Proud to be a Canadian-made American

(So I wrote the above-showing title before writing this actual post, and I realized the double-entendre contained therein. I am a real-live "Canadian-made American." Cute!)

But that's not what this post is about.

One of my kids brought in a CD today for a project we are presenting in my 6th grade Intro to Music class. They are supposed to write a paragraph about their favorite song--where they first heard it, why they like it, when they listen to it, and talk about 3 "elements of music" (application of vocab) in relation to the song. They then share it and the song with the class.

One cute little boy played for us "Battle Hymn of the Republic". He talked about how it made him feel patriotic. It was sweet.

But in the middle of his presentation, I was putting in his CD and laughed outloud--really loud, in the middle of him talking--as I read the CD face. It was called "Spirit of America" and had an American flag waving proudly against a light blue sky.

In small print, it clearly said, "Made in Canada".

A Characterically-Colorado Run

I walked out into the fresh Colorado air yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to be met with a warm 45 degree temperature and a strange sensation I felt through my sleeves…what was that…warmth? From the sun??

I raced back into my apartment and quickly found my lime green running shorts. I threw them on, eager to take advantage of those Vitamin D enriching rays from the sun gods, and almost giddy with excitement as I envisioned coming home my run without having to wait 20 minutes for my face to thaw out before I tried to use my facial muscles to speak again coherently.

I hopped down the stairs and began running. I felt that warming sun absorbed by my black shirt, warming my whole body, and just smiled. What a simple sensation I so often take for granted. Having lived in below-freezing temperatures for the past month or so, it felt like heaven. I rolled up my long sleeves and skipped happily along, basking in the simple glory of nature’s miracles.

For about 20 minutes. I then happened to look up right as these thick, dark grey clouds suddenly overshadowed my sun. Ugh! Well, at least I’d gotten in 20 minutes of sunshine.

I kept on running in the cooling air, very aware of the rapid change of temperature—I’m used to running in cold weather, no big deal.

But 20 minutes later, I couldn’t do anything but begrudgingly laugh as I saw these tiny bits of styrofoam being tossed down all around me from those ugly, grey clouds. Yep, it was snowing.

So I ran my last 20 minutes home in the steadily falling snow. In my shorts. And waited 10 minutes to talk until my face had successfully thawed. Thank you, Colorado.

Thankful Bag 2009

This is such a long post I wasn't sure if I should put it on. I heard "long blog posts" are neither favorable nor inviting to readers. But I think my dad wanted it online, so feel free to peruse. For an explanation of what in the world this is, see last year's post on the same.

Chris

The Priesthood

The Scriptures

The chance to repent and do better every day

Music

Cookies

A free country

Teachers

New friends

The opportunity to serve a mission

Assurances that the Lord is pleased with your efforts

AP classes

Rainy days

Italian food

Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness

Central heating

Dreamland BBQ Sauce

The comfort, guidance, teaching, and instruction of the Holy Ghost

The Atonement

The Scriptures

Jay and Jen

Sons- and daughters-in-law

Grandchildren

NSLC (National Student Leadership Conference)

Chocolate

Letters

Family

“Enough”

A good mind

My Trailer-Park Kingdom

Sister Graves

MUSICALS!

Sons

The BEST parents EVER

Crazy neighbors

Health

My Mac

Grandparents and cousins

Good running shoes

Freckles

Prayer—and that we can go to Him anywhere, at anytime, about anything

Preach My Gospel

My voice

Sweet neighbors

Friends

Piano

Parents

The Restoration of the Gospel

Steak

Ice cream

Sunrises/sunsets

Snow

Jason/Kellie/Sandy/Chris/Scott/Jen/Snapper/Ian/Audrey (no middle child…surprise, surprise)

A job

Music

MUSIC

Dad

Sister Kuttler

My job

The Holy Ghost

Pretty girls

Friends

Seminary to start off the day

Phones

Unlimited texting

Temple

Sons and daughters

Sunny days

Mountains

President and Sister Thomas and Bethany

Cookout shakes—Yum!

Meat

Kellie, Scott, Audrey, and Ian

The Atonement

Life

August in the mountains

Planes

School

Internet

Smiles

Eternal perspective

The Waxhaw Ward

My sweetheart

Daughters

Laughter

Patriarchal blessings

French friees

Modern medicine

Soft breezes

Mail delivery

Lori

The Atonement

Airsoft

Family

Gentle breezes

Old friends

The enabling power of the Atonement

Missionaries

Small miracles (and big ones, too!)

Family (Thanks for all your love and support!)

Macs

My sweet wife

Caring doctors and nurses

Trees

Rivers

Mountains

A Heavenly Father who listens to my problems

Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, sibling, blah, blah, blah

Commandments

A Savior’s love

Ice cream

Intelligence

North Carolina

A loving Father in Heaven

Sunshine

My students

Talents

Music

Home

Cars

The Gospel

Tithing

Lori

Oceans

Email

My own apartment

Warriors who defend our freedom

Music

Jesus Christ

Stars

Servicemen and women

Healthy body

Callings

A missionary sister

Pets

The Priesthood

Mom

The temple

Repentance

Good wards

Oceans

Cars

Living prophets

Scriptures

The Plan of Salvation

Hot rolls

Pictures at 26.1 and 26.2

I just don't think you can get an attractive picture from a 26.2 mile race. Really.

I was at least hoping to get a sweet hard-core one that looked like I was in agony. Or one where I looked really focused, like "run that ye may obtain/endure to the end" style. Or one where I look really fit and happy, thumbs-up style, you know?

Instead, they only got pictures of me near the finish line when I was high on oxygen and delirious from 4 hours of running and couldn't wipe this dorky smile off of my face. I was pretty bugged.

Feel free to browse. The URL is http://www.brightroom.com/go.asp?69279311 .

In Your Dreams

So I rarely remember my dreams. Like, a few times a year, tops. So I get really excited when I can vaguely recall one of those absurb excursions into my non sequitur subconscious (sounds scary, I know. Maybe it's a defense mechanism that I can't remember them.). :) I've heard it said that we always dream, we just don't always remember them...

Last night, I remembered no less than 5 dreams. Since it was such a monumental experience, I thought I'd share the moment with ya'll:

- I dreamed Mom and Chris were taking out the garbage from our house, and I was sitting there watching them (which I don't normally do, promise!). Profound, I know.

- I dreamed I went skydiving with a friend from my ward. That was a rush.

- I dreamed that we found out that Grandma wasn't coming to visit this weekend after all. :(

- I SAW the ENTIRE recipe for the cake that I need to make today for my concert tonight--the one who's recipe I can't find this morning. Wish I'd written it down in my dream...

- I dreamed my car wouldn't start. Like, dead. No bueno. I do not like this dream.

So...what do you think? Any of these mean anything? I'd love to hear some interpretations, cause I can't make anything out of it. (At least I'm trying not to read too much into the car one...)

By the Numbers: Rocket City Marathon, 12 December 2009

46112 - Approximate number of steps taken between the starting line and the finishing line

4 - Toenails that turned black during training

2 - Pairs of shoes worn out during training

1 – Number of friends that came to cheer me on

10+ - New friends made along the course

225 – Weight of the self-proclaimed “Fattest, fastest Jew in Georgia”

245 – Real price of the running gear I bought at the expo on Friday

50 – Actual dollars spent on said running gear

30 - Minutes the Rain Gods waited to let loose after the last marathoner had finished

1500 - Runners in the race

1254 - Finishers

575 - My place

2 – Number of heroine-laced “Gu” packets consumed during race (No, not really “heroine”…if you’ve used them you know what I mean)

3:58:20 – Time I was running

3:58:02 – “Official” time you’ll find on the Rocket City Marathon page

2689 - Approximate number of calories burned

38 – Degrees Fahrenheit in Alabama on Saturday

38 – Degrees Fahrenheit in Colorado on Saturday (now that’s just not fair!)

And the most important number of all: 26.2, baby!

Bam!

"And you can have this heart to break"

Were more beautiful words ever penned? If you're not familiar with it already, allow me to share with you 7 stanzas of sheer and utter heart-wrenching Ghiradelli's chocolate-for-the-soul from Billy Joel's "And So It Goes". Maybe grab a kleenex before you start. Or maybe it doesn't hit as close to home for ya'll as it does for me, but it gets me every time.

In every heart there is a room
A sanctuary safe and strong
To heal the wounds from lovers past
Until a new one comes along

I spoke to you in cautious tones
You answered me with no pretense
And still I feel I said too much
My silence is my self defense

And every time I've held a rose
It seems I only felt the thorns
And so it goes, and so it goes
And so will you soon I suppose

But if my silence made you leave
Then that would be my worst mistake
So I will share this room with you
And you can have this heart to break

And this is why my eyes are closed
It's just as well for all I've seen
And so it goes, and so it goes
And you're the only one who knows

So I would choose to be with you
That's if the choice were mine to make
But you can make decisions too
And you can have this heart to break

And so it goes, and so it goes
And you're the only one who knows