I like talking to Russians

I've had 3 conversations in the last two days with Russians. How lucky am I ? I was in Santa Monica for the day and I talked to an Armenian who talked about how awful it was in Armenia, which I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know used to be a Russian state, when the Soviet Union collapsed. He said for 2 years, Armenia was in the dark. No power, no lights. The banks went away, post office, any government office was just gone. It was chaos and it was COLD. He said everyone just left, just fled Armenia.

Then I spoke to someone who is from Ukraine. I don't know why I always want to say the Ukraine, but I think that is obviously incorrect. Anyway, she left right as the Soviet Union was collapsing too. She said as soon as Gorbachev came into power and people could get out, everyone did! She has never been back and has no desire to.

The sad thing is that the man I first talked to, had just finished his masters degree in Economics when the USSR collapsed. Then there was just nothing. He came here with his wife and two little children and is now a driver for a car service. He's been a jeweler, etc. He was pretty negative about the "American Dream." And by pretty negative, I mean extremely disillusioned.

The woman from Ukraine works as a nail technician. She seemed happy to be in Santa Monica and with her family who all came here.

Ali's friend Tyler has a grandmother who was telling me about leaving India in the 60s and the process of choosing California while her sister chose Florida and the process of being sponsored. Very interesting! I so admire anyone who can start completely over in a new country without knowing the language. As rough as it is in America currently, I believe it is still a chosen land of promise for people seeking safety and freedom.

(like the statue of liberty photo? I know, I know. It's good.)

I am listening to the Louvin Brothers tribute album. I love it so much. Love old country as it reminds me of my dad and riding in his truck in Montana and how different everything seemed there. Everything seemed slower, people friendlier, etc. From the moment I would go stay with him, it only seemed natural to listen to his old country music. Hank Williams, Merle Haggard and the likes. He would make me watch Lonesome Dove and any other western I would agree to. I'd pull out my dusty boots that hadn't seen the light of day since the last visit and it was great. We'd drive around the ranch and say hi to the people boarding horses and he'd point out the geese. We'd sit on the big back porch and he'd shoot BBguns with the kids. Shirlee would make great food and we'd go into quaint Red Lodge for an ice cream or trip to the old fashioned candy store. Dad would buy the kids a little toy or a cowboy hat. I'd walk from the house to the wooden gate at the main road and then back looking at the water running alongside me or up at the beautiful mountains. The air smelled good. I'd go into the old barns and see all of the saddles dad had. He was definitely more about the idea of having saddles in the barn then ever using them to ride. One time, he hired a friend from town to come up to the ranch in a covered wagon and we all went on a wagon ride around the ranch. It was so great. Great memories.

Here's a great one.. Must You Throw Dirt in My Face sung by Merle Haggard. Turn it way up and close your eyes.

We are going camping tomorrow on the beach in Santa Barbara for 3 days. I am going to get a wet suit for Brett and for Sydney so they can go surfing! I can't believe we will have 3 days of Brett all to ourselves with no distractions. I want to make the most of it. I am also nervous to sleep in a tent and hope it doesn't get too cold. Kate is so excited she can't stand it.

My two oldest girls are at a 5-day Youth in Government retreat in Sacramento. They are working with the senators and will be at the capitol the whole time. It is super confusing and I have no idea how to even explain it, but it is an awesome experience for them. Maddie is a lobbyist and Ali is a trial lawyer. I miss them already and it's only been half a day. They don't get to go camping with us. Brett and I are going with our 2nd family we say which consists of us and the two youngest.

Yes, Ali got flowers for Valentine's Day. So did Maddie. So did I. I'm glad Sydney didn't although she got a necklace! (Don't ask. There is a very cute but very, um forward boy who has decided that he really really likes Sydney. Yikes. 5th grade) Brett was saying the family prayer the morning after Valentines Day and he said that he was pause grateful big pause that all of his girls were pause remembered on Valentines Day and pause seemed to have a big pause Valentine. I open my eyes like, wait, is Brett actually making a joke in the prayer? My eyes were met by Maddie's, Ali's and Sydney's looking back. Then Brett said he was pause grateful that Spencer's Valentine was thousands of miles away while he was on his mission. ha ha that did it. Prayer was done for the day. 

And how good are Sugar Cookies? I mean, seriously, could you not eat 20 at a sitting? I used the Cutler Cookie's recipe off of Si's blog and it turned out great! I could have sold them! ok I am babbling. bye

You just don't hear this every day

I have some friends here who are smart. They both went to MIT where I know that he, at least got his doctorate. Then he decided to work for NASA and has been working on the Mars Rover for the last 7 years. I think I've written about them before.

So, yesterday she came by to pick up some dehydrated apple chips from me. Anyway, she comments that she was sorry she couldn't come to the RS activity last night because Dave has been working late this week. Then she mentions something about he has to trouble shoot the rover blah blah blah. "Oh yeah" I thought. He sent the Mars Rover out and now he's somehow working on it while it's in space. I commented that it is so weird that she says that like it is no big deal.

Then she said, well he's trying to decide if he wants to do surface phase or not. He wasn't going to because he's a little burned out and besides, he'd have to go on Mars time. Wait, whaaat? What is MARS TIME?

Apparently, if he commits to do Surface phase, it will be a 3-month commitment from the time the Rover lands, which is on August 5th. So leading up to the landing, he has to move his days by 40 minutes each day. This will mean that during this time there will be a chunk of time where he is up all night and asleep all day. But he just keeps moving 40 minutes each day until he's back in the real world. How cool is that?! I told her, how in the world could he NOT do the Mars phase? Just to be able to tell your grandkids that grandpa had to go on Mars time once when he directed the MARS ROVER!!! wow. wow. So cool.

I am majorly fighting being lonely for Utah right now. "Utah" means everything I love to do there and everyone I miss all wrapped up in one. I do ok for a while and then it just hits me hard sometimes.

Plans are moving ahead (in my mind anyway) for Maddie to volunteer in an orphanage this summer. She will need someone to go with her. Her friend Sam said he'd go just now like it was a great idea ha ha. I don't think he can go being that he's male even though he is pretty much her brother.

Why does this never get old??

Yesterday, I drove Ali to dance. Her dance place is about five minutes from our house. Well, as I got to the block of her studio, I noticed that they were filming a movie/tv show/commercial? on the sidewalk. Usually traffic is rerouted but not this time. I felt very very strange slowly driving by trying to see who it was. I dropped off Ali and then did a u-turn so I could drive by again. This time I lucked out and sat at the stoplight right in front of the action. I heard the director say GO and then saw the two guys in the scene pretend they were walking down the street, stop in front of a restaurant and talk. Extras went by on cell phones, sitting down at tables, etc. Then she said CUT and I noticed that the director was this woman...

Then the light turned green. Things like that are still REALLY WEIRD for me.

On another note, I LOVE playing for Broadway Brunch. It stretches my piano playing abilities like crazy. I get about 10 to 12 songs to sight read and then play a day later. This time, a woman wanted to sing Til There Was You from Music Man. We had no music. I thought, I really really like this song (mostly thanks to McCartney) and so I thought I'm just going to wing it. Nobody will know. So I just let go of my inhibitions and started playing the way I thought it would sound. It ended up really soft and matched her voice and it just felt like I was playing from my heart and didn't need the music anyway. We did a full keychange and I had to figure out a bridge etc.  I wish I could do that often. It is hard. It makes me feel like I'm broadening in some way. Then I came back home and watched Mary Poppins with my Kate. Man I love that girl. I love just snuggling with her under my covers, and watching Mary Poppins. Which, really, is that not the most brilliant movie? Such a great great film all around.

I also made Sydney watch the original Star Wars trilogy with me this past month. It struck me that she just needed to know why people wear those Yoda backpacks around at Disneyland. Now she knows. She gets Leia and Han. She gets why Luke always felt drawn to Leia but why he would never end up being her Han.  It just all makes sense now.

On a better, less wasteful note, I'm finally organizing my life! It feels good. Brett's office which was a wasteland of papers that were never used, is now my office with cute little cubbies and where everything has its place. It's clean and it's mine. It makes me really really happy. I now feel empowered and want to keep tackling projects. I'm going to paint the hallways next. Mostly because I have to paint something about once a year. I don't know why. Also they really need it and the smell of paint and seeing the marks disappear under the roller feels really really good.

Finally, I want some new pants. And one pair of navy toms or maybe converse to wear with my jeans that I wear every single day. I also want to make Maddie volunteer at an orphanage in Thailand. I hope she agrees with me and finds someone to do it with her.

I have had soooo many visitors this past month! It has been awesome. Here are a few of them...

 This activity never gets old for Kate.

This family is my family.

 The guy on the right is Kate's fav male cousin. Proud of the two on the left, both for different reasons. Katie, bright, beautiful, about to be an adult. Braden, self motivated, funny.

 Kate's favorite people. More than the people below. Ask anyone and they'll tell you in a whisper so I won't hear and wonder why she loves them more.

I like this picture because I'm wearing the sweater Si gave me because the color was wrong for her. And I like Brett.

Hollywood is kind of gross. But this little part is cool. Sydney liked this because I had just made her watch Star Wars as I said so she got it. 

Next on her watching list....Anne of Green Gables! A MUST if you are female!!

ok bye. erin

Some stuff lately

Finals week in our high school is a big deal. It is hard. The kids get out at 12:25 each day to study. Seminary is cancelled. Mutual is cancelled. It feels like finals week at college. It's hard and it's good. I feel it better prepares kids for college. It's also fun to have everyone hunched over tables as I make soup. Blueberry banana buckwheat pancakes are so good. I have made them every single morning because I love the feel of warm blueberries and bananas in my mouth.

Anyway, back to finals. I always have thought that the more time kids are home, better. I love noise in the house. I also like quiet in the house when I can read my book. It's all good I guess.

Why am I caring how Maddie does? She's already applied to college. Will these grades even matter? hmmm. I conclude that they do matter, because you will always know what your high school GPA was when you graduated. Don't you remember what yours was or am I crazy? End in strength!

Ali especially works so hard. Way harder than Spence and Maddie ever had to. I'm really proud of her. She has worked and worked and worked and spent hours with a tutor and stayed up late. Those qualities will serve her for life!

We had a really cool experience last night. We have become friends with the sweetest Korean family over the last few months. A lot of Maddie's friends are Korean. She came home and said, "Mom, did you know that on Chinese New Year, (or Korean Thanksgiving), that my friends kneel down in front of their parents and grandparents, bow and wish them a good New Year and then the parents give them money?" Not fair!

Well, I asked our new friends about it and they told me all about this tradition. They wear the traditional clothes once a year which are really beautiful. They show respect to their elders by bowing. There is a certain way they do it, how long they hold it, etc. The kids become very serious and respectful. The elders sit in a row facing the children. After the children say their New Years Blessings, the parents get to impart their wishes for them and give them advice. Then comes the money. So I told these kids that if they come to my house, and show me this tradition, I would give them money too. So last night, the doorbell rings. These pictures are what followed. They brought an extra dress for Sydney and Jung Yee did her hair and taught her proper hand placement, etc.

We all got a good laugh when Kate came around the corner having put on this...

Ha ha. She knew she was being left out.

I had asked Maddie's high school friends if $5 each was good and they said no. Should be more than that. Most of the time, grandparents give $100 each. It's a big deal. I had forgotten to mention to Brett this fact and when it was time to get them money, as we scrambled to get it, Brett handed me $3. Ha ha. So I gave them $10 each. I think Brett was dying. Then Jung Yee said, "Now you would give Sydney more than $20 dollars." Oh! Syd's eyes lit up. I'm thinking waaaaait a minute.... but go get all I had left which happened to be "over $20." $24 to be exact. As I handed it to Sydney, she couldn't believe it. Better than Christmas.

Then Jung Yee and her children told us amazing stories of Korea, of WWII history, Japanese occupation, of traditions and food and firing squads. All amazing. Did you know that a lot of Chinese and Korean people can trace their ancestry back to BC? She told me that their lines go all. the. way. back. Their children are taught that they are "Parks, 63rd generation.." or whatever. Then they are expected to tell their kids to memorize that they are "Parks, 64th generation." Jung Yee knew all about her ancestors in much detail.

I was so grateful that we happened to be home on a Saturday night or I would have missed it!! Grateful for these experiences.

I also attended a Power of Moms 2 day training/workshop that pretty much will change my life. I'm so excited by what I learned and how I am going to put it into practice! I'll write more later. e

I might write something

Hi everyone. I love the first few weeks of January. Probably my absolute favorite time of year. Why does it make me so happy seeing a sparse home again after the decorations go away? In my mind, less is more. I feel such a rejuvenation and hope for the new year.

Ok. 2011 was a crazy year! Not for me personally, but for the world. Think about the dictators either killed or taken out of power or simply dying (N Korea.) All in one year. The protesters, the economy in every country on verge of collapse, Michael Jackson trial..that alone!, the earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados, politics, wall street, anti wall street, windstorms, on and on and on. Crazy crazy year.

I feel a purpose headed into 2012. It involves being smart in the way I teach my kids, in the way I chose to live the gospel, in how I create and maintain a good marriage, in how well I prepare fiscally for possible emergencies, and in how I enjoy the moment! I think I've always been good at enjoying the moment and I'm glad. I love seeing new things and having new experiences. I hope that continues in 2012. Now I need a little more focus in doing the important things I don't seem to make time for because I'm enjoying the moment or moments way too much and for way too long.

So, some things that have been making me happy lately. THE MUPPET MOVIE. If you remember the Muppets on TV, it is such a kick. Same humor. Here's what I especially loved. The music. Surprise, surprise :)  Ok more specifically, one song is brilliant. It's called Man or Muppet. If you itunes it or spotify it, and if you are witty and cool, you will laugh. The two main characters, brothers, one human and one, well let's just say he doesn't know what he is yet.., sing this song. As I watched it, I thought, "Who wrote this? I'm dying to find out." The bridge especially is Ben Foldsish and I thought maybe he did. No...it's familiar somehow. I've got to find out!  I could hardly wait until I got home. Turns out that the main writer for Flight of the Conchords wrote it. DUH! Exactly. If you don't know who they are, just skip this whole paragraph. How did he get asked to write it? What is his process and how fun is it to write like that and get paid? How much did he get paid?

The other movie's music that fascinated and delighted me was the music in We Bought a Zoo. Not only do they use Jonsi for most of the sountrack, but I am always fascinated with the songs picked as fill ins. This  is the sountrack. I know! So great! I'm telling you, if I didn't love love love spending my time with all of my girls and focusing on the moment and all the stuff I talked about above, I would love that job!! (You know what also feels good? That I didn't put that link on there to promote any product or blog.)

Anyway, it fascinates me how music is written. Such talent to be a songwriter of great music. The songwriters fascinate me way more than the artists who sing music that is written by someone else.

We are still on break. So sweet! It's been in the 70s and 80s. I saw the Rose Parade in person! That was cool. It's going to kind of ruin me in seeing other parades. It was pretty darn cool. I want to do it every year now.

I still love my comforter and my bed. I wish I could just curl up in there and read for hours and then watch a movie and then sleep. I think on my b-day I am only going to ask for 4 hours in my bed during the daytime. Right now, I get out of it so dang early and I don't get to get back in until soooo late. Yes, that's what I'm going to do. Only 4 more months until I get to do that.

Lots of my friends are turning 50 this year! It seems like a gazillion people are turning 50. Never heard of so many people turning 50.

So 41 is my official age where my body gains weight unless I'm dieting. At 40, my body only gained weight if I ate bad stuff often. But no, this year at 41, my body now gains weight when I'm just eating normal stuff. If I don't want my body to gain weight, I have to eat dry chicken breasts and kale and I don't know, raw carrots and almonds. I don't really know. I haven't done that part yet because I am still in denial about what is happening to me. I'm just making a mental note for now. 41 is the year the metabolism changed. So far my eyes are still good to go without glasses, so that's always good.

Oh oh the Kindle Fire is so great! I didn't think I would ever want one and that I just love real books, but I was wrong. Brett got me one and I watched Downton Abbey on it while waiting in the car for Ali. I also read the whole 5 Love Languages Book while Brett was sleeping and the lights were off. It didn't even hurt my eyes!

Life is good. People are good. I want to be better in 2012. I want to be there for more people and be less selfish with my time. I want to work a little harder. I want to spend time on things that really matter. But for now, I want to go read my book. Good night. e

My favorite part of Christmas for sure...

A Profound True Quote That I Thoroughly Believe

The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side... The grass is greenest where it is watered.

-Robert Fulghum

A Fun Story. You'll Really Enjoy It.

This is Maddie's 1997 Nissan, Simba.

It was Og Belnap's car, then Spencer's car, and now Maddie's. When Spencer went on his mission, we contemplated the fate of Simba. At the time, there were 3 or 4 evidences of car-to-car or car-to-cement contact. Do we pay to fix it up? We can't sell it like this with dings and dents all over the place. Should Maddie get a nicer car to drive? After all, she IS a girl and girls should get nicer cars than boys.

After much thought, we decided to put some cash into it and fix it up so it is a-drivable and b-not super embarrassing. It needs to be a bit junky, but not overly so. It's a fine line with my car philosophy.

** I think new cars are a waste of my money. I have never bought new. I also like not having car payments. If I am driving an old suburban, let's say, maybe a white one just for discussion's sake, and I have no car payments on it and it is working fine, there is no way I am going to give that up. I don't want a newer car and a car payment. It's my little gift to myself. Now when that car starts costing a lot of money or begins to be embarrassing, I know it's time to upgrade to a newer used car-hopefully paid for with cash saved up.

**I also think teens should drive old cars. It has been my experience now with two driving teenagers that they WILL get in accidents. At least Blake teenagers will. Spencer had maybe 4 fender benders (mostly involving fences) and Maddie, my sweet responsible Maddie, has already had 3. Count them. 3! Teens don't deserve nice cars. They just don't yet. They haven't done anything to earn a nice car in my opinion. Let them drive a designated car that is good enough for milk and egg errands for mom.

Part of the reason for my philosophy is that I didn't grow up driving nice cars. I remember almost every car we owned being a volkswagen and at some point during its life, smelling very strongly of gas. That was always fun to show up places smelling like gas. But my point is, it builds character.

I am now past the driving a junky teenage car phase. I am 41 and I have 5 children. I don't want to drive Simba. Ever.

A few weekends ago, Brett was out of town. That means his car..gone at the airport. Maddie was in charge of an activity at school and needed to haul our lovesac as well as speakers there. So..suburban at the high school. It was time for Sydney to go to a birthday party. No problem. I will just take Simba this one time.

LET THE STORY BEGIN----

"Oh shoot!" I think as I back out of the driveway. You see, Simba at this time has a huge brake problem. You can hear Simba coming down the road a mile away in a circular-wheel-rotating kind of squeak, not just a when-you-brake kind of squeak. I have been meaning to get it to the shop but it's 20 mins. away and Brett was gone and company was here and Maddie was busy and yada yada yada. So when I start driving down my street, I verify to myself, "OK. This MUST be fixed!"

This particular house is clear up the mountain. I am driving up twists and turns, hugging a drop off, etc. "Wow, this house is waaay up here.....Oh here is the street!" Then Sydney quietly says from the back seat, "Mom, can you maybe drop me off a little bit away from the house?" OH MY. Do I ever remember feeling that way when my mom dropped me off in the green machine, our trusty forest green volkswagen hatchback. Always just wanted to walk and stretch my muscles a block or so before any 8th grade activity. My mom usually said "nope" and pulled right on up to the front door. Because I remember this so vividly, I laughed and say, "Sure Sydney. Let me just turn this final corner."

Voila. There is the house on the right. The last. house. on. a. steep. downward. hill. Did I mention that Simba is a stick shift? With a loose clutch? Now I am facing down and I can see the house. I can also see every girl at the party and their moms congregated out front looking up at what is making that loud screeching sound...aka...us. I'm sure they are wondering why I am parking a full house away, but I just smile, grab Syd's hand, walk the distance and introduce myself to the group. Very nice women. I give Syd a hug and turn to go. Now at this time, I re-realize that Simba is facing down and I will have to drive past all of them anyway in order to turn around. I live in a very nice town. I'm pretty sure that all of these women's cars were mercedes. That's just another little funny bit. ha ha all mercedes. Oh my so funny.  So here we go. Squeak squeak squeak past all of them slowly maneuvering around the mercedes (how do I make that plural?) and into the driveway directly across the street. Everyone is watching me now and the conversation has stopped.

This driveway I happen to pull into is a virtual nose dive of a driveway. Are you kidding me?! I thought. I slam on the brakes, because I know that one more inch and my car (Excuse me. Maddie's car!) will never make it back out. So here I am, facing sharply downward, in a stick, with a loose clutch, needing to back up. I put on the parking brake and have to rev it loudly before attempting to reverse. Yep. It jerks and dies. Second time, I have to rev it even louder and explode backwards, then slam to a halt so as not to hit a mercedes.

By this time, every single person is completely silent and looking at me with deep concern. Everyone, that is, except Sydney. I think she is really busy studying signs of lawn dehydration or wondering if the thriving potted flowers are in acidic or normal soil.  She might have been looking up at the moon and wondering if there really are signs of ancient water deposits thus pointing to other life in the universe.

I know that to roll down the window and say, "Oh hi, excuse me, but this is my daughter's 1997 car. I of course have muuuch nicer cars at home. You can get back to your conversation. Thank you. Nice to meet you all," would just make it worse, so I just smile a big ol' smile and wave goodbye as I squeeeeaaak loudly back up the hill.

Finally, I'll leave you with what the side of her car looks like (after accident no. 3). This was, of course, the side facing all of the mothers and their precious mercedes. (no offense Becky, I still love you, even though you have one too.)

I don't make this up people!