Christmas in CA

When we moved from Michigan to California in 2000, I had a bit of trouble adjusting to the climate. It felt like a weather-free and season-free zone, with fluctuations only in temperature. I used to joke that I wouldn't know Christmas was coming if I wasn't paying close attention to the calendar.
After hearing Genna, my sister-in-law, describe sensing seasonal changes in the smell of the fields around her town, I realized that I was going to have to be more sensitive in order to detect the subtle changes around me.
Even though I missed Christmas with snow and cold, I found meaning in the seasonal changes we experienced in CA. After the long dry season, rain typically began to fall in November, with December being the rainiest time of the year. As the ground absorbed the moisture, the native grasses that had dried and turned golden over the summer bent down under the weight of the water and new, bright green growth began to appear. It felt symbolic of Christ, the Living Water, coming to bring new life to the world- as if His birth were being celebrated in the Spring.

Blast from the Past

Just for fun, here are photos of me in the dress! Yes, that would be two different guys, two different Proms. Go me!

'80's Prom

Coral's IKEA Christmas party has an '80's Prom' theme, so she and India spent an hour trying on my old dance dresses from 1984 & 1986. Coral decided on the white dress and her date is going to wear a light blue suit. I think that is more '70's, but apparantly, when we go that far back in time, it all blurs together for her. She is nominated for IKEA Prom Queen.

We have been getting all our Christmas decorations up in preparation for my parent's visit next week- the trees are up and the Penguin tree decorated, the lights on the house look great(thanks Kevin), and the kids are watching A Charlie Brown Christmas. My parents are coming for Niall's Baptism on Dec 8 and to enjoy a bit of the Christmas season with us. As we were reading scriptures last night, the passage we read in Alma 7:7-17 began by discussing the birth of Jesus and his mission on Earth and then went on to teach the doctrine of Baptism. I was fascinated and touched that the passage we happened to be reading addressed these two important events we are preparing to celebrate.

"HE IS 'Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' - a man of action, not words. But Britain's most famous secret agent has never met foes as formidable as 24 French academics armed with a 32-chapter book." Scotsman.com

James Bond 007 Anatomy of a Popular Myth is a collection of essays published this week in France analyzing all things in "l'univers Bondian".

I don't think this subject needs the attention of serious academics- I worked this out years ago. Bond is a base male fantasy. It might be fun to read the book, though.

Thanksgiving 5K

We started our Thanksgiving Day with an early 5K run/walk/ride(Leith) through the older parts of Draper. The morning was beautiful and cold.
The organizers of the event exceeded their goal of $20K (registration fees)+ canned goods to be split between the Utah Food Bank and LDS Humanitarian Services.
Leith was wondering what we would eat if we were giving our food away and we had a poignant little moment explaining to him that we have plenty to share. He thought about that for a minute, looked at the case of chili we were loading into the car and said that he doesn't like chili anyway!

Bangladesh, Chile- Yikes!

After hearing coverage of the storms that periodically hit Bangladesh, with enormous loss of life, I am stunned by what an unfortunate place it seems to be. How do the people manage?

On the same topic-natural disasters-the coverage I saw of the recent earthquake in Chile focused on the impact it had on international copper prices. Bizarre.

Since we live in a seismically active area, our City Council has been trying to beef up geologic testing requirements for developers who are building expensive homes on ancient landslides. They are meeting a lot of resistance- it's quite a fight. Bill Colbert threatened to name future landslides after the judges who may make it possible for developers to shut down the City's efforts. Go Bill!

If we ever have a big earthquake here, the photos will show huge, fancy homes smashed down the mountainside instead of third world housing in mud.

Tweetle Beetle Battle.....

Kevin and I found ourselves on opposite sides of the recent ballot referendum on private school vouchers in Utah. We had to stop debating it at home due to raised tempers, but I found a nice man named Gordon on the internet to argue with.
Kevin tried mightily to obtain a campaign sign for our yard to oppose the one I posted, but he was not successful. After vouchers were soundly defeated in the election, I stole a pro-voucher sign from a street corner to give to Kevin as a souvenir of his folly.

Where have I gone wrong?

Coral made cookies for the first time last night. Before last night, she has always eschewed cooking activities-so what prompted her after 16 1/2 years to bake cookies?
Drum roll please.................................A BOY!!!!!!!!
A missionary in the MTC, to be specific. She is sending cookies to a boy she knew in CA and became good friends with over the Internet since we moved to UT. He seems, on the eve of his mission departure, to have developed romantic feelings for her. His recent letter to her requested cookies.
I feel defeated as a mother and a feminist. I did not raise my daughter to spend her evenings baking for guys who should be focusing on other things. Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!!!!!!
I am trying to figure out how my message has gotten lost over the years.

More 'Rocks & Mountains'

On a recent day off school, we got up early and went into Little Cottonwood canyon to the Salt Lake Temple Stone Quarry.
Most of the leaves are already gone, but we did see some pretty colors, fantastic rocks, and Big Horn Sheep way up on the mountainside- sorry, I couldn't zoom the camera far enough to really photograph them.
Leith got a work out making his way down the dry creek bed.
After we climbed on lots of rocks, we drove to Hagermann's Bakery for all-you-can eat french toast made from artisan style cinnamon raisin bread. Yum. In spite of the fact that Kevin had an office lunch to attend 90 minutes later, he had seconds-as if he would not have gotten his money's worth if he stopped at one plate.

Niall is a cry-baby!

We are still working our way through the Halloween candy and will be for some time, judging by the amount we have.

When the girls were smaller, they were excited to receive 'Warheads'. These were very sour hard candies that contained a surprising amount of Vitamin C and a little sweet part inside.

Well, now we have 'Cry Baby' bubble gum. Niall tried one on Halloween night. After hopping around in agony for several minutes, he had to spit it out before he actually got to the gum. He will gather his strength and try again with the remaining pieces.

What fun!

Stucco Schmuck-o

Almost exactly two years ago we awoke after a stormy night in our home of two months to find water dripping in the family room windows and soaking the sheetrock, carpet and hardwood. We spent that first winter here in Utah, catching water with towels and diagnosing the problem- faulty stucco installation.
In February 2006 we had significant repairs performed around all the windows in the house and initiated a lawsuit against the former owners who now live in MA. Honestly, the lawsuit was a difficult experience for me. I felt ill every time I had to work on it and forced myself to compartmentalize and put it aside during the periods of waiting.
Last fall, when the winter storms started again, we realized that, although the water incursion was greatly reduced, we still had problems. We spent another winter and spring catching water, documenting patterns, and worrying that the walls were rotting inside. Meanwhile, the lawsuit dragged on in time and expense.
Over the summer, we finally scheduled and trial date, and at that point the former owners cried, 'Uncle." I would like to say that we kicked their butts and that the setttlement amount paid for all our losses and a vacation besides, but, alas, it did not. We did as well as was possible, I think and having it overwith is priceless.
After extensive water testing and infra-red analysis, we determined that the entire back side of the house would need to be torn off and new a new stucco system installed. As the work commenced, we were grateful to find no rot or mold. The work is almost done and I look forward to a watertight winter season.
I have grown a lot during this experience. I have had to force myself to not let this problem overshadow my whole life. I have learned that a problem can be absorbing and urgent, but not important from a global or eternal perspective. I have relied on prayer and inspiration to guide us throught the risks of the lawsuit and the unknowns of the contractors and the repairs.
I am looking forward to being able to enjoy my house, which I really like and feel blessed to have. I am looking forward to enjoying stormy weather again. And, I am looking forward, next spring, to landscaping the backyard, planting a garden, and spending time out there on shady summer evenings.

Halloween

India the Vampire- I sewed her cape.
THE Brock from all the stories stops by-he is dressed as a monkey( mask in hand). They swear they are just friends now.
Niall is the 'Phantom of the Opera', Leith the dragon, Ashley and India are vampires. Coral worked in her friend Ryan's haunted house for the evening-I am still waiting for photos, although, I'm not sure they will be family friendly.

Halloween seems to have moved away from the simple fun of yesteryear. I still try to sew and assemble at least some of our costumes at home. We carve pumpkins, have a great dinner of 'mummy dogs' and 'gold fish salad'(call if you want recipes) and invite friends to eat and trick-or-treat with us.
Our fun is hard work, however.
I seem to spend the six weeks beforehand trying to 1.avoid the gory displays in retail establishments(one store we usually like had a dismembered torso directly inside the doors-we had to leave), 2.encourage the teens to avoid the really over-the-top haunted houses(no ghosts or ghouls, instead depictions of horrific violence and gore) and 3.keep the candy to a reasonable amount(there is no anticipation, people are shoving candy at the kids for weeks before they actually trick-or-treat.)
I am also driven crazy by the religious conflict surrounding the event. I heard on the radio a ridiculous piece by a holy-roller about the pagan, evil beginnings of Halloween. Maybe he should look into the origins of Christmas. Different Wards in my own religion seem conflicted, too. In our Ward, we have a 'Trunk or Treat' right before Halloween. What a pain to have to get the costumes all ready early and have twice the candy to deal with! AND, there is no possible reason for it!! We live in the PERFECT neighborhood for going door-to-door- nice houses, no through streets, neighbors who know each other, etc. It is so ideal, in fact, that it clearly attracts people from other neighborhoods-and welcome.
Well, sorry for the rant. On the other hand....
The kids were really happy with their costumes, had a great time with friends and got more candy than I am really going to let them consume. It was a mild night-45 degrees- Leith was comfy in his dragon suit, and Niall worked up a serious sweat running house to house. I sat outside on the porch passing out candy during 'the rush' and listening to Jack Marinello play his bagpipes up the hill from us. The hillside allows the sound to float all around. The music mixed with the voices of the children and teens as they walked up and down the streets was really festive and I was able to chat with friends and neighbors and admire costumes.
After slogging through the lame commercialization and gore for weeks, the fun really appeared between 6 and 9 pm on Halloween night-as if by magic.