a.rose

Dear Captain Crunch - How are you? I've been thinking about you a lot lately.  I played softball last weekend, and I wore my "Golden Touch" shirt. I know, wrong sport, but I think it really helped my game.  I think about you starting your new school year, in a room full of new faces looking up at you, eyes bright and ready to learn.  I think of a tiny baby, growing bigger and bigger inside of you and how sometimes it makes you feel giddy with excitement, and sometimes it makes you feel really really uncomfortable.  I think about you planning your birthday next month, what? You haven't started making plans yet? I think about Ryan and wonder what he's been up to at work lately, and I wonder how Mocca is doing. I think about Nanners, and how lucky you are (and she is!) that you live so close to her.  I think about your dad and wonder how he's taking to retirement, and I wonder if you told him about my beef with the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra. What would he

I remember in high school, sitting in my pre-calc class listening to Mr. Whatwashisname? try to teach us about the fundamental theorem of algebra . Something about the whole story seemed fishy to me, and I raised my hand and told him that I didn't believe it. Not that I didn't understand it, or anything (although, to be honest, I'm sure I didn't), but I just did not think it was true.  I didn't believe it could be true.  My poor teacher.  With my limited understanding of mathematics, even though I felt so advanced sitting in my pre-calc class, there was no way he could actually prove to me the fundamental theorem of algebra . He had to keep repeating the basic elements of it over and over, trying to force me to accept it on faith.   Because really, that's what we had to do. We had to take his word for it that it was true, and do our homework accordingly.  Finally, because I wanted to get a good grade in his class, I suspended my disbelief and did my work quietly

Hanna says, when life gets to be too much just take a nap.  Things will work themselves out, you'll see. I turned with the next spoonful of apple-strawberry-banana mash to be greeted thus.  How long does it take to scoop a spoonful of baby food? Long enough, apparently. Hallie says when life is getting you down, try having a carrot.  I ate a whole baby carrot for the first time today, and look at me! I'm practically glowing.  You won't believe the changes one baby carrot can make to your day, so try a handful! And that folks, is advice straight from my babies to you.  How you follow it is your call.  And thanks for all the advice about my upcoming "picnic". (Still not sure what the quotational picnic is.) I'll let you know how it goes.

Dear Friends, and Family, and people I know and people I don't know: I need help.  Desperate help.  I have been invited to a luncheon.  A Wive's Club luncheon. At the house of a wife.  The wife of the University president.  The University where my husband works.  Those of you who see me on a regular basis, and those of you who might recall my "style" probably can now guess what my crisis is. Oh, dear. You know I'm in trouble.  So, let's assess the situation. I did go to the store just this week and bought myself a pair of nice khakis, Dockers.  They are the only pants that I have right now that fit me really well, and I think that would be appropriate for a luncheon, right? I also, thanks to my fantastic sister who takes such good care of me have a few nice shirts. Devin told me it was nice to see me wearing something "feminine". Which means something that does not have the words "Nauvoo, IL" on them, or a giant tiger. Ok, so I could

As a little girl the preschool game of duck duck goose made me feel uncomfortable, and sort of nervous.  I sat in the circle, terrified that the hand would be on my head when I heard the word "goose", but also almost wishing that it would.  Because, then obviously, I would get to actually play.  The problem is that I am not fast.  So, instead of catching the person running around the circle, I would inevitably end up having to choose the next "goose".  This was the source of all my troubles.  I would eye each head warily as I placed my hand upon it.  Should I say goose now?  But that kid is next, and he hasn't been picked yet.  But then that other kid is after him and she might get her feelings hurt if I don't pick her.  Oh my, but after her is the new kid from down the street and I don't know him so maybe I should pick him to say "welcome to the group".  Or maybe he will think I'm strange and so I should just pick the girl after him.  And

I can feel it in the breeze. I can smell it in the air. And, I know I'm right because I can see it on the calender. It's coming. my garden, last week of July. And I can't wait.

Soon, all across the country newly purchased pencils, crayons, and notebooks will find themselves nestled snugly next to a perky lunch box holding a juice box and pb and j inside a crisp backpack, bouncing merrily against the back of excited first, second, third (etc) graders.  It isn't an actual national holiday, but sometimes I think back-to-school feels like one.  Excited eyes will look around the classroom, searching for old friends, picking out potential new ones, marking possible bullies and checking out which girl/guy is most likely to have a serious case of cooties.  There's at least one in every classroom. They will take their seat and eventually look toward the blackboard, where the words "What I Did This Summer" will be scrawled, taking up the whole length.  Some will groan, five minutes into the school year and already tired of the work load.  Some will eagerly sharpen their brand new pencils to a precise point and gingerly begin writing: This summer w

Well, I haven't been able to come up with anything to write about for a while.  I think it's because my creative writing juices  have been flowing in another direction lately.  Sample: Roses are red Violets are blue I've neglected this blog for a day or two Peonies are pink Marigolds are yellow I'll be back sometime So be sure to say hello. Yikes. So I'll spare you all that.  But uh, some people apparently couldn't tell what the picture was supposed to be that I posted last. Those are budding flowers.  That's why I said it's what potential looks like, because right now they don't look like much, but they have the potential to be beautiful flowers once they open up... I wanted to take pictures of them after they bloomed, but wouldn't you know I forgot where they were and couldn't find them again, and all the blooms looked really pummeled by the rain and wind, and were not exactly beautiful... but I'll keep an eye out and if I s

In case you were wondering, this is what it looks like. Potential, that is.