"The Girl With Golden Hair"

Good Morning, and welcome to the Today Show with Elisabeth Kent. In this case, the “Today Show” is really more like the “Past Few Weeks Show,” but you get the idea.

The hit reality TV show “Cooking with Emily” entered its 2nd season this week. In the first episode, competitors baked cookies and the theme was “A 10 Year Old Birthday Party.” One of the contestants, Abby, posed as if it was her 10th birthday (if you're wondering, this was actually Abby's 10th birthday party). As in last season, the judges each gave a score, but it was ultimately up to the viewers to bring their favorite contestants through to the next round.

Cooking with world-renowned chef Emily Kent was the illustrious Elisabeth, and together they made up team “Tye DIE!”


Competing for team “Buddy,” we had Abby and Maddi.


Finally, team R-Squared consisted of Rebecca and Riley.


The competition was intense requiring incredible fortuitousness, thinking, and perseverance!




In the end, however, the “Tye DIE” team pulled out a win with their artistic use of the classic painting, American Gothic.


These women know their Art History, and that really helped them pull out a win in the first round.

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Reader, some people believe in sticking with their natural hair color (or at least one consistent color). You may be one of those people. I am not one of those people.

I have always held that hair color can and should be an experiment. Thus, the following…

In May 2007, I went for a natural, dirty blond...


In June 2007, this gave way to more of a honey blond...


Early July 2007 saw a more whitish blond with less yellow...


August 2007 came with a drastic change to deep, dark brown...


By late September 2007, the deep brown was superseded by a more neutral brown...


Early November 2007 rushed in with a red-tinted brown...


Late November 2007 saw a bit darker reddish-brown...


So Dad and I were driving around a few days ago, and here's how our conversation went...

Elisabeth: I've been thinking about a new hair color. Maybe something blondish. What do you think?
Dad: I've always thought you looked better as a blond, more perky (yes, he actually used the word perky).
Elisabeth: I think so to!

Two days ago I decided to make the change. Things did not go quite according to plan, however, and I ended up with ORANGE hair! Dad, Emily, and Abby looked at it and said, "We cannot take you out of the house like that!" Here's a picture, but I think the picture makes it look less orange than it actually was...


Yesterday, I resolved that anything would be better than the orange. I'm now sporting a not-so-attractive goldish/yellowish color. It's not great, but it is definitely an improvement from the orange...


Thus, the past two days have indeed been trying in the area of hair. However, Dad is an angel when it comes to things like this. The top five reasons Dad is a great hair cohort…

5. He always knows what’s in style because he stays up to date with InStyle magazine and such. Thus, he is a very good hair color consultant.
4. He encourages taking risks and experimenting!
3. He doesn’t freak out when things go wrong.
2. He laughs with me about the disasters.
1. He makes speedy runs to the hair color store for more color.

Those of you who grooved to ABBA will remember the song “Thank You For the Music.” Part of the lyrics say, “I am the girl with golden hair.” Well, I think I’ve taken golden hair to a whole new level the past two days. haha.

Ode to the Umbrella

Some people become depressed when it's rainy and gray outside. I am not one of those people. In fact, I bask in the joy of waking up and looking outside to see a dark, cloudy sky. Perhaps you are condemning this confession as utterly heinous. To prevent this condemnation, I must be loquacious--allow me to explain.

I could spend every day curled up in the house with a hot cup of tea just watching the drops pour out of the sky. I love rain because cool weather generally accompanies it. There is nothing more pleasant than a cool breeze with the scent of fresh rain.

Rain signifies newness along with agedness. It brings new life. It reminds of God's creation.

And now, for a rather entertaining haiku...this is for Abby because I know it will make her laugh. Actually, it will make you laugh too. But in any case, I've never professed to be a proficient haiku writer, and I strongly disliked the only poetry class I ever took. Nevertheless, here goes my attempt at a haiku:

An Ode to the Umbrella

Rain in the window--
An ode to the umbrella.
Sing a song of joy.

Wow! That was hilarious! I even made myself laugh. OK, back to being serious. It hardly ever rains here in the desert. Last winter we were fortunate enough to have several rainy days. This fall/winter, however, we have had zero--at least so far. Hopefully, as the season progresses, we will be granted a few rains. Until then, I will continue writing haiku's about rain. ;-)

A Cardboard Masquerade

"I open the door and walk into their world. It is, as I always knew, made of cardboard . . . I wish I could see what is behind the cardboard. They tell me I am in England but I don’t believe them" (Wide Sargasso Sea, 107).

If I mention “the madwoman in the attic,” you probably think of Jane Eyre. You remember Bertha, Rochester’s first wife who is locked in the attic and eventually jumps off the roof. However, I venture to suppose that you do not think of Antoinette, the heroine of Wide Sargasso Sea.

A bit of background information for those of you who have not read Wide Sargasso Sea, it is the story of Bertha from Jane Eyre. Jean Rhys, a post-colonial West Indian writer, attempts to give Bertha a history, a lifetime. In short, Rhys humanizes Bertha (Antoinette).

In Rhys’ rendition of the classic story, Antoinette claims that Thornfield Hall (Rochester’s home) is not really England. As she states in the quote above, what she sees is only “cardboard,” but England is behind the cardboard, just out of sight.

I bring this to your attention because Antoinette’s description accurately characterizes living here in Qatar. They say we live in the Middle East, and just as Antoinette was actually in England, we too are in the Middle East. Yet the place we live is westernized and feels safe.

We look at the map and see Saudi Arabia to our left, Iraq above us, and Iran to our right across the Gulf. Yet, Qatar feels very safe. We feel completely at ease out and about in the city. Qatar is our world made of cardboard. Unlike Antoinette, however, we don’t want to see what’s behind our cardboard castle. While the walls of Thornfield trap Antoinette, the walls of Qatar make us feel secure.

Recently, our family was discussing this phenomenon as we thought about the countries surrounding us. As we realized how unlike the Middle East Qatar seems to us, I was struck by the similarity of our situation to Antoinette’s. We, like Antoinette, realize the façade surrounding us. Doha is indeed a cardboard masquerade.

Fox News Special Report

"I’m Elisabeth Kent reporting live from Capitol Hill.

Does the inside of your purse look like a cloud of Kleenex?

Do you fear that your mucus membranes may work faster than your brain?

Are you drowning in your own drainage?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, salvation may be at hand! Many average Americans find themselves fighting nasal battles. One Texas native says, "It’s often hard to function in my daily activities because I am overwhelmed with drainage and other sinus problems."

Another victim claims, "I take allergy shots and sinus medication. They help, but I still have very severe allergies and frequently come down with colds."

As an increasing amount of American citizens fight these nasal battles, legislators are asking, “How can we curb this deluge of drainage?” Today, the senate passed a bill to increase funding for innovative nasal research. However, many citizens are still wondering, “Is this enough?”

In the midst of this disturbing dilemma, an increasing number of doctors and patients are turning to the NeilMed Sinus Rinse to curb their symptoms. Praised for it’s “large volume irrigation” and pure formula, the NeilMed Sinus Rinse may be the answer to the mounting sinus difficulties faced daily by the American population.

A supporter of NeilMed and long-time sinus victim has this to say. "I used to be incapacitated by my allergies. Now, with the help of the sinus rinse, I am once again an active mother, wife, and employee. Without the NeilMed Sinus Rinse, I would still be wallowing in my mucus! Thank you, NeilMed!"

The NeilMed Sinus Rinse, a doctor created product, is gaining increasing endorsement from doctors and ENT specialists nationwide leading some theorists to speculate that the NeilMed Sinus Rinse is indeed the face—or rather, nose—of tomorrow.

I’m Elisabeth Kent, and this has been a Fox News Special Report. Thank you, and good night."

In case you haven’t figured out, this is just my random, silly way of telling all of you that I have a terrible cold! Fortunately, there is no need to worry about me. I am religiously dedicated to my Sinus Rinse, and expect to be well again soon

Christmases of My Life

It’s 25 nights before Christmas,
And all through the house,
Not a creature is stirring,
Not even a mouse.

They’ve all gone away,
To their work and their play,
Leaving poor little Elisabeth
Alone for the day.

Wow . . . that’s dippy! In case you haven't noticed, I LOVE the word dippy! It’s actually rather onomatopoeia-ish if you think about it. Not that I think about it because that would be dippy . . . but I digress.

OK, moving on. As you might have deduced from the lovely little poem above, this blog is about Christmas. Christmas is meaningful to me for many reasons, but I will not bore you will my version of 99-Reasons-I-Love-Christmas. Let it suffice that I share with you my top 98-Reasons-I-Love-Christmas. Shall we begin?

~singing~
98 Reasons that I love Christmas,
98 Reasons
Take one down, read it around.
97 Reasons that I love Christmas

97 Reasons that I love Christmas
97 Reasons
Take one down, read it around.
96 Reasons that I love Christmas

Umm. I have a short attention span, and this is getting boring. Moving on . . .

Amidst my brilliant thinking today on the topics of “The Public Welfare System of the Roman Republic” and “The Role of Religion in Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea,” I began wondering whether I could tell the story of my life in Christmas pictures. It is no doubt an ambitious undertaking, but being the innovative and resourceful creature that I am, I shall succeed. If you are beginning to think that I may be neurotic, I hope you at least see me as “a fairly harmless neurotic person” (A Few Good Men, pg. 13).

My Life in Christmases
By: Elisabeth Kent

Christmas 1991: The most amazingly talented—and modest, haha—baby in the world celebrates her first Christmas.


Christmas 1992: Could this child have possibly gotten cuter over the year??? I think so!


Christmas 1993: Umm…this baby took a trip to the moon. We do have pictures, but due to their classified nature, they cannot be posted. I’m sure you understand.

Christmas 1994: Yep, still at the moon.

Christmas 1995: Celebrated the return from the moon with lots of family--and very weird matching vests!


Christmas 1996: Lots of cousins! From left to right, Elisabeth, Emily, Sierra, Hailey, and Hannah.


Christmas 1997: Emily—“Why did they have to bring this creature home?” Elisabeth—“Just grin and bear it”


Christmas 1998: Oh dear, I think I’m going through an awkward stage! At least the other two family members look cute.


Christmas 1999: No Christmas this year.

Christmas 2000: Christmas in Nevada.


Christmas 2001: Haven’t we seen this picture before?


Christmas 2002: This one too . . .


Christmas 2003: Christmas in Reno, NV.



Christmas 2004: Decorating Christmas cookies!


Christmas 2005: I disappeared this Christmas. I think The Theatre Company abducted me.

Christmas 2006: Mollie and I on Christmas morning . . .


The family in Germany a few days after Christmas . . .


Thus ends my life in Christmases--so far.