#2isms

As the sacrament was being passed today, I leaned over to #2 and asked him the same questions I ask him every week during the sacrament,

"Who should we think about when we take the sacrament?"

"Jesus"

"Why should we think about Jesus?"

"Because he died."

But today after I asked him, "What happened to Jesus after he died?" instead of his trained answer, he said,

"He killed all the bad guys."





Earlier this week, shortly after #1 had left for school, the house seemed quiet. Too quiet.

"#2?!?," I called.

No answer.

"# 2oooooo?!?!"

Silence.

I start opening doors and soon find #1's bedroom door locked and hear small noises inside. I reach for the key hiding on the door jamb and let myself in. No one in sight. But there are suspicious noises coming from behind the closet door.

Then I hear, "Don't look in the closet."

Of course I open the closet. And find #2 siting on the floor surrounded by 6 naked Barbies.

"#2! What are you doing!?!"

"I like dees girls make-ed mom."

perspective

Since I hosted book club in July it became my responsibility to choose the book we will read for our next meeting. After some deliberation I decided on one of my favorites, Angle of Repose, by my favorite author, Wallace Stegner. Angle was the first W.S. book I read and because of it I've subsequently read every piece of fiction and nearly all non-fiction that's he's published. I'll spare you all the love-fest I could write explaining why W.S. is the best and my fave. You can imagine my hesitancy of putting something so dear to me out on the chopping block for the diverse minds of my book club to potentially hate.

But I did and I nervously waited to hear how the ladies were enjoying/hating it.

The first response came from an open minded friend, "So I was a little surprised at the lesbian relationship. How long does that go on?"

My heart skipped a beat. Shocked, confused and mortified, I had no response to give her. I couldn't answer because I honestly didn't know what she was referring to.

It had been 8 years since I last read Angle of Repose.

I've now re-read Angle and sure enough, there is a female to female "marriage of like minds."
It is never imporprietous or physical but the relationship is certainly (at least for the first part of the book) beyond the bounds of platonic friendship.

It is curious to me that something that is blatant and obvious to me now was completely beyond my perception only 8 years ago. Interestingly, eight years ago I had a shiny new diploma declaring me capable of analyzing literature and yet it is now when my mind has softened after years of sparse use that I'm able to see something so clear. Hmmm.

The only explanation I can deduce is my change in perspective. My life is much changed. My body, my opinions, my goals, my spirit, my expectations...... all changed. I guess it's only natural that I can read the same book and after eight years see different things in it.

Since this episode I've been noticing in many things how my perspective has changed. For instance:

Several years ago when Spouse accepted his job offer there was a certain stipulation that if met would immediately earn him a $1,000 salary increase. At the time it $1,000 seemed an almost comic amount to raise a salary. But now after two pay cuts, $1,000 would mean a lot to us.

or

Most of my life I've been afraid of guns and felt strongly in their lack of necessity for humans. There was not a scenario you could paint for me that I would have conceded that a gun was a good thing. To me they represented hate, anger and tools of the devil. But I now I live somewhere unsafe. Many scary things have happened in my neighborhood. I have children. And now a 9mm.

These are just little things, incidental changes. But when you put these together with the major changes it make my head spin a little to think how my internal landscape has morphed. And yet, when I see people from past times, they still seem to recognize and know me.

I'm digging deep today. I would love to hear how some of your perspectives have changed.

All about me

This week we attended #1's back to school night to meet her teacher and see her new classroom. She was given a poster with "All About Me" written across the top which she is supposed to complete and return with on the first day of school (Monday).

All about #1
I am 6 years old.
My favorite color is golden.
My favorite animal is ducks.
My favorite food is poppy seed chicken.
Pump it Up is my favorite place.
When I grow up I want to be a teacher.
My favorite thing to do is jump.
If I had one wish I would wish for 1,000 cakes.


Here we are at Pump it Up:


Now let's all join in! I'll start:
I am 29 years old.
My favorite color is sky blue.
My favorite animal is a newborn lamb.
My favorite food is bread or fresh raspberries.
Hawaii is my favorite place.
When I grow up I want to be a chef and a publisher and a gardener and have a housekeeper.
My favorite thing to is read. without interruptions.
If I had one wish I would wish for this recession to end.

See how fun? Your turn......

"Lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

...those days of hot dogs and pretzels and beer."

Well, no beer here. But lots of Diet Coke. While I was AWOL in Utah for a month Spouse managed to entirely deplete my years supply of soda. It was A LOT of soda. Unfortunately not one can was deposited into my savings account, also known as my aluminum can recycling box. So the earth is about 10 lbs heavier and my wallet is $5.75 poorer. Resupplying the availability of diet coke to our household was a top priority last week. But sadly, my beloved beverage cans are currently overpriced so I was reduced to purchasing 2 liter bottles which did happen to be on a great sale. I hate 2 liter bottles for many reasons.

1) From the moment they are opened the carbonation begins to melt. So unless the entire bottle is consumed within 12 hours, the last few servings are not worth consuming.

2)Portion control is very difficult with 2 liters bottles. If I'm not careful I could drink an entire bottle in one day, which does solve problem #1 but is not good for my usual strict control over intake.

3) I don't get paid to recycle the bottles.

4) 2 liter bottles are not portable, which tempts me to go to Sonic for their $0.99 summer special and it is already hard enough to deny myself the luxury of having my brown bubbly over their spectacular crushed ice.

---------------

While in UT my mother in law introduced me to the devilish addiction of Sudoku. Spouse and I have shared many childish laughs over the mispronunciation and misuse of the word 'sudoku'. Take, for instance, the French sounding mispronunciation, (said with a frenchy frown and half snarl on your lips; hands imitating french gestures), "Eaugh! Sa-duh-kew." Or the Asain interpretation in which you simulate a karate kid posture, squint your eyes and as you come down with the chop, explicate, "Ahhh! SahoDahoKu!"

However you say it, it means the same thing: wicked temptress of time. After I've solved a few puzzles and I force myself to put down the ipod, I usually lay in bed still hyped up on numbers and counting. I know it's bad because when my mind wanders during family prayer it usually ends up imagining possible solutions and going over previous mistakes.


So, yes. I'm enjoying my lazy, mind-mellowing days of summer. Thank you for asking.


ps the first commenter that can name the source of my title wins something. a gold star. no, something bigger. a song dedication on the radio. do they still do that? or how about something meaningful like positive energy sent your way.

Home

Wow. It's been a month since I abandoned this blog for the welcoming cool, green arms of northern Utah. Four weeks of family, cool nights, no cooking and no cleaning. I won't bore you (or cause envy to stir in your hearts) with all the familial details. However, to satisfy your curiosity I'll briefly highlight some of the pleasantest moments:

Brother Brig's wedding

Bear Lake with In-Laws

that is the Little Rat (#3) in the middle, laying out with her cute teenage cousins

Little Rat honing her gaming skills

an evening swing in Provo for #3, Nana and cousin J

picnicing in Green Canyon

Brother Miguel at the historical farm

#1 posing with the buffalo - oh, I miss those mountains!

old fashioned tea party at the historical farm

trying out the new swing at Grandpa's cabin

See. Just a few pictures. That wasn't so bad, was it?


And now if you'll allow me a few moments to reflect upon the joys of returning to the desert.

1) 105 degrees at 11:00 pm Sunday night when we pulled into the valley of the sun.

2) finding and catching a baby lizard IN OUR HOUSE!!!!!!

3) our lawn is dead.

4) free hot water (take that, suckas!)

5) eating asphalt as a result of running before the sun comes up (103 at 4:30 am)

Oh, so many joys. Too many to count.

Cha cha cha changes

first day

I just sent #1 out the door to her last day of Kindergarten and I can't help but feel heavy with emotion. She has had a great year, full of success and accomplishment. She has grown and blossomed. I'm proud of her but I can't help but feel the significance of this passage of time.

A year ago I dreaded the change that school would make on our family and I wept at night thinking of my little one away from me for many hours of her day. I accept change and growth but I can't deny that I suffer in transitions.

Today I look back a little wiser but still feel for that person I was a year ago. Then I look at #1 and marvel at the metamorphosis that has begun.

Look with me:

A year ago she snuggled and displayed affection without reserve. Now her love comes in the form of well written notes and an occasional kiss or hug given without my begging.

A year ago she drank from sippy cups, needed help opening her applesauce or juice boxes, played with ponies and slept with her ducky. Today she independently serves her own food, plays school and still sleeps with her ducky.

A year ago she would sing and dance around the room uninhibitedly. Now I only hear her singing behind the closed door of her bedroom. If she is ever caught she immediately turns silly and would be SO embarrassed if I said anything about her singing.

A year ago I was the law and The source of all correct information. Now #1 challenges my information with what she hears in school or reads in books.



I am not lamenting these changes or wishing for old times. I'm just taking a moment to remember the chubby, furry caterpillar that my spectacular butterfly used to be.

Last week - sorry for the toilet shot

preschool prom

Usually I don't let my kids date until they're at least 7 or 8 but I had to make an exception for #2 who was asked to preschool prom by this sweet lass.



#2 is pure jock, typically uninterested in girlie things (unless you count what is underneath the mannequin's dress) so it was surprising that he allowed himself to be cuddled and then persuaded to dance the morning away in his sister's bedroom.



When his date's mother came to pick her up I told the mother how her daughter had declared #2 to be her boyfriend! Later, I found out from a reputable source that this girl's heart is inconstant - apparently she has a lot of 'boyfriends.'

And I thought I'd be spared this drama for at least another 3-4 years.





In full disclosure #2's heart has strayed as well. When I asked him who he was going to marry (completely confident he was going to say ME) he answered, Miss. F-----, #1's Kindergarten teacher. That same day I found him stroking a scantily clad chest in a Guess perfume magazine ad. Shocked, I asked him what he was doing and he only mumbled in a hypnotic voice, "oooooh. Miss F-----."