I Am

Thankful for this beautiful Thanksgiving Day!

I was able to escape on a morning run and the air was at its freshest. At one point I could smell someone's stuffing; it was intense. When I lived at home I always used to "run to the flag" and it felt nice to do it again.



I love staring at Mount Olympus.



Seeing cool things on people's lawns



Reminiscing about the "H" rock (and seeing Christmas lights on houses ready for their debut tonight)



And looking forward to this pole flaunting a seasonal theme every time I pass it.



I have been trying the best I can to get back in a running routine and it feels SOOOO good. I keep coming back to it because I can't deny that high that I know is waiting for me. I especially love getting outside, rain or shine, and taking in the smells close to the mountains by my parents' neighborhood. I'm feeling grateful today for my health and feeling of well-being. So grateful for family and friends and that they are (for the most part!) healthy. The list would go on and on and on...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Digging

in the dirt is what I did yesterday!

When I walked outside it honestly tasted like Spring. It reminded me I still needed to plant my pink hyacinths. Time was of the essence though. I was trying to do about 8 million things yesterday. I had my neighbor Karin come outside so she could keep her eye on Crosby for me while I planted these humdingers. Croz wasn't having it so I was in a major rush and hopefully put the bulbs deep enough in the ground. We'll see!

If I get to look at these come Spring,



I will be a happy girl.

Birthday Alert

November is full of birthdays of people that I love!

Some are already in the past since the month is almost long gone, but...

My cousin Becca's was yesterday; Happy 15th again, Boods! I still feel the right to call her that (;

Today is my bro Pat's birthday. Happy 23 Patrick! Time is flying. Check out this old picture of them on a joint b-day:



Awwwwww.

So Pat, if you read this... I love you! You and I have some of the best memories. I love each of my brothers so much and each one is so different. Pat, I love how you and I have always been best buds. You were kind of everyone's sidekick because you are so much fun but I think that you and I are a lot alike. For some reason I remember when we lived in Washington and you were really little and I taught you what the word "trick" meant. I think someone played a joke on you and you were upset about it and didn't understand it. We were sitting on your bed and you were so interested in that word! From then on you kept finding excuses to say, "You tricked me." What an out-of-the-blue memory!

Remember when we went to Denver for Rosy's aerobics graduation or something and we stopped to visit Norm and Em at their chateau in the woods? It was just you and me and Mom and Dad.



Guess who else's birthday it is?



Yep, you got it... this guy again! He has birthdays all the time.

9 months old today, Croz! I have been reminding him all day. 9 months feels different. Crosby is getting to be so aware of everything and he keeps getting more and more intense. Now that he is this old it seems like he is beginning to step down from the baby ladder and it is kind of sad but I am so excited for him! His world is getting to be much more fascinating.



Here I go, tears coming to my eyes once again! And the urge to gloat about my baby guy. But I can't believe how deep my heart goes for this little person. I cannot hug him lovingly enough and I can't take my eyes off of his mischievous smile. When he laughs, his eyes smile like you wouldn't believe. Crosby, you are the greatest. What a fun day you've had so far; hanging with Nan in the morning...



And then (literally) hanging with your buddy Arthur in the afternoon.



Love you so!

You Should Be Dancing, Yeah

Yep another Crosby video. You recently saw that D can dance. His son is no different; what a chip off the ol' block. The other day I had Croz in his cushy doorway jumper setup, Christmas music and all while I was Betty Crockering away in the ol' kitchen. I've had this Moulin Rouge poster sitting since July and Croz happened to catch his reflection in it and the rest is history.

(Wish I could have gotten this on tape when he first started though. I spied on him in total amazement, we're talking the splits even. This kid can dance! That's what happens I guess when he has about a total area of one foot of space to work with. Anyway, I'm going to call Ballet West on Monday to see if they need a Nutcracker baby)



Now that you've seen Crosby dance no need to see me in action... I taught him all he knows (;

Art Show

Looking for something to do Saturday and Sunday?

Come check out the...



I worked for one of the artists for seven years and he has an exhibit at this art show. He had me man the booth tonight and I will be tomorrow too since he can't be there... it was so COOL to look around at all of the amazing works and artists; so many of them very prolific!

This is a sample of Peter Van Alstyne's art (the one I am at). He and his wife take off to the Holland Tulip Festivals once in a while and he is famous for his Dutch landscapes:



So very stunning in person! Almost all of them originals but he has prints on glicee canvas, which are so beautiful. I am really tempted now to get a photo of Crosby transposed onto glicee now, it is the coolest stuff.



When there was a lull I was approached by someone I know whose husband happens to be Anton "Tony" Rasmussen, a very locally famous artist and I didn't even know she was his wife but he was there and SUCH a character. He and his wife are really really funny and they were keeping me entertained the whole night!



Rasmussen is a famed Utah landscape artist, with the famous Arches painting in the Salt Lake airport (his paintings are HUGE).

I also got to meet Peter Prier who is the founder of:



He began the Violin Making School of America, located right here in Salt Lake. His son manned the booth for the first bit and then Peter showed up with some Crown Burger and played a violin from the 18th century. He has a quartet on display with the most intricately beautiful carvings. I got talking with him and he too is a character (funny German accent), but very kind and so interesting to talk to!



Maybe if I get to know him more tomorrow I can talk him into making D a mandolin so I can give it to him for Christmas. It should only take him 390 hours, no biggie.

At one point I looked around and saw some really awesome jewelry, and I mean tons of it but it was organized beautifully and there is a lot to choose from. There was a whole family of Italians with their fine leather booth, handmade bags, purses, etc. VERY NICE!

Sculptures too:



I can say that my favorite was this artist's tie-dyed hot air balloon. I just loved it.



Anyone in the mood for an auction? Check that out if you've never been to one, even to stand on the sidelines... maybe you'll find yourself yearning for a Marie Osmond doll, a '65 Ford Mustang, or the last Steinway piano signed by Henry Steinway.

If anything, come and learn something and chat with some artists. Every single one I approached was waiting to talk and it was a nice change of scene if anything... check it out!

At the Salt Palace

Saturday 10 am - 8 pm

Sunday 12 pm - 6 pm

For Fun

Here is a little video of D and Crosby goofing off (:

Soundtrack Of My Life

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?

How to do it:

1. Open your music library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc).
2. Put it on Shuffle.
3. Press Play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button.
6. Be honest.

Opening Credits:
Eclipse - Pink Floyd

Waking Up:
I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred
(Yessssssss! And I'm not even cheating)

First Day Of School:
Spanish Caravan - The Doors

Falling In Love:
If I Could Build my Whole World Around You - Marvin Gaye
(Still not cheating. Never heard this song and it was really cute!)

Fight Song:
Like A Rolling Stone - Jimi Hendrix Live at Monterey 2007

Breaking Up:
Look At Little Sister - Stevie Ray Vaughan
(I am cursing D's music)

Prom:
Dry Ice - Green Day
("... in the sky flying hand in hand..." how very romantic of Billie Joe Armstrong :)

Life Is Good:
My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama - Joe Satriani
(Thanks again D, I am lovin' my soundtrack)

Driving:
Hang Me Up to Dry - Cold War Kids
(Ooooh! Finally, I love this one. Good summer road trip song)

Mental Breakdown:
Save The World - Bon Jovi
(I HAAATE Bon Jovi, sorry fans)

Flashback:
Nature of the Beast - Samples
(So sad...)

Getting Back Together:
Babyface - U2
("Dressed up like a lovely day... " what a line, Bono)

Wedding:
Willing to Learn - Tower of Power

Final Battle:
Give Peace a Chance - Aerosmith feat. Sierra Leone's refugee all-stars
(Save Darfur! This cover was a fun idea and all, but Steven Tyler and John Lennon are not jiving for me)

Death Scene:
Adrian - Jewel
(Yikes. I never liked this song anyway)

Funeral Song:
I'll Back You Up - Dave Matthews Band
(This one happens to be quite fitting too, really!)

End Credits:
Moon Over Bourbon Street - Sting

I want to hear other people's outcomes; do it! It's a fast one, especially if you don't commentate on everything like me! (;