Christmas Cheer

Well, white mothers, it seems that we have become horrible bloggers during the holiday break. Funny, that's when the majority of us should have time. :) I'm sitting at home, trying to get some things done before I head back down. I start teaching next week, and I'm not even close to being ready. I have enjoyed wearing pajamas this late in the day, and it's going to be quite the struggle to get used to getting ready.

Christmas has been fairly uneventful. My family came home, I saw my nieces and nephews, I've tried to sleep, etc. I am about to prepare for a long grading stretch by going downstairs and watching the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice. Six hours should be enough to carry me through. My parents are back from China, and my mom brought back random gifts, including Muslim hats for all the grandchildren. I think that means we're converting. All in all, it's been a nice vacation.

However, I am wondering how all the mothers are.

just like the good 'ol days

Whitney, the only thing missing was you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!

you were right about the stars

I can't believe I get to see you all again in less than two weeks! Yesterday as I walked along the beach of Barcleona, I couldn't help but feel a little depressed to know that in two weeks I'd be sitting in a chapel in Fruit Heights, with my parents, at their branch. Their ward got split and their section of new houses got made into a branch. Isn't that strange? A branch in suburban salt lake. Yep. And in two weeks I can tell you all about it.

Barcelona was so neat. It is one of the cities in Europe that I can actually see myself living in - it's fun, young, big, colorful. It is hard to believe I was even there - we woke up at 3 am to leave on Saturday morning and got back around midnight on Sunday. It was a whirlwind tour, and one of the highlights was that we just happened to be there for Primavera Rock '06 - a big two-day rock festival with over 20 bands and music all day and night. We just got tickets to the mainstage for one night and got to see Cat Power and Jeff Tweety (solo) of Wilco. Amazing. Pure amazingness. You probably remember the CD that that one boy made me, the one that was on constant rotation in our kitchen for most of fall semester. The Song How To Fight Loneliness - yeah, that's Wilco. Love it. Even with the bittersweet memories attached. We also discovered Laura Veirs. Pretty cool.

Oh, and since my birthday is on Friday I've decided to make it a week-long celebration. Please give me some suggestions about how to celebrate each day.

I hope you all are staying warm!

Brrrr...

So, I walked out to my car this morning at 8am. It was 9 degrees outside. Brrr.

making plans

Ok, so I found the dress. But how should I do my hair? And if anyone has suggestions for a groom... I guess that would be helpful, too.

Update...

Ummm...it's snowing.

it feels like home to me

Sometimes I wonder if certain places will retain their homey feel forever, regardless of how long ago you left them behind. When I think about places like Virginia, Oregon, and even Utah, it's hard to say that they feel like anything but a little piece of home.

A few days ago I was thinking about my house in Virginia and imagining who must be living there now. I was trying to imagine who inherited my bedroom, what color (if any) it has been painted, who is enjoying my newly renovated bathroom, if the kids like running and sliding in socks on the wood floors as much as I did, etc. I played out the whole scene in my mind, when a sudden flash came to my memory. In my closet there was a small panel of the side wall that could be removed, revealing the studs and space between walls. In that small opening, there happened to be a ledge just beneath it where I once placed a letter I wrote to myself several years ago. I'm sure it must have contained the deepest, darkest secrets of my 15 or 16 year old self. The things you think of months after moving out... So more than wondering if the wood floors are still as slippery, I can't help but imagine who must have discovered my letter.

Women and Goats

"A son will always be a son, they say. But a girl is like a goat. Good as long as she gives you milk and butter. But not worth crying over when it's time to make a stew."

This is a quote from a book that I recently finished reading. The book is Sold by Patricia McCormick. It has gotten quite a bit of publicity since it came out because it is an adolescent book that tells the story of a young girl in Nepal who is sold by her stepfather to work in a brothel in the red light district of Calcutta. The author spent a lot of time studying the topic and interviewing people in Nepal and India before writing the book. I would definitely recommend that you read it. I guess it just paints a picture of what we talked about so many times last year when I would talk to you all about trafficking in India, and other such topics!

This is a blog entry with a purpose. I have decided that since I don't really get the opportunity to share things like this with you anymore, there are a few things that I thought you might like to know about that are happening worldwide that have to do with women. Just a couple of little updates to keep everyone up on the current news.

Pakistan: Pakistan has taken a step in the right direction in trying to amend it hudood laws. These are the infamous laws that deal with rape in Pakistan. Currently, a woman must have four witnesses before a man can be convicted of raping her. If these witnesses cannot be found, the woman can be found guilty of adultery and suffer the consequences of that. The new revision of the laws allows rape to be taken into the criminal court (not just religious court) where the punishment can be decided by a judge. It also reduces the punishment for adultery to 5 years in prison or a $165 fine. Mind you, these revisions still need to be approved by the legislators. Many Muslim policy-makers walked out because they were so upset at these changes. On the other had, many groups are upset that the laws are not being totally eradicated instead of just reformed. Either way, at least it is something! I hope that it shows some positive movement in the right direction. Here is a link to a BBC article on the subject if you are at all interested (which I hope you are!), http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6153994.stm

The next piece of information is regarding the company Nestle. I actually saw a little article about this in the BYU Political Review, which I thought was so great (written by a guy, no less)! In LDCs (lesser-developed countries) around the world, Nestle has been running huge marketing campaigns regarding its breast milk substitutes. Apparently, women's increased us of these breast-milk substitutes are causing increased infant deaths. In these countries, the only water available for women to mix into these substitutes is incredibly unhealthy and causes more disease and death. Through these add campaigns, women are led to believe that formula is healthier than breastmilk. The problem is that formula is so expensive that women dilute it more than they are supposed to and so the babies do not get the nutrients that they need, anyway. Also, the families tend to suffer because they have to spend so much money on formula that they can't afford as much food for the rest of the family. In some countries, Nestle provides a free gift package of 4 days of formula for new mothers that they use in the hospital. Apparently, by the time they get home, these mothers can no longer breastfeed, and, not knowing how to induce lactation again, they end up being compelled to buy formula that they can't afford.

Anyways, ladies, I just wanted to give you some food for thought. Feel free to read up on any of it if you are so inclined. I love you ladies and am excited that we will be reunited in about a month!

Frosted Windows

Ok, so I figured that this is the best format to relay information to all of my four white mothers. I don't really know if you want to know all of this, but it's an important step in my emotional development. Are you ready? :)

Last week, we (as in boy and I) got back from a concert, and there were no parking spaces below. I moaned about having to scrape my windows in the morning because I would have to park in the back. He laughed.

Well, come morning I walked out to my car only to find that all of the windows have already been scrapped. I smiled and thought, "Wow, I'm dating someone wonderful." I then drove to school and later sent an email to all of my sisters explaining that I was now dating someone. I made it vocal (or as vocal as internet can be). This is a huge step for me. I voluntarily offered the information whereas I typically allow people to pry it out of me.

All in all, I'm good. :)

cinquain for late autumn

sometimes
i remember
how warm the winters were
as we dimmed all lights but christmas
and i

want to
curl up in those
moments forever with
jenny, joanna, and whitney
my girls

ON THIS DAY...(PART II)

So, since Sarah was so sweet as to let us know what happened on this day in history, I thought I would add my own little play-by-play. On this day, November 8, 2006, I got up and went to the dentist. Once at the dentist, I received the joyful news that I needed ANOTHER root canal! Apparently the filling that I got a week ago was too deep and was touching the nerve, which has been the reason for all of the pain I had been experiencing up to this point. At this point, I was really feeling that I should just do these things myself, since the problem apparently wasn't being taken care of (hence, the kit above). I also had the opportunity to see a lot of x-rays and feel a lot of digging around in my teeth.

After leaving the office with the numbness wearing off into pain, the assistant said, so sweetly, "I hope we got the right tooth so that you don't have any more of that pain!" Well, thanks for the optimism! I am being unnecessarily rude; the assistant really was nice during the whole ordeal.
So, the plan for my GRE tomorrow is to sit in a room (like the one shown, but with computers and not so many males), and hopefully not feel ANYTHING coming from my mouth. Oh well, I can always take it again, right?

Luckily, even though I am not attending classes again today to my own detriment, I am excited for my birthday "event" tonight. Apparently, it is the first-ever BYU spelling bee. Jenny is taking me for my birthday. Does it get any better than that? I don't think so! I do have to say, though, that things really are going fairly well. I can't believe I am 25! When did that happen? Watch out - it just sneaks up on you! I love you girls!

On This Day...

There are some things you probably don't know about November 8th. So much good (and maybe some bad, too) has happened historically on this day. Here are some of the highlights:

• 1576 - Pacification of Ghent - ok I don't really remember what that means, but Ghent is like 40 minutes from my house!
• 1674 - John Milton dies - had to throw the english major in there somewhere
• 1793 - The Louvre opens to the public as a museum -- aren't we all thankful?
• 1864 - Abraham Lincoln is re-elected -- if only we had leaders like him today
• 1889 - Montana is admitted as a the 41st state -- eh, why not?
• 1965 - Days of Our Lives debuts on NBC - how did such a show last so long?
• 1971 - Led Zeppelin IV is released - aww yeah
• 1974 - Carol DaRonch narrowly escapes abduction by serial killer Ted Bundy in SLC - random, but somewhat local
• 1978 - Norman Rockwell dies - oh, sad
• 1981 - Joanna London is born - oh happy day!
• 1994 - for the first time in 40 years the Republican Party takes control of the House and the Senate - and then lost it again 12 years later...
• 2006 - Jo celebrates 25 years of coolness! - wahoo - finally you can rent a car!!!

Happy Birthday, Jo!

Call me the rubberband...

...that lost its elasticity for a bit. However, after fierce reprimands from Joanna about not being a diligent ex-roomie, I am sacrificing lunch with the faculty to post a blog. "I assure you the pain is not acute." I'd rather write anyway. So far life is good. My students are well-behaved today, which is quite the departure from yesterday. I was dealing with a pack of howler monkeys. At one point I debated leaving the room, so I could just breathe and not scream. I didn't scream, but I stood there for about thirty seconds, collecting my dignity before I actually just started to laugh. That freaked them out even more, and they started laughing too. It seemed to help the mood quite a bit.

On the non-teaching side of things, I want to concur with Jo-Bo by saying that HBW is the dating machine we all knew she would be. Honestly. She can not even REMOTELY deny it anymore, and there are two witnesses to prove it. She's hot. We all knew that. As for me, the tall young man is great. However, I refuse to publish things like this over the internet, so ask me in person for details.

Jo and I can't wait for December when we can all be reunited. By the way, when do you get home, Sarita? We are trying to plan out amazing slumber party, complete with Oreos, milk, movies, and laughter. (That just sounded like the back of some really lame/cheesy book.) The sentiment is sincere. And I do miss the Oreos...

Boo.

Jo! I loved the Halloween update! Those pictures were fab - you girls are as hot as ever. :) As you can read on my blog, my halloween started slow and ended fab. Luckily my roommate and I were both bound and determined not to let it go to pot -- even if we weren't going to have trick-or-treaters, candles to light our pumpkins, or a barn dance. I'd say we did pretty well for ourselves. I tried to post my favortie from our dance party, but blogger isn't letting me. Oh, and I'm sure you all have heard of okgo, but have you seen their videos? I have been watching them pretty frequently since this summer, whenever I want some quick entertainment.

Halloween

Well, my dear Sarah, it seems that you and I are the only true bloggers on this site. I therefore take it upon myself to give you a Halloween update. We had the most amazing ward party on Saturday night. Whitney went with a group that dressed up as Captain Planet and the Planeteers. I think that she looks incredibly hot with her blond wig and her passion for saving the world. It definitely made me want to recycle more often.

Jenny and I went with a group of people and we were... Evolution. We had six stages - a fish, lizard, raccoon, monkey, cavewoman, and modern (or not-so-modern) man at the end. It really was a big hit.

If you are wondering who the tall young man in the brown on the end is, you will have to ask Jenny! Anyway, both of our groups won prizes ($10 Best Buy certificates to divide between us - yay! $2 a person!). The actual dance and part was held in a barn, which added a nice aroma to the whole affair. Well, that is pretty much it. Oh yeah, HBW is definitely a dating maniac, though she will try to deny it for all she's worth. We are all jealous of her dating prowess; she has at least three guys eating out of her hand as we speak. Well, now that both Jenny and Whitney are going to be mad at me for including certain things in this blog, I will sign off. I figure that if you don't add to the blog, you can't be picky about what is included in the entries! Ha!

live to the point of tears

Happy Halloween, my loves!

I tried to give my full attention in order to keep it alive. Then I got scared that I was smothering, so I pulled away a bit to give all parties some room to breathe. But neither approach has seemed successful and I fear that our blog, like worn-out love, is gasping for air in order to survive. Obviously I am like the party from Mars who, in typical rubberband style, pulled away only to snap back. I only hope that you can join me. Please do not let go of this. We had something so beautiful. I'm not sure I can sit back and watch another relationship die this Halloween, especially electronically. Ha ha ha! I'm so glad I can laugh at that now. :)

I'm a cowgirl, what are you girls? If I were home right now, I'd put in the Scissor Sisters CD and have a dance party in the kitchen to "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" while one of us made dinner.

Love you all to pieces!

What are you waiting for?

Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky his is to have you.... The one who turns to his friends and says, "that's her."

That's what we're waiting for.

Simple Pleasures

The other day I was waiting for the metro in Rotterdam when I burst into a huge smile and started laughing. It was because of you! For as adventurous as life can be, sometimes I just snuggle into the memories of coming home on a gray autumn afternoon to find one of the 4WMs curled up on the couch, napping beneath the fleece blanket.

Back from the Dead

I have not died. However, I did forget both my username and password. I have recently recovered both. :) Although I have not blogged on for a long time, I have not forgotten my lovely white mothers. Jo and I constantly talk about what we are going to do when we are all reunited in December. I can't wait.

Teaching is going well. Every now and then my students say funny things like, "Dude, that ain't no normal word" and things like that. I find my students very amusing. This is a good thing--I enjoy my job. The next major decision that I have to make concerns where I will be come December. So far, I have no idea. I'll keep you posted. Sarah, we miss you.

Friday the 13th

Did you know it is Friday the Thirteenth? I hadn't anticipated this at all, but that's what the calendar says.

A series of emails have led me to discover that if I had made slight adjustments in the choices I made within the past six months I would definitely have a full-time job as an account executive at an ad agency in Portland or as an account planner at an ad agency in New York. But I guess if I had made those choices differently, I certainly wouldn't be in Europe. To make either of those possibilites a reality in the future could quite possibly require... another internship.

Unless Whitney and Jenny post something this weekend, I'm going to assume (sadly) that they have abandoned the blog.

Otherwise the moment just...

Passes you by.

Such is the wisdom of Julia Roberts and her best friend in My Best Friend's Wedding. I think I've understood the application of it more in recent weeks. Not because I've had the opportunity to profess my love to someone and haven't. It's because I've thought back on things I've missed while delibirating about timing and chemistry. So often it seems as though we see the present through a sheet of wax paper. Why is it that things only become clear in retrospect?

Recording Gone Awry

I was recording a rough version of I Will Follow You Into the Dark when Jo started talking to me on gtalk and then my roommate rang the bell for me to buzz her up from her run. It is probably more entertaining this way than it would be if I had actually done a decent recording. Enjoy!

Africa...again

So, I decided to put some random pictures of Africa on here since our blog is looking a little sad lately. Maybe this will motivate certain white mothers to blog themselves!

Murphy's Law

Why is it that when things start going well, you suddenly have this ache in one of your molars and you realize that you don't have dental insurance?

Another day and another opportunity to deal with life...

So, as I woke up today to my alarm at 7:45, I thought to myself, "Why do I have to get up? I don't have class until 1:30! I then proceeded to snooze until 8:30, and then I finally turned off my alarm and decided to sleep forever. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I woke up at 9:10 just about having a heart attack because of all the things that I need to be working on. So of course my logic is to post a blog instead of actually working on those things! Do you know what I have come to resent lately? Deadlines. Deadlines that are much too close because we either forgot about them or put them off until they become the reason that we don't want to get out of bed in the morning. Now if I was Sarah and was good with 4-5 hours of sleep a night, I would be loving life right now. Since I'm not, things just seem to keep piling up. Do you know what a pain it is to research graduate schools? I get resentful when I talk to people that already have their personal statements done and just need their recommendations to send in the application. Sheesh! Well, now that I am getting fairly anxious about my deadlines, I will go. I just wanted to say hi and try to send a little of my indecision and anxiety to you all with the best of love! Just kidding, I am really fine. Just need to get moving! Love you!

I'd Like To Confirm

That even in Europe, life is just life. And that's ok.

Yesterday while I was running, I thought of how funny it is that life puts you in certain situations where you get to learn and do and love things and people that you might not otherwise. And then I thought of what a silly thought that was, because.... who would you love, what would you do, what would you learn otherwise? Otherwise? I've decided that "otherwise" may not even exist. I think that is what it's all about. The randomosity of it all, learning and living and loving (and blogging about?!) whatever comes your way.

Waking Up

Do you ever have a moment of realization that something in your past was a lot better or a lot worse than you've ever understood or admited before? It's taken almost a year, but today was one of those days for me. I don't think I've ever been treated with such cruelty.

fall, my favorite

Isn't fall such a fabulous season? Every time it comes around I am reminded of why it's my favorite (though spring is a close second). I don't know what it is, but something about fall makes me want to wear wool, write on some bright orange stationary, collect leaves, puddle jump, bake pumpkin spice bread or a rustic apple tart, plant some mums, go on a hike, carve a pumpkin, and make chai tea, just for the spicy smell of it. Although summer is traditionally the season for lovin, I really think it's a much more romantic ideal to fall in love in the fall. If I haven't convinced you of fall's greatness, all I can say is go outside and soak it all in for yourself. Or do a few things on my list. Then you'll love fall too.

It was so good to talk with all of you last night, even though our time was way too short. You all have got to get Skype, or get a friend who has it, so we can talk. Even a calling card is way too expensive, since I only have a cell phone here. My mom paid $20 for 83 minutes yesterday. Yeesh. But I'm really feeling the distance and I don't think I'll survive without some communication with my dearest of four white mothers.

So, as I'm sure Jo informed the rest of you, we have a "situation" here across the pond. Really though, any thoughts? If things go where they look like they are going, this could be a long and lonely few months.

I've decided that I need to dedicate myself to something while I'm here so I can feel like I accomplished more at the end of 4 months that merely living and in a foreign country and traveling around a bit. So I've decided to start training for a half marathon. Thanks to nikerunning.com I have a great place plan daily workouts and track my progress to get down to a specific time for the race. I don't really know which race that will be -- I have a feeling that for some reason January is not the best month for finding a half-marathon to run. But I'm excited to have something to work towards and do with my free-time in the evenings.

If you haven't noticed, my blog is in pretty poor shape as far as updates go. As soon as the internet gets installed in my apartment I'll be all over it. I've got lots of photos to post!

I love you girls!

Missing you back!

You have no idea how much we miss you as well, Sarah! We were just talking about you last night and the three of us are all in agreement that we want you here with us! Okay, we know that this is an amazing opportunity, but we still miss you. Life here on campus is full of new classes, friends, stress, and...freshman (including my little brother). Kind of weird and annoying at the moment until everything settles down and isn't quite so giddy. Stats and Econ are going to be difficult and time-consuming, Geography is entertaining so far, and Bookbinding will be so fun (though expensive)! Otherwise, there isn't too much else going on. We still don't have our 4th roomate, and Jenny is particularly bitter about that since she had to move out. Oh well! Hope you are loving Belgium!

You Have No Idea

How much I miss you...

Bonjour mes amies!

Girls, I feel so out of touch... You have no idea how scandalously I miss you all. Ok, perhaps scandalously is the wrong choice of adverb - but I do miss you... a lot.

I hope you are all having a great vacation weekend. There is no such thing as Labor Day in Belgium (especially when you are working for Israeli's, I might add -- they tend to work very, very hard)... I can't complain though, I did spend the day bicycling through Bruges, eating waffles, chocolates, and exploring beautiful old cathedrals to discover one of the only Michaelangeo's outside of Italy. Come visit.

No More Teacher, No More Books

Ok, so I won't be hearing that chant until at least May. :) I am sitting in my classroom, contemplating my new "kids". The hardest part about this is that...I really like it. For some reason, I thought that I would be kicking and screaming to get back to graduate school, but I am enjoying my time as a working woman. My students are funny and energetic. Already I know that some of them have sad, hard lives. And some have happy, careful lives with loving parents, warm beds, and family dinners. Some have had to sell all they own to help a mother in need. Some want to be marine biologists or NFL players or eye surgeons or musicians. Their candid nature makes me smile, even when I've asked the same kid five times to raise his hand before blurting out an answer. I've discovered that middle schoolers are surprisingly insightful. Despite the chains and black t-shirts that some of my students sport, they are still under 5' 3" and they become so concerned when they think they will be late. Even the punkiest of students becomes affable when you kneel by their desk to help.

On My Way

You all must be settled back in to Provo. You know it's funny, but sometimes I miss it. I'm anxious to get the updates from everyone!!!

I leave in a few hours for Brussels. I am loving Prague -- it's just so beautiful! I have been so incredibly taken care of here and until today had spent a total of 400 koruny. That's roughly $19, which is incredible for more than 3 days in a European country. People have made me food, given me a place to stay, tango lessons (oh la la!) and I just feel really lucky. When I got here I took 2000 koruny out of the bank, not knowing what to expect. So today, I got rid of most of the otherwise useless money. Among other things, I was inspired by Jenne's crystal balls hanging in her window. (I'm staying Jenne's flat) They create wonderful rainbows all over her room when the sun goes down and they refract all that beautiful (and rare) Czech sunlight. So how am I going to remember Prague? With my own room full of rainbows.

The "Chunk" is "In"

The other morning as I was leaving for work, my older sister (who is visiting right now with her two kids) enlightened me with some very interesting information. She said, "So Whitney, apparently the 'chunk' is 'in'..." The chunk is in? I had no idea what she was talking about, so she explained. The new scoop in Hollywood is that the metrosexual is out, and the "retrosexual" is in - a.k.a. "the chunk." I was so intrigued and so she continued. It is not in fashion anymore to be with guys who spend more time on their hair than you do. Instead, women want men who don't have the washboard stomach but the...well...chunk. She was excited about this news release since she has always been attracted to umm...let's just say pudgier guys. I stated that I don't know if I am as attracted when the guys fall into the pudgy category, but I am all about the chunk. This one article I read perfectly described the metro and the retro, and I found that I agreed with a lot of what it said. No woman wants some wussy boy who gets rid of more body hair than you do and isn't ever interested in watching a good sports game every once and a while. At least I don't. I want a man, but not just any man - a manly man. A man that will give you a "hot, sweaty kiss" when he's covered in grease from working on the car. And as for the chunk...well...I do find it endearing. Here is the example of the retrosexual that I found most attractive:

I don't know if all the other white mothers will agree with me on this issue, but I know at least one other white mother that will definitely agree. Let's face it girls...the chunk can be hot.

Somewhere In Middle America

So, on Friday night my sister took me to the Winter Quarters visitor's center. It's great, for those of you who haven't been. I was sure surprised to find that Sister Andrus was our tour guide! :)

A Response, A Quandary, and A Useful Device

Response:

Yes, sometimes we (I) are (am) awfully vague in blogging. It becomes necessary at certain times... you know, to protect the innocent... like me!

Quandary:

Have you ever noticed that modernity has only really attempted to make strides artistically by resisting and rejecting all of the norms and conventions established throughout history? Take a modern art class, listen to a Radiohead album, stroll through a wing of the MoMA, or read some contemporary poetry and you'll know what I'm talking about. I'm sure you do know what I'm talking about. We have accepted urinals and blank canvases as art. We have spent millions of dollars supporting ambient noise as the new cool in the music world. We see profound meaning in words that don't fit and are grammatically incorrectly strung together.

And yet.

I don't have a problem with it. I believe that rejection of orthodoxy is not only positive at times, but also a necessary step in progression. It keeps things interesting. My concern comes in when what we accept as art jumps off the Barnes & Noble shelves, the galleries and the CD collections and into our personal interactions with each other. Not even personal interactions. Business interactions. Professional ones.

I recently received an email from a former employer that was written without a single capital letter. Am I justified in my disgust?

I thought so.

A Useful Device:

Have you ever been in a situation where you wished your cell phone would ring? Maybe you wanted to look extra important or popular on a social outing. Or maybe you just needed an excuse to escape from an unpleasant one. That is the idea that inspired Popularity Dialer. With 5 pre-programmed conversations, you choose who you want to have call (man, woman, cousin), the date, and time. The first five calls are free. Try it. You'll like it.

New goal for the four white mothers? Use the Popularity Dialer at least once in the next month. Then blog about your tales.

P.S.

What ever happened to the apartment sweater?

Vagueness of Blogging

I do have to say that after that incredibly cryptic blog, I am totally curious. I am now in California. Last night was my last night with Jenny in my room - sad. Anyways, I am serious about being totally curious about that last blog. You can't just leave things like that and not let white mothers know what is going on! By the way, I think rocking our launchets should be our new key phrase. Goal for the four white mothers: try to enter "rocking the launchet" or "rocking my/your launchet" into a conversation at least once this week. Love you all! Oh, and PS - California is great!

Rocking my Launchets as Implicitly Implied

My Darlings...

I have become the weakest blogger. I need to find more fascination in the daily soup (hey, that's the name of a cute little cafe in New York) of life and not break into writers withdrawal every time life slows down a bit.

Well, I'm sure you were all just as curious as me -- but the status of my fated "real world" subjects has returned to normal after two painful weeks of singleness and they apparently are back in a relationship. See, I knew you'd want to know. Hope has returned to my heart.

Do you ever look around and wonder what this whole thing is all about? And by "whole thing" I mean the whole she-bang: life, love, work... I don't mean to launch into a philosophical debate on a blog post -- I'll save my launching for rockets -- but really. We grow up and live normal lives and get normal jobs and marry ordinary people and fret and worry ourselves to death over whether we are good parents so we can have have normal kids that will grow up and do the same thing. Lather, rinse, repeat. Doesn't it all just seem too simple sometimes? You can say it, I'm officially going nuts.

Perhaps I am going nuts for good reason. I am, after all, leaving the country in exactly one week. I have so much to do before then. So much to do that I almost want to just throw my hands up and let it all fall to the ground however it will. Sometimes things work out better that way.

Warning Sign just came on my iTunes. I love this song. A year ago today I saw Coldplay in concert. They were amazing.

I'm in Omaha. Did you know that? It is such a great place, I think. I would definitely not be opposed to living here in the great state of Nebraska. But only after I have a family. I'm not feeling much of the singles vibe here.

Yeah the truth is
I miss you

We all need to promise to continue faithful to the blog for as long as the sun and the moon shall endure. While three white mothers will remain in close proximity, the fourth will probably not even be in cell phone range.
I miss you so And I'm tired I should not have let you go

Do you ever see yourself doing something and just wonder why you keep doing it? WHY? And I don't mean the impulsive things, I mean the calculated, thought out ones. Like writing a lengthy email. Why?

I love you girls. If this weren't a blog, we wouldn't have to be so vague.

I have noticed a dearth of posts from our group of white mothers, and I thought that I should rectify that. I worry that the blogging tendencies of our group will die, and we will never keep in contact! Particularly with one of us going to Europe, communication will become much more difficult. As I sit here in my usual place (SWKT computer lab), I can't help but think how quickly this summer has passed by. My last calculus class was today, and I leave on Thursday to go home for a while. Was I really in Africa 7 weeks and 4 days ago? As I look forward to lazy days in the California upper-70, lower-80 degree weather, think of days spent in the spa with my niece and nephews, with only relaxation and (hopefully) some shopping (sponsored by parents!), I think how much time changes things. Weird, huh? I'm going to stop now, because I always feel like I come across sounding superficial when I wax poetic. Here are a few random events from my life lately that I would mention to all of you if you were here:

Apparently I am having speech problems lately, and for some reason they tend to come out most often when I am talking to Ben from Log Cabin (of course it happens with Ben because he would totally notice and bug me about it! The latest one was at the Stake Activity on Friday when I asked Ben, referring to the rocket launcher, "So, have you rocked any launchets yet?" Definitely a shining moment for my vocabulary!

So, on Saturday night we were at a campfire up in the canyon with some of the ward when Austin, a kid that has been here for the summer, asked me, "Are you a feminist?" Where did that come from??? We weren't even talking about anything closely related to that. In fact, I don't think I have ever talked to him about that. Do I have this feminist look or something? We then had a short discussion about definitions of feminism and the difference between "gender parity" and "gender equality."

After the bonfire on Saturday, Jenny and I watched High School Musical! Whitney, if you haven't seen it yet, you are definitely missing out. It is so amazingly cheesy and wonderful! by the way, are we surprised that the person who owns the copy we were watching is Jay? Funny, I don't sense any shock coming from any of you.

Home teachers came over yesterday (Curtis and Steve). It was pretty nice, but definitely a lesson about pioneers full of penetrating questions from Curtis. I felt pretty bad because Jen and I were both so tired that we would zone out and try to get the other person to answer the questions. There was a lot of leg-poking going on. Oh well! We probably should get more sleep on Saturday nights.

Oh yeah, the ultimate highlight of the weekend (besides High School Musical), was singing Cambodian karaoke through the window at Clayton's apartment (after hours) while he and his VERY recently-returned former mission companion were having a night of Cambodian karaoke and brownies. You guys would not even begin to understand how intense they were about the karaoke. I really don't know what to think.

To top it all off, I had an interesting conversation with a male member of our ward last night at ward prayer. This male will remain nameless (not because he would probably care that much, but because this will disturb you all so much that I don't want you to have a target for your frustration). I asked this male, teasingly, why he ditched Church yesterday. Basically, the story that he told me was that he stayed up too late Saturday night playing video games, and then couldn't get up for Church on Sunday and slept until 2pm! I know that you are all pretty disgusted by this, as am I, and I just needed to share it with you. Here it is. All of our fears about video games confirmed!

Anyways, thanks for listening to me blabber. Have a great day!

CHALLENGES

Well, well, well, if the biggest challenge in the world isn't finding a stupid sign-in name for a stinkin' blog! Anyways, I'm on, ladies!

Give my regards to Broadway

Right now I'm feeling pretty jealous. Two mothers saw Wicked from the front row, and I find that almost unbearable. The other two mothers saw...The Gilmore Girls from the front row. Ok, ok, it's not Wicked, but it does provide us with some good hours of entertainment. However, HBW's recent adventure to the Big Apple has made me think that I should have taken advantage of the time one mother is in New York and visited her as well.

Life in my area is pretty normal. I actually signed a teaching contract, and I am currently trying to get my room in order. It all feels very adult. I have insurance. I have a 401K. These are the marks of maturity, and yet I would rather have been frolicking in Manhattan with my fellow white mothers. I can't wait to see you all again.

your new york weekend, had you been in new york

Is it possible that Sarah and Whitney could have a weekend in New York without constant mention and thought of the other two white mothers? Nope. We're sure that if the entire clan were here they would have:

Gotten the same cute dress at H&M:Helped us finish an overwhelming Forbidden Broadway Sundae and Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity:
Watched Wicked from the front row:
Gazed into the Sunset from Fort Tryon Park with us:Gotten makeovers with us at Bloomingdales:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WHITNEY!

Mental Minefields

So, one of our four white mothers has discussed the idea of mental minefields with me. We heard the phrase and found it incredibly accurate. Mental minefields occur when you are going along in your day, doing just fine, and then you suddenly see something, smell something, hear something, do something, or even just have a random thought, and you are back in the moment. The moment could be remembering a tragic event, missing a lost chance at love, feeling the loss of amazing roomates, or, perhaps, just the remembrance of an experience. The actual remembrance of events incurred by the mental minefield could have occured eons ago, but they appear as if they were just 10 minutes ago. All of the feelings, trauma, experiences, and joy come rushing back in a painful, exploding minefield that seems to come from nowhere. Minefield implies no warning, after-the-fact, and no solution. Here comes a little bit of my IR talk, but do you know how hard it is to rid a war-torn country of minefields? Take Mozambique - it has been 14 years and will still take at least 40 to 50 more. They are hidden, and hidden well. They don't necessarily show themselves in times of battle, but can be right there, waiting for you to trigger them. Perhaps they just diminish with time, but the feelings that they trigger don't seem to follow that same trend. Anyways, I wanted to share a mental minefield experience with you all. I won't bore you with what triggered it, and these aren't even my own pictures, but I wanted to share this part of me with you. Perhaps it could be cathartic if it is partially recorded. (I am still working on getting some of my own photos up here!)

African sunsets have no equal. Not even California sunsets, though they are a close runner-up!


No matter how much you would hope, this is not an uncommon sight. The smoke is probably trash burning in the background. It happens a lot. This probably isn't even a designated dump. I don't think I ever actually saw a designated dump.

This is the harbor of Maputo, the capital city. There is such a mix of history, despair, hope, and life everywhere in thie country. What a contrast between modern life sitting next to the old.

So many amazing photos on the internet, and this one evokes the most emotion. Sheesh, I think I'm starting to tear up here in the computer lab. It doesn't help that "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas just came on the internet radio site that I am listening to. Well, I know that you are all probably sick of my redundant yearnings for a place and people that are so far away, so I will let you go. Just one last thought...tomorrow marks exactly 5 weeks since I arrived back from Africa...

Mental Minefields...

bold enough to take you on

I wish you girls could have been with me on Saturday night as Damien Rice crooned into the salty coastal air. His set was riddled with songs I've never heard, and one in particular I know you'll all be crazy about when it finally comes out. Of course it sounds much better with Damien's heartbreaking emotion behind it, but here are some of the lyrics to pour over until the album's December-ish release:

Do you come together ever with him? Is he dark enough? Enough to see your light? Do you brush your teeth before you kiss? Do you miss my smell? And is he bold enough to take you on? Do you feel like you belong? And does he drive you wild? Or just mildly free? What about me? Well I know I make you cry And I know sometimes you wanna die But do you really feel alive without me?
If so, be free
If not, leave him for me

A Midsummer Night's Dream

The names in this post have been changed to protect the innocent.

“She’s just so cute!” Jarom couldn’t stop smiling yesterday as he told me of the butterflies swirling inside. An exasperated eddy of excitement gushed out of him as he questioned and wondered aloud. And then a sigh, “but why does she have to be 300 miles away?”

The tomato soup bubbled and popped as it began to boil. I quickly reached over to turn down the heat as I flipped a grilled cheese on the other burner and Harmony continued, “And then he just kind of grabbed my hand. It was really sweet and determined, but I probably wouldn’t be nearly as excited if I didn’t like him so much.”

Knocking. Incessant knocking. I rolled over and picked up my phone, then blinked hard to focus. 2:30 am. Who in the world was knocking at this hour? I slid out of bed and walked groggily to the door. I didn’t even look through the peephole, just pulled the chain-lock out of its place and turned the bolt to open the door. There stood my roommate with a grin so toothy I knew something was up. “What are you doing?” I dragged myself down the hall to follow her as she floated towards her bedroom. Bobbing her head from side to side as her eyes sparkled, the beginning of an explanation finally came. “Guess who held hands a cuddled with a cute boy tonight?”

You might think it’s more than I can handle, being surrounded by this cloud of summer romance and friends who find themselves neck-deep in sudden smit. But so far I have found it all quite enchanting. I even had to smile last night as I read a tribute to one’s new love in the form of a blog. If the hopeless romantic in me is forced to live vicariously, so be it. But allow the summer months pass as lifeless and dark as winter? I certainly will not.

Core.

It's an interesting word, isn't it? Not as fun to say as pith, but ultimately with the same meaning: the crux, the essence, the nub. I don't think it's coincidence that a very similar word - cuore - is Italian for 'heart.' I've been thinking a lot about what is in my core, what really makes me who I am, and what makes me tick - either to progress or stand still. It seems that as I have interacted with a vast array of different people in the past few months, I have heard of countless life-altering experiences. Courses in the history of art that changed the way one visually perceives everything in the world. Voyages to Africa that forever transformed the gratitude that one feels for things from possessions to health. I've found myself in conversations, telling of my own experiences and people have said, "Wow, that must have changed your life." Yes. That's my immediate response. But the question is, has it really? Or was it only a temporary change? I suppose at this moment I am a sum of all of the experiences I have had and sought and every choice I've made. But I'm convinced that there's something more to changing than simply passing through an experience and then moving on with life. Or am I wrong? Perhaps. All I know is that someone has apparently left his cruel core behind. Maybe he's left his core behind entirely. Or maybe it never existed.

Just Breathe

Hello lovies! There is a man named Tony at a hotel in London that would say that to me and my friend Ashlee every morning. Sometimes I wonder about him. I wonder about people that work at cheap hotels. And I wonder how they get there. And why they stay there. Apparently Tony is still around since Ashlee has been saying there and getting the same morning greeting as we did four years ago. Interesting. I've decided to follow Jo's fabulous stream of consciousness writing style. It always makes me happy.

Tonight I had such a great time with some friends that came over. You know in Fried Green Tomatoes, how at the end the Ms. Threadgoode says she figured out what the secret of life is? I think she's right: Friends. Best friends. Which is what makes me miss you girls so much, but also makes me thankful for the good friends I have been able to make in other places. I can't believe I'm leaving in three weeks. Three weeks. It makes me really sad to think about saying goodbye to this place. I never thought I'd say that. But it's just like the R.E.M. song, "Leaving New York, never easy..." It's true. Speaking of music, I got two phone calls today from people who called because songs that they heard reminded them of me. Can I just say that makes me really happy? I love being associated with good music in people's minds.

Have you heard of couch surfing? I am so intrigued by it. A guy I met at church today, named Kellen, came over and we visited for a few hours. He showed me couchsurfing.com. Which is a worldwide network of people that are willing to let you sleep on their couch/floor/bed, whatever. For free. He actually knows a girl that couch surfed her way through Europe. Isn't that incredible? It reminded me of when I got a letter from Meredith while I was on my mission. She was in Corsica, hitchhiking, and staying with random people she met in piazzas. If I had one of you with me, I would totally couch surf. We should some time. Just for the heck of it. Even if it's not in an exotic place. Just for the heck of it. Oh, I just said that. But really, wouldn't it just be fun to let the wind blow you wherever it wanted? Anyone in?

So, for Prague - I wrote to one of my teacher-friends from high school that I knew had been to Prague. She is putting me in touch with her best friend in the whole wide world, who is actually living in Prague, in an old castle just outside the city. Yeah, I said castle. I would be mucho grateful if she'd hook me up!

I'm so tired. Well, I guess my thoughts are fairly organized despite my attempt to let them "stream." Have you ever wanted to not like someone for something that they do, and then realized that you do it too? I had one of those moments this morning. Not that we should try to not like people, just sometimes we need to. To make life easier. Goodnight.

Something to Pass the Time

Well, since nobody has posted anything for quite a while, I decided that I would take the initiative. As I was pondering the geographical distance between many of the four white mothers, I realized that what we are really missing out on is the everyday random conversation that we engaged in so readily not so long ago. Due to that loss, I decided to fill you in on what I would say to you if you were here and listening (or pretending to listen)! Why am I so amazingly jealous when I look at pictures of a friend in Greece and New Zealand when I just got back from Africa 3 weeks ago? Why can't I figure out how fix my stinking pictures so they will fit on this blog? Math really stinks sometimes, expecially at 8am. At the same time, though, I kind of enjoy it. Math, I mean, not having an 8am class. When my Mom was filling me up on all of the engagement announcements on Monday, she stopped in the middle and asked, "Should I stop? Is this making you sad?" What is that all about? Not that finding out a girl I graduated with is getting married and then moving with her husband as he attends Harvard Law School isn't mildly depressing, but what can you do? Does everybody almost die when they get pregnant? It seems to be a growing trend.
Am I EVER going to graduate? I'm a little worried about my grandpa because his health seems to be declining pretty rapidly. Why am I always so tired? Tired of school, tired of dealing with money, tired of stress, tired of not being in other places, tired of missing Africa. Oh yeah, my South African stalker seems to be leaving me alone. If you haven't heard that story, it is definitely an exciting one! Well, sorry to ramble on, but when I get home in the afternoon and know that nobody will be home to talk to me until 9:30 or 10pm, I really miss you girls! Thought I would just remind you of what it is like for me to talk your ear off! PS - I went to the Utah Symphony for the first time on Wednesday - it was great!

Flingingness

Hmmmm....I do feel that I have to make some reply to the previous post by our Uptown Girl. As I read the reflections regarding the fling, I can't help but think that there could have been an ulterior motive. Could it be that our fellow white mother is worried that the other three white mothers might realize that she now has the opportunity for a fling, but is reneging on the summer-fling agreement? Is she worried that we will pressure her into a fling with someone? If that is true, so be it. I don't mind that opportunities for flings are not taken, but I still write in defense of summer flings. The best season of the year (fall) should be kept for serious relationships. Flings are generally reserved for the summer because it is a time of transition and relocation, as well as fun. When one is in a place solely for a season (generally summer), flings are definitely more likely. Sure, you can pretend it is more than a fling, but what happens when fall comes? Long distance relationships are not easy on anyone, as previous experiences within the four white mothers circle have shown. Ah, well, really it just comes down to opportunity. If a fling develops into a full-fledged relationship, is there anything wrong with that? I think not. I still disagree with the idea that wanting to get some summer-lovin' is bad. Really, though, I think that all of us realize that we have failed in this department so far anyway and that is what stings. One mother, though, now has a golden opportunity and should not feel that she has to take it. If she would like to let it pass her by, so be it. The opportunity for summer flings will soon pass for all of us, although there are still some weeks left...

The Summers and the Flingings

Don't forget the russian accent when you say the title of this one.

So, I've been thinking. The four white mothers have done a considerable amount of joking about summer flings. But the more I think about it, the more disturbing it has become. Not disturbing to the point of soliciting tears, a vomitous response, or even a need for extra hugs. Just a little... off. Perhaps this comes from observation more than contemplation, or maybe it's a mixture of both. But I think that any of the four white mothers would happily meet someone that they could spend the summer loving. Am I right? But why is it that it all has to come to an end with the arrival of my favorite season of all? There's no commitment involved, and that's the "beauty" of the idea, but wouldn't you only really want to have a relationship with someone that you cared about? And that cared about you? And if that is the case, I think it is worth preserving. Or at least trying to.

That's all.

I miss you!

September Grass

So...pretty much...this James Taylor song is the hottest song ever. I never can get enough of it. It's so great. I mean...let's be honest...it doesn't get much better than sultry phrases like, "So I'll be king and you'll be queen, Our kingdom's gonna be this little patch of green," "Oh, September grass is the sweetest kind, It goes down easy like apple wine," or "We're so small and the world's so vast, We found each other down in the grass." Those lines are all my favorite because...well...they're just hot. And let's not forget the sensual allusion to grass stains (yeah...we all know what he's talking about. Those definitely aren't the kind of grass stains we got when we were kids playing soccer on a Saturday afternoon...ha ha).

I made the mistake of sharing my love for this song with my little sister. Let's just say that she didn't quite understand my fascination with James' seductive syntax. Instead of concordance, I got a skeptical glare that screamed "yuck!" I guess I should have expected pure disgust from a fifteen-year-old, but it made me miss my other white mothers, who I know would have agreed with me.

But seriously...it is a hot song, don't you think?

A Bad Day That Just Got Worse

Farewell Brazil...Farewell...

A Sad, Sad Day

I still can't believe it...the game went into double overtime and then penalty kicks, but they just couldn't win it...tragic...truly tragic...

Sisterhood

Webster Dictionary gives the definition of "sisterhood" as "the solidarity of women based on shared conditions, experiences, or concerns." This week I have realized that we four white mothers have reached this degree of unity. As I talked with two white mothers that have already been reunited, I began to wish that the four of us were all together again. I began to long for the quaint little apartment we shared that was filled with giggling, teasing, and tears. This past week I received a text from a fellow white mother that caused me to come to a certain realization - we have formed a bond that will last a lifetime. We have developed not only a friendship, but a sisterhood. You are all my sisters, and I know that no matter what happens (whether it involves awkward and somewhat spastic conversations, logorrhea, spilt hot chocolate, or criminal abetment in gummy shenanigans), I will always have three girls that will love me unconditionally. I don't know if you remember a television series entitled "Sisters" that aired from 1991-1996, but the show's following tagline is a perfect summation of our relationship:

"The men in your life may leave you,
Children grow up, parents pass away.
The only ones who are there for you,
From cradle to grave,
Are your sisters."

I know the whole part about the men of your life leaving is a little extreme (and probably not something that any of the white mothers should think about since we're already terrified of it occurring), but I feel that the rest of it impeccably describes sisters. It describes us.

Thoughts of Today

Hmmm....right about now you are probably trying to figure out the amazing things that I am going to say. Well, here are my random thoughts at this moment: I love talking to Whitney on the phone and wish she were here to talk to. Just because it's summer semester we are discriminated against and I am not allowed to use my favorite computer on the second-row to the back and fourth monitor left in the SWKT computer lab as they have confined us to the first two rows. I wonder how Jenny's latest job interview went. If I ignore the massive load of math that I have to do, it might magically disappear on its own. How much time does Sarah have to write on her blog and keep up with all the latest and most amazing music? Why am I not in New York with her? Hmmm...I'm kind of hungry, but the lunch I packed seems fairly unappealing at the moment. Could I work with a cooler group of people? Why does everyone here look the same? Does Africa miss me, or have I already been forgotten? I need to get moving and get some amazing Africa pictures on this blog. Brazil will dominate Argentina and the whole World Cup without a doubt. Is there any question? Calculus. Hungry. Calculus tests and homework. Hungry. Africa. Typing. Bored. Leaving. Missing you all.

What to do?

Do you ever wonder why we wanted so badly to preserve our agency? Sometimes I do. While I generally feel grateful for the gift of choice, there are other times (like right now) when I would love for someone to just tell me what to do. Just make the choice for me. Take it out of my hands and leave me with the consequences. Maybe I should be thankful if that's the case because it means I don’t see a lot of harm in any of the options before me. Really though, what it comes down to is that I don't just want someone to tell me what to do. I want somebody to beg me to stay as they profess their undying love for me. I want somebody to share the rest of my life, share my innermost thoughts, know my intimate details... Someone who'll stand by my side and give me support, and in return he’ll get my support. He will listen to me when I want to speak about the world we live in and life in general. What can I say? At least Depeche Mode understands me...

Wow. Here I am sitting in the computer lab in the SWKT after my math class waiting for my religion class to start. I have now been home for 3 full days. As I walk around I can't help continually thinking, "Where am I?" Poor Jenny has had to deal with my readjustment issues. I got back up here on Saturday night, and we talked until like 1:30am, slept for a few hours and then got up for Church. Still not being completely over my jetlag, I went to bed at 7:30 (Jenny insists I was knocked out by the time she got home at 7:45), and slept until my alarm went off at 6:30 for my 8am class. Wow. The funny thing is, I am still looking forward to going to bed again, but I won't allow myself to take naps until I'm completely over my jetlag.
As I was driving from California to Utah on Saturday, I kept looking out the window and thinking how happy I am to be back, but how much I don't want to be here. I keep remembering my friend harassing us for being in class too long and not playing soccer with them, watching World Cup games, hearing the word "tomorrowsday" many times as they practiced their english (which completely makes sense if you think about it). I can't start with my thoughts because they will never end. I just keep thinking about how uncomfortable I am here and how I am worried that I will become comfortable again and forget everything I have learned and become. Anyways, I'll stop boring you with my thoughts.
It has been great to see everyone and catch up. I had to cut off HBW because I had to go somewhere, but then my cell battery is running out and I can't find my charger so I couldn't call back. Sorry HBW! I am excited to catch up with Sarah, and I definitely would love a reunion. You guys are great. My family is amazing. Friends here are so amazing. But that doesn't keep my from missing Africa. Oh well, I must move myself off to my religion class now. Love you all!

Welcome Home!

Jo!!!! Welcome back to the US of A! I'm not even sure if you're home yet, but I figure that by the time you read this you will be. I think a major celebration or some sort of festivities are in order, don't you? We should have a reunion and all catch up on our two months of adventures and highly unsuccessful spring flings... Unless there's something you aren't telling us, Jo! :) Spring is behind us, but summer has just begun and the possibilities are endless...

The Bitter and the Sweet

I'm done. I just finished my last final, and I realized that I am now done with the "BYU experience." As I walked out, I contemplated the next phase of my life, and I realized that I am still very unsure about things. I'm still trying to figure out what it means that I no longer have to check out a book from the BYU library, I don't have to write any more papers, I don't have to worry about grades... I am a college graduate. Being a college student provides you with a nice little bubble--you know what you are going to do every day. Although I know that I am going to work until August, I don't know what is going to happen after that. Where will I end up? All of that is still an unknown. However, I have decided that I have been too nostalgic about graduating. It happens. You move on, find a job, and live somewhere else. People do it every year. I just never thought about me as one of them.

Kaká

This is my future husband. He's attractive, a foreigner, and a soccer player for one of the best teams in the world...let’s be honest, that's about as good as it gets. My mom told me that it would never work out because if I married him and lived in America, people would mispronounce my name as "Caca," which just happens to be the Spanish word for "poop." I told her that it would be worth it. I'd be married to a very attractive foreign soccer player, so who really cares if I'm being referred to as excrement? Alas...this is a dream that will never be fulfilled. This hunk a hunk of burnin' love is already taken. Aren't they all girls? Aren't they all...

World Cup Fever

As I sit here impatiently waiting for the Brazil vs. Australia game to start, I have to wonder...is there anything better than soccer? No. There isn't. I LOVE THIS GAME (I know, I know...wrong sport tagline). Without a doubt, this is the best sport in the world. And really...the World Cup...it can't get any better than this. Sarah, you would have loved the segments they did on Brazil and their two star players - Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. The Brazilians are definitely my favorites so far...I mean what team has players whose names are as fun to say as Kaká? I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT! The tension, the excitement, the controversy, the passion, the skill...IT'S SO GREAT! And best of all...anything can happen. Crazy things happen in World Cup games. It's FANTASTIC!