To lie, or to disappoint?

I have reached that point in pregnancy where everyone either cleverly exclaims “Almost ready to pop!” or they ask “Are you excited?!” While the former conjures terrifying images I’d rather not imagine (seriously, what sort of sadist coined this phrase? Has any pregnant woman actually appreciated the “humor”?), I confessed to my husband today that… Continue reading To lie, or to disappoint?

value without value

It’s now been over a year since I’ve had a job. It wasn’t a thrilling job, nor was it in a field I enjoy, but the loss had a huge detrimental impact on my self esteem. Part of this might be due to the fact that I still don’t understand why I was fired, but… Continue reading value without value

Change

Change is notoriously difficult for me and always has been. My mother enjoys entertaining friends and party guests with stories about my struggles with change: how upset I was when my little brother was born, how I cried at the end of Kindergarten. The fact is, I cried at the end of pretty much every… Continue reading Change

People who make eye contact

People who are not shy, and never have been, don’t seem to understand the affliction. I get the impression that many people blessed with a naturally outgoing personality think shy people are choosing to remain silent or making a choice to remain outside the group or deciding they’d rather not make any new friends.  Of… Continue reading People who make eye contact

Living with “food”

Calmly walk into a room with a dog in it and she might wag her tail and come up to lick your hand. Calmly walk into a room with a cat in it and if you’re lucky, your existence might be acknowledged. Calmly walk into a room with an unprepared rabbit in it, and you… Continue reading Living with “food”

The new addition

Ben and I are now proud parents. Our first child has turned out to be much fuzzier than I would have expected, and his ears, well, he would do best to wear a hat in public if he doesn’t want people staring. He is already eating whole raw carrots, which I’m glad about because his… Continue reading The new addition

Lela’s Favorites, part II

A good conscience is a continual Christmas. –Ralph Waldo Emerson We’re reaching the end of the line now, folks. At this point it’s too late to order gifts over the internet without paying shipping fees that cost more than the items themselves. Stores are packed with people and sadly short of desirable presents. You’ve got… Continue reading Lela’s Favorites, part II

About Charity

A few weeks ago Ben and I sat in a small Mexican restaurant drinking disappointing margaritas and discussing, what else, but the Mormon Church.  In particular we were talking about how the church encourages each member to speak before the congregation at least once. For someone like me, who couldn’t wait until the next public… Continue reading About Charity

Lela’s Favorites 2008

The Holiday season is upon us and I know what you are thinking, “What are Lela’s favorite things for Christmas 2008?”  I’m sure the questions began in early October as a tiny gnawing sensation in your stomach (or was that the tapeworm?) and it’s now become a full-blown, fingernail-biting fiesta of unbridaled curiosity consuming your… Continue reading Lela’s Favorites 2008