Russell Rules

Russell is one of the hardest working men I know and absolutely devoted as a husband and father. He has always been my rock and best friend, and my life is so much better because of him. He is sweet, dear, loving, patient, forgiving, understanding, smart, funny, reliable, and always there for me when I need him.

Thank you honey for everything you do. I love you.

Thoughts of Self

When I was a kid around the age of 8, I day dreamed about living out in the wild somewhere in my own hand built log cabin. It would be close to a river in the tree line and I would have rich fertile land to grow my food. I would hunt as well and use the skins to warm myself in the winter or for bedding and clothing. I created every detail in my mind about how my cabin would look and what all the things in it would be like. I would have a wolf or two for protection and birds, racoons, rabbits, and all kinds of other animals as companions. Hey I was 8, what can you expect?

The funny thing is, while I was busy planning my future life of adventure in the wild, my girlfriends' minds were filled with images of living in a Barbie Mansion with servants and closets full of glamorous clothes. While they were playing with their dolls and chatting about their silly girly things, I was either watching Grizzly Adams(probably too much of it), exploring a creek, or climbing trees. The life of the tomboy was for me and it was grand.

Thankfully I haven't outgrown it. I still want to romp around in the woods(and do) and would love to own a cabin on some beautiful property out in the wilderness someday. I want to climb mountains and meet fellow adventurers who are as committed to their natural world as I am, or at least as desperate to connect to it the way I am. But it goes beyond that.

I should explain what this inner tomboy thing means to me. It's part of who I am, but not entirely what one might think when they hear the word tomboy. It doesn't necessarily mean getting my hands dirty or wanting to go out four wheeling. It doesn't mean I don't like being feminine and using my beguiling womanly charms when necessary. Nor is it entirely about craving nature and earthy experience, or being one of the guys, but rather it's about an inner spark that gives me an edge. It makes me the independent thinker I am. It gives me the ability to speak up and let my voice be heard. It gives me the ability to be tough when I need it. It sets the tone for my non-conventional ways and makes my life richer. And I must say it's something I feel extremely fortunate to have.

Life's events brought me to the place where I am now. I'm happily married, have a great family, awesome friends, etc...but my inner tomboy is restless and it's difficult to ignore. I feel like I've been too sedentary and haven't lived up to my full potential. I need something more and have to do something about it while I still have time. I always wanted to accomplish personal greatness to the best of my ability and I have yet to live up to that. But I'm a work in progress and some things I want to achieve will have to wait until my children are older.

Some women would read this and think I am being selfish and that I should be completely fulfilled by the sheer fact that I got married and had kids. They would chide me for wanting and needing more and probably call me ungrateful. But screw that...it all goes back to that tomboy thing. Some of us lucky gals got it, and some of us didn't. I'm not done and want to squeeze every drop of happiness and excitement out of life I can. It's the only one I have and I don't want to waste it.

Random BS

Got my new ipod shuffle, thus goes the task of filling it up with music again. I'm supposed to return the bad one back to Apple, for which they gave me a return label that I destroyed while trying to pry it off the packaging it was glued to. I don't know if that was poorly thought out on their end, or if I'm just a big dork and should have cut the label off with scissors, then found my own tape to re-attach it to the return box. Either way, I got my new shuffle and it's filling up with music as I type this. I really LOVE technology. :)

The Jaw Dropping Talent That is Jamie

I have a friend who oozes talent out of every pore and her name is Jamie. She composes wonderful music and is a true rocker through and through. If the world only knew of her, she'd be famous. She's so modest about it too. I don't think she knows her own musical genius, but a privileged few of us do know the talent that is Jamie, and we are fortunate indeed to be able to call her friend. I can sit for hours and let her rich voice and intricate guitar weave images in my mind and conjure emotions from depths within. It's like having your own personal rock star and that's damn cool! Aside from all that musical prowess, she's a great listener and a hilarious comedian too. Jamie I LOVE YOU!

Going Stir Crazy!

Warning! Pity Party about to commence...

I've been cooped up in the house most of the week and the friggin weather prevented me from backpacking this weekend. I can't believe how dependent I've become on getting out on the trails, and notice a huge difference in my mood when I miss a weekend. Right now I'd say I'm fairly miserable and man oh man do I miss the feel of natural ground under my feet! The best anti-depressant in the world is the great outdoors and boy do I need a dose.

To make matters worse, Russell is about to start classes again and we both dread the loss of free time we'll have to sacrifice as a result. Not only that, but the heavy workload and stressful deadlines he'll be burdened with make him miserable and zero fun to be around. I share his pain believe me...it's hard work being the supportive spouse and I'm paying my dues too. Master's programs are a bitch and that's all there is to it.

*Sigh* My heart feels like it weighs a ton...I wish I was on the trail now.

Uh yeah, Dominoes? I'd like a pizza...very rare...hold the sauce, cheese and toppings please...

What do you think the reaction would be from a Dominoes employee if someone called and said they wanted to order such a pizza? My friend Jen and I had minutes of all out hilarity contemplating this and pretending we were calling in such an order. Don't ask.

Breaking News...

Russell made the decision it's time to shave his head. He can no longer hide the fact that he is balding and decided to just go with it. Personally I think it's a great idea and Russell knows I think some bald men are hot. So the deed is done and I now have a bald husband. It's about time I say. :)

Gingerbread Extravaganza 2006

Each year my friend Jen has a gingerbread house party where all her guests come and decorate their very own house to take home. This year would mark the fifth party and the second one I have had the priviledge of attending. It was a great time and even the guys got into making and decorating their own creations. Elliott designed and built his own train and Jen made a gingerbread dome.

The day before the party Jen and I made dough and baked over a hundred cookies! We pre-baked and assembled the houses too...14 in all. Hours and hours of work went into this year's extravaganza, but it was all fun and time well spent. These houses do look good enough to eat and they are!

The Candy!
My House
Jessica's House
Elliott's Train
Lotsa Cookies!
The Dome (pre-decorated. I don't have a shot of it finished unfortunately)
Hanson and Will's House. The other side of the house says "Please Recycle"
Very Fine Gingerbread Cookies. These didn't last long in my house.

Leonid Meteor Shower

I'm heading out to back country again this weekend and am really excited that the skies will be clear. There is a meteor shower happening this weekend, so here's hoping for some beautiful night sky watching!