"Expletives Deleted"

In the past 12 months I've thrown out at least 4 books after reading only a chapter or two because the language was so bad I couldn't justify reading it anymore.

Although I loved "Shopaholic" I had to "edit" my copy so I could feel good sharing it with friends and ....most of all....my daughter. The really frustrating thing for me is that there doesn't seem to be anyplace to find this information out BEFORE you spend the money on the book.

Had I the time I'd be setting up a website for just such a purpose...giving ratings to books. Under the category heading : Books that might have been good based on all I've heard but couldn't read because of language, I'd list these:

"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" Haddon
"Love in the time of Cholera" Marquez
"Water for Elephants" Gruen
"Shopaholic" (Although I did read this one....)
"A Thousand Splendid Suns" Hosseini
"World Without End" Follett
"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" See

Admittedly some of these contained more "gratuitous sex" than bad language nevertheless I was disappointed to have spent money on them only to throw them in the trash ... I couldn't even in good conscience sell them to the used book store....I didn't want to be responsible for other people reading them!

If anyone has some solution to this I'd love to hear your comments. It's unfortunate to find oneself unable to purchase any book before having someone else read and review it for you. (BTW Amazon's reviews do sometimes give a hint but not always)

Good reading.....

The days of Christmas Past....our Tree Farm

Until the year 2000 we sold Christmas trees every December from our front yard. We don't grow the trees ourselves....our "tree farm" is of a different sort....confusing to most people, unless you live in Indiana. My dear HH is a professional forester, his work is diverse to say the least, but in terms of tree farms his services are provided on a consultant basis to private landowners here in Indiana. Nothing grows better in Indiana than trees! They pop up whereever there's a bare spot of ground and a month without disturbance. In our yard the spring thaw shows a yard full of inch high maples and oaks with one leaf apiece.....trying to stake their claim before I mow them off when the grass begins to grow.

Farmers here would say that the major Indiana crop is corn, or soybeans, but in truth the entire state would be a forest, and a smattering of cranberry bogs, if left to it's own natural devices. Only years of clearing and cultivating keep the woods in check. It's a beautiful place. Not, I might mention, a good place for a garden.....we have far too much shade for that (and of course the deer think my garden is the corner grocery).

Tree farms here in Indiana are nothing more than a formal "governmental" designation for land that is allowed to grow it's natural crop.....trees! We live on a tree farm....but not a Christmas Tree farm. The trees weren't planted in straight rows and we don't sell them one at a time for someone's yard. Our "crop" is harvested when the tree grows big enough to be useful for beautiful furniture (oak,walnut), cabinetry (oak, maple, poplar), or flooring (all of the above plus some hickory and other miscellaneous species). Some of the most beautiful wood in the nation comes from our Indiana hardwood forests (which, I might add is a "renewable" resource).

Though our tree farm doesn't have much of a connection to Christmas, our yard does. Every year from the time our oldest was 5 or 6 we used to haul in a truckload of Christmas trees grown by another Forester we know in Indiana.

We did a booming business because we sold a unique tree.... a Christmas Tree that wasn't painted green! (Can you imagine!) Frankly, until I married my forester husband I had no idea they were painting the trees! I was shocked! We gained notoriety and a modest following among people who were just as surprised as I. Our girls have fond memories of the smell of fresh cut pines staked to fill our front yard entirely...here in the middle of a hardwood forest. I can't say we made buckets of money but we always made a nice profit, (right at Christmas time!) and for us it was a tradition that provided the girls with a way to earn some Christmas money and learn the value of work.

Once our oldest daughter graduated from High School in 2000 we found it too difficult to keep up with the small Christmas Tree business while also running our own Forestry Consulting company. We had to give something up. It was a sad decision and the two girls left at home were very sad the first Christmas that our yard was left naked all December.

As for me I have fond memories of the trees, the time spent together as a family, the wonderful people we met, and the fun of living "among the pines" for a time. I don't really miss being tied to the house for 4 weeks before Christmas while everyone else is out catching good sales!

I miss the nightly tradition of walking down our quarter mile drive and lighting 20 or so kerosene lanterns, and feeling that our little log cabin was the ultimate Christmas setting. But when I really think about it all the things that make Christmas special are still here.........in my heart.....even without a yard full of Christmas trees.

Awaiting the first snow...

(Last year's spectacular snowfall at our house!)

Yup, I sit here on the eve (assuming all the weathermen are correct) of our first big snowfall here in Indiana. I really prefer all seasons to winter EXCEPT during December when I get excited at the prospect of "new fallen snow" (and not just because Seminary might get cancelled!)

It has been perpetually dreary here for the past few days, even daring to rain in buckets for two days in a row which is decidedly UN-WINTER like. I used to love dark winter days because I could bake and create wonderful comfort foods to feed my husband who never gained a pound and would eat with abandon stopping only to proclaim my excellence as a wife and chef! Alas, two years ago despite his 32 inch waist, he was diagnosed with diabetes. It completely ruined all my fun....now if I bake I have to eat it...thus he has lost some 50 pounds and I have gained 13! (Life is so unfair!)

I just read Amazed's account of her travels to France and find myself craving a croissant (she tell you to say it with a French accent), a wonderful hotel, ....in short a great vacation! Our next vacation won't be until the day after Christmas when we travel to Disneyworld and meet our sweet grandaughter (and of course her parents) to celebrate her very FIRST birthday!

I have created the most wonderful first birthday present for her and I'm bursting with excitement to give it to her. It will be hard for me to wait! No trips after that until the last week of March when HH and I will travel to Santa Fe for the week of my birthday! I really think I'd be a much happier person if I could have a week long vacation once a month (however I'd probably also be poor!).

Tomorrow I may post another installment of gifts I've discovered! I'm going to have to add people to my list....I keep finding fun things!

If you love to know what you're getting for Christmas....this blog's for you!

I have seen some great things this year that I know I'm giving to someone.....it might be you! (new installments as I think of them : )

Udon Noodle Bowl

I love how it holds the chopsticks!

or....maybe you like this one better.... The Buddha Bowl

this dish nestles naturally in your palm and allows you to enjoy rice, soup, cereal and hot cocoa with ONE HAND! So Cute!

Candle Carver

You can make a candle out of anything!

I've been tagged!

The Pink Factor has tagged me with a meme (thanks..cause I needed the incentive !) so here goes......

Rules:
Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
Share seven random and or weird things about yourself.
Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

SEVEN RANDOM/WEIRD THINGS ABOUT MYSELF:

1. During the first 1o years of our marriage (including during the birth of two of our daughters) my husband never saw me without makeup.

2. I aspire to healthy food choices but I'm a closet McDonald's hamburger/fries lover (sorry girls .... I'm so ashamed).

3. When I wrote this list initially, 9 out of 10 things had to do with food!

4. If I had a choice between living in the tropics and living in Alaska I'd pick Alaska even though I hate cold weather.

5. I secretly wish I had been born a Greek (cause as a grandma my name would be Ya Ya!)

6. I only dust when company's coming : )

7. I sat in the hall from 2nd through 5th grade because the teachers thought I talked too much.....(Punishment? HA!!! They should have heard me in the hall!)


So now I tag:

Tiny
http://presenceofmind.typepad.com/
Amazed
Grammy
Sweet Mama

Have you ever been inspired....

(I feel like the next line should be "do you wiggle to and fro...do your ears haaaaang low!) Okay, enough of that silliness...

I heard an author interviewed on the radio yesterday and my mind has been skipping along thinking about all he said. I know I'm usually ten steps behind the rest of the human race so many of you may have already heard that Will Bowen is out to change the world one person at a time. His website http://www.acomplaintfreeworld.org/ explains his idea and gives you a good overview of the program.

Basically he believes that if we each became more positive in our thoughts, i.e. not complaining, gossiping, fault-finding, criticizing, etc....the world would be a better place. How can you argue with that beautiful thought?

I, myself, am a big complainer. I complain about the weather, I whine about my weight, I've been known to criticize my husband and nag my daughters....nothing positive in any of that. Mr. Bowen has the answer to my problem.....how to stay focused for more than two hours at a time in my effort to become a better me.

On the website he sells bracelets stamped with the slogan "A Complaint Free World". Assuming that, as modern behavior analysts have said, we can change a habit in 21 days, here are Mr. Bowen's instructions:

Begin to wear the bracelet, on either wrist. When you catch yourself
complaining, gossiping or criticizing (it’s ok, everyone does) move the bracelet to the other arm and begin again. If you hear someone else who is wearing a bracelet complain, you may point out their need to switch the bracelet to the
other arm; BUT if you’re going to do this, you must move your bracelet first! Stay with it.

It may take many months but when you reach 21 days without having to move the bracelet you will find that your entire life is happier, more loving and more enjoyable.

I love, love, love this idea. You can order the bracelets fairly cheaply, or he even offers up to three per household at no charge at all....that's how committed he is to changing the world.

I want to be part of a better world ... I'm committed to this. If you love this idea add it to your blog and pass the word along. Here are some more inspiring words from his website:

“Complaining is not to be confused with informing someone of a mistake or deficiency so that it can be put right. And to refrain from complaining doesn’t necessarily mean putting up with bad quality or behavior. There is no ego in telling the waiter your soup is cold and needs to be heated up—if you stick to the facts, which are always neutral. ‘How dare you serve me cold soup…?’ That’s complaining.”—Eckhart Tolle, “A New Earth”

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change your attitude; Don't Complain." -Maya Angelou

Time to Kill or What to do with the next several hours....

Okay my lame little "I love this or that " blogs have been TOTALLY outdone by this website! It's so much fun.....someone with way more time than me has already found all the cool stuff and put it on her blog! Check it out (no, it's okay really, I don't mind.....sniff)

www.rarebirdfinds.typepad.com

Kudos to "Tiny" for finding this (HEYYYYY Wait a minute.....how does she find time to surf the net when she's in college?!!!)

Wow! I love this stuff Wednesday!

QUITE some time ago I had a weekly blog entry called "Things I love Thursday". Well, with the onset of my new calling as Seminary teacher I can hardly find time to blog once a week and I certainly can't begin to plan when that day will be! (To all of you Seminary teachers out there ....I admit it, I'm a dismal failure in the competency department! It takes me hours to get ready!)

Aaaanywaaaay.....here are some new "Things I love"....!

DID YOU KNOW?

That this handy little gadget measures exactly two tablespoons? (And you thought it was only for cookies or giant melon balls!) Why would you need one you ask? Well to measure things like HONEY, MOLASSES, even CRISCO or PEANUT BUTTER! They are notoriously messy to measure and this makes it so EASY!!!! (By the way there are 8 of these in a cup, 4 in a half cup, and 2 in one-quarter cup!)

And while we're at it this one (at least mine...you may have to check yours) measures exactly 1/3 cup! (I know some are 1/2 cup capacity). Trust me I NEVER measure Crisco in a cup anymore! I used to line a measuring cup with saran wrap so it would come out easier but this is even better....no spooning (or knifing) the stuff into the cup you know?

Next on the list......because I'm LDS I don't drink coffee but I do like a good cup of Pero (my daughter prefers Postum) now and then. Sometimes I make it taste like dessert....I add the creamer and then pumpkin pie spice or 2 tablespoons of hot cocoa mix but I discovered THIS at Walmart the other day ....EGGNOG Flavored Coffee Creamer......and it is YUMMY!!!

They also had Gingerbread and Peppermint but I haven't tried them yet.....if you have let me know!

Have a great week!

Sure Love Ya!

What I learned in Seminary Toooodaaaaay!

I learned Never, Ever, under any circumstances finish the lesson and

Let

Your Students

Beat you

To the Parking Lot.....!

(And let me mention .....being a 52 year old woman driving a car that says I love Mormon Boys certainly gives one cause to pray for heavy fog!)

Gotta Luv Those Kids!!!

Pay It Forward Meme

I've requested something, so:

Pay It Forward:

I will send a handmade (or internet) gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment here on my blog. I don’t know what that gift will be yet, but you will receive it within 365 days. The only thing you have to do in return is "pay it forward" by making a similar agreement on your blog.I will either:
1. Make and mail to you within 12 months a physical object of my choice.
2. Write out in a style of my choosing (journal style, poem, spy novel, fairy tale, whatever) a memory of the two of us together.

Thanks to The Pink Factor for this great opportunity!

Challenges come with blessing attached!

Well I could be talking about Seminary....it IS a lot of work but I LOVE it! I hesitate to even say that because every time I've LOVED a calling something happens and I get moved! Oh well I can't help myself.....I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT!!!!

What I really meant by challenge was my new exercise regimen. I had to totally revamp my routine since I can no longer exercise a) at home before Seminary, or b) in the gym while I'm waiting for D3 to get out of Seminary. Soooooo...I decided I had to try something new and different than what I'm used to and that means running. I am NOT a runner. I HATE running, I don't like gasping for air. BUT.......when I went to Girls Camp this spring I tented with two leaders who had taken up running, both of them had been regular exercisers just like me but once they started running they won the weight battle........that's what I want....VICTORY, SWEET VICTORY!

Anyway, I started last Thursday and I've been running 2.5 miles every morning (I know it's only 4 days ....I don't run on Sunday.....but for me this is a breakthrough of gargantuan proportions!). Next week I'll try to make it 3 and eventually work up to 5 every day. I've done it before on the treadmill but real running is SO different! Anyway I am quite proud of myself because 1) I'm not dead, and 2) there's a blessing with this challenge and I've discovered it!

I don't think I ever really appreciated the setting I live in until I started running the 1/2 mile circuit on our driveway........frankly how could you NOT enjoy this:

AAAAAAHHH The Beauty of Nature! (Almost makes me forget my thighs are rubbing together!) : )

Cheat blogging....

Okay right now after only one actual day of being Seminary teacher my face looks like this:

My Brain looks like this:

"I don't know......Abby someone.......oh yes, Abby Normal!"

And my desk looks like this!:

We can only hope things improve.....quickly!
Until then I thank my dear friend Penny for her answer to all my problems! Read on.....

In this life I'm a woman. In my next life, I'd like to come
back as a bear. When you're a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but
sleep for six months. I could deal with

with
that.Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal
with that, too.When you're a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the
size of walnuts) while you're sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly
cubs. I could definitely deal with that.If you're mama bear, everyone knows you
mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of
line, you swat them, too. I could deal with that.If you're a bear, your mate
EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and
excess body fat.Yup, gonna be a bear!

I'm just a little happy-sad

I messed with my blog yesterday and broke it.....I think I fixed it now but given my current state of sleep deprivation I can't really be sure. Yesterday was the sad part of my happy-sad experience. I had to say goodbye to Tiny, Nutella and, our favorite granddaugter (just so you don't think I'm a terrible grandma I have to note she's our ONLY granddaugter as yet).

We had just the most wonderful 4 days with them, what beautiful girls they all are! It did my heart so much good to see all three of my daughters together and find that they really are good friends as well as good people! They made me laugh........a lot, cry.........a little, and enjoy the visit....totally! I am a lucky mom!

HH left this morning at 4:00 for another fire and I was awakened at 3:30 when his alarm went off....no sense going back to bed since I'd have to get up at 4:30 for Seminary......Yawn! I'm TIRED!

Yesterday I got a call informing me that I'll be the new Seminary teacher beginning.....NEXT MONDAY!!! I'm more than a little scared. I've substituted before and I really like Seminary but still it's pretty scary to think you're responsible for an entire year of instruction for 12 sleepy teenagers at 6:00 each morning. I'm sure the real panic has yet to set in.....if you have any extra prayers please say them for me.

Yesterday was D3's birthday, she turned 15. Just another element of my happy-sad day.
On top of all these things, I find that when HH left he took with him the file with most of the pictures we had taken while the girls were here.....no posting those for a while I guess!

After all the crying was over last night I pondered again the question I've asked myself at least 100 times over the years. Do the happy mom moments outweigh the sad ones.....? I've loved every minute of raising my girls, they have been wonderful...... but when they grow up and move away.......... frankly it hurts a little!!!

Obviously my blue funk hasn't improved with only 5 hours of sleep last night.....I'm going to go sleep it off...... see you tomorrow!

Just ask for help if you can't do it.....

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did....the 911 operator is great with this little boy! (Can't say the same with his mom! : )

Senility...my old friend...it's good to see you again!

Oh gosh I had the worst experience of my life....well maybe the worst of my day....it went something like this:

After a long and busy day I decided to double-task (I'm not quite up to multi-task level yet) and brush my teeth while checking my e-mail before bed. I have one of those high tech electric toothbrushes (the dentist talked me into it) ......anyway I was reading and brushing and after the 2 minute cycle was up the toothbrush shut off but I wasn't done reading so I restarted it (I guess so I'd have something to do while reading (wierd).

Anyway a few seconds later, I got up, went into the bathroom to rinse and spit, and the toothbrush wouldn't shut off. The problem being that you can't take it out of your mouth until it stops or it will fling toothpaste hither and yon (trust me, I know!). I kept pushing the button, pushing the button, it just wouldn't go off (I had visions of brushing my teeth to smooth little stubs).

About the time I was ready to give in to the urge to swear I noticed that the button I was pushing wasn't the button.............it was the light switch!!!! I KNOW!!!! HOW can a person confuse a switch on the wall with a button on a toothbrush.........I have no idea!!! My synapses are obviously hopelessly tangled......

The really wierd thing is it didn't even register that the light was going off an on....this is SO terribly SAD!!!!

Enough laughing at me.....check out this lady's predicament (and thanks to The Pink Factor for providing comic relief) At least my embarrassment was entirely my own....not a witness in sight!

Sure love ya!

MY SHIP HAS COME IN!!!!!

Well, I must say, it’s been a pretty productive day so far. I probably shouldn’t be telling you (my two fans) this (I know I can count on you to keep my secret)...... today I’ll become a millionaire....perhaps with careful investment even a billionaire! Yes, today my ship, so to speak, came in.

I opened my e-mail and Mr. Frank Otto a VERY senior employee of the Department of Mineral and Energy Resources of South Africa( SOUTH AFRICA....Everyone knows about South Africa....ask Ms. South Carolina!) , wrote to ask my help in redeeming an investment interest. Apparently his client.....is currently missing, so very sad really. He has a sizeable sum of money coming to him and since they have been unable to locate him (despite their repeated extensive attempts) to send the vast amount of cash and other holdings to which he is entitled, they have contacted me..... Amazing though it may seem, we have the same last name and they presume we are, therefore, the "next of kin" to Mr. Nelson insert applicable surname here".

In addition I have also been notified that I have access to many important drugs to enhance my sex life " at such a reduced price I would have to be stupid to pass up this important opportunity" after all "once the women at work find out I’m taking this drug they will all be HOT for me" (.....actually since I’m a girl I’m not sure why I want other women HOT for me but the e-mails promise me joy and happiness if I order in the next 24 hours).

As if all this happy news weren’t enough, I received a "blessing’ from one Raj Darfur (no kidding) who promised me health, wealth, and never ending happiness (I mean NEVER ENDING!!!!) if I would pass along the e-mail address of 23 of my dearest friends (no matter how tempted I am I must not send more....these blessings are only for me and my very closest friends and nothing to trifle with) .......of course each of them will have the opportunity to receive the same "blessing"

Hmmmmm.....one simply must wonder if part of the blessing includes numerous e-mails from total strangers with opportunities to sit at home doing nothing...."Working each day in your robe and slippers" and earning money beyond your wildest dreams! Did you KNOW George and Jenny Partridge used to worry about how to pay their light bill but now they have three homes, a private jet, and invitations to have cocktails with the rich and famous!

I do hope your day is filled with as much good fortune as mine.
Many Blessings to You!!!!

(Keep checking your e-mail, maybe today is YOUR day!)

Public Outrage Ensues (at least at my house)...

Yesterday I was all about positive today, well....I'm sure I'm sending out some angry vibes. Where do I begin...

First of all Daughter #3 can't take driver's education at school any more....the school cut the funding for this "non-essential" program. Now she will be taking the class at a private driving academy 20 miles away. Oh, and have I mentioned (Yeah, I have.... "For the Love of a Sport" ) that her High School has decided they can't possibly fund a sport like ..........soccer, because they already have sports like....football. (UH......they're completely different!)

Then today we hear from one of D3's friends (a cheerleader) that because the school principle finds the cheer squad lacks uniformity, the school will be hiring a professional stylist to come to the school early on Fridays (game day) to do the hair and makeup of the cheerleaders....all 13 of them!!! AAAAAANNNNNNDDDDD the school will be renting 2 (that's TWO) black convertibles to drive the girls around the track and onto the field at home games. You have GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

Okay, Now I'm really going to have to find the duct tape, my head is going to explode!!!!

Law of Attraction 102

I have XM radio in my car.... (aka my home away from home). Frequently I listen to the "Oprah and Friends" channel. My favorites are Dr. Oz and Bob Greene but I listen to others occasionally. All summer long Oprah has had "The Summer Soul Series" as her show. She interviews authors, ministers, spiritualists etc. Most of it is just a little bit "out there" for me but sometimes I think it's interesting how closely their theories parallel what I've experienced in my life.



This week she's been featuring "The Law of Attraction" which in simple terms has something to do with your vibrations creating like vibrations around you i.e. if you're in a bad mood pretty soon everyone around you will be too, either because you cause them to be, or because only other people in a bad mood want to share your space : ) The way they explain it is too "other-worldly" for me but I guess I've noticed in my life that sometimes things do appear to fall into this pattern.



For instance Oprah said that when she journals she used to spend every day outlining all the problems and disappointments of her day but then she intereviewed a guest on her show that said if she just made one change and instead of writing negative things she wrote what she was grateful for her life would change for the better. She now makes it a point every night to write a list of 5 things she was grateful for during that particular day.

I've tried this myself, in many different ways....one of them was just like Oprah, always expressing gratitude each day for the blessings in my life.....I don't always write them down but I sure do express them....to the person to whom I owe that gratitude....my Heavenly Father/. It has made me realize how much I have. Because of that I believe I've become happier and more content. Where I used to worry about lack of money, lack of friends, lack of recognition, lack of fulfillment I find I hardly ever have those feelings anymore because I really do feel I live a life of abundance.

Positive thinking/speaking proved to be extremely powerful in my life when my first husband and I divorced. Because I had a very young daughter in my home I didn't want her to ever hear me speaking negatively about her daddy. I tried to remain positive about his love for her and his many good qualities and leave whatever personal complaints I had unspoken.

I'm sure I wasn't always perfect at it but I have observed over the course of the last 30 years or so that most of the people I associate with who are divorced spend so much time complaining about their ex, or reliving their disappointments, or re-telling all the details of the hurts and pain inflicted that they NEVER regain any measure of happiness in their lives. In several of those cases, when they remarried, that marriage failed too. I don't know if that is law of attraction but it does seem to bear out the theory that whatever you give your focus to is going to inevitably grow and become bigger.



In keeping with THAT idea I vow from this day forward to quit talking about my big butt and flabby thighs! (I certainly don't need my focusing on them makin' them any darn bigger!)



Sending good vibrations your way!

Pillow Talk

Funny that I wrote this blog last week and never posted it. This morning Nutella re-opened her blog and reminded me I had actually written something….might as well keep up with her (she’s so often my inspiration to do things…..read, blog, cry….).


One of the few pleasures (among the weeks of boredom) that comes with a summer of HH being gone on fires is that I get to relive the joys of sleepovers…..EVERY night!!! No I don’t invite all my “over 50” girlfriends to bring their jammies to my house. I just have one special friend…..my youngest daughter. She has made it her personal mission to keep me from being lonely (or getting any sleep before midnight) while her daddy’s gone. She sleeps with me.....each and every night..….let me tell you a queen sized bed is not NEARLY big enough to share with a 14 year old!

It amazes me that once we turn out the lights….or rather once I turn out the lights (she refuses to get up once her side of the bed is warm), she thinks of a million conversations we should have. There’s lots of laughing, cover snatching and “middle of the bed line-wars). As sleep deprived as I am, I enjoy this time immensely and I’m trying to store up these memories for the day when she goes off to college and I’m REALLY alone!

A couple of nights ago she was pretty entertained by the terms I used when I was a teenager:

-Cool: Obviously still in use and much the same meaning.

-Groovy: Yup we really did say that!

-Bush: Nothing to do with a President….just something we used to describe the “interesting” things in life i.e. “Wow, that dress is so bush!” Go Figure….

-Neat: Also still in use but mostly by tweens.

-Far Out: As in “Man, your room is so far out!”

-Peace: "Hello", "goodbye", "I love you", "You're cute", "See ya later".....a very versatile word! (I had one teacher who forbade the Peace sign in his classroom....he considered it vulgar and controversial.....

-Tuff: Back then we didn’t have “Hot” guys, we had Tuff ones!

-Fuzz: Weird but we called policemen “the fuzz”….

-Oh guy: I don’t know why but this is what we said instead of “Oh gosh”

-Melvin: What we called the “dorks” "He's such a Melvin!"

-Boss: Wow he is so boss! (just another word for “Hot”)

Her conclusion? Mom, you were so totally retarded! (as in Mom, you are NOT Far Out!)

And this? My dream Hairstyle when I was in High School.....Boss, huh!!!

The Written Word...

I had forgotten how much I enjoy, really enjoy a good book. Until the past year it had been SEVERAL years since I sat down to read anything except my scriptures, or self-help books (how sad is that!). It seemed like I just got out of the habit of reading just for the joy of reading.

Nutella got me started again when she began telling me about books she was reading with her book club, the more she told me the more I wanted to read what she had read ...... I am so grateful to her for helping me rekindle my love of this cheap, easy, totally indulgent form of entertainment!

Thanks to her I've discovered:

1. She, my middle daughter "Tiny", and I have opened up a wonderful new connection....it's like our own little book club, I enjoy hearing their thoughts on what we read and finding out what really great people they both are. It keeps me from talking to them only as "mom" ....it's been so much fun!

2. There are actually books out there that I can't put down! When I read "The Thirteenth Tale" I stayed up till 2:00 in the morning reading! (I haven't stayed up that late since HH and I were dating......unless I was waiting for a child to come home from Prom).

3. There is value in escaping into a world outside the one I see each day. I've gained new perspectives on so many things.....how had I forgotten that these things can happen?

4. There's a much better, much more entertaining way to spend my evenings than watching television or movies! My own imagination is so much better than I remembered.


Some of my favorites this summer have been:

1. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
2. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
3. The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas
4. The last of Harry Potter..... : ) (I'm not done with it yet but I've loved it)

My only regret of the summer is that I've not been able to come up with one good book on my own. My forays into the shelves have brought me disappointment at every turn. It seems I'm doomed to read only those books which come highly recommended by one of my daughters who preview them for too much sex, violence or language.

No matter though.....I'm loving this re-entry into the world of books! I don't know how I went so long without it!

P.S. Feel free to send me all your suggestions for a perfect read!

Sure Love Ya!