Get Some Guns

Sistah's + Cousin Night

"Usually ladies come in here with a guy..." Skyler said, with thinly veiled surprise. (Somehow this made the experience more fulfilling.) He asked me to show him how I'd hold my gun. I did. "Perfect," he said. Then he asked my cousin Kathy and my sister VoNique:

They think they're pret-ty funny. (I do, too, actually.)


My first 3 shots with a weapon! The first was the one in the orange circle on the face. The second was the one in the orange circle on the chest. The third was the one in the light green circle on the face. You want me on your side, my friend.

VoNique's target. Don't ask her how close it was. And don't ask her if she [wo]manhandled it afterward.

Yes, this is me after having shot an M16! Holy cow that sucker packs a punch! (In many ways...$22,000 is ridiculously close to a first year teacher's salary in the state of Utah...)

Then we went to Cheesecake Factory. Love my sistah's nights! Have to say, we sure had...a blast! (That joke is attributed to Kathy. She'd get mad at me if she heard me take credit for that one again.)

My Mother

Part of an email from my brother in honour of our Mom:

Like all the women in our family, she was an honorable person and she took her role as a mother very seriously, and even understood that we would carry the torch of life, each of us pursuing personal happiness while doing what is right to better this world as she strived to do. Her influence lives on in each of us every time we reach out in love to our fellow man. In that small way, we change the world, living and loving in her memory. How grateful to have known her and to call her mother.

I wish you peace and love in honor of her today! She would want us to love each other unconditionally and I am so glad we do.

LOVE,
Brett

Flashback

Found a few sketches from high school. If there were 26 hours in a day I'd sketch more.



Since it's a rainy Memorial Day, I thought I'd try my hand at it again. The left pic is a photo of Seth Godin, marketing guru, and the right pic is my sketch of him (I elongated him. Oops.) I love rainy days.

The Best Date Ever

Damon has been drooling over the ads for the new Indiana Jones movie for over a month. I grew up on the movies (along with you!)--wanted to be a teacher and archaeologist since...forever--and love them. Mom told me of how she was in the theatre watching Indiana Jones when she was pregnant with me, and it was so intense that she almost went into labor =o) So. I had to go on opening night with Damon and Tayler!

Damon: "I'm excited for our date." (Then he handed me flowers!)
Tayler: "I am your chaperone."

"I'm tooo faat! I ate too much popcorn." (He bought the popcorn.)

The sun setting after the perfect date.
On the way home...
Damon:"When I get big, I will take you in my car."
Me: "Will you take me to the movies?"
Damon: "...Only if I can find one!"

My favorite lines from the movie (the parts when I wasn't taking someone to the bathroom... =o) ):
1) After much adventure... "You're a TEACHER?" "...Part time."
2) Harrison & Shea crash into a library on a motorcycle and a kid asks Professor Jones a question like the events preceding were a regular occurance. As they're riding back out Jones says, "If you want to be a good archaeologist, you have to get out of the library!"

Elder Kev

My exceptionally cute nephew, Kevin...obviously anxiously engaged in mission work. Gotta have a dependable car, ya know? What a great missionary. He's serving in the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission.

Invisible Children

This is a documentary called "Invisible Children". If you have not seen it...

I want to tell you that you must. But you don't have to.

You'd no doubt wonder like me...
...why American forces aren't here.
...why we haven't heard more about this in our country.
...who we need to petition to see that something gets done.
...what in heaven's name can I do? Anything--give me a job!
...why 55 minutes ago your problems seemed so big.
...how you're going to sleep tonight without doing something.

I have got to think of a job.

http://freedocumentaries.org/film.php?id=114
http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5126120.stm

"Freedom is the oxygen of the soul."
~Moshe Dayan

"Despite the fact that these children live each day in a completely desperate situation, without an end to this war in sight, they somehow, someway find hope. They choose joy. And that is what Africa is about." ~Jason Russell

My Little Friends

This party made me feel like I was right back to being 8 years old again. I teach with Alicia, 3 of her sons have taken turns being the sweepers for my classroom after school (and we always chat and they catch me up on middle school, high school, and now college happenings), and I teach her sweet Elece this year. Happy Build-a-Bear birthday, Lecey! (Okay, now I see the big hype about Build-a-Bear...admittedly, I really had a blast creating my bear.)

Pocahontas

You Are Pocahantas!

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Kind of fun. John Smith is my ancestor.
Which Disney Princess Are You?

Weekends are Short...Why Clean?!

I have the best weekends. I'll sum this one up so far in pictures:

Friday afternoon: My second grade team and aide--we threw a combined baby shower (with non-cheesy games) for the faculty. Nyla, Andrena, Linda, Heather, me.

Friday night: This is me, my wonderful friend Kristin's mom Becky, and...Byron Katie! We went to see her speak at Rice-Eccles Stadium (conference room)...and I was one of the people who got to do The Work with her! Hmm. This might need another post with a good explanation. (Later.)

Saturday morning: My wonderful friends Marianna, Bethany and Sarah! They, and their brother David, Dad, and Marianna's husband Tyler, were organizing the 5k in Draper this morning for the Association for Deaf Children. A couple hundred people showed up & it was only their 2nd annual event! My lucky #98 (the year I graduated) helped me get 5th place in womens! (I was totally pacing myself for a longer return route, then when I realized the finish was a lot closer than I expected I started bookin' it (relatively)...I could've taken 3rd if I'd have known the course better! Next year.) Come run the 5k in Springville with my sis & I next month!

Saturday afternoon: Craft day at Vo's! They made cute mod-podged wooden words for around their house, Allie painted pics for her little girl's room. (All exceptionally cute.) I worked on my quote book, ate muffins and slept off a headache.

Saturday evening: No picture, but then I went to temple night with my wonderful Linda friend (top pic, center) and her fun family, and our school secretary Sandi. These two ladies are my heroes.

Needless to say, my house and yard were sacrificed for these things. (Can you tell how disappointed I sound?)

Serious Rock Band

Vo posted these. But I just have to, too. You understand.

Yes, Mikey is biting his lip.
Almost exactly what I look like in the shower.

Jared really is a drummer. And he really is this crazy.
This pose comes *almost* as naturally to Vo as the one that followed it a split-second later (...which was a little funnier). =oP


Allie au natural. Sing it, Vo. You go. Yo. Fo sho.

Tough Guys Wear Pink

For years I have resisted putting pictures of the children I teach out & about, realizing there are just certain things teachers shouldn't do, and posting children's pictures is one of them. But, this time...knowing his great parents (and knowing they like me enough that I could make it up to them if they don't like it), and considering how incredibly hilarious I think this picture is...I'm posting it for your viewing entertainment.

Tell me this isn't the funniest thing you've seen all day. I love it!

(Which is funniest--the spindly arms flexing, the snarl at his toothless lips, the borrowed girl's shades, or that this is his favorite shirt?! All I know is, this kid makes me smile. Despite having to ask him 8 times a day for 167 school days to put his chair on all fours.)

Zaida Whitaker, born today!

Have you ever held a brand new little life in your arms? It's a miracle. Nice work, Mommy.

One World, Everyone Eats

If you have never eaten at the Salt Lake City cafe, "One World, Everyone Eats", it's time, my friend! Why did I fall in love with it from the first time we met? Let me count the ways.

10. It smells and feels like Portland's Saturday Market on Burnside.
9. Everything's organic. (I try everything at once and it doesn't wig out my stomach.)
8. You'd never think to make any of this stuff at home.
7. They'll give you as much of anything and everything you want.
6. You pay what you feel like it's worth when you're finished.
5. Volunteers earn a full meal voucher after 1 hour of work there (yard maintenance, cleaning, serving...anything) and that includes any of their children under 8.
4. You can wear your most outrageous outfit and look like the most conservative person in the place.
3. Pirates are welcome.
2. It's as close as I've felt to traveling without leaving my city.
1. Guaranteed to meet fun, friendly and fascinating people.

My sis, JaNel & I went there tonight. Everyone who walked in was hugging. Finally I asked the guys at the table next to us if there was some event going on, or if they really just hug everyone but JaNel & I who walks in. They laughed and both came over to remedy the situation. It turns out there was a birthday party (to which we were then invited). Pirate style, of course. =o)

I'm It...and You're Next

I will stop reading other people's blogs if I get tagged again. And that's the truth. This blog "is dedicated to the one I love" (sing it). Melissa Coba...be? =oP You know who you are.

10 years ago: I was graduating from Mountain View High School! Cra-zy. I was dating Jonny and we were having a blast at every random thing we did. Amanda and I were deciding about going to school in Bellingham at Western Washington (she did, I obviously didn't) and though we still keep in touch (she just had her 2nd baby--Emerson--and sent me yummy chocolates for my bday!) I still miss her guts!

5 years ago: I was celebrating my first wedding anniversary. Sam had proposed at the Conference Center, and on our anniversary was singing there for General Conference with the BYU Men's Chorus, which he was president of at that time. He was in the bishopric of a BYU singles ward, and I was teaching Marriage Prep to all the engaged couples. I was accepted to the Elementary Education program at UVSC and excited.

5 months ago: My family was celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas--the first without my Mama. Let me tell you, there is nothing like having a slumber party with nieces and nephews on Christmas Eve to invite a little holiday cheer! I "slept" on Jackson's bottom bunk. He was up every hour. After fighting it for a while ("Jackson, you can be awake, but you need to leave the light OFF!!") I finally conceded to memory-making and we played a couple rounds of his new Battleship game by sunrise. =o)

5 things on my to-do list:
1. 65 books
2. Plan the walking field trip to Macey's, the post office, and performing our 2nd grade program at the nursing home
3. D.I. drop
4. Vacuum
5. Buy a Mother's Day gift I would've given to Mom and give it to someone (someone who will say thanks.) (That's not funny.)

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. toasted pbj (gourmet, no?)
2. string cheese
3. Tostitos Hint of Lime chips w/Pace
4. mint or orange Milanos with organic 1% milk
5. apples and peanut butter (honeycrisp apples are the best EVER)

5 things I would do if I were suddenly a billionaire:
1. Pay my tithing and fast offering in pennies
2. Throw a party like no othuh with Kristin
3. Pay off my school loan and house
4. Take my siblings and Dad to Greece (then I'd be off to Italy, Egypt, India, Nepal, and South Africa doing as much for people as I can along the way...And Australia for Dad)
5. Live my life like I normally would (...except maybe in a red Toyota Corolla with a sunroof or a Prius, and a Shelby Cobra, and a masters from UPenn!) (This includes investing, serving missions for my church, and my life's dream becoming a reality sooner!)

5 of my BAD habits:
1. Drinking out of the jug
2. Leaving things at my sibling's houses
3. Procrastinating non-pressing paperwork at school (far too many pieces of paper in my job)
4. Putting off the hideous chore of cleaning the tub as long as tolerable
5. Buying books/cards faster than I can read them/send them to people

Places I have lived:
1. Vancouver, Washington
2. Tacoma, Washington (1 year when I was 4)
3. Provo, Utah
4. West Jordan, Utah
5. TBA

5 things people don't know about me:
1. I never ever turn on the tv
2. I'd like you to drive past the point of the mountain, see the parasailers, and say..."Hey, isn't that VeNicia?!" (And have you be right.)
3. I wanted to serve my mission in South Africa and still want to go there.
4. I've always felt like my life's mission has something to do with charity work, hungry people, and education of children and families
5. I'm just really regular. I don't have another one. Oh. I'd like to play the cello.
6. I remembered a good one: I grew up with the plan to adopt children from different countries.

5 people that I tag:
1. Linz
2. Erica
3. Christine
4. Allie
5. Dr. Clint
muhahahahaaa!

(No tag-backs. ever.)