Awesome!
Posted by: Anne Cloward on: June 22, 2011
I have six grandchildren, five girls and one boy. I raised three boys myself. There is just something special about boys when they are six to seven; they lose their front teeth. A comical big gap appears, although it’s just temporary (See the example below).
I made his uncle take this picture of him several months ago, because I knew that shortly, his adult teeth would come in, and the whole shape of his face would change. I wanted to preserve this shot of him at this point in his life. He is growing up much too fast, already having finished the first grade. I worried a bit about his school career, knowing how important the first two years are. He didn’t like to read, either, unlike his sister who needs no nudging to pick up a book. He’s a bit squirrely, it just comes with the territory. There is a certain way you have to interact with these creatures. First you need to love and accept them for the characters that they are. I met his teacher this spring at the school spring program. She was telling me how much Liam’s reading had improved over the year, and how much she enjoyed having him in class. She “gets” the kid, and that is great.
Liam loves new things, exciting things, be they big or small. Go on a trip to the dollar store and get a new truck, go to the local science museum and see the submarine and turbines, have a birthday party with dinosaurs on the cake, spend an afternoon jumping on trampolines, attend a performance of Cirque du Soliel, are all awesome events for him. “Awesome” is his favorite word right now. And it fits. His approach to the world is to always be curious, open to something new, and enjoy the heck out of it, whatever it is.
I remember an exchange last year:
Grandma (after watching him do something typical): Liam, you are so cute!
Liam: No, I’m not!
Grandma: You’re not? I thought you were.
Liam: No, I am not cute, I am awesome, but not cute.
It is so easy to buy clothes for him. Each fall, grandma takes the kids to buy a new outfit for school. Last year, for kindergarten, he got a red Transformer’s T-shirt and a pair of jeans. This year, we were back at the same store and after spending half an hour waiting for his sister to try on numerous tops and leggings, he went to the boy section, selected a red Transformer’s T-shirt in the next larger size and a new pair of jeans in the next size up.
Life is so simple for little boys. When they collide with another kid, everyone brushes himself off and life goes on. Girls, on the other hand, brew for weeks over a look. A look? Good grief, and she is only nine. I hope that life is much the same for him when he is nine. That it is still a grand adventure and he is still awesome.
After all, he’s a boy, isn’t life that simple?
I’m Back!
Posted by: Anne Cloward on: June 21, 2011
- In: friends | Uncategorized | writing
- 2 Comments
It’s about time I started resurrecting my blog here. It’s been way too long since I have written anything of any import here. As I have finally emerged from the haze of the narcotic pain medications that have been a part of my regimen for the past 10 or so months. I want to spend some time doing some better writing here, something longer than deeper than the 420 characters that seems to define communication now days. Having a large numbers of “friends” doesn’t compare to having some real friends to visit with and toss around ideas. I would like to express some opinions that may cause some controversy, and have dear friends aroused about such unimportant things as politics. Every once in a while I may want to vent here, and not get a row going. I can’t help it; I am a politician’s daughter (though he really wasn’t a very successful one), and have morphed from being a Goldwater conservative in my earlier years, to a liberal who has developed some compassion for others. I find that I have remarkably little tolerance for some of the antics of those who are supposed to govern us, but instead do stupid things.
Just as an update, my collapsed lung has healed. The bullous lung disease will be a chronic condition. I am stuck with 80% lung capacity. No scuba diving for me anymore. Cancel that trip to Belize! But it also means that my time on airplanes should be limited. Living at altitudes above 4,000 feet is not a good idea either. I have had to adjust my life and schedule to accommodate these changes. I am still in a great deal of pain, but am working on dealing with it by means other than heavy drugs, that rob me of clarity and energy. In addition, It’s the feeling that I am disabled that bothers me the most. I am used to thinking of myself as being full of energy, ready to go, and do things. That image needs some reworking now.
This is the way that Portland looks most days now. We have had the second wettest spring in the last 117 years, which is, I suppose, how long they have been keeping records. Most days it still rains at least once. Even though the pool at the apartment has been filled for two weeks plus, it’s just not been warm enough to even think of putting on my suit and spending some lazy time swimming laps. It should come sometime soon. The forecast each day sounds so optimistic, partly cloudy, it says, which means that the sun will peek through the overcast a few times during the day. We citizens of the Pacific Northwest have learned to adapt. No matter what the temperature is supposed to be, when going out, especially for an outdoor event, we always keep a windbreaker or sweatshirt in the car, just in case. My down filled short coat hasn’t made it into storage yet, the weather just hasn’t been that good so far.
We have bought a house. That is a saga in itself. When starting out, none of us had any idea it would be such a long tortuous process. After buying several houses in two different states, I thought of myself as being pretty savvy about the ins and outs of buying a home. Even my time spent at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage as recently as a year ago did not prepare us for the jungle out there that real estate has become.
There are times when I view the rest of my world as having come apart at the seams, also.
When I began writing this post, I found it heading in three different directions; that’s a sign to me that I have more than one topic I want to explore, and there should be some more posts to come soon. Finally, some new ideas are percolating.
If you are familiar with me, my life and the lessons learned, come along with me, and enjoy my view of life from my part of the world. I would appreciate the company.
Anne
- In: family | grandchildren | knitting | sisters | Uncategorized
- 2 Comments
Life
With a capital L of course, is full of many things. At this time of year, I thought I would sum things up for the past 12 months of my life, but not in chronological order, please.
Events worth rejoicing over
On October 2, 2010 Ms. Rhyan Sophia Wride made her entry into the world. She joins her two fantastic sisters Jordyn and Alexis, in sharing the adventures of her life, which has not been very quiet yet. Life at their house is filled with drama, missing fairy wings, princess costumes, and magic wands. Since they are living in Salt Lake City, I don’t get to see them as often as I would like.
Alexis, Nancy, Jordyn, Jeremy and Rhyan
In September, my daughter, Heather started back to school after being away for a long time. She is attending Salt Lake Community College, so obviously, she is in Salt Lake also. She has put her whole heart into her studies and has done well. Math, English, Music, and Theater have kept her busy. She has also discovered she has a good mind and enjoys learning. I am so proud of her. She is looking forward to next semester already!
Heather taking a break from studying
Our third event is a miracle. On April 16, across the ocean, Ms Melinda Jensen made her entrance into the world. Her parents are my nephew BJ and his wife Marica(Janet’s son). She came way too early, at the 24th week of pregnancy and weight 1.28 pounds. Her twin brother Christian, lived only a few minutes. The doctors had a guarded prognosis, and made lots of noises about complications, developmental problems, and such, but no one forgot to tell this young lady, who just has sailed through life with no major problems. She now weighs 13 pounds and has been home for almost three months. Here is her latest picture.
Ms. Malinda smiling for the camera
I am still here in Portland, and enjoying the grandchildren who live here. Bre is 9, loves to read and do crafts. She played soccer this summer. Liam also played soccer and has been doing well in first grade. They, like the rest of my grandchildren, are brilliant and beautiful or as Liam puts it “Awesome.” They are such a delight to have around and know that I can share time with them.
Erick and the kids having fun at the beach
Events I am regarding as a challenge
Life has been an adventure this year. I began working for Wells Fargo in Salt Lake, then transferred to Portland in March. It really did not matter where I was stationed, since I was constantly boarding planes train employees in Loss Mitigation, Collections and computer systems. From March through July, I was constantly traveling to another location. At the beginning of July, I got off a plane in Charlotte North Carolina. The temperature and humidity were both at 95, so I was not surprised that I felt breathless. From Charlotte I went to San Bernadino, and then home. I actually had some time off, and felt the first order of business was to get caught up on sleep and hang out with the grandkids who live here in Portland.
In August, I could not breathe and was not doing well. With a new assignment in tow, I was preparing to head out to Des Moines at the end of August. In the middle of August, still miserable, I showed up at urgent care and was told I had a sinus infection (even though my blood oxygen level was 70%, which was scary). I got on a plane at the end of August and was very ill by the time I reached Denver. Things didn’t get better throughout the trip, even during a surprise weekend in Minneapolis. Returning home, I saw a new doctor who found a pneumorthorax (collapsed lung). Apparently, I had been living with it for several months. After a weekend in the hospital, I did not feel better. It took a pulmonary specialist to find out what was wrong.
I have bullous lung disease, which is fairly rare. I had never heard of it. It seems that my lung fills with cysts, they burst and cause scarring and make me miserable. I was born with it, which is great news for the kids and grandkids, since it is genetic. Anyway, as a result of this disease, I have had to adjust my life style. I cannot climb Mount Everest, or scuba dive(Never really wanted to do them anyway.) I am supposed to stop smoking and using marijuana, (my secret sins have been uncovered). I need to stay at sea level and cannot get on any airplanes to go anywhere.
That means I had to quit work, and have been staying home recovering since. The penumorthorax has finally healed.
I am still sorting things out. I don’t know what the future has in store right now.
I take comfort in my new mantra, courtesy of another woman who had her life change drastically and had to deal with much more than I have, Elizabeth Edwards. I leave you with her words.
“She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, which it certainly did not, she adjusted her sails.”
~ Elizabeth Edwards
Love to you all. Have a wonderful holiday season.
Anne
A Classic from My Past
Posted by: Anne Cloward on: October 12, 2009
Exponent II Classics: Patti Perfect
Posted on April 2, 2008. Filed under: Mormon women | Tags: EmilyCC, motherhood, Patti Perfect |
retyped by EmilyCC
I thought I’d begin our newly formatted blog (thanks, Jana!) with one of the magazine’s most requested articles. Enjoy!
Margaret B. Black
Midge W. Nielsen
Orem Utah
Vol. 10: No. 2 (Winter 1984)
Many LDS women unconsciously compete with an idealized image of the already-perfect wife and mother who successfully incorporates all the demands of family, church, and society into her life. Although we have never met such a woman, we persist in believing she’s out there somewhere. We can just imagine what she must accomplish in a day…
Patti gets up very early and says her personal prayers. She zips up her slim, vigorous body into her warm-up suit and tiptoes outside to run her usual five miles (on Saturday she does ten). Returning home all aglow, she showers and dresses for the day in a tailored skirt and freshly starched and ironed blouse. She settles down for quiet meditation and scripture reading before preparing the family breakfast. The morning’s menu calls for whole wheat pancakes, homemade syrup, freshly squeezed orange juice, and powdered milk (the whole family loves it).
With classical music wafting through the air, Patti awakens her husband and ten children. She spends a quiet moment with each and helps them plan a happy day. The children quickly dress in clothes that were laid out the night before. They cheerfully make their beds, clean their rooms, and do the individual chores assigned to them on the Family Work Wheel Chart. They assemble for breakfast the minute mother calls.
After family prayer and scripture study, the children all practice their different musical instruments. Father leaves for work on a happy note. All too soon it is time for the children to leave for school. Having brushed (and flossed) their teeth, the children pick up coats, books bags, and lunches that were prepared the night before and arrive at school five minutes early.
With things more quiet, Patti has story-time with her pre-schoolers and teaches them cognitive reading skills. She feeds, bathes, and rocks the baby before putting him down for his morning nap. With the baby sleeping peacefully and the three-year-old twins absorbed in creative play, Patti tackles the laundry and the housework. In less than an hour, everything is in order. Thanks to wise scheduling and children who are trained to work, her house never really gets dirty.
Proceeding to the kitchen, Patti sets out tonight’s dinner: frozen veal parmigiana that she made in quantity from her home-grown tomatoes and peppers. She then mixes and kneads twelve loaves of bread. While the bread rises, Patti dips a batch of candles to supplement her food storage. As the bread bakes, she writes in her personal journal and dashes off a few quick letters: one to her Congressman and a couple genealogy inquiries to distant cousins. Patti then prepares her mini-class lesson on organic gardening. She also inserts two pictures and a certificate in little Paul’s scrapbook, noting with satisfaction that all family albums are up-to-date. Checking the mail, Patti sees that their income tax refund has arrived—a result of having filed in January. It is earmarked for mission and college savings accounts. Although Patti’s hardworking husband earns only a modest salary, her careful budgeting has kept the family debt-free.
After lunch, Patti drops the children off at Grandma’s for their weekly visit. Grandma enjoys babysitting and appreciates the warm loaf of bread. Making an extra call, Patti takes a second loaf to one of the sisters she is assigned to visit teach. A third loaf goes to the non-member neighbor on the corner.
Patti arrives at the elementary school where she directs a special education program. A clinical psychologist, Patti finds directing this program an excellent way to stay abreast of her field while raising her family. Before picking up her little ones, Patti finishes collecting for the charity fund drive.
Home again, Patti settles the children down for their afternoon naps. She spends some quiet time catching up on her reading and filing. As she mists her luxuriant house plants, the school children come through the door. Patti listens attentively to each one as they tell about their day. The children start right in on their homework, with mother supervising and encouraging them. When all the schoolwork is done, Patti and the children enjoy working on one of their family projects. Today they work on the quilt stretched on frames in a corner of the family room.
Dinnertime and father arrives, and it is a special hour for the whole family. They enjoy Patti’s well-balanced, tasty meal, along with stimulating conversation. After dinner, Father and Mom can relax. She enjoys listening to the sounds of laughter and affection that come from the kitchen.
With the teenaged children in charge at home, Mother and Father attend an evening session at the temple. During the return trip, they sit close together as in courting days. “Well, dear,” says Paul Perfect, “did you have a good day?” Patti reflectively answers, “Yes, I really did. But I feel I need more challenge in my life. I think I’ll contact our Family Organization and volunteer to head up a reunion for August.”
Does this idealized image still ring true almost 30 years later? How is it different? What would a Young Woman Patti Perfect or a single Patti Perfect or a Grandma Patti Perfect look like?
My Top Resources for Job Searching
Posted by: Anne Cloward on: September 8, 2009
From least to most effective
With today’s economy, many church members find themselves searching for employment. For many, this is a new experience, and people are unsure of how to search for new employment. As an independent contractor, I am always looking for my next gig. Here are ways that can greatly improve your success rate.
11. Job sites (Monster, Career Builder)
I find these to be pretty useless. How many other thousands of people are trolling out there and applying for the same job. Your résumé and application fall into a huge black hole.
10. Out of Town Recruiters
They don’t know the territory! They are often unethical and are not looking out for your best interests. Ignore them. Many of these companies are not legitimate and make unrealistic promises that they cannot deliver. Local agencies know hiring managers and have relationships that can work to your advantage. These people, located several hundred or thousands of miles away, don’t have a clue as to what the real hiring practices are in your neighborhood. If you are planning to relocate, these recruiters can be of assistance, but be careful.
9. Corporate Websites
When corporate websites list job openings, they are overwhelmed by so many resumes, too many to sort through. If you send your résumé in to one of these, it disappears into a black hole. These sites are best used to gather information about a company. You may also be able to get email addresses of people who are in charge of things.
8. Linkedin.com and other Business Networking Sites
These sites are great tools that get you connected to others. Use them to reconnect with past employers and classmates in a professional manner. Once you have joined one of these sites, be ready to connect others to people you know. These sites work best when you give as well as take information from them.
7. Recruiting Firms
Recruiters find jobs for and are paid by clients. They often have access to positions that are never posted on the internet. A strong network of recruiters who are looking out for you is a great resource. Recruiters also troll CareerBuilder and Monster and Dice sites trying to find candidates with special skills. They have lots of leads and love to network. Get to know recruiters. Meet them face to face. Send them the names of your friends. It takes time to sort out the good ones, but personal recommendations are a good place to start.
6. Networking Meetings
There are hundreds of them going on in your area. Find your specialty and hang out. Face to face contact is best. People know other people, people who are working. In many areas, there are specialty groups (high tech, trainers) which are attended by job seekers and hiring people alike, For example, if you graduated from BYU, join the local branch of the BYU Management Society and attend their functions.
5, Your LDS Employment Center
If there is one in your area, take advantage of their many services. They can assist in all aspects of your job search and are an invaluable resource. They are staffed by knowledgeable people who have special training in assisting you with your job search. Anyone may use their services, including non-members.
4. Your Ward Employment Specialist
His calling is to assist you. He has a whole ward at his disposal who may also be helpful. In these tough times, many bishops are calling committees to assist the specialist. They also have a stewardship over you in your job search.
3. Your Home Teacher and Priesthood leaders
Your home teacher cares about you and he can give you a special priesthood blessing of comfort and encouragement as you search for work. Your priesthood quorum leaders are also aware of resources within the ward that can support you. Don’t be shy about asking for blessings or information.
2. Your Bishop
Many people have false pride and don’t want to let people know they are out of work, but your bishop is someone who needs to know what is happening in your life. He has resources you are not even aware of. A bishop’s blessing of comfort is so helpful. He loves you and wants to help.
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The Temple
Use some of your down time to attend the temple. Linger a while. Counsel with your Father in Heaven about your situation. He is mindful of you and your needs. This is a place where you can gain a perspective of what is really important in this life. Unemployment is only a temporary situation. You do not need to be employed to attend the temple; you just need to be worthy. He knows the beginning from the end.
My, How They Have Grown!
Posted by: Anne Cloward on: June 18, 2009
In just a few weeks, the goslings are as big as their parents. I can’t belive how quickly it happened. The must wake up half an inch taller each morning!
Off to get dressed this morning. It’s cold and dreary outside and due to rain all weekend. C’est la vie in Portland.
It Must Be Genetic
Posted by: Anne Cloward on: June 10, 2009
- In: family | grandchildren | Uncategorized
- 4 Comments
I love my grandchildren but have to admit they don’t look like me. As you can see from the photo above, Bre has lovely blonde hair and big soft brown eyes (from her mom). She has just finished up first grade and reads to me at night before going to bed. I used to read to her. This past Saturday morning we went to the local farmer’s market and had a great time. After all, with a French bread baguette and fresh strawberries for purchases, how could we go wrong?
As we were hanging out at my place, she found a small notebook I had bought in an attempt to keep organized. She asked me if she could have it. Then, she started to write down what we had done that day. This is with no coaching from me!
I told her that she was beginning to keep a journal. She thought it was fun and wrote about her day.
I am so proud of her. My granddaughter has begun her first journal. Just like her grandmother.
Now for some more fun things to do so she can write about them!
Well, we did make oatmeal raisin cookies on Sunday night. That’s always something cool to write about.
I can see her years from now with a pile of journals, writing with a fountain pen and recording her life.
I Can’t Believe He Said This!
Posted by: Anne Cloward on: June 3, 2009
In light of the recent post about men losing their jobs, and the subsequent one that will appear on Monday, I was appalled at this quote from G. Gordon Liddy regarding the nomination of Sonja Sotomeyer to the Supreme Court.
LIDDY: Let’s hope that the key conferences aren’t when she’s menstruating or something, or just before she’s going to menstruate. That would really be bad. Lord knows what we would get then.
I could not believe this! Women have won Olympic gold medals while having their period.
There are times when the Neanderthals open their mouths and I want to scream, “What are you talking about? You have no clue.”
But now that I have calmed down, I have to consider the source. Here is what Mr. Liddy is most famous at: (courtesy of Wikipedia)
White House years
In 1971, after serving in several positions in the Nixon administration, Liddy was moved to Nixon’s 1972 campaign, the Committee to Re-elect the President (officially known as “CRP” but to opponents known as CREEP), in order to extend the scope and reach of the White House “Plumbers” unit, which had been created in response to various damaging leaks of information to the press.
At CRP and at the behest of John Dean (operating on his own to impress his superior, John Erlichman, unbeknown to Liddy at that time), Liddy concocted several plots, some far-fetched, intended to embarrass the Democratic opposition. These included firebombing the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. in order to sneak into the building as firemen and grab sensitive classified documents leaked by Daniel Ellsberg, kidnapping anti-war protest organizers and transporting them to Mexico during the Republican National Convention (which at the time was planned for San Diego), and luring mid-level Democratic campaign officials to a house boat in Baltimore where they would be secretly photographed in compromising positions with call girls.
Most of Liddy’s ideas were rejected by Attorney General John N. Mitchell, but a few were given the go-ahead by Nixon Administration officials, including the break-in at Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office. Ellsberg had leaked the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times. At some point, Liddy was instructed to break into the Democratic National Committee offices in the Watergate Hotel.
Watergate burglaries
Liddy was the Nixon Administration liaison and leader of the group of five men who broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Complex with the intent to plant listening devices. John Dean had arranged for the operations of this group purportedly to curry favor with his White House superiors, H. R. Haldeman, and more directly, John Erlichman. Liddy did not participate in the break-in himself, insomuch as he did not actually enter the Watergate Complex, rather, he admitted to supervising the break-in from another hotel across the street.
For his crime, which he coordinated with Hunt, Liddy was convicted of conspiracy, burglary and illegal wiretapping. Liddy was sentenced to a 20-year prison term and was ordered to pay $40,000 in fines. He began serving the sentence on January 30, 1973. On April 12, 1977, President Jimmy Carter commuted Liddy’s sentence to eight years, “in the interest of equity and fairness based on a comparison of Mr. Liddy’s sentence with those of all others convicted in Watergate related prosecutions”, leaving the fine in effect. Carter’s commutation made Liddy eligible for parole as of July 9, 1977. Liddy was released on September 7, 1977 having served a total of four-and-a-half years of actual incarceration.
Rant over
Of course, this was a case of overzealous thugs who assumed they had the backing of the president. The only use they had for women was to use poor Rose Mary Woods as a scapegoat, the clumsy secretary who “erased” 18 1/2 minutes of taped conversations that could have implicated them further.
A Busy Weekend
Posted by: Anne Cloward on: May 11, 2009
- In: family | grandchildren | love
- Leave a Comment
When the kids asked me what I wanted for Mother’s Day, I didn’t hesitate. I knew that my sons living here in Portland wanted to see the new Star Trek movie. Being a fan of the original series, I said I did also. It was great!
There was lots of action and it never dragged, something I could not say about some of the previous films. Lots of fun and inside jokes. I am not a Trekker, but a fan, (there is a difference). It is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. I probably will miss the other movies shown in the previews; since it appears that the theaters will be drowning in blood this summer. If I can tell the beginning from the end in the trailer, it’s a no go for me. None of these seemed to anything going for them other than they are recycling old material and originality is replaced with lots of blood. I like to be pleasantly surprised by good acting and plots.
Then we took a few minutes and stopped off at a variety store. We bought some Mother’s Day flowers and a card and all of us signed it. We then drove over to drop them off to my ex-daughter-in-law. While she and Erick are no longer together, she is still the mother of two of my grandchildren. She is an excellent mother and they are both happy and fun kids to be with. She has moved on, and has remarried and has another little one, who is also a cutie. In addition to working full-time, she still keeps things going well at home. It’s not an easy task. When my kids were that young, I was home full time and still went crazy often. She does it well. Here is a dated photo of her with the kids, but I think it shows how pretty and caring she is.
I think it is admirable that she and Erick have remained on such good terms. I appreciate the efforts both of them have made in this regard. Our house rule has been to only speak well of her and her new family when we are talking to the kids. That is easy to do. We want them to know how much we care for and respect their mom. They have a new set of grandparents also, and I am grateful to them for being so good to the kids. The most important thing is that we all love them.
It’s good to remember what is important here. Deb and Erick have their priorities straight and the kids are thriving because of it.
Mother’s Day Thoughts
Posted by: Anne Cloward on: May 8, 2009
- In: family | love | sisters | Uncategorized
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Mother’s Day is approaching and as I rush around to get cards for my daughters-in-law, my thoughts turn back to my mother, who has been gone for almost 20 years now. My sister, Janet, has written a lovely tribute to her, and I am posting a link to her blog for you to read. She also has added one of our favorite pictures of our mother. It was taken about the time she married our father, and shows her lovely tentative smile.
Check it out at her blog.
Even if it is a bittersweet time for you, remember your mother with love, if you can. I was just talking to my friend Pat, who lost her mother when she was a younger mother. Someone said to her that it was so good her mother was out of pain. She said, “I wanted to scream. She was my mother! She understood me like no one else every could, and now she is gone.”
Happy Mother’s Day everyone.
