Blog

Red.
Green.
December.
Year’s End.
New Beginning.
Christmas lights.
Learning new things.
Good communication.
Problem solving with Joe.
Spending time with my kids.
Being kindly, gently surprised.
My cat, Bas, purring by my head.
Being prepared for upcoming events.
The quiet right before the alarm buzzes.
The look of snow when it’s not on my street.
Warm under the covers in a slightly cold house.
Tall shopping bags to carry tall wrapping paper rolls.
Buying gifts for others that I know they won’t expect or guess.
Doing everything with Joe including bringing in the garbage cans.
Friends.
Scarves.
Coffee.
Lists.
Gloves.
Heaters.
Cards.
Sweaters.

Kids, one of which was sick.

Made pickles, yet to be tasted and judged.

Made lip gloss/chap stick (depending on if you are my son or my daughter…it’s actually the same recipe), turned out good this year.

Created Snowflake(and an occasional mutated car or Mohawk dude)Ornaments this year using toothpicks stuck into foam balls, spray painted white and then flocked and glittered, yet to be hung.

Shopping for gift exchange between siblings, unwrapped and unexchanged until New Years Day.

Purchased 6 real ‘for keeps’ and not-getting-rid-of Christmas Stockings, hung.

Demonstrated how to prepare a pomegranate without making a mess to my daughter, created mess on her favorite pajama pants.

Long, deep discussion with kids about propaganda in general life and specifically in the government and school, learned much about my son.

My son Devon’s poem is published in this quarters Arts and Poetsmagazine, I couldn’t be prouder.

Feeling more ‘home’ with Joe, my job, my house, my life than ever before, wonderful.

Finally feeling a tinge of Holiday Spirit, relief.

How I feel this morning in a nutshell:

E: I hate when people make erroneous assumptions without first exploring the options.

Me: Please don’t use big words this early in the morning before I’ve had coffee.

or at least I’m awake…ok? I ate bad food, expelled it and slept for 24 hours straight. But that was yesterday.

I’m not a Republican. I’m not a Democrat. I think it’s fair game to make fun of them all with the same amount of gusto.

Along those lines, Bush has said some really funny things since he’s been in the limelight and someone has taken the time to compile them. It’s worth it to go and read a few.

Source: The Onion.com

Another religious rant, but not from me: opinion. *Not for everyone. Very tongue in cheek.

Along the lines of finding out more about religion in general and Mormonism specifically, I recently read Under the Banner of Heaven by John Krakauer. The LDS church seems to be up in arms about the book. You can read their official response here and some more reviews here.

Although I found the book fascinating, I have to admit it is pretty one sided. And while admitting that fascination isn’t always a good thing, it did keep me turning the pages. Richard L. Evans, a Professor of Religious Understanding at Brigham Young University, wrote a clear bit of comment on the trouble with a riveting story that isn’t broad enough to cover all the angles in his conclusion:

“This is like asking someone: “Would you like to understand Catholicism today? Then study carefully the atrocities of the Crusades and the horrors of the Inquisition.” Or: “Would you like to gain a better insight into the minds and feelings of German people today? Then read Mein Kampf and become a serious student of Adolph Hitler.” Or: “Would you like a deeper glimpse into the hearts of Lutherans today? Then be certain to study the anti-Semitic writings of Martin Luther.” Or: “Would you care to better understand where Southern Baptists are coming from? Then simply read the many sermons of Baptist preachers in the Civil War who utilized biblical passages to justify the practice of slavery.”

However, anything that gets so much backlash has to be based on some truth.

Being raised ‘in the faith’, I thought I knew the basic church history. There were things in this book that I wasn’t aware of. Whether they are true or not, I don’t know yet. But I like to look at all the sides of the issue before making up my mind. And while the church doesn’t deny that polygamy was at one time fully endorsed by the prophet, it now says it’s not.

Which do I like better: thinking that God once said, “Hey, all you men should have 17 wives.” or that He said, “Have 17 wives. Ok, wait. No. Don’t do that anymore.” or that He said, “You shouldn’t practice polygamy.” and the church did anyway. Any way you slice it, I think it stinks.

Rgate:
Leah – What camera would you buy? Sony Cybershot DSC-F717, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1S, Fuji Fine Pix S5000, Olympus Camedia – E 20 N

Rick,

Of course I’m partial to the Sony F717. It’s what i have and love. I think the 5x (38-190mm) all-glass Carl Zeiss F2-2.4 zoom lens is the best one out there in that middle price range. This review is the most comprehensive one I could find and it covers everything I like about my cam.

Of the others you mentioned, the Olympus has the better lens, but the camera itself gets such conflicting reviews. I’ve heard from people that really love it or really hate it which tends to make me shy away from it a bit. The Fuji is probablly the next best camera for the buck. You can use 2 lens adapters for wide and tele with it. The shutter speed is a little slower but compared to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1S, it’s a dream.

Well, that’s my opinion anyway…

..that have nothing to do with each other.

I get groans in my stomach and here is why: What Causes Stomach Gurgling?
Think of your stomach as a giant mixmaster.

I think this calendar looks funny. But if you come to believe what you are told (or read over and over) it might not be such a hot idea to have this up for an entire month.

Paintings for sale. I also do commission work. Other/older paintings here.

Never been that great at marketing myself. This is as close as it gets to bragging.

Maybe I truly am just old when I can’t see any value in wearing men’s undewear bands on my head.

Finishing up the work for North’s January issue, The 50 to Watch in 2004. One interview I did was Gavin Kaysen, 24 year old Sous Chef at El Bizcocho in Rancho Bernardo, that could whip all the masters on Iron Chef. He created a wonderful meal complete with my first taste of Egg Mousse with Citric Caviar served in a real eggshell opened at the top, cuddled by two red rose petals and squared off by sprigs or rosemary. Also a first that night: 3 different styles of oysters. And I can honestly say I liked one of them very much. His staff obviously adores him and couldn’t stop telling me nice things about him as I ate lamb loin rolled in truffles. The dessert, not to be outclassed by the food before it, was served on a marble slab and included a chocolate mousse ball with a Crème Brule center and a scoop of apricot sorbet. My meal was accompanied with wines chosen by the staff and Gavin. The entire meal was an orchestra to my taste buds. Not a surprise, I suppose, when you take into account that he was the first chef from the U.S. to compete in France for Le Trophy in 26 years and the youngest to ever compete. And he won 1st in fish.