National Day of Listening

I have blogged about how much I love StoryCorps. Well from that post I received the below message. I will hopefully have time to participate on November 28th. I am looking forward to listening to my parents, sister and niece. If you have time I think it would be fun to participate.

Hi Jamie,

Thanks for listening and for featuring us on your blog! It is wonderful to see these stories gain new life through the people who read or listen to them and pass them on!

I wanted to write to let you know about a new StoryCorps initiative you and your readers might be interested in. StoryCorps is asking the whole country to set aside one hour on Friday, November 28th, the day after Thanksgiving, to record a conversation with a friend or loved one. We're declaring this day the National Day of Listening. We launched a website (www.nationaldayoflistening.org) with more information and tips for a Do-it-Yourself style interview as well as a video that walks viewers through an interview scenario. Since so many Americans aren't able to make it to a StoryCorps recording booth, we're making it easier for everyone to share this experience in their own homes.



Again, thank you for writing about StoryCorps! We hope you will join us in celebrating the National Day of Listening, and share these Do-it-Yourself tools with your readers, family, and friends, helping us make the experience of listening as an act of love even more accessible.


All the best,
Amy Weinfurter
Communications Project Assistant
StoryCorps

Gorgeous Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

I have mentioned La Blogotheque before. It is a favorite of mine and the Fleet Foxes are quickly becoming so.

Jefferson & Lincoln Memorials

I wanted a low key Birthday day and that is what Dave and Brooke delivered.  Church in the morning and lounging in the afternoon.  The one thing that I absolutely wanted to do was to see the sunset from the Lincoln Memorial. Apparently it is a beautiful site.

It was a chilly and cloud covered day but we headed over there anyway. We first went over to the Jefferson Memorial, then the WWII Memorial and lastly the Lincoln. The clouds never dissipated but it was still a wondrous moment spent with Dave and Brooke sitting on the backside watching the cars go by.

Afterwards Brooke and Dave treated me to yummy Italian food and with full belly's we ordered dessert to go. They sang Happy Birthday and we enjoyed Hot Chocolate and Chocolate Cake. It was pure Bliss!

Isn't my sister in law gorgeous?!

Dave and Myself with the Jefferson behind.

Dave and Brooke...aww!

Lincoln from the WWII

My favorite moment...waiting for the clouds to clear.

The Power of Suggestion

At this very moment I am eating a DoubleStuf Oreo. Drat, I try to stay away from them because I have no control.

Yesterday morning I was speaking with my niece Ali and asked her what she was eating for breakfast. It was DoubleStuf Oreo's left over from her B-day party. So when I went shopping later I picked up some. NO SELF CONTROL! My thinking was that I would take them to the potluck last night or the picnic today. They never arrived at either event. Instead I have been munching away. I think my stomach is going to hate me. 

Thank goodness some of the kids at church helped my get rid of most of them.

Contradiction

This weekend has been gorgeous. 80 degrees and sunny. It as if summer has begun again. Thanksgiving is a week and half away, the fall colors have arrived, however yesterday I was at Bay Street and this is what I saw:

Along with the warm weather, the Hip Hop competition below and the Christmas tree it was a pretty surreal moment.

Arlington National Cemetery

I know it sounds a bit macabre but I love cemeteries. The older the better. For me they are one big park.

So spending part of a gorgeous Saturday at Arlington Cemetery was pure bliss. It is so large that there is no way to see it all. We didn't have a lot of time but we made a point of seeing the Kennedy's and the changing of the guard.

It a a beautiful place. I would love to go back again and spend more time.

The eternal flame and the Kennedy's. This photo was difficult to get there was a Japanese school troupe in the way.

General Lee's Mansion...There were so many dead during the Civil War that they started burying them on his land. His son sued the government because they ruined his inheritance. They paid him off and bought the rest of the land.

Happy Birthday Alexandrea!!!

Today is Ali's Birthday! Ali and I are November babies, it is so much fun to share with someone. Also she is 20 years younger so I always remember her age.

She is an avid book reader so we enjoy discussing our latest reads. I absolutely adore her not only is she a niece but a friend as well. She has a way of taking my hand me downs and making them look fabulous on her.

I can't wait until she visits in 2 weeks.

In my at the time brand new car.

Christmas '07...She asked that I post this photo just for M's face.

Have a FANTASTIC Birthday Ali...we will really celebrate when you arrive.

Love You!

Fabulous Birthday

This Birthday has been awesome! Many of you have sent messages and called. Thank you, I truly feel loved by all!

I had one wish for my birthday and that was to be at the Lincoln Memorial at sundown. Unfortunately there was cloud cover but it was still an awesome night. 

Wahoo!

Supposedly as an adult I should be freaking out about another birthday. What is so wrong with getting older? I love it. For the most part every year gets better.  I am so excited to turn 35!

A few reasons why:

1. As Addie pointed out I will have a longer Birthday this year than anyone else. Why is that? Because the time change happens to be the same day. I get to celebrate for 25 hours not just the boring 24. Thanks to Addie , I am looking forward to my extra long day.

2. I have decided to spend my Birthday in Washington D.C. with possibly 2 of the coolest people on earth.

3. The election is NOT on my Birthday this year. That was a sad birthday 4 years ago....sorry if you feel differently, but I was disappointed having to share it with W.

4. Getting a Georgetown Cupcake. Apparently they are the best thing ever. 

5. The Birthday celebrations have already started.

Alarm Clock

The day before a vacation is usually a really busy and bad day at work. Everything happens only because you are trying to get out of the office with as much done as humanly possible.
I planned on coming into work early to give myself some time should any "disasters" occur.

Instead my body decided to get sick, so when my alarm clock went off at an unreasonable hour I hit snooze, after several more times I decided that my body needed the sleep more than anything. So I changed my alarm to go off at the normal time and fell back to sleep.

An unusually loud bus passed my window and I startled awake. Thinking that it had been a very long 40 min, I took a gander at the clock. It was 7:24 am....NOOOOO! That is the time I try to walk out the door. I flew out of my bed grabbed my cell phone to call the office and hoarsely screaming that I was late. A-gril thought I was going to take a sick day, while momentarily speaking with her I glanced at my cell phone...it was only 6:45. REALLY....I had time to get ready with out calling in late. Instead of changing my alarm, I changed the time. Phew!

I rushed getting ready and started my commute 5 min later than usual. Traffic was bad considering I drive a reverse commute. I almost got into an accident in the Tunnel due to a driver who decided to come to a complete stop for no reason. Praying that no other car would hit me...listening to all of the squealing brakes behind. Then out of the tunnel a car decided it wanted my lane and just came over making me swerve into the emergency lane. My heart would have taken up permanent residence with my throat if there was room...darn sore throat.

I am now at work feeling at bit stressed out and hoping to turn this into a better day.

Halloween Carnival and Trunk or Treating

Last Saturday was the annual Primary Halloween Carnival and Trunk or Treating. It was so much fun! Our Primary President has so many decorations that the downstairs area is really transformed. The kids absolutely love it. I wasn't able to get many photos with my camera because I was manning the photo booth to get photos of all of the children on someone else's camera.

There were so many great and creative costumes. Mary Poppins, Madeline, A clone from Star Wars, Mad Scientist, Harry Potter, A pink flamingo, Skunk, Owl to name a few.

After a while the kids were let out to the back parking lot where a lot of the adults lined there cars up for Trunk or Treating. There were so many that the kids scored on candy (some even went around several times, taking advantage of the adults who didn't want the candy at home).

It was a fun night!

Britta and Shay...Arrgh Matey.

Jentri and Shane

Mary Poppins #1 (Addie), The other Mary Poppins is behind her.

Indiana Jones

We had the privilege of having Elvis in the building. 

Joseph as a Clone

Myself and Isaac (He was in charge of the Haunted House)

It's Official-Birthday Celebrations Have Begun

Tonight A-Gril and I were invited to the Christensen's for dinner. It was so much fun! When the kids caught wind that I would be in Virginia/ Washington D.C. for my special day an impromptu party was thrown.

With a candle in a cookie, Happy Birthday was sung not once but twice. The second time was Christensen style which is HILARIOUS! They all try to out do each other on the worst and loudest.

Multiple cards and hand made presents were given. Even one of the children gave up some of his Trunk or Treating  stash.

It was a wonderful evening, with a great meal, fun conversation, tag on the trampoline (don't try it injuries may occur), games of speed/war and lot's of hugs and kisses.

Thank you to the Christensen's for starting off Birthday week perfectly!

Camera Drama

Yes I know a very unflattering picture...but this is how I feel about my camera.

My Family will attest that I am the camera happy Aunt. I have taken so many pictures of my nieces and nephews that their parents rely on me to photograph their important events.

I can't say that I am a photographer, far from it actually. I like to document and share what I am seeing at the moment. Maybe it comes from living so far away from loved ones and I want them to experience what I am.

For the past 6 months my camera has been behaving badly. The lens likes to shut off right at that critical moment of getting the shot. You then have to play with it to turn back on. Meanwhile the subject is getting impatient or the moment has passed. It is rather annoying.

So in order to continue as the prime photographer in the family (Melissa will wish my camera were buried) I will need to start shopping for a new one. This is where you all come in, do you have any suggestions?  I think it is time I purchased a decent one.

For Dave....

Yummy!!! I know this is cruel to do to you but I thought I would make you miss living by me. I would bring one out but it would be gross by the time I arrive.

Explanation for those of you who are not David. My brother introduced me to Cactus Taqueria when I moved here. Their tacos are delicious goodness (or like crack as he describes it). He and his friend Jake survived on them when they first moved to Oakland. They take the shell, meat, cheese and fry it then add the rest.  The other day I went to lunch with Brittany, Isabel and A-gril. It was a grand time. 

Product

As a woman I have a lot of partially used product. Shampoo's, Conditioner's, Gel's, Foam's, Lipstick's, Lotion's etc.  I am on an eternal search to find the next thing that will do wonders. Unfortunately you aren't able to by trial sizes to see if it even works for you.  So you spend money and then can't bring yourself to throw it away when it doesn't work for you anymore.

This doesn't even cover half of it. My drawers are full! Time has come to get rid of it. No use taking up valuable space in my small place.

However there is a new product I LOVE..... It is Aveda's Sap Moss. It is perfect with my hair. I just need a little bit to give it the umpf it needs and the shine is gorgeous. I highly recommend it. It is my new favorite thing.

The Long Winters-The Commander Thinks Aloud

I love this song. It is so beautiful and moving. It is about the Space Shuttle Columbia and the perspective of the Astronauts returning to earth prior to it disintegrating upon re-entry in 2003.

What a deal

You would think I am obsessed with shoes. I really am not. I prefer to be barefoot, I always have.  At work you can usually find my shoes somewhere under my desk. But as an adult in the working world shoes are required. Since I have to wear them I would rather be in something cute.

Newest purchase: $16 for 2 pairs of shoes. Yep, that is right a real deal.

Identity

I have been mulling this post around for months, I am finally getting around to it. 

We all have our own identity, things that make us unique but in part we share traits with others.  Some people look at my siblings and can't tell any of us apart, others look at us and wonder if we are even related. We each take from different sides of the family. Yes we all have some shade of dark hair, most of us have the big ears, half have brown eyes the other hazel. Some of us are music snobs, the others could care less, modern art appeals to some and makes the others wonder what the fuss is about.

I have been thinking lately about my physical traits, attempting to focus on the ones I like. It all started with my hair. Last year I dyed my hair a shade of red, reminiscent of my Grandmother Catherine.  I loved the red, it was fantastic with my complexion, I was constantly complimented. A lot of people thought that it was my own.  Lately I have been missing my dark hair as if I was missing a part of me. My Grandmother Ermine who I closely resemble had dark black hair, I have always wanted her shade, instead I have a cross between the two. Knowing that most people would wish I continued to be red, I changed my hair back to a color closer to my natural and it fits better.  I would love to show my natural color however grey hair and vanity get in the way. Besides it would take forever to grow out. 

Not the best photo...see its brown now. I feel a lot more like me.

Moving on...the hair made me to think about both of my Grandmothers and how grateful I am for their legacy. I never knew my Fathers mom, Ermine, she passed away at a very young age, my Father was 5. I would look at pictures of her and think she was the most beautiful woman in the world. I always felt I missed out a bit by not having her around. I am sure she would have been a spectacular G-ma. I do know that she was strong woman who loved her family, music and to dance. She lived everyday of her life fully. 

Ermine, just before her death. I couldn't get a better photo (I asked others, hmm hmm, you know who you are)

My Mothers mom, Catherine, passed away 1 week before my first birthday. She to was a remarkable woman. Born premature, sent home to die, getting scarlet fever as a teenager resulting in rheumatoid arthritis, only having 1 surviving child, she persevered through it all. She may not have felt 100% about she wouldn't let you know. She had a way of making everything look beautiful. My mother said that I get that from her (I know that there is no way I am as good as she was). 

Catherine, I think she was 20 in this photo. Looking good for someone who wasn't supposed to live.

Even though I did not get a chance to know either of these women, I know that they play a huge part of who I am. Whether it is the color of my hair, the way I say my words, or what I am passionate about. I am in awe that I get to share a part of them in myself.

Red Shoes

I get so may compliments on these shoes. They were a Target find and cheap. I love finding fabulous deals. I absolutely love wearing them.