Princess or Super Hero

Guess what!!! I got invited to a birthday party!!! Yup! The birthday party of one of my favorite little people. Lexi, one of the Goodnesses, is turning four. I have had people tell me they like how I refer to these two little girls as, "The Goodnesses" and I think it's about time I explained how they got their title.

It all started with Lexi, of course, because she's the oldest of the two. Every time her mom would show someone her picture because she is so damn cute, every one would uncontrollably gasp and respond, "Oh my Goodness". I mean everyone!!!

It just became a thing. We started calling her, "My Goodness". So, whenever I would go over to visit her I would announce, "I'm going to see My Goodness". Well, then her adorable baby sister, Taylor, was born and she was just as cute as Lexi, and sharing her picture resulted in the same response, "Oh my Goodness". Hence, The Goodnesses.

Well, I guess I don't have to tell you how much I adore these precious little princesses, but they do mean the world to me. I love holding them, hugging them, kissing their sweet little cheeks, playing with them and telling them stories. I just love it.

So, back to this birthday party, the invitation reads, "Come dressed as your favorite princess or super hero" and I got so excited. I sent my RSVP right away with this slight clarification, "I just can't decide if I should be a princess or a super hero" LOL!!! Their mom, my friend Shanna, replied, "Oh I can't wait to see what you come up with".

I told Keri I was going to dress up and she said, "I think that was intended for the kids". Well who's a bigger kid than me??? I have decided what I am going to do, but I can't reveal it just yet, because I want it to be a surprise. Don't worry, I will share when the time is right.

Matt in the Hat

I love summer time, especially in Portland Oregon. It rarely gets unbearably hot, and even when it does get a bit warm, it's usually cool in the shade. A nice cold beer is never too far away and that always helps beat the heat.

One of the things I see in the summer time that really baffles my mind is the people who are walkin' around in flip-flops, shorts, a tank top and a beanie (a ski cap, itchy, hot wool/cotton cap). It's summer time. Why do you need a beanie???

Keri and I have discussed this seemingly odd choice amongst ourselves many times and have never come to a reasonable conclusion. It came up again yesterday, because I saw someone wearing a beanie, walking down the street on my way to pick her up from work. When we went to dinner at Dot's Cafe and there was a guy working there who was wearing a beanie. I said to Keri, "I'm going to ask him". She said, "No. You're not?" in her hopeful, oh god please don't, tone. I said, "Ok, but I am going to ask our waitress."

Our waitress didn't know the answer either, but said, "Matt is wearing a beanie today, why don't you ask him. I'll send him over" So here comes Matt in the hat and as he approaches our table he says, "You have a question for me?" So I asked him. His reply was simple, "It feels like a cozy blanket on my head. I don't have any hair and I like it."

The moral of the story, Do what you like. Do what feels good and don't worry if anybody else understands it or not. It's not for them. It's for you. Not everything is for everybody. Thank you Matt in the Hat for the lesson.

Why cut yourself short?

Have you ever heard the story about the little girl who was watching her mother prepare a ham for Easter dinner? Well, whether you have or not, I'm about to share it and here it goes.

There was a large family gathering and little Suzi was in the kitchen watching her mother do some cooking. She watched as her mom cut off each end of the ham before placing it in the dish for baking in the oven. Suzi asked her mom, Why do you cut the ends off the ham before you place it in the baking dish? Her mother very nonchalantly said, Well, that's just the way my mom taught me. Why don't you go ask Grandma.

So, off she went. Grandma? Why do you cut the ends off the ham before you place it in the baking dish? Grandma said with a similar nonchalant response, Oh, I don't know dear, that's just the way my mom taught me. Why don't you go ask great grandma. Luckily, great grandma was still alive and able to make it to this Easter gathering. So, off Suzi went again.

Great Grandma why do you cut the ends off the ham before you place it in the baking dish. Great Grandma said Sweetie, I haven't done that since your grandma was a child. Why do you ask? Suzi explained that her mother was doing it because she learned it from Grandma and Grandma has always done it because she learned it from you when she was little, but you don't cut the ends off the ham any more? Oh my! The great Grandma said, I did that when your grandmother was a little girl because I only had one size of pan and I had to do it to make the ham fit. Your grandma must have seen me do that when she was little and never thought to ask why and just passed it down.

WOW!!!! I wonder how much ham this family wasted over the years because no one thought to question authority? Curiosity is a wonderful thing. Be brave enough to voice your curiosities and hold on to the childlike inquisitive nature. I am not one bit afraid of asking what something means or why something is done a certain way. Leaving curiosities lingering in your mind without voicing them could end up costing you in the long run. So, why cut yourself short?