2012! / 2011 Recap

I am ending 2011 with my erase board calendar stuck in September, 359 unread emails in my inbox and owing $2.55 to the library (total fines paid this year: $23.15). Nevertheless, I will skip ahead and join the rest of the world in 2012 and enjoy the chance to start afresh...but let's review 2011 first, and save me a lot of singular back posts (or inspire some):

Ben - Sometime in spring the husband formerly known as Ben became "Divorced Dad", named so because, he lived in his own apartment, provided mostly only financial support and made up for his lack of presence by being super fun, taking the kids for treats and buying them things outside of our norm. And when staying at his place, had things like ice cream topped with cereal for breakfast (may I suggest carmel pecan with honey bunches of oats...)

In July and probably the highlight of his year, he shook Eddie Vedder's hand at a concert in Seattle.

Avery - Started 2nd grade, continued learning violin.

Miles - Learned how to swim and ride a bike.

Cruz - Learned how to walk and speak.

(Britt - One up's Ben's Eddie Vedder encounter and attends a wedding where Magic Johnson is a guest...as well as Kenny G.)

Me and/or us - It was a good year for work and for play - It's a buyers market (thank you historically low interest rates (3.75%+/-), so I had a fun year negotiating and brokering home sales. I also had a chance to reprise my days as a "business analyst" (not necessarily the right term but it was my job title, "indentured servant" may be more appropriate) for my first employer out of college, when they brought a Chinese delegation through Los Angeles.

For fun we hit up Belize in March, Chicago in April, Lake Chelan in July and San Francisco in September. And the kids and I took up residence in California from late October to early December (We also started the year there in January). From there we hit the central coast, beaches in every coastal county in So. Cal, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. You just aren't living until they freeze your credit card for being in too many places in too short of a time. And you are grateful when they freeze your credit card when someone uses it in Brooklyn then Norway and you are nowhere near either of those places.

So that about sums up the year, looking back on it no wonder why it zipped by. We never took a moment to catch our breath. Just how we like it.

What are my wishes and hopes and dreams for the new year? (Besides fewer parking, speeding or red light camera tickets...please please please (make that 6 pleases) Last year was about not looking too far into the future, so as not to enjoy the here and now. It's easy to yearn for days of not changing diapers or making school lunches but when those days are gone they are gone, and furthermore the future will be filled with unseen/unpondered challenges of it's own I am certain. So this year I will build on that live in the present philosophy with another that spoke to me through a banner at the YMCA. It was one marked RESPONSIBILITY and referred to the verse in Ecclesiastes about whatever it is that you find to do, you do it with all your might.

Although I'm a bit worried that this will hinder my multi-tasking abilities, I do think that it will be efficient and rewarding. And it goes hand in hand with the only real resolution I made this year, which is to be a better cook. I like to cook; I like the creativity involved and of course I enjoy the end result. Unfortunately however, the last few years I have let Trader Joe's and Costco a lot of cooking for me. I appreciate that we have sophisticated convenience foods, but I need to hone some basic techniques and learn how to make a sauce for goodness sake. Other ways I will employ this idea - better workouts at the gym, more thorough teeth brushing, and being a more attentive parent - anywhere that I presently spend time out of necessity or desire may I improve my performance. That is my wish for 2012. Let the fun begin.

Good Stuff

I am glad I took the time this evening to get a babysitter and go listen to this broadcast. It is also one of the reasons why Dieter Uchtdorf will take the crown as my 2011 crush (succeeding Rick Bayless 2010)*. There is something for every woman in this talk.

*Ben's 2011 crush is Ryan Gosling.

Rededication to Blogging

I really enjoy blogging. Because of that, I consider it a treat, something to reward myself with when I complete all of my chores..much like TV is and why my DVR list is constantly erasing itself. I realized yesterday that if I wait until my house is clean and every project is finished that I will NEVER EVER blog again. If I commit to getting a post up every other day, or thrice a week, I will be happier than if I am re-cleaning the same fingerprinted window for the second time in a day. What good is having a spotless minorly spotted house, if I can't post pictures of it and show the world how easy breezy living my life is? ;)

I was actually going to post pictures of me doing the various chores that take me away from blogging, so that my real life could be seen in plain view, but when I saw that in pictures taken over multiple days I was still wearing the same clothes (and no, I did not work out today Jerilynn, thank you for asking) it was just a little too real. As I was on the phone disparaging the groundhog day laundry scenario that takes place here last night to Ben, I told him I don't know where all of the laundry comes from because he doesn't live here and I don't produce much because I had in fact been wearing the same outfit for 48 hours (most of my weekday outfits have this life cycle). I know I scoffed before but maybe I need to just order some pajama jeans and simplify my life. My 'suspect hygiene' (as Ben calls it) could be a whole 'nother post of it's own...and putting this in writing will lead me to analyze why I don't feel the need to 'get ready' everyday unless Ben is going to be around...even when I am going out in public.*

Just like we all have our things that we choose to spend money on (travel), we do the same with our time. And although clean sheets doth not a clean girl make, and while the majority of the week I am no sartorialist, I invite you to come dine off of my floors**, drink from our commode, peer through a smudgeless window, admire the pristine walls that leave no trace of having been patched and repainted, examine the baseboards, and go ahead and take a look in my oven while you're at it (I just cleaned it yesterday!). But if you do stop by, please call ahead, remove your shoes and don't let your kids touch anything. And don't look in my junk drawers...they look just like everyone elses.

So I am starting off the fall pledging to myself to do more consistent writing, more frequent perusing of friends blogs and a smidge less tidying up. I have to remind myself that the whole house in it's entirely doesn't have to be clean all at once, except on special occasions. If a couple of rooms at a time look good I think that'll have to do.

Luckily, there is not a big chunk of my riveting history missing from the universe. In the absence of blog posts I have been more faithful in recording the personal - content which ranges from the mundane to the spiritual to the distressing - and residing in a black leather Moleskine that is easily scribbled in and toted around (plus I'll always have the ever relied upon back-dating and mass posting), or an even smaller floral notebook that briefs what I have read, or a yellow composition book that records both to-do lists and some of my most heart-felt/vitriolic messages to my husband that he has never read (99 cent therapy). This site is equally important to me and will remain a display of life's pleasures and public musings...and pictures of plants.

*I can trace this problem back to at least college, when my choice of attire for the first day of class was called into question by my dear (and highly fashionable) roommate. What were "shower shoes" to her was my footwear of choice. And when you are going to swim for three hours a day who really wants to do their hair...swimmers, a little help here?

**Only if you come in the next five minutes and only if you enjoy pine needles as a side dish.

Recently in the news there was some debate over the wording on the diplomas* at my (or our for some of you reading) alma mater which caused me to actually read what mine said. While doing so I discovered that it has been a decade since I graduated from college. I guess I should have realized at our 10 yr high school reunion that this milestone wouldn't be too far behind but it snuck up on me nevertheless. So what better time for me to get out the scrapbooks and photo albums and relive those college days. Excuse the quality of the pictures - this was before the time of digital cameras. And widespread use of cell phones - having one actually would have saved me a lot of money in phone bills. Here's my awesome i.d card picture to start.

College 10-14 years ago wasn't just about i.d cards with your social security number on them (we must have lived in a different world back then ;)). It was about getting your first email address (and a few months later being able to write a web page in HTML).

It was about room/suitemates (Jenisteen, Kimi, Naseem and later Mary-Alice) from different backgrounds (but all from Texas), different religions (Zoroastrian, Baha'i, non-denominational, non religious) with different majors (communications, business, engineering, anthropology) and different interests (athletics, newspaper, sororities) who may have never found each other were it not from random roommate selection and mandatory campus living (with maid service!). I couldn't have ended up with better ones had I picked them myself.

With these girls I did lots of fun/dumb things - like going to a party dressed in bubble wrap, saran wrap and tinsel and jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.

College was about studying abroad and meeting new friends there. I went to Australia because they spoke English there and studied Chinese. Which landed me an internship that sent me to China (once while in college and many many times after).

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It was also about finding out that you are not as good as soccer as the rest of the team.

And taking up lacrosse instead.

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Of course there was lots of swimming (also not as good as the rest of the team but good enough to be on it) and more good friends.

Which led to triathlons - and since I have a case of the it's-my-blog-and-I'll-post-what-I-want-to/I-only-have-one-hard-copy-of-this-picture-and-if-I-lose-it-I'll-be-really-upset/I-can't-believe-I-ever-had-abs-like-that-no-wonder-I-am-smiling/put-down-the-BBQ-potato-chips-please I am posting this picture to remind myself that everyone looks better with a tan (it is the opposite of fat remember?)

It was also about studying. Less for me than my engineering roomies though.

Is it sad that I still have (and wear) that sweatshirt and those slippers?

Ten years ago? Wow. Really? I guess this is where I thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to learn so much (and my mom for making me go out-of-state)(and Coach Ryan for a fateful early morning phone call - he didn't care much for time zones or he thought all swimmers are up by 6 am). It was an amazing four years of which I am still reaping the benefits.

*So about that diploma thing - Someone apparently wanted Trinity to remove the phrase "in the year of our Lord" so they started a petition (which they are entitled to do) and it got some press. Honestly I had never even read it before and doubt most people have even noticed that verbage on their diplomas (now that I am looking two of ours say that and two don't). Not to mention that the people who are bringing it up decided to go to a school named "Trinity" University. Not that it currently has religious affiliation, it doesn't, but still. So anyway, the university respectfully denied their request and I particularly like what the current president said:

"Democracy is not letting a small number of people have their way. Democracy is listening to the different voices and making an informed decision."

Being Prepared.

I have felt very strongly the past year about getting prepared for an emergency and since disasters of the natural and economic kind are always happening worldwide (even though we have had a few major incidences lately I say always instead of recently because in my adult lifetime it doesn't take much thought to go back the past 10 years and recount numerous tragedies, not to mention those we know of from history), and because I now have kids to take care of it seems more important than it has in the past. Not to mention we now have a garage and a pantry so I have the space to stock up. Not that I didn't love having canned goods stashed under our couch.

Although it's still a work in progress it really is comforting to know that we might have some of the basics on hand to make survival during a trial less trying. Here are some of the things that are part of our emergency plan (and I am open to more or better ideas).


- Water. This is probably the most important but most difficult to store element of survival. Even though we have the space now the last thing I wanted in my yard or garage is one of the giant blue polyethylene barrels that to me just seem like they would be the perfect breeding ground for algae etc. Plus I don't think it would be very easy to transport if we had to leave quickly. So I keep a few cases of bottled water on hand but they seem to get used plus I'm not sure if the plastic bottles are the best for long-term storage. So my favorite option for water storage are the Mylar storage bags and boxes (shown in above pictures) from Emergency Essentials. Each bag stores 5 gallons and has a handy spout for dispensing. Easy to move, easy to store. And one reviewer said that they tested the water after a few years and it was still fresh. But if you don't have water on hand there is always the toilet tank! ;)


- Food. I am not one to store wheat, or any other grain that I have no idea what to do with, nor possess the tools to grind it. I could probably learn these skills but when there are so many other convenient items to store I am not inclined to any time soon. Number one on my list of foods I want to have in a time of trouble - chocolate. So I try to stock up on chocolate chips. (I figure they might be good for bartering purposes as well). Keeping the inventory up is a problem however.


Mostly I try to store stuff we actually eat. One, because I know what to do with it. Two, it gets rotated frequently (and I don't run out of the important stuff and have to go to the store as often). This consists of peanut butter, cereal (oats and cold cereal), honey and jam, a variety of canned vegetables and beans, pasta and sauce, canned and boxed soups, ketchup and salsas, coconut milk, rice, canned fish and meats and some of those meal in a box type things (Homestyle Bakes etc.). I usually concentrate on one or two items per shopping trip and it's usually those items that are on sale.


I hope to eventually add some more camping style freeze-dried pouches, MRE's, high calorie survival bars and bulk items to our storage. First on my list is powdered milk (any brand suggestions?) and one thing I am very curious about - canned bacon. Apparently this Yoder's bacon is supposed to be delicious.

Costco actually has a great selection of emergency kits online for reasonable prices and no addtl. shipping costs (they even sell wheat and rice in bulk). We have an emergency 72 hour kit and a 99 meal kit from there - both in convenient, easy to transport buckets.

I also store vitamins. And some seeds in case we need to plant a victory garden.

- Toiletries/Cleaning Supplies. It takes me over a year to go through a bottle of shampoo (shower much?) so I don't tend to over-stock on beauty items but paper towels, toilet paper, (soon diapers and wipes), foil, trash bags etc. are on the list. I also stock up on laundry detergent, bleach, dish soap and other basic cleaning supplies.

- First Aid. This part of preparation isn't so interesting to me put we do have some medical odds and ends, not to mention a surgeon on call, in the house. Of course I have some homeopathic voodoo (herbs, colloidal silver, vinegar and what not) just in case.

- Batteries/Light/Fuel/Matches. This is a hard one to keep on hand, plus it can get expensive. We have an assortment of batteries - rechargeable and otherwise. We have some propane. I would love to have a whole house generator.

Flashlights are also difficult to keep around - our kids love to take them from their proper places and subsequently leave them on until their batteries are exhausted. Same thing with lanterns, headlamps etc.


Also, I try to keep my car's gas tank as full as possible at all times. Usually when it gets to half I refill. I just feel like this is important. It doesn't cost anymore, it just means more frequent stops at the gas station.

- Cash. Not a ton but some on hand in case ATM's are out of commission. And in small bills - I don't think proprietors are going to making much change in a major catastrophe.


- Misc. - Blankets, Ponchos, Sleeping Bags, and other camping type supplies. (If you have kids you might want small toys, games and books in a easy to grab backpack).

Crank radios, flares, gas-masks, rescue ladders? The possibilities to increase your comfort level are endless - and personal - what things would you not want to be without?


- Weapons. We don't have a huge cache or anything (and what we have is safely stored) but if you're going to have a stock of supplies you've got to be able to protect it. Not to mention some squirrel meat might taste real good in the right circumstance. Add ammunition to this category. (And wasp spray - I keep getting an email forward about how it sprays 20 feet and can protect you from an intruder and it doesn't sound like a half bad idea.)

A few months ago I had the chance to talk about emergency preparation with my neighbor, I'm not sure how the topic came up but she started working on her emergency preparedness too and I'm so glad. Mostly, because I don't want to have to share our stockpile - (nor do I want others to suffer). I certainly don't want to have to use wasp spray on her, but I might be interested in seeing what she might trade for a bag of chocolate chips...

Being prepared isn't just for boy scouts. So neighbors, family, friends - especially those in earthquake heavy parts of the country - have a plan (so I don't have to worry about you if something bad happens). And if anyone has any advice on this subject I'd love to hear it.

[Note - One thing that also used to prevent me from stocking up was the cost associated with buying more than we might need at a time but I realized that money in the bank may not be so easy to turn into food, water and supplies in an emergency - and certainly won't be cheap to get. So it's now a part of our "savings and investment" plan. What has your 401K done for you lately? ]

TCI - The Lost Footage

Due March 2010.

Sometimes a girl just needs a little time alone. And a doughnut.

For some reason this week just got to me. I can't identify anything in particular that was causing the stress but it was definately there. I'm sure recent inspections gone wrong on the house and getting to the point where we will no longer be staying under budget but wanting to go over everytime I go into a flooring store (champagne taste on a beer budget problem)(what do you mean I can't have limestone countertops...) - You know real important issues like that. Usually I enjoy such "challenges". But trying to be an attentive mother, a deal-finder and trying not to become "some kind of girl who doesn't wash clothes" when all I want to do is plop down on the couch once in a while and watch something mindless on tv (something mindless of my choosing - not basketball)- is all the sudden too much. I think I've asked Ben at least three or four times this week to listen to my heart because I am just sure that it is beating irregularly. He always tries to do a lame finger on the wrist pulse check but I insist that he listen to my actual heart because that's where the problem lies...he says it's the same but what does he know.

So the best solution I could come up with to counter the stress was a litttle time alone. Generally my time alone comes in the form of locking myself in the bathroom to primp, pluck or read The Week in the bathtub. But that doesn't save me from the constant banging on the doors - and pretty much hearing anything else going on in the apartment. Our lack of personal space is probably part of my problem. So what better and more peaceful place to go than to the temple...a temple with a Whole Foods nearby. So I made the hour long trek in silence - thinking about - nothing really.

I enjoyed my peacful time alone but I must admit what I was really looking forward to was a doughnut. I'm not usually a doughnut girl - but if I am going to have one it's going to be an old fashioned or a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. And my mom introduced me to the Whole Foods doughnut on our recent road trip. Healthier than your average doughnut? I doubt it - but definately craveworthy. I let myself remember that I had three others waiting for me at home and grabbed a couple extras - which would either ensure that I would be able to venture out on my own again sometime with hopes I would return with treats in hand - or it would give me extra doughnuts to eat on the way home should I regret having only eaten one at the store.

When I get home I have Ben check my heart beat one more time to be sure I'm not dying but otherwise I feel a little better. And I'm going to make sure I pencil in a little alone time for next month - right there along with a date night with Ben - whenever he gets rid of that awful mustache, some "grown-up girl bonding time" with Avery (that's what she calls it) and some potty time with Miles.