noises in the attic

Every night when we go to bed, Kent and I hear noises above our heads in the attic. Something has found a home in our home and it's not the most pleasant cohabitation. Here are the possible culprits:

or maybe even....

Before it gets too dark this evening, we're going to lift the hatch door and see what we can find. I'm hoping it's the raccoon although I'm not sure how we're supposed to catch him. I think raccoons can become nasty creatures when perturbed. The rat kind of grosses me out, but I have no problem sticking some poison up there. I just don't know how to deal with the aftermath. And Casper, I actually wouldn't mind that little guy floating around, he just needs to keep it down. We'll see.

is webster's ready?

So, I don't usually become heavily involved in politics, but I have found myself listening to talk radio, watching debates and actually taking a personal and public stand on the way I feel. It has been a strange election and to be completely honest, I don't love any of the presidential candidates. I think McCain and Obama are both good men and I love Sarah Palin (I was sold after the Republican "pep" rally, just ask Kent), but I think there are probably other men or women better suited for the job. The most important issue at hand for me, as a California voter, deals with Proposition 8.

This proposition has been plastered everywhere-the TV, internet, radio, roads (we finally have a sign that I put up today, we'll see how long it lasts), college campuses-everywhere. I get at least one Prop 8 forward everyday and sometimes they're not even from California residents. I think most people who read this blog are LDS (Mormon), but if not, I am LDS, and my church has taken an active, decisive stand on this issue. The church usually stays out of the political arena and has a healthy respect for the 'laws of the land', but as members of the church, we have been asked to donate our time and means to help the measure pass. Why you might ask? This is my personal feeling as to why.

When I first learned about this proposition, my immediate feeling was, of course marriage should only be recognized between a man and a woman, it just makes sense, but then I started thinking more about the issue. I thought, I don't care what another person does. If it doesn't affect me then go ahead and be married. I don't agree with same-sex marriage, but people should have the right to do what they want. They are good people, I just don't support their lifestyle. That's when I realized I was becoming too tolerant and lax. Too tolerant you might ask? Yes. I was getting sucked into this "everything goes" mentality that is so prevalent in our society. I concluded that society must draw a line somewhere or else the line will continue getting pushed back further and further until we lose sight of it altogether. Since coming to that realization, I have become a firm Yes on 8 supporter. I guess I was never going to vote no, but I had to feel good about a yes decision and know why I was doing it.

Ultimately, Proposition 8 is an issue dealing with moral beliefs and tradition. It has nothing to do with being tolerant or civil rights in my opinion. We're talking about the long-standing definition of marriage.

What is marriage? Here is the #1 definition I found in the dictionary:

mar·riage

the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.

To me, it's the union of a man and a woman bound together to create a family unit. A husband plays the role of provider and protector while a wife takes on the responsibility of caring for and nurturing the family (see Proclamation on the Family for the best description of a healthy family). When both of these roles are carried out to the best of a couple's ability, a stable family unit is created. It is a beautiful concept in my mind and something I have seen work in my own life. Some might argue that a same-sex couple might do a wonderful job raising a child and I don't disagree, but I believe in the traditional view of marriage and there is nothing wrong with that.

There are always exceptions to the "norm", but the definition of marriage is not something I am willing or ready to change. I like tradition and I'm not prepared to break this one. Hopefully, Webster doesn't have to get the presses going any time soon. Yes on 8 it is.

doublemint does it again

About a month ago, I heard a commercial on the radio for Doublemint gum and I immediately fell in love with the song. It was so good. I couldn't even tell it was a commercial. I hadn't heard anything THAT good since:

double, double your refreshment,
double, double your enjoyment,
oh oh oh,
no single gum double freshens your mouth like,
doublemint, doublemint,
come on and double it,
doublemint,doublemint,
Gum.

(I did some research on the new Doublemint song and discovered it is actually part of a "real" song by Chris Brown called Forever. I LOVE it. Kind of cheesy, but so catchy.)

Anyway, hearing this commercial, I was reminded of all of the great jingles Doublemint has put out over the years. It took me back to the days when my sister and I used to lie on the family room floor watching Three's Company while my mom made dinner. (It wasn't until later that I learned that most of my other Mormon friends weren't allowed to watch that show. I guess Jayne and I were rebels? Either that or my mom was burnt out from raising so many kids she didn't know what we were watching.) We also used to watch Mr. Mom and Romancing the Stone over and over. Classics, no? Oh, and we also couldn't wait until Christmas to get one of those new Corn Silk Cabbage Patch Kids or a Pound Puppy. Those were the days.

Below is a a brief history of Doublemint gum jingles. Enjoy your trip through the decades via consumerism tactics:



I'm not familiar with this jingle, but the vests, hair and sketches make for one great early 80s commercial.



I remember this one, the hats blowing off in the wind, the smooth, overtaken Varnet-wearing men swooping them off the ground, handing them to the short haired, blond twins in metallic green swimsuits, but it's the same song from above. I don't know why I couldn't remember the tune until today. Maybe because I was 5 or 6? Who knows.



THIS is the jingle I will remember forever. It's right up there with Big Red and Juicy Fruit. Wrigley's really knows how to get into my mind.



Current day Doublemint commercial. Great dancing, good lighting, cool effects...Wrigley's did it again.

EXTRA

For your listening and viewing pleasure, I've also included the Chris Brown 'Forever' video. This song puts me in a great mood and makes me want to dance every time I hear it. Warning: It's a typical music video-guy shows up at a warehouse, opens up a stick of gum, starts doing some funky dancing with his cronies, sees a beautiful girl, wants to dance with her, she climbs to the top of a tall building, falls, he catches her, they start dancing, they stop dancing, guy gets into his car, and drives out of the warehouse into oblivion-you'll love it.

28

Today is this guy's birthday and I feel so lucky he is my husband. I mean, just look at him. I have to pinch myself every once in awhile. Honestly, to know him, is to love him. He is the best.

28 Reasons I Love Kent Sommer:

1. Always kind
2. Patient
3. Honest
4. Funny (the smart/subtle kind of funny)
5. Daring (the Riddler, the Speedo, the Ice House, etc.)
6. Good taste in music
7. Intelligent
8. Spiritual
9. Flexible
10. Insightful
11. Unique
12. Always fun to be with
13. Hot (nice hands, bluest eyes ever, veins, furrowed brow, dimple, slim, muscular-perfect)
14. Original dance moves (love the “pop” or whatever it is)
15. Futuristic voice (serious)
16. Creative
17. Humble
18. Understanding (understands me even when I don’t understand myself)
19. Constant
20. Athletic (he can pick up any sport, including Wii sports)
21. Excellent speaker
22. Genuine
23. Giving (not selfish at all)
24. Does the dishes (I think he actually enjoys them)
25. Great writer
26. Goes to choir with me (AND he has a good voice)
27. Hard/smart worker
28. Forgiving

Does it get much better? Happy Birthday, Kent! I love you.

Ektorp

Kent and I went shopping at Ikea about a month and a half ago and found the sofa of our dreams (sofa of our dreams=something semi-comfortable at a decent price that will last the next few years of our lives). Unfortunately, they were sold out. In fact, they were sold out all over California and pretty much the entire country. There were some in Florida, but shipping would defeat the original cost of the sofa. We checked online to see if they were in stock on a daily basis for about two weeks, but nothing changed. Finally, I called and inquired about the sofa. They told me there was a shipping problem at the southern California warehouse, but the sofas should arrive in about two weeks. I thought, great, we'll get our sofa soon, we can hold out.

In the meantime, the only places to sit were around the kitchen table on straight backed chairs, the floor or the bed. TV viewing was done from a coffee table or on your feet. (Side note: I haven't been keeping up on any shows since we don't have a couch OR cable and I've learned I really don't need TV in my life. The only show I miss is Project Runway. Thank goodness my mother-in-law has it recorded!)

Anyway, the two weeks passed and the stock indicator was still reading "0" for all locations on the west coast. Actually, maybe three weeks passed-it's all fuzzy now. So, last week I decided to call Ikea again-we were getting sick of sitting on the coffee table. I talked to a representative and she told me they had a couple of sofas in their store, but they weren't available for distribution yet. I asked if I could reserve one and she said yes. I did so and she told me that someone would contact me in the next couple of days when they took it off the shelves. Over the next 12 days to be exact. I waited a week and nobody called, so I called again. The representative told me that those two sofas were gone. Someone was ahead of my reservation. Great. I asked how can we get this sofa that we've been waiting a month and a half for. Do they even make it anymore? She told me that if I went into the store and ordered the sofa directly from the warehouse we would be able to get it in a couple of days. Why didn't someone tell us this before? So, I sent Kent into Ikea on his way home from LA on Tuesday and they told him it would arrive on Thursday. Really? When Kent told me that I was shocked. Who knew it was that easy?

Our little Ektorp arrived yesterday afternoon and he's perfect. I never knew I could appreciate and love a sofa so much. It has really made our house a home. I got emotional looking at it after the living room was set up. Hormones? Maybe. I think I'm just so thankful it's here. Like most good things, the Ektorp was worth the wait.

the honeymoon

Kent and I returned from our honeymoon about a month and a half ago and I still want to go back. Seriously, I wake up every morning wishing I was at the Kauai Banyan Inn. It was glorious! Kent managed to keep the destination a secret during our engagement, but I was pretty sure it would be Hawaii or Mexico (both tourist traps for honeymooners). Originally, my heart was set on Hawaii, but after Kent told me about all the great places in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, etc. I didn't care where we went because everything sounded good. Hawaii won out though and it was perfect. (Even the 20+ bug bites I acquired while there can't take away from the perfection.)

Here's a day by day account of the honeymoon:

Day 1: Waikiki Beach. We spent some time at the beach, surfed, went to the Honolulu Zoo (strange attraction for a honeymoon, but it was great) and ate at the Pineapple Room.

Just like this surfer, we two caught a wave. Literally, we tried tandem surfing and actually rode a wave. I felt like Gidget.

Exploring new and exciting foods. Who knew McDonald's had a coconut pie?

Day 2: Goodbye Waikiki (the view from our hotel room was spectacular...thank you, Karl!)

Hello Kauai

Birdwatching.

View from the Kilauea Lighthouse and Bird Sanctuary

Day 3: Kayaking the Wailua River

The river was calm, but I got tired of paddling so I just laid my head back and let Kent feed me grapes off the vine while he continued rowing. Can you believe that? What a man.

Kent listening attentively, believing every word our guide was saying about the Hawaiian menehune legend. (The Menehune are "little people" that bring you good luck if you see them. We felt like we were on a snipe hunt looking for Polynesian leprechauns.)

Romancing the Stonesque

We saw AND heard roosters everywhere. This one is in good shape. I think the others were crossbred or something because they just didn't look right.

Organic, hippie-ish cafe that had great bread pudding.

Day 3: Overpriced zip lining

It was still pretty fun dangling in the air, but we were expecting something different. We thought we'd be soaring over a jungle rooftop, but we only did a few, short zip lines within the trees. (This is where I got my bug bites.)

Day 4: Hiking the Napali coast on the Kalalau Trail

Kent in a bamboo grove.

We might have gone in the water at this beach, but we read this sign that told us to use extreme caution and it had marks indicating how many people had died there. Some surfer must not have seen it though because he was surfing there like it was nothing. What's wrong with a riptide or two? Maybe we're just wimpy.

We found guavas on the trail to supplement our blueberry muffin/Pringles lunches.

Kent shook a tree to get these. I was impressed.

Here we are at Hanakapiai Falls. It was worth the 4 miles to get there.

More falls. So beautiful.

Later that same day...Kent in his speedo (thank you Matt and Parker for supplying this gift). He didn't want any drag while snorkeling.

Day 5: Glass Beach. I don't have a lot of pictures documenting this day because we got a couple's massage on our balcony (Kent wasn't too keen on this idea at first, but I think he enjoyed it). We also saw a natural geyser that was interesting, but I don't think Kent would think it was good enough to post. He kept on saying that it didn't compare to Old Faithful. We also jumped off of this really high rock into the ocean. I think I'll have to post that video another time.

Day 6: Hawaiian brunch and a stuffed/HOT (as in really attractive) Kent. How you can you resist the dimples and furrowed brow?

First critter spotted on the car. Spiders are never pleasant, especially large ones.

Second critter found on the car, a lizard. Both of these animals wouldn't let go either. They just stuck around as we drove from place to place.

Helicopter ride. Definitely worth it, but Kent and I both got motion sickness that took awhile to subside.

Captain Kent (okay, not really, I just like how that sounds)

Napali coast from the air.

Navigator Nellie (or Nauseous Nellie works too)

Another aerial view. Loved the waterfalls.

I think Kent might have been getting ill at this point.

Classic Hawaiian rainbow.

Day 7: An extra day in Kauai due to Delta overbooking. We got to stay at the Marriott and received some flying vouchers. I can't think of a better place to be stuck.

Eating/relaxing on Marriott's private beach. It was unreal.

The entry way (jungle paradise) of the Marriott.

If you made it to the end of this picture blog, congratulations. We had a wonderful time and I'm looking forward to our next adventure. If you want to read more about the honeymoon you can visit Kent's blog. He always puts a great twist on things.