Liquid U's

In the theatre world we believe in something called a liquid U. About a week ago some friends of mine and I were discussing the importance of the pronunciation of a Liquid U. This is a crucial part of speaking such words as Duty. Duty, when pronounced with a little liquid u...sounds GREAT. Pronounced with a strong Liquid u sounds...well, not normal. And finally, when pronounced with no liquid u sounds like "doody" which reminds of poop.

In church on Sunday last, a man was speaking, i hope, of our DUTY, but what came out over the pulpit was a lot about our doody...over and over and over again. In fact the choice sentences that I actually sniggered during was when he said, "when I think of Doody, i think of regimens" and "we've got to have strong Doody" and finally "it is our doody that calls us." So, I simply write this to put a smile on the face of one who reads this and finds it as amusing as I did.

Florida BABY!!!

Best friend's wedding...kissing a toad...making new friends...being a giddy school girl...road trips...humidity and curly/frizzy hair.

My Team Your Team...

My family plays this awful, but great game called my team your team. It's a watching game where you just look at people and put them on other people's teams. The object of the game is to find the crazies, grossies, or hairy's and put them on someone elses team so they have a loser team.

Upon writing about Family Reunion month in Chris Clark's blog (www.thejollyporter.blogspot.com) It reminded me that as my family travels to Lake Powell this weekend I will be missing out on some great game time. Not only game time related to Lake Powell, but also my beloved, sinful game My Team Your Team.

Seriously, this game is like doing everything that your mother always told you not to: "DON'T STARE," Well, we stare in this game; "DON'T POINT," we point; "DON'T JUDGE," we judge too! It seems that according to the golden rule, this game is the worst ever! But, IT IS SO MUCH FUN! It is even better when we begin quietly playing and putting our own family members on each others teams. So, where is the happy medium? Do I abhor this game and leave it out of my legacy? Or, do I embrace it and look forward to teaching my children?

Now, obviously I will most likely never instigate my children into such behavior, but I couldn't reprimand them for it either. I am sure that as long as people are different, other people will notice...so no harm done, right?

And now....
Now that people know of my blog I am filled with excitement and a rush of creative juices (unfortunately I still feel a bit timid about sharing it all, bear with me). Now I will just need to keep it updated.

Black Sheep??? Or Love?

So my parents are getting married today. I feel an awful lot like Dharma. Except for the fact that these parents are not flower children, living a life null of marital responsiblity. These are my parents who, back in April, simply could not get over a rough spot. They called it quits--lived without each other for 3 months and towards the latter of the second month realized just how much the other brought into their life. They started going out to dinner, calling each other on the phone, and doing their laundry together. It has been an interesting summer to say the least.

I got engaged in June and upon telling my fiance all about my family I have begun to realize more and more how strange we really are. But amid all our oddities there is love. A love that I have only really grown attached to recently. At first it bothered me that my family is nothing like the typical mormon family. (did I mention that I am of that religious background? well I am!) It sometimes bothered me that someday I would have to introduce someone to them and say to that person, "hey babe (sugar, honey, pet name, etc), so my family is all crazy, but will you still love me? I promise I won't be like them." Knowing well enough that I would probably end up with some similar characteristics. I do not encourage their activities, as I am sure they do not encourage mine. But, we are family! A family, nontheless, who needs love, and needs it maybe even more than the Smiths, or the Nephites. So where am I going with this?

Well, I guess it just amazed me that as much as I can tell other people about the crazy things in my family-- who is in trouble with the law, and who's been married how many times, who does this or that--I can also sit back and revel at the good times. I can look at my my family and love and admire their creativity, desires, growth, and characteristics. I choose not to pity for mistakes, but rather find more ability to care with this new found love. I just love my family! It may sound uneducated, or it may sound like I just don't have the type of vocabulary to express it, but that is just how it is.

My ex-Step Dad used to sing this song, "I am the black sheep of my family." I remember thinking that if there was always one, who would it be in mine? And, I would often come to the conclusion that it was me because I am really not much like everyone else. And, now I understand that depending on the perspective, anyone could be a "black sheep." But the real question is, does it matter? Do I care? NO WAY. They are my family and I love them. If we were all alike then we wouldn't be as interesting as we are. I am a part of them as much as they are a part of me. I may not join in on all of the festives, but I do join in on the memories, and fun times. And, I love them more with a love that I really cannot explain. (sorry about being redundant)

I guess what I am trying to say is that every family may have their differences, and mine maybe especially unique. I can laugh about those differences and enjoy everyone at the same time. I can see the things I choose not to do in my own life, but amazing enough as it seemed in the beginning, I look over those differences and love my family for the little things and for the joy they bring into my life.

Ahhhhh! Home on the range. I traveled this weekend to a beautiful area near Jackson Hole, WY. It is called Spring Gulch. Last summer I transcribed some of my grandpa's life history in which he mentioned shepherding in Spring Gulch. It is a valley surrounded by mountains, filled with streams, and encompassed in beauty. The Grand Tetons tower over the fields and old homesteads. If it weren't for the Honda I was driving I wouldn't have known that I was in the "here and now." I rolled down my windows and let the breeze flow into my car. I could hear nothing but the gravel, I could see no signs of city, and as much as I tarried in the valley I was certain that I would see my grandpa, his mother, and their sheep, even though he's been gone for 3 years and they haven't allowed shepherding for the last 30+ years.

It was a wonderful opportunity to sit back and let my mind wander. I thought of love, of life, of happiness, and of nature. I thought of my fiance, my family, and my future. I enjoyed the moments to relax, and drive through the country. It was nice to get away from the Hustle and Bustle of life. It was rejuvenating.

I've always considered myself as the type of person who has a lot of interesting experiences, views, thoughts (call them what you will) but, recently i noticed that most of them stay inside. I like to think that I can write an amusing tone that other's will enjoy, but I've only done it in my journal before. So here goes!

I am right now asking myself why I have chosen to have a blog? I was influenced mostly by people: the Young Co. director Chris Clark, my fiance's roommate, two men who walked by me conversing about the newest fad of "blogging"(it was a great conversation to eavesdrop into). Other influences crept into my being as I fancied the quest "to blog or not to blog?" I am ashamed to admit it but two characteristics I try to surpress were on the top of my "blogging influence" list as well: boredom, and peer pressure. Though I wasn't forced into blogging, I did have a craving just to see what it was all about--

And this is what I find

I feel a need to write my craziest thoughts, fears, actions...or my intellectual insights. It is exciting, I feel a rush...and I can't wait to write all about it.