Traditions, Stars, and Freaky Rudolf Friends!
Monday, November 28, 2005
Today was a really funny day. I have decided that once you do something two years in a row it is officially a "Tradition"! SO...Michelle and I now have a tradition of decorating her big tree in her front room. It is so much fun! Last year she called and needed an additional opinion on her tree and her new tree ornaments. The tree was huge (Her living room can take it) and her ornaments are divine (Don't worry, Chelle...I won't divulge the secret!! wink). So we decorated. AND...we came up with this really awesome idea for her silver bowl in her entryway. Chelle found the lamp, candles and runner. We were so proud! It looked great so this year I took a picture. (Ignore the weirdo in white taking the picture...duh)
This year we were having MAJOR pains with the freaking star. Oh. My. Hell. You all have no idea. Hours. Seriously. We tried everything. We even got out Michelle's huge pruners and hacked off the top. That in itself was potentially life-threatening (it is me after all). I almost fell off the chair and then was nearly blinded by the flying projectile it became. In my honor Chelle took the top we cut off and made me a Charlie Brown "I've killed it" tree...complete with it's own star and pot. I LOVE IT. There are many days I AM the Charlie Brown Tree. Complete with falling needles.
"I never did think it was a bad little tree..."
The star situation got so frustrating we seriously thought about leaving it like this:
But in the end we just decided to leave it for another day when we didn't want to curse and have it burn in the outer rims of hell.
But the tree still looked awesome.
I can't wait for next year!
AND...
I have noticed that my friends/family freakishly resemble the cast of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer....Take no offense here...just laugh. I did.
Bob=Santa
Brian=Herbie 
Karen+Tall, Nameless Elf
Me+Sad,Redhead Misfit Doll
Clarisse+Hot friend, Bridgy
Jon+ Yukon Cornelius
Chelle+Bumble with retarded star
And last...the misfit Jelly Squirt Gun reminds me of my brother, Rhett...I'm not really sure why.
MAMMA MIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For Christmas, the lovely Michelle got Karen and Brian and I tickets to the the National Touring Company production of Mamma Mia. It is a story that is built around ABBA tunes. IT WAS SO MUCH FREAKING FUN!!!! I haven't enjoyed myself that much in a while.
The whole show we laughed and laughed and tried so hard to repress the urge to sing and dance (although we just couldn't at times!) The best was the finale...WE ALL GOT UP AND BOOGIED DOWN!!!!!! And sang and laughed and partied in the aisles! And it was like, three songs!!!!!! YEA! Chelle has some fabulous moves (we did the "Lasso") We were definately the coolest partiers there! There were some very fitting songs for me...everyone looked in my direction at "breaking up is never easy I know but this time we're through...knowing me knowing you, it's the best we can do" I GOT THE POINT!! wink :)
Plus, I am sorry, but EVERY man on the stage was Gay. Brian got more action watching than he ever has. There was some hilarious man chorus moments involving scuba gear and flippers. SO FUNNY. All in all a fabulous, wonderful and joyus time with loved friends. Thanks again, Chelle. You are amazing.
We ate dinner at my FAVORITE dining establishment...Thaiphoon in the Gateway. I love the food there...it is divine. The chef even made my favorite veggie dish they had discontinued!!! Plus, we sat by the very cool water wall that they have have.
When Brian unwrapped his napkin, he found this very interesting fork! The waiter said it was a stray and that they do that on purpose. We decided it was our misfit mascot and was very fitting for our odd little circle of friends. He let us take it home.
When we were walking to the theater (which took a freaking long time, gave Karen a blister and froze all of us half to death!!) we went through the old train station. It was amazing. I've never been in there, but I would LOVE to sing in that huge, empty space sometime. The accoustics are amazing. Here are my dear friends in a fab pose, fitting to a wonderful evening.
The Grumpy Bug
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Christopher is not having a great adjustment going between my house and his grandmother's. He really likes it there. What isn't to like? It is more orderly, bigger and there is more to do. He's only 6, but I have already discovered that children can really hurt your feelings. He was looking at my very nice scriptures that were a gift 4 years ago for my birthday. I have taken great pains to keep them beautiful. I told him to be careful. Then he said (In a pretty darn judgemental tone for a first grader), "Why do you have scriptures anyway. You don't ever go to church."
Ouch.
I told him when he was 31 I MIGHT consider having that conversation with him, but until then it is none of his business as he is 6 and I have never stopped his grandmother from taking him to church and we have prayer's in our house.
Then at bedtime he was upset that he couldn't sleepover at his grandma's. I explained this was still his house and that I am his mother. Not Marilyn.
He said, "This house is cursed."
I think I believe him.
But since he is small he still wanted Tucky-inny's (my one and only accomplishment as a parent and I do without fail every night they have slept under my roof). I called him a grumpy bug (After a way funny story on Nick Jr that we have watched 3,000 times) and tickeled him until he was happy.
What will I do when he is too old to tickle?
The Great Pot Pie War, James Bond and STD'S
Friday, November 25, 2005
Cheap pot pies are so, so SO wrong. As a matter-of-fact, I don't know that there aren't many things that are more wrong in food than gross, cardbord pot pies with chunks of compressed "Meat" except for Tuna Helper (THAT is in food-outerdarkness along with black licorice)
Jonathan disagrees and keeps buying them (even though technically he still doesn't live here). He was unavailable for comment. (see photo below)
Also...what in all holy heck is with James Bond marathons????? Why can't they have a Poirot and Miss Marple marathon on Spike TV (Jon says it's because Spike TV isn't suited to the fogey/homosexual/old lady demographic...screw him! wink). Seriously...James Bond had to have contracted like 2 billion STD's. PLUS...he would have had at LEAST half a dozen crazy woman stalkers tracking him down...spy or no spy. Trust me on this one. Jonathan says his behavior is excused because he has really cool toys and it's the only place that you can watch underwater scuba combat. Boys are weird.
I also wagered that he must have gotten Q to make him some interesting "toys" as a side income. Jonathan: (And I quote) "He doesn't need toys. He's JAMES BOND". This explains a lot.
The day after....
Thus far, I have spent most of it trying to convince my darling children that despite WHAT the Primary song says, chores are NOT only done on Saturday. Sigh.
THANKSGIVING 2005
Thanksgiving was festive, hard work, yummy and long. Plus, I felt like someone put me in a turkey-induced coma for most of the afternoon. I was also introduced to Apples-to-Apples (SO FREAKING FUNNY). Here are some pics. Most explain themselves.
Bob and his nose hair. I am so glad I'm a girl.
This is my new niece, America. She is a living doll and is 4. Look at that mug! I love her name. Candy loves this country so much she named her first child after it. I wish more people felt that way.
After dinner and into the evening I got a call from my sweet, distressed friend, Mary Ellen. Her husband had decided to spend Thanksgiving with his mistress in Pric
e, leaving her all alone. So I went to be with her. Pretty funky situation, with the two of us, huh?
This is where Mary Ellen works. After we spent some time crying together, we got some company. Her son, Travis and her daughter Elyse also work there. Elyse is probably the one good thing I accomplished in my LDS callings. She was one of my girls when I was in the YW Presidency. I love her to death. Her reception is one of two times I have steped back into my church since Matthew's funeral (It is also legendary as the first panic attack of my life and thus the beginning manifistations of my looniness). She seems to still think I'm a good person. She's awesome.
South Park Goth Kids.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
For Michelle! You asked...here it is!
Johhny Cash Rules
Bridgy and I went to see "Walk the Line". LOVED LOVED LOVED IT! Oscar is all over the place. I loved it. I really loved June...she's twiced divorced, two kids, sings and fishes!!!!
After the movie we both had a great talk. I love this woman. She is organized, smart, efficent, a wiz with money, Keeps a gorgeious home, runs her own sucessful business, i very responsible, and still likes to hang out with me!
An Outing With Mary Ellen and Brian Joy!
Monday, November 21, 2005
This is my good friend, Mary Ellen McKenna. She is the first and ONLY person that I can say has ever been a friend that I have made in my ward. We clicked on the first Sunday I met her 4 years ago and have been very good friends ever since. She helped me find a bagpiper for Matthew's funeral (ok, we all know how that went, but that is not her fault...she gave me a list!!! ;) ) She is kind and funny and almost as warped as I am, with a wicked-sharp sense of humor (she is going through a real rough patch right now and said, "You know how bad it is when the certified loon is having to give you rational advice!"...I laughed my head off. We just have that kind of relationship.
I drove with Mary Ellen to Brigham City to go to her credit union. We had a really good talk. I've been making her CD compilations to help her cope. Today I gave her my copy of my favorite high-energy, I hate your guts and have to get it out, tunes. I call it "My Inner Rage Against He-Who-Cannot-Be-Named". She loved it.
Afterwards, we went to Borders for Hot Chocolate and we met up with BRIAN JOY!!! I love Brian. So does Mary Ellen. We hung out and ate Chinese Food and then DANCED AND DANCED AND DANCED!!! It was crazy fun. Like me!
HARRY POTTER!
Sunday, November 20, 2005
It was AWESOME. I laughed and I bawled (Cedric Diggery's Dad was very...accurate) Sherry made us all dress up. Yes, I felt like a dork. But we all had fun.
This is Scott, our waiter at the Bluebird. He was probably one of the funniest waiters I've ever had!
This picture is a lot more innocent than it looks...really....I swear!
