"Don't worry....Brendon and I talked about it and we know that Jamie is the favorite because she has Allie," I said to my parents over Christmas break.
"Um nope, Allie is the favorite," they said in unison.
You know what, I LOVE that answer...and it's true, she is. Christmas this year was all about the baby...and we loved it. I am sad that it is over. The break was amazing...as it always is with my family. We ate and ate and ate and played as many games as possible. We thought that since Allie has come into the family and more babies will be expected, we would start some new traditions. Reading Christmas stories before bed, singing carols around the piano, each person taking a night and cooking a meal and matching pajamas are only some of them. We also did a games bracket this year for New Year's. It was pretty amazing to see my parents do Xbox adventure games - jumping around to avoid hitting obstacles. HILARIOUS. Here are some other highlights:
I got really into jewelry making. Jamie modeled them for me. I see this being a GREAT hobby. Just need to get me one of those job things so I can start paying for my hobbies ;)
We went to the San Diego zoo....and got to watch more people than we did animals. There were so many people there that most of the animals were in hiding.
Hung out at Coronado Beach...a family tradition. At first, Allie was scared of the sand for an hour, but then got used to the idea and decided that eating it was pretty fun too.
Went ice skating. I watched the baby who loves the outdoors and not so much the cold.
Saw Tron with my mom. We love Jeff Bridges...particularly the old version of him. Not as much as Sean Connery, but a pretty close 2nd.
Playing games like "Curses" and "Quelf" where people have to act out during the game...my dad's favorite. It was pretty hilarious to see my dad sticking his fingers in his nose, mouth and ears at the same time.
Bryan turned 12 and was ordained to be a deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood. How weird that my brother can pass the sacrament now....it is crazy!
Me. That's who. For the geek, the one who sits in the front of the classroom with learning/glistening eyes, the last day of class is bitter-sweet. Bitter because, let's be honest, I really LOVE school. Pay me to learn baby...I will do it. I am sure you are asking if I have considered a PhD. Yes, yes I have. I am still tempted by it, to be sure. But for some reason, the stars have aligned, Almighty has spoken, off to the 9-5 for me.
But, my last class is also sweet. I get to move forward into the unknown. I am not as scared as I used to be about the unknown. In fact, I know it will be refreshing. Not that I am need of a 'new start,' because I love things as they are....but because it means that I will be challenged, something I find to be exhilarating. Challenge for me is like flying in an airplane, looking down at the world below....what a thrill!
And so my dear friends, tonight is my last class of grad school... and I'm sure that I will let out a resounding 'HAZAA' at the end...but in my eyes, there will be tears.
Ask my cousin Heidi or my Aunt Cindy - they could tell you how they would often long to play with my hair as a child, but I wouldn't let them. It was nothing personal...but the only person that could 'mess' with my hair was my dad.
Since I can remember, I have always had long hair. My Grandma Burton and my mom share a story that continues to be the tale of all hair woes. When my mom was younger, she used to swim all the time, making her platinum head of hair turn a vicious shade of green, at least, that is what my Grandma tells me. All my mom remembers is my Grandma chopping her long hair off. Being thin, her hair often matted to her head, making it seem less like a bob. My mom said she felt like she was a boy until she could grow her hair out again. Ever since then, my mom has been a huge proponent of long hair. Both Jamie and I had no choice....long hair it was.
Growing up in Scottsdale, both Jamie and I lived in the pool. I remember the distinct smell of Ultraswim, the best shampoo and conditioner ever that helped us get all the chlorine out of our hair. I also distinctly remember the smell of Infusium, a leave-in conditioner-like substance that helped mom brush out our oh-so-ever-chlorinated hair. The swimming part of my hair was fun. I could hide behind my long strands in the water, pretending I was a mermaid. The brushing part of my hair post-swimming was SO painful. My mom is this very gentle and sweet lady, so you can imagine that she would slowly, ever so slowly, brush our hair. I think this mild brushing contributed to how tender my head became. I therefore hated when other people would want to play with or attempt brushing my hair.
The only person that I would let get a brush through my hair was my dad. He would brush fast. Like a band aid ripping off, he would take 10 strokes and all the gnarls would be gone. It was amazing. My dad was also the only one who could put my hair in a pony tail or pig tails because there were absolutely no bumps. I remember hating bumps.
Sure, I have come a long way since then. Every time I get close to cutting my hair, I will tell my mom and she will shriek "No, don't do it. When I was 9 years old, your Grandma chopped my hair off....blah blah blah (insert dialogue here) and I will never forget it! If you cut your hair, you will regret it! Don't do it! I love your long hair!"
Alas, I have had my hair cut a couple times since moving away from home. I have never regretted the cutting part. I have, however, regretted the stage where it rests on my shoulders. It is a very awkward stage for hair, almost like the hair is confused. Does it want to lay straight? Decide to be curly? It is just plain awkward, right?
So, lately, I have had the hankering to get a 'professional' doo. My hair is about to the bottom of my bra strap (a little shorter than I have worn it prior to this year). My top layer is just to my shoulders, a little past that awkward length. I keep wanting to do something about it...and then, I will have a really good hair day. I end up smacking myself for even thinking or considering cutting it.
I dressed up in this old-lady shirt the other day that I LOVE. I bought it at the thrift store and it reminds me of something my Grandma would wear. It is a silk pink, gray, black and white blouse with shoulder pads. It buttons in the back and has a high collar and a little bit of a puffy sleeve. With my black pencil skirt, knee high boots, antique jewelry and tailored white coat....I felt very stylish. But then, oh then....there was my hair. I can't describe it. It just sparkled. It laid on my head just perfectly the day I wore this outfit, too.
This circumstance alone convinced me that if anything....my hair will get me my dream job!
Thought #1: I noticed that when I am with people who are drinking alcoholic beverages, that I generally tend to get my fill of what they are having times 3 in water. Tonight, my Capstone class met at Fiddler's Elbow for one final hoorah and a discussion of ethics in public administration. While some of my comrades enjoyed their on-tap drinks, I dove into a hot chocolate and 5 glasses of water. That's right, 5 glasses. I noticed that I did the same thing at my high school reunion. I was in the bathroom most of the evening. Strange, right?
Thought #2: It is really unnecessary for people to drive 25 in a 30 mph zone.
Thought #3: I love the bathroom stalls in the Tucson Mall on Broadway. It's true! In the stall, they have places where you can sit your child, as well as holders (not just hangers) for purses or shopping bags. I would like to thank the genius who made it possible for me to avoid setting my bag next to the toilet on the floor. Bless you.
Thought #4: I get some sort of weird satisfaction knowing that there is a person I know in the car next to me, or near me. I don't know why....
Thought #5: I plan to walk during my graduation ceremony in May even though I am graduating in December. I am truly a sentamentalist (word I just made up) at heart and find that I have deep feelings about why I should participate in this tradition. While some may think it foolish, or unnecessary, I like the symbolism of walking from this part of my life and crossing the platform to another phase...the unknown part of post-grad. There is just some kind of satisfaction knowing that I have accomplished something....remarkable. It is no surprise that I also enjoy crossing things off lists.
Every time I drive for extended periods of time, my legs often squawk at me in a way only I can hear. They long to be stretched, shaken and danced out of their motionless state. I generally have ways to keep them from falling asleep. I jitter, stretch as much as possible given the confined space, and I often take LONG stretch breaks when I stop to use the restroom, fill up with gas or get something to eat. On most occasions you will find me at gas stations doing some yoga type moves all for the effort of enhancing my driving experience. If I don't do this, I have old-man-type joint and muscle pain in my legs and lower back that really should only be reserved for old men....sorry guys, but it's true.
I have also noticed that when I do sprint workouts in the pool that I often experience a tingling sensation in my legs. I self diagnose that this stems from muscle stimulation (and sometimes overuse of muscles) and low blood sugar. While I am constantly trying to find a diet that allows me to take full advantage of my strength, I haven't found anything that will take away the sensation of tingles in my legs. I have noticed that the tingles are not coming as frequently as they used to...perhaps a product of my continuous swimming habit. However, there is one thing that still puzzles me. That's right...to the subject of this post...my baby toe. Sometimes both baby toes fall asleep, but mostly it is my right baby toe. I can't seem to get that little guy to wake up.
I bought myself a new pair of tennis shoes (HAZAA, it has been close to 7 years since the last pair). While the comfort of these new shoes is astounding, they certainly enhance the ability I have to feel the asleepness of my baby toe. (Yes, I made another new word: asleepness). In fact, baby toe Blau is asleep right now. I am sure I could conjure up some theories that will back up this mystifying symptom....but as long as I am aware of it, I can call out to it, tell it to liven up and hope that when I wake up in the morning, it will still be there.....in its asleepness state.
"Don't worry....Brendon and I talked about it and we know that Jamie is the favorite because she has Allie," I said to my parents over Christmas break.
You know what, I LOVE that answer...and it's true, she is. Christmas this year was all about the baby...and we loved it.
hobby. Just need to get me one of those job things so I can start paying for my hobbies ;)
and not so much the cold.
