Lame Auction Booty & Observations on Honey Crisp Apples

Carmen has been psyched for weeks to go to the Relief Society (the women's org) Charity Auction at Church. This is an annual event. At the auction, would-be bidders earn points for everything from being on time to the event to the number of stitches make on the quilts for the needy. Those points can buy some pretty cool stuff.

Each participant donates a few items & then the bidding begins. I understand it gets pretty crazy...you know how cheapskates like us get when there's free-stuff. This year Carmen donated a pizza dinner at our house and one of her amazing chocolate ganache cakes. The winners are in for a yum-fest.

Apparently Carmen bid and lost on a Korean BBQ dinner, which I am still bummed about. She also missed out on a morning of water skiing and a weekend at a cabin on a lake. However, she didn't really try too hard win those super-cool items...she was holding out for a dress-up tutu. Yes, you heard right Carmen, being the devoted mother that she is, was sure that the tutu would fulfill Aja & Anna's ballet fantasies. I applaud Carmen for her devotion to our girls, yet sadly the tutu was recieved with big frowns and some crying. This is because it was it was blue and not pink or purple.

I have to say that Honey Crisp Apples totally live up to the hype. They are so darn tasty. If you haven't tried one, stop what you are doing right now and go get one. Let me know what you think.

Pumpkin Door

One of the benefits of having an orange door (yes, there are other benefits)...is that it can easily be transformed into a jack-o-lantern. All it takes is some black construction paper and a small scrap of orange to cover the peep hole, otherwise it looks like a zit.

This year we decided to go with a happy looking face. I've had enough gloom-and-doom for 2008 already, thank you very much. So this jovial pumpkin is greeting all who drive or walk by our house.

It has now been 2 years since we moved-in, remodeled, and repainted this place. We selected the trendy green color to give this neighborhood a bit of an edge. At first a few neighbors didn't like it (our sinister objective), but most actually did. Now, the green color has become more mainstream and people no longer associate it with a grandma's house in the 70's.

I guess we'll have to pick a new color to replace the green over the next couple years. I plan to keep the brown part, but I'm right now I'm thinking some glossy gray/blue. With a glossy white iPod looking door that I could make into a groovy ghost for Halloween of 2010.

Update on Jer

Many of you may have seen the headlines about Wamu. I could write a book about what has happened over the past 6 months in economy, what has been written in the media, & what actually happened. But I won't. I'd rather move on & play with my girls during my free time.

That's not to say I'm not frustrated. I'm proud of the work that I've been a part of over the past 5 years at Wamu. I have been a part of arguably the best branch banking team in the industry. This is not the mortgage division. We have regularly been #1 in customer satisfaction and on "most admired" company lists. Not only have a grown & learned significantly at Wamu, but our team has also delivered amazing results. JP Morgan Chase is thrilled to combine the with Retail Bank that I'm a part of.

I still have a job. Things could change in next 3-6 months. I don't know what will happen right now, it's too early. I could either stay with the bank or move on to something else. I do know that I have:

• a solid education,
  
• a track-record professional success,
• no debt (except part of our home),
  
• a kick-butt attitude (like my man, Usain Bolt), &
  
• family/friends that love & care about me.

Thank you for all of your concern. I'll keep you updated as things become clearer. Expect good things...

Home-made Granola

As any self-respecting Jensen knows, there is always solace to be found in a bowl of cereal. This past week I've been momentarily escaping the financial market nuttiness with some nutty granola goodness of my own making.

Over the years, cereal was the standard after school snack for my brother Jon and me. In fact, one afternoon I recall a crazy lady from our neighborhood walking by us mid-bowl saying, "cold cereal for a snack...I LOVE it!" I couldn't agree more.

Here are my top 5 cereals at the moment:

1. Home-made Granola
2. Frosted Mini-Wheats (with frozen raspberries)
3. Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch
4. Froot Loops
5. Wheat Chex

Here's the granola recipe if you're interested. What cereal's do you like?

8 cups rolled oats (not instant)
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 cup coconut
1/2 cup nuts (almonds, walnuts or pecans)
1/4 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup veg oil
1/4 cup ground flax seed (optional, but great for Omega-3s)
Ground cinnamon and/or nutmeg to taste (optional too)

Classic Carpenters

I've really been enjoying the sweet harmonies of the Carpenters lately. Part of it is pure nostalgia...I'm suddenly whisked away to my mom's 1970's sewing room and these sounds are coming from the AM radio (thanks Mom!!). The other part is the great music...genius arrangements, tight harmonies, and Karen's unmistakable/smoky voice.

Yeah, I know they're cheesy. There is a difference between bad cheesy (think Kenny G) and hip cheesy (Walter Wanderley, Burt Bacharach, etc). The older I get, the more I love hip cheesy music. It's the cycle of life, I guess.

Anyway check out this clip of "We've Only Just Begun." If it doesn't give you chills or tears, you're hardened and past-feeling. Get in touch with your inner cheesy-ness. Enjoy.

First Day of Kindergarten

Aja started Kindergarten this week. She's a Sunset Sockeye. Everyone asked if Carmen cried. Tears of joy perhaps. Both mother and daughter were psyched. The highlight so far has been riding the bus.

Anna started pre-school at Sunset too. She's a "peer model" at the early childhood education program. 70% of the kids have learning or physical disabilities. Aja did it last year and it was so great for her to learn how to interact with and appreciate differences. Anna is a "wild-child" compared to Aja though (see photo). So it'll be interesting to see how good of a "model" she turns out to be. Time will tell. I have to say, so far I'm already seeing her mature.

On so many levels, this picture is an instant classic!

Latin America Adventures

My good old buddy Gary Clark flew in from Houston this weekend for the BYU - UW game. Not only did we have a great time at the crazy game, but we also enjoyed reminiscing about our travel adventures together in Latin America.

Gary is responsible for kindling my love for travel in that part of the world. He has worked for Continental Airlines for the past 15 years. When we lived in Salt Lake, we spent extended weekends away in Belize, Guatamala, Mexico, and Equador. Flying on standby is not without emotional risks. We've been stranded in some crazy places on the verge of tears. I'm reminded of the time when we hopped on a 6 seat Aero Mexico plane trying to get to Cancun, because the Belize City airport was virtually shut down. They put Gary in the co-pilot seat and they let him fly! He's an liscenced amature pilot & speaks Spanish so the pilot said he "trusted" him.

Here are some "greatest hits" photos. Tikal in Guatamala is utterly amazing. Everyone must visit this place at least once in their lifetime.
This is the on-the-roof train ride from the Andes in Ecuador down toward the jungle. I love countries w/o safety rules written by lawyers.