She was right...

In response to my last post admitting anxiety over my planned shopping trip with beautiful Quincey, she posted this song on her blog. I'd never heard it but she and the Barenaked Ladies (really, do their mothers agree with this band name?) were right. We had a great time today!! Pictures to come...

Take a deep breath.

On Monday I'm going shopping with my ultra fit, super cute, beautiful inside-and-out friend. (Think I'm exaggerating? Take a look at her picture!!) She has vowed to find me a pair of jeans that will change my life...or at least my self-concept. I have been doing all sorts of cognitive-behavioral exercises to get ready for the experience including memorizing the words and absorb the intent of this cute Wow Wow Wubbzy song. At what age do you think I will just embrace my body type and its flaws? Hopefully by tomorrow. I don't even like to try on jeans by myself, let alone with a size MINUS ZERO model-esque clinical psychologist!! Yikes. Wish me (and her!!) luck.

Another attempt:


I love this post on The Cardigan Empire about pear-shaped people. Here's the portion that I loved/hated the most:

Your closet is 92% tops, 8% bottoms. Of those 8%, 60% are skirts under which no one can determine the actual circumference of your thigh. Abomination is the noun you would use to identify skinny jeans...Feel free to exercise to your heart's content (hearts like exercise). But when you are done, you'll just be a smaller pear.

Yep. That's me.

Advice from a Snowman

Chill out. Stay cool.
Some of your best friends might be flakes.
Don't get too much sun.
Enjoy winter.
Love never melts.
Sometimes it's good to just be still
Be a jolly, happy soul.

New Blog Title

I've changed the title of the blog. I figured that even though La Bonne Vie was a nice idea--French (because I used to be able to speak it) and meaning "The Good Life" because I do acknowledge my blessings now and then--it really doesn't fit my personality or the content tone. For better or for worse I am ever-so-slightly sarcastic (hear it there?), cynical, and a bit of a Debbie Downer. To pretend like this is a blog where I report only the rays of sunshine in my life is not very descriptive or accurate.

Alors, Je l’ai changé à

Ranting Rita.

Aimez-le ou non. C’est à vous.

There's some French for ya.

The Visitor

Maybe you figured out that I like to watch movies when I have some time off. You'll be subjected to a few reviews until I go back to work. Skip 'em if you want to.

We have a Blockbuster.com membership that we really enjoy but we have also been getting a lot of our movies from RedBox lately. I have a love-hate relationship with the whole RedBox experience...
Love: The price. Only $1 a night.
Hate: If you're stupid and forget to return the movie, the $$$s rack up.
Love: There are multiple and convenient locations. My favorite place is Maverick where I can fill up on Diet Dr. Pepper after choosing a movie.
Hate: My anxiety goes through the roof when I try to quickly make a selection while a number of hooligans are waiting in line.
Love: You can reserve copies of available movies...if you think about it ahead of time.
Hate: If you don't know what you're after or if the movie you want is gone, you can get some pretty cold fingers while you search the list of titles.

Incidentally, if you register at redbox.com, you can get a promotional code every Monday for a free movie rental...Don't forget to return it by 9 p.m. on Tuesday though :)

Okay. So I went to our friendly neighborhood Maverick looking for 'Horton Hears a Who' and was disappointed to find it unavailable. There was another mom there waiting in line behind me and while she didn't fit my hooligan criteria, she looked about as spent as I was so I randomly chose The Visitor.

Synopsis (from RottenTomatoes.com):
Sixty-two-year-old Walter Vale is sleepwalking through his life. Having lost his passion for teaching and writing, he fills the void by unsuccessfully trying to learn to play classical piano. When his college sends him to Manhattan to attend a conference, Walter is surprised to find a young couple has taken up residence in his apartment. Victims of a real estate scam, Tarek, a Syrian man, and Zainab, his Senegalese girlfriend, have nowhere else to go. In the first of a series of tests of the heart, Walter reluctantly allows the couple to stay with him.

Touched by his kindness, Tarek, a talented musician, insists on teaching the aging academic to play the African drum. The instrument’s exuberant rhythms revitalize Walter’s faltering spirit and open his eyes to a vibrant world of local jazz clubs and Central Park drum circles. As the friendship between the two men deepens, the differences in culture, age and temperament fall away.

After being stopped by police in the subway, Tarek is arrested as an undocumented citizen and held for deportation. As his situation turns desperate, Walter finds himself compelled to help his new friend with a passion he thought he had long ago lost. When Tarek’s beautiful mother Mouna arrives unexpectedly in search of her son, the professor’s personal commitment develops into an unlikely romance. It is through these new found connections with virtual strangers that Walter is awakened to a new world and a new life.

This film was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. The story is tragic and believable and the characters are complex, flawed, and endearing. Sometimes films like this try to shout their social or political agenda in your face but this one does not. The bitter two edges of immigration problems in the country are central but the statement is subtle and not pious. It is also a beautiful reminder that it is never too late to find a cause or passion in life and that opening yourself to new experiences and people can forever change you.

I highly recommend this movie but be warned that it does earn its PG-13 rating by dropping the f-bomb a couple of times.

MAMMA MIA!!

I'd been wanting but wary to see this movie for a while. Because I'm a ginormous ABBA fan and I want to see the theatre performance someday, I was worried that the motion picture would be a let down. Not so. I love, love, LOVED it. I was surprised at how well but not perfectly the actors sang. Watching the disc extras about learning to sing the songs gave me a knot in my stomach at times realizing that these people really aren't singers. It's pretty daring to put yourself out there like they did and the authenticity of the voices was great. The scenery was amazing. I didn't know the storyline beforehand and was totally impressed by how the songs and script meshed together--very clever. I loved a lot of the actual story too--the mom's best friends come to support her, the 3 'dads' grow to love their 'daughter' in a short time and the experience changes them, the 'grown-ups' in the film have past regrets and mistakes but have learned and moved on. Just cute and great. I highly recommend it!

Christmas JOY

It's hard to believe that it has come and gone but we had a great Christmas! I hope you did too. Here are some fun and lovely things that made our season beautiful:

* 2 white elephant gift exchanges left me with a fishing enthusiast book-on-tape entitled, "Dances With Trout" and some light-up elf slippers which I gave to Todd reminiscent of when my mom re-gifted her white elephant gained CARROT slippers to me years ago.

* After opening gifts and giving us lots of typical *good celebrator* material, Alec played much of the day playing with an empty 2L Diet Dr. Pepper bottle. It was a rocket missle, air guitar, baseball bat, head bonker and much more. Guess I should have saved that money I spent on, you know, actual TOYS.

* We didn't wake up until 9:30 a.m. on Christmas morning!! And we woke up then only because our niece called to talk to Kenna. Awesome.

* Kenna made and/or purchased a gift for everyone in our family. The cutest thing was how thoughtful and unique each of the gifts were...a small Lego set for Alec, money (because he's saving for an expensive game) and mechanical pencils for Todd (who always needs a pencil at homework time), a Sudoku keychain for Brent, and a puzzle for me.

* I ordered and received our planned Christmas cards in mid-November and STILL only send out a handful. How lame is that?! Expect a New Year's, Human Rights Day, or Valentine's card from our family soon.

* After trying to ignite some generosity and Christmas spirit in Todd who inherited his father's apathy for gift giving, under the tree I found a paper folded in thirds and addressed to me from him:

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the tent,
Not a person was playing. Not even old Brent.
The children were sleeping, all snug in their beds,
While visions of RockBand were inside their heads.
But up in his room, a bump was hear clear,
When little Todd Z. felt a huge Christmas cheer.
He ran down the stairs and what was left out?
Guitar Hero World Tour and Todd sang from his spout,
It's the best Christmas ever. No envy or greed.
And family's what you want. And family's what you need.

Merry Christmas, Mom. --Todd

* We hosted the 3rd annual Zimmerman Christmas Eve party at our house. We missed Grandma and Grandpa Zimmerman who are basking in 75 degree Lima, Peru on a mission for the LDS church but we made it through. I got choked up every time that I imagined them so far away from us at Christmastime. We also missed Brent's older Brother, Steve and his family, and 2 of his younger sisters, Suzanne and Sheri and their families. To add some bulk to our smaller numbers, we enjoyed the company of Brent's sister-in-law's family who were visiting from Arizona. They were good sports to add more winter travel to their holiday for a too basic Christmas feast and hang out with mostly nerds. We loved having them and they made us believe they enjoyed it too :)

* The last gift that I opened from Brent was a pair of running socks and running gloves that actually heat up when they get wet. (Could have used those in St. George last October!) The last gift that Brent opened from me was running socks and running gloves. Cool. After nearly 16 years, we have a "shared" hobby and kind of get each other. I love him very much.

* We participated in several charity experiences this Christmas including subbing for Santa for a Head Start family identified by our school district, shopping for neighborhood families with donated money from a Christmas Block Party, sorting and wrapping donated items for ward members, and anonymously helping out friends and family members. I feel blessed and humbled to have 'enough PLUS'. Brent avoided layoffs at work despite being on the newer employees list about 3 weeks ago. We know that it is a difficult time for many. Giving to others helps me remember and be grateful for what I have been given.

In some past years, I have been thankful for the END of the Christmas season. Off-balance priorities, spending too much on us and not enough on others, and focusing too little on the Savior's birth takes a toll on what should be a peaceful, beautiful time. This season I have been busy and sick but overall, have felt more balanced and joyful. I have noticed much love, humility, generosity, and light in those around me. My brother and sisters love me and love each other. (We even love each others' spouses!) We were raised by good parents who love the Lord and try their best. My children are grateful for the things they have, love each other, and are growing into good people. My sweet husband loves me and that is not always easy to do. He is constant. We have a warm home, working vehicles, and plenty to eat, wear, and play with. In my too-few quiet moments I have felt the love of my Lord and Savior. I hope that you allot yourself some refection time this season too. Merry Christmas.

Help out an old lady.

One of the fun gifts Brent gave me was a music card for 25 MP3 downloads. I'd love to know what hip or retro songs you can't live without...especially for working out/running. Give me some ideas in your comments.

Lost Love

'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson

I am mourning the loss of a loved one. Although we were together for only a brief time, I developed a love deeper than I thought possible. I can only write about this having finally come to acceptance, although the stages of grief were very difficult for me. (The above picture is of me in stage four.) Who knew that Wendy's Buffalo Chicken Salad was a limited time special? From the first time I laid eyes on it I knew it was meant for me and I still dream of its spicy goodness.

The devastation of being prematurely separated from my fast food soul mate was intensified by the traumatic manner in which we were ripped apart...

Mouth watering, I stood in line at the 123rd South State Wendy's. The siren song of my love's poster started my digestive fluids rushing and my stomach grumbling. The juicy words dripped from my mouth to the teen-aged cashier's ears as I ordered the delight of my life. As it turns out, they discontinued the salad before they removed the picture from the menu. The guy at the register informed me they had sold the last one less than an hour ago.

Grief stage number one. DENIAL. I argued that they could not be out of salads as the picture was clearly still posted. The cashier was insistent that my love was no longer around.

Stage two set in quickly. ANGER erupted and I strongly recommended they remove the poster to save others from the emotional anguish that I was thrust into.

In stage three, rational thought tried to emerge as I BARGAINED and asked if they could somehow approximate my delish dish by throwing some of that irresistible sauce on some nuggets or something. They wouldn't.

Stage four. DEPRESSION. See above photo. I allowed three customers behind me to place their orders as I took a moment to honor and grieve my gone goddess before I was able to gain enough composure to settle for the sloppy seconds of the Spicy Chicken Sandwich.

ACCEPTANCE, stage five. I am relieved to pronounce that I can fondly recall the times my love and I were together and rarely cry anymore. I credit my supportive psychologist wife and Winger's Sticky Finger Chicken Salad with my nearly complete recuperation.

[Thanks to Rita for writing most of this post.]

O Christmas Tree

It took three days to decorate the Christmas tree. I must get a pre-lit version for next year. I hate stringing those lights. I'm happy with how it turned out--the new green and orange decorations match the front room's new paint job. The pics don't do it complete justice but here it is for documentation purposes. :)

An Intervention

Did you see The Office this week? Michael held an impromptu intervention for Meridith who is a total alcoholic. So, so funny and it made me remember when Brent confronted me about one of my addictions. Which of my numerous vices did he target? It was not my well-documented dependency on Diet Dr. Pepper, my problematic pattern of crawling back into bed after a cold, early morning run, or my challenging chocolate consumption.

Nope...

It was my inexplicable impulse of buying sunglasses. I just can't resist no matter how many pair I have. One day Brent brought the whole lot in from the car, spread them on the table, and ordered, "Choose two." Ever see Sophie's Choice? It was like choosing from among my children. I met his less-than-gentle request with my list of excuses:

• I like my sunglasses to match my outfit.
• Several of my collection are large and take up half of my face...useful for days when I'm not looking my best.
• I usually purchase them on sale or even at the Dollar Store so it's not a financial hindrance. (Unfortunately this is to compensate another of my issues...LOSING pairs of sunglasses.)
• They always fit no matter how fat I get.
• I squint less when I wear sunglasses. This slows the deepening of my brow-scowl wrinkle and postpones inevitable Botox treatments.

Don't you agree? I NEED them all.
In fact, if you're looking for good stocking stuffer ideas, Honey...

First Gifts of the Season

Can you say, "Thought of EVERYTHING?" Even though Brent's mom and dad are on a mission in Peru their Christmas gifts to us were delivered before Thanksgiving. (Thanks, Melissa!) Here we are enjoying Beverly's forethought, hard work, creativity, and thoughtfulness. We each got a Christmas pillowcase. We already think of them and pray for them every day but this is a fun way to remember Grandma andGrandpa Z. so far away from us this year. We love you!!

Two new jobs.

My house is totally organized and clean. I'm caught up on work at both of my assigned schools. I read to my children several times a day, volunteer in the community, go visiting teaching on the first day of the month, work out twice a day, but still have lots of extra time and energy.

YEAH, right!

Even though none of the aforementioned is true, I have taken on two new jobs:
1. Psychological testing for Washington School Online.
My sis-in-law worked as a school psychologist for Washington County a few years ago and was contacted by a former colleague and asked to do some Special Education testing for home-schooled students who subscribe to their online services. This is a new program and they are already behind so she recruited me to help out. We've only worked with three students so far but it's been kind of fun.
2. Tough Kid Parenting Class for Davis School District.
The same sister-in-law has been teaching a very popular parenting class with another school psychologist on staff in our school district. She is taking a break for the session starting in January and I'll be filling in. I'm really excited because it is a great course taught from a renowned book with solid principles that are research-based and effective. I'm hoping it will give me some much-needed motivation to practice what I preach...My poor lab rat kiddos!

So, thank you or curse you, Andrea for the added opportunities. I hope you're not expecting a percentage of each my fatter pay checks!

I'm married...again.

I lost my wedding ring months ago. (I actually think my former cleaning lady or her daughter took it but what do you do? I guess there is a penalty for being too lazy to clean your own toilets.) I have been in denial that it was really gone compulsively checking the pockets of each clothing item I dawn in the hope that it will magically return. I even ripped up the drain and garbage disposal TWICE holding my breath for good luck (and to spare myself nausea from the smell) to no avail. I finally decided that it was time to replace the symbol of my commitment after being hit on NEVER by ANYBODY. I've got to keep the dream that *I've still got it* alive for another few years so I bought myself a new band. I didn't want a giant solitaire like I dreamed of when first engaged--too impractical and would be wasted on my old, wrinkly, freckled fingers. I also didn't want an approximation of my old ring because I really am so sad that it is gone. I opted for a very thin eternity-type band. The small, channel-set diamonds are princess cut to remind me of my old ring but that's the only similarity. I guess this means Brent will have to stick out another 15 years!

Wii Wii Wii all the way home.

Are you trying to get one of these for Christmas?! GOOD LUCK. Thursday I called and searched all over hallelujah for one. I won't say whether or not I was successful in my hunt in case my kids read this but I'm feeling a little "Tickle Me Elmo" nostalgia. (Remember when that toy was crazy popular and people were making themselves nuts to get one?) I thought that they wouldn't be as popular and in-demand this year but I was wrong. Hard project.

Open mouth, insert foot.

My last post was funny to me but offended some. My sarcasm and wit keeps me alive in my marriage and family of origin but isn't appreciated by all. I'm sorry for the feelings I hurt by criticizing church culture and those who donate their time and effort to such causes. I will work on being more mature and resisting my snotty impulses. Honestly sorry and humbled.
* Rita

The Stuffing Nemisis

I belong to a church, perhaps you've heard of it--The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Yeah well, this church is run by volunteers. No one is paid but somehow, it runs smoothly and accomplishes great things. Although not integral to its doctrine, there are common church practices that have become as widely accepted as stories of 3 large men standing behind unwitting sister missionaries who find themselves in perilous situations. Two such practices include having giant ward dinners with left-overs enough to sustain 2 African continent countries for decades and getting church members to sign up to cook and bring food to these large fiascos, I mean, feasts.

One year, I willingly signed up to bring food to a ward Thanksgiving dinner. I fulfilled my duty and arrived with a large pot of Stove Top stuffing. As per usual, there was more-than-enough food and it happened that my dish did not make an appearance on the buffet table...I assumed because of the excess offerings. When I went to retrieve my pan, Al , the EQ pres. who had organized the event, was ranting about how someone had brought stuffing made from a packaged mix. His energized display of ire and disgust for the matter would have lead a passerby to believe this was an issue of great magnitude rather than simple side dish stupor. I argued that the taste and quality of packaged items were not only comparable to homemade versions but worth the convenience and dared to suggest, might actually be preferred by some partakers. No, he insisted, the product was sub-par--a disrespectful, deficient donation. I rolled my eyes and left proud (and surprised) that I hadn't encouraged him to put as much fervor into his other life roles as he did into ensuring the quality of entree associates.

I offered to help out with this year's church Thanksgiving production and received my assignment--stuffing, ingredients and recipe to be provided. I chuckled at the irony. Saturday afternoon I opened the bag of ingredients and looked at the recipe card..."Al's Ward Dinner Stuffing".

Epilogue: The stuffing was delicious. Dangit.

2 lb dried bread strips
1 c chopped onions
2 c chopped celery
1 lb melted butter
4 tsp salt
4 tsp poulty seasoning or sage
2-1/2 to 3 cans (14 oz.) chicken broth
Combine ingredients thoroughly in turkey roasting bag or pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes, rotating bag or stirring occasionally. Feeds 20-25 people.

Automated Home

I started working at Control4 in January. We make home automation products. One of the perks of the job is that I get free stuff to put in our home. I recently finished replacing all the light switches in our house with automated dimmers and also automated the TV, DVD player, satellite receiver, and even the garage door. I also got a thermostat, a touch-screen, several keypads, two speaker points, and several remotes (one for each of the kids).

Once something is automated you can control it from any of the remotes, from the touch screen, from one of the keypads or from some other event. It's hard to get your mind around exactly what the system can do unless you see it in action, but let me try to give you a few examples of things that you can do:

• Kenna has a button on her wall that will automatically turn on her music and play her playlist that she has defined.
• There is a button with a light on it on the wall in our bedroom. If the light is red it means the garage door is open. Push the button and it will close.
• There is a button on the wall in the kitchen that will pause the currently playing TV show or DVD--great for when it's time to bless the food.
• When Todd goes to sleep he programs a "wake-up" that will turn on his light and play music when it's time to get out of bed the next morning.
• The outdoor lights automatically turn on at sunset and then turn off at 10:00 pm.

Here is what is on the wall in the TV room:
The right switch is for the light. The middle switch is for the ceiling fan. The six buttons on the left control the dining room light, control the kitchen light, control the basement light, turn on the TV to Dish satellite, control the three outdoor lights, and pause the TV/DVD.

It's all customizable to whatever arrangement you want. (It's actually less work to change what a button does than it is to change the label on the button.) Plus, you can access and control any of it over the internet or even from your iPhone. (Too bad we don't have one.) I, of course, think it's all totally cool. But the funny thing is how much Kenna loves it. She helped me install most of the dimmers and loves to change what the buttons in her room do.

If you come over to our house I apologize now for trying to give you an extended show-and-tell.

8 TAG

While I am a little narcissistic and prone to self-disclosure I am also a YES girl. (Remember my favorite word?!). So here are my answers to another Tag. I so avoid these as emails but actually think they are fun on blogs. Don't forget to find out if your name appears in the last category!

8 Favorite TV shows
1. The Office.

2. HGTV Myles of Style and a million other shows on there.

3. Seinfeld. I am one with Elaine.

4. L.A. Ink. It’s like a trainwreck that I can’t look away from.

5. Sponge Bob Square Pants. Actually, I hate the show but I owe Sponge, Patrick, and the rest of the twisted gang a lot of babysitting money. Sad, but true.

6. Star Trek, the old ones. Captain Kirk is a hottie and I love how everything comes down to a fist fight even though they have all sorts of technological weaponry.

7. Malcom in the Middle

8. Any re-run from my childhood including but not limited to: Charlie’s Angels, CHiPs, Dukes of Hazzard, Brady Bunch, Magnum P.I.

8 Favorite Songs
1. Every Breath You Take-The Police

2. Eye of the Tiger-Survivor. I seem to hear this one on my MP3 player at just the right time during my runs.

3. With or Without You-U2

4. Ordinary Miracle-Sara McLachlan

5. Landslide and Cowboy Take Me Away-Dixie Chicks

6. Come Away With Me and Don’t Know Why-Norah Jones

7. Top of the World and Mr. Postman-The Carpenters

8. Bubbly-Cobbie Callat (Cheesy I know but I think about Alec when I hear it. He does make me bubbly!)
8 Favorite Restaurants
1. La Dolce Vita, Provo, UT

2. Ottavios, Provo, UT

3. Pizza-Pasta Factory, St. George, SLC, or Ogden, UT

4. In-and-Out Burger, Anywhere

5. Pepperbelly’s, Kaysville, UT

6. Cheesecake Factory, Anywhere

7. The Melting Pot, Salt Lake City, UT

8. Little Caesar's—Gross, I know but at $5 a pizza, who would ever bother cooking?! Mostly I love it because all three kids will eat it! A rare reality at my house.

8 Favorite Movies

1. Cyrano de Bergerac

2. Nacho Libre

3. My Fair Lady

4. Sound of Music

5. Juno

6. Jean de Florette and Mannon de Source

7. My Mother’s House and My Father’s Glory

8. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
8 Things that happened yesterday
1. Woke up early but not to run...to go to my hair appointment.

2. Consoled my friend on the way home from our hair appointments. She HATED hers. It looked beautiful but wasn’t what she had asked for. Frustrating.

3. Went to lunch with my fun friend from my hometown.

4. Cleaned house. Yeah, you can’t tell today.

5. Reviewed files with my sis-in-law for a new “side” job we are doing for another school district. I’m so looking forward to jumping into this!

6. Filled out most of this TAG. Harder than you might imagine.

7. Took soup and bread to a lady who is sick and to a friend whose grandpa passed away.
8. Looked at and commented on friends’ blogs. Honestly, I’m loving this phenomenon. I feel closer to each person and family that I get to read about.

8 Things I am looking forward to
1. Thanksgiving. I’m feeling an urge to cook a turkey. Funny, huh?

2. Running. I think I’ve finally hit my laziness bottom and am going to amp it up again. Just in time for the freezing cold weather. D’oh. My friend and I are going to run a ½ marathon in April...her 1^st. Can’t wait.

3. My mom and dad are going to Mexico! I’m so excited for them.

4. Gardner’s Village Midnight Madness.

5. My sis and fam are coming to visit.

6. A trip to Peru within the next 18 months.

7. Seeing the Twilight movie.

8. A raise! I’ve got enough additional training credits to move me up to the next “lane” on the school district salary table and I increased my work days from 2.5/week to 3/week. What will I do with all that extra cash? See #1 on the next list.
8 Things on my wish list

1. THIS house. Come on, Brent, PLEEEEEASE.

2. Tickets to Wicked coming to SLC in April and May.

3. An illness-free winter.

4. Planet Earth DVD collection.

5. A super clean house.

6. A nap.

7. A happy family.

8. Liposuction.

8 people I tag
1. Suzanne

2. Deanna

3. Amy

4. Kristen

5. Susan

6. Mandy

7. BRENT

8. Kenna Bo-Benna

A Lovely Lunch

I had lunch with my friend, Quincey yesterday. When I tell people about her, I call her "my friend from high school" but we were pals way before then and have stayed in contact long since the Cardston High days. I love being with her because she is funny, smart, and thoughtful. We can talk about important things interspersed with giggles about our trite past or present issues. In my opinion, she has a nearly perfect balance of self-acceptance while valuing continued self-improvement. (I need a little of that to rub off on me.)
She wrote a funny story about me on her blog. Check it out.
These are some cute things I remember about growing up with Quincey:
* skipping Sunday School to get slurpies at Red Rooster and running into some MEN from our ward there!
* driving her dad's gray Grand Am because she was never ready to leave and needed to put on her make up.
* sliding/falling off a horse we were trying to ride bareback in the field next to her house.
* being able to watch satellite TV because her fam got one of those giant dishes in their yard...I also remember Quincey having to go out and tweak the darn thing in the freezing wind! Ha ha.
* eating Chinese take-out with her family (even on a Sunday sometimes!)
* attending the Blood branch with her family after we'd already been to 3 hours of church.
* skipping school and shooting a pistol at a weasel we chased through the neighboring field.

See what a history?! I love this girl and I wish I had taken a camera with me to document our afternoon together...Maybe she'll email me some pics. Pleeease?

Drumroll please...

Here are the bangs. Not as life altering as I had hoped but I'm happy with the cut and mostly the color...no more gray! Brent is not a fan and is also mad when I tell people that he doesn't like them so he's doubly grouchy today. Sorry, Sweetie. Can't help it. Ha ha.

Okay, okay, okay...

I'm so excited. My friend changed our hair appointments (yes, I'm in Jr. High and my friend and I go to get our hair cut and colored to the same person on the same day). We're going this Saturday and, in spite of Brent's urge to the contrary, I'm getting bangs. Woohoo. Isn't it great that such a small thing can make an old, bored lady so happy?! I'll post a pic (if I can find the wide angle lens--don't get me started on the fallen-by-the-wayside DIET) next week. Yipee for me.

I Heart Festival of the Trees

I first went to the Festival of the Trees when I was attending BYU and I loved it. I tried to make the event a family tradition but was met with all manner of rebellion...UNTIL serendipitously Todd decided he could endure pain of boredom for promise of a cinnamon roll and/or sugar-cinnamon scone at the same time that Brent learned to look the other way on financial crisis (to him) issues of high admission and concession prices. It was a CHRISTMAS MIRACLE and we've been every year since.

This year I got an email from a friend whose mother is involved in the volunteer effort. She asked for craft donations and Kenna anted up. She helped me make 9 journal jars and 12 felt candy holders shaped like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (a specific request from the Festival, not Alec). It was lots of fun and I'm so happy to support an event we love so much! Here's Kenna with our wares:

Election Results

Did you know I (Brent) ran for office? Well, I didn't "run" but I was on the ballot for State House District 16. I didn't do any campaigning but I managed to pull in 4% of the vote. That's five times better than Ralph Nader did in his race! You can view the results of my race here.

Fall Back

Did you remember to set your clocks back Saturday night for Daylight Saving Time? Happily we have atomic clocks in our master bedroom so we didn't show up for church an hour early (once is enough for that mistake) but there are plenty of other time-keeping devices that don't take care of themselves. So, my question is, who sets the clock back at your house? I'm sure Brent has done it before but I'm staring at the last of our clocks to be reset wondering how long I would have to wait for HIM to do it. (Recall a previous post about Brent's car registration turned in nearly a month late???) I happened to get an email that reminded me of this ugly issue that intrudes in many an otherwise happy marriage...

How many women does it take to change a light bulb?

One! ONLY ONE!!!!

And do you know WHY?... because no one else in this house knows HOW to change a light bulb! They don't even know that the bulb is BURNED OUT!! They would sit in the dark for THREE DAYS before they figured it out... And once they figured it out, they wouldn't be able to find the lightbulbs despite the fact that they've been in the SAME CABINET for the past 12 YEARS! But if they did, by some miracle, actually find them, 2 DAYS LATER, the chair they dragged to stand on to change the STUPID light bulb would STILL BE IN THE SAME SPOT!!!!

AND UNDERNEATH IT WOULD BE THE WRAPPER THE LIGHT BULBS CAME IN!!! BECAUSE NO ONE EVER PICKS UP OR CARRIES OUT THE GARBAGE!!!! IT'S A WONDER WE HAVEN'T ALL SUFFOCATED FROM THE PILES OF GARBAGE THAT ARE A FOOT DEEP THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE HOUSE!! IT WOULD TAKE AN ARMY TO CLEAN THIS PLACE! AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON WHO CHANGES THE TOILET PAPER ROLL!!

I'm sorry. What was the question?

A Keeper or a Chucker?

A couple of years ago on our way home from our second home, McDonald's, Kenna asked Brent to open her Happy Meal toy. He told her to wait until we got home but she rebelled complaining, "If I take it home, I might forget about it and then the garbage monster, who is mom (pronounced M-AH-AH-OM), will throw it away."

Guilty as charged. I AM the garbage monster. The most thrilling thing I did today was throw away all the school-made Halloween decorations that were littering the fridge door. Happy Meal toys last about 2.4 seconds before they get tossed in a bag and taken to my school where I give them to students I test or work with. I should attach an apology note to the parent who inherits the clutter. I have accidentally thrown away important things before but not very often and the pleasure I get from de-junking far outweighs the mental drain of piles and buldging storage areas. So, which are you? A keeper or a garbage monster?

I get to be...

Do your kids ever play the "I get to be..." when you watch a movie? Alec is totally into it. He especially likes to argue for which Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle he gets to be. (How he can keep reptiles named after Renaissance painters straight I will never know.)

The other day we were watching Sleeping Beauty. Alec, his cousin Sky, and a friend were choosing whom they would be for the movie. The girls called for each of the old fairies and Alec tried to decide between Prince Phillip and the King. My niece Skylar then announced, "And Rita will be her." When I looked up to see which character I had been matched to, I saw MALEFICENT--meanest, maddest, ugliest villain ever! I guess I need to do a little more work in the campaign for favorite aunt.

Bangs or No?

I've been without bangs for years now...not long enough to forget what a pain it is to grow them out but, a long time. Thinning hair as a pregnancy/childbirth side effect, age, and a tendency to scowl (mostly at SLOW drivers in the left lane!!) have conspired to make my forehead long and wrinkled. The freckles were always there but I'm sick of staring at them.
I've got a hair cut and color scheduled for November 22nd and I think I'm ready for a change. What do you think about bangs? Make me look older, younger, more 80s (please yes!!), what? Here are some pics of long hair with a little fringe (no, not GINGER fringe, Quince.) Tell me if I can pull it off. HONEST answers only. (Even if they're negative!)

Bye-Bye Party for Scott and Beverly

The week before Brent's mom and dad left for their mission to Peru, they held an Open House to allow friends and family to bid them farewell. It was a beautiful evening. I spent much of the time in the basement trying to keep the quiet lid on the noisy grandkids.
Top to bottom and left to right:
* Kenna working on her body art. My sis-in-law provided butcher paper and traced the kids' bodies and they filled in the details. Some ended up with purple hair and green skin--very culturally tolerant children ; D
* My in-laws on the right speaking to friends.
* Brent's aunt Melanie (left) and grandma Ardell Zimmerman.
* The spread! There's a running joke in the family that the all Brent and his brother care about at family events is the FOOD. Well, I went to download our party pictures and, sure enough, the best ones were of the croissants and salads! (Hence the center stage position in the collage.)
* Nieces June (left) and Skylar.
* The downstairs derby.
* Mr. Alec finds a toy to occupy 5 seconds of his I-can't-stand-this-lame-adult-party time.

A Happy Halloween

Here are a few of our pictures from Halloween...more to come later from Alec's preschool party.

Thursday we attended a Halloween carnival and trunk-or-treat hosted by the Young Men and Young Women in our ward. Todd went early to help set up and hosted one of the fun games. Kenna loved her Spider Countess costume and Alec was happy as a shark. Lots of people asked me if I made Alec's costume. Should I feel flattered that they believed that I could or sad that I'm a lazy mom and would never waste too much energy on a costume?

Alec wanted to be a devil on Friday night. Todd reminded me that he was too old and too cool to go begging for candy but agreed to take Alec and Kenna around until Brent could relieve him. My kids don't like me to go with them because I talk too much and stall the sugar gathering. I love to stay home to spoil the neighborhood kids and give a hard time to the high-schoolers that got the night off from their fast food jobs and skipped homework in favor of a sucrose search. (Hmmmm. My future or free candy? No contest.) After walking the neighborhood, Brent drove the kids around to further away families that we thought might like a visit from the cutest kids in town ;) It was a great night.

Yay for Preschool

Okay, I know, I know, I know. Nobody could actually be as cute as you think your own kids are but this is a great clip of Alec reciting part of a finger play he learned at Jelly Bean Junction. He couldn't fit it all in before the camera shut the clip off automatically and a few tries burned him out. His first attempt was best. Here we go...

Mom and Me Pedis

Kenna's been asking if we could get pedicures together for a while. Life was nuts the other night so it seemed a perfect time to fit in some relaxing. The Fran Brown Beauty School was able to schedule us 15 minutes from my call so we hopped in the car and sped over. I must have been due for some still time because I nearly fell asleep. Kenna was cute and talkative with the girls who did our toes. She's such a grown up cutie. Here are a couple of pictures of our polished piggies...In case you can't tell, mine are the feet with freckles, puffy ankles, and charcoal polish to hide the runner's nails!

Livin' in the Dark Ages

My sister, Stephanie has dial up internet and it just about killed me a couple of weekends ago when we visited. Soooo slow and buggy. Well this week, our internet access was accidentally canceled when we changed our phone service to Vonage. We were without it for FOUR days!! Service was restored today just before I had resorted to rocking in a corner.

Anyway, back to junk emails, bill pay, and blogging. I missed you all very much. ;)

Scout Trip to Strawberry

Todd's scout troop went camping and fishing at Strawberry Reservoir this weekend. I (Brent) went with them. The cold made me wonder how humans survived before central heating, but the fishing was good and we had a lot of fun. Todd caught the biggest fish of the boys--a 23" cutthroat trout. He was very proud of himself.

Autism Follow up

My friend posted a link in the comments of my last post. I wanted to put it on the page just in case it wasn't seen. It's great. This guy has written a book about exactly what bugs me about people speaking out about disorders they know nothing about. Check it out.

Autism's False Prophets

So Wrong

My friend posted a story about how PETA sent a letter to Ben&Jerry's requesting that they start using human breast milk in their ice cream instead of cow's milk. It reminded me of their latest publicity stunt--a billboard attempting to spook parents into believing that milk causes autism. So frustrating to me as a mom, school psychologist, and, oh yeah, a person with a BRAIN.

Autism is so difficult for parents to accept and understand. I'm working with a family right now that are in such a cycle of grief and denial about their kiddo's significant problems that they are refusing valuable treatment services and wasting precious treatment time.

The "immunizations cause Autism" issue continues to lurk and scare parents away from protecting their children from other PREVENTABLE diseases. The study that made that claim has been rescinded, dismissed, and proven incorrect numerous times but it remains in the hearts of those who cannot face that maybe their hurl of the biological dice didn't go their way.

Jenny McCarthy is making me nuts with her claim that she "cured" her son of Autism. She could be such a strong voice for early intervention, parent education, loving your child no matter what, etc. but she insists on spouting non research-based information about something I'm pretty sure they don't teach Playboy bunnies.

My Favorite Word

During the summer I agreed to an additional school assignment. My supervisor was so wrong when she assured me that it wouldn't be too taxing for my 2.5 days/week. I'm behind and stressed. The larger caseload is a factor but the main reason that I am struggling to keep up is because my disease to please has turned VIRAL. I am taking on a lot of assignments that aren't part of my job in an attempt to be all things to all people.

I know that this is as common for women as monthly cramps and I need some advice. However, before you get all Nancy Reagan Just-Say-No on me, let me note that I stink at direct refusals and that this is a deeply-seeded problem. Here's an issue summary:

I am a RESCUER at heart. I know that most people will benefit from a natural consequence of their situation but I like to help people avoid even mild pain.

I am thankful for my many blessings. Most of what I do is in the spirit of "where much is given..." I think that every opportunity to say YES is just giving back for what I have been given.

I feel able. I have a lot to give and some of what I do takes on an egotistical flavor. It makes me feel stronger, smarter, better than what I really think I am.

I am last on my priority list. I will rearrange my schedule and neglect even important things to indulge someone else's request.

I love the rewards of saying yes. I am totally addicted to sincere thank yous and statements of awe. "Thank you so much. You really saved my life today." "Wow. I don't know how you can do so much for other people and still take care of..."

I learned from the best. Sometimes my mom would tell us not to answer the phone or yell, "I'm not here!" when it rang because she could not take the chance of having to say no to whomever was needing at the time. She often ran herself ragged doing for others.

I am disappointed in a neighbor who has the opposite problem. She NEVER says yes! She hoards her service for things she wants to do or feels are worthy of her contribution. "I just don't have the time/energy/resources to..." I don't buy it. She has a lot to give.

So, loyal friends and readers, FIX ME.
How do you choose what to say yes to?
When and how do you say NO? How do you resolve or avoid guilt feelings when you do say no?

Happy birthday QUINCEY!

If I didn't love you, I'd hate you...for being so
talented, centered, witty, confident, intelligent, and fun. I adore you and I hope that your birthday was everything you deserve complete with good food, music, and relaxation. I'm happy you're my friend. (...and that you're as old as I am now!!)

So Proud

This is a picture of my ever-maturing husband. This morning when Brent got out of bed at 11:30a.m., he completed and mailed his own car registration. I only assisted by reminding him to add an extra 1¢ stamp to the envelope. It seems like only yesterday he learned how to operate the toaster. Next thing I know, he'll be buying and washing his own clothing. They grow up so fast.


I'm extra proud of myself for resisting my uber-responsible, anxious, controlling urges to complete this task for Brent even though it was due September 30th! It took A LOT of effort.

Quote of the Week

Today Kenna brought home a fortune cookie from Primary Sharing Time. Inside it said:

Never mess up an apology
with an excuse.

I loved this and I'm going to try to remember it the next time I blame fatigue for my grouchy actions. I either need to choose to be positive or take responsibility for my negative attitude. I hate being a grown up sometimes.

Side rant...How exactly does that qualify as a fortune? It's a great thought, motivational words, phrase to live by, etc. but it is not a fortune. Anyway, it bugs when our culture tries to adopt something from another and messes it up. Descending soapbox now.

Weekend at Stephy's

...not to be confused with Weekend at Bernie's--quite possibly the stupidest movie EVER.

Okay, okay. Sorry for the distraction. Kenna, Alec, and I went to see my sister Stephanie in Pocatello, Idaho this weekend. Stephanie is my soul's other half--the cute, creative, funny, daring, awesome half. I adore her. We couldn't be more different or more perfectly matched as sisters. Here are some of our weekend's adventures...some pictured, some not:

* We attended the Idaho State University homecoming parade. Three words...LOTS O' CANDY! The kids had a blast building their stashes while dodging horse poop and old men in fez hats driving antique fire engines.

* I told Stephanie that my day's goal was to score a T-shirt from some float. I worried that my mission would fail when I had my fingers on a Gold's Gym shirt but ceded to the cute, blonde teenager I'm sure it was intended for. My second opportunity went better. I winked at and pleaded with the skinny, mullet-sporting DJ driving the K-Bear 101 van. He must have spotted the 80's hardrock fan lurking inside because he handed his LAST shirt out the window to little 'ol me.

* I was exhaused after flirting with so many parade guys and from being kicked in the face all night by my bedmate, Alec, so I decided to take a little nap. My one-year-old nephew, Kasey, was tired too. He snuggled with me until we both fell asleep. I love being an auntie.

* The kids enjoyed each other so much. They played a game of baseball until Alec smacked one over the fence, spent hours sifting pea gravel, and wrestled until each had his/her fill of injuries. We visited a nearby hollow with a tire swing and no one suffered an impaling with a dead branch or palm-ripping rope burn .

* When I told Alec that we were going to Idaho, I named everyone in Stephy's family. I obviously left out some important information since he shouted his inquiry, "And Cocoa too?!" Cocoa is Steph's shihtzu. Alec and Kenna were so happy to play with Cocoa and the other neighborhood dogs that congregate at Steph's house. Yeah, not me so much--not an animal gal. If you can't count it as a tax deduction, I'm not cleaning up after it.

* Some guy with a lot of tattoos flirted with me while we were stopped at a traffic light. Good thing I was wearing sunglasses to hide yesterday's mascara and had tinted windows to hide the FIVE kids in the back seats. Can you sing Desperado? My favorite of his body drawings was a swirled design on his pointer finger that he held up underneath his nose to make a mustache. Awesome.

WORDLE.NET

Click on this graphic to
make it bigger and then
go waste some time making
your own wordle.
Kind of fun...(Beats cleaning
the house!)

I am TAG.

My sisters-in-law have been filling out this cute tag list. I guess anyone who blogs has at least a subconscious desire to self-disclose so if you read this, I tag YOU and want to see your list soon ;)
I am...spread too thin.
I think...I should re-prioritize.
I want...to have my house clean.
I have...everything I need to be happy.
I miss...my Grandma Pilling.
I fear...that my kids will grow up and hate me.
I feel...fat.
I hear...Alec talking to himself.
I smell...my Bath & Body Works Coconut-Lime Verbena wallflower. Love it!
I crave...linguine with creamy pesto sauce and a giant breadstick twist from the Pizza-Pasta Factory.
I cry...a lot lately. My *happy* cry is for Todd being ordained to the Priesthood and for my in-laws leaving on their mission. My *irrational* cry is for recognizing that very few of my life expectations will be met.
I search...for ways to serve others.
I wonder...when Brent and I will ever see anything of importance in the same light.
I regret...being snotty when I was a teenager.
I wish...I had more willpower and a better self-image.
I love...to be a *snuggle buddy* to my kids.
I care...about being dependable.
I always...wonder how I got such smart, cute kids.
I worry...a LOT.
I am not...an optimist.
I remember...playing Charlie's Angels with my sister and cousins.
I believe...that Heavenly Father knows who I am.
I sing...silly variations of Primary songs and nursery rhymes to make my kids laugh.
I don't always...recognize the miracles around me.
I argue...with my heart.
I write...to-do lists by the mile.
I lose...perspective when I am tired and discouraged.
I listen...with my heart.
I can usually be found...sipping a giant cup of Diet Dr. Pepper.
I need...too much validation from other people.
I forget...how old I really am.
I am happy...when I am doing the things I know I should.

Happy Thanksgiving, eh!

Today is Canadian Thanksgiving. Every year, I intend to do the whole shebang--hang a flag, cook a turkey, make a pie (okay, BUY a pie...or two or three), force the kids to say 5 things they are thankful for before they dive into the jello, etc.--but the day sneaks up on me and I am unprepared and unmotivated. Today followed the same pattern but I am thankful that you can order Pizza Hut online (avoiding the 16-year-old who is trying to text her boyfriend while she takes your order) and have it delivered for a modest $1.75+tip. Tonight I even splurged and got Hershey's Chocolate Dunkers. (Honestly, you MUST try them.)

Other things I am thankful for today:
* My mom and dad called me tonight. I love them.
* I'm going to visit my sister on Thursday. I can already feel a belly laugh coming on.
* I've got Thursday and Friday OFF.
* I cleaned out a few kitchen cupboards tonight. Love that.
* My kids are great. I had a rough spell with them today but they still love me and I still like them. They make a lot of things harder but everything worth it.
* Sweet Brent keeps trying to keep me level. It's a hard job!