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Monthly Archives: August 2005

County Fair

August 30, 2005 at 4:10pm

Countyfair_3 Before I forget, I want to record some of our goings-on during the trip to Utah. We went to the County Fair one of the days. The perfect small-town affair, complete with face painting and petting zoos and magic shows and clowns and animal exhibits and craft exhibits and a rodeo. And a Pie Eating Contest.

My mom entered my name in the contest (it was a drawing…you had to be lucky to get in…and wouldn’t you know, I got lucky.) She wouldn’t put her name in, maintaining that she had a "reputation" to keep up. I guess as a teacher, she was afraid she’d have students in the audience who would’ve enjoyed the show more than she’d like. If you ask me, the reputation she should worry about was the one she got in high school where she actually WON the pie eating contest. It still embarrasses her, little Danita, up there against football players and the like, winning the contest. Wish I could’ve seen THAT one!

Anyway, I didn’t really want to do it, but because I’d wanted the kids to do it and they were too chicken, I had to prove that it was no big deal. So I went up there. In front of a lot of people. To make a fool of myself. And make a fool of myself I did. Mom wanted me to eat it carefully so we could all share the left-overs. I told her no way, I was in it to win it. So when they said go, I dug in. Stuck my face in, intending to eat the whole thing in one huge gulp. Problem was, I had pie up my nose and so much pie in my mouth I couldn’t breathe. I’m pretty sure I even got pie in my inner ears, by way of my nose or mouth, I’m not sure which…maybe both.  To be honest, I’m not quite sure what I did then, how I survived from that point on. It was all a blur. Somehow, by some miracle, I didn’t pass out. Point is, I didn’t win. Barely got in a few bites.

By the grace of God I survived the experience…God knows it would be too much of a hardship on Dave to be widowed with four kids because of a pie eating contest. Only it seems to me that it would be a pretty fitting way for me to go, knowing how much I love to eat, and chocolate cream pie especially.

Posted in old blog

by Shannon Montez

19 comments

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August 30, 2005 - 4:20 pm Marjorie - What a wonderful memory and I'm sure there's no better way to go...LOL

August 30, 2005 - 5:20 pm Hilary - Cause of : Chocolate cream pie inhalation. {tragic}.

August 30, 2005 - 10:18 pm tia - YEAH baby!!! :D looks like a wonderful time shannon!!!

August 31, 2005 - 5:54 am Joanna - Heee heee!!! Love those pie shots, Shannon!!!

August 31, 2005 - 7:41 am Janet O - That's hilarious. At least it was a pie you liked!

August 31, 2005 - 10:25 am elizabeth cuzzacrea - HAHAHAHAHA! that's a funny story and even funnier shots to go with it!

August 31, 2005 - 10:37 am Andrea - You crack me up sis. Wish I could've been there!!!

August 31, 2005 - 10:57 am Ashley - LOL, love the way you tell a story :) :) Ashley.

August 31, 2005 - 11:51 am Lisa Damrosch - That pie story is truly priceless! ROFL! Welcome Home!!

August 31, 2005 - 11:56 am jamie - omg- such cute shots! you are so cute to do that pie contest, shannon> :)

August 31, 2005 - 1:19 pm chris - betcha have a whole new perspective on the subject of pie - great story - you look too cute with the "pie face" the pics are great -love those county fairs!

August 31, 2005 - 3:32 pm AmyG - what fun pics!!!! looks like a fun time. You look so young there - NO way you could be the mother of 4 :)

August 31, 2005 - 5:19 pm kellicrowe - yes, but she looked so happy eating that pie right up until the very end.... kellicrowe

August 31, 2005 - 5:25 pm Erica - LMBO! I'm just imaging the epitaph :D "Wife, mother, daughter and friend...but a pie-eating champion she was not" Looks like a fun time was had by all :)

August 31, 2005 - 8:42 pm Julia - Bwaaaaaaaa!! Those photo's are priceless, your kids must have gotten such a kick out of that!

August 31, 2005 - 11:16 pm Jessi - Death by a pie!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

September 1, 2005 - 6:09 am marygrace - Oh, my. Look at you. I'm so proud! :D

September 1, 2005 - 8:22 am Rachel - that is hilarious! Love it :)

September 1, 2005 - 1:22 pm kent - Welcome back! Sounds like you had some down home fun. Sorry you couldn't carry on the pie eating contest winner tradition. Hope Sophie is feeling better. I've got a throwing up kid here myself. Well, when things get smoother for the both of us - we'll have to catch up!

A word about the banner

August 29, 2005 at 4:24pm

The banner pic just seems to illustrate what I’m trying to do here. Capture the beautiful things, pin them down, identify them, save them. I want to be able to remember so many things. To remind myself what it is about my life that makes it good. I want to be able to go back and look at the beautiful things I’ve encountered along the way. And keep them forever.

Took this picture at the zoo. It’s been in the same display, unchanged, my entire life. I love that.

Posted in old blog

by Shannon Montez

10 comments

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August 29, 2005 - 4:45 pm Hilary - if only our life was full of butterflies. :) I guess the moments we truly want to save are.

August 29, 2005 - 10:29 pm Kathi - Welcome home!

August 29, 2005 - 11:11 pm Becky - It's a beautiful banner! Welcome home!

August 30, 2005 - 5:05 am Joanna - you're so smart, Shannnnnon!

August 30, 2005 - 6:09 am Sophia - Beautiful banner and intuitive perspective! I really enjoy reading your comments! Sophia

August 30, 2005 - 6:49 am elizabeth cuzzacrea - lovvvvve the banner! great insight - you rock!

August 30, 2005 - 7:42 am Amy B. - gorgeous banner. I love your thoughts on it. so perfect and just what I needed today. thanks.

August 30, 2005 - 9:48 am Linda - What wonderful symbolism! Love that!

August 30, 2005 - 1:17 pm Michelle Adams - Ditto on the symbolism! :)

August 31, 2005 - 5:26 pm Erica - Love how your brain works Montez...wish I had an ounce of your magnificence!

Welcome home?

August 29, 2005 at 1:59pm

Yeah…as if the first real day back from vacation isn’t hard enough. My neighbor who, bless her heart, had to go in for sinus surgery today brought her kids over for me to babysit. The baby cried almost the whole time. Hours of crying. She’s very clingy, very attatched to her mom. In fact, this was the first time in her 10 months she was left with someone other than dad. And Dad, in fact, has only been on his own with her once, for a couple hours. So poor Hailey was really out of her element.

Add to that the fact that Sophia is sick. Fever of 103. Nothing knocks this girl out and she’s actually spent the last couple hours in bed, asleep, waking every once in a while to cry about something that doesn’t make much sense. I’m a bit worried there, though the doctor seems to think it’s probably a virus given that a couple of us just had small colds a few days ago. We’ll watch her closely.

Add that to the fact that there is a bathroom full of HAIR. Chopped from Franklin’s head. While I love every little piece of the dear boy, the hair… well, I just have a problem with hair. He got an impromptu haircut that still needs cleaning up…cleaning that I haven’t been able to do yet, but that is screaming at me from the other room. And asking me what the heck I’m doing on the computer. I’d better go answer the call of the nasty hair mess.

Nice first day back. Even the kids are asking me what we’re doing home and why don’t we go back. :)

Posted in old blog

by Shannon Montez

3 comments

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August 29, 2005 - 4:44 pm Hilary - Poor Franklin, he was so cute with the long locks -- although it'd be an honor code violation at the BYU. :) WELCOME BACK TO REALITY with the REST of us. :) Hilary

August 29, 2005 - 5:55 pm jamie - oh man! welcome back? sorry about the crying kid- and your sick girlie... hang in there..

August 30, 2005 - 8:47 am Janet O - And I thought I was having a bad day. I hope things clear up for you and soon!

Home Sweet Home

August 28, 2005 at 10:31am

Homesweet_2 Yeah, baby. We made it. It was iffy there for a couple hours, whether or not we’d make it with out killing each other, but people (mainly meaning Franklin) mellowed out and we made it back safely. Dave did a little "while you were out" makeover on the windows of the house. I love my handyman. So I was telling some of you how lovely our house currently is, with the dead yard and the damaged front… Isn’t she beautiful? :) I’m unloading pictures and playing around. Expect to hear more from me soon. :)

Posted in old blog

by Shannon Montez

6 comments

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August 28, 2005 - 11:42 am Melissa - Welcome back!

August 28, 2005 - 5:00 pm kent - Glad you are home safe and sound! Awesome windows. Your place is totally getting an extreme makeover!

August 28, 2005 - 6:49 pm Julia - Ahhh, there's nothing better than arriving home after a long trip. :-)

August 28, 2005 - 7:07 pm Hilary - DAVE!!! You did a FABULOUS job, seriously 100% improvement. I was actually gonna say improval, but I'm sure that's not a word. Well, not totally sure. Hilary

August 29, 2005 - 7:31 am Amy B. - welcome home. good feeling isn't it? btw, I know what you mean about the in progress house. You look at it and say, "wow it's looking good!" and the person who's never seen it before looks at you like you have three heads and wonders how bad it was before ;) I've got a house like that myself. ;)

August 29, 2005 - 11:52 am elizabeth cuzzacrea - welcome home! can't wait to see your house when it's done =)

Random Stuff

August 26, 2005 at 8:04am

I’m leaving tomorrow. Back home. Back to Dave. It’s been fun. I want to go into more details, but think I’ll just wait til I’m home so I can include some super fun pics. :)

So apparently there’s a game of tag going on, and I was tagged by Tia. I’m supposed to divulge some of my idiosyncracies. Not sure I want to let people in on how weird I am… :)

1. I always have to lick the outside of a cup before I drink. If there’s a drip on it, anyway. Don’t like the drips, so I lick them off.

2. I HATE hair. At least hair no longer detached. Loose hairs gross me out BAD.

3. I can rarely sit in a chair normally. I’m almost always curled up into a ball or sitting crosslegged.

4. I’m the type of person that is really mellow for a really long time, then suddenly lose it. Without warning, I find I’ve had enough and then just go off on people. (Not violently, I need to clarify) I let stuff build up for a long time, then get upset about small things.

5. I like sneezing. Kind of fun.

Because Jessi made me feel like a superstar :) I’m tagging her. And Allison for putting together a kick-butt lunch group. Details later, but MAN that was fun.

Posted in old blog

by Shannon Montez

10 comments

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August 26, 2005 - 8:10 am Joanna - You are a loon! You make me laugh! I saw photos on Jessi's blog about your lunch - how fun!!!! I'm envious! Have a safe trip home!

August 26, 2005 - 10:56 am lonely husband - seriously come home - unbelievable.....she has admitted to the public in a matter of minutes what has taken me years to have her confront. I especially like 1,2, and 4. 1) - I noted this behavior early on and couldn't figure out if she was just really thursty and didn't want to miss a drop? 2)This is family trouble...cut a piece of hair and leave it around there is the wrath of Shannon to deal with (although her HAIRY brushes are ok?). 4) The without warning part-true! that is all I can say safely.

August 26, 2005 - 3:22 pm Hilary - I think you need more in your life, if sneezing is fun.... umm....

August 26, 2005 - 6:56 pm kellicrowe - anything that used to be attatched to a person and comes unattatched - like hair - is gross. have a safe trip home:) kellicrowe

August 26, 2005 - 11:02 pm christina - it was SO fun to meet you!!! :)

August 27, 2005 - 4:51 am Melissa - Love your list... and Dave's response! LOL!

August 28, 2005 - 6:58 pm Julia - I am so with you on #4. lol Um, #1 - that's just weird. ;)

August 29, 2005 - 11:55 am elizabeth cuzzacrea - good to know =)

August 29, 2005 - 8:59 pm Heather Preckel - Too funny on the sneezing thing!!!!! ;) Love the little details about you! ;)

August 31, 2005 - 5:29 pm Erica - Dude, I'm with ya on one, two, three, four AND five.

Because…

August 23, 2005 at 10:39pm

Because I spent the time filling this out, I’m going to go ahead and post this here. Just for fun. Thanks for sending it, Shelby. Who by the way, shares my EXACT birthday. And has the same first and middle (and similar last name) as my first-born daughter. Weird, huh. I’m not in the mood to do the recap on what I’m doing here…will do so when I have my pics available. Probably not in the mood because I went to the zoo and the heat and chasing the kids has done me in. :) Anyway….rambling. :) Here’s the list: (Not going to bother re-formatting or whatever, so it’s probably all messed up)

1. What is your occupation?

SAHM

2. What are you listening to right now?

The sound of SILENCE. Ahhhh….


3. What was the last thing you ate?

Oreo Ice cream. :)

4. Do you wish on stars? 

Yeah, if they’re something frivilous I’m afraid to ask God for but hope by wishing it may still come true…

5. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

Orange

6. How is the weather right now?

Nice.

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone?   

my husband (I’m out of town)

8. Do you like the person who sent this to you?

Lots.

9. Favorite drink?

Coke. Or root beer. Or sometimes water.

10. Favorite sport(s) to watch?  

Eh.

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?

Yes. Disasterous.


12. Do you wear contacts or glasses? 

glasses, ocassionally


13. Pets?

4 kids is enough. :)

14. Favorite Month?

December. So much fun stuff. Or October, just because.


15. Favorite Food(s):

Chips and Salsa

16. What is the last movie you watched?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Loved it.

17. Favorite day of the year?   

Christmas Eve

18. What was your favorite toy as a child?   

Roller skates. Depends on the age, though.

19. Fall or Spring?

Both. Equally.

20. Hugs or kisses?
hugs. Or kisses. Depending.

21. Cherry or blueberry?

neither

22. Do you want your friends to email you back?

yeah


23. Who is most likely to respond? ????

hmmmm


24. Who is least likely to respond?

anyone…

 

25. When was the last time you cried?

Last Sunday


26. What is on the floor of your closet?

shoes

27. Who is the friend you’ve had the longest?

Andrea

28. What did you do last night?

Hung with the fam.

29. What is your Favorite Smell?

Fresh laundry. Yummy smell and accomplishment rolled up together.

30. What inspires you?

everything

31. What are you afraid of? 

Being lonely


32. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburger?

Cheese

33. Favorite car?  

Something Sassy.


34. Favorite dog breed?

Labs


35. Number of keys on your key rings?

3

36. How many years at your current job?

8 since June 7, 1997


37. How many states have you lived in?

2


38. How many cities have you lived in?

6


39. What is your all time favorite movie?

Wild Hearts Can’t be Broken

Posted in old blog

by Shannon Montez

6 comments

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August 24, 2005 - 1:41 am chris - always love to read the answers to these things - interesting to see how people are similar or different i am a chips and salsa girl too - if I had to live off one food - i could totally live off that - i have a killer salsa recipe - i think sometimes I get invites to BBQs just for that - LOL

August 24, 2005 - 6:04 am Shelby - hehe...yep, love that we have so many coincidences between you and me :)

August 24, 2005 - 11:25 am Hilary - I'm missing you Please come home soon.

August 24, 2005 - 8:59 pm kent - So funny you said Wild Hearts Can't be Broken. I don't thnk we have touched on that subject before - I totally LOVE that movie too. Wouldn't that be fun to have a girl movie night and break it out! Miss you!

August 24, 2005 - 9:11 pm denise - Ah, the sound of silence AND Oreo ice cream...heavenly! :)

August 26, 2005 - 4:49 am Melissa - Love the list... I was too busy/lazy to fill mine out ;)

I’m in for it…

August 22, 2005 at 9:02am

Sophia. Today she gets out a shopping cart and starts pushing it around Grandma’s kitchen. On the new wood floors that Grandma is desperate to keep beautiful. Doing the thing Grandma has specifically asked that she doesn’t do, because it will scratch the floor. So I tell her not to push the cart on the wood floor, because it will make scratches. Her reply:

"But Mom…that’s what kids do."

3-year old logic should not include peer pressure. I’ll get enough of that when she hits her teens.

Posted in old blog

by Shannon Montez

10 comments

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August 22, 2005 - 9:06 am Hilary - You're screwed...

August 22, 2005 - 9:35 am stacy benintendi - i am so sorry, and thats really all i can say. sounds quite a bit like my life.

August 22, 2005 - 11:02 am Joanna - So funny, Shannon!! Hope you're having a wonderful (and relatively scratch-free) time!

August 22, 2005 - 3:01 pm Michelle Adams - Oh dear! That's pretty logical for 3! Hope you're having a great time!

August 22, 2005 - 4:53 pm Erica - Oh crap! Glad Jake and Sophia never got together :p (Kidding, I SOOOOOOOOOOOO wish they would have got together :(

August 23, 2005 - 8:24 am Ashley - that's what kids do.. too cute!! :) My parents had hardwood floors in our house when we were growing up.. I know ALL ABOUT scratching up floors... Ashley.

August 23, 2005 - 9:29 am Julia - Um... sorry 'bout that. Sounds like she's been getting lessons from Meisi, my 5 year old. This is exactly something she would say.

August 23, 2005 - 5:39 pm Kathi - Hey when are coming back to San Jose?

August 23, 2005 - 6:34 pm Kate - LOL- too funny- yep 3 year olds are gems aren't they? Mack told me the other day when I told her to stop doing something she shouldn't "It's OK MOM, I'm just doing it. I like doing stuff"

August 23, 2005 - 9:16 pm Peggy - Ohh Shannon she is bright little thing!! How cute is that>?

uh…

August 19, 2005 at 11:39pm

I played around with the columns and who knows what else on the blog. Not sure if I like it or not. I guess this isn’t really the time or place to do it, considering I’m not at home and can’t even play with the banner, which, by the way, really needs an update.

I wish I could upload pictures…maybe I’ll get dad to help me figure out their computer. We’re having lots of fun. Taking lots of pics. I entered a pie eating contest today…I’ll save the story for later, but suffice it to say, I’m lucky I escaped with my life. :)

Also…I’m thinking I should stop telling so many of my stories on the blog, save some for actual conversation. Everytime I try to tell the fam something, they’re like, oh, yeah…I know… I saw that on your blog. I thought it was cool to keep everyone updated from a distance, but I’m realizing that the cyber-me is putting the real-life-me out of business. The real me is becoming useless…old news. :)

Posted in old blog

by Shannon Montez

12 comments

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August 19, 2005 - 11:55 pm Hilary - I'm still facinated by you! TEll me MORE Utah stories... sigh.

August 20, 2005 - 12:06 am tia - ROFL shannon....putting the real you out of business....you crack me up!! OH YEAH....and :P about the dots girl >:( what.ev.uh. ;) hee hee hee... i can't believe you entered a PIE EATING CONTEST. you're my hero.

August 20, 2005 - 1:17 am chris - i had to laugh a little b/c the other day I heard my life retold to someone else in conversation by someone who read it on my blog - i too am thinking I will have nothing to talk about if I put it all out there

August 20, 2005 - 8:20 am Elizabeth - Yup. I've heard that from my family, too... : )

August 20, 2005 - 9:58 am Lisa Damrosch - Oh Shannon...you are too funny girl!! Can't wait to hear about that pie!!! Lisa

August 20, 2005 - 11:54 am Julia - LOL about the "real life you" being out of business. Can't wait to hear more about the pie eating contest (and pictures I hope). :)

August 20, 2005 - 8:25 pm Rachel - I so hear you about the 'old-news' bit. Get that all the time! I'll be all excted to tell someone something. and they'll be like. yeah. read that on your blog :p sigh. the information superhighway I tell ya!

August 21, 2005 - 11:36 am Erica - I gotta hear the pie eating contest story! I'm sure it will be a well-spun yarn :p

August 22, 2005 - 3:03 am Alison - I think it looks great!

August 22, 2005 - 10:04 am Jessi - Hey Shannon-I hope you got my email. I hope we can get together before you leave. Just call me.

August 23, 2005 - 3:02 am Shelley R. - Glad your having a good trip! Too funny about keeping things to yourself so they won't already know from you blog! Ha! Never thought of that. My family doesn't seem to be as interested in my blog! :( So hey... it is a good sign if they are reading it!

August 23, 2005 - 9:28 am jamie - lol- the columns look great. if only MY family actually kept up with my blog. :) have a great time there, shan!

Made it.

August 17, 2005 at 1:10pm

Safe and sound. We’re here in Utah, at my parent’s house. 13 hour drive. I was so scared, but things went SO smoothly. We were lucky. No major tantrums, not much whining, all in all, a good ride. Dad was a hero to fly out, get straight in the van and drive back home. Thanks Dad. And now that we’re here…Now what? :)

I realize I haven’t really made any plans. People I’ve been telling myself I’m going to get together with next time we’re in Utah, I haven’t called. I must’ve just assumed nobody would have any plans. And now I feel like an idiot calling and saying, "HI!! I know it’s been a while since I’ve seen you or talked to you, but I’m here now, so drop everything and hang out with me." Huh. Right. So I probably won’t call anyone and I’ll just sit here with the kids while my mom works. And eat snow cones. Because there are really good snow cones around here that just AREN’T in San Jo. That’s cool. Still sounds like fun to me. (BTW…Utah people…if you have a free day and want to hang, email me! Heathers, Holli, scrapgirls…I’m free) :)

Anyway…I was thinking this morning in the shower how often my life is like a game of Tetris. Where I see these falling pieces and if I’m good, I decide where one will go and then look at the coming one and plan accordingly. But then something stumps me and I stare at it too long and I get confused and I fall behind and things are coming down so fast and I can only handle the one that’s there right now and I put it in the wrong place but the next one is already there and I don’t know where it will go and I can’t keep up and they all pile up to the top as I just panic and put everything in the wrong place and feel like I’m losing it. Sometimes it’s nice to pause the game. Orient myself to the road, try to plan for what’s coming next, stay on top of things. I go in cycles. Good, then falling behind, then bad, then I clean up my mess and start out good again. It’s a crazy game, life.

Posted in old blog

by Shannon Montez

18 comments

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August 17, 2005 - 3:04 pm Angelique - Hey you can come over here and scrap! Always open to new friends and fun! Especially the scrapping part of things! I will be working on my Donna tag this week for Donnas tag book. You are more than welcome- i can make a party of it! :O)

August 17, 2005 - 4:32 pm AmyG - glad you made it safe and sound. :)

August 17, 2005 - 6:15 pm Erica - I dig your Tetris analogy...nice :p Have fun in Utah!

August 17, 2005 - 7:17 pm Shelley R. - I love that you went on this road trip. Also love your analogy of the Tetris game. Can I say that I was with you the whole way through your description. That is an awesome way to describe how I feel so often. Yes... I need to step back and orientate myself. May have something to do with having to pack up a house, move everything and everyone across town and then settle them into a new house, find a flow in an unfamiliar space. You know... that type of thing tends to throw me off a bit! Uggh! Have a super trip. Wish you were in my town to call me. Ummm... I am the one not doing anything! Even though I have tons to do! ;P

August 17, 2005 - 7:27 pm Regi - Glad you all made it safely (and without too much whining). As I was reading my eyes starting flying through your words as you described Tetris and before the end of your post, I was exhausted and had to go back and read it again. ;) Just like my life too. I would still try to call at least someone. Would is it going to hurt? :)

August 17, 2005 - 9:23 pm mindi - i'm so with you on the tetris thing! what a great analogy :)

August 17, 2005 - 11:46 pm Hilary - Life is like juggling... I need more arms. Hilary

August 18, 2005 - 7:19 am marie cox - so glad you made it safe...get your butt to Mass so we can hang out!

August 18, 2005 - 8:09 am Amy B. - I would hang with you this weekend, but I wont' be in UT until next friday. loved the tetris annalogy. yup. there are days I don't make it off level 1.

August 18, 2005 - 10:27 am kellicrowe - ok - your tetris annalogy and then amy b's comment about not making it off level 1 - crack me up in a very real, wow that is my life kind of way:) i am thinking that balance is more of a verb for me instead of a noun, instead of a destination maybe i should get used to the way that this IS how it is and that how it IS feels like tetris kellicrowe:)

August 18, 2005 - 11:36 am chris - love your Tetris analogy - it so perfectly gives a visual of how chaotic life is - and I too must confess I have no idea some days how and where all the pieces are going to fit - but you know what - to go with your analogy - although things may not look like they fit together perfectly or a piece may look out of place or we may not have the agility and foresight to know where the next piece is going, when it all comes together, it just all somehow works - that is the beauty of life enjoy your time with your family and old friends!

August 18, 2005 - 12:31 pm tia - tetris: genius. okay....theres a layout in there somewhere. WOW. you have such a way with vocalizing your thoughts, shannon. SO good. SO true. i hear you.

August 18, 2005 - 2:41 pm kent - Love your tetris analogy!! So true. Glad you made it safe and sound. So I am done with my crazy work event and you are gone! We never were that well coordinated were we this summer?! Call me when you get back. Oh yeah -can you bring me back a sno cone?! :-)

August 18, 2005 - 6:24 pm Heather - Glad you made it safe and sound! Have some fry sauce for me!!!!

August 18, 2005 - 7:41 pm Renee - Have fun!!!

August 19, 2005 - 10:16 am MarilynH - How do you do it? Tetris??!! You are so poetic! I am doin' good if I don't make any spelling errors when I write. Snow cones, huh? We never buy them; perhaps I should? I know my kids would love it. Have fun Shannon!!

August 19, 2005 - 5:31 pm Elizabeth - Excellent analogy! I will think of this every time I play tetris! Have a fun trip! Elizabeth

August 22, 2005 - 8:36 am Ashley - Shannon, I always love reading your blog -- I just love your writing and wonderful insights. Tetris is simply perfect. :) Ashley.

Thanks!!

August 15, 2005 at 10:29am

I got some great advice and encouragement from people after that last post. Really good stuff. You all should go read the comments there, they were really great. It’s so nice to know we’re in this together. I saw the Oprah with Maria Shriver and her mom on there this morning as I was doing laundry. (I love Tivo!)

I love when someone can inspire me to be a better me just by being a good version of themselves. Sometimes I get hung up on the fact that things are hard. OF COURSE THEY ARE! Why do I try to escape that? I need to just accept that I’m going to be exhausted, but the truth is, when I do my best, I really don’t feel bad about the stuff I’m not getting done. And I’m less exhausted. I’m usually just happy with the things I DID accomplish. Beating myself up mentally often takes a lot more effort than changing the thing I’m beating myself up about!  Eunice Shriver said something like "Do the best you can, and to hell with the rest of it.":) I loved that. So often I’m NOT doing the best I can. Because it’s hard. Or because it seems pointless because it’s going to be all undone again anyway. But that’s not a reason to let things go. To give up. I don’t need to be perfect. I CAN’T be perfect. But I can be pretty good. Better than I am. I can be honest with myself. I know when I’m falling short and when things are beyond my ability. Sometimes, I’m just falling short due to my own laziness. Rather than sitting back and beating myself up for being less than I could be, I can actually put in just a bit more effort and just BE better.

I loved the part where they talked to Maria’s daughter. They were talking about how the kids have chores and expectations for behavior, when most of her friends don’t. How Maria checks up on them when they go out and actually PARENTS her kids. I loved that. I’m sure she can afford to hire someone to do everything for her, but she gets in and does it herself. I want to make sure my kids are learning values and rules. No matter how much money we have. Hard work is a virtue. And how do I teach that except by living it? I’m sure it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to raising fine, upstanding citizens. I’m going to do it. I’m AM doing it. I just need to keep my eye on the goal and not get so frustrated each time I hit a speed bump. It’s not about today, about now. I’m growing a garden that needs to be tended constantly. Or before I know it, weeds can grow up and overtake the good stuff and I’m left with nothing good. Weak, homely little plants that don’t bear good fruit. Eye on the goal, Shannon, keep your perspective, remember what you’re here for. It’s hard, it’s work, it’s worth it.

Headed to Utah tomorrow! I’m kind of nervous about the drive, it’s about 12 hours and kind of daunting with four kids, but Dad will be here to help and hopefully things will go well. I can’t wait to see everyone! Now…to turn off the computer and get all that packing and cleaning and shopping done. :)

Dave Matthews Concert was fun, by the way. Except for the nasty churro which made me SO sad because I love churros and this one was taunting me by looking great and being nasty. It was great to get out, though. Got a t-shirt! I think I’ll go put it on…

Posted in old blog

by Shannon Montez

7 comments

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August 15, 2005 - 12:44 pm Hilary - Life is like a vineyard.... Except, there's no good whine. :)

August 15, 2005 - 1:02 pm Heather - Some really great pearls of wisdom here, Shannon. I love your analogy of the garden - sooo very true and something I need to remind myself of, too. I feel like I'm constantly correcting bad behavior, but I have faith that it will pay off someday!

August 15, 2005 - 1:39 pm AmyG - have a fun trip Shannon!!!! :) I really like what Eunice Shriver said - thanks for posting it. Good advice.

August 15, 2005 - 5:44 pm Janet O - Dude. Stop being ME. I feel the same way about doing better and being better and being lazy. So true. As I'm typing this, I see three books I've loved in your list up there to the left. Uh huh. I'm not surprised. :) :) :)

August 15, 2005 - 6:50 pm kent - Hey - have fun in UT. I will miss you. Hope the drive goes well and call me when you get back! Glad you had fun at the DMB concert. So know about the churro thing. I've had that happen before and it is most disappointing. You know what is a good snack - caramel empanada's from KFC. I'll have to get you one some time!!

August 15, 2005 - 7:27 pm Joanna - Have a wonderful time in Utah!!!!!

August 16, 2005 - 6:36 am Katrine - Have fun in Utah! I'm from Utah also. As for driving, it's not fun, but you can do it! When we drive to Utah it's a 26 hour drive! Yes you read that correctly, 26 hours! With 3 kids! Have a great time!