Ten Things...

I love New Year's resolutions. As a matter of fact I love them so much I keep the same ones every year. Lose weight (the goal ranges from 10-40 pounds), work on my genealogy, organize my school files, exercize every day (cough, cough)and finish some project (they vary) are among the standards. I've decided to be much more realistic this year. I need to feel successful. So this is what I'm aiming for in no particular order:

1. Watch more TV. It relieves stress.
2. Drink a little more Diet Pepsi. No explanation necessary.
3. See more movies and eat more popcorn. It relieves stress.
4. Play more with Bailey. A hardship, of course. And, it relieves stress.
5. Cook less. It cost money and is not prudent in this economy.
6. Read more books, especially those that aren't mentally taxing - like Twilight.
7. Give more multiple choice tests. I love those scantron machines.
8. Shop more for Bailey. The stress thing, of course.
9. Stop visiting teaching. It bothers the sisters I teach.
10. Clean house less. Wait, I don't clean house at all....ditch that.

It's just a start, but I'm bouying myself up and feel positive that this time next year, I'll be feeling pretty proud of myself. That's what really matters, isn't it?

Farewell 2008.....

The fact that it's 10:00 on New Year's Eve and I'm blogging makes a pretty clear statement about how I celebrate the arrival of a new year. I just heard that there are a million people in Time's Square and it's 1 degree. And, I just heard two sirens fly down the street. All in all I'm feeling pretty smug about staying home, eating soup, and watching Bones reruns.

At the risk of sounding somewhat schmarmy, I did take a moment to consider some of the memorable events of 2008. I honestly tried...and I'm sure there are many. But, I honestly can't get past the single event that has changed my life forever. That, of course, is the arrival of my first grandchild, Miss Bailey Jean Balmforth. My sister-in-law, Linda, told me for years that nothing is better than being a grandma. I did believe her, but no matter what anyone tells you, words fall critically short in describing what it's like to watch your child birth and care for their own child. Kelly and I often talk about how the world seemed to shift the day Bailey was born. I'm sure all mothers feel that way. I certainly did with my own children. However, I never imagined that what I felt for my own children could be duplicated and maybe even expanded. Bailey has turned Jon into a proud uncle, Lindsay into a childrens' wardrobe consultant, Mark into a peacock, and me into one of those obnoxious, bragging (unashamedly)grandparents. I make no apologies.

Bailey joins a rapidly growing extended family. Brooke, Ashley, Jenny, Jen, Heidi, Melissa, Jamie, Sarah, and Kelly have all had babies in the last couple years. There are more coming. All these beautiful babies are as loved and adored as Bailey. Congrats to all you young mothers who work so hard and so selflessly. You're doing the most important work in the world and you're GREAT at it!

I can't think of a better reason to look forward to a New Year than all those amazing babies. Nieces, try to remember that when you're peeling glue off your carpet or fishing your shoes out of the toilet. Oh yeah, I just remembered another great advantage of being a grandparent.....you get to send them home!

Happy New Year!!

Christmas Reflections

Soooooo, you know how on a rare occasion you find the perfect gift for someone?? Well, I outdid myself when I found the perfect gift for Lindsay...in the produce aisle at Vons. I still crack up everytime I see it. I guess you have to understand Lindsay's aversion to feet to really appreciate it. I took great pains in painting the potaTOE'S nails. What do you think???

Let's Get This Out of the Way First

I'm sensitive about names. I think parents who name their children odd names should be arrested for child abuse. No "Sunshine Peaches" or "Cowboy Spurs" or "Misty Rivers" or "Lyndzee" or "Makealle" for me! I go for the most simple spelling of the most simple names. And, no, I don't care if there are 10 kids in the neighborhood with the same name.

Growing up a PANDY will do that to you. I have to repeat my name MANY times before somone gets it....and then they usually don't. My life is constantly complicated by my name. Take ordering pizza, for example. Here's how it goes....."Hello, I'd like to order a pizza for delivery". "Okay, can I have your name?". "Sure, it's Pandy."
"OK, Candy......... "No, I said Pandy, with a P, like candy, with a P." "No problem, Sandy........" Anyway, you get my drift.

Mail is a whole other story. One day my daughters, Kelly and Lindsay, and I decided we would write down every name that had appeared on my mail in the past 10 years. Here's an abbreviated list: Panzy, Panby, Panelpy, Pandpee, Penelope, Paudy, Pauly,
Pansey, Paneldy, and, my personal favorite, PANTY. This, of course, is only a partial list. I think we came up with over 25 names.

If I thought I could remember it, I'd probably change my name. Ann sounds pretty good...or maybe Mary. I just hope my children, KELLY, JON, and LINDSAY appreciate that they didn't end up, "Jermajesty" or "Sweet Cheeks".