Food Fixation Much???

Yesterday was one of those rare treats where I got to eat out twice. I guess 3 times if you count the cereal and banana I had at my desk in the morning, but I don’t really count that because even though it is technically outside of my house, my desk is my home away from home (thus why it doesn’t count). Anyway, Mark and I had a lunchtime date at Orchid Thai , which is just a hop, skip, and a jump from my building. You basically cross the street and boom, there you are. On our way, we noticed that a Mr. Pita and a Papa Romano’s (best pizza on earth!) are going in a couple store fronts down…ah, yes, I love culinary commerce!!

Our Thai food was really good. I usually order some kind of stir-fry like Pad Thai or Pad Pak…lots of veggies in a warm gooey sauce over rice. Sometimes I get the noodle bowls too, but today I was craving something different. Mark ordered his usual Pad Cashew, and I broke out and ordered an Apple Salad. It sounds simple enough, but it was oh, so tasty!! Basically the bottom layer was iceberg lettuce (yeah, sounds boring), and then probably 2 whole green granny smith apples sliced into long, skinny strips dumped over that, then some chicken, then some shrimp, then some cashews, then some toasted coconut shavings, then some green and white onion and the whole heaping mound was topped with an sweet, citrus-y vinaigrette. It was not only eye candy, but very refreshing. (Do I sound like P.F Day?) It made me feel like I was sitting on the beach in the Bahamas or something. The sensory experience was almost equal to the culinary experience. And that’s what it’s all about folks. Seriously. I felt like my purchase yesterday was completely justified given that I walked out feeling full, satisfied, relaxed, and joyful. I love that.

When we got home from work, it was just one of those days. You know when your limbs become dead weight and refuse to propel you forward and your stomach sounds and feels like it’s eating it’s own lining. So we decided to go out. We usually go out once a week, and we rotate who gets to pick the place. This was Maryn’s week. Earlier in the week she had decided we were going to Chuck E. Cheese. This normally isn’t on the list of options because it’s expensive, and it also assaults both Mark and my sensory receptors and causes my jaw to clench and teeth to grind. (There I go sounding like P.F. Day again.) So there’s that too. Anyway, she was feeling a little sorry for herself and like she needed a little compensation because Avery got invited on a play-date this week, and she didn’t. Anyway, Chuck E. Cheese seemed like a fair bargain at the time, but I really, really didn’t want to go last night. So we told her she could pick the place (hoping she wouldn’t remember Chuck E. Cheese, is that terrible?), but it couldn’t be fast-food because we did that last week. (Please don’t remember Chuck E. Cheese, please don’t remember Chuck E. Cheese…) Avery suggested Taco Time, which sounded enticing, but because it was Maryn’s turn to pick, even if it sounded good to her too, she would undoubtedly choose something different just to oppose her sister. So she chose QDoba!!!!!! And the heavens parted and I swear I heard angels singing. (QDoba is my fave, if you didn’t already know.) I kissed her and thanked her and she giggled and smiled. (And she never said a word about Chuck E. Cheese.) I got to have my naked 3-cheese queso burrito on the same day as my newly discovered refreshing Apple Salad!!

Simple pleasures, maybe. But I can’t help but be happy anyway. It was an awesome ending to an already perfect day for food!! And yes, I’m planning on running a little longer on the treadmill today…hee hee.

Blast From the Past

In case anyone is wondering what I'd like for Christmas this year...click here.

I remember laying on my bedroom floor and listening to this soundtrack on my Fisher-Price record player. I loved every song and still remember the lyrics to many of them even after all these years. My German companion on my mission taught me the lyrics to "My Turn on Earth" in German, and we'd practice it while we were tracting. "Es ist mein wig, ist mein wig, ist mein wig das Welt..."

And did you know they made a sequel for this?

This little gem definitely ties for first place in my list of favorite Mormon musicals. I absolutely love this soundtrack and remember watching the VHS on Sunday afternoons with Melanie and Erin. I hope "White Star" comes out on DVD soon.

So am I the only nerd who loves this stuff? I know that at least Erin's still with me on the Saturday's Warrior thing. What else do you remember about growing up Mormon in the Eighties???

You know you were a Mormon in the Eighties if you remember:

• Stage productions of Ricks Colleges' "Showtime"
• Living Scriptures
• Shaklee Vitamins
• Missionary Farewells
• Called to Serve and Labor of Love on VHS




• Ward Dinners on Friday nights (Pot-Luck, oh yeah!)
• Primary on Wednesday afternoons
• Borrowing tables and chairs from the Ward building for parties at home
• Having bridal and baby showers at the Ward building
• Overnight Temple Trips
• Going hog wild at the Distribution Center on trips to the Temple or SLC
• Mr. Krueger's Christmas and The Last Leaf
• Our Heavenly Father's Plan on Cassette tape
• Missionary Flip Charts
• The Mormon Rap
• I"ll Build You a Rainbow (short film and song)
• Ward Building Custodians
• Saving Church Magazines and Newspapers indefinitely
• Road Shows (and Livonia Ward winning 4 years in a row!)
• Ward Campouts using the Stake owned tents and sometimes (eww!) sleeping bags
• Treats in Primary

Musically Challenged

Quick question for all my homeys reading my blog...I've got a $15 gift card to iTunes and don't have the first clue what to spend it on. I'm somewhat musically challenged.

Can you help a girl out???

Please post ideas in my comments so I can finally get around to updating my iPod shuffle hopefully by next weekend. I'm looking for some upbeat tunes for running, relaxing tunes to enjoy while I click-clack at my desk all day, and otherwise random bits of wonderfulness.

Can't wait to see what ya got!! Thanks!!

Everything Will Be Fine

“Everything will be fine”, she said. “Everything will work out for the best.” Those are the words that always come to mind when thinking about my Mother-in-law. She is a glass half-full kind of woman. She is practical, optimistic, happy, and grateful almost all of the time. She has a heart the size of a football stadium (and not just because she loves the sport!). She is always open, ready, willing, and jumping in when the slightest hint of a need arises. She is quick to save the day, offer comforting words, and a compassionate ear when trial and worry sneak in to rock somebody’s world. She has loads of perspective, and I suppose that’s why she does and says what she does. Because she’s a “woman that knows”.

I remember her saying these words to me for the first time when I was engaged to her son, and was slaving away taking 21 credits the semester before we were to be married, the same semester where we had naively gotten engaged in October and were to be married right before Christmas, the same semester where I would be embarking on a new life, packing all of my belongings and leaving everything that was comfortable and familiar to live in another state with a boy! Her words offered me a glimmer of hope. And she was right, everything was fine.

She said those words to me after six months of marriage, while she and I were taking a walk around the Pocatello Outpatient Surgery Center waiting for Mark who was in surgery for testicular cancer. I was a messed-up ball of emotion, and panicked with fear at the road that lie ahead of us with treatments and prognosises, an uncertain future, and the threat of infertility. I know she must have been feeling all of those things too, but she never showed it. She was a rock, for me, for Mark, for everyone. And in spite of it all, she was right. Everything was fine.

She was there after we brought our premature little 5 pound chicken baby home from the hospital. We were elated and terrified at the same time, and she offered her words of wisdom to help soothe and comfort our weary minds. I had a tough time at first and couldn’t figure out the whole breastfeeding thing, and she was there for that too. Everything worked out. Everything was fine.

When we were faced with unemployment, she was there offering those same sentiments. When we became a family of four, she was there encouraging and helping out where she could. When we stumbled and fell down (a couple of times) in our marriage, she was there with those same words. (Even though I didn’t want to hear them anymore.) She still managed to be right. Everything is fine. And everything will be alright. I am more sure of it now than I have ever been. And I hope she realizes the wisdom in her own knowing words. Everything will be fine. Everything will be alright.

The Name Game

MY ALTER EGO NAMES

1. Your rock star name: Bootsie Windstar (first pet, current car)

2. Your gangsta name: Fudge Tracks Flip Flops (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe)

3. Your Native American name: Green Orangutan (favorite color, favorite animal)

4. Your soap opera name: Marie Dearborn (middle name, city where you were born)

5. Your Star Wars name: BROSU (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name)

6. Superhero name: Yellow Limeade (2nd favorite color, favorite drink)

7. NASCAR name: Max Frederick (the first names of your grandfathers)

8. TV weather anchor name: Stewart Seattle (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)

9. Spy name: Autumn Petunias (your favorite season/holiday, flower)

10. Cartoon name: Strawberry Knee-Hi’s (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now)

11. Hippie name: Raisin Bran Japanese Maple (what you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)

Aside from Maria Lion, I thought these were pretty amusing.

A Belated Father’s Day Wish

This is my Dad. He turned 70 this year.

I was reflecting on some of his life stories as I was preparing my Father’s Day talk for yesterday. This quote is taken from the “Combined Vision Statement” presented at the Day Family Reunion at Snow Mountain Ranch, July 2007. It describes something that I admire a lot about my Dad. He is a hard worker and is always willing to sacrifice himself, his time, talents, etc. for a worthy cause.

“As most of you know, I was raised in a large family during the 1940’s and
1950’s. My Father often worked two jobs to provide for us. Mom took in students
from BYU to help supplement what Dad brought home in his paychecks, and to make
ends meet. We lived in a big home and were a happy family. We never had to worry
about having a roof over our head, sufficient food, or clothing. We were
encouraged to get jobs to provide the extra’s that teens believe they need. We
were also encouraged to save our money to accomplish future goals like college
and missions.

I have memories of some of my early jobs, such as delivery
of the Deseret News each evening and Sunday morning for six years before I was
15. Also, during the two summers while I attended Farrer Jr. High School, I was
hired to work with the head gardener at Provo City Power plant. I helped cut the
lawns with a power mower, watered the lawns and shrubbery, and helped to trim
the decorative shrubs around the plant. I worked at Provo Bakery during my years
at Provo High School. My work involved clean-up of the Bakery work area each
evening and on Saturday morning. I washed the pots and pans the bakers used for
the various baked goods. I really didn’t care for this work because during the
winter months it interfered with my love of basketball. Also, during that time I
really enjoyed participating in the annual Timpanogos hike sponsored by the City
and BYU. While the hike was so exciting and enjoyable, I had to return to work
on Saturday afternoon, bone tired, to do my cleaning chores. When I graduated
from High School, my uncle Grant hired me to work for Strong Company, a road
construction company. I worked on the labor gang the first summer before my
freshman year, and then drove gravel truck and water tanker the remaining three
years.

Each job did provide some of the extra money I needed. Mom used
to tell me how proud she was that I was able to provide for my own needs and
then some. The money was used for school clothes, movies, gas for the car, and
often loans to balance the family budget. Later on I was able to fund the
purchase of all of the clothing I would need for my mission to England, and
support my living expenses the first year.”

Thanks for living this life lesson for me, Dad, and for your wisdom and example!

And Happy Father’s Day!!

Bits ‘n’ Pieces

Lots happening in our little corner of the universe lately. This past week was the last day of school for the girls. They are officially on summer vacation as of Tuesday afternoon. Last Friday, Maryn’s class took a field trip to the AMC Theaters to see Kung Fu Panda, and then had a pizza party back at her school for lunch. Avery had a fun, outdoor picnic with all 3 kindergarten classes on Friday morning that she enjoyed. She wore her Dad’s Superman hat (to protect her fair little ‘noggin) and felt like the coolest girl in the world.

Monday was the all-school talent show all day long. The K-2 graders performed in the morning and the 3-4 graders performed in the afternoon. Maryn mentioned wanting to be in this Talent Show several months ago, and I kinda figured it was just one of those things that she’d mention and immediately forget about. She kept at it though, and insisted that she wanted to participate. I explained to her that these kinds of talent shows are usually for people who dance, sing, or play an instrument (nice encouraging Mom I am, huh?). She decided she could tell jokes. She found a book with some dog/cat jokes and picked out about 6 of them. She tried out and made it! I took Monday morning off, and along with my parents, attended the Big Show!! I didn’t realize it was going to be in front of the whole student body, faculty, staff, and parents! I was nervous for her! My heart was pounding, hoping she wouldn’t get stage fright, or spontaneously combust (you never know). She had borrowed a poodle costume from her cousins and also had a set of cat ears. She came out and everyone laughed at her costume right off the bat. She started into her jokes and waited for the appropriate pause before her punch line, and the audience laughed! She was so cute! She didn’t flinch once and was cool as a cucumber. I never knew she had it in her. It was pretty cool to watch and learn something new about her. Avery’s class also performed…they had all dressed up in Hawaiian clothes and sang and did a little hula dance. It was very cute, but Avery was on the back row and I couldn’t see her very well.

Tuesday was also their last day for the School-Age Child-Care (SACC) program they’ve gone to before/after school all year. For SACC, they had a pizza/pool party at the neighborhood swim club. They had a great time, but both of them got totally fried with some nasty sunburns. It’s kinda irritating, because I gave their teacher 2 different kinds of sunscreen AND cover-ups AND specifically requested they use both to avoid this very thing. Oh well. The hardest part about it has been listening to them howl when we put the Aloe Vera on their backs. You’d think we were applying acid to their skin.

For summer child care we are using the Child Development Center (fancy name for daycare) in my building on M-W. On Thurs and Fri, we’re using a babysitter in our home. She’s a great girl from my parent’s ward who is home from BYU for the summer and we’re all just really excited about it. Yesterday was her first day, and it went really well. Maryn grabbed onto her and didn’t want her to go home at the end of the day. That’s always a good sign.

This weekend we are helping my parents get some IKEA shelves set up in my Dad’s office (Happy Father’s Day), and are giving talks in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. EEK! I totally get stage fright every time. Our topic is the Priesthood. I guess it’s appropriate with Dad’s Day and all.

Speaking of which, me and the girls picked out a hilarious present for Mark. He already knows what it is, but it still makes me laugh just thinking about it. It’s a leg pillow. He insists on sleeping with a pillow under and/or between his knees because he says it’s good for his back. The only thing is its kinda nasty when you think about it. Anyway, I’ve insisted that he put triple pillow cases on it and even then I flinch when I have to actually move it to make the bed. Well, Avery and I were out shopping at Bed, Bath, & Beyond when we saw it and the “antimicrobial” pillowcase that goes with it and we both knew we had to buy it for him! Hee hee. Hopefully it will do great things for his back and not hurt his ego too much in the process. He is getting some other things that he actually wants too, so hopefully he’ll have a good day!

Have a great weekend everybody!!

"Sew" Happy

I drug out my little sewing box on Friday to repair a few stray buttons and torn items that have literally been sitting on my dresser for weeks, months, I lose track. As I sat down to do it, both girls eagerly pounced on the box. They started pulling everything out and inspecting it carefully. Both of them love playing with the little red "tomato" pin cushion, and the different measuring tapes, and spools of assorted colored thread. Avery asked me if I knew how to sew. I said "yes", immediately underestimating my skills with, "well I know how to do really basic things". She asked, "why I never sewed her anything" (she's an "all or nothing" kinda gal). I told her that, "it's cause I never have time anymore". She asked me "what about Saturday?" (Do we really have to go into the whole Saturday thing again?!?) I agreed with her. We'd sew something on Saturday. After she went to bed, I started thinking about it. I hadn't drug out all my "serious" sewing stuff in over a year, and now was probably as good a time as any to do it. Besides, I kinda liked the idea of having a little sewing lessons with my little girls. All my craft junk is kind of stuffed into the office closet in the basement. It would take some rearranging to even get to the big box of fabric back there...was it really worth it?

Saturday morning rolled around and it was the first thing she asked me about. We went downstairs and I started pulling out boxes in order to get to the sewing stuff. I finally got to the big box of fabric, and behind it was my 1960's era sewing machine. I pulled it all out and figured I'd find a scrap or two of fabric she could sew with a big needle and thread. That was the last thing I remember before Mark came downstairs around 11:30 wondering what we were up to. By that time, I was putting the finishing touches on a travel pillow case, and starting on a purse for Maryn. That's kinda how I craft. I get started on a project and get so totally immersed in it, I can barely come up for air. I lose all track of time and reason and just focus entirely on completing the project. And so it was with our little morning of sewing on Saturday.

What's funny is that at some point, Avery lost interest and went back upstairs to play and watch cartoons. Maryn came down and stayed with me the whole time. She loved picking out different fabrics to put together in different patterns. She was the one who came up with the purse idea. She was cute and very involved and helpful. We had a good time, I think. And it was nice coming away with something tangible to remember the occassion. Avery got a pillow case too, but didn't end up actually sewing anything herself. I asked her later if she wanted to, and she said no, the pillow case was enough. I don't know if she really meant it, or if she's just a little wary of the crafting side of her Mom now. She's learned better than to ask her Mom to sew something for her again I think.



These are the travel pillowcases. The girls will take them to "school" (summer daycare) for quiet time after lunch.



Here's my little Sears Roebuck model showing off her new purse. She loaded it up with all her 7 year old necessities for our trip to the grocery store on Saturday. A Hannah Montana book, 3 different kinds of lip gloss, a plastic cell phone, and a couple of My Littlest Pet Shop creatures. She knows what she can't leave home without. She also used it for her Church bag on Sunday. At least it's already getting some good use.

Oh Somebody's Had a Birthday...

Okay, if you have a minute, please refer to the following post which details a few of the things I’m not so good at…did you read it? On that list I confess that I’m terrible with remembering birthdays. And it’s true. Most of the time, I am. On Sunday night, we had a party at my parent’s house for my Mom’s 68th birthday. My Dad did a great job buying the cake and ice cream and making sure everyone was invited. It was really fun. I even remembered to buy her a present. (Except the card fell out of the gift bag and had to be given to her the next day.) What I neglected to do was write her a birthday blog. I probably should have done it on her birthday (which was Saturday), but you all know how my Saturdays are (not an excuse, I know). So, better late than never is what I say. So Mom, here’s your birthday blog…hopefully it’s the thought that counts.

My Mom was born on June 7, 1940 in Compton, California. (I always loved telling people she’s straight out of Compton, yo!!) Anyway, she was the first child for Max and Esther Oglesby (my Nana and Papa) and the first grandchild for both sets of grandparents, as well as niece to adoring aunts and uncles. She was definitely well-loved (spoiled) by many doting relatives. She grew up as "Linda Rae" in Portland, Oregon. The stories from her childhood are hilarious, and she has written several of them down for posterity. Someday we hope to see them published, they are that good. She has one sister, my Aunt Vicki who was born about 10 years after she was. Aunt Vicki kind of stole her thunder a bit with the family arriving as this sweet little bundle of joy after many years of trying for more kids, but I don’t think my Mom minded so much. Since the day she arrived I think they both knew they were made for each other. I have always admired the friendship and love they have for each other and their parents.

My Mom is a convert to the Church. She was baptized when she was about 13 years old and was taught by sister missionaries after attending church with a good friend of hers. Eventually my Mom’s conversion led to my grandparents and Aunt also getting baptized. They were sealed as a family in the Portland Temple on the same day as my sister Melanie’s wedding. It was a very special experience for all of us.

My Mom attended BYU and is a loyal Cougar fan. She attended Provo the first year, Hawaii the second, and then Provo again until she graduated. I stumbled upon some old slides from her BYU-Hawaii days a few years ago while helping them prepare to move to their condo, and had the slides converted to CD/picture output. Seeing those pictures revealed a new side to my Mom for all of us, I think…her crazy, fun-loving side that is infectious to be around. My Mom was working as an elementary school teacher in the Salt Lake area when she met my Dad. He was in his Master’s program at the University of Utah. They got set up on a blind date, and thankfully it went well. They were married in July of 1965(?) After graduating, my Dad took his first job with Ford which moved them to Detroit.

My Mom became a Mom first to Shauna, then Jeff, Ryan, me, and Melanie while living in Taylor, Michigan. After moving to Livonia, along came Erin to complete the family as #6. My Mom was a busy lady…obviously. But she still managed to find time for other things. She was always serving somebody through her many callings in the Church, as well as making good friends with people in our neighborhoods and community (she always knew everybody anywhere we went).

She started a catering business at one point to help make money for my brother’s missions. She’d make truckloads of food to drive to downtown Detroit for some woman’s luncheon or other at some random Church in the inner-city. It was truly courageous and took a lot of spunk, and I admire her determination to help out her family any way she could. She also worked part-time as a librarian and a substitute teacher for awhile, until she finally found a way to make money doing what she loved best…storytelling. I think that is what really made her a rock-star in my eyes.

She has successfully married off all of her children and now has the pleasure of sitting back and enjoying watching her posterity grow, along with my Dad. The twentieth grandchild was born to Erin and Ben just this past March. My Mom continues to be a strong force for good in our family. She is not only a wonderful Mom, but a trusted friend, and somebody to laugh with whenever you need it. She’s fiercely loyal and proud of her family, and would do anything she could to make us all happy. I am proud to be her daughter, and honored to wish her a happy (somewhat belated) birthday tribute this year!!

While We're On The Subject Of Food...

...after my last post, I've kinda had food on the brain. I loved that salad recipe we had the other night, and I love hunting down and finding new ones to try out. But it doesn't just end with salad. I love all recipes, and food generally speaking.

I was never a picky eater as a kid. Whatever Mom put on the table, I was pretty happy to oblige...sometimes with seconds and thirds!! My Mom is a great cook and I learned a lot from her while growing up. I watched her make meals out of seemingly bare cupboards with ease and style. And I learned to enjoy the process. I always knew that not only did she feed us because she had to, but because she enjoyed it as well. I learned to love cooking and conjuring from her. (Thanks Mom!)

However, I do have to admit to a few items of food that I've never been particularly fond of.

Onions are at the top of the list. I don't know why. They flavor food wonderfully and in certain contexts, I actually like them. I think I've narrowed it down to RAW onions that I simply can't handle. Something about the crunch of biting down on a raw onion sends shivers up my spine. But I like them cooked in casseroles and sauces, and even the variety found in fajitas and stir-fries.

The other item that I simply can't muster up a lot of affection for is bleu cheese. If it's just a little on a salad or something, I can make do, but when it's really chunky, like huge hunks of the stuff on top of something, or in dressing form, it reminds me of rotten curdy milk. (Sorry, disgusting image). I know of some people (Jeff Norman) who can eat hunks of it without blinking. Me? Not so much.

Another item is French Onion Soup. I know that lots of people love the stuff. They order it in fancy restaurants and it costs a lot most times. I just don't get it. Maybe it's the onion thing again, but to me it's too salty and brothy. I like my soup chunky and on the creamy side.

And last but not least, Caesar salad. This is a fairly recent discovery of mine. A few years ago, I had a bad experience with Caesar salad and it has never been the same for me since. The dressing is too strong and thick and just kinda makes me gag. I like romaine lettuce, and parmesan cheese, and croutons all on their own or together with a different dressing, but that Caesar dressing...blah!!

So what kinds of food do you despise? Anybody else have "food on the brain" today???

Crazy for Salad

Chicken and Strawberry Salad

1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
5 Tablespoons minced fresh tarragon
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 Tablespoon olive oil
3 quarts salad mix, rinsed
2 1/2 cups strawberries, cut into bite sized pieces

Dressing
Combine the following to taste:
1/2 cup mayo
3 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 Tablespoon poppy seeds

1. Mix 3 Tbsp. tarragon, garlic, and oil. Rub all over chicken to coat.
2. Set pan over medium heat. Add and heat olive oil. When hot, add chicken and cook until meat is white. Use chicken in the salad either warm or cool.
3. Combine salad mix with strawberries and the other 2 Tbsp. fresh tarragon. Place chicken along the side and drizzle with dressing. Alternately, when serving a group or a in a potluck setting, cube or shred the chicken and combine with dressing for easier serving.

I stole this recipe from a new website that I found called "Light Refreshments Served". It's a bunch of Mormon women writers, one of which is one of my favorite authors, Emily Watts. That woman cracks me up and I love all of her books. When I saw this recipe for this salad, I thought this was something that even my girls would like. It turned out pretty well. I didn't have the almonds, so I added blueberries instead, although I think both would also be lovely. I would also recommend going easy on the fresh tarragon...it made the salad almost too pungent and "licorice-y". Otherwise, it was a tasy keeper. I'm looking forward to more tasty summer salads to come this year...if you have any faves, post them in my comments.

Thanks and Doubrou Chut!! (Czech equivalent of Bon Appetit)

A Young Authoress

*Warning: The following post contains gratuitous amounts of parental pride and a teeny, tiny bit of bragging. Read at your own risk.*

We are newbies to the whole public school thing this year. Maryn is almost done with first grade and we are finally getting the hang of it. We have watched Maryn really blossom and grow this year, and it has truly been a sight to behold. Not only has she grown physically, but socially and emotionally as well. We are very proud of the little girl she is becoming. She is cute, friendly, funny, helpful, smart, and affectionate with the people she loves. She really is a pleasure not only to us, her family, but also her friends and teachers. So when she got a little recognition from school for some of those previously mentioned attributes, we were a little tickled that we're not the only ones who notice how talented and wonderful she is. It was kinda validating to us as her parents. We're glad that this past year has shaped up to be a successful year in her life, and hopefully one she'll look back on with happy memories.

You may remember her tooth drama from months past. She had shark teeth for awhile there, until the first one finally came out (thanks to a little help (tugging) from her Dad.) Anyway, she decided to write about her (traumatic) big event for her writing assignment back in January. The books were submitted to a "Publishing Center", where they were typed up, illustrated, bound, and and we didn't hear anything until recently when she was chosen, along with 2 other first graders from her school to attend the District Young Author's Conference. She (okay, we) were excited about the invitation. I remember going to these Conferences as a kid in the same district and it brought back some good memories for me too.



She attended the Conference with Mark a couple weeks ago. From what I heard, it was fun to see the other books on display, enjoy the entertainment (storytellers called Magic Carpet), and participate in the workshops they had for the kids.



Here she is with her book, "The Loose Tooth", hopefully one of many more to come!!

Fighting for the Cause

Saturday the 31st was the annual Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure" in Detroit. I've been wanting to do this race for the past 2 years, and for one reason or another wasn't able to. It's a freebie race for me as Compuware pays entry fees and provides parking, etc. It's also a great cause, and has been on my mind lately as Mark's Aunt has just recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently battling this disease. I also wanted to do another 5K and see if I could improve my time. So there you go. The girls were also excited to cheer me on again too. So far, they haven't gotten bored of it, so I can't complain. We showed up to Compuware a little late, but still had some time to get tattoo'd and painted with the breast cancer logo. The girls also got free balloon animals and beads, and then we headed up Woodward towards Comerica Park, which is where the starting line was.

It was jam-packed. Very crowded and kind of chaotic. One we got to Comerica it was still another 2-3 blocks to the starting line. Because I had gotten there late, I didn't find my buddies to run with, so Mark and the girls agreed to stay with me until I started. That meant they had to keep walking up Woodward and navigate the crowds. It started wearing on them (queue whining), so I left them to eat their packed breakfast and walked the rest of the way on my own.

The starting line was like barely 3 feet wide for literally thousands of runners and walkers, and nobody had timing chips, so I have no idea when I actually started. Furthermore, it was like the running of the bulls in Madrid once you leave the gate, weaving in and out between the bodies and trying not to run over the walkers and get a decent pace going. That slowed me down as well. The event itself was fun. They had bands set up on nearly every corner playing all kinds of music for us to run to, and there were also lots of high school cheerleaders rooting us on from the sidelines. Everyone was very enthusiastic and it made it enjoyable. The thing that especially "got me" was seeing a woman in pink running alongside me every now and then. The runners wearing the pink t-shirts were the survivors, and seeing them run or walk really kind of choked me up a little and reminded me what this whole thing was about. I did pretty well up until the last mile or so when my bladder started to reach max capacity, and I got really hot. When I saw the finish line, I started to sprint and got a little carried away in the moment and started whooping it up a little. I think I was yelling, "go, go, go" or something. Afterwards I was kind of embarrassed, but it helped to rally my energy. I think I came in around 28 minutes, which for me is my best time yet for a 5K. My last was somewhere between 31 and 32 with no crowds to dodge. Of course after I finished I immediately had to find the bathroom, so I didn't get any "after-the-race" shots.

Overall, it was a fun event and I'm glad I got to contribute in a small way to such a great cause..."racing for the cure!"