Ode to Mom

Mom,

You taught me how to tie my shoes,

You hugged me when I had the blues.

You showed me how to put on hose.

You held me while I blew my nose.

You did so much to show you care,

You even took the time to brush my hair.

We made some crafty little things,

Do you remember those wooden earrings?

Back before we had dot com,

My friends said you were the prettiest mom.

Even then I knew I was proud,

Although I didn't say it out loud.

I appreciate all the things that you do,

I hope to someday be more like you.

So even though we're all away,

I wish you a Happy Mother's Day!

Love,

Mari

The time I was a vegetarian

Once upon a time, a few years ago, I decided that I wanted to be a vegetarian. I wasn't really a fan of red meat so I figured it would work... plus I just wanted to tell people I was a vegetarian.

I don't know why.

Anyway, about a week later I was thinking to myself, "You know, I should probably eat poultry. Chicken is good for you and it's not like it's a cow or anything. It barely even counts as meat!"

So I became a vegetarian who ate chicken. On rare occasions. When I could afford it. (I was a single, poor, college student at the time) That had a good run. I was feeling strong, healthy, proud of my new status as a pseudo-vegetarian when bam!

Junior Bacon Cheeseburger

*Sigh*

Thus ends The Time I was a Vegetarian.

Tagged

So I've gotten tagged a couple times lately and I thought it was about time I respond to them! So here goes.

Tag #1: The Bag Tag

In this tag you have to talk about your favorite bag and expose to the world everything that is in it... Without cleaning it out first, yikes!

Here goes.

This is my beloved bag. My mommy dearest got it for me for Christmas this year and I've used it everyday since then. I love it!! (Thank you mutha)

And here are the contents of that bag. I'm always surprised at all the things that can be squished into one little purse.

The main items are uh, miscellaneous trash, candy wrappers, a piece of candy (okay, I actually ate that piece before the picture was taken... oops) pens, checkbook, name tag from UMEA conference, bogus tickets to conference, lip gloss, 37 bobby pins (oh that's where they are!), and my trusty pitch pipe.

I seriously thought that doing this would at the very least get me to clean out my purse but no. I just stuffed everything back in just the way it was before.

Oh, and you may notice the lack of wallet in this mishmash. That's because it's in my backpack. Gotta love school!

Tag #2: Middle Name Tag

Now, I've got to describe myself using the letters of my middle name. Luckily it's a short one!

J-Joyous

E-Energetic/Eccentric

A-Antsy

N-Noisy

Okay! All done! Now I tag... pretty much anyone who wants to do this. Maybe if you do it you'll clean your purse... unlike me.

Lost keys anyone...?

They are always in the last place you look.

Yes, this would be the outside door of my apartment.

The notes went sour

When the seam split

So what is that magic word that will bring clarity to this crazy sentence???

Bagpipes

Cool Lesson

So just when I was getting used to the idea that the semester was over... I started summer classes. Yes, yesterday was the first day of classes, not even a week after my last final. Even though I'm not sure that I'm ready for school again so soon, it should be a good semester. One class that I think is going to be really interesting is my Educational Psychology course. We started off with a lesson on the schema theory which basically says that we learn new info by making connections to old info. Anyway, our teacher had a cool exercise to demonstrate how our students feel when we are trying to teach them something without activating prior knowledge. So I thought I would share.

The notes went sour

when the seam split

Makes no sense right? At least it made no sense to me when my teacher wrote it on the board. It just takes one word to activate your prior knowledge and bring clarity to this sentence and I will reveal that word.... Later. Yes, I will pull a Jessica (love you Jess!) and wait 'til everyone has had a chance to read this before I reveal the magic word. If you figure it out or already know the word (Rebekah...) don't tell!!

Oh, and one more thing!

The results from last semester are in and I got 11A's and one, yes ONE, lousy A-. Not bad I must admit even though that one little - will drive me crazy for a little while. So close... yet so far...

Cook-out

Today we had one of the most beautiful days so far this year so Tyson and I thought it would be fun to take Adam and Austin (they are staying with us temporarily) up in the canyon for a weenie roast!

Austin did an excellent job starting the fire.

It only took him two or three (hundred) tries to get the match lit. But once he got it the fire was roarin'!
We like to be called Ma and Pa Campy.

Adam was first to cook his hot dog.

Ma and Pa enjoying their delicious food. Corn on the cob, Yum!

The trident really works best for this type of cooking.

Pretty studly, eh?

The boys had a brilliant idea to start a hatchet throwing contest. The goal was to throw the hatchet into a log and A. actually hit the log and B. get it to stick.

Easier said than done.

It made me a little nervous but no one died or chopped off a hand so that made me happy.

I confess that even I got in on the action.

The best part was that Tyson and I were able to burn three years worth of junk mail. Everytime we plan a cook out we say we're going to bring the mail... and then we forget and it just continues to pile up next to the bed. 20 lbs later... well, you get the picture.

All in all, it was a great evening. Hope you all get a chance to have a campfire of your own!