Grace Kelly

This is my favorite song of the moment:

Lollipop

Mika - Lollipop lyrics

Tag. I'm it.

So because I have been tagged, it follows that I must produce something tag worthy. I don't feel up to this gigantic task, but I will attempt to produce some 6 or 7 things that most people don't know about me.

1. I collected black and white postcards while I was on my mission in Geneva Switzerland. Most of them were of couples kissing (I don't know why because I wasn't particularly missing this). My favorite was one of an older lady dressed up like a queen and feeding chickens.

2. I wrote a short story when I lived in Ohio about this woman called "Queen of the Chickens." I never finished the story, because she stopped talking to me. It could be that she was upset that she died fairly early in the story. It could also be that I lost quite a bit of my soul, hope and creative desire during this time. I hope to one day finish this story. She bugs me about it every once in awhile. But all she says is "The story's not done." She doesn't tell me what happens next.

3. I told someone once that he has a reputation for not forgiving others. I have regretted this because I have since realized I have this same propensity. I try very hard to forgive and move on, but I don't. If you severely hurt me or mine, I don't forgive. I also realize this does not hurt the person I'm not forgiving. I hope one day to learn how to completely forgive someone even when they continue to be an ass. I hope when I do learn, I can teach others how to do the same.

4. I sometimes say ass. And various other benign swear words. Most of the time, I don't care unless I slip around my kids.

5. I love words that most people have heard before but don't know the meaning of and I like to use them frequently. I download them quite often to my notebook so I can remember them later. And by download, I mean write. My favorite word of the moment is esoteric.

6. I love this picture of me:


7. I love Tom Lehrer and I love to play Masochism Tango on the piano.

Oh and I love Viggo Mortensen. But I don't think that's a unknown fact to most people.

I tag Tiffany and Brandon.

Australia and New Zealand Rock!

I'm doing this blog on the fly, but I wanted to show off a couple of pics from Australia. I realize that in these pictures I look horrid. However, my curling iron melted a couple of days into my trip. So I had to be very inventive with my hair.

So with that said...


Here's a pic of me in Auckland. It was windy. I was very tired. But the city looks cool!

I'm going to Australia!

So, because I've got a cool job, I get to go to New Zealand and Australia in October. This is most likely going to happen but there is a small chance that it won't. But I'm supposed to be planning that it will.

I'm going to be flying into Auckland and spending a couple or three days there before going to Adelaide for at least two to four days and then flying to Sydney for the convention. So it will be about a 13 day trip. The only problem is that I won't be home for Xander's b-day (I'll be home a couple of days after that) and I'll be pretty homesick by being gone on that day. But we can celebrate it royally when I get home right?

This will be my first time going back to AU since I lived there oh so many years ago. I can't wait to see how its changed.

So what I need to know from my friends and family is....

What do you want me to bring back for you?

Kicks in the pants are free.

Updation

Unlike some, I don't always have wonderful things to talk about. However, I do today. Last night we had two rocks thrown through our front window. This was one - appreciated and two - good timing. Since we are trying to move, we have people who schedule appointments to see the house. We have one today and thanks to the punks that did this, we now have one less person who will interested in buying it. If you're trying to make us stay in the neighborhood, you're doing a good job.

And let me move on from there by saying my new favorite quote:

"Sweet, sweet wall. Don't listen to those other walls. They're just jealous."

20 things I am grateful for....

Ok. So I watched part of "The Secret" and while I don't know how much of it I completely subscribe to, I do like the part about being grateful. I especially feel the need to list these things because I have been feeling some stress in my life in the recent past and it feels good to remember that which I have been blessed with. It counteracts the negative things happening in my life quite well.

So here it is.

I'm grateful:

1. To be the mother of Rhiannon and Xander. Two wonderful, active, happy and smart kids
2. To have a job that causes me little stress and pays well for the area.
3. To have a roof over my head and food in my belly everyday.
4. For the gospel that teaches me how to improve, grow, love and live happily despite what life may throw at me.
5. For the gospel, because I have a ward family no matter where I go on this earth to help me if I need it.
6. For my wonderful mother who helps me emotionally, physically and spiritually every day.
7. For my brothers and sisters and brothers and sisters-in-law who love me no matter what and who enjoy being with me and are good listeners when I need to talk.
8. For a loving Heavenly Father who has provided many miracles in my life recently and in the past. So many that I can never deny Him.
9. For good friends that buoy me up in the storms: Tina, Heidi, Almond, Brenda, Emily, Lori, Irene, my co-workers, Nanette... and list goes on longer than I can list.
10. For a car that runs most of the time.
11. For beautiful mountains surrounding the valley I live in and the incredible sunsets we have here.
12. For the opportunity to go to college and get a degree.
13. For the opportunity to go on a mission and spread the gospel.
14. For the chance to see Canada, France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Australia and a good part of the U.S. and some of the beauties they contain.
15. For my Lacefield family who still show kindness and love to me.
16. To live in the U.S. and have what a good amount of people on the earth would consider many riches.
17. To come from a strong and wonderful line of ancestors who embraced the gospel in the church's early days and who have lived good and productive lives. They give me a lot to live up to.
18. The members of my ward who teach with inspiration, love everyone they meet and who truly care for each other.
19. For my cats - even if one is dumber than dirt. :o)
20. The experiences that I've had in my life that have led me to this point in my life where I am learning how to truly forgive and let go of anger, to live more positively and more closely to the Lord.

I would love to hear what you're thankful for as well!