Zoe and Brooke

Last Friday, Zoe (my little Sister) and I had a girls night at the movies. We snuck in a Dairy Queen hamburger for Zo's dinner, and I of course gorged myself on buttered popcorn, cherry pepsi and junior mints (only b/c they were OUT of milk duds)!

I recommend the Spiderwick Chronicles... very entertaining and mystical. I am convinced we have fairies in our backyard now.

My 2nd Christmas with My Little

Zoe at Chadz
Vanilla - Caramel Steamers and Coffee Cake
Zoe and Brooke with Santa
My friend Jacqueline and her little Summer and Zoe and I

Zoe and I were matched in September of 2006. We have enjoyed many things this year and a few months, but two of our favorite have been the BBBS Holiday Party and having breakfast at Chadz together.
Last night Zoe and I went shopping and bought some gifts for a kid here in Livingston that needs a Christmas. We picked out some nice white tennis shoes and a Bratz doll... Have you seen the toys for kids lately? Scary. This doll looks a bit like a dominatrix Tammy Fae Baker with a playboy bunny ski outfit on.
Oh well.... It's what this little girl wanted.

Advice from Others

I have a little sister... Not a biological one, but one through the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program. Her name is Zoe and she is amazing! She is 10, in the fifth grade, and smarter and better at playing instruments than me.
Zoe is a really mature kid. She loves community service, wants to be a vegetarian ("as soon as she turns 16"), and writes poetry and thinks about things I never dreamed of when I was a kid.
I think I am good for Zoe in the fact that I act pretty strange and goofy most of the time and it
reminds her that you never really grow up (I am a firm believer in always acting like a kid).
I think Zoe is good for me in the fact that she always tells me when my clothes are not fashionable, too dull, or just aren't that cute.
We spend about 2 hours / week with each other... Our time together varies from cooking meals, going for bike rides, hiking, scrapbooking, walking around town and drinking lattes and steamers, shopping, playing with our dogs, swimming, riding horses... sleepovers. We have done quite a little in the 14 months that we have been "matched."
On Monday, we got a unique opportunity to be part of a community interview series. There are some very forward thinking folks in town who want to open the communication lines and start discussing the values and commonalities that the people in the community have. Their thought is that eventually, with enough positive communication going on, that when "issues" arise or there is a need to come together, that the young, old, right wing, left wing, aliens, and dogs, and cats can have a foundation to stand on and communicate!
I think it is a grand idea and when Zoe and I were called to do an interview we jumped at the chance. Now, how many 10 year olds do you know that have the nerve, skill, or motivation to sit at a table with a complete stranger (an adult) and ask her questions like "do you feel you have a life's purpose, and if so, what is it and when did you know you had one?"
Well, Zoe, my little Diane Sawyer in the making, did just that with a leader of a large church in our County. These pics are of the rockstar and our really cool experience.
Now, I was there for moral support and to coach Zoe prior to the interview - she did ALL the talking and interviewing.
Mentoring works folks - get involved in a kids life and change the world... (and yours).

Also, Meg, as you requested, here is a picture of the horns up and on it's side... I like it. AND, another pic of a poster in my house which I love... It reminds me of my girlfriends and all the fun that life can be... :)

no camera, just words

My honey took our digital camera in to elk camp for the week, so I have been without PICTURES!!! Sometimes I feel like the entries are boring if I don't have visuals, but i will just do a random entry and update with pics later.
1) This weekend was CNR's (where I work) biggest fundraiser of the year, the Harvest Celebration Dinner and Silent Auction. It's a delicious night, yes I mean delicious. All the food is locally sourced from local ranchers, farmers, bakers, etc. The ingredients are taken by teh regions best chefs and over 20 different chefs made 6 different entrees, 4 appetizers, and 4 desserts. They were fantastic! I wore an expandable dress to fit it all in. IT is held at Chico Hot Springs - a totally beautiful resort with natural hot springs about 25 miles south of Livingston. Many people have parties, weddings, etc there b/c the staff is amazing, it is super picturesque and there is so much to do- spa, horseback trips, dogsledding, the hotsprings soaking, a great bar with great live music every weekend, and the cabins and rooms are very old and historical. Rumors are that the place is haunted. My friend Dana will have to retell her story and i will post it sometime.
2) So that event just about wore me out... Started at 5:30am that day, home at Midnight... On the feet all day entertaining, coordinating and putting out fires. I have been in the non-profit world (if you count the university) for about 6 years now and most of this has involved NUMEROUS events! They are fun to plan b/c it involves talking and working with many, many nice people. I love the details fo the events, the creative parts... But, they are a lot of work and not one detail can be forgotten or messed up. menus have to be perfect, every auction item must have a bid sheet, check out procedure, thank you's, pick up, coordinating items, food, guest lists, seating, advertising--- lots of work.
3) Subsequently, I stayed in my pj's for the entire weekend and buzzed around my house, hardly talking to anyone except my dogs. I rearranged teh WHOLE house... Peter will not recognize it when he gets back. I moved whole bedrooms, repainted walls, cleaned cabinet knobs, floors, rugs, raked, laundry, organized closets, made piles for goodwill... It was amazing. I drank a bottle of wine and ate popcorn while doing this... IT was excellent. Something that I would have never allowed myself to do if I had not just done the event or if Peter was not gone.
4) Tonight I am having some girlfriends over... I thought hot tub and wine (hum... I am seeing a pattern here) sounded great on this gorgeous fall evening!
5) I have my first official "non-scary" cyber stalker... Funny story, a couple of months back I got a call from a friend who said
he saw my picture in this fly-fishing magazine, The Drake. I went and found a copy and sure enough, there I was - a "Page Six Chick." The photos were taken by a friend and photographer, Dusan Smetana (check him out at www.dusansmetana.com) who a while back wanted some fishing pics and Peter and I gladly volunteered. Anyways the pictures haven been sold to some magazines and pop up every once in a while, but this was by far the biggest mag they appeared in and I have been receiving ALOT of flack for it , but it is fun at the same time. So, at work today I get this email from "Steve" from Virginia... It was a hilarious email and he is essentially not a stalker (we hope), but a guy who was intrigued by the idea of having a female fishing guide for he and his wife when they come fish in Montana. It was cool and creepy the way you can track down people simply by a name, but nevertheless, since I can only fish for myself and many will testify that that is somewhat pitiful, I directed his needs to Peter. Hopefully Pete has some nice clients for next year's fishing season. "Steve" said he found our blog and I thought this could be my new shout-out to Steve - my first cyber stalker!
6) I had my 1-year match review with my little sister Zoe. She rocks and it has been a great year
Zoe and I are looking forward to many years together... I will soon post some Zoe-Brooke pics!