Down Memory Lane at Paradise Bakery

Several months ago I wrote about what a tough time I had deciding which college to attend. Today I had a delightful lunch with 2 of the people whose friendship reconfirms in my mind that I made the right decision. Back in the early 90's I saw these 2 everyday and sometimes twice a day! They haven't changed too much except Denice now has short hair and Angela's is long. The three of us plus seven others were called to be Executive Officers in the Upsilon Lambda Delta Sigma Sorority. We preferred "Execs". Here is a chart so you don't get lost (I love charts). For 1 year we were in charge of organizing events for about 600-800 University of Utah Co-eds. We worked very, very hard for those months planning Rush, firesides, dances, service projects, parties and more but in between the stress we laughed, teased, played, cried, talked and had a fantastic time being college gals!

Shopping for a few hundred with Jenn and Denice. Fun. And good training for shopping for 5 boys!

All of us were given nicknames by Angela or Anhela. I was Kay-ye. Don't ask me why. Ask Angela. There was also Denicky, Ho, Shoelster, Lawa, Hen, Heeder, and so on. I am amazed I remember that many.

It is a bit of a tricky situation to be an Exec because we are called from our "home" chapter to work with 9 girls from the other chapters. We didn't know each other and we had to rely on each other to do what we were called to do and try to become friends while still planning and carrying out the events. It could have made for an uncomfortable year but it ended up being a fantastic one instead. One memory stands out in my mind that happened right after we were put into office. We were at an LDSSA convention with several other universities up at USU. We had a lot of responsibilities that we were taking care of and all of a sudden we were told 30 minutes before show time that we were in charge of a skit to introduce all of the University of Utah chapters in front of all these other schools. crap. Well we did it. We pulled together a fun, short skit complete with song and dance to introduce our chapters. I remember thinking after that skit that we would do just fine, come what may.

It was quite a learning experience working in that capacity. I had no idea the drama and chaos that can reign when working with that large of a group. Take for instance the fall dance.

A Casual Dance

For years the Lambda Delt officers had done 2 large dances a year. Both Formal. Well we decided that it would be fun to do at least one of the dances casual. Good idea, no? Well apparently it was the most controversial and confusing thing that had ever happened in these girls lives. We had to actually go to 10 different chapter meetings and define casual for them. We had to dress up in a variety of outfits and show them what was acceptable and what was not. We had to reassure them that they could indeed dress for, attend AND enjoy a casual dance. I am sure that it is still living in infamy in the institute as "The Casual DanceDilemma of 1990"! The things that we learned in our different callings changed our lives. For example Jen was in school learning to be and already working as an accountant. She was our treasurer. Now she is a hair stylist. I think trying to maintain a budget for us and train and help 10 chapter treasurers killed the accountant bug for her! Angela is now a high school history teacher and she proceeded to tell me that after a year as the communications officer and doing countless bulletin boards that she will not do them in her classroom. She hates bulletin boards. Here is one that she did and I wish we had a closeup. It is a hundred little cut out people participating in an epic battle. It was a ton of work no wonder she still has a bit of burnout. See? changed her life. Here she is playing a practical joke on me pretending she and Steve were engaged. They even kissed. Ewww. It freaked me out.

It was great to reminisce with these friends about Spring Break (John Carlyle was the 3rd boy Angela) and Disneyland trips and sleeping in the office because it was just ridiculous to go home and then turn around an hour later to come back. It was great to hear what they have been doing lately and to realize that although I don't see them twice a day or even twice a year that I still consider them great friends and my life is better because of them.

It happens...

So the other day I was delivering invitations for a baby shower for one of my favorite people! I handed the invite to one girl in my neighborhood and this is how the conversation went.

Katie: "These are cute. Who made them?"

Me:"Me"

Katie: "No really. Who made them?"

this went on for a minute until I convinced her that I did indeed make them. The conversation ended with...

Katie: "Wow. I had no idea you could do anything so cutesy. With all your boys and all..."

So I am declaring that yes I did grow up thinking of myself as a Tomboy and I did prefer boys and I married a boy/man and I have 5 boys but I like crafts and scrapbooking as much as the next tomboyish girl out there.

Here is proof. In just the last month I made the aforementioned invites for my friend's shower. Cute eh?

Also for Father's Day I stole this idea from Bakerella and made this "Happy Father's Day Happy Meal" So cute. Made out of a brownie, yellow cupcake, colored frosting and sugar cookie strips for the french fries. Darling... but useless for my dieting husband and diabetic father-in-law. My Grandpa loved his however! Thank heavens for Grandpa.

So there. I create. I bake. I scrap. I cutesify!

Not so Ancient History II

I am doing great on my New Year's Resolution to start my personal history. Here it is already week 2 and I am still going strong!

The topic for this week is...

Your first car! How did you get it? What make and model was it? Any fun stories?

My first car was a truck. I think my dad arranged that on purpose. He knew I was going to need something big and beefy to survive. It is truly sad but I have no earthly idea what the make and model were. I wish my dad was alive so I could fill in that little bit of info. I do know it was a lovely shade of burgundy. I drove a burgundy truck.

One of the results of having a truck was that during my senior year I was the designated riser driver for our Madrigal group. The very first time the boys loaded them into the back they just stacked them straight up and therefore the last few risers were hanging over edge of the tailgate. I didn't realize this until I was driving home with Wendy B. I turned the corner and she started screaming that the risers were falling out! I turned to look back at them and apparently I turned the steering wheel as well. I turned back just in time to drive over the curb and ram my right headlight into a big tree!

I distinctly remember watching Wendy bounce up and hit her head on the roof of the truck. I think it broke her clip that she was wearing in her hair. I dropped her off and started to head for home. I had 2 thoughts. The first was I had avoided the wrath of Miss M. (the choir teacher) by not losing the risers out of the back of my truck. Well done on my part! The second thought was it wouldn't do me any good because my dad was going to KILL me.

I got home and as luck would have it Dad was in the garage AND he was holding a hammer. I remember getting out of that burgundy truck and just walking up to him and blurting out. "I hit a tree." He started waving the hammer around and yelling all kinds of questions and I fled into the safety of the house and had a good cry! I did go back later to get some tree pieces for my scrapbook which I have yet to put together.

One year later Dennis was driving my truck home from school at the U and a cute little old man who had no business driving pulled into our lane going about 10 miles an hour. We ran into the back of him going 50. I thought we had killed them! Dennis got out and checked on them to make sure they were ok while I sat in the truck and commenced with the freaking out! After he reported that they were fine I started to face the reality that I was going to have to tell my dad! I think Dennis was thinking about the same thing because we both start pacing up and down the median waiting for the police.

It actually worked out great for me because Dennis dropped me off at work and then went to my house to break the news to my dad. I don't think Dad yelled at him. Dad called me later at work and told me that he was glad that we weren't hurt and that we were much more important than any car or any burgundy truck for that matter. I think I liked that second accident better.

It was a good truck. But obviously not good enought to take a bunch of pictures of to share with you!

Episilon Alpha Tau! (E.A.T)

A few months ago I told you the story of how I ended up attending the U. That day changed my life. I cannot tell you all the blessings that came into my life because of that decision. Many of these blessings enrich my life still to this day!
You see when I arrived at the U that fall I joined a sorority (post for another day). We had an advisor (ditto) who was married to Joe or as we referred to him, The Ultimate Man. He was the advisor for a fraternity called Pi Rho (again for another day) which leads me to the group blessing my life today! One of these Pi Rho boys, Peter, started an dinner group (ala Episilon Alpha Tau or E.A.T. for short) of old fraternity brothers and their wives. Pete at spring break 1988!

I love EAT. We take turns hosting (you pick the restaraunt) and we meet once a month and yet I think we only made about 1/2 the time this year. But that is ok. Come when you can. November and December were 2 of the times I have been there this year! I am so glad I was able to go!

Christmas Party 1999

A few of our EATers about 18 years ago at our Hippy Date Party. These 2 actually got married!

November was the ever anticipated Girls Night. Denice was kind enough to open up her home and several of us gathered there for good treats and wonderful conversations! You know how you feel when you talk with people and are so happy to discover that you are not alone. You know one of those "Yes, I know exactly what you are talking about!" moments. You remember that others worry about what the world is coming to, about their kids, about their future daughter-in-laws, about their mental health! It was one of those evenings where I drove away feeling unburdened (which was amazing considering how much laundry needed to be done) and strengthened and uplifted and encouraged and happy to have such good friends.Christmas Party 2000.

December was a completely different but equally as wonderful event. We met with full families and everyone but 1 family was able to come. (We missed you Dave and Tammy) Denice (I don't know how she ended up doing both) reserved a big bounce house for all of us to destroy for a few hours. The kids couldn't have been happier! And holy cow we have a lot of kids. It is amazing to see the +40 children that were there! I played a game with Howie of try to figure out who is who's kid. I was fascinated by the boys interacting since they are the ones who have been friends for 20 years now! I am lucky enough to have known them that long also so it is fun to be with them! What a great way to kick off the Christmas season! Christmas Party 2008

I Like People!

I do, I really, really do! I like people. Even my kids, despite what they may claim. I remember when I was a teenager I used to think that my parents didn't have many friends and they never understood how important my friends were to me! In my mind they just couldn't relate to my social life. Now I am beginnning to understand... I am becoming like them. I used to have friends and I reconnect with them occasionally. I enjoy reunions and finding old friends online and afternoon visits. I enjoy hearing about their lives and their joys and sorrows and how we are not as different or far apart as we sometimes feel. I love to meet their spouses and go out to dinner and to laugh as we reminisce.I have found that those years between 17-24 are amazing years. I made friends that will last forever (or at least for a long while)! Nowadays I find it almost difficult to make friends. Why? Is it because I am busy with kids or PTA or YW or laundry? I have a few friends who I wish I could know better from my ward or from PTA and I do count them as friends. But the friendships I develop now seem more temporary. These days when these friends move we don't meet up to do dinner, we might check out each others blogs or exchange Christmas cards but that is about the extent of our relationship. Something about being older or being where I am now makes it more difficult to make lasting friendships. Nowadays I do a lot of hanging out with... these gals .... or these guys... or these.What happened to that social girl that I used to be? Sometimes I miss her.

News from Team Rollins!

Hey all! I have been seriously lacking in my blogging duties according to my non-blogger sister, Tricia. She won't ever write one but that doesn't give me the right to not write for a few days! I have missed writing however. Thus you are reading this! Here are some of our going on's and random thoughts.....School started. Or hadn't you heard?

I went with Josh to his first morning of Jr. High. No, I'm not one of those crazy moms but the school is under construction and they wouldn't let anyone in before the first day to find classes or open lockers so most of the 7th graders had someone there helping out. We did go an hour early so nobody would see him with his mommy. It didn't work since all the 7th graders had the same idea! I am happy to announce that we got the locker open. And yes, I did have nightmares about it the night before thank you very much!

Alex started Kindergarten.

I thought he would be a bit more nervous but he was thrilled to be going to school with all the big boys! The first day they have a treasure hunt to find all the different parts of the school. Thanks to so many days working with Mom on PTA stuff he finished that faster than any other child. See! There are benefits flowing left and right for sacrificing a year to PTA! He is going to have a great year especially if the teacher likes NY accents. I'm workin' he'e!

From 6 to 2.

The boys have really missed their cousins. It must have been nice to have a large group of friends/cousins/pals to hang with. They always had someone who was willing to walk with them and laugh with or stick up for them. We all missed those darn kids. I have missed the daily morning phone calls from my mom but I have totally not missed seeing Tricia every day. My kids are the only ones who need someone to talk with , laugh with or stick up for them. Darn those kids. Sniff, sniff. Stupid allergies. Football! Soccer! Basketball! I think that is it besides scouts, YM, piano and viola. Retired president takes on volunteer coordinator, room rep tea and monthly newsletter. I should have just been president again. Sigh.

My Joe! This only one at home punk is such a joy! My mom came to one of Jonathan's soccer games and Joe came running up to give her a hug and after hugging her he looks up at her and says "Grandma, haircut?" OK a couple of things.

1. I was so glad I had already noticed and told her it looked good so I wasn't shown up by my baby. and 2. What 2 year-old notices things like that and comments on it? He has this weird thing with the "fuzzies" (yarn ties) on his blanket. He loves them. He rubs them under his nose when he gets tired. If they fall off the blanket, he stores them in his ear. It is just one of those things that he does. I went to the Stake Enrichment Night where the subject was Avoiding Emotional Burnout. Didn't apply to me but I enjoyed hearing about other peoples busy lives. A few things that the therapist/lecturer mentioned that I liked...

• Our culture must be the only one where not only do we feel guilty for the things we do but the things we don't do!
• Do one thing in your life that brought you joy when you were a little kid.
• Make a Things I accomplished today list at the end of the day instead of just a to do list every day.
• If you have a hard time saying "No" say instead "Let me get back to you" then get up the courage to say no and get back with them.
• We had a fun night with some of our EAT friends. The Hallman's hosted and after dinner we went back to their house for peaches and ice-cream. Dave and I stayed way, way too late and it reminded me of my college days hanging out until all hours of the night after Home Improvement! Thanks Joe and Anita!