Bringing in the New Year

I spent New Year's with some amazing people. I found myself sitting back, observing and feeling grateful to be a part of it all. Between a healthy dinner, an energy circle to welcome in the New Year, African dancing and drumming and creating vision boards, I think I've pretty much found the best group of Mormon hippies around!


Me and Dave relaxing by the fireplace.

The brave souls going out for a night hike....I wasn't one of them.

I also wasn't part of the early morning yoga group. Instead, I guiltlessly slept in until 11am.

This is Keva's adorable little brother Kent creating his vision board.

The artists painting their visions for 2008.

OK, even though I hate the cold, I have to admit, this is beautiful.

A candlelight dinner for 21.

Heather crocheting, Nicole napping and me playing with my hair.

John, Crystal and Melanie inspired me to learn to play the African Drums this year.

Emily and Melanie inspired me to wish I was an African dancer, but experience has told me I'm better off observing.

So, that was New Year's 2008. I've been meaning to sit down and create some intentions for this year. Now that my dog has gone to bed, I think it is time.

Christmas 2007

Miraculously, I enjoyed Christmas this year. Maybe it was the meds I'm on that helped me take my energy off of my own troubles and put it to better uses. Perhaps it was because of my sweet dog who came home with me and got spoiled for Christmas. Or it could have been due to a conscience decision I made to stay focused on Christ this season and forego all of the needless shopping, decorations, and traditions of Christmas. I think it was a combination of all of that and maybe more. I can't say that I loved the holidays this year, but at least I can say that I didn't hate them and feel depressed! One step at a time........



For years, I've been wanting our family to do something special for someone else rather than spend excessively on each other. Thanks to my sister Marlo, I had the opportunity to participate in giving Christmas to a family that really needed it. It wasn't so much the presents they needed, but the feeling that people cared about them. I watched my dad dress up in his Santa costume and go knock on the door of this humble family. Although, he wasn't sure how he'd be received, he opened his heart to them and they felt it. They could hardly speak as we brought arm loads of presents and food into their front room. My dad was as choked up as they were, so the whole event was completed in near silence, but in awesome respect and love for each other. I felt the spirit of Christmas, as well as a great love for my family who I shared that special moment with. It always impresses me to see people reaching out to love their brothers and sisters in whatever way they can. I'm so grateful for people who take action. Thanks, Marlo, for letting us get involved.


Dad in his Santa suit. What a jolly old elf.





This is my dog's first jacket given to him by Marlo and her kids.

D'Ogee will stay dry in his raincoat thanks to Joanna.

And if he ever gets asked to the prom, at least he'll have something to wear.

Chelsee likes to make weird faces. For such a cute little girl, she sure can look scary!
What a ham. I pity the boy who messes with her!

December trips

This month I've enjoyed a couple of trips to nearby destinations. Traveling is so therapuetic for my winter despising soul. I don't know how I could get through winter without it.

My first outing was a bit of an adventure. I went to Colorado to visit a boy I had met online only a week before I booked a flight. I don't know where I get this romantic idealism, but as much as I try to ignore it, it often gets the best of me. His name is Barrett, and he's getting a Masters in Fine Arts in Boulder, CO. He's very liberal, artsy, eccentric and forward. For some reason, that attracted me. We had a fun 4 days together. He introduced me to a whole new side of theater that I'd never experienced before. He was sweet, chivalrous, thoughtful and fun. In spite of that, I'm clear that we're not right for each other, but I consider him a friend and I'm glad we met.

Two weeks later I went to San Diego with my friend Aline and stayed with my favorite couple, Jamie and Adam Hale. Aline and I were soooo happy to be in the sun even though it was freezing at night. We got a few hours of good sun in during the day, and just being able to walk along the beaches made us both very happy.

While in San Diego, Jamie and Adam introduced me to a guy who they thought might be a good match for me. I first met him at church on Sunday, and Jamie invited him over that night for dinner with us. He came with his 3 year old daughter Ella and a plate full of home made chocolate chip cookies. We seemed to have a good connection. Unfortunately, Aline and I had to leave to catch our plane, so we had to cut the conversation short.

I didn't hear from him again until just yesterday. I had pretty much decided he wasn't interested, but then out of the blue, he calls to to tell me he's in town and wanted to take me to lunch. I took him to One World Cafe. It was nice to sit and converse with him, and I admit, it was nice to stare at him, too, while he talked. :P He's really cute. Here's a pic I swiped off of his on-line profile. Is that stalking?

His name is John. His full time job is training for the Olympics in race walking. I never even knew there was such an event, but it's quite interesting to talk to him about it. Unfortunately, he's in the middle of a divorce which won't be final until March, so I can only hope for friendship at this point. He said he'd call me the next time he was in town, so we'll see. It probably won't amount to anything, but still, it's fun to pretend.

Blood Diamonds

I haven't been able to stop crying for the past 30 minutes. I'm giving myself a headache. My heart feels like it's being crushed with sadness after watching the movie "Blood Diamonds." The reason is because it's a true account of the darkest side of human kind, and it is happening somewhere in the world even in this very moment. War, anger, hate, greed, pride....all consuming the human spirit, turning our children into heartless machines, corrupting the innocent and turning brothers against one another. "Blood Diamonds" exposes the exploitation of Africans for diamonds, but that is just one of many of the malidies in this insane world of ours. Tears flooded my eyes as I considered the overwhelming amount of pain and suffering in our world, and the incredible reality that there are people who have completely detached from their spirit to the point that they are unaffected by hurting others.
I cried to Heavenly Father, feeling completely helpless. It is in this space that I feel especially grateful for Jesus Christ. Even though this world is all messed up and justice doesn't always get served the way it should, Christ will make sure that one day those who were good in their hearts receive their just reward. That is my only comfort right now.
I am also grateful for those who do take a stand for a cause, who get involved, who care and love and do their part to make a difference. I rub shoulders with many of them. It is an honor. Thank you, God, for people who care.

Thanksgiving '07

Sometimes I really enjoy going home. Other times, it's a little too chaotic. This year I had a lot of fun with fam over Thanksgiving. Here's me with Clancey and Zaharah and an overgrown psychotic rat that has a strange resemblence to my dog.


Marlo's kids presented mom and dad and me with a lovely puppet show on Thanksgiving morning. Much better than watching the Thanksgiving parade.

These are puppets made by Zac and Zaharh. That's obviously a bunny, a moose and a....brown....bear?


Clancey's contribution to the puppet show.

Mocktail Party

Friday night's Mocktail party was a smashing success. I wowed myself and my friends by transforming my living room into a cocktail lounge. I drug out all of my tables and chairs, stools and plant stands and turned them into cozy nooks and inviting spaces for congretating with friends. The candles, low lights and lounge music all added to the effect.

My friend Heidi organized it with me and had the martini glasses stacked neatly on the hors' derve table, complete with square napkins, frozen fruit and olives to add to the cocktails.

We women got to pull out our sexiest little party dresses and get all dolled up. The men cleaned up well, too. Some even went to great measures to fit the part.

The purpose was to meet new people, and when I say new people, I mean men. So, each girl was invited to bring one or two quality men with her to introduce to new her friends. We had a great crowd. Lots of neat people. Not sure if there was any love connections made, but it was a unique experience and everyone enjoyed it.

The next theme party.....ugly sweaters. Stay tuned!

Halloween 2007

Although Halloween signifies the beginning of all of the winter holidays that I hate, I usually really enjoy this day. Dressing up has always been a highlight. This year I attended a huge dance party dressed as a pink fairy. It was a cheap costume I threw together a few years ago and since I didn't get around to shopping for a new costume, I decided to pull it out again. Wish I had taken a picture to post. I learned that men respond really well to pink. Maybe it signifies the epidome of femininity or....maybe I just showed too much skin. Either way, I got a lot of attention that night and a couple of dates out of it. One from a Chipendale dancer and another from a pimped out guy wearing a box full of candy tied around his hips that was conveniently situated right over his package. I don't know which one I trust less. :p


Prior to the party, I took some of my African friends trick or treating and dressed them up in all the mismatched costumes I've collected over the years. The loved it. Unfortunately, the only pictures i got were from my cell phone. They're not the greatest, but you'll get the idea.



The booty.



I had a bit of a challenge convincing this boy to put on that wig and that dress.



Elvira


This little one is a butterfly who's wings I pulled off and put in the trunk of my car so they wouldn't get destroyed. But, I'm sure you could already tell that from the red wig, pink bows and yellow boa.