18 ! 18 ! 18 !

Have you ever thought about the number 18. It's beautiful to look at. It was a beautiful age. And it's the Number of miles I ran today. Oh wait. Did I say 18. I meant 18.2. You probably can't see it, but this number is followed by an expression of such pride on my face as has never been seen in these parts. 7 months ago, I felt this victorious after 3. It's amazing what you can do, when you simply decide that you can. MANY MANY Thanks to Amy B. and Kristie B. without whom I would sleep in on Saturdays, but never feel this amazing. Thanks for getting me out of bed girls.

Self Portrait

Okay, I'm Playing. Here's an updated in the mirror self portrait.

I'm starting to get crows feet and my brows sure need a waxing. But this is what I see each Morning when I wake and you know what? I like it better now than I did 15 years ago. Go figure. Maybe because I have 15 more years of wisdom, maturity and experience. We can only hope.

Breaking Dawn Review

Well, it's no secret that I'm not a huge fan of Stephanie Meyer, and yet, as addictions always go, I was unable to resist the temptation to read Breaking Dawn. I'll be up front, I didn't like it that much.

I feel like the best stuff from this series came in Books 1& 2 with a caveat that I was enthralled by the Pack's historical narrative from Eclipse. At best, I felt that it was anti-climatic. At worst I felt like it didn't sufficiently answer the ultimate question-- WHY WAS BELLA SO IMPERVIOUS TO EVERYONE-- (spoiler alert) I get that she was a shield. Doesn't work for me. What about the fact that she couldn't stand the cold. All evidence pointed to somethng more incredible than just being a shield. There was never any evidence that Alice or edward or anyone else had their gifts before their change, except maybe Carlisle (having been a doctor before being changed). I expected Bella to be an entirely new mythological creature, like a witch,perhaps, or maybe even something good, like a Phoenix. Was author trying to say that we all have amazing gifts that will be magnified if we become vampires? How about the more accurate truth that our gifts are from God and will be Magnified when we are faithful and use them for good. HMMMMMM?!!!

I've made no secret of my opinions about the appropriateness of this for children. In fact, I've heard (hearsay, not based in fact. Legal disclaimer) that she asked people not to let their pre-teens read this book and I know from a very reliable source, that after reading BD upon release, Scholastic had to remove it from their recommended reads because its content was considered too mature for schools. HALLELUJAH!!! The voice of Reason.

BTW: This poster will hopefully scare off every young girl that even considered watching the movie. YUCK!!!!

Steph W. are you out there?

Steph, I noticed you commented on Yon Blog. I've lost your e-mail and had to E-mail your hubby to get info. What's your blog?????

NOTHING TO SAY

OK, nothing of any import is going on, but at the risk of getting in trouble for NUMB (that's Not Updating My Blog)I thought I'd better write something so you'd know I hadn't disappeared off the face of the earth. In honor of nothing really to say, I could give you the main points of my lesson on the title of liberty, or tell you about Back To School Night, or how my book fair's been pushed up 3 months or how Stake Standards night went or how I'm running 18 miles on Saturday, or how My throat's been hurting the past few days and I have consequently been watching an inordinate number of decorating shows (cannot move off the couch) or how we are knee-deep in pre-algebraic concepts and the archaic random sampling some teachers call grading, or how I have to hem the costumes of Secret Garden Soldiers (Nightmare) or cannot conquer Mt. Washmore for the LIFE OF ME.

It reminds me of that time in 9th grade when all my artsy theatrical friends aced the playwriting assignment by doing numerous vignettes of people doing mundane tasks, but had no plot or flow or cohesiveness and called it "nothing" and then showed another whole set of people doing nothing and called it "something".... OH NO!!!!!!! My life is an exercise in existentialism.

LAGOOOOOON!!!

Okay, true to form, we went to Salt Lake/ Lagoon for our family reunion and it's about a month later that I'm getting around to posting pictures. Of course it wouldn't be a Jensen Themepark visit without the Matching Shirts. The only Thing missing? Russ and Raimee and Girls. We missed them a ton. The following is a list of the 5 tips for a successful theme park visit with many children based on my very limited, but happy experiences.
1. TAKE GRANDMA or GRANDPA-- This one is key. Since Grandma is not terribly interested in losing her cookies on the Colossus, she makes a very nice home base for children that are under the mandatory 48 inches, or might need a nap, or are just plain chicken

2. Have an Uncle Ron, who has really great taste in food, bring the cooler full of lunch

3. BUY 5 GPS Tracking Dots, (need I say more)

4. WATER, WATER, WATER, and SNACKS SNACKS SNACKS

4. LIGHTEN UP AND HAVE FUN-- Do you Remember the scrambler and the paratroopers from when you were a kid? I do. The only thing missing was the Round-Up. I felt like a little kid all over again. Priceless.

TAG TIME3 Joys
1. My KIDDOS
2. Roberto
3. MUSIC

3 Fears
1. Children Drowning
2. Way too many stupid things that never come to pass anyway
3. Being Unprepared and all the variations that come with it, especially classes.

3 Obsessions/collections
1. Running :: UGH!!!!!!(an obsession, yes. A healthy one, prob not)
2. Remodeling yonder house
3. Old-fashioned Rusty iron keys

3 Facts
1. I'm older than I look, pushing 40 even
2. I still love John Denver but am rethinking my 20-something Donny obsession
3. I'm not the only person who thinks Bella is a whiny, immature, anti-role model.

OVER MY HEAD!!!!

So, about a year and a half ago when my plate was feeling manageable, I agreed to be PTA president-elect for my friend who was going to be the president the coming year. The problem with such ahead-of-time committing is that you can't really foresee what might hit you and by that time, BAM!!! you're committed. So I am now the PTA president for Amy and Maggie's School. It really isn't that big of a deal, because the school is such a well-oiled machine and Principal doesn't need much. Nevertheless, I am feeling just a tad overwhelmed.

Because I needed a little comic relief, and I thought you might need it too, I'm including one of my favorite poems that exemplifies how I feel.

The Girl is a Whirl
Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do, If you only knew how.
I study the scriptures one hour each day;

I bake,
I upholster,
I scrub, and I pray.

I always keep all the commandments completely;
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.

I help in their class rooms!
I sew all they wear.
I drive them to practice.
I cut all their hair!

I memorize names of the General Authorities;
I focus on things to be done by priorities.

I play the piano,
I bless with my talents.
My toilets all sparkle.
My checkbooks all balance.
Each week every child gets a one-on-one date.
I attend all my meetings; on time--never late.
I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all..Oh, no, that is not all!

I track my bad habits 'til each is abolished;
Our t-shirts are ironed,
My toenails are polished.

Our family home evenings are always delightful.
The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.
I do genealogy faithfully, too.
It's easy to do all the things that I do!

I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;
I know all the names of each youth in my Stake.

I read to my children,
I help all my neighbors.
I bless the community, too, with my labors.

I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;
My visiting teaching is done the first day.
I also go do it for someone who missed hers.
It's the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.


I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
I seek each "lost lamb" on my Primary roll.
I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh, no, that is not all.

I write in my journal.
I sing in the choir.
Each day, I write "thank you's" to those I admire.

My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen.
My kids get straight A's,
And their bedrooms are clean.

I have a home business to help make some money.
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.

I go to the temple at least once a week.
I change the car's tires,
I fix the sink's leak.

I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread.
I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.
I make sure I rotate our two-year's supply,
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!

These things are not hard;
It's good if you do them.
You can if your try,
Just set goals and pursue them!

It's easy to do all the things that I do!
If you plan and work smart, you can do them all too!
It's easy!" she said...
and then she dropped dead.


Vicky Gunther