I know you are all on pins and needles waiting for the resolution of my story from the last post. Yep.

Well, you'll have to wait for a bit longer. I haven't quite figured out how to add pics using my super special phone.

Until then.

In parting, I just want to say, as much as I enjoy work, the best part of the day was coming home and cooking. And watching the cat bat around a chunk of onion that fell to the floor.

There's something so soothing about a fresh cooked meal.

remember?

You know, that one time when your hair posed a threat to our nation's security?

Oh, you don't remember? Well, tomorrow I will enlighten you. Pictures too!

mmm...fertilizer.

I was born in Orem, Utah but as the story goes, ten days later I was on a flight headed to Arizona where I would spend the first fourteen years of my life. I loved growing up in a house that my great-grandparents had built.

The elementary school I attended was built on land previously owned by my (great) grandpa Miller. I remember naively thinking, I will never move.

As fate would have it, my mum sat me down and said we were moving to Utah so she could go to law school. Strangely, my first concern was whether we were taking the pup pups with us. Matthew understandably wasn't quite as calm about the prospect, 'specially as he was about to start his senior year of high school.

We have now had our house in Utah now for fifteen years, though I have not lived there for that entire time. Two years in Provo. Just over a year in Florida - and in Florida I lived in three cities. And three years in Greensboro - with three residences there, too.

When playing with the Old Time Ensemble, we usually introduced ourselves to the audience. The introduction would consist of one's name, major area of study, and from whence you hailed. Generally, I would cop out and say, I'm from the West. (No, that is NOT the Ohio, thankyouverymuch!) Once I joked with a friend I should say, I'm a resident of NC for tuition purposes. But I chickened out. This simple exercise brought a large question to the fore: where the heck AM I from?

Today, as I've visited with relatives, it has made me ponder the question again. One uncle began talking about family and roots. Which made me think, well, not all roots are the same.

Take the cactus. After all, we are in Arizona right now. We learn that the cactus has very shallow roots, that are near the surface so as to take advantage of even the slightest bit of rainfall.

Then there is the awful no good horrible Oregon grape. Where, even if you dump half a thing of poison on its roots, it still comes back to taunt you. Or the bulbs, that geow every year, and can be divided and spread out. Or the tap roots of those naughty dandelions. Or, or, or.

Though I still struggle with an honest answer of, where is my hometown, I do take comfort that perhaps it's not where I from, but that I do put down roots were I am. Food for thought, that is.

happy birthday!

I am in Arizona.

I got to see my Lizzy friend for not nearly long enough, and then met up with family.

It is my grandpa's 79th birthday. We are 50 years apart, almost to the day. I was lucky enough to be his neighbor for fourteen years. I consider myself the favorite grandchild. :)

For his birthday, we went to a celebration for Arizona's 100th birthday. Granted, Arizona does not turn 100 till the 14 Feb, but still.

The celebration was a concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which was pretty cool. Favorite part: Sandra Day O'Connor made an appearance as guest conductor. Do they even teach about her in school anymore? I remember thinking it was so cool that I was from the place she was from. Even though she has grown older, and perhaps a bit frail, she in many ways has not changed much over the years; I still recognized her from across the way, and got really excited.

I guess you could say, as much as I had a hero growing up, she was one of them. I didn't realize it, though, until tonight when I got super excited to see her!

In short, today was a good day of celebrating.

who...me??

Do you have those things in life, perhaps a little checklist, that says, when I do these things, I will be a grown-up?

You know, like have a job with health insurance. Or a Retirement plan.
Have babies. Find my truelove.
Get a dog with a house and a picket fence.

Well, I haven't managed to check off many of those examples. But, today I managed to donate blood! I'm pretty sure I have O- so this is good, too.

Last time I tried, was over ten years ago. I answered all the , and was strapped in the chair, and they could not find my vein. Not only was it small, but rolly too. I habe not been back since.

But in the intervening years, I've had tb tests and even an iv so I figured it was time to try again.

No luck on the left side, but the vein whisperer was called in and had luck on my right arm.

I can now check one thing off my 'I'm a grown-up when' list. Hoorah for me!



[Editor's note: Apparently my blood can go to everyone, but I can only revceive blood from the O family. Umm, that's not fair!]