Do You Take Plastic?

Monica asked this week if we would ever consider plastic surgery - why or why not?

Personally I feel that plastic does not need surgery. Barbie is well enough endowed on her own (and the worst possible role model for little girls) and Mr. Potato Head has become too much of an addict, what with all the facial reconstruction that he and his lovely wife go through constantly. I mean really, new eyes, limps, ears, arms...where does it end? Frankly, I am disgusted by it and hope they all get some much needed therapy soon.

And the winner is........

Favorite Oscar Moments

Jack Black and Will Ferrell
Roberto Benigni winning for "It's a Beautiful Life"
Falling Slowly winning best original song
Russell Crowe acceptance speech (first time)
Kevin Spacey's impressions of Christopher Walken and others

There are many more, but those stand out right now the most.

The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestickmaker

The PSS question this week was my turn. I asked these three questions because a) I am curious as to what point everyone is at in evaluating their lives, or if they do. b) I am doing a sense of humor and ability to laugh at one's self check c) I want to know how your mind works. So this is what I asked "This is a three part question Essay, philosophy, and art. First the essay - write a letter to your 12 year old self based on your life experiences and knowledge you have now. What advice would you give?"

Dear Amy, Hey beautiful girl. Yeah, I know, you don't feel like that, but you are. You think that you are just a short awkward kid with glasses who is trying to find her way in this world. But you are not. This is just the start of some amazing life experiences and within one year your whole life and how you see the world and yourself will change. In 10 years you will not even recognize the girl you are now and in 20 years you will look at this 12 year old and smile at how great she is. I am not going to lie, you have some very tough times ahead of you and a lot of the time you will be left wondering why they happened and why to you. You have to trust that you will come through it, the good times and good days will outshine the dark days and you will find strength you never knew you possessed at your lowest moments. What I admire the most about you is the quiet strength, depth of character, and grace that you embody. There is a will and determination in your spirit that when channeled is untouchable. I know you do not see it, as you think of yourself as lazy, but it is there....discover it and use it. No doubt, the laziness is there too though!

You will grow from an unsure, shy, and introverted girl into a confident, shy, and less introverted woman. Learn to embrace and use your sexuality, it will serve you well. Keep up your college studies, you will regret it everyday if you quit. You are a very intelligent girl and not liking math should not stop you from your goals. You will have a person who loves you tear you down from time to time, learn to let it roll off you and take the high road. It may not seem like it, but it is really said with love, or at least a version of it. Everyone has their own history and this will impact how they interact with other people, the sooner you understand that it is their issue and not yours, the happier you will be. You will meet and work with several people who believe they are better than anyone else, that their lives are perfect, and that their shit don't stink. Realize that Karma is a bitch and what goes around comes around, fortunately you will be there to see it. That will be a great day.

Above all else I want you to enjoy your life. Sometimes you will be out of balance, but in true fashion you always find a way to correct it. There will come days when the clouds are too dark and the rain won't stop, but there is always sun the next day. Learn to breathe in life - breathe in and hold in your body all the sounds, sights, tastes, and experiences. Keep them deep inside you to pull out on those days when the tide is pulling you to sea. I love you little Amy. You are independent, smart, sassy, kind, brave, true, and mysterious. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Philosophy question in honor of Darwin- If a man evolved from apes and monkeys then why do we still have those animals around?

I understand this question, the science behind it is obvious. But to me, it is a funny question. Kind of like asking "If a man speaks and a woman is not around to hear him, is he still wrong?" I am a strong believer in evolution, believe it or not it is possible to belive in God and evolution. Anyway, for me the answer is simple, we still have apes and monkeys around to remind us how stupid and unevolved some members of our species are.

Art question - What piece of music, art, architecture best represents your view of yourself?

The music that best represents my view of myself is Gypsy from Lord of the Dance, Three Babies by Sinead O'Connor, and Bitch.

The architecture that best represents my view of myself is the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. (Of course it would be a museum.)

And finally the art was overwhelming as there is a lot to choose from that represent how I feel...but this one embodies my belief in myself and the independent spirit that was nourished in me by my strong female role models.

Oh L'Amour

This week Kim asked us about our best and worst Valentines day. I honestly do not have a worst, but I have 2 best, 10 years apart.

The first one was 1995, my first valentines with D. He had never been to Las Vegas, which surprised me, so I decided it would be a fun getaway. This was back in the day when the Southwest flight was $20 each way and our room was $39 a night at Treasure Island. We had a blast, went to the Hard Rock, had dinner at the Camelot, wandered around, shopped, caught Dennis Miller and a "Boylesque" show. The part I remember the most is the actual Valentines day there was the most beautiful sunset that we watched as we walked back to our room, he bought me a single red rose, a bottle of wine, and gave me the best, most romantic bath of my life!

Fast forward to 2005, I had one a nights stay at the Alaska Inn from work. We went to the Olive Garden and got dinner to go, then headed up to the B & B. The room was the biggest cabin they had, which was bigger than our first house together. It had a nice kitchen, a tub in the middle of the room by the fireplace, and everything else you could want. We had a wonderful evening eating our dinner, watching a movie, and taking another awesome bath together.

Not surprising, my favorite Valentines have nothing to do with what I received in the way of a material present, but more with the love I received from this amazing man that I am fortunate to have in my life.

100 Things - (Stolen Shamelessly from Lisa)

100 Things I've done.

RULES: There are 100 statements and you bold the ones you have done.Grab it and play for yourself!!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Looked up an old boyfriend on Facebook
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (does somewhere else count?)
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (solar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gotten out of a speeding ticket
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Adopted a stray dog or cat
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

What's In A Title? Highly Overrated

Favorite things this week (and last week since I am behind):

1. This (so good, so good, so good)
2. My oldest starting Irish Dance Lessons. She has been begging for over a year and a place finally opened in Clearfield that is certified. Best part is one of her best friends from school is doing it with her.
3. Halfway through a book I have tried to read 3 times....a new record!
4. Woke up to beautiful snow this morning.
5. My baby crawled for real, is pulling to a standing position, and is laughing hysterically at everything!

What If

This week Kim asked "If you were told you have an incurable disease, and have less than a year tolive. Would you take treatment, that would make you sick, but be able tolive more than a year. Or have only the quoted time and be healthy for mostit? And.. what would you do with the time? "

I really cannot say until I am in this situation, which I hope to God to never be in. For me, what I THINK I would do is easy. I would not tell a soul, I would cut back my hours, I would spend quality time with my girls doing things that they will remember all their lives. I would take a vacation to Ireland and Scottland with my husband. I would go on a road trip with my mom. I would hang out with my dad for a while. I would spend time with my friends - going to movies, bungee jumping, having coffee and talking. I would reread my favorite books and watch my favorite movies. I would go to the museum once a week. I would lie in the sun and get really tan. I would take up smoking, drinking, and recreational drugs on the weekend (dead anyway right, might as well enjoy it). I would paint a picture, I would finish writing the book for my girls about my life. I would make all the funeral arrangements so no one else has to. Then when I knew it was getting close and I was getting sicker, I would tell my family and spend my last few weeks or days with just them.