A Bright New Blossom. . .

I’m looking at the picture of Jamie from two posts down as I write this. I have it as my computer desktop and I’m not even one of those moms that usually do that, you know the one’s that think their child will physically disappear from this universe if the picture of their grubby kid somehow doesn’t make the transfer to their new laptop? Well, maybe that’s just in my line of work. But anyway; there is something about that picture of Jamie and the way that moment of winter sun lights up her face that warms me more than any island picture that has ever graced my desktop. Maybe it’s the light, but just as likely it’s that halo of blonde curls, or those blue eyes that dance with the excitement of every new moment or that still-chubby neck that just begs for one of those honking mouth-fart things – a zerbert, I believe they’re called.

She is emerging as her own little person and everyday is like watching one of those high-speed films of a flower blooming. Even in this, one of our coldest, wettest winters in many years, our little hot-house of a home seems to be cultivating her new persona as she surprises us with new words and understandings and abilities on a daily basis. She now insists on carrying her dinner plate to the sink and her chubby-armed hook shot as she helps me load the laundry into the washer is a sight to behold. . . . if only the Trailblazers had such accuracy. Her rapidly expanding vocabulary isn’t so much a surprise (we are thrilled that she is finally emerging from the grunt and point stage that her ear infections left her in for so long), but the occasional clarity of a word can leave the rest of us speechless. The other day she dropped something and followed it up with a very clear, grown-up, “Oh man!”. We all looked around like, who said that? It was like coming home and finding out the dog had the ability make crème brulee. Surprising, but awesome.

But the best part of all these changes is watching the expanding relationship between her and Adam. He is now finding her more amusing than annoying and she in return is finding him more like someone she might hug rather than someone whose teeth she’d like to remove with her knuckles. They are learning to share and take turns and tolerate and as nice as this is to witness, it also scares the hell out me for cooperation is only one step away from conspiracy.

Worst Quote Ever. . . .

"When the film knocks it up to that final gear. . . Jesus will weep - and you will cheer!" -Harry Knowles, Ain't It Cool giving a review of the new Rambo movie on Fandango.com

Bon Appetit! vol.2

Moroccan Chicken with Fruit and Olive Topping

Here's a recipe we tried and liked the other night. Damonn liked it more than me but he is such a fan of green olives that they're thinking of adding his face to the label. I cooked it as called for in the recipes (follow link below) using apricots, cranberries and prunes for the dried fruit. A little less salt is the only thing I think I'd change.

Recipe Here at Cooking Light.com

Enjoy!

My Pretty Girl. . . .

No story, I just love this picture. . .

Gender or Race?

A few lines from a recent CNN.com report (here) struck me as odd. . . .

Recent polls show black women are expected to make up more than a third of all Democratic voters in South Carolina's primary in five days.
For these women, a unique, and most unexpected dilemma, presents itself: Should they vote their race, or should they vote their gender?

Wow. That is an unexpected dilemma. You would think it would be finding the best person to lead this country through an array of both immediate and long term issues, but hey, that's just me.

Here's another goodie:
Analysts say black women this year never have been more engaged in a political campaign or held such power in determining the Democratic nominee.

As far as I'm aware everyone gets a single vote, a vote these women have held since 1920. So how is it they have more voting power this year or than any other citizen? Isn't it the engagement that is the key to the power in voting, not the color or sex of the candidates?

Politics, religion, the continuing success of reality TV, it all boggles my mind.

EDIT: It came to my mind yesterday that even though black women have legally had the right to vote since 1920, social and racial issues may have kept them from doing so until the more recent past. Even so, my point (which was directed at Randi Kaye, the author of this CNN.com article not the women she is writing about) still stands in saying that the color or sex of the current candidates does not give them any additional voting power, but that it is, possibly, the interest and engagement of these women because of these candidates that they are now using the power that has always been theirs.

God's Gym - I mean, Gold's Gym

Apparently there is a growing number of over-prudent college students in Provo, UT (wow, isn't that the understatement of the year) that feel that the videos being shown at the local Gold's Gym are "extremely indecent, and some are outright pornography". BYU student, Dallen Johnson has had to"run out" of the cardio cinema "four times" because of "racy and inappropriate things being shown". Why are you running, Dallen? What's that in your pocket?

And Jesse Yaffe adds, "Once you are a member here, you basically don't have the choice anymore. You're forced to watch indecent material because it seems everywhere you go there's a TV". I know how you feel, Jesse. I go to the gym and everywhere I turn, there's Emeril fisting a pork loin again. Its enough to make a girl go vegetarian. But here's an idea - if you don't like it don't join. Save your money, ride your blessed bike and avoid this apparent haven of profanity and lust.

This mafia of morality is also threatening to protest if their list of demands are not met within ten days. Demands which include keeping the TV's on "clean and decent" stations and "installing blinds on the Aerobics room to hide the dancing, which is very provacative".

I guess BYU doesn't teach that the best form of protest is not to buy the product.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2502027#

Resolution Proclamation

With you as my witness I hereby declare that I will finally complete Jamie's first-year baby book by her second birthday, March 9th, 2008.

Until the completion of said book I will not spend hours:

Watching Tivo'd episodes of The Office.
Planning vacations that I'm never going to go on.
Staring into the mirror wondering what I'd look like with a different hair color.
Reading reviews of books on Amazon instead of reading the actual books.
Searching the internet looking for the cutest possible Elmo party invitation.
Sorting through recipes on allrecipes.com to find the very best homemade mac & cheese.
Working on the puzzle we started on Christmas Eve.
Running circles in my head contemplating the existence of God.
Organizing closets that will be disheveled within hours by chubby fingers (the kids' not mine).

If it is not done I shall be held accountable and deemed a maternal failure to the tenth power.

My Wish. . .

Tears well and my throat closes everytime I hear this Rascal Flatts song on the radio, showcasing my unbelievable ability to melt into a sobbing maternal blob at the drop of a hat.
This dedication goes out to Adam and Jamie. . . . my wish for you this year and every year is happiness.


I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.


My Wish - by Rascal Flatts (listen to a sample at this link - its way better than just reading)