Monthly Archives

October 2005

halloween

halloween
Originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

Here’s a picture of the family at the local “Trunk or Treat” party. E is dressed as Hermione and C is dressed as a mage from the DragonLance book series. At almost every car C was identified as Harry Potter (even tho he wasn’t wearing his glasses!!). But then he slowly and mthodically explained that he was a mage [note the staff w/the jewel on top–not from Harry Potter].

When the rather dumbfounded parent looked at me for clarification about the mage thing (why is it that no Moms who drive large SUVs in OC know what mages are?), C would then add:

“It’s like a powerful wizard. You know what that is, don’t you?”

October 30, 2005

LDS

trailer

For fans of God’s Army…Dutcher’s done it again.

October 28, 2005

deep thoughts make me smile

confession

I have two favorite web videos:
Wanna-Be Backstreet
Yatta (love the fig leaves)
So here’s where I make my confession…I’ve always been super-attracted to Asian men. I’m not sure why, but I think it’s because lots of the Asian guys that I knew in high school were smart (and smart is good). And I like dark haired, darker complexioned people–not that I don’t like lighter-colored people–I just find dark more captivating, more visually interesting. I often dated guys who weren’t necessarily Asian, but had darker features just because this is what first drew me to them…

So–the videos. I don’t watch these lusting ofter these men. First of all, they are probably much too young for me. Second, I just don’t feel lust over strangers. But I do find that these little clips always make me giggle. They are just plain entertaining.

But most of all I like it when my sexy Asian husband does his own renditions for me :)

October 28, 2005

simplicity songs/poetry

the sweater song

I have a favorite sweater that I really like to wear
Even on days when it’s covered with the kitties’ hair.
I’ve had it for 5 years and I’ve changed the buttons twice
It’s been to France and England, and it’s been in snow and ice.
I put it in my closet, hiding it from view.
Hoping to stop wearing it because it’s looking quite un-new.
But when it’s cold and dreary, or when I need a hug,
It’s my soft and threadbare sweater that I really, really love.

Written in less than 5 minutes by me. In the few minutes I had today between picking up the kids from school and taking E to girl scouts.

October 26, 2005

John

overheard

Last night:

“I have a student who’s really cute. He’s not doing well in the class, but he tries really hard.”

“Should I be worried that you think your students are cute?”

“He’s not that kind of cute. He’s like wookie-cute.”

“Wookie-cute? [insert really pathetic imitation of Chewbacca that sounds like a howler monkey w/hemorhhoids]

“No, No, No. Not wookie cute, _ewok_ cute. Like a teddy bear.”

“Oh. Yah. Big difference.”

October 25, 2005

books

gesture

gesture
Originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

Not sure why, but when I get nervous talking to famous people I feel compelled to make odd hand gestures. What was I trying to say??

Here I am getting my Rough Stone Rolling signed by Richard Bushman. I’ve had a nice email exchange with him since then. Also, I’m writing up an article about his speech for the “Church News.”

October 24, 2005

family

Joy

Sandra takes E
Originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

A picture of E with her joy (Toby Joy).

October 23, 2005

family

manx

Got a postcard from Mom today. Guess she’s enjoying her trip to the Isle of Man.
Thinking of IOM reminded me of Peel Castle, kippers, the Prom in Douglas, St. John’s church, the elevator of Mannanen, Tynwald Day, etc.

Quocunque Jeceris Stabit….

October 23, 2005

deep thoughts

o-r-e-o

Today in the history dept breakroom there was a package of halloween oreos. Day-glo orange creme double-stuffed between two chocolate wafers. I took one on a whim (I don’t usually indulge in breakroom junk food).

As I headed up the elevator to my office I munched on the cookie (politely resisting the impulse to tear off the outer halves and lick the creme because I was chatting with a colleague). The taste of the lard-laden filling brought back a flood of memories.

For almost a year I only ate oreos. For whatever reason, they were the only food that never made me nauseeous when I was on chemo. Maybe it was because, unlike other foods, they tasted almost the same going down as coming back up. I’m not sure.

But whatever the reason, and lard notwithstanding, they are still soul-nourishing to me.

PS: TJ’s Jo-Jo’s and Newman-O’s are tasty, but don’t hold the same visceral memory of the real o-r-e-o.

October 22, 2005

family

it’s back

Today E got her expander removed. Her expander was a medieval torture device that was wired onto her upper palate. It expanded her upper jaw to make room for her adult teeth to grow in. It undid the damage from years of thumb-sucking. And it cost a small fortune.

Well, today after she got the appliance-thing sawed off (and, yes, I sat in the waiting room cringing at the sound of the saw), she got her whistle back. I’m not talking about the regular kind of whistle that most people do when they pucker up their lips and blow. E’s is the kind of sweet little whistle that blows gently each time she says a word with an ‘s.’ I’d thought it was gone forever, and I really missed it.

But it’s back, and I couldn’t be happier!
:)

October 19, 2005

family

for real?

Sometimes I think my kids aren’t for real. Like twice this week when they’ve been given candy at school and they’ve brought it home to share. E got some candy in her orcehstra class. She got 4 pieces and said the Twix for me (knowing it was my favorite ) and did the same with everyone else’s favorite treat. Today C’s sub gave him dumdums and tootsie rolls. He brought me the tootsie (yum) and figured out which flavor of dumdum that everyone else would most like. As I savored my tootsie roll I thought to myself about all the times I’d been given cookies & candies at school. And I knew that NOT ONCE did I ever bring any home to share with my sibs, much less my parents. The thought wouldn’t even have ever occurred to me. Instead, I stashed away any extras in places where I was sure only I would ever find them.

Yet for my kids, they wouldn’t be able to enjoy such bounty without sharing it with the rest of us.

Can you see why I wonder if: a) C&E aren’t really real children, but are aliens modeled on child characters from 50’s sitcoms, or b) they are deities incarnate?

October 18, 2005

deep thoughts

grey

As I’m writing this E is brushing my hair (heavenly).

I love getting my hair brushed, my back rubbed, shoulders massaged, etc. E’s little fingers do them all so well.

But as she’s brushing E is pointing out all the streaks of grey (not so heavenly). I feel like I’m going to have to decide soon what to do about it. To dye or not to dye.

The odd thing about my grey is that it’s only on one side of my head–my right side. I have a theory that that side of my body is where I carry all of my stress. Perhaps it has been ‘damaged’ by the cancer, chemo, surgeries, etc???

So…what do you think–does the grey add ‘character’? Is it a badge of maturity, a sign of a long-ish life lived well? Or is it time for Miss Clairol?

October 15, 2005