Cement Girl

Christmas was too much fun. I felt really great about the things I got people. It was so much fun knowing people would love what they got. Most of all my dad and I went in together to get my mom this collection of songs of old, southern/backwoods gospel songs. Really rustic recordings. It's called "Goodbye, Babylon" and it's from http://www.dust-digital.com . I was SO excited about her getting it-- she opened it and started crying!! She mentioned it to me over a year ago and was really surprised I remembered it. We listened to two of the cds yesterday- one while opening presents and the second one while eating dinner. It was really fun to watch my mom, aunt, uncle and grandma know some of the songs and sing along... and then tell stories about people they went to church with back in the 40s and 50s. The book that came with it is really neat as well- information about each song.

I got a lot of great things. I got a North Face backpack. I got this army-ish green jacket that is just so... swell- not too long, a little fitted- it's really nice. I got some guitar books, spanish dictionaries (my mom bought me the SAME exact one i've been looking for... one i saw in JUNE! And she remembered). a license plate frame that says "Concrete Girl". A new pair of Converse. This really cool little scrapbook that is really unique. It doesn't have that much space, but it folds out really intricately. I think I might put pictures from college in it because of the outside print theme. I got a "pegasus crossing" shirt from joel and rinda- they made it! and few miscellaneous things.

The best thing about Christmas morning was watching my niece open her presents. The second one she opened (a fleece vest/skirt/jacket combo) she ADORED and proceeded to take off her pajamas and put them on-take them off- put them on-take them off... and the vest had a "zeeee!" (zipper) so that was even better. We all commented how bad it is that we push more presents on little toddlers saying "open more!" when they are so content with the one right in front of them. A good lesson to think about.

I have been spending quality time with my new guitar and the callouses are starting to form. When i was in high school (maybe 16) I tried to play the guitar and I felt I was horrible at it so I gave up after learning one (really easy) Jennifer Knapp song. Since then I have told myself that I couldn't play guitar. After playing around with it-it's not so hard! I mean, i'm really bad at shifting/changing chords, but i don't know why I hated it so much before. Having my brother here to help and explain how some of it works is even better. The guitar books he gave me are great. One classical training book (reading real notes/scales/etc.) and one book with chords in it.

Monday through Wednesday I work in a swanky downtown area and I'm hoping to get to take this one kid I'm watching to OMSI or the children's museum or something like that. Also- the home is about 6 blocks from Powell's and i wonder if I could sneak over there for a little while. How fun would that be! I've got mega books to buy.

Everything is love and happiness. Two and a half weeks and I'll be living on a Mexican visa.

"And if You would shine Your love down here
I promise I'll reflect it right back at You
And if You would shine Your love down here, oh
I promise I'll reflect it right back at You
Oh, I promise we'll reflect it right back at You"-copeland