McColley Motor Court
In the Black Hills
Home of the "BLACK HILLS PASSION PLAY"
On Highway 14 and 85, Spearfish, S. Dak. Phone 220.
Hotel Equipped. 17 Apartments, All with Baths, 7 Have Complete Kitchens.
Listed in AAA Travel Guide and Duncan Hines "Lodging For A Night."
Open the Year Around.
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Playing the Game
Anybody Home asks us to play "the game" and tell everyone what is on our desks. Oh, my. I'm not sure I have enought bandwidth! But, here goes (and I hope you'll play, too! Tell me in my comments or post it on your blog and let me know!)

1) All the scrapbooking supplies I bought at 7 Minutes Later on Monday except the ones Lynx the kitten knocked off last night.
2) James the splendid red engine.
3) Postcards!
4) Last year's calendar my little brother finally sent to me last week.
5) My Bible.
6) Wisconsin Court of Appeals cases.
7) Pink easter grass I bought for half price at Target yesterday.
8) The Yankee Candle I won at Bunko Monday night.
9) James' radio/flashlight that is supposed to be in the basement in case of tornado.
10) A box of wipes left over from when the water was off Monday.
11) A very strange piggy bank I love with a rabbit and cacti painted on the side.
12) A box of marbles.
13) A bottle of sand from Destin, Florida.
14) A box of buttons.
15) My work notebook.
16) A bill the Daily Oklahoman sent me after giving me 3 months of free daily papers. They are hoping I am now addicted to their paper and will sign up for more. Not gonna happen.
17) Sunday's church bulletin.
18) One of those Russian dolls that has a whole bunch of smaller dolls inside.
19) A box full of greeting cards.
20) Lynx the cat.
21) Speakers that quit working sometime last weekend.
22) Pottery Barn catalog opened to a beach scene.
23) A stack of scrapooking and Islands magazines.
24) A brown package all tied up with string I got from Thailand when I ordered a little toy Honda Element from e-bay. Coolest looking package ever.
25) The Visual Bible VHS tapes, Matthew.
26) Film that needs to be developed.
27) Miscellaneous art from Colin.
28) A box of notepads.
29) A stack of CDs (the music kind, not the money kind)
30) A few coupons.
31) The charger for my cell phone that belongs in my van.
32) The model of the 7-foot dome Colin wants me to build in the backyaard.
33) A cute cylinder box decorated with maps that James once filled with my favorite treat: chocolate covered dried cherries.
34) A pink sand timer.
35) A rhinestone-encrusted cross that came off a bookmark.

Clearly I need some help.

Happy Homemaking
Yesterday this blog had a visitor who came from the Google search: “how to be happy as a homemaker.” I don’t know if she’ll be back, but I’ve been thinking about her and decided to address her question.

The question could have many reasons. Perhaps she had career goals and now finds herself at home, at a loss for what to do with her new role. Maybe she always wanted to be a homemaker, but finds it is not all she hoped for. Maybe she’s just doing research, with no emotional ties to the question. Whatever the reason, the answer is the same: you decide to be happy. (Really, “happy” is not the correct word for the situation. I’d rather use “joyful.”)

No matter your situation in life, it is a temporary season. Why not make the best of it? Homemaking (and motherhood) are really fleeting, but they are important. It is as if each task you undertake is a stitch in the great quilt of comfort that covers our nation. Your family may not realize all that you do, but they benefit nonetheless….just as you benefit from the works of countless others whose work goes unnoticed by you. Take pride in your own work, not seeking praise from others.

You may notice I have a link to the Homeliving Helper over there to the right. There is a recent post about combating depression that has some questions you should ask yourself each day:

Have I been creative?
Have I helped someone or given some encouragement to someone else?
Have I eaten right? (Too many sweets and caffeine can cause anxiety: some chocolate has caffeine in it).
Have I looked my very best today?
Have I smiled? (A smile can actually improve your mental outlook and change gloomy feelings)
Have I learned something today?
Have I avoided reading discouraging material, or am I feeding on the "bad news" that is broadcast? (Try avoiding these things for several days and see if there is a noted improvment in your happiness level. You'll discover that the world keeps on going!)
Have I improved myself in any way today?
Is my house clean, orderly, and beautifully decorated?

These are wonderful points. You’ll notice that accomplishing these requires one to get off the couch, and possibly out of the house. The FlyLady is a big helper on this one. Her marching orders include jumping out of bed, making it immediately, and getting dressed and groomed (including shoes) before doing anything else. Give her methods a try and you’ll find yourself growing in joy.

My other best advice is: “Get Yourself Some Girlfriends!!” Make time for your friends and you’ll be blessed beyond measure. (One caveat: be sure those girlfriends are positive people. Don’t get yourself involved with drama, control or anger.)

The Kahler Hotel, Rochester, Minnesota. 650 of America's finest hotel room. Over 350 rooms air-conditioned. The Coffee House, Hemishpere Cocktail Lounge, Arcade Shops and roof-top dining in the Pinnacle, make this one of the country's most enjoyable places to stay.
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Kentland Cafe - Kentland, Indiana.
Intersection Roads 24, 41, 52. Famous for Good Food. 24 Hour Service.
This is my home town, even though I've never lived there. Both of my parents were born and reared in Kentland. I'm probably related to half the town. I love Kentland. All these postcards I'm posting were found at a garage sale in Kentland. Many of my faithful readers live in Kentland and spent many an hour at the Kentland Cafe. I hope they will share their memories with us.
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Spencer awakened at midnight with a bad cough. I recognized that cough. Strep throat. So we were off to the pediatrician at 8:30 this morning to wage war on those suckers as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there seems to be a shortage of the antibiotic he prescribed, so it took us 2 hours and 4 pharmacies to start the war. We will prevail, though. We will prevail.
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This is Claudia's grandson enjoying Easter with his new Easter Buddy. Isn't it the sweetest?
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Claudia asked me to post more of my scrapbook pages, so I decided to start with this one. It is not very exciting as far as layouts go, but I like it anyway. This is a part of a layout about my dad's business, which was building ski lifts. He was the president of American operations for Dopplemayr and sold the quad lifts to Vail. The quad lifts are now in many resorts, but Vail was one of the first resorts in the United States to install them. They go slower than most ski lifts at the top and bottom and then go faster in between. The quad lifts (featuring four-person seats) come with wind barriers that can be pulled down over the seated skiiers. All in all, a great product. Next time you ride on one, think of my dad.
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Working high above Vail, the worker's construct the base for the ski lift. On the lower right you can see the clearing and the helicopter coming in with supplies.
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Weekday Update

(1) Easter was pleasant. Easter egg hunts galore - in our backyard and a friend's backyard. The afternoon was sunny and slightly chilly, but certainly good enough to spend outside. I completed the weed barrier and mulching of our new memory garden while the boys searched for eggs.

(2) Worked this morning then headed over to 7 Minutes Later to celebrate 2 years in business. Claudia suprised us with a wall of 75% off merchandise in the back and, of course, a delicious pink cake with brown 7s all over it. 7 Minutes is my favorite scrapbooking store. They have a lot of really special items in right now, too. Hard to resist!

(3) The city is working on the water lines today, so we have no water. If its not electricity, its water. I don't know which is worse, but today it seems like its the water.

(4) I have tons of work to do, but it is so beautiful outside I'd much rather work in the garden or play croquet. (So, why am I typing on this blog?)

Dine at Angelo's Place - - Owned and operated by Mr. Angelo Xidis. Nationally famous for its spaghetti, flounders, steaks and delicious salads. This huge building is one of the finest constructions in the south, built entirely of steel, tile and glass. It combines a kitchen and dining room unique anywhere. Angelo Xidis, the owner, is one of the few Chef de cuisine left who delights in preparing all of the food himself.
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A corner of the huge kitchen at Angelo's Place, Gulfport, Miss.
Angelo's Place - - you are welcome to come into the light and airy kitchen at Angelo's Place where savory aromas hint of the delicious sauces and seasonings that make Angelo's food famous. See the platters of spaghetti masked with rich, delicious sauce and crowned with tender slices of chicken or other meats.
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THE GREEN FROG RESTAURANT Lee Ave. Waycross, Ga. 7 Miles North of Okefenokee Swamp Park. Approved by AAA & Recommended by Duncan Hines. (Okefenokee?)
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The Ebola Plush
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What A Boy Wants
Doesn't every child want a plush germ? Oh, yes, I'm sure they do!

Literal Lunch
Spencer asked what we're having for lunch. I rattled off the list and included, "and Grandma brought green beans."

Spencer looked at me with his big wide eyes, then sat down next to the basket of jelly beans Grandma had just brought. He said, "Uh, Mommy, I think she brought more colors than just green."

Low In The Grave He Lay
Robert Lowry (1874)

Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior,
Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior;
Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!

Death cannot keep its Prey, Jesus my Savior;
He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Just some fun beach wear. Its so cold here tonight I'm dreaming of the beach...
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LONGHORN MOTEL RESTAURANT. Western Hospitality at the Longhorn Motel, Restaurant, and Service Station. New, ultra-modern, quiet, refrigerated air-conditioning, T.V. in rooms, W.W. carpeting, hot water heat, combination tub and shower. 40 miles east of Denver, at the hub of U.S. Highways 36-40-287 and Interstate Highway 70. Phone 303-822-5205 - Byers, Colorado 80103
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FUNGI FUNGI FUNGI FUNGI FUNGI FUNGI I WANT TO BE A FUNGI I LIKE TO PLAY WITH MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY BECAUSE I LOVE THEM YES I LOVE THEM (translated from Colin's Pahonics Spelling)
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We Need a Loaner
The Jenkins, who only recently were serving as missionaries in Uganda and who will be leaving to serve as missionaries in Rwanda in 3 months, need a refrigerator. Considering they are leaving soon, the best possible solution would be for them to borrow a refrigerator. They are a family of 7, so they could really use a full-sized fridge. Perhaps you have an extra in your garage you could live without for a few months? If so, just let me know! Thanks!

Martha Stewart Fashion
You've got to see the latest: shoes designed to cover up the house-arrest anklet. Hilarious.

KARAOKE GOOD FRIDAY

When I survey the wondrous cross
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

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Best Movie I Haven't Seen?
I really wanted to see The Work and the Glory, but I missed it at the theater. Has anyone seen it? If so, would you give us a little review? I saw The Other Side of Heaven (from the same company) and thought it was a beautiful and inspiring film every Christian should see, particularly those who are missions minded. The email I got about The Work and the Glory summarized the film this way:

"Based on the bestselling series by Gerald N. Lund, The Work and the Glory blends high-powered fiction with the historical reality of the Restoration as seen through the eyes of the Steed family. Experience their tragedies and triumphs amid the raging controversy that surrounds a young man named Joseph Smith."

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Schiavo Case.

Dietsch Shier Motor Inn, Queen Street & Route 772, Intercourse, Pa. 17534.
"In Amishland's Most Interesting Village"
Lancaster County's newest unique Motor Inn, 33 deluxe rooms . . . wall-to-wall carpet . . . ceramic tile tub & shower . . . electric heat . . . AM-FM music & efficiencies . . . TV and air conditioning . . . exquisite gift shop. Guided Pennsylvania Dutch Tours. Telephone: 717 768-3636
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The Fig Tree Atrium, Midwestern Inn, Enid, Oklahoma. (circa 1984)
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Summer of 84
I was a waitress. Having decided I would like to go to Hotel and Restaurant School at OSU, I found a job in a restaurant. It was called The Fig Tree Atrium and was a hotel restaurant inside the Midwestern Inn on Van Buren in Enid, Oklahoma. At the time, it was Enid's nicest hotel and one of the nicest restaurants. The manager of the restaurant was an exacting man who promised to teach me the correct methods of food service.

I was on the breakfast - lunch shift, which required a 6:00 a.m. start time. (How's that for a summer break?) There were 2 other waitresses who had worked together for a long time and had a system down. The promised to teach me the tricks of food service. They didn't warm to me very quickly. They even told me they would be waitresses their entire lives and they new I was just passing through on my way to bigger and better things. To them I was just a brat. In many ways they were correct. When I started working that summer I had no idea what kind of lives they led or how lucky I was.

Though pleasant and hard working, I never was a very good waitress. I just don't have the memory for the job! Waitresses are constantly interrupted with small requests. None of them are particularly difficult, but I would often arrive at the kitchen knowing I need an extra napkin, sugar, a knife, butter and a cup of orange juice, but I couldn't remember who needed which item. And, in the middle of all that, I was supposed to be on top of the cooks to get my food out, take orders, refill drinks, seat guests, tabulate checks and make change. All this while attempting to look happy and in control. It is a very difficult job, really - and I was not made for it.

My co-workers both had young children and were always stressed about day care and childhood illness and husbands and not having any sleep and not having a car to get to work. I don't know how they did it. All I had to do was go to bed at a reasonable hour and clean my uniform. I still think of them often and wonder about their lives. I took one of them home once because her car broke down, and I was shocked when I saw her house. She always came to work with her hair done and with a neat uniform - and she was the best waitress by far. She lived in a shack. I could literally see through the boards into her house. That was the day I realized why they thought me a brat. I didn't even know. I didn't even know.

Be nice to the waitress. You probably don't even know, either.

Harding's Colonial Room, 21 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Located in the heart of Chicago's famous shopping and theatre centers - Internationally known for "Just Wonderful Food" and beautiful tablesales girls - Delightful dinner music in an authentic Colonial atmosphere - Special party arrangements made - Prices always sensible. Telephone State 1133. (1 cent postage stamp attached, but not addressed to anyone).
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The Wagon Wheel of Rockton, Illinois., featuring The Trophy Room, Martha Washington Room, Gay Nineties Room and The Lounge. "Located at the intersection of Routes 2 and 75. Serving quality food that we believe you particularly desire. Only women are employed in the kitchen of THE WAGON WHEEL because women, through their innate sense of taste and daintiness excell in the fine arts of cookery. These enjoyable meals served in the quaint atmosphere of THE WAGON WHEEL will appeal to the most exacting appetite." (Dated 12/3/51, but postmarked 12/4/51 from Kentland, Indiana, where it was also addressed. The postage stamp cost 1 cent.)
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I present to you the first Post Card from Cody's Box-o-Cards: The Chieftain Motor Lodge, Restaurant & Lounge. The Chieftan was at the junction of U.S. 52-281, N.D. 200 in Carrington, North Dakota. It had 29 Luxurious Rooms - Banquet and Convention facilites for 200 - Navaho Dining Room - Pow-wow Lounge - Big Chief Coffee Shop - Authentic Indian Decor - and was Completely Air Conditioned. J. & G. Tracy, Owners. (The Best Western Motels, AAA)
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This would be great if you're going to be in a country and western music video. Otherwise....no.
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I wish I had the body for this dress. Not only is it flirty and cute, it would look fabulous with my new turquoise slides with the green polka dots.
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She's got the power.
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Dan has inspired me to share my comments from the Sunday inserts. I'll begin with this girl. In my opinion, everything about this outfit is inappropriate for a pre-teen. To begin, her shirt says, "Boys are trouble." Cute. Let's demonize the boys and see if they live up to the expectation! Yeah. That's the ticket. I've seen a lot of similar slogans on shirts and I believe they go a long way to break down "gender relations." Feminism should not be about shifting the balance, it should be about equality, a wholly different concept. Now let us move to the short. Wow. They are definitely short. And tight. Throw in some long legs and heels, lean the little girl against a wall in a provocative pose and throw her to the wolves. When I think of how many of my girlfriends were molested as teenagers and then I see fashion like this, it makes me want to scream. Please don't let your girls dress like this.
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Aaaaarrrggghhhhhh
I just composed a most brilliant and witty post for you, dear reader, and Blogger lost it. This is the third time it has happened to me in the last two weeks and I'm getting very tired. I am going to make an attempt to recreate it for you by typing an email and then pasting it to Blogger, which is a totally ridiculous way to live. And I doubt my writing will be anywhere near as refreshing now that steam is coming out of my ears. So....I just wanted to end Kyndal's suspense, which suspense is unfortunate since there really is nothing exciting to tell. Just a lot of everyday stuff.

1) Oh, I hate repeating myself. I really hate repeating myself.

2) Ace Westlake Hardware is building a store just 4 blocks from here. I love hardware stores and am very excited to have one so close by. Retrieving supplies for my projects will hardly slow me down at all! I am, however, disheartened to see that they have removed the Bradford Pear trees that were growing along their sidewalk. Killed in the midst of a full bloom, no less.

3) Wal Mart is nearly finished building its Neighborhood Market just west of the new hardware store. Friday they razed the old Grandy's restaurant and yesterday they removed the sign. Its officially history. I used to watch that sign in the middle of the night from the nursery window as I rocked Colin.

4) Something is going in between the hardware store and the grocery store, which requires a new building. I'm anxious to see what it is and I'm hoping it is a scrapbook warehouse! (Doubtful). I can't imagine why they are building on to the strip mall on the west side when there is a large empty space available on the east side.

5) Colin and I have made progress on our memory garden. Spencer and I went to the rock store Saturday and filled the van with Oklahoma river rocks and large moss rocks. Then I dug out an area where a plan to build a trash can area and transferred that dirt over to the new bed. Digging was kind of a drag, so I hired Conrad, a teenager I know who digs for a hobby. After that I went over to my beloved Home Depot and filled up the van with tumbled square bricks to make the trash can "floor." I'm 73 (73!!) bricks short, so we'll be heading back over soon. 73 is a slight miscalculation, huh? (73 Bricks Short would be a good title for a blog, no?)

6) I started my new work schedule today and got a new co-worker. I'll be doubling my work load for at least 4 months. I'm not too thrilled about that, but at least I'll have lots of money to buy rocks, shoes and scrapbooking supplies.

7) James and I have lost the clutter battle at our home. Colin and Spencer (mostly Colin) produce 23 cubic tons of clutter per day. We simply can't keep up.

8) The severe weather never materialized. Instead it is sunny and warm. I'm off to build the garden!

Hey
I have so much to tell you, but I have to work this morning, my electricity is scheduled to be out, and we're having severe (tornado?) weather warnings. I plan to post this afternoon, so please stay tuned!!

I've had a lot of positive feedback about the shoes I've been posting, so I thought I would post a few more today. This is a great little slide from Moda Span.
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Normally white shoes are a bad idea, but one might get by with these Rocket Dog thongs since they have a bit of sparkle. These would be best with a bit of a tan and a good pedicure.
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A Charles David slide that looks comfortable is that isn't a shoe clip I see there.
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Charles David floral thong.
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A beautiful little Zanotti slide. Looks like it might be hard to fit, but I'd love to give it a try.
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Uh Oh
They're on to us.

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Bride and Prejudice
Last night I saw Bollywood's latest: Bride and Prejudice and loved it. Of course, I'm a huge fan of A&E's Pride and Prejudice, so I just had to see this version.

The plot is fairly true to the book, though Jane Austen never could have imagined this film! It is colorful, playful, full of big musical numbers and a whirlwind of activity. I don't think I have ever seen so much vivid color in a film, all twirling and full of energy. The actors and actresses are beautiful, the scenery is beautiful, the music is inspiring. Some have complained about details, but this movie is not about details. It is an over-the-top production for pure entertainment. I plan to see it again!

Profound Effect
Dwayne the Canoe Guy posted the assignment for this week on Monday, so I've had plenty of time to consider my answer. The assignment is as follows:

"Recall a time when the action/inaction of yourself or others has led, through a series of events, into having a profound effect on your life or others."

My story is a painful story, so if you're not in the right frame of mind, just flip over to another blog right now.

It was Mothers Day 1998 and I was pregnant with Colin. I had invited my mother for a shrimp lunch (our favorite). It was a beautiful spring day. James talked to his father early in the morning and learned he and his mom were going to visit James' grandmother (Wayne's mother) in Chickasha, which is only 30 minutes away. We had been considering traveling to Enid for mothers day, but James decided to meet them in Chickasha while I had lunch with my mom.

Wayne and Yoshi didn't visit Chickasha very often, and Wayne's mother had been complaining about that. Yoshi was afraid of long car rides and Wayne just liked to stay home. Something in their personalities just kept them at home. It wasn't anything personal against anyone else, they just liked to stay home. But they decided to go that day.

James met them at his grandmother's house and gave his mom a gift: a clock she had made years ago, which he had had cleaned and repaired. They chatted for a few minutes and then Yoshi and his grandmother announced they were going to pick up some sandwiches they had ordered.

As I sat eating shrimp with my mom, the phone rang. I didn't want to answer because my dad had just moved to town and was calling me all the time, but I answered any way. It was James and he was frantic. He said, "My grandmother hit my mom with the car and she's on her way to the hospital!" Not comprehending that it was anything severe, I asked, "Is she okay?" He replied, "Well, she's probably going to die."

I couldn't believe it. It was just such a normal, pleasant day. How could it be true? We waited by the phone for an update, and James called back to say she had been medi-flighted to Oklahoma City. It truly was serious.

Yoshi survived until Thursday of that week, but she never regained consciousness. James' grandmother never quite regained sanity. I don't know that any of us fully recovered. It was a dark, dark hour.

There were many cause-and-effect moments that week. James is glad he saw his mom that day. I wish I had gone with him because I would have gone with "the girls" to pick up the sandwiches and the accident probably would not have happened. A woman who saw the accident called us later that week and told us she had seen Yoshi and noticed how attentive and sweet she was to James' grandmother and that the accident had profoundly affected her. She even sent flowers to the funeral. The people that cared for us and prayed with us that week changed the way we react to others' tragedies. And, of course, one little mistake has deprived our children of knowing their grandmother.

Mothers Day will never be the same.

Day of Prayer and Fasting for Terri Schiavo Set for March 18

Bryan at The Narrow posts a reminder that tomorrow March 18th is a Day of Fasting and Prayer for Terri. He writes, "Whether or not the Legislation before Congress passes and her life is spared, I feel we should continue with everything as planned. It would then of course change to a time of thanksgiving and worship for what God has done. So, please join me and all the others in this effort of prayer and fasting." via Blogs for Terri

Kayo's husband Tetsuya acting silly, but also portraying how I feel this morning as their plane leaves for Japan.
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Colin's Book of Germs and Antibodies, cover
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A Day in The Life of Colin
You can say this about Colin, my six-year-old son, he is never bored. I can't tell you the entire list of daily activities because I can't keep up with him. There are certain things he does every day that I never see him do, usually it involves "straightening" things to his liking. For instance, before we got our new dishwasher, he turned the knobs to certain settings every day. I didn't use those settings, so when I ran the dishwasher I changed them. Every morning, he had them moved back. I've included a gallery below consisting of just some of yesterday's art work. The boy is prolific. Here are some other activities from yesterday alone:

1. Make a funny face from a balloon, a butterfly net, a toy mouse, and a bowl.
2. Draw funny faces.
3. Make a book about germs and antibodies.
4. Beg mommy to go to the library for a video about germs and antibodies.
5. Amuse brother with funny face puppet show.
6. Tape things to face for a "living" funny face.
7. Play with a kitten.
8. Check on recently planted flower garden.
9. Go to the library and find books. Decline "The Fantastic Voyage" because it is not in color.
10. Accompany mommy to the shoe store.
11. Eat a giant slice of pizza at the mall.
12. Build a library complete with a librarians desk, holding shelf, children's section, video section and "adult" section.
13. Make funny faces with apples and bananas.
14. Draw and color while waiting for customers at the library.
15. Build a 3-D germ out of green grapes.
16. Entertain mommy and daddy with a gymnastics show on the swing set.
17. Help daddy pick up leaves in the front yard.
18. Eat dinner.
19. Man the library.
20. Watch Zoboomafoo on tape.
21. Draw and color.
22. Take a shower.
23. Decide to stay awake so the dust mites won't eat him while he's asleep.
24. Fall asleep and get carried to bed with the dust mites.

Colin's Book of Germs and Antibodies, page 5
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Colin's Book of Germs and Antibodies, appendix
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Colin's Book of Germs and Antibodies, back cover
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The Stadium, by Colin
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Exhibit 1 from Colin's Gallery of Funny Faces.
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Exhibit 2 from Colin's Gallery of Funny Faces.
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Exhibit 3 from Colin's Gallery of Funny Faces. Inspired by his kitten: Lynx.
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Exhibit 4 from Colin's Gallery of Funny Faces. I noticed he used a popular scrapbooking technique around the edges.
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Larry, Junior and Bob. About this time last year, Larry and Bob came to Oklahoma City to visit. Colin talked me into making him a Jr. Asparagus costume to wear when he went to meet them. They were very suprised!!
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Spring Break
Ah, yes. Spring break. We opted to stay home this year. Thought we could enjoy spring right here in Oklahoma. Of course, its quite chilly out there. And windy. Not really comfortable for outdoor fun, although not preclusive, of course. We're a bit wary of socializing with lots of children right now after our recent struggle with strep throat. Man, that was brutal.

Colin decided to plant some flowers near where our cats are buried. I think I'm going to help him make a full-fledged garden out of it this week. That gives me a reason to go buy more rocks for a border. I love rocks. I love shopping for rocks. I don't know what it is about rocks, but I have ALWAYS loved them!! I have an idea to make a long bed that curves around the corner of the garden on one end and loops around Grandma Yoshi's tree on the other. Maybe put a little bench under the tree. It will be a memorial garden of sorts. And, yes, I just thought of it: I could put the stone my friends bought me to memorialize my father right there by the bench. I think it will be a nice little place to reflect. It is surrounded on 2 sides by a cedar fence and on one side by our house. We have long stem roses growing there against the house.

The rest of spring "break" will be spent reading cases. I've agreed to work more hours for a few months, so I'll have to press myself to work more each day in order to keep up. Honestly, I'd rather do other stuff, but I owe my boss and my co-workers for putting up with me, so I'll do it. At least I'll have more money to buy rocks!

MORE SHOES!!!! This is a classic, inexpensive Karen Scott slide I hope to find in my size TODAY! I think I may go for the turquoise with lime green dots.

UPDATE: Got 'em. Love 'em.
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Zanotti 20-inch heel with jewels. I could never wear this heel, but I love the jewel feature. Special.
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Vera Wang lilac slide with a beautiful bow feature on the side. Very feminine.
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Interviewed by Mel!!!

1) What was the last book you read for fun? Give us a quick review.
Krakatoa : The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883 by Simon Winchester. I picked up the book because I saw Mr. Winchester on PBS talking about the social implications of the tsunami. He discussed the way the Krakatoa explosion changed the religious landscape of Indonesia and the Spice Islands. Although the book discussed that aspect only briefly, it was an interesting history lesson about the Dutch and the Spice Islands with some additional information about trade, geophysics, and even the study of the theory of evolution.

I don't read much other than magazines for fun. I read for my job and I read for Bible study. Those things are actually somewhat "fun." The magazines I read are Family Fun and assorted scrapbooking magazines.

2) What surprises you about people?
a. I'm suprised how many people I know who are afraid to try new things, whether it be an activity, a food or just meeting people.
b. I am also naive about people talking about other people. I don't really think negative things about most people, and I imagine people give me and others the benefit of the doubt. Every time I'm proven wrong, I'm suprised.

3) Did you get homesick when you went to college?
No. Before college I lived with my brother and father in a very strange household. Highschool was very stressful for me and I couldn't wait for a fresh start in college. My freshman year of college was everything I dreamed it would be. I absolutely loved it. I was a music performance major and spent a good 6 hours a day in rehearsal, which was perfect. I even liked the cafeteria food! My dad had stocked our kitchen with eggs, cheese, milk, potatoes, sour cream, margarine, spaghettios, peanut butter and bologna. That's it. In comparision, the school cafeteria was out of this world!!

4) What is your remedy for a distressing day? (nap? bath? chocolate?)
I like to stay up late by myself with a movie or a magazine. Solitude and quiet calm me down. If it was a really distressing day, I use that time for fervent prayer. When I am alone it is very, very quiet. I don't like background noise, it sets me on edge. I do, however, really enjoy snuggling into our guest-bedroom with the windows open so I can feel the breeze and listen to the birds, squirrels and church bells.

5)Do you live in Oklahoma City and if so, do you know Brent Ollson, an attorney?
I do live in Oklahoma City, but I don't know Brent. If I actually practiced law like a normal attorney, I'm sure I would at least know who he is. Instead, I practice law the way I blog: in my pajamas. This severly limits my professional circles.

Christmas 2003 Kayo presented me with a beautifully made quilt of the United States. She made the pattern herself, created each state from a different fabric and stitched it all by hand. It was incredible. It was way more than I deserved. Last night, she gave me a matching quilt, this one a map of Japan. It is made from the same fabrics and includes incredible detail. This is a small sample from northern Japan, where Kayo lives (Sapporo, Hokaido). I can't even believe she did this for me. I can't imagine how many hours she spent on it. Wow.
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Manolo has me inspired to window shop for shoes. I love shoes. I don't buy 'em like I used to, but I love to look. I can usually tell if a shoe will look good on me just by looking at it. A shoe should be reviewed just as much as a skirt or shirt. Even if it fits, it may not be the right style for your "figure." Here is a collection of shoes I would love to have in my closet this spring. The first is a Merrell thong. I chose it because Merrell's have high arches and are good for my feet, so this could be an everyday kind of shoe for summer. It also comes in red and yellow.
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Beautiful shoe by Kenneth Cole. I doubt I could really pull of the three-inch heel, though.
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Bruno Magli classic.
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You don't find many stylized shoes in brown. Isaac Mizrahi does it very nicely, and in my favorite style!
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A classic slide from VanEli, with the wrap-around bow, of course!
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