JAMES IS A NUTMEGGER-HEAD!

So last night I fell asleep at 1 AM but because of the SAN I took (Sunday Afternoon Nap), I woke up wide awake at 3 AM and couldn't fall back asleep til 5.


And I got to thinking... Crap, I'm really sad that my brother James and his girlfriend/my sister-in-law-even-though-it's-not-official- but-I'm-going-to-still-call-her-that, Alysia are moving to New Haven, CT where James will become a "Yalie", perusing the aisles of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library and the Sterling Memorial Library, used in the Indiana Jones films (Cool!).

I'm going to miss my brother, who not only took my birthday away from me (we share the same birthday, May 11th, James in '82 and me in '86. And I realize that technically James was born first but I still say he pilfered the one day I could call my own), but also left scars on my back from the pinching wars we had when I was 10 and he was 14.

I can't believe I'm going to freaking miss his sarcastic remarks about my reality TV fetish and my new-found vegetarian lifestyle. I'm going to miss the DDR/Guitar Hero mania. Not so much his DDR outfit--------------------->

But definitely the parties. James and Alysia always added to the "cool family" factor.

Ok James, I guess it's cool that you got accepted to Yale, will be getting two master's degrees and a Ph.D., and have a full-ride/fellowship and will become a Yalie Socialite for the next 7 years.

And I guess it's cool that I'm moving to New York City next summer and New Haven is on the end of the Metro line so it's super easy for me to visit.

And I guess it's cool you're going to the same school as Rory (Gilmore Girls).

But it's definitely bizarre you will be known as a "Nutmegger" instead of a "Conneticutian".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutmegger

I love wikipedia. They know EVERYTHING.

You Really Don't Want to Put This On Your Skin!/Life Update

Friends and Family of Me/Consumers: Be on high alert for the following ingredients in your beauty-related/hygiene products:

1. COAL TAR: Used in dandruff shampoos and anti-itch creams. Is a known carcinogen (any substance or agent that tends to produce a cancer ). Coal-tar based dyes such as FD&C Blue 1, used in toothpastes, and FD&C Green 3, used in mouthwash, should be avoided.

2. FRAGRANCE: used to conceal hundreds of ingredients, including phthlatates, which harm the endocrine system.

3. HYDROQUINONE: Found in skin lighteners and facial moisturizers, it's a neurotoxin (A toxin that damages or destroys nerve tissue) and is allergenic (A substance, such as pollen, that causes an allergy).

4. ALUMINUM: Used in eye shadows as a color additive. Also used in deodorants. Listed as carcinogenic, toxic, and mutagenic [capable of inducing mutation (used mainly of extracellular factors such as X-rays or chemical pollution)].

5. TRICLOSAN: Used in almost all anti-bacterical products, including soap, toothpaste, cosmetics. Often contaminated with dioxins, which are highly carcinogenic.

6. P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE: Found in regular hair dye. Can damage nervous system, cause lung irritation and severe allergic reactions. Listed as: 1,4-Benzenediamine; p-Phenyldiamine; 4-Phenylenediamine.

7. LEAD AND MERCURY: Lead can appear in toothpaste as a naturally occurring contaminant of hydrated silica. Is a neurotoxin. Mercury is found in cosmetic preservative thimerosol.

If in doubt about a particular product you own, visit www.safecosmetics.org which has a database you can search by typing in your product.

SOURCES:"Gorgeously Green" by Sophie Uliano, Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org), dictionary.com


UPDATE:

The Knabe side had a family reunion/Memorial service for my Grandpa Knabe over Memorial Day weekend. It was great to see everyone and I think it was the first time the whole family has been together since Christmas '94. My sister Kellie and I were able to sing "Be Still, My Soul" without any complications at the Memorial service. Good thing, since we only started practicing about 12 hours before we performed.

I had the privilege of playing lifeguard for the family BBQ at Uncle Don's house (Good luck Don at elections tomorrow for LA County Supervisor! You'll kick butt on that 19 year old girl and "Dr. J"), where I bonded with Drew, 4 yrs. (who is my favorite EVER and who I owe a movie night with!!!), who invited me to his 5th birthday party next year, Christy, 4 yrs, the most adorable little girl ever!, and Olivia, 2 yrs (sister of Chloe). And I had to keep an eye on Chloe, the most enthusiastic little 4 year old I have ever met, who was NOT afraid of the water slide or the deep end, kept giving Don and her mom minor heart attacks and who I had to dive after many a time to keep her from the deep end/getting smashed by other swimmers at the bottom of the slide.

For Memorial Day, I went out on a family friend's boat with Curt, Svea, Matt, Briana, Chris, Steph and the kids around the canals in Long Beach... beautiful day, beautiful water! Pictures to follow soon.

As for now, I am just working at Victoria's Secret and about to start as a lifeguard, swim instructor, and water aerobics teacher... at least I'll get my tan back this summer!

I can't wait to go to the dog beach with Diane, Carol, and the girls, Nora and Peanut. It's very therapeutic.

I need a girls weekend at the beach with Tawnie again ASAP.

We Will Never Say Goodbye

(My dad when he was three with Grandpa Knabe after they caught a big fish in Little Rock, Illinois)

I have so many good memories of my Grandpa Knabe. (with Grandma too). They took me, James my brother, Kellie my sister, to Sea World and Knott's Berry Farm when we were little. I wanted to go on the "big kid" roller coaster, and I remember my Grandpa fought hard for me to get on a roller coaster I was too short for. I wasn't able to go, but he gave that kid a hard time for not letting me on.

Grandma and Grandpa Knabe moved to Bakersfield when my little brother Bradley was born in 1993. Here is a picture of Grandpa with a shovel at their new house site.

Then there is a picture of my grandparents on the front porch of their finished house.


Easter Sunday was my favorite time spent with Grandma and Grandpa Knabe. They would "hide" (scatter generously, really) eggs all around their backyard. Some eggs would be filled with candy, others with change, mostly quarters. Then the big money eggs would have 1,5, and 20 dollar bills in them. I'm not bitter Grandpa Knabe used to guide Bradley directly to the $20 dollar eggs. Well, not anymore. I usually came away with $50, so I had no room to complain.

He passed away last night from complications from pnemonia. He was 90 years old, going to be 91 this August. He and my Grandma were married for over 65 years. He had a good life. A loving wife, 3 kids, 9 grandchildren, 8.5 great-grandchildren. And he counted Annie, our family dog, as a member of the family. When my family would go out of town, Grandma and Grandpa Knabe would take Annie and watch her at their house. They would buy her treats and Grandpa would play ball with her outside. You better believe my grandma and grandpa sent her a Christmas card with MONEY in it this year!

(Me, my brother Brad, and my cousin Mark, his wife Jenny, and Drew with my grandparents)
(My dad, his sister Lynn, and my grandparents in Bakersfiefld, CA)

I am going to miss him. I haven't seen him in a year and a half since he and my grandma moved to Boise, ID to live with his daughter Lynn, and her husband, Dave. I always said that I would go and visit them because I was so close in Utah, it just never worked out. I regret not making the time to go and visit him.

I love you, Grandpa. You're in a better place now. God be with you 'til we meet again.

"You will always be a part of me".