Thirtieth Birthday Party Part Uno

Ok people. This is serious business.

Someday in the next two years I turn 30.
My philosophy about turning 30 is this: Do it in style! BIG FUN STYLE.

You think I'm joking?
I'm not.
I've been warning The Rock about my 30th for a few years now already. Because, the party is going to be BIG.

I find the best way to get myself to follow through with crazy schemes is to tell a lot of people, and then I start to feel sort of committed. (Ok, that's not really what I usually do because I'm not big on actually following through on my crazy schemes). But, this time, I sort of got carried away with joking about my 30th birthday, and now it's sort of catching on. You know, becoming a community joke.

At first I would just say that I was having a big bash and a week long celebration. Maybe renting a dancehall or something. And I definitely told The Rock I was flying some friends out for the week (see, it is going to be BIG, or at least, EXPENSIVE.)

But, then one day (and I don't remember now exactly it came about) it occurred to me that I wanted an elephant at my party. An elephant for me and guests to ride.  AND! Get this, the elephant will be wearing, no, not a party hat...It will be wearing a feather on its head.


And lest you think that's cruel of me to ask that of the elephant, I'll be wearing one too. 

The problem with telling people you want an elephant at your party is that they take you seriously. (well, maybe they took me seriously because when they laughed at the idea I told them, "Hey! I'm being serious over here." I don't know.)  And now they're sort of shaking their heads, not just because I want an elephant, but because they think (at least a little part of them thinks) that I'm actually going to do it.  Which is probably true.

But, there are two big hurdles:
1. I don't know the first thing about renting elephants for birthday parties.
2. I live in a little tiny meensy beensy town in the middle of a forsaken desert.

In good news, though, I have two whole years to get this sorted out.

And while this is spiraling madly out of control, it is sort of fun. So I thought I'd let you in on it too.

Whew.  This party is gonna rock.  Beware, though, I'll probably post about it again sometime soon, because, you know, some serious planning needs to be done.

Houseguest and a Joke for Mother's Day

My house guest for the next few days is:

As you can see, even a menial task like cutting up a watermelon provides him with an opportunity for expressing his creativity.  He's great fun to have around because he doesn't mind helping me out--so we chopped up 2 watermelons, 4 mangos, 1 pineapple, and 4 cartons of strawberries. We're making some killer smoothies later today! Woo hoo.

He also has a dorky sense of humor, e.g.: 
Aaron: Lu!  You missed Star Wars Day!
Me: What?
Aaron: Yeah, May 4th.
Me: Oh.
Aaron: You know, May the fourth be with you

yuk. yuk.

A few weeks ago Aaron went to a bike junk store called The Bike Guy in Rye (actually, it's called All Bikes, but if we could rename it you know what it would be).

He brought back a sweet vintage bike that he's in the process of restoring AND some cool photos. Here they are:

love the trike on the hood of the amphibious car

do you see that really old bike behind the bars?  I want one of those.

I love the composition of this one

We decided this bike shop would make a great backdrop for a photoshoot.  Road trip anyone?

Something's Different

In the desert, flowers are popping up like...well, like wildflowers.

And over here at the ol' blog, I've been tweaking things little bit (or a lot).


The Bling Out Your Blog class really gave me some useful and fun information, as you can see.

Because Moo is a Real Artist and actually gets paid to do artistic things, and because she is a busy person, the blog currently reflects my doodly style instead of her amazing skills (check out her art by clicking the link at the top of the page).

You'll probably see other changes around here, now that I'm getting a better handle on how to make backgrounds, edit html, and lots of other things that will make our blog even more personalized and all around Better.

If some of the changes are particularly good: let us know. If something really isn't working: let us know.

And if you want to score some of these mad skills for yourself, be sure to check in on this web site to find out when the next class is.

Jack Handy's Deep Thoughts

In case you find yourself stuck in AP English (or elsewhere) and in need of a little lightheartedness:

"I think a good product would be "Baby Duck Hat." It's a fake baby duck, which you strap on top of your head. Then you go swimming underwater until you find a mommy duck and her babies, and you join them. Then all of the sudden, you stand up out of the water and roar like Godzilla. Man those ducks really take off! Also Baby Duck Hat is good for parties."


"I wish outer space guys would conquer the Earth and make people their pets, because I'd like to have one of those little beds with my name on it."


"If the Vikings were around today, they would probably be amazed at how much glow-in-the-dark stuff we have, and how we take so much of it for granted."


"If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason."


"If they ever come up with a swashbuckling School, I think one of the courses should be Laughing, Then Jumping Off Something."


"If you ever fall off the Sears Tower, just go real limp, because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will try to catch you because, hey, free dummy."

He's Not a Pirate

The Rock's high school mascot is a Marauder.

 The Rock in his Marauder shirt after a bike ride.  

Note that I am lounging in the truck, sneaking this picture of 

him through the backseat window

When we feel like arguing, we choose as our theme: Marauders are/are not the same as pirates. 

This is a fun subject for discussion because it's mostly irrelevant but lends itself to statements that can be said with great conviction and fervor, not to mention a pretty high coolness factor because like ninjas, pirates are cool guys to talk about.

But, since we don't usually feel like arguing, quite a long time lapses between the mention of the Marauder mascot, and I forget that it even exists.

So the other day The Rock did something, I don't remember what, maybe he ate the last of the Easter candy or made a snide comment about how I kick him when I'm sleeping--whatever it was, I replied that he only thought/said such things because he was a no good pirate.

Instead of laughing as I expected, he gave me a very serious look and said, "No.  I am a marauder."

--Lu

110 Dozen Doughnuts

A group in town did a fundraiser last week by selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts.  This was a fantastic plan for many reasons, most of which are along the lines of, "Krispy Kreme doughnuts are yummy and taste good and make my tummy happy."  But another one of the Good Reasons to engage in this fundraiser was that it meant I got to go and pick up all the doughnuts.

See how prettily they stacked in the back of my car?

(No, that's not all 110 dozen, the rest are in my trunk.)

All the way home I kept hoping that if I were going to be pulled over by a cop, that day would be the day.  Because s/he would come to my window and I would politely say, "Hello Officer.  Would you care for a doughnut?"

And if the officer had any kind of sense of humor we would have had a good chuckle.  And if not, well, I had plenty of consolation doughnuts to eat all the rest of the way home. 

Win-win situation if there ever was one.
--Lu

Icy Roads Take Me Home

 When I took our truck in to be serviced a week or so ago, I left pretty early in the morning--which meant I'd have plenty of time to run errands after the routine maintenance was completed.  It also meant that snow was still abundant on the passing scenery, as shown in this photo:

This concept--snow--is like the parks/vegitation of the east for an Arizona desert rat like me.   (and I know the snow in these pictures is nothing for you easterners...a little piddly snow, very blah.  But see! this is NEVER snowy.  This is DESERT.  These are scrubby desert plants.  See how spokey they are, and probably prickly too, waiting to jab you when you walk by them.  That is how desert plants are, I tell you.)

Icy roads, however, aren't so much a novelty as...well, a new experience that borders on nightmarish.  And I ran into (or rather, drove along) some icy roads that day too.  The closer I got to my destination, the icier the road became.  I felt the tires lose traction a few times, but I drove nice and slow, like everyone else and eventually made it to my desitnation unharmed--albiet later than I'd hoped.

What was odd to me, and maybe you've found yourself in a similar situation, was that I didn't really have any option other than to keep driving along the road even though I didn't know how the heck to drive the Right Way on ice.  So did that make me a hazard on the road?  I think at least, a little--yes.  I was alert, doing my best to avoid really slick looking patches, driving slowly--but the thought haunted me that I could possibly make a novice's mistake that could do some serious damage.

I wonder what other people do in situations like that?  And isn't driving one of those activities that forces these kind of situations on us almost regularly?  It's really not uncommon to be driving along and encounter something hazardous and/or unexpected and/or that we've never dealt with before.  It's usually weather related, but not always.

I guess I'm thinking about my obligations to be prepared to handle those kinds of situations beforehand...but...and this occured to me during the icy stretch of road...even if you know what you're supposed to do, will you really do that in the moment of crisis?  Especially if you've never had the chance/opportunity to try it before?

In conclusion: driving is a sort of nerve wracking thing at times.  Also, even if you're an Arizona driver who never plans on seeing snow, ice, torrential rain, fog, hail, etc., let along drive in them, it still behooves you to learn how to drive in those conditions because You Never Know.

Piano for Old People (and a few thoughts on trying to stay true to what you believe)

When I was younger my mom put me in piano lessons, and like my violin lessons, I only half- heartedly tried to do well, an attitude I regret a little now.  But! Not to be held back by my lack of enthusiasm in the past, I've decided now is as good a time as any to rally my energies.  So I've picked a few songs and practiced as many times a week as I can.  To encourage myself, I set up this prize: If I practice at least 15 mins. three times a week for two months, I can buy any one piece of sheet music I want at the end of the second month.

I realize that is a meager amount of practice time--but I'm going from no practice time to practice time, so I thought slow and steady (and realistic) was best.  I'm proud to say, though, that I've practiced much more than a mere 45 mins a week almost every week so far.  The piano is addicting, I tell you.

As part of my deal with myself, I've been practicing a hymn or two from church, so my newly developing skilz don't go to waste when it comes to serving in church.  So when I saw this sheet music in this month's youth magazine (from church) I took it with me to see if I liked the song.


I love the song, or rather, the message of the song.  You'll notice that it starts out with music from the hymn Come, Come Ye Saints--and that was one of the selling points for me.  I love the idea that anyone who is trying to live a moral code of values is engaged in a struggle not unlike our pioneer anscestors--though our conflict is more subtle in nature, it takes the same kind of dedication, fortitude, will-power and faith.

And anyone who has tried to live a code of values different from the norm knows what I mean when I say it is a struggle or conflict.  It isn't easy to be the only person at a social gathering, or at work, or anywhere, really, who believes something different from everyone else.  Especially when the thing you believe puts you in the position of having to say what you believe (which almost always means a high likelihood of  being ridiculed, or having to defend yourself---or at the very least having to find a way to tactfully remove yourself from the situation).  It certainly isn't a comfortable place to find yourself in.

So, I think the message of this song is a perfect rally cry for youth everywhere who are trying to hold true to their moral beliefs.  Actually, it's also a perfect rally cry even for this one older person who is trying to learn to play the piano.

Earthquake

I've been organizing my junk memorabilia this last week, and I came across this little gem from when I worked with handicapped kids one summer during my undergraduate days.  I retouched it a little (because I didn't go to graduate school for nothing, dang it.)  Hopefully you enjoy it.

***

Norm is sititng on my lap, his short red hair spoking out messily from his head.  I'm watching someone on the other side of the room.  I notice Norm shifting position, and I look down.

He's leaning closer and closer to me, his tongue poking out of his mouth.  He doesn't seem to mind the close proximity of my face, and it isn't until moments before impact that I register his intent and push him back. 

With his plan to lick my mouth (an ongoing battle) thwarted, I watch as his face twists into a boyish mask of anger.  He throws back his pale arm, balls his hand into a fist and glares at me.  Slowly and deliberately (almost painstakingly) he yells, "YOU STUPID!"  Each letter almost is highlighted with a small pause before the next is articulated.

I calmly look at him and state one simple phrase: "The earthquake is coming." 
His face remains tense, his arm still poised for bonking me.  That is my cue.

Quickly, catching him off guard, I grab him tightly and start rocking him back and forth, bouncing my knees wildly while happily yelling, "Oh no!" (smile) "The EARTHQUAKE! Run Norm!  Save yourself!  Don't worry about me--I'll survive somehow!"  He starts laughing and snorting hysterically.

I stop jostling him.

His laughter slows; one last giggle bubbles out.
And he's back on his old theme.  He manages to say, "STUP--"
But I beat him to it.  "EARTHQUAKE!" I yell as I bounce my knees as violently as I can. 
And then he's laughing again. Loving every minute of the "earthquake."

When I stop this time, his face relaxes--his eyelids lower, he breathes heavily, slowly.  He quietly whispers, "I'm sorry."

Really Missing

I was just remembering this one time I lost my jump drive at the UofA library.  And by "lost" I mean I left it in the usb port of a public computer.  When I realized I'd left it behind I went back to look for it. 

I didn't find it.

A little while later, I received an email from one of those sites that makes up anonymous/untraceable email addresses.  The sender of the email informed me s/he was making the files from my jump drive available to me (I can't remember if it was on the public portion of the computer, or through a web site or what.  All I remember is that I had access to my missing files.)

Who does that?  Steal a jump drive and then give the person back their files. 

It was a really odd mix of feelings: I was grateful, a tad freaked out that they had figured out my email address, and annoyed that the person stole the jump drive in  the first place.

Best Class

This is the Christmas card I meant to send to you this year.

I drew it and edited it myself, and I get quite a kick out of it, because, Hey! Someone did eat all the fudge at our house....

So, I wanted to show it to you even though my sneaky plan was to just send it out to you all Next Christmas (...maybe I still will and you can pretend to be surprised). But! I'm showing it to you because it is directly related to the topic at hand.

It came to me tonight what one of the most useful classes I've ever had is...and I thought I'd share.

My friend Megan is a digital scrapbooker. That means shes uses a version of Adobe Photoshop (Photoshop Elements, to be exact) to make scrapbook pages. (see her blog for examples)

I'm not much for scrapbooking, but when I saw the things she could make, I was intrigued. Because she's cool, she offered to sit down with me and show me how she did it. So we set up a time when I could go to Megan's house and The Rock and Megan's husband could go play raquetball (or some other such manly activity).  The appointed time came, and we settled down in front of her computer for her to show me the ropes.

I still have a page of notes from that night, and even now, over a year later, I still refer to the notes and think back with fondness on that night. I can't think of notes from any of my college classes that I still have, let alone, refer to.

Even though it was an informal meeting, it counts as one of the best classes I've ever had. The teacher was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, kind, patient, and funny. She taught me a skill I value. And she did it so well that most of it stuck with me--all I need is that one page refresher. And, best of all, Megan expanded my ability to create artwork and gifts that brighten my life and the lives of others.

Thanks, Megan, for giving me one of the best classes I've ever had.

--Lu

Credit's Note: the snowflake background on the card is Golden Girls Jack Frost paper 2.

You would think that after a ten hour car ride I'd have thought of something to tell you--AND you'd be RIGHT!

If you come to Moo's house this is what greets you:

(Smitty drawn by Moo.  I told you she's good.)

And also, your camera will attempt to infect her computer when you start to download pictures.  But that's ok, because you can use my computer, which apparently, didn't even know it was infected.)

--Lu (the wannabe NaBloPoMoer)

Overheard

"Lately my burps have been really powerful.  Don't you love it when they make your eyes rattle?!"

--Lu

Loosing of the Bird

Someone nick-knocked on our door tonight (see video below, entitled Hamish and Andy 3 step hiding).  Coincidence???

Best of all, just after I opened the door to find no one on my doorstep, a frantic looking sparrow flew through my open doorway and INTO my house!  (which precluded further investigation to see if there was a three step hider in the yard.)

After some moments of yelping, much fluttering of wings and panicked bouncing off of light fixtures (yelping by me, fluttering and bouncing by sparrow), the poor little bird resigned itself to its fate and held relatively still while we put a bowl over it, slid a magazine under it and deposited it outside. 

The most pressing question now is: Was it intentional?  Because, isn't Set A Bird Loose In The House a thousand times better prank than just knock and run!

--Lu

typophile

I happened to run across this video that makes use of squash, jello, cool aid, incense, ham, and purple fur...wow. (note: "Everything in the film is real – no CG effects!")

(image from byu.edu homepage)

Skulls, Tombstones and Graveyards

Halloween totally justifies my morbid love of graveyards, especially old ones. And while Boston wasn't quite the Fall Paradise I had hoped, it did provide a lovely graveyard.

I was quite taken with the skulls that adorned many of the tombstones. They are a stark contrast to the cutesy decorations and the sugar loaded candy in every grocery store that mark the oncoming celebration of Halloween.







--Lu

Playlist Update

Last week I started listening to music at work. It's the first time I've tried it on a regular basis. Until now, I've avoided music altogether because I didn't want to have to veto most of the songs requested/brought in by the tweens I work with.

It all started in one of my desperate forays into our little town library. I found four CDs that I couldn't resist.

Billboard Top Hits 1975 -- 1979 (I know that's 5 CDs, but, actually, 1977 is awol so it wasn't really an option)

I checked them out on a whim more than anything else.

And...I've loved listening to them! For instance, right now Abba's Take a Chance On Me is playing. And I just sang along to Dream Weaver by Gary Wright and I Go Crazy by Paul Davis.

Oh man. What about Reminiscing by Little River Band?!

More surprising than my own enjoyment is the fact that the tweens recognize and LIKE some of the songs too. When pressed, they'll say, "Oh, it's on a commercial," or "It's in that one movie."

Maybe I like the CDs so much because because I grew up listening to those songs. To be frank, on most days you'll catch me avoiding 70's music. I hardly ever dredge it up from the depths of my ipod playlists.

But this time...
It's just, once I started listening it brought back, well, not really memories per say...more a feeling. The songs feel comfortable, familiar, safe--like an old friend.

P.S. Um, the music videos, well, they don't convey that same feeling. The Abba one made me snicker and possibly roll my eyes at the awful 70's clothing and the hazy lighting (does that really make women more attractive? I've gotta ask The Rock about that). That doesn't change the fact that the song is AWESOME! --Lu

Note to Self

1 and 2/3 cup of oil cannot be substituted for 2/3 cup oil. Even the delicious goodness of brownies cannot overcome such an error.

Better luck in the future.

Another Email from Moo

AHEM:

Lilo: [pulls a strange looking rag doll from her backpack] This is Scrump.
[other girls gasp in horror]
Lilo: I made her. But her head is too big, so I pretended that a bug laid eggs in her ear, and she's upset because she has only a few more days to...

***

Lilo: [Sitting at a table with Stitch] David! I got a new dog!
David: Auwe... You sure it's a dog?
Lilo: Uh huh... He used to be a collie before he got ran over.


And this is a picture of the shnazy Stitch humidifier!!!


Love,
Moo

Annual Seattle Weiner Dog Races!

They briefly featured this on the news tonight. It looked so funny that I just had to let all y'all know about it (scuze the y'all---Pure Country happens to be on CMT). The video file seems to be kind of large, so it's best to just wait for it all to download before watching.

Moo