Fordpride

As you might be able to tell, there has been a freshening up around here.  We'll see if this truly rebirths my writing to the universe.  I've been doing a lot more writing, but I haven't been sharing it with the world quite yet.  I think I've finally honed in on a personal project that I feel good about-and I think it's telling because I have actually been writing!  It's like a real goal is a motivator.  Who knew? As always, a short recap of the last however many weeks or months I decide. (Warning: this takes a gigantic detour about half-way down.  Gear up, big shifter!) April: Moments ago, I sent THIS SONG to Moe, the LOML, and I just love the way they croon.  Ah, so much emotion. We were able to head back to Utah last weekend for the bff's wedding-Rachel looked beautiful and happy and it was the perfect day to wed.  Moe really enjoyed Utah and the mountains (THE MOUNTAINS) which is always a good reminder to love the mountains.  We also had the

What a wild few weeks, am I right??   These are the blog topics I have considered writing in the last 12 weeks: -My summer travels!  They were amazing and I still think about them all the time and I dream of the next time I can head out on an adventure.  I have about 2,000 photos if you're interested in seeing them, but I'll put a couple highlights here for you now. -Being triggered by the events of the nation!  I had no idea previous traumas would surface to a bubbling top layer of my person for the last couple weeks, but they have.  I'm very talented at compartmentalizing my past into little boxes and have hidden them away, but lots of emotions came out.  Not ready to share things out loud. But, world, I feel you. -My new job!  I finally did what I needed to do and quit my teaching job.  It was a messy and hard couple weeks with the ending of one era of my life (7 years teaching, can you believe?!), but so far I'm enjoying this

Warning: not about tots I'm sitting here, in the school I work at, in a real live lockdown. When I was a child, we didn't have lockdown drills.  It wasn't even something we thought about...you know, huddling in a corner in fear that someone with a gun might come into our school and shoot someone else.  It was a childhood luxury, not fearing something like that. But here I am, in my 6th year of teaching.  Dozens of drills later.  I am an outward expert on these types of things. But inside?  I am less of an expert.  I am still a 13 year old girl, trying to  hide my concern for the community of which I was, and will always be, a part. When Columbine happened I was in middle school.  I was in French class, waiting for lunch, when we heard an announcement over the loud speaker that simply stated someone at Columbine had been shot.  In the foot.  We would be kept in our rooms until further instruction.  I spent  the entire time convincing myself that out of 2000 student

I have always had a positive relationship with tater tots. When Napoleon Dynamite came out, I saw that movie 7 times in the theatre.  This was especially impressive because for the first few months it was in theatres it was only at the art house movie theatre on Broadway in Denver, and I was in high school and barely drove to school and back, so I had to enlist and convince a variety of people to see it and also, then, drive me along.  Thankfully it expanded later on, and I was able to see it to my hearts content close by.  I loved it. All this to say that I was proud to see the power of tater tots coming to light from this film. My family had always treasured a bag of Ora Ida tater tots.  That cheerful red bag could light up our whole freezer...that is for the short amount of time before we cooked and ate the entire bag in one sitting.  And eating in our house was not for the faint of heart; if you loved something and wanted more than a normal portion, you had to eat fast.  Yo

I was walking near Times Square on Saturday because I wanted to sneak a Big Mac into the movie The Founder and that theatre time was the best option for me.  I'm super busy* (*jokes. I'm not) and didn't want to wait for a late night show.  Look...I'm really cool...I promise. As I was passing Madame Tussauds wax museum, one of those guys that tries to shove a $5 coupon in your face tried to shove a $5 coupon in my face.  I usually ignore or nod my head no in these situations, but I was feeling content so I smiled at him and said a cheerful "no thanks". He immediately pulled me aside, held my hand, and said "that smile! It's like I was waiting for that smile all night!  You just really brightened my night!" This gentleman was probably 10-15 years my senior (being generous) and so he wasn't old enough to have it be grandpa-ly cute, but he also wasn't young enough for me to feel alarmingly flattered.  But his cold hands held

I'm sitting on my bed on a Friday night, so so so exhausted from this last week but unable to sleep.  Tears are forming in the corners of my eyes and I consider some of the mighty changes this week that will have undeniable effects on people who deserve better.   It's been a strange few weeks for me.  Clawing out stronger beliefs is challenging and sharing those beliefs is terrifying, but I've finally arrived at a point where I can no longer remain silent. I hate labels.  I've hated labels my whole life.  I've often prided myself on the fact that it sometimes takes awhile for people to realize I'm a Mormon.  Because people always have an idea in their minds about what being Mormon looks, sounds, and acts like.  And I'm very often not those immediate stereotypes of the word.  It contains moments of insecurity and disappointment for both me and the person with whom I'm speaking; the constant question of "Am I being the person I need to be? Am I M