Let me know if you'd like tickets to any of our concerts!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
The St. Clair Affair.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Calling all blog stalkers!
So this is a post to all of you blog stalkers out there, who don't really know me, but read anyway. Oh come on, we've all done it... navigated to a blog that we found interesting and bookmarked it and then return again and again to keep up with the... Joneses? :) Have you not? Blog stalking is common; it's not a crime. So go ahead and admit it. I know there are at least a couple of you because you've commented, which by the way, I love... so thanks! There's just something thrilling about knowing that someone out there finds you and your life interesting enough to follow on a fairly regular basis.
About four or five months ago, I put up a poll on the right side of my blog which asked you (my faithful readers) to tell me how you know me. I did this because, though much to my despair, many of you read but never comment. As a joke, to the question "How do you know me?", I added an option to answer: "I don't." Interestingly enough, I had a few votes. However, as I've added more and more gadgets to the right side of my blog, the poll has found its way to the very bottom... I don't think people see it much anymore. Either that or I've capped out on my audience. Hmph...
SO, this is what I'm doing. I've put up a new poll (thank you blogger) and we're starting over. Even if you are a frequent reader/commentator and not a blog stalker, please take a second to vote in the poll and view the results. I'm going to conduct this little experiment until the end of October, although I may still keep the poll up after that... but make sure you vote before the end of the month.
And my dear blog stalkers, I'm not scolding you... I'm just asking you to come out of the woodwork, just slightly. :) Just vote. Do it for me. Please? Then you can go back to stalking. Oh, but if you're feeling brave, do something wild and ... comment. :)
About four or five months ago, I put up a poll on the right side of my blog which asked you (my faithful readers) to tell me how you know me. I did this because, though much to my despair, many of you read but never comment. As a joke, to the question "How do you know me?", I added an option to answer: "I don't." Interestingly enough, I had a few votes. However, as I've added more and more gadgets to the right side of my blog, the poll has found its way to the very bottom... I don't think people see it much anymore. Either that or I've capped out on my audience. Hmph...
SO, this is what I'm doing. I've put up a new poll (thank you blogger) and we're starting over. Even if you are a frequent reader/commentator and not a blog stalker, please take a second to vote in the poll and view the results. I'm going to conduct this little experiment until the end of October, although I may still keep the poll up after that... but make sure you vote before the end of the month.
And my dear blog stalkers, I'm not scolding you... I'm just asking you to come out of the woodwork, just slightly. :) Just vote. Do it for me. Please? Then you can go back to stalking. Oh, but if you're feeling brave, do something wild and ... comment. :)
Monday, October 06, 2008
Twenty years is a long time.
So lately, I've realized that I generally wake up in slight discomfort. My neck and back feel stiff and sore. I'm a back and side sleeper, so I've tried more pillows, less pillows, even new pillows, which of course help, but don't solve the problem. It's just my bed. I sleep on a twin bed, which isn't the problem, but I'm sleeping on the twin bed that I got for my birthday twenty years ago. Yes, you read that correctly. Twenty years ago, my mom bought one of only four or five pieces of furniture she's ever purchased new in her life. (She's amazing at finding great pieces of furniture at garage and estate sales, not to mention has an eye for spotting perfectly good pieces sitting on the sidewalk for the taking.) It's a trundle bed, so it has two mattresses. I've switched around the mattresses so many times, that neither one is better than the other anymore. I'm just sad because I don't want the cause of my stiff back problems to be my bed because unfortunately, I have no plans to remedy the situation by buying a new bed anytime soon. My twin bed fits perfectly in my room and the next time I buy a bed, it will be a King size bed... :) and that won't fit in my room. So I'll survive. But twenty years is a long time!
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Random Photo: 1968 Flashback.
I used to love looking at my mom's old yearbooks and imagining myself with all the hairdos of the 60's. Thanks to http://www.yearbookyourself.com/, I don't have to imagine anymore. :) (Okay, so I still have to imagine somewhat because look at the difference in skin tone between that neck and my face! Funny.)
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Rubik's Master.
M has taken to fiddling with the Rubik's Cube nearly every time he comes over. And by fiddling, I mean solving it in less than two and a half minutes! Yes, that's what I said: less than two and a half minutes. His record, evidently, is much faster; he says he's out of practice... :)
I'm not sure why I was surprised. Well, truthfully, I wasn't really surprised; it's just that no one has solved a Rubik's Cube in my presence that quickly. Apparently, he's working on solving the 4x4x4 and the 5x5x5 cubes. Yeah, so brainy is attractive. Wouldn't you be going out with him, too?! :)
And yes, to those of you who have asked... M IS the reason I haven't blogged for awhile..., but as AnnMarie told me yesterday, "I'll just keep checking your blog and if you haven't updated, I'll just know you're with M. Plus, it sounds like M is worth it." Yeah, I kinda like him. :)
P.S. The flowers in the last post are STILL alive. :)
And yes, to those of you who have asked... M IS the reason I haven't blogged for awhile..., but as AnnMarie told me yesterday, "I'll just keep checking your blog and if you haven't updated, I'll just know you're with M. Plus, it sounds like M is worth it." Yeah, I kinda like him. :)
P.S. The flowers in the last post are STILL alive. :)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
So, I'm thinking I could get used to this...
Apparently, they change color and type when you least expect it. I'm told flowers do that.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Things you may not know (or want to know) about me.
1. I fiddle with my thumb ring when I'm nervous.
2. I'm morbid. It's true. I speak freely of death. I even save messages from loved ones in case that's the last time I hear their voice. Also, I think it would be safe to say that I've spent hours thinking about what it would be like to be one of the people who was in the World Trade Center when the planes hit. Would I jump out of the building and face certain death or stay and be burned alive?
3. I hold water in my mouth for a few seconds before I actually swallow. If I don't, I tend to choke. I also frequently attempt to drink too much water from my glass causing it to dribble down my chin.
4. I make my bed every day and have since January 2003.
5. I'm known for turning nouns into verbs. For example: "We bonused at 10%!" or "We're sporting today." or "Let's calendar tonight." or "He friended me on Facebook!"
6. I frequently count light fixtures in a chapel or other large assembly hall.
7. I'm annoyed by drivers who do not signal when changing lanes.
8. I'm annoyed by drivers who do not know how to use the diamond (HOV) lane appropriately. They are a hazard on the road.
9. I can't say I'm never at fault, but the misuse of apostrophes causes me to lose hope in the world!
10. I absolutely love my birthday. I usually start celebrating weeks before and continue for a month afterward!
11. My favorite ice cream is Häagen-Dazs Vanilla.
12. I put regular old vaseline on my lips every night before bed.
13. I love word games.
14. My alarm clock is 25 minutes ahead all the time. When I try to switch it back, I get confused.
15. I have a freckle on the inside edge of my left middle finger.
16. I love lone trees.
17. I frequently cannot remember what month it is. And when I guess, I'm not just one month off... I'm usually in a totally different season!
18. I passionately dislike the word "crap".
19. I frequently cannot picture someone's face in my mind after I first meet them, even if I've spent hours talking to them.
20. I was burned when I was five when I ran into a lady carrying a tray full of freshly brewed coffee pots. Miraculously, I'm not blind and have no scars.
21. I get jealous. Mostly when someone is eating something that I'm not eating or someone has one more bite of something that I just finished. Also, I mimic people a lot, I think because I get jealous when they say something that sounded cool, so I have to try it too.
22. I have a group of freckles that form the letter "E" on my leg.
23. I have worn a toe ring for ten years.
24. I once rang in the New Year at 40,000 feet.
25. I collected business cards when I was younger.
26. I've spent four out of the last six 4ths of July out of the country.
27. I drive a stick-shift.
28. I've sung at the top of my lungs on a hotel balcony wearing only my bra and underwear.
29. I can sing the Shabbat prayer in Hebrew.
30. I have never watched The Princess Bride in its entirety.
31. My first freeway driving experience was on the 2 in Glendale, California.
32. I once made the trip from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City in four hours. (Mapquest's estimated trip time and distance: 6 hours 16 minutes; 428.98 miles.) I'll never make a trip like that again.
33. I've tap danced in Iowa.
34. I have held monkeys on the Rock of Gibraltar.
35. I like fresh mint tea.
36. I've been kissed by Mandy Patinkin aka Inigo Montoya. (And no, I still haven't watched The Princess Bride.)
37. I alphabetize everything.
38. I'm a list writer. When I don't have paper and a pen to write a list, I frequently commit the first letter of each item on the list to memory, so that I can recall the entire list.
39. I've met Marian and Vivian Brown, the San Francisco twins.
40. I smell everything.
41. I love clouds.
42. I don't shop at Wal-Mart because every single time I've been to Wal-Mart, I have witnessed a disturbing form of child abuse or neglect.
43. I love cheese.
44. Avocados cause my mouth to break out in welts, but I love them and eat them anyway.
45. I never had a cavity until I was 25. I was mortified when my cavity-free record was shattered; I cried.
46. I once left my month-long disposable contact lenses in for more than a year.
47. I've been swimming in the Vltava River, the Bay of Biscay, the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean.
48. I have sprained both ankles more times than I can count on both hands.
49. I never wear sandals or open-toed shoes of any kind unless my toenails are painted.
50. I used to coerce my little sister into being my synchronized swimming partner. We really should have made it to the Olympics with our talent! ;)
2. I'm morbid. It's true. I speak freely of death. I even save messages from loved ones in case that's the last time I hear their voice. Also, I think it would be safe to say that I've spent hours thinking about what it would be like to be one of the people who was in the World Trade Center when the planes hit. Would I jump out of the building and face certain death or stay and be burned alive?
3. I hold water in my mouth for a few seconds before I actually swallow. If I don't, I tend to choke. I also frequently attempt to drink too much water from my glass causing it to dribble down my chin.
4. I make my bed every day and have since January 2003.
5. I'm known for turning nouns into verbs. For example: "We bonused at 10%!" or "We're sporting today." or "Let's calendar tonight." or "He friended me on Facebook!"
6. I frequently count light fixtures in a chapel or other large assembly hall.
7. I'm annoyed by drivers who do not signal when changing lanes.
8. I'm annoyed by drivers who do not know how to use the diamond (HOV) lane appropriately. They are a hazard on the road.
9. I can't say I'm never at fault, but the misuse of apostrophes causes me to lose hope in the world!
10. I absolutely love my birthday. I usually start celebrating weeks before and continue for a month afterward!
11. My favorite ice cream is Häagen-Dazs Vanilla.
12. I put regular old vaseline on my lips every night before bed.
13. I love word games.
14. My alarm clock is 25 minutes ahead all the time. When I try to switch it back, I get confused.
15. I have a freckle on the inside edge of my left middle finger.
16. I love lone trees.
17. I frequently cannot remember what month it is. And when I guess, I'm not just one month off... I'm usually in a totally different season!
18. I passionately dislike the word "crap".
19. I frequently cannot picture someone's face in my mind after I first meet them, even if I've spent hours talking to them.
20. I was burned when I was five when I ran into a lady carrying a tray full of freshly brewed coffee pots. Miraculously, I'm not blind and have no scars.
21. I get jealous. Mostly when someone is eating something that I'm not eating or someone has one more bite of something that I just finished. Also, I mimic people a lot, I think because I get jealous when they say something that sounded cool, so I have to try it too.
22. I have a group of freckles that form the letter "E" on my leg.
23. I have worn a toe ring for ten years.
24. I once rang in the New Year at 40,000 feet.
25. I collected business cards when I was younger.
26. I've spent four out of the last six 4ths of July out of the country.
27. I drive a stick-shift.
28. I've sung at the top of my lungs on a hotel balcony wearing only my bra and underwear.
29. I can sing the Shabbat prayer in Hebrew.
30. I have never watched The Princess Bride in its entirety.
31. My first freeway driving experience was on the 2 in Glendale, California.
32. I once made the trip from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City in four hours. (Mapquest's estimated trip time and distance: 6 hours 16 minutes; 428.98 miles.) I'll never make a trip like that again.
33. I've tap danced in Iowa.
34. I have held monkeys on the Rock of Gibraltar.
35. I like fresh mint tea.
36. I've been kissed by Mandy Patinkin aka Inigo Montoya. (And no, I still haven't watched The Princess Bride.)
37. I alphabetize everything.
38. I'm a list writer. When I don't have paper and a pen to write a list, I frequently commit the first letter of each item on the list to memory, so that I can recall the entire list.
39. I've met Marian and Vivian Brown, the San Francisco twins.
40. I smell everything.
41. I love clouds.
42. I don't shop at Wal-Mart because every single time I've been to Wal-Mart, I have witnessed a disturbing form of child abuse or neglect.
43. I love cheese.
44. Avocados cause my mouth to break out in welts, but I love them and eat them anyway.
45. I never had a cavity until I was 25. I was mortified when my cavity-free record was shattered; I cried.
46. I once left my month-long disposable contact lenses in for more than a year.
47. I've been swimming in the Vltava River, the Bay of Biscay, the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean.
48. I have sprained both ankles more times than I can count on both hands.
49. I never wear sandals or open-toed shoes of any kind unless my toenails are painted.
50. I used to coerce my little sister into being my synchronized swimming partner. We really should have made it to the Olympics with our talent! ;)
Friday, September 05, 2008
I always knew I should be treated like royalty.
You Are Belle!
Monday, September 01, 2008
Tell me you don't love the aquarium!
M invited me to the aquarium on Saturday night, and I must admit that I love looking at fish. Okay, so I only love looking at the beautiful fish. The prettier the better. Does this make me shallow? Probably, but at least I'm admitting it. The more vibrant the colors, the more I was mesmerized. Also, the sea nettles (the jellyfish above) were quite amazing to watch. I decided that someday I want to have an aquarium full of brightly colored fish in my home; I think I could be easily entertained for hours. However, I really don't want any of the maintenance... gosh, I'm shallow and spoiled. Hmph.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The sign on the door of opportunity says PUSH!
I pushed.
Finishing my degree has been a goal of mine for some time. Finances have delayed my progress, but I've been slowly plugging away, one or two classes each semester while working full-time. But being on the 25-year plan was just not cutting it anymore. In order to get through more quickly, I knew that somehow I needed to find a way to attend school full-time. For the last year or so, I've been working to get myself in a finanical situation that would allow me to go back to school full-time, but wasn't sure how or when that was going to happen. Especially, how I was going to swing it with work.
This summer, some changes occurred at work that would allow me to shift responsibilities and I very clearly felt that this was "my time". I know 100% that this was Heavenly Father saying,"Go for it. Now is your time to go part-time and go back to school full-time." Hooray! So this week is my first week as a full-time student, working just part-time. There are so many wonderful things about that! I love being a student. I love the writing involved in all my classes. I love the new ideas I learn. I love always having "a thought to chew on", as my mom says. I love learning. I love relieving the burnout I have felt at work, by going part-time and reducing my responsibilities.
Now I'm not going to lie, living off half my salary and watching large sums of money come out of my bank account is a little scary. However, I'm not scared. I guess that's why I know this is the right decision for me. It feels good, sacrifices and all. So be prepared to hear me say that I don't have the money to go to this movie or that restaurant. I'm trying to be careful about all this, but I know it will work out in the end.
Seriously, this all just fell into place. I'd been praying for something to give... something to change. I'd been planning and preparing financially. Three months ago, I had no idea how or when I'd ever be able to devote more time to finishing up my degree and today? Today, I have arrived.
Finishing my degree has been a goal of mine for some time. Finances have delayed my progress, but I've been slowly plugging away, one or two classes each semester while working full-time. But being on the 25-year plan was just not cutting it anymore. In order to get through more quickly, I knew that somehow I needed to find a way to attend school full-time. For the last year or so, I've been working to get myself in a finanical situation that would allow me to go back to school full-time, but wasn't sure how or when that was going to happen. Especially, how I was going to swing it with work.
This summer, some changes occurred at work that would allow me to shift responsibilities and I very clearly felt that this was "my time". I know 100% that this was Heavenly Father saying,"Go for it. Now is your time to go part-time and go back to school full-time." Hooray! So this week is my first week as a full-time student, working just part-time. There are so many wonderful things about that! I love being a student. I love the writing involved in all my classes. I love the new ideas I learn. I love always having "a thought to chew on", as my mom says. I love learning. I love relieving the burnout I have felt at work, by going part-time and reducing my responsibilities.
Now I'm not going to lie, living off half my salary and watching large sums of money come out of my bank account is a little scary. However, I'm not scared. I guess that's why I know this is the right decision for me. It feels good, sacrifices and all. So be prepared to hear me say that I don't have the money to go to this movie or that restaurant. I'm trying to be careful about all this, but I know it will work out in the end.
Seriously, this all just fell into place. I'd been praying for something to give... something to change. I'd been planning and preparing financially. Three months ago, I had no idea how or when I'd ever be able to devote more time to finishing up my degree and today? Today, I have arrived.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
I'm Innocent. Hehe
| You Belong in 1956 |
 |
Monday, August 18, 2008
Throw-away World.
Have you ever noticed that we live in a throw-away world? Think about it. When was the last time you actually took something in to be repaired? You know, like a camera, or a watch, or a microwave. Can't remember? That's what I'm saying. We live in a world where it's less expensive to throw something away and buy a new one, than to repair it. We don't take the DVD player in to have it fixed. Instead, we toss it and buy a new one. They're cheap enough, so why not? We certainly don't repair the hair dryer when it "dies"; we run to Target and get a new one. Tell me it isn't so. It's true and you know it.
I look at my grandparents. They hung wet paper towels out to dry, so they could be reused. And I? I love paper towels and have absolutely no problem using them and never reusing. I once read that Japan uses 30 million 'disposable' single-roll cameras annually. Disposable cameras! We are products of modern consumerism. Society has told me that it's okay to always want something new, something better, something easier. I've been trained to focus on my wants and to choose things that will make life easy for me. Society says I'm entitled to experience life on my terms and in a way that is most convenient for me.
Now, this post is not about reducing, reusing, recycling, and saving the world, although, as you know from previous posts, I'm a fan of green. No, this post is meant to touch on a deeper issue. I've been thinking a lot lately about how this throw-away-all-about convenience-mentality has infiltrated our society... and how it has affected me, personally. As you know, I'm thirty. I'm single and find myself in the middle of a dating world that just doesn't seem to work hard enough to move on from singlehood. The pool (the dating pool) seems chock full of "kidults". Okay, not chock full, but you know the type... adults whose actions and tastes are more childish than mature; adults who want all the luxuries of adulthood, but none of the responsibility. I'm not saying that all are like this. I'm not even saying the majority... I'm just saying a fair amount, and thus I have this fear that this throw-away mentality has seeped all too easily into how we treat each other and how hard we work on our relationships, not to mention if we start them in the first place.
In the last three years alone, I have had five close friends contemplate seriously or actually go through a divorce. Now, I know that divorce can be the right decision in many cases; I'm not condemning it... but I'm just not condoning it as such an easy option either. In a meaningful relationship or marriage, you work hard, harder than you ever thought you could. And then when you have reached your end, you step it up a notch. I am a fighter. But, indeed, I am a product of our society and I fear that I, too, may succumb to the ease of throwing something repairable away. It's a fear. I admit it.
Divorce has affected my life in a very dramatic way, and that was by no choice of my own. My parents divorced when I was not yet two. Their choices forever changed my life. One of the effects of that, I realize, is an instilled fear of which I have been working to rid myself for quite some time. This fear to enter into a relationship that someone else will not view as repair-worthy or to enter into a relationship with someone who is not as fiercely determined and committed to me as I am to him or ... worse yet, the fear that I will be the one who doesn't view it as repair-worthy.
But fear is not faith (thank you, Katie). Although I do not believe this fear has really thwarted my growth in relationships, it has definitely factored into my approach to dating in one way or another, if only a fleeting thought. But I am determined to live my life fearlessly, full of faith, hope, and happiness. As Flora Whittemore once wrote, "the doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live." I am not a throw-away kind of girl; I'm a fighter. I plan to open the doors of every repair shop in town, if I need to. Small steps lead us to achievement. Rarely does fulfilling our hopes and dreams happen overnight, but we can take one tiny move towards them each day. So, as the silly quiz below so aptly predicted, I may be a little scared of commitment... but throw-away culture is not my culture. I’ve been burned, so I’m cautious yet more wise because of it, but I am more ready than ever to hit the floor running... and repairing along the way. :) The hardest and most challenging things in life are ultimately the most rewarding.
I look at my grandparents. They hung wet paper towels out to dry, so they could be reused. And I? I love paper towels and have absolutely no problem using them and never reusing. I once read that Japan uses 30 million 'disposable' single-roll cameras annually. Disposable cameras! We are products of modern consumerism. Society has told me that it's okay to always want something new, something better, something easier. I've been trained to focus on my wants and to choose things that will make life easy for me. Society says I'm entitled to experience life on my terms and in a way that is most convenient for me.
Now, this post is not about reducing, reusing, recycling, and saving the world, although, as you know from previous posts, I'm a fan of green. No, this post is meant to touch on a deeper issue. I've been thinking a lot lately about how this throw-away-all-about convenience-mentality has infiltrated our society... and how it has affected me, personally. As you know, I'm thirty. I'm single and find myself in the middle of a dating world that just doesn't seem to work hard enough to move on from singlehood. The pool (the dating pool) seems chock full of "kidults". Okay, not chock full, but you know the type... adults whose actions and tastes are more childish than mature; adults who want all the luxuries of adulthood, but none of the responsibility. I'm not saying that all are like this. I'm not even saying the majority... I'm just saying a fair amount, and thus I have this fear that this throw-away mentality has seeped all too easily into how we treat each other and how hard we work on our relationships, not to mention if we start them in the first place.
In the last three years alone, I have had five close friends contemplate seriously or actually go through a divorce. Now, I know that divorce can be the right decision in many cases; I'm not condemning it... but I'm just not condoning it as such an easy option either. In a meaningful relationship or marriage, you work hard, harder than you ever thought you could. And then when you have reached your end, you step it up a notch. I am a fighter. But, indeed, I am a product of our society and I fear that I, too, may succumb to the ease of throwing something repairable away. It's a fear. I admit it.
Divorce has affected my life in a very dramatic way, and that was by no choice of my own. My parents divorced when I was not yet two. Their choices forever changed my life. One of the effects of that, I realize, is an instilled fear of which I have been working to rid myself for quite some time. This fear to enter into a relationship that someone else will not view as repair-worthy or to enter into a relationship with someone who is not as fiercely determined and committed to me as I am to him or ... worse yet, the fear that I will be the one who doesn't view it as repair-worthy.
But fear is not faith (thank you, Katie). Although I do not believe this fear has really thwarted my growth in relationships, it has definitely factored into my approach to dating in one way or another, if only a fleeting thought. But I am determined to live my life fearlessly, full of faith, hope, and happiness. As Flora Whittemore once wrote, "the doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live." I am not a throw-away kind of girl; I'm a fighter. I plan to open the doors of every repair shop in town, if I need to. Small steps lead us to achievement. Rarely does fulfilling our hopes and dreams happen overnight, but we can take one tiny move towards them each day. So, as the silly quiz below so aptly predicted, I may be a little scared of commitment... but throw-away culture is not my culture. I’ve been burned, so I’m cautious yet more wise because of it, but I am more ready than ever to hit the floor running... and repairing along the way. :) The hardest and most challenging things in life are ultimately the most rewarding.
| You Are A Little Scared of Commitment |
 You're open to getting serious with someone... though you can't entirely imagine it. Maybe you haven't met the right person. Maybe you haven't gotten to the right point in your life. Your reaction to commitment is very normal - especially if you're young or have been burned before. Give it time. You'll probably be ready for a serious relationship sooner than you think. |
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, August 04, 2008
Wegetables. (and yes, I know I put a "w" instead of a "v"... that was on purpose)
My garden is coming along quite nicely. Interestingly, along with the plants in the containers doing well, the trees that are sprouting up in the window well seems to be thriving also. I keep cutting them back, but pretty soon, I'm going to have to get in the window well and really pull them out so their roots don't get too deep. I guess that's what we get for living on a piece of land that used to be a farm, bison and all. I see those trees popping up everywhere. Anyway, back to the veggies.
Here is the picture from 8 June 2008:
Here is the picture from 6 July 2008:
Here is it is today, 4 August 2008:
Here is the picture from 8 June 2008:
Here is the picture from 6 July 2008:
Here is it is today, 4 August 2008:
The lettuce has seemed to mysteriously disappear. I don't know if I went too many days without watering and it burned from the heat (with no remains) or if there are snails (I haven't seen any) or if some other animal came to eat. I'm not sure, but it's slowly growing back... well half of it is. But, I'm guessing maybe a family of snails may indeed be the culprit... I need to go out on snail patrol at night with my flashlight (thanks Mom, for teaching me the joys of snail patrol!)
The zucchini and squash plants are growing well, but I haven't seen any vegetables forming yet. We'll see if they ever yeild anything. I pulled the pea plants out because they weren't growing properly and I didn't have them staked up from the get go, so they weren't going anywhere.
I'm really excited about the tomatoes that have grown. Some have already ripened and are ready to be harvested and eaten and some are still ripening. I also noticed about three or four just barely starting.
I'm especially excited about the cucumbers that are coming through. There are only three of them so far, but they are getting bigger every day. I had to move one of the tomato cages to the cucumber container because the plant was growing so large and long, that it needed some room to grow. The one small tomato plant, which is a "container-friendly" tomato plant, wasn't using the cage, so the switch worked. The cucumbers look like upside-down teardrops! Also, my small little green pepper plant is yielding just one green pepper, but one's better than none.
The herbs are thriving and I've been able to use a lot of dill (in šaltibarščiai), rosemary (to season pork and chicken), and mint (in mint tea), so the herbs are cut back drastically in the lastest pictures. And take a look at those radishes! They look like they ahve giant rabbit ear greens.
I'm really excited about the tomatoes that have grown. Some have already ripened and are ready to be harvested and eaten and some are still ripening. I also noticed about three or four just barely starting.
I'm especially excited about the cucumbers that are coming through. There are only three of them so far, but they are getting bigger every day. I had to move one of the tomato cages to the cucumber container because the plant was growing so large and long, that it needed some room to grow. The one small tomato plant, which is a "container-friendly" tomato plant, wasn't using the cage, so the switch worked. The cucumbers look like upside-down teardrops! Also, my small little green pepper plant is yielding just one green pepper, but one's better than none.
The herbs are thriving and I've been able to use a lot of dill (in šaltibarščiai), rosemary (to season pork and chicken), and mint (in mint tea), so the herbs are cut back drastically in the lastest pictures. And take a look at those radishes! They look like they ahve giant rabbit ear greens.
I love gardening!
Friday, August 01, 2008
Google Me!
I found this idea on my cousin's blog. Here's how it works: for every category, perform a Google image search and post your favorite picture on your blog. You can only choose from the first page of results! Have fun!
My Name (Emery):
The city where I was born (San Francisco):
My Name (Emery):
The city where I was born (San Francisco):
A past love (Mike. I googled his full name, but will not post that here. I figured this picture suited him best, since he's an artist.):
Favorite object (need I say more?):
Favorite city (New York City. My favorite aside from San Francisco, SLC, and Vilnius):
Favorite food right now (šaltibarščiai - Lithuanian cold beet soup):
Favorite color:
One of my bad habits (self-explanatory):
My first job (a mother's helper):
A future job (I hope):
A place I would like to live (Vilnius, Lithuania):
My age:
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Oh Happy Day!
About six months ago, as you may recall, I blogged about an anticpated a change that very disappointingly didn't occur. Well, since that emotional day, I have learned to be okay with the way things turned out. I have been at peace with the lack of change and what that entailed. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? Isn't that what they say? So this last Sunday, that change finally happened. As comfortable as I was with the way things had been, allowing God's will to take over in my life, I must admit that I was silently singing the Hallelujah Chorus. Seriously, this change is Heaven sent. Testing my feelings to make sure I really was okay, I found myself smiling ear to ear. Change is good. Angelic choirs could be heard raising their voices in songs of rejoicing... or maybe that was just me, not so silent anymore. Oh Happy Day!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Life.
"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It all works out in the end. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers."
~President Gordon B. Hinckley
~President Gordon B. Hinckley
Thursday, July 24, 2008
A New Favorite.
So for those of you who know me well, you may know that I have worn the same mascara forever. My mom introduced me to L'Oréal's Lash Out years ago. Every time I have tried to venture out into the vast land of mascara to find something new, I have been sorely disappointed and regretful that I'd strayed and spent my money elsewhere. (Note: RiteAid allows you to return opened makeup if you're unsatisfied with the product. Just keep your receipt.)
About four months ago, I found myself in need of a new tube of mascara. When I arrived at the store, I found that all L'Oréal mascaras were "Buy one. Get one free." If you've ever purchased mascara, you know that one little tube with a whopping .27 fl. oz. can run you anywhere from $7-$10. So the "Buy one. Get one free." deal easily motivated me to stock up. However, they only had two tubes of my standard kind in the Black/Brown color I always get. (Regular Black always looks way too harsh on my eyes.) So I decided to once again risk the possibility of disappointment, and try a new kind.
Telescopic® Clean Definition Mascara, it's called. I'll admit, I was very skeptical considering the No Clump Brush™ is so thin and long, with few bristles. But I found that the thin brush allows you to easily coat the lashes without weighing them down, resulting in a very natural look. The sparsely placed bristles allow for a combing effect, keeping lashes separated and clump free. And it perfectly lengthens my lashes (up to 60% they say). So I'm sold. Dare I say, I've found a new favorite? I know... hard to believe, but I think it's true.
About four months ago, I found myself in need of a new tube of mascara. When I arrived at the store, I found that all L'Oréal mascaras were "Buy one. Get one free." If you've ever purchased mascara, you know that one little tube with a whopping .27 fl. oz. can run you anywhere from $7-$10. So the "Buy one. Get one free." deal easily motivated me to stock up. However, they only had two tubes of my standard kind in the Black/Brown color I always get. (Regular Black always looks way too harsh on my eyes.) So I decided to once again risk the possibility of disappointment, and try a new kind.
Telescopic® Clean Definition Mascara, it's called. I'll admit, I was very skeptical considering the No Clump Brush™ is so thin and long, with few bristles. But I found that the thin brush allows you to easily coat the lashes without weighing them down, resulting in a very natural look. The sparsely placed bristles allow for a combing effect, keeping lashes separated and clump free. And it perfectly lengthens my lashes (up to 60% they say). So I'm sold. Dare I say, I've found a new favorite? I know... hard to believe, but I think it's true.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
I've been to the Palm Springs airport, too!
Pull up a chair and let me tell you a little story. About ten years ago, I was sitting in the living room having a conversation with KDJ and KMB about all the airports we've flown in/out of in our lifetimes. We made long lists, reminisced about quirky characteristics of some of the airports we'd been in, and marveled at the number of airports in California. End of story... or so we all thought. Fast forward three days and we, again, were sitting in the comfort of our living room. Apparently, we weren't talking about airports anymore, though in my mind the conversation was fresh, as if we had just been talking about it. Evidently, I was just replaying it all in my mind and not out loud because when I then audibly announced, "I've been to the Palm Springs airport, too," I got the strangest looks. What I said was perfectly normal, I assure you... :) Alright, alright... it WAS three days later, so maybe it was slightly out of context. Anyhow, I thought I'd give you my list of airports now (as many as I can remember). And it does, indeed, include the Palm Springs airport.
1. San Francisco (SFO)
2. Oakland (OAK)
3. Burbank (BUR)
4. Ontario (ONT)
5. Los Angeles (LAX)
6. Orange County (SNA)
7. Long Beach (LGB)
8. San Diego (SAN)
9. Palm Springs (PSP)
10. San Jose (SJC)
11. Seattle/Tacoma (SEA)
12. Spokane (GEG)
13. Boise (BOI)
14. Salt Lake City (SLC)
15. Reno (RNO)
16. Las Vegas (LAS)
17. Phoenix (PHX)
18. Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW)
19. Denver (DEN)
20. Detroit (DTW)
21. Milwaukee (MKE)
22. Chicago (ORD)
23. Chicago (MDW)
24. Indianapolis (IND)
25. Cleveland (CLE)
26. Columbus (CMH)
27. Atlanta (ATL)
28. New York City (JFK)
29. New York La Guardia (LGA)
30. Baltimore (BWI)
31. Philadelphia (PHL)
32. London Gatwick (LGW)
33. London Heathrow (LHR)
34. Stockholm, Sweden (ARN)
35. Riga, Latvia (RIX)
36. Vilnius, Lithuania (VNO)
37. Malaga, Spain (AGP)
38. Bilbao, Spain (BIO)
39. Barcelona, Spain (BCN)
40. Prague, Czech Republic (PRG)
41. San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL)
42. Managua, Nicaragua (MGA)
Whew! I think that's it. But I reserve the right to remember another one in three days. :)
1. San Francisco (SFO)2. Oakland (OAK)
3. Burbank (BUR)
4. Ontario (ONT)
5. Los Angeles (LAX)
6. Orange County (SNA)
7. Long Beach (LGB)
8. San Diego (SAN)
9. Palm Springs (PSP)
10. San Jose (SJC)
11. Seattle/Tacoma (SEA)
12. Spokane (GEG)
13. Boise (BOI)
14. Salt Lake City (SLC)
15. Reno (RNO)
16. Las Vegas (LAS)
17. Phoenix (PHX)
18. Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW)
19. Denver (DEN)
20. Detroit (DTW)
21. Milwaukee (MKE)
22. Chicago (ORD)
23. Chicago (MDW)
24. Indianapolis (IND)
25. Cleveland (CLE)
26. Columbus (CMH)
27. Atlanta (ATL)
28. New York City (JFK)
29. New York La Guardia (LGA)
30. Baltimore (BWI)
31. Philadelphia (PHL)
32. London Gatwick (LGW)
33. London Heathrow (LHR)
34. Stockholm, Sweden (ARN)
35. Riga, Latvia (RIX)
36. Vilnius, Lithuania (VNO)
37. Malaga, Spain (AGP)
38. Bilbao, Spain (BIO)
39. Barcelona, Spain (BCN)
40. Prague, Czech Republic (PRG)
41. San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL)
42. Managua, Nicaragua (MGA)
Whew! I think that's it. But I reserve the right to remember another one in three days. :)
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
200 Haves and Have-nots.
I saw this on Andrea and Mark's blog and thought it was fun. It's a list of Haves and Have-nots. All the bolded in RED items are things I have done. So here you go... more about me. :)
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover (The New Testament)
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one (if miniature golf counts)
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a camp fire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter
Did any of these surprise you?
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover (The New Testament)
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one (if miniature golf counts)
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a camp fire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter
Did any of these surprise you?
Sunday, July 06, 2008
The veggies are growing. The veggies are growing.
As you may recall, this is what my vegetable garden started out like.
This is what it looked like today, just one month later before I picked some herbs. It's coming along quite nicely. You probably can't see from the picture, but the two tomato plants, though not huge in size, have at least three or four tomatoes apiece already. Yum!
I'll keep you posted on their progress.
This is what it looked like today, just one month later before I picked some herbs. It's coming along quite nicely. You probably can't see from the picture, but the two tomato plants, though not huge in size, have at least three or four tomatoes apiece already. Yum!
I'll keep you posted on their progress.Saturday, July 05, 2008
I'm Proud to Be An American...
How many of you can honestly say you did not sing a single phrase from this classic '80s patriotic song yesterday?!? One can't go a 4th of July without at least hearing the song! If you didn't take this Independence Day as an opportunity to whip out your hairbrush microphone (or your thumb or a spoon, or whatever you fancy), I strongly encourage you to let loose and be proud to be an American. It's freeing just singing the words. :) Lee Greenwood would be proud. I think the song is actually titled "God Bless the U.S.A.", but I like singing the rousing chorus best:
And I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land. God bless the U.S.A.
Every time I hear this song I think of summers at the Cannons and watching the Summer Olympics in 1984. (You know you're getting old when you can refer back, with clarity, to events that happened more than twenty years ago.) Yesterday, Lindsay and I resolutely (alright, somewhat in jest) stood and sang our hearts out. We tried to sing the verses, but really the chorus is what it's all about! :) Also, Agne and I learned all four verses to The Star-Spangled Banner, its history and sang it for my mom, KDJ, Linds, and Stephen. Then we also sang the Lithuanian national anthem. Fun times.
Having spent four out of the last six 4ths of July out of the country, I have a greater appreciation for the holiday and have realized how truly patriotic I am. I really am "proud to be an American" and recognize the myriad blessings I have experienced due to my citizenship of this great nation. Plus, ... who wouldn't love the 4th of July when spectacular fireworks shows, homemade ice cream, barbecued hamburgers, a day off work, and the colors red and blue (my favorites) are involved?!?! :) It's a no brainer, I tell you.
I hope all had a joyous 4th and that you, too, feel a deeper sense of gratitude for the privileges we enjoy.
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