Haircut!

Ok, so this is a few weeks late. But I got a haircut! I cut my hair really short before I went to Jerusalem, spring 2007.



When I got home, a girl in my Relief Society announced that one of her singing groups on campus (Women's Choir? I don't remember) were doing a service project of growing out their hair and donating it to Locks of Love and she invited all of us to join in. Sure! Why not? Well, I didn't make it by the end of the school year. In fact, it took me two years. But after two years of only getting my hair trimmed, I did it. I grew my hair long enough to cut off 10 inches and donate it. Pictures? Of course.

Before:

After:


Now if only I could figure out how to style it as beautifully as she did...

Found!

Ella has a new home! She's going to become an outside cat and be friends with Paley.

Thanks, Jessica for helping her find a home, and Emily for taking her.

We'll miss you, Ella, but we're super happy for you, too. I can't wait to see you climb a tree.

A New Home

As you know, we got a kitten on Mother's Day. I had wanted a kitten for a very long time, so when we got her, I was very happy. Sure, she was full of energy and really needy… but she was just a kitten. She'd grow out of it. Then Kessa was born. For three months I have tried to juggle Ella and Kessa. I've learned two important things about kittens. 1) Kittens and babies don't mix. 2) Kittens have energy. Lots of it. Kittens need room to run and climb and play.

So, it has been with much consideration that we have decided that we need to find Ella a new home. We need someone who can give her a better home than what we can. One that is bigger than our little condo. Maybe one with other cats she can play with. Or at least, with someone that can handle her energy better than I can. It wouldn't be so bad, really, if I didn't have to worry about Kessa. But Kessa's pacifiers are Ella's favorite play toys, and she simply can't stay out of Kessa's bassinet. And there have been too many episodes of Ella jumping on Kessa's face or batting her head. Like I said. Kittens and babies just don't mix.

So, sadly, until we get a bigger house, or at least one where a kitty can go outside, we need to go kitty-less. So, if you, or anyone you know, fits this description, please let us know. We really do love her, which is why we need to find her a better home.

Let me tell you a bit more about her. (And her good traits, lest you think she's just a naughty kitty.) Her name is Ella. Though, she mostly goes by Kitty. I think she'd respond better to a name like that. We've considered Chloe. I don't think she'd notice a name change. She's female (obviously) and calico. She's approximately 6 months old.

She loves water. A lot.

She loves to crawl into boxes and other small, confining containers. She's even good at getting out of them, even if we close the lid on top of her.

She's a really good climber/jumper.

And when she's calmed down a bit, or has been left alone for awhile, she is cuddly and purrs up a storm.

Included in this offer (if desired) is kitten food, kitty litter (and the box), cat nip, kitty treats, kitty toys, a scratching bag, nail clippers, and a half-used package of clear Soft Paws (sized Kitten/Small). And, of course, Ella.

You can leave a comment, email me (tiannahomer at gmail dot com) or call me if you know my number. Or you can talk to BJ, of course.

The Homer Curse

When you first hear the word "Homer," what do you think of?

If you answered The Illiad and The Odyssey, you are among the few. (And, I think, in the preferred crowd.) If you answered The Simpsons, join with the masses that think of a bald, yellow, cartoon character every time I introduce myself. (Yes, I know, BJ and his family have been dealing with this for far longer than I have. But it's still new to me.)

A week or two ago, Kessa and I took the car into Jiffy Lube to get the oil changed. The guy helping me was a young, funny, black guy. When I told him my last name, he started giggling. (I love it when guys giggle.) "Like, the Simpsons?" After a year plus of having this last name, I've stopped trying to disassociate myself with the Simpsons. "Heh. Yeah. Like the Simpsons." He giggled some more. Later, when my car was done, he came out giggling again. "Mrs. Simpsons with the Honda? Your car is done." Everyone else in the waiting room looked at me like, "Is her name really Mrs. Simpsons?" He looked at Kessa and asked, "And is this Maggie?" I turned to her, "I dunno. Are you a crazy little girl like Maggie?" Kessa grinned.

My brothers love the Simpsons. Now, I'm not against the Simpsons. I've seen a few episodes here and there and I'll admit that I think they're sometimes funny. But they're also often crude. So… I definitely don't go out of my way to watch them. I've found over the years that despite rarely watching the show, I've somehow incorporated much of the show into my vocabulary. I assume this is due to the fact that I tend to pick up on other people's phrases and many of the people I associate with love the Simpsons. I cringe every time I say "Doh!" or "I am so smart. S-M-R-T." But they are all too often the most appropriate things to say. I'm constantly amazed at how often I'll say something, and someone else will inform me that it was a Simpsons quote. I think I'm doomed.

Today I was chatting with my brother, Damian.

Tianna: "meh."

Damian: "What does that mean?"

Tianna: "it's a sound. The sound I would make if we were talking in person."

Damian: "is it like hmmm?"

Tianna: "No. It's like… meh. Like, I don't care that much. No big deal."

I've never been good at defining words. So, at this point, I decided to take my query to the Internets. Wikipedia to the rescue! To my horror, this is what I found:

It was actually spelled out in The Simpsons when Homer is trying to pry the kids away from the TV with a suggestion for a day trip. They both just reply 'meh' and keep watching TV; he asks again and Lisa says 'We said MEH! M-E-H, meh!'

and

The word gained popularity as a result of its use on The Simpsons. It was used in the 1992 episode Homer's Triple Bypass by Lisa describing being the MTV Generation. It was used in a 1994 episode, "Sideshow Bob Roberts," when a librarian reacts to Lisa's surprise that voting records are not classified, and also in "Lisa's Wedding" after Marge weaves "Hi Bart" on a loom to try to pique his interest in weaving and he says "meh." Lisa, in the 2001 episode "Hungry, Hungry Homer", spells out the word for emphasis, after Homer tries to interest her and Bart into going to a theme park.

It's official. I am cursed. (But I still love you, BJ!)

Happy Bday, Grandpa Homer!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Homer!

Can't wait until I get to see you again!

Love, your favorite granddaughter

~ Kessa

Happy Bday, Aunt Jessa!

Happy Birthday, Aunt Jessa!

I miss our days of sleeping on the couch together.

Love, your favorite niece…

Kessa

Happy Morning!

Kessa has slept the last 2.5 nights in her bassinet. It has been a much easier transition than I expected. The .5 night I ended up bringing her back to bed with us. But I think her struggles that night were more due to the noise Ella was making, wanting desperately to get into our room with us.

This morning Kessa woke us up with cooing and talking to herself, instead of the normal, "I'mHungryFeedMeNow!" cry. It was adorable and made me so happy!

And now, here's our newest picture of her… in her bassinet: