Do I need Counseling?

So I'm finally learning to throw a decent punch because a lovely lady in my ward is teaching us the basics of self defense. During the class we were talking about what to do in a car burglary situation, in a house burglary situation... you know, dangerous situations. And somehow, for almost every category, I had a story that went along. My planner was stolen in high school (Gary just said, "it's probably still sitting there where you left it." Very funny, hubby!). My first car was stolen when I was 16 and stupidly left the keys under the front seat while I ran in to a friends' house to say hello. There were a couple of guys in high school and college whom I could probably qualify as a stalkers, though mercifully I've never been physically attacked. And some times when I definitey had to make my "no's" mean "not only no but HECK no", as my dad says. Only he doesn't use the word "heck."

In LA Gary's '87 Olds (the Shark) was stolen on our fourth day of living there. Then the radio was stolen out of the replacement clunker (Rusty) we bought to replace the Shark. (The radio was worth more than the car, so I guess they made the right choice...) As an office assistant I fielded several sexual harrassing phone calls from truly disturbed males (not a rare thing in LA). Then our house was robbed in Charlotte. That was the worst.

Kind of a crazy list. I feel normal, but maybe deep down I'm darkly, emotionally disturbed, and can therefore justify any unexplained door lockings, taser guns purchases, and Haagen Daas or Jane Austen cravings which may happen to occur. Just to warn you - I'm dangerous!

Because I just can't help it...

...I read this today and gained a new perspective on some of the ills troubling our country.

"The United States has 5% of the world’s population and 66% of the world’s lawyers. When you see that 97% of the political contributions from the American Trial Lawyers Association goes to the Democrat Party, then you realize who is responsible for our medical and product costs being so high!"

If you ask me, some good old fashioned tort reform (and TERM LIMITS!) are a good Rx for what ails us. Never gonna happen though when Washington is full of liberal lawyers who LOVE going after those who actually create wealth and produce valuable commodities and services to society.

Sorry for getting political - again - but wait, I'm not, really. Sorry, that is. I'm political. I admit it. I care about what's happening in our country and try to educate myself. So sue me. Under the current legal system, you'd probably be awarded millions!

Typical

So today during Sunday dinner, as usual, Gary and I asked the kids what their Primary lessons were on at church. Maggie replied, "the third Article of Faith on the Atonement of Christ and I got a treat because I was the first one to pass it off because I already knew it!" Sophie: "um, Jesus?" and Spencer, very matter of factly: "Darth Vader."

The After Party

After a nice, quiet Christmas day at home, however, the pace picked up. We were soon called south for several noteworthy events:

*A Jazz game. All the adult Hunters and spouses went, plus Hunter, Jack and Graham. We had a box. John Huntsman's box. But it gets better - it was fully catered, ice cream sundae bar and all. But it gets better - we also had third row seats we all got to take turns sitting in. But it gets BETTER- suddenly President Monson - the prophet of the Church - walks into the box with his son and grandsons (and security detachment) to watch the game! We all have a nice chat over fajitas, hoops and chocolate mint chip with hot fudge. It was just us and them - I had to keep reminding myself to breathe and not to giggle or stare too obnoxiously. But wait - it gets BETTER! Jon Jr.'s (the governor) kids show up and say they don't want their courtside tickets anymore because they're leaving, so would we like to use them? Um, YES! So we all got turns sitting right in Boozer's face, reading tatoos on the players' arms and feeling like superstars. To tell the truth, if you're there for the game, the view from the box was better but it was so dang exciting to be right on the front row. Really, who's life is this? Who gets to do stuff like this? It was a little surreal, but hey, I'll take surreal every now and then. Especially if Pres. Monson is involved. AND caramel sundaes.

*Watching the kids put on show after show on Nana and Papa's stage in the basement

*Seeing New Moon again with Mom, Abby (who'd never seen it), Hillary and my dear friend Christy Knight.

*Heading south to Richfield to stay with Gram, Grandpa, Scottie and Kenzie. More presents, and lots of canines:

*Playing cards 'til late

*Riding HORSES! Gram set it up with some of her neighbors (ah the blessings of life in the country) - it was even indoors! One of their ward friends does dressage. We loved their two sweet ponies. All the kids got a turn; it was a huge highlight of the trip!

*A mini-trip down to Cedar City to see Gary's brother Ron and wife Mary Beth, with a stop at our family favorite tepanyaki restaurant, Samurai. YUM! Spencer thought so too.

*Back to SLC for part of Gary's Christmas present from me, tickets to Hale Center Theater's The Importance of Being Earnest. Then real life decided to kick in again and we had to say goodbye to dear family and head back to Rexburg. School, clogging, and lots of Christmas toys await!

Bean Bags, Legos and treats Oh My!

Merry Christmas 2009! Christmas this year was eventful and restful and exciting and emotional. Here are the highlights: The festivities started with Christmas Eve at Nanny's House - an honored tradition with all the Idaho cousins ever since I was young, although my family rarely participated since we were usually in Maui. But it involves a huge feast (a spread only my Idaho aunts and cousins could produce, name cards and all!), a talent show, and a rowdy but adorable nativity reenactment by all the great-grandkids. Nanny is amazing - 91 (?) years old and still pulling together a bash like this. She is the GREATEST!

Then we went home and the kids donned their Christmas Eve jammies (thanks Nana!) and went to bed all together on the downstairs sofa, which they only get to do on special occasions. They were cherubs and let us sleep in until 8 AM, but then Maggie went upstairs (per my instructions) to peek and came down shouting "there's a thousand presents up there!" After that there was no controlling the stampede, so the kids (politely but enthusiastically) attacked the numerous presents around the tree. Their favorites were the bean bags from Nana and Papa, Spencer's pirate ship, and the Lipizzaner horses from mom.


I gave everyone a Willow Tree figure representing my love for each family member. Cheesy, I know, but I like the idea of a physical representation of my love that they can each look at, hold, and remember me by. I'm such a softie.

Then we had a breakfast of pumpkin pancakes, an afternoon of toys and movies, and Noel pedicures from Mom. Our toesies were in desperate need of glittery shellac, but I had to draw the line when Spencer picked out a nice rosy red for his!

Dinner was fun and fairly easy on me: barbecued ribs, mashed potatoes, Magleby's rolls, fruit kabobs, and hula pie for dessert. We stayed in our pajamas all day, and I didn't worry about the mess or nag anyone ONCE to clean it up. It was GREAT!