Long-winded Confession Wednesday

Just a few things I've been enjoying lately:

Fiddler on the Roof

This is one of my very favorite movies. Does anybody else remember life before VCRs? Every so often, my mom would say something like, "Hey guys, this movie called 'The Sound of Music' is going to be on channel 10 this Friday, and you can stay up to watch it! You're going to love it!" We'd pop a yellow-tupperware-bowl-full of popcorn and spread out the blue bedsheet (no buttery popcorn off the sheet, please). It felt like Christmas. My kids, on the other hand, have been exposed to these movies since they were knee-high to Jane & Michael Banks. While pushing a grocery cart with a 3-year-old belting out, "SOOOOO! A NEEDLE PULLING FRED!" is a hoot, I still wish they could experience seeing the classics for the first time on magical Friday nights like I did.

That's how I first saw "Fiddler." It's fantastic. If I made a list of my favorite movies, it would be in the top 3. I watched it with the kids the other night, and it gets better every time.

My new Peru Hat (do they have another name?)

A birthday gift to accessorize my typical outfit of my orange top, green jacket, and orange Ecuadorian purse. (I do believe I've warned you that I'm fashion-stunted, and my favorite clothes are those that fit well, don't wrinkle, and are already in my closet. That the shirt and purse match is purely coincidental.) It's unbelievably toasty. Totally worth the hat hair afterwards.

(See me YONFing myself by voluntarily posting pictures of moi?)

Camille Fronk Olson

She's a Professor of Ancient Scripture at BYU (Yonf was in her class back in the day!), and was a speaker at Time Out for Women in Portland last weekend. TOFW is a mini-Women's Conference put on by Deseret Book, with several speakers and a few musicians. We were invited to submit questions for a post-lunch Q&A session with the presenters. The program has this picture of Camille Fronk Olson:

It caught my attention because it seemed a little dated. It was. She looks quite a bit different now - very stylish, and wearing an ORANGE top! After pointing it out to the friends I was with, and in an attempt to get a laugh out of them (the sentiment was sincere, however), I submitted the following on my Q&A card: "Sister Olson: Your bio pic doesn't do your fabulous good looks enough justice. Can I take a new one for you?"

We missed the Q&A session (we were at the Saturday Market in downtown Portland, acquiring Peru Hats), but when I got back, I was informed that they had indeed read my card. Out loud. To Camille herself, along with 1800 women in attendance. I immediately broke into a sweat glisten. Her reply was that she was waiting on a new cut and color first. Somebody (I can't remember who now) suggested that since it was break time, I should work my way to the front to meet her. The thought did not help my composure, but YONF required that I comply. Of course she was lovely and, lucky for me, laughed at my audacity, and then probably noticed the painful irony that it took 2 cameras and 4 shots to get a decent picture of the moment. But don't we look lovely in our orange duet? (See my peru-hat hair?)

Mary Ellen Edmunds

Another presenter from TOFW. Witty, fun, laughed heartily at her own jokes . . . I enjoyed her immensely, and jotted down in my notes that she seemed to be channeling this woman, who I also enjoy:

Pumpkin Carving

I perpetually procrastinate purchasing pumpkins, so I was thrilled when we were offered the surplus from my aunt's preschool pumpkin patch!

The day we had planned to carve pumpkins was a down-to-the-minute marathon from sunup to sundown, and by the time I had dragged my gang to the church to carve with other families, I was beyond fried and feeling a little bitter about my day. As I walked away from the van, a pumpkin under each arm, a full bag over my shoulder, and a shoeless 3-year-old clinging to my back like a spider monkey, I realized I hadn't locked the van. In the 2+ months I've owned the van, the keyless remote has only successfully locked the doors once, and I wasn't in any position to put anything down and get back into the van. Sending a vague plea heavenward, I hit the button on the remote dangling from one pinkie.

Clunk: The doors locked. Would you believe me if I told you it was downright uplifting?

Then, within seconds of our grand entrance, this good man abandoned his own pumpkin, plonked my barefoot son down next to him, and helped him carve his pumpkin without a bit of effort from me.


The evening was a delight. The only that would have improved it would have been in if LW's pumpkin had actually fit over his head. So close, but he chickened out when it became clear that his nose would go in, but likely not come back out.

This little guy

On the list of things I'm NOT enjoying: Cilantro. Blech. But here's a cilantro salad (gah) for Jill to feast her eyes on:

And because I was tagged by the inimitable Savannah, here are some blogs I've been enjoying as well:

Tidbits from the Tremaynes

Mandi has a fantastic knack for chronicling her life through stunning pictures and clever commentary. I understand she also keeps a lively tempo when she plays hymns on the organ - who doesn't love that? She also recently calculated how much it cost to feed her family for a day ($13.47), including "Candy yoinked from the bag for trick-or-treaters: .19."

Laura's Blog

Laura is a night charge nurse at a children's hospital, and she goes to work in a cape and tiara! Remember the part in "It Could Happen to You" where Rosie Perez and Bridget Fonda have both won the lottery, and Rosie goes on a shopping spree, but Bridget only buys herself a jar of roasted peanuts and she looks like she could die happy? That's Laura - she revels in the little things. She's also one of my favorite cousins, and it appears that my daughter has a little thing for her husband.

Tag rules here, since this post approaching epic length.

What have you been enjoying lately?

Wednesday Confession: What makes you a good mom?

I was a good mom tonight (lately I feel like that is a rare occurrence!) Like all kids, mine love to work in the kitchen and help out with dinner. Since I was almost finished cooking I asked if they wanted to make brownies (something they love to do and can do mostly by themselves.) Sure enough they had a fabulous time and we all enjoyed the end result!

Confession time: What is something you do that makes you feel like a good mom?

Happy 21st Birthday Mrs. B!

Here are 21 memories and fun facts about the fabulous Mrs. B.


1. I remember when I was around 10 years old my mom saying how wonderful Mrs. B was, it took me over 15 years to become her friend and find out my mom was right.

2. Also when I around 10 I thought Mrs. B was cool because she would wear a hat on her head and have a pony tail out through the back.

3. She is a fabulous photographer!

4. She makes the best cinnamon rolls in the valley.

5. She is a really good friend!

6. She always has the funniest experiences happen to her. She is one of those people that I am constantly saying, "That would only happen to Mrs. B!" And sure enough she had one of those this weekend involving her comment about a presenters hair being read among thousands of women. (This led to a year of no fear moment that she will have to post about later.)

7. Can fix any computer problems!

8. Non-judgemental-I have never heard her say one judgemental thing about anyone!

9. She always makes me laugh!

10. She is always giving her services to others, either photography, babysitting, baking, sewing, she loves helping other people!

11. She has more friends than anyone I know!

12. She loves her family!

13. She says her prayers everyday, even if she falls asleep while saying them!

14. She is always doing fun stuff with her kids!

15. She is always involved in something, roadshows, friends birthday parties, she never sits around doing nothing!

16. You can ask Mrs. B anything and get an honest answer!

17. My 10 year old put it best one day, she said I love going over to the B's house because you never know what you are going to find! This is the best compliment to get from a 10 year old!

18. She knows how to have a good time! Either a pie eating contest, a Brian Regan party, out to lunch with the ladies, or an IKEA trip up in Portland.

19. She makes me a better person by being her friend.

20. Rumor has it she loves her husband and had a smooching session behind a van at IKEA.

21. She is so clever! She comes up with great gifts like: "Tools for a Veteran Mother" which includes: a scraper (pancake batter on counter, melted crayon in dryer), name tags (to the get the kids name right the first time), and duct tape (sewing kit)! (The fact that she thinks of me as a veteran mother means a lot to me too.)

Happy Birthday Mrs. B!

Is it Thursday already? I'm confessing anyway.

I don't know what the heck is causing this, but I'm having very vivid and also strange dreams lately. This one, for instance. Or the one that made me mad at a female of my acquaintance for an entire day. Last night I dreamed I was pregnant (I'm not), and pretty doggone excited about it (I would be).

The eye surgery went well. I'll chronicle the entire saga, but not today. (I know, I know, the suspense will kill you. Try to carry on.)

Ok, down to the point. Here's my Year of No Fear experience for this week. (The lazy person in me . . . . wait, that IS me. . . . would like to start abbreviating Year of No Fear, but I've abstained thus far so as to avoid confusion, since YONF is what I named this here blog's other contributor. But I'm tired of it, I tell you. If I referred to the Year of No Fear as YONF, and to you-know-who as Yonf, would it befuddle you all terribly? No? Excellent. I'll add a clarification to the sidebar. Eventually.)

Where was I?

Right. For my YONF this week, I'm going to delurk on a blog. Here's why: One of the downfalls of the voyeuristic world of blogging is that occasionally I run into somebody whose (who's?) blog I've been perusing anonymously for quite some time. I am instantly thrown into an internal panic. Do I confess I've been peeking at her blog like some sort of creepy peeping tom? What will she think? And yet if I pretend to be surprised as we catch up on each other's lives, I'll feel more fake than Lee Press-on Nails!

Internal panic doesn't look good on me. I have an insanely hyperactive conscience that screams in my ear and obliterates all mental function and social grace, which can only be recovered when I come clean in as awkward a way as possible. Three past experiences come immediately to mind (if you know me well, feel free to have a giggle at the dress in the casserole dish, the diamond engagement ring, or the spilling of the nemesis).

Help me out here: What do you do when blogging meets real life? Is it practical to comment occasionally on every blog you read? Or even just the blogs of people you actually know? Do you lurk, or are you a conscientious commenter?

But in the meantime, for my own YONF, I'm going to leave a comment on a blog I've been reading for a while. It's a friend I grew up with, but I haven't seen her or been in touch for a good 12 years or so. I came across her blog through a friend, who I found on another blog, etc. I've enjoyed reading about her adventures, but I didn't comment at first because I felt silly popping up out of the blue like that, and then because I felt silly for not commenting to begin with. Now, quite some time later, we've added each other on facebook, and my stupid conscience is screeching in my ear that I've got to come clean so I can enjoy that friendship again without being a big Press-on Nail Faker.

Still holding onto a shred of respect for me? Allow me to relieve you of it: This particular person has commented on this very blog. Not with her real name, but with her blogger ID (which, if you're following, I'm well aware of). But I didn't return the favor and comment on her blog because of the confession vs. faker dilemma. (See how we're approaching the part where I confess awkwardly?)

So that's it. I'm off to comment. If you're reading this, and you remember me begging you for a stick of gum to get the flavor of a nasty menthol cough drop out of my mouth in 7th grade science class (and by the way, do you remember how we used to mock the teacher for telling us that he marks his wife's cycle on the calendar so he could be ready for the crazy?), you should check your blog. I'm coming clean.

Way to deliver! (har!)

You're looking at Yonf's sweet little boy who arrived today (as expertly predicted by bestgrandkidsever) at 8:43 am (just 46 minutes later than predicted by Shar - sorry you're not sharing your birthday - I feel your pain) weighing 7lbs 6oz, which was within 2 oz of both Jacque's and Lissa's guesses, and measuring 18.5 inches, which was a mere half an inch off from Jerilyn's prediction (what did I tell you?).

CONGRATULATIONS Yonf!

Confession Wednesday

I promised Yonf I'd do the Wednesday post - told her I had something to write about. I really did, but I can't seem to get it just right. I have several posts begun in my head, but I lack the time to do any of them justice. I did write some lyrics for our upcoming Stake Road Show (being produced by the fabulous Savannah and hubby - not to be missed!!), but I can't share those either. Top secret, you know.

So instead, I'll share that today I attended the funeral of this remarkable man:


The church was full of wonderful people, and some degree of each person's wonderful was a result of knowing him. If you knew him, you'll know why I'm at a loss for adequate words.

You all know somebody like that, so confess: Who is it?

Better late than never

Ok, I'm still a little blind, but I'm checking in to report that I entered the "Sometimes Life is Funny" contest (Late. In a panic. Through very fuzzy vision. Ignore the timestamp - I have a sick child.), which will result in a compilation of blog posts in a book. The proceeds of said book will go entirely to the Nie Recovery Fund, so when it's published later this fall (and whether or not I make it in, darn it all) make sure to buy a copy! Many of my favorite bloggers are contributing - it will be a fantastic read! Did anyone else enter?