Miss Synchronized Swimmer, '83-'84

See that scrawny little kid in the red suit? That's me in '83 at a Synchro Swim Meet. I was the youngest member of the team, as a 3rd grader. I played Soccer, T-Ball and tried Ballet, but this was the first sport I was really good at. Swimming is STILL the only sport I'm ANY good at, but I'm too weak to do the Synchro "Moves".

I competed in a Trio at another meet that year, with Marcie W. and Heather S, I'm still the skinny kid. We performed choreographed numbers set to music. There were special speakers that played UNDER the water, so we could swim and keep the rhythm. When I hear a certain Disney Song we performed, it takes me back 25 years and I can remember how the song sounded through the water. It's so weird how odd details stick with you.

Another thing I remember was always being cold. I must have had 0% body fat! My coach, Gail, would tell me to make sure and eat all the fat on my meat at dinner, so I could beef up. That was weird advice, that I never took, since Moose Meat has no fat! We swam in the High School Pool and it was basically unheated.

My coach, Gail, and I, displaying some ribbons I won. What I don't remember is if everyone "Won" ribbons, or if I actually excelled at this sport?! And did we really compete with anyone or just against our own team? We were 6 hours from the nearest town by car, so I doubt any other teams would drive to our pool to compete . . . I'll go read my old "journals" and see if I can't find out more info.

This was taken a year later, when I was in 4th grade, at a BIG competition in Anchorage. I know we competed with other teams at this meet. I stayed all weekend in the "big city" with my friend Heather and her family (My family couldn't come.) I remember going to a music concert in a big hall (my first) and eating an Asian Pear for the first time, but I have no memory of the meet!

My family went on a trip to Hawaii in '84 and my Grandpa had me "perform" my Synchronized Swim Skills. I don't have other photos actually DOING Synchronized Swim because the lighting wasn't good in the Valdez Pool. I'd better forward this to my old pilates instructor, Magui. She always told me I had a dancer's foot, but I think it was really a Synchro Foot!

My mom called a few days ago and found some videos we inherited, at my grandfather's death. Apparently, there is some footage of this Synchro Performance. My mom's going to pay someone to turn them into DVD's and if they're any good, I'll post them. Hey, if you're reading this, you MUST BE INTERESTED!!

Grandpa filmed another exciting event, I found out! We were at Sunset Beach, Oahu, which is known for it's strong undertow. Dad was out surfing. Mom (who couldn't swim, at the time) and Grandpa were watching the 5 children, on the beach. My 5 year old sister, Briana was sucked out with the surf and I ran in to save her. Now, I was a strong swimmer, but probably only weighed 75 lbs. at the most. I was only 9 years old, for goodness sake! I wasn't strong enough and was pulled under, also. My mom ran to save Briana and another woman on the beach ran to save me. When the ordeal was over, Grandpa said, "Don't worry, I got it all on video tape!" HA! I bet my mom wanted to strangle him! I guess she never asked him for the tape!

Valdez: "No P in our OOL!"

There was a sign in the window of the Valdez pool that said, "There is no P in our OOL, let's keep it that way!" And I can't say I didn't pee in the Valdez pool all the time as a kid. Gross, I know, but I'm trying to keep it real.

I met up with my childhood friend, Jenny, in Florida a few months ago. She and I used to go swimming every weekend at the Valdez Pool. Then we'd walk home to her house to spend the night. We must have swam in that pool a ba-jillion times. The photo is of us in a local pond, but you get the idea!

As you enter the women's locker room, the first row of lockers, 3rd one in, was mine. I kept the same locker all through high school . . . used it on the swim team and to keep my lifeguard stuff in, too.

These are the Pool's communal showers. Maybe I was a weirdo, but I remember all the women in town using these after family swim. They'd bathe their kids here, along with the kid's swim teacher (me!)

When I went to BYU, the girls there weren't such exhibitionists, like Valdez Girls, apparently. Each dorm floor had a shower room that all the girls shared. I was lectured by the floor "mom" a few times for forgetting my towel and streaking back to my room. Some local Provo girls, inviting me to their homes for the weekend, reminded me I'd need to change in the bathroom and not in front of everyone. I guess I must have had a problem with modesty. It all stems from these showers. It's not my fault, I'm telling you!

This is my wonderful Valdez Pool . . . I really do love that place! It smelled just like I remember. This is where I learned to swim, competed on a Synchronized Swim Team, became a lifeguard, Swam on the HS Swim team 4 years, broke 3 OLD School records and taught swim lessons to pay for college.

Once I was lifeguarding for an early morning lap swim. A visiting boys basketball team was showering in the mens locker room. They heard the noise of the pool through the shower room doors and walked out to see where it was coming from. I must admit, the first time I saw naked men was at this pool, too. Wow, that was embarrassing! I never saw so many behinds move so fast to get back into the locker room!

I've only seen hand dryers used as hair dryers in this crazy locker room! The sink was replaced, much to my chagrin. These double sinks are not half as cool as the huge trough sink that waterfalled water, when you pushed the foot pedal. We did like to dam the drains up with paper towels and flood the bathroom, so that might be why they took it out??

I'm posting syncro swim photos tomorrow and photos of my brother John, in a speedo, the next. Fun stuff. Please notice how flat my stomach was before I grew 5 babies in that thing!

Jay, Dray and Dunk in da House!

Hopefully, you were spared the movie that posted earlier this morning! Little computer cliche! Josh helped me make this "movie" of his break-dancing buddies. He's sick this morning and we all hope he's back to normal this afternoon! Turn off the playlist to get the full rap effect!

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

Mopping, a Full-Time Job

When you first enter my home and look the right, you see into my piano room. Then, looking straight ahead, you see this:

The little door on the right is a powder room. If you walk through the arch, you see my dining room table on the left and kitchen on the right:

In my old home, I had a housekeeper 2 hours a week to help me with all 1800 square feet of mess. Now just the area I'm showing you is 1500 square feet and I have no housekeeper. So, I make up interesting ways to convince my kids to help me. Usually cash works! But last week, we decided to try a new game:

SKATE MOPPING!!

We take our inspiration from Pippi Longstockings. She cleaned her floors the same way, although involving a pet monkey and horse wasn't our style. We had so much fun and the sticky spots came up easily.

Unfortunately, so did the finish on my floors!!

I didn't read the sponge packages. Apparently, they were abrasive and they buffed off the previously applied finish. This proves I should have have a housekeeper. I will damage this home, in my stupidity!

As you look the opposite way, in the room, you see our computer area. The family room is through the other arch (also accessible off the entry, if you turn to the left.)

Usually I have those benches at either end of my table, so I can fit 16 people at the table. Tha's pretty handy, considering there are 22 Idiarts that live nearby, and one more due next month!

I took all these photos of my house, a year ago, before a dinner party. Back when my house was REALLY clean. Right now, just the floor is clean!!

We spent all morning "skate mopping" and then realized we'd basically made the floor look worse!! We went to buy some waxy polish to hide all the buff marks left by the "skates." So, ultimately, I went over all 1500 square feet of these rooms 3x. I had to apply 2 coats of polish to really hide the buff marks!!

It was fun and took 8 hours to finish. The house smells REALLY nice (and I smell sweaty!) My floors are as shiny as the day I moved in. I'm thrilled. Now, if I can keep the kids from LIVING here, the floors will look nice for a week!

Happy 60th, Pop!

This photo was taken 10 years ago, on my father-in-law, Al's, 50th Birthday!! Damian's sister and brother were kissing their Pop.

I love that guy. He is the kindest, most gentle man on the planet. I enjoy watching my sweet husband grow to be more and more like his dad each year! Thank you, Pop, for being a wonderful father to my husband, and to me. Thanks for loving my children as only a Grandpa can. You are admired and adored!

Park Day

I've been posting about myself a little too much lately.

I OCCASIONALLY mention my kids. I want you to know that I am a mother first and a blogger second. And then a wife. No, I'm kidding. But Damian did "talk" to me about maybe only blogging AFTER the kids are in bed.

Yesterday I took my kids and a niece to the squirt park for 3 hours. That's Emma pushing Mary. She wears her swimsuit coverup as a muumuu!

My Katrina treats her cousin Mary like a junior mother. She is so sweet to her. I enjoy watching her care for all the little ones. I think she'll be an IN DEMAND babysitter, in a few years.

The park wore the kids out. When we got home, they were tired and ready for some quiet time. I did some laundry, cleaned the bathroom and THEN I turned on my computer and started blogging. Really. Then, miracle above all miracles, they all went over to their babysitters house and made a movie (to be posted later, after the editing process). So I enjoyed my computer, GUILT FREE, all afternoon!

My Baptism Day

The totally nerdy kid is me, in 1982, with my VERY YOUNG, ADORABLE Parents!! This day was a very joyful one for me. In my faith, kids are able to choose to be baptized at 8 years old, and this was my baptism day. I am so thankful for that decision! It has affected every day of my life, since.

My dad baptized me and I'm very grateful for his fine example. I'm thankful for my mom, and all her efforts to teach me the gospel. I know that the fullness of Jesus Christ's church was restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that the promises I made with my Heavenly Father on that day, 26 years ago, have blessed my live beyond measure.

I love this photo, my cute little toes stretching, testing the water (it was warm!) I love that to be baptized, we are dressed all in white, to symbolize purity. I love my giganto-glasses. Did I get baptized in those? My mom can't remember. I do remember her being right there, as I came up, out of the water, to wrap me in a big towel. And I remember feeling so clean and pure. Today, I will carry a special prayer of thanksgiving for this day, so long ago.

Date with Mamma Mia!

My mom and I went to the movies last night. She has helped me so much with my kids this summer, it's the least I could do. Of course, she paid. And then she took me out to ice cream, after.

I saw this play on Broadway in NYC last spring, and I went to see the movie 4 days ago, on opening night in Anchorage, with Emily. I love ABBA and I love musicals. This movie is getting mixed reviews, but I loved it. I have got to go to Greece now, after "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and "Mamma Mia!"

I bought the soundtrack and now my kids are learning these songs, to add to their Broadway Showtunes repertoire. I don't think "Mamma Mia" tunes will replace our ultimate favorite, "Wicked," but it is fun to hear Ben sing, "Mamma Mia, Here I go again, My, My, how can I mist you?!"

Valdez: "Book Obsession Beginnings"

This is where it all started. The therapist inside my head says that in order to confront my addiction and start the recovery process I must go back to the root of it all.

It was here, at the Valdez Consortium Library that I began my love affair with the written word.



I would bike 3 blocks from my home (now, a Mexican restaurant and hairdresser!) to the local library and sit for hours in THE PIT.

The colorful carpeted area used to be a sunken step-down lounge called THE PIT. I would spend hours there, reading and laying about, avoiding chores at home. And getting out of the rain.

Apparently, too many tourists (probably from Texas) fell in the pit. They would be looking up at the murals, and let's face it, Texans are so IN AWE of all things Alaska, and sometimes they are a danger to themselves! So it was filled in.

My first stop after getting off the ferry in Valdez was the Valdez Library. I scanned the shelves for the Raggedy Ann series that I spent time devouring as an early reader, but had no luck. Don't pity me, I convinced my mom to indulge my obsession a few years ago and she bought me every book in the series on EBay.

(FYI: Mom, the therapist in my head says you have to quit enabling me to be an OC 'Obsessive Crazed' Reader, but I didn't listen and neither should you!)

Then, as if in a dream, I walked upstairs and went right to a shelf, quickly finding a favorite book. It was in the exact same spot as when I used to look it up 20 years ago! I frequented this book like a drunk goes back to the same bar. I loved all things Diana in 1988, as a Junior High Nerd.

Luckily, on this trip home to Valdez, I was able to confront two obsessions: Reading in THE PIT and the Diana book that started my Complete and Total devotion to all things PRINCESS. I think I might be beyond help. Especially if I keep hearing a therapist in my head!

Valdez: "Laughing it up!"

Yesterday Emily and I left Valdez. We spent 3 days in our hometown and had a great time! We camped, ate fried fish EVERY DAY, visited old friends and hiked.


OK, so it was too cold and misty to really go hiking, but I did find a snowbank to hike (as pictured above) What a crazy thing, snow still hanging around in July! I don't know if dirt is tossed on it to help it melt, or if the dirt/snow is plowed up, with the snow blowers, during winter???

This must be the dorkiest picture of me, EVER TAKEN!! And that includes all my BIG HAIR photos! My mom says I look like a rabbit sometimes, this must be the look she's talking about! I think I might need to reconsider laughing so much, if I look like I'm about to explode when I do it. WEIRD.

Emily told me I HAD to post this, to KEEP IT REAL. Thanks for the bad advice, Em!

My geophysicist brother, Jonathan, in living in Valdez as he mines for Gold under receding glaciers. He has a camera crew from LA following him, making a documentary. They gave him the night off, to go out to dinner with me and Emily. The speed at which I shovel food into my face would alarm the general public.

It was great to see him. I'll post about his movie later. Unless they use my interview footage. Then, I'll just curl up and die. They interviewed me in the rain and I look like a DROWNED rabbit.

My favorite part of my hometown visit was seeing old friends. We visited yesterday afternoon with my fellow HS lifeguard/co-captain of the Swim Team, Jennifer. She has 3 adorable boys and it was fun to meet them! We laughed so hard, catching up after 14 years. Then, we went to visit her parents. I haven't laughed that hard in FOREVER!

I'm on my way home today. I'm excited to see my family, but will miss Emily and my Alaska Adventures! I still have LOTS of photos to post and things to share, so keep reading!

My Italians, Part QUATTRO

This photo is of a beach in Sardinia, the island in Italy that my little sister, Briana, lives on.

Hopefully, it's one of the many beaches I'll be swimming in, this fall, when I go for her wedding. And hopefully, I'll look that good in MY purple one-piece suit!

Sardinia is the island in red. Bosa, Briana's town, is located on the western side, towards the top.

When Briana first went to Bosa last year she had just broken up with an Italian flame. She wrote him saying she'd wait on this bridge over the Temo River, at the same time, in case he wanted to get back together. A local guy, Sem, noticed her sitting there everyday and asked about her. They were introduced and Briana quickly forgot about her old flame. This is a photo of the bridge she was waiting on, when she caught Sem's eye!

Another shot of the bridge that brought Briana and Sem together. And you can see the castle that overlooks the city. I've seen virtual tours online of the frescos inside the chapel and can't wait to see them in real life!

I am really excited to spend a few weeks in this cute little town, soaking up the Italian sun and food, visiting with my family and getting to know Sem and Lucca, Briana's little step-son!

Arrivederci!

Alaska: Part Eight "Bitter Cold Adventures"

(Mrs. Mauldin, when I write, I often think of you. I think, "I wish I would have paid more attention in English class, rather than flirting with Lance Bowen so much!" Now, as I write about your granddaughters, the possibility that you might read this haunts me. I'm sorry, I still use WAY too many commas!)


This is the beautiful Mt. McKinley . . . the tallest mountain in North America. It's Native Name is Denali or "The Great One." That's also my sister's middle name . . . Briana Denali. What a cool thing to be named for! I have to say, the name Denali makes me think cold thoughts.

I like my middle name, too . . . Sarah Chanel. Chanel is an overpriced, stenchy brand of perfume. I've smelled them all, while in France, and I'm not impressed with the product, but the name has served me well, I like it. It's classy and cool.


I'm just not a huge perfume fan, but I digress.

My Best Friend, Emily took all these photos. She lives this Alaska life, having bitter cold ADVENTURES with her cute family. I stole these shots off her memory card.

These pictures are so beautiful, in an icy way. I wish I could describe how COLD it can be in Alaska. There is no air, quite like cold Alaskan air. It's very DRY and BITTER. It smells SO nice, even though it can hurt the inside of your nose a little bit and freeze your nose hairs!

Here is Emily and her little 3-year-old, gearing up for a snow machine trip. Look at all the trees in this chilly part of the state . . . They don't even grow normally, they're all dwarf-like and covered in snow, kind of Dr. Seuss looking!

My little Alaskan sweetheart . . . can you just feel how cold she would be without all that warm subzero-gear? The rosy glow in her cheeks is so cute. When she exhales, it looks like she's smoking, the steam from her breathe is very warm compared to the outside air!


Emily's two daughters,are all bundled in their snow gear, making tracks while they wait for their snowmachine rides.

Move backwards girls, you're in the shade and it's below zero there! Into the light, girls!! Save yourselves!

Emily and her little one, having a great time, racing around on the frozen wasteland we call Alaska! I wish I could just spend one day a year in that cold. I really do love the way the air smells there, but one day would be plenty for me!

Emily and her family often go to watch the Iditarod Sled Dog Races . . . just another Bitter Cold Adventure!

"Hey Momma! There's the RACE DOGS!!"

You know, sometimes my spell check pics up my last name and suggests Iditarod, and sometimes it's mean to me and just suggests "Idiot."

True Alaskans at their best!

"Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!!"

How many of you have ever seen A Christmas Story??

I asked Emily's daughter to tell me about ice fishing. This was her explanation, "The school bus takes you to the farm at about 7am, but only in the winter. There is no room for parents on the bus, so Moms and babies have to go in the car. So they can take pictures. When you get there, you try and catch little fish. I caught one, but then I didn't roll it up the right way, so the fish got away. It's OK if you catch one or not because I still got a fishing necklace. It was purple, my favorite color!"