nerd glasses

precious

I can't keep this off my mind. All I have actually read are articles about Precious based on the novel Push by Sapphire and I can't stop thinking...

I know myself too well to see the movie- I won't sleep for months, so I can't see it- but I am tempted to read Push. Of course it needs to be read and seen and felt for change to occur.

I fear that I have passed one too many young women of the 'invisible underclass ' here on the streets of central and downtown Tacoma. And how do I go about helping? Staying comfy in my bubble of happiness won't do. Ideas please. . .

i get it

So now, way, way, way after the crazy for Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, I finally rented the movie- and went cookoo for that English Cedric Diggory kid- is that wrong? (I am 32, he is like 22 or something- grossoldladymarianne!)

Yes- TEAM EDWARD over here- all the way!

Like, three years ago, I noticed all my teen dancers coming to class with their eyes hungrily soaring through the latest installment in the Twilight saga. Then, about two years ago, I noticed women my age were passing the set all around to each other, work friends, church friends... but I just wasn't interested in a 'written for teens' series...

Well, then in November, I asked Aaron to pick it up at Hollywood and then watched it during the day with Josy asleep on my chest while Myka and Haily were at school. And I finally understood what the crazy was all about.

What girl wouldn't go bananas for a book/movie like this? I mean or at least have fun following Bella through her first experience with true love. Every girl dreams of a romance like this- I don't know about the vampire part- but the stuff where a guy longs to be near you, wants to rescue you from danger, and needs you as bad as a drug addict needs heroin (paraphrasing)- that stuff is the crux of young female desire- and Sister Meyer hit it perfect with Bella and Edward.

In the movie, when he looks her in the eye and says, "I don't have the strength to stay away from you anymore," that was it- I finally got it. (And now I am reading it, thank you Santa..)

guitar lesson

ruby bridges

What a brave girl, little five-year-old Ruby Bridges. We talked about her tonight at Family Home Evening. It was hard to try and explain to Myka and Haily why people were mean and threw things at her on her way to school that historic day.

Aaron and I talked after watching MLK Jr's speech at the Washington Monument, and Aaron mentioned to me,

"You know, today being monday, and a national holiday for civil rights, you would hope that American LDS families would focus their FHE lessons on these events and ideas, but you know some won't..."

And I am hoping he is wrong.

nelsons!

The Nelsons were here for Christmas! Yay! It was wonderful and we have great memories- thank you to Grandpa, Grandma and Uncle Ryan for making the trip! (we missed Uncle Jeff and Uncle Scott- both on LDS missions).

mrs. potiphar

Check out Gandma Janine as Mrs. Potiphar in Stockton Civic Theater's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Myka and Haily think their Grandma is soooo cool- and all I can say is I hope I will be that energetic and cute when I am 50-something too!



("...she was beautiful but eeeevil-ah!")

december girl night

December girls' night! Dress up, dinner, nails and a movie- not sure about the order. This set of pics is by my girlfriend Helena, whose daughter -Kate- joined us, but was too engrossed in toys to have her portrait taken. (And Haily is missing too- she was in a bad mood at the time).