Absentee

When you take three weeks off from technology, it's hard to get back in the swing of it. But here are some things I know.

Being sick makes you grateful for your health.

Having family far away makes you love it when they are close by.

4-year-olds can be very sharp. My niece was very concerned that Santa wouldn't be able to find her because her house didn't have a chimney. My sister assured her that Santa's magic will let him come in through a door or a window. Santa always finds a way. The next night, she was sad that Santa didn't leave any presents for her mom and dad! Again, she had to be reassured that Santa had filled her mom and dad's stockings. They were not forgotten.

5-year-olds are also the perfect age for the holiday season. My nephew found out that his aunt hadn't brought a stocking. This became an obsession for him. The weekend plans almost went on hold so he could make one for her. Pictures to come soon.

Certain 3-year-olds don't wake up so easily. Which makes a good excuse to let them curl up on your lap to watch a movie after a late afternoon nap.

Competition runs in the family. Ugly pajama war? Bring it on.

Perfect holidays come in many forms.

Randomness

Blame it on bubble head. Or balloon head. Whatever you want to call it when your noggin doesn't quite feel attached to the rest of you. So here is the list of random things I came up with for today.
1. I have another blog. I just made it public. It is my family's reviews of books we read. I don't know the level of commitment for keeping it updated, but here is the link: http://westawaybooks.blogspot.com/

2. Apparently it is odd to be a single woman and put Christmas lights up on your house. I got kuddos on that from one of my neighbors. I am happy to once again shatter another stereotype. There are enough of them I fit, so it's nice to break out of the mold every now and then.

3. Don't take non-drowsy decongestant and expect to get a good night's sleep. Just sayin.

4. I got a little behind on my paperwork at work. Sorry, Tim. I will catch up today! Promise.

5. Tonight is our work Christmas party and I am supposed to bring a "homemade" white elephant gift. I don't know exactly what I am going to do yet, but I am pretty sure I know whose face will be on it. Or maybe I should say faces...

6. I know that November is finished, but I continue to be grateful for a lot in my life. Here's a short list for today:

• Electricity - It runs a lot of things in my life. Going without for a handful of hours made me grateful I am on the grid.
• Refridgerators and Freezers - Ditto above. Being locked out of these while my power was off made me think about all the little things I get in and out of these. Since we are talking about appliances, I'll just add the microwave, lights, my stove, my garage door opener and my hair dryer to this list. Why does the hair dryer make the list? Because I hate sleeping with wet hair.
• My niece and nephew - They provided a ton of memorable moments over the 23 hours we spent together this last weekend. I love em even more now. And that little 3-year-old is stinkin smart! He traced and told me all of the letters in his favorite book at my house. Then we found all of the bananas. And tractors. And cows. It was fabulous.
• My sister - mom to the awesome niece and nephew. Beckaboo, you are a rockstar. It's hard work being a parent and you don't get nearly enough praise. I love you!! More to come on this later.
• Bishops - my local ecclisastical leader is amazing. His wife is beautiful and a wonderful, lovely friend. Between the two of them I think they have logged more service hours to our congregation and community that I could ever count. The same goes for all of my past bishops, friends who have been bishops, or served in bishoprics. You guys are my role models. Thank you a hundred times more than I can express, and to the wives and kids who support you while you are gone.

Ornaments - Part 1

The tree is up! This year's tree has one major leg...well, branch...up on last year. That tree was a post-christmas clearance special. Total cost? $4.99. Yup. It was a $5 tree. And it was great. With just one little issue. It wasn't really straight. The bottom section was good, but then it started to lean. And when Christmas was over, the sad little Charlie Brown tree was retired. So this year we got one that doesn't try to mimic the curves of a candy cane.

Some people would expect a fancy tree because one of the residents of this house is a designer. Not so much. The joy and charm of Christmas is unpacking all of the ornaments collected over decades and across continents. Here are some of my favorites.

This was a gift from my grandparents in 1983. I was 5. I think that was before my sarcasm bone was fully developed. I am amazed it has lasted so long with no chips, scratches, or breaks. This is due to the long care provided by my mother. Thanks mom!

This one is my sister's. It makes me smile but also makes me sad. Because I had a matching brown haired girl with a green striped dress holding an ornament in her hand. And I haven't a clue where she went.

Minnie Mouse was gift one year from my cousin. I think it was right around the time I was taking culinary arts in school. She is holding a little decorated cake roll. The middle Wedgewood  I found last year. The urn shape seemed just right for my sis. And the santa? Well, that was a craft project one year. We were giving ornaments as Christmas gifts. Each of the little ceramic jumping toys was hand painted and glittered. Which is quite a bit of work when you have to paint one color, immediately sprinkle it with glitter, and then let it dry before you paint the next color. I think I worked on this guy for a couple of hours. It was a good deed I did for someone who might be related to me and sort of bit off more than she could chew by deciding to do about a dozen of these ornaments one day. I'm not ambitious enough to take on those projects most days. But I make a good little worker bee for those who do. I laughed when I unwrapped this santa on Christmas morning. All that work, and I got to keep the results.

What would a tree be without a freaky santa-elf-fairy? I don't know. Ours has two.

This might be one of my new favorites. I had a friend show me how to make these little hats with just some yarn and part of the cardboard tube from the middle of a roll of toilet paper. Thanks, Seej! We all love them.

People who travel internationally spend a lot of time in airports. And they find fun things there. This little girl is from Japan.

Is that a block of cheese? Yup! It's from Tillamook, Oregon.

These shells are from New Zealand. I love them, and they weren't technically ornaments. But I think if you can tie a string through it, then it deserves a place on the tree.

Speaking of non-ornaments...I decided Gnick the Gnome should be an honorary ornament. So he's chillin' out among the foliage.

Did you know that Corning ware you use in the kitchen is made in a place called Corning, New York? I've been there. They make other kinds of glass too. Like hand-blown orbs.

Shells are kind of an ocean thing. These angels are from Manila. I think.

This little elephant is from the market in Hawaii. I went there to celebrate my 30th birthday. Hawaii, not the market. The carvings caught my eye so he took a trip across the water to the mainland with me. On an unrelated note, I love this photo. I like the uplight from the bulb in the branch just below, and the mysterious air it gives the face of a carved pachyderm. The needles in the foreground give it an aura of an interrupted game of hide-and-seek. I found an app to doctor images on my iPhone (the camera I used for all these photos) and gave it a little more character. I'm a fan.

More About Gratitude

On this last day of a month focused on thankfulness, it seems timely to take a few moments to think of some things that make me smile, brighten my life, and just generally improve my waking hours.

Language - It's hard to say how much language enriches my life. There is beauty and imagery in written forms. The spoken word evokes thought and can bring peace and comfort. This basic form of communication is something I love. I am grateful this passion led me to study language and literature.

Windows - I have spent the last couple of months at a desk on a floor that is above ground level. Natural light is a wonderful, beautiful thing. The sun rises and paints the mountains pink while the sky moves through shades of blue and lavender. And I get to watch it from the warmth of a climate-controlled building. When a storm blows in and the horizon disappears behind a veil of snow, I can experience it wrapped up in a quilt with a cup of cocoa.

Humor - A lot of life is un-fun. There is pain, rejection, hurt, and loss. Which makes me so grateful that I am often around people who help me see the humor in the small moments. Because I love to laugh. It has to be one of life's big blessings.

Merry Christmas...to me!

I am a self-proclaimed jewelry addict. Especially earrings. It is facinating how many different ways and shapes you can bring things together in a little tiny package to hang from your ear. Color and shape and texture and shine. Wait...I think I am channeling Stacy and Clinton from What Not To Wear. But I think it applies to jewelry as well!

Since I have a direct line to santa, I decided these needed to be in my stocking come Christmas morning.

Now if only those little reindeer would hurry their furry butts up, I might even get to wear them during the holiday season...

When I look at this picture I feel all warm inside and I can't figure out why.

Hardy-har-har-ha. Excuse me while I go wipe my eyes. I crack myself up so much sometimes it makes me cry!

On a different note, I sometimes have days when I interact with people and walk away thinking, "I don't really like people. They are kind of annoying." This might be one of those days. So people, I am sorry you find me abraisve. If you would stop being annoying maybe we could get along.

Some Thoughts on Gratitude

Over the last week and a half, I have had many many opportunities to think. Stress and grief and family "together" time give me reasons to examine some of the aspects of my life.

I am so grateful for my cousin, my aunt, and my uncle. I took for granted the work and planning that went into the services we had for my Grandmother back in August. And all of that at a time when they were struggling with the pain that comes with loss. Thank you. Thank you. thank you.

I have learned a little something about death. It's hard. And even 89 years of wonderful living does not prepare a person to leave this life. And 57 years together does not prepare a person to be parted from the one they love. I also don't think that anyone is too old to have hopes and dreams. I believe I will keep planning until the day I'm called to lay this body back to dust.

My family is my rock. It is hard to find the words to describe how much I can rely on them for strength. They can buoy me up mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We have the ability to make each other laugh by telling jokes at inappropriate times. I really think I would be lost without them. I am especially grateful for my sisters. They are cool beyond belief. And the brothers? Rock stars. Mom? A saint. Dad? The patience of Job.

I am grateful for my physical body. For all the things that I may consider flaws, it functions so marvelously for me on so many levels. I can walk. I can talk. I can reason and laugh and cry and read. I can yell and sing and touch.

It makes me feel good that I can do hard things. I will probably always have things that intimidate me, and that seem like they are beyond my capacity. But I have found that I have the ability to try things and fail. And sometimes I succeed!

And as a totally silly as it sounds, I am so grateful I can buy myself a Christmas present and be totally all right with it. That's all I have to say about that.

My Grandpa

This is my Grandpa (in the middle) and two of his buddies at Camp Irvine in 1943. He served in Europe in WWII. Today is Veteren's Day, and we honor those who have served our country and the cause of freedom. 

Today I found out that my Grandpa is in the ICU after a heart attack. The phrase seems overused to say that my prayers are with him and my Grandma and my Mom. But at moments like this, I don't know where else to turn for peace and comfort than my Heavenly Father. He can be there and touch people and comfort them when I can not.

This Thing

I have a headache.

He's been with me for 4 days now, and I decided he needs a name. It's a he, not an it. He is steady. I know he's going to be there. He's loyal. There is no way he would ditch me for someone else. And I am finding new and interesting ways to work my life around this relationship.

I also find him a little annoying.

Being the female in the relationship, I get to be a little indecisive. I'm torn between two names for my new...significant other. Gargamel or Vlad. On one hand, he's kind of lame - turtleneck-dress-wearing lame. Sort of a necessary foil for the sweetness of life. On the other hand, he's a life-sucking embodiment of all that is evil. And leaves me feeling a little drained.

Maybe he's really both. Sometimes it's kind of a Gargamel thing, and not so bad. Other times I feel a little closer to the undead.

While I figure it out, I will go to a happy place in the non-painful part of my brain. It's a gorgeous canyon. Full of autumn leaves and golden afternoon light.

And history.

And goats.

And some fish. :o)

On My Bookshelf

It took me 4 books before I was willing to start reading these. And that was all it took. They are on my top 20 list, all 7 of them. Maybe not number 5. That one might only make the top 50 list.

Guilty pleasure. I can't really say that the writing moves me. Or the story. Yet somehow I was at the bookstore every release date to purchase the newest book in the series.

The Fablehaven series is awesome. I love the character development most of all. All of Brandon Mull's books are on my shelf, and I enjoy them every one.

When I read the Lord of the Rings series, it was tough. It was long. I skipped a lot of the tree songs. But I will admit that when it came to the end of the story, I was sad. I felt like I was saying goodbye to friends. This is a classic for a reason.

I'm a sucker for Pride and Prejudice. The movies. The book. The story. The Austin original. And as long as modern authors decide to tell different sides of this story, I will keep reading them. This particular 3 book series is one of my favorite. It is written from the point of view of Darcy. The middle book is a little like a gothic romance, and doesn't really do anything to move the story along. But it is fun anyway.

I am 50/50 on  Robin McKinley's books. I really like The Blue Sword, The Hero and the Crown, and Rose Daughter. I really didn't like Chalice. It was boring! McKinley writes really good stories, but sometimes they tend to be a little wordy.

This is one of my non-fiction books. This covers the story of the Mt. Everest tragedy in 1996. Becoming a mountain climber is not really on my list of things to accomplish. So reading about it is one of the ways to experience a world I will never be apart of.

My Family

In August my family got together to celebrate my Grandmother's life. It was the first time we have all been together in like 15 years. Maybe more. And the fun part is having a camera or two around to capture how quirky and awesome all of these people are who make up my family.

We had one simple job. To create some explanation cards for the items that were displayed about some of my Grandma's many accomplishments and life experiences. So naturally we formed a committee. My brother was on the production line. I was the design crew. My dad was management. He had to make sure that we did our job right.

We expanded the crew when it was apparent that a staff of 3 wasn't cutting it. So we brought in a little quality control.

When that didn't work, we decided to outsource. It resulted in a great final product.

Yes, this was actually part of the conversation we had around the table.

We had to let some people go because they just weren't keeping up with production goals. Slackers.

Have I mentioned that we like to make funny faces for a camera? I have lots of proof...

Except when we don't know the camera is there. Or we aren't paying any attention.

We had to set the camera up to take some pictures of the family. And you need people in the frame to figure out where to point it. So me and my bro volunteered. Sort of.

We even brought short people in the scene to make sure the camera would pick them up. Just kidding!! Love you Kat. :o)

We wanted to get people of all heights.

And here are all of the grandchildren!

I don't even know what to say. This is my family, and I love them!

I Should Get Out More

A little while ago I got a text from my sis. She decided to share the view from where she is right now.

Hmm. Jerk. I guess Korea is nice this time of year.

Then she issued a challenge for me to send a picture back of something beautiful. I have a list of things to do tonight! But I'm also a sucker for a challenge. So I stepped outside my front door and here is my first attempt.

Oops. It ended up looking more like a Monet painting than a photo. I figured I could do better than that.

This is the tree across the street. Huh. Pretty. Boring. Pretty boring. I sighed in resignation and decided to take a walk around the park to see what I could find. Here are the results.

Yes, the people at the park looked at me funny as I crouched and contorted and twisted and focused. With my iPhone. But I liked the reminder that there is beauty all around me if I just take a minute to look for it.