Fanfare please

This post needs to be prefaced with a drum roll, a loud trumpet and a huge question mark over my head!!!!

?

It is officially my 1000th post.  

YES

1000!!

I was a little stunned.  I knew all week it was coming and I almost didn't blog so I could have more time to decide how to celebrate such an occasion.  I even asked for input from all around me who didn't really seem too intrigued (especially those who rarely even read it!).  Except of course for one!

Cooper.

He is my newest and biggest fan.

He reads old post, new posts, posts about him, and posts about everyone.  He comments.  He repeats his favourite lines over and over and over.   And now he even has begun to write his own blog... not yet open to the general public.  (Real announcement coming soon!)  So perhaps it has gone full circle.  I have inspired someone to blog.... it was after all, someone else, in a time not so far away that inspired me to blog.  And now 1000 posts later....

For my 100th post I posted a list of 100 posts from the draft folder that I intended to still write.  Some I wrote, others are still germinating in the draft folder and obviously many, many others took precedence and were posted.

I considered simply posting a photo with the caption.... A picture says a thousand words..... so why do I continue to be so wordy if the picture can do all the talking???  But the pressure to decide which picture!

I considered going completely public with my blog... but then got nervous and couldn't handle the stress.

I considered asking for readers to come out of the closet and comment about their favourite post from the past.  (Still open to that idea, but I also realized, I'm sort of a closet reader and still not a big commentor, although I love to receive them... just struggle to give them, so I didn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.  After all this should be a celebration for everyone involved!)

I considered sharing what my favourite posts were, but then I discovered that it was a daunting task, and even after re-reading pages and pages of posts... I couldn't decide.

I considered a prize drawing or a raffle... (but what, and how, and who..)

I considered throwing a party, but somehow a real life party for a written word entity was a bit ... odd. What would we do... sit around texting each other witty comments or take photos and think of great ways we could blog about it later?

I considered simply thanking the nation for throwing such an incredible party for my achievement today with fireworks that have been going on for over three hours now!


And then I was shown the way.


Cooper began to read a new book.  He was enjoying the book.  He took it with him to lunch, in the car as we ran errands, into the bathroom , shh,  to bed.... pretty much didn't put it down.  I needed him to finish a quick task and promised to mark his page so he could come right back to it.  His response surprised me.

"Normally that would be a great idea, BUT I know exactly where I am.  The next page is the 100 page anniversary of the book and me!!"

? Anniversary?

"Well, yes, when you reach the 100th page of a good book it's worth celebrating."

?So, how do you celebrate?  

(with a mischievous grin),  "I'd love to celebrate it with a bowl of ice cream... or some popcorn...."

?Is that the usual way for celebrating a 100 page anniversary?

"Of course not, but it would sure be a great new tradition!!  Don't you think?  (*sigh), No the celebration ends at the end of the 100th page and then you get to keep reading a great book! "


And so, there it is.  The celebration isn't the important thing really.  It's worth noting, much the way reaching a milestone birthday is worth noticing, celebrating even, the way a graduation is worth mentioning.... but it's not the end, not the finish line, nor the jumping off point like a wedding or first day of a new endeavor.  It's just good to know, something to smile about, to appreciate having reached it, and feel a sense of accomplishment for..

and then....

to continue.....

The Trouble with Service

Caleb came home from Seminary one morning a while back and shared a little thought with us.

"Service is like peeing your pants. Others may see what you have done, but only you get that warm feeling!"

The inspirational blogger (Janet) issued a challenge to write about service. The deadline was today.... I missed it.. but that's ok. What struck me was her sentence about what isn't written down will be forgotten. So I write.

There are so many people trying to give service at Christmas that sometimes it overlaps. I believe that no good deed is ever a mistake. There was a time that gifts were left for our family on our doorstep in a year where things had been rather lean... We always wanted to do that for someone else. With discussion we found it difficult to figure out how to approach finding a deserving recipient. Discussion wasn't necessary. The opportunity presented itself. A friend lost his job the week before Christmas. Although we weren't in a great position, our Christmas was finished and we wanted to do what we could. The parents said they were fine and not to worry. So on the 23rd, we kidnapped the kids and took them to the D.I. We told them to find an item to secretly give to each other and that they could find something to give to their parents. It would be on us. The older teenager went with Caleb to the dollar store down the street to pick up some surprises for his little siblings. I was to pick them up in 30 minutes to pay for their purchases.

As we left the D. I. I had 6 children in tow and we were going through the checkout. The lady was friendly and when it came time for her to tell me the total, she smiled and said, "Merry Christmas". I said, "Merry Christmas" and waited. She smiled and repeated, "Merry Christmas" I asked for the total. And the reply, "it's been taken care of by someone today"

Someone had arranged to cover the purchases at that till for the afternoon. I mean, if you're already having to do your shopping on the day before Christmas eve and you're shopping at the D.I. to have your purchases covered was very sweet. But I was feeling a little confused. This was supposed to be my service and now I hadn't really done anything, the service fairy had.

We all piled into our old VW vanagon and drove to the dollar store to pick up the big boys. We all went in. I paid for the very few things they had decided on and still felt a little like there had to be something more we could do. When we returned to the van, I discovered to my delight and dismay, an envelope on my seat! (yes my seat.. no point locking my door, when the other doors don't lock!) an envelope filled with cash (a wad of $20's), written on the front - Pay it forward if and when you can. I must have looked like the sort that needed it... with now 8 children piling out of an old VW vanagon the day before Christmas eve in front of the dollar store, but I was the one trying to give the service.

As we returned to my house to wrap their finds I found myself shaken! Someone was out to thwart my service efforts!! How dare they! But then my children were more in tune than I was. While the others were wrapping their gifts, they reminded me that maybe this service fairy was just using me as a tool. Since we didn't need the cash, or to have our purchases paid for, it was a way to help our friend even better. We left the envelope with our cash added to it on the seat of their car when we dropped off their children. We had been the delivery fairy... and were honestly able to tell the parents that 'WE' had not been responsible!


and what of self serving service??

In Texas, many moons ago we had some friends... I'll call them Shumways. They had a cool spanish hacienda type house. It had this problem though. When it rained as it does in TX, the down pouring would flood the front entry courtyard area. With extremely clay soil.. it didn't soak away very quickly and so it would be a swampy flooded entry much of the winter rain time. After picking up Shumz for Seminary and watching him slog through the wetness or we would have to wade up to the front door... We took it upon ourselves to arrive one Christmas evening bearing gifts. We had a grand visit and fun evening, as was to be expected anytime one visits with Shumways. (I think we even brought goodies) What gifts could we possibly bring that would make me write such an ordeal up under the guise of service?? We each brought them a large stepping stone brick wrapped in brown paper bags!

So as I said... self serving service... who were we really giving the bricks to? The Shumways? or ourselves so we didn't get wet coming to the door? However, either it stopped raining in TX, or I soon left for Ricks (BYU-ID -for those who know it nowadays), or the bricks didn't solve the problem anyway, because I don't even remember if they were used! Nor do I truly know how the Shumways felt after the crazy Christmas brick elves left. (probably that we were a few bricks shy of a full load!)

So.. as for feeling that warm feeling of service trickling down my leg.... The kids and I are ever on the lookout for an opportunity.

The gauntlet has been thrown down

Taking on dares... Only just this past weekend as a dozen or so children were rambling around in the backyard, I interrupted a game of 'double dare'. Later with just my own children, we discussed the intricacies and potentially disastrous effects that playing such a game can have on each other's emotions and sometimes create ethical dilemma's for each other. I didn't forbid the game. I just gave fair warning that they could probably come up with a plethora of other better things to spend an afternoon with friends doing.

Then today as I was catching up on my blog reading.. (hate to admit that I had fallen behind lately). I read one that I somewhat lurk on. An old BYU friend of Sparky's, 'Teach in fourth' or Mr. Z, or Jason. His was called 'I dare you'. And he did. And I will. But he did because she dared first. She is Gerb. I don't know her at all.. She knows him, and I linked from him to her and read her dare called 'I have a comment'. Now I think I'm initiated into some not so secret not even underground movement about commenting.

Yes ME... in a movement to create more comments...

Comments are what got me into this whole mess in the first place. Or was it lurking without commenting? It was definitely linked to comments somehow that began the outright blogging addiction that I haven't been able to give up! I have to credit Janet for calling me on the carpet a year ago about comments. I have commented since then... just not often... ok.. so it's still a rarity.

I even went on to read about blog commenting etiquette.. and felt pangs of guilt... but still it didn't change who I truly am deep down inside.... I had to come to terms with what was comfortable for me... what makes sense... I don't often comment in a classroom situation either... when I'm in person... I'm more of a one on one commenter... and then I find I should have kept my mouth shut and listened. I would prefer to leave an encounter, a class or a blog having picked up a tidbit, been enlightened or entertained, not having shared with others what I already know about myself. How would that help me to grow... but as I contemplate this... I am compelled to learn that responding, thanking someone for that tidbit or insight, sharing SUCCINCTLY, if I can learn to do that, that they touched me or made a difference is as important for me to do as it is for others to hear, read, see or feel!

And so, as I sit at the computer, nursing my sweet little infant Whittaker.... I acknowledge that I have somehow entered into an unspoken but certainly communicated agreement by commenting on their blogs that I will pick up the gauntlet and comment for... Oh.. how to determine a time period that is long enough to show effort but not so long that I can't keep my resolve...


two weeks!...


ackk.. I've put it in black and white.. I've put it out to the masses...(the 10 readers!) and I will truly only be accountable to myself... but it's is done!

Pit Stop

A cross country move from the Pacific Ocean as a student to the Atlantic ocean as a bonafide working man. Sparky is officially a grown up... And lucky for us he had to drive across the country through Utah so we became a pit stop. Not the normal type with oil changes, and tire rotations, but instead with as much as we can pack into a three day pitstop with cousins and siblings who don't know when the next visit might be!

The night before Channa departed for her long drive to visit family in Canada we got together for a quick cookout. Tinfoil dinners were good but it's the dessert that got us all out to assist Patrick cooking at the firepit. We did traditional marshmallows for those who wanted them, but the new favourite is the sandwich desserts of Apples and cream cheese with cinnamon and brown sugar or a s'mores sandwich.

An afternoon of fun with playdough. Cooper wasn't sure at first that he wanted to have anything to do with this activity.... but after an hour or so he was the only one remaining in the Dining room still impressed with all the ways he could manipulate the dough.

Habitats became a very big hit during this pit stop as well. Elaborate habitats with room dividers and grass carpets for all the plastic snakes and frogs they could find!... I drew the line at live ones!!



The new Oquirrh Mountain Temple was having its' open house this month and we got tickets to go during their quick little pit stop. We had attended the open house for the Draper Temple back in cold February. It had been a very cold and crowded event since we had tickets for 8 pm on Saturday night. This time we had tickets for 9:30 in the morning on a Thursday morning and it was very calm and relaxing... in comparison we were almost alone in the Temple! We were so glad to have such an experience together squeezed into our three days.

A morning hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon was planned for first thing Friday morning... By the time we had finished a quick breakfast the rain was pouring down and we knew the plans would have to change... we considered another game of clue. However the skies cleared up after only an hour or so and we decided by noon that we could still venture out on a hike. So glad we did.. and I'm glad that at literally the last minute I opted to join them. We enjoyed a romp through the forest and over hill and dale following after the leader (Sparky). Tall grasses made it a jungle, and the exposed section of pipeline leading into a small cave was a submarine marooned here long ago. The water was high and fast from all our recent rains but it was lovely. We frolicked and romped and generally had a great time.

After returning from our hike the neighbourhood children greeted us at home with what they had found while we were gone! ... A snake... I went inside... but the kids fascinated with the reptilian adventure accompanied Sparky to the canal to rescue the little water snake.



Our days were full with fun and family and friends. Our last evening with Sparky in town we discovered that the Shumways were also visiting in town. We were so glad they could squeeze in a quick visit. Time with family and friends always goes by way too quickly.

(Just a side note... for those following my twisted mind... It was almost a complete year ago that this grand lady Janet Shumway inspired me to begin stalking.. blogging in the first place! And just think... she's visiting at my house now!.. see sometimes stalking can pay off... ok, those who need a refresher into my psychotic psyche can read about it here! or just click on her name in the label cloud to the right on the blog!)

We enjoyed Sparky's home made pizza's for dinner and some apple cobbler and then..... yes even though we had already filled our day with fun... we played another game of Clue!



Saturday morning found us wondering what to do. The past few days had been long and full. Sparky had left to continue driving eastward and Valerie and the girls had a few days before we would be putting them on the plane to join him in Virginia. We found ourselves feeling a bit lazy and exhausted.... we lounged on the couches while the kids entertained themselves with potato heads and math manipulatives... After an hour or so of vacantly watching them we inquired what they were up to.... They sure showed us up! These energy efficient creations were amazing!... Miles had created a home for their recently made cottonball catterpillar creations that was energy efficient in the extreme, with wind turbines, a hydro electric power dam and solar panels. Caleb, the potato building inspector, was quickly overcome by an aggressive Alyssa who didn't think potato heads should be used by teenagers! Sarah and Audrey had designed an entire village with magical properties I couldn't keep up with!

There was so much squeezed into every moment.

Clue games
Wii races
Playing at the park
Jumping on the Trampoline (boing, boing)
Chasing chickens
Clue games
Chit chatting
Wii races
Plenty of tasty food
and way to many goodies!
Clue games
Bike rides
Enjoyed every moment we had together!!

We sure like to squeeze a lot into pit stops! Valerie even had a surprise visitor who joined us for a game of clue and some french pastries and cinnamon rolls. Our visitors tend to overlap each other... and Jim and his girls arrived a few hours before I took Valerie and her little girls to the airport! So as we bid farewell and good luck to Sparky and his girls we welcome Jim and his girls for more adventures.

Big mouth!

So, about a week ago the kids and I read an amusing blog... of Janets of course... For whatever reason, something compelled their family one evening to find out how many grapes they could put into their mouth at one time.... My kids of course had to know if they could try. Too bad we didn't have any grapes, until we were at the store and they insisted on putting bags of grapes in the cart. Now we had to try. Aaron was the champion at their house with 29 grapes... with that in mind we did our best, but we fell short.

Duncan had 6, Miles had 14, although he's sure it was 17, Sarah wasn't interested thanks. Caleb and I were a tie at 19 and then I managed just 1 more!.. So I was the winner around here... for two whole days!

The kids ambushed Daddy when he arrived home from a week in AZ, all talking at once... "We have grapes", "How many do you think you can do?", "Come do it now!" Sarah said.."I'll even do it this time daddy!" And she did... 12 very lady like grapes and then took her bowl to the bathroom to spit them out.... I didn't understand the spitting them out and rinsing them off to eat them... I just started chewing mine!

After he removed his coat and shoes he found them waiting for him in the kitchen with all the grapes... and he didn't disappoint them! After a while, I wasn't sure I could still watch, I was sure it would be like watching a Volcano eruption...

oops.. video was too big a file to upload here... can't figure out how to put it in...

The counters were a little off, as you can probably tell in the video... The accurate count after he spat them all out into a bowl was 57!! So anyone want to take on the challenge now?

The 2008 blogging awards!.

And the Winner is...

Valerie for most comments on my blog! 60 (that's almost as many blogs on her blogsite! I'm truly flattered)

Jim for best comment overall! click here to read...

Janet for being most inspirational! click here

Alyssa for most adorable niece to pitter patter through my home! click here

Channa for dealing with only half a face the longest and pretending to be interested in all my blogging.... I know it's just so you can be favoured a little more than Amber!

Mum for persevering and holding on to all those treasured memories! Forties File Fridays will continue in 2009... I'll ignore all protests and groaning!

John for meeting the most famous person this year Prince Charles!

Jill for staying the busiest and still choosing to find time to read my blog!

i cant speak for everyone, but here is my response.. the questions are great and fun, nothing wrong with them.. when i read them, i instantly have visions and memories that come to mind... but unfortuneatly i am usually in a hurry, dont have time to respond right then and there, and it is just so hard to get back to it, and take the time that a good question and vivid memories command.. it has a very busy time for me, and i cant even blame xmas..it isnt even a factor for me yet,, but i work mon-fri, i am single parenting dayton thru his hockey and school, trying to spell myself between town and the island, attend daytons game on the weekends, see doug at some point, my singing career, rehearsals, poster making, advertising, press release deadlines etc. the list goes on and on.. and to take the time to get back to the question at hand is often difficult at best... but rest assured that your requests are not the only things in my life that are suffering from back burner syndrome... i have not done a lick of anything for xmas, none of the usual, like baking, xmas partys, shopping, decorating.. none of it!! i cant remember the last time, i called someone , or sent an email, just to chat and catch up, i have not acknowledged a birthday for longer than i can remember,, including yours, the most recent.. and not because i forgot... that whole week of your birthday i thot of you, but did i take the time to call or write? no,, i have lists ofunfinished projects as long as my arm, and another arms length of projects i dream of an d have not yet begun,,
so it is the same with the 40's questions..
i'm afraid it is also similar to how i treat housework, and the attention i should be giving to my husband.... i'll get to it when i get to it... regrettably, auntie favorite...

Paige for being the most dedicated reader! (sometimes multiple times a day)

Sparky.... hmmmm I guess you can have the most focused individual... since you likely won't even read this blog for a month or better!

Eden for teaching Sadie to enjoy my blog from a young age and for multi-tasking so well in order to even read it!

Dad for checking my blog at work... he's got his priorities straight!

Patrick... for putting up with my newest addiction... and going out of town so you don't realize how much I really do blog! shh (he doesn't really read it much... )

Caleb, Sarah, Miles and Duncan for always giving me fodder for me to blog!

Inspiration!

I've been inspired once again by the lady who used to be a 5-letter word in our house!

You see we moved into our house two years ago this January and we've been remodeling and decorating.... very slowly.... very methodically.... very slowly.... very exacting.....

ok... so I can't make a decision for anything..... I'm a basket case when it comes down to finalizing what I'm doing in any particular area.... Oddly enough I've created a house plans binder with to scale drawings of each room and paint swatches and furniture cutouts.... I've redesigned each room numerous times within the binder! I've pored over decorating idea books and magazines... watched do it yourself shows and home makeover shows for ideas... and instead of being inspired to actually do the rooms I've become immensely more overwhelmed... meanwhile living in partially finished areas... a kitchen and dining room with out any baseboards for almost a year now, and had a temporary trap door over the stairways instead of a stair railing because I just couldn't decide....
My mother said decide is like other 'cide' words.. suicide, homicide, genicide.... and that to de 'cide'... is to murder the other options.... but I have to ignore my inner-mother if I'm going to finish this house!!
And so for anyone who even remotely cares... I am going to put myself out there and get it done... I shall post my before and after's for the ooh's and ahh's... and the peanut gallery... and just get it over with!.... It's time to start living my life instead of playing with a decorating binder for two years pretending.... It's time to get this house thing done so I can move onto the far more important and much less shallow endeavors that I was put on this earth for!... (I realize that I assume that I was put on the earth for a great purpose with that comment... but why not dream big)... I'll try not to come back in three days defeated having bitten off more than I can chew!

But as I said when I began my little ranting... this isn't just out of the blue... I've been inspired! Once about oh... 4 months ago... I was inspired to begin blogging. And now this same 5-letter word lady has gone and bought a house, professed to hate decorating and then proceeded to simply jump in and do whatever she wants! What really did it though... was her laundry room! It was the answer I needed... I already had the colours picked out for the family room but really wanted it to be fun and not drab.... well this certainly did the trick. So hopefully it will be seen as flattery and not demented stalking! Now I just need to hang my pictures on the wall and I'll have a completed room.. FINALLY! Now onto the other rooms... don't stop me now!



I've even composed a little song.... (tune: Jungle Book's "I wanna be like you")

Now she's the queen of the bloggers oh, the internet VIP
She's reached the top and threatened to stop and she's impressin' me.
I wanna be a queen, bloggers oh, and type up witty posts
And be just like the other blogs and get the comments flowin'

Oh, oobee doo I wanna be like Janet,
I wanna blog like you paint like you, too
You'll see it's true A mum like me
Can learn to be creative too

(Gee, Miss Janet, I have a concern....
In post called 2 year old for sale
You make some fightin' word comments, Janet! {comment #16 to be exact!}
But I'll give you a chance to explain)

Now don't try to kid me, Janet, I know you struggle too
With homeschooling and meal cooking to make it through the day
But you've got a secret, Janet, of how to make it work,
you get it done, and have such fun and blog about it too!

Fine... my kids tell me to stick to blogging and leave composing to the experts!

It's official... I have no taste!

or feelings for that matter!

literally though... I have Bells Palsy... that's partial paralysis of the face.... and included in this phenomenon... is the lack of ability to taste food anymore! I may lose weight with this little number since there isn't much appeal to eating cardboard three times a day and that is what essentially any food tastes like to me... except for the food that tastes metallic and that isn't worth taking a second bite of! Of course added to the beauty of this problem is that with the paralysis of my upper lip I can no longer eat daintily!... or for that matter without half of almost every bite ending up on my shirt!... the kids think this is hilarious and mimic my attempts to put my non compliant lips around my spoon... and they go on and on about how tasty lunch is or "try the sauce... it's full of flavour".... Where did these obnoxious children come from?

I'm still suffering from seasonal allergies.. albeit now only on the side of the face that isn't non emotional!!... so one eye is red, itchy and watery and the other eye is drying out!... one nostril is dripping like a faucet and the other is so dry I'll probably have a nose bleed later and not feel it as it drips down my lip and chin! I have some letters of the alphabet that are next to impossible to pronounce properly... so some of my family will have to change their names to accommodate me or move out...

This too shall pass... I just wish I knew when... the treatment is plenty of rest and relaxing techniques... get rid of stresses, remain calm and quiet, wear sunglasses to avoid brightness, moisten the eyes so they don't dry out... I guess only the one... the other is moist enough right now.. Eat well, and maintain good oral hygiene... that one was odd I thought... but whatever... nothing too major in that list... so... how long... it depends... for some a few days... for others weeks and still others months... until then.. I guess I could plan to be the phantom of the opera for Halloween! or at least charge admission to let people watch the freak eat a meal...
Today's phonics lesson with Miles was quite hilarious... combine my non functioning lips with new orthodontic retainers in my mouth and I was telling him to listen for the ending sound of words that end in 'ED' to tell me if they were 'd', 't', or 'ed'... of course it came out (with spittle everywhere) 'duh', 'tsa' and 'ud'... the kids were all ROFL... and telling me to say that again!!! We skipped that lesson and went on to math...

Patrick is determined that this was caused by so much blogging, I think he may be partly correct... since I no longer sleep because I'm obsessed with finishing all the blogging thoughts before I lose them... so I think it's the lack of sleep... and stress... both I suppose due to blogging... So I will have to do daytime blogs from now on... no more late night blogging.... I hope it's not like TV... daytime blogs might have to be steamy and trashy... unlike late night blogging which can be more newsy and humorous.

I just had a thought... I wonder if this is caused from all the stress surrounding the Janet Shumway lurking and stalking???.... (don't worry... I just slapped myself in the face for having another negative thought towards this great lady... *mind you it didn't hurt me because my face is numb!!*)

Confessions of a Blog Lurker

So I need to explain why the references to blog lurking and to Janet Shumway (a lady I barely know and the majority of my family don't have a clue who she is) are on my blog.

Valerie and Sparky have been blogging for a while now and encouraging me to blog. Back in April I blogged about the clothesline.... a grand entrance and then .... nothing. July I blogged again.... Then Valerie came to visit and I had to know why she was laughing at the computer!.... She introduced me to Janet Shumway's blog. Janet is married to Aaron Shumway... aka... Shumz from Texas days. Janet's blog was entertaining, enlightening, honest, inviting, dramatic, realistic and just plain wonderful.... I ended up staying up until 3 am reading back archives of her blog.... She has been blogging for a little over two years and has over 400 posts. The post I read at 3 am let me know that she could track who was reading her blogs and could tell that very few people ever comment. She was considering taking her public blog off the public road and going private! After reading almost 300 of her blogs without any permission I began to feel some guilt and knew that I hadn't commented... so I went to bed!

However... sad as it is my stalking doesn't end there. I just couldn't get enough and so the next morning when I woke up I was back on the blog trail and spent most of the morning and much of the next evening/night finishing all her blogs. I felt like I'd made a friend... and yet she isn't anymore aware of me now than she ever was. I just knew all about her. I was making enemies through all this too. Patrick wasn't impressed that I was spending so much time reading some persons blog... Channa wanted nothing to do with this amazing perfect person that I was raving about... I wasn't a very nice hostess to Valerie or the girls... and my own children were completely ignored.... (they say they're used to it from the days of me reading books... they can be so ... honest sometimes!) I had finished every post and felt the need to let her know how incredible she was and that I was completely inspired... but first of all I'm not that outgoing, and secondly didn't want to freak her out that I was some strangoid. So I mulled it over for a day or so what I might say and how.. .

Meanwhile, I began blogging in earnest. I was just going to treat blogging as though it was an online scrap booking journal where anything goes. With each blog that I posted I wanted to post more and I am completely hooked! Now I knew I had to let her know that I appreciated her. I wasn't sure which blog to comment on or what to say... but I had to get it off my mind. So I decided to email her. I found some old photos of Aaron from our Texas days and sent off the email to let her know that I felt entitled to be reading her blog through my association with Aaron and the photos should prove that I did know him or prove that I am a complete freak! I complimented her and invited her to read my simple blog of what was then 6 posts! I fully expected some type of response.

I began checking my email every few hours and refreshing her blog to see if she was posting or not. No I don't have much of a life.... She was very busy I knew because according to her blog she is getting ready to move into a new house and she was counting down the days to her high school reunion that just happened to be here in West Jordan. It became a blogging epidemic... Channa decided to give it a whirl and Sparky updated his blog... However in one of Sparky's updates he mentioned my blog and linked to mine. Becoming a stalker of course I was gathering all sorts of useful information and learned that Janet had checked Sparky's blog, linked to mine and then commented on Sparky's about mine. So I knew that she was aware of me and that she was online... I was waiting with baited breath for an email response now!...... But NOTHING!.... Janet's name became a 5-letter word in our house... she was still blogging and not responding... not commenting when she herself is a self-proclaimed commenting advocate!

I realize that I have a problem... I've spoken to my Bishop about it already... the fact that he is my neighbour and good friends husband is not the point!.... besides... he just laughed and hinted that if I have that much time on my hands he was sure he could find something for me to do ...

All those around me knew of my frustration that Janet was blogging and therefore connected to the internet and could for all intents pop me off an email at least... until after ten days of stalking and almost going so far as to lurk at the site of her high school reunion staging a sort of paparazzi... don't worry I said almost... I didn't do it!... (I was busy that night). but then the blog that put me in my place!.... She blogged about being homeless (hopping from hotel to friends and family) for a month because they're waiting to close on their house and how she had time dated the last few weeks of blogs to automatically post without her having access to a computer!.... oh.... so she wasn't technically online any of those times.... and she isn't ignoring me.... (this wonderful woman who doesn't even know me....) she was in fact proving to me how out of her blogging league I truly am.... that even homeless for a month she was keeping up with her posts.....

How can I ask her to forgive me for the thoughtless remarks (truly made in jest, just ask Valerie)... for the scheming that I never carried out mind you... (toilet papering her parents home while she was in town for her reunion, since it's just up the street from my house, commenting on her every blog with long and confusing comments, posting a poll on my blog of what I should do to get my revenge on her... (oh wait... that one I did do... for a couple days only)

I really don't know what came over me... I'm normally a very quiet and reserved person who would never even contemplate stalkable thoughts toward anyone... but I was possessed... yes that's it... possessed by a blogging spirit.

So... JANET SHUMWAY.... I'm SORRY!!! I will cease and desist... I will refrain from any and all negative blog stalking ways... I do still lurk on her blog though... I just can't resist!.... It's a Wonderful Life is her blog.... just make sure you COMMENT!