Baby Bunting Name-Off

I am about to launch my own Etsy shop to sell my crocheted-edge baby receiving blankets, burp clothes, quilts and hemstitched blanket kits, but I still lack a critical piece of information - a clever name for my shop. Something that is memorable and cute. I have a name in mind which I might stick with afterall, but I'm not sure it fits my own criteria.

Here's where the Baby Bunting Name-Off begins. What should I name my shop? If I use your idea, I will give you a $50 gift card to their store of choice. Leave me your comments or send me an email with your ideas. I can't wait to see the creativity streaming.

Charitable Donations Accepted

A few weeks ago while at my piano lesson I commented to my teacher that every time I sat down to her piano I felt like the keyboard was bigger - as if I was playing my scales in another octave or something. She asked what I played - a 6 foot? 7 foot ? I laughed and said, "No, I have an upright." Her response couldn't have been more beautiful. She said, "Oh honey, at your level you should be practicing on a grand..." and gave me some very specific reasons for doing so. Oh thank you! I couldn't agree more. Since I have been bugging G for some time on the topic, I came home and immediately related the news - it is time to upgrade. My professional and most wise concert pianist teacher told me so. Unfortunately, "Pppsssffff! Are you crazy?" and the biggest eye roll in G history was all I got out of that conversation. Now I'm more obsessed then ever with wanting to upgrade to a grand. I am a hair's breath away from selling my soul to the devil to get it. It probably wouldn't be such a big deal if I weren't such a piano snob. Of course I only want what's best for my musical development. Is there something wrong with that? Apparently G thinks so.

So I've decided I'm going to do something about it. I talked to my teacher this week and told her I want to start putting a repertoire together so I can begin capitalizing on my talent, since this is the only way I was ever going to get what I wanted. She couldn't have been more pleased and ready to help. So, all three of my loyal readers, if you know anyone out there who needs a pianist for a special event, say a wedding, party or any occasion, send them my way. With 25 years at the keys, I guarantee nice music. And tell them it's for a good cause - all proceeds go to the GOLD-E Piano Upgrade Fund.

The Men in My Life

Since it's Father's Day, I thought I would take a moment to pay a small tribute to the men in my life.
I start with G. Even though he's not a dad, he's still # 1 in my book. There's a running joke at our house that husbands are pointless. Even though I feel like I have to follow him around with a broom and dustpan, he's still a pretty good guy. He mows the lawn religiously, he does the laundry every week, he'll take out the garbage can, and never forgets the mail. He knows when it's "appreciation week" at our house and will take extra measures to help out (except he still won't take that dang suitcase downstairs...). He's smart. He's funny. And, believe it or not, G has a little mischievous streak. He definitely keeps my life interesting.

Meet my dad. Probably one of the most calm and collected persons you could ever meet. I've heard people are intimidated by him, even gone so far as to call him "Mafia." That's just because you never know what he's thinking. He's a hard working guy, whether it's getting up before the crack of dawn to schlep across town to his job, running his dream small-town convenience store for a summer (or just dreaming about running a small-town convenience store for a summer), fixing an old junker car in the driveway so one of the kids can drive two blocks to the Sev for a drink, or fixing dinner for the masses-because as much of a pain as we all might be (you pick your reason), he enjoys having us all together and we enjoy being with him.

Meet Randy a.k.a. Randal Clause, my step-dad. Randy and I met close to 20 years ago. I was just a tween and wanted nothing to do with him, but alas, my pre-teen antics didn't keep him away - and for that I am forever grateful. If it weren't for this guy, I probably wouldn't know how to ski (well, I'm still no Olympian, but I can enjoy the sport), would have little appreciation for the outdoors, wouldn't be able to put the Tetons on a map, and could never say I got to ride in "the truck." Whose stories would I have to roll my eyes at? And what would I do if I didn't get to hear about "the cabin" and every piece of furniture or fixture he and my mom are saving because it's perfect for "the cabin?" He has a big heart and a lot of love for all of his kids.

Finally meet Stephen, my father-in-law. Sorry, no picture. I've gone through every digital photo album I own and I do not have a single picture of him. Just imagine G in 30 years and you've got his dad. Stephen could easily be the smartest guy I know. An engineer by profession, his mind works in numbers. One weekend while G and I were visiting, he had programmed a number game, I think he called it "Bolts and Cogs," into his TI-86. He had summons me to play the game when in the background I hear Julie say, "Stephen, maybe she doesn't want to play." His reply, "Well, too bad" and proceeded to teach me the rules of the game. I never did really get it, but I was impressed with his genius nonetheless. From the first time I met Stephen, he's always been so welcoming and loving. That I appreciate more than anything.

Where the Good Things Are...

Monday I had an opportunity to go to the ABC 4 News studio with Tammie, Heidi and Venice to watch a live broadcast of the station's Good Things Utah, with hostesses Nicea, Angie, Reagan and a guest host (don't remember her name) filling in for Marti. It was so interesting to be behind the cameras watching - what a production it is to put on this little show everyday. There are a lot of people involved!

The reason we were invited to the show is thanks to Heidi. One of Heidi's friends from the Wasatch Mountain Club, Carol Macheter, 61 yr. old adventurer who recently returned from a summit of Mt. Everest, was being interviewed on the show.

During her three month adventure on the mountain she would send emails to friends in the Club documenting her experiences and Heidi would forward them to me. Heidi knows that once upon a time I wanted to climb Everest, but when I realized I would have to walk across ladders in crampons over giant crevasses, climb ice walls, struggle breathing, risk losing body parts to frostbite ormore likely die trying, I set that dream aside. And since I don't really climb mountains, I chose to live vicariously through Carol. I felt like I got to know her personally.

Carol started her climb at 8 PM and reached the summit at 6 AM on May 24, 2008. On the way down she was temporarily blinded, likely due to the altitude and the pressure on her eyes. Her eyesight was eventually restored, but it was a brutal return trip back to camp and, thanks to the help of her two sherpas, lived to tell about it.

Carol doesn't know it yet, but she's my new best friend. What an awesome lady. The best part is she came to the studios on her bike, walked in with a giant backpack and wore a 'Hike Moab' t-shirt for her interview. She's hard core, but so down to earth. It was a fun experience and I'm glad I was able to meet a real-live adventurer.

True Colors

Disclaimer: this post may contain sexually explicit content. Read at your own risk. Please do not contact the editor if you are offended.

I was having the usual "5 o'clock round-up" phone conversation with G the other day when the conversation turned to something like this:

G: Hey, do you want to go the Pride Festival with me?

Me: The Pride Festival?? Isn't that the festival for gays and lesbians?

G: Yeah.

Me: Why would I want to go the Pride Festival? ... Pookie, is there something you need to tell me?

It turns out G's employer was a sponsor of the festival (you know, diversity) and G "volunteered" to be in the booth representing the company for a couple of hours. He didn't want to go alone, so he invited me to man the booth with him.

Have you ever been to a Pride Festival? I think this was a first for me. There are some things I just don't think of when I think of this particular festival . This includes:

1. Me and G. While we both know people who may attend this event, we are not generally one of them. I did get 'leied' while I was there.

2. Anything associated with the LDS Church. They had a wall for people to leave a message (which I don't know for sure, but have a feeling this message board will be sent to Church headquarters to make a point), as well as a pin to place in a map indicating where folks had served missions. I'm not sure if this booth is a cry for acceptance or a slam on a religion that will likely never bend.

3. What do you think of when you hear, "Budweiser?" I think King of Beers, Clydesdale, NASCAR, and all things manly. There was a funny sign just like this one (which I didn't get a picture), but had the rainbow flag around it. Kind of a juxtaposition, but I guess all good festivals involve beer, even where rainbows are concerned.

So those are some of things one might not expect. Here's what might not shock you at this festival (warning: this is where it gets a little explicit):

1. All things butch.

2. Ok, so this guy is obviously an entertainer, but the point is, there were some very interesting characters in the park today.

3. Need I say more?

In Six Words

Every so often I get a catalog from Title Nine, a women's clothing store that celebrates health and fitness and sells clothes for active women. Other than the cute bikinis, I love the commentary for the description of clothing, like "terminate the tug...no tugging on the tops to make sure everything is 'in place'," (nothing like ensuring the girls are "in place" at all times) and second, that the models are not these skinny, anemic dolls you see in other catalogs. Rather, they are real women, with jobs other than being models who are essentially athletes with rockin' bodies. I secretly want to be a Title Nine model.

In the most recent catalog the founder of the company notes how an online magazine asked folks to submit their biography in six words. She added a spin to the challenge by asking readers to find six words to encompass all that fitness is and does for us. This caught my attention, particularly the biography in six words. I've been thinking about it for several days and have found it more difficult than imagined to sum up my life in six words. I've noticed my biography changes depending on my mood, emotions and events in a day. Today my biography would say in six words:

Shy girl collides with outgoing world

What would your biography say in six words? If you want to enter the Title Nine challenge (six words to encompass all that fitness is and does for us) send your six words to missy@titlenine.com and maybe they'll share it on their website.