from the mixed-up files of a middle-aged mind

This past year... ...I did two brave things: One, I applied for a supervisor position at my work (going back to work was the biggest and only brave thing I did the year before). I got it. Consequently, I have learned a few good lessons and now my resume looks a lot better than it did the year before. Two, I sang. I like to sing, But usually not in anything smaller than a full choir and never in front of the actual composer. I was sort of tricked into that part, but by the time I realized it I had already committed myself, so I did it anyway. And as that particular composer was there to talk about being brave and discovering, developing and sharing talents I felt much better about being in her audience having said "OK" rather than having said "No way!" The good thing about that experience is it made me consider the possibility of being brave. Also in 2006*, I did not spend enough time at my favorite long-time hobby, quilting. But I did find a new hobby, blogging. Wh...

and even better than a DVD player for keeping the peace on the road to Grandma's house I'd like to thank Key Bank for their free iPod promo. And iTunes for making it easier than ever to come up with some great playlists. Something for everyone. What more could a girl want? Oh yeah. This. Just affordable enough to purchase with a handful of gift cards. Thanks Santa!

...(thanks lianne .) According to the rules…Each player of this game starts with the ‘6 weird things about you.' People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Six weird things about me (...and glo said it first, but I terribly wanted to play off of a line from "Emma" and mention the difficulty in limiting myself just to six) 1. I used to eat pizza backwards. Mostly because I liked the chewy-gooey-cheesy part at the end and I ALWAYS save the best for last. 2. I was born with dimples on my shoulders. My mom used to pull my sleeves down to show people--maybe even complete strangers--when I was little. I still have the dimples, but thankfully she doesn't do that anymore. 3. I can negotiate a round-about successfully. Apparently being able to do so in Utah makes me weird. 4. I finally fulfilled one of my life-long dreams. I have been o...

Me, that's who! I asked for it. But never for a moment did I think I would get it. I've already been given the moon this year--a trip to Finland. my very own barbara k toolset, a digital camera... But my sweet husband somehow managed to pull off the impossible. My very own new-to-me laptop. Complete with wireless Internet. No more kicking off the kids from the family computer. No more turning the screen of our iMac to the corner of the room and fussing over people looking over my shoulder as they wait impatiently to resume their latest IMing. Now I am sprawled on the sofa--a la Med Ryan--snuggled under a cozy warm quilt and typing to my heart's content. This is utter and complete blog heaven. Somehow, I must have managed to have been very nice this past year...

It's almost two a.m. On the average Christmas Eve (now evolved into morn) I've barely been in bed for half an hour, but I've already looked at the clock at least three times. Wild with anticipation, not for what might lie under the tree for me, but for the joy I hope to see on the faces of my children. In a few short hours I will hop out of bed. Probably on the pretext of needing to visit the restroom or to fetch a drink of water. And my slippered feet will deliberately pound the wood floors--that just happen to be right over the boys' bedroom--just a little too loudly. I might shut the cupboard door a bit too forcefully. Knowing full well if I can accidentally wake up at least one or two, the excitement will spread through the house. Children will raise their sleepy heads and soon--quite soon--the moment of truth will arrive. I lay there as the minutes tick by. Exhausted, but still wide awake. Will they be happy? Tonight I wonder: Was it possibly the same for our Cre...

But first, let me introduce you to my snowman shrine: It began innocently enough. We were in a drought. I started pleading for snow. Soon people heard about my "shrine" and couldn't help themselves. They brought me more snowmen. I almost had to do an intervention for my mom to get her to stop. Just the other day I got another one--the really tall one-- from a friend. It's not like I can say, "That's really nice, but I'm trying to quit." In any case, this is one of my two holiday displays over which I give the kids free reign. Sure you can set them up however you like. Touch them. Move them. Do whatever you want...only don't eat them. Now let's make our way over to the nativity collection. You will see it's a little eclectic. A few pieces came from a friend who happens to travel out of the country a lot. New this year is the set I brought back from Finland. Can you tell which it is? One of my favorites is the plastic set that my kids have ...

I am a huge fan of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." When I was a kid my dad would gather us together and we would turn down all the lights and listen to the annual radio broadcast of "A Christmas Carol." We had an intercom system in our home so we could be wherever we wanted to, but there were no books, TV, 8-track cassette or any other forms of entertainment allowed--just the radio. My favorite place to listen was sprawled out with my siblings on the carpet somewhere. Maybe it was the novelty of a radio show. Maybe it was just the magic of the season. But we were mesmerized and it quickly became a family favorite. For the past three years we have been privileged to see the performance at the Hale Center Theater . I highly recommend it. The music is heavenly (how could it not be with this fabulous director ?) and their Scrooge was born to play the part. They also have a lot of fun with it. The first year we happened to sit in the corner where Marley's ghost exi...

Found this note the other day from that same last child: Could it be he still believes? He made that cranberry garland all by himself. ( I don't usually cave and buy extra tree tops pretending to be trees, but he picked out that "tree" all by himself too and I couldn't resist those puppy-dog eyes when he begged and pleaded to have it. So this year we have four trees--or should I say one tree and three tree tops. ) Merry Christmas!

...this letter was inspired by my annual reading of the book featured at left: "Don't Bite Me, I'm Santa Claus," by Tom Plummer. Dear Santa, Hi, it's me. I'm feeling sort of sad this year because my last child is trying to tell me that you just aren't true. I'm trying just as hard to remind him that you are, of course. I mean really ! (And my friend--who is also the mother of his best friend--has threatened to cut out his tongue if he says a word about this to her daughter.) I used to believe my life would be a bit easier when my kids all "grew up." But now I think I was wrong. I don't care if arriving at this stage means I can wrap all the presents weeks ahead of time and won't have to stay up till 1 or 2 or later to get all the surprises ready (we both know I will wait till the last minute anyway!). Remember how when I was young I always let Christmas become a bit overshadowed by my selfishness? I'm so sorry about that now. I...

literal acres of lights, trees and smiles now I personally would never take my preemie out and hand him over to a complete stranger, but that aside, this made for a great photo op my baby and his best girl I volunteered here one year and it was the best Christmas ever--the smiles were infectious and the expressions of utter and complete joy I witnessed will stay with me forever our quilt--disguised as a "tree" wreath--brought in generous donations for Jules: you might be a redneck if you bought this tree...

Just Say NO!

Griswold vs. Griswold: Showdown! I don't even bother putting up my own lights anymore (well, my husband might when he gets around to it).

Inspired by fun posts such as Mom Pockets and Saddle bags , I got to thinking about punch cards. Or, as I affectionately call them, "frequent flier cards." How many do we carry? Where are they from. Which are the most used. Whatever do they say about us? Here's what I dug out of the depths of my purse: Cafe Rio: Two stamps, dated 10/28 This one was started while I was in Pocatello with the band--and yes, I can't help it. I don't care if it was in Pocatello or that it was the marching band--I just love writing that I am, was or will be "with the band." Great Harvest Bread Co: One loaf And this only because they no longer give you free samples without purchase but I feel guilty going in just for one slice of their delicious bread, so I like to pretend I'm going in because I always buy my family expensive whole wheat bread and that the free slice is just an afterthought. Body Benefits from JCPenney: Two punches No more details needed there, ex...