Lunch Lady

McKay has this little soft spot in my heart, as all my children do... And, like any other mother would, I did something this year that I didn't want to just for him. Actually, it all started years ago. Here is the story:
McKay is a home body. He has always enjoyed playing with his friends at home but rarely does he go to their house. When it was time to go to school we tried like crazy to convince him that it was cool! We took him to Mrs Billings pre-school; the funnest preschool EVER! and he still wasn't excited about school. When kindergarten started he was less enthused. Finally in second grade McKay got Mother goose for a teacher. Bless her! That woman is going to Heaven! School that year was beautiful and I was certain that we were over the hardship of public school. The following year was AWFUL! Mother Goose was gone (she stayed teaching 2nd grade even though we offered to pay her an additional salary to move through 12th grade with McKay) and McKay had a male teacher. Mr. Moore. Now I have to tell you, I thought Mr. Moore was one of the best teachers in all of public school! But he was a definite far cry from mother goose... he didn't hug. he didn't shyly giggle when the kids were being naughty, and he didn't talk to Mckay like he was a tulip. His was an institute of learning and he expected everyone to "just do what they were told" and when they didn't he wasn't messing around. He never got mad, but he followed through on consequence every. single. time! Mckay hated school. In spite of me going to the class room and grading every paper ever done that year, McKay still hated school. And so I put together all my brain power and came up with an idea to apply to be a playground aid at school. Why not? If McKay had to go to school then perhaps he would like it more if his mother went with him! YIKES! And just to keep the making fun down, I shall have a job there! The kids never wonder about that!!! Problem: no playground aid jobs open at his school... which meant to me that other kids also hate school and their mums got a job to help them out! Well we made it through 3rd grade. And we LOVED that summer! But is sure went by quickly. 4th grade arrived as did another amazing teacher but all the kids who were friends in 3rd grade were in another class... and Ms. Sims didn't need help grading papers. It was going to be a terrible horrible no good very bad year! I could tell. Making all new friends? WOW! I could go sit in the class and observe but how weird is that everyday? And who has time for that? And would that really help? And so it was that we just accepted a year of wo is me from McKay... LOTS of prayers and trying to invite kids over was a treat. Then came the year of a life time (I will write about later... I promise) and one day, in the midst of serious trial at the Mecham home, the lunch lady called to offer me a job. She found my resume from last year and thought she would have me go apply at the district offices. And so I did. And that day I got the job and I started the next. Lunch lady is a far cry from playground aid. And just in case you don't love your neighborhood lunch lady, you need to. In fact, there should be lunch lady appreciation week! Those ladies are working their buns off! (no pun intended.)
Day 1 as a lunch lady: I had to change my clothes because I had on earrings, a blouse and ballet shoes. Better apparel choice would have been scrubs and a pony tail. Best choice was t-shirt and jeans, tennis shoes or orthopedics and NO JEWELRY! hair in pony tail or pinned back somehow. BOY HOWDY! Day 2- 5: I did everything... EVERYTHING... wrong! And on day 5 I came home with tears in my eyes telling Nate "I hate school!" I hate it and we should home school McKay. The fact is, I had decided to quit on Monday. And then Ms. Sims called and said, "You fixed the problem! McKay is a whole new kid since you started working this week. He raises his hand! He is playing with all the kids on the playground. He is HAPPY all the time! I think you solved the problem!" I was stunned! STUNNED!!! He saw me for less then 10 seconds while he zipped through the line deciding if he would have a corn dog or meatloaf... How did that change everything? And from that phone call I realized... I had to stay as a lunch lady. I had to! It had changed the whole game for McKay. But I hated it! Then I gave myself the little pep talk that I gave mcKay every other day before I was a lunch lady... the one about attitude and optimism. And then I put on my tennis shoes and t-shirt, pulled my hair into a pony tail and found a smile and went to work. What a year!

10 things I learned from being a lunch lady:

10: I was cut out to be a mom. I don't like to work under somebody Else's jurisdiction.
9: people don't think lunch ladies are smart.
8: the local lunch lady does NOT NOT NOT get paid for the work she does... She works like a slave and gets paid next to nothin'. Don't work for the money there... if you need money get a different job.
7: I live in a bubble. I like my bubble.
6: the school that the kids go to is an amazing institution and I am now a major lover of Franklin schools. WOW! The children are well behaved and the teachers are incredible. I wish each parent would go and observe just to see what it is really about.
5: Religion is an interesting topic. I worked with 5 of the most wonderful lunch ladies ever! 1 Catholic, 1 Lutheran, 1 J.W., 1 Latter Day Saint. Religion was my favorite topic to bring up! :)
4: Ketchup and Ranch dressing really make me want to gag.
3: School Children are vulnerable. I am soooo glad I am done with that!
2: You can easily pick out children who's parents are involved in their life by their appearance, actions, and confidence... GET INVOLVED IN YOUR KIDS!!!
1: The number one thing I learned as a lunch lady is that I would literally do ANYTHING... i mean ANYTHING... to get my little people through life. Your reason "why" in life, should make you try (or cry)... and my reason why I went to work as a lunch lady made me do both.

I have never... NOT EVER... looked forward to summer break so much!

The Game of Tag

I actually think this game is pretty funny! The fact is that I filled one of these out moons ago... and I enjoyed myself so much that I when TWO of my fav people also tagged "anyone" I decided that meant me! So here you go... Facts about Moi.

4 shows I watch:
Except for the fact That I am socially challenged in this department, I haven't watched 4 hours of television in a decade... so I don't even know what is on. The last 4 shows that I watched back in high school were pretty sweet:
1) Days of our Lives (but every time I hear about it from the younger crowd the same stupid thing is happening... so I don't think I've missed much in 20 years.)
2) Little House on the Prairie... but I was embarrassed to admit it in high school. (I own the series on dvd and my kids are loven' it!)
3) -
4) Sadly there aren't 4 shows I've ever been religious about watching... but I swear one day I will be cool enough to join in a conversation about E.R. or something...

4 things I'm passionate about:
My mother one day described me in one word, "passionate". I should be able to fill this out...
1) SOLVE the PROBLEM! Don't Blame anyone else! Figure the real problem and Solve it! Hard? yes! Get er' done.
2) Constitution. We have strayed something fierce from it. BOY HOWDY! The founding fathers would NOT be happy with us!!!
3)clean underware
4)teeth brushed... no build up between them... wow! that's yuk-o-la!

4 phrases I say a lot:
1)nice.
2)Wow!
3)What the heck?
4)If is was easy it would already be done.

4 things I have learned from my past:
1)It's always easier to say sorry than it is to keep tryng to prove you were right when you were actually wrong.
2)If you judge harshly it comes back on you to give you a broader perspective.
3)NEVER say, "If there is anything I can for you let me know" or anything of its kind unless you are actually willing to really do ANYTHING!
4)staying healthy is easier than trying to regain health.

4 places I would like to go:
1)Bora Bora
2)Australia
3)Switzerland
4)Greece

4 things I did yesterday:
1) ACN Meetings
2) read to Coley
3) made dinner for friends
4) cleaned my seriously messy house

4 things I am looking forward to:
1)summer break
2)A new President of the United States. It doesn't get worse so I know whoever wins will be a better deal!
3)my tulips blooming... they just started and they make me very happy!
4)a steady paycheck again... who knew one could take for granted something like that? Weird!

4 things I like about winter:
1)winter grass
2)cool weather
3)Christmas Break
4)sleeping in

4 things on my wish list:
1)Mecham bum (as in, I wish I had one instead of the one I have)
2)New Bed... freaken' curse the one I have since it has visible mountains and valleys.
3)twins that I didn't have to birth myself.
4)McKay's leg aches to be GONE!!! AND NEVER EVER COME BACK EVER EVER! Po McKay!

4 people I tag:
Whoever has the time, ought to do this. It's sorta fun....

pooped out kids and a rescue date and a rescue.

No pictures... just a funny story:

It had been one of those days. The Mecham children woke up on the wrong side of the bed. By 10a.m. I knew it was going to be necessary for a night OUT with Mr. Mecham. It was confirmed, when at noon, Bailey and Cole began an argument over who would get to tell me something. (because I might enjoy a story more if the info came from a different child... right?!) And re-affirmed by little McKay's cries of boredom after being grounded from friends until Cole was his buddy again.

Make note that if I ever go into the looney bin it is because of sibling quarreling. I can't stand it! I knew there was something wrong. Either a child sick or up too late or hungry bellies. Why else would one wake up bitter? So I fed the children. But they didn't like their food. (YIKES!) I took their temperatures. Everyone normal. No booger noses. No coughing. Everyone healthy. Therefore it must have been the late night games and Christmas activities. Yes indeed! They were tired. But what kid is going to go to bed for the night when the sun is still up? And so I made a dedicated attempt to fill the day with activities and work to keep the young ones busy and when Mi Amore finally rescued me we made one last attempt to relieve the children from their miserable day. We took them bike riding at the church parking lot! It didn't work. Even the bike ride ended in tears.

It was dark. 6:00. I made mac and cheese for dinner (affectionately known as "yellow death")because it was fast... and then listened to the children complain about their meal in the background while I called 1-800-macarena iriqui (great babysitter). She was available to sit with the children while we escaped the insanity! The children ate, pulled on jamies, brushed teeth and were tucked in bed snuggy tight with prayers said by 7:00 p.m. And just before I walked out the door to pick up Ms. Iriqui I poked my little head in to see 3 children who had embraced sleep quickly.

We gave Macarena free reign of the pantry, fridge and freezer, Christmas goodies still lingering, the computer Internet and movies. We even told her to invite Ms. Katie to come hang out... It was going to be a very quiet night and we were so thankful that she was willing to come over.

I skipped to the car. Skipped! So happy for relief. Mr. Mecham and I went to dinner since we were getting quite hungry. Soup and salad. Perfect for the chilly evening. On the way home we decided to drive through the Honda dealership. It sounded like a good time to trade in our old Honda for a newer model with less miles. And so we pulled in but decided to drive through the lot instead of walking since the night air was a little too cool and the car was already toasty warm. When we found a few we liked we hopped out and quickly peeked inside... oblivious to time... happy to be shopping together with full bellies. But we knew we would have to come back another day. So we began our exit. The South exit was already gated and locked down... so we drove to the South/East exit... the one we had entered the lot at... it was also gated and locked down. I chuckled. Nate cursed. So we headed to the obvious only opening for the dealership... the North/East entrance. It was gated and locked. I chuckled. Nate cursed twice. We were totally locked into the dealership! Everyone had gone home. Lights inside were out. GONE!

We called the police. They would "send somebody out." And so after an hour MR. Nice policeman came out and listened to our story while shaking his head. The brave Mr. Mecham announced his desire to borrow the policeman's bolt cutters and made a honest effort to convince the officer that he had the right to do so since he had been locked into the dealership. The officer shook his head. The bolt cutters were not a part of the nights activities. The only thing Mr. Officer could do was loan us a phone (that we didn't need) to call somebody (at 10:30 p.m.) to get a ride home. But Mi Amore (bless his heart) couldn't bare to leave our already purchased Honda in a Honda dealership until the next morning. And so he remained firm in his idea that bolt cutters were necessary and that as soon as the nice policeman left that he would call uncle Loyd to bring them over. But before the Officer could leave the night janitor arrived and guess what? He had keys to the lock? What janitor has keys to the lot lock?
And so at 11:00 p.m. We were rescued and on our way home to our very sleeping children.
What a day!

I took a Tibetan personality test... so should you!

This picture is proof of my childhood... since my children think I've always been a mom... and a look back to days when I may have looked more like my Bailey.
My super cute and ever talented friend at happily ever after (by invite only... so sorry!!!) invited me to take the Tibetan personality test. It was oh so fun! I thank you Lady Gale for such an activity... You are marvelous! And besides, the Dalai Lama suggested I do it and I could not disappoint.... If I passed it along to as many friends as my favorite number (which is 3) then the wish that I made will come true on my favorite day of the week... which means that Sunday will be a lovely day for me. Crunchy Granola once told me that those things don't work... but I'm certain that Sunday will show her intelligence to be misunderstood!

The Tibetan people must know a lot! Really! And the Dalai Lama is very primitive indeed... My whole personality was described by a few short questions... They go like this:

Put these animals in order from most favorite to least favorite.

*Horse * Cow * Pig * Sheep * Tiger*

Describe these nouns in one word:

*Dog * Cat * Rat * Coffee * Sea *

Who is the one person that reminds you most of these colors?

* Yellow * orange * Red * White * Green *

Now pick your favorite number and day of the week and

MAKE A WISH!

Results came in... some of the astonishing... while others made me think the Dalai Lama needs to go back to Chrystal ball school... YIKES!

My real most favorite animal is a giraffe. I would own one if I could. Then an elephant! And after that, I really like my chicken, Jasmine. She is so tiny and fluffy! If Nate would let her in the house I would potty train her and keep her right by my side... But in the order of the animals that was presented I chose these... which Dalai says are symbolic of the order of importance of those things in my life:

horse~ Family

Sheep ~ Love

Tiger~ Pride

Cow~ Career

Pig~ money

Almost! I almost put tiger first! WHooeee... How would that feel?! Having the Dalai suggest that I was full of pride instead of only 1/2 full of pride? I did wonder if I really liked my career more than money? I always thought it would be coolest to just inherit a bajillion dollars and then secretly pay off mortgages and take extravagant vacations with my wee ones... and then live in a far off place serving a very long mission with Brother Mecham! But if the Dalai said....

Next... My description in one word:

Dog = friend. (I had one once... Murphey... a cocapoo... He died in a heroic effort to save the family homestead from the ferocious squirrel that had set up house somewhere underneath that house foundation.... the vet said it was heat exhaustion after a viscous chase all around the property. I cried. He was my friend.)

Cat = Nuisance. (for all cat lovers... I apologize. I've tried to love cats. But on my side of the tracks they are typically wild cats and they just poop all over my children's playground and make loud noises while mating in the flower beds out front... under my window... all night long!)

Rat = PEST! YUK! and NO THANKS! Not EVER!

Coffee = smells good! Though I am not a drinker of coffee, I sure love the smell. When I grocery shop at Sprouts I always take a long walk down the coffee bean isle for reasons of pure aromatic delight. And Mr. Mecham and I brew it in the mornings when we stay in fancy hotels.

Sea = Beautiful. It just is! I'm speaking of "the great deep" not the great lakes... However, I do think the great lakes are magnificent also. But if the "sea" is talking about the great deep than I have two words... but the Dalai Lama only asked for one 1) Beautiful (2) Powerful. I love it for both reasons. Years ago Mi Amore and I moved to Florida and lived only minutes from the Gulf of Mexico to the West and a short distance from the Atlantic on the East. I fell in love with those oceans. IN LOVE! And when I moved I vowed to take them with me... and so when I close my eyes and think really hard I can trick my brain into hearing that beautiful sound that those powerful waves make... and I run my toes through the powdery white sand... and I sometimes even dig for sea shells while the warm sun kisses my face... and if I try hard enough I can even smell that salty sea air. The Sea has an amazing hold on ones soul.

Well... the Tibetan personality test said that my description of those nouns also had symbolic meaning. What I was actually describing was not those nouns at all... it was my deepest most inner feelings of something else. So to recap...

My description of the:

Dog (friend) was really how I felt about myself. Ha! You don't think? Just ask the rat!

Cat (nuisance) was actually how I felt about my spouse. HAHAHA! NEVER NOT EVER...

Rat (pest) was truly how I felt about my enemies. But how could that be if I am the dog?

Coffee (smells good) was how I felt about sex. - Which I do have a comment about... though I don't publicly discuss that topic on my blog very often ~ ever... I have always thought it would be cool to be Dr. Ruth for 5 minutes and I've often thought how one would describe such an event as sex in one word (or phrase). Now I know... It smells good! Dr. Ruth has nothing over me!!!

Sea (beautiful) was how I felt about my own life. ~ which is, in fact, pretty true. Life is beautiful. It is a statement of God's love for us every single day... and a constant reminder that our Creator is most generous and kind... and how is that not beautiful.... or powerful for that matter?!

Name the first person that comes to mind with these color:

Yellow- My mum (she and I share a favorite for that bright sunny color)

Orange- Coley Wooley (because he loves it with all his heart)

Red- my little McKay (has a red personality... spunky and determined... with a drive to win that is scary sometimes! But he hides it under shades of blue)

White- Bailey (she was a toe head... white hair as a toddler... and it looked so cute in piggies against her Florida tanned epidermis)

Green- Mr. Mecham (his eyes sometimes pull green hues that are super dreamy)

and what does that mean?

Yellow (mum) is someone I will never forget. Well dah! How the heck could I? The woman who gave me life...

Orange (Cole) is a true friend. Indeed he is. He tells me he loves me in record numbers each day. At least 30 X per hour... and never fails to thank me for something.

Red (McKay) is somebody I really love. Yep! That is true. I used to wonder how I could love somebody so much...

White (Bailey) is my twin soul. That Dalai lama is right! She does look exactly like I did as a child. And sometimes I think that the spit fire within her will cause me to explode! I try to blame it on her father but really I know that it is because she inherited that D.N.A. from her mother. Bless her heart. That same fire fuels her to get things done. Something that will take her far... and bless the lives of her children.

Green (Nate) is somebody I will remember the rest of my life. He is unforgettable... In every way! I thought I was in love a few times before him... but I've come to realize that he is my one and only truest love... I think we were were soul mates... and how does one ever forget that? I promise I will forever and ever remember my Nate.

Boy Howdy... Now you know me through and through... Thank you Dalai Lama!!!

My neglectful blogness

( This pic has nothing to do with my post... but it is autumnish... and I love it.)

Dear Blog,

You are but one young year old... You remind me of my journal.... (which you are). I make commitments to record my stories for future memoir... but I oft let the business of life take me captive. For these reasons, I have been neglectful. And also because I've been reading like a dog... "Jesus the Christ" (again... so good) and "The Great Apostasy" (again... so good) and "The Continuous Atonement". (boy howdy... All things pink was not kidding when she highly recommended that one... so good.) And since I'm on a pretty rocken' roll, I just bought "The Blessings of Abraham". I'm sure it will be so good.

I have been absent with my nose in a book or two or three... and also planting my garden. Tomatoes are up... Just harvested 2. Cucumbers are growing gangbusters. Lettuce is still alive. Mint. (what to do with mint? I planted it so I could say that I have mint in my garden. Don't know how to use it yet! I read that it repels some pests. I'm banking on it!) Pole beans are growing even though I planted them 4 days after the last recommended day. We will see... Peppers~ They have been in the ground for a while now... and they aren't dead but they aren't growing. Interesting. Italian Parsley is beautiful. (dear Lord, Thank you for that stuff... I love parsley. You are good to me. Love, Becky) Chives are still under ground... as in seeds haven't sprouted up yet. Neither have the onions. But I'm in LOVE with onions... and chives... so I know they will come up. The squash. I've dreamed of squash gardens.... and mine is growing. I planted sweet meat, zucchini, and Florette squash... and when it all gets rolling if there is still room, I'll plant acorn and spaghetti. Did I say, I love squash? I love squash in all its forms. (Fresh, of coarse!)

So where was I... Sorry about not blogging. If you were an infant child you would be dead from neglect. I would be incarcerated for abuse. And then my garden wouldn't be growing. You are, however, a space for me to deliver my thoughts... and I still have some. Stick with me....

A dinner tale.

So... tell me what it is about food on mom's plate? (that is a question... because if I had been talking a live person my eye brows would be up with question and my intonations would have left you feeling like you must answer...)

I spent the morning at that amazing farmers market down town drooling over beautiful veggies. I had visions of salsa made with heirloom and yellow tomatoes for the kids after school snack, and stir fry dreams for tonight's supper. The veggies were incredible. And I bought a lot of them! So I had to use them.

I made this delightful dinner tonight, (which, I might add, did not just whip up in 20 min since slicing and peeling veggies takes a ridiculous amount of time) And just as it was finishing up and the timer was hollering that the rice was done, the children came running with wonderful expressions on their faces! "what smells so good?" they inquired as they turned the corner to the kitchen. With high hopes, the taller ones opened the pan to get a sneak peek. Coley stood high on his tipsy toes trying to get a good look. And then, "oh." and silence that seemed to scream, "YUCK!". And those faces dropped like a barbell on your naked toe.

Child 1: "I don't think I'll be eating tonight". Child 2: "May I make a sandwich, you know I don't like that. I told you last time we ate it". Child 3: SILENCE. and then all the kids disappeared as if they had just eaten a feast and didn't want to be around for clean up.

So Papa Nate and I spooned up a pile of rice and topped it with the heavenly veggies L0-mien and sat down. I even considered candle light since we would be dining by ourselves tonight! Just after, "amen", those same children came in to stare. Why? Why do they refuse and then stare with sad wet eyes like I've starved them for the past week? And then Child 1 even set herself down next to me and hung her sweet head. And child 2 inched himself next to me, his mouth closer to my plate than my own. And child 3... the one with the audacity of a bison, pulled himself up to the table with the leftovers of his after school chips and salsa fest and began to eat! Bless his clueless heart. And so it was that our romantic home made Chinese dinner Lo Mien wasn't romantic at all. Papa Nate instantly looked anoyed. He was obviously trying REAL hard to not make mad noise. I looked straight ahead pretending nothing else was going on.

Child 1 spoke up with a quiver: "I'm so hungry, could I just have a taste of one noodle?" Child 2 chimed in: "Could I just have one taste?" Child 3: crunchen' on chips and salsa. Papa Nate: "I'm really trying hard not to comment here but I can't help but notice that you are all eating off your mother's plate." Child 1: stomps away and tosses fork into the sink with force only to return less than 20 seconds later with big tears and obvious sobs. Child 2 swallows food, looks at Papa and says, "hmm, not bad... what are the noodles made out of?" Child 3: oblivious that anything is wrong gets himself a drink to wash down his chips and salsa dinner and says, "are we going to the ice cream social after we eat?" Child 1 crys out, "I'm so hungry but I don't want dad to be mad at me for asking mom for another bite!" Child 2 opens his mouth expecting me to fill it will veggie L0- mien goodness on demand. Child 3 wondering what all the fuss is over. And so I asked the million dollar question, "would you like some dinner? I'd sure love to dish it up!" Child 1: sniffles. "Could I just have rice? I don't like cabbage. It makes me gag. And mushrooms are disgusting. And spinach makes my stomach turn." "GOT IT! Thanks for your honesty." Child 2: "no, I made myself a tuna sandwich, I'll just eat a little of yours." (WHAT?) child 3: "I'm not hungry". As he piles a giant portion of salsa onto his next corn chip. Bless his clueless heart.

And so I dished up one brown rice as ordered. And child 1 partook. When her rice was 1/2 gone she looked up and said, "is that lo-mien good?" Papa was on helping #2. Couldn't answer without gumping so opted out. Child 2 had polished off my helping #1 but still didn't want any of his own. Noticing that indeed it was good, child 1 asked, "could I have just a little bit on top my rice?" and so she did and ate and loved her dinner. And was happy. Child 2 was real full. Child 3 is a garbage gut who ate (literally) corn chips and salsa for dinner and then most happily trotted off to the ice cream social for dessert.

And so it is that papa Nate and mama Beck did not eat candle light lo-mien for dinner tonight by themselves. Child 1 joined them and after she figured out that she was truly not a martyr, she lived happily with good food in her belly. Child 2 over ate... because he made himself a tuna sandwich and then also ate his mother's helping of lo-mien. And he was happy because he never had to admit that he liked that stuff... Child 3 is happy. He is happy about everything. And he is full of garbage. And probably one day he will suffer from obesity and diabetes because his mother fed him corn chips and ice cream for dinner instead of lo-mien. And papa Nate enjoyed 2 helpings and mama Beck ate part of one helping and felt joy that finally childs 1 and 2 did partake... and laughed all the way to bed over child 3... bless his Coley heart.

You Don't have to be old and dead to move towards the light....

This is a preview of me in 40 years. I will be hauling my grands around on my hog. Quite frankly, my children won't hear of it and promise that I am the most embarrassing person they've ever known and they will file for divorce if their father and I make such a purchase. (insert laughing here...) I can't imagine that as mature adults they wouldn't love their children's Nana to show up in leather fringed chaps and steel toed boots. (Leather.... mmmmm!) And I think the grands will think I'm cool. Regardless, I'm keeping that dream alive.

And to fuel my fire, today while driving down the road I saw a little old grandma riding her red mo-ped... practicing good safety rules by wearing her white helmet (it looked like a bowling ball) with her little gray hairs curling out the back and sides. Her little white orthopedic tennies (Velcro straps) were the perfect accessory bringing out the true age of "cool breeze" granny. I loved that her satchel was strapped in between her legs comfortably. But the crowning jewel was the blue bumper sticker that read, "You don't have to be old and dead to move towards the light". And I never wished I had my camera so bad! Just think, I could've shown my children how awesome a future they really have! I think it would have calmed all their fears. Plus, I promise to wear braids and bandannas, and red lipstick always.

I'm buying a Hog. So help me....

Try again...

OH NO!! You have to hear this... try it again... click here and turn up the volume NOw!

Don't drink while listening to this!

This will EVER remain one of my most favorite Internet mail forwards...

But I warn you to never link onto it while you are drinking something...

Click here... then Turn up the volume and close your eyes...

A juicy piece of Vit C. and randomness...

This is so random...

This morning while indulging on my breakfast of Fuji apples and winter pears, the light bulb (the one that has obviously been burned out for the past 35 years) flipped on. I was dreaming of peaches, actually... wishing for a ripe tree to drop its freshness on my watering palate at that very moment... when I began to add up the reason for "seasonal" fruits and veggies. When my random thoughts finally landed, this is what I had come up with...

summer fruits are typically high in "antioxidants" much needed for fighting free-radicals. (SUNBURN= cancer! YIKES!!) Autumns fruits and veggies last a long time... some of them well into the winter. Winter fruits are full of vit C to fight influenza.

Boy... it only took me a lifetime to think that up. I'm so grateful for a kind and wise Father in Heaven who created everything for our benefit. Everything in it's season. And I'm certain it didn't take him a lifetime to figure out which season we would need which fruit and veg...

By that time I had almost finished off my pear. I was baring my testimony of fruit to Cole, trying to convince him that he would feel like a king if he would just partake... oatmeal is more his style... (with brown sugar and powder sugar and white sugar and honey on top) As I finished the last juicy bite, I decided I really like pears. And then I packed up and headed off to buy some orchard fresh oranges for lunch... and I smiled all day!

Random... I know.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of Getting to know your friends

Today I received this e-mail stating that if I didn't partake I was a scrooge and "it is the season of joy and giving and"... and since I think its fun to pass along nonsense, I filled it out... After all, I don't want to be a scrooge. And if I didn't send it to 35 people within the next 10 seconds I would have bad luck through the holidays... and I don't want bad luck EVER! You know the deal...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? (Is this a question? if so...) Christmas wrap with a bow please... and I like tags and dangly ornaments if I get to have a preference.

2. Real tree or Artificial? I love REAL... There is something aromatically sensational about a real live tree. However, my first married Christmas, Nate and I lived in a quaint little apartment and we had a live tree... and as the short version of the story goes; one day I was looking at the tree and it was moving... There had been a hatchling of bitty spiders all over my Merry Christmasy house. HO HO HOLY SMOKES! Since the arachnophobic side of me took over, I now and forever more, have a FAKER...(or more politically correct - which I loath politically connectedness's)...an artificial tree. And I don't have spiders. And it doesn't need to be watered. And it doesn't die. And I don't have to figure out how to dispose of it on January 1 (if it makes it that long before it ignites) And I light a pine tree candle and get an artificial aromatic sensation!

3. When do you put up the tree? Post Thanksgiving. And I would put it up before that if mi amore would let me!

4. When do you take the tree down? sometime after New years.

5. Do you like eggnog? If it is spiked!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Grandma Woolf and Grandpa Paul gave me a homemade wooden pic nic table one year! It was just my size. I loved that thang. I can actually smell the wood and stain just thinking about it!

7. Hardest person to buy for? Parents. They have everything.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Cole. He will have one of EVERYTHING in the store and make time to play with all of it.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Absolutely! Isn't it the symbol of Christmas?

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail- C'mon!

11.worst Christmas gift you ever received? Ummm... is it okay to post that? After all, where is the gratitude?! However, I took personal offense when in years past my ~positively perfect in every way (but one) ~ husband shopped for me on the Christmas Eve and so whatever he could find at Wally World was in my sock on Christmas morn... Don't remember what, but I was shocked! That is BOULDER DASH... I tell you... I hold grudges and consequently I am still having difficulty forgiving him of this transgression... even though he has mended his sinful ways and bashfully hides each and every time I decide to remind him of his ONE iniquity! Last year Bailey told me to "build a bridge and get over it". Don't worry, I hold animosity for her saying that too! Where was I... Worst gift... anything that was picked up on Christmas Eve.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Miracle on 34th St. (not necessarily in that order)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Does it ever end? I shop when I find a good deal or I see the "perfect gift".

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No... However, I did see a gift that I gave be recycled once. It made me feel good that the individual I gave it to could use it for something! Heck, if She doesn't want it, give it to somebody that does... and save some cash during the holidays!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Can't lay off the cheese ball and crackers. My thighs remind me of it daily... Cheese ball, that is.

16. Lights on the tree? I thought it morally wrong to put up a tree with no lights?! One year I even wrapped them myself... My tree looked like a UFO landed on my front room floor. I nominated Nate to do it the next year.... What a treat! My tree looked like he stood on one side of the room and practiced pitching. Needless to say, I now call in the professional... my mother.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night. If I turn it up loud enough and sing, I sound just like Celine Dion. It's astonishing! I didn't know I had such an amazing voice.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home. I went to Disneyland with the kids one year. I have to say that it was the only time I didn't like Disneyland. There were so many people there that they were denying entry. Don't go on Christmas...

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? yes

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One on Eve- Christmas morning is magical with kids.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? angry people who forget to enjoy the business of the Holidays... after all, aren't we busy celebrating the birthday of our Savior?

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? We traditionally give an ornament to each sibling (family). The one's I have received have become sentimental. We also choose one each year to sum up the year. We have some from the different states we've lived and one from our honey moon... (specialness...) each time a child joined the family. It brings tree joy!

24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? carne asada tacos, homemade guacamole, fresh salsa, home made tortillas...

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Nate in a stocking.