm big heart that dwells within such a rough exterior." The banjo had become a symbol of derision, and caricatures of insipid, smiling African-Americans strumming the instrument were a cliche. In The Banjo Lesson, Tanner tackles this stereotype head on, portraying a man teaching his young protege to play the instrument - the large body of the older man lovingly envelops the boy as he patiently instructs him. If popular nineteenth-century imagery of the African-American male had divested him of authority and leadership, then Tanner in The Banjo Lesson recreated him in the role of father, mentor, and sage. The Banjo Lesson is about sharing knowledge and passing on wisdom.

The exposition-sized canvas was accepted into the Paris Salon of 1894. That year it was given by Robert Ogden of Philadelphia to Hampton Institute near Norfolk, Virginia, one of the first and most prestigious black colleges founded shortly after Emancipation. Hampton lent it the next year to Atlanta's Cotton States and International Exposition of 1895, where it hung in the Negro Building. Contemporary critics largely ignored the work. Tanner painted another African American genre subject in 1894, The Thankful Poor, but then abandoned subjects of his own race in favor of biblical themes. When Tanner returned to Paris in 1895, he established a reputation as a salon artist and religious painter but never again painted genre subjects of African-Americans.

Cops love me

So, I hate my commute, especially on the way home. I don't think that's much of a revelation to anyone. It's ugly out there. Yesterday was no exception. I left work at 4:15, but it was already packed and I found out later there had been an accident (that I never saw, but it was reportedly there). I was in a hurry to get to the traffic jam, so I went as fast as I could, weaving through traffic.

Then there were lights -- cop car lights. You know the feeling. There was the wee bit of hope that it was for someone else. There was the lump in the stomache. There was the resignation that I would get the ticket I have been deserving for years.

The police officer was quite nice and asked for my license, registration, and proof of insurance. I was having a hard time getting my proof of insurance card out of my wallet because it was stuck in the silly, flimsy plastic cover of my temple recommend. Plus, I was nervous, because I was about to get a ticket.

I finally gave the card to the police officer and he asked me how fast I had been going. I had no idea. I felt like an idiot. Then he asked me if that was my recommend. I was a little confused (assuming that no one in WA is LDS). He asked again if that was my recommend. I said it was and then he told me I was the third member he'd pulled over in the last two hours. He gave me back my information and sent me on my way.

I didn't get the ticket! Cops love me.

Advent

Today is the first Sunday of the Advent. It’s a lovely European tradition I learned on my mission. Each of the four Sundays before Christmas, families would light a candle and do something to commemorate the coming of Christmas. Today, the DH and I lit a beautiful gold candle and watched the Christmas program with the first presidency and Mormon Tabernacle Choir from Salt Lake City. It was a really nice program, only and hour long, and was a nice beginning to the Christmas season. We also put up the tree and put the star on top (but didn’t get any farther than that) and worked on Christmas cards.

Snow Days

By now, everyone knows that Seattle got blanketed with snow and that things here came to quite a standstill. On Tuesday, the WSDOT cautioned that everyone should stay home unless they were involved in “essential services” like doctoring and police officering. I’m curious what my friends and neighbors did on their snow days. Here’s what I did:

Tuesday

• Worked some from home, but with a spotty internet/RAS connection.
• Watched a bunch of TV, including the Tyra Banks talk show. Her show is really lame, but I was working on my computer at the same time and didn’t really think to change the channel.
• Picked up a painting from the frame shop.
• Almost got stuck in Patrick’s old truck trying to get into the frame shop parking lot (that had a bit of an incline).
• Bought supplies for making Christmas cards.
• Bought supplies for making Christmas gifts.
• Took almost half an hour to get home even though it would usually take only about five minutes because 130th street West-bound was closed.
• Forgot to plan or make anything for dinner in spite of the fact that I didn’t really accomplish anything all day.
• Planned Christmas presents for everyone I want to give to.
• Bought Christmas gifts online.

Wednesday

• Worked more than I did on Tuesday.
• Swept and mopped the kitchen floor (while participating in a conference call for work). I'm a great multi-tasker.
• Bought groceries.
• Made turkey soup for later and a really good dinner to make up for slacking on Tuesday.
• Ironed table cloths at the church in preparation for a Christmas program this weekend.

What did you do?

24 Degrees Fahrenheit

It’s unseasonably cold in Seattle today – 24 degrees Fahrenheit at 12:20 p.m. to be exact. We’ve had a bit of a cold spell with the weather and it’s not what we’re used to here in the normally temperate northwest. There is also a bit of snow on the ground. At one time, it was close to four inches.

It’s quite lovely, but a real mess too. It all started on Sunday afternoon with some lovely snow. Then it got warmer on Monday morning, but worse on Monday afternoon. The result was a horrible commute for most folks in the Seattle area. I decided to work from home, so I missed most of the ugliness. The DH, however, did not.

Today, it’s much worse. The snow that fell yesterday turned into a big sheet of ice over night. The Microsoft campus actually closed. I’ve stayed home again today and the DH didn’t go to work until 9:00 after the sun came up. Normally, you would expect everything to melt here when the sun comes up. Not today though. It’s only 24 degrees.

Thanksgiving

I'm so thankful for a wonderful husband and great family. I really enjoyed Thanksgiving in Boise with my entire family. It was only a little crazy and mostly really fun. I also got to see some great old friends. I loved seeing Andrea and Kathy. I’m really blessed with wonderful people in my life. I’m thankful for lots of things:

• The great DH
• A lovely family and in-laws
• Wonderful friends in Seattle and elsewhere
• A job that’s mostly good with a nice boss and really fine co-workers (the only exception being that blasted commute)
• Enough money to do most things I’d like to (because of my mostly good job)
• A nice warm house (especially today when it’s 20 degrees outside – and I’m not exaggerating)
• Working out at the gym and feeling really strong and good
• General good health
• A beautiful world to be in and appreciate
• DVR and Netflix
• Fleece and hot chocolate
• Christmas decorations
• Computers and the internet for staying in touch
• And a really good hair dresser
• And lots more stuff that I can’t think of right this moment

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday too and that you remember all the things you’re thankful for.

Happy Birthday to the DH!

Today is the DH’s 50th birthday. We celebrated last night with a party at Sunset Bowl in Ballard. We invited all the best people we knew and most of them even showed up. We had four lanes reserved and had all kinds of good food in the banquet room upstairs. It really was a fun way to celebrate.

Folks that wanted to bowl got one game in before we sang, ate cupcakes, and opened presents. I had a great time getting the present for the DH. Since I’ve met him, he’s talked about wanting a Ford F-150 pickup truck in black or silver. The big 5-0 seemed like the perfect time to surprise him with just that. It took an elaborate plan and a husband clearly lacking in any suspicion whatsoever.

I went to the Ford dealership last Saturday and bought the silver truck. They kept it at the lot for the week. Then yesterday, I told the DH I had a pedicure appointment with my friend Jamie. She came to pick me up, but we went to the dealership, picked up the truck, and I drove it to the bowling alley where she came and picked me up.

When we got home, the DH told me there was a weird message from a car dealership about my appointment. Fortunately, he didn’t think I’d be doing such a thing and didn’t put 2 and 2 together.

I got some decoy gifts, then put the keys to the new truck on a newly purchased Oakland Raiders keychain and put it in a small box. It was the last thing he opened (after bunches of really cool things that his friends bought for him).

When the DH opened the car keys, he didn’t’ get it right off. He thought it was my keys on a new key chain. I had to tell him the rest of the gift was in the parking lot. He was ecstatic! I think I may have done all right with that gift. You only turn 50 once, and it’s a big milestone, so that’s the biggest gift he’ll ever get from me. (And he’ll be helping to pay for it for the next little while.)

Happy Halloween!

These are the cupcakes I made for the Trunker Treat at church on Saturday. Actually, they were made for the cake walk, but you get the drift. The best part was having nephew Max come and to see his amazing Thomas the Tank Engine costume that the brother made. Somehow, I didn't get a picture though. I'm not sure how that happened. The brother will have to share a photo.

We also had yummy dinner together at my place on Sunday. With the parents and the other brother and family here, we had a housefull and a really nice time.

Ako Pa

Literal translation from Tagalog: "Still me."
Meaningful translation: "I'm the man!" (or woman as the case may be, as Tagalog has no gender specific pronouns- gotta love that.) or "I Rock!"

Megan wrote an Ako Pa blog with a list of all that she has accomplished, giving herself the proverbial pat on the back, and proclaiming, with pride, to the world Ako Pa! She then challenged readers to do the same.

Here’s mine:

• I learned to speak fluent German, in part by living in a language house where only German was spoken.
• I served a full-time mission to Switzerland for 18 months.
• I graduated from college with a BA in English and a minor in Music.
• I was certified to teach English and German in the state of Idaho.
• I successfully taught high school English and German for four years.
• I transitioned into a career in technical communication.
• I wrote three award-winning user manuals for HP products.
• I sang with the Opera Idaho chorus.
• I married a fabulous man who loves and respects me.

I’m feeling pretty good about myself right now!

Autumn "To Do" List

Autumn is by far my favorite season of the year. I'm not super fond of the heat and I love when the air starts to get crisp, the leaves change, and the days get shorter. It's this time of year that I get in the mood for projects of all kinds (that I don't always finish) and enjoy baking and cooking. Just like Annzy, it makes me think there are a few things I need to do to make this Autumn complete. This is my Autumn "to do" list, which must be completed by December 21st:

• Have a fire in the fireplace
• Buy fabric for more baby blankets
• Crochet around at least one baby blanket
• Make Evelyn's rolls
• Make homemade soup to go with the rolls
• Walk a half marathon
• Watch 42-Up and 49-Up documentaries
• Clean up the yard for Winter

I'm looking forward to it already. If you're really lucky, I might share some rolls with you!

Six Degrees and Pipe Dreams

Today, I was reading Annzy’s blog about things to accomplish in the Fall. (I’ll make my own list on that for later, but that’s not what this post is all about.) So, Annzy wrote her list after reading Erin’s blog on the topic of feeling “dark and twisty”. Erin’s blog was referring to Kim’s blog about Pipe Dreams (that apparently make her feel “dark and twisty”). Funny thing is, I had already read Kim’s post about Pipe Dreams after linking to if from Megan’s blog. Megan is in my ward and is a pretty cool gal that knits a lot. So, I know Ann and I know Megan and I read both their blogs and it was really funny to see that I could connect blogs with only five degrees of separation. I just had to share.

Now, for my pipe dreams. I have a few:

• I always thought I’d get married in my 20’s and have three kids. That was clearly a pipe dream. Getting married at 39 changes some dreams.
• I wanted to be an opera singer (but never wanted to work that hard at it). I love to sing, but never really jumped all the way into that pond.
• I love to teach and really thought I would go back after just a couple of years in the business world. Instead, I let my credentials lapse and have now spent almost ten years working for the man. Maybe going back to teaching isn’t 100% a pipe dream. It might still happen, but I don’t know when.
• Perhaps being a size 10 is a pipe dream too. Since I haven’t been that size since 7th grade, it might be a bit much to hope for.

So, anything you don't have a clear path for achieving sounds like a pipe dream to me. Maybe later I'll post on the dreams that I think might actually come true.

Ruminations...

Do you ever have one of those days where you just wonder how you got here? I have to say, I’m not really on the path that I thought I would be on. It’s a pretty good path – no complaint really – just not the one I expected.

Today at work, I have been dealing with spreadsheets, numbers, and vendors. My degree is in English with a minor in vocal performance. I planned to get married and stay home with kids. How did I fall into spreadsheet madness?!? Seriously, this is just freakish. My favorite thing about getting my degree at BYU was testing out of basic math and taking the foreign language option so I wouldn’t have to deal with numbers. It seems I can’t escape them though.

It does all make me wonder how much of my life is chance (or fate, or what have you) and how much is deliberate. And if it’s not deliberate, is it because I didn’t try hard enough or because life just doesn’t work that way?

That’s my philosophical question of the day.

Now back to the spreadsheets.

The Ol' Ball and Chain

Technically, I think I might be the ball and chain. Even if I am, I’m the best damn ball and chain the DH has ever had. Hands down. How’s that for confidence?

We celebrated our first anniversary last month. It was pretty cool. We went on a trip to Mt. Rainier and then to Sun Mountain Lodge near Winthrop, WA. It was beautiful on both trips and we had a great time. The food, the hikes, the scenery, and the hot tub were all great. We even had fun going to church in Twisp. They have a branch with less than 20 people. They bring in speakers from wards in the area and the second speaker was literally the worst sacrament meeting speaker I’ve every heard. It was hysterical.

I also had a first on the anniversary trip. On the way out of town, we bought a fishing rod and license for me. On Monday, we went fishing and I caught my first fish (in memory at least – sorry dad if you ever helped me catch a fish and I forgot). It was actually fairly entertaining and I’d do it again as long as I had a chair to hang out in instead of standing on the shore the whole time.

Good times! I highly recommend the anniversary.

Of festivities and fishing

Last weekend was the annual sister’s get-together. We invited the sisters-in-law as well, like we sometimes do. The middle sister moved this year and the younger sister is unemployed, so we decided to get together in Boise on the cheap instead of going somewhere else. Of course, the best time to get together in Boise is the weekend after Labor Day because that’s when you get Art in the Park.

We all showed up in Boise on Friday and then spend the better part of Saturday at the park looking at all kinds of arts and crafts made by vendors from all over the place. A lot of the vendors are the same from year to year. I always get a kick out of doggy designer clothing. It’s there every year without fail and has been as long as I can remember. Of course, the potters and jewelers are all there too.

This year, I decided I was going to purchase real art. I didn’t have a real budget, but I knew I wouldn’t spend more than a huge load of money. That’s fine, right? I was getting discouraged by most of what I saw, but finally found several things by one artist that I really liked. He’s Karl Pace out of Salt Lake City. The art is representational and hopefully looks good in my house. That would be the best part.

We all went to dinner at Cottonwood Grill and had wonderful, tasty appetizers, dinner, and dessert. Yum! Even the chocolate banana bread pudding was great. After dinner and a phone chat with the DH, I went back to Art in the Park to purchase my art. I bought a painting called “Low Bluff” that has nice hues of blue and tan with a touch of green. I think it looks pretty good and I really hope the DH loves it when he finally sees it in person.

Low Bluff


After dinner, we just hung out at the parent’s new house and chatted and had a nice evening. It was really great to just relax with such wonderful people. I’m lucky to have two great sisters and three wonderful sisters-in-law that were all together for the weekend. You can’t get much luckier than that.

On Sunday, we had my all-time favorite dinner of fried chicken, new potatoes, and gravy. My mom does the best job on this dinner. I love it! The only thing that could have made it better would have been to have the DH there as well.

The DH, on the other hand, spent his weekend fishing. It was the annual work fishing trip. He might have had fun, but of course he missed me too much to really enjoy himself.

Nauvoo

The last leg of the trip was to Nauvoo. We started with a wagon ride around the sites to see what was there. It was about 50 minutes and gave a nice overview of everything you could see. The church owns and maintains a lot of sites in Nauvoo, so it's a lot more than Palmyra or Kirtland.


After the wagon ride, we went to the Community of Christ sites. They own the Smith family home sites and the land where Joseph and Hyrum Smith are burried. One of the most interesting stories was regarding the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum. Emma Smith got their bodies and prepared them for burial after they were killed, but she was afraid that someone would come steal the bodies because there was still a $1,000 bounty on each of their heads, dead or alive, from Missouri. She first hid the bodies under the family home, but moved them from there when additional contruction was going to start on the home. She put them under the cold cellar outside the home and asked to be burried in a spot close to that. She kept the sites secret her whole life. The bodies were finally found in the 1920's when the RLDS church paid to have a dig to find them because of fears that the bodies would be lost with flooding on the Mississippi. When they were found, all three bodies (Joseph, Hyrum, and Emma) were burried together in the Smith family cemetary.


We had lunch at a small, sad deli and then did a session at the Nauvoo temple. That temple is amazing. I have not been in another temple, other than Salt Lake, that had more beautiful workmanship inside. It was awesome in the true sense of the word. After that, we took a nap. I was so tired this whole trip. In the evening we went to two shows. The first was called Sunset on the Mississippi. It was a fun variety show and we really enjoyed the fun. Then we went to the Palmyra Padgeant. It was basically the story of Nauvoo from the time it was settled until they left to go West. It was really well done and we thought it was great. I could recommend it to just about anyone.

On Friday, we went to several of the sites including the blacksmith shop, the print shop, the post office, and bunches of others. Except for the heat and humidity, it was really good. We also did some shopping before going off the beaten path. We went to a man's house outside town who has stones from the original Nauvoo temple. When the new temple was being built, the old rubble was dumped not too far from his house and he grabbed some of the stones and breaks them up and gives them to folks who stop by. We also went to a glass maker's studio where he showed us around and told us all about his shop and his work. We really loved those little side trips.


We also saw one last show that day, which was fairly entertaining, but not as good as the shows the day before. It was in an air conditioned building though, so we managed just fine. We also went to Keokuk, Iowa for dinner. The dinner was unremarkable, but the views of the Mississippi along the way, especially on the way home with the sun setting, were lovely.

On Saturday, we did some last-minute shopping, toured the Mason Hall, and headed for St. Louis so we could come home.

No matter how much fun the trip is, it's always so nice to get home and sleep in your own bed.

Kirtland

On Tuesday, we spent the day in Kirtland. I think I love that little town. We started at the visitor's center and historic Kirtland. The missionary that led our tour was so wonderful. She had a wealth of knowledge and was so sincere in her presentation that we all enjoyed her more than anyone else we heard in Palmyra or Kirtland.
We visited the K.N.Whitney store, the Whitney home, the saw mill and ashery, and an old hotel. We also heard about how the church acquired some of the property and got the road moved back behind the historic district.


After the historic town, we went on to the Kirtland temple.
The temple still stands as it was built and is owned by the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). The tour guide was great and he gave us a lot of information about the structure and history. He also told dad about a "behind the scenes" tour that you can get by special appointment if you come September through June. I'm betting on dad going back for that.

After visiting the temple, we had a great lunch at a diner reccomended by the temple tour guide. Who knew you could get such great food in Kirtland, OH? The food wasn't great in Palmyra, so we didn't have very high expectations.

After lunch, we went to another farm and heard about more of the history of the area. We had more interesting tour guides and enjoyed the experience.

All of the tours were so good that we ended up spending much more time than expected in Kirtland and so we weren't able to drive all the way to Chicago. We ended up spending the night in Ekhart, Indiana and driving to Chicago in the morning. We had a driving tour where we saw the apartment my parents lived in when dad was at Northwestern for grad school. We also saw the B'hai temple. It's quite an impressive structure.

After the driving tour,
we went to meet our friends Liz and Darrin Jensen for lunch at Giordano's for deep dish Chicago style pizza. We had a great time catching up and having yummy food.

After lunch, we drove on to Carthage, IL where we saw the jail where Joseph Smith was killed. It was a short tour, but pretty powerful.

Finally, we landed in Nauvoo, IL. More on that later!

Palmyra

After arriving in Rochester, my parents picked us up and we traveled to Palmyra where they have been volunteering during the Palmyra pageant. On the way from the airport, we went to the Martin Harris farm.


It's out of the way, so we didn't want to have to drive all the way back out there on Sunday. Later that evening, we went to the pageant and it rained on us more or less the entire time. Good times in the rain. It was pretty close to the Manti pageant that I saw a couple of times twenty years ago. We also enjoyed great BBQ at the pagaent. The Rotary Club in town makes food for sale and gives all the proceeds to several different charities. It was great to see them getting so many hungry customers and the food was great.

On Sunday, we went to church and then visited the historical sights in Palmyra. We went to the Johnson farm, the visitor's center, and the Smith Farm. The Smith Farm is where mom and dad were volunteering. We loved the presentation by the missionary at the log home. She was fabulous. We also enjoyed the walk through the grove out behind the buildings. After Saturday's rain, the weather was cooler and not so humid. We had a really nice time and chatted with a bunch of other people visiting the sights.

On Monday, we went into town and shopped for half an hour and then went to a temple session at the Palmyra temple. After that, we got in the car and drove to Kirtland, OH. It was only a few hours to our low-rent hotel. We really enjoyed Palmyra and would highly reccomend it.

I almost forgot to mention that we took a side trip to Niagra Falls after leaving Palmyra. I had never seen the falls and they were spectacular. We had a great view from the American side and had a nice walk around the park by the falls.

The Happiest Place on Earth

Last week, I got to go to Orlando for a conference for work. It was my first time in Florida and was not prepared for the humidity. Who knew my hair could be that curly (or frizzy, depending on your perspective)? Then when you go inside, it's always cold with the air conditioning. It was kind of odd to be wearing a jacket a good part of my stay in the state.

I got to go to Epcot center (but not really DisneyWorld) and watch fireworks and ride a few rides. It was great to soar over California, go on a mission to Mars, and test drive cars for GM. I only got a little motion sickness on the trip to Mars. Not bad for a beginner.

I also had a great time going to the town of Mount Dora and eating dinner at Pices Rising. Let's hear it for Andrew for picking the restaurant and Ray for driving us there. It really was fabulous food and great company.

Of course, nothing beats leaving a business trip and meeting up with the DH again. The Rochester airport was the best part of the trip.

Beautiful Music at the Winery

The DH and I had the most wonderful experience last night. We went to see Bruce Hornsby at Chateau Ste. Michelle winery out in Woodinville. The venue is beautiful, the weather was perfect, and the music was first rate.

I have to admit that the DH picked the music. I couldn't even tell you what Bruce Hornsby is known for (though a few of his songs, like The Way It Is and Gonna Be Some Changes Made, were familiar). What a great surprise to hear that he is an amazing pianist and plays with some wonderful musicians.

There was no opening band, so it was just two hours of lovely music from someone who can really play and arrange and sing.

We also enjoyed a really nice picnic and found many of the other concert-goers very entertaining. It's fun when the people-watching is almost as good as the music.

Now Taking Recommendations

The DH and I are quickly coming upon our first anniversary. It’s mere weeks away and we’re very excited to have made it through the “toughest year of marriage.” In anticipation of a fabulous anniversary, we’ve both taken time off work. Unfortunately, we haven’t done much else in the way of planning. The DH was given a recommendation for cabins in the Sun Lakes area, but, alas, they are all booked at the end of August.

So, here’s the deal-i-o. I’m putting it out there to all you great blog-reading friends to give us recommendations. Here is the criteria:

• No more than a 3-hour trip from home with no plane trips involved
• A place to stay for less than $150 per night (we have some class, but don’t want to blow our wad in one place)
• A few activities in the area that you would recommend

See, we’re not too picky. And maybe there can be a prize for whoever picks our anniversary destination. I’m sure I could come up with something worth your effort!

Turning 40 (ARGH!)

Well, I did it. I turned 40 on Tuesday. After spending the weekend with Granny, who just turned 90, I should feel young. Too bad it doesn't actually work that way. We had a great time seeing the entire family (except for Sean and his wife and kids, since he's stationed in Italy now). It was also nice to see how many people came to see Granny and wish her well. She really is well-loved and has a pretty amazing legacy. I could only hope for such a life.

After celebrating with Granny in Idaho Falls, we headed back to Boise to celebrate my birthday. We enjoyed pancakes at the sister's ward breakfast and then had cake and ice cream at Mom and Dad's house. It was yummy and fun. When the dh and I flew back to Seattle, we were no longer in a mood to BBQ, so we went out to dinner for the birthday. It was really nice to spend time with friends and family. Plus, the dh found me a fabulous pair of earrings in white gold with diamonds and rubies. They're divine and I LOVE them. Too bad I couldn't find a picture of them online to show you all.

Run for your life...

On Saturday, I ran in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. It was a 5K (3.12 mile) race, but I was just in it for the experience. I’m far from competitive in the foot race.

I’ve been working on being healthier lately and I think it’s working a little. I work out with a trainer three days a week and I’ve asked him to help me with running. It’s actually working. I ran the race in 39 minutes, which averages out to a 12.5-minute mile and average speed of 4.8 miles per hour.

This is not fast. This is pretty slow. But for me, this is fabulous. I actually ran a good part of the way. I was really tired after the race, but I felt great about what I had done.

It’s pretty amazing how one slow race can make you feel like you accomplished something great. It really was great for me. I think I’ll even do it again some time and see if I can shave a few minutes off that 39-minute race time.

Plumbing woes -- and I mean WOES

I’ve now realized that I take drains for granted. I just expect them to drain. No worries, no woes. I’m learning to appreciate a good drain now. After spending two weekends with plumbers in the house, I’m really ready to have it done.

Last Saturday I was cleaning the bathroom toilet and it just wouldn’t flush. (Thank heaven’s there was really nothing in there except clean water or this story would be much more colorful. Perhaps that a disappointment to you though.) As every good woman of independent thought and means, I got out the plunger and plunged. I didn’t work. I called in the DH. He plunged. After we had both plunged to no avail, we realized that water was seeping out from under the toilet every time we did anything. That’s a bad thing, if you were wondering.

Patrick has a plumber friend who happened to be at a party nearby with his plumbing truck. He came over and snaked, replaced the honeycomb seal, and put the toilet back in place. All was well – for a week.

On Friday, the woes came back even better than before. The toilet still flushed, but nothing else seemed to drain. The DH took a shower and I did laundry, and it was a bad combination. I’d noticed the sink in the bathroom not really draining, but that’s fairly common, so I didn’t think much of it. Then the DH took a shower and it didn’t drain at all. And my laundry bubbles started showing up in all the wrong places. We knew it was real drainage woes when that happened.

We called the plumber friend again and he recommended someone to call. For a measly $200, we got the big drain (from the outside) snaked with the really big (think anaconda) snake and now we know why plumbers get paid well. It was gross – not just a little gross, but make-you-want-to-hurl gross. He pulled up things people just shouldn’t have to see. No more details will be given, but I think you can use your imagination and get close enough.

When he was done the shower drained, the toilet flushed, and the washer drained. It was a beautiful thing. Now, two days later, the toilet flushes weird, the shower drains slow, and I’m worried that I get to see a plumber every Saturday for the rest of my life.

What a Wreck...

I meant to post on this earlier, but time just got away from me. Wednesday was kind of a bad day. I started from home right around 5:00 and SR520 was already super backed up. In a moment, I adjusted routes and headed for I-405. I seldom go that way, but it looked like I might get home faster and I needed to get gussied up for the opera that the DH and I had tickets for that night. 15 minutes can make all the difference there, you know.

As I was heading North, minding my business and feeling quite bored with the stop-and-go traffic, I stopped in one of those slow-downs, but the car behind me forgot to. The car rammed into me, pushing me into the car in front of me. The impact was enough to throw my glasses off my face and open covers and empty the two console cubbies of lipstick, dental floss, and sunglasses. It even knocked the phone book from under the seat.

The three of us made our way to the side of the road and traded vital information. I was quite shaken up and the man in the car in front of me was quite concerned. I thought I was coping quite well, but maybe not. It’s hard to keep the perspective in such a situation. I was grateful to the front driver as he drew a diagram of the accident, took down license numbers and car models, and collected our insurance information and phone numbers. We all had everything we needed.

I checked the damage to my car and saw that the bumpers, front and rear, were damaged. I didn’t discover the rest of the damage until I got home, but it’s mostly cosmetic. Except that the trunk won’t close now. It’s my Joad car now, I guess – at least for a little while.

Because it was rush hour and there were not injuries, we didn’t call the police. Don’t worry. My insurance agent said it was fine. They wouldn’t come out anyway. That’s who I called first, then found out that I should work with the instigator’s insurance agency unless they gave me grief.

So far it’s been quite a bother, but not much more than that. I called the instigator’s insurance company right after the accident and they’ve called me back every day with updates. It looks like it won’t be much of a problem to get taken care of, but it will take some time and a loaner car for me.

After getting home and getting a grip, I was really grateful that I wasn’t hurt and that the airbag didn’t deploy. Considering that it was on the freeway, it could have been much worse and I feel pretty good about having only the inconvenience. Of course, I could do without that too, but it’s minor in comparison to what could have happened.

Mas Que Nada

I love NPR just like Annzy does. I especially like it on the morning commute. It's kind of funny, because it's a 2-hour loop and I usually get in my car after the gym exactly two hours after leaving it to go into the gym. I just pick up right where I left off.

This morning, the story I heard arriving and leaving the gym was about Sergio Mendez. You may or may not know that he's a family favorite. We heard his work while driving to Burley, Salt Lake, San Francisco, L.A., Tucson, and everywhere else we ever drove as a family. It was one of the few things we all liked (and we only ever listened to anything that Dad liked, so this is saying a lot).

You can listen to the new album Timeless here. Somehow, I don't think my Dad would buy this one. I couldn't even recognize Mas Que Nada (which is one of my favorites from the Best Of album). E Menina is totally old school though. Maybe Dad would like three or four of the songs.

Blue, Blue, My Eyes are Blue

I think I can tell how old you are by whether or not you recognize the title of this post as song lyrics. Just a thought to start this post, but really not what it's all about.

It's really all about wasting time (even at work). If you haven't taken any of the Blogthings Quizzes, you're really missing out on a fabulous time waster. Today, I found out what color my eyes should be. Lucky for me, they should be blue. And they are. Coincidence? I think not! I was at the mercy of the quiz. Here's what it said...

Your Eyes Should Be Blue
Your eyes reflect: Innocence and sweetness
What's hidden behind your eyes: A calculating mind

Cool, huh? I have a calculating mind. Who would have known if I hadn't taken the quiz? Who needs a mirror or introspection when you have online quizzes?

You can take the quiz too. Even better, when you take that quiz, then you can chose from a variety of other time wasting quizzes to take. It's a thing of beauty. Take the quiz here: What Color Should Your Eyes Be?

Of Birthdays and Breakdowns

As you may have read in the previous post, it was the nephew's birthday. It was actually last week, but the family celebrated it on Sunday. My brother created a fine Bob the Builder cake. Of course, it was yellow cake baked in a bowl (trust me – it's the best cake you can have). He cut off the top inch of about half the cake to make Bob's face smaller than the hard hat. It seriously looked just like Bob. It was brilliant.

When we arrived, there was one whirling dervish nephew with dark circles under his eyes. At 3 years, the birthday joy was apparent and the kid was totally high on adrenaline and sugar. He ran, he hardly ate (except cake), he got excited about presents, he hated curling ribbon on packages, and he loved the huge Tonka dump truck he got. It even came with a hard hat. Now he has two hard hats, so his cousin could wear one too and they were ready to work.

The best part of the party was that the nephew, in spite of his energy and sleep deprivation, seemed to have a great time. He didn’t have a meltdown (while we were there at least – who knows what happened after we left). He didn’t cry. And, he shared his toys (mostly). I think he even liked the Cootie game I gave him, but who could tell after the Tonka truck arrived?

I, on the other hand, have been a bit sleep deprived for a few weeks now and had to have my own breakdown. I think I need to call in sick to work and just sleep all day.

Fly Like an Eagle

Sunday was the nephew's birthday, so the DH and I drove from our place in Seattle to the nephew's place in Redmond. We went over Lake Washington via the SR520 bridge. On a Sunday afternoon, it's usually a breeze (unlike my commute, which is never a breeze). This time was different. I've had a lot of experience in how SR520 backs up and we had the oddest slow-down. On a Sunday afternoon you wouldn't expect any slowing at all, in the first place. In the second place, it doesn't usually happen when you're already two thirds of the way across the bridge.

As the traffic slowed, the DH and I commented on what a strange place it was for traffic to slow. We could see out ahead and there were no accidents and it didn't look like there was anything in the road that people had to drive around. Nothing. Until we got even closer. It looked like a big seagull at first, but as we got near, it was a young bald eagle. The eagle was riding the wind right above the bridge and it was breathtaking. Traffic slowed considerably in both directions to view the amazing bird just hovering not more that fifteen feet from where we were in our cars.

The most astounding thing to me is that this eagle spotting was in the middle of a rather large city. It was the same feeling as seeing a flower growing out of a crack in the concrete. So beautiful and so unexpected that it just makes you feel privileged to see it.

The Buzz on Movies

I've seen a couple of movies since the DH had his surgery, but I think I like the one we watched last night better than most. We watched Elizabethtown even though he thought it sounded suspiciously like a chick flick (and he outright refused to watch Pride and Prejudice even though I batted my eyelashes a whole bunch).

The story is about a guy who creates the worst shoe fiasco in the history of making shoes and decides to kill himself over it. Unfortunately, his dad died in Kentucky, so he has to go take care of his dad's funeral plans instead of dying. It's then about his road to self discovery. (Sorry if that sounds like it wouldn't be any fun to watch -- I promise it is.)

We both really enjoyed it and have looked into getting the soundtrack. It was really good too.

We also watched The Brother's Grimm, which was only mediocre and Serenity, which was very cool. If you like Asian films, you'll love Serenity. It was also just beautiful to see. I would have enjoyed seeing it in the theater.

What's in a Name?

So, after reading annzy's last couple of posts, I realized that the part about blogging that I like the most is naming the post. I secretly think this is the only reason Ann blogs too. It's cathartic and fun to write, but it's even better to come up with a clever tag line. It was the same way when I wrote for a living. I was writing technical documentation and my favorite part was naming the chapters or topics. I was really good at it too. All the clients loved me. It's good for your self esteem. (Not quite as good as cleaning someone's kitchen, but almost.)

Now I think I'll have to write more often so I'm forced to think of more clever names. Of course, this could backfire and cause the mother of all writing blocks, but I don't think so.

It'll be fun. Really.

Beetlemania

Since the DH has been laid up with tummy incisions, we’ve watched a lot of movies and TV. He loves CSI and I think it’s a little too gross, but that’s part of our charm as a couple. One thing we’ve both loved is watching Beetles Anthology. I can’t rave about this enough. It’s eight 70-minute segments, so it took us a while to get through it, but I loved the whole thing.

Having grown up with only the aura of the Beetles and never experiencing the mania first-hand, it was very eye opening and fascinating to watch. I didn’t realize that the Christian right in the Southern US had Beetles record burnings after John Lennon’s offhand comment about someone telling him the Beetles with more popular than Jesus. It was also interesting that it didn’t mention the rift between the band and Yoko because Yoko had to approve all the video footage in order for them to use John’s image. I also got some great insight into how the Beetles revolutionized rock music in the 60’s. The pioneered things I just take for granted as part of rock and roll now.

The long and short of it is that I would give Beetles Anthology five stars and highly recommend it.

Are you HIGH!?!

The answer to that question, if you are my DH, is "why, yes, I am high." It's really funny. He doesn't think he's impaired at all, but he is. The Vicodin makes him a tiny bit grumpy, a little loopy, and very forgetful. Today, I went to work for the first time since the surgery. I talked to him on the phone this afternoon and he had slurred speach, told me one story twice, and over-shared about his bowels moving. It was such a treat. The funniest part is that he doesn't think it's funny at all. He's especially grumpy when I laugh at how loopy he is or how he just told the same story twice.

The good news is that he's getting around a bit now. He's not in bed all day and he's able to sleep on his side. For anyone who might wonder, he's recovering quite well. But, he's still high.

Now, that's gross...

You know what's gross? Oozy incisions, that's what.

The DH had surgery today. It was for two hernias he's been carrying around for a while. It's a good thing to have taken care of, but not very fun right after. All I can really say is that I'm super lucky he didn't have too hard a time of it. There were no fainting spells and no puking. He has good drugs and can sleep now. (Oh, yeah -- he's lucky too. It's just the blog that's all about me.)

I love modern medicine. The surgery was done laproscopically through three tiny (about an inch across) incisions. Two below the belly button and one above. This reduces recovery time from 4-6 weeks down to 2-3 weeks. He won't be able to go to work for three weeks because it's heavy labor, but I'm still amazed out what can be done. The other cool thing is that they repair the hernia and then put Gore-Tex on it to keep it from herniating again. I love Gore-Tex! Who knew it could be used for such cool stuff?

The only funny part about the laproscopic surgery is that they fill the cavity with CO2 gas to do the surgery and it can make things puffy or cause pains in weird places, like the shoulders. It can't get out of the body like normal gas, so it goes crazy places. It's harmless, so we can laugh about it.

Are you OK, ma'am?

I think I broke my toe, but I didn't admit it right off. That would have been too humiliating.

So, when the security guard heard a huge BIFF just behind him, he stood up and took notice. That's what happened yesterday. I was at a conference center with one of my co-workers, walking through the lobby, when I did a little face plant. I just tripped over the transition from tile to carpet. (I know most of you can't even imagine, but those transitions are hard to get over.)

I was carrying a laptop, notebook, and my wallet. All of them went flying. I just stayed on the floor for a few moments while I checked to ensure that nothing was broken. My co-worker and the security guard were very concerned with my well-being. I said I was fine, got up, and walked out with my head held high. I got a good laugh out of it with my co-worker as well.

When I got back to my office, the throbbing started in my toe. It's the one next to my baby toe on the right foot. It just kept hurting worse and worse. Then I started getting concerned that I wouldn't be able to drive home. I sucked it up and got home just fine though.

Then I told the DH about it and he got a good laugh about it too (after the obligatory sympathizing). Now he knows how really clumsy I am. And I really am clumsy.

Lucy is Crabby

I am crabby. Do you want to know why I'm crabby? Well, I'm going to tell you anyway. First of all, I'm a Cancer, so I'm supposed to be crabby. Second of all, I can't seem to get enough sleep or enough exercise. The worst part is that I can't blame this on anyone and everyone. Being crabby, I want to cast blame. It's what I do. I'm really good at it.

Did I mention that I'm not getting enough sleep? It's this crazy marriage thing -- and don't go there. I don't mean that. It's going to bed at night and getting up in the morning with someone else in the bed. And he doesn't need as much sleep as I do. And his alarm goes off at 5:00 a.m. Did I mention that it's 5:00 a.m.?!? No one should be awake that early. But I am. Everyday. Theoretically, I can go back to sleep. Theoretically, that is. And of course, let's not forget the wicked, wicked commute. It's not as bad when I leave earlier. That gives me a reason to get up early. And that's bad.

That brings me to the exercise problem. It's the commute. I spend 90 minutes a day driving. You don't get much exercise driving. And the drive is on top of the 10-hour day. When I get to work at 7, I just want to go home at 5:00. Then it's 6:00 by the time I get home, and I really want to spend some quality time with my husband. Who would have thought? And then I'll just add that I'm seriously ready for bed by 9:00. I'm pathetic. Where does the exercise come in? If I go straight to the gym from work, then I get home around 7:30. That gives me time for a late dinner, a few minutes with the husband, and time to brush teeth.

So, I'm done complaining for now, but if you have any ideas about how I'm going to get more sleep or more exercise, I'd really appreciate it. Really. Because, I'm kind of crabby.

Church Callings

Well, the DH and I both got called into the office over the last couple of weeks. I hate getting called into the office. Usually, it's the Bishop's office. Not this time. Not for either of us.

Last week it was DH's turn. It was a counselor in the Stake Presidency. He asked to advance DH to a High Priest and asked him to be the first assistant to the High Priest group leader. It's a cool thing. Much less work than Elder's Quorum president. It has to be a good thing. Plus, the group leader is a good friend of ours that we both really like and respect. All good.

Then, another call came. This time, for the Stake President. The DH already had his call and he wouldn't get something else a week later. The writing was on the wall. It was all about me. I have to admit, I was really concerned. It turned out OK though. I got called as the Education Counselor in the stake relief society presidency. I don't know the president or the other counselor, but I guess I'll get to know them soon.

I'm actually sad about losing my other church job though. I really liked teaching Gospel Doctrine class. It was kind of fun and really interesting to prepare for. So much for that. Of course, both mom and sister said I could continue preparing to teach. Funny.

New Year's Resolutions

Every year, I make resolutions. It's sort of one of those things that Dad had his hand in, and I just can't seem to shake it. Maybe it's because he was right. It really is a good thing to do. I just hate it when other people do.

About 2 years ago, or just a little over, I decided to get more fit. I started going to the gym and losing some butter. I started my new program in October, not January. So this month, I'm a bit peeved, as I always am in January. My Weight Watchers meeting had 15 minute lines and was standing room only, so I didn't end up staying for the meeting. My Saturday morning spinning class was full and I got the very last bike, in the front row (which I HATE), even though I showed up at the time I always do and usually get a nice back row seat.

I know it keeps these industries going for most of the year, but I hate people who only diet and excercise in January. Of course, I'll be over it in a couple of weeks, when I'm still going to Weight Watchers and the gym. I'll laugh a little with the instructors. We'll all roll our eyes a bit over the fact that no one keeps their resolutions.

The only issue with this is that I may be in the doesn't-keep-her-resolutions pack too. I don't want to be, but sometimes I am. I mean, even with fairly valiant efforts early on in the program, I didn't finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year like I meant to. And let's not even talk about the reading of the New Testament that I planned on starting at the beginning of this year. I still think I'll get to that one, but not today. (How bad does that sound?!?)

The one that I'm hoping to keep is planning meals and shopping only once a week. I'm two weeks in and really like it. That's the thing that will help me stay on it. I really do like it. I like knowing what's for dinner before I leave the office. I especially like it when the DH has it all ready when I get home. It really is lovely. Oh, and cheaper too.

Here's to keeping at least one New Year's Resolution this year!