Beneath the Wraps

Today is Valentines' Day.   Bah.   I think I was single for so long that I just don't get overly excited about the holiday.   I received Valentines in school.   I would have received less except for it was mandatory to give one to each class mate. I had a two week assignment to fill in for one of the educational aids. Yesterday was supposed to be my last day, but I called in sick. I do feel better today than yesterday.   I wasn't scheduled but do have the opportunity to sub at another school but think I should do with one day of rest as I have been scheduled to work for tomorrow. I listened to the other aides ragging on Valentine's Day and agreed with most of their comments. There was one who had gotten married on Valentine's Day. She and her husband chose that day so that they would not forget their anniversary. It was fun to discover through Jenna's eyes when she was younger, b...

It appears that I missed posting a dash last week, and so I will post an extra one for this week.                It's hard to say who my first best friend was or how for how many years we were in touch.   There are several photos that were in my mother's possession and now in Corey's which indicate that our yard seemed to be a hang-out for many children.   Mom has pictures of some of the older kids as well as those that were my age and number.   There is one of me holding hands with Daniel and Brian, several in which I am with David or Mike and Scott.   I only remember one of me, David, Brian and Jeri.   Many party photos.   Though there was a wide variety of children to play with, I would have to say my best friend at that time was probably Daniel Bird from across the street.             At that time Daniel had three brothers a...

Diamonds are measured in  carats , but carrots are measured in pounds. I saw that the maid made the beds. I saw several rows of rose bushes. You won the game which makes you number one . I prefer to write with my right hand. I just heard that my favorite band has been banned from the club . I pour the medicated liquid into my hands and splash my pore s for now   but I am too poor to afford to purchase the product. I am going to the store to purchase two loaves of bread as I think that three will be too many. Please tell me a tale about a Eyore losing his  tail . It's time for me to add the thyme to my recipe. My neighbor borrowed my wok .   Will you walk to our neighbor's house and get it? I am going by the store.   Would you like me to buy something?   I am leaving now.   Good- bye . Did you just say "good- bye " or "good buy "? For more homonyms, this is a fun book wit...

   It seems the answer to this question would define her dash more than my own.  But here goes:         I may have mentioned before that when I lived in Kearns, the residents were given the option of purchasing a can for recycling. At that time, we had a household of five and then six.  Our trash can was ALWAYS full – often the day AFTER garbage day.  As our family needed the extra space, I opted to receive (and pay for) the can.  Two years the purchase of a recycled can was no longer an option.  Everyone received cans – only the mandatory cans were smaller than the initial one I had purchased (or leased rather).           I tried to be conscience of recycling products, but wasn’t a fanatic about it.   I would sometimes get on the case of my boys or husband (who still hasn't grasped the concept) annoyed that they couldn't get it, but even Jenna had...

                I remember when I was a youth, our ward had made it the responsibility of the Aaronic Priesthood to bring the bread.   They rotated among Deacons, Teachers and Priests - at least I think that's how it was.   I might not have even thought about it, but I remember several times when my brother Patrick would announce that it was his turn to bring the bread.   I don't know if this was really a ward thing or if it happened in every church at that time or when it changed or if it changed.   I don't hold the priesthood myself.                 I don't know who was responsible for bringing the bread during my married years.   I don't think it was the Aaronic priesthood however as I don't recall being in the position of bringing bread - which we would have done almost weekly as our boys made up 60% of...

             When it was announced that church meetings would be cut back to only two hours on Sunday so that the third hour could be spend with families, neither Jenna nor I believed it would last.   It has been left up to each family or individual to study the "Come Follow Me" program to prepare for the following Sunday.   I could hear Jenna's moans - wishing that would happen but predicting that it would not.                 Like many New Year's Resolutions, there is diligence within the first month, perhaps a couple, but then we start to taper off from what we started and had every intention of keeping.   Jenna and I have been pretty good about going over the manual first thing when we get home.   She stops me and asks lots of questions or rewords the message (or scripture) according to her own understanding.   During the ...

2nd grade reading           chapter books           Journeys - first story Jess makes gifts           story goes that she makes           homemade gifts for her mom                                       her brother Mike, and Gram. Last paragraph mentions a Jane           a Jane that was never mentioned                                       before Type-O? 1st group reading ...

                I saw a boy with a "Fly Guy" book and smiled as I thought about Jenna's desire to read the book back in 2007 or 2008 (Tedd Arnold has written the "Fly Guy" series since 2005 here .           When Jenna and I read books together, we would take turns doing the voices of different characters.   I think it was a bird that had made accusations against "fly guy" specifically saying, "You Ate My Road Kill".   Jenna thought that was the most hilarious thing.   She would have me say it for many years.             "Do the voice, mommy," she requested.           I would screech in a high pitched voice, "You Ate My Road Kill".             She would laugh and laugh and request that I do it a...

I attended the webinar lecture though my mind wasn't as present as my body. Not as though I was seriously in the mood anyway There were too many sounds drowning out the lecture First of all, my instructor had a sore throat.  He didn't quite sound like Darth Vader throughout the entire lecture There was no wheezing - but a lot of deep throat My neighbor's acoustics were going and the sirens from fire department started wailing loudly. One of my classmate forgot she had turned on her mike  and failed to turn it off before she attempted to discipline children making noise in background. My instructor finally muted her and kept referring to the time which made me laugh as he seemed more anxious to finish the lecture than I was.  I should have left the lecture earlier I suppose. I really didn't get anything out of it.

The weather is so much different this year as opposed to the year we moved in.  The temperatures were warm but not hot.  Spring had come early.  I was astounded at the amount of "spring" growth and took lots of pictures.  What awesomeness. This year the fog lingers longer. The skies are grey and murky and the temperature has been uninviting.  Bundle up.  I mean, I guess that is what I was doing in Utah.  I don't want Oregon to experience Salt Lake weather! It snowed yesterday morning for only five minutes or so.  Big thick flacks that didn't stick. School was not cancelled though some of the buses may have been delayed.  It wasn't for two hours though. It seems laughable to me when the schools are closed or buses are delayed when there are less than four inches of snow. The snow is not the primary concern however. It is when the roads are wet and slick and iced over....

If ever I should see the word "tear" by itself, I think of the word that rhymes with ear (or "tir) meaning "what falls from my eye" - probably because I produce a lot of them.   But the word "tear" also rhymes with air (or "ter") which means to rip or a hole.   According to  this  site  the word "tear" is a homograph or hetronym.   That is it is spelled the same, in some cases is pronounced the same, but has different meanings.           I had explored five dictionary sites.   Cambridge was the only one of the five that listed t-ear (tir) first.   The definition provided was "a drop of salty liquid that flows from the eye due to pain or emotion".           Though all five dictionaries listed similar definitions, each of the others started there definitions with t-air (ter): Google:           ...

What trophies, medals, awards and certificates have you earned throughout your life?   How many have you kept?           Well this post ought to be short and sweet.           I think I was in the fourth grade when I was called to the main office to have my picture taken as student of the month.   I don't know what happened to the photo or certificate.   I do not remember retrieving it from the box of treasures that mom had saved.           I had ribbons from seminary here and ribbons for my targeteer flag here .           I won a glass bowling pin filled with m&m's.   It was my "gutter ball" trophy.   Not that it's cool to boast that I had the most gutter balls of anyone who joined the league.   It was cute though.   And I enjoyed the m&m's....