I am officially coming out closet--no, I'm not gay. I would like to say, however, that I am a Mormon and I support gay rights. Many of you already know that these are my views, but I feel the need to throw it out into the universe officially.
The LDS Church's involvement in supporting Prop 8 is widely known. The majority of church members supported this involvement. I did not. I was actually appalled by the whole thing. I do not for even one second believe that it was divinely inspired and I think that down the line we will seriously regret it. I know that many church members feel threatened and confused by gay marriage and they feel angry with people that don't support prop 8, or that question the church's involvement in it. Therefore, I am going to try to lay out the reasons for my opinion. Even if you are reading this and think you are going to disagree with me, please read on with an open mind. Please, just try to step outside of your own situation for a minute.
1) Why we should stop saying that people should choose not to be gay: First of all, being gay is not a choice, it is a way some people are naturally oriented. People don't just go along and decide "Oh, I think I'll make my life really difficult by going against cultural norms today, so I think I'll be gay." No, that's not what happens. This is not up for debate, it is not yours to say that you think people just choose to be that way. If you are not gay thenyou don't really know, do you? You could never really tell. How would you like it if someone said to you "I don't think you really have a testimony," just because they couldn't see inside your soul to check for sure. That wouldn't be fair. We have to be able to trust one another in our communities. Do you really think that all of gay people are lying to us and just being gay for fun? Since "coming out of the closet" seems to be a traumatic, relationship-severing, lifestyle altering event for most people, I think they would probably avoid it if they could. People generally don't like to make life more difficult for themselves on purpose.
2) Why gay marriage is not a threat to you: There are so many, many reasons that I could put down here. To me, the most important is this--we have all been given the gift of agency and should not actively seek to take away that agency from another person(s). If a person is hurting another person, as in criminal situations like child/spousal abuse, rape, murder, theft, etc. on down the line, it is our responsibility as a community to temporarily modify that person's agency to stop them from hurting others. This makes total sense--we shouldn't hurt people, duh. News flash: someone else living a gay lifestyle does not hurt your heterosexual self. If two guys or two ladies want to get married, how does that hurt you, really? You might see them kissing in public, oh no! If you are already married and your marriage is going to be affected by the fact that a homosexual couple also has a marriage, the problem is your marriage. Marriage is just an official thing on a piece of signed paper. The real thing is what happens every day, in the home, as partners. Families are made up of all sorts of people and no family is perfect, not even the heterosexual parents, four kids, everyone goes to church, cookie-cutter one. If you really are concerned for the souls of the people that are living a gay lifestyle, first of all, worry about yourself, and second of all remember, they are exercising their agency. This brings me to point number 3.
3) Why we should support (or at least not thwart) gay marriage: Our gift of agency is probably the most important thing that we have here on Earth. It is exactly that, a gift given to us from the Lord. He didn't just give it to the people he thought would make the best choices, He gave it to every single one of us. This country represents many things, positive and negative but it always claims to represent freedom. The LDS Church was able to begin and grow here because we were able to exercise our agency to worship in our own way. That right is one that we treasure. Imagine if a large group of people banded together to make Mormonism illegal--what if they said it was too weird or wrong? For many of you reading, the church is one of the things in your life that brings you the most joy, correct? If that source of joy was made illegal and you weren't allowed to have that joy in your life, how would you feel? We would never want that agency taken away from us, so why on Earth would we take it away from someone else? We should support the agency of other groups of people so that if our agency is ever threatened, maybe they will support us. Even if we may not agree with the gay lifestyle, we should all agree that we should be able to choose our own lifestyle and that we should be able to choose the path the we think will bring us the most joy.
4) Why Prop 8 was a bad idea: As far as I"m concerned, the church should never, ever, get involved with political issues. We are a church, we don't pay taxes, we are not (or should not be) a corporation, we do not get a political vote. Plain and simple. Even if they claim that that money was not tithing money, it was probably interest earned from investments made with tithing money. When I pay my tithing I expect it to go to help people, feed them, clothe them, or help missionaries. I don't want my money going to support a cause that I am vehemently against and a resent the fact that I have to worry about that.
Times are changing, luckily our church adapts with the times so we are always getting relevent information. If we change, they church will follow. Please keep these things in mind next time you enter a conversation about gay rights/marriage. Be sensitive, slow to anger, and last to judge.
Also, since I'm on the general subject, I don't support Mitt Romney. He is running a dirty rotten campaign that tells lots of lies and is funded by corporate and upperclass greed. Also I totally support ObamaCare! Hooray!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Walking
I have really grown to love walking. I'm not much of a runner and I never have been. I did the running thing in late high school/early college but after our car accident it just jarred my shoulder too much. But I do love walking, particularly in nature. I love to walk slowly and stop whenever I want to to look at something more closely. I like to walk alone with no one to be impatient with me or distract me from the bird songs. I think that I will be a life-long walker. Obviously we all walk around all day, but I'm talking about really walking. Just moving your body forward, into the woods or the meadow, at whatever pace your body feels is comfortable. It's healthy, it makes me feel strong and connected and calm.
I was able to go on a plant walk with an amazing botanist this afternoon in Discovery Park. My plant and tree knowledge grew about 12 times over in the two hours that we walked through the park. I have an extremely strong desire to be able to walk down a trail and name each plant and animal. I don't really know my insects very well, specifically that is, but my plant and tree knowledge is really getting much better. Tomorrow morning we are going on a bird walk with an ornithologist and I am so jazzed about it.
I feel like in order to be an effective steward on this earth I must know each plant and animal. I need to understand who they are and what they need so that I can help them. As I learn, they help me.
This was in my book today and I loved it:
A habitation marvellously planned,
For life to occupy in love and rest;
All that we see--is dome, or vault, or nest,
Or fortress, reared at Nature's sage command.
--William Wordsworth
I was able to go on a plant walk with an amazing botanist this afternoon in Discovery Park. My plant and tree knowledge grew about 12 times over in the two hours that we walked through the park. I have an extremely strong desire to be able to walk down a trail and name each plant and animal. I don't really know my insects very well, specifically that is, but my plant and tree knowledge is really getting much better. Tomorrow morning we are going on a bird walk with an ornithologist and I am so jazzed about it.
I feel like in order to be an effective steward on this earth I must know each plant and animal. I need to understand who they are and what they need so that I can help them. As I learn, they help me.
This was in my book today and I loved it:
A habitation marvellously planned,
For life to occupy in love and rest;
All that we see--is dome, or vault, or nest,
Or fortress, reared at Nature's sage command.
--William Wordsworth
Saturday, June 23, 2012
A Letter to Myself
I just recieved a letter via snail mail written by my 18 year old self to my current self. One of my absolute favorite high school teachers, Mr. Lampert, had us write letters to ourselves five years in the future during the last week of high school senior year. He dutifully fulfilled his part by keeping them and posting them out to us.
This is what my letter said, word for word:
Dearest Lovely Lauren,
My wonderful physics teacher Mr. Lampert is having me write to myself in 5 years, which is now, since you're reading this. I am however expecting a few things out of you. I expect that you have come up with some ingenious or hard-working way to put yourself though college. If not, that means you gave up and I'm very disappointed. Go to school, learn, gain knowledge--knowledge is essential in this life and the next.
As of right now, you are dating the most amazing man alive--Ricky Holton. You love him and he loves you. He waltzed into your life without warning and has taught you how to be loved, as well as how to do physics! Don't screw things up with him, he's the real deal. You may even be married to him right now, if you are, congrats! Don't have kids right away. Travel, live your life, just be married for a while.
Love the Lord, He has given you everything. Don't give up, you are not alone, your Savior Jesus Christ walks with you. You have amazing friends, especially Kim Thai. She is smart, talented, and she has supported you a lot. Don't you dare lose her as a friend.
No matter what you do with the rest of your life, sing always, play piano, go to church, and don't be afriad. Love yourself and love others. Fix your relationship with your mother if you haven't already--she's your mom, you're connected. Humble yourself and forgive. Be free--go outside and put your feet in the grass, breathe, and run. Be strong Lauren, I know you are. Never say "can't." Nothing is impossible. Live.
Love,
Lauren June 6th, 2007
Not my best writing ever but not too bad for an 18 year old kid. I must say, I think I did a pretty darn good job of living up to my own expectations. I paid my own way through school and graduated with honors. I married that man, the one I still think is the most amazing man alive. We've waited two years to have kids so far and we have another year and a half before we'll even start trying. We took our first roadtrip together four years ago and we're going to Hawaii this year. We're even planning another really big trip for next year.
I love the Lord and I still love my friends--including Kim Thai. She's so great. I've made new friends too and I love them. I'm on good terms with my mom. I hav a job that lets me go outside and enjoy nature every single day.
It was really nice to get that letter. It made me feel good about my accomplishments. It reminded me that I can definitely set goals and achieve them and that my life is on the right track. Thanks Mr. Lampert!
This is what my letter said, word for word:
Dearest Lovely Lauren,
My wonderful physics teacher Mr. Lampert is having me write to myself in 5 years, which is now, since you're reading this. I am however expecting a few things out of you. I expect that you have come up with some ingenious or hard-working way to put yourself though college. If not, that means you gave up and I'm very disappointed. Go to school, learn, gain knowledge--knowledge is essential in this life and the next.
As of right now, you are dating the most amazing man alive--Ricky Holton. You love him and he loves you. He waltzed into your life without warning and has taught you how to be loved, as well as how to do physics! Don't screw things up with him, he's the real deal. You may even be married to him right now, if you are, congrats! Don't have kids right away. Travel, live your life, just be married for a while.
Love the Lord, He has given you everything. Don't give up, you are not alone, your Savior Jesus Christ walks with you. You have amazing friends, especially Kim Thai. She is smart, talented, and she has supported you a lot. Don't you dare lose her as a friend.
No matter what you do with the rest of your life, sing always, play piano, go to church, and don't be afriad. Love yourself and love others. Fix your relationship with your mother if you haven't already--she's your mom, you're connected. Humble yourself and forgive. Be free--go outside and put your feet in the grass, breathe, and run. Be strong Lauren, I know you are. Never say "can't." Nothing is impossible. Live.
Love,
Lauren June 6th, 2007
Not my best writing ever but not too bad for an 18 year old kid. I must say, I think I did a pretty darn good job of living up to my own expectations. I paid my own way through school and graduated with honors. I married that man, the one I still think is the most amazing man alive. We've waited two years to have kids so far and we have another year and a half before we'll even start trying. We took our first roadtrip together four years ago and we're going to Hawaii this year. We're even planning another really big trip for next year.
I love the Lord and I still love my friends--including Kim Thai. She's so great. I've made new friends too and I love them. I'm on good terms with my mom. I hav a job that lets me go outside and enjoy nature every single day.
It was really nice to get that letter. It made me feel good about my accomplishments. It reminded me that I can definitely set goals and achieve them and that my life is on the right track. Thanks Mr. Lampert!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Kid Wrangling and Dreams Come True
This week has been quite the roller-coaster. It's been my second week of campers at work and I have twice as many kids. I have 6 5-year olds, 1 6-year old and a 4 year old. There are 3 girls and 5 boys and they are the biggest handful ever. I know that teachers handle 30 kids at a time in their classrooms and I', sure it's really tough. However, my kids have never been to school, they don't know all the "classroom rules" yet, they are rambunctious and rowdy and they are outside, as in not at all contained. The thing with the boys is that they all know each other and two of them are brothers. They always want to play and just plain ignore me when I'm talking, believe my I've tried every trick up my sleeve. It's difficult to even begin to address behavior issues when you only have the kids for one week. My poor girls are nice and sweet and generally on task and listening. I feel sorry for them that the boys hog my attention because I'm always having to moniter them. On top of my crazy kids, I've had a nasty cold all week. I haven't been of Dayquil or Nyquil for more than 2 hours since Sunday. By the end of each day I can hardly squeek for loss of voice. Gross.
I really, really want to have kids--3 I think, but I swear if I end up with all boys I think I'll die. Some of my friends and relatives have only boy children and they say that they love it. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I would love the boys, but they would run me ragged. Boys are just so obnoxious so much of the time. And they smell. And they think everything is either a sword or a gun. Watch, I'll end up with all boys because God will think I need to learn that boys are better than that or something. Please no!
On the bright side, there is a glimmer of dream come true in my future. About two weeks ago Ricky, Lucy and I were on a walk in a fancy neighborhood a few blocks up from our house. We were chatting about our plans for the next year or two (something we do weekly). I told him that I had finally resigned myself to the fact that we were probably going to have to end up staying in Seattle permanently. Realistically, this is where the jobs for him are and if he doesn't have a good job then I can't do the jobs I want to do (Heaven knows working part time at a non-profit doesn't pay well). I told him that there were things about Seattle that had grown on me and that while Oregon would always be first in my heart, I could continue to live here and be okay. Of course there were stipulations--as long as we keep eating at our favorite places, as long as we find some friends, etc. The point is, I had accepted the fact that I would have to make the most of where I was and have a good attitude about it. I had relinquished control and chosen to go where the wind blew me.
It was only 2-3 days after that conversation that one of our very best dear friends in Eugene told us that his place of business was looking to hire an engineer. The position is a very good one that Ricky is really interested in and that would be really great financially. He had an interview yesterday and it went really well. Now we have to just wait and see until next week. We're holding our breath and trying not to get our hopes set too high but it's difficult, this could be a dream come true. So, my week has gone a bit like this:
*cough*
internal prayer
*sneeze*
keep a kid from touching stinging nettle
*sneeze*
internal prayer
*cough cough cough*
stop boys from hitting each other with sticks
blow my nose
internal prayer
and on and on and on
Anybody that has some extra prayer time or wishing coins or whatever you do, please send a few our way!
I really, really want to have kids--3 I think, but I swear if I end up with all boys I think I'll die. Some of my friends and relatives have only boy children and they say that they love it. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I would love the boys, but they would run me ragged. Boys are just so obnoxious so much of the time. And they smell. And they think everything is either a sword or a gun. Watch, I'll end up with all boys because God will think I need to learn that boys are better than that or something. Please no!
On the bright side, there is a glimmer of dream come true in my future. About two weeks ago Ricky, Lucy and I were on a walk in a fancy neighborhood a few blocks up from our house. We were chatting about our plans for the next year or two (something we do weekly). I told him that I had finally resigned myself to the fact that we were probably going to have to end up staying in Seattle permanently. Realistically, this is where the jobs for him are and if he doesn't have a good job then I can't do the jobs I want to do (Heaven knows working part time at a non-profit doesn't pay well). I told him that there were things about Seattle that had grown on me and that while Oregon would always be first in my heart, I could continue to live here and be okay. Of course there were stipulations--as long as we keep eating at our favorite places, as long as we find some friends, etc. The point is, I had accepted the fact that I would have to make the most of where I was and have a good attitude about it. I had relinquished control and chosen to go where the wind blew me.
It was only 2-3 days after that conversation that one of our very best dear friends in Eugene told us that his place of business was looking to hire an engineer. The position is a very good one that Ricky is really interested in and that would be really great financially. He had an interview yesterday and it went really well. Now we have to just wait and see until next week. We're holding our breath and trying not to get our hopes set too high but it's difficult, this could be a dream come true. So, my week has gone a bit like this:
*cough*
internal prayer
*sneeze*
keep a kid from touching stinging nettle
*sneeze*
internal prayer
*cough cough cough*
stop boys from hitting each other with sticks
blow my nose
internal prayer
and on and on and on
Anybody that has some extra prayer time or wishing coins or whatever you do, please send a few our way!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Favorite Things
Everyone else is writing about their favorite things, why shouldn't I? I was actually having a conversation with someone a few weeks ago, I can't remember who now, about how I have tons of trouble choosing favorites of things. Whenever I get asked what my favorite <insert category here> thing is I always list at least two. I'll have to do the same here.
Some of my favorite FEELINGS are:
1) Obtaining a new book. I love to have a new book, whether it was gifted to me, I buy it new or I buy it used, I get so jazzed about it. I'm one of those people who turned up their noses at the Kindle and Nook (those e-reader things). I love to smell and feel the pages of a book. There is something indescribably exhilirating about turning the page to a new chapter--actually turning the page, not sliding your finger accross a screen. I collect books and I read them. Either Ricky or I (or both of us) has read every book we own. We have so many books that we have run out of space for them but I can't help buying another book when I finish one. No offense to the library, I think it's a great thing, especially for children or research, but I love to own my books. I feel comforted in knowing that I can go back and read them any time I want.
2) Finding absolute peace in nature. There are two ways in which I have found great peace in nature, the first is by sitting quietly on the beach by myself, watching and listening to the waves. The second is by quietly walking through a sunlit forest on my own, listening to all of the bird sounds. These two experiences help calm my mind, they help eradicate my constant nagging anxieties. I love to walk with my husband or with my dog or with friends but I also like to go alone sometimes so I can walk at my own pace or linger as long as I need to. Sometimes the beauty of it all brings me to tears. We are so blessed to live in such an extraordinary world.
I am a foodie, and FOODS I love are:
1) Cheese fondue. This is my usual response when I'm forced to say a favorite food. Gruyere, emmentaler, white wine, garlic...I could die. I like to dip apples, french bread, or sausage in it. Thanks Mom for the new fondue set!
2) Really good ice cream. Not just lame stuff you can get at the grocery store. I mean the kind you get at a fancy ice cream place like Molly Moons. My current favorite flavor is Balsamic Strawberry. All ice cream must of course be accompanied by a fresh waffle cone.
3) The Cubano. The best sandwich ever created. A cuban sandwich available only at Paseo. It has delicious bread, slightly crunchy outside and soft inside, cilantro and garlic aioli, pulled pork, lettuce, and jalepenos. Need I say more?
I love all of the ANIMALS and I have a lot of special favorites (aside from Lucy):
1) Whales, any and all, particularly Sperm Whales and Narwhals.
2) Deer. I love deer, especially Mule Deer.
3) Elephants. I love every single elephant ever. Someday I will go to India and ride one.
4) Foxes. I love a red fox, I'm always looking for them in meadows but I haven't been lucky enough to spot one yet.
5) Birds of all shapes and sizes. Among some of my favorites are Barred Owls, Great Blue Heron, and Red-winged Black Birds.
6) Harbor Seals, Giant Pacific Octopuses, Giraffes, and Bumble Bees. Didn't want to take up more space by making each one a separate number. :)
My favorite BOOKS right now are:
1) Harry Potter, for always and forever. I really love the audiobooks read by Jim Dale.
2) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. This book takes you away with magic and mystery. I could not put it down, seriously. If you liked Harry Potter and Water for Elephants and The Illusionist, this book is for you.
3) Jane Eyre, I read it over and over again.
4) Richard Louv's new book The Nature Principle. If I could reccomend only one environmental book to people I would reccomend this one. It is so great. It has wonderful stories and practical advice for everyone living in the virtual age. Please read it.
My favorite FLOWER is the Peony. I chose one!
My favorite Trees are:
1) The Ginkgobiloba tree
2) The English Weeping Birch tree
Some other random favorite things of mine are:
1) The Space Mountain ride at Disneyland. I can't get enough of that one despite the long lines.
2) My favorite Christmas carols are O Holy Night and We Saw Three Ships (even though that song makes no sense because you could not see ships from Bethlehem).
3) My favorite TV shows are always changing but right now my favorites are Battlestar Galactica (the new ones), Modern Family (I love Cam), and Downton Abbey.
4) I could never pick a favorite movie, or even two or three, but some that I love are Bridesmaids, The Artist, Midnight in Paris, Baby Mama, Moulin Rouge, Everafter, You've Got Mail, Easy A, Juno, It's a Wonderful Life, The Wizard of Oz, The Fiddler on the Roof, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the original, obviously).
5) Some albums I love right now are The Decemberists: The King is Dead and Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues.
5) My Hunter Boots.
6) That perfect moment when it's slightly chilly in your room but you're under enough covers that you feel delightfully cozy.
7) Singing in a choir of other really good people. It is amazing to work together to make beautiful music.
8) Getting snail mail that isn't a bill.
9) Family naps with Ricky and Lucy on a Sunday afternoon.
10) Hats knitted by grandmas.
11) Gallery walls. I love to have tons of framed art and photos on the walls. I'm a highly visually stimulated person. Can't wait until we have bigger rooms with higher ceilings for me to fill (this makes Mhana crazy I'm sure :)).
12) Horseback riding on the beach with my husband (yeah, we did that). So romantic.
So if you got through that you are probably totally sick of me and never want to know another single thing about me. Sorry.
"...I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feeeeeeeel so bad!"
Some of my favorite FEELINGS are:
1) Obtaining a new book. I love to have a new book, whether it was gifted to me, I buy it new or I buy it used, I get so jazzed about it. I'm one of those people who turned up their noses at the Kindle and Nook (those e-reader things). I love to smell and feel the pages of a book. There is something indescribably exhilirating about turning the page to a new chapter--actually turning the page, not sliding your finger accross a screen. I collect books and I read them. Either Ricky or I (or both of us) has read every book we own. We have so many books that we have run out of space for them but I can't help buying another book when I finish one. No offense to the library, I think it's a great thing, especially for children or research, but I love to own my books. I feel comforted in knowing that I can go back and read them any time I want.
2) Finding absolute peace in nature. There are two ways in which I have found great peace in nature, the first is by sitting quietly on the beach by myself, watching and listening to the waves. The second is by quietly walking through a sunlit forest on my own, listening to all of the bird sounds. These two experiences help calm my mind, they help eradicate my constant nagging anxieties. I love to walk with my husband or with my dog or with friends but I also like to go alone sometimes so I can walk at my own pace or linger as long as I need to. Sometimes the beauty of it all brings me to tears. We are so blessed to live in such an extraordinary world.
I am a foodie, and FOODS I love are:
1) Cheese fondue. This is my usual response when I'm forced to say a favorite food. Gruyere, emmentaler, white wine, garlic...I could die. I like to dip apples, french bread, or sausage in it. Thanks Mom for the new fondue set!
2) Really good ice cream. Not just lame stuff you can get at the grocery store. I mean the kind you get at a fancy ice cream place like Molly Moons. My current favorite flavor is Balsamic Strawberry. All ice cream must of course be accompanied by a fresh waffle cone.
3) The Cubano. The best sandwich ever created. A cuban sandwich available only at Paseo. It has delicious bread, slightly crunchy outside and soft inside, cilantro and garlic aioli, pulled pork, lettuce, and jalepenos. Need I say more?
I love all of the ANIMALS and I have a lot of special favorites (aside from Lucy):
1) Whales, any and all, particularly Sperm Whales and Narwhals.
2) Deer. I love deer, especially Mule Deer.
3) Elephants. I love every single elephant ever. Someday I will go to India and ride one.
4) Foxes. I love a red fox, I'm always looking for them in meadows but I haven't been lucky enough to spot one yet.
5) Birds of all shapes and sizes. Among some of my favorites are Barred Owls, Great Blue Heron, and Red-winged Black Birds.
6) Harbor Seals, Giant Pacific Octopuses, Giraffes, and Bumble Bees. Didn't want to take up more space by making each one a separate number. :)
My favorite BOOKS right now are:
1) Harry Potter, for always and forever. I really love the audiobooks read by Jim Dale.
2) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. This book takes you away with magic and mystery. I could not put it down, seriously. If you liked Harry Potter and Water for Elephants and The Illusionist, this book is for you.
3) Jane Eyre, I read it over and over again.
4) Richard Louv's new book The Nature Principle. If I could reccomend only one environmental book to people I would reccomend this one. It is so great. It has wonderful stories and practical advice for everyone living in the virtual age. Please read it.
My favorite FLOWER is the Peony. I chose one!
My favorite Trees are:
1) The Ginkgobiloba tree
2) The English Weeping Birch tree
Some other random favorite things of mine are:
1) The Space Mountain ride at Disneyland. I can't get enough of that one despite the long lines.
2) My favorite Christmas carols are O Holy Night and We Saw Three Ships (even though that song makes no sense because you could not see ships from Bethlehem).
3) My favorite TV shows are always changing but right now my favorites are Battlestar Galactica (the new ones), Modern Family (I love Cam), and Downton Abbey.
4) I could never pick a favorite movie, or even two or three, but some that I love are Bridesmaids, The Artist, Midnight in Paris, Baby Mama, Moulin Rouge, Everafter, You've Got Mail, Easy A, Juno, It's a Wonderful Life, The Wizard of Oz, The Fiddler on the Roof, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the original, obviously).
5) Some albums I love right now are The Decemberists: The King is Dead and Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues.
5) My Hunter Boots.
6) That perfect moment when it's slightly chilly in your room but you're under enough covers that you feel delightfully cozy.
7) Singing in a choir of other really good people. It is amazing to work together to make beautiful music.
8) Getting snail mail that isn't a bill.
9) Family naps with Ricky and Lucy on a Sunday afternoon.
10) Hats knitted by grandmas.
11) Gallery walls. I love to have tons of framed art and photos on the walls. I'm a highly visually stimulated person. Can't wait until we have bigger rooms with higher ceilings for me to fill (this makes Mhana crazy I'm sure :)).
12) Horseback riding on the beach with my husband (yeah, we did that). So romantic.
So if you got through that you are probably totally sick of me and never want to know another single thing about me. Sorry.
"...I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feeeeeeeel so bad!"
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Two Black Bunnies and a Great Big Owl
I know a lot of you are wondering so, yes, I am loving my new job thus far. For those of you who weren't wondering because you didn't know I got a new job and now you are wondering, I am working for Seattle Parks and Recreation at Discovery Park's Nature Day Camp. And I love it.
Discovery Park is amazing; it is one of the places here in Seattle that has really grown on me. I will really miss all 534 acres of it if/when we move away from here. Discovery Park has beaches, forests, meadows and ponds. There are hiking trails, biking trails, and even a lighthouse.
I have my first batch of campers this week--preschoolers! Sometimes working with 4-5 year olds can resemble babysitting a tad more than I'd like, but these kids are pretty smart. They are teaching me practically as much as I'm teaching them. They love to tell me about the Euphorbia plants in their yards, show me the caterpillars they catch, and remind me not to touch the stinging nettle. It's also really funny how attached they can get to people so quickly. It's been three days so far but at the end of day one they were already climbing all over me and thinking I was the coolest person ever. My den (classroom) is the yellow one (each teacher has their own den and each was assigned a color). Each week the kids get to come up with a den name so mine chose the Yellow Caterpillars. One girl wanted to be the Yellow Sea Lemons, which I thought was a-dor-able but the other kids nixed it. So, Yellow Caterpillars, yay!
I work outside every single day, regardless of rain, despite all weather. Earlier this week I saw two black bunnies in the meadow AND a big sleepy owl in a low tree. How cool is that? I feel so lucky that I get to see such wonderful things at my job. It hardly feels like work. I hike, I kid-wrangle, I run, I play, I laugh. By the end of the summer I am going to be fit and tan and happy.
Discovery Park is amazing; it is one of the places here in Seattle that has really grown on me. I will really miss all 534 acres of it if/when we move away from here. Discovery Park has beaches, forests, meadows and ponds. There are hiking trails, biking trails, and even a lighthouse.
I have my first batch of campers this week--preschoolers! Sometimes working with 4-5 year olds can resemble babysitting a tad more than I'd like, but these kids are pretty smart. They are teaching me practically as much as I'm teaching them. They love to tell me about the Euphorbia plants in their yards, show me the caterpillars they catch, and remind me not to touch the stinging nettle. It's also really funny how attached they can get to people so quickly. It's been three days so far but at the end of day one they were already climbing all over me and thinking I was the coolest person ever. My den (classroom) is the yellow one (each teacher has their own den and each was assigned a color). Each week the kids get to come up with a den name so mine chose the Yellow Caterpillars. One girl wanted to be the Yellow Sea Lemons, which I thought was a-dor-able but the other kids nixed it. So, Yellow Caterpillars, yay!
I work outside every single day, regardless of rain, despite all weather. Earlier this week I saw two black bunnies in the meadow AND a big sleepy owl in a low tree. How cool is that? I feel so lucky that I get to see such wonderful things at my job. It hardly feels like work. I hike, I kid-wrangle, I run, I play, I laugh. By the end of the summer I am going to be fit and tan and happy.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The Best Dog in the World
Lucy turned three today. Doggie birthdays are generally bitter-sweet, on the one hand it's their birthday and you get to celebrate them and joy they have brought to your life for x amount of years. On the other hand, dogs have much shorter lives than their dogs and, barring a tragic accident, outlive them. Even though Lucy secretly told me that she would live forever, I still dread her getting older. I picked her out of her litter when she was only 6 weeks old and I knew that we were going to be best friends. I know that some of you non-dog lovers can't relate to this and that's fine but Lucy is my best girl and she will always be my first baby. She has been by my side through a lot of trials and tough times. I hope she knows what a little snuggly blessing she is to me and I hope that she thinks I'm great too.
This one is from the very first day we got Lucy. We got her from a rescue shelter in Yakima, WA, so we had a long drive home to Eugene but she did great.
Lucy's 3rd birthday today! I made her a delicious cupcake with peanut butter, yogurt, applesauce, salted caramel and all the regular stuff. She licked off the frosting and then ate it in one bite!
This one is from the very first day we got Lucy. We got her from a rescue shelter in Yakima, WA, so we had a long drive home to Eugene but she did great.
Lucy's first week at home! How tiny!
Lucy's favorite place ever, the beach! This was when she was still a little bit awkwardly proportioned...
Lucy's first birthday, obviously. What a cutie.
An awesome camping trip we took to Fort Stevens, we had a blast.
Lucy's 3rd birthday today! I made her a delicious cupcake with peanut butter, yogurt, applesauce, salted caramel and all the regular stuff. She licked off the frosting and then ate it in one bite!
Happy birthday Lucy!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Swiss Family Disaster
So I have been putting some older movies onto our Netflix queue just for fun. You know, those movies that you loved as a kid and look back on with fondness. Well, over the weekend we got Swiss Family Robinson in the mail. I had only seen this movie once or twice as a kid and didn't remember it super well but Ricky used to love it. Anyways, it turns out that that is a completely awful movie. The scenes that weren't completely overwhelmed with sexism and animal cruelty were riddled with racism and some pretty graphic violence.
The women in the movie are portrayed as completely helpless ninnies that couldn't possibly do anything for themselves and that are occupied solely by vanity. The two women in the film are completely emotional and get weepy in every other scene. The men on the other hand are able to build a giant treehouse in what appears to be less than a week, capture wild animals, create all sorts of gadgets that the average person would not know how to make, and express all emotions by fighting.
The pirates in the movie are dark-skinned asians, don't speak English, and can't write. They are apparently so dumb that they walk uphill toward huge traps of falling logs that are completely obvious. The Robinson family has absolutely no qualms about stabbing, slicing, shooting, and maiming the pirates at all.
The animal cruelty was the worst part of the movie. The actors are constantly wrangling and riding osteriches, zebras, elephants, etc. As far as horrifying goes, the scene where two big great danes are released on a full-grown tiger and they have a nasty fight takes the cake--way to go Disney. Not.
I guess we won't be watching that one again.
The women in the movie are portrayed as completely helpless ninnies that couldn't possibly do anything for themselves and that are occupied solely by vanity. The two women in the film are completely emotional and get weepy in every other scene. The men on the other hand are able to build a giant treehouse in what appears to be less than a week, capture wild animals, create all sorts of gadgets that the average person would not know how to make, and express all emotions by fighting.
The pirates in the movie are dark-skinned asians, don't speak English, and can't write. They are apparently so dumb that they walk uphill toward huge traps of falling logs that are completely obvious. The Robinson family has absolutely no qualms about stabbing, slicing, shooting, and maiming the pirates at all.
The animal cruelty was the worst part of the movie. The actors are constantly wrangling and riding osteriches, zebras, elephants, etc. As far as horrifying goes, the scene where two big great danes are released on a full-grown tiger and they have a nasty fight takes the cake--way to go Disney. Not.
I guess we won't be watching that one again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)