Personal essay on step mothering, done. Paper on gender and the Restoration for next month's JWHA conference, pending. With the few creative juices I have left, I'm blogging.
Mike and I have been teaching Sunday School in our Ogden ward since January. Mostly, it's been a fun gig. We trade off teaching every other week and have been out of town for some of the more loaded lesson topics.
Neither of us wants to tackle this week's lesson: "Sealed...for time and all eternity."
It's a touchy subject for a couple of reasons. WE aren't sealed. We opted to get married in a beautiful civil ceremony conducted by a dear friend rather than get sealed/married in a Mormon temple. We could have gone the temple route if we'd wanted to, but we felt strongly about having all our loved ones present as we united our lives.
Since then, we've looked into getting sealed and have run into a couple of snags.
One, Mike is still sealed to his ex-wife. It's possible to cancel that sealing and petition for Mike and I to be sealed, but that means Mike's kids would be unsealed from their mother and only remain sealed to their dad.
None of the kids are active in the church anymore and we're not sure if the ex is, either. It's unclear to me why their interests are the focus--seemingly more than my interests as Mike's current wife. Nevertheless, Mike is unwilling to spiritually untether his kids from their mother.
Two, I am unwilling to be sealed to Mike while he's still sealed to his ex. That's a little too close to polygamy for my taste. I had thought the plan was to cancel Mike's previous sealing and petition for clearance for us to be sealed to each other.
Three, it's a total double standard. Men can be sealed to more than one woman, but women who want to remarry in the temple have to get any previous sealing canceled before the new sealing is allowed to proceed.
The result: an impasse where getting sealed is concerned. And I'm pretty pissed off about policies that have forced us between this particular rock and hard place. Being forced to choose which family stays sealed or gets unsealed doesn't feel very family-friendly to me.
I taught Sunday School last, so technically it's Mike's turn. Then again, he taught several weeks in a row when I was swamped by Sunstone symposium prep. He's asked, "Do I really have to teach tomorrow?" a couple of times today.
To which I replied that I thought the person who's less angry about the subject of sealing ought to be the one to teach it.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Memory Lane
Late last night, I finished writing an essay for an anthology on motherhood--in my case, stepmotherhood. The acquaintance who is putting together the anthology didn't have any stepmothers representing in her first volume of mothering essays and was glad to include my voice in volume two.
Whilst writing said essay, I did a lot of archival research--looking at blog posts and emails about my travails and triumphs as a stepmom. The triumphs are still vastly outnumbered by the travails, but looking back at how things were when I first met Mike's kids and the speed bumps during their initial visits made me realize how far we've come.
Brad and Jessica hug me hello and goodbye voluntarily and seem interested in interacting with me--even when Mike isn't around. Nicole is a bit warmer these days. Jackie remains the persistent outlier and sometimes seems deliberate in trying to avoid interacting with me. Too bad; since she changed her major to English, we could have a lot to talk about.
There are still annoyances--like Nicole taking our IKEA catalog and borrowing shampoo that she didn't give back. (The latter sounds really petty I'm sure, but I was actually more annoyed that she hadn't asked for toiletries at our house where I could have readily, easily, and happily supplied her needs).
We still overbuy junk food, eat out more often, and spend way more money than planned when the kids are visiting. However, I've lowered my insane June Cleaver-like pre-visit cleaning standards; I've now relaxed to the point that my only mandatory task is making sure the beds all have clean sheets.
Jackie and Jessica visited right before the Salt Lake Symposium, so I didn't have it in me to stress about their visit. I barely saw them at all that week. Brad and Nicole accompanied us to Yellowstone and drove back to Missouri in the minivan so Jessica could use it as her high school car.
While we still don't have the warm, close relationships I first envisioned for our blended family, things have gotten better over the past three years.
Oh, and I used to write some really funny shit on this blog. Why did I ever stop?
Whilst writing said essay, I did a lot of archival research--looking at blog posts and emails about my travails and triumphs as a stepmom. The triumphs are still vastly outnumbered by the travails, but looking back at how things were when I first met Mike's kids and the speed bumps during their initial visits made me realize how far we've come.
Brad and Jessica hug me hello and goodbye voluntarily and seem interested in interacting with me--even when Mike isn't around. Nicole is a bit warmer these days. Jackie remains the persistent outlier and sometimes seems deliberate in trying to avoid interacting with me. Too bad; since she changed her major to English, we could have a lot to talk about.
There are still annoyances--like Nicole taking our IKEA catalog and borrowing shampoo that she didn't give back. (The latter sounds really petty I'm sure, but I was actually more annoyed that she hadn't asked for toiletries at our house where I could have readily, easily, and happily supplied her needs).
We still overbuy junk food, eat out more often, and spend way more money than planned when the kids are visiting. However, I've lowered my insane June Cleaver-like pre-visit cleaning standards; I've now relaxed to the point that my only mandatory task is making sure the beds all have clean sheets.
Jackie and Jessica visited right before the Salt Lake Symposium, so I didn't have it in me to stress about their visit. I barely saw them at all that week. Brad and Nicole accompanied us to Yellowstone and drove back to Missouri in the minivan so Jessica could use it as her high school car.
While we still don't have the warm, close relationships I first envisioned for our blended family, things have gotten better over the past three years.
Oh, and I used to write some really funny shit on this blog. Why did I ever stop?
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
How to piss me off, part deux
1. Though the preliminary program has been available for a month and has been updated online, wait until TODAY to say two of your panelists' names have been left off.
2. Ask me if I ever received their bios. (No, in fact this is the first I've ever heard that these two were supposed to be part of your session).
3. Expect me to make a change in the final program without providing any of the needed information.
2. Ask me if I ever received their bios. (No, in fact this is the first I've ever heard that these two were supposed to be part of your session).
3. Expect me to make a change in the final program without providing any of the needed information.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Want to know how to piss me off?
1. Volunteer to be a respondent to a symposium presentation. You have subject matter expertise and the presenter expected you'd be the respondent because of this.
2. One week later, start whining about how the respondent gig is "too close" to another session you're involved in and it's more literary in tone than you're comfortable with.
3. Don't actually say NO, I CAN'T/WON'T DO IT.
4. Instead, suggest names of other people who could fill in (who are already participating in more symposium sessions than you are).
5. All of which make more work for me
a. two days before the deadline for all program changes
b. when I am SWAMPED chasing down other people's missing info
c. when I have NO help (volunteer or otherwise) at the office
6. Tell me how busy YOU are and expect sympathy or that I'll make it easy for you to wriggle off the hook.
7. Say you want to rewrite the info for the ONE session you are still doing because you hate being the only one listed who doesn't have a graduate degree (never mind that this is true).
8. Not actually GIVE me the rewrite, but go on about all the other projects you're in the middle of/past deadline on/whatever.
Because all of this--when I'm stressed to the hilt and trying to keep track of a million other details for 100+ conference sessions over four days and there's still a ton of missing items and I'm up against a press deadline that CANNOT shift to accommodate lackadaisical folks--just makes me want to go David Banner on your ass.
2. One week later, start whining about how the respondent gig is "too close" to another session you're involved in and it's more literary in tone than you're comfortable with.
3. Don't actually say NO, I CAN'T/WON'T DO IT.
4. Instead, suggest names of other people who could fill in (who are already participating in more symposium sessions than you are).
5. All of which make more work for me
a. two days before the deadline for all program changes
b. when I am SWAMPED chasing down other people's missing info
c. when I have NO help (volunteer or otherwise) at the office
6. Tell me how busy YOU are and expect sympathy or that I'll make it easy for you to wriggle off the hook.
7. Say you want to rewrite the info for the ONE session you are still doing because you hate being the only one listed who doesn't have a graduate degree (never mind that this is true).
8. Not actually GIVE me the rewrite, but go on about all the other projects you're in the middle of/past deadline on/whatever.
Because all of this--when I'm stressed to the hilt and trying to keep track of a million other details for 100+ conference sessions over four days and there's still a ton of missing items and I'm up against a press deadline that CANNOT shift to accommodate lackadaisical folks--just makes me want to go David Banner on your ass.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Blasts from the past
Hiya. Looks like the 'ol blog isn't QUITE dead.
Had two encounters with my past lives recently, both involving FaceBook (hence the need to write about/process elsewhere).
The first was a former student of mine who saw my name in a mutual friend's FB list and contacted me. Initially, I had no idea who he was; we have the same last name, so I friended him thinking maybe he was a long-lost relation or something. Soon after, he wrote on my wall, saying he'd just ran across a certificate I gave him, congratulating him on finally putting punctuation inside the quotation marks. That connected the dots. Kinda fun to hear back from him lo these many years later.
The second encounter just happened. My best friend from high school just sent me a friend request.
This is the same best friend who, after graduation, suddenly wanted nothing to do with me, dropped several of her oldest and closest friends, didn't invite me to or even tell me about her wedding (and involved other mutual friends in the secret keeping), and left me wondering for years if I'd done something hideously wrong as a friend to be treated this way.
Twenty-three years later, she wants to be friends and get in touch with me. I don't know what to make of it. And like I have time to be thinking/blogging about this when I have a huge symposium to pull together.
Had two encounters with my past lives recently, both involving FaceBook (hence the need to write about/process elsewhere).
The first was a former student of mine who saw my name in a mutual friend's FB list and contacted me. Initially, I had no idea who he was; we have the same last name, so I friended him thinking maybe he was a long-lost relation or something. Soon after, he wrote on my wall, saying he'd just ran across a certificate I gave him, congratulating him on finally putting punctuation inside the quotation marks. That connected the dots. Kinda fun to hear back from him lo these many years later.
The second encounter just happened. My best friend from high school just sent me a friend request.
This is the same best friend who, after graduation, suddenly wanted nothing to do with me, dropped several of her oldest and closest friends, didn't invite me to or even tell me about her wedding (and involved other mutual friends in the secret keeping), and left me wondering for years if I'd done something hideously wrong as a friend to be treated this way.
Twenty-three years later, she wants to be friends and get in touch with me. I don't know what to make of it. And like I have time to be thinking/blogging about this when I have a huge symposium to pull together.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Where the hell did April go?
Since my last post, I've done two Sunstone regional conferences--Sunstone West in the Bay Area and Sunstone Midwest in Independence, Missouri.
I also got sick at both conferences--felled by an ill-timed sinus infection at the first event which resurged coincident with staying up late preparing remarks and packing for the second. By the time we left MO, I was near-zombie.
We had to file an extension for our taxes this year and we got a letter asking for additional documentation on our 2006 filings. Turns out, that was the year Mike fortuitously bought the audit insurance so our "people" are handling it all for us. Lord knows where the box is with the 2006 taxes, so Whew!
In the midst of all this fun, we acquired a house guest. For six weeks. I did not know the proposed length of stay when I agreed to this. In future, I will ask for start date and end date--and reserve the right to veto any stay longer than two weeks for non-family members.
Did I mention we got a dog? I uploaded pictures to FaceBook as we were filling out the adoption paperwork, but can't recall if I mentioned it here. He's a 6 month old German Shepherd named Luther (Mike calls him Rex Luther). I'm not a dog person, but this one has captured my heart.
Any minute now, I'll become an aunt! Cristina's due date is May 13, but I talked to brother John last night and he doesn't think the little guy will wait that long. Cristina wanted the baby to be born in May and it looks like she'll get her wish. I hope the baby is born before we leave for Istanbul May 8!
That's the other big news. I need to pack and find my passport and line up cat sitters and all kinds of things before next Friday. Oh, and figure out how we're getting to the airport--unless we want the car to sit in long-term parking that long.
Also have a slew of things to do for the upcoming Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium, four months away. Alas, I keep getting sidetracked by surprises or requests. I just want to unplug the office phone and lock one of my co-workers in the basement so I can get things done (or at least not have his surprise projects devour more of my precious time)!
Mostly, I want a nap and not to have to cook anything for the next week.
I also got sick at both conferences--felled by an ill-timed sinus infection at the first event which resurged coincident with staying up late preparing remarks and packing for the second. By the time we left MO, I was near-zombie.
We had to file an extension for our taxes this year and we got a letter asking for additional documentation on our 2006 filings. Turns out, that was the year Mike fortuitously bought the audit insurance so our "people" are handling it all for us. Lord knows where the box is with the 2006 taxes, so Whew!
In the midst of all this fun, we acquired a house guest. For six weeks. I did not know the proposed length of stay when I agreed to this. In future, I will ask for start date and end date--and reserve the right to veto any stay longer than two weeks for non-family members.
Did I mention we got a dog? I uploaded pictures to FaceBook as we were filling out the adoption paperwork, but can't recall if I mentioned it here. He's a 6 month old German Shepherd named Luther (Mike calls him Rex Luther). I'm not a dog person, but this one has captured my heart.
Any minute now, I'll become an aunt! Cristina's due date is May 13, but I talked to brother John last night and he doesn't think the little guy will wait that long. Cristina wanted the baby to be born in May and it looks like she'll get her wish. I hope the baby is born before we leave for Istanbul May 8!
That's the other big news. I need to pack and find my passport and line up cat sitters and all kinds of things before next Friday. Oh, and figure out how we're getting to the airport--unless we want the car to sit in long-term parking that long.
Also have a slew of things to do for the upcoming Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium, four months away. Alas, I keep getting sidetracked by surprises or requests. I just want to unplug the office phone and lock one of my co-workers in the basement so I can get things done (or at least not have his surprise projects devour more of my precious time)!
Mostly, I want a nap and not to have to cook anything for the next week.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
What's in a week?
Monday: arrived at the office to find another break in--number five in a year. Stolen: my dual monitors, an old TV, and the vacuum cleaner. Carol and I both found random items missing from our desk drawers. Robbers nabbed a pack of candy cigarettes from my top drawer (but left the Thin Mints) and Carol reported missing work gloves and granola bar.
Needless to say, not much work happened Monday.
Tuesday: I worked from home in the morning. Mike set up my office CPU at home and I was able to get things done that required no Internet. I went to SLC in the afternoon to pick up supplies I needed for Wednesday.
Wednesday: Gave away Sunstone magazine at the Weber State women's fair. Got to talk to a lot of people about Sunstone. One asked why we don't sell Sunstone at Deseret Book? They're just not that into us?
After the fair wrapped, I met Mike and Jessica at the house and they talked me into going to the pound to see a dog they'd seen there the day before. After some negotiations, a ruddy German shepherd came home with us. Yowza.
Thursday: I'm working from home in the morning and headed to the office in the afternoon. I have some working files on my laptop, but realize too late that the work I thought I'd saved to the network was saved only on the computer in Ogden. Sigh. I do the best I can. At home, Jessica had already eaten so we ended up going to Blockbuster for videos (and a poster of Edward she was smitten with). Mike comes home late from class and we all retire.
Friday: [are you exhausted yet?] Jessica's flight left in the morning, so we all trooped to SLC. Dog's first day alone/outside. Mike had to go back to campus for a meeting. I stayed at the office trying to work out the kinks of new Quark software and having to do extra installs to be able to print, etc. Sunstone West is close at hand and there's a ton to do--not great timing for all the extra time and energy sucks of the week. Took the train home, but instead of working, I caught up on Go Fug Yourself's version of March Madness.
Saturday: trying to keep the dog off our bed is a major undertaking. The crate I bought is not for crate training (WTF?). And I found that the dog pooped twice and peed once in the guestroom, necessitating a trip to buy nature's miracle TODAY.
I'm teaching Sunday school tomorrow and have not yet cracked the material, plus there's loads to do for Sunstone West.
Any wonder this week seemed interminable?
Needless to say, not much work happened Monday.
Tuesday: I worked from home in the morning. Mike set up my office CPU at home and I was able to get things done that required no Internet. I went to SLC in the afternoon to pick up supplies I needed for Wednesday.
Wednesday: Gave away Sunstone magazine at the Weber State women's fair. Got to talk to a lot of people about Sunstone. One asked why we don't sell Sunstone at Deseret Book? They're just not that into us?
After the fair wrapped, I met Mike and Jessica at the house and they talked me into going to the pound to see a dog they'd seen there the day before. After some negotiations, a ruddy German shepherd came home with us. Yowza.
Thursday: I'm working from home in the morning and headed to the office in the afternoon. I have some working files on my laptop, but realize too late that the work I thought I'd saved to the network was saved only on the computer in Ogden. Sigh. I do the best I can. At home, Jessica had already eaten so we ended up going to Blockbuster for videos (and a poster of Edward she was smitten with). Mike comes home late from class and we all retire.
Friday: [are you exhausted yet?] Jessica's flight left in the morning, so we all trooped to SLC. Dog's first day alone/outside. Mike had to go back to campus for a meeting. I stayed at the office trying to work out the kinks of new Quark software and having to do extra installs to be able to print, etc. Sunstone West is close at hand and there's a ton to do--not great timing for all the extra time and energy sucks of the week. Took the train home, but instead of working, I caught up on Go Fug Yourself's version of March Madness.
Saturday: trying to keep the dog off our bed is a major undertaking. The crate I bought is not for crate training (WTF?). And I found that the dog pooped twice and peed once in the guestroom, necessitating a trip to buy nature's miracle TODAY.
I'm teaching Sunday school tomorrow and have not yet cracked the material, plus there's loads to do for Sunstone West.
Any wonder this week seemed interminable?
Friday, March 06, 2009
Numbing Disappointment
With a To Do list that never seems close to being done, you'd think I'd be happy when one item drops off, right?
Not so much.
Last fall, I scoped out a foundation that makes grants to non-profits in the western U.S. and planned to apply during their spring grant cycle.
Started amassing the information. Updated a policy they require with all applications. Formulated ideas about specific projects with concrete goals and objectives. Emailed the administrator to ask a question (as the web site suggested) about how to organize the proposal when it covered three specific projects.
The admin wrote back to say I should not put in a proposal at all. They are not funding any new organizations this year and will be cutting funding to groups they already work with.
I started bawling.
I had TOTALLY been counting those unhatched chickens. Never mind that I've never written a grant proposal in my life. I have great ideas. I'm an excellent writer. Surely, they'd see the merit in my proposal.
So, one less thing to do in the upcoming week. And I'm completely bummed to cross it off my list.
Not so much.
Last fall, I scoped out a foundation that makes grants to non-profits in the western U.S. and planned to apply during their spring grant cycle.
Started amassing the information. Updated a policy they require with all applications. Formulated ideas about specific projects with concrete goals and objectives. Emailed the administrator to ask a question (as the web site suggested) about how to organize the proposal when it covered three specific projects.
The admin wrote back to say I should not put in a proposal at all. They are not funding any new organizations this year and will be cutting funding to groups they already work with.
I started bawling.
I had TOTALLY been counting those unhatched chickens. Never mind that I've never written a grant proposal in my life. I have great ideas. I'm an excellent writer. Surely, they'd see the merit in my proposal.
So, one less thing to do in the upcoming week. And I'm completely bummed to cross it off my list.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Turbo Blogging
Two things I've decided will help save my sanity during busy season: fitting in 30 minutes of exercise a day (even if it's in three 10-minute increments) and doing a little turbo blogging--whatever rant or quick bitch I can throw together in 10 minutes or less. It will mean more frequent posts for the three or four readers who have not already abandoned hope.
Today's turbo blog is about brand loyalty. I normally go for generics when product A is indistinguishable in most respects from product B (i.e. canned beans, stock, onion soup mix). I'm more likely to pledge my aligience to specific products if:
1) I grew up using them (Dove soap, A1 Steak Sauce)
2) If it's recommended by physicians (Cetaphil, shampoos to control scalp problems)
Or 3) if it's the product that first introduced me to the genre (Playtex tampons).
Regarding that last example, I recently forewent brand loyalty for a bigger box/better bargain on Kotex tampons at COSTCO.
Big mistake.
Kotex had the paper wrapper and flushable applicator--perfect trappings for the environmentally friendly gal I aim to be. And the bigger box/better price I mentioned.
Sadly, they do not perform as well as my former brand. Now I'm stuck with a ginormous box of a product I don't like.
Thrift will NOT win over comfort and performance again. Period.
Today's turbo blog is about brand loyalty. I normally go for generics when product A is indistinguishable in most respects from product B (i.e. canned beans, stock, onion soup mix). I'm more likely to pledge my aligience to specific products if:
1) I grew up using them (Dove soap, A1 Steak Sauce)
2) If it's recommended by physicians (Cetaphil, shampoos to control scalp problems)
Or 3) if it's the product that first introduced me to the genre (Playtex tampons).
Regarding that last example, I recently forewent brand loyalty for a bigger box/better bargain on Kotex tampons at COSTCO.
Big mistake.
Kotex had the paper wrapper and flushable applicator--perfect trappings for the environmentally friendly gal I aim to be. And the bigger box/better price I mentioned.
Sadly, they do not perform as well as my former brand. Now I'm stuck with a ginormous box of a product I don't like.
Thrift will NOT win over comfort and performance again. Period.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Overwhelmed
I know, another long stretch of not blogging.
I have scads of material, including a great Sunstone regional in DC, traipsing around with Tewkesbury afterward, impending aunthood, and a really weird dream about a balcony collapse inside the Salt Lake Temple, after which no one would help me or the other two injured people, forcing me to text reporters I know at the SLTribune and Deseret News for some actual HELP.
But after spending all day at work on the computer answering emails, planning conferences, creating programs, and fielding whatever surprises there are at the office, I just wanna UNPLUG at home.
The only reason I'm managing to post this is by writing on my lunch "hour," not exactly a sacrosanct escape from the piles of work on my desk.
I could spend every waking minute toiling on my own massive To Do lists and never run short on work. I also end up handling a lot of extra stuff by virtue of being IN the office. For example, today I was going to finish a flier for an upcoming conference, start plugging information into its program template, process survey results and write up my reports for a meeting on Friday.
Instead of making meaningful progress on those fronts, I've been dealing with a) the sudden disappearance of our BLOG, b) a co-worker's surprise commitment of organizational resources, and c) hearing that two of our recording devices are missing, at which point I dissolved into a burst of wearied tears.
Item A I can do nothing to fix--just hope our tech wizards can figure out what's wrong.
Item B turns out to have less of an impact than I originally thought/feared, but it's not a commitment I would have made.
Item C I'm at a loss to deal with at all. After the last break in, I took two recorders home and someone else took home the other four. This person now says there are only two with him. At $800 a pop, it's not like we can afford replacements.
And if that wasn't enough interruption, I keep getting phone solicitations about our banking and Internet service.
In short, not a Dream Job day.
I have scads of material, including a great Sunstone regional in DC, traipsing around with Tewkesbury afterward, impending aunthood, and a really weird dream about a balcony collapse inside the Salt Lake Temple, after which no one would help me or the other two injured people, forcing me to text reporters I know at the SLTribune and Deseret News for some actual HELP.
But after spending all day at work on the computer answering emails, planning conferences, creating programs, and fielding whatever surprises there are at the office, I just wanna UNPLUG at home.
The only reason I'm managing to post this is by writing on my lunch "hour," not exactly a sacrosanct escape from the piles of work on my desk.
I could spend every waking minute toiling on my own massive To Do lists and never run short on work. I also end up handling a lot of extra stuff by virtue of being IN the office. For example, today I was going to finish a flier for an upcoming conference, start plugging information into its program template, process survey results and write up my reports for a meeting on Friday.
Instead of making meaningful progress on those fronts, I've been dealing with a) the sudden disappearance of our BLOG, b) a co-worker's surprise commitment of organizational resources, and c) hearing that two of our recording devices are missing, at which point I dissolved into a burst of wearied tears.
Item A I can do nothing to fix--just hope our tech wizards can figure out what's wrong.
Item B turns out to have less of an impact than I originally thought/feared, but it's not a commitment I would have made.
Item C I'm at a loss to deal with at all. After the last break in, I took two recorders home and someone else took home the other four. This person now says there are only two with him. At $800 a pop, it's not like we can afford replacements.
And if that wasn't enough interruption, I keep getting phone solicitations about our banking and Internet service.
In short, not a Dream Job day.
Monday, January 05, 2009
New Record of Not Blogging
Yeah. It's been a while.
Everything after Thanksgiving was pretty much a blur, thanks to the following:
--getting ready for the DC Sunstone Symposium January 30-31
--realizing I'm behind on Sunstone West
--going to Texas for a week of house painting/indoor camping
--getting home in time for the Christmas rush of concerts, family events, and Sunday evening shopping (not at all crowded!)
--a very white Christmas
--Christmas Eve dinner at the megaplex food court & a showing of Seven Pounds
--Late services at the Episcopal church next door after the movie
--cleaning and prepping for a week with the two youngest step kids
--my laptop crapping out again and no tech guy available until January 5
--another trip to Idaho Falls to hang out with Grandma Sue and all the in-laws
--a thermostat that broke the night we left for Idaho and kept the house a sultry 96 degrees the whole time we were gone
--Jackie leaving her ID in the Crown Burger restroom and having to rush back from the airport to retrieve it and barely making the flight to STL
The fun stuff:
--Sleeping in Christmas Day
--Our memory foam mattress topper--delicious sleep
--Making German pancakes for an appreciative crowd on New Year's Day
--Jackie & Jessica getting me Becoming Jane for Christmas
--Cosby knocking over the Christmas tree and chewing up one of the ornaments
--Belatedly celebrating Jessica's 16th birthday at Red Robin
--Jackie stopping to listen instead of texting while Grandma Sue was telling a story
--Jessica being talkative and fun and having a great time with the kitties
--Our comic book character movie marathon that wasn't really a marathon (one movie each night instead of all three on NYE)
--Picking genres and movies for the marathon via mass voting by cell phone
And between the time I started this post and finishing it, I got my all-better laptop back from the tech guy. Maybe I'll get all crazy and set up my office rather than laptopping on the dining room table.
Everything after Thanksgiving was pretty much a blur, thanks to the following:
--getting ready for the DC Sunstone Symposium January 30-31
--realizing I'm behind on Sunstone West
--going to Texas for a week of house painting/indoor camping
--getting home in time for the Christmas rush of concerts, family events, and Sunday evening shopping (not at all crowded!)
--a very white Christmas
--Christmas Eve dinner at the megaplex food court & a showing of Seven Pounds
--Late services at the Episcopal church next door after the movie
--cleaning and prepping for a week with the two youngest step kids
--my laptop crapping out again and no tech guy available until January 5
--another trip to Idaho Falls to hang out with Grandma Sue and all the in-laws
--a thermostat that broke the night we left for Idaho and kept the house a sultry 96 degrees the whole time we were gone
--Jackie leaving her ID in the Crown Burger restroom and having to rush back from the airport to retrieve it and barely making the flight to STL
The fun stuff:
--Sleeping in Christmas Day
--Our memory foam mattress topper--delicious sleep
--Making German pancakes for an appreciative crowd on New Year's Day
--Jackie & Jessica getting me Becoming Jane for Christmas
--Cosby knocking over the Christmas tree and chewing up one of the ornaments
--Belatedly celebrating Jessica's 16th birthday at Red Robin
--Jackie stopping to listen instead of texting while Grandma Sue was telling a story
--Jessica being talkative and fun and having a great time with the kitties
--Our comic book character movie marathon that wasn't really a marathon (one movie each night instead of all three on NYE)
--Picking genres and movies for the marathon via mass voting by cell phone
And between the time I started this post and finishing it, I got my all-better laptop back from the tech guy. Maybe I'll get all crazy and set up my office rather than laptopping on the dining room table.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
One Small Step For Equality
I have a friend who works for eHarmony. I got all kinds of fun dirt on their business practices after this friend was trained--i.e. initially they wouldn't match people who drank, smoked or did drugs--things anathema to the evangelical Christian founder. (I vaguely recall something about not matching mixed race couples but my friend couldn't confirm if I remembered that correctly).
Anyhoo, eHarmony has long maintained they "can't" do same-sex matchmaking because they "don't have the research." Because gay folk couldn't possibly be looking for the same kinds of qualities, attributes, compatibilities and values that straight people consider vital to healthy relationships (yes, that's sarcasm).
eHarmony has been sued in California and New Jersey over the lack of same-sex matching. Read the WSJ blog post here. eHarmony just settled in the New Jersey case and will offer a service called Compatible Partners beginning in March 2009.
I'm sure eHarmony will cry all the way to the bank after being forced to abandon a discriminatory business plan and expand their services to include MORE CUSTOMERS worldwide.
Anyhoo, eHarmony has long maintained they "can't" do same-sex matchmaking because they "don't have the research." Because gay folk couldn't possibly be looking for the same kinds of qualities, attributes, compatibilities and values that straight people consider vital to healthy relationships (yes, that's sarcasm).
eHarmony has been sued in California and New Jersey over the lack of same-sex matching. Read the WSJ blog post here. eHarmony just settled in the New Jersey case and will offer a service called Compatible Partners beginning in March 2009.
I'm sure eHarmony will cry all the way to the bank after being forced to abandon a discriminatory business plan and expand their services to include MORE CUSTOMERS worldwide.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Winning and losing gracefully
So just about everyone is celebrating some kind of win or mourning some kind of loss today.
I'm doing both: I'm ecstatic about Obama's win last night (despite falling asleep before/during his speech).
And I'm deeply disappointed about how Prop 8 went--and disturbed that one deep pocketed minority group essentially bought a new line in the California state constitution. Regardless of how people feel about gay marriage, that kind of political imperialism should disturb EVERYONE who cherishes the democratic process.
I was listening to NPR yesterday on the way in to work and commentators were discussing the matter of being a gracious winner and a gracious loser.
I am aware that there are some in my immediate family and circle of friends who feel differently on both of the above issues. (For instance, my MIL, whom I adore, expressed how scared she was about Obama winning. So how do I have a political conversation with her without being a jerk?)
My hope is that we can talk through our respective losses without the winners gloating too loudly or the losers letting bitterness or animosity take over. (Know that I say this as much to myself as to anyone else reading).
I'm doing both: I'm ecstatic about Obama's win last night (despite falling asleep before/during his speech).
And I'm deeply disappointed about how Prop 8 went--and disturbed that one deep pocketed minority group essentially bought a new line in the California state constitution. Regardless of how people feel about gay marriage, that kind of political imperialism should disturb EVERYONE who cherishes the democratic process.
I was listening to NPR yesterday on the way in to work and commentators were discussing the matter of being a gracious winner and a gracious loser.
I am aware that there are some in my immediate family and circle of friends who feel differently on both of the above issues. (For instance, my MIL, whom I adore, expressed how scared she was about Obama winning. So how do I have a political conversation with her without being a jerk?)
My hope is that we can talk through our respective losses without the winners gloating too loudly or the losers letting bitterness or animosity take over. (Know that I say this as much to myself as to anyone else reading).
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Lawn Sign Larceny
When I backed out the of the driveway this morning, I noticed that some asshat stole our Obama lawn sign during the night. They thoughtfully left its wire frame behind, still stuck in the grass, but the plastic sign: gone.
Obviously, I'm PISSED.
Obviously, I'm PISSED.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
What's Missing Here?
Since Mike was in SLC with me on Friday, we went for a shopping jaunt to Cost Plus/World Market.
I don't know when it started going by World Market, but CP/WM was always my go-to place for home decor, spices, ethnic foods, wrapping paper, ornaments, and good, cheap stocking stuffers. A true one-stop shopping experience.
There are only two WM stores in Utah--one in Park City and the other in Cottonwood Heights, south of the 215 freeway. So we jaunted--and got lost (misdirected by iPhone maps) but eventually found our way around to the WM store.
Ah, heaven! Riotous colors, savory scents, Halloween goodies, and imported foods, spices and sweets! I stocked up on curry powder, coriander, juniper berries and herbs de Provence--all for FAR less than grocery store prices. They were starting to put out Christmas treats; must return soon.
Mike browsed and found gummy eyeballs--his contribution to the department administrator's candy dish--and some Spanish candy for him and his mom. I dragged him over to the window treatments and found some gorgeous and on sale curtains for our kitchen windows. Can't wait to put them up!
As we made our way to the register, I scanned the store from the front and realized this World Market was unlike any other I'd been to. There's no liquor section! Of course, you say; it's in UTAH. Sometimes I forget what that means.
At all the other/normal CP/WM, there's always someone in the checkout line who has bypassed the baskets, papasans and rugs and filled their cart to the brim with imported wines and beer.
Culture shock, Utah style.
I don't know when it started going by World Market, but CP/WM was always my go-to place for home decor, spices, ethnic foods, wrapping paper, ornaments, and good, cheap stocking stuffers. A true one-stop shopping experience.
There are only two WM stores in Utah--one in Park City and the other in Cottonwood Heights, south of the 215 freeway. So we jaunted--and got lost (misdirected by iPhone maps) but eventually found our way around to the WM store.
Ah, heaven! Riotous colors, savory scents, Halloween goodies, and imported foods, spices and sweets! I stocked up on curry powder, coriander, juniper berries and herbs de Provence--all for FAR less than grocery store prices. They were starting to put out Christmas treats; must return soon.
Mike browsed and found gummy eyeballs--his contribution to the department administrator's candy dish--and some Spanish candy for him and his mom. I dragged him over to the window treatments and found some gorgeous and on sale curtains for our kitchen windows. Can't wait to put them up!
As we made our way to the register, I scanned the store from the front and realized this World Market was unlike any other I'd been to. There's no liquor section! Of course, you say; it's in UTAH. Sometimes I forget what that means.
At all the other/normal CP/WM, there's always someone in the checkout line who has bypassed the baskets, papasans and rugs and filled their cart to the brim with imported wines and beer.
Culture shock, Utah style.
Dread Substance Is Falling!
I looked out the window and what did I see?
Snow on top of every backyard tree.
What winter's brought me is not a surprise,
But this damn early makes me avert my eyes.
I took these pictures a couple of hours ago. It's been snowing steadily--massive flakes now. Mike will have fun clearing the driveway with his new snow blower.
I'm bummed I didn't clear out my side of the garage yesterday; I worked on unpacking and organizing upstairs. Now I have to dig out my car and walk though 5 inches of snow to deal with shifting garage contents so I can park INSIDE.
AAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Snow on top of every backyard tree.
What winter's brought me is not a surprise,
But this damn early makes me avert my eyes.
I took these pictures a couple of hours ago. It's been snowing steadily--massive flakes now. Mike will have fun clearing the driveway with his new snow blower.
I'm bummed I didn't clear out my side of the garage yesterday; I worked on unpacking and organizing upstairs. Now I have to dig out my car and walk though 5 inches of snow to deal with shifting garage contents so I can park INSIDE.
AAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Hey, new content!
It's been just over a month since my last post. Not that there haven't been Happenings. I just haven't had the steam to write about them--rather, after sitting at the computer all day for work, I'm not so thrilled about logging in at home.
The real story is I'm cheating on Blogger with Facebook.
Despite the lapse, I ran across something post-worthy--a Rolling Stone article on John McCain that ought to be required reading for anyone planning to vote in November.
It's a long, astonishing and worthwhile profile of the career (Navy and political) and the behavior of the original neocon/Maverick/womanizer/POW who wants to be commander in chief.
Make-Believe Maverick
A closer look at the life and career of John McCain reveals a disturbing record of recklessness and dishonesty
TIM DICKINSON
Posted Oct 16, 2008 7:00 PM
Click here to read: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/23316912/makebelieve_maverick/print
When McCain said in the last debate that the next president needs a calm, steady hand, I snort-laughed at the notion he would provide that. The article shoots even more holes in the carefully polished facade.
Enjoy!
The real story is I'm cheating on Blogger with Facebook.
Despite the lapse, I ran across something post-worthy--a Rolling Stone article on John McCain that ought to be required reading for anyone planning to vote in November.
It's a long, astonishing and worthwhile profile of the career (Navy and political) and the behavior of the original neocon/Maverick/womanizer/POW who wants to be commander in chief.
Make-Believe Maverick
A closer look at the life and career of John McCain reveals a disturbing record of recklessness and dishonesty
TIM DICKINSON
Posted Oct 16, 2008 7:00 PM
Click here to read: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/23316912/makebelieve_maverick/print
When McCain said in the last debate that the next president needs a calm, steady hand, I snort-laughed at the notion he would provide that. The article shoots even more holes in the carefully polished facade.
Enjoy!
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Oops, I forgot I have a blog!
The office slows down after the Symposium, but not nearly as much as I hoped. I'm in the thick of planning regionals in Seattle, Independence, MO, the Bay Area and Washington D.C. That's keeping me hopping!
I recently joined Facebook (officially to promote Sunstone events), which has been a delightful way to reconnect with friends and to spend/waste time adding apps and writing on people's walls. I opted not to Friend my step kids, thinking that would be weird and terribly uncool. I'm easy to find if they want to Friend me--and that's fine as long as it's their idea.
We have a house guest staying with us--Ms. Self Portrait As is our writer/poet in residence for the next couple of weeks until her apartment is ready. We've had a lovely time hanging out, taking walks and talking politics.
We went to the Ogden Farmer's Market Saturday and scored some end-of-day bargains on gloriously fresh tomatoes and melon. We also signed up for Winder Farms grocery delivery service--again, lured by the bargains and freebies the guy threw in.
When I went online to check their full list of products, I wondered if this was a good idea. Yes, it saves time to have weekly deliveries, but I still have to go to the store/Costco to get produce and items Winder doesn't carry and their products often cost more. I'll give it a whirl, but I'm not sure it's going to be a lasting relationship.
And to finish it off, a fun little tidbit from the Deseret News. Who knew Gary Coleman moved to Payson?
I recently joined Facebook (officially to promote Sunstone events), which has been a delightful way to reconnect with friends and to spend/waste time adding apps and writing on people's walls. I opted not to Friend my step kids, thinking that would be weird and terribly uncool. I'm easy to find if they want to Friend me--and that's fine as long as it's their idea.
We have a house guest staying with us--Ms. Self Portrait As is our writer/poet in residence for the next couple of weeks until her apartment is ready. We've had a lovely time hanging out, taking walks and talking politics.
We went to the Ogden Farmer's Market Saturday and scored some end-of-day bargains on gloriously fresh tomatoes and melon. We also signed up for Winder Farms grocery delivery service--again, lured by the bargains and freebies the guy threw in.
When I went online to check their full list of products, I wondered if this was a good idea. Yes, it saves time to have weekly deliveries, but I still have to go to the store/Costco to get produce and items Winder doesn't carry and their products often cost more. I'll give it a whirl, but I'm not sure it's going to be a lasting relationship.
And to finish it off, a fun little tidbit from the Deseret News. Who knew Gary Coleman moved to Payson?
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Riveted
So I picked up my new iPhone yesterday. I type geriatrically. I still haven't figured out all its tricks yet. I feel it is safe to say I will always have something to do in dull church meetings.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Briefly, some news
As if posting hasn't been light enough lately, I'm going into full symposium mode next week. Officially, it's August 6-9, but I'll be at work tomorrow afternoon trying to get some last-minute things done before the real time crunch.
I'm solo again; Mike's in Texas teaching his last class, rescheduled thanks to Hurricane Dolly. Weekday classes were also rescheduled for the weekend, which didn't occur to the schedulers and displaced Mike's class from their meeting rooms. Such fun.
A bit of good news: we terminated our listing agreement with the agent we (meaning me, mostly) were unhappy with and we're relisting the house with the agent we used when we were house hunting in McAllen. Mike is meeting with her Monday to go over the details. We'll probably pour some more $$ into replacing carpet and painting the interior and hope it will sell with the new representation.
This week's decision: board or find a pet sitter? We'll be staying in SLC for the symposium and will be off to So Cal for a few days afterward. Don't know which is the better option. There's one licensed, bonded in-home pet sitter in the yellow pages and a bunch of boarding facilities. PK is always so hate-filled after being boarded. Plus not all kitties are up to date on their shots--and that's not something I really have time to deal with. I guess I just answered my own question.
Must turn in after a long, lazy day.
I'm solo again; Mike's in Texas teaching his last class, rescheduled thanks to Hurricane Dolly. Weekday classes were also rescheduled for the weekend, which didn't occur to the schedulers and displaced Mike's class from their meeting rooms. Such fun.
A bit of good news: we terminated our listing agreement with the agent we (meaning me, mostly) were unhappy with and we're relisting the house with the agent we used when we were house hunting in McAllen. Mike is meeting with her Monday to go over the details. We'll probably pour some more $$ into replacing carpet and painting the interior and hope it will sell with the new representation.
This week's decision: board or find a pet sitter? We'll be staying in SLC for the symposium and will be off to So Cal for a few days afterward. Don't know which is the better option. There's one licensed, bonded in-home pet sitter in the yellow pages and a bunch of boarding facilities. PK is always so hate-filled after being boarded. Plus not all kitties are up to date on their shots--and that's not something I really have time to deal with. I guess I just answered my own question.
Must turn in after a long, lazy day.
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