putting things away

I haven't always had the habit of putting things away - away to where they properly go.  I am really good at moving things.  From spot A to spot B to spot C, but never to spot this-is-where-you-belong.  Examples:

When brushing my teeth I pull the toothpaste out of the cupboard and then set it on the edge of the sink or the counter.  It may sit there for a while - then when I "organize" I put it back in the cupboard where I originally got it.

When removing shoes I leave them where I remove them.  Which usually isn't in the shoes-go-here location.

I'll put a dirty pan from one side of the sink to the other.

The bag of almonds that I just got out of the cupboard is placed on the counter and left there.

Socks left on the bathroom floor, coat draped over the back of the couch, magazine lying open on the floor where I was when last reading through it...

I think you get the picture.

While you are getting the picture - please note that I am a clean person and not some loathing pig in the mire.  It's just that while I have been quite clean - I have not always been extremely neat. And for my mom's sake - I will say that she did teach us kids to put things back (she's nodding her head right now and saying, "yes I did!!!")

I have been noticing over the past year that it seemed like I was always organizing, always putting things back from spot A-Z, always cleaning.  It seemed that's all I did with my life!  Enough.

So over the past month or so - since I moved to my new chez - I have been rather vigilant in this area of my life.  I have been putting things back where they belong - and doing it promptly and consciously.  I have been neat.  It is such a relief and it only takes five extra steps here - two more minutes there - one brain cell more in being just that much more disciplined.  And I am finding that I am cleaning and organizing and arranging less and less and less.  It's like a revelation.  Now one thing that I do believe, in order to be neat, is that everything needs a place where it does actually belong or it will always be left out - moved around - etc.  So ample storage space is necessary and then being neat and organized within that storage space is vital as well.  It's no good to open a drawer or a cupboard door or your closet and find a disarray of who-knows-what.  Sure, we have all stuffed our piles of clothes under the bed as someone coming to visit just pulled up outside, or pushed all that nonsense that's all around the front room into the nearest closet, hoping that during the visit you won't need to access that space.  Maybe you haven't done this, but I surely have!

But I am happily a changed person - and it's great.  I am not perfect at it yet - but just give me a few more weeks of consistently and consciously restoring everything to it's proper place and then I still won't be perfect at it - but I will be that much closer.



 ***And if you have more stuff then space....maybe you should consider reversing that.  Time to de-junk or creatively create more space.***

Monday Monday Monday

I am feeling very unsettled and a bit frustrated this morning - not an enjoyable way to start off a day or a week.  And my frustrations stem from no one or no where else except myself. 

Frustration #1:  I had a great class last semester at BYU - 15 students.  And as I have just finished grading their finals - I am quite impressed with the results of every single person.  That makes me feel positive about how and what I did with the class time for the past 4 months - but I did pretty horrible in others areas - mostly the administrative area (like grades and stuff like that).  I fell behind far too often on these matters and it's not very becoming of a college adjunct professor.  That frustrates me.

I start with a new class, as in a different subject - a week from tomorrow, with twice as many students.  Huh.  I have a chance to do better administratively, but at the same time - I am having to learn a whole new syllabus, curriculum, assignments, how to fill 2.5 hours of class time, etc - which is what sucked up all my time last semester, hence the administrative side suffered.  Sigh.  

Frustration #2:  I recently reconnected with a dear friend - one of the most important friendships that I have had to date.  The kindred connection that once tied us closely seemed like it has dissipated into a somewhat formal friendship.  I pretend like I don't care, but it does hurt.

Frustration #3:  I have trouble waking in the mornings.  I hate staying in bed too late.  But mornings are so hard for me and have been for a while.  There's no one to rouse me or tell me how ridiculous it is that I am still in bed, so I stay there all tired-like.  That is super frustrating.  I really can get out of bed in the mornings just fine, even quite early - I just need a little help.

Frustration #4:  I am still feeling bleck from being sick over the weekend.

Frustration #5:  I could go on, but I won't.  It's probably healthy to release some frustrations - but not make everything that is bothering you at the moment into a frustration - then it all just escalates and I really don't need to live with a magnifying glass under my nose.  I just need a dose of some good fight in me.  Not so that I can beat stuff up - but just so I can keep going - like Kate Bush told me this morning - I know you have a little life in you yet, I know you have a lot of strength left.  Oh - I need some of that. 


Although - I wouldn't mind a deep hot pink punching bag and some gloves to match.    
 

Christmas Day

I am sure the shepherds had it - after all, they were up all night and generally live exposed to the elements.

Joseph must have been exhausted by the long journey to Jerusalem, so his immune system must have been down.  I am sure he had it too.

The wise men, even with all their spices and wisdom probably couldn't keep from catching it.

And Mary - goodness....she must have had it the worst.  So tired and worn out!


***

I have had a ragged cough that has been journeying with me the last few weeks - this morning it decided to take it to the next level.  You know, step it up a notch.  More sore of a throat, body a bit warmer than usual, fatigue...  Bleck. 

I just wanted to fit in with the Christmas story!

Tomorrow I am knocking it off it's podium.  Christmas will be over after all.

pointe shoes

She was a dancer and I remember watching her leave to and come from ballet class each week - always with a look of longing as I watched her pink ballet bag and the toe shoes that were inside.  That is among my most vivid memories of my oldest sister -

I knew her as a ballerina.

What a beautiful word.

I started dancing at the age of 9*: tap, jazz and ballet.  I did that trio for two years before switching strictly to ballet.  I studied at the same studio that my sister had studied at.  I went each week with my best friend, Amie.  I loved it.  I loved being a ballerina and loved being surrounded by the older girls in the dressing rooms that had more experience and hoping that someday, I could be like them.

Black leotards, pink tights with a seam running up the back of each leg, soft slippers, hair pulled back tight with bobby pins and hairspray.  The bar, the mirror walls, stomachs in and shoulders relaxed.

I loved it all.

 I made it to pointe.  I remember shopping for toe shoes with my mom at the studio's store before Christmas break.  It would mean more classes, expensive shoes and dedication.  I was excited, but due to the Christmas break we decided to wait on purchasing the shoes until after wards, when classes started up again.

At that point I was offered a choice - continue with ballet on my toe shoes, or take violin lessons.  One or the other.

I chose the violin.

I don't think my parents ever knew the real reason of why I decided to make the change.  I was a growing girl - nearly 13 - and I was developing earlier than my friends and fellow dancers.  I was beginning to feel self-conscious of my figure in a leotard and was afraid of being made fun of.  So I left.  And I am of course sorry for it.  Gosh - I even get a little emotional now just thinking about it.  However, I do love the violin.  I have started playing again (the cello as well!) and I am happy for the 9 plus years I played.  But I miss the dance floor.

I would like to get back into some pink tights with a black cotton leotard, some slippers and my hair pulled back.  Maybe it's not too late to still make it to pointe and not just make it - but stay there for a while.  I don't think it's too late.**

***

*Mom, was I younger when I started?

**Ally - if you lived closer, and had time, we could take ballet together.  We would be fab in the same class, it isn't even funny.

***I jump/dance on a mini-trampoline for about 30 minutes many mornings.  I do mostly funky, random - nonsensical stuff.  But sometimes I pretend I still am a ballerina. :)

James

"Hello James!"

"Heyyyy baby!  You know I love you, girl!  You know I do!  Baby, you are sooo gorgeous - never change my darling, never do. I LOVE you girl, forever!"  [to be read with some soul and some rasp].

James is the neighbor of my sister, who lives in Sugarhouse.  He's a soulful man in his 60's whose skin is dark as chocolate and whose voice reflects his smoking habit.  We befriended each other at the beginning of November and it's always a pleasure to see him as I am coming and going from my sister's place.  I do look forward to it. 

He makes my day.  Yes, he does.  Dear James.
 

Sleep

Sleep. 

Sleep is what I want.

I haven't been able to fall asleep until around 2am.....sometimes 4am and it is starting to show.

It's been like this for 1-2 weeks and I am exhausted of it.

I hope it is exhausted of me.

So.  I am going to take my nightly bubble bath right now (10:21pm; and yes, I did say nightly) and hope that I fall readily asleep and stay that way for a good eight hours. 

Wish me luck.

It's Party Time

It's Saturday, December 19th and I am planning a party.  A Christmas party!

Music: Check (Christmas tunes, of course)
Dinner Menu: Check (Creamy potato soup and rolls; crackers & cheese ball with a veggie platter - a great winter evening meal to feed a number of people)
Dessert Menu: Check (Once I let people know - attendees shall bring one plate of Christmas Cheer to share)
Attendees: Check (Family mostly with a few additions)
Activities: Mostly Check (How many green and red peanut M&M's are in the jar, fishing for presents for those 7 and under, and other random activities that do NOT require group coordination...no schedule at this party)
Drinks: Check (Wassail, Egg Nog, Hot chocolate, Party Punch)
Date: Check - this coming Monday
Enthusiasm: Check, check, check

12 days of Christmas

So I know I have passed the official mark to start the 12 Days of Christmas, but I just had an idea that I am going to implement and I am inviting all of you to join with me.  Tra-la-la-la-laaa-la-la-la-la. 

It's going to be awesome.

A bit ago I was reading a post on me muthers blog about Dr. Jack McConnell.  I was very moved by his character and how he has chosen to live his life - by making a conscience effort to help others.  "And what have you done for someone today?"  This is what McConnells father would ask his family at suppertime around the dinner table (I am a big fan of families eating dinner together - it makes a difference).  And so McConnell was raised with the mentality that a part of life is daily helping others.

So for the remainder of the 12 Days of Christmas - I am going to start the day by asking, "And what will I do for someone today?" and I shall end the day with, "And what have I done for someone today?"  My twelve Days won't be dedicated to one individual, but to whomever needs help - and I am planning on these Days of Christmas to carry over in to a New Years resolution - join me on that one too!

Who's in?    

Spirit of the Season

Today was a great day - a fantastic Christmas-season day.  Were it not for the cheery holidays, December would have the potential of being a cold and cruel month indeed. 

But it is not - and I am happy for that.

Tonight was my ward Christmas Party.  The dress was semi-formal, and since I love getting ready to go out and to a party in heels - I was especially excited about tonight. 

Live jazz music throughout the evening, wonderful food and plenty of it, hundreds of people chatting and gabbing and laughing, goofy pictures being taken semi-professionally, and joining together in Christmas song is what the night centered around.  It was so much fun!

Part of Christmastime is about being surrounded by those you love and care for - and if possible...great food.  I am planning a couple of parties and planning on attending others this season just so I can be surrounded by those very people.

So here's three cheers for Christmas! 

The Decor

 

This year instead of getting a tree, I am not getting a tree.

:)

There is a small fake one in my garage in a box from who knows - but I would rather NOT have a tree than have a fake one. 

I don't think that's picky.

So I strung all my ornaments out on a line.  Several lines.

Don't mind the little pieces of scotch tape keeping them in their place.  I haven't trimmed them all off yet.

What I need now are clear ornament hangers instead of the little metal kind.  Then they would really look surreal.

Alexei Yagudin

We were enthralled, enchanted, obsessed... and watch his "Overcome" routine over and over and over for the following several YEARS.

ALWAYS At 1:33 we would all scream and shrill like school girls, you know, the kind who shrill at anything really.  We would rewind, watch, scream for joy...rewind, watch, scream for joy....rewind, watch, scream for joy.  Repeat that three more times.  Or three hundred.

Alexei's artistry and soul captured us as his prisoners, and I am sure we ranked among his biggest fans.

I can't even count how many times we have reenacted minutes 2:59-3:04!  And the heart beating poetic motions at 3:19 - and I musn't leave out the movements at 3:27.  And....

So here's to all of my beloveds: Bethany, Kimberly, KK - was Nat as obsessed or did she just roll her eyes at us?  And even though my dad wasn't an avid watcher - I am sure he remembers this phase we went through as it would be very late and we would be trying to contain ourselves just feet from his bedroom as he tried to sleep.  Cheers to us who have watched and screamed too many times.  Let's do it again, shall we?  Somebody find the tape!  This YouTube video DOES NOT DO IT JUSTICE.

For the rest you commoners....here's what we raved about - and still do!

Why it's so great having brothers...

...the reminders they leave around

so you always remember that they are close by.

Letter of Recommendation

I just finished writing my first letter of recommendation!  It was a great experience and I had a lot of fun with the adjectives, which in my mind, are key when it comes to letters of recommendation. 

I teach an evening class once a week at BYU - and my wonderful TA needed this letter for an event he is wanting to attend next semester.  He has been great to work with, so I had no problems or gliches in coming up with a great recommendation.  I wish he was my TA for next semester.

I just got a phone call from an old friend of four-plus years - and now I have a date booked for Saturday.  My Saturdays have proved to be successful in the dating arena as of late!  May they continue to be so. 

From a friend

I got this from a friend.  Just passing it on to all you readers here in Utah.

"To all friends in Utah: A group of families decorated a lacrosse-themed tree at the Festival of Trees in honor of my younger brother Blake & his friend Derek Jasper, who were killed by a drunk driver in April, and Hayden Housel, who played lacrosse with Blake at Bingham and died in September. The Festival is open to the public this Wed. - Sat., 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the South Towne Expo Center. Tix are $4/adults, and all proceeds are donated to Primary Children's Medical Center. If you're able to go, check out our tree. It's in aisle D. At auction time, donations to the package put it's value at nearly $2000. For more info on the festival:

http://festivaloftreesutah.com/