I remember.

I found myself driving to work this morning trying to figure out where I'd been 6 years ago. What had I been doing... what was I watching or thinking at that exact moment. And the troubling thing is... I could remember it all very clearly. At a little after 9am 6 years ago... I was in a spanish class at the UW... trying to figure out why my teacher was still teaching verb modifiers when our nation was under attack.

Brad and I had seen the second plane hit the South tower of the World Trade Center that morning, as we waited in line for breakfast at the dorm cafeteria. I remember him saying... was that a missle? And I said no, it was a plane. But why would a plane fly into the towers? It was the question we didn't want to know the answer to. So we went to class, because we weren't sure if we shouldn't. And then my teacher yelled at me for trying to talk to the sleepier kids in class who hadn't seen what happened. And then I spent the next 45 minutes confused and terrified.

Why does that matter today? Who are we and are we different? Should we be? Does it let the terrorists win?

I was looking for a photo to go with this post today and I found the one of the "falling man" which I vaguely remember seeing. It was one of the only published pictures of someone jumping out of the trade center that day, because people were outraged that the jumpers were being stripped of their dignity by having their untimely and horrifying death photographed. I agree, that it is awful and disturbing what happened. But as a storyteller, I understand the power that that man's story could hold. It holds the power of outrage, of fight, of the ability for people never to forget what happened that day, to make them different.

I am a different person than the one I was that day by many accounts, and not just because I've aged or gotten married or begun a career. I am a different person because I understand the horror of what can happen in the world we know to be usually safe. I know that we shouldn't stand for an incident like this to ever happen in our country again, but we also shouldn't stand for it to be a reason for other horrors to take place around the world.

As we remember another anniversary of one of the worst tragedies in our history... I hope we don't become numb to what it still means to each and every one of us. It's easy to do that... be jaded by all the years of 9/11 memorials and file footage and somewhat empty rhetoric. But we lived this. And I don't know about you, but I hope to never feel that terror or confusion I felt that day in the cafeteria ever again.

I'm a brunette. I think.

Went to the hair salon yesterday. Walked in a blonde... walked out something else. I'm not sure exactly... a brunette... a redhead... but its definitely not the blonde i've been. I'm only a day into it... so I have to see what I think... but already I'm yearning for my goldilocks back. I've always loved being a blonde (despite the jokes and bad rep) but I just thought it was sunny and fun and really fit my personality. This suddenly seems much more serious. We'll see... but I have a feeling in 4-6 weeks I'll be back with the "more fun" girls again.

In other news... I suck at blogging. As if you didn't know. This is exactly the reason I didn't want to start one... because I knew I'd suck at keeping it up. But for the umpteenth time... I'm going to make a better effort at it. It is with that attitude that I post some of my more recent scrapping forays.

Blogging double time... and some gap ad fun.

It's been a while since I've blogged... but frankly, it's been a while since I've had time to. Work is much more a marathon than a sprint lately so every ounce of free energy I have I try to conserve. Everything is suffering because of it unfortunately... my weight... my yoga practice... my scrapbooking... my sanity... that's how it goes though. Brad and I have had some very nice late-night dinners at Osteria Papavero so that's been really cool. Had the French Horn Mushroom Rissotto last night... and cantaloupe with prociutto.... amazing.

About the double time thing though... I'm working the Eric Hainstock trial all this week.... worked the last two days on it... and I'm live blogging here for the entirety. It's a different thing to do on a story, but is a cool new thing that's probably going to get more popular in journalism. I'm glad I get to be a part of it.

Otherwise, I still haven't posted concert pics from the beginning of the month... but I haven't taken many pics because I haven't been doing much but working. We're headed to my friend and former co-worker Dawn's wedding on the 10th, so I'm super excited for that and a little time off. Till then, I'll leave you with a different photo... and my current desktop background. (that is, until I email one of my real husband to myself so I don't feel wierd...)

A very sad ending.

So the coroner confirmed a body found Monday morning in a woods near Oregon is the body of Kelly Nolan, a missing 22 year old Whitewater student. I can't stop thinking about the situation... the police department is now in the midst of an incredibly intense investigation into her death, and finding her killer... but all the while this has to be the most torturous situation for the family. I've worked with them pretty extensively through this whole thing... so I've been praying for them... and I hope you will too.

I have pics to post of the fab summerfest concert we went to last week, as well as from the 4th or Brad's cousin's wedding on 7/7/7... I'll try to get to that today as well if I have time. Mom and Dad are out of town with the boys for a cattle show... so yesterday I went out to water plants, cure the dogs' lonliness and picked out the garden for her... and sunburned myself pretty good in the process. Today I'm trying to work on her cake albums... she finally handed over her cake show books to me to re-do... they were my very first shot at scrapbooking and through about 6 years of being used, desperately need an update. It's kind of amazing though to look at them now... they were the start of what has become a passionate hobby for me. I should probably scrapbook that now. Will probably do that most of the day, and hopefully do concerts on the square tonight.

Pics later... for right now though... my thoughts are with a girl who could have been any of our sisters... friends... daughters or relatives... and how she's died unnecessarily too young. Kelly, may you rest now in peace, and help your family find comfort now in your safety.

Please help find...

Kelly Nolan. She's a 22-year-old Whitewater student... living in Madison for the summer... her family is from Waunakee. I've been doing stories about her with her family all today, and spent a lot of time on the phone with the family yesterday. She got separated from her friends last Friday night... and has now been missing for six days. Her family is terrified... and the police have been searching and are concerned. Please go to our web site for information and to see photos... and contact Crimestoppers at 266-6014 with any information. For those who don't know her... please pray for her family... and her safety.

KI Memories Challenge

A challenge on the KI Memories blog was to scrapbook a friend you miss. Here's mine.

I want to make an art journal. And other notes.

I'm up early today... or at least early for me. Woke up at 9:30 today... not sure why but maybe was because Brad had to go for his last physical before his new job. (additional... don't worry, he's not leaving the foundation... just getting some extra major gift experience at St. Mary's Hospital) I've been up doing laundry, etc... but wanting to scrapbook really bad. I love scrapbooking... everyone knows that... but sometimes it can be hard to get over the hump to actually go do it. It's not because I think I won't enjoy it... sometimes its because I'm not sure what to work on... sometimes I know what I want to work on but I'm worried I won't have the products or paper I want (I don't have a lot cause I can't afford a lot...) so it won't turn out like I'm hoping. Right now... I have 3 different projects I want to work on... an 8.5x11 album of our honeymoon photos... starting a new album of layouts on whatever topic I choose (which sounds simple but is different for me because I usually have done topical or chronological scrapbooking)... or making an art journal. One of the other scrapbook blogs I'm reading is selling a kit to make one. I'm probably not gonna buy it because I don't have the money... but they're doing journaling challenges for pages on the site and they're totally inspiring me. The writing is coming to my brain... but the layouts and stuff not so much... only because I havent made an art journal before and its just more freestyle than I'm used to. Its literally kind of a scary thing to jump into... but I think I have to try only because it's something new. So I guess I'll go sit in my scrap room and figure out what project to work on... I hope for myself that the art journal comes to my brain and turns out beautifully. I'll keep you posted.

Otherwise... Martha's wedding, as you can see below, was lovely. She looked beautiful and they both seemed happy and it was really nice. We worked our butts off the day before helping set up chairs and make all the flower arrangements, but it was so worth it. I hope they're having a great time on their honeymoon.

I have split days off this week so I have tomorrow off... and we're going to a Brewer game. I'm excited about it, cause I haven't been to one this year and its for a welcome home party for one of Brad's FMS Mel. She spent the semester in Spain (so jealous!) and is back on the job.

Dad gets his DREAM TRUCK this weekend ha. They ordered a 2007 Ford F350 for the farm... apparently dark red and loaded with everything Dad ever hoped for. I'm hoping to make it to when they pick it up so I can see his face when he sees it. Probably a mix of dream come true... and reality that now the payments start ha.

Brad and I have to decide whether to renew our lease for this apartment... and its bittersweet. I really love this place, and its become like a real home for us. But I'm dying to have a house all to ourselves. Get a garden, be able to landscape and make the house beautiful, really start to nest. But there are a lot of factors as to whether that is possible... money, whether we're staying around here for long, is it big enough for our needs, will we have to buy a new car for Brad, then buy a lawn mower, snowblower, etc... I kind of think the hurdles are too big for right now. Its so sad... because theres a house we both love in a good neighborhood for sale right now... I'll probably cry when it sells. Brad assures me we will have a beautiful house someday... its just hard when I want one so badly right now.

That's enough for now... off to go try and be scrapbook-inspired...