Furlough (Pelt Lake) News!

NO go Furlough! Curtis is one of the few who will be working the beat tomorrow with the State of California. The big guy, the judge dude, said that these certain agencies cannot be furloughed by Arnold. It's unconstitutional! No telling what will happen next week. Anyway, I went out and bought an In-N-Out burger to celebrate. There is still some uncertainty, so I did not take the kids.

Febuary Booooook!

Chinese Cinderella
by Adeline Yen Mah

Read my review!



Join the club HERE!

Girl Meets Book January Selection

Read My January Review of
Life of Pi
Here

Want to join GMB? Join here.

Want to review this book? Go here.

Want to buy the book? Click on the book above!

25,000 Random Things

Seems like this "25 random fact about myself" is epidemic. Since approximately 1000 total people sent this too me, that means I have to blog, what, like, 25,000 random facts about myself. So here it goes.

1. I eat
2. I sleep
3. I read
4. I eat crunchy cereal with cold milk poured over the top.
5. I don't like it when the phone rings after I pour milk over my crunchy cereal.
6. I read a really great book
7. I read a great book called Life of Pi
8. Have you read it? (is this a factoid)
9. I give up easily, but never on the important things. Is dieting important?
10. I love reading people's random facts.
11. I am watching Galaxy Quest.
12. I tutor algebra.


25,000. I love big numbers.

Be Happy! My Mom is Beautiful!

Please CLICK ON Picture

The plan of happiness is wonderful. We can become perfect in spirit and body through Christ. The plan brings happiness to all of us left behind knowing Mom, (aka Grandma, Diane) is going to live to enjoy these blessing and we will be there with her as we turn to Jesus. So simple, yet so powerful.

Diane Helen Jensen is Free

Born September 20, 1934 in Oakland to Nicholas and Helen De Lucia, Diane passed away at home, in Rancho Cordova on Jan 17, 2009 at age 74. She devoted her life to her family, her church, sewing, painting, teaching dance, and directing theatrical productions. Of note, Diane choreographed for the Elk Grove Strauss Festival for many years. Lovingly cared for during her long illness by her husband Willis Boyd Jensen, she also leaves children Marcia and Norman Harris, Michael and Pam Jensen, Stephen and Cindy Jensen, Caryn and Curtis Stapp, Sarah and Kent Blair, Rachelle and Daren Anderson, Jared and Christine Jensen, 34 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, her sisters Susan Rosenquist and Marian Brown, and brother Thomas De Lucia. She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers Nicholas and Andrew De Lucia. Services will be held Friday, Jan 23 at 11 am at the LDS Church, 2400 Cordova Lane, Rancho Cordova. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer's Association.

Furlough

Curtis received a furlough from Governor Schwarz yesterday. Furlough sounds like such a nice word. Fur is so soft and cuddly. Lough (I looked it up) is a lake. It seems like such a wonderful thought to go down to the lake and wrap up in a nice fur coat. It a fun word to say and rolls off the tongue in such a soft and easy way.

Why don't they (the State of California) use a true defining term for the action like "incursionary derailment" or "despoilment" or "subjugationry". Don't these word sound more like what is happening over here with 10% pay cut. Furlough is just a euphenistic term. Makes us feel ageeable and warm and fuzzy, when really it's time to turn the heater off.

Disclaimer: All words in this entry may or may not be in the dictionary. I really like making new words from other words. It's cheap entertainment and I need some of that right now.

Coupon Craze

So my friend Natalie is on a coupon craze. It is mostly fun and sometimes worth it, but not today. To make a long story short, we headed to Longs Drugs with a bazillion coupons. Searching high and low for exact products, harassing the store personnel, all for naught because in order to get the great deal the bazillionth coupon had to work (which, of course it did not). That's OK. I found some Christmas gift tags for 25 cents and I didn't even need a coupon!

Check out Natalie's brainstorm blog (yes I'm a contributor, but I'm mostly, although unintentionally, sabotaging her hard work)

http://wisewordsfromfriends.blogspot.com/

No joke. Natalie is on the phone. I'm heading to Walgreens. Goodnight.

Blog Irony

I added a new ad sense to my blog. I do not choose the ad. It is generated by my blog content. The ad selected for this blog is for a flickerless battery operated candle. See Faux Christmas for the irony. HELP!!!!

Moroni, Son of Mormon, Makes Me Happy

I finished the Book of Mormon again on New Year's Eve! It was most definitely a new message this year. The words became more real and extremely personal. What can I say but IT IS TRUE!!

I'm beginning to feel a closeness to certain ancient earthly inhabitants. I figured some of them feel close to me as well, as a select few where able to witness my day and trials. Although the book end is the most horrific and gruesome ordeal, Moroni (son of Mormon) was able to tie things up with lovely councel on charity.

By the end of the year's reading I began to wonder why so little was said concerning the women of the day, but I felt assured their special purpose was to raise and nurture all those beloved prophets. Then low and behold, I read a lovely little message for the women in verse 31 of the last chapter. It says I, O daughter, should go and put on my most beautiful clothing and get to work strengthening the Stakes of Zion. Thanks Moroni!

After this verse, Moroni literally sums up the entire books message in three chapters!!! I can't wait to see him brought triumphant through the air. I feel I may very well meet him in the next life in this most spectacular manner.

I believe I will start 2009 by reading Moroni first!

May Christmas Bring...

Ciara, Grandpa, and Julia 2007

...smiles and cheerinous,
sausages and assorted cheeses,
health and continued freedom,
lights and all that shiny stuff,
sugary and spicy delights,
glowing candlelights and warm hugs,
kind words and graciousness
peaceful melodies and jingling bells,
fuzzy socks and foiled wrapped Reeses bells,
But most of all faith, hope and Christ!

Take the Time...

...and turn it up loudly so the family will gather 'round!!

Sweet Sixteen

So yes, Curtis is 50 (see Dec 5th bloggentry*)! But that is not much to brag about considering...I mean...ya know...Elche is turning 16** on Christmas Day! She's an amazing creature! I think I will start her going on FACEBOOK!

*bloggentry=blog entry, but rhymes with conventry. If that is not already a coined blog term, then I go down in history as the coiner of it, no tags back Stephen.

**Not her actual birthday. I found her at the pound one day in May and the pound lady told me she was about 5 month old. So we are fairly smart and took birth date matters into our own hands. We counted back 5 months, which was not extremely difficult if you have a calendar, found a date near it that would stand out and called it her unofficial birthday. We also are amazing creatures--thank you very much.

Golden Years Ahead!

At 50 years of age, Curtis Wayne Stapp can kick it. Althought Curtis has always been a late starter (on his mission at 22, first child at 30) nonetheless, he never ceases to amaze. With Curtis there are no timelines or limits. He picked up a real nice guitar this year and took a class at the college. With this he has brought some loyal fans to tears (his Dad) and put some to sleep (Samuel). He has been struggling with his reading of the Book of Mormon this year because he chose to read it in Catalan (wow and it's still true!). Ask him about his genealogy work, his acting career, or his beloved work at the Woodland Opera House and you will understand how Golden Curtis really is!!!


Below is a lovely picture of the geriatric during his 50th Birthday Surprise*! Just Golden!!


*Birthday Surprise--We kidnapped Curtis and took him to a beach house for 4 days. I luv u!

Music to My Ears

Many a evening Julia comes out to the living area ready to perform her latest hit song. She has become quite proficient on her beloved guitar. She prefers the guitar to T.V., books, cell phoning, and sometimes eating. She has pulled in the boys for duets on some of her favorites. Alex is a perfect Joe Jonas to her Demi Lavato. Sometimes when I am outdoors and the windows are open I can hear her in full voice up and down the block. Although she has kept us up rockin' some nights, in our eyes it is the price of stardom. What will it be like next Fall without these free live concerts? The neighborhood will never be the same!