St. Patty's Day

You'd think they had more Irish in them, but actually Ditto is a French name. It used to be spelled "Ditteau" until Ellis Island. And then the Americans couldn't handle it and simplified the name to what it is today. Obviously it is not very common. Chances are I am related to anyone with the last name Ditto, which was certainly not the case with as common a surname as "Mecham." (Which IS Irish by the way)

So Kiss me hubby, because I really am mostly Irish.

But I need to preface this once again with a sidenote: No, my husband is not Irish. He and his brother just

decided one day to make something wild out of the March holiday. Random boys. And hilarious, I might add.

Every year Dan and Jon throw an outrageous St. Patrick's Day party. Due to the BYU game, this party was moved to the 18th and was a bit more mild than the previous two year's. It would be pretty hilarious if I actually took the time to post pictures from last year's riot, but alas, I have rehearsal in just a few minutes.

But here is a fantastic shot of Matt and Dan. This is just how they roll...

Basically the party consists of awful Irish rock music, a lot of really hyper men doing jigs and stomps around mugs which are lovingly placed in the center of the floor (take it easy everyone, we still say no to alcohol), corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, and legitimate Irish accents throughout the evening.



There is also a lads and lassies jig off, and random toasts given throughout the night while everyone present is required to raise a mug and cheer loudly. I may or may not provide a few BYU Folk dancers (along with myself, the veteran) to give the crowd a pleasing little Riverdance performance. That may very well be the loudest part of the night, because they FREAK out and hit the floor with bangs and cheers. And of course, an enthusiastic encore.

Both years I have gone, I have come home with sore cheeks and tired muscles from laughing so hard. Oh what the Dittos do to make one laugh...

Hope you had a Happy St. Patrick's Day then!!

Rain Rain Go Away

Would you like to know how much it costs to get a root canal and a crown without dental insurance? Around $1500 if you pay upfront. Fifteen hundred. For a fake piece of tooth to be inserted into your mouth.

Jon hasn't had a cavity in three years and thought that he'd be okay until law school started. That one slapped us hard. Floss your teeth my friends.

How about taxes. Well come to find out, I am deemed as self-employed with my current job. I only get a 1099 and no returns. Ouch, striked again with the reality of newlywed financial struggles.

Okay and then gas. What the! Supposedly it is going to be over $4 this summer, what a joy. I am now adjusting to taking the bus to my center in Springville every Tuesday and Thursday.

My dream of escaping to Hawaii with Jonathan this summer is slowly slipping from my finger tips. And I just started bawling on the way home from the dentist last Wednesday. I was strong until I saw an Arnold Machinery (Rex Mecham's former business) piece of equipment passing us on a truck on the freeway. It hit me that I do not live off of Daddy's salary or insurance anymore, and that real life happens. It's kind of like that movie, Up. They have so many dreams to travel together, but life happens instead and they have to use their savings to pay for it all.

But we are rich in other ways. I know that. And one tender mercy is that Ohio State wants my husband in their law school program. Another is that I am still dancing.

Can you believe my luck when Maria chose to fuse some Hungarian Gypsy Folk dance into our new show routine for 2011? Ahh.... feeling right at home here. Kind of nostalgic to be putting a headscarf and bangles back on. I could nearly smell memories of Budapest and the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble.

I will choose to be grateful. Even if I had my good cries this past week. I am very emotional and very hungry...could I be...?? No no. No sense in getting my hopes up just yet. :-)

This Part of Life

The hubby and I are looking into flights to get ourselves to that breath-taking, tropical island where he actually grew up: HAWAII.

We really are gonna do it. And I am elated. Elated to see the home on the beach that he grew up in, his ghetto high school I have heard so much about, so many of his family friends that could not make it to our wedding. Jonathan is aching to play in the waves and to take me on the hikes of paradise, to show me all the best-kept secrets of where he lived for nine years. Most of all, I am ecstatic to visit one of the most beautiful places on earth with him. The one time I visited Hawaii I thought to myself, this really is everything that everyone described it to be. Maybe even better. That island literally takes my breath away.

Now all we need is to get there! If you have any tips on how to find good deals on flights, do share them with us. The best we have found so far are on bookit.com.

And I think of my sweet cousin every day. I ache for the devastating trial she is currently suffering through. And I cry for her whenever I hear this new Rascal Flatts song.

I think of her whenever I hear it. Love you forever my childhood and lifelong friend. May this time be an opportunity to grow closer to your Savior than you ever have before.  Why do we suffer? Among the many reasons, that one first comes to mind.