Memory Lane

This game has been making the rounds and I decided to join in! Anyone who looks at my blog is obligated to participate!

1. Add a comment on my blog. Leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! (or feel free to leave a memory of Mike, if you'd rather do that!)

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Thought for the Day

Several months ago someone went off on me about how they could never be a part of my church (or any church) where people only did good things to receive blessings from God. They went on about how we should be good people because it's humane, not because we require something in return. But is it really in our human nature, as this person said, to be good "just because," without the expectation of a reward? Sadly, I don't think that is how the world works for most people. Most people don't have a job because they love to work, but because they want a paycheck in return. Most people don't plant a garden because they like to spend all day planting seeds, but because they expect (and hope) to get food in return. Some people say kind things to you just because they want your vote for a position of power. Some people (teenagers :)) usually aren't nice to their parents just because they love them, but because they want to borrow the car for the night. The world is a place where we don't get something for nothing, and usually nothing for something. Life is all about giving and taking, and unfortunately, many people are more about taking than giving. As humans, I know we are imperfect and we live in an imperfect world. But what makes one person want to be good because they just feel deep down in their heart it's the right thing to do, and another because they want something in return? That's been on my mind for awhile. Anyway, last Sunday the RS lesson was called "When the Lord commands, Do it." How straightforward is that? Just do it. Don't ask questions, don't wonder if you'll be blessed for doing it. Just do it. I was glad I went to RS that day because there was a lady sitting next to me that made a beautiful comment. I know I won't be able to remember it word for word, but she said something to the effect that, it shows a great amount of spiritual maturity when we do good things because we love the Lord and want to obey His commandments, and not because we need/want/expect blessings from Him in return. I really needed to hear that. Then I started asking myself, but what if there was no religion or society to tell us what's wrong or right, or put fear in us to be good people (or else pay the consequence...?) What would stop people from stealing, raping, murdering, etc? Our predisposition to be good? But for that person who doesn't believe in God or a higher power, where did that inborn inclination come from? Who gave it to us? (Really, I'm not asking these questions to tick off anyone who doesn't believe in God, I'm just trying to make sense of this in my mind, ya know?) So I have a hard time believing we came from germs or just appeared or evolved because it makes more sense to me that we were all made in the image of God and born with an inherent tendency to be good. But since we are imperfect mortals and we live in the world, we can be swayed to make wrong decisions. So I guess the question for me is how do we escape that? How do we become spiritually mature, as that lady sitting next to me in church mentioned? Is it just about "putting off the natural man" or is there more to it than that? Are we doing good things because we love the Lord, or because we want blessings in return? I have a hard time believing that anyone in our church is actually that selfish, but who knows? Regardless, it was a good question to ask myself, and it made me re-evaluate my life. So, what are your thoughts?

Mike's Berfday!

My honey turned 26 last Sunday (the 13th.) I know, it's been a few days, but I still wanted to share some photos for the family.

So here's Mike covered in silly string. We sprayed some on the boy child and he was none too pleased. He did not like the way it felt and was eager to get it off and throw it in the garbage. Mike was a good sport though!

Here's the boy child handing gifts to his Daddy. Don'tcha just love our camping chairs?

Cute Mike.

Reading the customary comic book card I put together. We make one for each other every year.

The boy child had a blast helping Daddy open his gifts. He totally grasps the concept of unwrapping presents now!

We hope you had a great berfday, babe! We love you!

Life Without a Purse

Every year it seems like my purse gets bigger and bigger. And there it is everywhere I go. Not a cute little designer handbag. Not a fashion statement in the least. Just a big, bulky annoyance slung over one shoulder. It weighs me down, it gets in the way, and it's just one more thing to haul around when I go out. But the other day I wanted to drop off lunch at Mike's office, and right then I decided I was just going to take the essentials. So I slipped my driver's license in my back pocket, grabbed my keys and the boy child, and I was off. I've never felt so free! No big bag to whack against my thigh or bothersome strap to cut at my neck. What joy I felt! When I got home I dumped the contents of my bag on the bed to find out what could go. Here's what was inside:

*3 checkbooks (one for my own personal account, our joint account, and the new account we just opened. who uses checks anymore anyway? I mean, seriously?)
*1 big wallet (besides money, it's just full of useless stuff. old library cards, an expired TRAX pass, numerous business cards for people I don't even know...)
*hand sanitizer (this has actually been useful)
*cell phone (like every other American in the country, where would I be without my celly cell?)
*keys (okay, gotta have these, although the countless, tacky keychains take up more room than the keys do.)
*3 tubes o' lip gloss (various flavors. maybe just one tube of chapstick will suffice, ya think?)
*tweezers (you know, if I'm ever in need of eliminating those pesty, freakishly out of control brow hairs while at the check out line in the grocery store)
*fingernail clippers (I bite my nails, so why do I even need these?)
*giant saftey pin (I have no idea where I got this pin, but it is enormous.)
*hand lotion (gotta stay moisturized)
*comb (man, I'm such a girly girl. I'm always primping)
*dental floss (after meals at restaurants, I won't be caught dead flashing a smile to anyone until I've made sure there's no food particles in my grill. so I better keep this in the bag)
*compact mirror (you must think I'm so egotistical)
*notepad (for jotting down notes)
*pens (also for jotting down notes. I suppose I could part with all but one of these)
*vessel's immunization card (why that's even in there, I don't know)
*sunglasses (the big 50's movie star kind)
*gum (dirty mouth? clean it up with Orbits)
*tylenol (sometimes pain relief is a necessity)
*spare change (it makes my purse jingle jangle and it drives me mad!)
*receipts (have you noticed that so many stores give you this ridiculously long receipt even if you only bought 2 or 3 things? they eventually just tangle and coil around everything else in the purse)
*take-a-long perfume (psh, ya never know)
*candy (I've got such a sweet tooth)
*a toy for vessel (gotta entertain the kids sometimes)
*stamps (for mailing those insidious letters to Bob Evans)
*gluestick (why???)
*miscellaneous articles including fortune cookie fortunes, white out, a broken necklace, a 25 cent toy from a machine, and a magazine article clipping.

My bag is taking over my life! I wish I could go back to the days when I didn't even need a purse. *sigh* Anyone want to tell me what's in your purse?

Albums

Coldplay
Viva la Vida or Death and all His Friends

I have always been a big fan of Coldplay ever since the days of "Yellow." And last month Alt Nation 21 featured a week of
"Coldplay Nation" which enabled me to hear their new album in it's entirety. I really like this album and have been listening to it everyday for the past week. A lot of critics have been down on the album saying it's "unpredictable," "uninteresting," "too pretentious," "bipolar," that it "disgusts sophisticates," that it should've been better since Eno produced it, or that the band just tried too hard and didn't deliver anything magical. Pretty harsh eh? Maybe these people are just over analyzing the music. There doesn't have to be some deep meaning behind the music and it doesn't have to stand for something. Sometimes it just has to sound good. I rarely listen to the lyrics of a song when I first hear it. If it sounds good then I'll eventually learn the lyrics of the song because I'll end up playing it over and over enough times. I think Coldplay has some good songs. Most of their melodies are enjoyable and I can see why a lot of people like them. Although, Andy Gill offers a different perspective. In his review he writes, "The strange thing is, I can't seem to find anyone who bought X & Y, or who intends to buy Viva La Vida. For that matter, I have never encountered one person who has a kind word to say about Coldplay. None of my personal or professional acquaintances, nobody in the street or the local café, not a single soul will admit to liking Coldplay or purchasing their music. Indeed, most seem to agree that they epitomise everything that's wrong with modern rock music. So who's buying all their albums?" That's a good question Gill, considering that they've sold millions of records around the globe and play at sold out concerts whenever they tour. I'm not saying Coldplay is the greatest band ever, and I'm not about to compare them to Radiohead (which some people have felt the need to do,) but stop analyzing the music so much people and just listen. You might find that it doesn't sound half bad. This fellow reader made a good point: "Don't you realise there's nothing new under the Sun... I'm not ashamed. Its such a Perfect Day, I'm not lost..I'm over 42 and I once walked a cemetery In London. I'm an escapist...especially when it comes to Coldplay. Can we not just just enjoy the fact that we can enjoy music without knowledge? Just by opening our ears..its amazing how we can be totally honest and say we love or hate something. We don't have to follow the ear of someone else who hates or loves the same things each of us do. When you write from powerful media platforms...do you realise that you put stigma's into people's heads? Lets all be free and just enjoy what our ears tell our brains we like...I don't really care what ENO, The Beatles or U2 think. They're entitled to their opinion and so are we! Please don't foist guilt trips on those of us who are free to hear what we like!" Anyway, I like most of the songs on this new album, especially Cemetaries, Lost, Yes, Violet Hill and Strawberry Swing. The song I could live without is the song the album is titled after, Viva la Vida. Didn't much like that particular track, but the rest were good, definitely not unbearable like the critics make it out to be. But go ahead and listen for yourself and tell me what you think.

Albums

Weezer
The Red Album (Deluxe)

Listening to Weezer's blue album always takes me back to the sweet days of being 14 again. Oh yes, the days I started getting in on the music scene of my fellow upper classmen in high school. I remember Stacey listening to them on the bus and that's how I was introduced to the album, although I had heard the Sweater Song numerous times on the alternative radio station before that. The blue album became one of my favorite and most defining albums of Freshmen year. Okay, let's skip the nostalgia and fast forward about 12 years or so. Although my music tastes have expanded and evolved over the years, I still bought every album Weezer came out with. Pinkerton was exceptional, I have to say. Which is why, even after the disappointing green album, I still continued to buy their music hoping their new stuff would be like their old stuff. But nothing they've done has really impressed me since the days of my youth. And why should it? I can't expect them to make an album exactly like what they had done in the past or music that can give me the same feelings I had when I first heard My Name Is Jonas or El Scorcho. Just as I can't expect Da Vinci to recreate the Mona Lisa. So, I suppose Weezer has evolved too. But it seems to me that they haven't grown up a whole lot since then. And I feel like they aren't trying to appeal to the generation that made them big in the first place. I get the impression that the band is shifting their focus to the teeny boppers of today. And I also get the feeling Rivers is only out to get the attention of those kids who just wanna be weird for the sake of being weird, just like him (hence the new cowboy getup and molestache, not to mention lyrics like "I ain't got a thing to prove to you.) Cant' blame a guy for trying. So now to the red album. Yes, I bought it before listening to it (besides the over played Pork and Beans) only because I consider myself a Weezer fan, and as a fan I just have to get it, ya know? My first listen through I thought, "This album is kind of lame." And then I listened again. And then again. And some of the songs started to get in my head. You know, a lot of them were kind of catchy. But some of them were rather boring. I don't think it's a spectacular album, but there are some things I like about it. First of all, the album is more of a joint effort of the band, as not all of the songs are written and sung by Rivers. So some of the lyrics have a different style to them and the music has a little bit different feel than if it was all done by Cuomos. This particular album (Deluxe) supposedly has 4 extra songs on it than the original album. It also includes a booklet that contains the lyrics and commentary from the band that the original doesn't have. My favorite tracks are Automatic and Thought I Knew. If you're a Weezer fan, I'm sure you've already got the album. But for those of you who aren't, I don't recommend buying the album. Just go download Pork and Beans because I'm sure you think it's sooooo cooool.

Randomosity

Well, now that the boy child is FINALLY taking a nap, I thought I'd sit down and blog a bit before moving on to my next task. I say "FINALLY" because for some reason he was being very defiant this afternoon. For the life of me I could not get him to go to sleep, which is strange because it's usually not a problem. He enjoyed throwing his pillows and blankets out of his bed 1087 times and crying for me to come in and get them before finally giving up and conking out. Oh, sweet silence! Vessel's new thing to say lately is the phrase "Get It" and it basically sounds like he's bossing me around all hours of the day. "Bobby. Get it." "Monkey. Get it." Well, his wish is my command, what can I say? I have been trying to teach him the word "please" for months now. I think he's not learning to say it on purpose. Just to show me who's boss. :) Cute kid though, cute kid.

Okay, so get this. It's such a small world. We went to the grocery store the other day and as Mike was paying I was just sitting on a bench with Vessel when I saw someone familiar. I kept gawking because I recognized this kid I went to college with like 5 years ago. (I'm tellin' ya, I've got a photographic memory.) Anyway, he kept looking at me funny probably wondering why I was staring him down. Then I waved him over and that's when he realized he knew me too. We made a really funny video together back in the day as part of our literature assignment. After talking for a bit, and catching up, he and his wife invited us over for dinner.
Oh, and another small world moment: I was trying to find something online last week, and the link took me to someone's blog and surprisingly I knew the person! I think my mouth dropped when I realized who it was. It was a girl I used to work with back in Idaho, and the other kicker is that on her blog was a link list which included the name of another girl I used to work with and her husband who I went to high school with! It's been probably about 5-6 years since I've seen or heard from them. So we recently made contact and it was kind of cool to see what they had been doing with their lives. Weird, eh?

In other news, I am over my cold! Hooray! Don't worry folks, it only took almost 2 weeks! And just as I was getting over my cold, the boy child came down with Strep and an ear infection. The poor lad must've been miserable. After some consideration, we elected to take him to the doctor (despite the fact that we don't have insurance YET) and it's a good thing we did because according to the doctor it can get pretty serious if not treated early. So props to me for following that motherly gut-instinct and taking him in rather than waiting a few days for improvement. The doctor also said that Vessel had the sorest looking throat he'd seen all day, which explains why he wouldn't eat or drink anything. I wouldn't have known he even had a sore throat otherwise since he has such a mild disposition. Even when he must have been in a lot pain he didn't cry or whine at all. What a trooper. After taking antibiotics for a week now, and getting plenty of rest, he is in tip top condition again. And I am back to chasing him all over the house. :)

So the 4th of July came and went. It was a pretty good day. It was nice to be with Mike and the boy and especially nice that Mike had a 3 day weekend. We went to visit my aunt in Boulder and I think it was the first time I'd ever been to her house. So it was me, Mike and the babe, my uncle from Idaho, my aunt and her husband, and 2 other couples that were there. It was a pretty interesting group, to say the least. Vessel had a great time playing with the dog, and the dog was just happy to have a buddy follow him around all day. It makes me want to get Vessel a puppy...
My aunt's husband and I actually had a pretty interesting convo that consisted of religion, politics, and society. I'm not a big fan of conversations which include any of these topics because it usually means there's going to be a debate. When 2 people with really abrasive personalities come together you never know what's going to happen. I'm happy to say I could hold my own for the most part, and somehow we were actually on the same page most of the time. I can honestly say that I even ENJOYED the talk quite a bit.
Later that night (after the exceptional meal we had) it was time for fireworks. I'm not big into fireworks but Mike certainly is. I would be surprised if my aunt's husband (why I don't call him my uncle, I don't know) spent less than $1000 on fireworks. And so when Mike was invited to help light them all, he got pretty excited. I think that little pyromaniac was in heaven! Those who weren't lighting them went up on the deck to watch. Vessel fell asleep in my arms despite the booming noise. There was a lightning storm happening at the same time the fireworks were going off. It was a crazy sight. Then everyone started worrying that we were going to get struck by lightning (we were under a huge deck umbrella with a long metal pole...) so we went down and watched from the lawn. Fun times. I think the boys had a good time even though they were getting wet. The best part of the 4th was just seeing some familiar faces. I was feeling a little homesick, so it was nice to visit some family.

So, this week I'm preparing for two things. One is my talk this Sunday. Ah, the joys of moving to a new ward, eh? I get so nervous speaking in church or basically in front of any big crowd. Heck, I get nervous speaking in small crowds. Even teaching in the YW got my heart a thumpin'. But it'll be okay, right? The other thing is Mike's birthday. Yup, gonna be the big 2-6 on Sunday. So make sure you all wish him a glorious day, will ya?

Anyhoo, I guess you're all wondering how life in Montana is these days. Things are getting better and better. Even the apartment is starting to feel more like home. And the smell is gradually getting less and less gross. Well, it's getting more bearable I think. My secret? Febreeze, baking soda, Glade carpet powder, and Glade plug-ins. I just have to keep in mind that this isn't our home forever. Speaking of which, Mike and I have been thinking about buying a condo instead of a house after our lease ends. We have been checking out real estate online and it would be about the same price to buy a NEW condo than it would be to buy an OLD house with the same sq. ft. that we'd have to fix up. I'm not really into buying a "fixer-upper" because I don't know the first thing about remodeling a house or anything of that nature. Either way, it'll be OURS, right? The goal I'm looking forward to is being able to build our own house. It'll happen. Once we know for sure where we're going to settle.

Okay, here's another thing I've observed about living here. The radio stations play pretty much only 2 things. Country and Christian Rock (which Mike and I have dubbed "Crock.") I don't mind either of those in small doses, but I crave a little more variety than that. Praise the heavens for satellite radio.

Well, here's enough random-osity for ya. Hope ya stop by again real soon!

Stop Hitting Yourself

Hi boys & girls. Your good friend Mike here, just sharing another retarded video with you. Yes, you can thank me later. I seriously watch all kinds of videos by these comedians called "Blame Society Productions" and you should too! Give 'em a shot. Come on, have I ever done ya wrong???

Music

ROCKABYE BABY!
Lullaby Renditions of the Pixies

I was introduced to Rockabye Baby about 2 years ago after reading about the CDs in a magazine article. I swiftly checked out this website and immediately fell in love! I recognized many of my favorite bands as I scrolled through the available albums. Rockabye Baby "transforms timeless rock songs into beautiful instrumental lullabies" by using instruments such as the glockenspiel, vibraphone, and mellotron. The songs are beautifully arranged and far from the typical Playskool jingle. Putting a twist like this on a traditional rock song makes it a whole new listening experience. According to Lisa Roth it was quite the challenge "to make every album musically interesting enough to satisfy adult listeners" while creating a soothing ambiance for a sleeping baby. I think they did an excellent job at meeting that challenge. Without delay I ordered the lullaby renditions of Radiohead (since they are my favorite band) and was amazed at how musically appealing and non-boring it actually was. Babyrockrecords recently released lullaby renditions of the Pixies (another of my favorite bands of all time) and I was so excited that I just HAD to get it. I don't think I'll be disappointed in my decision judging by the audio clips I heard online. I also hope to get the Coldplay, No Doubt, and Smashing Pumpkins albums very shortly. If they are anything like the Radiohead renditions, I'll be pleased as punch. Heck, I haven't even listened to them all, but I think it's safe to say that I'd recommend this to parents and children alike. This is a treat for the ears.

We're Totally Patriotic

We decided to check out the 4th of July parade in this fine town.

Here is Vessel and Mike keepin' it real.

Okay, did I lie about Lewis and Clark? Seriously, the people LOVE 'em.

Vessel was more excited about the helicopter that kept flying overhead.

Ah, the infamous CMR marching band. This was the highlight of Mike's afternoon. :)

We drove to my Aunt's house in Boulder later that day. I'll have to elaborate in a future post of the hijinks that took place. I wanted to get some photos of the fireworks, but unfortunately the camera's battery power died right as they were going off. Psh, this is all I got.