Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Ninja Warrior

Have you ever seen "Ninja Warrior" on G4? It's an obstacle course in Japan that tests you physically. There are people who have stopped there lives to beat it. And only a handful can say that they are a Ninja Warrior. I love it! And I totally and completely want to be on it. I just don't want to fall off the first obstacle. Japan has always fascinated me. The sweeping kimonos the exquisite manners.

So here is my plan.

1) Lose some weight

2) Build upper body strength

3) Stamina, I think it's sold at Costco.

Now to tell the truth I am a slacker. There is many a thing I would like to do. Many a thing I am trying to do. And a lot of stuff that has found it's way to the closet unfinished. Is this going to be one of them? Is this my vain attempt to be cool? Maybe, but I am going to try it. I don't know how I am going to get to Japan but I have a cousin there, maybe he will let me stay with him. But that is a little premature anyway.

I will keep you posted or I will pretend this never happened.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

I had a dream

Last night I dreamed of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I wonder what he would think of us now. Have we realized his dream? Being a white girl from Utah with a black step father and brother and sister I think that I am both lucky and blessed. Blessed because I grew up knowing that while people may look different we are not different. Family and love are powerful things and I wish others could be as blessed as me. I haven't seen them for so long now. I miss you guys.



In my dream I was reciting Dr. King monumental speech. I was telling this guy, I don't know who he was, that it goes both ways. He hated me because I was white. Because of all that had been done. And while I felt that he was justified in his anger I also felt that he shouldn't hold onto it. Dr. King wouldn't want that. His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ wouldn't want that. When it comes down to the bear essentials of life we are brothers and sister walking on the highway of life. It would be a lot easier to walk that highway if we were holding hands rather than pushing each other off.



I do believe that we are closer to equality than ever before. I know that for myself I can look at someone and see them for who they are, my brother a child of God, and not what they look like. And yet from this dream I feel that there is still a ways to go. I will be pondering this for some time and blogging about it again.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Bouquets of Sharpend Pencils

Autumn or Fall which ever you call it is a beautiful season. Technically it doesn't begin for about a month, personally I already think that it is here. It could be that a new school year has started or that we had chicken noodle soup last night. I can't wait until the leaves start changing! Autumn is so comfortable! Not to hot and not to cold. Although I think winter is my favorite season. Autumn is also a reflective time. Makes me want to read something deep and profound. Life changing! So many times I have put together lists of books I would like to read or movies I would like to watch. I feel a desperate need to follow through now. And so I propose an online book and or movie club. I have heard that you can get a good education from reading fiction but I've also been asked, "how can you discuss fiction?" And so i would like to continue my education by reading great works of fiction and non. As well as movies that make you think or just feel good. I'm excited! Here is my list for up until the end of the year.

August
The Sorceress by Micheal Scott
This is the third in a six book series. I had become bored with fantasy fiction until I read the first book in this series, The Alchemist. I have always been fascinated with myth and legend and this book was amazing. It wasn't trying to be Harry Potter, which was refreshing. Don't get me wrong I love Harry. Harry Potter renewed my hope that the world wasn't going to go illiterate. And it was just so clever! My favorite was the cupid clad, harp playing dwarfs! Loved it! Yet I digress. I will be finishing this book by the end of the month.

September
East O' the Sun & West O' the Moon by George Webble Dasent
To continue in the mythical kick I want to read these Norwegian Folk tells. I first heard about this Collection on Bookbeat. This is a program on Classical 89 FM. Free plug... Go to classical89.org you will not be disappointed!

October
Three Men in an Boat (To say nothing of the dog) By Jerome K Jerome
I began reading this book at the beginning of the year but with juggling school and mommyhood the book took the back seat. It was so amusing I knew I had to finish it.

November
Thomas Jefferson Education By Oliver De Millie
I read this book in 2007 and found it fascinating. I would like to educate myself in this way as well as my children.

December
The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
I have tried to read this book several times. We all know the story, so many movies and sitcoms have redone it. But to actually read it would be, for me, a triumph! That's the literacy activist in me!

And so that rounds out the year! As for movies I need suggestions. I finally saw "Casablanca". All I had heard was praise for it and so I became slightly jaded. All that build up I thought I would be disappointed. But I wasn't! It truly made my heart happy! Along with "Twilight". I wouldn't read the book because I have an unrealistic phobia of vampires. But when I had heard the women in my book club say they liked it I took a chance. At breakneck speed I finished it along with the next two books (I didn't like the fourth so I didn't finish it). Total brain candy! Intro the Movie... Again vampires scare me. So I wouldn't see it. My husband and I saw a trailer for "New Moon" at "Harry Potter". Jacob transforms into a werewolf and jumps over Bella, my Kevin turns to me and says excitedly, "You didn't tell me about werewolves!" I'm sure I had told him. And then yesterday my mother in law heard that I hadn't seen it. She searched for her copy and when she couldn't find it went to Red Box and got it. I was stuck I had to see it. I sent my husband and children to the gym and hide in my room under the covers with the remote encase I needed to turn it off. I was so giddy when my husband came home he laughed at me. Brain candy strikes again! I did fast forward two parts though. "Julie and Julia" will be my next movie. Love Julia Child! And I think I want to see "You've Got Mail" again.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The 3's of me!

I have notice that things come in three's. Sometimes good and sometimes not. I recently received a "tag" to write the three's of me. So here are they are...

Three name I go by:
1. Lola
2. Mommy Mommy Mom Mom (All at once!)
3. Lo

Three Jobs I have had in my life:
I can only list three?
1. McDonald's! I think everyone should work in fast food once in there life. Twice for me the other was American Burger.
2. Taffy Town yum! Love it! They do tours!
3.Mommyhood. I've never worked harder or loved something more.

Places I have lived:
1. Sandy, UT
2. San Antonio, TX
3. Tooele, UT (Forever and Forever! I don't think so!)

Places I want to live:
1. Paris, France
2. Australia
3. Japan

Favorite drinks:
1. Water (yes I am pretty lame)
2. Mr Pibb (when I am not being lame)
3. Milk (when I have pizza or Chinese food)

TV shows I watch:
1. Charlie and Lola (she is small and very funny)
2. Allo Allo (that is for me!)
3. Merlin (It's silly and could be better but I like the way they have reinvented the idea and Kevin likes it)

Places I have vacationed:
1. The Grand Canyon age 14 first and last big family vacation.
2. Disneyland! My honeymoon!
3. Oregon and Washington to visit family

People that text me regularly:
1. My baby sister, Lizz
2. Inoke (but not for a while, I miss you)
3. I feel as though I have forgotten someone and will pay for it later.

Favorite foods
Wow I just realized as foodie I really don't have a favorite.
1. When I was a kid I liked to put olives on my fingers and then say I had alien hands. I have since taught my children. My husband thinks it's gross
2. Garfield instilled a love of Lasagna
3. Meat made me sick when I was pregnant with my second child but then i would crave it, cruel!

Pets I have had:
1. German Shepard named Shep
2. Goldfish named Goldie
3. Beta named Gandolf! I've gotten better with names.

Place I want to visit before I die:
1. Rome, Italy
2. New York
3. London, England

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

What's in a name?

Since childhood I have both loved and hated my name. Hated because of the pestering I have received for it and loved because it was mine.

Some people haven't believed me when I introduce myself. Like this drop dead gorgeous Latino who I am sure was thinking, "No, your white!"

What does Lola mean? A girlfriend asked me once if my full name was Dolores, it's not but I have since learned that they are linked. It means sorrows or sorrowful. Which is not me. I always thought that it was a fun name and then to learn it's sad is kind of amusing.

Not a day has gone by that someone hasn't sung to me. The Kinks (L-O-L-A Lola), Damn Yankees (Whatever Lola Wants) & Copacabana (Her name was Lola) where all the culprit's of my childhood angst. Other songs that don't have Lola have been serenade as well, Leila by Eric Clapton for one. Where I once found this annoying now I kind of don't mind. If you have a good voice.

To go along with not being believed that my name is Lola, when I did phone customer service some guy insisted on calling me Phyllis. I said, "Hello this is Lola" and he said "Hello Phyllis." I said "No my name is Lola." He said, "Hello Phyllis." I decided not to argue with him and take his call. When he hung up he said, "Thank you, Phyllis." Maybe his wife was named Phyllis? Or something completely crazy, which was customer service, but that is a story for another time.

Here is some water-cooler info for you. Phyllis is the name of a women in Greek mythology who killed herself for love and was turned into an almond tree. I'm pretty passionate but I don't think I would go that far. I do like candie almonds though.

The best name website (according to me) is behindthename.com.