The Faith Club

My sister gave me a book for Christmas, "The Faith Club" that I subsequently read in two days because I couldn't put it down. It is the narrative of three women, a Muslim, a Jew, and a Christian, who try to find the commonality among their religions in an effort to understand themselves and the world a little better especially after the 9 -11 attacks. They did not know each other before beginning, and really, they didn't know themselves very well. The think I liked most about the book was that each of them came to recognize how important their faith in God was to them. No one converted each other, that was never the intent. But they did unexpectedly convert themselves to recognizing the power of God and His hand in their lives.

I thought of this book today when we took Bradley, our youngest child, to the temple to receive his endowment before going on a mission to Ogden, Utah. My faith is deep, but the sacredness of the temple deepens even more and reaffirms to me that Heavenly Father is real, yet knows me and loves me. At one point in the session today, I had an overwhelming feeling that Heavenly Father was amused with our family and loves us because of all our quirks. It made me smile and I felt that He was sharing an inside joke with me.

What a wonderful day to have shared with four of our five children (we missed Arla) and their three spouses. Sometimes it's good for just the adults to get together without the children, as cute as they are! We really had a good time at lunch after the session at a very tasty Mexican restaurant.

New Hair

I love going to the salon. The two stylists that work there are both very talented; the salon itself is in an old building in Olde Town which gives it character; and the clients are always interesting to listen to. Tonight the orthopedic surgeon who has often been there at the same time I am. was there again getting his hair cut. He talked about getting a stationary bicycle for his office so he could take 2-3 minutes every few hours to ride...nothing too strenuous, just a little exercise, but not to work up a sweat. He's about my age - mature enough to appreciate moderation in all things! Then there was the woman who had never been to this salon before. She walked out visibly pleased with the results.

Meghan is my stylist. She discussed the new tattoo she wanted to get - a star of David. She's not Jewish. She's married with three kids. The conversation then moved to all the foods she did not like to eat because of taste and especially texture. Her New Year's resolution is to try some new food, but she's not sure what that will be. Amy, the other stylist is trying to decide on new paint colors for the salon. So she and I looked at paint chips - Benjamin Moore, which are my favorite paints - will be interesting to see what she chooses.

I came home with a trim and new highlights and lowlights, totally relaxed, and ready to tackle my life again.

Writing in a Trance

When my head is clear and my brain is calm I can write so much better than when I feel as though I'm forcing every word. My best writing comes when I don't look at the screen, and sometimes not even at the keyboard, but just type what comes into my head. If I do this, it is as though there is flow to what I'm writing and I barely have to think about what is coming, especially when I am trying to create a narrative.

Tonight I revised a proposal for a conference presentation in Claremont, CA in May. Mormon Scholars in the Humanities is having their annual conference and the theme this year is the family and human relationships. So I took a piece of my dissertation writing and proposed an idea, including some of my art work. We'll see what they think!

Natalie

Natalie has come to live with us, of course her mom and dad came along too. But she has finally started to warm up to me. Yesterday when she came into the room where I was working, I turned around, opened up my arms and she ran straight into them for a hug. There is nothing quite like having grandchildren! It makes you remember how sweet your own children were as toddlers and elementary age kids and realize how quickly time passed. But back to Natalie - she and Tinker have a special relationship! Tinker loves to play with Natalie using his toy...he growls at her when she tries to get it, but really he's just in for the fun! And they do have fun!

End of An Era

We just ordered more white shirts, warm hat. gloves. and scarf for Bradley for his mission in Ogden,. Utah. We also created the final checklist of other items to purchase and last minute errands to do (including his H1N1 vaccine). I'm really glad that he is able to go, but John and I will both miss him. He has been such a help to us in the last few months since he moved home - changing high light bulbs, moving heavy stuff, carrying in cases of bottled water, etc. Plus, he's fun to be around, and talk and laugh. And nothing beats watching him grow spiritually and be so happy with his life! There's no other place I'd rather him to be than on a mission teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who wish to hear about it. Of course, he's the last of the children to go, and there's always something to be said about another "end of an era" milestone. No more missionaries after him, no others to take to the temple for the first time, etc. No more young men and young women to send out and have them come back adult men and women. He will be missed!

Another good writing day. I'm making no predictions when this portion will be finally done, but I certainly will publish it with great hurrah's when it is!

Tired!

A very long day today - I stayed after school to chaperone the 6th grade band concert from 6:30 - 7:45 (the concert didn't last that long, that was just the time I needed to be there.) Instead of going home between, which I sometimes do, I decided to stay at school and write on my preprospectus. I got the revisions made on another chapter, so that's 4 down, 2 more to go. I wanted it all finished by Friday, but I have another meeting tomorrow after school that will put me home late again. Soon, soon, soon though.

What to Say?

During the day I will think about something and say to myself, "Make a note of this. It could make an interesting blog." Um-m-m. The problem is, unless I write it down, I can't remember what it was. And so, although I have had some moments of ideas to write about, I can't remember a single one tonight.

I will comment that so far it has been a great three-day weekend. I wrote, did a little politicking, painted on a couple of new paintings, went to church, had a nice chat with a couple of friends, and had a great time chatting with my family.

On the downside, I dropped my cell phone in the toilet. :( It is now in the oven trying to dry out. I hope I can restore it to health so I don't lose all my contacts. And no, nothing is backed up on the internet. (See previous posting: Technically Unsavvy.)

Mish-mash; Hodge-podge

It is no surprise to anyone that I always have multiple projects going on at the same time. I am currently: teaching full time; writing my dissertation; teaching Primary (7 year olds at church, like Sunday School); choir director at church; an officer in the Democratic Party; slowly redecorating my bedroom; thinking about trying to organize the guest room that has now become a storage room; helping Bradley get ready to leave home for two years to serve a mission in Ogden, Utah; and miscellaneous other things. So-o-o I worked quite a bit on my dissertation outline today. Guess what? It mirrors my life. There is a common thread, mental illness, which weaves through five other distinct topics: psychoanalysis, phenomenology, disability studies, narrative inquiry and aesthetic inquiry, any of which could be an entire dissertation on its own. But now I know how to explain the rationale for my hodge-podge of a paper: it's a mish-mash of my life! (Plus, I think I have found a way to include some of my paintings in my work.)

Note the newly posted photo of the completed bookcases, a testament that I do eventually finish what I start. They only took a year and a half.

Benign

I briefly mentioned that John was in the hospital earlier this week. The short, sanitized version is he had a tumor removed which we found out today was benign, though I'm not sure how any tumor could be called benign since benign means kind or gracious, and this was anything but kind and gracious. With much drama this benign tumor manifested itself causing both John and me some stress and consternation sending him immediately to the hospital last Sunday afternoon. When all was said and done and the surgery was complete, John came home yesterday finally to rest and recuperate. When I walked in the door and he was waiting for me, I finally could let go of the adrenalin that had kept me moving all week between home, school, and the hospital and just collapse. Consequently, no blog yesterday.

Today, after sleeping for ten hours last night and having a very benign day at work, I came home to hear that the doctor had called to announce the benigness of the tumor. So I can blog again. One thing I have learned over the years about myself: if I am worried or upset about something, I tend to worry and be upset alone...alone because no one else knows how I feel because I want to process all the information in my head before I share it. So I'm done with processing and ready for a kind, gracious, benign three-day weekend!

Technologically Unsavvy

Rebecca, the original blogger in the family started this whole network of blogs: Brilliant in the Basics (hers); More Like the Basics (Sylvia), Nothing But the Basics (mine), and then today, Barry's new blog, Why Just the Basics? Here I am thinking what a great idea to blog about my life, share it with my kids and anybody else who might look in on occasion, and I'm learning a new skill.
It seems to be working pretty well, although I can't seem to upload pictures or make my website as intricate as any of the other kids, when Rebecca informs me that it works better to blog in Microsoft Live Writer than to blog on the internet. I don't have a clue what she's talking about. I go to My Programs on my Start menu, and I see nothing about Live Writer. So I am continuing to write on the internet. But my real question is, did she hack into my computer to know what I am using to write my blog? Maybe I'm in over my head....

New idea for my research.

While spending the day at the hospital with John (another story for another time) I read about art-based educational research. It's sort of avant-garde stuff, still finding its way into mainstream doctoral research, but I thought it was great. The gist is that the researcher uses forms of art: visual, poetic, dramatic, literature, dance, etc. to give another perspective, another dimension, another window from which to view the written research. So I spent part of the time sketching what seems to me to be the essence of my personal narrative which forms the foundation of my research. I will muse on it for awhile, but perhaps I'll try to paint these impressions and include them with my written work. I would like that, and I know that my dissertation committee is in to the aesthetic aspects also. Hm-m-m. Food for thought.

Should I Blog?

Two of my daughters have decided to keep a daily blog. They have titled theirs "Brilliant in the Basics" and "More Like the Basics". But really, my life is mostly defined as "Nothing But the Basics". I love the phrase "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." I don't own fancy things: I drive a Toyota Corolla, wear Birkenstocks because they are so comfortable, build, sew, or paint what I need and I truly enjoy that sense of satisfaction. Except for one Stickley sofa, every piece of furniture at my house was either given to me, or bought at a garage sale or Good Will and then refinished.

I've taught middle school for 15 years now; elementary and preschool before that. Nothing gets more basic than teaching! It's all about the basic principles of high expectations, respect, and professionalism. Life-long learning is my passion! Teaching is the great impetus for that.

If I take the time to blog, will I keep working on my dissertation? I am pondering that question. Maybe they will intertwine.