Turns out

I need to blog more. It seriously took me about ten minutes to remember what my stupid login was.

It also turns out that I should not take three hour naps on Sunday because then I am awake at 11:30 browsing paperbackswap.com. Yes, I am a total dork and a cheap one at that but I love it. You post books (paperback and hard cover) online, then other people post theirs, you can order posted books, and you get credits when people order yours. The only cost is shipping to the people that order from you via media mail which is usually around $2 a book.

And the randomness of this catch-all post begins...

Speaking of PBS (that's what we insiders-- read: cheap dorks-- call it), right now I am reading Undaunted Courage about the Lewis and Clark expidition. A few months ago I got the PBS Documentary (like as in the Public Broadcasting Service, not the free book place)on the Corps of Discovery by Ken Burns. I watched it beginning to end twice (big feat if you know anything about me and movies) and I've been hooked ever since.

I also just finished In the Wilderness by Kim Barnes, a professor at the University of Idaho. It was a great book, and made me miss the Palouse more than I thought I ever would...

Anyways, I've gotten all my words out.

Jammin!

It's pretty much a miracle. I made jam this weekend, and even managed to can it myself with minimal damage. Well, minimal in my terms. A chunk out of my left index finger, a burnt right pinkie and an unfortunate incident that led to a smoldering potholder on a burner. All in all, pretty good day. Now we'll just have to see how it tastes!

Deid Tagged me

Four Jobs I’ve held:

1. Legislative Director

2. Intern, Senate

3. Child Advocate, ATVP

4. Program Staff, Camp Sawtooth

Movies I can watch over and over:

1. Sleepless in Seattle

2. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

3. Pretty Woman

4. Christmas Vacation

Places I’ve lived:

1. Alexandria, VA

2. Moscow, ID

3. Bristol, UK

4. Parma/Wilder, ID

T.V. Shows I enjoy:

1. The Office

2. The News

3. Jeopardy

4. Antiques Roadshow

Places I have been on vacations to:

1. Paris

2. Florida (a couple of times)

3. Oregon Coast (Countless times)

4. Palm Springs, CA

Favorite foods:

1. Desserts

2. Coffee (its a food group to me)

3. Pears

4. Pasta

Websites I visit:

1. Senate/House.gov

2. Google News

3. RealClear Politics

4. Prairie Home Companion

Places I’d rather be right now:

1. McCall, ID

2. Parma, ID

3. With my family

4. Basically anywhere in the western US.

Uhh, all my blog friends already did the survey. I am a dead end!

Not gonna lie

I'm kind of scared about tomorrow's road trip.
I am going to the ribbon outlet. Yes, you heard me right an outlet, for ribbon. A close friend is getting married in a few weeks and needs help tying up loose ends (haha), so its off to run errands and find the perfect shade of pink!
Hope I dont barf.

Just Be

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.
Henri Nouwen, Out of Solitude

I think that this quote says it all. In the last 5 months or so I've lost 3 immediate family members and one close family friend. Through it all my friends have been there, and for the past 5 days I've tried to be that friend. It's hard to even describe my feelings, grieving myself and watching a family far different from my own mourn at the same time. I've definitely learned that there are times when it's important to just be a constant presence while people feel their loss, or as my friend Adam would say "just be."

Memorial Day

My childhood home was about 1/4 mile from a small country cemetary down a dirt road coming from a field right behind our little white farm house. When my parents were home my younger brother, who I call Bud, and I were allowed to play out in the field and walk just as far as the cemetary to play in the dirt and take the dogs for a walk.
One spring, when I was 7 and Bud was 4 we went on an adventure to the cemetary. Yes, kids, unsupervised, in a cemetary. I know. It was a different time. And, in all fairness to my mother, well over half the people in the small cemetary were proabably relatives. We were sure there wasn't a funeral, because if there was we would have been at the services. Welcome to Idaho.
But anyways. We walked to the cemetary, and noticed that there were new flowers everywhere. Wreathes, boquets, and some people even had potted plants. At this point Bud and I picked our favorites. He liked the blue ones, and I liked some white and yellow ones with a big bow. Then we remembered what mom said about sharing and decided it was really unfair that some people didn't get anything. What great kids we were. Mmmhmm.
The next thing I remember was looking up from the task at hand to a very red-faced mom. That's how you knew (and still know) mom's pissed. Red face, tight lips, and that look. You know the look. Every mom has the look. Mom drove down to the cemetary to find her darling children distributing all flowers evenly among the graves. The best part was that she couldn't even tell where to put what back, because to be more organized we piled all of the flowers in the middle of the graveyard before dividing! After the inital 20 seconds of shock, I think my dear mother realized that there was no fixing this situation. She just shook her head, laughed, and let us finish.
I guess that somedays when the mess seems un-fixable you just have to find the humor in the rediculousness. Plus, who comes to visit the cemetary right AFTER Memorial Day anyways, right? (I hope).

Walk with Jesus

My mother is addicted to her camera phone. Rarely does a day pass that I don't recieve at least one picture from Mom. Yesterday it was a new coffee table, and the clock she had my uncle hanging in her living room. The holidays are always particularly interesting, especially last Halloween at my grandma's alzheimer's care facility with all of the funny old people who dressed up in costumes and wigs while painting pumpkins. My Mom cannot figure out how to set up the phone's speed dial, but somehow she caught on to the camera. And sends me amusing photos from home every day.

This is today's gem. There's nothing like a little highway evangalism from small-town Idaho.

My other favorite sign is probably the "Experienced Boner Wanted" sign from the local butcher shop. I wish I saved that one to share! Maybe the Boner will quit his job, and they'll have to advertise again. I'll tell Mom to keep an eye out. If he doesn't quit maybe I can get one of his business cards.