ABC's of Today

A- Attached or Single- They say that you have an actual, physical cord linking you and every person you are emotionally involved with- past, or present. That's a lot of strings. I'm very much attached.

B- Best Friend? My husband. And I am blessed to have a few bosom buddies, kindred spirits- that I am proud to share my cord with (that sounds odd)...continuing to share the nourishment of life and loss with.

C- Cake or Pie? Cake. Any kind of cake. No wait, brownies. No wait, apple crisp. No wait, every baked good imagineable. There. That sounds more like the truth.

D- Day of Choice? Lundi, Mardi, Mercredi, Jeudi, Vendredi, Samedi, Dimanche.

E- Essential Item? Chapstick. Lotion (yes, Slish- sometimes living out here in desert country I swear my skin is going to flake right off my bones- lovely image, but nonetheless true. I miss humidity!) Fresh air. Homecooked food. Cold water. Chocolate soy milk. My earmuffs that go on backwards so that it doesn't flatten your hair. My snow shovel (it's like my third arm. Have used it every single day for 2 weeks straight. Like ten tons of snow. No joke). My dogs.

F- Favorite Color? Sunburnt coral orange (at the moment). Seems to warm my bones.

G- Gummy Bears or Worms? Yech. Neither. I hate candy. Put candy on my hate list.

H- Hometown? Foxboro, Massachusetts. And upstate New York. I have dual citizenship.

F- Favorite Indulgence? Going out to eat at a goooood restaurant. Buying prime meats to cook fabulous dinners with. Taking a long bath. Getting my hair dyed and done. Shopping for the house (and then buying clothes at the same time). Honestly? I LOVE going through my 3 closets (yes I've taken over every closet in the house- but that includes shoes, coats, seasonal things etc) and cleaning house! This weekend I filled up 4 big garbage bags of clothes, shoes, accessories, bags, and scarves to drop off at the DI. I love purging my closets! It makes me feel huge relief and gratitude that someone else can wear these (still) nice looking clothes at a fraction of the cost!

J- January or July? Both. I wish we could trade days, on and off- today January, tomorrow July, today January....

K- Kids? I'm scared to. And so excited I pee my pants.

L- Life isn't complete without? A clean car. =O)

M- Marriage date? October 9th, 2004

N- Number of brothers and sisters? 1 sister: Katrina the Hurricane 1 brother: Jacob the Ukelale Maniac

O- Oranges or Apples? 1 of each every day

P- Political Leanings? A little of each. Then I close my eyes and point. =O)

Q- Quote? (which hits home closer than anything right now) "In times of stress we revert back to that which we've experienced, rather than that which we know to be true."

R- Reason to smile? It's sunny out today. (It's been snow storms for the last few weeks straight). My two little chocolate ladies, always so very happy to see me at the beginning and end of each day. My husband has taken to writing me letters. I love them.

S- Season of choice? The fall. Always has been, always will be.

T- Today's lunch? Water. Del Taco's fish taco. An apple. 4 french fries. Yummy.

U- Unknown fact about me? I imagine my life underwater. (So much less ambient noise!)

V- Vegetable? Avocado. Sweet Potato. English Cucumber. Collard Greens (had them last night! Homemade!)

W- Worst Habit? Trying to control too much and too many

X-ray or Ultrasound? And MRI, and EKG, and needles stuck through flesh (whatever that's called!) Yes. I have been a human pin cushion.

Y- Your favorite food? My mom's meatloaf. Any kind of pasta. Summer sweet corn on the cob. Fruit salads. Mushrooms. Meat. Food. Me want food. ALL food me love.

Z- Zodiac Sign? Capricorn. I am da goat.

My Eternal Birthday

Brent turned 31 on December 27th, but since he already passed the 30 mark- we'll talk about me. =O) My nephew Thatcher is on my lap, and the plume of smoke surrounding us is not, surprisingly, from the broiled (yes broiled) first failed lemon cake for me (which my sweet mother-in-law accidentally blackened)- but of the 29 candles (and they're all there, seems like an awful lot!) I've just tried to blow out on one breath.

January 6th I turned 29, and at 29 will I forever remain. It is with a sense of soft foreboding and gratitude that I turn the clock one more year. My last year in my twenties, and I look back with occasional guffaws, memories that still shock me and drop my jaw, and others that still make me flinch. However, the most overwhelming emotion is a sense of accomplishment: I made it through my twenties! I started them off an absolute mess, but came to get to know myself through spirituality, life-long friends, new relationships with my family and parents, adventures and experiences both joyful and heartbreaking, mistakes, triumphs, and one miraculous wedding. I am proud of myself, I am proud of the person I have become and the even better self that stands ever in front of me, urging me forward. I am a walking miracle, and I am grateful for all those, both here and above, who have guided me, forgiven me, thanked me, and challenged me. The year ahead of me looms large and promise-filled, and I am nothing but excited to live out my 29th year in both sorrow and pizzaz. I love my life, I love myself, and with that, folks...

Happy Birthday to us all.

Temple Square and Christmas 2007

For whatever reason, we all had cameras and we took hardly any pictures! But in lieu of those who are complaining that I need to update, I pass on these measly but adorable few (courtesy of Gabrielle Valynne. Thanks, beautiful). My family flew in on Saturday, December 22nd and we spent a whopping 3.7 minutes walking through Temple Square in Salt Lake City. It was bitter, bitter cold and we didn't last long. It was beautiful though- the lights this year were a firey orange. Brilliant against the sky. Middle picture Gabrielle (my little sister in law) Katrina (my sister), moi, and my niece Ella.

Christmas was a quiet affair, spent the morning with my family, and the afternoon with Brent's. It's always interesting to see the differences in Christmas traditions between families. My house was full of great food, 3 dogs, and (finally!) a couch big enough to fit us all.

The week flew by with TONS of snow and the ironic twist that always seemed to catch us driving in it. We couldn't even make it up to Logan one day to take my sister home, I was fish tailing all over the place. However, despite the weather we filled up our time with going to shops, movies, museums, and one long morning at the hospital. (For that story, you'll have to call me. Too long and exhausting to write about, but all is well nonetheless). Always too soon, my family left back for the east coast and my home is quiet once again. Ah, I miss them. Merry Christmas, all my loved ones.