National Cherry Month, Blueberry Pancake Day, Children's Authors' and Illustrators' Week

Blueberry Pancake Day

I started off my weekend by making myself blueberry pancakes on Saturday morning. I don't know why, but I forgot to announce that January 28th was National Blueberry Pancake Day. So, even though blueberries are a false berry they are a very good antioxidant, and we all should eat more of them.

Anyway, I decided to use these star-shaped pancake molds, and they didn't quite work. First of all, I didn't spray the inside of the star-shape with oil. So, the pancakes stuck, and I filled up the star-shape to the top, which meant that even at medium-low temp the bottoms were a bit darker then I like my pancakes to be. So, I didn't have star-shaped-blueberry-pancakes. I just had normal ones. Well, vanilla-blueberry-pancakes, and they were awesome!

Children's Authors' and Illustrators' Week

I was invited to three birthday parties for young'uns yesterday, unfortunately, logistically, I could only make it to two of them, and my favorite four-year-old actually turned four on Tuesday, although there wasn't a party for him on Saturday. (I called him my favorite-four-year-old before he was actually four.) Anyway, I spent my lunch breaks this week shopping for children's books, because I am that boring person that always buys books and clothing for children. Because I have been blessed with a defining characteristic of indecision, it took at least three trips to Barnes and Noble to figure out what I wanted to purchase for the four children. (weirdly, all boys) And, by my last trip, I knew that I needed to make a decision, so I just kind of bought a bunch of books.

When I got home and started sorting through them, I discovered that I probably had better reconsider one of my purchases: The Little Skyscraper. If this book was for my figment-of-my-imagination-child, I would have no problem with it. In fact, I really like the book. The story is about a skyscraper that is "saved" from demolition by a protesting and picketing landmark-specialist architect. Those who know what I do for a living will be chuckling about now. Yes, I did purchase the book as a form of propaganda to win these children over to "my side," after having had a few heated debates with some of their parents. But, I would not have purchased the book if I had seen the reference to The Fountainhead on page 5. Yes, I know that the children won't understand. But, I live in mortal fear of becoming known as "Your-friend-who-gave-our-child-the-book-with-the-atheist-reference."

I think from now on I need to stick with nice neutral non-statement books like this.

National Cherry Month

After my birthday party binge, (and after a very important phone call where I have decided I need to begin researching Tom Jones) I decided to go shopping. Yes, a very stupid decision on a Saturday night in Utah, and an even stupider decision on the Saturday night before Super Bowl Sunday. I thought that since I was leaving for the store at 11pm, I would have missed the majority of the crowd. Well, that part was mostly right, but I also missed the majority of the food.

Walmart was out of cream cheese, preshreaded mozzarella cheese, Minute-Maid Limeade, shell shaped pasta, and salsa verde. Most of those ingredients are not important (except I won't be having Tuna Noodle Casserole for dinner) but the most tragic of losses was the limeade. Who knew that limeade was Super-Desired-Super-Bowl-Beverage. Because I have been recently turned on to the heavenliness that is cherry-limeade, limeade was the must have on my shopping list. I headed to the concentrate section of the store. Nope, it was gone there too. They did have Bacardi Margarita Frozen Mixers. Isn't that interesting, in Utah, who would of thought that they wouldn't be out of that. I must say, it's not quite the same as Minute-Maid Limeade. I have to add more grenadine syrup to get it sweet enough. But, I will live. And Cherry Limeade is nirvana.

Wear Red Day, National Men's Grooming Day, Cordova Ice Worm Day, Po Woo, February 3rd

Wear Red Day

Baby Niece


It's easy to wear red if you are the only grandchild and therefore you are used to being the center of attention, like my cute niece.












I think that as we grow up we loose the ability to wear red, all red, without looking a little silly.




National Men's Grooming Day

Clinton Kelly
And nothing more needs to be said. Hmmm. Such a well dressed man. By just smiling at me this man could get me out of black six days a week. He wouldn't even need to make all the references to funerals and stuff that he does on the What Not to Wear. Oh, wait this was supposed to be about men and their grooming. I am sure that Clinton has lots of good advice for men... since he dresses himself so well. He wears pocket squares. My knees go weak.

Cordova Ice Worm Day February 3rd is the day that the town of Cordova Celebrates the discovery of ice worms.

In 1898, E.J. "Stroller" White discovered ice worms.

"The ice worms that White described were quite bizarre. Being cold-loving creatures, the extreme chill of the recent storm had apparently caused them to crawl out of their holes in a nearby glacier in order to "bask in the unusual frigidity in such numbers that their chirping was seriously interfering with the slumbers of Dawson's inhabitants."

The worms soon became the talk of the town and sales of the Klondike Nugget soared as White continued to write about them. People went out on expeditions to find them, carefully listening for their characteristic chirping. And bartenders in town began serving a drink called 'Ice Worm Cocktails.' These were prepared by pulling a long skinny worm out of a piece of ice and dropping it into a customer's drink."

EWWW! There have to be better things to eat, even in the Klondike!

And just to warn everyone, Today is Po Woo, the Fifth Day of Chinese New Year. Today people should stay home to welcome the God of Wealth. No one should visit anyone today because it will bring very bad luck to all involved. Chinese New Year's

So have a happy Red-Grooming-Worm-Woo Day!

Ground Hog Day, Hedge Hog Day, Candlemas Day, Self Renewal Day, February 2nd

Groundhog Day, it's more than a movie. (Although, the movie is quite funny.) Traditionally, on February 2 the "official groundhog" wakes up and comes up out of his burrow. If he sees his shadow, he will return to the burrow for six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see his shadow, he remains outside and starts his year, because he knows that spring has arrived early.

In these here Unites States, the "official" groundhog is kept in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. And come February 2, amid wild and raucous celebration early in the morning, "Punxsutawney Phil", is pulled (poor thing) from his den by his keepers, who are dressed inappropriately for 7am in tuxedos. Phil then supposedly whispers his winter weather secrets into the ear of an official, who then will announce them to the anxiously-awaiting crowd.

And why do we do this? What led to these acts of groundhog abuse?

According to my Mythology,Legend and Folklore class that I took a million years ago, the Delaware Indians settled what later became Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania near the Susquehanna River, about 90 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. The name Punxsutawney comes from the Delaware name for the place, which means "the town of thousand flies." (Which, of course, is where I would want to settle.)

The Delaware Tribe creation myths honored groundhogs as one of the ancestors of mankind. According to their creation story, man began life as animals harbored by Mother Earth. Men emerged from the ground to hunt and to live as a tribe.

The groundhog, is also known as a woodchuck (Marmota monax), and is a member of the squirrel family.

German settlers came to the Pennsylvania valley and brought their own tradition of Candlemas. Candlemas is the day halfway between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. They, the Pennsylvania "Dutch," had their own traditional rhyme for the day (don't ask me why it is in English, if they were German settlers. I don't make this up, I just rehash it.)

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright,Winter will have another flight; But if it be dark with clouds and rain, Winter is gone, and will not come again.

Candlemas
So, apparently, in Germany people would watch to see if hibernating animals would come out of the holes on Candlemas day- hibernating animals like bear and badgers. When they arrived to the Americas they watched for the next best thing...a groundhog!

The first recorded reference to "Groundhog Day" is found in a journal entry kept at the Pennsylvania Dutch Folklore Center at Franklin and Marshall College:

February 4, 1841 - from Morgantown, Berks County (Pennsylvania) storekeeper James Morris' diary..."Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate." The Authentic Campaigner (entry 7)

The "official" celebration of Groundhog Day in Pennsylvania began on February 2nd, 1886. The groundhog was given the name "Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary" NASA Observation of Gobbler's Knob, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and his hometown thus called the "Weather Capital of the World."
In case you are worried about the treatment of Punxsutawney Phil, according to several sources, Phil currently weighs 15 pounds and thrives on dog food and ice cream in his climate-controlled home at the Punxsutawney Library. His only non-normal duty is when he is placed in a heated burrow underneath a simulated tree stump (Gobbler's Knob) before being yanked out of his slumber at exactly 7:25 a.m. every February 2nd.

Now on to Hedge Hog Day

According to Hedge Hog Central, Groundhog Day is just an American version of Hedge Hog Day, which was a Roman celebration. Unfortunately, that's not what I learned in my Myth, Legend and Folklore class at BYU. So, I present to you an alternative foundation for Groundhog Day, not sanctioned by BYU folklorists.

Long before the advent of Groundhog Day on February 2nd, the Romans observed a similar event thousands of years ago on the exact same day. Rather than use the North American groundhog, the Romans used the hedgehog.

"If during hibernation, he (the hedgehog) looks out of his den on 2nd February and sees his shadow it means there is a clear moon and six more weeks of winter so he returns to his burrow."

The only difference between this ancient event and the present day version (aside from the hedgehog, of course) is the fact that the Romans would look to see if the hedgehog saw its shadow under a clear moon at night.

Here in North America, where we have no indigenous species of hedgehog, we replaced the hedgehog with the native groundhog.(Hedge Hog Central)

Wikipedia also supports the claim that Groundhog Day is just an Americanized version of the Roman Festival of Februa.

My only personal comments about Hedge Hog Day are:
1) Isn't that the cutest baby animal picture ever! and
2) How do you tell if an animal sees its shadow by night? By the moon? and
3)what if it's Chinese New Year and therefore a New Moon on February 2nd? How do you celebrate Februa then?

Hedgehogs are mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae. There are 15 species of hedgehog found in Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand. There are no hedgehogs native to the Americas or Australia. And that, is that.

Self Renewal Day

Since we are talking about lots of animals today, I decided that I needed to dedicate Self Renewal Day to the Phoenix, because what animal renews itself better? And to Henry David Thoreau. Just becuase I want to.

Self-renewal-type quotes from Henry David

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler." - Henry David Thoreau

"Things do not change; we change." -Henry David Thoreau

"Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify." -Henry David Thoreau

And just because I like this one...

Some circumstantial evidence is very strong, as when you find a trout in the milk. -Henry David Thoreau

To promote my own self renewal, and to avoid the fate of the Phoenix, I set the goal of drinking 8 oz of water whenever I read or write a blog. If I keep this goal, I will either reduce my blogging time, or I will increase my bathroom time.

Viagra? What the hell, I already posted about orgies and condoms

This morning...

Substitute Receptionist: Absent-minded Secretary? Can you take this call for me?
Absent-minded Secretary: Sure, what is it?
SR: Just someone filling out a renewal application...
AMS: Okay?

After 20 minutes of yelling loudly and repeating every word at least three times to the elderly woman with a hearing problem...

Elderly Woman With Hearing Problem: Do you know that the new Medicare prescription program has eliminated over half of my medications? They won't even cover my heart medication that I have been on for 30 years! And you know what they do cover? Viagra! Can you believe they cover Viagra?

AMS: Yes, because most politicians are men.
EWWAHP: What?!
AMS: MOST POLITICIANS ARE MEN.
EWWAHP: Can you repeat that? It sounded that that was funny, I want to hear what you said.
AMS: (Taking a deep breath, trying not to be self-conscious about the fact that half of the office staff has gathered around my desk to see why I am yelling about male politicians) AMS: MOST POLITICIANS ARE MEN!!!!
EWWAHP: Most politicians are what?
AMS: MOST POLITICIANS ARE MEN! THAT'S WHY THEY WANT VIAGRA FOR FREE!!!!
EWWAHP: Ahh, that was funny! What is your name?

I won't go into that part of the conversation. It took too long in real life. Although, it got really funny with references to the Waltons and all.

AMS to Substitute Receptionist: That, was not nice.
SR: It was funny though.
AMS: Sure, now everyone thinks that I am a man-hater.
SR: Or they think that you give politicians a reason to want Viagra.

And since I am posting about Viagra, why not an underwear reference. (Sorry that it's FOX News.) Energize Your Underpants

"Forget the Flintstones, all you need for your daily vitamin dose is a pair of souped-up skivvies.

Trendy Australian undies maker aussieBum has rolled out vitamin-infused undies called Essence, according to The New York Post.

Company founder Sean Ashby told the paper health-care giant Bayer developed the drawers' special blend of polyester and lycra to "trap organic substances, which are then released slowly by natural body heat."

The enlivening underpants offer "dermo-protective properties" and "give your whole body an overall feeling of well-being," the company said.

The beefed-up briefs come in acerola, a plant rich in vitamin C, ginseng and the company hopes to release a Viagra version soon, Ashby told The Post.

The concept was cooked up by "a bunch of us sitting around the pub last year, having a few beers, when I asked, 'What can we do with our knickers that'll be the next big thing?'" Ashby told The Post.

"One of my guys joked that we should put vitamins in them and everyone laughed. But the next day I realized what a great idea that was," he said..."

I thought that all underwear had "dermo-protective properties" isn't that the point?

Gear Up for February's Love Orgy

It's...

Low Vision Awareness Month, National Blah Buster Month, American Heart Month, Bake for Family Fun Month, Creative Romance Month, International Boost Self Esteem Month (Yeah right, during Single's Awareness?), International Expect Success Month, Strawberry Month, Library Lovers' Month, National African-American History Month, National Bird Feeding Month, National Cherry Pie Month, National Cherry Month, National Children's Dental Health Month, National Get to Know a Real Estate Broker Month (Watch out Aunt Josephine!), National Hot Breakfast Month, National Parental Leadership Month, National Pet Dental Health Month (Does it worry anyone else that pets and children are equalized in this way?), National Time Management Month, National Weddings Month, National North Carolina Sweet Potato Month, Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month, Relationship Wellness Month, Return Shopping Carts to the Market Month, Youth Leadership Month, International Twit Award Month (Shall we take nominations?), Human Relations Month, Chocolate Lovers' Month, and An Affair to Remember Month

January 29th-February 3rd
Publicity for Profit Week (Is there any other reason for publicity?), Solo Diners Eat Out Weekend (At least one thing for single people this month!)

February 5th-11th
Children's Author's and Illustrator's Week, Get Paid to Shop Week (Sign me up!), Just Say No to PowerPoints Week (I only wish I could), Freelance Writer's Appreciation Week, Love a Real Mensch Week (Everyone I love is a Real Mensch!)

February 7th-14th
Rejection Awareness Week, Love Makes the World Go Around, but Laughter is What Keeps Us From Getting Dizzy Week (Okay, how do we celebrate that? For a whole week?)

February 12th-18th
Celebration of Love Week (Can I Puke Yet?!), International Flirting Week (How about now?), National Condom Week, Random Acts of Kindness Week, Bird Count Week, National Second Honeymoon Weekend

February 19th-25th
International Friendship Week, National Engineers' Week, National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, National Pancake Week (It doesn't seem right, in the same week.)

February 26th-March 4th
Telecommuter Appreciation Week, "Read Me" Week

Inspire Your Heart With Art Day, January 31st

Inspire Your Heart With Art Day

Title:Artichoke Artist:Kate McRostie

And what better way to inspire you heart than with artichoke art, because artichokes are good for your heart.

"California Artichokes are a low calorie food, a fat free food, a cholesterol free food, low in sodium, a good source of fiber, a good source of vitamin C, a good source of folate, and a good source of magnesium. California artichokes are a delicious fit for a healthy lifestyle. One large artichoke contains only 25 calories, no fat, 170 milligrams of potassium, and is a good source of vitamin C, folate, magnesium and dietary fiber." (Dip into healthy living with California Artichokes)

It is also believed that a daily dose of artichokes with help with lowering cholesterol, stimulating the liver, improving digestion. The California artichoke is also an antioxidant, and is also being studied for its benefits as a diuretic, for kidney disease, and proteinuria. (Herballove)

(I don't know what proteinuria is either.)

Just for the record, I am fully willing to take criticism from those more learned than I in the art arena, the artichoke field, or from a heart specialist. I fully admit that these subjects are not my forte, and this blog is amateur at best.

Title:Artichokes and greens arranged on burlap Artist:Bill Curtsinger


But, we can't have food inspired art without recipes!


Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip

Ingredients:
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
Juice of one lemon or 2 limes
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 can artichoke hearts, rinsed & chopped
1/4 pkg frozen chopped spinach
thawed and squeezed
1 pkg of favorite dry salad dressing mix
1 avocado (this is a recent addition to my recipe... It's mighty good)
Diced tomatoes to top

Mix all ingredients but tomatoes together in medium sized bowl. Heat in microwave 1-2 minutes until cheeses are melted. Decorate top with tomatoes.

Title: Two Artichokes Artist: Will Rafuse

Artichoke Bruschetta Recipe

Ingredients:
1 14-inch loaf Italian bread
1 cup drained, canned artichoke hearts, chopped
1 cup chopped, seeded, fresh tomato
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, pressed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Fresh-grated Parmesan cheese(Optional, but I wouldn't leave it out unless I was at the end of a paycheck and I had two flat tires.)

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. With a serrated knife , cut off ends from bread and reserve for another use. Slice remaining bread crosswise into twenty-four 1/2-inch thick pieces. Place bread slices on ungreased baking sheet; bake 10 minutes or until lightly toasted.

2.In medium bowl,combine artichoke hearts, tomato, onion, garlic, oil, vinegar, and pepper.

3. Divide artichoke mixture among toasted bread and spread to cover surface. Drizzle any juice remaining in bowl over bruschetta and sprinkle with cheese, if desired. Arrange bruschetta on platter and serve. Yum!

Title:Artichoke Artist:Sarah Waldron

If you are totally disgusted with my spin on Inspire Your Heart with Art Day, please check out this organization Art with Heart. The organization's mission statement is:

"Art with Heart empowers youth to deal with crisis through creative publications and programs that foster self-expression."

Their website covers really well the individual programs that they offer in the communities. I, personally, was quite touched by the services that they offer, and to whom they offer said services. I am hopeful, when I come across organizations like this, that the world isn't headed somewhere in a handbasket because of our current presidential lack of social agendas. I guess that there are enough good people in the world to counter act his blind ear.

Boy, that was a bunch of mixed political mush. Sorry.

Inane Answering Message Day, Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, January 30th

Inane Answering Message Day
Inane Answering Message Day, is all about bringing an end to annoying, endlessly long, or otherwise inane answering machine messages that waste the time and try the patience of unfortunate callers. I, unfortunately, have been responsible for a great deal of these messages. Brevity is not a talent I was blessed with. Therefore, I would like to celebrate clever telephone messages, with the realization the perception of cleverness is idiosyncratic, therefore, it is impossible to actually carry out the mandate of the day by bringing an end to annoying, endlessly long, or inane messages. And thus, I have found that I have painted myself into a celebratory corner.

Regardless, even those wild and crazy government employees are getting into the spirit of today, check out the U.S. Census Bureau Inane Answering Message Day Message.

Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
We all do it. We all love it. We order things from Amazon.com just so we can get it. We all love bubble wrap. I have taken it upon myself to test the six of the virtual bubble wrap popping games that are available. It took minutes of dedication and sacrifice, and I am sure that there will be many lives touched by my commitment.

After my research, I found that I could only recommend three of the six games tested. The other three were basically repeats of the others, or had poor graphics. All three of the recomended games make noise, so if you are playing them at work, you might want to turn your sound down really low. I am not recommending that you turn it off, because that would eliminate the satisfaction of popping virtual bubbles.

Bubble Wrap Popping Game I This game you can choose the size of the bubbles and the skill level... I liked this one 'cause you can pop a lot in one sweep.

Bubble Wrap Popping Game II This game has colorful messages that pop up while you are popping... messages like "Does your boss know you are doing this?"

Bubble Wrap Popping Game III Has "Manic Mode," and we all know what it is like to have reached "manic mode."

Happy Popping!!

Chinese New Year, Robert Frost Remembrance Day, Grandma's Birthday, January 29th

Absent-minded Secretary almost forgot that today is the first day of The Year of the Dog. Thank goodness that I called my grandma to wish her a happy birthday, and that Grandma went to a Chinese New Year celebration this morning, because her daughter-in-law, my aunt, is Cantonese. So, after I talked to my grandma, I called my aunt to get all the info.

Chinese New Year officially begins with the first New Moon of the new year and ends on the Full Moon 15 days later. The First Day of Chinese New Year is celebrated with fireworks and a paper dragon parade. The fifteenth day is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and a parade of children carrying lanterns.

The New Year's celebration is a family celebration, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors. Ancestors are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations of honor for the family.

The first day of Chinese New Year, the presence of the ancestors is acknowledged with a dinner. It is believed that the spirits of the ancestors, together with the living, celebrate the onset of the New Year as one great whole. The meal is commonly called "surrounding the stove." This feast symbolizes family unity and honors both past and present generations.

The third and fourth days of the New Year are for honoring in-laws.

The fifth day is called Po Woo. On that day people stay home to welcome the God of Wealth. No one should visit anyone on the fifth day because it will bring very bad luck to all involved.

The seventh day of the New Year is the day for farmers to display their produce. These farmers make a drink from seven types of vegetables to celebrate the occasion. So, be sure to drink your V-8 on the seventh day. This day is also considered the birthday of human beings. Noodles are eaten to promote longevity and raw fish for success, so this would be a good night to treat your friends and family to sushi.

The tenth through the twelfth are days that friends and relatives should be invited for dinner for much feasting and partying.

On the thirteenth day you should only eat simple foods that will cleanse the body, to allow yourself to recover from the days of partying and to prepare for the Lantern Festival.

The fourteenth day should be for preparations to celebrate the Lantern Festival which is to be held on the fifteenth night.

Customarily, during all this feasting, people are to give oranges to their family, friends, and neighbors, because in mandarin, the word "orange" sounds like "chi", which means "good luck". People present oranges to express their respects and good wishes for the coming year.

Children and unmarried friends, are given "lai see," little red envelopes with new one dollar bills inserted, for good fortune. (Finally, a reason for remaining single.)

The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. Sweeping or dusting especially should not be done on the first day of New Year, because all the good fortune could be swept away be swept away. If you must clean today all trash must be taken out the back door to fully utilize the New Year chi.

If you cry during New Year, you will cry all through the year. To avoid all crying in your home, children should be tolerated and not spanked, even if they act mischievous, or even if they get ugly.

On New Year's Day, we are not suppose to wash our hair because it would mean we would have washed away good luck for the New Year. (Too late, damn it. I washed away my good luck.)

Red clothing is preferred during these two weeks. Red is good chi. It is a bright, happy color, and is sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future. (Wow, I am going to have to do some major changes.)

Today my grandma told me that on this day in 1963, Robert Frost died. I just wanted to take a moment to remember the origin of Blue-Butterfly Day, Dust of Snow, The Freedom of the Moon,
and of course Acquainted with the Night, and Once by the Pacific... and I'm not even covering the poems that we all had to memorize in Junior High, but that are still wonderful.

Happy Birthday Grandma!!!

Silly little Blogthings... Why am I so facinated by them?

#1: I always knew that I wasn't from Venus no matter what the dating books say.
#2: Spelling has never been my strong point.
#3: Everyone who has ever studied birth order tells me that I am a classic First Born, and now there is proof.(Although, my younger brothers might think that they are proof.)
#4: This does explain why I majored in three other majors before English.
#5: Finally, I have validation for being addicted to PBS science shows.
#6: I guess I need to go buy brown contacts.
#7: I have no inclination for crows, unless you count Poe. (Before everyone freaks out, yes, I know that Poe's crow was a raven. )
#8: I am very relieved to find out that it is unlikely that I have no soul.
#9 Not addicted to Blogthings? perhaps the real truth lies in the future.

You Are From Neptune

You are dreamy and mystical, with a natural psychic ability. You love music, poetry, dance, and (most of all) the open sea. Your soul is filled with possibilities, and your heart overflows with compassion. You can be in a room full of friendly people and feel all alone. If you don't get carried away with one idea, your spiritual nature will see you through anything.

What Planet Are You From?

Your English Skills:

Grammar: 100%

Punctuation: 100%

Vocabulary: 100%

Spelling: 40%

Does Your English Cut the Mustard?

You Are Likely a First Born

At your darkest moments, you feel guilty. At work and school, you do best when you're researching. When you love someone, you tend to agree with them often. In friendship, you are considerate and compromising. Your ideal careers are: business, research, counseling, promotion, and speaking. You will leave your mark on the world with discoveries, new information, and teaching people to dream.

The Birth Order Predictor

Your Scholastic Strength Is Deep Thinking

You aren't afraid to delve head first into a difficult subject, with mastery as your goal. You are talented at adapting, motivating others, managing resources, and analyzing risk. You should major in: Philosophy Music Theology Art History Foreign language

What Should You Major In?

You Passed 8th Grade Science

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Science?

Your Eyes Should Be Brown

Your eyes reflect: Depth and wisdom What's hidden behind your eyes: A tender heart

What Color Should Your Eyes Be?

You Were a Crow

Eternally wise, you have a deep understand of ethics. You guide people from the darkness to the light.

What Animal Were You In a Past Life?

You Are 28% Abnormal

You are at low risk for being a psychopath. It is unlikely that you have no soul. You are at low risk for having a borderline personality. It is unlikely that you are a chaotic mess. You are at low risk for having a narcissistic personality. It is unlikely that you are in love with your own reflection. You are at medium risk for having a social phobia. It is somewhat likely that you feel most comfortable in your mom's basement. You are at medium risk for obsessive compulsive disorder. It is somewhat likely that you are addicted to hand sanitizer.

How Abnormal Are You?

You Are 43% Addicted to Blogthings

You're a Blogthings fiend - addicted but not totally dependent. So what if you know your personality type by heart? And while you may feel like Blogthings is crack... There are people much worse off than you!

How Addicted To Blogthings Are You?

For LL:

Alas, I couldn't find pics of Doris holding a bunny, but she is wearing an outrageous hat, and there are blue pom poms... on the dogs. And she looks like she is about ready to break out in song doesn't she? One might, at first glance, assume Miss Day's innocence, until one becomes aware of her naked tummy and the phallic-ness of her hat. It's such a strange outfit, (don't you think?) with the organza skirt and the tummy showing. It's like she's stole a six-year-old's Easter dress, but she didn't have enough fabric for her own, so she just cut the skirt off and used the sailor top to wrap around her chest area.

The black and white flooring is reminiscent of a diner, where one might order a pancake... So, I think that we might have all the elements for our pancake and bunny musical, in the most allegorical way possible.

So glad you stopped by, by the way! :)

Toes, ankles, knees, and DANCING!

So, when I got home tonight, I stubbed my toe so badly that it took a half inch layer of skin off of my toe. And I am thrilled about the blood, because I finally get to use one of my Christmas presents. My Sushi Band-aids! Although advertised, my box did not come with a free toy. Sad. Surprisingly enough, considering my natural clumsiness, it took a whole month and two days for an opportunity for me to use them.

And speaking of opportunities... Please do not miss "Dance in Concert" at BYU Jan. 26-28 featuring "Esplanade" by Paul Taylor. Performed by Dancers' Company. (Don't you love my smooth transition there?)

"This year's "Dance in Concert," by the Brigham Young University Dancers' Company will feature "Esplanade" by world-renowned choreographer Paul Taylor Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 26-28, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center. A matinee performance will be presented Saturday, Jan. 28, 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 or $8 with a student ID. To purchase tickets, call the Fine Arts Ticket Office at (801) 422-4322 or visit performances.byu.edu.

Performed to music by Bach, "Esplanade" has been heralded as one of the 20th century's pivotal dance works. It premiered in 1975.(BYU Press Release)

I saw this concert tonight. I was moved to tears. Perhaps by the dance, or the music, or perhaps because the male lead (Bryan Madsen, my former home teacher) is performing after he tore his ACL, which should render him un-danceable, and "world-renowned, and French knighted, choreographer Paul Taylor" refused to let anyone in Utah take over the lead. Sir Taylor had someone from his company in NYC flown to Provo to replace Bryan, when he had been informed of the injury. The replacement promptly sprained his own ankle, and doesn't want to further injure himself, as it being the begininng of his dance season, so our local Bryan, with the disintegrating ACL, performed tonight, and probably will on Saturday as well. (But keep the facts about the injuries on the down-low, I'm not sure if Bryan is sharing them with everyone.)

After watching "Esplanade", I was disappointed, at first, and kind of annoyed that the choreographer would be so snotty to think that "no-one in Utah" could replace Bryan, I mean, I do think Bryan is very good and everything... but after seeing the other pieces that were performed. Wow! They just really were not in the same realm as the "Esplanade." The athleticism necessary to perform the piece really isn't obvious, until it is placed side-by-side another piece. And then, it was just magic. I wish that they had saved the piece for last so I would have appreciated to it's fullest while it was being performed. But, I also understand the necessity of placing it first so the dancers could apply full energy to it.

Here is more information about the piece. (Really, I just can't express how good it was!)

"Considered the modern dance equivalent of a Da Vinci painting, "Esplanade" is a physically demanding piece made entirely from nondance movement. Created in 1975 and set to the music of J.S. Bach, "Esplanade" earned Taylor accolades from critics as one of the greatest choreographers ever.

Taylor's inspiration came after watching a girl run to catch a bus.

There aren't any "dance" movements in the composition, which focuses on everyday motion, York said.

"He wanted to make a beautiful dance from pedestrian movement -- walking, running, falling down, natural gestures, human postures," said York, who danced with the Taylor Company from 1973 to 1985. "He clearly succeeded in his goal and "Esplanade" has become the signature work of the Taylor Company."

Because the work is monumental to modern dance, the Taylor Company is extremely selective about who performs it, Phillips said.

Training with York for 90 hours was one of the company's performance requirements, made possible by a BYU Mentoring Grant.

"It is an experience of a lifetime to be doing it," Phillips said. "It is really a masterpiece of the 20th century..." Even though "Esplanade" is based on natural actions, it isn't a quick study. Each of the work's five movements focus on different physical gestures. In the first movement, dancers are walking and skipping but by the fifth movement, they are sliding around and jumping into the air. The aerobic exertion is a challenge for dancers, whose feet were raw and bleeding after a few rehearsals, Phillips said.BYU dancers receive intensive training for signature Paul Taylor composition, Daily Herald

Bryan is the curly haired boy in back For the concert, six numbers were performed, and two were very good, one was amazing, three were 'eh. And by 'eh I mean cheesy and flat. I don't like cheesy modern dance, and flat performances of cheesy work, make it all the worse. I prefer my modern dance dark, edgy, melancholy, and full of angst, to make me cry! not yawn! But, it was worth sitting through the 'eh for the amazing and the very good.

Go, go, go, please go. I can't promise that you will be able to see the dancer perform flawlessly with an ACL injury, but you might see the New York dancer with the sprained ankle instead, and he will probably do just as well. Although, I have a personal preference for my friend Bryan.

Oh, when I am reincarnated, I am going to be a modern dancer. Someone needs to talk to Budda about that for me.

Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement, January 26th

I encourage randomness today.

Tomorrow is Fun at Work Day. I think that calls for Rice Krispie Treats.

Forgotten by Absent-Minded Boss

Boss told me not to move, and then he got a phone call and walked out the door, three hours ago. In the interim (Okay, I guess since it hasn't ended, it's not an interim.) I have checked all my email, ("Click here to learn how to gain repeat customers!") done all the work I can do without creating a new project, (except for filing) realized that I left my glasses at home, (so the words on the computer screen are beginning to dance) and scanned through The Skousen Book of Mormon World Records and Other Amazing Firsts, Facts, & Feats, (Elvis once attended a Seminary class. Really! There's a picture!) because I still don't know where to put it on my desk, (It just looks wrong wherever I put it) and listened to an amazingly funny baby-blessing story. I would retell the baby-blessing story, but I don't think that I can do it justice without the use of hand motions. Well... no. It just needs the hand motions.

Compliment Day, January 25th

Origin of Compliment Day:

This day was created in 1998 by Kathy Chamberlin, of Hopkinton, NH. and Debby Hoffman, of Concord, NH.

Compliment Day Game #1:

1. Gather in a circle.
2. Look at the person to your left.
3. Find a compliment for that person.
4. Write the compliment on a piece of paper and who it is for.
5. Gather the notes and post on a board.
6. All players match each of the compliments to a player.
7. The person with the most correct matches wins.

Compliment Day Game #2

Visit The Language of Flowers. Find the meaning of each flower, and try to create virtual bouquet of compliments to sent to your friends. (Hint: of the flowers pictured, there are at least five complete messages.)

Arbor vitae






Zinnia





Clarkia







Sweet Pea









Mallow








Rose









Flax









Rose Acadia










Blue Bells









Iris










Snowdrop










Dalia








Heliotrope



And to the person who most deserves a compliment today: Edgy Killer Bunny.

You are intelligent, kind, generous, honest, and you have a quiet strength that makes those around you feel safe. When I am around you, I am comfortable enough to be my whole self. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! for being you! And thank you for being so supportive through everything! You are an amazing person!

"Just Do It" Day and I Just Did It All... January 24th

I feel like I am going to puke. I hate anticipation. I have been waiting for tonight's event for a long time, and I cannot decide if I am happy that it’s almost over, or if I just want to crawl into a hole and pretend that it isn’t happening. I went to bed at 1am. I woke up at 2a.m. thinking that it was almost time to get up. Again at 4a.m. That time I mostly just pretended to go back to sleep. I drifted in and out of awakedness until 5a.m. when I decided that I couldn’t handle being in bed any more and I got up.

I could have taken two different roads at this point… I should have gone down the road less taken, and gone out to my living room to do my Yoga video. That would have worked out my nervous energy, and it would have only taken 57 minutes. I didn’t. Instead, I got into the shower.

I was an hour ahead of schedule and so I felt that I had some pampering time. I decided to take advantage of the time and the Christmas presents from my grandmother: a facial, a moisturizing sea pack for hair, and salt scrub for the body. I gathered all the bottles and jars together and started my shower. It was 5:15 a.m. Plenty of time. I need to start drying my hair at 6:15 to be at work on time. How much time can it take to do a couple of extra things in the shower? I should have time and extra… and be to work early!

I begin sudsing myself down with my Ivory soap. The bar was beginning to show signs of decay, signs that I should possibly get my next bar ready, but it was not down to slivers or anything, so I was shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, when I dropped the bar and it shattered into pieces smaller than Cheerios. It is very difficult to wash with 15 Cheerio-sized soap pieces. I always thought that Ivory floated? So, I gave up on the soap, figuring that I still had the salt scrub to get to, and that should get me reasonably clean.

I wash and condition my hair, and mixed and applied the moisturizing sea pack for hair. The sea pack has salt, and it started to drip down my face and into my eyes. Yeow! Have to fix this! So, I get out and grab a small towel to wrap around my head while I am letting the pack do its magic.

I decide that if I am going to do the salt scrub, I want to do it over smoothly shaven legs. So, quickly I shave, because the water is getting a little bit less warm than I like it, and I know that I have a long way to go still. I apply the salt scrub, and DOUBLE YEOW! I did not read the warning on back of the jar that says not to apply to newly shaven skin. Salt + tiny nicks = pain. Still, I continue, because at this point, I must be completely beautiful, and I have come so far. Scrub, scrub, scrub. Whoops! Bam! Salt scrubs make the tub rather slippery. Thank goodness my head was wrapped in a towel. As it is I am a bit dazed by my fall. As I recover myself, I have images of how my-naked-but-salt-covered-body is discovered in the shower three days hence when my co-workers finally become annoyed with the fact that I am not showing up to work, or my neighbors become annoyed at the never-ending sound of water coming from my apartment.

I begin to ponder if starting my facial is a good idea, but, every other pore on my body has been scrubbed and tightened, I might as well do my face. So, I squeeze out the clay and spread it over my face, forgetting that I need to leave it on for 15 minutes, and I still need to rinse my hair, and the water is bordering on lukewarm. I don’t know how much longer I will have until all the warm is gone. Maybe it would be a good idea to check the time… Okay, 5:50: not too bad. I should just stop the water, and wrap myself in a towel. 5:57: shivering uncontrollably. Must get back into warm shower. No longer care about maximum benefits of facial mask. Too bad the water isn’t warm. Rinse, rinse, rinse. Wrap up in two towels. Crawl into bed.

6:20: Have stopped shivering enough to crawl out of bed and start blow drying hair with new pomade. Actually, it’s an old pomade, one which I haven’t used since my hair started growing out. Have visions of the pomade creating beautiful separated corkscrew curls. No, it just increased my blow-dry time by 10 minutes. 10 minutes!!! 7:00 finish with drying and hot rolling hair. Brush teeth. Do make-up.

7:15: take out hot rollers. Hmm. Those are some mega-curls on top of your head sweetheart, straight as a bone on the bottom part. Nice. A professionally styled mullet. When are you ever going to learn not to try out new hair routine on an important day! Didn’t the pipe-cleaner frizz incident (not the gentle waves promised by Seventeen magazine) at age 13 teach you a lesson? Finger comb hair; clip it back from face. Will figure out the rest later.

Put on clothes. Hmm, grey skirt, needs black nylons to match—so glad that I wasted time shaving my legs! Out the door at 7:25 a.m. Have to be at work at 7:30. I have 5 minutes to get 14.7 miles. Yeah. Very productive extra hour this morning. Lots to show for it. My hair looks stupid, and I am hiding my VERY silky legs under opaque hose.

Okay, after I got to work, I was able to fix the hair, and it has settled into a nice soft 1940-ish wave. I am happy with that. My skin does feel good from the salt scrub, and I feel like I still smell pretty, even now at lunch time. That is nice. I do have a nice bruise developing on my upper thigh to remind me of my morning. But, despite all, I feel put together enough that I can face my dreadful evening... at least until I get lost on my way there.

Measure Your Feet Day, National Handwriting Day, National Pie Day, January 23rd

Measure Your Feet Day

My right foot is 8 6/10 inches, and my left foot is 8 4/10 inches. Odd. I always thought that my left foot was bigger than my right. I guess that's what makes days like this useful.

National Handwriting Day

According to the online handwriting analyzer The Handwriting Wizard my handwriting exhibits these traits about me: AMS exaggerates about everything that has a physical nature. Although she may not intend to deceive or mislead, she blows things way out of proportion because that is the way she views them. [What!!!] She will be a good story teller. AMS has a vivid imagination.

AMS allows many people into her life because she is accepting and trusting. [Umm, no.] She is sometimes called gullible by her friends. [Again, no.] That only really means that she trusts too many people. [Very, no.] One way AMS punishes herself is self directed sarcasm. She is a very sarcastic person. ["If it weren't for sarcasm, my life would sound pathetic." - Scott Raymond Adams, Dilbert ]

AMS is a practical person whose goals are planned, practical, and down to earth. [I like to think so.] This is typical of people with normal healthy self-esteem. She needs to visualize the end of a project before she starts. Notice that I said she plans everything she is going to do, that doesn't necessarily mean things go as planned. [When do things ever go as planned?]

AMS basically feels good about herself. She has a positive self-esteem which contributes to her success. She has enough self-confidence to leave a bad situation, yet, she will not take great risks, [I only take risks if the outcome is guaranteed.] as they relate to her goals. Although there is room for improvement in the confidence category, her self-perception is better than average.

In reference to AMS's mental abilities, she has a very investigating and creating mind. [Thank you!] She probably gets too many things going at once. [Who are you, my mother?.] When AMS slows down, then she becomes more creative than before. She then decides what projects she has time to finish. [Or she leaves all of them unfinished.] She has the best of two kinds of minds. One is the quick investigating mind. The other is the creative mind. [I have a quick mind? Where is it?] When AMS is in the slower mode, she can be creative, remember and stack facts in a logical manner. She is more logical this way and can climb mental mountains with a much better grip. [Climbing mental mountains? That makes me tired.]

AMS will be candid and direct when expressing her opinion. [True!] She will tell them what she thinks if they ask for it, whether they like it or not. [Very true!] So, if they don't really want her opinion, don't ask for it! [Warning to everyone!]

AMS is moderately outgoing. In fact, she can be kind, friendly, affectionate and considerate of others. She has the ability to put herself into the other person's shoes. AMS will be somewhat moody. Sometimes she will be happy, the next day she might be sad. [Isn't everyone?] She has the unique ability to get along equally well with what psychology calls introverts and extroverts. This is because she is in between. Psychology calls AMS an ambivert. [That's me, ambivert! I've always said so!] She will not tolerate anyone that is too "far out." [They haven't looked at my movie collection.] She will not buy into anything that seems overly impractical or illogical. AMS is an expressive person. She outwardly shows all her emotions. [Only to a select few, and if the occasion calls for it.] She will often show traces of tears when hearing a sad story. [I am a sap in movies.]

AMS is a "middle-of-the-roader," politically as well as logically. [If left-wing is middle of the road.] She weighs both sides of an issue, sits on the fence, [Horrid! I am not a fence-sitter!] and then will decide when she finally has to. [Okay, lately I have been putting off a few decisions... like purchasing cell phones, but only because I a tired of making decisions, and really, how important is a cell phone in the grand scheme of things?]

Okay, so according to the internet handwriting analysis, there is my personality. I feel psychoanalyzed. I think that I need to go have pie now. :)

Tristan & Isolde

Tonight I finally got to see Tristan & Isolde. This is one of my favorite stories, and I have been dying to see it. But, no-one else seemed as interested as I was, probably due to the lukewarm reviews, maybe for reasons that I can't comprehend... anyway, finally I got someone to go see it with me and we made plans for tonight. My friend, Beautiful Brown-Eyed Dave (I call him this because I have four friends named Dave or David and I need to separate them in my mind) agreed to meet me at my apartment around 8:30 or 9:00 so we could grab something to eat before we went to the 10:30 show. At 10:15 he finally arrived and we...
BBED: Hey, that's not fair. I had a perfectly good excuse for being late.
AMS: I forgot to mention that BBED is still here. He decided that we need to watch another love tragedy to round out the night, and so we are watching Romeo and Juliet.
BBED: Did you mention the donuts?
AMS: And we are eating Krispy Kreme Donuts from Smiths. Which was closed when we went to purchase said donuts. Apparently, the Smiths in Pleasant Grove is not 24 hours, and not open on Sunday, unlike the Provo Smiths.
BBED: It wasn't even 1pm.
AMS: You pried the doors open. I am still in shock over that. It was completely unnecessary. Walmart is just a block down the street. I am never going to be able to show my face in the Pleasant Grove Smiths again.
BBED: The lights were on and there were employees in clear view. Walmart doesn't have KK Donuts.
AMS: I am not going to win this argument, obviously, since this is the third or fourth time we have had it. We were lucky we weren't arrested. Then we would have had to call someone who wouldn't mind driving to P.G. in the middle of the night to come bail us out of jail because we were too lazy to drive to Orem. Anyway, we were fifteen minutes late for the movie. So by the time we got there, we had missed the previews, opening credits, and part of the movie. (Which means I need to go see it again to catch the beginning.) We sat down, and BBED had to ask me to catch him up, which should have been unnecessary because he should have had read the same book that I had in the Film-as-Lit-Class-that-Wasn't-Really-Film-as-Lit-
but-Should-Have-Been-Titled-Romance-In-Literature-and-Movies.
BBED: What book?
AMS: Just a minute. I'll look it up. Oh, gag me, look at Amazon, all the books are about kissing.
BBED: You're complaining about that when will have watched two kissing movies when the evening is done?
AMS: Yes I can complain, because every one who kisses ends up dead. It's the whole concept that Amazon is preparing for V-Day. It's such a overrated holiday. Yes, I'm a bitter, single old woman. Here's the book: We : Understanding the Psychology of Romantic Love, by Robert A. Johnston. And it was a good book. I can't believe that you don't remember it. Fine, ignore me. So, anyway, I catch him up to where we are in the movie, I think, and the little girl who is supposed to be playing Isolde is speaking with a British accent. She is supposed to be Irish. That bugs me.
BBED: You didn't tell me that during the movie...
AMS: Because, generally, I don't talk in movies, unless I have a brilliant insight that must be shared.
BBED: (Ignores AMS)
AMS: Isolde's father the Irish King has a Scottish accent, which was also annoying. When we got to the first romantic part and BBED says "You know, they wouldn't speak the same language." I said, "Who?" because I was a little absorbed in the movie. BBED said, "Tristan & Isolde. He was Cornish, and she was Irish. They were two different languages." I said: "They were both forms of Gaelic... maybe they could understand."
BBED: Give me that. (Referring to the laptop) Irish hello: "CÃead míle fÃeilte romhat!" Cornish hello: "Durdathawhy" Do those look like they are pronounced the same?
AMS: That is not a fair comparison. You forget I am watching you. The Irish was more correctly translated as "A million welcomes" and the Cornish was the formal hello.
BBED: Irish: "Dia dhuit" Cornish: "Dydh da"
AMS: Which might be pronounced similarly! Ha!
BBED: There were lots of other problems with the movie.
AMS: Just because you couldn't suspend belief for two hours...
BBED: There was glitter. You said that it was supposed to be Pre-Christian, and there was glitter, and the dancing was clearly not Pre-Christian.
AMS: Arthurian texts always have historical inaccuracies and continuity problems. Look at Geoffrey of Monmouth.
BBED: Who?
AMS: History of the Kings of Britian, he had all sorts of problems with reality. And all the French romances, when they get mixed in with Malory people start confusing Lancelot and Tristan, and there are two Elaines...
BBED: What about The Sword and the Stone? There aren't continuity problems in there.
AMS: I believe that you are referring to T.H. White's The Once and Future King with Merlin living backwards, and if that isn't a continuity problem, I don't know what is. But, that is a very good book, and if you haven't read it, I would recommend it. Much more than History of the Kings of Britian. King Arthur was my senior course... you remember, you shouldn't argue with me about this... I don't even attempt to argue Milton with you.
BBED: Because you haven't read Milton.
AMS: I did so! I read part Paradise Lost. But then I got lost...
BBED: I know, I know, and you had to use Cliff as a map through Paradise.
AMS: I did like the description of Lucifer falling from heaven.
BBED: You, don't like good literature.
AMS: Excuse me! This is my blog! I don't have to take this from you!

Back to my commentary on the movie... Overall, it was mediocre. I was disappointed about a few deviations from the original story.

BBED: Disappointed! That's an understatement. You couldn't stop talking about the draught!
AMS: Obviously, I did because we bought donuts.
BBED: Don't forget about the Cherry Lime-aides.
AMS: And we are drinking Cherry Lime-aides to commorate the fact that the movie left out the magic draught. Anyway, I have decided that I need to learn how to knit, so that when I get married my husband will look like this in a sweater.
BBED: Right there is another problem, they kept on plunging themselves in the Northern Atlantic waters like they weren't cold. Haven't they ever seen Titanic?
AMS: Some people did not grow up in California. Some people understand that if they want to be one with the wild that is the ocean, they must get cold.
BBED: Don't get all Northern Oregon Coastal on me. I just was making the observation that they didn't even wince when stepping into the cold, cold water.
AMS: I am sure that if you are a coastal people, and living north of the 45th parallel, you get used to the cold water, and don't wince every time you step into it. Or your feet naturally grow numb. And who cares if your feet are numb if your heart is warm and your lips are being kissed.

National Hugging Day, National Squirrel Appreciation Day, January 21st

National Hugging Day, National Squirrel Appreciation Day

Study: Hugs warm the heart, and may protect it, By Marilyn Elias, USA TODAY
PHOENIX: Cuddling may be good medicine for the heart. A brief hug and 10 minutes of handholding with a romantic partner greatly reduce the harmful physical effects of stress, according to a study...Loving contact before a tough day at work "could carry over and protect you throughout the day," says psychologist Karen Grewen...

So, there it is folks. Go hug someone today, and tomorrow, and the day after...

Print this Picture and wrap it around your finger...And I gave you a hug today!!

And least I forget, it is National Squirrel Appreciation Day. (Leave it to The Powers That Be to appreciate something when it is hibernating.) I happen to love squirrels. My grandfather used to take me for walks around the family farm and during the early part of the walk we would look for Mister Red Squirrel, and at the middle part we would look for Mister Grey Squirrel. As we walked, my grandpa would tell me stories of the animals that lived in the forest. He told me that the squirrels told him all the news every day, because they are naturally chatty animals. I believed him, when I was younger, and when I got a little older, I still believed him. Because of these walks, I thought that my grandpa was magic. I was sure that the squirrels would really chatter with him, if only I wasn't there to see it. I would let him walk a little ways ahead of me, always hopeful that I would someday catch one of the animals running up to him to say hello.

That part of the farm is no longer wooded. I bet the squirrels are gone. I just realized that. My younger cousins and new niece will never know about Misters Red and Grey Squirrels. I hate having childhood magic disappear.

Apparently, some people don't like squirrels. The site scary squirrel world discusses "where skwerls come from," with various theories ranging from "The Preternatural Theory: supporters of this theory think that skwerls are alien life forms from outer space." to "skwerls come from pumpkins" complete with "compelling video." They also have a lot of squirrel movies. But, I would not recommend the ARE THERE SQUIRRELS IN HEAVEN? page or it's links, frankly, it's just weird non-funny stuff with hokey music.

I forget to mention that Thursday was Penguin Awareness Day. Apparently, there is no end to the celebrations for cutesy animals. I am not sure how to tie the two together, since squirrels and penguins only live in the same zip code in a zoo...But here is a try...

Feeling Loved

I feel very loved today, for three reasons:

1) I was jarred awake this morning by a phone call that reassured me that my boss needs me. This is my current goal in life, to make myself irreplaceable at work. My goal is on the road to accomplishment.

2)Every time I have checked my email today, I have had a message. I guess it helps that I have been choosing to be away from my computer today, and therefore I have not been checking my email every three minutes. Of course, I need to address the fact that at least five of my messages were about my graduate school status. I guess that eventually (and probably sooner would be better than later) I will need to make a decision about my status and future at BYU, as well as some practical decisions about how much a degree will help me in my career. Anyway...

3) I have had visitors at my apartment three days this week, wait, four, one came twice! This is a record since I have moved into my own apartment. I tend follow the patterns and habits of a recluse, or maybe a work-a-holic would be a better nomer. (Is nomer a word? How can we have misnomer without the root?) I have been particularly happy because these visitors also happen to be all of my most favorite most dear friends, my inner circle, except for Miss Laura who insisted on moving to California to get married, she didn't visit this week, but that is my fault. I need to call her. I appreciate these visits because I realized again today that I have amazing friends... way more amazing than I deserve. They have been supportive of me through thick and thin, sickness and health, emotional rants and silences, and all other sorts of stuff. They all deserve some sort of accreditation, and I don't know how to do it. Posting it here only works for one of my circle, (and is probably not as much as he deserves) as I have kept this part of my life pretty secret from most of my friends. I don't know... I should do something. Especially since some had to wait until pretty late at night to visit just so I would be home. Maybe I will make cookies... that seems lame though.

Friends are just awesome.

Wow... two more email from BYU, that makes seven in one day!

There is a table in my dining room...

Life is good. There is a table in my dining room. Inspired by EKB's Books Are King: b is for I have counted my books, and discovered that I have I have 336, (Edgy you are the Most Awesome!) with only two accidental duplicates, and one there is six (would you call that a sextuplicate? I guess I could look it up, but it's more fun to make up a word). And today, I realized that I do love my job. Which is a satisfactory realization after working 33 hours in three days.