Merry Christmas

It's always fun to run into or get in touch with old "characters" from ones past. Blogging was honestly something I had no knowledge about nor would have cared about, until a year ago when the sis-in-law, of a guy I was friends with, introduced me to this pop culture phenom. She showed me her blog and some others, and so I used her blog as a go-to, to check out others blogs. Wow! .... and then an idea! ...but how long it did take me from one link to another, to see if there might be someone I knew somehow from the past. Voila! I found Kristen via the cousin of the before mentioned sis-in-law. That was fun contacting Kristen and catching up on her vibrant collage of noteworthy life adventures. Kristen, who by the time we made it to high school had fallen into the WHERE HAVE THEY GONE category of people who you go to school with for years and then when summers faded away, and school starts again, their gone too! ...and when you've noticed their absense, ya kinda wondered what exciting place did they get to run away to, 'cuz you're stuck in class next to the smelly guy at math period.

So again, link to link checking some more, I had one person in my mind and I kept searching. Then I found a common blog that so many seem to read. I found my next door neighbors blog, her friends blog, this and that blog, my old gymnastic instructors daughter's blog and so forth. Wow, this blog world was a ride down memory lane..though we moved away from the real Memory lane in Holiday in '01. (ha ha) I saw her name, and I swear I checked it and it wasn't her. But "goofer" that I am,(heh I'm loaded down with too much info 'cuz of school and mommy dome), I really must not have actually looked at the name link as I thought I had. And to add insult to my distractability, she has an uncommon name, so that gave me a huge chance that if her name was on someone's name list, that it would be her. Plus one always runs a good bet of having that 6 degree of separation due to the small circles of the "mormon" world. I noticed that Kristen lived in the northwest part of the world, and again knowing how small "mormon" circles are, I asked her if she knew Vanessa. Yep, she did. My friend Vanessa. Vanessa and I were always trying to cause mischief @ university and when she took off on a mission, she used to love it when I would call her in the middle of the night (right!-ha ha) "Hi Vanessa". "KATHERINE!!!!"

So the world just got a little smaller and we get to exchange Christmas cards again! Yipee, since the last card I sent came back. So kudos to Karen for introductions to her blogging list. Which begat my blog entrance, which begat my introduction to Andrea's cute blog and her list(V. and Andrea know each other too). From which begat Kristen's, to where that blog begat my finding someone else's pedestal blog and begat the last piece of the puzzle, a significant find, my friend Vanessa. It's Christmas time, so the biblical timeline seems applicable

Now on to my next reflection. For years I have thought about getting in contact with those who had been highly influencial on me as a youngster...whether it be school, extra-curricular etc. I wanted to write them a letter letting them know. I think it is important to let people know that you appreciate what they did for you in your life. I ran into my old English teacher@ the gym a few years ago, Mrs Bester, I told her. My conversations with V. thus far have hopefully been a reality of what our friendship meant to me and hopefully will continue to get stronger and expand over the years even while our fam's right now are priorities.

Then there was Shayne. She was my gymnastic coach. I saw her several times a week for 4 to 5 years. She was perfect to me, inside and out. She was fun to be around and she would take us on little excursions from time to time. (I get to claim that I rode around w. her in S. Young's old jalopy of a car, before he was famous and made millions) She introduced all of us young girls to the world of fantasy, whimsical weddings when she had hers up at Sundance, with la creme de la creme of society, it seemed. Plus, I will spit on my hand and swear on my grandma's dead dogs grave, that she liked our small group of gymnasts the best of any she had. If any female "mentor" left a positive influence on my youth, it was her. And most of all, she was just plain kind to me. Well, in finding her relative, I was able to find out how to contact her. So this holiday season I intend to send her an "appreciation card" as such, letting her know her impact.

I look at what an incredibly warm and wonderful ward I live in now, and the potential of mentors to my own sons. I hope that they too, will look back someday and want to let someone who has played a positive role in their youth, know what they did for them. I am grateful for this time of year, where one takes extra pause of oneself through others.

Their is nothing like seeing our nation's tradition, of decorating for Christmas, as one drive's through the snow from house to house, street to street, city to town, town to city and then lastly from town to your town, to your street and then pulling up to your own winter wonderland creation. In a pondering manner, I'm allowed into the scene: a blinking of color here, at this home. A bright swag of crisp, clear icicle lights, at that home. The moon balmily overhead, a touch of soft snowy flakes and the sight of our own towns herd of (rein)deer moving absentmindedly, through the calm, deserted streets of our quaint picture-book, alpine town.

I am so grateful for my challenges and successes, the growth that it's given me and for the opportunity I am granted in raising two beautiful human beings (lady killers that they think they are too). This is the time of Christ, of past miracles and modern accomplishments. To all my friends and family, I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! See ya in 2009!

So, I took this test for my construction class. You choose 'Emotional Intelligence' test after you register. I was interested in seeing the results and I was glad I was what I was at. I think always trying to improve yourself (internally is the most important) is a necessity in life, as well as, an exciting adventure.

I just found out the London Royal Ballet is going to be performing @ the Y in February '09.

a Christmas chorus concert rundown

good job connorack man! I know it was hard singing in front of so many people but you fared it well. My favorite song was the last one with the colored flashlites. Seing and I laughed so hard, 'cuz we knew that the slow- to- catch- up red lite was yours. Shay and Amanda thought you looked handsome, and Amanda even commented on how your grumpy face let us know how much you wanted to be there. But alas, it is done and you will not get that "F" you felt doomed to get. So don't fret over your clumpy shoes you wore instead of your dress shoes as they accentuated your nice new slacks and your stylin' tie. You were one of many jewels in that crown of other 7th grader boys, who probably didn't want to be seen dressed up by girls from the school either. But again I am proud of you for going with the flow and doing it, even if, perhaps it was more mouth movement than actual vocal participation! Well done my boy.

Last class, of the last day, of the last part, of the semester!

SWOT....this is the last of it and I think I am on to the beginning of the rest of my life that will feed my passion and give me satisfaction in my professional life! It is such a great, peaceful yet exhuberant feeling to connect and make the right fit. Just like a good pair of driving gloves as one's tightly turning a corner in a pretty black Porsche. Here's to looking towards the future and seeing light at the end of the tunnel!

..a little soap box

....wow, wonder what good would have emerged in the world if he had put real value into his thought process on what to do with all the money he received from being an overpaid athlete. For some reason this makes me think of last Valentine when Connorack man broke his wrist and was in cast for a couple of months. As soon as they took of his cast, a huge scab from a cut that Connorack had gotten a few days before the break, fell onto the floor. It was big and he had been wondering about it for a while because he couldn't see what was going on with it since it was covered by the cast. So he picked it up off the ground, looked at it and thought it was kinda cool (in a gross boy kind of way) and then laughed and threw it into the garbage can. That's my analogy of this story. Where one overglorified athlete falls, he might get looked at again but he'll be tossed 'cause there are plenty more out there to choose from but still it is too bad he couldn't have done a lot more for the world as a whole. Apparently it's his loss, not the worlds.

..of course, it was love at first sight.

Heh sweeteyes,

Happy 13th birthday today.
I adore you and am honored to be your mum.

..to you, love me.

thanksgiving leftovers

seinge, "mom, how long will i have the flu." me:"i don't know." "well mom i still can't go to church." even though he is wide awake and cute and cuddle-buddle as always. "so can i go downstairs and play playstation then?"this is our conversation right now at 5 am in the morning after two days of throwups and montezuma's revenge. oh how we love those little viruses that wiggle thru and end up inside our bodies.

bubbles after r.e.m

to self read this: from dreams to the paper. uht oh, they put mind mapping in this article. mind mapping means for me that my little map of bubbles will go on and on and on and on, since everything that pops into my mind seems to open up a new channel leading from inside my primary source, the right side of my brain!

...christmas blues

..i'm kinda discouraged. I signed up for the http://www.lds.org/events/info/0,8197,726-1-679,00.html and http://www.lds.org/events/info/0,8197,726-1-677,00.html on the morning it was available to the public clear back in October. And with all the available nights and tickets, we didn't get chosen for either event. maybe its the advisary talking but it seems like it would be easier to get into Christmas Mass with the Pope at the Vatican then it is to get into a Mormon Temple Square event such as this.

the Chronicles of Narnia

...we did it, seingine and I just finished THE MAGICIAN'S NEPHEW. It was good. I never read that series as a kid. So I have never read any exerpt or article in regards to it, so I can say this without having been biased. And of course it is my opinion, so if it is not what the author intended, well then it is what I got out of it. It reminded me so much of reading a modern day work of mythology, mixed in with biblical analogy's: The creation of a new world. The Son of Adam etc. The evil in the new world. The silver apples on the Tree of Life. So now I understand how the wardrobe came to to the be. How exciting for the next book, the LION, THE WITCH and THE WARDROBE. Though, I did find out that this was actually his sixth book the series and written as a prequel to the L.W.T.W. I think cs Lewis was a medievalist, just like Dad. But I am not going to find out anything about him 'til after we're done with the series. I've found that lately when I know too much about an writer it tends to bias my opinion of their writing.

real bridges don't fall or move to arizona

So I did a report on Heavy/Civil construction that involved the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. Really fascinating stuff on the history of its creation. I love bridges. One of my fav bridges is this little one in Ambleside, England, that we actually visited and I bought a lilliput lane replica of the bridge. (at the link, click on enesco then Lilliput lane, then the catalog) It's a bridge with a tiny little bridge house on it where the keeper of the bridge lived with his big brooding family back in the old days..

Anyway, I was reading ENR magzn. and I ran across (not literally yet) a beautiful bridge. And it must be shared. Look at how elegant it is......up there, the Millau Bridge, France. The worlds tallest bridge, for now! India is building a taller bridge.

quaint little shops

So over the last few weeks when i've had the time, i've taken some little excursions to some of the fun boutique type shops in and around the 2 valley's. I wanted to check out what was what as far as holiday ambiance and gifts etc. So the best little unknown place that is a must visit is Broadbent's off downtown Lehi. http://www.broadbentstore.com/ I found them around 6 years ago, & it is a place of treasures. It takes you back to grandma's home. Kupie dolls. Fabrics gallore. So indeed a quilters haven. Madame Alexander dolls. A room of year round Christmas ornaments. Sundance suckers and more. Each season is dressed up at the appropriate time. Christmas is the best. You move from one room to another, to experience a different decorated style. Over the years we've bought almost the complete Bobsey Twins book series there. Mags and I loved that series growing up. Plus there are books and books of pop out paper dolls ...every little girl has got to try out playing with paper dolls.

Okay, then of course, I had to take a trip to the country christmas store and go see what was going on at Scrooge and marleys. again, it's hard to be disappointed when you go there. All the wonderful smells of candles make it warm and cozy. plus it's an old house full of crooks and crannies. I still think the customer service there is the PITS but it's a good store. grandma P. would have loved it. Hooked rugs, knitted rugs, wrought iron this and that. quilts and their old barn full of overstock, out of season and big furniture items.

....i've also checked out Hip and HUmble up on 7th and 9thish for the holiday season. They've combined with a clothing boutique. Fun stuff, but frankly I preferred there old location off of 21st and they're inventory seems more trendy than it used to.

Actually, I think Artichokes and Co. in sugarhouse is closer to what H&H used to be like. I think this was my first visit there, and it was sweet as sugar. the decoration of the store was decked out in white feathers hanging down gingerly from the ceiling. Maybe reminicent of icicles? They have some good girly gifts. Here's their link to see http://www.artichokesandcompany.com/artichokes/

..so many more shops to visit. still need to visit highland garden shop, and............ohh, ooh need to get to Modern Display, always has beautiful Christmas decorations...I did make it over to Modern Display....don't let their disappointing Christmas display on their front yard turn you off. Inside, they do indeed have some amazing Christmas trees that will only put you back a few thousand dollars. And oodles and oodles of ornaments. They also have the ever precious christopher Radko glass ornaments and they have authentic German Nutcrackers, so none of the junkie ones made in China. (no offense if that is what you prefer)

They seek him here, they seek him there......

.....they seek him here, they seek him there. Them Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven or is he in Hell, that damned elusive Pimpernel.

Last night I took the munches to see the Scarlet Pimpernel @ L.P.H. Connorack man did great. He caught on and I think he liked it. But Seingine was a grump and tried to pretend he didn't like even though I caught him laughing over Percy's effeminant ways. A fop he was indeed(Percy, that is). Seing kept begging to leave 'til I said "fine, let's go" and then he sang a different tune and wanted to stay! Go figure.

Anyway, the kids in the production did great. The costumes were astounding. This is definately a different generation. Those costumes were worth a lot of money no doubt. The lead who played Marguirite had an amazingly, theatre -trained voice, and there is no way she won't go somewhere with her voice. The lead who played Percy also had a well trained voice, but I think it is much harder to sing male parts. Those poor guys when they have to hit HIGH notes. So of course tonight we started watching Jane Seymours version of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Love that movie.

bridal shows revisted

http://www.dove.us/#/gofresh/Episodes.aspx/..this show is so cute

yes to good lawsuits

....kudos to the guy who is suing, 'bout time. Plus I don't understand how that company gets school records anyway??

...and what is it with all the big business' going "out of business"? today i passed mervyns, linen and things on my way to harolds. all three going out. i'm thinking it was a good thing i ripped my calf muscle and couldn't go back to work for mervyn's. i had actually asked the manager who hired me, if they were going out of business because i could tell they weren't getting the same merchandise thru their buyers that had been staples for years. it's that inner feeling on so many things, and it is amazing how right i turn out to be on things. it felt off then and now i see why....who know's what would have happened.

http://http//www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE4AD2V720081114

my homage to harold's--bye-bye

oh Harold's, what has happened!
you filed for one of those sections.
does thou not know the alternatives
that have been left to us your true loyalists!
there is oklahoma, texas, cali, utah, southern, northern and
many states between. Harold powells to many, to us
just Harold's. I should have noticed more
that the email's stopped short mid October.
And then today, such shock when the email said
"after 60 years we're going out of business."
you've been good to us over the years, catering and
friendly service. It is so fun to hear one's name with a bright
smile each time one enter's the shop from employee's.
Friendships have been made. "style's have come and style's have gone", but
as for you, you were a constant. But now, perhaps it's the economy,or perhaps it's just
time to let go. Any which way though, thank you for
the experience. Adeiu to an old southern charmer. Bye Harold's.
Love you, love me-kate


since I'm in poetry in my Lit. class right now, I'm trying it out.

no way, not k.c.!

i meant k.f.c.

The world according to two old, well traveled people..gramps and grams

Since we will probably never see the pics gramps took,unless I post them, here goes. I told dad to be sure and get a pic of the Little Mermaid and there she is! Hans Christian Andersens,Den lille havfrue in Copenhagen, Denmark.(click on title link) The other 3 pics are just of some other scenes from there visit to Sweden. I'll see if I can get some from Russia too. I don't recognize any of the other pics I got from them as being St. Petersburg. They stayed in luxury this time. Last time we were in Russia, we stayed at roach infested,"don't drink the water, mafia-running type facilities. Them's was BIG ROACHES Too! Remember Mags!

The candlelight meals in africa.

This is what Seingines school was doing last week. See it is all up to the children of the world. http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=4734398 and see this also. Dakkon is in this pic...http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/287145/79/

i am so excited about auto cad. never thought i would be.http://www.dwell.com/homes/green/25562969.html?page=2

Thank you laura, I loved the tv series too.

In my paper today on Residential Green Construction, I actually got to add kind of a fun little exerpt into one the paragraphs. I wrote of how building from the past was created on knowledge, skill and the environmental surroundings of those making their structures. And, I used the sod roof houses of the mid west 1800's as an example. That (ie:) would be from Laura Ingalls Wilders', Little House of the Prairie series which I read religiously when I was a young lass. Yes, Little House on the Prairie has now been incorporated into a modern day college construction management class research paper. So Connorack Man and Seingine, all the 20 plus times that the two of you have managed to read Diary of a Wimpy Kid/, (from our 2nd grader to 3rd grade and our fifth grader holding strong as a standby if a Calvin and Hobbes book is not available, well into his 7th grade), well then, you just might be able to slide it in as a reference someday when you're in your college Renaissance Art class. Ha, ha!

...i so wanted to go hear the gen contrctor for the fallingwater house preservation projecthttp://www.fallingwater.org/106/live-view when he was in slc. i missed it. i missed pres. uchtdorf on campus last week too. missed opportunities. But on moments gained, i did get to see alpines halloween parade, w. seingine and i got to see ainsley right after she got her little ears pierced. so cute. Then there was today, when Connorack man got all excited that he was finally getting another opportunity to interact w. the kids in this new ward by going around for fast offerings in our big huge rain storm that we had this afternoon. It was great seeing him smile. Plus thanks, to the boys mom that he walked around with, who gave him a hot bowl of chilli after they were done. And then today, when I walked the boys to their primary and sunday school classes, and when we opened the doors, both boys were greated with echoing shouts of their names from the other kids in their classes, that made me smile. Real life moments! plus, i found taylor, who i used to bbsit when i was a youin', along with her bro, parker and sis, hayley, online. Taylor is so cute. I babysat her and her sibs, basically every other weekend from when she was 6 months old until I got married.

narcasist abound..my pop culture word of the year

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070418072704.htm He is so elegantly beautiful. Amazing that they are almost gone due to the natural man. I was always sad back in gradeschool when they talked of extinct animals. I always said that someday I would be excited when I got to see a passenger pigeon. Someday.

Also, here is a link to a 60 min piece http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/26/60minutes/main4546199.shtml that I think is very important to watch. It is amazing how the history of civilization keeps repeating itself over and over......

stirred not shaken, or driven not starred at

Dad, this one's for you.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/3240226/James-Bonds-car-collection.html

"oh the places you'll go!"

I want to go here:


Warsaw, Poland and Budapest, Hungary.

what i do when i've got a cold

"Ideas are the roots of creation."
-Ernest Dimnet

The top 100 most powerful women in the world. http://www.forbes.com/business/2007/08/28/biz-07women_all_slide_60.html?thisSpeed=30000

So, Connorack came home from school via the Peppermint place candy shop, with gelato in hand. An hour later, he had Seingine in tow, and they were off to the http://www.kencraftcandy.com/Peppermint shop for a 1st time trip for the latter kid and a second go around of gelato, for the former kid. It takes them 3 mins to scooter over to the shop. They are lucky I don't feel so great today. They are getting away with a kids sugar covered heaven because of it!

the connorack man's fav pop culture for the moment

http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/TheKillers/Human-- 202026589;_ylt=AqGUoISFm2jK2HGShEus20XesyUv
click on the Title of this posting to link to the music. And this ain't your mama's muzak!

hungry girls healthy cooking savors

HUNGRY GIRL'S TOP ATE 10.28.2008 by http://www.hungry-girl.com/index.php
TOP ATE Calorie-Saving Cooking Swaps!
1.
Nonstick cooking spray instead of oil (for stovetop cooking)
2.
Canned pumpkin instead of eggs & oil (for baking)
3.
Light vanilla soymilk instead of milk or cream
4.
Fat-free liquid egg substitute instead of eggs
5.
No-sugar-added applesauce instead of butter
6.
Ground-beef-style soy crumbles instead of ground beef
7.
Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granular) instead of sugar
8.
Butternut squash instead of potatoes
Today, October 28th, is National Chocolate Day.

the press biased, imagine that?

wow, the credit is theirs. Here goes... http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081028/pl_politico/14982

a toast to purity of acting

So, I am up after 4 hours. Interesting concept that has worked before. I hurry and go to sleep, as soon as I am really exhausted. Then I set my alarm quite early and somehow my body, seems to wake up extra early. Luckily, for the most part I am alert and feel good. Now I get the priviledge of writing a theatrical paper.

Fortunately, for my want of good dreaming, I chose not to go see "NOSFERATU" about vampires. Instead, I went with my cute neighbor to Hale Theater haletheater.org and we saw AIDA. It was the musical, not the opera. It has been too long since I have been to a live theatrical performance. And, these type of performances, are what true acting is about. It pulls you into the scene and makes you part of the setting.

The way the theater is set up, in a round circle, gives the actors a 360 degree stage. It gave me a slight kinked neck. But, it also is such a small venue, that you have such an intimate relationship to the whole production. It was a fun production. Now I will have to see it again, in a bigger playhouse someday. Tim Rice and Elton John writing a muscial together. I knew it would have to be something quirky with those two and it was just that. I was thinking it had to be similar in style to Jesus Christ Superstar. And, yep that is what it reminded me of...very contemporary and colorful. However, if you had to die, with your lover, I do think being buried alive together in a tomb, in Ancient Egypt, is a bit harsh. But, then again, they could have been alone. Suffication, almost as bad as alone at sea, surrounded by sharks. No that's much worse, the sharks. EEEK!

I have been to so many great performances. There was performances at the Royal Shakespeare Theater in Stratford upon Avon, where we saw Much Ado about nothing. It was an amazing performance, where in one brilliant impromptu, the actor playing Claudio sneezed. Then all of a sudden someone in the audience sneezed, so the actor instead of ignoring the sneeze from the audience, pulled the noise into the scene. His comment was "it's quite catching, isn't it". That, of course made us, the audience, all apart of the play. Everyone loved it and all were laughing in that surreal moment.

I saw Ian mcKellan, as King Lear in London, before he was known for not much more than the Scarlet Pimpernell in the U.S.. I got to see Midsummer's night dream, surrounded by the animals of the London Zoo. An outdoor theater is an extra enhancing experience. And professional acting companies are incomparable, as well as, extrordinary.

So now with all these thoughts, I get to complete my paper. Break a leg, right!

my thoughts, your thoughts and visa versa.

"Much that is inexpressible would be hardly worth expression, if one could
express it" (Lichtenberg)

....my sentiments on life exactly. That statement, just goes to prove that if you have thought it, someone else has or will, too.

The Boys of Fall 2008

Here's all the young boys I was with last weekend. Uncle Bob is 70, and he took his rode bike and did the whole 50 miles around the lake last saturday. You are the man! When I'm 70, I hope to be leaving all the other 70 year old riders in the dust too! Plus, we've got gramps, Connor, Sean, Kalton, and Ethan all in the pic. After spending the weekend with 4 always, overly- competitive, never- sit- down for more than 3.2 seconds, kind of boys, who never forget to punch each other or wrestler every 10 seconds,....All I can say is, I was glad to go back to school this week. That's when my vacation started.

Le Tour de Connorack Man

The biggest change would be how handsome and adventurous Connor gets by the year. Who could ask for a better tour guide. When he grows up he wants to be just like Bear Greir. Then he'll be able to carry his knives everywhere, build shelters out of nature and eat gross bugs, when needed!

The land of Falling Down House, otherwise known as, Bear Lake country.

Scenery along the trail we took up canyon. Looking out at Bear Lake from the cabin last wknd. Fall is about over there. I haven't been to the cabin in exactly one year. Still the same, serene, beautiful place.

.
Old barn on road up canyon, with Bear lake in back ground

the lovers are losing....sounds like a Thomas Hardy novel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_8WfLbnVek their last album was one of the best in this decade in British Pop. And it beats out most of the stuff coming thru the altrntv/modern routes here. Says me. Though in no way should one consider it Pop, in the sense that we call Pop (U.S. music), Pop here in the U.S.A. Plus, don't confuse the use of the word Pop, as we call it here in Utah. Pop, slang for soda pop! Did ya catch that. Keane is the Elvis of british bands. They take over where ColdPlay couldn't expand due to elitis m. Anyway, the boys like to listen to keans tunes while tackling their toone cousins. So that's saying enough right there!

"in thine own self be true" or "truth will set you free"

Wow! I had an epiphany today, that will actually lay to rest a little bit of animosity I've harbored unknowingly. In other words, it turned out to be a bit of a therapy session in regards to my old English teacher from high school.

Second block started today, and I went to my English literature class. I have already met my english requirements but I needed another class, and I plan to take creative writing next semester too. So it continues. Side note to self: Maybe a double major or Integrated studies, just a thought.

Anyway, I was listening to my instructor after being a bit taken back by her introduction that her emphasis was poetry. What instantly came to my mind?

Instead of fondly remembering the romantics that I had studied while we lived in England; of artists who wrote as they lived in rose covered cottages and played about the magic of the lake district. Or, of course, there were the thatched roofs of Shakespere's Stratford-upon-Avon and half timbered homes that I could have looked back to inspire a nod to poetry. What about Paris and its art district. How many poets have strolled through the garden at Rodin's, or been truely awed by the melted and brillant colors at the L'Orangery, as Monet's gigantic murals gaze down upon you. They had all once penetrated my mind. Indelible strokes of artistry.

Nope, those memories did not surface. Panic hit fast and hard. My mind, instantly went back to my introduction to poetry in high school. The inductor was Mrs. M. She was my nitemare in high school. She was the upper division english teacher. I am sure my brothers were top students in her classes, but I wasn't. I was the antithesis of what she wanted and she let me know it, especially in poetry.

So with that wound surfacing today, I seriously thought of dropping the class. But then, a softer, glistening of suprise, subtly knocked my brain. My instructor made the comment that she despised those teachers from high school or of the teaching world, who told their students what the "true" meaning of a poem was to be... Instead of, allowing for ones own storming of ideas. She directly stated, that all poems are open to interpretation. That is their purpose. They are abstract. Ideas and feelings entertwined.

So I bravely raised my hand, and confirmed what I thought she had just said to us. I then confessed that I did not look upon poetry favorably and told her why. Though it was a long time ago, it had leeched into the depth of a developing teenage mind and stayed twenty years, until today. I was one of those who had been wrongly attacked in idea by a former teacher, my h.s English teacher.

In defense of those sensored in their growth, my prof called my former h.s. teacher a metaphorically, rude word and I felt exhonorated in my work and ideas! So "plehwy" to those along the way who have tried to stiffle anyone's creative thoughts. They are your talent, fight for them.

I don't know the author to the following, however,

"And the day came when the risk to remain, closed in a bud, became more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

note to selfhttp://www.blurb.com/

http://www.blurb.com/.......so now when I decide to put all of my little blogs short stories, this will be the one to find for the link on where to get it made into a book.

..that contest they made up on a cold winters night to see who could come up with the best scary story

...such great timing. Halloween and I need to write a theatre paper. What to see? I hate Dracula and vampire movies. My brothers used to make me watch the scary saturday matinees on tv back in the '80's. They were of old Dracula or Vincent Price 'B' movies. Nothing too much, just stuff like pouring sweet honey thru a hole onto an unsuspecting victim. Then sending bugs in thru the hole, to take care of the sweet nectar and anything else that might be near the syrup, like someones face!!!! Well, I have a love/hate relationship with Dracula because any guy named Gary Oldman who is Bram's Dracula is a hot vampire...oh course, it's knowing that Gary has that English accent coming through his slovic accent in the movie. ha ha
Anyway, I've got to see a production this week. And I think I am going to do the easy move and go to U.V.U's production of freakiness .....http://www.uvu.edu/theatre/events/eventsthree.html. Ugh, at the play though, I might have flashbacks to that freaky scene in 'Interview with a Vampire', where the audience unknowingly is watching freaky vampires do freaky stuff. Freaky, is the only word in my vocabulary right now that describes my freakish fright for Fall friday nites of fictional fables. Wouldn't it be kinda fun to get a fog making machine and tell freaky fables by the fire!

memory of a modern day jane austen scene

Of course being in a new place, I have to put my touch into it.....I am a bit of a mid -century/post modern lover of architecture and design ,with a twist of shabby chic thrown-in, for understated comfort.

So I visited Rachel Ashwell's web site http://www.shabbychic.com/. She gave a beautiful homage to her mum. She lived near Hampstead Heath, which is a beautiful area outside London, that you can take a bus ride to visit it. One of the places you can visit, that is, (of course), set in true English landscape is the Kenwood House. The gardens are beautiful. English Landscape Architecture at its finest. So the thought of Hampstead Heath sent me back in memory.

If you remember the scene in Knottinghill, the movie, where Julia Roberts is set in Victorian costume. Well, the big white estate in the background is Kenwood House. I remember seeing Gainsborough paintings there, how refined and gentile they looked.

I was supposed to go to a big classical concert there, when we lived in London. It was Tchaikovsky's 1876 overture, with the big cannon's at the end and they were to have fireworks as well. Sadly, I missed it. It was a big rainstorm and I didn't feel like going all the way out to Hampstead.

However, I was at Queen's Club watching a great match, though rain delayed. So, instead of the concert, I stayed at the tennis match. I was so torn. There was major consolation though, when at the young, impressionable and sweet age of 18, I got to sit next to an oh -so- very, dashingly- handsome, single, young 30ish in age man. When it started to sprinkle, he kindly offered to share his big english umbrella with me. Such an Englishman. ...with that accent, it gets you everytime.

That was long before Hugh Grant was ever known. This gentleman was more Cary Grant than Hugh Grant anyway. What a nice, romanticized memory. It was a modern day Jane Austen scene, if not for just a few hours.

...avec ruban toile

Seeing how I only have to compose my room for me, it is as feminine and romantic as I can be. So visiting Shabby Chic's website, linked me to some other Shabby lovers. No pun intended! haha .....anyway I found this site where I found a bit of an ode to ribbon. And of course my favorite ribbon is ruban du toile, ou toile du ruban, ou ruban toile. Je n'ai se pas, mais, j'aime toile! ...et mon fracais, c'est tres mal!

So what can you do with ribbon, you ask?

*use as a book mark

*wrap utensils with napkin

*create roses and flowers

*tie to your favorite pen

*wrap around guest towels

*create a ribbon doorway

*hang from a window or chandelier

*scrapbooking

*wrap around a jar

*fill a glass apothecary jar with ribbon

*tie to your childs backpack or lunchbox handle

*tie onto a door knob

*wear a pink ribbon to show your support in the fight against breast cancer

*make curtain tie backs

*tie around your favorite book

*braid them through your hair

*tie around a bouquet of dried flowers

*tie around the antenae of your car

*tie around cherished handwritten letters from your husband or children

credit for this list given to http://theoldpaintedcottage.wahmweb.com/store/WsDefault.asp?One=289 (2008)

up-for-24 hour stints, are made for twenty-year olds, amen.

...i am so bad. It's the middle of the night and I am doing a paper on Heavy Civil Construction. Procrastination?.. maybe! But the bad part is that I am letting myself be distracted by online tv episodes. So I have gotten to know all the shows I've never seen before. And I know that everyone out there is way too busy to watch mind numbing tv or it's not politically correct to admit it or something, but I am watching them. Though there is still always garbage mixed in, there is some pretty good writing on some of these shows. But maybe that is my mind trying to have company in the middle of the night while writing a research paper! By the time I get this paper in, I will have been awake over 24hrs. Yep, I am too old for this all niter stuff! I had better end up with a job that puts me into weird hours bcz my sleeping patterns are the pits.

The connerack man actually made it to a full day of school without being sick. Yahoo! his 4th full day in 3 weeks.

tales for the unsuspecting

UGhh!! ...what girl w. two-live wire male children goes back to university? answer:

me, miss crazy maud girl. And what women in her right mind chooses Cnstr Mngmt. answer:

me, again. It can be so intimidating, but I will keep pulling myself back and refocusing. Do not give up. It is about endurance. I am learning most things in life are about endurance.

The maud squad right now is in the midst of disorganized existance, yet slightly one half- step down from total chaos.

While driving and of course right when it is time for bed, the boys mouths open and out rush their words, as fast as a spring run off. So during such a drive, the Connerack man informs me that he luckily got to know his french and english teacher even better in 4 weeks than he got to know his principle of 4 years. I am at a loss on what that means. So that brought up one of our fav stories of the kids former principle:

Last year, Seingine was in 2nd grade and friends with the principle's son. I came home one afternoon to my boys, and was promptly told that the Connerack man was mad at Seingine. I was asked not to get upset at Seingine, of course by Seingine. Okay, what happened? Seing proceeds to explain that during the day, the princpl had come to spk w. his class. Seing knowing the prncpl pretty well bcz of his son, had then gone up to the prncpl after his talk and happily let the princpl know that his big brother,(the Connerack man) did not like him. And not only did he not like him, but he had made an outline of the prncpl's head (of styrofoam) and posted it on his wall. At this likeness of the prncpl, many, many airsoft balls had been shot at the target and it was well worn. (But, he also had some of the girls faces that Hen-picked him w.their bossiness x'd out from his class pic too.) So, he wasnt just picking on the princpl!

Poor Connerack man came home and told me that he caught the principle following him all day long. He stated that he was beginning to feel quite paranoid as to the fact. And at some point he was pulled him the princpls office, and asked by prncpl, what he could do better as a principle for the CM. Poor kid! I asked Seing why he went out of his way to tell the princpl about CM's fun target?...and his response was that he wanted to see what would happen to the Connerack man. Poor kid! I can't imagine what kind of pranks they will play on each other as they get older. I don't do the story justice, but it was so funny then and still is funny today.

It must have been catching because 2nd graders taking on 6 graders became their theme. The boys then preceeded to tell me a new story of how boys will be boys.

So again at school, the Connerack man and his buddies decided to put a KICK ME sign on one of their friends. They then managed to get anothr sign on him that said HARD. So out of the blue, some little 2nd grader comes up and kicks the kid HARD! Oh course surprised and baffled, he wants to know what is up? Then he is shown the sign by the 2nd grader. All the buddies bust out laughing. And the little 2nd grader is lauded as a little stud for being so brave to go up to a 6th grader and kick hard. Now as I remember, if this had been a bunch of little girls, it would be seen as passive/aggressive. But, those boys, all of them thought it was the funniest thing that day, including the kid who was the butt of the joke for a day! You have got to hand it to the "boy" mentality.

Boys are the funniest creatures ever. They drive me nuts. They thrive on getting me into hysterical laughter or total frustration. And they love their mum and they are going to be unbelieveable men. Most fortunate for me. I am so lucky to be their mum! ....and many have concurred.

organization s.o.s

Okay so being the professional (to a certain degree) horder of some 'things' is hard to deal with. Call it A.D.D or due to some tramatic incident or emotional feelings or perfectionism or what, I am honest with myself that I have been that way since early childhood. My brain gets all jumbled up on how to solve clutter. I want things to be perfect from every minute detail.

However, learning to let go and simplify, simplify, simplify is hard but good. good sites are out there to help. One such site Flylady. http://www.flylady.net/index.asp It's great. .. or http://www.getmyselforganized.com/I've read some really good ideas. And that's one of the problems. What ideas may sound easy or "DUh" to most, somehow are lost to me until I can have them pointed out in precise detail. But I can pick apart things to the smallest detail in ideas or a blank canvas and create something. But organizing is so difficult for my overimaginative brain. I am so right brained.

Here's Yvette's take on kids and chores: ' It teaches them basic life skills so that they can care for themselves when they leave home.
- It teaches them consideration for others.
- It teaches them responsibility.
- It teaches them that their parents are not their personal servants.
- It teaches them to appreciate what you do for them.
- It gives them a sense of pride and is good for their self esteem.
- It teaches them a basic work ethic.
- It gives them a sense of belonging.
- It brings the whole family closer together.
- In encourages them to take pride in their own home.'

yvette langmaid-buttery from Get Myself Organized Newsletter 31st March 2008

Again, this can be so hard at times, but I'll keep working along on it all.

the boy that could be stumped

Our new neighbors, (we're actually the new neighbors) have a daughter the same age as my 7th grader. The kids in the neighborhood have all been so friendly, so much so that, I actually met them before the boys did. So when I was outside talking with my cute neighbor friend, her daughter, who I had spoken w. many times since she had introduced herself, kept disappearing inside the house. Then I noticed my son coming in and out of the picture. My neighbor noticed it too. She said her daughter was a little timid around new boys. Then she told me in front of the Connerack man, that all her daughters' friends keep calling asking for the scoop on the new cute boy at school. The neighbor mom then said, she's told them to go visit him with a plate full of cookies.

Connor was dumbfounded!!! It's pretty funny when you have him stumped.

Oh, the teenage boy/girl thing is coming in for a big landing. Guaranteed he is eating up this new found world of boy meets girl in junior high!!!

it's starting, that holiday feeling, it's in the air

I've been pulled into the holiday tidal wave already. But that is okay because once Halloween is upon us, there is no turning back. The days will then keep going by, faster and faster. So, I have been brain storming. You'll have to try to follow my mind path here.

I have to go to some live performances for my Intro to Theatre class. The Connorack man also has to see a couple of live performances for his 7th grade choir class. We both have to do papers on them.

Then from that point, my mind is all over on making up fun Halloween yard decorations...which leads to more holidays..etc. and so between those idears, I'm led to ballet. Mix that with holidays and....I love to see Christmas ballets. Of course the Nutcracker. I say every year that I'm going to take the boys. We've yet to go. This year is a must, unless it's some weird modern take on the classic. But I remember one year when I got to see both the Nutcracker and Babes in Toyland. I used to love dressing up and going to the productions in downtown SLC. I remember seeing the b/w movie when I was a kid, and it's one of those vague but cozy memories from childhood. So I went online to see if any productions in Utah this year. Yep, the Childrens Theatre in SLC. And sure enough The New York TIMES /http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/3542/Babes-in-Toyland/trailers decides to write an article about it posted today's date. What timing!!! Plus it's Laurel and Hardy.

.....just to sound my little political horn after being sick for years of left wing political b.s'ers in the journalistic world touting their arrogant and egotistical attitudes. And then after reading some person's blog abt her feeling inspired by B.O, I must be silent no more! Not to sound sacreligious, but B.O comes off to me like most of my seminary teachers. Oh I am bad but I felt most of them were part hypnotic and part car salesman. Pushing their agenda's. Please, it was evident back in the previous election when this young, newly elected official gave an opening speech for the previous Democratic Presidential hopeful, that he was being showcased as the new wonderboy. This fledgling man was waking up the dead in his floundering party. And so there began the start of his campaign to become the President for his party. ha!!! I am not sure what is inspirational about a robot, a product of his own narcistic party!

bonkers!!! no other word needed to describe.....

Did I mention my kids are driving me bonkers right now! They are just on a wild ride right now. I can't quite get them to be nice to each other and I do not like it. Especially my 7th grader! He had to change schools after 3 weeks. He absolutely loved his first jr high and now he seems so much more somber about school. I feel guilty!

However, our neighborhood is so wonderful. Kids are all over outside playing. The kids is our last neighborhood, which was a cul-de-sac, rarely were outside as a big neighborhood group. When I was growing up we always were outside. Those were the funnest times. Don't you all remember some good times in your neighborhoods growing up? Funny how Alpine is just so different than Highland, yet the two cities melt into each other at points. It is so small, and quaint here. Love it! But off course, it is all about what you make it!

It only takes us 7 mins. to walk to my sis' house so all the boys can rough house together. And Seingine can scooter to the door of his classrm at school in 4 mins flat. As my sister pointed out, it actually is kind of a neat experience for your child to be able to walk to school so accessibly.

in a new chapter, complete with cottage living

So we are back renting after 5 years of not. I bet everyone is so jealous right!! ha ha. Today I met the owner. He pulled up in his elegant Lexus. We talked. I like him. He used to be a contractor in Alpine/Highland for 30 yrs. Now he lives down in St.George. I think he appreciated the fact that I am a landscape nut. My bragging rights- He of course commented on how the yard looked better than it had in a long time since I've been there. Which is barely a month. Thank you. We honestly have one of the most gorgeous views. We are so close to the mountain, and the Fall colors are so vibrant this year. Reds and oranges just POP off of the mountainside. You have got to love Utah's falls!!!

ideas abound

Write a letter to your younger self, give inspiration through your experiences....ooohhh even better add to it a letter to each of your kids. Save it and mail it to your children as adults right before they turn the age you are now.

Wow! I'm not sure what I did, but maybe I figured this process out after starting a blog last winter. That was 2007. We'll see what will happen.

I got to talk to one of my most favorite people of all times today 9.11. I am so glad that I found you, Vanessa. You made my birthday by calling me!