Writing My Life

Now and Then


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… let them eat cake, I’ll eat the frosting …

Note to Friendly Followers: Do NOT, I repeat DO NOT, read this post IF you have already perused “… true, unadulterated confessions … . “ In an attempt to write “less NOT more” – as in FEWER words, not posts –  I divided the former entry in half. Plus, I REALLY wanted to use the above title that rips off the rude statement Mare Antoinette NEVER made.  If you have NOT read the “unadulterated confession,” I suggest that you do, BUT it’s not necessary. This post is NOT that tightly connected to it, however, Ann Cannon’s comment actually applied to THIS confession more than THAT confession. Are you confused. Sorry!

CONFESSION #2 ~ 

After 11 days of working on my inadvertant resolutions, I’m not doing too badly. But since I’m in the confession mode, I thought I’d report in.

The SORTA Good News:

  • I’ve been on time for work 7 of 10 days, BUT I still climbed the stairs EVERY work day, which means I am still inadvertently moving my body more than I was in ’09 because I have NOT taken the elevator UP or DOWN even ONCE! (YaY for Renae.)
  • I did NOT eat in my car for 5 of 14 days. That’s not really very good, but before making too harsh a judgment, I want to point out that I’ve only eaten apples or yogurt, AND that’s because I’m trying to be on time for work, and SO I’ve had to eat breakfast on my way. BUT I was still late on 3 occasions. NOT eating in my car has kept the Cruiser a LITTLE cleaner. There are no crumbs or popcorn or wrappers strewn all over the place, BUT empty Diet Coke cans and junk from my purse/garbage bag still litter the front seats. Gotta work on this. BUT I have LOST 5.5 pounds, so perhaps NOT eating MUCH in the car has helped me with the second inadvertant resolution to lose weight. What do you think?

The REALLY Good News ~

  • G.E. and I have joined a gym and are working out 3 times a week, which equals 6 times thus far except we have to subtract last Wednesday when G.E. suffered from food poisoning or stomach flu, and I had a “business” dinner at Iggy’s Sports Grill. So we’ve sweat off calories and upped our heart rates on tread mills 5 times. What is surprising is how much G.E. is getting into this. I had to talk for over a month to convince him to join in this pursuit, and now he’s all Mr. Gym Dog (or is it “gym rat?”), with new workout duds and everything!
  • I’m TRYING VERY VERY HARD to eat sensibly. I’ve sort of VOWED not to DIET again. I’m SO SO SICK of couting calories, points, fat grams, fiber content, etc. Instead, I’m attempting to live the CJG lifestyle.. CJG is my friend who happens to also be my boss. She is tall and slender and young enough to be my daughter. She firmly believes that individuals can lose weight if they  do 5 basic things:
    • Eat good, nutritious food that you like, but practice PORTION CONTROL  – UNsuper-size food, and she means REALLY UNsuper-size it. So I eat on salad plates, and the food is NOT piled high.
    • Do AWAY with soda and drink lots of water. Well, I’ve CUT DOWN my Diet Coke to 2 or 3 a day vs. 6 or 7. Next month, I’ll try to decrease my consumption even further.
    • Exercise. (I’ve already told you about climbing stairs and walking on treadmills.)
    • SLEEP 7-8 hours a night. This is a tuffy. I get a second wind at 10 – just in time for the news and then Letterman. It’s really hard for me to go to bed much before 11:30, but because I want to be on time for work, I HAVE to get up between 5:30 and 6:00 A.M. YUCK!!! That means I’m lucky to get 6 hours of sleep, but it’s usually less than that because I have to take off my make up, change into my jammies, and other night-time routines.
    • Eat breakfast. I’ve been doing that EVERY day for 16 days! BUT sometimes I eat it in the car.

    CJG expressing shock b/c I'm on time!

Okay, this is nothing new, but maybe because it’s my boss who shared this with me, I feel obligated to give it more than a whirl. Or maybe it’s that  sick of dieting thing, or maybe it’s because I’M RUNNING OUT OF TIME, FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE that’s pushing me! I am going on 62 years! I don’t know how much more time I have to BE skinny or slender or less fat. I have got to get with it, and so I’m really, really trying! And, like I said,  I’m doing pretty good – except for that big slice of chocolate cake my daughter-in-law sent home with us. I DIDN’T eat the cake, however. I JUST ATE THE FROSTING!


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… true, unadulterated confession …

FIRST CONFESSION ~ 

I apologize for posting rather infrequently during January.  I’ve had a rough couple of weeks, and decided it’s time to confess. 

 “Yes,” I whisper in a guilt-ridden voice, “I have another blog. It’s difficult leading this double life – keeping all the stories and information straight, spending quality time with both, feeling culpable when I leave one to hurry to the other. I didn’t plan to fall for another one; it just happened.” 

BUT, and herein lies the shock, Rebecca’s daughter is the “OTHER” blog. In the short time we’ve been together (April, 2009), I’ve spent MUCH more time here, poured more heart and soul into these hours than I ever have with the one whose been with me since the beginning. I think November’s NaBloPoMo further distracted me because I gave L2L nary a thought, let alone one word about what was happening. And then the holidays came. Rebecca’s daughter still received all the attention:  happy words of joy and cheer; pictures of fun and laughter filled our time together. 

Along came January.  I left the scene of celebration and gaiety and headed back to work where L2L was waiting and wondering where I had been. There was little recrimination, but there didn’t need to be. I knew I had been unfaithful and had some patching up AND catching up to do. A plan for reconciliation had already formed in my mind, and I started on the day all resolutions are born – January 1. 

Once again NaBloPoMo was the motivator. A message from their site announced that “BEST” was the word of the month, and I knew the second I saw that four-letter word that posting 31 entries in January on Link2Literacy, the blog I started in November 2007, would remedy my remorseful conscience. Furthermore, such dedication would also placate L2L’s friends who had to wonder what was going on. 

Now that Rebecca’s Daughter and L2L know about each other, I hope to be more conscious of the time I spend with each. I’ll try to be more equitable – AFTER I complete 16 more posts on L2L that is. In the meantime, friends of Rebecca’s Daughter, if you are interested in secondary literacy, feel free to drop by and visit my “other” self!


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… welcome Janus ~ god of beginnings & endings …

2010 officially arrived for me on Monday, January 4 – a little late as that is my usual and BAD habit! But, come on, who REALLY starts resolving on January 1? The EARLIEST I’ve known anyone to make that move is January 2nd, and that’s ONLY if it falls on a Monday. So I DON’T consider myself a late starter.

Janus: Roman god for whom January is named.

Looking BACK ~

Before launching into my dreams, visions, aspirations, goals, and RESOLUTIONS for this new year AND decade, I do need to scribble a few lines about the past year. That’s rather a tradition, too, you know – recapping events of the past 12 months.

My favorite recaps, read the past week or so, were “Dave Barry’s good  (bad) year in review,” “Best of 2009” by Tiffany of Would Be Writers Guild, and Ann Cannon’s “My year in review” from her blog The Writer’s Corner (and Also What I Ate Today. These 3 year-end examinations helped me appreciate ’09 – Dave’s analysis of the infamous year reminded me that laughter abounds in bad times. Isn’t that something? Finding humor in darkness is one of the amazing attributes of mankind, don’t you think? Reading and laughing my way through his column made me feel much less depressed about the state of things. Thanks, Dave.

Tiffany and Ann’s reviews demonstrated that finding humor in the best and worst of times happens on small stages as well as in huge arenas. (Sorry about slipping in a Dickens’ cliche’, but that particular line is so often applicable!) Tempted as I was to recapture my year in a similar fashion – month-to-month highlights – I realized I needed to record reflections that would amp me up for the new year; rev me up for resolving; push me into doing better.

You see I am a sucker for making resolutions – A LOT of them. I think I subscribe to the “shotgun” approach to resolving: throw a bunch out there and you’re bound to hit SOMETHING.  With that in mind, I am listing a bull’s eye or 2 or 3 that I managed to hit last year.

In 2009 I …

  • started SERIOUSLY blogging, as evidenced by this site!
  • posted 30 times in November via NaBloPoMo!
  • put together a 500-piece puzzle of the  Lehi Roller Mills with a little help from my son. (I’ve had that puzzle on my shelf for 5 years as a deterrent against Alzheimer’s disease.)
  • got a camera so I can post MY pictures on my blog instead of trying to pass off Flickr photos for my grandchildren.
  • reconnected with friends and family as I never have before. (Okay, I joined FaceBook.)

Puzzled? It's the Lehi Roller Mills!

All right, I don’t actually remember making resolutions related to the above achievements, but I am sure that somewhere in my subconscious I said, “Self, you need to write your personal history … by BLOGGING.” Or, “Self, have you FORGOTTEN you want to start a holiday tradition of completing a cute puzzle worthy of framing?” Now I know these aren’t the most important changes to make, but I realized that they inadvertently accomplished good things: lots ‘o writing improves writing; putting puzzles together with sons builds relationships; commenting on cousins’ FB entries keeps communication flowing.

Looking FORWARD ~

So, what are my 2010 resolutions? I thought about going with “success guaranteed” goals: I will NOT start smoking or drinking; I WILL continue eating. Instead, I realize I need to redirect my goals with the idea that resolving to accomplish a few things in one area will bring about results in another area. Let me give you and example.

I resolve to keep my precious PT Cruiser clean by NOT eating while I drive.

Can you see the beauty of this resolution? If I don’t eat while driving, I won’t mindlessly graze, which adds pounds, Pounds, POUNDS!! Maybe keeping my car clean will help me LOSE weight!

Here’s another.

I will get to work on time by taking the stairs instead of wasting time waiting for the elevator.

I’m sure you can guess that shaving off minutes to get to my desk on time will FORCE me to get more exercise. This is INGENIOUS, don’t you think? I can tell you are skeptical, but check back with me around Valentine’s Day – the date when most resolutions have lined the path to hell, as Mark Twain observed – and we’ll see if I’ve fooled myself into completing the 2-4-1 goals I subconsciously hope to achieve. In the meantime, good luck with your own resolutions!


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… Christmas ’09 ~ now among Christmases past …

I haven’t written a word about 2010 yet and for good reason: the REBECCA’S DAUGHTER new year does NOT start until Monday, January 4, 2010! The holidays haven’t ended for me as yet. It’s nearing 2:00 A.M., and  I’m still basking in the light of my Christmas tree that will be UNdecorated tomorrow afternoon. I’m still thinking about the loveliness of the past 12 days and how much I enjoyed each one of them. And I’m still laughing at all the cute observations my grandchildren shared with the family. Here are just a few:

Mia, almost 4 (pointing at the cardboard cut-outs in the Nativity scene): There’s baby Jesus, baby Mary, baby Joseph, and the Holy Ghost.

Her mommy: Holy Ghost? Where is he, Mia?

Mia (pointing to an animal near the manger): Here, Mom.

Mommy: That’s a goat, Sweetheart.

Mia: Oh. Here’s baby Jesus, baby Mary, baby Joseph, and the Holy Goat.

Mommy dials Daddy as she laughs.

Mia: Who are you calling?

Mommy: I’m calling Daddy to tell him how funny you are.

Mia: Oh, he already knows. You don’t need to call him.

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Upon visiting Temple Square on December 23, our family stopped by the life-sized Nativity to listen to the narration of the story of Christ’s birth, accompanied by music from the Tabernacle Choir. As each chapter of the story unfolded, spotlights lit up the shepherds or the Wisemen or the Holy Family, and the music swelled. Obviously touched by the presentation, Abby turned to us and EXCLAIMED, “I didn’t KNOW Bethlehem was TRUE!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While driving to a matinee with my grandsons and grand daughter, I reached over to Brayden, 10, and asked, “Will you still give your grandma hugs and kisses when you’re a teenager or will you be too cool to do that anymore?”

Before Brayden could answer, Drew, 8, interjected, “My dad’s a lot older than a teenager and HE still LIKES you, Gramma!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, our cute Connor refused to play Joseph and he declined a request to operate a paper sack puppet, but he did summarize our Christmas experience when he exclaimed,

“This is the BEST Christmas EVER!”

And I have to agree that it was a very good Christmas! Lots of things made it that way – some big, some little – but they all added to the love and joy I felt.

  • I’m grateful our California kids celebrated with us. It is NO fun to cart 4 children AND Christmas for 6 nearly 1700 miles round trip! Oh, we appreciated it!
  • I enjoyed the MOCKtail party hosted by our SLC kids on Saturday night for ADULTS only. We were able to chat, laugh, and HEAR each other while enjoying delicious yummies.
  • I appreciated help with the setting up and cleaning up required to feed the 500. Headed by G.E., the boys and their wives jumped in to ensure that we ate only a little later than planned!
  • I was also grateful for my sous chefs on Christmas Day. Even with advanced preparation, we would have been eating a midnight without my daughters’-in-law help and support.
  • I loved the joyful gratitude of grandchildren who were thrilled to be with their COUSINS, aunts, uncles, and GRANDPARENTS!
  • I was especially thankful for G.E. ! He thought of so many details – like buying a pre-lit Christmas tree to lessen decorating frustrations and purchasing a high chair to replace the pathetic booster seat I bought years ago.  And he didn’t complain ONCE about money – not bad for someone who has just a little bit of Ebeneezer in his blood!

 

With this post,

I’ll put Christmas ’09 to bed,

knowing that reflecting

upon the many events through writing

made it all the better. 

Good night, All.

 


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… Christmas ’09 ~ the food …

It was THAT good!?!

I said it before, “I’m NOT a great cook,” but I enjoy it when I am in the mood. However, I demand a certain criteria – simple and fast! One obstacle that contributes to my ineptness in the kitchen is that I am SIMPLY SLOW! As a result, simple and fast recipes take me a long time. Because I am so self-conscious about my cooking-challenged disabilities,  I prefer to cook alone – unless the helper is as handicapped as I am.

As recorded, our Thanksgiving feast was the essence of simple and fast, but we didn’t have many guests (2) at our table. For the Christmas week, I would be serving the multitudes, and I was SCARED! Now I have super-talented cooks for daughters-in-law, but they had their hands full preparing for December 25th. And, like M. Thenardie in Les Miserables, I felt it was crucial for me to be “the master of the house,” including the kitchen. This meant that I create dishes I am confident in cooking – which aren’t many. Even doing that is no guarantee of success, but it ups the odds! I also like to try a couple of new recipes to surprise and maybe even impress my guests.

To accomplish this cooking plan, I needed to prepare dishes ahead of time so I could create in solitude and take my time. That meant being more organized that I usually am, but I am happy to report that I DID IT! I cooked up my fast and easy lasagna and chili before our California kids arrived, and I also whipped up a NEW sauce to go with Christmas Day’s ham dinner. I found this recipe in Costco’s free cook book , and I want to share it with you. Continue reading →


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… Christmas ’09 ~ the minor miracle …

We welcomed family, chowed down neighbors’ goodies, cooked many meals, wrapped piles of presents, listened to and sang clusters of carols, and witnessed a minor miracle. It actually started in 8th grade when I took chorus at Alameda Junior High because I learned the year before that I liked art, but I was NOT much of an artist. That left only one elective course to choose – chorus. I enjoyed singing but knew I was no more a singer than I was an artist or dancer!

All chorus members were girls because boys were automatically promoted to advanced choir, but I still liked the class. I especially enjoyed preparing for concerts – the best of which was the Christmas concert. You see, between 5th and 8th grades, Christmas lost some of its magic because I had joined the ranks of Santa-doubters. As much as I missed the anticipation of the old saint’s arrival and the hopes for granted wishes, I didn’t know how to revive the sparkle that so once filled the days between Thanksgiving and December 25th. (That was a time when the REAL holidays did NOT start with HALLOWEEN.)

As we learned Christmas favorites, I felt that joy I longed for.  I can even remember the songs we sang: “Sleigh Ride” and “Carol of the Bells.” I also recall that our concert band performed “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” and Freddy Sherman, my 7th grade crush, played a fantastic trumpet solo! At age 13, I found out about the power of music to elevate moods and inspire hearts and minds.

Fast-forward a few decades to age 50-something and change locations to Lawrenceville, Georgia. Being far from children, grandchildren, parents, and old friends during the holidays, I felt that familiar melancholy creep back into my life. As I decorated the house and prepared for Christmas, I cranked up the carols and felt my spirits lift.

When I returned to the wild west some 5 years later, I decided that listening to Christmas music was great, but singing those songs was even better. So I joined the church choir. Hidden safely among enough talented sopranos to hide my occasional off-key misses, I enjoyed the opportunity to “lift up my voice and sing.” Until this year.

The plan was for the choir’s women to sing a lullaby by Frederick Keel, entitled “Lullaby.” Unfortunately, the director broke her ankle and we lost a month of practices! Upon her return, many women felt the piece was too difficult to perform with so little time to master the technicalities of the song. But our leader was DETERMINED, and she invited those who could get together to practice at least 5 times to hang in there.

My first thought was to run for the hills, but Sister Libby is my neighbor, my friend, and my visiting teacher (an assignment in our church to build sisterhood.) She seemed desperate enough to need whatever my weak voice could contribute, so I agreed to stay with the other FOUR ladies for one practice and then make up my mind about whether or not to continue.

I was feeling okay two-thirds of the way, and then the notes climbed and stayed there for VERY long counts. SCARY! I couldn’t hide among only 4 other singers! When one experienced singer said she had never sung such a hard song, I really panicked. Yes, it WAS hard, but it was also one of the most BEAUTIFUL Christmas numbers I had ever heard. So I stayed.

Our performance was not perfect by any means, but I felt we did the best we could do. I didn’t make any mistakes other than those that come from a lack of talent. For an inexperienced choir member who doesn’t even sing in the shower,  I did a pretty good job of hitting and holding those high notes. I was so proud of us, especially of MYSELF. I had NEVER sung with so few people in my life! Why it was almost a quartet!

More importantly, I felt the spirit of the gentle score and the tender lyrics. Once again,  joy found its way into my heart via music. I wish readers could hear the music, but here are the words that touched me during the Christmas season of 2009.

Lullaby by Frederick Keel

Sleep little Baby, I love Thee; I love Thee.

Sleep little King. I am bending above Thee.

How shall I know what to sing?

How shall I know what to sing,

Here in my arms as I swing Thee to sleep?

Hush-a-by low. Rock-a-by so. Hush-a-by low.

Kings may have wonderful jewels to bring.

Mother has only a kiss for her King.

Only a kiss for her King.

Why should my singing so make me to weep?

Only I know that I love Thee.

Only I know that I love Thee,

Love Thee, my little one, sleep.

Hush-a-by low. Rock-a-by so. Hush-a-by low.

 


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… Christmas ’09 ~ the pix …

 Sledding …

Snow fell in the morning, creating powdery conditions, which might be great for skiing but not so much for sledding. Nevertheless, the cousins owned the slopes as many children were still in school that Tuesday afternoon.

 Here come the GIRLS! Our Abby was courageous as she maneuvered the sled, safe in the arms of her big-girl cousin Taylor! 

WATCH OUT 4 the BOYS!

To combat the powdery conditions, the dads applied a nice coating of WD-40 to the sleds! Yes, it was almost a clip from Christmas Vacation as the cousins zipped past other sledders at not-quite rocket speeds!

In the meantime, Mommies busily wrapped presents, stitched dolls, and baked goodies. It was a wonderful, wonderful day!

Nativity Re-enactment …

Sadly, the camera work isn’t the best as the camera owner and helpers were learning how to operate this complicated point ‘n shoot device, but hopefully, you’ll enjoy the results and the commentary anyway!    

  No rocking or stick horse in the stable; so our traditional understudy for Mary’s donkey is the little blue elephant! And that is NOT the old hag from Snow White fame begging to rent a room from the “GRUMPY(?)”   innkeeper, played by our sweet Taylor. It’s yet another understudy, rather a pathetic one, who stepped in to play the part of Joseph at the last moment.

  As a 2-year-old, Connor was a fantastic shepherd, but THIS Christmas, his agent held out for a bigger cut of the holiday YUMMIES. Unfortunately, negotiations failed, and the production went with the understudy to play the part of Joseph! Let’s hope Connor comes around for next year! (There are rumors of  EXTRA Tootsie Roll Pops if he’ll consent!)   

WHAT? There’s NO room in the BATHROOM either?

It seems that Joseph and Mary were not the only visitors searching for a room at an inn. Here’s little Evie, age 1, knocking on doors as well!  

Finally settled in the stable, Mary brought forth her newborn child. Our little actress was all seriousness in spite of the rowdiness of the audience.      

 One-year-old Maegan, made a surprise appearance as the angel. Until I saw this photo, I thought our play was angel-LESS because 3-year-old Mia opted to be a shepherd instead. Maegan needed no costume as her golden curls created the perfect halo!   

 The shepherds, Spencer and Mia, finally found Mary and the Babe. There REALLY are 2 shepherds in this shot. If you look hard, you can see our original angel-turned-shepherd who turned her back to the camera. She looks rather like a Tatooine Jawa.    

 When she comes out from under a towel, the shepherdess/Jawa, looks like this – see why we wanted her to play an angel!    

 We also had ONE Wiseman visit the holy family, but our cameraman failed to get him on film in costume. You’ll have to take my word for how dashing he looked in his turban! And he did a great job of  delivering all three gifts – frankincense, gold, and myrrh.  

No, Santa did not perform the narrating duties. Our Brayden retold the story from memory, even quoting some verses word for word. It was wonderful!     

    For the finale, 7 of the 10 grandchildren reminded the audience that animals also honored the Christ Child. The older ones recited the traditional English carol, “The Friendly Beasts,”  while the little ones waved paper-sack puppets around and around and around!

  Carter, 18-months old, is a future performer. I understand he has plans to up the Wisemen count!

Just wanted you to catch another view of Maegan, the walk-on Angel!

     No matter how I try to delete this duplicate picture, it will NOT disappear without taking half this blog with it. So, enjoy the double feature! (CURSE you, WordPress!)

     


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… no BIG surprise …

My blogfriend, Wintersong, posted pictures of her decorating efforts some time ago. She also posted a tender story about her husband’s sweet surprise Christmas gift he created for her: an amazing ceramic crèche! The Nativity characters were American Indians Native Americans peoples native to this land. So BEAUTIFUL!   

Because of my G.E.’s surprise(?) and early Christmas gift to me, I can post pictures of my holly decked cottage-on-the-green (now white with snow). I told my romantic love that I wanted an easy point-and-shoot digital camera for Christmas. (Isn’t THAT a romantic gift?) He soon found examples in the Black Friday ads, and I showed him the RED one I liked on sale at Target. (It was a door-buster.)   

“Why don’t you call the store to see if they have any more,” G.E. suggested.   

“Ok-a-a-a-y,” I reluctantly replied. Only because I REALLY wanted the camera did I comply! One frustration almost as crazy as SHOPPING on Black Friday is the convoluted process of CALLING stores the day after Thanksgiving. Only computerized phone operators are available to direct, redirect, and lose your call.  

Fifteen options, 7 department switches, and 20 minutes on hold finally brought me the expected answer, “No, ma’am, I’m afraid we’re out of those.”   

I passed on the information to Hubby, and settled down to finish the book I started while on hold. Soon I dozed off, but maintained a semi-conscious state that kept me clued into G.E.’s comings and goings.   

An hour or so later, I woke up and decided to post my 27th entry for NaBloPoMo. As I settled down to log into the computer, I first noticed the Target ad on the desk. Next, I had to close out a window opened to an Amazon order as well as a few other related windows – all plastered  with Nikon cameras, even some red ones! (I’ve heard red cameras are MUCH better than the traditional black ones.)  

I just had to chuckle at my husband’s discretion.  A sneaky elf, he is NOT!When G.E. finished showering and saw me situated at the computer, he looked a little sheepish and said, “Oh, I guess you know what you’re getting for Christmas, huh?”   

“Duh!” (Tempted as I was, I didn’t blurt out the interjection.)   

“Well, it’ll be here on Tuesday,” he excitedly added. “So you can start using it FOR the holidays!” He may struggle with creating surprises, but he is enthusiastic about whatever he finds for me. And I am thrilled with the camera and tickled that I can use it now. Here are some of the first fruits of my labors.   

Wreaths, spotlights, and snow = the extent of our exterior decorating

G.E.’s middle initial stands for Ebeneezer when it comes to hanging lights for the holidays. Only if I strung lights on the INSIDES of our windows did our home whisper of Christmas cheer. But when we lived in Georgia, we noticed that many neighbors hung wreaths at their windows and fixed spotlights on their houses – simple, easy, and perfect for Mr. Grinch (G.E.’s first initial).  

       

Christmas cottage lights up the dark, winter night.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
My mom was famous for changing the furniture around AND for changing her Christmas decor. I have the same habit but for a different reason: I can’t remember what I put where from one year to the next. With my handy little camera, I can now document how I arranged holiday do-dads for Christmas 09! Yay! 

 

 Why are men so attracted to grandfather clocks? G.E. bought this one for our 31st anniversary – is that the year for such gifts?

I like Poinsettias; G.E. likes clocks!

 

Cozy Christmas Cottage

 I love how inviting my home looks – in pictures. In reality, it seems all a-clutter. BUT when I put away all the Christmas decorations, it seems spacious and clutter-free again! Have you ever noticed that?  

Mom's ceramic tree!

Mom used to be heavily into ceramics, but then she turned her interests to stained glass. The elephant mug is one she made when I was very young, but the tree dates back only 10 or 15 years. When I set out the tree this year, I suddenly thought it was only right that I pair it with another of her ceramic handiworks – my favorite mug. Because I always drank hot cocoa from him, I felt he deserved to mingle with all the other holiday mugs from which my children and grandchildren will sip hot chocolate. 

Happy Holidays!


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Julie, Julia, & Me

Julie Cooking

Julia Cooking

Last weekend G.E. and I watched Julie and Julia, and were surprised that it was as wonderful as everyone claimed – everyone except for some grumpy critic who thinks Nora Ephron “misses the mark” and should lace her sassy romantic comedies with commentaries about corporate America squashing small business America (You Got Mail) or how much work it is to accomplish something without a platform as in Julie VS Julia.

Nevertheless, I WAS surprised because often times I am disappointed in a “picture show” that receives rave reviews from MY movie-going friends. Yes,  I LOVED J&J, and my major ChickFlick critic even liked it! (He actually belly laughed at a couple of scenes I didn’t think were particularly funny!) 

Me, NOT Cooking

Continuing on. You know the old debate about art imitating life or life imitating art?Well,  there were a couple of lines in the movie that imitated comments I had uttered just hours before watching this Nora Ephron production. One statement centered on NOT finishing what is started. Of course, G.E. and I were not speaking of cooking or blogging. 

You see, for the past few days, I have tried to move my husband towards joining a gym with me, hoping that both of us would encourage the other to lose weight and get in shape. He soon asked if he could be honest with me, and I knew what was coming. He said something like “I am hesitant to join because you don’t always FINISH what you START.” 

After a few rounds of defensively listing my MANY completed goals, I admitted that losing weight and exercising were two areas I had failed OVER and OVER and OVER again. When we listened to Amy Adam’s Julie admit that she, too, was a GREAT starter but a MEDIOCRE finisher, G.E. and I launched into laughter. (Well, we thought it was funny.)

The second life-imitator, among several, was about blogging. When I first learned about this newest craze back in ’02, I thought it was insane! Who would ever want to read other people’s journals – besides snoopy mothers of bratty teen-age daughters? And why would anyone want to plaster their inner-most secrets thoughts all over the world-wide web. But here I am. 

The movie’s sainted husband (whats-his-name) makes an enlightening observation about this Internet phenomenon: blogging IS ego-centric. Writing about yourself and hoping people read your little vignettes plus comment does shout, “LOOK at ME, WORLD! Check out MY pictures! READ my WITTICISMS! WRITE to ME and tell ME how AMAZING and CREATIVE I am! How FUNNY and CLEVER my WRITING is!” (One of the first comments I received on my school-related blog was from ANNE RICE! I”m not kidding! It went to my head for awhile. I was running all over the district office like some kind of groupie showing off underwear I’d stolen from a rock star. Disgusting.)

Of course, there is always the fantasy that the Salt Lake Tribune will run a story about your WonderBlog and up your readership, and then an independent film company will contact you to see if they can put your story on the silver screen – Renae and Eliza: Modern Mormon Woman Writes to Brigham’s Wife. Or something inspiring like that.  

BUT after the 5th or 6th post and you realize how much work  this blogging is, how few people, including YOUR OWN CHILDREN, stumble upon your masterpiece, and how ordinary your blog really is. At this point, you either fade into Internet oblivion or learn how much you REALLY love writing and how you DON’T care who or how many read your prose (except for maybe your children). These are the survivors who keep posting regardless of their blogs’ UNpopularity because they enjoy it so dang much.


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“The Little DANCING Match Girl”

Mrs. Quidor, a GREAT teacher!

Mrs. Quidor, my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade teacher didn’t fiddle around with traditional Show ‘n Tell activities. No, she was an educator who gleaned ideas from the latest technology, and in the mid-1950s, that was television!

Instead of  showing off Daddy’s World War II medals or Mickey Mouse ears from Disneyland, circa 1956, we performed on Little Theater. Loosely patterned after TV’s The Lawrence Welk Show,  our Little Theatre provided a venue for the developing talents of Mrs. Quidor’s precocious students. (I am sure that watching a dozen 1st, 2nd, or 3rd graders plunk out “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” on the piano or xylophone week after week was nothing short of painful!)

The performers rotated turns each week to enable us to practice in between “on stage” appearances. Kay Donaldson usually played the piano, Paula Lystrup danced, Donna Partner sang, and Dan Sanders tinkered with tunes on that miniature xylophone.

Blessed without a singing voice, an ear for music, or coördination and flexibility needed to dance, I spent my weeks searching for a talent instead of practicing it. Oh, I tried my turn at singing – Mrs. Q. applauded my rendition of “This Old Man; He Played One” a few verses BEFORE “… he played 10; he played knick-knack on my hen… .”  (My teacher’s tactful “gong” that sent wee entertainers scurrying off-stage.)

On one occasion in second grade, Mom rewrote a Raggedy Ann and Andy story, and I memorized it. When it was my turn to perform on Little Theater again, I retold the story without looking at notes, without prompting, but  oozing WITH expression! Mrs. Quidor did NOT interrupt that performance! In fact, she gushed over me like she never had before.

Apart from making Fridays fun, Little Theater was also the prelude to our BIG SHEW (Ed Sullivan’s pronunciation of “show”). Mrs. Rhea, the principal, always invited our class to present either the Christmas or spring program for those special PTA Meetings.

In these instances, Mrs. Q. ASSIGNED each student a talent – usually the ones we performed best. That meant Kay played the piano, Paula danced, Donna sang, and Renae told a story. That was fine with me until the year I took dancing. When she requested that I retell “The Little Match Girl” for the Christmas program, I protested.

Me: Mrs. Quidor, I’d like to dance.

Mrs. Q.: I know, Dear, this is your FIRST year of dancing, isn’t it?

Me: Yes, but I’m REALLY getting good.

Mrs. Q.: I know you are, but we REALLY need a story-teller.

Me: I’m tired of telling stories; I want to …

Mrs. Q.: Renae, do you want to sit in the corner? Again?

Me: (Silence. Glare. Pout. PLOT.)

Mom and I worked on the “Match Girl” story, which I really did NOT like because I knew NO ONE wanted to listen to SAD stories at Christmas unless they ended happily – you  know, like “Rudolph.” While I couldn’t talk my teacher into letting me change the story’s resolution – a kind neighbor finds the little girl before she freezes to death and takes her in – I did convince Mrs. Quidor to let me wear a costume, a recycled Halloween witch’s cape,  long and black with colorful patches sewn on it.

The final practice was actually a performance that we presented to the entire school, so I was nervous, yet excited for more than one reason! I had cooked up my BIG SURPRISE! I don’t know if I plotted over several ensuing days or if I thought of it overnight, but when the day of our dress rehearsal arrived, I had solidified my plan.

Shortly before my number, I changed into my costume and took my place on the sidelines. I clasped the cape tightly around me and then walked slowly to center stage.

Tearfully, I retold Hans Christian Anderson’s sad tale of the poor, little orphan who had to sell matches on Christmas Eve. As the weather worsened and potential customers disappeared, the barefoot girl lit one match after another, trying to keep warm. A special vision appeared within the sparkle of each lighted stick. And as the child gazed into the final image of a loving grandmother reaching for her, the tiny orphan flung off her tattered cape and DANCED her way heavenward, wearing a CHARTREUSE LEOTARD and TUTU!

As amazing as that performance may have been, Mrs. Quidor requested that I wear my Sunday BEST dress under the cape for the evening program. BUT, she didn’t say I COULDN’T dance MY WAY to heaven!