Trying for simplicity

New Year's is so interesting to me. I really love the death and rebirth analogy that is New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. I tend to entertain thoughts that analyze the cultural New Year's phenomena. I'll spare the mundane details but I am intrigued by the chaotic celebrations at the year's end, the overwhelming, almost expected, acceptance of socially unacceptable and risky behavior, and the desire for resolution, a new beginning, and a forced sense of order that comes with the dawn of the new day. The year starts out fresh and new and by the end of the cycle we have worn it out-- it is old, tired, crazy and ready to die. It even extends into a hell vs. heaven type thing. Just a fascinating analogy to me.

Why do we do this? I think at some point we need a specific event where we as humans can refresh and restart the clock. We are forced to bring everything back into order. January 1 is no different a day than December 31, but in our minds it is the starting point and new attempt at control.

So with that said, I give into the need for control and always find myself looking brightly to the year ahead.

This year I would like to focus on simplicity. I want to simplify my life. I plan to do this by better organizing my time. I must simplify and to do that I must plan.

I want to be deliberate in my actions. I am not going to do something just because I have nothing better to do.

I want to simplify my surroundings. I need to scale back for the sake of my sanity. This will be a year of getting rid of the superfluous.

I have to purge not only the "things" but the obligations and responsibilities that are creating static in my life. I started this by quitting my job this fall. That burden was lifted and I love the freedom I feel from it.

I will continue to blog because I enjoy it and it is fulfilling to me somehow. And since these goals are posted for the world to see, I have a better chance of maintaining them.

Here's to a fresh, vibrant, new year!

This is why we don't get asked to sing in church.

So there is nothing on TV tonight. I was just sitting enjoying my DQ Blizzard (yes my husband loves me) flipping through the channels. I couldn't find anything to watch. I ended up on TLC because for some bizarre reason they were broadcasting a crime show. I watched until the first commercial segment when I remembered why I NEVER turn it to TLC. Are you kidding, "Half Man Half Tree" followed by "Mermaid Girl"? I nearly lost my dinner let alone my appetite for my Blizzard.

And remember when the Biography channel had biographies? I know, crazy. Now it's like "Ghostly Encounters" and "Psychic Kids". Since when did the paranormal fit under the biography theme?

I finally settled on FLN and "Whatever, Martha!" I have never seen this show before and thought I liked it. Two women sitting around watching and making fun of segments from the Martha Stewart show. But then I noticed that one of the women was named Alexis Stewart, you know, Martha's daughter. Then I saw that the show itself was a product of the Martha enterprise. I couldn't like it too much after I realized that Martha was behind the whole thing. Although I was kind of sad that Martha beat me to the punch.

Hockey with the cousins

We got to go to the Avalanche game last night with my brother and his boys, and my sister and her son. We had a really great time. John has been wearing his jersey non-stop. Thanks for the tickets Beth!

The boys were super excited. We had great seats in the club section!


Everyone in their Avalanche best! We all showed our team spirit, even though Tommy and his two boys are from Pheonix (who was the team defeated last night).

Love and Logic?

Long story short-- the school psychologist let me borrow her copy of the book Parenting with Love and Logic to read over Christmas break. I have been interested in this series but have been too cheap to fork over the cash for any of the materials. The whole premise of the "technique" is to get our kids to think and then suffer the consequences of their choices-- I'm all for that.

The book gives examples of how to deal with conflict with our children by offering choices in a calm, almost sing-song approach. I have been trying diligently to apply these techniques for the past two days. Here are some examples presented in the book: "You sound upset. I'll be glad to listen when your voice is as soft as mine." Or, "You guys are welcome to come back as soon as you work that out," (pg. 61).

SO, like I said, I have been struggling to talk to my kids like that for two days. Today I was droning on and I realized I was sounding a lot like the boss in the movie, Office Space.

"Yeah.... so... that's inappropriate and I'm uh, going to go ahead and ask you to go to your room now. Ok, thanks."

Then another time I start in with, "Yeah, so we would love to have you participate with the rest of the family, but--"

and John interrupts, "I already know, you've been saying it all day, 'we want you to join us when you can be nice, blah, blah!" Imagine the mocking tone that is his imitation of me trying to be nice.

And yesterday when Kitty wanted pudding for breakfast I told her no. John chimes in with, "Mommy you'll just make her mad. You need to say it the smart way," he then turns to her and tells her that if she eats her breakfast then she can have pudding.

How is it that my 5 year old is already an expert in Love and Logic?

Moving Mountains

Why is it that I can never fully overcome my laundry pile? I hate it because it is always whispering in the back of my mind saying, "You will be defeated."
It's not the process I can't seem to grasp- sort, wash, dry, fold, put away. It's the follow through.

Sometimes it's: sort, wash........... wash again, dry, fold, put away.

Other times it's: sort......... sort more, wash, dry............... fold, put away.

But more often than not it's: sort......... sort more, wash.......... wash again, dry, fold............................................................................. sort.

I really get hung up on that put away step.

I used to have a grasp on my mountain of laundry, I had whittled it down to a mole hill. But just one day off, or two days of being sick and the cycle starts all over again.

I Love Copying

I am such a copy-cat. I've been wanting to do a list of things I like for a while but thought it would require too much thought. I was afraid I would post it and then remember something really important to add and then I would have to edit the original post. I was afraid of the finality of a single list. So following (copying) Shay I am just going to list a "few" of my favorite things, that way I can feel free to explain a little and add future installments at any time.

• Peanut Butter Anything. In fact, TCBY used to have a peanut butter sauce that I still dream about.
• New Pens. Sometimes a new pen is all it takes to make a bad day better.
• Notebooks and Journals. They have to be ruled and big enough to write in. I prefer spiral bound, but if the binding is not too tight I can make it work. The page has to be just the right size so you don't feel pressure to fill the whole page.
• Artifacts. I love finding old trash. I love looking through prehistoric and historic trash and piecing together life in the past. I love the human connection. It's the recording part I hate.
• Cross County Hiking. I haven't done this in a long time but I love it. Which brings me to my next favorite thing--
• Maps. I love reading maps, I love being the navigator on trips! I love that I can find myself as long as I have a map. Last spring I was on a field visit with some Native Americans and I was the only one of the group who hadn't been to the location before. When we couldn't figure out where we were supposed to be on the landscape I pulled out my map and figured it out. I was beaming with pride, they're the one's who are supposed to be so in tune with nature and find their way around...
• Taking a Shower. My family can attest to this, I am protective of my shower. My shower shapes my attitude for the rest of the day. A shower is a real luxury that gets taken for granted all too often. I'm not saying I shower every single day, but if I decide I need my shower, watch out and don't you dare flush the toilet!
• Library Books. I love the smell, the texture of the pages, and the excitement of getting a well read book from the library.

That's all the thought I can dedicate to this for now. The next list I make will be of things I hate and I guarantee it will be eight times longer. In fact, I think I love to hate certain things, is that possible?

Gonzo vs. Squidward

I was devastated this evening to learn that my kids had NO IDEA who the Muppets were. I had DVR'd the Muppet Christmas show and was confused by their less than enthusiastic reaction to my excitement about watching it tonight. They sat with blank stares as the show began.

Kitty: I like the girl one.
Me: You mean Miss Piggy?
Kitty: I like Mr. Froggy too.
Me: That's Kermit the Frog, you know that!
John: I like the one that looks mean and grouchy like Squidward.
Me: You mean Gonzo? Come on! You guys are acting like you don't know who these people are!

John: Who's that one?
Me: It's FOZIE BEAR for Pete's sake!!!

Once I regained composure I was able to calmly teach them (as I should have long ago) who each character was, except for the French shrimp guy who I don't remember from my youth.

Nothing Beats Neil Diamond

I can't compete. My sister informed me that she gave my parents Neil Diamond tickets for Christmas. It doesn't help that I haven't figured out what to get my parents this year. Everything I think of just pales in comparison. Next year I will have to get Neil Diamond tickets and a copy of The Jazz Singer, that will show her.

Oh yeah, and by the way, I'm thinking of skipping the Christmas card this year, it's too hard and I can't compete with all the fancy one's floating around. Nothing new or exciting happend to us this year, so why try?

Rubbing Shoulders

Last night I watched Taladaga Nights for the first time. It was kind of funny. There was a reference in the movie to Highlander and that got me thinking. I don't know if anyone remembers the TV show called Highlander, but I used to watch it with a lady I lived with in Kanab. We would spend our evenings sitting in our respective Lazy Boy recliners watching Kung Fu, Walker Texas Ranger, and Highlander. In her defense (as well as my own) she was my grandmother's age and she was a little crazy. And she was letting me live with her for free so I pretty much had to watch what she wanted.

A few years prior to this I worked Room Service for the Provo Park Hotel and actually served the actor from Highlander, too bad I don't even know his name. Yes, that's right; I served room service to a famous actor who no one remembers today. I also brought room service to Iron Butterfly, don't be jealous. Oh and then there was that time I gave the guy who always played the dad in the 80s movies (Licensed to Drive comes to mind) directions to the state liquor store because the Provo Park Hotel bar was closing. He gave me a $20 tip, too bad I don't know his name either.

My brush with fame started when I was 5. My grandparents took me and my sister to a Donnie and Marie concert. Toward the end, Donnie went running up the aisle and my grandpa grabbed me and I stuck my hand out just in time for Donnie to slap it as he ran by.

More recently, I stood behind Lyell Lovett in the sky cap line at the Spokane airport. As we were pulling up, I looked at him and thought, "Hurry up Lyell Lovett, you're in the way!" But then I looked a little closer and realized it really was Lyell Lovett, not just some ugly guy that looked like him. While we were in line I had plenty of time to observe him. Of course I was taller than him, taller than even his Kramer-esque hair. He had on tight black jeans and I remember thinking he had the lower body of a woman. You know, soft around the edges. Several people came up to him to tell them how much they enjoyed the concert the night before, he graciously thanked them. I was proud of myself for leaving him alone, but then again I didn't go to the concert…

These little stories are nothing like my sister's brush with fame that she only just recently told me about. She was in New York on business and ran into Gene Simmons in the lobby of her hotel. They actually spoke to each other, mostly about her height. Another time in New York she saw Lenny Kravitz getting out of a cab or something. Which is a little ironic since "Mr. Cabdriver" is a fun song about not getting a cab… maybe it was a limo.

I Hate WalMart

I know I'm not alone. I really dislike going to WalMart, I want to avoid it but seem to end up there sooner or later. I hate that every time I go I can't find parking. I hate that the bell ringer gives me a dirty look even though I gave my change last week. I hate the carts. Oh how I hate the carts. Every cart has a bad wheel, a squeaky wheel, an alignment problem, or sticky stuff on the handle. I hate that the aisles are close together. I hate that there always seems to be a group of confused people who are not sure where they are going- right in front of me. I HATE the pharmacy section. I can never find what I need and the aisles are super crowded with those confused people (including myself this time) and some employee with an angry face stocking ace bandages. I hate that there are literally 85 registers and only 3 open at a time. I hate when the person in front of me needs to buy stamps and they have to page the keeper of the stamps to deliver the stamps to the register. Oh, and those people who pay with a check and wait to fill it out until the cashier pushes total... don't get me started.

Icy water Dora, anyone?

Kitty wants just one thing for Christmas and I don't even know if it exists. She wants an "icy water Dora". Huh. I have no clue. Has she seen it on TV? Yes. Does it change color in the water? No. Is it the mermaid Dora? No. Is it big or small? Big. What does it looks like? "You'll see when Santa brings it."

Who?

Ok, so forgive me for a minute here but I kind of freaked out because Tyler commented on my last post. I don't know Tyler. But then I realized the irony... here I was reading everyone else's blogs assuming that no one I didn't know would be reading mine. I was like, "who is this mysterious Tyler character, and what interest does he have in my blog, and how did he find it in the first place?" I went through a few possibilities like maybe he did a key word search for blogs that included the words, "pickle soup" and mine came up. Or maybe he found it under the category, "Boring Blogs" or "Blogs about nothing". That's when I decided to use my powers of deductive reasoning and investigate (or is it inductive?).

I clicked on his profile, found his blog and read it (so there!). He is actually a very talented artist and I liked several of his paintings he had posted. He had a "live-feed" gadget and I examined who had been visiting. Then I saw it, a familiar domain name! Hooray, Tyler is a friend of a friend! Mystery solved. I feel like I just finished a Law and Order episode where it all works out like you wanted it to. Not like the episodes where they leave you disappointed not only in the lack of resolution, but in humanity in general.

So welcome to my blog Tyler, I hope you return once in a while. I appreciate your sage advice and determination to help me out as a total stranger.

So this blogging thing IS ok...

This blogging thing has become my most favorite hobby. It's not like I had all that many hobbies before, but now it's nice to go through my day thinking of what to write about. So the bottom line is, I'm sold. I also get a rush of excitement when I see my friends have updated their blogs. Who knew it would be acceptable to become openly obsessed with other people's lives? I mean, not in a creepy way, just in a curious way... right?

I was just reading up on a friend's life and then decided to read some of her favorite blogs and so the cycle begins. I came upon a very funny one that pretty much had me laughing for real. I wasn't just smiling and making a little breathy sound-- I was truly laughing. All alone. By myself. The dog came into the room to check on me.

So since I don't know any blogging etiquette I hope it's OK for me to post the link to her blog with the rest of my list-- even if she doesn't know me, or that I admire her humor and aspire to be her, whoever she is! And I would go one step further and recommend it to anyone who needs a real belly laugh. You can find the link on my sidebar as "Every Day I Write the Book".

Oh and if anyone knows how I should give her proper credit on my blog let me know the rules, I'm new around here.

A Breakthrough!

The saga with John and Christmas continues...

I got a great new Christmas CD called "Mary's Lullaby: Christmas Songs for Bedtime" from Deseret Book. It is a quiet, peaceful collection of some of my favorite seasonal songs. Because both children were content and happy, I decided to test the waters as we ran errands today. I slipped the CD in and within three notes of the first song John was in hysterics.

"Is this church music?"

"No it's Christmas music."

"Ahhhhh!! It's church Christmas music! It's not even church day!! Turn it off, turn it OFF!"

The tantrum continued while Katherine was saying how much she really liked it, so I turned it up to drown out the screaming and crying. I heard too many reasons to turn it off to list here, but my favorite was, "Mommy! It's too cute, the music is too cute for me, you have to turn it off!" As if he would melt from listening to "cute" music.

The breakthrough came during song 6: The Little Drummer Boy. I told him he had to be quiet because it was one of my favorite Christmas songs and it was about a boy playing a drum. I knew the drum might spark his interest. By the end of the song he wanted to hear it again. By the end of the CD he said to me, "Mommy, I was wrong. I actually like this music. It is so soothing." And he was right, it is way more "soothing" than it is "cute".

AND I read four days worth of Christmas stories before bed. Of course, none of them could mention the actual Christmas event, but they definitely didn't mention Santa either.

Church Christmas

This evening I decided that I needed to do something to get into the holiday spirit and being the copy-cat that I am (Shay, Korie...) I decided to read some pertinent scriptures to my kids about Christ and Christmas. There is a list of 25 different passages to read every day in this month's issue of the Friend Magazine. If you want to know what they are just hop on over to Shay's blog at http://getkinetic.typepad.com because for some reason she is one of those amazing people that actually takes the time to copy the list for our use, make the scriptures have links, and manages to make it sound inspiring and doable all at the same time. Seriously, once you read Shay you see how simple my mind actually is... but come back, don't let Shay suck you in, I like your company.

Back to the point. I started to explain to my kids that this month we were going to do something different for stories before bed and before I could say any more John interrupted with, "I know what you are trying to do and I am not falling for it." I just looked at him in disbelief. Firstly, I was not trying to do anything hoping he would fall for it, and second, how did he know?

"You are trying to trick us and it's not going to work," he says.

"Trick you how? I just thought we could talk about Christmas-"

"I knew it! All that church Christmas stuff, I'm sick of it."

WHAT? As a parent I'm totally stumped because (don't tell anyone) we have not talked about the "church" Christmas stuff at all this year. Not even a little.

So as I get out my Bible and search for the passage to read for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (we have to catch up) John continues to refuse to listen. Sweet Kitty on the other hand says she wants to hear the church Christmas story. So I decide to read regardless of my audience. Long story short-- the misbehavior increases, my patience decreases and I end up yelling at them both to pay attention to the scriptures, or so help me. I don't think the true "reason of the season" was conveyed.

I guess I will have to be more creative in my trickery.

Ahhh... Pickle Soup!

I have the most fantastic Polish neighbor. If you don't already know about Bogda, stay tuned because I plan to dedicate at least a few posts to her. Anyway, she likes to cook for us and one of my favorites is Pickle Soup. At first I was afraid to try it, but when I did I fell in love! It is the perfect marriage (is that the culinary word?) of sour dill and creamy goodness. I keep asking her to teach me how to make it but she always tells me we have to make our own pickles or it won't work. This summer we were supposed to go to the farmer's market and get the right kind of cucumbers for making the pickles for the soup-- but it never happened. I was depressed thinking I had to wait another year before I could make the soup myself.

Because of sick children, today was my third consecutive day indoors and I am probably getting a little stir-crazy. It was cold and snowy out and I decided pickle soup would be the perfect meal for a day like this. I took things into my own hands and looked up a few recipes online and made the soup myself. Contrary to Bogda's beliefs you CAN use store bought pickles! It was so tasty and warm I almost ate the whole pot. I am not joking. John even likes it.

If your mouth is watering like mine would be had I not had my fill, or if you just have a brave pallet, I would be glad to share the recipe, but you have to ask...

I love you pickle soup! (See the crazy eyes?)

Mmmm.


Yesterday was the first day of enough snow to play in.


So fun!

The Wright Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Happy Spanksgiving!

Wow. I am having a hard time being thankful today! I have been yelling at my kids all morning (and it's already 8:30). They have been going at each other since 7:00 this morning. I currently have Katherine on my lap "fake crying" according to John. So when I was yelling from the bathroom trying to keep the peace and I heard the chaos continuing I wondered if I was a "helicopter parent", you know the kind that hovers around. For some reason I think that is a bad thing to be.

So I am trying to let them work it out as much as possible. I did do that one other time when I was on the phone and just didn't want to deal with the screaming. I went into the bathroom (interesting) to continue my conversation. I could hear the screams of bloody murder, the tears from both of them, the pauses while they attacked each other, and then I tuned it out. When I finished talking on the phone and came out of the bathroom they were playing together quietly.
So what am I supposed to do with these kids of mine until 3:00 when we can eat? Man am I a grouch today! Grrr.

My New Obsession

Ok, not quite, but kind of. Have you ever found something that you truly love and you can't really explain why? It doesn't happen that often for me, but this is it. When my grandpa died last spring I inherited a little Pyrex refigerator dish like the one in the photo. I love it and have it sitting on my window sill until I can find the perfect use for it. Every time I see it, I smile. I like to pick it up, take off the glass lid (which is so cool) and then put it back on. The other day I was browsing the local antique store and found my little dish's round, 1.5 quart casserole companion. Five dollars never brought so much joy to my life. It too has a flat glass lid that I love to take off and then replace over and over. This evening instead of doing anything productive I decided to check Ebay for more Butterprint Pyrex. I would like to expand my little collection and perhaps venture into other patterns. Like, did you know they have pink Pyrex? I know, the excitement!

Imperfect Timing

John's Scarecrow-- I love the mouth, the hat, and most of all, the patch on his pants.

We went to the town's Star Lighting event on Saturday. We went last year and left before the star was actually lit, this year I thought we would go a little later. By the time we found a parking space to accomodate the F350 monster, the star was lit, the fireworks were over, and everyone was headed back to their cars. We walked around while all the vendors were taking down their booths. I felt bad enough that I bought $10 worth of glowing crap for my kids. I knew it was a rip-off but for some reason the glow stick guys were the only one's keeping thier booths open. Maybe next year we can forget it all together. Bah Humbug.

Ok, with this cheesy grin I think she may look a little like me...

She totally posed to copy John's pose in the following picture.


He said, "Take one of me with the ladies."
I don't think that I'm ready for "the ladies"!

This morning we woke to a thick layer of ice everywhere. Most of it had melted by the time I walked John to school. There were, however, a few lingering patches of black ice on which we both slipped slightly. On my walk home I was walking at a faster pace and forgot about the ice. That is until I slipped and my arms went all crazy and I stumbled to catch my balance. That episode got me thinking about how much I hate ice and walking on it. I once fell four times in one day in Rexburg, Idaho where the ice is a permanent fixture until June. The last and final time I fell that day I just sat there for a minute not wanting to get up.

I hate slipping on ice almost as much as I find it hilarious to see someone else do it. Don't you hate it when you slip and fall and a passer by asks if you are ok? Even if you feel like you broke your hip you immediately jump up and act like it was no big deal, laugh it off, and try hard not to limp too much as you stagger away. And what about that split second when you are falling, it is almost like it happens in slow motion, you feel your arms flail and your legs fly over your head and there's nothing you can do.

I remember walking home from high school and noticing a splat in the snow next to the sidewalk. I was cracking up as I got home and told my sister that I could totally see where someone bit the big one in the snow around the corner. She was like, "Hey! That was me."

Speaking of biting the big one, last winter I was walking across the church parking lot with Kitty in my arms and John holding my hand. I totally fell on ice covered in snow, Kitty bumped her head and John fell on top of me. We were kind of hurt. The sweet couple driving by at the same time backed up and asked if we were ok. There's nothing like walking into church with snow covering one side of your body. The whole thing traumatized poor John-- for months he would draw pictures of us falling on the ice and would make it pertain to his church lesson that week. For example, if the lesson was on being a peacemaker his picture would show him soothing us after we fell on the ice. Or if it was on obedience, his picture would show us walking carefully on the ice because I had told them to walk slowly.

The final memory I relived today was from a slick day in Provo. I was walking to class, with hundreds of my fellow Cougars, through a narrow construction zone on campus when suddenly the guy in front of me biffed it on the ice. I am so embarrassed to admit that I looked at him on the ground and just stepped over him and continued on my way... Who does that? I do.

My Best Girl

This is Katherine. She is our sweet three year old. Katherine is different from John in so many ways; they equalize each other so well. I don't know what I was expecting my children to be like-- they have both suprised me so much. Katherine has her own independent personality that I would never have guessed my own daughter would possess. She is a crack-up! Here is Kitty's list of attributes:

• She is very even tempered.
• She understands my sense of humor.
• She runs or skips everywhere.
• She wants to please.
• She is the only one in the family that cleans up after herself.
• She loves to sing.
• She loves to dance.
• She is better coordinated and agile than I ever was.
• She has a tender heart.
• She LOVES her daddy.
• She is a good friend.
• She is affectionate.
• She gives me a big hug and pats my back-- that's my favorite!
• She has a great imagination.
• She is social.
• She is bubbly.
• She loves her brother and would do anything for him.
• She sleeps with all 81 of her babies (ok, maybe a few less).
• She will eat anything, including sand and dog food.

Kitty is such a light in our home. She is a calming force that the rest of us need. She is so tender and loving, but witty and funny at the same time. She has an independent spirit and knows what she likes and dislikes. Kitty is my best, most cheerful helper.

My Favorite Boy

This is John, he my 5 year old Kindergartner. I decided to write about him today because sometimes I need to remind myself of how much my life has changed since he has been in it. These are the reasons I love John to bits and pieces:

• He tells it like it is.
• He won't put up with injustice.
• He sees the world in black and white.
• He has a thirst for knowledge.
• He is mechanically inclined.
• He is a quiet observer.
• He absorbs EVERYTHING in a split second.
• He wants to be just like his daddy-- even down to his socks.
• He tries so hard.
• He has a photographic sense of hearing (I don't know what you call it).
• He has his daddy's green eyes and dark lashes.
• He isn't afraid to stand up to others.
• His face lights up when he smiles.
• He know when to be proud of himself.
• He still wants to sit on my lap.
• He loves his sister.

Last week he spent A LOT of time in the Principal's office at school for one reason or another. I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown trying to figure out how to get him out of his slump. No one could figure out why he was having such a difficult time keeping it together. Yesterday when I picked him up from school he came running to me with a huge smile on his face and he said, "Mommy, I did it!!" He had made it through the entire day with minimal problems. There is no better feeling in the entire world than to share the joy of true accomplishment with your child.

I started a blog and it was okay...

So I have been toying with this blogging thing for a few months now and still haven't convinced myself to actually do it... I mean, who am I to think that anyone even cares what I am doing? My life is not so exciting that I feel like everyone needs to know about it. And why would anyone even care to read my ramblings on about nothing in particular? Oh well, maybe it's for me.

It kind of reminds me of one of my favorite cartoon books by Scott Dikkers, I Made Some Brownies and They Were Pretty Good, not to be out done by my other favorite in the same series, I Got a Job and It Was Okay. The books are a series of cartoons in the form of a journal, Jim's Journal to be exact. One of my favorite entries is when his friend dresses up as Pat Sajak for Halloween and the little drawing of his mask actually looks like Pat Sajak. I still laugh thinking of it!

So here is my blog if anyone cares...