til we meet again

I am so tired of having to say goodbye to friends! Not those of you who I'll see again in a few days. I'm ok with that. It's the mass exodus out of California. I understand the reasons, but I don't have to like the end result, right? I know it's shocking, but I don't have an unlimited supply of friends. Here's a shout out to Melody - thank you for moving here!!!
It's the job thing. Gotta have a job in order to pay the bills. And the jobs are leaving. I got it. So, is Meg Whitman the answer? Really, can one person clean up this mess? I really doubt it. But one person could make it a lot worse.
I remember Jerry Brown's first time around. I was in High School and college, and not too interested in politics. But then the fruit fly invaded southern California, and Jerry had to figure out what to do about it. He didn't figure it out very well.People did not like the aerial spraying that got all over their parked cars, and required them to bring their pets in the house at night. Even the very liberal San Francisco Chronicle had a political cartoon that I can still remember. It was a fruit fly with Jerry's face on it. The caption said simply "The California Fruit Fly". I will not be voting for Jerry.
So, I'm leaning towards Meg, although I didn't vote for her in the Primary election. I just want the jobs back, and the problems solved so that I can stop hemmoraging friends. I doubt that the friends who have gone will come back. They seem to like where they've gone. And many other states are benefiting from our highly skilled, well-educated work force moving in. I think they want to keep them. They're playing nice.
What does California get in return? Probably illegal aliens. Personally, I don't really have much of a problem with that, except that I believe in obeying the law, which states that you have to enter through a check point, not sneak across the border. I like all the Hispanics that I know, and I have no idea what their legal status is. I wouldn't want to deport them, they're not the problem. They are hard working, really nice, and certainly not criminals. But then there's the others, the one's I don't know. Those who are in jail, or should be in jail, not simply because they swam here, but because they broke the law after arriving. I wonder how much truth is in the stories that say that California's budget is being gobbled up by illegals. I know that newspapers and politicians both spin the truth right out of everything.
I would love to see a guest worker program - people coming from wherever to work here, but only crossing the border once they have a job offer. I don't think we can afford to support unemployed non-citizens. It's not working too well at the moment, and I doubt it will magically start working in the future.
And as for the friends who have moved out-of-state? I have already implemented a guest program right here in Brandon's former bedroom. It's called the office/guestroom. All friends are welcome. "If you'll visit, I'll give you a bed, a shower and any meal that you'll eat with me". How's that for hospitality? And I'm only southern by marriage!
In the meanwhile, goodbye to Sunni,the Lassens, Mackelprangs, Aldermans, and Gerigs. And perhaps the MacInnesses and Willeys before too long. And God bless the Baumanns!

I'll share this recipe cuz it was sooo good!

I just love friends who share! I also love to eat, and like to cook. One of my favorite dishes is the Santa Fe Salad at Cheesecake Factory, and I've finally found a combination of recipes and items that allowed me to recreate a decent version at home.
I started with Cilantro-Lime Chicken Fajitas from epicurious.com. We loved the fajitas, and then I used the leftover chicken, peppers and onions for the salad. I also used a fabulous Cilantro salad dressing that I found at Trader Joe's, leftover corn-on-the-cob, fried my own corn tortilla strips, and added black beans, romaine and spring mix, queso fresco and a drizzle of peanut sauce. Yum!

pioneer day irrelevant in California?

As the Ward Activities leader ( AKA cruise director), I'm deep into planning our Pioneer Day festivities. Or not.
Last year was my first time around. I really knocked myself out. It was outrageously hot and no one wanted to play the games or participate in all the activities that I had spent untold hours preparing. I'm not stupid ( I think?), so there will be no repeat this year. But I have this nagging sense of guilt that I'm trying to ignore.
So here's the question: for those who do not live in a community that was settled by Mormon pioneers, is Pioneer Day relevant? Does skipping the focus on people who walked (or road in a covered wagon) to Zion mean that we're ingrates?
Quick disclaimer: I have "pioneer heritage". I also have Lutheran, Catholic and undetermined heritage. Some of my ancestors came west on foot, some in covered wagons and some in cars (without air conditioning!) I'm either the 5th generation or the second or the first, to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( there's another subject for an entire posting on that name!) So, I am and am not one of those people.
Is that why I'm conflicted? I loved dressing up and turning our wagon into a covered wagon for the Stake parade when I was a Primary girl. I loved the big party. As an adult, I don't like to wear costumes. Especially long dresses in July in southern California. But I do like to party. However, I have been to so many boring pioneer day picnics that I'd love to never see another one. If I promise to not drag out my pedigree charts ( or let anyone else drag out theirs!)will that solve the problem?
Let me say, the trek I got to chaperone last summer fulfilled a dream of mine. One item off the bucket list. The stories of what the pioneers endured move me to tears, sometimes just from thinking about them. I don't want to forget those stories, or purge them from our culture. The thought that angels helped to push the carts of those who couldn't go another step make me ask, "could I have been one of those angels?" I hope so!
So here is the point. I don't know if I was "there in spirit" or not. But I am here in body today. And all around me are those who cannot pull their load another step. So, will I set down what I'm doing to help, or race on? Overcoming obstacles is always a relevant topic. Our culture is obsessed with self-help. If we combine the two, help others overcome their obstacles, we have helped ourselves overcome a bit of self-centeredness and followed in the footsteps of more than just the pioneers.
Our Ward will not be holding a service project on Friday night. That part of the plan didn't work out. But we will eat, play and enjoy each others' company. Hopefully bonds will be created that will make someone, someday, say "I'm a little tired, but my brother needs my help, and I'm going to give it all I've got!"
We don't need to dress up, have a parade, or do the stick-pull game to honor those who sacrificed on our behalf. All we have to do is follow their example: don't give up when the going gets rough, and then help those around us up and over the hill, too.

I checked something off the list today

I always have a million "to do list"s lurking. Multiples because it seems that I lose them as soon as I finish writing them. I can list my lists:
grocery list: divided into three parts, always stuck to the side of the fridge. It has the "Costco" list on top, then things that I need to pick up when I'm out doing errands, and the real grocery list on the bottom. It's on the bottom so that I can rip if off when I leave the house, and still have the other lists where I can find them.
house repair list: this one is just a dream list. Everything that's broken, worn out, or just somehow icky. Nothing ever gets crossed off this one. Or maybe, once or twice a year something gets done. But then it usually gets back on the list because I did it wrong. Like grouting the showers. Check. Then, after a few weeks, it''s back on the list. I'm a lousy handyman.
reading list: books get on the list, then when I find them and take a look inside, they usually go back on the shelf. But if I don't try to insist on high quality (or "guilty pleasures"), then I do find a few. A couple of weeks ago I read "The Broker" by John Grisham, and "The Other Boleyn Girl" by Phyllipa Gregory, and liked both of them.
the "don't forget this" list: this is the stuff I write on sticky notes and post on the front of the kitchen cupboard. It usually works! People I need to call, people I need to remind Alan to call, pick someone up, or pay for something. The important stuff - I put it right in my face.
the real to-do list: these are the lists that are scattered throughout my life. People to call or email on my desk. Lists of things I need to do pick up for the next Ward activity in my purse or clipped to a file folder. The list of things that I need to buy or pack for Heather to take to college is tucked between the bath towels that I packed into a shopping bag. I know where to find this list! The lists of things I remember just before I go to bed flitter around my nightstand and disappear into the drawer, under the bed, or, rarely, find their way into my purse. Or, the best one - whatever is really important is scribbled on whatever scrap of paper I can find, and then gets lost in my purse.
Yes, I am a list maker. And the things that are really important usually get taken care of. But if they're not of earth-shaking importance, they're really just giant confetti.
Today I checked off something that never even made it onto a physical list, it was only an item low on a mental list: changing out the brass knobs on the kitchen cupboards. But I was at Target, and saw some great knbos for a great price, and how could I resist? Unfortunately I was two knobs short. Because I didn't count the doors and drawers before I left. Because new knobs were not on a list. So the cupboard above the fridge still has brass knobs because who ever remembers that there's a cupboard up there? That's where everyone keeps the stuff they never use: ice cube trays, ugly candles (for if the power goes out), the blow torch for making creme brulee, and thermoses. And that's why I forgot it. The forgotten stuff in the forgotten cupboard.
So, what I need to do is write "two more knobs" on a sticky note and put it on the kitchen cupboard.

why now?

I've always loved to write. It started as short stories in elementary school, longer ones in junior high, then on to term papers in high school and college. Then there was the long silence. At least on paper. My family will attest that it moved to my mouth. Now it's time to silence the mouth and improve my typing skills. And save the ears of family and friends.

When prop 8 came along two years ago, I took to the web, commenting and following others' comments. I discovered Facebook, and found long lost friends. But the status updates are not totally satisfying. A blog is the place to really express all of what goes on in my scattered mind. Some of the same old thing, and a bit of the latest obsession. Journaling out in space. Somehow both safer and scarier.

Why now? As my first baby prepares to leave the nest (second baby, first to leave), it seems the right time to embrace a new communication technology. I can record my feelings, the ones I'll forget by tomorrow. She can read whatever she wants to, ignore the rest, and I'll never know the difference. I can write without that novel facing me with the imaginary "reject" stamp already burning across each page. No editors required!

So the truth is, this Bud's for me. And if anyone else wants to share it with me, the more the merrier, but it's really just for me. The front door is open.