wry wrens wriggly wreck

anyone have any suggestions for poetry/songs/words/quotes for our marriage celebration? furthermore, how about any suggestions for the actual ceremony itself? anything you'd like to see that you think represents darin and i well? i am open to ideas right now as i try to envision what will actually take place on june 30. looking at "wedding ideas" online, even if i add the words: cultural, creative, unique, homemade, nontraditional...etc...is very frustrating because it always comes back to companies trying to sell generic stuff. when what i want is real ideas of stuff i can make myself, or things that don't cost money.

so i got my rain today! i have been home all day except for a quick jaunt to del taco with mom and darin. weird. all the cats are gathered round and music plays and i've been sorting through all the junk/crazy stuff in my craft room closet. it's a cozy day. but i miss school, and i miss esoteric conversations with artists and wild dreamers, and i miss drinking wine with friends and dancing and hearing live music.

hooray for joey's show next week! by the way, he got mad at mom for even speaking the word "blog," and i must admit it is a pretty dumb word. but as of now i haven't thought of a good alternative.

one more tidbit: a movie you all need to see is called THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP. directed by michel gondry, the guy who did Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, this one crosses language/relationship/dream/wakening/life/work/play boundaries and is so fun to watch and beautiful and quirky and lovely. you can rent it at blockbuster.

comments welcome. you guys never comment for me!!!!

Dodey

Where is Joey? I'm sure he uses the internet as regular as the rest of us. So where's the dude? I say we rally our forces and get Joey to join up too - he's kindof key membership in this undertaking. How are we going to successfully plan out our hegemony without Peter Wiggin himself? Alright, that is all.
*mikie

My abstract and what I'm doing and etc.

Hello family. This is my first post, believe it or not! I'm so glad we're all using this and commenting and such. Let's just make sure we keep it going, keep checking back all the time like we're already doing so enough of that.

Everything here's so busy. I'm just looking out the window and the sun's setting and there's still snow on the ground, but it's been much warmer, much nicer. I think the high today 46 or something, if you can believe that. It shot up in just a couple days. I just finished reading The Age Of Innocence, and now Amy's starting it. I really liked it; now I want to rent the Scorsese movie, just at least to see how it is. I've been reading a lot of short stories too--I just read Brokeback Mountain which is insanely well-written (but occasionally romantic so to speak so be forewarned) and then I read Soldier's Home by Hemingway. I love finding stories online to read and share. Oh yeah and another really good one which I recommended to Dad, that inspired me to buy a P-38 can opener at Arian's is called The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. So yeah if you have some time and haven't read them and feel like it--good stuff. Sorry for getting carried away; I tend to do that on blogs.

Well on February 16th I'm presenting a paper at this symposium here at BYU. It's called Life, the Universe and Everything--it's a sci-fi and fantasy conference, basically. My paper's called To Contemplate the Universe Beyond Man: Postmodernism in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I figured that for fun, I would post my abstract and see if any of you would be interested to attend because of it. So here it is:

In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams creates an often-hilarious and sometimes-wise universe in which science and rational thought take second seat to coincidence and the irrational. Looking at Adams through a postmodern lens exposes elements of scientific and philosophical thought that call basic axioms of existence and even religion into question. In particular, the positions of existentialism, Darwinism and nihilism are prevalent, yet concealed somewhat in Adams' entertaining framework. His unique brand of British humor merged with skillfully-slight science fiction creates a postmodern work that encourages questioning and the destruction of the status quo.

Whew. I'm kinda worried about it because I need to present for 30 minutes (!) and have a powerpoint presentation and a short bio written plus I need to do a huge revision on the paper before it's presented. That, along with schoolwork and all of us at home and work and I'm swamped.

I always sleep weird--unhealthily too. Last night I had to write two short papers and read, and then Bella wouldn't sleep so I played Zelda with her watching (that was her request; she said, "I want to play a video game" in her Bella talk and how could I resist?). My nights are just weird. Sleep two hours, read an hour, sleep two, write papers two.

I tried to teach Jarom to write his name on Sunday. He's got "rom" down, but he keeps confusing capital-J and lowercase-a. He calls them "r". But he's learning. He's such a smart kid. He's especially smart at these cute little children computer video games he finds on the web, which is neat and all but maybe sad if that's the only thing he wants to do. (But it's not.) And he's good at em anyway. Makes me think of pictures of Mikie and I, stone-faced and staring at that tiny TV in the old family room, playing 8-bit Nintendo games and taking pictures of the ending screen so we can prove to people that we really beat the game.

I better go. This was just a post for fun. Can't wait till school's out and I can see my family more and do fun and exciting things again. Though winter's not all bad-- But this summer will be great: Disneyland, camping, exploring, road trips, new baby--as much as we can do. I'm looking forward to it all. Then hopefully we'll be back closer than ever and we can all have fun and celebrate newly received Bachelor degrees and stuff. Love you all. Talk to you soon.

Henry Miller Quote that you must read

Hi everybody! Heather, I am about to read your post, but I just had to get this one up first! I hear that Susan at your work is getting brain surgery? Crazy! And Deena is having some health issues that are pretty serious too? Geez. I told your coworker ( I forget her name.... freckles, skinny, dark hair, I know her from a long time ago...) that if you guys need an emergency server I will sign on. I saw her at Starbuck's yesterday.

Anyways I wanted to post a link to this page I was just reading about almonds. Seems they are the healthiest nut and can stop everything from cancer to arteries clogging. And the trees they come from are beautiful! http://www.answers.com/topic/almond

Hi Mom, thanks for calling me this morning. You don't have to be sad, barely ever, unless its the kind that feels good because you are so glad you have lived a beautiful life and have been blessed to know and be touched by (and give birth to!) amazing people with kind hearts. Those kinds of tears, the grateful ones, are the only kind I like anymore. They seem quite necessary actually. It feels so good to be so full of gratefullness and amazement of beautiful life and its people that tears must come out. See, the old days may seem sweet to you, but you need to know how sweet these VERY days NOW are. And later you will remember all these moments and think they were so great, but you should not miss them so. You need to remember that the days gone by won't compare to the happiness of the days still to come. I mean that. The best years of your life are never over, because they just get better and better til you die, which I believe, is a person's moment of glory. A celebration. Of course, that's my optimism at its best. And my christian mystic coming out!
To end my little bloggidy blog, here is one of my favorite quotes. It is by Henry Miller, and for me it was an acquired taste to have it be my favorite quote. In the old days it was really hard for me to forget myself and all my make-up and girliness, but these days, I know what Mister Henry means. The world around us is rich for us, full of hungry and needy souls who need our smiles, full of stories, legends and little lights, full of faith, religions, belief systems, cultures, unique people(all fascinating!) and full of each new day. Kind of like Groundhog Day, the movie!!!

"Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself." h.m.

superbowl sunday

it was a good day. i am back to my cheery self. but remind me never to work on superbowl sunday again. i had about nine tables all night. i so wish i could have had a little visit from the whole beatty clan because for once i would've had time to hang out, listen to music on the jukebox, and take jarom and bella to win toys from the machine. mom and marcia did come in and eat cheese fries which i got to share with them. it is so mellow at my work lately. i have to be careful because when i get bored there all i want to do is EAT! YUMMY FRIED FOODS!!! ack. not very helpful for my healthy new year's resolutions.

anyway i am pleased to report that darin is feeling better the past couple days and it makes me feel better too! and the best thing of all is ending my day reading amy's blog about jarom! the cutest thing ever! i'm at mom's and we read it together and were just dying.

now it's home to read my book about tina modotti, who is a fascinating creature and beautiful italian communist rebel woman, so if you get a chance to look her up, do.

we washed the van today. if you recall her name is isis, after the mystical egyptian goddess and the bob dylan song. and i can tell you, isis is feeling ready to hit the road! her cozy interior awaits, a little home on wheels for darin and i to go out and explore this country. mattie, the appalachian trail is so beautiful. i, too, have thought about hiking it.

good night you goofball family! i love you all so much!

The days get longer and the nights smell green

News from Santa CrUz -

this weekend has be a blessed one guys. Hasn't it? Sorry to say, the weather in Santa Cruz has been absolutely gorgeous, somewhere in the sunny warmth of 65 degrees. Yesterday Daniel, Angi (a new friend I've made) and myself took off into the mountains for a day at Big Basin. It was pretty rockin, and driving through the coastal forests is an intense experience. Daniel explained that since all the trees were cut down 150 years ago, everything we're seeing is brand new and a little unnatural. The undergrowth beneath the redwoods from here to Oregon is really thick and wild, which makes for almost treacherously unpassable woods in our little mountains. Placerville and the desolate Sierras, on the other hand, have walkable woods because the trees have existed so long they've canopied and killed all the underbrush beneath them, so you can get around much easier on foot and in car. ANYhoo, we drove all around there and to the coast, then made it back in Santa Cruz for the night. Then, check THIS out: down the street (about 5 houses away from my own) a major fire broke out on the upper floors of an old house, and truly engulfed the whole thing in flames. It was massive, and filled our neighborhood with a dense cloud of smoke - then 5 or 6 fire engines and countless police vehicles pulled up around our block to tie off things and put out the raging fire. TONS of people were out and about to watch and pity. It gave me a little scare, so we went back and made some dinner.

Today I woke up late and sat shirtless around our sunny house all morning. Then I took my bike and rode away into the beautiful blue streets and beaches of Santa Cruz city and the surroundings. Unbelievable day, today was. The superbowl parties put off a smell of barbecues and summer throughout the entire city, and people were everywhere. There was a beach and all those touristy folks, the harbor and its boats bobbing there, the railroad tracks and bridge down by the Boardwalk, downtown and the busy streets of Sunday afternoon, the west-side houses and in all their yardsale glory, and finally the west cliffs leading all the way back to the Boardwalk (salsa dancing) and eventually home. A grrreat ride, and one of few I've even taken around this place. I am buried in franctivity, so admiring Santa Cruz and the coastline for what it truly is, well sometimes I take it for granted. Don't get me wrong, I love hiking around campus every day and I never let a pretty day go by without expressing my recognition to everyone I encounter - but to just ride out and around the city which you've been living in for the last couple years and to really take in the elements that turn at work every day whiles I'm up living my campus life, it's just easy for my judgments to become somewhat skewed.

So, springtime is a couple months away - but it's also right here, and in our hearts. Let's blossom especially well this year, and make way for one grandoriously freeful summer to follow. Cheers ma familia

Life with Jarom is Grand!

Every day Jarom never fails to surprise me with something only Jarom can do: tease, ask the most out there question for a four year old, make up a joke, dance or sing. The list really can go on and on. So anyhow, you all know what I'm talking about. Today, Feb. 04, 07 was the first Sunday of the month, which all you guys remember as the dreaded fast Sunday. But if you're lucky someone interesting will bear their testimony, and it will never leave your memory. Well, Matt and I have been very blessed with one of those interesting speakers--Jarom. He hears the words open mic and he's off and running. Unfortunately Matt and I missed the big show, since he did it in primary. But we have been told by many teachers how wonderful it was and that we should not miss it next month for surely he will be up there again. I know to some of you this seems like nothing, but to me it's everything. I know Jarom doesn't have a testimony (so I'm really curious what he did say, something probably like--my dad has the new Zelda game) but he has pizazz and a zest for life, and I love more than anything that he is not cursed with the same crippling disease that Matty and I both had--shyness. Sorry if I'm being too much of the annoying proud parent, I'll probably be struck by lighting. So for once in my life, instead of dreading the first Sunday of every month I am looking forward to it with great anticipation. Another proud moment, Jarom finally got to ride a ski lift. The happiest day of his life. Matt took him snowboarding.

Geez! Finally I figured out this Google Accounts ordeal!

Hi Mattie. That was a pain. The 3rd time I requested they finally let me change my password. Mom's Groundhog Party was a success. I really want to hold one of those little guys like Bill Murray got to when he drove the truck over the cliff. Anyways, I like this fam blog alot, this idea. Everyone have a SPLENDID weekend.

a day off

Hey, this will be neat Mikie/Matt. I will be contributing and adding to my profile, but just wanted to check in at this time. I need to get to know this site, how to use it, and the things that are available. In the meantime, I'm off work today and I'm going to try and figure my income tax early this year. Addie, I'm currently reading a book called "The Last Season", that Susan checked out for me. It's a true story about a Sierra Mountains back country wilderness ranger that went missing in 1996 after leaving his post in Kings Canyon Nat'l Park, where he had spent 28 summer seasons as a Park Ranger. Yea, we need to consider our camping agenda again for the summertime soon. This book got me thinking about camping and the Sierras, not that that subject doesn't frequently occupy space in my mind anyway.
Dad

winter winter everywhere - a dirge

i am in a bit of a quandary. i don't want to spend much money because i am trying to save for our big road trip and our wedding. and yet i am absolutely dying to go somewhere, to get far away from here for a couple days at least. to see the ocean, to take a long walk, to cry in the wind. i am restless and stir crazy. darin, as you all know, has been in rather ill health for the last few months. i have tried to be supportive but it is starting to drive me crazy. partly because i feel guilty for being healthy and wanting to frolic around, and anyway i feel like there's no one to frolic with. all my friends are either in school (rebecca, carolann, doniella) or totally in love and removed to the country (mary). i miss friends like kim and nichole who i can actually go out on the town with and be girly and talk about girly things, as well as big things sometimes. i wrote nichole a letter today. i need to be inspired.

it is cold and dry and dry and gray and cold. we are using up all the wood and propane, and our house is still huge and empty and cold cold cold. but all the plants and bushes and fields are brown and dry, because there is no rain. darin is sick and it will never rain and i don't know what the spring will bring. it has been a month with no moisture in the air, no rain, no release from the dry crackle static in my hair and my sallow dry skin and the sad look in my eyes.

i want the ecstasy of escape. that is what i want right now. even if it is just driving past crooked jaggedy black skeletons of grapevines and oak trees. at least at the end of the road i will see the ocean. just like the river yesterday. i drove down to coloma and sat by the river. it was sluggish and sad and fading away. the embankments are brown rocky dirt. there are no green little enclaves or sparkling ripples. just a few sad geese honking about, looking at the emptiness. it seemed stagnant, but i had to remember, this river goes to the sea. this river goes to the sea. this river goes to the sea.

sorry guys. this is a terribly pathetic first blog entry.

Camping, fam?

Hey, I just thought it might be wise to consider where we will go camping this year? Any ideas? Once or twice? Twin Lakes? Making more movies? Prerequisite this year, Darin, Art and the Matt and Amy family must go! Even with a tiny.

Ok, that's all. Hope your Thursday is fine. Groundhog's day is tomorrow! I bet for 6 more weeks of winter (considering it has barely begun!) Keep taking Yin Ciao everyone to fight off the colds.

I love you,

Lunagypsea

in the year 2007

February 2, 2007 - how did that happen? How is it that time flies by so fast? Each year goes swirling by like a whirlwind. Of course at the library we are always checking out books and saying that will be due on February 22nd and so forth, wow, living in the future - always thinking ahead. I need to do more with my here and now. I have plans to make better use of the time I'm given each day. You kids have been an inspiration to me with all your blogs, journals, pictures, videos and others paraphenalia for documenting your lives. What I would give to be able to go back and relive my days as a young mom. The closest thing I have are some cassette tapes with your little voices singing and talking and myself as narrator. They are sparse however. I guess there's also those family videos dad is supposed to put on a DVD and then give back to me. Oh well maybe at least we have those and lots and lots of pictures. Those are my diarys and journals of the best years of my life. Those moments I spent with my five precious ones. Well I plan to put the photos of the last four years in albums, write in a little journal more and sew curtains and blankies and teach Heather to sew and send fun packages to my precious family near and far and live each moment to the fullest. I'm also learning to knit and I need to find my embroidery bag that's been lost since I moved. I want to quit wasting my time in front of HGTV and live. Some of you missed the homemade Mac and Cheese and Apple Pie and then Apple Crisp, I wish you all could have had some. It was fun to make and Dad, Heather and Joey at least got to partake. I love you all and hope I can catch up to the 21st Century with blogging skills, digital camera skills, cell phone ability, getting a decent scanner and printer etc. This is the new way for me to communicate and share with you all. Thank you Mikie for the idea and Matt for helping me set up my blog. Love to all, Mom

I'm supposed to be awake

and I feel like I haven't gone to bed yet. Just thought you should know. Happy Thursday morning everyone; another weeked rushed on passed us. I'm gonna shower now.

Let's make it a good one. The most interesting signs are the ones that use all varieties of icons and indexes. Go out and indicate something worthwhile today.

Na n'na n'na eyh

This picture makes me very happy.
Take a look at it.

A time for vent, a time for sleep

Once again I'm not asleep past 3 am. This time it's no thanks to a fun-filled midnight movie at the Del Mar of Serenity, and Bonnie came too! She's a cute girl, very sweet.

Ok. I could probably do better physically writing this out in one of my two going journals at the moment, but why not instead commune with the space of empty WWW's and say hello to You! That said, I will make the slight changeover to my little red book journal to finish out my thoughts. But I will vent briefly that at approaching 25 I can happily confirm that I have always known exactly who I am. The difficult part is figuring out what that means for the people around you. Shall I make a list? Yes.
How quaint.

1 - Bicycling makes me feel good.
2 - I look up, a lot.
3 - Natural processes (without scienfic analysis especially) fascinate me.
4 - Being loud in public is a very good thing.
5 - I'm way too finicky about my hair.
6 - Masochism has some interestingly useful side-effects.
7 - The hotter the better, always.
8 - Freezing is a sweet escape from mild passive climates like santa cruz.
9 - I like to write in verse when I am bored.
10 - Crushes make us happier people, generally.
11 - I don't understand memorization at all. Like sleeping, it just somehow happens.
12 - Nintendo and Lord of the Rings influence a large part of my daily thought.
13 - I'm obsessed with feeling good through physical exertion.
a. Bicycling
b. Sleeping after 2 am nightly.
c. Snowboarding, dancing, running around hot and sweaty in the sun with purpose.
d. Fighting for my life.
14 - Food used to be the most important thing in my life. Now it's second.
15 - Vehicles are like horses and friends: if you want to fly, you have to Love first.
16 - Freedom means something different for everybody.
a. Mikie's freedom is tied to the outdoors and horizons.
b. The unknown is a freedom of thought and action.
c. To achieve a possibility for feeling Love is my most greatest liberation.
17 - Link is lefthanded.
18 - There are no bad guys, just bad drivers. Everything else can be justified.
19 - It's 3:33am. I'm going to bed now.
20 - I'll finish this list later.
21 - I fell in love with a girl last night because she went out of her way to take care of my battered self. I didn't really need her for it, but just the same - it really meant something.
22 - I gave up on girls a long time ago
23 - And I could never be attracted to a guy.
24 - So I'm a little bit stuck. Maybe I'm asexual, without the 'a'
25 - That's how old I'll be in less than 1 month. 25. 1/4 of a Century. Awesome.


Love Mikie