Saturday, April 30, 2005

She's No Julia Roberts

Should this "Runaway Bride" face criminal charges?
With this 32-year-old found safe and sound many miles from her home, we're quick to be thankful for this happy ending. With fresh wounds in our memory of Lori Hacking and Laci Peterson, it's getting harder and harder to hold out hope for missing women (let alone children) to be brought home and reunited with family.
Rather than a happy ending to a frightening week, I think this woman is setting out on a long road of starting her new life, not as a wife, but now rebuilding trust and her reputation with her family and community.
Let's take on the financial burden. This wedding was set to be gigantic; 14 bridesmaids and groomsmen, 600 guests...this has all been paid for. There will be no refunds on flowers, catering, or tuxedo rentals due to her parents.
Does it compare with the financial burden placed on the shoulders of law enforcement agencies? The forensic experts, the man-hours, the list is long. Not to mention the many volunteers who generously gave of their time and concern.
Did anyone think it was the husband-to-be responsible for her disappearance? Would he really be that dumb to use Mark Hacking's lame "she never came back from jogging"? Or is that where she got the inspiration for her escapades?
Will her fiance want her back? Does she want him back? Will her small town welcome her with open arms or place some sort of scarlet letter on her, unable to 'sweep this under the rug'. Would it be easier to forgive her if she were in her early 20's, instead of a 'mature' 32?
She's undoubtedly going to be wanted be all the morning news/talk shows. Katie will gently question her motives and was there really that much pressure? She'll have more than her '15 minutes of fame'.
Does she deserve a pardon by our nation, or should she be taken downtown in handcuffs for a little timeout?

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Yet Another Weather Report

I hope all of you back home are soaking up beautiful, warm, sunny weather; the kind I know Sacramento is famous for. Maybe it's only 'famous' in my eyes, but I'm missing it.
As we speak/write, the temperature in Mytown, MT is a whopping 30 degrees. The snow that is falling is not the big, puffy, white flakes. It's the tiny, cold, blowing-straight-across-in-the-wind kind of a snow. I don't even know if there's enough moisture to help our drought-stricken town.
Many of you received news via email that our family grew over this past weekend when we adopted a black lab puppy. She's a sweet girl with all the personality typical in a puppy. What better time to walk this adorable Benny than with the wind and snow pelting me in the face.
Will this be our last snow of the season? These poor, beautiful tulips that have popped up in front of homes all over town have got to be so confused. What about these trees that have been producing beautiful blossoms? I've been counseled to not plant anything until after May 15. I've just about convinced myself that even then we'll still be seeking shelter from the cold.
So you lucky Californians, enjoy the warm. Enjoy the sun. Enjoy the opportunity you have to comfortably wear your sandals and capris while I continue to pile on the layers.

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

That's Not How We Do It In California

More to add to the list of the weird... Though I'm only 1,000 miles from home, some days it seems like a million. Other days I wonder if I'm on a different planet. Though I live in a city of 99,00 people, everyone really has a small-town mindset. *One Saturday morning I drove by a radio-sponsored fund-raiser in the form of a firetruck-pull. At that devine moment, it was the ladies' turn, lined up in a virtual tug-of-war with the enormous vehicle. * I've gotten used to the Antelope that spend time in our neighborhood, I enjoy it. But it was a little-close-for-comfort when I was picking up Isaac from school the other day, and the other parents had their eye on a fox. F-O-X. *This isn't necessarily small-town related, but for my LDS friends: on fast Sundays, two Deacons walk through the crowd with microphones for those who don't want to go up to the pulpit. Weird. *I have a new friend who is a long-time home renter (like I used to be). She doesn't want to buy a home here because they are so expensive. Hello! My brand-new house was only $160K. She's from Idaho. *This morning, when I dropped Isaac off at school it looked like we had arrived at Disneyland. There were picket-ers out in front; one in a raccoon costume, one in a chipmunk costume. Their cause? "Critters not concret."

Monday, April 25, 2005

It's Jill's Birthday!

On this special day (of which I am not a part, well I am because her & I are APART) I would like to wish my sister Happy Birthday. Please allow me to get cheesy. J is for the JOY she brings to our lives. I is for the INCREDIBLE sister that she is. L is for late. Let's face it folks, she's never on time. L is not only for LOVE, but also for the LAUGHTER we share. Since it's her birthday, I must take this opportunity to let her know that in 1096 days she will be 30. Thank you for being my sister. I hope that today will be special.

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Forget the Room, Find a Crosswalk

Yet another sign I'm over the hill...
I'm not anti-teenager. I think they're great and have a deep appreciation for all they put up with at their age. It's a very confusing time. I have teenage brothers, cousins, and though my siblings may disagree, it hasn't been all that long since I was a teenager myself. I'm still convinced that there is a 17-year-old inside of me.
BUT today I had it and let them know it.
I live near a high school; it is a beautiful red-brick building. The only route available to get to my house is to drive by the highschool. I've learned there are certain times I should avoid driving by: when school starts, lunchtime, and then when school lets out. I have no problem giving them their space. Come on, folks, it hasn't been that long since I was racing off to the drive-thru with hopes to make it back before 4th period starts.
Surprise, surprise, my complaint today has nothing to do with their driving. My frustration is caused by the pedestrians. THREE times now (in the span of a week) I have had to slam on the brakes (today I had groceries and kids with whiplash) because of these snotty girls walking out in front of me. The first two occurances were within 25 feet of each other! When it happened today it was an entire mile from the school, but obviously students trying to hurry off to some 'extra-curicular' activity. I couldn't take it anymore! Since I was already at a complete stop due to their lack of consideration and safety, I chose to roll down my window on this rainy/snowy spring day, and loudly inform them that a cross walk was just a few feet away. They knew it, and they might not have even heard my reminder, but at least I feel like I got it off of my chest.
Will I do it again? Will I leave my comfort zone to yell at someone else's children? Would you?

Monday, April 18, 2005

Establishments NOT in My New Town

1.) Chevy's 2.) The Gap 3.) Cheesecake Factory 4.) Round Table Pizza 5.) Chevy's 6.) Jamba Juice (but they do have a Junga Juice, WHATEVER!) 7.) Baja Fresh 8.) Macy's 9.) Chili's 10.) Disney Store 11.) Sam's Club 12.) Mervyn's 13.) Did I mention Chevy's? 14.) Marie Callendar's 15.) Cinnabon 16.) PF Chang's to be continued...

Saturday, April 16, 2005

When the Snot Takes Over

I catch a lot of colds. For about a year and a half I was only getting a three week break in between my colds. Our germ pool was huge: two different classrooms in elementary school, two different daycares, my job, David's job (RETAIL, hello!), and church. Not to mention the times we brought home germs from visiting our family.
Our 'pool' is much smaller now that we've moved 1,000 miles away. I've had a nice long stretch since my last bought, which was the full-blown flu in January.
Here I am, again with a cold. There are some comforts worth indulging in...
1.) Juice. In this no-carb, no-sugar world juice has become the enemy. But I have been having a full-on love affair with Tang this week.
2.) Hot compresses on my face. I just discovered this a couple of years ago, but I should use them even when I'm healthy. It's quite relaxing, but hard on the skin.
3.) TV. I love TV. This is the time when I can prop myself up on a pillow, guilt-free, and take in all that Regis and Kelly have to offer. Kelly just had strep (BTW).
4.) M&Ms. They don't make my sinuses magically clear, but I enjoyed about 1 pound of them yesterday.
5.) My Shower. I heavily depend on my shower each and every morning, like many depend on their cup of coffee, to get me up and at it. When the snot and pain have taken over: even more so. When I am sick the water is hotter, I stay in twice as long, and I ignore the pounding on the bathroom door. I love my shower.
I'm thinking of wearing a badge when I'm feeling like this. All that I come into contact with would read something like this...
"My head is full of pressure and snot.
Please do not hold me accountable if I say something stupid or run you off the road.
Check in with me in a few days, I'll be less weird then."

Friday, April 15, 2005

Tax Day

Many years ago, ok 10 to be exact, people chuckled once they learned of our wedding date. They tried to convince David and I that every year we'd spend our April 14th anniversary doing our taxes. I don't think we have more than just once, maybe twice.
So, on this, April 15th, I want to congratulate everyone and give you all a pat on the back in honor of your Tax Filing. I started and completed my efile this morning. Whoo Hooo!
To all who were up all night, back and shoulders hunched over piles of paperwork, take that extra shot of caffeine and remember: It's Friday!

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Where Were You 10 Years Ago?

Today marks a special day.
10 years ago this morning I woke up after a restless night, wondering if he was going to be on time. Was he even going to make it at all? He spent the night camping with one of his brothers and his best friend at Camp Far West, one last 'hoorah'. There's no alarm clock out there. What will wake him up on time? Did they even sleep at all?
He made it. My groom-to-be picked me up on time. As we drove to the Oakland Temple, we bickered a bit. I complained about my sleepless night, he probably told me I was over-reacting.
I was far more concerned about punctuality than anything else that morning. I hoped I looked okay. But other than that, I wasn't nervous at all. Never once did I question my decision, or the events that were scheduled for that day. I never wondered if I was doing the right thing. I never had butterflies in my tummy. My approach to the big day was matter-of-fact, and I was happy.
The weather is unpredictable in the bay area, even on that spring day. There was rain and there were clouds, but after we made our sacred covenants in that sacred place, the sky cleared and provided us a brief break from the moisture and gave us a beautiful blue sky. We were even able to see all the way across the bay. That unexpected pause in the rain allowed us to take lots of pictures on our special day.
It was a special weekend, and it all played out (almost) as scheduled: the wedding night (=) ), the next-day reception, having our family all around, my cheesy decorations, my beautiful dress...
How are we commemorating that special day, 10 years later and 1,000 miles away? I wanted my anniversary band, but let's face it, it ain't gonna happen after our recent home purchase. Without prospects of a babysitter and with my swollen glands/sore throat, I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up at Chuck E. Cheese.
Update: He got me the ring!!!

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Movie Review: Spanglish

The older I get, the more selective I am in my choice of movies. It's hard to set aside time, time that I can fully dive into a plot, without interruption or without guilt (that I should be using my time more wisely). On the other hand, my husband is a huge movie buff and watches just about everything that comes out. I absolutely have the opportunity to join him, but choose to only about 10% of the time.
Spanglish is a movie I've been wanting to see for quite some time, even though my younger brother thought it was horrible. He advised that the movie was well made, but the story was awful. So I braced myself for an unhappy ending.
I often take movies way too personally, to the point that I am completely drained of energy after watching. The character of the mom (played by Tea Leoni) really struck a nerve with me, of what NOT to be. On the brink of a mid-life-crisis and wanting to feel important, she's completely neurotic and hard to like (well done Tea Leoni). If I'm not careful, I could totally see myself turning into this. I should watch this movie once a year to correct myself as a wife and a mother.
I am a huge Adam Sandler fan and loved watching this softer side of him. I predict more and more secret crushes on him as a result of this character.
It's fun to watch Cloris Leachman and the sweetness she brings to the story. The girl that plays Sandler's daughter will make you want to reach out and squeeze her cheeks.
Though the cast (including the wonderful Paz Vega, the Hispanic housekeeper) each took a place in my heart, this movie is full of heartache, but truth. As for whether or not the movie has a happy ending or not: it gives each viewer the opportunity to figure it out for themselves.
Out respect for Sandler's character, I won't officially rate this movie. I highly recommend seeing it.

Saturday, April 09, 2005

Where the Deer and the Antelope Play

It's a funny thing, getting used to our new digs. The further we get from California, the more I learn and eventually adapt to other communities. For example...
1.) My kids (2nd grade and kindergarten) don't go to the same school. Kindergarten isn't offered at the school closest to us due to over-crowding, so I have to drive Isaac another mile to his school.
2.) My kindergartener doesn't have the traditional half-day schedule we're accustomed to in California. He goes two full days and one half-day each week. Weird.
3.) Spring has come and gone back home in California. The blossoms were gorgeous and in full bloom in February. Here in Montana (HOWEVER), I have been advised to not plant anything until after Mother's Day, but even then we could have a freeze or a wet snow.
4.) Honorable mention (for JP): they have no sense of decorating here in MT.
5.) I have learned that I will eventually hit a deer. Everyone has. I'm going to throw a huge fit the first time I have to pay $500 deductible because I hit a deer.
6.) By the way: Montana DOES have a speed limit.
7.) Kids get their drivers licenses at 15 here. Let me now mention that I'm 2 blocks from the highschool. Sucks to be me.
There are some neat things about Montana, hopefully I have yet to discover most of them...
1.) Rumor has is that there is virtually no crime.
2.) Daily sightings of antelope. Sometimes one. Sometimes eight. At an intersection, in a courtyard, up the street, out in the field, or like yesterday, right in our front yard in the middle of the afternoon. I did feel very sorry for the one up the street on Monday; he couldn't figure out how to get out of our subdivision with all the construction and dumptrucks and tractors surrounding him and creating an abundance of noise.
3.) I hate to admit it, but I have met very friendly people. The staff at the school, people at church, even neighbors. Let's pray that continues.
That's us far as this list goes. The weird outweighs the neat. I hope this drastically changes in the coming months.

Monday, April 04, 2005

We Did It!

When we moved our little family to smalltown Nevada in August 2003, I knew it was our opportunity to take advantage of our greater backyard. We did. Hikes, Lake Tahoe, and countless fishing trips, we made the most of it. Now that we live in Montana, so far from our family and friends and lives, we will again take advantage of our greater, (sometimes very distant) greater backyard. So we have had our first adventure to Mt. Rushmore. I say first because we will return. The drive was long, and mostly two-laned, but we will do it again. Though I already have plans and am deterred by the potential crowds, I wish I was ambitious enough to be there on July 4th. Could there be anything more patriotic than watching fireworks (which I am a sucker for) at The Shrine of Democracy on our country's Independence Day? I truly feel blessed to have been able to be at this national monument with my little family, and to teach this bit of history (and learn for myself) to my children. Our goal(s) before our next Mt. Rushmore visit (which are highly out of reach) are such: I need to get over my fear of heights and David needs to have his ankle or knee heal (both would be preferable). Once we have accomplished these tasks, our family will hike up Mt. Rushmore, walking along a path, then climbing a long, long, long staircase, no wider than a household staircase. I'm not sure where our next adventure will take us. We have much to choose from: Devil's Tower and Yellowstone are topping the list. If my priorities were in order, landscaping our yard and finishing the basement would lead on the adventure chart.

Friday, April 01, 2005

The Grocery Store Stationwagon

What is it with people carrying those little baskets at the grocery store? Are they trying to make a statement, or challenge the big, over-sized push baskets?
I am seeing this all the time: customer walks into grocery store, picks up small basket. I notice them here and there throughout the store; me casually pushing my basket, them juggling the increasingly heavy little basket. By the time they reach the register, with their 10 items or less, they no doubt have tendonitis, a backache, and a hernia.
Is it like my push-basket is the big, gas-guzzling family SUV and the basket they are carrying (usually containing wine and a baggette) is the little red sports car? I have news for them: in both cases the bigger vehicle is more practical and safer.