What a Life

*I thought it was time to just do an update on my life. I'm a month into 2007 and approaching the big 51. That's seem so much older than 50. According to my brother who turns 60 next month, I shouldn't be complaining. It continues to be bone-chillingly cold although we are getting above zero during the day. Apparently, this is the colder winter in 34 years. I'm hating life and haven't even got the gas bill yet. My brother from Virginia visited this weekend and the family gathered at Mom's for dinner and birthday cake. We sang for my sister-in-law and me. And yes, we blew out all the candles. She's 58 but looks much younger than me. Today, some of the family drove to Salt Lake for a farewell lunch with Wayne. I know

Mom and Steve went but I'm not sure about the Weber's. I had to stay behind for a much needed root canal. Just after Christmas, I hurt my tooth eating candied popcorn and finally got around to getting it fixed. It's has been quite painful lately. The endodontist said the tooth is cracked and I'd better get a crown as soon as possible. That would be the 14th, the soonest my dentist can get me in. Sounds like I'm on soup and jello for a couple of weeks. At least this year's Valentine's

Day will be eventful. Tonight, we reviewed "The Goose Girl" by Shannon Hale in a Relief Society activity. I suggested it since I thought it was such a wonderful book. I know one family in which the grandmother, mother and 8-year-old daughter have all read it since we picked it the first of December. Actually, the daughter has read it two times along with a couple of Hale's other books. I think she will be a great book blogger someday. The book was a huge success with all ten ladies who attended. One had even visited Shannon Hale's website and printed off a quiz about this book. It's alarming how many details I'd forgotten since I read it in November. Next month we are reviewing "The Five Love Languages" and "Where the Heart Leads." (LDS Fiction) I went to Amazon to get used copies of each. There are several different "Love Languages", so I got the one for singles. Who knows where that may lead. Here's hoping things warm up in February. It's hard to turn the page when you're mummified in blankets.

Ten Things I Love that Start with "T"

I have seen this meme on a few other blogs so I asked to be assigned a letter. Thank heavens it wasn't "X", but "T" was great. Here we go in no particular order:

T*T*T*T*T*T*T*T

1. Technology -- I don't always understand how to work everything, but I love my computer, my car, TV, DVD, cell phone, medical advances, etc. I would make a lousy pioneer.
2. Time -- I sure wish I had an endless supply of this. I remember watching the movie, "Groundhog Day", and feeling so antsy at first, but later thinking how wonderful it would be to do all the things he was able to do by repeating the same day over and over. Just think how many books I could get read.
3. James Taylor -- I love to listen to James sing.
4. "Trinity" -- This book was written by Leon Uris and, along with "Exodus," is my favorite of his works. (I've read most of them) Conor Larkin is one of the most romantic male characters I've ever read. I think I fell in love with him when I read this in my early 20's. I may have to read it again although I've read it a few times already and it is a big book. Maybe when I'm in the mood for a good cry.
5. Trees -- What a barren waste the world would be without big, tall, leafy trees. I love to sit under one, listen to the breeze move through the leaves, and watch them turn bright, gorgeous colors in the fall.
6. Temples -- I love the feeling of peace I achieve each time I visit an LDS temple.
7. Thanksgiving -- My favorite holiday is the time I get to eat wonderful food and spend quality time with the family.
8. Theater -- There's nothing like attending a live production.
9. Tolerance -- Not of crime or cruelty, but of cultures and ideas. Wouldn't the world be a better place if we just tried to accept others who are different than we are?
10. Tolkien -- "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy have been among my favorites since I first read them in 8th grade. I sure wish I could get my set back from my daughter or daughter-in-law, whoever has them.

I actually came across a few "T" words of things that I hate that deserve a mention: trash, traffic, tempers, tambourines, and toupees.

NEW LYRICS

Last February, I celebrated my 50th birthday and a friend at work gave me a copy of this e-mail. I just ran across it and laughed again. So in honor of my upcoming 51st (gasp) birthday, I am sharing these profound sentiments with all of my blogging fans.

SOME OF THE ARTISTS OF THE 60'S ARE REVISING THE HITS WITH NEW LYRICS TO ACCOMMODATE US BABY BOOMERS. THEY INCLUDE:

1. Herman's Hermits - Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker

Wasn't Herman the cutest thing? Major crush

2, Bee Gees - How Can You Mend a Broken Hip?

3. Bobby Darin - Splish, Splash, I Was Having a Flash

4. Ringo Starr - I Get By With A Little Help From Depends

5. Roberta Flack - The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face

6. Johnny Nash - I Can't See Clearly Now

7. Paul Simon - Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver

8. Commodores - Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom

9. Marvin Gaye - Heard It Through the Grape Nuts

I love Grape Nuts

10. Proco Harem - A Whiter Shade of Hair

Only my hairdresser knows for sure

11. Leo Sayer - You Make Me Feel Like Nappping

12. The Temptations - Papa's Got a Kidney Stone

13. Abba - Denture Queen

14. Helen Reddy - I an Woman, Hear Me Snore

Does anyone watch Gray's Anatomy?

15. Tony Orlando - Knock 3 Times on the Ceiling if You Hear Me Fall

16. Willie Nelson - On the Commode Again

17. Leslie Gore - It's My Procedure and I'll Cry if I Want To

It had a good beat and you could really dance to it.

WE ARE GETTING OLDER, BUT ALSO BETTER, hopefully.

It is soooo cold. I know, I know, I live in Utah, what do I expect?? Still, we haven't been this cold for a long time. Friday, it snowed and snowed and snowed and snow....well, you get the picture. The storm was moving so slow that it just stayed right over Vernal and dumped its load all day. And the wind blew. That is not a normal weather phenomenon for this area. The wind blows a lot in the spring and summer but winter usually is breeze-free. After work, I braved the wind and went to Walmart for groceries. Then I had to plow through a drift to get into the carport. In the morning, I checked the themometer and saw a brisk ten degrees F. But the wind had died and the sun was shining. It was so pretty. Out I went to do my duty to the driveway. The drifts were hard to move, but luckily there were large patches the wind had blown clean. About halfway through, a neighborly neighbor stopped by to say he would come over to plow the snow, but I was in the groove and quite enjoying myself. Two hours later, I was finished and very warm. I can't believe it took that long, but I did a really good job and slowed down a lot at the end. When I went to bed that night, it was nine degrees F below 0. Brrrrrrr. But I have a nice down comforter and stayed toasty all night. I woke up to a cold (-11) foggy morning.I like the fog even when it is so cold. I love the way t coats the trees with frost and makes everything so quiet. Two hours later, the fog was gone but the frost still sparkled on the trees and bushes, sparkling in that cold winter sunshine. I liked to say that the cold snap has passed on. Unfortunately, today it was -21 first thing in the morning. What????? I'm staying inside playing with my warm computer and doing warm-up chores around the house. Tomorrow, it's back to work if I can get my car started. I've always thought living in Phoenix was over-rated, now I'm not so sure. The weatherman says it will be warming up this week to a balmy 4 degrees, so I'll try not to get too hasty and just enjoy the view while sitting in front of the window wrapped up in a cozy blanket with a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Cheers!

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Duchess Framed the Lush of Chignall Duntisbourne Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

A new blogger friend, TB , had this interesting website on her blog. I find my title to be quite fitting. BTW, Lush is short for lucious, not what some of you may mistakenly think.