Enough!

I just want to record the fact that it snowed this morning, and it snowed again at about 1:30 this afternoon, and it's April 29th! 

Royal Reality Show

We don't have TiVo and can't DVR so I went to bed thinking if I woke up and felt like it I would get up and watch the wedding.  I did wake up at 2 and spent the next hour fussing in my mind about a couple boys in my class.  That seemed like it wasn't working, so I decided to get up at 3 and turn on the TV.  I saw everyone arriving for the first hour, then the wedding, then the carriage ride, and then the balcony scene.  I loved it!  It was comfy on the couch, quiet, and I was all alone.  I thoroughly enjoyed every hat, custom, and comment.  I don't know why, but I did.  I'm glad I got up and watched William and Katherine and the wedding of the century.  Tonight I wanted to watch all the Entertainment Tonight and 20/20 shows for a few more tidbits, but Terry thought Dr. Oz (stomach noises and gas) and the Channel 12 News at 9:00 was a better idea.  Really?  It just made me appreciate the beauty of the morning solitude more.

Reality Hurts

It's been a hard week for me with my reality TV addictions.  The cowboys, Jett and Cord, were the last to arrive and it hurt Phil to say it, but they were eliminated from The Amazing Race.  Then last night the amazing Kasey was sent home from American Idol.  He really is amazing, just crazy, jazzy and misunderstood.  Now I have thrown my allegiance behind racer Zev (somewhere on the autism spectrum) and his best friend who's name I can't remember, and the rocker James (with tourettes syndrome).  Weird that my favorites are both a little weird.  I also watched The Voice and a really liked it.  I didn't think I would and I didn't want to, but I'm going to have to deal with another reality show.

The View from the Window

My class was in the computer lab yesterday taking a language ISAT test.  Everyone was quiet, focused, and on their best behavior, even the two boys in the back that take their test in at another time.  They just had to sit at the back and read books.  All of a sudden the cloudy weather started getting loud.  Thunder.  One of the boys asked if he could sit by the door and look out the window.  Pretty soon the second boy was sitting by the door looking out the window.  There wasn't any lightning, just an empty blacktop, and gray clouds.  They sat for 15 minutes looking out the window like it was a movie screen.  It paid off.  Suddenly the skies exploded with a ferocious hail storm that was even more impressive in the portable with a metal roof.  Actually the whole room of test takers exploded.  Good thing hail storms don't last long.  After a joyous two minutes we got the test takers back on task, and the two boys spent another 20 minutes just looking out the window; empty blacktop, gray clouds.

Easter Service

If you only go to church twice a year, you wouldn't want to pick Easter at our church - not this year.  It's different having Stake Conference on Easter, especially when it's a broadcast from Salt Lake.  We had some technical difficulties at our building, so we ended up having to stay after conference to take care of the stake sustainings and business.  The talks were good, but the studio where they were broadcasting from was pretty barren.  I thought they could have set out an Easter lily maybe.  I also would have liked a musical number.  I think President Uchtdorf would have too.  He ended up with so much time, he had to come up with a lot of filler.  I was entertained by the two boys next to me.  They spent about 30 minutes playing blackjack.  It's the first time I've seen kids play cards during church.  It kept them very quiet.

You've Been Egged

Yesterday my family met and egged my nieces house.  Her little family was away at the time, and we came with bags of candy filled plastic eggs.  When they had been hidden all over the yard, we gave them a call.  My nephew's little family arrived from Twin Falls at the exact same time.  We only had four kids to do all the egg hunting, and one of them helped hide the eggs too.  It was a fun for all!

We had plenty of adults, beautiful weather, and everyone's favorite potluck lunch.  Mom made cupcakes, Dad brought the ham and made his own deviled eggs.  Kim made potato salad and brought a jar of dilly beans.  Nan brought rolls, veggies and the Kaiserman dill dip.  I made the frog eye salad.  There were chips, sodas, and plenty of Easter candy.  It was a great way to start a new picnic season.

Artistic Endeavors

There was an art show at my school last night.  We really have quite an amazing program.  The halls were covered with black paper and tables draped in black.  Orchestra and piano students took turns playing classical music, the PTO members were dressed up in evening wear, and hors d'oeuvres were served.  Art moms teach about different artists and cultures.  Everyone recently had lessons on African and Egyptian art.  I posted a few (8 or 9) of my favorites, but there were so many different projects, I think I need to start a new blog just to save art ideas for kids.

Olé!

I bought these at a silent auction because I wanted to make a crochet pattern.  One outfit was on a mini bottle of tequila, but everything is one size fits all so I put it on a bottle of Tabasco instead.  I'm going to go into production so that I'll be ready for Christmas.  Everyone gets enough fudge and cookies.  I'm giving something Mexican with little sombreros and a Feliz Navidad tag.  If only my friends and ward members were drinkers.  Mini bottles of tequila and some limes would be easy.  I'll have to figure out something with Cholula sauce, or give them frozen taquitos.

I Love Mac and Cheese

I read Joy the Baker's blog and when she makes something without butter and sugar she says, "Get your healthy pants on."  Well, I got my healthy pants on and tried the sneaky chef's mac and cheese.  I used whole wheat macaroni, a puree of zucchini and steamed cauliflower, rice milk, lowfat cheese, and a crumb topping with wheat germ and Earth Balance (a vegan butter substitute).  It was good.  It wasn't creamy like Stouffer's, but we liked it.  We liked having our healthy pants on.

I Want Signatures

I turned in my first set of referendum petitions on Thursday; twenty signatures each.  I got most of them at the regional elementary track meet.  There was a table at our Art Show last night at school, but I wasn't able to go, and I didn't take them to the ward Easter egg hunt.  But I do keep them handy.  I always have some at school, at home, and in the car.  I also have recall petitions.  It will be a couple months of signature gathering.  My goal is 200, so I better start walking the neighborhood, get a sign, and maybe a card table to set up at sporting events.

Explosion of Blossoms

The trees around town are blossoming.  Each day that I drive to work, the landscape has changed.  It's new and fresh.  I like the spring blossoms better than fireworks.  They're softer.  Quieter.  They smell better, and they don't scare the neighborhood dogs.  You have to soak in the beauty quickly though, because blossom season is pretty short.  I'm hoping for three good weeks with soft breezes, light rain, and no frost.  I'm soaking it in.

For the Birds

My favorite thing about the coming of spring, is the return of the birds.  A couple weeks ago I started hearing birds in the morning.  It's a great way to wake up.  I love laying in bed with the window cracked opened, just listening to the birds waking up the whole earth.

Someday I'll be a birdwatcher.  It will be my hobby and I'll know a lot about it.  Once I took the cub scouts out to watch birds, and we had a birdwatcher come with us and share her expertise.  The only thing I learned was that they have a label, LBB, which stands for unidentifiable little brown birds.  There are a lot of sparrow type birds that are referred to as LBBs. 

There were two LBBs looking for a nesting spot on my front porch.  They were very sweet looking.  The next day I brought home my hanging baskets from school, because I think they make great homes for LBBs,  where their eggs are safe and protected.  Hopefully a pair will decide to build in one.

Driving home over the Park Center Bridge on Saturday evening, we saw a great blue heron flying overhead, with a nice sized fish flapping in its bill.  He was probably returning to his nest to share dinner with his wife.  It was quite a sight. 

What I Learned in Church

I need to repent.  One of the speakers said, "You only live once, so do it right."  I immediately start thinking of names of people (in my own family) who need to hear this.  I think of others that aren't doing it right.  I never relate the sermon to myself.  I often hear something in church, nod my head, and know right away somebody else that it pertains to.  I realized yesterday that there are plenty of things in this life that I'm not doing right.  I'm not making the best choice, or even the right choice.  Sometimes I just make the easy choice.  Most of all though, I need to quit thinking of others, judging others, and take care of my own issues.

Weather and Whether or Not

The weather guy, in a purple shirt, on channel 12, mentioned the possibility of gropple last week.  I had to look that up.  I finally found a mention of "sleet/snow, without feet" - huh?  It was on a website about fun weather.  I'm not sure what it is, but I don't think it's a term that's going to catch on, and I don't think a meteorologist should use it.

In the paper this week there was a letter to the editor about TV weather reports.  The writer took exception to channel 2 using the phrase "precision forecast".  They didn't find the weather reports to be precise.  They were also irritated with Larry Gephart showing the seven day forecast and saying "where your weekend is always in view".  With seven days showing, there has to be a weekend in there somewhere.  I would have to agree with both complaints.

I had root beer float  - yummy.

It was snowing again Saturday morning (or perhaps it was gropple).  Terry had been planning to mow the lawn!  He put something on it back in February, and it does need to be mowed.  By 5 o'clock the sun was out and the lawn was dry.  Terry looked out the window for quite a while, deciding whether to mow or not.  In the end we decided to go to Blue Cow instead. 

Tri-Track Meet

It's track season at school.  Last Thursday was our first meet with Adams and Grace Jordan.  We always host meets at Trail Wind because we have a nice big field.  The down side is that we're not close to any other schools, and it's always 10 degrees colder and windy in Columbia Village.  Usually the volunteers wear parkas and gloves at the first meet.  Rain is always possible.  Snow was in the forecast.  In the end we had pretty nice weather.  I saw a couple heavier jackets and two people in gloves, but I was fine in a hoodie, and you didn't feel too sorry for the kids in shorts.

I'm a fan of elementary track meets.  They're a little loose.  You don't measure the distances too exact, nobody knows anything about form, and there are always some athletes competing in jeans.  Everyone gets a ribbon and the kids are just happy - running wild.  Anything can happen at these meets.  Ty was always short, but he went to City both years in the standing long jump.  You'd think a person would need longer legs.

Not everyone noticed, but Coach Pete was in attendance.  He has a son in 5th or 6th grade at Adams.  I think it's pretty cool that he left spring football camp to watch his son's track meet.  I helped with the soccer throw, one of the field events.  The Peterson kid came in 3rd place.  Kyle (Mo), who took first place, threw the ball 20 feet farther than anyone else.  He's such a nice guy.  He just said, "I had the wind with me."  He did, but so did everyone else.  I don't think he realized that.

Leaning Toward Veganish

I watched Oprah this week where she challenged everyone at Harpo to go vegan for 1 week.  The vegan expert said her husband ate vegan at home, but chose fish and eggs when he went out to eat.  She encouraged people to lean in to veganism; one day a week without meat, buy some substitute products, try some recipes.

That's about where I am.  We only eat meat a couple times a week.  Terry drinks rice milk.  I just bought a vegan butter substitute.  I also bought tofu, and I'm trying recipes from the sneaky chef that include vegetable puree in almost anything.

I know I need to eat different to be healthier, feel better, age better, and maintain a better weight.  I find it helps (but it's hard) to eat 4 cups of vegetables and 2 medium fruits everyday.  If I do, I make better choices all day.  When I was dieting, I had to add a couple servings of protein every day - usually meat.  I've found if I eliminate the meat, then I need carbs.  That's not good.  Since I'm not fond of cooked vegetables, or soups, I end up with no warm food.

I'm going to keep leaning toward being veganish by trying more recipes, eating meat sparingly, and trying more substitutes.  I think I need to check labels better and buy more local and organic things.  It will be a big life shift, but I'll lean in slowly.

That being said, I just bought a new Taste of Home Potluck Favorites cookbook.  I think 95% of the potluck favorites have either cheese or sugar in them.  They all look great!

Butler and Boise

I was hoping for a Butler victory - an exciting game like the Boise Fiesta Bowl victory.  Comparisons had been made between Boise football and Butler basketball.  Comparisons had been made between their coach and Coach Pete.

I watched the first half, which was unbelievably slow, but I was still hoping.  I watched about five minutes of the second half, then it wasn't fun any more.  I went upstairs to check email and listened to Terry say, "Another missed shot!  Missed again!  Missed again!"  It was a sad game - nothing like Boise football.

Opposite of Too Much Information

Car is stuffed.

 Ty drives me crazy.  I love him to pieces.  I pray for him day and night.  He left last September, with his all his belongings in the Corolla, seeking residency in Oregon, where the best Ultimate Frisbee teams play.  I remind myself every week, that when I went away to school, and when I went away married to California, my mom would call every now and then to say, "Just checking.  We haven't heard from you in a month."  Back then we wrote letters - long distance phone charges were too much.  My mom sent a letter every week.  When she didn't hear back in a month, she'd call and check.  I was always just having a great time, busy, independent, and thoughtless.  Now it's payback.

Eugene apartment

Ty  never e-mails, never sends a text, never calls.  When I do hear from him, there's never enough information.  For example, yesterday he sends an email asking for insurance information because he needs to talk to an eye doctor.  That's it.  He had just returned from an tournament in Walla Walla, so I'm thinking that a Frisbee has hit him in the eye and perhaps he has a detached retina or something.  I leave a message on his phone and send an e-mail.  Today I get this three line response:
Mom haha I got your voicemail.  My eye is getting better by the day, swelling is going down, I just wanna see if eyesight has gotten worse.

What does that mean?!!  He drives me crazy.

Going, Going, Gone

Bye bye

Terry has been cleaning up the Forester, waiting for spring weather to arrive.  On Saturday he placed an ad on craigslist and had three calls.  On Sunday all three came to look at it, and two were ready to buy.  On Monday the first caller took the car to his mechanic, then took Terry to Capital Educators, and drove away with the Forester.  I'm mourning.  I never drove it up to Bogus, or took it on a Christmas tree hunt, but it did drive great in the snow, and it did haul some teenagers to a couple Ultimate tournaments.  I might get another Forester in a few years, when I have time to go skiing, and maybe a place to stay up in the mountains.  Right now, Terry's all excited for the car hunt.  He's looking for a Corolla, which will be perfect for going to and from work, and to the grocery store.

Devoted to Terry

It's no secret that Terry does not like Nedee.  She's hairy, dirty, fat, and scratches.  I realize that she has some issues stemming back to being abandoned when she was only a few months old.  She didn't learn some of the cat basics, and she does have a weight problem, but I really love her.  I'm so glad that she has us to take care of her.  She's so pretty, and quiet, and easy to live with.  It's just funny that she is totally devoted to Terry.  He doesn't feed her, he talks mean to her, and he chases her out every time she scratches, but there's something about him that she likes.  A good part of the day she sits on a cushion that allows her to look out the window, but as soon as Terry comes in and sits on the couch, she moves and lays down on the floor right by him.  They both stretch out together.  She never comes to lay down by me, just him, every time.

Channel 2 News - Super Serious

I've been hanging around a lot this past week and the local newscasts just repeat what little news they have.  Sometimes when we really can't take it any more, we watch channel 2 or channel 12 news, which are pretty entertaining on many levels.  I was listening the other day when the broadcaster from channel 2 interrupted the scripted story with a breaking news bulletin about a car accident that had just taken place off of Chindon, but there were "no super serious injuries" reported.  They were going to continue with updates later in the broadcast, but apparently there was nothing to report.

Spring Break Report Card

Moccasins for Huds

Barely passing.  I came down with a sore throat on the first day of Spring Break.  I've been sick the whole week.  Today I finally feel better, not good, but pretty okay.  When I look at my plans, I see how much didn't get done.  I have hours of work today before my report cards are finished.  The Primary newsletter hasn't been started, but this week is conference so I have a reprieve.  My house did not get a good spring cleaning, more just a lick and promise.  I didn't get a blanket made, but I finished a skirt that I had started last fall, and it fits better now.  I spent one day sewing a top, which in the end was a disaster.  I tried 3 new recipes and 2 of them I'll use again.  I finished 5 books!  I had started all of them sometime last winter.  I also made one cute pair of slippers.  Hopefully they'll fit Huds.  I didn't get to see family or friends, no lunches, movies, or a little get-away.  But I did make it to Blue Cow for a medicinal frozen yogurt, and I didn't have to write any lesson plans for a sub, so I think I'll just accept a "C" for Spring Break and count how many days until summer.