Chestnuts roasting on an open Fire

I must confess, I've always wanted to be a redhead.

Maybe my theory that redheads automatically know all other living redheads is true, maybe because of the surplus of redheads that grew up in my childhood neighborhood or maybe because of my odd obsession with being original (whatever that means.)

Well friends, I dyed my hair. This is the second time in the History of Lizi. I learned from my first dying experience that if you choose to participate in dying your hair you need to be willing to be happy with whatever the result is. My reaction this time was very different from last time but now we both know I was silly back then to think that Dave would break up with me, curse my name and disown my Ugoompy over hair color. This time, I'm proud to say "I don't give a care." I wanted Linda to do it, she did a lovely job, I walk confidently and not one person has said it looks bad. Yes, it will fade into the chestnut brown I bought but I'm growing more fond of the slightly purple tint that red hair dye firsts empowers (Beware Dave.)

Major changes in life are like dying your hair: a little change is good for you (and healthy for your hair btw,) you think you know exactly what you want, when you get what you thought you knew you wanted you realize you weren't prepared for it at all but with an open mind and as time passes it can become better than you ever hoped for.

Venture Forth!

Today, I'm grateful for grand adventure.

GRATE-day

Penny and Spunky

Tick tocking Temples,

Formally un-painted face,

Barber tapping on barstools,

Mountain lions licking lips,

Pointed fingers sewing,

hum drum eye-rolls nepotism,

Back then trio.

MUNCH

I'm thankful for morals, the smell of books, family members that understand something you're going through, dimples, laugh lines and freckles, chapstick, multi-colored socks, and the moment right before you fall asleep.

I'm thankful for full squeezed hugs, sunsets, when dave rests his head on the top of mine, the sound of dangly earrings, hair-dos that fall just right, corners, pink trees, soft tickles and discovering new places with great views.

Tis the Season

I'd appreciate if you'd keep me in your prayers.

Ugh, I sound so selfish for asking for that. I'm sorry but I am struggling to keep my head above water. No, it's not just one thing, it's all of it and I'm not up for talking about it. These feelings started around this time last year too and I went downhill super fast. But enough about me.

Catie and Seth are having Bebe uno! Seth and Catie mean more to me than I have ever let them know, they care, they will ask you about something small you mentioned a month ago and you feel more comfortable when they are in the room. They remind me that yes, I once was a social human being who could carry conversation well and most of all, I know times a billion and two that they will be glorious parents.

Today, I'm grateful heating pads.

Ele

Why Ele?

I change my alter ego a lot. Even while owning this blog, I have changed from Lady Blee, to Wilma and now Ele (pronounced Ellie.) There are specific reasons to why.

Blee: A word that I made up while playing scrabble and to justify allowable status I needed to use it in my everyday vocabulary. I did so. It is a word that can be used for absolutely everything. A cuss word, a flabbergasted statement, a sigh of relief. You name it.

Wilma: Spawns from my need for originality, and my love for the elderly. Elizabeth is a very common name and wilma gave it some feisty spice. I'm still fond of my wilmsablooms.

Ele: Elephants have been my lucky charm recently. They represent my success, my support, my dreams and my unsaid words. When I see one, I know something good is about to happen. Plus, I think Ele Fesler sounds better than Lizi Fesler. The husband doesn't agree though.

Today I'm grateful for setting up christmas before Thanksgiving.

Break....

I need it.

Ready to stuff myself with kindred Turkey-lovers.

Ready to read something worthwhile.

Ready to snuggle with my Hairy Chest.

Ready to forget my worries.

Today, I'm grateful for polka dots.

What a GRAND-mother!

I got to see my Grandma on Mothers Day and won't lie, I hope I become half the woman she is.

She grabs my face, looks me straight in the eye and tells me how wonderful I am every-time we visit. She has the greatest sense of humor and am so grateful she raised my dad because honey, if you don't already know because you haven't met my dad, he's the best.

Let's Address The Elephant in the Room

Wouldn't a runny nose be the worst, if you were an elephant? Just sayin.

Yesterday was my half-birthday. I limited myself to doing half-like activities. I stayed for half of a sub-for-santa workshop. I took a nap for half the amount of time I usually do. I ate half of the plate for dinner. We went half-way to bountiful and checked out H&M. We went to half of a wedding reception. We went to the last half of the football game. Then, I slept with one eye open because I saw half of a spider on my drawer.

Today I'm grateful that my dad knows German.

"Only those who are different can make a difference in this darkening world."-Damon Bahr

Today I'm grateful for portable peanut butter jars.

A Thought Process

When I was having a hard time yesterday, Dave said that a lot of times my mindset is like this sequence.

Sometimes they all really do hate me though.

Today, I am grateful for when the radio plays a song you've been wanting to hear.

Open Your Eyes

I sat in front of Cody Hoffman today.

As a matter of fact, we have sat in the same row all four times he has attended our sociology class. Before, he just seemed like a punk kid who doesn't care about his grades-a very tall, black, punk kid, mind you. It hit me when we were watching the football game on Saturday (a block away from the stadium) and they showed a close up shot of Hoffman without his helmet on.

This started a mid-21st year crisis.

How many people do I cheer for on the weekends but completely ignore their existence when they are two feet away from me?

If Walt Disney sat next to me on the bus, would I say more than "Kurt Russell, eh?"

If Obama asked if there was room at the table I was having my lunch at, would I even know what spew of sentences I would want to spit out?

If Hans Zimmer walked past me, would I even recognize him?

Probably not.

But Cody Hoffman is not them. He seemed a lot cooler when he was just a pawn on the football chess board.

Blast from the Past

I was ten years old, my dad and I frequently watched movies together. He typically wanted to rent an action film and I most likely wanted a rom-com. Though our tastes seemed pretty different, we could always agree on one of the classics-like Top Hat starring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. I quickly deemed Top Hat my favorite at such a young age and not such a shocker either. It had horses, dancing and an array of dresses. Who wouldn't call that a young ladies dream?
My home-life growing up was a musical. Though, many may think that spontaneously breaking out into song and dance is odd, that's just what I call dinner-time in the Richards household. We watched this film in class today and I was proud to watch my peers get a taste of a personal fav.

Little Lizi, Please Note

Advice to my past self:

• Texting on the toilet is NOT cool. I repeat, unenjoyable. You will regret it.
• Your mother will read your journal. Not surprising, huh.
• Your face will always remain chubby.  You will survive.
• Those online surveys you forward to all of your friends are pointless.
• You are not a menace to society if you like band class. You know six instruments and that's pretty sweet.
• Say "cheerio" more often, you like that word.
• Soft-tickles are your weakness.
• Don't worry about the quantity of love, worry about the quality.
• You will marry someone who likes techno music, beware.
• People look down on your hometown. You loved your adolescence, don't forget it.
• Jazzercising in the shower makes your day un-stoppable.
• You will get your horse for Christmas in 2011. ッ

Wishful Thinking

11/11/11 11:11

A glorious day beckons us!

My Grandma Chee Chee's favorite day of the year to be exact. In her loving memory, Dave and I are going to a swing benefit dance for Pearl Harbor survivors to go to a reunion in Hawaii. My grandpa was a vetran and my grandmother would wait for MASH everyday (not only because facial hair is a well-known attractive trait but) because the music started exactly at 11:11.

Taking Over

This is ruling my life. And will continue to do so until Christmas.

Slightly overwhelming, isn't it?

Cute-Meets

Dave and I met three years ago today.

Huzzah!

Be of Good Cheer

"Cheerfully do all things."-D&C 123:17

Holidays are among us and I feel I have recently grown a poor attitude. By yearning for some holiday cheer, I got a slap in the face intended to encourage me to work on some things I should be more cheerful for. There are SO many references about cheer and what is a better time than now to get better?  We all know what list of Santa's I will end up on if I don't appreciate my surroundings.

• I wish I were more cheerful when I can't sleep at night
• I wish I were more cheerful when my editing project lost everything
• I wish I were more cheerful so my group would do their part 
• I wish I were more cheerful about soda
• I wish I were more cheerful when it's cold
• I wish I were more cheerful about Novembers
• I wish I were more cheerful taking tests
• I wish I were more cheerful about having no car
• I wish I were more cheerful when I spilled my purple nailpolish
• I wish I were more cheerful when my gals forgot to meet me for lunch
• I wish I were more cheerful when my favorite clothing smells like BO
• I wish I were more cheerful about forgetting lunches 
• I wish I were more cheerful when I have to watch disturbing movies for school
• I wish I were more cheerful that so many people hate my religion
• I wish I were more cheerful about paying rent

No sleep: I get meditation time every day. Plus, Dave is hilarious when he sleeps

Editing Project: I guess it was a hint I could edit that much better.
My Lovely Group: I will be more cheerful towards them, believe in them and see how that goes.

Soda: Tastes awesome when cold. I understand why someone would get addicted.

Cold: It will be romantically cold for Christmas.

November: I really like food. And my family makes the best food.
Taking Tests: I got a 94 on my film test.
Having No Car: I miss biking because that was by far the best way to get to school. Either way, I get to be outside more.
Purple Nailpolish: At least I got to wear it that one time.
Stood Up: We have always been friends regardless and it's awesome I'm still in touch with them.
Favorite Clothing Smells bad: I used to work for a dry-cleaner.
Forgetting Lunches: Dave fed me everything yesterday, I wouldn't have eaten if he didn't. Plus he knows the little food peculiarities I like.
Disturbing Movies: When in doubt, laugh.
Others Hatin': I can be somebody they enjoy spending time with and it will doubt their hatred.
Paying Rent: I've got a hard working husband, an awesome job and classes that I love.

So basically, the pattern I'm seeing here is to think like Dave. 

And recognize how much he blesses me.

Sorry family

Intervention!

Intervention is a title I probably came up with since it makes no sense. I have a tendency to do that. 

It was a game that Jong Han, Dave and I played in 2008 when it was late enough at night for everything to be hilarious. We would tell our hands down, deepest ultimate embarrassing secrets. If anyone from the group repeated the secrets we would play kick the moose on them (a common Franklin original game for squealers.)

Let's just say that I got to know Dave 100 times faster because of Interventions. Even though both of us knew we were mostly playing the game to hear the shockingly priceless stories Jong had. Those were good times, we laughed for hours with hardly no breaks.

I was talking on the phone with one of the hot-shots of the gym because I wanted to get Jessica in for free.

I succeeded by the way but the funny part was that at the end of the phone call, the guy said, "Ok, thanks. Love ya. Bye."

My only response was hard laughter.

The Worst Thing That Could Happen to a Child

"Awwww, Cute"

I don't call things cute very often, unless I'm making fun of it.

I learned from my father that being referred to as "cute" all the time is not a compliment....
but what does Dad know? He is just a cute, precious, darling old man.

=]

What it Was Like To Take my Man Home To My Family

Dave, meet my dad.

Dave, meet my mom.

It practically killed them to raise me.

Afterword:

A big part in this decision is due to Ben Unguren, a documentary film teacher of mine this semester. He is pure awesome barely contained into one person. By the time you leave his class, you feel like you can do impossible things.

...I really feel like I can...

Yet another dream I can't runaway from

When I was a child, I wanted to grow up to be an artist. (or a CIA agent.)

 

...recent inspirations...

In fourth grade, my mind quickly changed after I made a bunch of cards with my drawings on them to sell at the fair. I sold 11 out of 300 cards. I'm almost positive that even those 11 cards were only sold because my mother called our neighbors to come buy them-probably paying them the 25 cents as they walked in. My cards were worthless in comparison to the popular item containing a friendly goldfish sold three tables over. I felt crushed after that, the new sketch-board my parents got me for Christmas went behind the door and I threw all of my sketchbooks onto a high dusty shelf. I should've known then that all artsy fartsy aspirations are unlikely to fly but no.

I still love art, I can't runaway from it. You know me,  I was a proud-to-be band geek, I took photography, ceramics, dance, participated in plays, went on an art history study abroad and now I'm a film major. These are the only classes I can get higher than an 89% in so they have to mean something more than an elective credit, right?

I have recently dug back into my old love of drawing and have discovered it is still one of the most relaxing hobbies. I also find myself getting lost in artist blogs. This all leads to a confession: I want to learn animation. They don't have an animation minor or I would try for that.  So, I am committing to you right now that I will learn how to do animation no matter what. I need it. I'm ready for it. I find myself walking slow enough when I walk past the animation lab to not seem too creepy but still drool over what they are doing. So there, it's out. I want to draw more than just my journal entries now. 

Plus, you're lovely.