Um...

If you're wondering where Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Campbell have disappeared to, you'll find them here:

Don't worry, they don't love Seattle that much. It's not really beautiful during the fall, as you can see by the picture. They really miss Utah, which might be surprising, but Jeff has come back to visit two weekends in a row. Definite proof.

Actually...I think they have fallen in love with Seattle and once Jeff is finished with his Salt Lake job, we're going to be hard pressed for reasons to get them to visit. Guess we'll just have to go visit them. Shoot.

picture from http://guides.travel.msn.com

Aye, avast!

I was diligently writing an essay for my lovely Studies in Victorian Literature class, when I remembered the date. September 19. What's so special about September 19, you ask? Only that it's:

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

You think I'm joking? I never joke, people.

These two guys in New York started it with the help of Dave Barry, a syndicated columnist for the Miami Herald. In Miami. I'd give you all the background and history, but they tell it better themselves. Plus you can learn some pirate lingo. Check it out.



http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

It's a great way for all of us lubbers to expand our horizons. And for any of you that don't have plans tonight, how about we get together and haul some keel.

Arrr,
Rose

An unusual day of classes

10:00 a.m. - I watched several people make fools of themselves while singing their state songs. I listened to painful renditions of Yankee Doodle, Home, Home on the Range, Rocky Top (in a western accent) and even a "nose harmonica" version of Utah, This is the Place while not knowing whether to laugh or be embarrassed.

12:00 p.m. - Two freshmen boys sat on either side of me and continued to have conversation with each other across my seat. One of them pulled a Harry Potter by wearing glasses that were taped together. After a power point slide of the Salt Lake Temple was shown, Harry Potter broke out into spontaneous singing of I Love To See the Temple as about 300 people turned their heads and stared. My professor said something about taking temples for granted and Mr. Potter turned to me and asked, "Did he just use a play on words by saying 'granite' instead of 'granted' because the temple is made of granite?"

1:00 p.m. My religion professor kept doing this weird laugh/chuckle thing while he was teaching and it was never after anything funny he said. I believe he was discussing Acts 1-6, which, as I recall, is not a very humorous section of scripture.

So if ever you start losing hope for the people of America, just watch this video and you are guaranteed to have a renewed sense of pride. I know I did.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't

It's the madre's birthday today. And there are already signs that she's forgotten. She made her own birthday breakfast for the rest of us. She's at Spencer's soccer game right now. And she doesn't want to go out to dinner because it might interfere with her children's social lives. As if we have them.

But it is her birthday and we must honour her. Yes, honour with a 'u'. United Kingdom style. Let me tell you some things that make Lisa one of the most amazing women I know.

All of her children play a musical instrument, be it piano, violin or cello, or both, we all can sit down and play music. Because of her. Because she took us to lessons every week, practiced with us everyday and never gave/gives up when we give her an attitude only ever provoked by Suzuki. Can you imagine twenty some odd years of doing that? And never giving up? I can't. I can't even begin to imagine the patience and love it has taken for her to deal with us through all of that. I want to do it with my kids, but maybe I'll just hire her...

My mom is herself a brilliant musician. Of course, she denies that. But she got a degree in piano pedigoge from the University of Utah and taught piano for a few years before giving that up because of her children. She taught us at the beginning stages of our piano careers. My dad has always said that when he went to her senior piano recital at the U, as he watched her play, that's when he knew he had to marry her. Sweet, eh? She's accompanied Caroline and I all throughout our violin years, now accompanies Andrew and Spencer. She's the primary pianist, a much harder job than it sounds, trust me. The woman loves music, what else is there to say.

Yams, peppers and spinach. My mother has a rare stomach condition that doesn't allow her to eat all the delicious foods she cooks for us. We sit down to a breakfast of pancakes, french toast, eggs and bacon...she sits down with a plate of peppers. Every day there are yams in the oven, cooking. Right now, even. And she likes them burnt to a crisp. We tease her about it all, but wow, how could you not admire someone for that kind of fortitude? Plus, she never complains about it.

I haven't mentioned sports yet, have I? My mom can play tennis, I mean really play tennis. When she was young she used to go out on their tennis court with her dad early in the mornings and play. She's been pretty patient with us over the years as we've gone from tennis practice to soccer practice to swim lessons and back to tennis. Sort of like the music lessons thing. She's also a wicked water skier.

One time when I was in middle school we were eating dinner and scarfing down her delicious delicious homemade bread with honey. I don't remember what was said, but somehow my mom and I ended up wrestling around having a honey fight. It was a sticky dinner.

A few summers ago, we went to Jackson Hole and on our way home we stopped at a Dairy Queen drive-thru. We had a long drive ahead of us so my mom wanted to make sure we were all adequately relieved of our fluids. As we pulled up to the microphone thing my mom gets out and walks over to the driver's side and right after the worker asked what he could get for us, my mom says, "Do you need to go to the bathroom?" The worker was so confused,"Excuse me...?"

My mom's favorite joke: What did the zero say to the eight? Nice belt. That joke has many a time gotten her laughing so hard she can't breathe. And when that happens, you stand no chance of keeping a straight face yourself.

Anyway, my mom is a great person. She cares a lot about everyone around her and accomplishes so much that none of us even know about. Thanks for being awesome, Mom.

Happy Birthday!

I stole the picture from Kristin. She just caught the most candid moment of the summer with her
awesome camera. It's not possible to keep a straight face when you look at it.

Why?

Why would you ever paint your toenails dull, fungus yellow? Isn't the point of painting your nails to cover the ugliness of the all na tur al? So why make them look like they're dead? It's not attractive, it's revolting. Don't do it, please, just don't.

Oh the maturity

Today, my father's mood has changed drastically, going from his happy-morning-person mood to his tired-Saturday-afternoon mood to his no-one-can-predict-what-I'll-do-next mood.

Just now, the man was in the kitchen. He got a serious look on his face as he watched Caroline pick up her books.

He said, in a very serious tone, "Caroline."

"What?"

"Wanna fight?"

What ensued was a scene to disgrace the one on one duels between all ninjas, elves, men and wizards in the world as these two knuckleheads karate chopped each other with the force of a couple of 2-year-old children.

Needless to say, Caroline was the champion, my dad cowering under her rigid brutality, pleading for mercy. Caroline relented. They both went calmly back to their activities as if nothing unusual had happened.

And that just about wraps up my Saturday afternoon.