Look What Deb Did!

Deb helped me change stuff on my blog this morning. (Okay, she did it but I watched intently!) I love the mouse. Tee-hee! I put in the pic of Lauren because all of it seems like magic to me.

Enough!

You guys can be such nags! Seriously! It's not that I haven't wanted to show you my new nose but, well, I haven't. I'm still not used to seeing my nostrils in pictures. But here it is. Not too different unless you are shorter than me, and not too many people are thank goodness. I want to use the pic Deb posted on Facebook. The mustache seems to distract people... ;-) so they don't notice my nose.

Breath of Fresh Air

This morning I woke up and was still a little sleepy. I lounged in bed until 5:05. As I was laying there I recognized that something was different but I couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. Puzzled, but ready to get up, I sat up and discovered that I was breathing. Really breathing! I think I'm on the final assent to the summit of Mount Breath-of-Fresh-Air. So, I was wondering can everyone feel air go through their nasal passages? Is this how others breath on a regular basis? Can Kermit and Miss Piggy ever move on?

Schematics for Church

Yesterday we went to the building we will be attending church at for the next few months. When they handed out blue prints with the bulletin I got a little concerned. This building is big: double chapel, two Primary Chapels - upstairs - an elevator and many small rooms to get lost in. This would be the perfect building for multi-family trick-or-treating to say the least. It took me more than 5 minutes of opening random doors to find where Connor was after locating Tylor and Lauren (to the right not left). But, on the good side; the building didn't smell funky, it was warm!, the ward got all mixed up in the new chapel setting, and the church is still true. ;-)

From the Great Beyond

A few times a year I ping our brother David. I haven't heard from him in 4+ years so this year when I sent out my ping I expected, well, nothing. It's good to set your expectations very low when it comes to David. BUT!, I received an e-mail from David's ex-mother-in-law (who is very protective and strange in her own right) letting me know that David wanted me to call him. I called left a message and waited. And lo, a voice from the heavens (or at least a satellite!).

From the last contact via e-mail I had with David he was arrogant, self centered, a victim, and not very interested in anyone's views that didn't agree with his. Needless to say after a year of trying to be tolerant I told him to knock it off and oh, he did. No contact again (remember the first 15+ years?). Well, he's the same. Nice to know some things don't change too much.

Here's a short update on David's life: He is still living on Widbey Island in WA, his current malady is his skin is sloughing off (his phrase was, "I look like hamburger thrown against a wall.") and has to wear women's lingerie and silky gowns in public (okay...??) , he may be moving to Eastern Washington's high plains, Tanaket, in late spring (30 miles South of the Canadian border) so he can cleanse himself, he was exposed to Agent Orange while in ?? (didn't catch the country name), and has now walked around the world 4 times, didn't make it to Afghanistan because they would probably kill him (another, "Huh?") and he is off-line because it is too polluted with wild ideas.

He said he would keep in touch with me via phone now and call every now and again to let me know that he isn't dead (how thoughtful!).

So, in a nutshell, he's still crazy.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I was thinking about a few of my favorite things lately:

1. The smells of Christmas; pine trees, spiced apple cider, baking cookie (all), candy making (and friends that volunteer their house for these projects!)
2. My kids; Lauren's joy over it being both Christmas and her birthday (26th), Tylor's subtle gift suggestions (random comments made at odd times - not when asked directly!), Connor's not so subtle gift suggestions ("Hey, Mom you need a new phone - this company has a 2 for 1 deal!" - plays on my frugal side!)
3. My home. I love being here more than anywhere else.
4. My sisters and dad and Frankie ... and brothers. I love that they are there for me always.
5. Christmas movies. I am such a sap! I love the old classics and the goofy ones too. I cry at all the appropriate places!
6. My husband. I was telling someone that he was shopping without me then going home to make dinner and they wanted to know where they could get one like that. Sorry I got the only one!
7. The Gospel spirit. I love going to church during the weeks before Christmas because you can feel the warmth (and our chapel freezing right now!) of the Gospel everywhere.

I am thankful for all those who make my life great and possible.

Clown Car

There are lots of things that doctors fail to tell you when you are having 'work' done. I have come up with a handy list of questions I'm going to use if I ever find myself in the position of needing surgery again:

1. Will you be pulling anything akin to a dozen clowns out of a bodily cavity? (answer: Yes.)

2. When I eat for the first time will I be stunned for any reason? (answer: Yes, your eyes will bleed and, as in every apocolyptic movie, you will die shortly thereafter...dramatically.)

3. Will there be swelling? (answer: Yes, you will feel like you are drowning because of said swelling so be sure to stay awake for the first 24 hours. See above for potential outcome.)

4. Any unexpected side effects? (answer: Yes, you won't be able to see well or wear your glasses since you have a cast so forget about catching up on any reading.)

5. Will I be able to rest? (answer: No. You have children, they don't make enough drugs for this)

6. What will it/I smell like? (answer: You don't want to know.)

7. When will I feel normal again? (answer: HA! HA! HA! (tear wiping involved) HA!)

I'm sure I will feel normal again but for now I will sniff and try not to gag.