Wha? I have to do, like, stuff?

I am tired today.  I do not know why, but what I would really like to do is go back to bed for a couple of hours, get up and eat hot buttered toast, play a few songs on Guitar Hero (more on that later), take a walk on the beach, take another nap, do some yoga and then eat some homemade macaroni and cheese.  Bed by 8pm, perhaps.

But no, it is a work day.  By this, I mean a workout-homeschool-errands-pay-bills-children's-lessons-in-town-make dinner-for-everyone-and-perhaps-their-dog-as-well-visit-teach-mow-lawn-show-house-and-take-care-of-sick-husband-day...so far, I have accomplished the first one, but only part of the next and nothing else.  I did veer a little off the path and make a cup of hot cocoa with my fabulous Dagoba cocoa powder, which was quite lovely.

So, I will take it an hour at a time.  Perhaps some magic person will come along and do my stuff for me.  But that is not going to happen, so I will, as my friend Heather would say, "nut up" and do it myself.   And perhaps make it to bed by 10.  That will do.

It might be an ice cream night...

ps. this is me at Andrew's wedding reception--I was much more energetic that day!!

The Goods

I know, I know.  It has been forever.  But now that I have been home for over a week, I feel I can do a list that has been formulating in my mind with a better perspective.  I'll call it "Goods on Hawaii, Goods on Utah".  Here goes, and not in any particular order, I might add:

Hawaii:

1.  the climate (duh)

2.  the view from my makai (oceanside) deck and from my mauka (mountainside) deck

3.  great running buddy

4.  beach--perfect for walking, running, playing, heading out to swim & surf

5.  home schooling

6.  driving along the North Shore

7.  slow pace of life

8.  fresh, local produce year-round

9.  wearing a pa'u skirt and dancing hula in the kitchen with Sis

10.gorgeous mountains--the fuzzy kind

Utah:

1.  gorgeous mountains--the rugged kind

2.  great running climate--nice and cold

3.  accessibility to family, friends and Target

4.  land space to spread out

5.  the ability to take a different running or biking route every time you head out

6.  the gym

7.  cheap groceries (!)

8.  road trips

9.  an accessible time zone

10.Sam, Adam, Andrew and Candace--my babies (birthed and borrowed)

Many of you know (as if "many" read this blog!) that we are planning to move back to the mainland this year.  On a recent trip to Utah, I became determined to see however much good that could come from such a move as possible.  I refuse to be known as the negative type, so off to the goods it is!

(wish me luck!)

The Whole Nine Yards

Can you believe it?!!??  I FINALLY found out what the saying 'the whole nine yards' means.  I cannot tell you how many people I have asked!  I found out during the Goodwin Christmas Extravaganza (that just means many Goodwins are crammed into a small area eating lots of food) when I complained out loud that I may go to my grave not knowing what the nine yards consisted of, as in, nine yards of WHAT!?!?  My brother-in-law Karl Connolly overheard me and said the magic words, "Hey, I know what that means."

  

No way.

But he did.  Apparently, in World Wars I & II, ammunition for the machine guns that they used were attached to nine yards of canvas.  If a soldier was going to really give the enemy everything they had, they shot THE WHOLE NINE YARDS of ammo, as in "Give them the whole nine yards, soldier!!!!!" 

Woohoo!  Party, party! (scroll up to photo of fireworks for effect)  I am satisfied, but yet a little empty, and a bit lost that I finally know the origin.  I need to find a new stumper to mull over.  I wonder who decided it would be nine yards instead of, say, ten?

By the way, it is warming up here in Utah.  On my run this morning (which was an adventure), it was 25 degrees instead of the 12-17 degrees it has been on previous runs this week!  Balmy, I am sure...

Have a great Thursday!