Manhattan Short

Every year at the Academy Awards party when we have to vote on things like best short subject, everyone takes a stab in the dark.  Not this year.  Some of the party faithfuls attended the Manhattan Short Film Festival.  Ten short films (10-15 minutes) are chosen from hundreds that are sent in from all around the world.  These films are shown in cities in 200 cities, across 6 continents, on the same week.  One place showing them was The Flicks in Boise.  Everyone is given a ballot which is collected as you leave, and the theater sends their results to the people in Manhattan, and you can check the website for the winners at the end of the week.

The winner told the story of a man running from Nazi soldiers, who hides in a German Shepherd's dog house.  The the farmer who owns the dog discovers him and helps him escape.  At the war's end, the fugitive is able to help the farmer who is in the custody of the American or British army.  That's a lot of story to tell in just 12 minutes.  The dog was a good actor too.

I didn't vote for the winner, but I almost did.  The very last short was filmed during the uprising in Egypt this past spring.  I was swayed at the very end.  I also liked a Swedish film about two bystanders that watch bumbling bank robbers on a moped.  It was a recreation of a real event, and it was pretty funny. 

First Day of School

This was Ty's first day of college.  He moved into a small apartment in Eugene last September on the 19th.  The plan was to work for year to get residency.  It's been one year and eight days exactly.  He's had 3 jobs and talked 3 friends into moving to Eugene too.  But the important thing is he made it.  He's officially a duck!

What a Blessing

Today at church Little Tess was given a name and a blessing.  She was born at the beginning of the year; late January or early February.  She holds the record for being the smallest baby ever born in Idaho - 1 pound, 1 ounce.  Her parents kept a blog that tracked miracle after miracle.  It was faith promoting for our whole ward.  She came home from the hospital in July without any special monitors or apparatus.  She is amazing.  So are her parents.  Needless to say, her blessing was beautiful.  So was fast and testimony meeting.

I wish I could say that RS was, because I gave the lesson, but it was just okay.  I need to work on more questions and class involvement next month. 

All Day Date

Terry and I went down to the Twin Falls temple on Saturday.  We had to leave a little after 7:00 to make our 10:00 appointment.  I had been through the temple at the open house a couple years ago, but I had forgotten how much I liked the decor.  The furniture has modern lines.  The colors scheme has a lot of green, blue, and gold, with a lighter wood finish.  While waiting, I tried to think how I could implement the decor into my house.  It would have to be more casual.  I wouldn't want a house that beautiful.

The session was really nice.  I'd missed not going to the temple.  Actually the drive down and back was nice too.  I read information for my RS lesson, and Terry gave his input.  We also had some lunch at a good Mexican restaurant right on the main drag.  We didn't make it back to Boise until after 3:00.  It was a very nice all day date, but our fun wasn't over.

BSU was playing Tulsa so we went over to my parent's to watch with them.  Our pregame eats included Dad's special burgers.  He remembered his dad making burgers for a fundraiser back in Ashton.  He'd tried his own version of half hamburger, half sausage, and a bunch of cheese mixed in the patties.  They were mighty good.  We also had spicy humus dip with Fritos, dill pickles, Snickers and cinnamon bears.  Awesome eats!  BSU was awesome too.

The Ladies Auxiliary

That's the title of our latest book club read.  I didn't finish it, but we had a great discussion last night in Sue Ann's back yard.  I always love sitting out there.  It's very inviting and she was born to be a hostess.  We had a good turn out.  The book is about a free-spirited woman that has converted to Judaism, and moves from New York into a close-knit Orthodox community in Memphis.  We made a lot of comparisons to Relief Society, and small town communities.  It was an insightful book, and an insightful discussion. 

Since the book dealt in part with teenage daughters that rebelled against rigid society, one of the new mothers asked how you can keep your children from rebelling.  That brought on quite a long discussion.  In the end, you can't.  I personally always liked Ty's determination to be independent.  It drives me a little crazy sometimes, but I want to love and support him as he finds his own way.  We had a lot to talk and think about that night.  We also had some very good carrot cake made by Mary Jo.

I Can See Clearly Now

I have three pairs of glasses that I rely on more and more.  One pair slides down my nose.  One pair falls off my face if I look down, and the last pair has two lost screws so it's actually in three pieces.  Today I finally took them in to be fixed.  It only took about 20 minutes, and now, the quality of my life has vastly improved! 

Logged On and Ready

Last week in Sunday School I signed up for the new Family History class that's being offered.  I'm so excited to get started.  I'm determined to figure it out this time.  I've never gotten beyond filling out a pedigree chart.  I know I'll love this once I get going.  Terry is taking the class with me.  I know Fredee will help me out.  I really need to find a week when I can get with her and go through all the genealogy stuff she has. 

Today at church I got logged in to new.familysearch.com.  I've set up a password and my homework assignment is to watch two short videos and explore the site.  The amazing thing is, Brent starts work at Family Search tomorrow!  I can't go wrong.  I have an inside connection. 

Since I'm on the family history subject, I'll just put down what one of the speakers said in church a few weeks ago.  His mother was very involved with genealogy.  He said if Family Search was like Facebook, his mom would have millions of friends.  That's my goal.

Eat and Run

Brent came up for a visit!  He's between jobs and was able to stay for a week.  This was only the second time I've seen him all year.  The plan was for it to be a relaxing week.  I think is was a bit for him, but I was busy at work, and he was back and forth visiting his Mom and others across town.  In the end, he was here 6 days and I only saw him a couple times at dinner, and right before he left.  Terry's going back down with him to stay a few days in Salt Lake.  It will be a good for them.  We just need to stay in touch with our kids better, even the ones that live in town.  I think we all need each other more than we think.  

BSU vs. Toledo

We're determined not to miss a game this year, but not one will be broadcast on our TV.  We have to be friendly and forward, and invite ourselves over.  Our lucky friends this week were the Farnsworths.  Rich and Karren live in a log cabin, in the middle of a regular subdivision.  They have a projector so we could watch the game on the big screen, or more correctly, the back of a sign that use to advertise Karren's school.  Their son Aaron joined us.  We all had Boise State T-shirts.  It was a good game, not tense.  There were great snacks, and of course the Broncos won.   

Mom's Gift

It's my mom's birthday.  My sister and I usually scout out Arts in the Park and find something we can go in together on.  This year I went to Arts in the Park with Mom.  The only thing that tempted her was a booth where an artist, Julie Peterson, painted little birds and flowers.  Later that afternoon, I went back and picked up a couple little prints for her - one for summer, and one for winter.

The next morning I returned to Arts in the Park, early, so I could find a good parking place.  A lot of the booths weren't even opened yet.  I had just ordered a scone for breakfast when I spotted my sister and her husband across the way.  Nan had already found the perfect gift for Mom, a print of little chickadees and roses from Julie Peterson.

It was freaky!  I guess Nan just knows Mom.  I'm sure she'll love the gifts.  I just need to order another frame so that the little collection will be cohesive.

You Learn Something Everyday

I have my sixth graders interview each other and then introduce their partner to the class.  They're suppose to make their introduction interesting and tell us things that we might not know about their partner.  Today was very interesting.  This is what we learned:

6 1/2 toes on each foot

 

 

 

Wow!  That's interesting!

Ever Been to PA?

On the way home from work today, I was behind a car with a Pennsylvania license plate.  (I would have taken a picture, but my camera was in the backseat.)  It was mostly plain white with big letters and numbers in the middle.  The top had a blue band with just the word Pennsylvania.  The bottom was a yellow band that said, visitPA.com.  Interesting.  A plain, simple plate that motivated me to visit PA virtually.

Family History

This is the year that I get serious about family history work.  Little things have been spurring me on all year.  Progress is slow, but I'm on the path, headed in the right direction.  At church I signed up to start the family history class next week.  I've taken this class two or three times and I've gotten nowhere, but this time they are teaching it different.  I'm positive that I'll be able to figure out some way to do some kind of family history work.  My greatest desire would be to actually do everything that you have to do to get a family name ready to take to the temple.  I really, really, really want to know how to get one of those pink cards on my own.  It might be a ways down the road, but by the time the Boise Temple reopens in a year, I want to do the work for a name that I have found.

The Relief Society lesson was on temples and family history work.  A couple comments really struck me.  One person said that as she learns about her ancestors, she begins to know who she really is.  I need to know more about who I am.  Our RS president testified that doing family history work is a way to save your family.  I think that's a good deal.  Spend time doing something that's interesting and fun, and you can rescue some family members in the process.  I'm doing it!

Happily Ever After

She's a beautiful bride who use to be one of "my Laurels".  He's a tall and handsome groom that returned from his mission in July.  They're both solid, talented, hardworking, strong, positive, kind people.  I went to their wedding reception last weekend and could stop smiling.  I love their love story.  They are my favorite happily-ever-after couple.

Arts in the Park

This is my favorite Boise Event.  I love the art.  I love Julia Davis Park.  I love the big shady trees, they long grass, and the rose garden.  I love the time of year and the weather.  I love the kettle corn, roasted nuts, and caramel apples.  I love going with my family and going alone.

I met Mom, Dad, and Andrea at 9:30, a half hour before things were really suppose to open.  We started at our traditional place, the cinnamon roll stand.  Later we stopped shopping and had diet cokes at a picnic table and watched the people.  Before we left for lunch, we picked up cinnamon almonds and pecans.  Dad buys everything.  We love having him come along.

Money Bags purchasing diet cokes.

We did make some purchases besides the food.  Mom found a necklace and earrings to wear to Cole and Santanna's wedding.  She doesn't have the outfit yet, but she's pretty sure the aqua jewelry will work.  I actually went to Arts in the Park three times this year.  Once with the fam, and twice alone.  I bought some half price earrings for $8, a set of glass plates for a wedding gift, four grandchildren Christmas gifts, a birthday present for Dad, and a birthday present for Mom.  I spent the rest of my food budget for the month, but I do have a big bag of kettle corn left over.

Mickey's Place

I can't remember if it's Mickey Dees or Mickey Rays, but there's a new barbeque place right down the street, next to Blue Cow.  Dad took us to lunch after Arts in the Park, and the four of us give it eight thumbs up.  Everything we had was really good - ribs, pulled pork, smoked chicken salad, cold slaw, baked beans, fries - even the water was special.  The prices were good, the portions were big, the atmosphere was nice, and the help was good.  Besides that, it's right next door to the best dessert in town, frozen yogurt.  I need to figure out the name of the place so that I can recommend it.

On a side note, I went to the bathroom and it was really cute.  There were some design ideas and colors that I'd like to use in my own home.  Check it out.

Love these flowers with the long stems.

I

Sad Wednesday

I arranged for people to cover for me at work so that I could attend a funeral.  This is the second Wednesday in a row that I've attended funeral services.  This week it was a man from our ward.  Cancer.  He loved to help people, and he was good at it.  Whenever I picture him, he's smiling.  It was a beautiful and sad service. 

Fire Escape

Every year the Fire Marshall inspects every school in town.  This throws head custodians and principals into panic mode.  We know about the inspection date ahead of time and are given a checklist to make sure our rooms will pass.  The school secretary can't keep the fresh eggs that she has delivered in the nurse's fridge.  They have to be in the staff room.  Teachers can't have cords taped to the floor, electrical stuff piggy-backed on an extension cord, or tables on both sides of the hall.  I always pride myself on keeping a clutter-free classroom.  Most teachers collect stuff, and they put the stuff in boxes, and the boxes on top of cabinets, which are too close to the ceiling according to the Fire Marshall.

Yesterday, my room did not pass inspection!  I have a mirror on the wall back by the coat rack.  It's been there for six years.  Apparently, there have been studies done, and if you have a mirror too close to an exit, most people get confused and walk into the mirror instead of out the door.  Really?  I'm not buying it.

The work order has been sent in to remove the mirror.

Love Story

My reading time is usually just before I go to bed.  It makes me sleepy, so it's difficult to get through too many books.  I try to read one a month, usually the one for my book club, but even those are often half finished.  Even really good books take me forever to read.  Last weekend I devoured one.

This wasn't the best book I've ever read, and it's not the kind of book I usually read, but the planets just aligned.  I couldn't put it down and I've been thinking about it ever since.  It's written by Ree Drummond, a long time blogger.  I had visited her blog a few times, but now I want to keep up with her even more.  The book is The Pioneer Woman Black Heels to Tractor Wheels.

It's the story of meeting, falling in love, courting, getting married, and having a baby.  It's a love story.  She's funny and it's a feel good book.  It reminds you what falling in love feels like, and how you should feel about your man.  Besides, it's a cowboy story.

I hadn't heard about the Black Heels book, but just a couple weeks ago I had bought her cookbook for my friend's birthday present.  Before I gave it too her, I had tried a couple recipes.  They were very good.  I've been told though, that I tried the wrong ones.  Her cinnamon roll recipe is suppose to be life changing.  My friend took them to a church event and was asked to give up her job and just make cinnamon rolls for a living.  I'll have to give them a try.

Move to the Big House

Ty has been in Eugene for the past year, getting residency so that he can afford to go to a school with a good Ultimate Frisbee team.  He had been living in a funky, one bedroom apartment, above a Harbor Freight store.  It’s been hard for him to find friends since he wasn’t in school and there weren’t the best prospects where he worked.  He finally recruited a couple friends from Boise to join him in Eugene.  For a while all three of them were sharing his small space.

This weekend the guys moved into a six bedroom house.  Great!  Now he’s back to square one, where he needs to find more friends. 

Season Opener

BSU went to Athens, Georgia to beat the Bulldogs, 35-21.  The game was never close enough to make you nervous.  The Broncos just made us proud.  Ty’s friend from Liberty Elementary made the cut as the 1st string kicker.  He couldn’t believe that “our boy Dan is on ESPN, kicking PATs, against Georgia”.  Crazy!  Fun!

It’s hard to imagine a better night, but the meatball sandwiches and banana bread did add to the overall excellence.

My class has started the Bronco bulletin board collage, and a photo album of Trail Wind Bronco fans in Bronco gear.  The last few years we adopted my nephew, Matt, as our personal player.  Since he’s not playing this year, I think we may have to adopt Dan Boy.  We make a great fan club. 

Chocolate Mess

Mom took me to Salon J for a pedicure and out to lunch for a belated birthday.  Of course it was fabulous.  My toenails now have an orange/bronze tint for fall.  I’m pretty sure I want some sort of massage chair for Christmas.  I’ll get one for Terry, then share it with him.

Our first choice of lunch spots was closed for Labor Day so we ended up around the corner.  The quiche was fine, but we had a problem with dessert.  They squirted pretty caramel and chocolate squiggles on the plate and heated the caramel brownies, but it didn’t work.  At first, both brownies melted into batter.  The second try looked better, but still tasted like batter.  My mom doesn’t ever eat batter because of the raw eggs (I think), but I love cookie dough, cake batter, muffin batter, and brownies.  I did not like the batter brownie though.  My family is well-known for its sweet tooth.  We can polish off anything with sugar, but this day, both my mom and I left a melted chocolate mess on our plates.  We made it through more than half of our dessert, but later that night we commented on how it really made us sick.  This is a first in our family. 

172 Days to Go

This has been the first full week of school.  I’ve been getting there early and staying late.  Tuesday night was Parent Orientation.  I got home at 8:30.  There are so many procedures to teach, routines to establish, files to organize, lists to go over, and record sheets to set-up.  You’re dragging a whole class of 6th graders through all the training too.  We’ve had fire drills, art, birthday treats, kindergarten buddies, placement tests, computer time and Friday quizzes.  I don’t think any of us were prepared for how long the week was.  We need to build up our stamina.