Quotes and silliness

Quotes and comments I have heard this week.

Connor: I hate any song that has a chipmunk singing in it.
Repairman: Yes, there is black mold in your walls where you had the ice dam and it's going to cost you a lot of money that you don't want to spend and be very inconvenient for you during the next few weeks.
Todd: Jodi, I'm glad you don't get offended by things I say even if I sometimes mean it.
Larissa: David Archuleta is sooo sexy!
Elora to Connor and Larissa: Oh, you have school this week? That sucks. I have the week off.
Jodi: I don't have anything to blog about. Maybe I'll just relay quotes I've heard.
Darren from the MTC: Hey, thanks for the tic tacs. Actually, my companions thank you!
Stitch the cat: Seriously, I hate all of you.
Baby Bear the cat: I hate Stitch.

Red Desert

Oh, I had a fabulous weekend.

Knowing that we would be without children for Easter, Todd and I spontaneously hopped in our car for a quick jaunt to the desert to re-charge our batteries. This weekend's road trip was comprised mostly in Zion National Park, however we did make a quick stop in Bryce on our way home. We packed a lot into 2 days and loved every minute of it!

First I should mention that we hate it when our kids are gone and unless we make fun plans, we tend to mope around the house, dwelling in our sorrows. (A bit of an exaggeration - but we hate it, nonetheless).

I have titled my blog 'redhoodoos' for reasons I've not fully disclosed but one could probably surmise. I know I'm not alone in my feelings for Southern Utah and don't profess to being the only one enamored with it's beauty - but being down there does something to my soul. Invariably I am drawn to reflection, to peace, to words - and for a small moment in time, the world seems less abrasive. Less severe.

Growing up, my family would frequently vacation at Bryce Canyon in Southern Utah. I have fond memories of piling into the wood-paneled station wagon, affectionately named 'The Staish", at 4:00 a.m. Now that I'm a parent, I realize my mom and dad left that early because they knew Brian and I would sleep and find little time to fight. Mom would bake a roast the night before and would make us delicious roast beef sandwiches to enjoy on the drive (stuffing us with food was another ploy to keep us from fighting). I'm sure my sandwiches don't taste nearly as good. My cousins and grandparents would meet us there and undoubtedly make the trip fun - always more eventful with Uncle George's tandem bike. Songs and ghost stories around the campfire and bomb-pops from the market made the trip even more unforgettable - the memories indelibly seared into my mind. But it's the scent of Bryce Canyon that reminds me that I'm home. There's a scent carried with the Bryce winds that I've never smelled anywhere else. It is truly Heaven.

I'll never forget the first time I visited Zion National Park at age 17 with my YW group. I recall being awestruck as we entered from the East and I caught my first glimpse outside of the tunnel. It couldn't be real - how could any place on earth be so beautiful?! My pictures from this trip only capture glances of it's beauty.

It was a weekend of renewal for me - appropriate for this Easter weekend. I have yearned to go back since my cancer diagnosis last November. Nothing is more healing or therapeutic than being in the red desert. Surely, there isn't a more beautiful place on this Earth. I was able to breathe the fresh air and be reminded that no problem is too insurmountable.

Tomorrow, undoubtedly, I will be embarrassed with my oozy sap-filled blog entry, so I will end by sharing some of our animal incidents that we endured on the trip.



I met this buffalo after our hike in Zion. Apparently, he had just finished the hike and was as tuckered out as I was. Poor guy. I felt his pain.

This little vagrant begged for food by putting on a sad face. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the "Will look cute 4 food" sign he was holding up. We felt sorry for him, but didn't comply, lest we break National Park rules.

We happened upon the Easter Bunny feeding small children and I noticed a glimmer of hope in Todd's eye. Alas, she didn't stop at our car and I had to buy Todd a chocolate bar instead.

This goat excitedly hopped down the mountain when he heard the Easter Bunny was at the Park.

Todd liked the goatee on this buffalo and made him pose so he could get a better idea of how to grow one for himself.

Ghetto

Yes, this is our tree from last Christmas. As in 3 months ago. It has been buried under the snow and has finally reared itself in all of it's ghetto glory. Hmmm, maybe I'll keep it for next Christmas.

I wonder what else is buried under there!

Happy First Day of Spring

I think there's grass under there somewhere. The flowers should bloom any day now.

Death Warmed Over

This is how I feel today. Can't sleep. Can't breathe. My head feels like it's falling off.

Poor me. I'm going back to bed.

Elora's Art

Wow. Elora is an artist. She conceived of the idea then drew and colored this picture. Amazing.

She makes it look so easy that she inspired me to try my hand at drawing. This is my picture of a beautiful landscape.

Secondhand Lions and Sense of Place

I admit to being a couch potato tonight - and also a sap. First on the tube was American Idol (go Jason Castro and David Archuleta!) and then one of my favorite movies - quite possibly my very favorite movie, actually - Secondhand Lions.

If you have not seen Secondhand Lions - go get the DVD - you will love it or I'll eat Connor's gym sock! I'm a fan of Robert Duvall in any movie - but he played an especially terrific role in this one, as did Michael Caine.

A young boy, Walter (Haley Joel Osment), is dumped off at his rich uncles' house by his mom so she can wander off and live her life without ties. He feels unwanted (obviously) and awkward/shy (obviously) because he has never met these uncles before. They live in an old farmhouse in rural Texas. The uncles are eccentric and set in their ways and don't like having him around at first. The movie evolves as the old men become attached to their new house guest and he to them. Walter learns that his uncles have led very adventurous and interesting lives and he finds himself drawn to their history. Eventually, they are not just weird old men living in a farmhouse - but interesting, noble men who have lived and learned from life. I won't divulge any more of the plot so I don't ruin it for you when you watch it. Have I mentioned that you need to go rent the DVD?

I love this movie's portrayal of life's phases and stages. Walter has his whole life before him. He is learning and growing and finding his place in the world. Conversely, the uncles have lived life and have wonderful memories to which they firmly grasp while knocking on the door of their final years. They don't want to let the memories go and they don't want their senior years to rob them of their dignity.

As time passes on ever so rapidly for me, I am reminded of my once-small children who are no longer as needy of me and my wisdom motherly advice. Wasn't it just yesterday that they rushed to me in the middle of the night - scared because of a nightmare? My children are finding their places in the world. Have I taught them well? Do they know of my indescribable love and concern for them? Have they learned from my mistakes? Do they understand the importance of good decisions?

I am keenly aware that in a few short years my children will be living on their own, possibly raising their own families. Will I be ready for that next phase of my life?