The Gracetress Does Fourth Grade

Fourth Grade, y'all. And couldn't be prouder.

The Gractress Turns Nine

Here's our Birthday Girl.


All ready for church with her new Supplies. Thank you, Grandma Natalie. Paper and pencils and highlighters, oh my! Sacrament meeting just got a whole lot more fun.

"Guess what, Mom? Now I'm almost as old as I look!"

Thank you, Grace. That's what keeps me up at night.



Our Little Slugger, trying out her new bat. Thank you, Grandpa Tom! We can't wait for softball this Spring.

The Gracetress Does Art Camp

Grace went to art camp this summer. She spent each week working toward a final Art Show on Fridays. Here is a sampling of the products of her labors.

Hotel For Dogs. You can't tell but there's a miniature mailbox complete with removable letters.

Littlest Pet. This is a tent city that all the children contributed too. Grace drew a dog (whose name, I am sure, is Libby).
More work from The Artiste.

A Fiery Mask.

In all, a fun summer and it passed quickly.

Holy Produce, Batman!

This beautiful head of romaine came from my Garden Goddess friend (CM). It was just so pretty that I needed more witnesses.

I Feel...?

I don't know. Sad? About the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy. I'm not terribly familiar with either his political career or personal life. However I feel saddened for the loss of what he represented in my narrow little world.

I hate the end of Things As They Were. Senator Kennedy represented that for me. A family of Movers and Shakers. There isn't another family, in my mind, who comes close to possessing the power, romance and magnetism of John, Bobby and Ted*. The Camelot President, The Peace-Seeker, The Politician (with incredible bi-partisan clout).

Where is the next dynasty? If I didn't strongly dislike the B--- family, well, there's them. Who else is there? It's like when Johnny Depp became the new Willy Wonka. Gene Wilder is a classic. Who can top that? No one. But it's Johnny Depp -not better, just younger and cuter. But not the same. You know?

Or like when my parents sold our home in SR. No other home will have the memories and character of that one. It's like they changed the location of our favorite sitcom. Same stories new setting. (What if Friends took place in Nashville? Not. The. Same.) Same Bat-time, new Bat-channel.

Anywho, I wanted to say something and it turns out I have very little to say. Just, I'm sad. How are you feeling?



*don't get me wrong, I appreciate that these men were mere mortals and made mistakes like anyone else (sometimes bigger mistakes)

Best Day Evah

The Gracetress with birthday cake (courtesy of JL -you rock, btw):

Unfortunately, there was an "incident" involving fire and the umbrella.
I think the princesses may have had a little too much fun.

Her birthday this year was an act in two parts:
Act I: dinner at "The Salad Restaurant" (also known for their steaks, maybe you're heard of it? Outback, anyone?) because The Girl wanted a "house salad, no onions, no tomatoes, with ranch please". I love a girl who knows what she wants.

We were so excited to have a favorite duo G&G Halverson (one in person and one by skype) with us this year. Yay! Thanks for being here. (I'll post pictures from Act I as soon as I find my cable.)

Act II: a meeting of friends at the pool for cake. This year The Gracetress got to share the birthday love with a favorite little friend, who also has an August birthday. A good time was had by all.

Green Salsa

For Erika:

Okay. This isn't precise. Perhaps J will take over and fill in exact amounts. Short of that, here's what we do:

1 white onion, sliced,
a jalapeno or two, washed
a couple Anaheim peppers, washed
a couple Serrano peppers, washed
~1 lb tomatillos, washed and cored, paper removed
garlic cloves

Place all ingredients, as is, onto a foil lined cookie sheet under the broiler. Turn veggies over as their skins crackle and brown (this is supposed to happen). When skins appear more brown than not, start removing veggies from oven (this happens at varying times). The garlic is often done first of all the game.

Place onion, tomatillo and peeled garlic into a blender. Peel and core all peppers and chilies and also place in blender. Blend.

Add a bunch of cilantro leaves.
Salt to taste.
Also, I like to add an avocado. So awesome.

Blend until smooth. Enjoy.

I hope that was everything.

Oh wait... add a few shakes of cumin. Cumin makes everything better.

You can eat it warm or refrigerate and eat cold. This also makes an amazing sauce for chicken enchiladas. Great for tacos and chili verde burritos (of course).

School Lunch?

Hi folks. I have a request.

If you have time please head on over here and take a look at the SlowFoods Movement. This is a petition to help improve the quality of the school lunch programs around the country. This is something I really believe in and I hope you'll give it a little think-over.

Thanks and I'll write more after the Fourth.

Happy Independence Day!

Bid'ness

Once again I have nothing to say. Here's is some of May and most of June in pictures:

Grace and I went to Gettysburg for a school field trip. The house has a little tiny speck in the upper left-hand corner. Apparently, it's an unexploded mortar from the Civil War.
Dude.



Then I saw the biggest worm in my entire life. It was really dark so I was just guessing on where to point the camera and I tried to put my shoe next to it but believe me... it was HUGE. Longer than my foot!

Then J taught The Gracetress to ride her bike (in all of ten minutes, she was ready,what can I say?):
Pre-bike: Post-bike:

Then I spent every spare minute crocheting an afghan (sp?) for a friend's wedding gift:


Then J built a Star Wars Drone to fight off the bad pirates:


And he made green salsa in the molcajete (because he's awesome like that):


And I went to a friends wedding:



Finally, The Gracetress being her lovable, darling self:

The Staying Story

Thank you to M for pointing me to this blog post. If you have time, go on over and read about one woman's decision to stay married. Honest and powerful.

As noted,we don't talk about this a lot. The how and why and what happens after. Maybe because we can just observe and draw our own conclusions? Because it's too personal to talk about? No one wants to air dirty laundry?

But here's what I'm thinking. Save the sordid details for your best "in the vault" friend but share the other stuff. Surely anyone would acknowledge that no marriage, assuming partners are on equal footing and honest with themselves, is without bumps and disagreements. Not everything goes along swimmingly all the time.

Marriage can be (dare I say it?) work at times. Even the best of times. It's no longer you and your merry self. Now there are other needs to consider. Time constraints. Menus to discuss and agree upon (such as "what" and "who shall prepare"). Clothes to coordinate (okay, I'm kidding about that one but J and I have had several strange happenings of late wherein the same colors were worn on the same day. Coincidence? Or maybe we've just been married for awhile. Great minds and all that.)

I've had the thought before that being single is certainly simpler (yes, I'm familiar with "the grass being greener..."), whether it is or not I think could be argued at length. But what is it about being married that makes people choose to stay married?

The whole why is such a huge question and very different for many people: love, companionship, kids, someone to sit on the couch with and complain about commercials to, money, power, support, belonging, monkey business, someone to read books with, live-in road-trip buddy.

And then the other million dollar question: how? Once you decide it's worth it, how does one go about insuring it happens?

My parents (yours too, if you're a Holmes) talked a lot about this in FHE, Sunday walks, at the dinner table, car rides, etc. The how for them, according to me, was about compromise, forgiveness, date nights, praying together, keeping in touch throughout the day, laughter, letting the kids know their place.

Probably the most important: assuming the best of each other. Always with the benefit of the doubt.

And of course the main phrase I heard often was, "to treat each other in such a way that our spouse would never want to leave or look elsewhere."

With J and I, I would say that we both try to assume that we each are trying our hardest. And that we show respect for each other's opinions (unless they're crazy—we don't do crazy around here.)

Granted, no one is perfect. And so with the whole forgiveness thing. I really think these things work for them and us because we want them to. I think the key is that we're all trying (mostly every day or at least more often than not). I have no answers when only one is person wants to stay, except: that totally stinks and I'm sorry.

You're welcome to go anonymous for this but I would love to read the why or how you have stayed married. Or avoided it. Either one.

And Now To Please The Grandparents

Because we love you.

Here's a brief pictorial of our recent activities:

Grace made a cake. We had extra time. I had extra ingredients. "Why not make a cake?" we said.

Indeed.

Let's make it pink and green.

And so we did, Grace taking the lead in actual work. Mom supervised.


Next, for MissKitti's birthday bash we had our favorite little people* over to celebrate. Things were said. Cookies were eaten. In all, a great night.







Cookies. by Grace





The BlueWhite Game at Penn State.
76,500 fans at the scrimmage. Yes, folks. Scrimmage. This is why Penn State rocks. I believe I've said it before: they know how to do football.

And now what you've all been waiting for....The Gracetress does Softball. Our little leftie hitter and 1st Basewoman extrordinare. She hit a single last night and got to run home. Yay!!!




_____
*of course we have lots of favorite little people. Of which, these are a few.

Birthday Wishes

I could go on and on about how I remember the day Miss Kitti was born and how it changed my life forever, except I was like 2 and have no memory of mom & dad bringing her home whatsoever. But having her as a sister has made my life better. Kitti is caring, thoughtful, smart, funny, and I could go on but I really can't think of all the words that I'd like to use to descirbe her.
Anywho I really just wanted to make sure that Kitti got the recognition that she deserved on her special day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS KITTI

love you and I'm so blessed to have you as a sister

Y tú?

On Sunday, the Relief Society lesson was on persecution. Specifically about the early Saints being driven west. I was curious as to where the teacher was going with this. Mostly wondering if she was going to focus on the persecution of those who plowed on before us or if she would focus on modern-day persecution.

She said both. I agree on the former and have to disagree on the latter. I have great admiration for the pioneers who left home and family to follow their faith and convictions. I can only imagine how difficult and terrifying that must have been.

Currently, I don't doubt that religious persons do indeed get persecuted for their faith. However, I feel more comfortable vigorously asserting that this is much more common in Other. Parts. Of. The. World. Having to remove prayer from schools doesn't strike me as persecution so much as making it safe for everyone to play in the sandbox.

I guess I should mention that I have never felt nor do I feel persecuted. (Except for that one time that a mean boy said I had a terrible haircut and his mother agreed with him. To which I must honestly respond: mean people suck. Also, there was that Time with the Thing in the Place.)

Getting back to safe sandboxes.

One woman shared an observation that most ways of living are becoming accepted and everything is being labeled as "okay." She didn't like this state of things because it meant that if she wasn't okay with the way another individual chose to live their life then she was the intolerant one. She was speaking specifically about her teenagers in high school and how impressionable they are. Naturally, one wants their children to be impressed upon by the right things.

(Let's be clear here. I'm talking about religious practices and life choices* that don't harm me, my family or my community. I'm not talking about the animal-torturing, pyromaniac, car-stealing druggie friends that we're all afraid our child will befriend.)

I do see her point. And I also don't. Tolerating someone's ideas, living harmoniously with people of other faiths, isn't the same as accepting their ideals or habits. It just mean you can get along. For example, I'm friends with people who drink. We like each other. We respect each other. Science supports the occasional drink. My dietary guidelines say no way. My friends are no more likely to give up drinking than I am to take it up. I have friends who don't believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Yet we still can live peacefully in the same town and get appetizers together from time to time.

As for teenagers, I obviously do not have any yet. Perhaps I will feel differently when I do. However, I won't let that minor detail stop me from giving my opinion. J and I are taking the Brother Joseph approach with Grace, teaching correct principles and letting her govern herself. We teach Grace what we believe and try to show her how we would like her to act. Then it's up to her to let that information guide her choices and actions.

As scary as it is to let her go out into the world, I have to wonder how strong her/my/our faith can be if it doesn't bear examining. Of course she will have questions. Of course she will see that others do things differently. And while the LDS church does actively recruit, most others do not. I'm trying to send out respect and good will, hoping that it will return.

The laws that govern our land make it safe for us to practice our religion. These are the same laws that keep other faiths and groups of people safe, as well. If we want to live in a society where we start drawing lines about what's okay and what's not (beyond basic crimes like murder and theft), we should be prepared for the dark times ahead.

I don't think we can have it both ways. Either we (by "we", I mean LDS faithful) want to be accepted and not be driven out and exterminated or we don't. And if we expect to be accepted we must extend that same benefit to others.

Next time, I'll just post some non-controversial family pics.

_________
*Yes, I'm (very nervously) inserting families of ANY type. I see families as a good thing. People wanting to form families should be supported, helped, encouraged. That's all I'll say on that point for now.

I'm A Changed Woman

No, it's true. And here is the evidence.

When J and I first started dating, I mentioned that I like to read (shocking, I know). He suggested a few authors and I took a lit. course at BYU. It turns out that, from time to time, in both classic and critically acclaimed literature, things don't always go well.

By that, I mean, loyal dogs die, people are inexplicably crucified, innocent men are accused of murder, and older brothers are less than perfect. Reading these short stories and novels was fairly depressing, assuming I understood the story at all.

Another sore point was all the ambiguity and loose ends. What do you mean there's no ending?!?! How can the story be finished when no one has gotten married or packaged things up tidily? How is that possible? Did she have an affair or didn't she? Was the woman a snake or just weirdly interested in eating rats? What was the author getting at?!

At one point I just got mad at J for encouraging me to read Good Literature,* and squarely placed the blame for all the unhappiness and tragedy within literature on his shoulders. (Perhaps unfair, but whatever.)

After a particularly difficult time with The Brothers K (not Karamazov, just "K") and an even more harrowing experience with Crime and Punishment, I gave up on serious books for awhile. How long, one might ask? Hmmm, how old is Grace now? Almost that long.

(Enter Harry Potter and YA lit. Good times. We've talked about this ad nauseum.)

Oddly enough, I've been noticing a shift. A higher tolerance, if you will, for sadness. Maybe because I'm less angry as a person I can better tolerate the anger in books? I don't know. Maybe I'm becoming a darker person. Any thoughts on that?

Granted, I don't always want a heavy theme or taxing subject. But more and more often these days I do.

_____
*My words. J would never call my preference in books "crap"—even if they sometimes are. For the record, J is happy for me to read anything that makes me happy or at least makes me happy to be reading, even if it does make me cry.

Please Excuse The Swear...

But Mr. Obama is pretty darn badass.

Tell Me Truly

Are you a regular soda drinker or a diet? Water or juice? For reals, what do you drink?

Studies* (and by "studies" I mean that several studies my lab has conducted) have shown that people who consume caloric beverages do so without the benefit of feeling full. So, you can drink 600 hundred calories in one sitting and still be ready for appetizer, entree and dessert.

Dude.

This is not the way to go. Even if you're not trying to cut calories. Think of all the sugar and your teeth and and....

But what really gets my goat is the fact that many schools around the country have vending machines and offer large varieties of soda and juices to our young, impressionable, and sugar-loving youth. So not cool.

Our children, bless their hearts, do not need to be drinking the fruu-its of the deveel at school. Let them get it at home or on the way home. We need not encourage the bad behavior at our places of learning. Save that for the parents.

Seriously, if we could all teach out kids one thing (for starters) about nutrition, let it be to NOT drink their calories. **WITH THE HUGE EXCEPTION OF MILK. DRINK MILK, PEOPLE** It adds to an individuals total daily calories without providing the fullness necessary to cue that individual to stop eating. It also, often doesn't even provide a significant amount of nutritional benefits (IE, vitamins, fiber, minerals).

A sort of related side-note: A colleague of mine reminded me, today, that for a person to gain ten pounds a year, they have only to over-eat by 100 calories a day, everyday. One hundred calories is not a lot, my friend. (Believe me, I know. I've been keeping track lately.)

Anywho, all I'm saying is give peace a chance. No wait. That and,

Don't drink your calories. Encourage your local schools to find alternative means of raising funds -get rid of the junk-food vending machines. And one serving of juice is only 1/2 a cup. Just so you know.



* refers to experiments conducted using the scientific method, published in peer-reviewed journals of good report. The results reported are statistically significant, meaning that the chance that the findings are random is such a small possibility so as to be considered impossible. If Burton read my blog I would ask him to confirm and he would, so there.

The Gracetress Does Etiquette

Last night Grace went to an Etiquette Dinner. She came home and told us there was one thing we must absolutely never do:

NO SHOULDERS ON THE TABLE!!

Right-o. No problem there. Now elbows, that might be another story.

I love my little Sweetie.

It's All In How You Look At It

Last night I dreamed that J was snoring. Really loud. Guess what J was actually doing? Snoring. Really loud.

The upside of this is that one must be sleeping to dream. The even greater thing is that I was sleeping through loud snoring. I know, right?! Good job body.

Judging A Book By Its Cover

Sorry, this post is exactly what it sounds like. No profound symbolism here.

I went to pick out a book this week. A follow-up book to P&P, in which Miss Mary Bennett is the protagonist. Unfortunately, it paints Elizabeth Bennett's marriage in less than happy terms.

Guess what? I won't be reading that book. Anyone having the nerve to suggest that EB and Mr. Darcy are anything but blissfully happy for the rest of their lives can in no way write a story that would interest me. Hmmph!

Other relationships that must also, always be referred to in the most glowing of terms:
Jane and Mr. Rochester as well as Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth. I think that's it. Anyone else is free to their ups and downs.

Who are your favorite, perfect literary relationships?

In other news, go get The Graveyard Book. You will love it*. Or you won't. One of those.


*And if you do, tell me what you think.

In Which The Gracetress Schools MissKitti

But in a nice way.

We've been working on Project Mars over here in the Halverson household. Did you know that it has two moons? I know, right! I don't remember that from school. Phobos and Deimos. Now you know too.

Update: 3/25 So, it's been, what, 2 years since I wrote last? At least. This Holmes has been away from home a lot lately. Anywho, Grace's project was the bomb. Complete with black poster board, glittery red lettering (get it? the "red planet"), and styrofoam planets. In case you were wondering, Michael's has a very nice molecules set that doubles as a planet builder and it's cheaper than buying the planets individually. Just so you know.

In other news, The Gracetress has started softball. She's a leftie and so very great. (Really, she's right smack in the middle of the abilities line, but as a parent I'm obligated to say she's brilliant. And she IS.) I'm so proud of my softball-playing girl.

Also, and most importantly: Grace wants a "rock star" room. What is a Rock Star room? One may ask. When I tried to pin her down on the details, she was rather vague.
Grace: "You know, rock star. Really cool stuff in here. Older toys. We need to get
rid of the baby toys and stuff."
Me: "Yes, but what exactly are 'cool stuff and older toys' and what do you mean
by 'rock star'?" (throw me a bone here)
Grace: " you know..."
Me: "????"
I looked around the room and saw chapter books, pictures of The Gracetress, a school-ready bear, stuffed animals and clothes. No baby toys or books in sight. There's even a dresser-top devoted to all things lotion and body-glitter. Not to mention the Hannah Montana make-up/ hair-do head (yes. I caved. What?!) What's a parent to do?

It turns out that by 'rock star', she meant puppies and dogs. She wants a room decorated with dog stuff. Complete with a doggie bed, for her to lounge on with friends, and a dog bowl with Scooby snacks. To be fair, Scooby snacks aren't bad. Okay. No boy-band posters yet. Just dogs. I can totally do this.

It makes me very nostalgic for my Howard Jones and U2 posters. Good times.

My Favorite Part

Have we talked about this before? I can't remember. Anywho...

You know that time right between "just met" and "I love you". The part where you're trying to decide, to analyze, to decipher all the looks, actions, words of that special someone?

I LOVE that part. Be it real life, a book, a movie, someone else's story. I eat that stuff up. It's why I love young adult lit. I love reliving that time in my life.

In fifth grade there was the boyfriend of my soon-to-be-ex-best friend who was trying to decide if she was right for him and I was good friends with him and thought he was cute and was, of course, trying to help him decide what to do.... Naturally if I hadn't been scarred by the "you will marry who you date" idea, I might have considered stealing him. As it was, the flirting was fun enough and she ended up dumping him first anyway. (Besides, I wasn't ready for a husband at 10.)

In the sixth through 11th grades there was that one boy, RJ, who was perfect. Sporty, tall, blonde hair, blues eyes -what more could a girl ask for? Other than to actually be noticed by said tall, blonde guy. Yeah, there was a lot to be analyzed there (actually there wasn't, but teenage girls are remarkably resourceful when it comes to finding made-up clues that He knows you exist).

In twelfth grade, there was the case of mistaken "like" and the less said on that subject the better. Let us just say that the guy I had a major crush on was happy to hang out and do stuff but not much else so when another guy came along that wanted to be more, well my ego was totally up for it. In hind site, not my best moment.

In college there was that really tall, really smart, totally hot guy who asked me out a few days after we met. Then Christmas break happened and I didn't get to watch him at church or in passing to see if any of the "signs" were there. However, we ended up having an odd connection, in that his aunt is friends with my sister and his family lived in my brothers ward. Dude. Connections don't get any better. My family liked him before they'd even met him (btw, Grady Tripp -you raised an awesome family. Loved on reputation only).

That guy was my favorite story. Parties held on made-up excuses just to get him over to my apartment. Spur of the moment skipbo matches to keep him there. I even recall a "French Kiss" party that ended up just being me and his roommate. (Mom- the movie, not the action). My friends and I had a ball reliving every word and look -"did he or didn't he?", "did I or didn't?"

Man, I even had it worked out, on the advice of a close friend, that he was only looking for a friend and not a girlfriend so I had to play it totally cool. Until.. another girl stepped in and I had to totally stake a claim.

Flowers after our first kiss. Little notes and plenty of Riesen. Comedy Troupes, the Blazers, long walks and Valentine's at an antique shop. And don't forget the most righteous Reverend Al Greene and velvet pictures. Good times, all.

Where was I? Oh yes, I love love stories. More even than flowers on Valentines (which I also heartily love).

What's your favorite part?

Night Rider

Or alternately titled, "In Which MissKitti Rocks Pedom-o-thon 2009"

February is National Heart Health month. So, come on folks, lets all get healthy hearts!

I'm participating in a "pedom-o-thon" at work, for the month of February. Participants put in $5 and wear a pedometer, tracking their daily step counts. There is a weekly prize for the highest step count at the end of each week and a grand prize for the highest total step count at the end of February. Participants can only win one weekly prize and anyone can win the grand total.

We mean business in the Food Lab. We don't kid around about our competitions. (Seriously, our last competition, the Bark Off, saw people entering up to six varieties of bark, not to mention the ingenious names. We even went so far as to make up official ballots and have silent taste testing so as not to influence each other.)

Folks, I won last week's weekly prize. I set a goal to walk, at minimum, 10,000 steps each day. This is equivalent to about 5 miles/day. (1 mile = ~2000 steps). Unfortunately, my sights were set too low. My goal put me roughly in the middle of the race. I could see an adjustment was necessary. This past week, my grand total? Da daadaa daaaa...........147,304 steps! I know, right? I'm so proud. The next closest step count was 109,432.

How did I accomplish this? one might ask. A combination of walking and riding my bike. We all agreed that any form of exercise could be converted into steps. So at the end of every day if my step count wasn't as high as I wanted, I hopped on my bike and started to ride.

On Saturday, I thought it would be fun to reach 30,000 steps in one day. Guess what? It wasn't fun. No. It wasn't. But it was possible and so I did it. Walking 10,000 steps and riding 10 miles. I made it to 30,000 steps.

And so I won for this week. Also, it turns out stretching would have been a good idea.

Happy Heart Month to all!

The Downside To Being Mormon

I know, right? But it's true, there is a downside. And here it is:

Let us pretend that I'm trying to lose 40lbs. I might start by thinking, "Now, what are the easy calories to cut out of my diet? I could stop with the bar tours or late-night drinking with my friends. Oh wait. I don't drink alcohol. Okay, then. I can stop putting creamer or half-and-half in my coffee. No wait. I don't drink coffee. Hmm. Stop smoking pot to end the munchies?"

You can see my problem, yes?

And that's not the very worst part. The "extras" that I need to cut out of my diet are the "drop off treats" or the random Relief Society treats or the potlucks ("covered dishes" for y'all in the South). The food that people bring over because they LOVE me, want to share, want me to know they were thinking of me. This is the food I need to cut back on. But how does one cut back on all The Love? It's not easy folks.

How do I say no to this? I don't. And there is the problem.

I have started sticking things in the freezer to have a little at a time or to share out later (I know, not fair of me either, but turn about's fair play).

A friend at work says she does the "no, thank you bite". It's one bite and then, "no, thank you. I've had quite enough." All very polite and above ground. I should try that. Besides, who could ever be offended by a "no, thank you bite"? It just sounds so nice.

I think we should all stop bringing treats over* and just start saying, "I love you." Yes? Fewer calories and just as sincere. However, I don't think this will really catch on because aren't we sometimes just trying to say, "I was thinking of you and you're nice but we don't know each other all that well and food says it so much better and is less awkward when I can just drop it off without having to stay and chat." Oops, am I the only one that does that?

Food is the great bridge-crosser. The great equalizer. We all eat. Many of us like desserts or snack-type things that can be dropped off in a small amount of time. We can relate on the food level if not on anything else.

The great Getter Together of people. I'm sure that's why Enrichment turn-outs are so much higher when there is food involved. If you've been wanting to go but don't know a lot of people, well, there will be food to talk over (which is also something to do) and no awkwardness.

It's really a shame, though, that Mormons don't just stop eating food, too. I'm so good at avoiding alcohol and coffee. I'd like to be that good at avoiding food.

I'll let you know how that goes.

Anywho, that's the downside.

_______________
*Unless, of course, it's That Time**. In which case, bring it ASAP.
**If you don't know, you're too young or a guy who doesn't have a close lady-friend.

In Which MissKitti Says Thank You

To The Lovely People of Target:

Thank you for having the foresight to stock an automotive section with do-it-yourself jump-start kits. Great idea and very helpful.

To The Brilliant People at Duracel:

You guys are awesome. Thank you for sending your jump-start kits out into the world fully charged and ready to go, just in case some poor soul happened to leave her lights on in the parking lot while shopping at Target and was too embarrassed to call her friends, AGAIN, for a jump. Thank you. You saved my bacon and a little of my pride.

To The Kindly Gentleman Who Stopped To Hold The Roof Of My Car Up Before It Came Crashing Down On My Head:

You are a dear sweet man and I so appreciate your help and support. Thanks even for saying I could have done just fine on my own. No I couldn't have but thanks for pretending all the same.

To My Parent Who Always Help The Stranger, Just In Case:

You're right again: help people out and it's the gift that keeps on giving. Your kids are benefiting from your good karma.

Thursday was a little trying for me. How was your week?

Girly-Girls vs. Girls

The Gracetress did her very best last night to explain to me the difference between "girly-girls" and "girls". With an honorable mention thrown in for "tom-boys". She pays lip service to being a "girl" but let me tell you, she can't stay away from pink to save her life. Although, she has made head-way with wearing fewer dresses and no longer pesters me everyday to wear makeup.

My sweet little princess is trying so hard to transform into something else: a no frills type of girl. But not a "tom-boy". Oh no. That, apparently, is not the thing. I couldn't tell you why, though. As a child her age, I thought "tom-boy" was the only way to go. Who would want to be anything else?

I've been thinking about this whole transformation thing. Mostly in terms of me and who I am. Because, really, it's all about me. Right? Right, guys? Guys??

Anywho, I've often wondered if I'm a quiet, loud person or a loud, quiet person. Am I an inactive, active person, who — provided the health and opportunity — would be out hiking the trails of the world? Or the reverse: trying to be someone I'm not really cut out for?

I'm 31, soon to be 32. I'd like to know who I am. A few years ago I came clean with loving pink. I do and it's probably no surprise to anyone (just me). I love wearing makeup but not applying it. I love getting my hair cut and colored. I also really like dresses and skirts. I think it's safe to say I'm a "girly-girl" type. I am making an effort not to influence Grace in this matter.

There are just so many contradictions. What am I? What kind of woman am I? How am I known among friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances? I have had people tell me that they thought I was a "*itch" before getting to know me. One of my favorite people at work was afraid of me until we got to know each other better. But other people have known I was nice all along. I AM nice, btw.

Do you know who you are and what you're about? Have you sorted it out in your mind? How long did it take? Have you always known? What's it like? Walking around knowing if you're the "girly-girl" type, just a "girl" or a "tomboy."* I totally envy you.

Let's talk sometime and you can share your secrets.

_________
* If you're a male reading this, insert appropriate substitute. RD, I already know you're an "academic" with a little "man's-man" thrown in just to confuse everyone. You know: sexually "ambiguous." And just my type.

Happy Birthdays to Tyler, Dixon and Mom!

All on separate days (1/7; 1/14; 1/15, respectively), of course. Actually there are many more Holmes-related birthdays in January, but to avoid insanity, I shall focus on the original 12 (10kids+2parental units).

So, Mom and Dad have arrived in Russia. I hear that they will very soon have a blog up and running (thank you, Moddy) for all and sundry to peruse at our leisure. In this way we can keep up with the news and appreciate that none of us can possibly be as cold as they are. If you don't have to wear ice picks on your shoes, in the winter, just to go to the market-- you aren't as cold as Mom and Dad. No. Don't argue.

Mom turns a respectable, but not specified age, tomorrow. I wonder if, like me, she ever wonders where the years have gone, can she really be __(insert age), and has it all been worth it? How can the kids be grown up already, and isn't it nice that they are? (I love having a nearly-independent 8yr. old, btw.) Also, what next?

Truthfully, my mom is more active than I am, not to mention way more talented and lovely. She is a perfectly complete person and woman. If you do not know my mom, and even if you do, let us revisit her many wonderful qualities and skills*.

Firstly, Mom is a listener and councilor. The kind everyone needs. She will listen and ask what you think. She may give some examples of how she can relate and may offer some ideas but she will never tell you what you have to or should definitely do. She is wonderful at sympathizing and empathizsing and loving. She is also good at not saying, "I told you so." And she would never say, "Holy Crap! You did what?!" (mostly because she is so polite and "crap" is not a word she would say.)

Secondly, Mom is full of ideas and willingness to see things through. I can remember many times coming to my mom with a homework quandry and she would stop what she was doing (always with the "doing") to help. Poems got written, sewing projects put back together the right way, meals saved, YW activities planned, algebra problems got worked and so on. And always with humor.

Mom is funny. She is always one to look at the bright side and share a giggle whenever there is one to be had. My favorite 'making mom laugh moment' comes from back when I was a teenager. I was reading the Reader's Digest anecdotes to her so we could both laugh. The phone rang just as I was getting to the punch line. I hurried and said it just as she picked up the phone to say hello. Instead of talking, she was laughing too hard to say anything. Good times.

Mom knows what's important and doesn't sweat the small stuff. (A trait that our other January birthday people are also known for. Coincidence? I think not.) Running a little late? Oh well, just do your best to make up for lost time and leave a little sooner next time. Bad hair day? Could be worse and really, you're just making every other woman feel better about herself (though, to be clear, my mom doesn't have bad hair days -I'm talking about me). Make-up on wrong? -no biggie. It's just make-up. Gravy not your best? Well, one thing in your meal should be less than perfect -that way you're not showing off.

Speaking of gravy. And now for a list of some other extraordinary talents:

• scrumptious cook
• sewing dervish
• crochet-master
• grower of flowers and plants
• tender of many a happy grandchild
  

Last but not least, my mom is an excellent friend. Movies, books, frozen yogurt, quick shopping trip, you name it and she's up for it. And all the way there or during are so many things to talk about and ideas to explore. She's up for it all. I love that about her.


Happy Birthday (1/15)!


*See also Reagan's great post

Holy Crap! It's Been A Long Time....

No pictures. No news. I got nothin'. Sorry folks. My computer is sick.

(Shhhhhhhhhhhh, I slipped away to use another computer. I hope mine doesn't find out)

In lighter news (hehe), this is the year that MissKitti declares she will lose 40 lbs! Yay for me! Please keep any doubts on the possibility of that happening to yourself. No negativity, please. We are all lovers here, yes?

This year (Dec '08), Grace did her best to turn our Bible-reading of the Nativity Story into a talk about sex. "Yes, but how did she get pregnant?" and "But, why wasn't Joseph involved?" —"Look honey, Bible scholars throughout the ages, not to mention inquiring minds, would love to know the answer to that one. WE JUST DON'T KNOW."

Next was, "Okay, but how are babies made, again?" Finally we had to gently but firmly state that we could discuss that at another time when we weren't desperately trying to give justification to all the gift sending and receiving, as well as all the other hoopla of our pagan xmas practices. "Yes, Grace, there is a Christian holiday in here somewhere. Just keep digging, we'll get there eventually."

And you know, we did. I loved opening gifts via webcam/Skype with the lovely and talented Halverson, Richardson, and Diaz families. I got to talk to almost half of my family members (which I count as outstanding). And we got to spend the day together, in our jammies. (We have a strict pj's-only rule for Christmas day. Seriously.)

It's 2009. Central PA is expecting 6-8inches of snow over the weekend. My back and ankle are back to their regularly scheduled programming. Good things ahead.

Anywho, Happy New Year to all! Best of luck with all your resolutions. I have high hopes for us all.