Free to Be You and Me

I used to LOVE watching these at school. When the teacher had had enough of us, she'd pop one of these in the push-top VCR. Anyone else have fond memories of this? I think that "When We Grow Up" is kinda ironic, considering who the male singer is :)

I think Parents are People is my favorite...or maybe Dudly Pippin which should be followed by It's alright to Cry...but they are all good.


THEME SONG

IT'S ALRIGHT TO CRY


WHEN WE GROW UP


WILLIAM'S DOLL


BOY MEETS GIRL

PARENTS ARE PEOPLE



DUDLEY PIPPEN


YOU WERE ONCE A BABY

Amazing...

I've been complaining a lot lately because lots of stupid little things have happened to me lately. But yesterday I got to do something so fun and amazing that it made all those inconveniences seem petty.

I have a new friend who is very far along in her pregnancy and had no one to be with her for the birth of her baby. Another friend Heidi and I now have the privilege of being there when the baby is born. So we've been helping her get ready, planning a shower for her, and helping her get to and from her appointments. Yesterday, at 36 weeks along in her pregnancy she had another ultrasound because she hadn't had a lot of medical care earlier on in the pregnancy and they had some additional checks on the baby to do. She'd been dying to know the sex of the baby. They weren't able to tell her whether the baby was a girl or boy at her 20 week ultrasound -- but yesterday, with all three of us (plus Heidi's 6 month old) in the room, they told us the baby is going to be a girl! It is fun to make this "it" into a "she" :) We got to see her little feet, hands, fully developed heart, liver, bladder and best of all -- we got a glimpse of what she will look like. Neither Heidi or I had ultrasounds that far along in our pregnancy so we didn't get to see those details before our kids were born. This little girl has pouty lips! I can't wait to kiss them. It just makes me all the more excited to meet her in six weeks or less!!!

TGIF!!!

I have no idea what is happening this week but man am I glad the week is over!! This week I have dealt with lice on Asher, a bladder infection for Rory, I've locked my keys in the car at the library, I've run out of gas on The Linc. I've been late for picking up my kids and I've forgotten eye doctor appointments. I'm a lunatic this week. I can't keep my eyes open and I can't keep things straight. All I have to say is TGIF -- and hopefully, after a weekend...i can get myself in order again.

Good News/Bad News

The bad news first right? Okay -- when the lice issue began in the house, my stress level went WAY up. I fell off the dieting wagon. I'll be starting fresh starting tomorrow. I hope that by next Wednesday I'll at least be back to the same 11.2 lbs loss.

Good news? Some of my very best best friends welcomed their second child into the world with quite the bang this morning at 5:20 am! It was an unplanned home-birth attended by two giant paramedics (6'6" and 6'7") while Lee-Anne spoke to her (in-transit) midwife on the phone. Elijah Bradley Dryfhout, , 7 lbs 10 oz, and his parents and proud big sis Zoe, are all happy and healthy. We're so thrilled that he's here!! I saw him tonight and he's, of course, just adorable.

Itchy All Over

Last night we discovered that Asher had lice. Ewwww. So home we went to de-louse our children. First thing we did was apply the medication. During the 10 minutes it takes to work, we stripped all the beds and started the washer. I also washed all hats, mitts and coats. We eventually vacuumed every fabric surface -- including couches, chairs, mattresses, pillows, curtains and carpets. We had to pick a gazillion nits from Asher's hair -- strand by strand. It took 4 hours. I'm not joking. He was begging to go to bed -- and his scalp was red and sore. Poor kid. But poor mommy. I have the worst stiff neck now! The good news is, it seems like this little louse didn't spread. Rory didn't have anything to speak of -- and Chris and I didn't have anything. The daycare kids are all clean. But I'd like to say this has been a disturbing experience. Rory's been in school three years -- and not once has she had a note home about lice. Asher on the other hand, goes to nursery school 2 half days a week and comes home with it. Great. I'd also like to say that my son's nits was no where near as numerous as the picture above. However, I had no idea what they looked like before, so I thought some of you might be curious :)

Some other news. I was up 0.6 lbs last week (week 5). But this past week (week 6) I was down 3.2! However, last night, after the lice incident, I gorged on Hallowe'en candy. We'll see how week 7 turns out :)

Those Who Can, Teach.

As some of you may know, I am in the process of applying to Teacher's Colleges. Actually, just two of them. My first choice (really, my only choice) is Brock University. It has many bonuses for me, convenience being the biggest as the Hamilton Satillite Campus is about two blocks away. Laurier is my second choice, as it is the next closest to home -- though it is significantly further than even the St. Catherine's campus of Brock. So I think it was last week that I mailed off my very complex, very time-consuming Brock application. I poured over it for about two months -- writing and rewriting my responses and experience blurbs -- making sure I hadn't forgotten any of the many, many pieces of paperwork needing to be ordered and sent. These applications mean a lot to me. I actually can remember wanting to be a teacher in grade 1. And honestly, I don't think I really ever truly saw myself doing anything else. The truth is, as much as I have enjoyed my children and others for the last 6 years, I have really lacked structure, accountability, intellectual challenge, use of my expensive education...and many other things that I really do need. Being home with my own children has been a pleasure that I will not regret. I will have seen them both well on their way into primary school, spent time with them in various early childhood programs, done many extra curricular activities ... just been there for them. But now, for both their sake and mine, I need to do this. As I sent off my application to Brock, I had a moment of fear...like...what if I don't get in?? So that's the biggest thing. I'm afraid of where I'll be if I don't. But I really do believe I have a good chance. So I must go and get to work on the lame (or not so lame) 500 word essay that Laurier requires on the topic stated above. I'm not good with ambiguity. So if you have any ideas, please spare me the torture by sending them my way!

I Got New Glasses

What do you think???

Hallowe'en is FUN! -- and aren't my kids cute???

Aurora as a princess cat



For boys and girls club there was "Western Night". Asher's cowboy costume was only retired for last night's dragon.



I finally got one of them standing together and slightly still!!!



Sibling sillies!




Asher The Friendly Dragon



Aurora the Kitty sittin' pretty!



Rrrrrrraaaouuuuwwwwww!!!!!

This Made Me Giggle...for my Mom Friends

Update

I'm down 2.4!

Working My Tooshie Off

I have found some great videos that I have been enjoying working out to. Two beginner pilates videos and a Fit Moms Total Body Workout (cardio). I have managed to work out 4/5 days. For this time in my life, this type of working out seems to be doable and not time-consuming. It's also empowering and a little fun. I'm surprising myself. Hopefully it'll show up in my weigh-in wednesday morning. We'll see.

My weekend was full of great times with good friends. Sunday I got a three hour nap in the afternoon. Ahhhhhh....heavenly.

On Weight Loss

I've been on a 12 year journey of weight loss. This has been an issue for me since I went to Germany in Grade 11 and gained 15 lbs. I didn't try to get it off until I was in university where I joined various gyms and never succeeded at attaining my weight goals. Then I got married and had two babies. I gained 30 more pounds. I've been on various diets, joined at least 6 different exercise programs. I'm just a quitter.

The thing is -- I don't walk around feeling disgusting and gross. I've always kind of just dealt with it by changing my wardrobe and hair. I love to look pretty. I love to dress up and put on make up. I love having my hair done. But I am fully aware of the fact that it is not "skinniness" that makes one pretty. But don't get me wrong. I'm not contradicting myself in this post by saying that I don't want to be thin. I TOTALLY do.

But the truth is, as much as I want to look "hot" by today's standards, I also want to know that I have CONTROL. I want control over my eating. I want to have control over my muscle strength. I want control over my appearance. I want control over myself. I think the weight problem for me is more about willpower. And there are a lot of things in my life that can use more of that.

So this time I'm going to do it. I'm going to will myself into a change physically that will probably change me spiritually too. I'm ready for that. I'm going to change my thinking on eating. I'm going to make exercise easier and less time consuming. I'm going to believe that I can get there. 32 pounds. And by making this public I'm taking a pretty big risk. I could fail in front of everyone I know and love. Even some I don't know. I just want to be my best. I want to be healthy, in less pain, active and strong. The side affect of hotness is a great bonus. I'm down 6.2. Only 25.8 and a whole different mindset to go.

The principle of the matter.

I had a little run-in at the uniform store today. This is the only store in Hamilton that holds the license to put the St. John the Baptist logo on clothes. A monopoly. Today I discovered, first hand, why a monopoly never is good for the consumer. Aurora will only wear two uniform items without a major meltdown in the morning. So we alternate between her school tunic, and her gym clothes (drawstring shorts or jogging pants -- that have the logo). Today it was gym day. She put her jogging pants on and the string, on the one side just pulled right out of the waist band. Apparently they made this drawstring in a STUPID way so that it isn't one string -- but two -- sown in at the back of the waste band. One side just frayed and came out, the second time she wore them! I was slightly miffed by this but just thought, "Oh I"ll take them back and have them sew it into place or replace them". That's what they'd do at Zeller's, or any other place right? Wrong. The uniform store showed absolutely no remorse for the defect in their product. Apparently it is my daughter's fault that it broke. I told them that if these clothes are supposed to be made for children, the assumption would be that they are durable, beyond the second wear. Apparently I am wrong. Apparently I am the first complaint they have had. Even if that is true, I said, that it might be possible that this particular pair is faulty. Am I wrong? They could've mis-sewn it in the production of the pants -- not properly attached the string??? Apparently I'm unreasonable. They weren't prepared to fix it because it has a triple seam and that would be too much work for their seamstresses and it would be better for ME to just replace it. AND, here I am. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, so to speak. I have no choice but to buy these pants -- they are the only pants that my daughter will wear and is allowed to wear -- they are the only store in the whole city that sells them. Fuck. Pardon my french. But I'm mad. And the manager, sales clerk, store owner and 20 other customers heard, LOUD and clear knew it. But they shrugged their shoulders and gave me 10% off. A whole $1.50. Yay. Monopoly allows the retailer to mistreat the consumer with little to no recourse. Anyway, it isn't the $15.00 -- it's the principle of the matter. Damn it.

Ahhhhhhhh.....

I am looking forward to a weekend with very little planned. I have a brunch date with some bridesmaids (which is so fun for me!) on Saturday and that's IT. SO excited to do laundry (for REAL!). I also have several dates with my PVR. Doesn't that sound grand???

Oh and I lost 3.4 lbs despite my CRAZY week. Food everywhere and I managed to beat it. I'm pretty proud of myself. ahem.

Family Photos by Krista Jefferson Photography

If you are interested, we had our family photos done by a good friend Krista Jefferson of Krista Jefferson Photography. Here is the link to the pictures she took of us last Sunday. She is a phenomenal photographer.

Canada's Wonderland....

I have so many fond memories of Canada's Wonderland as a kid. Being reasonably close made it easy enough for me to have a season pass for many years. I would be dropped off before the gate opened and stay until the gate closed. I loved EVERY ride. I could do the spinning ones, the dropping ones, the fast ones -- AND, my favorite -- the coasters!!! I would go and eat, and eat, and eat. I had places I just had to visit...the burgers in Bedrock...the pizza at International Fair...the Cookie Hut...the FUNNEL CAKE!!!!!!!! So much fat, sugar, spinning and tossing! I could to 13 hours in the park and keep it all down. I WAS AWESOME.

Today, I went to Wonderland with Aurora for the first time. She had a blast. We did Hanna Barbara Land, Kidsville, Clockwerks...we went on everything we could get her on. She did amazing. She even rode a little coaster! It was great watching her experience it for the first time and remembering all my favorite places, rides...food! Through her eyes... made me remember the magic.

But let's be honest. I am no longer AWESOME. I went on Jimmy Neutron's Brain Washer first thing with Aurora -- and got motion sickness. MOTION SICKNESS!!!! In Kidsville there was a mini-swings ride and I witnessed a child puking. I had to stand over the garbage can for a while...wasn't sure I was gonna make it. I went on Top Gun (my favorite) and though it still holds first place in my heart, I got a massive headache. The last time I went to Wonderland, I ate and ate and ate...and ended up in emergency with a severe gallbladder attack -- resulting in surgery. This year, I'm on Weight Watchers -- so a turkey sub, three $3.50 bottles of Disani and just a few bites of funnel cake for me. It was just not what I remembered.

However, spending the day with Aurora was great. It was awesome to see her happy, careless and having fun. So I'd go back again next year...just not on the Brain Washer.

Hi, my name is Dawn and I'm a....

makeup addict. Yes. I think I have a problem. I love MAC makeup. I love it hard. Damn I love being pretty. I'm so vain. Damn it, I say.

A Weekend for the Truly Over-Committed Extrovert...and it ROCKED!

I had an amazing weekend. Truly.

Friday night, we went to the movies (which we NEVER get to do...) and saw Across The Universe. It was pretty genius. I laughed, I cried...you know the drill. I just loved it. Go and see for yourself.

Saturday was kinda nuts...but brilliant.

We went to a family reunion for my father's side and got to catch up with the family we never see. That was wonderful. But the best part was watching my kids (with all their little second cousins) slide down a hill of dirt that was at least 30 feet tall. This was okay with me -- in fact I loved it...until I found out that Aurora had no underwear on and was wearing a skirt. Oh well...she soaked...in the bath...for a while. But at least she was having fun!!

I also saw some amazing musicians in action at FRWY Cafe throughout the day and night. A highlight for me was getting to see, for my first time, my friend Ben Bowen playing his first instrument (trumpet) in a gig. He's got serious talent and it was so much fun to see him playing the music he really loves with his very cool band The Book of Gnomes. I was also introduced to a new and amazing talent on the scene: Joshua Bartholomew. Like a friend sitting next to me during his show last night said: He's going to be the next big Canadian thing. This guy is amazing. I suggest you find a way to hear him.

There was one particular guy there, who apparently frequents the church services there on Sunday nights. He wore a top hat, tilted to the side, heavy white makeup on his face, with thick black eyeliner all around his eyes, and a very long black trench coat. I thought to myself, wow, he is a little scary looking! But then a friend's little 3 year old girl came up to us and said, Look mommy! Look at his costume! He's so COOL!!!! Right in that moment I felt convicted by my own judgement. Who am I to say he's scary? Here is this brave guy, sitting all alone, all day, the odd one out in this little cafe, rockin' his style! He was just enjoying the local musicians and the easy, accepting atmosphere. Good for him! And the little girl is right. He is so COOL.

Sitting in the cafe watching the most interesting mix of people breeze in and out just made me feel like I'm exactly where I want to be...in a diverse and amazing city. A city full of real people, people with talent, people with stories, people with soul. I love my city.

I also managed to slip out of the music festival to attend a neighbour's 40th birthday party. I was glad I could share that with the people who live around me. As deeply as I love my city, I love my neighbours. They bless me and my family on a daily basis with their friendship and their care. Happy Birthday Sherry!

As for our Sunday -- we heathens skipped church this morning (thank goodness for podcasts!) and slept in. Chris and I took turns and snoozed off and on all morning! The kids stayed in their jammies, watching movies, eating toast and surviving until their parents finally rolled their asses out of bed for good at 11 am. We are bad parents, but man it felt good!

This afternoon we spent a few hours at Webster's Falls, a beautiful spot in Dundas Valley. My great new friend Krista Jefferson (of Krista Jefferson Photography) took our family photos there. I am SO excited to see how they turned out since she was the winner in four categories in this year's Hamilton Spectator Reader's Choice awards -- including Best Photographer! How honoured are WE to have this amazing, talented person taking our family photos -- let alone have her as a friend! Thank you Krista! Some of the pics will be up on her blog (at the link above) very soon. Check them, and all her work out!

Tonight I took the kids to the FRWY worship service. It was a good thing it was relaxed -- because I was pretty darn wiped! Ahhhhh. Community, reflection, praise and prayer -- all while chillin' on a couch with a cafe mocha in hand! I think I like this 'emerging church' stuff.
Tee hee.

Another weekend...another...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........

Reflections on this PA Day

Last night I found myself on the phone with another mother trying to find time for our girls to get together. I was on the phone with my calendar in front of me for 15 minutes -- only to find that in the next two weeks, we were just too busy for a playdate. We had to give up and leave it at "if you're not doing anything on Thanksgiving Monday, maybe the girls can have a sleepover Sunday night...let me know."

We are sooooo busy this fall. It is just CRAZY. I find myself being tied to my calendar -- even just to set a date for coffee or the movies with a friend. We're regularly doing more than one social event a day on the weekends. Tomorrow we have three!!!

The thing is, I'm not sure what to think about it. Sometimes I feel frantic -- like I haven't got time to do the laundry (unless I totally give up sleeping all together) or clean the bathroom! But other times I am just so overwhelmed with how amazing our life is -- how full, how overflowing with friendship and love from family that I don't know if I would take back one coffee time, one party...one piano lesson...one playdate.

Today is PA Day. I know that as a kid, I didn't always like these random days off school. I always liked to see my friends, do my schoolwork, play at recess. A day off was boring! Normally my kids wake me from sleep with the question: "What are we doing today? Who's coming over? Where are we going?" But today's school holiday is a break for me. Oh, don't get me wrong. I still have 5 kids to care for. But I don't have to run around -- here and there, on a time-table that I can't keep straight in my mind. Asher and I did a puzzle. We're going to paint and cut and paste. Hopefully we'll go to the park. It isn't a restful day for me -- but a day at home is nice. For all of us.

Tomorrow we have the morning as a family. Some of that will be spent cleaning the house while the kids are watching tv. But hopefully we'll have time to lounge, read books, do puzzles and chill together. After that, we're off to family reunions, concerts for our talented friends, surprise 40th birthday parties for our neighbours. It sounds crazy -- but it also means we're blessed. I know I talk about this a lot -- but what can I say?
I feel the pull...but I also feel the love.

Since when did I have so many girlfriends????

Thursday I got a facebook message from one of my two very best girlfriends in the world. She and I are not in the same city -- and we haven't seen each other in a month or so. Though I have been making new friends in my beloved city, my two best girlfriends "grew up" (in the real sense of the word - as in the last 10 years...) with me. They know my weaknesses and fears. Hearing that she misses me, felt so good. I miss her too. Very, very much. I can't wait to give her a great big hug.

Friday night I arrived at one of my single girlfriend's bachelorette apartment at 9:30 pm to find her suited up as a vision of beauty in her bra-less, ponytail/headband-sporting, jammie-jammers. I felt relieved as I showed up in my scrubbiest clothes, without makeup, sporting an absolutely GORGEOUS sty in my right eye. We were an absolutely STUNNING couple of girls. But as we shared stories and laughed so hard about somewhat petty topics I felt my work week fade away. I respect her for her independence. I enjoy her sense of humour. And I am so glad we're getting closer.

I had a great time at party celebrating one of my girlfriends' birthday on Saturday night. I spent the night chatting with some great girls about the realities of parenthood, marriage, being a working mothers, stay at home mothers and stuff like that. We hadn't seen each other in a little while, and it was great just to chill-out and delve right into the day-to-day stuff -- we had so many laughs. I love these women and their company. I always feel we've really connected -- even if our discussion ends up being about potty-training or temper tantrums. These women rock because they can move so seamlessly from these topics to topics of deep-spirituality, and back again. I love it.

Sunday morning as I was waiting for the service to begin, I was sitting, as a relatively new member of this fabulous community of The Meeting House thinking that I was surrounded by a bunch of great women who had welcomed me into and showered me with their friendship. This was an amazing feeling.

Monday I decided to do a little shopping (as I needed some new underwear, if you must know!). I was trying to pass the morning as I waited for a college girlfriend that I hadn't seen in 8 years to arrive for a 2 day visit. She and I had some growing up to do in those years and somehow completely lost touch. Thanks to Facebook, we totally reconnected. We missed the authentic joy we brought to each others' lives. I know that i did. We spent so much time together shopping, eating Thai, drinking coffee, just catching up. But this morning, though we were sleep deprived -- we were sad to part. Old friends can become new again. Thank God for that!

Today, a full seven days later, I had coffee with a brand new girlfriend. We spent a couple hours just opening up and telling our stories. And we found out that we share many things. It was just so beautiful to connect with someone on so many levels. It was a great afternoon -- one of many more I hope!

Tonight I went out for coffee with another great woman in my life. We went to The FRWY, where we just reveled in all the things we're seeing stirred up in this great city that we mutually love and feel called to. We see things revitalizing, moving forward, brightening and coming back to life. And The FRWY is just such a great example of that. She and I have been through very real-life struggles together. We have loved and supported one another through some very rough spots. But tonight we could celebrate each other, celebrate our very real love for the place we live. And a God we love.

Reading back, I realize that a) I went out a LOT this week and b) my life is so AMAZINGLY full of beautiful women. I could not be more blessed!!! I am so overwhelmed right now by that blessing. So thank you beautiful women! You know who you are -- and even those I didn't get to see this week but wish I did. You are precious to me. I celebrate all of you. You speak grace, love and strength into my life. Thanks so much.

growing up is hard!

This is a picture of Aurora when she was 3 years old. Carefree, preschool days.

This morning we had our first episode about going to school.

In the recent past, we've had to listen to numerous rants about how much being 6 "sucks" because when you're 6 you have to listen to your parents. Grown-ups get to do WHATEVER they want (ie. stay up late, come and go as we please, eat what we want, wear what we want). WE WISH Aurora. We wish. We've tried to explain that she should enjoy being 6 for as long as it lasts -- that when you grow up you have responsibilities, and that though we get to decide much more for ourselves than she does, life in your 30's not as easy as it looks.

This morning when we asked her to get her uniform on, she FREAKED. Through her tears she told me about how she doesn't like putting her uniform on so early in the morning (she was in kindergarten in the afternoons last year). She misses playing so much since all she does at school is "homework" -- pages and pages of it, apparently. She cried that it "takes too long for the day to be over" and that she "doesn't like things changing".

I felt a little sad myself. I didn't want my little girl learning the lessons told to us in The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein at quite so young an age. I felt so much compassion for her. And I let her be sad. For a few minutes.

Life's lessons are hard. But today, instead of telling her about the not-so-great stuff about growing up, we got to share the the things that don't "suck" so badly. We told her we were proud of her accomplishment of managing such a long day at school, learning to read, and learning about how to be a good friend. We told her that there are changes at every step along the way and that though it is hard to change, change helps us grow -- inside and out. Being in grade 1 has great bonuses (ie special lunch days, going to mass -- tee hee, having your own desk, 3 whole recesses!)

We told her that sometimes we miss being little, but most of the time, we feel blessed to be where we are at.

We are so proud of our little/big girl.


Aurora on her first day of grade 1.

I couldn't help it...this is too cute.

I was going to wait until tomorrow but I couldn't help it. This is too cute.

We are in the middle of transferring all our old videos to digital format. I came across this oldie of my best-friend's son from 2001 or 2002. He was about 5 or 6 -- the age that Aurora is now. He's almost 12 now and he's still a clown for the camera. I love you Tris. You're the best.

enough is enough

This is a comic. A little joke, if you will. HA HA. VERY FUNNY. The joke's on me.

Last night I was running some errands and found myself singing along to "Fruit salad...yummy yummy! Yummy yummy yummy yummy fruit salad...". I freaking hate The Wiggles and their catchy little, poorly sung, poorly produced songs/videos. My kids absolutely love them -- damn it. But we have Sirius Satellite Radio: Home of Howard Stern! Now he's no children's entertainer!! But there I was, on one of my precious escapes from urban mommyhood and I didn't notice, for quite some time, that I was bouncing along to these loathed Australian children's entertainers. Oh dear god, I think I liked it!!!!

Today I forgot one of my daycare kids. I felt like shit. That's the honest truth. This little girl has been having trouble with school-refusal and I said I'd be here if she wanted to come home for lunch and I forgot. I took the other kids to the Ontario Early Years Centre for lunch -- so that I could have a break from making lunch.

Poor kid. I'm a jerk.

The question is: How do I find the balance?

I want to be focused enough on my kids so that all their needs -- emotionally, physically, spiritually, intellectually, creatively... are met. More than met -- in fact -- I want to be an awesome mom! On the other hand, I want to recognize when enough is enough. Maybe I'm being selfish or even too hard on myself here but when I no longer can differentiate between my taste and theirs, or when I can't keep one day's responsibilities straight from next...maybe it's enough.

Maximmoxie it is!

I spent the last two days trying to think of something clever to name this blog. I wanted something perfect. Something to really capture my wit, my charm, my value, my purpose. This proved to be a very difficult task.

Last night I went to see a theatrical version of an amazing book by Donald Miller called Blue Like Jazz. It was done as a one-man, multi-media production by a casual acquaintance of Chris and I -- Jason Hildebrand. He's a very gifted Canadian actor who has a long list of professional credits to his name. The production was polished, well-executed, entertaining and moving. Still, I had trouble comparing the book (which I loved) to the play (which I also loved). But the play just didn't have the same the same je ne sais quoi that the book did. It was a great play. Don't get me wrong. In fact, please go and see it tonight or tomorrow. It is fully worth your while. But what I'm trying to get at is -- if you want to understand the message of Blue Like Jazz it's best to hear it from Donald Miller in the book...or better yet, from him personally. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to talk to every artist, author, choreographer, composer, playwright...to really fully understand the essence of the piece??

Then again, maybe that takes some of the mystique away from things...

Today as I tried again to name this stinkin' blog I realized something: A blog title can't "capture" me. Not perfectly anyway. It might get at some of who I am...but certainly not all. It can't portray my essence! Only my creator can. Sounds trite. I know. But I am always searching for the truth about myself. But that can't be captured in a pithy title. Or a clever word or two. Understanding who my creator intends me to be is an ongoing project.

So maximmoxie. Random. Basically meaningless. Perfect.