As long as we're getting close to Valentine's Day...

My friend Boy Mom is a good read most any day of the week. As the mother of SEVEN boys she has a lot to write about! Any who, yesterday she put up a post she borrowed from one of her favourite reads - a post about ten things she LOVES that all begin with (her assigned letter) "A". Then she decided to let her youngest (7 years old) pick out a letter for the folks in the comments section. I got "O". Oh how lovely this will be!

10 Things I love That Start with "O"

1. Oranges. I am glad that I live in California where they are abundant year round. How do people who live in, say, Ontario Canada or Oslo Norway live without their sweet juicy sun filled goodness? Orange Julius, Orange Sherbet, Manderine Oranges...yup, I like oranges.

2. Opals. Although it is not my birthstone, I adore those shimmery pearly and colourful stones. Kind of like a peacock and a pearl had a genetic connection and this was the result.

3. October. The beginning of the holiday season, filled with all kinds of fun and memory making good times! The air is beginning to crisp, everyone gives you free candy, and there's a few birthday parties to attend. Yup, This is a good month.

4. Once upon a Time... I love children's books, I have a ton of them and frankly, when I find a good one I just have to buy it. I loved reading them to my own kids and now to their children. Once upon a time, they lived happily ever after. Yeah, that's a pretty amazing thing right there.

5. The Ocean. I have driven up and down the California coast several times. It's a drive that takes a few days if you do it right. No matter, I can't take my eyes off the ocean, my Big Blue. He lifts my Spirit, no matter the day, no matter the weather. I cannot think of one time I have felt sad while at the ocean.

6. Orchids. I love pretty much all flowers, but orchids are up there. I like their variety and exotic petals...gorgeous!

7. The Oboe. The scholar plays the oboe. It's amazingly difficult and beautiful and I cannot wait to hear her play again!

8. The Olympics. I really enjoy the olympics when they come around. Sure there are a few odd sports, but hey, if I can get into Curling, I can get into anything, and I like watching Curling!

9. Oatmeal. Oatmeal the way my gramma taught me to make it. Not that gag inducing sloppy stuff, but almost steamed, each tiny little oval flake, still firm but tender - al dente! Snuggling next to the other flakes in the bowl, but not gooey, snuggling. Warm, steaming, a small puddle of real butter ready to be swirled up with a lump or two of brown sugar. Or perhaps with white sugar and a splash of cold milk! Yummy goodness that always reminds me of Gramma, burnt toast, and a cup of hot chocolate made with real milk. (I'm kind of hungry now!)

10. well, (and you knew I'd have to go there) the big "O" ...organizing! My oh my how I do enjoy a great organized _________! Doesn't matter to me, I love organized stuff. I was ever so impressed with a gal I work with who found a piece of sheet music from a play she saw over twenty years ago. She just went over to her shelf, plucked out a binder, flip to the edges and saw the proper tab and there you go. My heart sang.

So here's the deal. If you wanna play just leave me a comment and I'll randomize up a letter for you to love!

random list

*We have two new RS Presidencies in our stake this month so we needed to have an orientation with the new gals. We decided a while back that this kind of a meeting isn't the most exciting, always goes longer than you'd think, and frankly everyone needs it, but nobody wants it. So we start ours out with a dinner.

There was one a while back where we were all so busy that we didn't have time to cook, so we ordered up Chinese and chatted it up over orange chicken and noodles. This dinner idea is a good one. The women who come are sometimes, not always, but sometimes intimidated or just plain overwhelmed. Seeing your 'leaders' eating a cheese enchilada has a way of relaxing people.

This last dinner meeting was so much fun. I got to meet up with a bunch of ladies I haven't seen in a while and I think we had more fun visiting than going over a list of do's and don'ts. One of the gals is a teacher, she had fabulous questions so the night went really fast.

I have been away from the house more than usual which has made the interior similar to that of an abandoned warehouse, except it's more like an abandoned 1500sf. E gads, the floor in the hall way looked like it had been carpeted with dryer lint. Partially because that is where the "laundry room" is, but also because we have just run it, done a few loads of laundry and headed out again without polishing the 'wood' (read laminate) floors and we haven't had Roomba plugged in for a while. (He goes back on duty today!) Under the dining room table looks just as fluffy, but with a stray dead leaf. Yeah. Appetizing.

*Ants. Wo Wo Wo unto the ants in this house! I am SO ticked (to use another insect for anger analogy) with these guys! I swear (I'm getting better about just doing that in my head, but still). We could have the kitchen counter smeared with marshmallow cream and they still would just randomly show up in the hall (which they did yesterday), the closet (what's in there?), Thor's desk (because bills are tasty?), or hanging out in the bathroom sink (yeah, I know, the whole water thing. But really; if they want water all that bad there is a neighbor who leaves his on all the freaking time!). We rarely have ants where you would expect them, but the whole of it is making me cranky. I have little black plastic ant traps everywhere. It's disgusting.

*I decided that I can't take the treadmill in the bedroom anymore. (I actually can't take a lot of what's in the bedroom anymore, but I can do something about the treadmill.) So I got it in my head that I could just move this and that and shove it into the girls' room where we already have the weight machine (and permanently set up ironing board - lovely, but I'm lazy.) and the twin bed for that single visitor (all other visitors fight over couches or -the winner- who gets to go to a hotel). So fate being what it is, I chose the day I wore my perfect white tee to do the move. No big deal, it folds; it has rollers.

O.k. So I clear the path from one room to the other, this baby is huge. I had to move a couple of books that stuck out too far in the hall book case, had to move said ironing board a few feet, put this over there, that over there and we're ready! I fold the machine and lock it and the tip the beast just enough to roll it. I SAID: TIP IT JUST ENOUGH TO ROLL IT! Good grief this thing weighs for thousand pounds and is stuck in those tiny but very deep carpet scars heavy objects make. UUUuuUuGGGhhh OOomph Oooohh uh oh! At this point I am making mental notes on how I am very happy no one is video taping this. Sweet mercy this is a bit more difficult than I antiscipated, but it's too late to stop now!

I make it the door, but too late to notice it is exactly 1.5 inches too wide to fit through. Seriously? Ugh. I think "o.k, I'll just roll it back into the bedroom and slide it through sideways." Well the machine only rolls one way. So I kind of have to power lift one end of the beast and twist it, drop it, lift the other end of the beast, twist it and drop it and lather rinse repeat about 15 times before I can wedge my tiny self between the beast and the door jam, which by the way rhymes very well with a perfectly good swear word right about now.

I get it turned around and begin the process all over again, in reverse, to get it out into the hallway. I get it to the other bedroom door and lather rinse repeat.

Inside the bedroom now I (inwardly begin to weep) realize my white tee shirt is no more. But I press on (because I am an idiot). I go back to the master bedroom to grab the floor mat that goes under the beast to catch any stray machine grease (too late, got all that on my white tee and new chinos). I mop it clean and set it down in the right spot. I am happy that the rollers will work! Yeah! Just roll it into place! Whew!

Well until I figure out that the rollers just wudge up the plastic mat into a thick plastic wave of doom. To remedy this I need to tip the beast back onto my self while I bend over enough to grab the plastic and keep it taut with one hand while I walk and balance the beast into place. Yes, this creates a beautiful visual; although I do feel like Mr. Incredible after I am done.

I get it where it needs to be and plug it in. The phone rings. It's my daughter in law who wants to know what I am doing (Is she watching through the windows?). "Just cleaning today" "You want an excuse to stop?" I knew I loved this girl the minute I laid eyes on her. We go to Target. Frankly, if she wanted me to go anywhere it would have been a great idea at that point!

*My two nephews (twins) went through the temple for the first time last night prior to leaving for their respective missions (one to the "South side of Chicago, to the baddest part of town..." Well perhaps not, but South Chicago, Spanish. and the other to Germany/Austria). That was great. A beautiful night to be there with family and friends and to fill up the temple with people we love and respect. These two young men are awesome.

*Our #3 is moving today. This is the third move this year. For some reason my daughters like moving. Not really, they just have a habit of doing it a lot. I am glad for this move. She has her first 'off the desert' job with a "nice" dentist and a fabulous apartment in a great area. Plus she gets to live alone for the first time. If she gets a roommate, she'll be the land lord. She gets to make the decisions, it will be her "house". I am happy for her. Being the alpha roommate has perks the lesser roommate does not. Furniture, temperature level, closet space, etc. She has paid her dues, it's her turn now! I would (most seriously) love to live in that building where she lives, it's a great place all around. Almost perfect SoCAL location for S'mee. She wouldn't be so happy to have us there, but when or if she moves out...hmmm, maybe I can talk Thor into that!

The big bonus is this building has an elevator! Thor and the brothers are thrilled to hear this. Her last move (well and the one today moving out) had those really cool exterior stairs that have about 6 steps, a landing, a turn, and then another 6 steps and a landing. For one level you had to turn three times. She lives 6 landings up. (plus there are five stairs down to the common area, then across the grounds and another five stairs up to the parking lot. These people are stair freaks) Not fun for the movers. Thor asked if he could just throw the stuff out the bedroom window and replace what was broke after the fall with new stuff. If you know Thor at all, this is a clear indication of just how horrid the stairs are. He is giddy about an elevator.

*It's only 10:00 a.m., but all I can think of is some B&R's chocolate chip ice cream. I think I'll call my daughter in law and see what she's doing for lunch.

meme!

My nephew Adan has tagged me! Thanks Adan!

I've Been Tagged....

1. List 3 Joys:
1. Thor
2. Mogli, Koufax (formerly Rafiki, but the kid can throw!), L'il Bit, and Sparky!
3. #s 1-5 and their spouses!

Non-People joys:
1. the beach
2. chocolate and/or fresh flowers
3. being with Thor on a trip

2. List 3 Fears:
1. vermin/creepy insects of all kinds
2. drops/falling/turbulence at 20,000 feet/heights/ledges/cliffs/rickety staircases/you get the idea
3. sleeping alone

3. List 3 Goals:
1. painting furniture as a serious business
2. write a children's (beginning reader or toddler) book
3. have a working garden and beautiful yard

4. List 3 Current Obsessions:
1. chocolate
2. home security and self reliance
3. being happy

5. List 3 Surprising/Random Facts about myself:
1. I love the beach, but I'm afraid to go on a cruise.
2. I love shoes, but I only wear 2 pair over and over.
3. Unless I'm having a hot flash, I'm cold...even in the summertime.

I'm the last in my circle, so hey, if you'd like to join the party please let me know and we'll all go and check your blog too!

Me and Dory

I remember being a (very) young bride; and life, it seemed, would never get around to happening for me. I felt then, and still do at times, that I had lived through a tumultuous childhood fraught with many trials that not one of my peers had. I was a bottom feeder, and I felt as though I would never see the top of the tank. Still, there was sibling love, remembrances of giggles and good times, and hope.

I was 18 and my new husband was a very old and wise 19. We moved into a small apartment in a bad neighborhood and thrived on the extra $12.00 a week we had after we paid all our bills. We kind of threw ourselves into the deep end and learned to swim with the currents. Tuna was 52cents a can then. I would measure the economy by that can of tuna for years. Anyone wanting to know our fiduciary skills could monitor it easily by checking out the counter in the kitchen. It would be 20+ years before we would splurge on paper towels.

Prior to our marriage Thor and I had long discussions on children, how many, how soon, how to rear, where to rear them, what kinds of discipline, even if they would share rooms or get a car at 16 if we had money enough. We made goals for home, education, work, and missions before we ever "walked down the aisle." One of those goals was to retire by age 40. We did the math and decided that we could do it.

Well, time goes by and the storms came and went. But you know, even with several years of absolutely no work (hello 80's recession) we were still 'vested' and eligible for retirement at age 42. Wisdom somehow comes with age (at least one hopes), and with that we changed gears and decided that in this new economy, tuna @ $3.49, we probably should continue working and bank more hours into the pension fund. "...just keep swimming!"

In a way it has proven to be a greater blessing than I had anticipated. In these later years Thor's job remained in the same field, but his duties and responsibilities changed. He was now working behind a desk, and often behind the wheel or in the air. He has been sent all over the US and Canada to learn and provide a better way of life for those in his company. He has had opportunities and experiences we never dreamed of. I have also.

As a little girl I could never have hoped for the blessings I have been given. For the trips with Thor to Alaska or Hawaii, to Washington and Washington D.C., to Las Vegas (which I am never really fond of, but I do enjoy being with Thor) and Monterey. Heck, up until 8 or so years ago I had never even considered getting on a plane!

I have met all different people and seen many different cities. I head for the 'sights' while Thor is stuck in a basement. At night we drive to see what the non-tourists do and where they live. I am always able to find interesting places and new things, even if I have been there before.

Tomorrow we head out again to Las Vegas. I will visit with some family and do a lot of room staying! I can catch up on some much needed reading and do a bit of photo shooting. I'll be sure to post the days finds.

I'm not really sure what this post is about other than the idea of sometimes life throws you into the deep end, you get chased by sharks, you ride the swells and surf the waves. As a child I learned so much more because of the 'breakers'. As an adult the 'waves' have also taught me, but they have also been terrific fun.

I have made it to the top of the tank many times during my life. For the most part I live among the kelp, in the middle, a little above and a little below. I just keep swimming.

In the end, looking back, my curvy little knot in the string, my swim in life's ocean, has been very blessed. I am pretty blessed.

Yo! Yur Up!

I was tagged by my friend, Yolanda

10 years ago: I was working as an Interpretor in a k-12 program, a counselor in the Stake Primary, and doing side line art work.

5 things on my to-do list today:
1. Finish Stake RS business in preparations for this Sunday's Ward Conference. Write "thank you" notes. Organize my RS briefcase for the weekend.
2. Download photos of the new baby so that I can put a few good ones in a handy-dandy new purse photo holder.
3. Make CrockPot brownies for a Ward Relief Society dinner tonight.
4. Begin to reorganize the art studio in anticipation of getting some (read ANY!) project DONE! : >
5. Make a good dinner for Thor to come home to, slow roasted Bar-B-Que pulled pork.

I enjoy:
My husband, the kids and grandkids, the beach, chocolate, art, museums, music, live theatre, singing, laughing, the smell of a fire in the fire place, hot showers, high thread count sheets, kittens, friends, and I guess I could keep this list going....

What would I do if I were suddenly made a billionaire:
Sad, but a billion ain't what it used to be. So, I would buy each of the kids 25 acres of good land and build them a reasonable "green" house that is self reliant and off the grid. College and Mission funds for the kids and grandkids. Depending on what money would be left after that, Humanitarian Aide, Perpetual Education, and Heifer International could always use my help. (and on a very selfish note, yes, I would build a nice pool and hot tub/spa.)

3 of my bad habits:
1. Eating too much, moving too little.
2. Complaining.
3. Not keeping in touch with people I should.

5 places I have lived:
1. San Diego, CA
2. Hemet, CA
3. Carlsbad, CA
4. Rialto, CA (hahahahahahah! "in the ghetto!")
5. Oceanside, CA

5 jobs that I have had:
1. Bridal/Event Designer
2. Visual Display/Window Designer
3. Cake Decorator/Food Presentation for Events/Bridal
4. Interpreter/Instructional Aide/Mainstream Interpreter/County Liaison for the H/H & Deaf
5. Interior/Faux Artist for Private Clients/Model Homes/Commercial

5 Things people don't know about me:
1. I have small feet.
2. I have a very low tolerance for being patronized.
3. I count things when I am socially uncomfortable and then try to find common multipliers; which is really odd seeing how much I hate math.
4. When I was a little, a neighbor girl got mad at me because my mom had called us home, and I began to leave. To stop me from going, she picked up an old board from the field where we were all playing and hit me in the back with it. It had a nail in it and she literally nailed me in the back. They had to surgically remove the board and nail from against my spine. I still have a tiny scar and if I touch that spot it still hurts quite sharply.
5. I really enjoy making Tamari Balls (photo above of my first three), which again, is weird because I hate math, but feel a lot of "attagirl!" points when I get it just right.

I am tagging newbies to the blogging world in hopes that you will all go give them some bloggy love and support. Derek and Lauryn are family, the rest good friends.
Derek and Lauryn

Beautiful from Split Ends

Carol from Day2Day

Red from My Two Cents

Ah, my favourite colour! How nice!

Mustang Sally has this on her blog, it seemed pretty accurate, although harshly worded for her; so I thought I'd try it out myself. My comments about my analysis is in green, of course.

You Are a Green Crayon

Your world is colored in harmonious, peaceful, natural colors. True, my house is various shades of green, chocolate, and wood tones. While some may associate green with money, you are one of the least materialistic people around. Again, true. Money means nothing to me. It's nice, I use it, but it certainly doesn't impress me. Comfort is important to you. Yup. You like to feel as relaxed as possible Certainly! - and you try to make others feel at ease. Yes indeedy! You're very happy with who you are, and it certainly shows! Why, thank you. Your color wheel opposite is red. I actually accent with reds! Every time you feel grounded, a red person does their best to shake you. Not sure who those reds are, but I do get shaken from time to time by folks!

What Color Crayon Are You?

and I thought I would be a dork...

Well here you go folks, scientific proof of what my sisters have been saying all along:

Your Score: Pure Nerd

60 % Nerd, 30% Geek, 30% Dork

(For those curious...I now look a lot like this guy...if he let his hair grow out about two inches...yikes! And yeah, I read Mandarin Chinese newspapers every single day!)
For The Record:
A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.

You scored better than half in Nerd, earning you the title of: Pure Nerd.

The times, they are a-changing. It used to be that being exceptionally smart led to being unpopular, which would ultimately lead to picking up all of the traits and tendencies associated with the "dork." No-longer. Being smart isn't as socially crippling as it once was, and even more so as you get older: eventually being a Pure Nerd will likely be replaced with the following label: Purely Successful.

Congratulations!
Thanks Again! -- THE NERD? GEEK? OR DORK? TEST

And while we're at this, since when has 60+30+30 =100? Doesn't that mean that in reality if I were all those numbers I would be 120% of the normal person? I am bad with math, always have been, but this seems wrong. Although the scale in my bathroom seems to agree that I am 120% person. sheesh.

not that I expect an answer....

But what the heck is going on with the ol' gal-mones???

A few years back I got the ol' girl parts yanked, and life began to be good again, I highly recommend it to anyone! Yes, even guys, it was THAT GREAT!

So the dr. was all like, "Well now you will either go on HRT or be thrust into mental pause.", to which I said, "BRING IT ON!"
It was like...

Saturday: Get girl parts yanked. check!

Sunday: Sleep like the dead. check!

Monday: keep sleepin' girl, ya just got yer girl parts yanked. check!

Tuesday: Feel like you are twenty, with a bad case of the saggies, but hey, you feel like you're twenty who cares what you look like. check!

Friday: Maybe you should take your magic pills and see what they're all about. check!

Saturday: Find a brain surgeon to put your skull back together because the pain induced from the HRT s are freaking giving you the head ache of all freaking time and you are now allowed to kill any one or anything in your path. check!

Sunday: stay in a dark room with a bag of frozen peas on your head and pray to Rudy the pain stops. check!

Monday: Praise any and all Deities for allowing the dr. to be at her desk when you call and ask "What the heck is up with the happy pills? These things are killing me?" When she replies "You can decrease the amount until the headaches go away." You can do an interpretive dance expressing your joy. check!

Fast forward a week or so. We have decided that the best HRT is a dead HRT and they are banned from entering the property line, never to be seen again.

Now it is about 18 month or so past that time and once again I am getting the familiar ax in the eyeball headaches. Sweet Mother of Pearl what the HECK?

I have heard this whole mental pause thing is supposed to last about 3-5 years. Can anyone, for the love of PETE tell me an E.T.A. on these headaches ending?

"10 things I splurge on, 10 things I save on" meme

Mustang Sally! tagged me with this meme about a week ago... her answers were great, but I have to admit this was a hard one for me to answer! I think it would have been better if I had Thor answer for me, I am sure he could have the answers in a snap! But here I go....

The splurging, probably more than I care to admit. But I do splurge on:

Fresh food and certain brands. I am a food snob as it were. I grew up on bland English fare and a lot of canned and boxed items in everyday meals. When I got married things changed in a big way!

Fresh flowers. I enjoy fresh flowers weekly. I purchase them at Costco or the Farmer's Market here in town, so I feel like I am saving on them... so maybe this is a toss up.

Chocolate. I love me some good stuff here as well. I can't handle the kinds of chocolate that has a gritty texture, a mouth feel of actual sugar, or rock hard. I want creamy goodness. I prefer Swiss and Belgian, Godiva or See's in the States.

At this point I am stumped. I asked Thor for his opinion and he said "Chocolate, and you get upset if we don't have hubcaps, but regular hubcaps are o.k." I said, "Oh, what about shoes? Now that I am old I like good shoes." He replied: "You don't have nice shoes. You really don't splurge on anything. How many shoes do you have? Three pair of ugly shoes. You don't splurge."

I love Thor.

What do I save on?

Clothes. I have a few certain brands I like. I wait for sales. I never pay retail. I usually wait until a catalog/company/store tells me they are giving me 35% or better off before I purchase. Which explains why I dress the way I do! hah!

Make up. I never wear any.

My hair. I get a trim every once in a while, from a friend who gives me her "family discount", then begs me to let her dye it and all kinds of other stuff I never do.

Drapes, table linens, duvet covers, that kind of thing I usually just make myself. Furniture. Everything I have has either been pre-owned or bought at a terrific sale. The leather cigar chair and ottoman was originally over $800.00 and I waited, and eventually got it for less than $300.00. Same for the new dining table. It was like buying the chairs and getting the table for free. I did barter for the desk, entertainment unit and amoire, have grampa's dressers and side tables, and bargain hunted for the sofa, love seat and tuxedo chair. I decided a few years ago that if I didn't paint it or shoot it, it shouldn't be on my walls, so all wall decor is hand made my me or the family.

Utilities. We have a very low maintenance yard (front and back) and we try to conserve on all the utilities year round.

o.k. Now I am curious about:

Cooper

Lisa

Bri

Sarah

Yolanda

Melissa

the Penders
and...
the Jensens

Tag people..you're it!

Idiot Box Meme

I've been tagged by Lolly! Who asks the following:

1. What TV show have you seen every episode of?
EVERY episode?? I Love Lucy, The Flintstones, Yes Dear. Andy Griffith, Leave it to Beaver, Ozzie and Harriet. And all of those via re-runs. Oh, and "Life with the Kumbai" as it aired. Totally dug it.

2. What show makes you laugh until you cry? certain episodes of Seinfeld, the cartoons listed below (I am hearing "Oatmeal Oatmeal..." being sung in my head as I type) although I am not sure I "cried."

3. What show do you wish had not been canceled?
The Muppet Show (I had forgotten about this, but I totally agree with Lolly) Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, Freakazoid. All terrific kid type shows that made me laugh along with the offspring.

4. What show do you wish WOULD be canceled?
Most adult cartoons. And Ann Coulter. And yes, all of the free world will hate me for this, but all of those C.S.I. type shows. Murder and violence are not entertainment in my book. I don't care that they find the bad guy and use 'state of the art technology!'; constantly showing mutilated, tortured, raped, strangled, or otherwise dead (usually) women, usually in some form of undressed mispositioned bodies, is desensitizing to the soul. The reality of these "detectives" is questionable at best. No detective in her/his right mind would investigate some of those scenes without the use of gloves, masks, eye shields/barriers, and without thousands of dollars of taxpayer money. Not gunna happen. That, and in a tight white tank top with silicone cleavage bulging out, long hair dangling over the corpse? yeah. That is typical of all the cops I know.

5. Who is your favorite TV character, either past or present? Sheriff Andy Taylor, who allowed people to grow while saving face. About as real as a C.S.I. agent I suppose, but a better role model in my opinion. I'm sure there are others, but off the top of my head I'd say Andy.

I would like to tag
Adan

Sally

Kim

Maren

Rynell

and Susan

Ahhrrrrr rated post

My pirate name is:

Captain Ethel Bonney

Even though there's no
legal rank on a pirate
ship,everyone recognizes
you're the one in charge.
You can be a little bit
unpredictable, but a
pirate's life is far
from full of certainties,
so that fits in pretty
well. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

According to Bloody Mary Rackham today is "Talk Like a Pirate" day. Bloody Mary suggests we all get a pirate name or walk the plank, so do as yer told! I'm going back below deck with a jug of rum. Um, I'm the Capt'n, I can do that.

Thanks!

Thanks to Kim Carney from "Something to Say"! She has flattered me much and nominated me for the "Rockin' Girl Blogger" award. I am gushing. If you have yet to be over at Kim's place you need to go. She always has something terrific to peruse. She has the best links and the most delicious photos to look at every day. Lots of flowers, but many other subjects. If you get a chance to wander through her past, check out her Flickr! Sets and her Self-Portraits -you will never see better art work and honesty. She is fabulous and inspirational!

And while I am at it...I need to thank (once again) my sis -Cooper's Chronicles , who makes me look good. If there is any techno stuff that needs to be taken care of, she graciously does it in the middle of the night for me like the Shoe Maker's Elf. I love her. LOVE her. If you need to know anything she can tell you. Seriously. We were yakking the other day about a post we read and she asked a question that neither of us could answer. After a minute she said, "Well, I just google that and learn about it." And she did. A week later she could tell me all about the subject and that she now could practice that particular skill and improve her resume, once again. She never sleeps. She knows literally everything about food. She is just geographically challenged to make it pay for her. (I keep telling her she needs to move to the big city...she would cleeeean up!) A Jack of all trades she's up to any challenge. She can craft almost anything. She's a photographer, a glass fusee( fuser came up as a mispell, lol!), and seamstress in the professional sense of the word, a quilter, a cook, a historian, a maker of jewelry, knows more about history and astronomy than the average person, and don't dare challenge her with music...she has her bases covered there as well. I haven't even scratched the surface. She's a smart one, she is.

And now to make a nomination of my own: I would like to send y'all over to Mustang Sally's. She's definately a "Rockin' Girl Blogger! " I knew her as a little girl, and laughed along with her mom all through Sal's teens. Now she is all grown up with a hubby and three little ones and a sense of humour that just cracks me up. She has a terrific vocabulary and I can hear her voice when I read her words. The thing is, she really talks the way she writes; always has. You gotta love a gal who consistently uses the $10.00 words. (and a few salty ones...shhhh!) If you want to peek back into the times when you were a young mom and remember the joys that come with discovering your kids personalities, read Miss Sally.

O.k. now go on...click some linkage!

The BEST Meme ever...

OH.MY.HECK! I just went over to my sis's blog (Cooper Chronicles) and I laughed out loud to myself so many times I had to consider myself tagged (she told us we could all play).


1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car),
Mai Ling View

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie),
Chocolate Chip Macaroon

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name),
P-Bro

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),
Green Kitten

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born),
Carol Long Beach

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first),
Bro-Pe

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),
The Midnight Blue Phosphate

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),
Sidney George

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy),
Coco Godiva

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ),
Carol Darrell

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),
Schmeling San Diego

12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower).
Autumn Peony

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)Pear Clam-Diggersie

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree),
Granola Oatmeal Star Pine

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”),
The Oil Paint Electric Thunderstorm Tour

Dude. That was fun! C'mon, play...you know you wanna!

I'm quirky.

Mustang Sally asked me to answer the Seven Quirks/Habits etc. meme.
Here are seven quirks or habits about me. I think these are new info??? If you have heard it before, tell me and I will come up with something new.

1. I am not a huge fan of strawberries. I feel guilty eating them because most people are like, "Oh my heck! Look at the strawberries!" and then get all excited at the thought of gorging themselves on the cute little fruit. If I don't care one way or the other about strawberries and someone else does like them that much, they should have them.

2. I carry a full hygiene kit in my car. If you have a personal need I more than likely have a solution for you sitting, nicely organized, in my jockey box. Need a razor? There's one in there. Want tweezers? In there. Floss, pick, or mouthwash? In there. I have potty seat covers and t.p., sanitizing gel and wipes. Girly stuff if you need it. Clippers, both toe and finger. And a file. I have Tylenol, Excedrin, Tums, Zantac and Q-Tips. I have heat wraps and Blistex. Are you bleeding? I have band aides! Lotion, comb, and a sewing kit. There's more, but I digress.

Oh, and I get really crazy if you leave trash in my car. Seriously. It bugs me a lot to have trash all over the car. We're talking even the paper from the straw. If you unwrap your straw in my car take the paper with you when you leave. Thank you. Don't get me started with drinks or bottles that are left in there.

3. I almost always have a toothbrush handy. I find comfort in brushing my teeth. I brush my teeth while driving. I was a creative tooth faery back in the day. Thank you notes, with full descriptions of just how the tooth would be turned into this or that shaped diamond, would be hand written in the tiniest hand, on glittery paper, an left near the tooth pillow. Tiny high heeled foot prints would be (hand painted and glittered) entering and exiting the window nearest the child's bed, and glitter would be everywhere the faery would have flown. The footprints and glitter would fade over a few days...

4. I get kind of creeped out when I see someone with the kind of fake nails you get from a manicurist. The acrylic or porcelain, whatever they are called. I think it because they are so much thicker than a regular nail. When I was in junior high school one of the gals in the group of friends had a habit of fixing her nails with toilet paper and nail polish. If she got a snag or a break she would just break off the tiniest piece of tissue, paint her nail with polish and while still wet add the tissue (over and under the break) and paint over it to repair the break. After a while her nails were seriously thick and fuuuuunky. And they looked just like the "good nails" women get now. Nice on the top, but thick underneath. (seriously, I just got the chills thinking about it.)

5. I fall asleep (usually) very quickly and deep just to wake up twenty minutes (to the minute)later and struggle to fall back asleep and as deep. I dream vividly almost every night and can remember amazing details in my dreams the next day. I have about a dozen or so dreams that have repeated over the years since childhood. I can (at times) manipulate my dreams and make them go the way I want them to.

6. I have a strong dislike for cars without hubcaps. I would rather see a car with primer paint than a car without hubcaps.

7. My purse is about an inch and a half wide and somewhere between the size of an index card and a postcard. It carries everything I need on a daily basis, and then some.

So there you go Sal! I would tag ya'all, but everyone I know who reads this blog probably has already done this. Oh well, I had fun! If you want to have fun to, let me know and we'll spread the word to have everyone over to your place.

Just when you think your life is going well....

O.k. you know how you see yourself sometimes? Yeah. Well, if someone were to ask me to describe myself it would go something like this:

I'm 5'4", over weight, naturally coloured hair with a little bit of grey, great sense of humour, witty, fairly intelligent, creative and spontaneous. Very relaxed style with a perma ponytail and usually no shoes. No make up, no nylons, a Buddhist hippy at heart.

Well, the other night I was at a gathering and one of my favorite couples came into the room with their three (very well behaved and immaculately groomed) little ones. This guy is my vote for next Bishop, although I would never tell him that because it would make his very humble head explode. This is the man who just shows up with a big freakin' grin on his face and does your yard work. He's is the Elder's Quorum President, a calling he was born to fill. This is a guy who lives to help people move in.

His wife? Well, she's extremely intelligent without coming off as a smarty pants. She loves Seinfeld and can finish quotes from the series if you ask her to. She has a great sense of humour and is a terrific mom. She would be amazing in any calling. She is confident and willing to help out. Plus she always sports a killer smile.

I love love love this family. They are, frankly, the bomb.

So as they approached me at the party to chat I was more than willing to sit and share some time with them. I talked with the wife for about 20 minutes before her hubby walked over and began with the compliments.

"I LOVE you and Brother Thor! Seriously, you guys are the best!" I began to demurely blush "Oh. go. on!" I giggled humbly. "No really. You know how in every ward there is that really awesome couple everyone loves? That's you guys! That older couple that still gets it! Yeah, like you guys are so cool. Most couples your ages just aren't fun anymore. For old people you guys are so FUN!"

Now I must point out that up until this point, I thought we were about ten years older than these two. It is just occurring to me that -um- evidently not!

The conversation went on and on and on and eventually ended somewhere around "I just hope that when we're your age we can still be as cool as you guys!" Yeah, if only they live that long.

Then last night I decide that I will actually walk into the room with the large shiny boxes and throw some food on top of them and make dinner. If you have any idea of just how hot it is here (in the freaking Mojave Desert) then you will understand just how magnanimous this gesture was. I was sacrificing for the benefit of my loved ones.

Upon serving the meal I did the unthinkable. I asked opinions. Now in all fairness I am not one for vanities, I want to know if it is worth making again or tossing, so I beg for honest opinions. The query went something like this:

"Sooo, how is it?"

(in an upbeat tone) "It's edible." (1st blow)

"It's kind of like that store bought Alfredo sauce that tasted like crap. uhm, I mean it tastes like the jar stuff. O.k. I guess." (there were so many hits in that remark that I am not sure how many counts to give it.)

"We're still eatin' it." (merely a flesh wound)

"There is sauce left, should I make more noodles for left overs?"

In remarkable unison... "NO!" and then laughter.

o.k.

That recipe goes into the trash.

I am feeling really good about my self today. Send chocolate!

Home EC. 101

Welcome Students! Today we will learn all kinds of fun things! In the top photo we see S'mee's pantry. A somewhat organized closet of food stuffs.

See the all the clear containers? Yes, S'mee has an irrational fear of vermin! Vermin of any kind disturb her sleep and so she must make rules. First rule: If it comes home in a bottle, jar, or can it can be placed upon the shelf as is. However, if it comes home in a box, bag, or envelope it must be removed from it's packaging and placed in a clear air tight snap sealed container. Second rule: If packaging or food has been compromised it will go immediately to the trash bin! S'mee refuses to share her food with any non human.

Buying in bulk will result in a reduced price when it comes to most commodities. S'mee put this to the test the other day when a local market decided to place a popular brand cake mix on a terrific sale, almost 3 for 1. Snatching up a load full she headed home. S'mee loves cake!

If you look closely in S'mee's pantry you will see all those clear containers. Noodles, flour, sugar, even Kool-Aid and Jello are repackaged! Oh, but we need to remember that S'mee is also efficient at times, especially when it is mandatory. S'mee has a sister who could write the Home EC Manual, and she has learned a few things along the way. So before S'mee repackages her food into her containers, she weight measures them. This way when it comes time to make the product she knows exactly just how much of this or that goes into the bowl.

"Can't she just use a measuring cup?" you ask. Well, yes, but then S'mee would be taking a chance on how the dish would turn out. You see, the 'matter' of the food can vary from day to day depending on a bunch of different factors, like humidity, for instance. That and sometimes the way one places the product in a cup or spoon will pack the product differently and vary the result. So weighing your product is much more efficient and consistent.

Back to the repacking. Today, as S'mee was getting ready to repack the cake mixes, she recalled something Chronicler had told her a few years back, "The cake mix companies have repackaged their product, reducing the amount of product in each box slightly. Most people won't notice the difference,but their cakes will be a little more flat." S'mee has noticed. (remember, S'mee loves her cake!) So she decided to see if the cakes are still being decreased in weight.

As you can see the from the photos above S'mee got a surprise today. First she opened each of ten boxes of mix, all the same brand, all the same flavour, and labeled the bags. One by one they were placed on a digital scale and the weight recorded. (Only 5 photos are allowed to download per post, so you'll have to imagine the others.) As you can see from the photos, the least amount of cake mix was 4.25 ounces of mix, the heaviest - a full 6 ounces. So, not only are the cake mixes still being reduced in volume, they are inconsistent as far as volume weight.

So class, what have we learned today?

A. Someone down at the cake factory is asleep in quality control.

B. Someone down at the cake factory is asleep in weights and measures.

C. It's not our fault that our cakes are full and moist one week and flat and dry the next.

D. All of the above.

Class dismissed.

Bonus Question for extra credit: WHY? Why is it that Blogger is inconsistent when it comes to S'mee's posts? Why is the spacing correct just now and then? UGH!

the "Beginning" of something good...

O.k. folks, hold onto your desk, this is an actual post! Who knew?

Ya'all know one of my favorite places to view everyday is Miss Karen over at chookooloonks. A few days ago Karen had a fantastic idea: a "Post Card Swap!" Earlier this year she had a brilliant plan to create "The Kind Journal" project, which I excitedly joined in on; so when the postcard swap came along I hopped on board again.

So I signed up at the very last minute, whew!, and received my list of 11 other bloggers to send my cards to. I set to work thinking about what I would do. Remember last Christmas when I did the ornament swap? I thought, "hey, why not try something similar?"

With that ornament swap I began painting canvas again (after years of not painting at all), however because of circumstances I have not painted again. So what a great opportunity! Here's what I came up with. I would take a favorite photo and paint it on twelve canvases.

I took 5x7 inch board canvases, turned them over and used blue painter's tape to bind them together. I needed to support the canvas boards with a piece of foam core board so that they would not sag or flop on the easel. After that it was just a matter of painting.

I used acrylics and tried to paint in a more impressionist style than realist of one of my favorite spots on the North Shore of Oahu.

I'll divide the painting among the twelve in our group and woohoo! we will each have a small individual painting that was once one large one.

I hope for a good reaction from the receivers of the postcards. I also hope for new friendships. I am excited to have 11 new people share creativity with. I also hope that this swap is a new beginning, again, for a talent that has laid dormant for too many years.

I'm a little happy inside just thinking about it!

You wanna be happy too? Why not make a post card of your own and send it out to someone. Make their day! Everyone loves mail. Everyone enjoys art. It's a win win situation! Mail and art...by you!

To view the photos from both the 2006 Ornament Swap and also the 2007 Post Card Swap. click away! Both Flickr! pages also have a good view of some of my favorite photos and other art work.

8 Random Things

Tagged: 8 Random Things About Me
I was tagged by Rynell, who has a very interesting (and for whatever reason -for me) peaceful feeling blog...This and That. I check in on her almost daily, seems like someone I would pick as a friend; and need to get her on my blog roll. ahem.

The Rules-We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.

-Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
-People who are tagged write their own blog post about their eight things and include these rules.
-At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
-Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged and they should read your blog.

1. Although it is my second favorite media form of art, I never paint water colour. I have tried, but I STINK at it and it makes me very depressed that I cannot conquer this. ugh. (I am a tad mad just writing about my inability...)

2. I have a comfort range of 7 degrees. Above or below the magic numbers I freeze or fry.

3. I have an extremely heightened sense of smell. It began during my last pregnancy and has developed over the past 20+ years. I can smell cigarettes being smoked from a car two or three ahead of me in traffic, alcohol in any form being served across a restaurant, and oh my heck don't get me started on perfume, diapers, or "odd" stuff. sheesh.

4. LOVE LOVE LOVE the smell of coffee. Can't stand the taste.

5. I was interrogated by an F.B.I. agent in a church Bishop's office because a woman I visit-taught suspected me (and my companion) of planning to terrorize and then kill her. We sent "Satanic messages" and "poisoned candy treats" and had "taunted and stalked" her with our monthly notes laced with such terrifying phrases as: "We love _____, she's so sweet; we have to leave her this heart shaped treat!" on top of a giant sugar cookie. Yea, we were criminal.

6. I was juror number 12 on a murder case. I was on the jury for the first three days of the preliminary trial stuff and FINALLY let go and replaced by the alternate at the last moment before the trial went to court. (At the very beginning I told the attorneys that I felt the defendant was guilty and that I didn't feel I could act without prejudice. They kept me anyway, until that final day. Oh and btw, after the trial went to the jury for a decision he was found guilty and sentenced to life.)

7. Watching parades make me nervous and embarrassed and very uncomfortable. I try to avoid parades.

8. I have collected an embarrassing amount of (empty) Target Gift Cards just because I like the graphic arts on them.

So there you have it. A few (more) random things about me. Now I am changing the rules. (You can keep the original rules for those you tag later.) All the folks that I am tagging I just recently tagged. (Other people I tag don't do memes, or are otherwise occupied, whatever, that's cool.) The thing is, after a while, these memes are asking for relatively the same stuff. This one is different in that the person gets to make a personal statement.

I tag: Food Chronicler and I want her to give random statements or facts about FOOD.

Bri, how about giving us 8 random hints/tips on better photography?

1st Daughter, inquiring minds want to know 8 random facts that only a law student's wife might know.

Pea, Give us 8 random statements on your life on the road with your once trucker hubby.

Lisa, 8 things that happened at the family reunion that were unexpected.

Mustang Sally, 8 random words that you adore and why.

SERIOUSLY, anyone who wants to do this meme, I would LOVE to tag you. I fear, however, that my readership is silent, lurking, and moot. If you decide to go forth and meme, let me know and we'll add youto the list and send you readers.

tagged

Lolly has tagged me with this new meme! So here we go...more gory details about S'mee:

My roommate and I once: flew to Canada to celebrate...oh wait, I never had a roommate. I got married to Thor the November after I graduated high school, so I guess you could say he was my roommate after that and well heck, we did everything together!!!


Never in my life have I: smoked anything.


High school was : necessary, but not much fun.


When I’m nervous : I get sick and want to (and often actually) "ralph", "toss my cookies", "recycle", you get the idea.


My hair : Is never too short to put in a ponytail, which is my "signature style" lol. It's a very pretty shade of very dark brown, auburn highlights in the bright sun, and more and more gray, which is fine by me. It used to be so straight it wouldn't hold a perm, now the grey is coming in kind of frizzy...weird.


When I was 5 : I took one of my best school pictures. Missing teeth and my hair completely messed up, but the cutest little smile...and my favorite necklace at the time.


When I turn my head left : I see my grampa's ukulele.


I should be : tall and thin with cocoa brown skin and a voice like katie lang, but alas, no.


By this time next year : I will have my art room again and hopefully filled with completed paintings, painted furniture pieces, and new sewing projects.


My favorite aunt is : actually Thor's Aunt Marlene who recently passed away. She was totally upbeat, smart, a hard worker, motivated, ambitious, positive, and completely hilarious...(because all my parents are only children. No aunts, uncles, or cousins.)


I have a hard time understanding : Blanket prejudice. And math. And how come English words are spelled like they are. And "reality" t.v.


You know I like you if : I take you with me when I want to have fun.


My ideal breakfast is : served overlooking a beach. If you can't manage that, how about warm fresh beignets with cold vanilla bean cream sauce and chocolate hazelnut dip? Add a few apple sausage links, some fresh fruit (orange, banana, cantaloupe, berries -no strawberries please), and a cup of real hot chocolate and I'll be in heaven.


If you visit my home town : bring your sandals and some sunscreen. If you come to where I live now, bring a fan and a good sense of humour.


If you spend the night at my house : you will probably dance, eat, talk too much, laugh and stay up too late, then sleep on the couch.


My favorite blonde is : 9N Coastal Dune, Natural Instincts, Clarol


My favorite brunette is : 28B Roasted Chestnut, Dark Warm Brown, Natural Instincts, Clarol


The animal I would like to see flying besides birds : I really can't imagine any other animal I want flying over my head and perhaps doing all that birds doo up there. yikes.


I shouldn't have been : so insecure when I was younger.


Last night I: worked on things for a friend's baby shower; gnomes, faery tale games, etc.


A better name for me would be : contradiction


I’ve been told I look like : Valerie Bertinelli, by a blind man who loves me. In my very young days one could s-t-r-e-t-c-h their imagination and see that, perhaps, but now? Not so much.


If I could have any car, it would be: one with insurance, maintenance, and fuel paid for already. I think I'd like one approved by Ed Begley.

o.k. that was fun. I'd like to tagged the usual suspects, you know who you are, let me know if you participate!

snorkle, snorkle, snorkle