The Great Debate

There is one thing that I've wanted to talk about for some time. Something I feel very strongly about. Shower Curtains. I love them. I want one. In the debate between shower curtains and shower doors, the curtain wins hands down.
Washing- Shower curtain goes in the washer. Done.
Shower door requires scrubbing and chemicals and extra effort in cleaning that horrible track. How I loathe that track. I have an added problem- Whoever caulked everything in our house used Mildew friendly caulk. Once its there, it does not leave until you scrape off the caulk. Shower door also makes it harder to scrub the tub because you have to do it in halves. Limited access.
Bathing Children- With the shower door, you can only see half the tub. Shower door does earn a point here for blocking splashing. When child is young enough that you have to wash them, shower door seriously impedes mobility. Shower curtain draws back to allow easy access to child and can partially shield splashes.
Appearance- Shower curtain allows you to change the tone of your bathroom so easily. Just buy a new shower curtain with different colors. Lighten, darken, make more whimsical, oh shower curtain you are great. Shower door is boring. The only thing I like about our shower door is the mirror on one side that gives a full length mirror in the bathroom. Not worth all the other problems shower door has.
Space- Some shower doors give more room in small tubs. But ours would easily leave plenty of room to have a beautiful shower curtain.

Shower doors are easily removable. Curtain rods easily attached. Lianna and I dismantled the door at Grandma Nina's and she removed her hideous shower door at her new place. But I made a deal that I would live with this shower door. A foolish deal that I have kept. I walk down the shower curtain aisles in stores and wish. Someday.

Thinking about 2009. Some major highlights that should be noted.
One of the best things about 2009 was Silas, Amy, and Drew making the California trip so many times. We were unable to make it up to Utah this year, but they did the traveling for us. Thanks guys! I know it isn't easy or cheap but seeing you is such a blessing.
Another wonderful thing was getting in touch with a bunch of friends that I haven't seen or heard from in years. Andrea and Brock, Amy Britsas, and Ana just to name the A's on the list. It makes me smile so big to be able to reach out and say hi to people who have meant so much in my life.
Another set of people who make me smile is Dr. Buehller and the staff of nurses that saved my dad's life in April. Thanks so deep to them. What remarkable people we were blessed to meet. The quick thinking, the compassion, and the professionalism of the Scripps staff amazed me. I know hospital care isn't always like that, but thank our heavenly father this time it was.
Beach day every Thursday with the weekly and guest celebrities. Inny and outy in the ocean until Olivea started swimming in the bay. Elora learning her beach ropes early and Drew loving the sand. Thanks Grandma Cakey and Grandpa Barry for making it possible and so much fun.
The Embleton family reunion. I didn't get to visit with as many of the cousins I would have liked due to watching my own kid and wanting to spend enough time with Drew. But it sure was fun and amazing to see the "kids" as young adults. Luckily mom and I got to have a good visit with Ana, Mary and Debbie a couple weeks prior to the reunion. That trip was great too, seeing them and also seeing my awesome friend Denise get married.
Tuesday lunch with Lianna was a weekly highlight. What would I do without my awesome best friend? and Perry's frittatas?
I'm grateful for my job and the friends I've made there. The free passes are sweet too.
Todd and Olivea are the best part of any year and hopefully soon, Drippy Drappy will join us.

Why don't they release Carribean Sunset on CD?

Olivea changed the name of her little people barn animals. They are now named after the characters from the movie Babe. I guess that is more appropriate then the names Todd and I gave them. We named them after the characters from "The Shield".

Nigel is on a diet. He needs to lose 4 pounds.

My plants are so happy it rained. Except for Sideshow Bob, he fell over in the wind. He seems okay luckily.

I've got 200 pages left to read in The Brothers Karamazov. If Si was a character in the novel, his middle name would be something like Barryvich and mine would be Barryovna.

I waited and was so excited to get my new Scentsy fragrances and plug in. I picked the plug in especially for the bathroom. And then when I get it, go to plug it in, see that all my bathroom outlets are upside down! I was so bummed I could have cried, but amazingly I didn't. Least the bedroom smells citrusy good now.

Leonard Nimoy really makes me think.

I wish I had a dressing table. One with a little chair. That you could line all your brushes and makeup on. Not the bathroom, where everyone goes, where you have to stow away as much of your personal effects as possible. No, to sit and brush your hair in front of a mirror, look at a picture taped to the mirror of Elvis Costello from his "Armed Forces" Days. It would be nice to have a space dedicated soley to the upkeep of your own beauty, whatever level that beauty be.

April 7, 2009

Yesterday was a very important day. First, the cutest little boy in the world turned 1. Second, Leonard Cohen finally came to town again. And I got to be there. The amazing 74 year old played for almost 3 hours. His band was fabulous and he was sublime. If I could do justice to the magic and beauty of the night in my words, then I would. But alas, it is not so. So just listen to some Leonard.

3 years deserves more words, how about a picture

My little girl is turning 3. She is so much fun. The other day while riding in the car, "Goodday Sunshine" came on and she screamed. I looked back and she had her hand in front of her mouth, perfect impression of a girl with Beatlemania. She has never seen any footage of such hysteria, it just came naturally.

She is always asking "why?" these days. I have heard about this phase. Sometimes it is fun to try to explain concepts to her, other times it is very challenging. I need to brush up on my philosophy. The best part is when I challenge her to answer her own question. She is pretty astute and often very funny. Why indeed.

Take them for Granite

White and black.
White and blue.
White and brindl.
I've lost you.

Safe haven from my sad, mad confusion
with music, movement, temperature control.
Smiling muzzle, tongue at the ready,
sneeze inevitable if you roll.

Stolen from me to return in nick of time.
My great birthday present that I left behind.

Memories of friends within it,
concerts, trips, fast food meals.
Driving, singing, laughing, talking,
multi-tasking at the wheel.

Jumping to hit a balloon,
fetching Mexican cactus,
Knucky making sure
on walks he never passed us.

Thirteen years, Sentra you served me well.
I even got to bid you a good farewell.

Javy you let me pet you,
without trying to lick me,
and I knew, but didn't want to believe,
that you would soon leave me.

I've realized I counted on your hearty love.

Your presence was such a rock,
It's absence has made me weaker.

I love you lotion fearer,
the incredible licking machine,
tufts of white hair everywhere,
sweetest dog I've ever seen.