My dad was in the Air Force, so we moved around. A lot. Maybe not as much as some people did, but when I tell you I went no more than 2 years at the same school, it's not an exaggeration.
So, unlike many of my friends, I don't have that BFF from kindergarten. And I have secretly (or not-so-secretly) been jealous of those life-long BFFers.
Until a couple of weeks ago when I realized that instead of one Bestie, I've had several.
I had Anne. She was my best gal pal from four to seven. She taught me that parts can be on the side instead of down the middle and bangs are optional. She ran super fast and would hold my hand so that I could keep up. We played house and Barbies and grocery store. She helped me be brave and walk through the giant pampas grass plants on the way home from school.
Then there was my sister Jennilyn. We did everything together. We played more Barbies, house, Primary, and school than any other kids alive. We played Charlie's Angels. With cap guns. On roller skates. We shared a room for about 13 years straight. Some days were better than others. Our bedroom was initially decorated in red and white gingham, followed by a crazy 80's rainbow theme, and finally the bedroom of our dreams--or at least the dreams of the designers of Seventeen magazine. We exercised at night when we couldn't sleep. And since we shared a room, we also shared a radio. And listened to the same songs over and over together. Take One Me will always remind me of Jennilyn.
Molly was the Shirley to my Laverne in 9th and 10th grade. We were constantly doing something crazy. We made all the scenery for the Ward Roadshow--mostly from a sheet we painted in the style of Bob Ross. We entered the Audio/Visual Competition in lieu of doing a report in our 9th grade chemistry class--and ended up making a volcano, filming it, and dubbing the stampede scene from "May from Snowy River" as the sound of our rumbling volcano. (Yeah...pretty weird choice, but it was the mid-80s and there just wasn't much to choose from). We gave each other makeovers constantly. We talked on the phone incessantly. And we made plans to go to Ricks College and be roommates--and then she went to BYU instead.
So Lynell was my Ricks roommate. We took classes together and crammed for finals--I still remember the scientist named Harvey had something to do with capillaries. We set each other up on dates. She let me tag along on dates with her and her Sophomore year boyfriend. We did crazy things in the middle of the night--taped deformities into our faces, wore our undies on the outside of our clothes, danced and sang too loud. We went to church together and shared our testimonies with each other. We even worked the weeknight dinner shift in the cafeteria together.
And then because I enjoyed my nights so much better than my days, I went home to Tucson and tried to figure out my next move. My compadre in adventure was Lorrie. We both were sort of trying to decide what to do with the rest of our lives. So we played. A lot. I think in the next two years, between us, we took 4 credit hours of classes at in institution of higher learning and 164 credit hours of LDS Institute classes. We were in Lambda Delta Sigma together. We went to every dance together. We played pretty well. And then we started to prepare for our missions. Lorrie got her call to West Virginia and left a few months before I did.
That summer before my mission, Jamie was also getting ready for her mission and moved in with her grandparents who were in my parents' ward. We both were working for probably no more than minimum wage in the fashion industry (she was at Judy's in the mall and I was at Famous Footwear across the street and down a block). We were pretty excited for September to come, so we talked about our plans. She went with me when I went to the temple for the first time and then we went the next week together. She came to the MTC a week after I did and together we soaked up all the good the MTC had to offer. We wrote each other on our missions and she was a great example of a missionary to me.
Allison had the important task of re-acclimating me to "The World" after my mission. She set me up on my first date a week after I returned. We rented an apartment together. She introduced me to her circle of friends, many of whom played a huge part in my life. Less than a year later, she moved to her parents' home to prepare for her mission.
A couple of years later, I decided I needed a change of scenery. Arlissa lived in Mesa and was willing to provide the scene change. We lived for a short while in her grandparents' house in downtown Mesa and then re-located to North Phoenix. She has always had a way of making whomever she is with think that they are the most important person to her. We found a great singles ward and jumped in with both feet. We had parties galore, where we would cook for days in advance (many times by the light of a lamp when the overhead light would stop working). We went on road trips to Utah. With no A/C. Over Labor Day weekend. With my beta fish. She introduced me to NPR. She worked in the Governor's office and introduced me to movers and shakers. And she introduced me to Darrell--and got him to eat Chocolate Silk Pie.
My last roommate before Darrell was Kira. She taught me to eat felafel. She was always thinking deep thoughts and asking me what I was thinking. It astounded her when I would tell her I couldn't remember or that I was just zoning. She is the consummate teacher and has a huge love for animals. Even rats. Especially Hans und Franz.
And there are way more that I could name. I have been blessed to have so many good girl friends who have taught me so much. And even though I don't always keep in touch like I want to (because I want to!), I really love the friends that I have made thus far in my life.
And last of all, I'm glad for you!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
I have the cutest niece in the world
My cute little niece is coming on a big girl trip on an airplane to visit me in about 10 days. I'm SUPER excited. I've planned 17 days worth of activities in our two-and-a-half days together.
My sister didn't want to tell her funny little daughter about the trip too early, since she would (of course!) be too excited and find it difficult to concentrate at school.
Somehow she found out she was going to visit Aunt Stephanie and Grandma and Pop, but Aunt Stephanie first. I like to think that she is a lot like me and a detective at heart.
Today I talked to my sister who told me the niece had a ziploc bag full of her savings. My sister asked her why she had her money in a baggie, to which she replied,
"This is for when I go visit Aunt Stephanie. In case she doesn't have enough money. I can help her out!"
I'm feeling the love!
My sister didn't want to tell her funny little daughter about the trip too early, since she would (of course!) be too excited and find it difficult to concentrate at school.
Somehow she found out she was going to visit Aunt Stephanie and Grandma and Pop, but Aunt Stephanie first. I like to think that she is a lot like me and a detective at heart.
Today I talked to my sister who told me the niece had a ziploc bag full of her savings. My sister asked her why she had her money in a baggie, to which she replied,
"This is for when I go visit Aunt Stephanie. In case she doesn't have enough money. I can help her out!"
I'm feeling the love!
One fun fact about me...maybe
It's been quite a while since my last blog post.
There are several reasons:
I started a new position at work around the time I last posted and I lost track of the time.
I've spend WAY less time using this here computer. I only check my Google reader a couple times a week instead of a couple of times a day.
I recommitted to working out and spend 3 hours a day at the gym, which leaves precious few minutes for blogging.
I wasn't quite sure what I should write for the next item on the list--A fun fact about me.
Ok. Ok. One of the above isn't true AT ALL. And one is the most true.
The most true is that, although blogging may be one of the most narcissistic things to do, do I really think there is a fact that is so "fun" about me that it deserves its own posting? Seriously? And what if no one else finds it "fun"? Then I will have posted a "Supposed Fun Fact about Me." And that's no fun.
The lie above is that I have been working out. Anyone who believed that is crazy. Well, maybe not. I DID recently begin paying money to a gym. I've sorta shopped for new workout clothes ('cause if you look good, you'll work out). I've planned on going to the gym on multiple occasions. And I may even show up on the Memorial Day.
So, I guess a fun fact about me is that I have a good imagination. That's what I call my tendency to stretch the truth. My mom calls it lying. I like to call it poetic license.
And I tend to take it often.
There are several reasons:
I started a new position at work around the time I last posted and I lost track of the time.
I've spend WAY less time using this here computer. I only check my Google reader a couple times a week instead of a couple of times a day.
I recommitted to working out and spend 3 hours a day at the gym, which leaves precious few minutes for blogging.
I wasn't quite sure what I should write for the next item on the list--A fun fact about me.
Ok. Ok. One of the above isn't true AT ALL. And one is the most true.
The most true is that, although blogging may be one of the most narcissistic things to do, do I really think there is a fact that is so "fun" about me that it deserves its own posting? Seriously? And what if no one else finds it "fun"? Then I will have posted a "Supposed Fun Fact about Me." And that's no fun.
The lie above is that I have been working out. Anyone who believed that is crazy. Well, maybe not. I DID recently begin paying money to a gym. I've sorta shopped for new workout clothes ('cause if you look good, you'll work out). I've planned on going to the gym on multiple occasions. And I may even show up on the Memorial Day.
So, I guess a fun fact about me is that I have a good imagination. That's what I call my tendency to stretch the truth. My mom calls it lying. I like to call it poetic license.
And I tend to take it often.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Favorite quotes
I had to choose several. These are some of my favorite quotes by and about women. I need to remember them more often. And especially live up to them better.
"Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity." Margaret Nadauld
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Marianne Williamson
"Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion." Martha Graham
"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily difference we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee." Marian Wright Edelman
"I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well." Diane Ackerman
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." Mother Theresa
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." Anne Frank
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
A book
That's a favorite.
Hmmmm....
I'm one of those people who love to read, but forget that I do.
And even when I remember, I'm much too lazy to do much about it. I seem to find other things to do that require even less effort....watching TV, reading blogs (hey...that's reading!).
I love to peruse book stores...all the hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered. I end up buying so many books from the bargain area that they cannot truly be considered a bargain. (Ok, each book is a bargain, but when you buy $70 of books, I think it teeters closer to spendy). I have filled my bookcase to overflowing (which is color coordinated and fun). But, alas, I have read a mere fraction of the books.
I haven't quite mastered the art of librarying. When I was seven and lived in Arkansas, I remember going on monthly, maybe weekly, trips to the library with my family. The library cards were cardstock that had a little piece of metal attached. Somehow that combination of paper and metal worked together so the library could keep track of the books you checked out. We were limited to ten books per card, so we stocked up. We lived far enough away (which wasn't so far, but when you are seven, it seemed FAR), that by the time we got home, I had read nearly each book already. College sort of scared me away from libraries. I never quite mastered the Dewey Decimal System and when I saw that there was a semester-long class devoted to learning how to find books at the library, I was done. I recently got a new library card and look forward to using it.
I'm a member of a very prestigious book club. I've read maybe a dozen and a half of the books since joining nearly three years ago. Not very good stats. We always have lively conversation, so even if I haven't read the book, there is something exciting to discuss. Since our discussions don't revolve solely around the book but sometimes go on until the wee hours of the morning, Darrell thinks we should just read a magazine article and discuss that. I think he thinks I will get home much sooner if that is the case.
So, unfortunately, I don't have a trove of books upon which to base this posting.
I guess that could be viewed as a good thing, though. Because, after all, I wouldn't want to think too hard!
One of my faves is "The Persian Pickle Club." It's a book my mom recommended after her book club read it. My grandmama read it, also, and we all talked about favorite parts. It is a book that really can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
After my mother-in-law passed away, we were going through her belongings and I came across a copy of the book. I don't know if she read it, but it would have been right up her alley.
I'm glad that some of the most influential women in my life could all share a book that meant so much to me. Especially since there are so few books that I have loved as much.
Hmmmm....
I'm one of those people who love to read, but forget that I do.
And even when I remember, I'm much too lazy to do much about it. I seem to find other things to do that require even less effort....watching TV, reading blogs (hey...that's reading!).
I love to peruse book stores...all the hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered. I end up buying so many books from the bargain area that they cannot truly be considered a bargain. (Ok, each book is a bargain, but when you buy $70 of books, I think it teeters closer to spendy). I have filled my bookcase to overflowing (which is color coordinated and fun). But, alas, I have read a mere fraction of the books.
I haven't quite mastered the art of librarying. When I was seven and lived in Arkansas, I remember going on monthly, maybe weekly, trips to the library with my family. The library cards were cardstock that had a little piece of metal attached. Somehow that combination of paper and metal worked together so the library could keep track of the books you checked out. We were limited to ten books per card, so we stocked up. We lived far enough away (which wasn't so far, but when you are seven, it seemed FAR), that by the time we got home, I had read nearly each book already. College sort of scared me away from libraries. I never quite mastered the Dewey Decimal System and when I saw that there was a semester-long class devoted to learning how to find books at the library, I was done. I recently got a new library card and look forward to using it.
I'm a member of a very prestigious book club. I've read maybe a dozen and a half of the books since joining nearly three years ago. Not very good stats. We always have lively conversation, so even if I haven't read the book, there is something exciting to discuss. Since our discussions don't revolve solely around the book but sometimes go on until the wee hours of the morning, Darrell thinks we should just read a magazine article and discuss that. I think he thinks I will get home much sooner if that is the case.
So, unfortunately, I don't have a trove of books upon which to base this posting.
I guess that could be viewed as a good thing, though. Because, after all, I wouldn't want to think too hard!
One of my faves is "The Persian Pickle Club." It's a book my mom recommended after her book club read it. My grandmama read it, also, and we all talked about favorite parts. It is a book that really can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
After my mother-in-law passed away, we were going through her belongings and I came across a copy of the book. I don't know if she read it, but it would have been right up her alley.
I'm glad that some of the most influential women in my life could all share a book that meant so much to me. Especially since there are so few books that I have loved as much.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
20 Faves
peanut butter and chocolate
green
sleeping in
hawaii
freshly laundered linens (especially if laundered by someone else)
gel roller pens
ruffles
the day after a good haircut
red geraniums with dark purple pansies
maps of any sort
halfway done.....
1985
starbucks hot chocolate and pumpkin scone
my new bedding, complete with twelve (yes 12!) pillows
lipstick
a relaxing evening in with Darrell
only five more...
creating something beautiful or funky
a clean house
visiting my extended family
masterpiece on pbs
lots of comments on my blog (hint)
green
sleeping in
hawaii
freshly laundered linens (especially if laundered by someone else)
gel roller pens
ruffles
the day after a good haircut
red geraniums with dark purple pansies
maps of any sort
halfway done.....
1985
starbucks hot chocolate and pumpkin scone
my new bedding, complete with twelve (yes 12!) pillows
lipstick
a relaxing evening in with Darrell
only five more...
creating something beautiful or funky
a clean house
visiting my extended family
masterpiece on pbs
lots of comments on my blog (hint)
Monday, March 28, 2011
So totally on a roll
So Post Number 2 on "The List" is a favorite movie.
That's such an easy one.
Because I.Love.The Princess Bride!
What's not to love?
fencing
"You are using Bonetti's Defense against me, ah?"
fighting
"You mean, you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword, and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?"
torture
"Your ears you keep and I'll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, "Dear God! What is that thing," will echo in your perfect ears. That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever. "
And (because apparently I'm a HUGE fan of torture)...
"As you know, the concept of the suction pump is centuries old. Really that's all this is except that instead of sucking water, I'm sucking life. I've just sucked one year of your life away. I might one day go as high as five, but I really don't know what that would do to you. So, let's just start with what we have. What did this do to you? Tell me. And remember, this is for posterity so be honest. How do you feel?"
revenge
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
giants
"It's not my fault being the biggest and the strongest. I don't even exercise."
And (because giants are fantastic poets)...
"That Vizzini, he can *fuss*."
"Fuss, fuss... I think he like to scream at *us*."
"Probably he means no *harm*."
"He's really very short on *charm*."
"You have a great gift for rhyme."
"Yes, yes, some of the time."
"Enough of that."
"Fezzik, are there rocks ahead?"
"If there are, we all be dead."
"No more rhymes now, I mean it."
"Anybody want a peanut?"
"DYEEAAHHHHHH"
monsters
"Rodents Of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist."
chases
"He's right on top of us. I wonder if he is using the same wind we are using."
escapes
"No, no. We have already succeeded. I mean, what are the three terrors of the Fire Swamp? One, the flame spurt - no problem. There's a popping sound preceding each; we can avoid that. Two, the lightning sand, which you were clever enough to discover what that looks like, so in the future we can avoid that too."
true love
"As....you....wish!"
miracles
"Have fun storming the castle!"
I so need to watch this again!
Let me know what your favorite movie is.
That's such an easy one.
Because I.Love.The Princess Bride!
What's not to love?
fencing
"You are using Bonetti's Defense against me, ah?"
fighting
"You mean, you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword, and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?"
torture
"Your ears you keep and I'll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, "Dear God! What is that thing," will echo in your perfect ears. That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever. "
And (because apparently I'm a HUGE fan of torture)...
"As you know, the concept of the suction pump is centuries old. Really that's all this is except that instead of sucking water, I'm sucking life. I've just sucked one year of your life away. I might one day go as high as five, but I really don't know what that would do to you. So, let's just start with what we have. What did this do to you? Tell me. And remember, this is for posterity so be honest. How do you feel?"
revenge
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
giants
"It's not my fault being the biggest and the strongest. I don't even exercise."
And (because giants are fantastic poets)...
"That Vizzini, he can *fuss*."
"Fuss, fuss... I think he like to scream at *us*."
"Probably he means no *harm*."
"He's really very short on *charm*."
"You have a great gift for rhyme."
"Yes, yes, some of the time."
"Enough of that."
"Fezzik, are there rocks ahead?"
"If there are, we all be dead."
"No more rhymes now, I mean it."
"Anybody want a peanut?"
"DYEEAAHHHHHH"
monsters
"Rodents Of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist."
chases
"He's right on top of us. I wonder if he is using the same wind we are using."
escapes
"No, no. We have already succeeded. I mean, what are the three terrors of the Fire Swamp? One, the flame spurt - no problem. There's a popping sound preceding each; we can avoid that. Two, the lightning sand, which you were clever enough to discover what that looks like, so in the future we can avoid that too."
true love
"As....you....wish!"
miracles
"Have fun storming the castle!"
I so need to watch this again!
Let me know what your favorite movie is.
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