Comic-Con 2012

Wow, I totally stink at updating my blog!

I blame school and lack of time, but really I've just been too busy with life to think about what to write and blog about.  I do finally have something worth mentioning though.  I went to the San Diego Comic-Con this year here, it was THE most fun I've had in a long time!  There's something for everyone there, literally!  I took my whole family.  We all arrived and branched out to hit each of the thing we were interested in.  My oldest daughter went celebrity hunting, my oldest son hung around the G4 Channel booth and the gaming area, my 2nd son looked for YouTube celebs and both sons were on the prowl for hot cosplay chicks, and my youngest found her tribe with the "Homestuck" crew--don't ask me what "Homestuck" is, my daughter says it's too complicated, but if you like the Wiki on it is here.  Both my artistic kids(son #1 and daughter #2) hung around "artist alley" as well. My husband hit all the free-be lines and booths, and found all his favorite comics such as "The Tick" and we also found his favorite artist and video game creator Doug TenNapel, creator of "Earthworm Jim" and a very nice guy! The hubster brought home the most "swag" out of all of us!  He has a knack for it.

I had no rhyme or reason for where I headed or ended up, I really had no plan.  I looked at the schedule and just went where my feet lead me.  I ended up wandering around the Exhibit Hall, where I saw celebrities, artists, promoters, gamers, cosplayers, reporters, film crews, cameramen/women, and I soaked it all in and just observed it all.  I ended up at several literary panels, and a Deviant Art panel, where I was introduced to the creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Iron Giant, and Lilo and Stitch to name a few, it was a pleasant and happy accident!

One of my friend's I was texting at the time, asked me what it was like there, and all I could think to text back was, "A joyful mayhem!"  It was fun, exciting, and exhausting all at the same time.  I actually lost three pounds from all the walking I did!  That was a plus, especially since most people gain weight during vacation.  It was crowded, I think I got "beer-gut butted' at least a dozen times, and my foot, which was sore from a recent gym accident was stepped on numerous times, but all in all, it was a very enjoyable time.

There was this juxtaposition that couldn't go unnoticed though, there is no where I can think of where the definition of "celebrity" can be muted. I think of it as, "where celebrity and regular folk collide!"  Where else can you be taking a picture of someone (a "regular joe" in cossplay) dressed up like Chewbacca or Darth Vader, and miss someone, a real life celeb like Alan Tudyk or Zachary Levi who will walk right past you without you noticing until it's too late!

We got to live at my brother's beach house the whole time we were there, it was a bit far, the drive every day was about two hours coming and going, but worth it for the weather, views, and peace and quiet!  The general consensus among my family, we are going again, and we'll be better prepared for the next one! So, get ready cause we'll be going back in 2013 for more of the same, can't wait! :)

Farewell "All My Children"

Ok, it's silly really to be sad about a soap opera being cancelled, but this one has been around almost as long as I have!  This show once again has made me face my own mortaility!  This soap opera really defined my generation.  I was about seven or eight years old when All My Children first aired.  I remember my mom wanting to watch it to see what it was about, she liked the title of the show.  She was hooked after that, and I remember in the summer times when it was warm out, and no one wanted to do anything, sitting there with my mom and my sister in front of the TV watching to see what Erica Kane was plotting on about.  The best part of watching that show was watching my mother watch that show.  She would get so animated talking to the TV to convince one of the characters of the evils of another character.  Sometimes shaking her head in dismay or disgust.  It was great and I learned a lot about my mom!
We owned a black and white TV, and unbeknownst to me the first season or so of the show was filmed in black and white.  I remember wishing I could see all the elaborate sets and fashions in color, nice to know now all these years later, I wouldn't of had a choice.  When I got into high school the whole of summer was devoted to the soaps.  All My Children, One Life to LIve (also leaving the airwaves in January) and General Hospital.  YES, I was one of those crazy people who watched the continuing saga and adventures of Luke and Laura even getting emotional when the Christopher Cross song, "Think of Laura" would come on the radio!  I  literally cried thinking of Laura losing Luke and Luke losing Laura.  I get sad thinking about it even now.  What a great love story!  I didn't stop there, I also watched the NBC soap of Days of Our Lives, who can forget the title sequence, and McDonald Carry's voiceover saying, "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives...." cue schmaltzy music!  His voice is still there in the opener of that show.  Ok, maybe my children's generation doesn't know it, or remember it, or where they've heard it, but they've definitely heard it. I even watched CBS's offerings of The Guiding Light and The Young and The Restless, also another one with a great soap opera opening theme here!
How can we forget all the wonderful, silly, gory, outrageous storylines.  Does anyone remember the one where one of the characters dies and goes to heaven and meets all the other characters they killed off the show over the years?  Wait, was that One Life to Live?  Anyway, there is always that evil and good twin who reeks havoc on the unsuspecting citizens of Pine Valley!  Anyone?  The Chandler's!!  I love the Chandler's cuz hey they are my name sake.  My maiden name is Chandler, so anyone with the last name of Chandler ruled in my book.  David Cannery  was brilliant as Adam and Stuart Chandler, changing his persona on a dime.  Not to mention he wasn't too bad to look at. Soap opera actors are truly the best in the business, learning all those pages of dialogue a day, and just keeping up with their own story lines, it's gotta be tough and takes a real pro to pull it off!
The glue of course that held it all together besides Agnes Nixon the creator, was Susan Lucci, she was the icing on the cake, the cream in the coffee, THE soap opera character of the century!  Her antics, both good and evil, funny, serious, and her many marriages and last names will go on infamy.  She was soap opera's version of Scarlet O'Hara.  Hopefully she'll live on to fight another day, just not on ABC or network television.
I'm over soap operas now, they seem so silly and contrived to me at my age, but as a young girl they were the perfect escapism and fun.  A wonderful and rich fantasy that came into our homes daily if we let them.  It's sad that out of almost 10 soap operas airing a decade ago, only four are left.  With Internet, the forum for TV show watching definitely has changed. Computers, NetFlix, Hulu have changed the way we watch TV.  I, myself watch a lot of Hulu from my computer and iPhone to catch up on my favorite shows.  Hopefully soap operas will find this new technology and venue lucrative to keep their dreams alive.  I for one hope so.  We just have to see how Erica will get out of this one!

The Tanner Christmas News Letter! 2010

Well I decided with the new technology out there, what with email, and blogging, and all...that I would do away with the "cheesy" Christmas newsletter in the Holiday cards I send to people.  I decided if they want to read up on me and my family they can go ahead and click on the link! :)  and...if they don't want to,  HEY...they don't have to!  Brilliant, right!?  Better than thinking they throw away that expensive stationary I spent minutes deciding on at my last trek to Staples, right after they open the envelope.

I sent some Christmas cards out, but just to family.  Everyone else, I will only send out to those who send  to me.  Kind of selfish, I know.  This was probably not the most fruitful of avenues, it has backfired a bit.  Everyone knows by now the more cards you send out the more you will receive.  Here it is Dec. 13th already and I have four cards up on the inside of my front door (the traditional place we put them every year) One is from my employer and the other is from our insurance agent.  SO, looks like I'm gonna have to send out a few more to receive more, so we don't look so pathetic and friendless!

So, without further ado, if you choose to read on beyond this point...here's what you need to know about the Tanner Clan for 2010...

Mattie our oldest (24) is attending the University of Dallas, pursuing her Master's Degree in Emerging Media and Communications.  She hopes to be done in two more semesters, and we hope she'll move out then. Heh, heh.  Actually, we love having her home, she's a great help with her little brother and sister and is an excellent cook, guess it's skips a generation?  She's a hard worker and takes her job and church calling seriously, she started out a Sunday School teacher, then had a brief stint as the employment specialist, now she's the Relief Society Secretary!

Cameron: #1 son and child number 2 is in his sophomore year of college, attending Utah State University, in Logan, Utah majoring in Graphic Design and 3D animation.  He's an excellent artist and it shows in his drawings and paintings.  Dave just hopes he can find a job when he graduates!  He turned 20 in November (weird to have a second child hit that age!)  He works at a place called "Hastings" it's much like BlockBuster's.  He is serving on the Activities committee right now and has confessed he just shows up and does what they tell him to do.  Which is what every committee chair wants in a member!

Caulin: #2 son and 3rd child.  Is very busy these days, he will turn 15 in January, and is a Freshman in High School.  He's active in the band playing the percussion.  He is a "Pit" member during marching season and is hoping to get on the quad drums come next year.  He's full of energy and is always thumping/drumming on everything and trying new and innovative ways to entertain himself and his friends.  He's on several websites including Tumblr (A blog site), and several others including YouTube.  He's a very "connected" kid!  He was just called to be the Secretary of the Teacher's Quorum at church.  Hmm, I see a pattern here! (Mattie and he both are secretaries.)

Marin: Child #4 and our sweet little baby is a baby no more!  She turned 13 in October, she is an official teenager!  She plays the flute in band and is a straight A student!  She is in two Honors classes and is going to add another one next year.  She's one bright kiddo and funny too.  She is another budding artist in our family, she loves to draw and when she isn't playing her flute, or texting friends, she is usually found drawing and coloring something!

Dave: After 18 years with Nortel, Dave moved over to the company called GenBand.  He was made a manager and is busy working.  He still loves to bicycle and enters races when he can.  He did the "Hotter-n-hell" 100 again this year, but sadly wasn't able to complete it this time around, it was really hot temperature wise, he made it to the 80 mile marker before passing out.  He hit the big 5 0 this year.  So that could be why he passed out, OLD AGE!  He still serves as the ScoutMaster for our ward.  He also received his MBA last January.

Lari: Hasn't been able to write much since getting back into school.  I have one year under my belt and have another year to go before I receive my Bachelor's Degree in Business Management.  What I plan to do with that degree?  Your guess is as good as mine!  I'm still looking at all my options, which are numerous, when I figure it out I'll let you all know!  I still work part-time at Forest Labs and enjoy it, it's the best job ever!
My sweet, beautiful mother passed away this summer, and so that's been an adjustment, I miss her every day. After serving as the Relief Society Secretary for close to a year (see the pattern again), I was released so that I could focus on my studies at school.  What can I say, I've never been much of  a multi-tasker!  I'm loving school and am enjoying all the learning I'm doing!

Sorry if this was long and cheesy, but hey...that's what Christmas newsletters are for!  We hope you and yours are doing well this year and are happy and healthy always!  With my mom's passing I am ever more aware of how precious life can be. The older I get the more I have learned to cherish every day I have with my sweety and my wonderful kids. How grateful I am for the birth of our Savior and for his ultimate sacrifice.

God bless you all!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love,
The Tanner's

The 80's and why I love that era...

Ok, so I have to talk about the 80's. With Thanksgiving holidays moving on, we as a family started watching TV to pass the time. The movie, "Tootsie" came on, my kids had never seen it, so of course I made them watch it with me. I became a young adult in the 80's, I graduated from high school in 1980, got married in 1983 and had my first child in 1986! So the 80's mean a lot to me, and the movies of that time reflect that for me.
I'd forgotten how clever and funny the movie "Tootsie" was! What I loved the most was the music and then it hit me, 80's movies had a certain type of music that truly identifies it with that era. Listen to this "Tootsie" (1982) soundtrack, here. Another movie that also has that similar jazzy, saxaphone, Kenny G, type of sound is "Romancing the Stone" (1984) here, pretty similar right? How about "Mister Mom"(1983)which came out six months after my husband and I got married... here, can you hear the saxphone in the background!? How about "Splash" (1984) here, yet another classy saxaphone instrumental!! If you haven't seen these movies yet, I highly suggest you watch them. They are funny, romantic, and just plain good!
Here's a list of the top 100 movies from the 80's, here, not all the ones I mentioned here are on that list, but they are still good and stand the test of time.  I dare you to check out the soundtracks and see for yourselves.
I guess the 80's for me is what the 50's were for our parents, a time of innocense and fun. The romantic comedies reflected the era of the 80's very well for me. I become nostalgic when listening and watching the movies and sounds of that time. I'm sure my kids will look at the 2000's as their time of reflection, an age of innocence for them, maybe, but it's hard from me to fathom, when I still see them as so young!

Enjoy the sights and sounds of the 80's on me, and let me know if you agree, oh and if you don't no need to comment. :)

Happy Holidays everyone!

Lines, and why I'm beginning to resent them...

Ok, so I noticed that the last few blogs were about me getting older and facing my mortality...but as I am getting older I am beginning to wonder, is my patience running thin too? Maybe just a little.

Take today for instance-it started out pretty normal. I got up, tried a new workout routine, (my shoulders are killing me now by the way), showered, then went and met my husband for lunch. We talked and enjoyed our meal together, we finished and he went back to work. I decided that I'd go to my favorite department store, where I have been frequenting because I can fit into their smaller sized clothing, yay! I've lost about 30 lbs., so this is my new favorite place, I don't have to shop in the PLUS department anymore and this store just validates me in a way that makes me feel good about myself!

So, I went in, found what I wanted and got in a line at the checkout counter. There was only one line and about 5 people waiting in it, me being #3, Now, when I walked in several of the employees were congregated in the middle of the store, looking like they were having an employee meeting, or shift change perhaps? Anyway, there was only one person at the register. The cashier called for help and this group of employees fanned out and two more people came up to open registers. One employee yelled,

"I can help the next person here!" while waving his hand.

So I b-lined it over there. 'Yes,' I thought...I was first now, he welcomed me and then the unthinkable happened! The other cashier who was alone for a while, waved at him and told him that the lady behind me was next! What!? She was apparantly #2 in line! But, I got here first darn it! Fine, fine, FINE!

So, he apologized and asked me to step back to ring this other lady up. I was happy to oblige, she was before me after all, So by now there were three registers open and about 2 people in each line. The lady who was #2 had a lot of stuff, and several of her items, marked "clearance", were missing price tags. 'Oh, great'...now I gotta wait some more...'Hmm...I wonder if there's a bathroom near by, I'm starting to feel like I should have gone after lunch.'

The cashier can't find the sticker so he calls over another worker to help him...'great again' I think, 'if he'd have rang me up first, I'd be done now and outta here, but NoooOOOO...'

While this is going on, some woman, who looked to be in her late 50's, dressed in tight skinny jeans, with high heels and bleached blonde hair, way too much make-up, wearing glasses as thick as coke bottles comes up behind me and says...

"Excuse me, I really am in a rush, I have to get these pants for my daughter (she holds up black spandex leggings) and she needs them now and I'm late for a funeral, so can I get one of you to ring me up, like, NOW!" She looks at me longingly as if to ask for my understanding...I had none to give.

Seriously...I thought...and then I said it outloud for everyone to hear,

"Seriously!"

I didn't mean for it to come out but it did and she answered me back,

"Yes seriously, I have got to go, I wouldn't lie about this!"

I looked at her in disbelief, I shook my head and just smirked, and said, "Whatever."

She then proceeded to tell me again how she wouldn't lie about somthing like that and her daughter had just called her to tell she needed those pants right away! I wondered who her daughter was, was she a kid in high school, cause if it had been my kid I would have told her to suffer!

I was in a hurry too, I needed to relieve myself and pretty darn quick or else the line I was in was going to swim to the cashier! I wanted to tell her this, I had a justifiable reason for being first. I think going to the bathroom take precidence over being late for a funeral, don't you?

So the gentleman that was helping the cashier with customer #2 says, "I can help someone over here..." while he is looking at the coke bottle glasses.

Of course the lady, dressed 20 years younger than she should have, (and why would she wear tight skinny jeans to a funeral anyway, that did not make any sense to me), ran straight to him...I decided I had to move to another line, Lady #2 was no where near being done, and crazy lady trumped my needing to pee.

So I finally get up to the register and the cashier says,

"So how are you doing today maam??"

Wrong thing to ask me at that moment, I say something I don't ever say..."I'm pissed that's how I'm doing!"

She apologized, and I told her it wasn't her fault, and I went into this diatribe about how it just must not have been my day for waiting in line, the nerve of some people, etc.

Then the "coke bottle eyes" has the nerve to turn to me as she's leaving and says, "Thank you maam for understanding."

'Seriously!' I thought again, but I didn't say it outloud that time. I just nodded and waved her off. I wanted to say 'Go away, get to your funeral and hope those spandex pants are the wrong size and that you have to come back and wait in line!'

I'm normally an easy going person, not much gets me upset, well besides my kids and my husband. I normally don't mind waiting in line, it's something that is a given in life. No matter where you go, you'll end up waiting in a line, at the grocery store, at meals, at school, at work, at the amusement park, etc. It's something I normally don't really get upset about. So, why today? I don't know. I keep thinking I'm turning into an old cranky lady! Does this have to do with age, I thought I was gaining patience, not losing it! Maybe my blood sugar was just low, I did feel a little clammy when she turned to thank me, or maybe I was just bothered by it. Who knows, but I'll try to be better about being patient.

The great news, the pants I didn't try on before I bought them fit perfectly, so I guess it was worth waiting in line for afterall!

Revving it up, yet winding it down...

I find myself in a quandry these days. I'm in two different gears. I'm revving up for school. Taking a full load that if it doesn't kill me will make me stronger and getting my kids ready and off to school, yet I am finding that I'm in the winding down phase of my life. I am busy getting kids to school, but they are getting older. I no longer have an elementary school kid! NO MORE ELEMENTARY!! I am happy about that, I was tired of fund raisers, parent/teacher conferences, attending meetings just so we could see our child sing or play an instrument. I'm excited to get away from those new parents, you know the ones...they have to hover and hang around because they think little "What's his name" will not be able to function without them. Come on...any "old" parent knows it's all an act! Five minutes after you leave the tears are gone and they're playing with blocks and tormenting the other children. After close to 20 years suffering fools, teachers, principals, more teachers, crazy parents, and annoying front office staff, and those yearly teacher gifts... I can finally say, I am DONE, well-at least with Elementary school!
So, I have a middle schooler now, and along with that comes a whole new ball game, but I'm ready for it, been there done that, so it's old hat now. I'm still winding down though. I see that my kids are getting older again...it won't be long that the middle schooler will be graduating from high school. I just might get to be an empty nester, which I am looking forward to. BUT, if the kids keep coming back, I guess I'll be ok with that too. I'm getting older and realizing that things are slowing down in some ways for me and yet, it's getting busier.
My mother passed away this summer, and I think about her a lot and the things that she taught me. She was amazing and I think about my own kids and what kind of legacy I will leave with them. Will they believe I was amazing too? I sure hope so, I guess I just hope they don't hate me too much, for not doing the things they thought I should have. I am beginning to feel my age. I always thought that term was strange, but I do, I FEEL it now. My husband had to get hearing aids, yet he is still very active and keeps going, he seems too young to me to being getting hearing aids, that's an old man thing! He's becoming and old man I guess, and our wish for each other when we first took our vows to be wed all those years ago is coming true, we ARE growing old together, it's actually happening, it's not off into the distance anymore, it's here right now staring us in the face. So, I'm a little more wrinkled and gray, in a weathered yet comfortable skin. I like who I am and what the future holds. I'll be graduating from school in 15 months, I am revving it up now to go forward and see what is in store for me!

My youngest got a blog!

My youngest child decided she was old enough to set up a blog for herself! What, how did this happen, when did she stop playing with dolls and stuffed animals!? When!? She's almost 13, and sure enough just like her three older siblings, she has discovered electronics and the world wide web! Yikes! Now I am feeling really old. She doesn't want a Facebook or Twitter...yet! But, only time will tell. She loves to read, and write, so I figured it's a good way to get her use to journaling and if family and friends chime in, it will be good for her. *sigh* My baby is growing up to fast for me. I would have liked to have kept her small for just a while longer! Bring it on ol' Father Time, I'm ready to deal, she's already taller than me, what's the worse that can happen? Right? Keeping my fingers crossed! :)

Random Thoughts By Marin: Hi, new blog viewers, my name is marin and this bl...

Random Thoughts By Marin: Hi, new blog viewers, my name is marin and this bl...: "Hi, new blog viewers, my name is marin and this blog is just going to be some thoughts about my day and if my day is extremely boring i'm go..."

Getting Older and other thoughts...

It's interesting getting older, one tends to think it happens to everyone else! But, it happens to us too. Really it does, you can quote me...we all get older! Each hour of each day in each year the clock keeps ticking, the days and nights keep rolling by and we continually get older. It's boggling if you think about it.

I'm beginning to notice fine lines around my eyes, "crow's feet", what!? I don't have crow's feet, my mom has crow's feet! BUT, yah...I have them too. Funny, and not, at the same time! I have graying hair, and when they first cropped in, I thought great, something that shows I am mature, experienced, and OLD. I figured I'd be different, I'd embrace the gray, sure I did embrace it when it was just at my temples and my daugther said I looked like the girl from X-men. I was flattered, see- gray ain't so bad...until...I found more gray hairs in other places of my scalp! Now everytime I'm at a Target or grocery store I comb the hair colorant isle! Hmmm, should I go with reddish brown, or golden umber brown, or just forget it all and go with basic BLACK!? What will last the longest, and covers the most gray!?

I hate having to think about this stuff, hate it! Yet, here it is, growing old, staring me in the face, and the face I see is starting to sag and look tired. Now I understand why women feel the need for plastic surgery. I haven't gotten to that point yet, but who knows?

My parents are growing older too, and their health is getting worse, soon they will not be able to take care of themselves (and they're pretty close) and it makes me sad. Not just for them but for myself. Selfish, probably...but honest. Here I am finally getting a chance to do some things for myself. My children are older, two all grown-up, and two more becoming teenagers. and now I have to worry about aging parents. I was looking forward to these years. Going to school, spending more time with my husband...because when we were so busy making a life for ourselves and our growing family we didn't get to spend a lot of time together...and now we find ourselves having to take care of not only our children but our parents.

Nothing makes you feel your mortality like seeing your once spry and independent mother struggling to understand or hear what you are saying. Watching her illness take over her body and mind has been hard to witness. All of which makes you realize you're getting older too, and your kids will be looking into your eyes with dismay and wonder just like you are doing with your own parent. Better be good to your parents, I keep thinking of that "Cats in the Craddle" song...it's true, so true. Your kids grow-up to be just like you. Whether you like it or not. So be good to your parents, love them and care for them. Set the example so your own children may someday understand it and be willing to care for you. If you're smart, you'll have a plan though, so your kids won't have to fret over you.

I have noticed that with getting older, I am more calm, which is a good thing and a plus at any age. Issues and drama's don't bother me as much, maybe cause deep down I know time is growing short and why waste it on silly things that really don't matter. Or, it could be I'm just developing a new type of dimentia!

I'm finding myself wanting to eat dinner before 5 p.m and saying things when I get up in the morning like "Oy" as I grab my back and try to straighten up. I tend to look at the soft food at the grocery store just in case I may lose my teeth to dentures...I mean...who hasn't asked themselves if Ploygrip really is the best tenture paste? No, anyone?

Yup, growing older isn't pretty and not so much fun at times, but all in all, knowing that I have lived a good life makes me relish and welcome old age, as long as I'm still in my right mind and can walk upright when I'm 90! :)

Patience in Waiting...

I have always thought the idea of "Ladies in Waiting" was rather silly. I mean who are they waiting for, or what for that matter!? I guess the waiting means to wait on something, like a waitress who waits on tables. But as of today, I feel like a lady in waiting! Well, I'm waiting anyway. The company my husband works for filed bankruptcy over a year ago. Thankfully he was able to keep his job, other's were not so lucky. He was told months ago that a bid from another company was coming to buy out their group. Well, about two months ago the bid came through. But, offers needed to go out to the employees to make it official for them to crossover to the other side. He's been waiting for an offer from this company for several months now...can I say, "Gentleman in Waiting!" They first told us April 6th, then April 14th, now they've pushed it back to April 25th! When will the waiting end!?
We'd just like to know if he still has a job or if he's gotta start huffing it and hit the pavement! It's not like they are without work, he's been keeping busy with enough work for two people. So, why the long dragged out conclusion to this saga...Apparently the new company cannot decide who to keep and who to let go. Hey, I can tell them, keep my husband!! I have tosay he's been pretty calm about it all, just rolling with the punches, I mean what else can ya do!? We've had our share of joblessness and worries, and so this isn't new, but it's been a long time since we were without employment. Just like Maria VonTrapp, I do believe that wherever God closes a door, he also opens a window. It's just finding the window that is the problem!
So, we'll be patient and wait till April 25th. Hopefully we will no longer be "Ladies in Waiting" and will be "Lords a leaping" for joy at the fact that we still have a job, or...One of the many unemployed looking for work again. Either way, I'd like to know, and sooner rather than later! *sigh*
I'll keep ya posted of further developments!

A B-E-A-U-tiful Day!

Well, over Spring Break we had some great weather, started wearing sandles and capri's by the end of the week, then Saturday came, and a cold front with forecast of snow! Really? Seriously!? I was just getting use to the idea of warm weather and the cuter clothes that go with it! I've lost 22 lbs. and was looking forward to new Summer clothes! Oh well, it will have to wait a week or so now, but I'm still gonna have to go shopping. My Summer clothes from last year are too big, yippee! So, if I don't want to walk around in my skivvy's all Summer better get that shopping done, darn it! he he...
Today the weather is fantastic, upper 50's and the sun is shining brightly! These are the days you are so glad to be alive and a part of it all! When you feel the sun's warm glow upon your face, the blue sky above with soft billowy clouds, and the soft voices of birds sweet singing in the air, it's truly a B-E-A-U-tiful day!!
Come on Spring, we know you're there!
Have a great day everyone, and enjoy not only the weather (if your there where the weather is good today!) but the blessing of being here upon the earth and experiencing it all! :)

One Semester Down!

Well, I've got one semester of school under my belt. 4 classes and a 4.0 grade point average so far, but this semester is going to be hairy! I mean total shaggy hairy! I have a Philosophy, two physcology, and two math classes. I sure hope I survive. I'm afraid those math classes might just bring that grade point down. Oh well, as long as I pass I think I will be very happy!

School has given me a new perspective, and keeping me very organized. I can't waste time like I use to! It's great to have something to discuss with my husband and kids other than what's for dinner and how was their day! I actually have them listening to me for a change, which has been a pleasant suprize. Oh, they listened to me whine, or gripe, or complain, (and not really since I was nagging them) but now they listen to me talk about my classes, offering help and ideas. It's great! I do love my family and am so grateful for their love and support through all this.

Life is keeping me busy, and I haven't updated this blog in a while, I will try to be better about that. Hope all of you are keeping busy and staying happy too!! Happy 2010 everyone, (Hey it's almost February, when did that happen!?) hope it's a great year for you all!

ME

Back To School

Well, after many years of comtemplation, I have rescently decided to dive back into this thing called an education. It was a number of factors that finally made up my mind, but the biggest thing was, I wanted to do something for myself!

I have spent the last 28 years, and even more thinking of what was best for my family, my children, my husband, etc. I realized that I had been waiting for something, not quite sure what it was I was waiting for. When I realized that I was waiting for MY life to start, I realized that the waiting had to stop and I had to take charge!

We just came back from taking our 2nd child, a son, up to college, his first year. We met with some old family friends, and found out the wife was back in school herself. She's almost 50! She doesn't look a day older than 29 of course, but listening to her and her excitement about going back to school, encouraged me quite a bit. She made me realize that I could do it, and it would be ok. So I thank her for her enthusiasm for her own education and wish her well!

I was worried that my kids would say I was crazy, my friends would ask, why? But, instead I got actual applause from the kiddos, an "it's about time" from my husband, and cheers of support from my friends. I was edified by their encouragment and support. So now here I am enrolled in school.

I am scared to death! I was never the best student, I did ok with homework assignments, and when it came to classes I loved, I made A's. But, testing always made me choke, and talking to a teacher about gave me a heart attack. I was always nervous to raise my hand or ask questions. I was young, and afraid of authority, but not any more! Being a MOM for all these years paid off in that department! :)

So, I am apprehensive to say the least, but I am also excited and ready to take on the challenge.
I have watched friends, my husband, and my kids further their educations and glean so much from it. Not only jobs but respect from family and friends. I want my family to be proud of me, but most importantly I want to be proud of myself. I start in just a few weeks, and have already attended the 1st day of new student orientation, I have two more days of this, then I'll be getting ready for my 1st day!

Wish me luck! I'll keep you all posted on how I do.

Still learning...

Well, I'm trying to beautify and facelift my boring ol' blog spot! But, still haven't quite got it down just yet! I wanted to at my NANOWRIMO (for you civilians, that's National Novel Writing Month) badges as widgets/gadgets but I ended up adding them as postings. Oh, well...at least I'm trying to train this ol' brain on how to do things out here in Cyberworld! Hard to believe it's 2009. The older I get the shorter the years become!! Remember when we couldn't get to the age of 16 fast enough...I think the wonderful, late, and totally great comedian George Carlin had a bit about how we refer to aging...as teens we speed up using words, like "race" and till we hit our 30's then it's slows, and we use words like "coming on..." Oh, well...here let him tell it, he does such a better job!! Thanks George!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkU3kiuZVuE

So, the whole voting ,election, winner, thing...

Ok, so I'm not too crazy about who won. I was a McCain Supporter, not cause I wanted to be...I am not too proud of my Republican party of late...but I thought I'd be a loyal voter. I know of many adults and youth who aren't too happy about last night's outcome. But, after spending the last 24 hours or so thinking about it, cause truly there was nothing else TO think about. I realized that it's ok.
It was a historical event and I along with millions of others were able to witness it, how cool is that!? I determined that how much worse could this new guy be. We've had such sad disapointment from the guy currently in office. I love this country, mainly because if we don't care for the new guy, don't agree with him, or want ANOTHER change...then in four years we get to vote again! And, how cool is that!?
By all intents and purposes, my mother is an imigrant, She was born in South Korea, and was a teenager during the Korean War, where she lost her family, some may have lost their lives, others lost to her due to circumstance, and perhaps another life a world away, or so we hope. We don't know really what happened to many of them. She came to this country alone with three children in tow at the time. She slowly acclamated to a new way of life and eventually became a citizen. The first time she got to vote was a milestone for her.
She taught me how important freedom is, and most importantly to be able to say what and how you feel. Aren't we truly blessed to sit here on this day and argue and contemplate and agree on who should have won? I don't know what the future holds for this new presidency, I hope it will be good things. I do know that this guy has a lot of work to do, not only with the state of the country, but with the state of mind that many are still in because they can't let go of the past. He has to prove himself, he might have won the battle, but the war isn't over, in more ways than one.
For those that fret or worry, I am right there with you. But I know that the Lord has his hand in everything, and if we continue to pray for this man and ourselves, that good things will come. Trials always come with blessings, so just plan on a few snags along the way. BUT, have faith, we're gonna be OK.

Old Friends in New Places!

Well, we've been in our new home about 11 months now. Almost a year. We've made new friends in the neighborhood, school and church and it's all good...but last week I had a wonderful, amazing and exciting thing happen! I am working with the Cub Scouting program in our church, and I attended what they call the "Roundtable" meeting..No knights, or swords or anything, just poor ol' Cub Leaders old, young, experienced, and new, gathering together to learn more about scouting.

I was approached by a nice gentleman who said I had a nice voice, and would I mind being in a little skit to show the leaders what they can do for their Pack Meetings...Sure, why not I thought, so I did. They called me up, and I did my thing...then when I went to sit down I hear this little voice yell out, "Lari!"I turned to see this sweet little lady, waving wildly at me, so I thought I'd better go over and see her and find out who the heck she is! "It's me Jeanette!" she yelled out. Still waving madly.

Hmmm, Jeanette, Jeanette...as I looked at her, a flash of a younger similar face crossed my mind...JEANETTE! It suddenly dawned on me! IT was a long lost friend, I had known her family for years, her mother was my English Teacher!! She had a sister my age, who is married now with 7 kids! One my sister's age, who sadly hasn't married yet, and Jeanette! Who was about 2 years younger and was the cute, cudly, little tag-along that we all loved!! I hadn't seen her since I had gotten married, and that was 25 years ago!

I was so excited to see someone from my past, someone who knew me and knew who I was...It was marvelous. We began to talk, my husband was there so I introduced her. She mentioned so many experiences we had that I all but forgot! It was so much fun to talk and reminice. I love seeing old friends, it reminds me that the world is smaller than we think, and that the Lord has his hand in everything we do, things happen for a reason, moving here was something we weren't expecting to do, but many things have fallen into place since we arrived, and it's all wonderful!!

Dog Days of Summer!

Oy, it's so stink'n hot! Well, it's actually not as hot as it has been in other Summer's, but it's still hot! The kids are driving each other crazy, and me as well. The two younger ones can't stop pestering each other. The whining, the wailing, the nashing of teeth! Who decided that school didn't need to start till August 25th! who!? Someone with no children or whose children are grown and off on their own with their own families, and who probably are asking the same question that's who!

Luckily the two older ones work, and aren't home much, thank goodness!

We've been seeing a lot of movies, cause it's the coolest place to be, in more ways then one! We have seen, "Prince Caspian" much better than the first movie, the story and action are just better all around! Oh and why are the brits so good at looking good as they get older! The Harry Potter kids, all good looking now, and the same for the Narnia gang...must have something to do with the accents or that stoggy ol' stiff upper lip thing...well it's something!

"Indiana Jones" this last installment was very good, But I was not too crazy about the whole Skull thing, if you've seen it you know what I mean about the ending, typical Steven Spielberg...can I just say, it's time to call home! Shia LeBough (sp?) was awesome, I just like him! He reminds me of a young Tom Hanks, just an every man trying to make do. He's full of energy, which this movie needed, but Harrison Ford was still very dreamy as an older and wiser Indiana. Love, love, loved that they brought back "Marian" or rather, Karen Allen, she was always the best match for Indiana!

"The Dark Knight"-very moving, and dark, and twisted, and suprizingly amazing! Heath Ledger does deserve and award, sad that he's no longer with us, but in his short life he has proven himself a very great actor! Christian Bale was again a great Batman!

"Get Smart"-Steve Carrell is a hoot, and Ann Hathaway had me at "Ella Enchanted", the story is a bit staid, but it was good, not campy like the original TV show, much like the TV Batman was as well, but full of action and Steve Carrell dead pans it well and to his credit made the character his own, and didn't stoop to trying to impersonate Don Adams!

"Wall-E"-very cute, I actually liked it when he was on earth by himself trying to survive! I didn't like that all the humans became balls of fat...but it was a cute story, and well my 10 year old loved it. I was just tired of the simulated "Wall-E" sounds coming out of her mouth for the two days following the viewing of the movie!!

Still waiting to see..."Mamma Mia" and "The Mummy" I love ABBA, I listened to them religiously when I was a teenager! I felt that they got me their music lulled me to sleep on many ocassions. And, the Mummy movies, they are formulaic at best, great escapist entertainment, and hey it has Brendan Fraser, who for some odd reason, appeals to me! So, the kids and hub can go for the action and thrills while I get some great eye candy! :)

Hopefully all this movie watching will bring the Dog Days to a close sooner than it feels! Happy Summer everyone, and stay cool!