Hero or Villan? You pick...

"Yes, it really is Angela Patrelli and me. We're total buddies". P.S. YES, she is nice and wonderful in real life. She told me she was going to a family reunion. I nearly had a coronary, because I was looking around for her unpreditable children, Nathan, Syler, Peter, etc. She has a wonderful smile, and she's very engaging. Fun lady.

GRANDPARENTS DAY - Cornish Pasty Cooking Class

"THIS IS HOW WE DO IT"

A Hippie in Utah....

My wonderful neice, Ashley, sent this to me. She must have sensed what I've been feeling about living here in Utah, and missing Santa Cruz and the Beach. Not sure I've quite fit in yet. I'm finding my own path, but I'm really thinking about growing back my hippie hair, and wearing my CaliClothes! I feel like I'm on the mend, and coming back into my own. :-) It's gonna be a great summer!

Birdie is gauze-free at 10pm

She's a SUPER DOOPER TROOPER! P.S. Yes, they are my Pippi Longstockings Socks, FULL OF ICE.

The Spa Treatment for Wisdom Teeth Removal

Anyone caring for a person with wisdom teeth removal? Here's the drill.
1. Get medicine IMMEDIATELY (Keflex, Lortab, Big IBU and Phenergan)
2. Small rolled up neck towel
3. Two small rolled up neck towels for side (to hold up ice packs).
4. Take two nylon knee socks and tie the toes together.
5. Take two large ziplock baggies and fill 1/4 with ice, and roll it up and seal it.
6. Slide ice packs into each of the nylon knee socks. Then tie the tops together.
7. Cover patient with warm blankets (2) to stop any shaking (which can be normal).
8. Change gauze every 15 minutes. We mean it.
9. Take the meds with a little bit of yogurt or applesauce.
10. Rest and be sure you have a lot of papertowels for patient comfort and "droolies".
11. Reassure patient they are doing really well. Hugs and kisses. :-)

By the time you read this, they will be out!

By 11:00am on Friday, these little babies (wisdom teeth) are goners!

This used to be a Bird, but now it's a Chipmunk.

I'm in nursey-mode now until Monday. Bye! :0)

The wind is shifting, time for Birdie to fly....

Today, I am finally breathing again. Peace and Acceptance have come to my doorstep to comfort me. In the months ahead, I will fully rely on the Source of that Peace - The Prince of Peace who can only give the "peace that surpasseth all understanding". Birdie is sprouting wings and leaving the nest soon.

Liz-bird's paperwork has started for the mission she will serve for the Lord. Wisdom teeth come out this Friday. I begin concentrating on my breathing today. . .

25 Random Facts (because you tagged me)

1. The only person with worse insomnia than me, is my son.

2. Cats are seriously allergic to me.

3. I have a secret I've been keeping for months. It's really a "good" one.

4. I have to burn incense everyday, or I don't feel like it's been a good day.

5. I'm a little more hippie than most people suspect.

6. I don't drive, anymore, and it bugs me.

7. I don't swim, anymore, but I could care less.

8. I enjoy art from children, more than any art in art galleries.

9. I like frosting, but not cake.

10. I only really like white cheese.

11. I have three sets of parents.

12. My fav song is "As I lay me down to sleep"

13. When I say goodnight, it's never the last time.

14. I make the best high pitch screams.

15. I like Big Macs, but I only like them sushi-style.

16. I never finish my food.

17. I lock and check the front door at least 3 times.

18. My hands are warm all the time, in fact HOT.

19. I like plain M & Ms.

20. I have to have shoes from different countries.

21. I purchase earrings each vacation.

22. I want a "wake" (awake), not a mourning funeral.

23. I can only play "Master, the Tempest is Raging on the Piano"

24. I love crowns.

25. I went bowling with Victor from Albania, and I won.

26. I have epilepsy - epilepsy does not have me.

I've Never....ever..

I have never....

1. Eaten a Twinkie
2. Smoked a cigarette
3. Gone ice skating
4. Been to Germany
5. Been on a skateboard
6. Seen the Statue of Liberty
7. Been to Church History sites east of Utah
8. Lived alone
9. Planned a vacation that I wanted
10. ...had a chance to say goodbye
11. Been on a picnic
12. Riden a horse
13. owned a cat
14. tasted a real truffle
15. ...willingly eaten yogurt

What have YOU never-ever done? TAG, if you read it, you are TAGGED. Even Stalkers...

U-bonics! (How to speak "Utah")

Is it just me? Or is it because I'm from California? Is it because my mother is an English Professor and the Dean of Humanities? What is my problem? (don't answer that - Lizzie says " you don't have to tell people they're fat - they already know") Anyway, I think it's hilarious about the way people from Utah talk. I didn't come up with this idea, I read about it, and I've added to it, after being here for almost 2 years. Ubonics, the way people talk in U-tah. It's like Ebonics but it's U-bonics for lack of a better word. Here is a start-up vocabulary list, in case you want to take up Ubonics and convert to the language as well as the religion of Utah, or perhaps you want to avoid this. Either way, after reading this, you will be either educated or entertained.
I chose the latter. (by the way, it is a little charming...to talk Ubonics, but it does make one sound a little inept, which makes it funny.)

ENGLISH vs. UBONICS

Heal - Hill "I see you're hilled up from your surgery" (Uh, ouch)

Steal - Still "Thou shalt not still" (that confuses the Primary kids)

Deal - Dill "I got a great DILL at the mall" (A pickle stand?)

Feel - Fill "I fill great!" (I don't even go there...)

Meal - Mill "Get three square mills a day" (that's a lot to take in..)

Sale - Sell "I'm having a yard sell today" (I've seen SIGNS spelled that way!)

Jail - Gel "Did you hear OJ is in GEL" (Yikes, is he ok?)

Fairytale - Fairytell (Is that what happens when someone "comes out"?)

Whale - Well "she's as fat as a WELL" (Round wide and deep?)

Sex Appeal- Sex Appell (I can't explain this one AT ALL)

Lord -Lard Q. Where can I find the Lard" A. In heaven. (not appropriate...)

Layton - Lay'en "He lives in Lay'en" (does that mean he's lazy layin' around?)

Cotton - Co'en "I have Co'en mouth" (isn't it CAUGHT IN your throat?) yikes.

Mountain - Mou'en (What? All I know is that they are EAST of here)


Ok folks, so next time you catch me speaking like this, it's either that I'm being slowly brainwashed or I'm just messin' with you, because I think it's funny. I do have to run now, and check and see if the MELL is here. Let me know if YOU have heard any more great words in Ubonics, so I can add them to the list. Don't send me CRICK, BATT-RY or SPA-CIAL I already know that's CREEK, BATTERY, and SPECIAL. Those were the first ones I learned. :)

What is "The Family Business"?

Other than my living family, this is what I spend my time doing....and it's "The Family Business". It's what I live for, dream about and work for, and I really love it. I'm back in business. I'm finally doing what I love to do, and I'm "making a difference" in very real and personal ways, physical, mental, spiritual and a little bit financial. Thank you to everyone who believed in me, supported me and encouraged me to follow my heart. I wouldn't trade it for any washed-up Starfish even if you paid me.

I miss this little angel

Thanks to Mark's BYU associate! We went to Applebees!

Thank you to Mark's work associate so we could go to Applebees! THANK YOU!!!!

Updated - "This is Howie Do It" Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, WISH YOU WERE HERE!

All I want for Christmas...

I want to sponsor a child from India. I want someone to call Rising Star Outreach and sponsor a child in my name. I want to write to this kid (boy or girl) and tell them how wonderful they are, and how much a little birdie in America misses them and aches for them.

Happiness, Freedom and Peace of Mind...

There is a wonderful mythical law of nature

that the three things we crave most in life --

happiness, freedom, and peace of mind --

are always attained by giving them to someone else...

-Peyton Conway March

Pollyanna.... ya gotta love her...

This Blog is just an update to my Glad Game post a little while ago. My neighbor has some prisms she wants to put up in her window. I'm getting some serious inspiration, and just wish I also had a window, but alas, I do not. here's the picture MC! Hope you love it!

DRESS UP, UPDATE

Update on the Costume Closet. We are cleaned out, and have kept a few "collections". We are still playing Castle Games, hanging out with Mary Poppins, Oliver Twist and the Dickens Crew. We're crossing the plains with the pioneers and keeping a few of our fantasies with Dorothy, Cinderella and their friends. Thanks for all our friends who took our excess and have fun playing dress up!

I'm delighted that with all the costumes cleared out, I can get down to the real work of finding my ancestors. Every day these historical pieces mean more and more. :)

Take Two- Tag

Two Names You Go By:
1. Momma Linda or Momma Shattuck
2. Lindy-Lou

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now: (other than clothes)
1. Reading Glasses
2. Boots (I'm the only one in house that hates to take off shoes!)

Two Things You Want Very Badly At the Moment:
1. To take a nap, and let dinner finish itself..
2. That Chocolate cake from "Aqui".

Two Things You Did Last Night:
1. Had a deluxe private tour at the Harley-Davidson store.
2. Early dinner at JCWs with Jigg & Marilyn.

Two Things You Ate Yesterday:
1. Hickory Bacon
2. Bowl of Cream of Brocolli Soup

Two things you are Doing Tomorrow:
1. Praying for Mark to get a job at BYU.
2. Paying bills.

Two Longest Car Rides:
1. California to Utah with U-hauls
2. Driving home from Washington, with a colicky screaming baby boy.

Two favorite Holidays:
1. May Day
2. Easter

Two Favorite (working) Vacations:
1. Tahiti
2. British Virgin Islands

Two Favorite Beverages :
("other" men in my life)
1. Dr. Pepper
2. Mr. Pibb

Two People I Tag:
1. Katie Doo Day
2. Lizabuff

Christmas List revisited (UPDATED)

I'm going to add my Christmas list here, and I'll add everything from the ridiculous to the sublime. It's not because I want gifts, it's because I make a list every year, and I never show anyone. This year, I decided to "expose" my little Christmas list. This will be updated and prioritized, but for now, it's just a work in progress....

1. My husband to get over his dental phobia! His tooth is killing him...argh

2. Two new King size pillows from Bed, Bath & Beyond (I'm picky!)

6. A date with my daughters to a decent sushi house.

7. Long dress length "dress bags" that hold at least 4 dresses, to organize my costumes!

8. Someone smart who can help me get a 90 day supply of anti-convulsants from my insurance.

9. For someone to tell me Jacob's favorite foods.

10. Go to India with Lizzie next summer to meet her friends.

11. Mansmith's ORIGINAL barbeque spice, large - from San Juan, or Hollister!

12. Knee socks. (not multicolored, just thin, black, dark blue, dark brown) cotton! Target kind.

13. A really high-quality scanner, to scan & organize & preserve my family photos!

14. A couple bags of those really cool white little triangle make-up applicators, disposable.