Barry Manilow and Dr. Seuss

Julie - “This one’s for you, wherever you are”

THING 1: While I was in college, I called my Dad to tell him about a situation that felt like a disaster. He counseled me to reframe the situation as a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block. I could see that it was wise counsel, but my immediate response was not to find the stepping stones ….my immediate response was to feel like I had tripped and stubbed my toe and therefore my foot was going to fall off.

I don’t typically write the songs that make stepping stones sing. (I know, I'm a dork.)

THING 2: I was involved in a project where EVERYTHING went wrong. There was so much else going on at the time, I was very frustrated, and thought to bow out of the doomed project and move on….which would have had very unsatisfactory consequences, but… I was just done with the thing.

My friend, Julie, was also involved in the project, and called to give me a status report one day. After telling me the list of things that had, again, gone wrong, she said, “My opportunity is to find a way to make “x” part of this “y” step in the project work so we get “z” on time.

Seeing opportunities is not always my fashion ….at the Copa, Copacabana…

I just don’t think like that…., but I want to. I’ve been thinking how much happier I would be…and all of us for that matter, if we looked for the stepping stones in a challenge…..and what a world this would be if we all saw things for their possibilities, rather than for their problems

I’m going to try it right now: My opportunity is to learn people and project influencing skills at a level I’ve never been at before, without punching someone….

Well, looks like I almost made it.

Oh! The places I'll go ....when trying to share my random thoughts. :)

DECADE OF JOY

Are you one of those people who thinks writing in a journal is really important and yet your journal entries look like:

ENTRY 1 - Jan 1, 1989 - New Journal...so motivated....pledge to be better.... the world's best journal writer.... detailed description of my day...
ENTRY 2 - Jan 3, 1989 - Rats!, was so committed and missed a day, but.....I'll be better.... less detailed description of my day...but still a success...
ENTRY 3 - Jan 4, 1989 - Yay, me! Two days in a row....feel so happy....what a great day...

ENTRY 4 - Jan 1, 2001 - Shame!!!!!.....look at how long it has been...where do I even start and what events are gone forever because I didn't capture them when they happened...five hours later and 12 years of events..., I'm almost caught up...

And it starts again.

Yeah - that's me. I totally believe in journal writing and keeping a record, but to my utter shame, like my annual resolution to budget, journaling too, lasts but a few days.

So, what follows is Entry 4; and it took me a ridiculous amount of time.

The theme for the decade of 40s is JOY. And, while there certainly have been struggles this year, I have also had a lot of fun:

Parties
Valentines/Bugsy Malone party with the kids

Hat/Tea Party with the girlies(We missed you girls who weren't with us... next year!)

Pig party for the April 1st Celebration - with Pigs in a Blanket, pig toys and books, and licorice ice cream. We're thankful for pig valves in our family.


The Australians

Trips
Mesa to see Henry and Paul and Kami and baby girl niece :) - where we ate at fun places, shopped, fed ducks and played at the park, went to Spring Training, and got me addicted to Lost.



St. Louis to see Tiana, Bror, Inj & Melanie, where we went to a Cardinals game - complete with an airport-devastating tornado, saw Abraham Lincoln's home, toured the Anheuser Busch facility, celebrated Easter (in style thanks to a very thoughtful Chris - my brother's father-in-law, who bought me and Mellie hats to keep up my Dad's tradition); and I also caught a three-month cold/cough.
Hawaii for a "Its ok that you're 40 now" relaxing vacation.


I did some "radical" things with my appearance
PINK extensions (the purple from the chocolate party turned hot pink....and had to come out).

And then, I started going shorter...

And shorter...

Until....look what happened....

Yep. I'm "that age." Glasses. So - of course, I took advantage of that opportunity and got black and whites (above) and Kate Spade's (below). Had to. (And I'm about to get some Fendi sunglasses.... its an illness, I know.... but, remember how this is the decade of JOY.)

Most importantly, I've been having a great time with my sweet family...

And, of course, I have continued to eat chocolate to my heart's content.

So - now you and my journal are all up to date.

Have you been wondering about me & chocolate?

You know the chorus of that song by Cinderella, “You don’t know what you got ‘til its gone,” where the singer laments not appreciating or recognizing the great love that was and now isn’t in his/her life?

Most of us have experienced something akin to this, whether it be a friend or a family member or a loved one or a job, etc., and it feels like a truth - a cautionary tale, if you will: appreciate the good things in your life WHILE you have them.

Well, I have a different song to sing/tale to tell. It would go something like this: “You don’t realize what you gave up ‘til it is back.”

I must first say, I do not suppose to have coined a phrase of universal truth here – I realized immediately, and each successive day after, what I had given up when I went for 27 days without my Diet Coke/Diet Dr. Pepper (caffeine).

But, wow – 14 YEARS without chocolate! I absolutely did not fully realize/comprehend/remember what I was missing. And, I am so happy it is back in my life that I have appreciated it multiple times every day since December 31st.

I am about done appreciating at this magnitude and will shortly be consuming at a more normal level of “appreciation,” but before I tried to be a normal person, I had to make sure I had been thoroughly reminded of and reacquainted with my old friend. And I have been. Isn’t chocolate divine?!!!

A few of my current favorites:
BYU Creamery Chocolate Milk -thanks to Kurt, I tasted chocolate milk for the first time in my life the other day (Mom didn’t think it was good for us when we were young – she was probably right!)
Chocolate Donuts (thanks, Joe!)
Chocolate Mint Graham Crackers
Peppermint Oreos, Oreos, Oreo Shakes, Mint Oreo Shakes, homemade oreos, etc.
Brownies
Hershey’s Kisses, M&M’s, Kit Kats, Twix,…
Chocolate and Peanut Butter anything, but esp. the treats my sisters-in-law make
Chocolate Sin Pie at The Dodo
Chocolate Chip Cookies from Paradise (completely obsessed with these)

I could go on and on. I’m like that mayor guy in Chocolat who abstains from chocolate and then completely loses all self control and eats all the chocolate in the chocolate shop window one night. Classic.

So - diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but chocolate is her 2nd bestie. Glad to have you back, friend!

BTW – can someone smarter than me/better informed than me please tell me the etymology for the “don’t know what you’ve got….” phrase? Was it really Cinderella? I’m sure I should know or be able to find it, but I’ve not been able to yet.

And, yes - the Chocolat reference was just so I could have a pic of Johnny Depp on my blog. :)

Spectacular, Spectacular!

No words in the vernacular
Can describe this event!
I was filled with wonderment.
(borrowed from Moulin Rouge)

Thanks to a fabulous family, fantastic friends, two massive inflatable slides, and a Complete CHOCOLATE Craze, I had the most perfect Birthday/New Year’s Eve Party ever!! I feel so blessed to have so many sweet, kind, and generous people in my life who helped make my big chocolate bash a party I will never forget.
Some of the Highlights:
-Purple extensions and tinsel in my hair
-My WHOLE family being in the same room at the same time
-Everyone helping SO much to get ready and clean up (I am VERY grateful to you all), including everyone who came so early and stayed so very late; the diet coke from Jana; a curling iron loan from Eliza; and the inflatables fitting in the gymn just by the hair of their chinny, chin, chins
-All the great treats everyone brought and the chocolate fountains Julie organized and operated (I loved everything I ate, but three discoveries: Chicken Mole, Trader Joe’s Peppermint Oreos dipped in a milk chocolate fountain, and peanut butter and chocolate combined is completely amazing)
-The arrival of my b-day gift from my parents….see pic below
-Rushing to get everyone there and ready for Photos with Sy (which was spastic, but fun!)
-Eating a brownie & mint chocolate chip ice cream for the first time in 14 years - embarrassingly with the whole crowd watching & cheering and snapping photos
-Going down the big slide about 300 times (299 of those times with Tiana)
-Paul’s Fudge Bingo of many voices
-The New Year’s toast with Martinelli’s that I was too wimpy to be able to open
-The marshmallow fight & the dart wars complete with a hand-made cowboy – thanks to Jake & Aiden, etc.
-And, a lot of other stuff, but - most importantly: having so many of the people I love and admire all in one place having fun and eating good food and doing so many nice things for me.
Again – THANK YOU to each of you who came to my party and helped me make it SPECTACULAR!!

P.S. I am thrilled that. . .
- I accomplished a BIG goal that was hard for me,
- I still LOVE chocolate,
- I can eat whatever I want now without having to read labels or inconvenience anyone, and
- Thanks to my parents, I have a new focus: Learning to play the harp!! A dream I’ve had since I was a little girl…and we ALL know how long that is now. Pretty great birthday gift - fulfilling a dream. Like I said a few years ago - my parents are the original Make A Wish Foundation. THANK YOU!!

Let the Fabulous, Flirty Forties begin.....

1 - I Know a Name

...dearer to ME than any other....it is the name Aunt Becky.

I have the most adorable, precious, talented, wonderful, cute, smart, and perfect nieces and nephews in all the wide world. They are simply the joy of life.

I have been blessed to have an extraordinary extended family - once, my uncle took a day off work to spend six hours driving me to Idaho so I could join my family and go to Hebgen for the last time. Pretty big deal to me. My uncles, aunts, cousins and of course, grandparents are treasures.

My sisters-in-law, brothers and their families and my angel parents are the best part of my life. When people ask me what my hobbies are, I say - reading, cooking, swimming...stuff like that. But, the real answer is my family. They are my hobby and if I could, the way I would choose to spend all my free time. I love you all!!

#1 on my list of Favorite Things is MY FAMILY.

2 - I Believe

I remember the day I was baptized very clearly. I remember that Grandma Allred was sitting on the front row and told me after the baptism that my Dad was the only one who kissed me on the forehead when I got out of the water. I remember that the water was very warm. I remember feeling so happy and glad I had chosen to follow Christ. It was the best decision I ever made.

That decision has impacted my entire life and is one of the things I treasure most.

It might be more accurate to say:

MY TESTIMONY is on my list of things for which I am most grateful.

5 - The REAL Christmas Street

I grew up on a street where each December, the neighbors all came together to do something nice for the community and to testify of the birth, life and mission of Jesus Christ...the real reason for the season. The homes in the circle all display large signs on their lawns with New Testament scriptures and pictures portraying the related scenes.

Cars, buses, limos, carollers came from all over the valley to drive around that circle. We always felt pretty special to live on such a cool street where so many people came to read of the Savior's birth and life. Most Christmas Eves we had to wait in bumper to bumper traffic to get in our driveway.

It was all started by some stalwart old souls - my grandpa & Sy Curtis - before I was born, but the tradition they started is still blessing countless lives - even after they have both returned to that Savior of whom they testified.

This was just one of the Christmas traditions I cherished...I loved the eggnog toast before going in to open presents, Christmas breakfasts, visits from and to grandparents, family parties, and Christmas morning programs to read and open presents by ("shepherds abiding in their fields, keeping watch over their flocks" meant wool sweaters....disciples called to be "fishers of men" meant fishing gear..."angels singing to proclaim His birth meant CDs, stereo equipment, or iPods), etc,.... We still do most of these and I love it!

#5 on my list of Favorite Things is our family CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS.

6 - Montana Mile Marker #5

Several writers and movie makers have tried to capture the essence of an Ideal – a perfect place of love, joy and peace.…

-Sir Thomas More in Utopia;
-The Arthurian legend of a place called Camelot (the Richard Harris, Vanessa Redgrave film is a classic);
-Or James Hilton’s description of Shangri La in Lost Horizon (was also made into a great movie).

I knew a man who succeeded in creating a real Utopia/Camelot/Shangri La. We called him Hans. And, his cabin on Hebgen Lake WAS the Ideal.

Apart from the days my brothers got married or had children, the best and happiest memories of my life are of Hebgen. Check out that sweet life-preserver. I could swim quite well by this time, but it was important to Mom and Dad and Hans that we all stay safe, so we wore them faithfully - and didn't really mind, because who could be bothered by anything at Hebgen?!

Hans was one of those rare individuals who saw the opportunity to make and share something special and actually did it. He was constantly improving things and doing things for us while we were there - like building a fire each morning so that when we woke up it was warm in the cabin...or teaching us how to make ice cream in the garage...or taking us on wood safari's...hunting for huckleberries...spinning tales about slingshots and moose (which I believed into adulthood)...showing us silent movies from his amazing collection in a living room theater decked out with big screen, reel to reel, light dimmer and surround sound...or giving up his bedroom in the big cabin so we could feel like the cabin was our's.

I can still remember the smell of the woods and lake and the feeling of waking up in that bed under the 4 inch thick brown quilt; and, the site of my Dad chasing a baby bear outside the dining windows to get a photo; my brothers hunting for frogs; swinging on the swing; playing chinese checkers and the marble game; listening to "cabin music"; the wind in my hair as I skiied across a glass lake; cleaning my first fish; sliding down the plastic cushions at the Walton-style table; and saying goodbye for the last time.

In a few days, when I blow out the candle sitting atop the first chocolate birthday cake I’ve had in a very long time, my birthday wish will be for everyone to have a Hans and the opportunity to experience the Ideal that was Hebgen.

#6 on my list of Favorite Things is HANS' CABIN and HEBGEN LAKE, MONTANA.

7 - Sleeping in Beauty

My niece and I were talking the other day about the removable tops of the posts on her bed (they make great microphones and weapons). She has the bed I grew up with. In it's prime, it was a beautiful canopy bed. I still remember my excitement, when at the end of my Christmas morning treasure hunt, I ended up opening my bedroom door to see this glorious cream colored bed standing there - with a matching cream and brown rug on the floor. My parents had us all sleep in one room that Christmas Eve. We thought it was so fun to have a Christmas slumber party. Despite the fact that my brothers will tell you I was spoiled every Christmas (only girl) I never thought I would get such a grand present. They kept it at the Pococks across the street to ensure secrecy. What a site they must have been carting big boxes out of their neighbor's house in the middle of the night.

I loved that bed. And, I love my "big girl" bed now. It has a pillow top and in the winter, flannel sheets, fleece and down blankets and the best pillow in the wide world. I just LOVE when I get to sleep in or take a nap. There's pretty much nothing better than a Sunday afternoon nap, is there? (SO excited for morning church in one week!!!)

I recognize that not everyone sleeps in such luxury - in peace, warmth, and comfort - and I am truly grateful for this blessing in my life. I am a girl who needs her sleep.

#7 on my list of Favorite Things is MY BED.

(The pic above is the closest web photo I could find to what my bed looked like. It is VERY close. The canopy on MY bed met its match with the monkeys who liked sneaking in and swinging from it.)

9 - Christmas is coming and the goose is already fat...

Catchy title, right? hahaha

I distinctly remember the trip to one Christmas Eve family party driving diagonally up a very steep and very slippery hill because the car had no traction on the ice. We slid all the way UP that hill. As previously mentioned, snow driving = evil for Becky.

Had I been my Dad, the driver, I would have thought of nothing else during the party but how the heck were we going to get back down that hill at the end of the evening without crashing??! He's much less dramatic than I and probably didn't do that. As a little girl, while it scared me, I did not quite comprehend the peril we may have been in and probably slept the whole way home, waking after a peaceful night's rest the next morning to presents galore.

Thanks to my parents and four very loving and generous grandparents, that drive is the only slightly negative memory I have of all the Christmases in my whole history. Most of my happiest Christmas memories are of family parties.

On Christmas Eve, we always went to my grandparent's home. We exchanged gifts, sang, performed, re-enacted the nativity, and ate spectacular meals. They served the best food made all year at Christmas - amazing statement given that they had already pulled out all the stops at Thanksgiving. But at Christmas, they must have found a few hidden stops and that food was sheer ambrosia. (Can you mix organ and food metaphors?)

My expectations for Christmas food is simply off the charts because of those parties, so when I tell you that I have found a recipe that to me is worthy of Christmas dinner, you know it is quite a statement. My friend, Claire, posted these amazing cookies on her blog in 2009. I made them last Christmas Eve and absolutely LOVED them. They are very Christmassy and really do melt in your mouth. I totally stole her post from last year for my day 9:

Peppermint Meltaways
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1-1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
Cream butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in extract. Combine flour and cornstarch; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
Shape into 1" balls. Place 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until bottoms are very lightly browned. Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Frosting:
2 TBSP butter, softened
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 TBSP milk
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
2-3 drops red food coloring
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies/candy canes
Beat butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar, milk, extract and food coloring and beat until smooth. Spread over completely cooled cookies. Sprinkle with crushed candies.

# 9 on my list of Favorite Things is this recipe for PEPPERMINT MELTAWAYS. Thanks, Claire!!

10 - Ships

Have you ever sat and pondered what you would do if you won the lottery or the sweepstakes or just suddenly came into a substantial amount of money? Well, I have.

It would be a dream come true. After writing the biggest check in my tithing history, I would:

- Buy houses/pay off the mortgages for my family (and me)
- Buy a big cabin on Hebgen Lake
- Set up a charitable organization doing something great for children where the now mortgage-free family could spend their time
- Buy a car for any of the family who needed it (and four new cars for me – Black Convertible Boxster, Big Jeep, Super Big Truck, and a CRV like the one I have now only black and with a few extras)
- Undoubtedly go to the spa once a week and spend a few weeks buying a ridiculous amount of clothes, shoes, jewelry, purses, luggage, and organizing bins, etc.
- Fly first class to Australia and spend two weeks driving down the Great Ocean Road
- And best of all, I would buy whatever gifts I wanted for family, friends, coworkers…whomever

Can you imagine? Not being constrained by a budget when purchasing gifts for people? THIS would be nirvana for me. I absolutely LOVE giving gifts. It is not because I am a wonderful philanthropist or benefactress (what a cool word!)…I just really get a kick out of seeking out and giving gifts that are special for people I love. I am sure it has more to do with loving shopping than anything else. OH….and, think of the stuffed animal lions I could get for me and my nieces and nephews. Life-sized. What fun!

The thing is, I can’t wait for my pirate ship (with Orlando Bloom captaining it) to come in. Albert Einstein said, “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” So – I am going to have to be worthwhile now. I am pretty sure the Budget Master would frown on increasing the 2011 amount budgeted for gifts, so- people who I love: get ready for non-monetary gifts….whatever that is. Oh Mr. Pirate...where are you?

#10 on my list of Favorite Things is GIVING GIFTS (which I prefer to call PRIZES).

13 - The Song of The Heart

When I was very little - 7 or something - my Dad told me he would buy me my own hymn book if I would learn to play the hymn, Come, Come Ye Saints. I told my piano teacher about it and she said I was not good enough to play it yet. My Dad bought a simplified hymn book to try and help, but it was too late.

The gauntlet had been thrown down when she uttered the "can't" word. Interesting (or not) side note - I don't mind when I realize I can't do something, but when someone else tells me that....sometimes (rarely) I agree. This wasn't one of those times.

I worked at that hymn until my whole family was probably sick to death of it. But, guess what?! I learned it so well that I still can play it by memory to this day. AND - I got my very own hymn book. Thanks, Dad for believing in me! Maybe Zora did too...just had a different method for inciting me. :)

Anywho - learning Come, Come Ye Saints started me down a path of loving to play hymns. I was the pianist or organist for everything growing up - family conferences and Christmas events, primary, young womens, sacrament meeting, firesides (where I was jinxed for a while and made a mistake in the intro every time for months - even in front of Jon Schmidt and President Hinckley), big regional basketball tournament kick-off meetings (thanks to Uncle Blaine), stake events (where I had to play with Richard Elliot and Elizabeth Ballantyne sitting right behind me - one of my worst performances EVER!), sitting around the piano with my family on a Sunday night, on vacation in Island Park as evidently the only visitor in a group of hundreds who could play the hymns (or was willing to), on my mission (where I had another jinx and simply could not play Called to Serve without messing up - one time my mission president's wife even looked over at me with incredulity wondering how anyone could mess up so much), for work seminars (had the great privelege to play the piano and the organ for apostles and prophets), and at grandparents funerals...when I finished playing How Great Thou Art at my Grandma's funeral, Grandpa got up out of the audience and walked over to the piano to hug me...one of my most cherished memories.

Who would have thought it? Well, my Mom and Dad did. Dad knew what he was doing with that challenge and Mom had envisioned her musical children long ago. Ok, ok - I forgive you for ripping me out of ballet. It was definitely worth it.

#13 on my list of Favorite Things is PLAYING HYMNS.

16 - Are You Being Served?

One of the dumbest (in my opinion) British Comedies is set in a high-end department store where clerks approach customers with the phrase, "Are you being served?" It's the only redeeming part of the show. I love the idea of store clerks with a focus on service...remember how I LOVE good customer service...rather than just helping someone? Service implies meeting a need that might not have been expressed.

Well, my brother and I discovered the Mecca for customers seeking good service: Cancun Cafe.

A couple of years ago, we were at Cancun Cafe and made the huge mistake of drinking a lot of water with our chips and salsa and we were full before the meal came. That didn't stop us though. We ate the lot and thought we might lose our cookies the rest of the night. This kind of memory would normally cause me to avoid the scene of the crime, but the thing about Cancun Cafe is Pedro - the best waiter in all the wide world.

We've been asking to sit at Pedro's table for a couple years now. He remembers all our favorites - no lettuce for my brother, Horchata for me, doesn't charge us for chip refills and brings us guacamole and the spicey salsa with our chips without us asking, ...he's quick, the food tastes better when he's there, and most importantly, he is friendly and treats us as if we were life-long friends. He is simply the best, Jerry. The best! He even brought me a T-shirt from his trip to Mexico a while back.

Pedro gets a bigger tip than any waiter ever in the history of tips (well, maybe not quite that) and he deserves every penny.

#16 on my list of Favorite Things is PEDRO.

17 - People Without Faces

As we were traveling home from work one blizzardy day - just after I had gotten my driver's license - my Dad counseled his strong-willed teenage daughter, "I'm an experienced driver, and I wouldn't go out in this snow tonight. I think you should stay home from the high school basketball game."

I didn't stay home, and he was right. Two good friends and I were in an accident - no injuries, thankfully - and, the other driver was cited for failure to yield. To this day, I regret not listening to that advice for two reasons. The first - despite having gained some experience and snow driving skill, I am terrified of driving in the snow. Still.

The second reason - I lost my brilliant collection of key chains that night. I'd been collecting key chains on vacations for several years and somehow, my keys were lost during the mayhem after the accident. Tragic.

I love my collections...stuffed lions, movie soundtracks, trip sweatshirts, Authors card games, earrings, and Willow Trees.
My nephew calls them the people without faces. Somehow, these little people without faces speak to me (in the figure-ative sense - get it, Dad?) and I love them. Above is most of the collection minus my Willow Tree Nativity set and a couple of figures I have at work.

I love giving Willow Trees as gifts and getting them as gifts too...like my other collections, many of the pieces have been given to me by people who know me well.... and to each of you, I say THANK YOU!

#17 on my list of Favorite Things is my WILLOW TREES.

19 - Little Treasures

In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior teaches the importance of seeking the Lord’s kingdom first. St. Matthew recounts for us these instructions from Jesus: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

I had the great blessing to learn from four extraordinary individuals who sought the Lord’s kingdom first: my amazing grandparents. Their lives and examples and the multitude of lessons I learned from them are treasures beyond price to me. I think of each of them daily.

In addition to the love and life lessons I inherited from them, I have some tangible treasures from each of them. Favorite among those treasures are –

From Grandma Pendleton: the hand-written 3x5 card of her favorite quote reminding her (and me) to stop worrying (LeGrand Richards: “For every worry under the sun, There is a remedy, or there is none; If there be one, hurry and find it, If there be none, never mind it.”).

From Grandpa Pendleton: his big warm red Stanford sweatshirt reminding me of the importance of a constant pursuit of excellence.

From Grandpa Smith: a $1 bill from his bill pad reminding me of the importance of saving and spending wisely.

From Grandma Smith: a rose ring I bought with the $10 she kindly gave me to use on my Australia trip weeks before she died – reminding me of her beauty and her constant efforts to bless our lives.

Treasures, indeed.

#19 on my list of Favorite Things are my TREASURED MEMORIES OF LOVING GRANDPARENTS.

20 - 80’s Night at the Oscars

One summer, my brother and I spent many nights eating Cheetos and Ranch dip (very delicious) and watching an 80’s classic film: North Shore. Now, some might say we were losers with nothing to do, but I think it is more to do with the fact that we enjoy good food, good movies, and having a good laugh.

North Shore is a “B” movie, if that, but it is very fun to watch and quote (“Nobody listens to turtle…”). There are several other 80’s movies I would throw into the “B” category – all movies I loved (and still love) to watch over and over; they might not merit an Academy nod for Best Picture, but I would give them other awards like….

Some Kind of Wonderful – Most Awkward Kissing Scene to Watch While on a Not Great Blind Date Award (in addition - a bug flew onto my lip while we were eating and I ate it)

16 Candles – Sweetest Red Porsche/Just Like the Boy Next Door Award

Top Gun – Top Volley-Ball Game I Like to Watch (what girl doesn't?) Award

Pretty in Pink – Greatest Soundtrack to Listen to While Lying Out Award

Always – Best Last Movie Seen with College Sweetheart Award

Footloose – Classic Movie My Grandma Didn’t Want Me to Watch on the Airplane Ride to Hawaii but Had Already Seen with My Young Women’s Leader Award

Fletch – Most Quoted Chevy Chase Line Award (also my favorite comedy film ever)

Karate Kid – Most Reminiscent of Neighborhood Boys Award

Superman II – Craziest Movie I Wish I Hadn’t Watched with My Mom and My Friend’s Mom Award

Princess Bride – Most Quoted Movie by Missionaries in Australia Award

The Outsiders – Best Book My 6th Grade Teacher Read to Us Award

Now – this is all just a silly walk down memory lane, to be sure, but in fairness to the brilliance of the 80’s, there were also some absolute classics produced– certainly worthy of a real Best Picture Oscar, like:

Somewhere in Time, Out of Africa, Dead Poets Society, On Golden Pond, Driving Miss Daisy, The Mission, Gandhi, Chariots of Fire and Rain Man.

#20 on my list of Favorite Things is 80’s MOVIES.

Bonus Prize: Which of these were either nominated or DID get the Best Picture?

22 - This Little Light of Mine

When we took family vacations to Hebgen, there were some traditions that accompanied each trip:

-Visiting Western Nut Company to get spanish peanuts for the chipmunks and squirrels
-Stopping in Ashton to get worms for fishing
-Going on wood safaris
-Eating cheese curd, snickerdoodles, and home-made ice cream
-Silent movies
-Games, fishing, skiing, sun-bathing (I had the sweetest tan back in those days)
-Big amazing breakfasts every morning
-Cabin music, and...
-Taking turns washing the dishes.

Everything was better at Hebgen - even washing dishes. We worked in teams and it was fun washing those thick plates (I think there were orange and brown circles around the edges) and pretty clear glasses. This was the one time in my life I didn't mind doing the dishes.

I mind it now, but my sister-in-law introduced me to something that makes it a bit more enjoyable: LemiShine. This is the best detergent EVER. It smells nice and my plates and glasses and silverware come out looking better than they ever did before I saw the light that is LemiShine.

It is sometimes hard to find, and slightly pricey, but when I do find it, I stockpile it to ensure continued dishwashing happens at my house.

#22 on my list of Favorite Things is LEMISHINE.

26 - Today's favorites are brought to you by the letter

MONET
Other than my brothers, my favorite artist is Monet. I love his ability to represent light and nature with paint, canvas and a brush. Remarkably gifted! Here are some favorites: MEXICAN FOOD
I could eat Mexican food every meal every day for a long time and be very happy. My favorite is a chicken chimichanga with guacamole from Cancun Café. I could drink salsa...I think guacamole should be one of the food groups....and, don’t even get me started on cheese, glorious cheese. Simply three of the best inventions ever. MONTANA
I have been going to Montana nearly every year of my life since the year I was born. It is my place of peace and rejuvenation. I love being up in big sky country. Hebgen Lake, Montana is the best place on earth as anyone who has swung in the swing or sunned on the floating dock or skiied or fished or boated or hunted frogs there can attest to. MOZART

Mozart’s music is one of the great blessings in my life. He is my favorite composer. I love “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”…. It is simply sublime. One of my favorite musical memories was accompanying a clarinetist as he played Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. Years later I had a front row view of a master clarinetist playing the concerto in Symphony Hall. Beautiful music!



#26 on my list of Favorite Things is: MONET, MEXICAN FOOD, MONTANA & MOZART.