Camping

Larrabee State Park.

Fresh air. Fire snacks. Lots of smiling and being cold. And the delicious shower that washes the smoke out of my hair. Let camping season begin!

Happy spending

Isn't it funny how we justify expenses? There are a few purchases I've been needing to make lately that I keep talking myself out of because they feel expensive. I only kind of need to fix the rock chip in my windshield, but it costs $40, so do I really need to? My tennis shoes are pretty pitiful looking, but they get the job done. But that white eyelet dress that just screams summertime lovely is just $40! And what's another dinner out between friends?

7 year old bucket list

Cleaning up the other day I stumbled on an old notebook, in which I had scribbled down a bucket list- things I wanted to do before I die. Scribbled probably isn't the best word to describe the list, as I distinctively remember going through weeks of brainstorming and several drafts before settling on the following 41 to-dos. Brooke and I would talk about how it was important that items that made it onto the final list not be fleeting interests of casual hobbies, but rather things that we would be legitimately disappointed if we did not complete them by the end of our lives. I cut down travel whims and tried to get to the core of what I wanted.

I'm still on board with most.

Fast forward seven years, (maybe eight?) and it's time for an update. I've bolded the ones still incomplete. Commentary where necessary.

1. Live in Africa (That passion started early)
   
2. Go past the Arctic/Antarctic circle (I'm thinking Alaska. Northern Lights. and the Iditarod)
   
3. Bring one soul to Christ (Who knows how to tally this one, but I know that Dif belongs on this list.)
   
4. Kiss a smoker (Prague. In the cathedral square. It was a hit and run peck and he was beautiful.)
   
5. Be pregnant (but not just yet, thanks!)
   
6. Write a book
7. Sky dive (I so skydove Kapowsin. Not as fun as hanggliding, but well worth the massive headache)
   
8. Get married
9. Find the perfect wool winter coat (Ohhh, it still hurts to talk about. Gray. Mid-calf length. Vintage. Three big, perfect buttons. Silk lining. $8! Perfect. Lost in the abyss of my house while I was on my mission. I might have cried)
   
10. Graduate from college (Cheeeeck!)
    
11. Fall deep in love (....define "deep", Kami of 2003...)
    
12. Read the entire standard works (Leviticus was touch and go, but I made it!)
    
13. Visit every continent (I'm looking at you, Australia.)
14. Live in another country at least one year (huzzah!)
    
15. Dip feet into Ganges River
16. Call into a radio talk show (Still working up the courage for this one)
17. Be at least conversational in 6 languages (One romance language [Spanish], at least one non romance language [Swahili] , at least one non-Latin based alphabet [Thai] down, one biblical language and two freebies to go)
18. Road rip across the US
    
19. Have a romantic moment in the rain (Rowboat and a dramatic farewell are helpful to make it memorable)
    
20. Go on a safari (ruined zoos for life)
    
21. Go to a hot spring in Iceland (I had me two chances this year and blew both. Bust.)
    
22. Stay up all night with loved ones (maybe check?)
    
23. Ice skate on a frozen pond
24. Create some piece of art and display it at home
25. Pose for a painting
26. Own a pet a love it (who has to make a goal to love a pet? I do.)
    
27. Build a snowman from a season's first snow (Surely I've done this. If not, I'm over it)
    
28. Build or refinish furniture for my home (Boom! The first of many, I hope)
    
29. Cook a full course meal (What is that, four courses? Five? I could do that)
    
30. Win a competition
31. Be a mother (Just in case #5 somehow flops :/)
32. Have an important occasion where hair/makeup/outfit look perfect (I was a bridesmaid at Raelle's wedding, and it really did just work. Back in my blonde a babe o'licious days)
    
33. Own a car (mmhmm)
    
34. Own a home
35. Maintain good credit (Ongoing, I suppose, but so far so good!)
    
36. Give a perfect kiss (How do you tell that, really. Measurable goals next time. Anyone who'd like to fess up to receiving a perfect kiss from me, the report is welcome so I can get my bold on and check it off the list!)
    
37. Get a perfect kiss (I actually remember thinking 'check that one of my bucket list!' More perfect to come, surely.)
    
38. Teach a child a skill that will change their life (another tough one to measure. Not too worried about it)
    
39. Work for an NGO for development (Questionable grammar, but I'd say hunger relief counts!)
40. Go through the temple - receive endowment (thoughts on this soon to come)
    
41. Go through temple with entire family (I don't remember being all together since we've all been endowed)

18 down, 23 to go. Not a bad pace, eh?

Dancing in 2D

I just love this.



Looking through the comments on YouTube, everyone sees a different story, as the artist intended. She's dead and he's grieving, finally seeing her absence as a shadow; She's putting up a front and doesn't want to be vulnerable;

He wants her until she wants him, then he changes his mind.

What do you see?

Obama on Osama

For some reason, I can't stop thinking about Obama's announcement of Osama's death (how many people confuse those names, I'd love to know) so I decided to break it down. Come, join me.

0:00-0:20 Fast facts, just like I like 'em.

0:20-1:20 Am I heartless to be annoyed that Obama spent so much time giving us a syrupy rendition of 9/11? It was a big deal, of course! But Obama's painted picture of billowing smoke and empty tables was more distracting than it was uplifting. Maybe I was too young or far-removed for 9/11 to really be affected by this narrative but to me, Monday's event is not about closure, it's about what it could mean for the future of the fight against anti-American support.
1:20-1:50; 8:13-9:18 Way to bring it back to unity!!
1:50-1:59; 4:00-4:03; 7:15-7:18 Justice. Isn't that just a pretty word for revenge?
3:08; 3:30; 3:40; 3:51; 4:64 It's all about you, I guess. Is that a good way to assert that you do in fact have military prowess, or does it just make sound like your part was as big as they guy who jumped from the helicopter and shot OBL in the head? I dunno.

2:22-2:55; 3:33-3:35; 6:29-6:50; 7:21-7:58 The sacrifice of military is really so great. I want to punch people who don't get this. I will punch them.
4:13-4:17; 7:44-7:50 Wonder who was part of that team... Anyone I know? Maybe?
5:00-5:30 Thank you for both the reminder that we don't hate Muslims and that Bush didn't hate them either
6:18-6:27; 7:57-8:10 This is a much more moving homage to the importance of this event.
4:30-4:40 This is why Osama Bin Laden's death is important
4:47-5:00; 6:52-7:09 There's a long battle ahead of us

Besides a few moments of dissatisfaction, I'm happy with Obama's speech. I hope that as the inevitable dissection of the last ten years and the last three days and what they mean for our future, Americans and the media who inform them and shape their opinions can remember the last minute of this address:

And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.

The cause of securing our country is not complete. But tonight, we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place.

Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.