On an island in the sun / we’ll be playing and having fun

Summer is my favorite season. All year long I dream of it.

A few years ago I started making a new Spotify playlist for myself every summer. I would throw whatever song on there that I ran across on the radio or on various other playlists that I listened to, and then in following years it would become a really fun time capsule whenever I wanted to remember summer.

But as much as I love a good mixtape, I also still really dig albums and always have. Sometimes I latch onto a recent or new album during the summer, playing it over and over until it solidifies that summer in my mind. Sometimes this happens with multiple albums within a summer, but usually there’s one standout that feels especially summery and captures the memory of that time. I guess they aren't all about "playing and having fun," some of them go a little deeper but still feel summery somehow. Summertime is also outdoor concert season, and I saw a lot of these bands perform in some of my favorite amphitheaters. (Oh how I miss concerts)

Looking back over the past 20ish years, here’s what I remember as my albums of the summer. (I won’t post them all at once, I’ll do a few at a time.) I still love all of these albums and they conjure up road trips, drives to the beach with the windows down, #summerdaysseries adventures with the kids, and hot and humid summer concerts.

2001- Weezer “Green Album”

The summer after my freshman year of college. I feel like maybe this was my last real "kid" summer. I had just turned 18 and sent my boyfriend on a mission. (An actual mission. For our church. 😜) I missed him and had no interest in dating or doing anything remotely adultish. I was a lifeguard, working *maybe* 20 hours a week and spending the rest of the time goofing off with my family and friends. That was a really fun summer. And how can you not think of summer when “Island in the Sun” comes on? (Side memory: in summer 2002, Matt and I saw Weezer in concert at Irvine Meadows, and I bought my favorite ever concert shirt there, which has now been missing for about 15 years. I hope it’s living a good second life wherever it is.)

2003- Guster “Keep It Together”

The summer that Matt and I got engaged. We have seen Guster in concert several times, but the first time was that spring, right before this album came out. They played “Ramona” at the concert, and I fell in love. (With Guster. I was already in love with Matt.) “Backyard” is also a great summer jam. OK honestly this whole album is a great summer jam.

2004- The Postal Service “Give Up”

The summer that Matt and I lived in Arlington for DC internships, and traveled up and down the eastern seaboard every weekend. We played this album a LOT. If I’m remembering it right, we played “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” as we pulled into DC the first night we arrived, driving past the Iwo Jima memorial at 2 am. (Or maybe that’s was when we moved to DC 2 years later. Not actually sure, but it’s a happy memory either way.)

2005- Ben Folds “Songs for Silverman”

Another album that reminds me of driving in the car. I particularly remember driving up to Bear Lake while blasting this one. “Jesusland” is sort of a commentary on the commercialization/mass production of Christianity. “Late,” which is about a friend who died of suicide, makes me cry, and so does “Sentimental Guy,” which is about a descent into cynicism. “Give Judy My Notice” is a slide-guitar jamboree.

2007- John Mayer “Continuum”

Why do these albums all remind me so much of driving? I must just drive a lot in the summer. This album in particular reminds me of my summertime commute. I worked a couple of evenings a week when Theo was a baby, and the college where I worked (and still work) used to close early in the summer. So it was still light out, but barely twilight, and I’d drive down Hunter Mill Road on my way home to see my baby, with the windows rolled down and “Stop This Train” on repeat.

Tune in tomorrow (or whenever) for the next installment of... the Albums That Shaped Eliza’s Adulthood Summers. Working title, I’ll get back to you on that. 😆

Renewed vigor

I was kind of on a roll for a minute there. With posting I mean.

I am also on a roll with feeling good. About a 3-week roll now. I felt so crappy all through the fall (and wonder if I will ever enjoy fall again...used to be my favorite season and now the thought of it makes me want to barf) that I am so glad to be feeling somewhat normal now. I even made a menu and went grocery shopping today AND have eaten lots of fresh and delicious food since we've been home. Top Ramen, begone and don't let me see your face again, ever.

I have also been on a roll with keeping my house clean. Mainly dishes and laundry are what I have the hardest time with. But I cleaned MY ENTIRE HOUSE on Saturday (minus the office and storage room which are a separate project) and believe me it was a MESS when we got back on Thursday night. (even after Matt cleaned up a lot, which he did.) Anyway so I kept it clean for almost 5 days and now although I am still keeping up on laundry, it is not looking so great anymore especially the kitchen and playroom, and I know I need to avoid the "broken window syndrome" and keep it respectable and that is what I am avoiding doing by writing run-on sentences instead. Because my kids are in quiet time (which I didn't start until 4 p.m. today because I skipped Ida's nap...yikes. I'm sure she is asleep by now) and I have 15 more minutes until that is over. I can do the dishes with my kids underfoot but blogging, not so much.

I made a list of monthly house goals until the baby comes. I also made personal goals like exercise and get my kids exercise and get up early and all of us eat well, but those are less interesting and much harder.

January: Finish basement. This mainly means organize the storage room (which is in bad bad shape) and the office (which is almost as bad). It also means little things like fixing a small line of unraveled carpet, finishing the baseboards and painting the basement stairway which sorely needs it. But the clock is ticking and at this point I will be happy if we just organize the storage room. It's bad. And I just got another installment of baby clothes from my sister Phoebe (see photo with September installment, above) which needs a place to live until #3 comes along. I never have to buy baby or toddler clothes ever again, and you can quote me on that. (I know Matt will) One of the many perks of having older sisters.

February: Paint and organize the top floor, which is the master bedroom and bathroom. I AM SO VERY EXCITED TO GET THIS DONE even though it means painting ceilings.

March: Renovate the main-floor bathroom. This I am also excited about but it will take some cash and elbow grease, also Matt and I don't get along very well when working together on projects of this magnitude, so we'll see where we are in March with $$ and energy

April: Clean the carpets. (hooray) And wash the windows. Outside that is. Oh how they need it. So badly. It has probably been at least 2 years since anyone did this. I was so busy moving in all summer that I neglected big things like this and dirty windows are what I have to show for it.

May: Tear out back deck, tear out plants on side of house, put in sod and grass seed everywhere that's bare. I am all about the low maintenance this year. Maybe get plants for the front garden if I have the $. My MIL put it some very nice annuals last spring as well as a couple of smaller bushes which will crop up again. I decided that as much as I like flowers I think I need something easy. Also with the way the sun hits us, by the end of last summer the north flower bed was about 3 times as tall as the south one. Quite amusing.

June: Have a baby.

Hooray!

OK now I am going to wake up Ida from her mini-nap. Matt will be home late and I hope the kids go to bed OK for me tonight, so that I can watch a movie. I mean start on the storage room. (or do I)

From my mother, part 2

Babs with oldest daughter, Bonny, 1971

Things I got from my mother:

• Some people say I look like her. A few people have even seen old pictures of her in my house and asked if it was a picture of me.
• She doesn't wear much makeup.
• She loves to read novels, poetry, newspapers, magazines, biographies; you name it, she'll read it, and will have a review for you when she's done.
• She writes.
• She keeps (kept?) a journal.
• She loves Edith Piaf
• She loves all things Frenchy/Euro.
• Her style (personal and home) is eclectic. When I was a child she said to me: "It doesn't have to match, it just has to go together."
• She has no problem with accumulating more furniture, even if there's no space for it.
• She loves to buy secondhand (prettier words for this being: antique; vintage)
• She is not the most athletic person in the world.
• She picks and chooses what is a "big deal." A lot of times, where other people would make a big fuss or have a big cow about something, she just doesn't see what the big deal is. Other times, somewhat surprising things may be important.
  
• She likes soup and sandwiches and hot chocolate.
• Not a big meat eater or meat cooker.
• She's a talker.
• And yet, despite a love of discussion and a generous penchant for letters and e-mails, she doesn't phone often. This may seem curious. I have to say, though, that I don't like the phone either.
  
• She doesn't always feel like she fits in, though she manages to find a place anyway. In her own words, "I've always felt 'awkward' but I've gotten used to it!! (Like an old shoe!)"
• She likes exclamation points and dashes.
• She likes to be busy.
• She relishes the occasional evening all alone with nothing to do but read or putter around.
  
• She likes to teach.
• She often has a clear picture in her head of how something is going to go or should go.
• She believes strongly in the importance of visiting teaching, Relief Society, and active membership in the Church.
• She cares deeply about the welfare of her children.

Babs in apron, 1968

Things I'm still working on getting from my mother:

• She remembers everyone's birthday and sends cards for everything. Case in point: this year, I forgot to send Mother's Day cards. But did I receive one from my mother? Of course.
• A mantra of hers, "Never suppress a generous thought." - Camilla Kimball
• She was cool with taking care of the kids on late nights when my dad had work and church responsibilities. (I am such a whiner about this)
• Although she cares, she can let go. When I went away to college, she expressed how much she missed me and said, "But we raised you to go out on your own."
  
• She bakes a mean batch of pumpkin cookies.

What did you get from your mother?

20 songs.

The other day in the car, with the windows down, I was blasting that blessed ditty "Where the Streets Have No Name" and wondering what it was like to pop in the Joshua Tree tape freshly unwrapped from The Wherehouse and hear that opening riff for the first time back in '87. (I wouldn't know; I was listening to Sharon, Lois, and Bram.)

Here are 20 pop songs I haven't gotten tired of yet, aka "windows down, volume up" songs, as requested a while ago by Hannah, the rule being: only one song from each artist, otherwise David Gray and U2 would pretty much cover it. Half of them are from the past 15 years. Most of them are sung by men. Why don't I like many girl singers? I don't know. Topic for another post I guess.

"Babylon II" by David Gray
"Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2
"Super Trouper" by ABBA
"Tropicalia" by Beck
"We Are in Love" by Harry Connick, Jr.
"My Girl" by the Temptations
"I Want You" by Bob Dylan
"Peace Train" by Cat Stevens
"Say It Ain't So" by Weezer
"Ramona" by Guster
"When I'm Sixty-Four" by the Beatles
"Why Does It Always Rain on Me?" by Travis
"Goods" by Mates of State
"Overjoyed" by Stevie Wonder
"Sentimental Guy" by Ben Folds
"Wrapped around Your Finger" by The Police
"Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond
"A Cradle in Bethlehem" by Nat King Cole (I could and do put it on repeat all year long.)
"Backdrifts" by Radiohead
"Girl on the Wing" by The Shins

Did I miss anything?

I have a hard time with these lists. I find them uncomfortably limiting. For example, I have an inexplicable attachment to "Beast of Burden" by the Rolling Stones but I feel weird putting that on a favorites list because I kinda hate the Rolling Stones. "Hit the Road, Jack" by Ray Charles is also missing because it's cheesy and I hardly ever listen to it. But secretly I really like it.

I Can't Help It, I Just Love Lists.

So, the other day I ran across a reference to the annual contest for the Oddest Book Title, put on by the Diagram Group, which I think is a professional group of writers and publishers. The only requirement is that the title have been published sometime in that year, and not just made up by voters. (Feeling a tiny bit skeptical, I looked a few up on Amazon. Yep, they're there.)

Some actually made me laugh out loud.

Please enjoy.

2005: People Who Don’t Know They Are Dead: How They Attach Themselves to Unsuspecting Bystanders and What to Do about It
2004: Bombproof Your Horse
2002: Living with Crazy Buttocks
1995: Reusing Old Graves
1993: American Bottom Archaeology
1992: How to Avoid Huge Ships
1988: Versailles: The View from Sweden
1984: The Book of Marmalade: Its Antecedents, Its History and Its Role in the World Today
1982: Population and Other Problems
1981: Last Chance at Love--Terminal Romances
1980: The Joy of Chickens
1978: Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Nude Mice
Good times.

"Honey, He's Teasing You. Nobody Has Two Television Sets."

TV Land recently chose their top 100 most memorable lines as seen on TV. Here are the top ten.

1. Heeere's Johnny! (Ed McMahon, The Tonight Show)
2. One small step for man ... (Neil Armstrong)
3. You're fired! (Donald Trump, The Apprentice)
4. Baby, you're the greatest. (Ralph Kramden, The Honeymooners)
5. Ask not what your country can do for you ... (John F. Kennedy)
6. D'oh! (Homer Simpson, The Simpsons)
7. Where's the beef? (Wendy's)
8. Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis? (Arnold Drummond, Diff'rent Strokes)
9. Yabba dabba do! (Fred Flintstone, The Flintstones)
10. I am not a crook. (Richard Nixon)

Donald Trump's is number three. Number THREE!

Sorry, TV Land, but you're fired. How did Donald Trump get above "yabba dabba do"? And "I am not a crook" is way better and more quotable (especially if you say it in a Richard Nixon voice) than "You're fired."

I really find this very puzzling.

While we're doing stupid reality/game show lines, wouldn't "You ahhhh the weakest link, goodbye" make it above "You're fired"? Or "Is that your final answer"? (Both of those kind of date my reality-TV watching, I know. I'm sorry, I'm very much behind the times.)

I guess maybe the most memorable TV lines are also generally the most annoying.

What lines would you pick if you had to write this list?

I'm still thinking. (I'm much better at movie lines; we weren't allowed to watch much TV.)

April 19th in Numbers

# of times hit "snooze" between 6:30 and 8:00 a.m.: 9

# of minutes late to work: approximately 56

(# of days late to work in the past year: approximately 184)

# of "Happy Birthday" kazoo serenades received from my boss: 1

# of Beach Club Sandwiches eaten: 1

(# of Beach Club Sandwiches eaten in the past year: approximately 184)

# of Chocolate Butter Eggs eaten: 3

# of minutes watched "Paris's Most Shocking" on E!: 10

# of times said, "Oh yeah?": approximately 762

# of David Gray albums now in my collection: 6

# of years now lived: 23

All in all, a good day.

You Can Get Anything You Want at Alice's Restaurant

I found the following Magic 8-Ball of sorts (not this one, though it'll do) on a random blog. Kinda fun if you have time to waste. I don't, but I can always make time for mindless blogging.

Instructions: Put your mp3 player or iTunes on shuffle mode. Ask yourself the question in bold. The song that pops up is the answer. Give it a try.

Ah, the endless entertainment possibilities of the "shuffle" feature.

How does the world see me?
"Girl from the North Country" - Bob Dylan. Sorta.

Will I have a happy life?
"Pink Love" - Blonde Redhead. I can live with that.

What do my friends really think of me?
"On Your Side" - Pete Yorn. I AM on your side, friends.

What do strangers I meet think of me?
"Just Pretend" - The Bens. Giggle.

How can I be happy?
"Stop Whispering" - Radiohead. Well, that seems simple enough.

What should I do with my life?
"I Spy" - Guster. Langley, here I come.

Will I ever have children?
"Guess I'm Doing Fine" - Beck. Yeah, I guess I am, actually. That still doesn't answer the question, though.

What is some good advice for me?
"I Better Be Quiet Now" - Elliott Smith. I'm getting conflicting messages from Elliott and Radiohead.

How will I be remembered?
"Stone on the Water" - Badly Drawn Boy. Take that any way way you'd like.

What is my signature dancing song?
"No One Else" - Weezer. I was hoping for "Da Doo Ron Ron," but Weez'll do.

What do I think my current theme song is?
"I Have Space" - Mates of State. Sometimes I have space.

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
"Golden Slumbers" - The Beatles. I won't deny that I enjoy my slumbers.

What song will play at my funeral?
"Bubblegoose" - Wyclef Jean. The protagonist of this song "caught a bullet in his bubblegoose." So, I don't really like this answer.

What type of men do I like?
"Just Like a Woman" - Bob Dylan. hmmm.

What is my day going to be like?
"See You Soon" - Coldplay. Awww. I hope so!

I'm Not the Kind to Kiss and Tell, But I've Been Seen with Farrah

Roll call!

I got this idea from Emily, whom I don’t know, who got it from somebody else, whom I also probably don’t know. At any rate, if you are reading this, even for the first time, I invite you to indicate your presence in some way.

“Here!” or “Present!” is fine, although submissions of clever witticisms, deep thoughts, spring-cleaning tips, and/or favorite TV theme songs are also accepted.

Feel free to chime in even if you’re days or weeks late. With fingers crossed I’m actually going to open my comments to non-Bloggers for a day or two. (Any shenanigans, though, and it’s back to strictly ID’d patrons.)

I was a little nervous to do this, you know in the same way you’re nervous to throw a big party in case no one shows up and it’s lame. But I'm sure that I'm in great company here. Witticisms, deep thoughts, and all.

Can’t wait to meet ya!

__________________________________________________________________________________

My contributions:

Spring cleaning tip: Maybe this isn't a "tip" but my favorite part of spring cleaning is throwing open the windows and blasting some sassy tunes whilst I dust/sweep/scrub. Cleaning soundtracks I enjoy include Radiohead's Hail to the Thief, ABBA's Gold, and Harry Connick's We Are in Love.

TV theme song: Thanks to my husband, I do have a strong appreciation for the theme to The Fall Guy. 'Cause he's the unknown stuntman who makes Eastwood look so fine.

Lies Lies Lies Yeah

Also known as "Lize Lize Lize Yeah."

A little more Thompson Twins for ya. Beating out Fleetwood Mac, Annie Lennox, and Jonny Lang this time. Coming up with what I think is the perfect musical title is really the best part of blogging for me sometimes.

Hannah “tagged” me because I’m so taggable, so here is my list of fours. However, I filled it out and then realized how very boring it was (not so much due to the nature of the list, as due to the nature of my life). So I changed it to Three Truths and a Lie. Happy guessing!

It’s not that hard.

Four jobs I've had
1. Piano teacher
2. Babysitter
3. Lifeguard
4. Crossing guard

Four movies I can watch over and over
1. The Sound of Music
2. Groundhog Day
3. Autumn in New York
4. Fletch

Four places I've lived
1. Monrovia, California
2. Pflugerville, Texas
3. Vienna, Austria
4. Arlington, Virginia

Four TV shows I love(d)
1. Desperate Housewives
2. Felicity
3. Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica
4. Nancy Grace

Four highly regarded and recommended TV shows that I've never watched a single minute of
1. 24
2. Lost
3. Law and Order
4. The West Wing

Four places I've vacationed
1. Belo Horizonte, Brazil
2. Rome, Italy
3. Wilmington, North Carolina
4. Prague, Czech

Four of my favorite dishes
1. Baby-back ribs
2. Chips and salsa from Rumbi
3. Chicken Green Chile Salad from Bajio
4. S’mores

Four sites I visit daily
1. Gmail
2. Dead Body Guy
3. The Terrill Connection
4. Toothpaste for Dinner

Four places I'd rather be right now
1. The beach
2. Wal-Mart
3. Wilmington, North Carolina
4. Somewhere sunny

Four bloggers I am tagging
1. Bonny
2. Phoebe
3. Katie
4. Alex

That last one was actually 4 truths. I couldn’t think of anyone to lie about.


*I can't stand it. You simply must know that I watched every episode of "Newlyweds" (probably because I'm not a cynic) and that I can't understand how Nancy Grace is on the air. I only watch her when I'm forced to at the gym. I just didn't want there to be any confusion on that, since maybe those two shows have about the same amount of credibility with some people. NOT WITH ME, mind you!

I've Been So Lucky

I was trying to think of a Thanksgiving-ish title, and the lyrics to "Thank You for the Music" immediately invaded my brain and I couldn't get them out. So...sorry, ABBA-phobes. At least I left out the "I am the girl with golden hair" part, right? I don't know that I'm lucky in quite the ways that Agnetha was...Mother did not say I was a dancer before I could walk, for example. Also, my husband is not named Bjorn or Benni (not sure which of the Bs was hers. Or if she was even the golden-haired one, actually).

The point of this post is to say, Thanks, bloggers! Because I'm grateful for you. I'm following the example of my cousin Jeff, who posted a great Thanksgiving thanksgiving on his blog.

My thanksgiving:

I'm grateful for my handsome, quiet, funny husband.

I'm grateful for my loyal, goofy, loving family.

I'm grateful for my smart, short, charming nieces and nephews. (Not short for long, though--Ara is already up to my shoulder or something, for heaven's sake.)

I'm grateful for loyal and funny friends.

I'm grateful for my warm house, that's not really mine, but I'm grateful for it anyway, and its warmth.

I'm grateful that I'm not cooking dinner this Thanksgiving. Not that I ever have. But I don't need the stress this year, either! Someday, I promise, I will cook, and you're all invited.

I'm grateful that my quarter at school is almost up (3 weeks!) and that a week after that I get to see my beloved Bono again, at the Delta Center again. Coincidentally (or maybe NOT!), I'm listening to "Original of the Species" at the moment. "Sugar come on--show your soul!"

I'm grateful for Radiohead--in particular "Backdrifts," my favorite song of the moment.

I'm grateful that although my PC at work died again today, I had nothing saved on the hard drive this time.

I'm grateful that I've never touched a lawn mower. Can you believe that I've never even touched one? I really don't think I have! Shall I make this a lifelong goal, never to touch one? I hope this doesn't say anything about my work ethic. I have touched plenty of vacuums, if that helps.

I'm grateful for cell phones.

I'm grateful for forgiveness.

I'm grateful for delicious, delicious marshmallows.

I'm grateful for turkey-guacamole sandwiches. Oh man.

I'm grateful for 2 days off this week.

I'm grateful for...most things, really. At least when I'm in this "count your many blessings" mood. My mind is positively swimming with gratitude (well, with that and ABBA lyrics). I won't bore you with more. Go ahead, get back to stuffing your turkeys or whatever you people do.

Thanks for reading. Happy Thanksgiving.

Wild Geese That Fly with the Moon on Their Wings

Etc.

I've been keeping a list of things that I like, and today I decided to blog about it. It turns out that I like a lot of things. The list has gotten so long--unbloggable, really--that I decided to make it an alphabetical one, for some sense of order and limits.

Obviously this list cannot be definitive. The alphabet restricts it from being so. For example, I wished that


Arvin Sloane (Sloane, Arvin)

could have made it on there, but that would have used up an A or an S, and how could I toss


ABBA

or


steel guitar?? And


Pee-Chees had to trump


Puffalumps (and Pound Puppies...and Popples, actually).

Some things I like better than others. I'll let you guess.

Also, for the record, I like my husband, all of my family and in-laws, and all of my friends (including you, reader), so, sorry, none of you people make it on the list, because then it would just be too long, and you'd think I was bragging that I know so many likeable people.

On to The List. (I would include pictures, but it took long enough to do the 5 above. Sorry!)

A is for ABBA . . . like there was ever any question about that.

B is for "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Ray Charles--the best and smoothest version of that song.

C is for chunky peanut butter, which goes with practically everything.

D is for Deep Valley, MN, a fictional town "aptly named" by one of my fave authors, Sister Lovelace.

E is for the Electric Slide. It's electric! And present at many a community function. And, never-ending.

F is for fresh basil, which goes with anything that doesn't go with chunky peanut butter.

G is for the giraffe at the Santa Barbara Zoo with the crooked neck.

H is for the Hollywood Bowl in the summer.

I is for Isaac Mizrahi, elite designer-turned-clother of the Target masses.

J is for jacaranda trees.

K is for "Kermit thee Frog here" performing "Rainbow Connection," strumming his banjo upon a rock in the woods.

L is for Lisa Frank, commander of pinks and purples, of airbrushed unicorn art-on-plastic.

M is for mistletoe.

N is for nothing, as in doing nothing, as in "There's nothing to do for once, so I'm going to sit here and do nothing." (This rarely happens, but sometimes you just need to do nothing anyway. Or make lists.)

O is for outlet shopping.

P is for Pee-Chee folders in all their sporty glory.

Q is for quiche. "How you spell it?" "You don't spell it, son--you eat it!"

R is for roller skating, which I rocked at in my younger days, and which I don't do nearly enough of anymore.

S is for steel guitar, the best thing to hit country music since the hat.

T is for tea sets.

U is for Uchtdorf, Elder Dieter. I could listen to him talk all day.

V is for Video Spot (or was it Stop?? I can't remember), where you could rent "Return to Oz" and "My Little Pony" videos.

W is for Wiggum, Ralph. (Ralph to Bart: "Hey, I know you from school!")

X is for "X marks the spot. Circle and a dot. Up the ladder, down the ladder, dot dot dot."

Y is for Yoplait Light. C'est si bon . . . eet eez soooo good.

Z is for . . . Z (aka the sound of Zorro's sword making "the sign of the Z." Can I put it in writing? "Whit-whit-whit"?)

Go ahead, bloggers, try The List. It will make you happy. Also, it's a good way to brush up on those ABCs.

September Morning Still Can Make Me Feel That Way

Fact: I’ve started the delightful tradition of waking up to “September Morn” by Neil Diamond. It’s really quite wonderful.

Fact: “Low Carb Lifestyle” Special K is pretty much the same as cardboard, also similar to that thick and scratchy construction paper.

Fact: I’ve eaten a banana a day for almost a week now.

Fact: Our house is now 5 garbage bags lighter of my stuff.

Fact: Until yesterday (and the garbage bags) I had in my possession every letter I’ve ever received in my life. Ever. Since childhood. That includes cards, notes passed at school, those little Valentines with pictures of Barbie and Scooby Doo on them, everything. I kept a few, but most of them are gone now. I feel surprisingly great about it.

Fact: I’ve also kept pretty much everything I’ve ever gotten from anybody. Until yesterday. You have no idea how great it feels to be rid of so many boxes of stuff.

Some of it was a little hard to part with, and some of it was not. Love letters from my nieces and kids I used to babysit, written in big crooked handwriting that breaks your heart. Envelope after envelope of photos I never look at. Picture frames that probably came from Pic’N’Save. Every paper I wrote in college, high school, middle school, and elementary school. Shoes I’ve kept for no reason other than the hope that one day I might find platform flip-flops attractive again. All my “thoughts” from girls’ camp (example: “Prayer is like shaving--even if you do it today, you still have to do it tomorrow!”—pink Bic razor attached). My old CPR mask from lifeguarding class. A nightgown with pictures of hedgehogs on it.

“Look at what you’ve done—why, you’ve become a grown-up girl.”

Fact: I just love fall.

Fact: I really need some fuel. That cardboard stuff just didn’t cut it. Banana time!

Thursday in Numbers

Concept blatantly hijacked from Marcy Dibbleblotts.

# of times listened to “Dear Diary” by Britney Spears while getting ready for work: 1

# of minutes late to work: 30 (I don’t think this one and the previous one are connected, but who knows)

# of minutes spent during my lunch hour trying to find out the circumference of the largest cottonwood tree in Michigan: 40

# of strands of faux pearls worn to work: 3

# of times said the word “faux” aloud: 1

# of times said the phrase “virtual reality” aloud: 1

# of times said the phrase "may the force be with you" aloud: 1

# of reviews read of Revenge of the Sith before watching: 3

# of spoilers found in said reviews: ~ 5

# of dollars made in midnight showings of Revenge of the Sith: 16.5 million

# of toy light sabers lit up and waved by fellow watchers in my row during the opening credits of Revenge of the Sith: 5

# of times came perilously close to tears during Revenge of the Sith (I’d tell you more specifics but although it seems I like finding out spoilers, I hate to be the bearer of them): 2

# of hours stayed up past midnight—maybe just too scared of Darth Sidious to sleep?: 2

# of brownies eaten at 1 a.m.: 2

# of characters noticed eating in Revenge of the Sith: 0

# of minutes spent trying to recall Revenge of the Sith scenes involving food: 5

# of times I plan to see Revenge of the Sith in theaters again: at least 1. Maybe 2.

Olfactory toast

Isn't it funny about smells? People say that, of all the senses, smell is the most powerful memory trigger. Olfactory nerves and whatnot. Anyway, although I have no "scientific data" to prove that it's actually the most powerful, I must agree that those olfactory gears grind into motion pretty quickly when it comes to triggering odd memories.

Sometimes I catch that certain "city" smell - sort of a combination of sewer, cigarette, exhaust and just, well, people - and I think of Vienna. I don't smell it all the time - DC isn't quite as "cityish" as Vienna - but I smelled it in New York a lot.

Old-creaky-apartment smell also reminds me of Vienna, where I lived in a very old, very creaky apartment.

Whenever I smell plumeria I think of my younger sister Hannah, who used to wear plumeria deodorant like 7 years ago. haha.

The scent of geraniums reminds me of the MHS locker room, probably because I kept geranium shampoo in my gym locker in high school.

Last night I made pork chops with golden mushroom soup for dinner and it smelled like my parents' house.

Coppertone Sport and chlorine bring a sense of dread. haha. Not really, it's actually a very nice nostalgic memory of working at the Duarte pool. Which I dreaded occasionally, but overall enjoyed.

Occasionally I'll get a whiff of someone's perfume or cologne and I'm immediately reminded of an old crush or a past best friend. (Did anyone else switch best friends - and crushes - as often as I did when I was a young, foolish teen?)

The smell of yogurt reminds me of long car trips in my family's 1991 Dodge Ram van, 15-seater, white with red interior.

That van is gone now, replaced by the empty-nester-friendly Volvo sedan.

Bath & Body Works "Sun-Ripened Raspberry" reminds me of my mom.

Bath & Body Works "Juniper Breeze" - which my mother-in-law uses so I smell it a lot - reminds me of being in The King & I in high school. I think my friend Joy used it. (Joy was also in The King & I.)

Gillette Shave Gel reminds me of my dad.

Elizabeth Arden "Sunflowers" reminds me of my sister Phoebe, when she was in high school, which is when I was...ten, eleven, twelve.

Vanilla car fresheners remind me of my brother Harry's truck.

Tide detergent reminds me of my sister Bonny's house.

cK One reminds me of an old Seventeen magazine (of Bonny's) that I used to read over and over when I was like 10 (whenever I went to Bonny's house).

That's when it's in an ad in a magazine. When it's on a person, it reminds me of Harry.

Dry ice smell...every stake/high school/middle school dance, ever.

Top Ramen smell reminds me of high school afternoons. I used to eat that stuff every single day after school. So bad for you, yet so, so good.

Chef Boyardee Ravioli. Definitely reminds me of being baby-sat.

The smell when I walk into a pizza place, for some reason, still makes me think of a field trip my kindergarten class took to Domino's once to learn how they made pizza.

Anyway, the reason for all this is I was just in the kitchen at work, someone was making toast and I felt like I had stepped into a St. George condo in 1989. Seriously. We used to go stay in this condo in St. George every summer when I was a kid, and apparently we made a lot of toast. Isn't that strange? Maybe it was a certain kind of toast, because I make toast a lot and don't normally think of St. George.

Interesting.

Oh, boy. I've hit rock bottom. And it's only 8:30 A.M.

Name: Eliza
Birthday: 19 April 1983
Sex: female
Location: Provo, Utah
What does your Live Journal (BLOGGER!) name mean?: Lizer, it's what a lot of people call me. It started with this guy in my ward last year who used to say, "'Sup, Lizer?" every time he saw me, and Joel made fun of him, but then HE started calling me Lizer, and then it spread like wildfire.

Seven things that scare you:
1. the ocean at night
2. being maimed (horrible, I know. Sorry. It scares me!)
3. hurting somebody I love
4. getting bad grades
5. being burned
6. losing somebody I love
7. becoming a quadraplegic. Also pretty sad. I think I could handle paraplegic, but what if I couldn't use my hands? How would I "blog?" No really, there are so many things I do with my hands that are important to me, piano for instance.

Seven things that make you laugh:
1. Joel
2. Sabrina the Teenage Witch (everybody on there is a kick in the pants. Seriously. That's the best show.)
3. Katie
4. Just Shoot Me .... also News Radio. Also Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam.
5. my brothers and sisters
6. The Extra gum commercial where that girl is sitting on the bus and she sits by all these weird people....oh my gosh it's the best. Do you know what I'm talking about? The best is the little boy who sits next to her and he's all, "Whatsyournamehowoldareyouareyoumarrieddoyouhaveanybrothersandsisters?" I also like the old Snickers commercials when the slogan was, "When there's a hunger inside you..." Like for instance the one with the construction worker. I don't know, I had a hunger inside me yesterday afternoon so I bought a Snickers, and I thought of it.
7. our quote board

Seven things you love:
1. music
2. my family, roommates & friends
3. Michelle & Debra by Jack Weyland
4. Joel
5. talking to old people
6. Sensual Strawberry Natural Lip Balm by Candy Kisses
7. Betsy-Tacy books - they're the best. They really are. Betsy Ray Willard = my idol.

Seven things you hate:
Geez, why the negativity?
1. gross Provo sewage smell
2. when I'm a flake and I know I let people down
3. Mormon pop
4. failing tests
5. ACNE! Haha, I even hate the word. Just look at it. Gross.
6. When it's BELOW ZERO outside! And it really is. This is the coldest I've ever been in my LIFE.
7. getting up early when I haven't had enough sleep

Seven things you don't understand:
1. physics
2. the appeal of "JAG" (it's like Hester's favorite show)
3. boys
4. People with really thick Irish accents
5. racist people
6. anatomy
7. eternity

Seven things on your desk:
This one isn't really fair, because I'm at work, in the back office again.
1. A microfiche reel
2. a computer
3. Sign-Off Plexiglass Cleaner - Ready to use! Non-ammoniated, tried and proven formula.
4. a Band-Aid
5. a stack of really really old newspapers, 1862 Sacramento Daily Union.
6. a really really old journal, 1897, Joseph Facer of the Southern States Mission.
7. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream - Fragrance Free. Just a dab heals dry skin! Really guys, it's the best stuff ever.

Right now you are:
1. at work
2. wearing a cute outfit for once - a teal button up shirt, gray dress pants, and black Converse. And striped socks. It sounds questionable but it's cute, I promise. And I actually did my hair this morning. Wa hoo!
3. kind of hungry
4. having fresh breath - I just ate a Power Mint.
5. kind of tired & very bored
6. having the song "I Guess the Lord Must be in New York City" by Sinead O'Connor in my head and wishing it would get out
7. wishing I had some music back here

Seven facts about you:
1. I go to BYU
2. I have short blond hair and green eyes
3. I have the best family EVER
4. I live with Hester and Melissa in Marin #12
5. I still have a crush on "A," a very small one, fading away even, but it's there, and nothing will EVER happen, because I'm going out with his friend "J" tonight! And "J" is WEIRD!
6. I have a pretty great life.
7. My room is a mess, but it smells good. (My room at home, that is. Not this office. This office smells like Sign-Off Plexiglass Cleaner and Power Mints.)

Seven Things You Can't Do:
There actually aren't that many things that, if you come down to it, I CAN'T do. But there are plenty of things that I can't do WELL. I'm not trying to brag, I'm just trying to convince myself that I'm unstoppable.
1. play any kind of sport (well)
2. drive stick (well)
3. cook rice (well)
4. get "A" to like me
5. see Joel.....weep....
6. get to work on time on a daily basis
7. resist singing along with songs or shrieking, "I LOVE this song!!"

Top 7 songs people should give a listen:
1. "How Sweet it is (to be Loved by You)" - James Taylor
2. "In a Little While" -U2
3. "You and Me Song" - Wannadies
4. "Say it Ain't So" - Weezer
5. "Walking After You" - Foo Fighters
6. "Me in Honey" - REM
7. "This Year's Love" - David Gray
Bonus: "U Got it Bad" by Usher, I know Usher's cheesy, but it's so fun to dance to!
Another bonus: "Twist and Shout" by the Beatles. It'll make you happy! Plus, think of Ferris B. on the parade float.

7 Albums people should give a listen:
1. "Pinkerton"-Weezer
2. "All That You Can't Leave Behind" - U2
3. "Tuesday Night Music Club" - Sheryl Crow
4. "Out of Time" - REM
5. "First Band on the Moon" - the Cardigans
6. "The Party" - self-titled (I think - maybe it's called "I Found Love." Or maybe that's just Tiffany's single. I don't remember.)
7. "...Nothing Like the Sun" - Sting

Top 7 things that turn you on about your sex of choice:
1. smile (and I think it's funny that Hannah's #1 was shoes)
2. eyes
3. flirtiness
4. voice
5. clothes (I know, it's almost as bad as shoes, sorry, but at least it's not #1)
6. whether they like me or not (it's conditional - sometimes I like em more if they like me, sometimes I like em more if they don't seem interested. It depends on the guy.)
7. laugh

HAHA! Well, hopefully, Hannah knows me better now. Haha. Half kidding. I know Nicole reads this too. Haha.