Bad News

It seems like I have only been hearing bad news lately. A couple of friends are dealing with cancer, a son of a friend just got killed in a car accident - not to mention all the various family issues going around. I have been kind of down about it lately. I don't know - I just seem to be empathizing to the point of distraction. All of these things make me hurt for my friends. I wish I could help or make things easier or take their minds off their situation for 5 minutes - SOMETHING! If they only knew how much I think about them and am praying/worrying for them. If my wishes were dimes they would be rich. Does any of it help though?

Blogging

Something that is really bothering me lately is the fact that people don't blog as much. I know - no one will even know I am saying this because no one even reads blogs anymore! Did they suddenly go out of style or something? I am usually the last to know these things. I started blogging late - but I have enjoyed it a lot! I especially loved it when others in the family (who shall remain nameless) blogged and I could know what was going on in everyone's lives. We live so far away and for the most part always feel a little out of the loop. Blogging bridged the gap and I felt a part of things with everyone. I didn't miss that before blogging because we never had it - but now that I have had it (when everyone was blogging) I really miss it. I miss knowing what is going on, how others are feeling, silly observations, occasions and all the pictures that go with them. I miss you blogging buddies - okay I have decided to name names:

Becky - Scrooge was your last post! Come on - I need to know what is going on with you!

Shaury - Honey Butter! you have so many funny thoughts that I am hankering for!

Angela - forget the pictures if you have to - just blog!

Layne - you made an attempt last month - but it wasn't long enough. You used to be so dedicated.

Liz - sometimes only once a month or so - just not cutting it!

Sharon - I can see you're trying with the "friday 5" but I still miss the other stuff.

Come on people - we need to work together here! I will just say it right out - if you love me you will blog more.

National Pie Day!

Today is National Pie Day. I didn't know this until I read the paper this morning. I love pie! Therefore, I can get behind this kind of National day. Now the question is how do I get me some pie? Should I make some pie? This is always a headache because Cory doesn't like the same kind of pies that Cam and I like so when I make pie I have to make more than one kind (way too much to do today!). OR should we go find some pie? I don't know where there is a Marie Calendar's around Houston. I will put my thinking cap on and hunt down some pie today - to show my support of National Pie Day!

Nylons

Nylons aren't my favorite thing in the world - but they do look pretty good with some dresses and they certainly help with the sucking in where sucking in is needed. Last Sunday I was getting dressed and putting on my nylons and very carefully trying to line them up so that they wouldn't get twisted. Most people's biggest problem with nylons is causing a run while putting them on - not mine. Mine is the stupid leg getting twisted. I don't know why - I am VERY careful about it! Anyway, I did it again. I was running late - because of our new schedule (9 a.m.!!) and there I was again with the circulation in my left leg being cut off by my twisted nylons!

2010 Resolutions

I have debated putting these on here - only because maybe someone will remind me of them at an inopportune time (while stuffing some junk food in my mouth!). But, I do think it is valuable to document resolutions, so I decided to just do it:

1. Read next weeks church lessons in advance (not just the one I happen to be teaching for my class either). It will help me be better prepared to participate - which I like to do. I also may just learn something!

2. Cut down on sugar! I eat like an 8 year old with no adult supervision run amok! I have got to curb this before something drastic happens.

3. Attend the temple on every ward temple day. If I have a conflict it needs to at least be in the same week!

4. Not fully defined yet - but something pertaining to entering at least 4 races this year. Can be 5K, 10K or whatever - just to keep things constant and to have events to look forward to for my running.

Those are do-able. I am happy with those. Any help from friends or family would be appreciated. Let me list some examples: 1) Liz or Cory asking me to go with him/her to the temple on temple night. 2) Shaury or Becky asking to enter a race while we are visiting so I will have someone to run with.

45!

I'm feeling kinda bummed - tomorrow is my birthday. 45 seems soooo old and disgusting! I hate getting old - things not working right, looking right, feeling right. I hate having wrinkles and brittle looking hair! I hate being soft and jiggly everywhere. I hate plucking hairs from all kinds of crazy places on my person. I hate that I can't see, can't eat anything I want, can't look like I used to. All those ridiculous sayings about being old and feeling better than ever or liking yourself more with age - they revolt me! I don't' find them true in the least. If I had a chance to be young again I would do it in a second. I don't think I fully appreciated it - I took everything for granted, I miss it!

Alright, I'm done complaining about it (for this minute). Let's get on with it.

My 5 Favorite Books of 2009

This is the short list of my favorite books from the list of those that I read during 2009:

1. These is my Words - Nancy E. Turner - who knows what it is about a book that makes you love it? This book was amazing to me because it made me so happy while reading it and it was a real treat just picking it up each time. I enjoyed it so much and related to it so much.

2. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier - I loved this, don't know why it hit me like it did, but I always say "there is a reason that a classic is a classic". This really stands the test of time.

3. Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy - same as above! Love being lost in another time - different restraints and cares.

4. A Great and Terrible Beauty - Libba Bray - really the whole series. I was entranced by this series. It seems a little out of this world now that I am remembering it - but at the time it was all I could think about. A lot like Harry Potter except the main character is a girl.

5. The Virgin's Lover - Phillippa Gregory - I had to put one of her books on here - I really enjoyed them all and at this moment cannot fully distinguish between them all that well - but I do remember that the name bothered me about this but the story was wonderful and explained a lot about Elizabeth.

Honorable Mentions: The Luxe Series - Anna Godbersen - Another series that I LOVED and could not wait for the next installment. I actually just finished Splendor last night!

and The Bonesetter's Daughter - Amy Tan - always a fan of coming to terms with our heritage and relationships between mothers and daugters. Wonderful!

Starting a new year! Looking forward to new experiences, insights and perspectives that can only come from reading!