Grammar Nazi

The most looked up words in Webster's Online Dictionary:

pretentious-Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance.

ubiquitous- Present. Being everywhere. Similar to omnipresent.

love-

The first one was easy for me. Pretentious. I have used that before. My goal, never be pretentious. However, I have never used the word ubiquitous. Let's use it in a sentence... Here is one from Moby Dick.

1851 — Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chapter 41

One of the wild suggestions referred to, as at last coming to be linked with the White Whale in the minds of the superstitiously inclined, was the unearthly conceit that Moby Dick was ubiquitous; that he had actually been encountered in opposite latitudes at one and the same instant of time.

Love. People apparently want to just know what the true meaning of love is. Do you want to know?

LOVE:  (1) : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties love for a child> (2) : attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3) : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests <love for his old schoolmates>


You know what I think? You don't need to define love. We know what love is. When you feel it, you know it. Most powerful emotion given to us as human beings. Primary motivator for everything else we do. LOVE.


Totally unrelated pictures:

Clippers vs Jazz game in cool Uncle Mark's box seats. I was home grimacing every time I swallowed with a baby grimacing every time she coughed.

 Spencer and Michaela who is here visiting along with Luke. Very sweet, beautiful girl, inside as much as out. 

My favorite Christmas Day photo

Ice Skating in L.A yesterday. I'm still at home grimacing and now coughing profusely.

 Sydney loving it between Spencer's friends Xando and Luke. Luke leaves for Cambodia on a mission in a few months. 

Wild Animal Kingdom

Finally, and I wish I had a picture, Maddie had 10 teenagers over here last night playing pounce, other games, laughing, eating. This sounds weird, but it was the first time we have really had a group in our home like that. When we first moved here, I thought it would never happen. We were pretty solitary here for a while. I bought food, and then snuck out of the kitchen, got in bed, finished my book, coughed and grimaced away, but smiled as I listened to the laughter. 

So I've been on vacay with my family in San Diego, but the itch to post was making my fingers all tingly the whole time. As I think every time I go there, it must be the best place in the entire country to live...if you could swing it. It's such a great place. Nothing beats getting your kids all in one place, all to ourselves, especially where I, the mother, do not have to cook.

So, I have been wanting to post about a show I went to see just before Christmas. I love music. I could go to one or two concerts a week if I allowed myself. But I usually try to be very responsible and motherly and thus, many concerts pass by without me seeing them. Which hurts sometimes. Case in point: Blind Boys of Alabama played with the LA Philharmonic the Tuesday before Christmas. I missed them due to a ward wedding. Adam Schlesinger of The Fountains of Wayne played a few weeks before and I missed him due to Brett's late work night and it being Young Womens night for my girls. No babysitter, and even if I could find one, I would be going by myself to West Hollywood late for a concert in a club type place. The little voice in my head kicks in and says, "Erin. Now think about it. Is it REALLY that important? You want your girls to go to a church activity right? You know Brett can't make it home until 8:30. Are you really going to go by yourself to a club in L.A.? Come on Erin." The thing is, even though the voice talks me into staying, I still sulk about it for a week or two. Maybe 3 if I really really wanted to go.

So, on December 23rd, it was the closing day for a showcase of composer Randy Newman's works. I was first introduced to Randy Newman at about age 8 when my brother David would sing "Short People Got No Reason To Live" over and over to me. Older brothers shouldn't give younger sisters complexes over their shortness.  Many years later....I am married with two little children. My dad called me and said, "Erin. You have GOT to listen to the movie soundtrack to 'Avalon.' It was done by Randy Newman and it is really brilliant. You could do that! You could write soundtracks!" Dad was always saying stuff like that to me. I usually answered with a "Dad. I can't do that! I have two little kids! I am not talented enough to do that anyway." He would never believe me and even until this year, when he died, he would call me up a few times a year, play me something and say--"YOU could have written that! If you want to, just do it! You could have a studio in your house like Hans Zimmer or James Newton Howard." "But dad...I'm old now. How would I break in?" "You can do whatever you want Erin."

Anyway, Newman also wrote the Toy Story Song "You've Got a Friend in Me" as well as that beautiful song playing when Jessie the cowgirl is being given away called "When She Loved Me" sung by Sarah Mclachlan. So, when I saw that his work was being showcased downtown L.A., I wanted to go. Kind of in honor of dad. Of course, with little baby, Brett's always late arrival home, Christmas season stuff, I let the little voice in my head say, "Come on Erin. You'll live if you can't go." UNTIL the night of that wedding shower I was telling you about. (The night I was missing The Blind Boys of Alabama.)
The same friend who took me to Sutton Foster, the brilliantly pushy and full of life Carol, saw me at the reception. "Erin! Do you want to go see Randy Newman's show with me tomorrow at 2? It's closing day."  "uh, uh, I'd LOVE to. Let's see. Matinee. The kids would be home... Yes! Yes I am going with you." So we went.

This is how Carol sees shows. We show up ten minutes before it starts. She stands by the Will Call and asks everyone coming up if they have an extra ticket. It's a tad embarrassing because most people look at you and say no, of course they don't. And get out of the way please. BUT some actually DO have an extra ticket. In our case, two people had extra tickets. Also, she never brings up paying them any money. If they say they have an extra ticket, she just gushes "thank you sooo much. I really appreciate it!" So, that's what we both did. I got some nice man's extra comp ticket. Carol got the ticket of an older man's wife who couldn't come due to knee surgery.

My ticket was on row 3 right smack dab next to HIM

It's so weird. I wanted to lean over to Mr. Vereen and tell him that I admired his work, but the truth is, I have no idea how I even know who he is. I know he is a song and dance man, but I don't even know how I know that. SO I just smiled that knowing smile of- I know you. You're to be admired I'm sure. Just know I am happy to be sitting by you, you talented man you.

Back to the family vacay. If you are in San Diego, you must go to the new Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center in Old Town. It is brand new and is so cool. Almost like a Disneyish virtual experience for kids. You are part of the battalion. The people are talking to you through paintings, simulated thunderstorms, you are wearing the battalion clothes, panning for gold. Very cool. 500 men left their wives and children while traveling west, to serve their country in the war against Mexico. These men went to fight for the country that didn't protect them from being thrown out of their burning homes and temple in Nauvoo. Anyway, these men walked all the way to California from Ohio and never ended up fighting, but the money they earned help pay for the other Saints to get to Utah. They also brought their brick making skills to the settlers in San Diego and built the first city building there. They learned how to irrigate in desert climates which in turn helped the saints once they all got to Salt Lake City a few months later. Way interesting.

Also cool...Wild Animal Kingdom and San Diego Zoo with an 18-month old, and every other family member watching the 18-month old in awe over every animal. Magic. Oh and I mentioned the me not having to cook right? e

KEEPIN IT REAL

Hey Misty- Are we on for our annual 10pm to Midnight Target run tomorrow night? When you come for breakfast Christmas morning, bring some cups along with the egg casserole. I think I'm out of cups.

Hey Kimi- Want to go to a late movie tonight after everyone is settled down so we can de-stress a bit? Bring some stale licorice.

Kelly- When are we doing Winder Dairy Scones? Should we just go on the 26th? We can look at those lights by mom's while we're out.

Hey Darcy- Do you want me to make the orange rolls and you do the Clam Chowder for tomorrow night? I've got our cousin gifts ready to exchange. I'll call Kim and see if she can make the oreo dessert and maybe Bobbi Jo can do a good salad..Mom said she's got the program ready.

Hey Mom- Are you coming up on Christmas Day to do the puzzle with me and for dinner? Maybe bring your pretzel salad if that's ok. I'll do everything else. Be there about 1.

Hey Schwartz Family- Carol to us very last tomorrow night so we make sure we are home. We'll come out on the porch and sing with you.

Hey Lauren- Maybe come over around 9 a.m. or so Christmas morning. We'll probably start opening around 7.

Hey Quinn- Do you want to stay over night again, stay up late, and hope LaKeesha Winterberry writes another elf note for the kids?

Hey Dave and Heidi- Should we get everyone together and jam a few times over the break?

Hey Belnaps- Let's do dinner on Sunday.

Hey Nelsons- When are you bringing the carmel popcorn? You must be running a little late this year. We can't wait for it.

WE MISS AND LOVE YOU ALL.

so
much
rain

RAIN 

RAIN 

EVERYWHERE

Brett had two daddy/daughter dates this weekend.

Sydney Daddy Daughter:

Hollywood. Walk of Stars. Kodak Theatre.

Ali/Sydney Daddy Daughter:

Beverly Hills for a trolley ride with Santa and Mrs. Claus to see the Old Hollywood homes of Julie Andrews, Bing Crosby. 

Rodeo Drive

 We all went to the NEWPORT BOAT PARADE on Balboa Island Sunday night. This will definitely become a new tradition. It was so much fun. We ate dinner with Mark and Julianne and then drove across to Balboa Island, parked right up on the little beach and watched as the yachts decked their boats out with lights and paraded past us. 

Gingerbread houses with Spencer. Spencer's home!

Kate came over and watched for a bit. 

Our first time with a yearly friend tradition to go to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles followed by lights and then a dessert party. A big piece of fried chicken with a waffle on the side. It was so fun being packed in like sardines and eating, chatting.

Under these covers are all of the kids watching Sing Off downstairs. 

Gotta go. Kate is dumping my colored paper all over the floor...

What do you think about this concept?

I Go Back To The House For A Book

I turn around on the gravel and go back to the house for a book, something to read at the doctor's office, and while I am inside, running the finger of inquisition along a shelf, another me that did not bother to go back to the house for a book heads out on his own, rolls down the driveway, and swings left toward town, a ghost in his ghost car, another knot in the string of time, a good three minutes ahead of me — a spacing that will now continue for the rest of my life.

Billy Collins

This is what I deal with every day. It's pretty serious.

Is that Kate? Wait, how did she get on the table and do that in 3 seconds?

"KAAAAATE! NO NOOO."

Research on Dec. 17

Is it possible to have too much mint during the holidays? I've done a lot of research on this topic. A lot. It has taken concentration and frankly..much time, effort, and sacrifice.

The conclusive evidence all points to the answer NO. Never, ever can you have too much mint. Ever. :) :) :)

GREATEST ALL-TIME TV SHOW ON PLANET EARTH

Are you ready to see what it is? It must be pretty amazing to be the greatest all-time show. Here it is...

SESAME STREET

I am falling in love all over again with Sesame Street along with my little babe, Kate. Seriously, it is the best.

Examples: Today the word on the street was HEALTHY. The veggies were on strike yelling things like "What do we want?! Appreciation! When do we want it?! NOW!"

Then Anderson Cucumber from VNN (vegetable news network), complete with the gray cool hair came to report on the strike. Classic lines during this sketch "Hey! Don't get yourselves in a stew over this!"

Just as the veggies yell into their megaphone, "That's the last straw! I say we leave Sesame Street!," the whole cast sings a song from Bye Bye Birdie called "We love you Vegetables oh yes we do" to try to convince them to stay. In the end, Zoe finally tries her broccoli, realizing she loves it and she and the broccoli do a song and dance number...

Example from Yesterday: A cow comes out of the beauty parlor complete with bouffant blonde hairdo and a pedicure. She can't seem to get down the stairs and is crying. Of course, Super Grover flies in, crashes and asks her what is wrong. He says, "Why are you crying? You wanted brunette instead of blonde? Highlights too expensive?" Sniff Sniff. " No Supah Grovah, (she is from the south) I cayn't seem to get down!" Sniff sniff. He finally figures out how to put up a ramp and the pedicured cow gets down.

Kate is obsessed with Elmo right now. She wakes up singing the Elmo song and points to my TV. I don't know how to explain to her that it isn't always on. It makes me so happy that I'm entertained as much as she is while we watch.

More about today's show: Now there is a capital letter T singing "Hey There Delilah" singing about being a letter T. "Hey there I'm Tommy..." complete with a soul patch, playing a guitar and wearing a black band t-shirt with a capital T on it.

Ellen Pompeo from Grey's Anatomy is the guest actor talking about being healthy. Here is a cute one with Jason Bateman.

Or how about this one with Feist?

I'm glad we had this conversation so now you know about the greatest all-time tv show. Better than MASH, better than Brady Bunch. Better than Modern Family or Castle, or Law and Order, SVU, CPA, LLC, etc. Better than Bewitched and better than Magnum P.I. For sure better than Solid Gold and Starsky and Hutch. Ok I'll stop now. e

This week has been a really good one. It culminated last night with me in tears of gratitude for getting this experience to live here. I know, I know! Tears of gratitude.

First off, I found my cell phone! It was in Brett's car on the side of the passenger seat. Who would ever look there?!

It's 75 here today. Seriously the most beautiful day. I used to hate when people from California would say that and now I'm doing it. I won't do it again, because I am sure I'll miss the snow really soon. Christmas morning, I'm sure I will. Just not yet.

The choir concert made me so happy. Maddie and Ali and their guy friends did a great job. I got to arrange both songs and play for them. I didn't really want to walk up and actually play for them, but writing out the music for someone else to play would have been worse! Maddie and Scott flirted it up on "Baby It's Cold Outside" to cheers and whistles from the audience. So fun.

Maddie and Scott after the concert.

Most hyper boy on the planet, Austin, and the Walters siblings. Jacob has been so fun for the girls to get to know.

We went to the Farmer's Market on Sat. and bought lots of fresh fruit and veggies, and best part, 3 bakery items from my favorite baker. She calls herself "A Bountiful Bakery" which is so fitting for us. Every time I go, she has new, delightful, mouthwatering desserts. I love it! This has become a Saturday morning ritual for us.

Christmas cards are almost done. A movie with Brett on Saturday. We decided that Saturdays between 5-8 is our weekly date night. This way, Maddie and Ali still get weekend nights to hang out with friends. Since they are still trying to get into the social scene here, and since they work so hard in school during the week, I don't want to take a weekend night away from them to babysit. So, this solves all. I love coming home at 8 anyway and putting on my jammies or sweats and curling up to a movie in bed.

Both the R.S. wreath making party and the Christmas dinner went well. I can now take a small breath and spend this week being a little elf, making toys (or buying stuff) before Spencer gets home and the kids get out of school on Friday.

Last night was a stake musical event. That's all I knew. I offered to help a friend with refreshments so I was there. I was so not prepared for this program. I could not believe the talented people performing. We had an orchestra play a Bach piece and it was amazing. I learned later that many of them are in the LA Philharmonic. Then, Manhattan Transfer type groups, bagpipes, french horn, jazz trumpet numbers, and my personal favorite, a live band playing about 4 numbers. What made it even better was this live band was so incredibly good. The guitarist is a professional guitarist in my ward and the piano guy looked exactly like Snape from Harry Potter. Think British rock guy and transport him to an LDS stake center and it was great. (Yes it was at a Stake Center, but the band was super acoustic and Christmas with light percussion, not full on drums. A stand up bass instead of an electric bass. Maddie's friend also played guitar with them and he told Maddie that the piano guy has played for Michael Jackson. Love it!

Even though I had enjoyed the entire night, the tears came when the Korean branch stood up and sang 3 Christmas songs in Korean. They sounded so beautiful. There were some white, probably returned missionaries, mixed in there singing too and they were accompanied by a 12-14 year-old boy. For some reason, this really touched me. Hearing these Korean people sing out in another language, but the same songs about Jesus Christ at Christmas. I started crying.

I realized that we can never see into the future. We have to trust that Heavenly Father CAN and that He DOES lead our lives! Why do I have to learn that lesson over and over? I know it, but sometimes I don't KNOW it. I am now realizing that all I am doing here is meeting more people I can learn from, enjoy and love. There are so many good people, good things in every place. One is not better than another, just different. I'm so grateful for this experience! I am just starting to really see all that it is and can be. I'm so grateful to Brett for being so patient with me and with our girls. He's just let us figure it out and struggle sometimes, but always staying positive and reminding us that we need to have faith. Faith=Good. Fear=Bad. Looking for the Positive=Good. Looking at Negative=Bad. Simple right? Ok then.

A troubled child

This post of Maddie's made me laugh.

A troubled child

She's so easily entertained



Just putting her two best friends down for a nap, elmo and the baby that she can barely carry.


Kate comes stumbling down the hall with her drink in one hand, baby in the other. nice.

Day 3

You know how on day one of your lost iphone, you're kind of busy and it is annoying, but you just keep going, knowing it is some00wh0ere 0clos0e by0? 00(0Kat0e i0s helping me type for a minute.)

You know how on day two of lost iphone, you are still busy and you look a bit and still can't find it? Then worry starts to creep in, but you still know it is probably under a seat or in a jacket pocket?

You know how on day three of lost iphone, you start to completely panic and look high and low and when you still don't find it, you wonder if perhaps, you actually LOST AN EXPENSIVE IPHONE??!!!

Well, it's Day 3.

The Times They Are A Changin'

I tackled the Fabric Mart with Lauren

3 things I have/had yet to do here.

1-Flower Market in downtown L.A. I am still scared a bit of finding my way around and knowing where to park, etc. You have to go at 6 a.m. when all of the florists go to get their flowers for their shops. I will do this, but wait to go with someone in the know. Great prices, freshest flowers. I just want to do it.

I have these flowers right outside my kitchen window. They didn't bloom until this month.

2-The California Market Center or the Clothing Mart.

The sample sale is held the last Friday of every month. This is apparently really fun, a little crazy, and also in downtown L.A. Basically, buyers come and see samples of everything, and decide what to carry in their stores. The samples are then sold really really cheap. The women in this ward and town know all about the sample sale. Women come back with 5 dollar boutique jackets, or a 5 dollar sweater that they later see at Anthropologie. The problem is, there is no way I can go with Kate yet, because there are stairs and people, people and stairs. I will have to wait on this a while.

3- Fabric Mart in the L.A. Fashion District-Done. Check. This is basically a few street blocks full of fabric and notions everywhere. I am in charge of the Relief Society Christmas Dinner in a few days. We had forest green tablecloths, eeh, and so the R.S. Pres, who is an interior designer, just said nonchalantly, "Why don't you just go to the fabric mart in L.A. (I think that's what it's called) and pick up some fabric for $2 a yard and make a Christmas fabric square for the 8 table tops." I decided, why not? Why wouldn't I go do that? So, today Lauren and I did it. Lauren was happy, because she thought she was in Mexico, which is her 2nd home..

After the fabric stop, I successfully got us to Santa Monica so she could shop at H&M on 3rd street. I only heard one street performer and as we came on the street, I could hear his harmonica. "So Dylanesque.." I thought to myself only to find as we got closer that he was singing The Times They are a Changin' by none other than Bob Dylan. He was good. We ate at a little deli and had a nice conversation with a gentleman wondering if Kate in her flowered ruffled shirt was a girl or a boy. Finally, gelato at my favorite gelato place in the world. Every kind of gelato imaginable.

My iphone was dead, so I didn't even have my much valued GPS. I made it anyway! Lauren has absolutely NO confidence in me or my ability to get us ANYWHERE, so she was worried the whole time that a-she wouldn't make her flight and b-that I would get lost. Wrongo Miss Lauren. Who got you to LAX on time, with no GPS, from a different way never driven before? Hmm? When the woman on 3rd street said, "Well, you can take Lincoln or just grab the 405," did I know where either of those were? No! But some people don't PANIC, do they? :)

I was so grateful to her for coming! It is so natural having her in our home, even our California home. All is well when Lauren is around.

I am missing Syd big time. At the tender age of 9, she is now on that 3-day/2-night field trip I was telling you about. She is in a cabin with adults as chaperones who she does not know. Not one of them. She is staying with girls she likes a lot, but has never played with outside of school. She is a worrier. Example: Lauren said that Syd put about 10 sticky notes around the house to remind Lauren that she had to take ibuprofin for her field trip the next day. When I dropped her off, our lunch wasn't labeled and I had to talk her off the ledge before she saw that I could actually borrow someone's pen and label it. See Syd? It's ok. We're all good.

If she comes home happy, we are celebrating in a big way. Huge triumph for Sydney! I'm missing her though, how she helps with Kate, and how she is my little companion. She's still my youngest in many ways. Love her.

To close: This is Baby Kate. Baby Kate is fascinated with Gus. She pats his belly and honks his nose and touches his hat as she says "hat!" Every day ritual to say hi to Gus. Here she is on the counter insisting on the belly pat. She then tries to pat my belly which elicits a huge, "HEY!!" from mom. This makes Baby Kate laugh. Her laugh makes mom laugh. Then I kiss her belly. More laughs all around. Gus doesn't laugh though, he just smiles.

ART

Rainy Sunday Night

A weekend away with Brett. Lauren was home with the little ones here in California. Kate didn't miss us for a minute. I knew it would be so. I still get two days to play with Lauren before we send her back to Utah. It was our 3rd year to the National Finals Rodeo with good friends. We had adjoining suites with living rooms to gather in and chat. Those moments make life sweeter.

Topics of conversation this weekend: how to kill various farm animals for food, ancient sheep castration methods, Hilton vs. Marriott, women in wranglers, massage chairs, sushi vs. Indian food, various methods of working out, anemia, each child and their eternal progression, back wounds and non super model status, piano improvisation skills, foozball techniques, how to make a horse buck, energy meridians, bicycle trips across France, stevia, and Christmas gifts.

Things discovered: When you turn on your seat warmer and also turn the heat to 90 and have it come out at your feet in the car, it is soooooo nice. It feels like your feet are next to a roaring fire at the same time as having your back turned towards the fire. Now, that is impossible, obviously, because if your back were getting warmed by the fire, your feet would have to be arched up behind your back in order for them to be that warm too. BUT IN A CAR it can be simultaneous enjoyment. Try it sometime. Sushi is actually good. Took me until 40 to figure that out. Clothes shopping is more fun with the old man than with kids. Mostly because he has money and they don't and the final decision isn't mine alone.

I played for Maddie and Scott tonight as well as for Ali and Tyler preparing for the choir concert on Friday. I love love love playing for people, especially teenagers who are in my home. That might be #3 on my most loved list. Teenagers in my home and even better, teenagers in my home singing while I accompany. We made snickerdoodles and now they are out delivering them together. Lauren is in her room on the phone and Kate is asleep. Brett flew out tonight for a trip and forgot his phone. I cannot imagine Brett without a phone. I seriously don't know what he will do.

I was given the piece I have to play for the choir at the Christmas program. HARD! Yeah! That will give me something to do and work towards. It is the mo tab's version of Angels We Have Heard on High and it morphs all of the orchestra/organ parts into one piano part. So, if the violins do a run, that turns into a very fast piano run, etc. Hard. I am happy for the challenge.

Sydney leaves tomorrow morning on a 4th grade 3 day, 2 night field trip a few hours away from here. They are sleeping in cabins and learning about lots of stuff hands on. This concept is very weird to me, seeing that she has never slept over anywhere but cousins, and most of those times, she calls me wanting to come home. I am nervous, but she doesn't know that. She is excited and I am encouraging her by telling her how awesome an opportunity this is. I hope she does well this time, because in 5th grade, the students go to Philadelphia/Washington D.C. for a week! I think I'm going to have to go with them on that one.

OK. I need to go get in bed and read my books. A conference talk first and one of my music biographies I'm currently juggling.

Thought for the Day

Be Kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. - Plato

It was chilly this morning. As I walked out in my bare feet to the suburban to take Ali to school, it felt a little cold to the touch. What is up with that? The weird thing is, bushes that have been only green since we moved here in June, all of a sudden with the slightly cooler weather are blossoming with flowers and color. Different bushes are blooming at different times of year, but something is always blooming. I like that.

I loved having Spencer here this past weekend. He brought a backpack for the whole 5-day weekend and that was it. All of his clothes shoved in a backpack. Oh Spencer, you are so low maintenance. Almost too low if you know what I mean. Luckily, I had saved a few things here so he had an extra shirt or two. He went surfing one day, two movies with sisters, and hanging with friends. We checked grades, which looked really good to me, so that was a relief.

Thanksgiving ended up being great. I thought we were going to have it alone, but we got invited to the Anderson's home to share it with them. Mark and Julianne were there, and as a fluke, Brett's other brother Brock and wife Kim were on a flight to Hawaii that got re routed to L.A. due to mechanical problems. So, they got to spend the day with us too. Kim helped me make pies all day and just after dinner, they were off to Hawaii. It was a really great day.

The Anderson women. The matriarch of the family Pat on the left. Becca, in the middle, is attending culinary school, so she helped up the food enjoyment. I want to attend culinary school. My new friend Stacy on the right. I like Stacy a lot. Thanksgiving was casual, comfortable, lots of food, and in this new house of theirs, they have soft drinks on tap. Right next to the water. What more could the kids ask for?

Kim and Ali posing because they were matching. Kim, what's with the arm?

Mark, Spence, Brock, Brett. This was taken after the Turkey Bowl, which every one of them said they played amazing in. They are skyping mom and dad Blake in Germany in this picture. Spencer, why do you never smile? Look how much better it looks when people smile.

Interesting story about the Turkey Bowl. Ali took Kate to watch the guys play, while I ran to LAX and picked up Brock and Kim with Maddie. Ali ended up leaving the game early to take food the homeless shelter in downtown L.A. and Brett told her to leave Mark's wedding ring, which she was holding for him, on the suburban bumper. Pause. I said the same thing. Why would he tell her to leave it there? So, exactly as you have probably guessed, Brett ended up leaving after the football game, forgetting about the ring.

When they realized what they had done, the guys went back to the parking lot and looked for an hour or more. They tried to drive the same way home that they drove before, but still no luck. All day Ali said, "It's not my fault! Dad told me..." and Mark gave us all a little grief over losing his beloved ring.

Get this. Later that night, after it was dark, Mark's wife's sister's husband (are you with me?) was driving around town. He lives here you see, so driving around town at night is a completely normal thing for him to be doing. I think he knew Mark lost the ring, but not where. He saw something shiny in the street. Yep. He pulled over and there in the street was Mark's wedding ring, a little banged up, but right there in his sweaty little palms. In his case, they were probably big palms and most likely not sweaty at all. What a completely random find! Or was it?? Coincidence or as my little friend Jane likes to say, Tender Mercy?

Here I am with the beautiful Ballard sisters. Shauna is on the left (the wife of the lucky ring finder) and Julianne, my sis-in-law who was responsible for leading us to La Canada, is in the middle.

Further news and complete change of subject. You know how I am sort of, well, polka dotted? One of those polka dots on my back was recently judged as "severely atypical" by a lab at UCLA hospital and the doctor personally called me to tell me to get in there and have it taken out. "Don't worry. It isn't cancerous yet. It's just as far on the atypical scale as it gets before it becomes cancer. We don't like those type of cells at all and we just need to get it out. Now."

So, being a little sensitive about the word cancer right now, I got it taken out this week. Here's the thing. The doc said I could either have a 3 inch line down my back (stitches) or a round crater if you will. My friend Melinda analyzed my energy type once, and I am all about round. My eyes, my face shape, which then even influences my clothing choices--round collars, round earrings. There is nothing angular about me or my energy. So, I thought about it for about 5 seconds and told the doc, "No big line scar for me. I want you to just cut it out and I'll have a round scar."

Ugh. I have regretted that decision from the moment I said it. It's bigger than I thought it would be. Also, because when Brett went to change the bandage, words like, "wow" and "whoa" slipped out of his extremely otherwise sensitive mouth. I quietly cry every time anyone looks at it. He says it looks like a bullet hole in the middle of my back. No big deal right? So why is it then?

As I was lamenting my decision again this morning, wondering why I wouldn't want a clean line instead of a big round scar, Brett said words meant to be comforting. "Erin, think what a cool grandma you'll be. You can tell the grandkids Mr. Creeps stories (like the ones my dad told my kids) and you can say that as you were running away, Mr. Creeps shot you in the back. Then if the kids don't believe you, you can show them your wound and they'll love it!" Thanks? Oh and then there was this line..."Well, it's not like you're a supermodel or anything. It's not going to ruin your runway or photoshoot career. Wow. Whoa." Ha ha. I liked that one. Really, I don't obsess about stupid stuff like this normally. I just have felt vulnerable this week, and I guess that because the reason is the C word, I am obsessing a little bit. I have to go in next week so the doc can "re-look" at my other, um, polka dots now that he knows I am severely atypical. I could have told him that already. There's no way that doc won't want to cut out more. It will never end!

Well, it never fails. Blogging, writing makes me feel good. A good creative outlet for me when I don't have many other creative outlets at this exact moment. Working on that! e