Joeyship's Landing Pad

Mother and Daughter Shopping

2010-06-23T20:00:00.008-06:00

Last night, Katie and I decided to go shopping for bridal shower invitations. We left fairly late in the evening and knew we had to hurry if we needed to go to more than one store. So, we went to Michael's (it may have been Robert's -- they're all the same to me). It was practically next door to a Ross, so we decided to stop in to see if there might be a dress that I could wear to Dan and Rachael's wedding. I had absolutely no intention of purchasing anything. So much for good intentions!!!! Here's our conversation (slightly paraphrased):

Me: I like this. I think it's cute.

Katie: I have one a lot like that. I lovey love it. You should buy it.

Me: No. I really don't need any more clothes (as I consider putting it back on the rack).

Katie: Really, Mom. You should get it.

Me: No, I shouldn't. I have wedding expenses coming up.

Katie: I love mine. You should really get it. You can wear it with .....

Me: (hesitating -- agonizing -- grabbing more things that might go with it)

Katie: Jonas, you should get it............ then I can borrow it!

Now, how can I resist such advice?? I walked out of the store with two pair of shoes, two skirts and a top.

Adventures in Sprinkler Maintenance

2010-06-22T14:20:00.003-06:00

I thought I was "all that and more" because I replaced four sprinkler heads all by myself the other day. These heads have not worked properly for 2 or 3 years. I finally rounded up enough courage to tackle the project. My dad showed me how last year, and I decided to give it a try. I was strutting around like a rooster in a hen house (I know -- a bit of a gender stretch) because I was successful. I'm glad a camera crew was not on the premises when I went about adjusting them, because it was pretty comical. But boy, was I proud of myself.

Pride cometh before a fall, as they say. haha

Two days after the installation -- Sunday evening -- Daniel sent me a text message and said that one of the new sprinklers had been shooting in his bedroom window and soaked his bed, his tv, piles of clothing, among other things. He said there was no damage, but we needed to fix it. I texted back a sheepish "OOPS!"

Dan had not had any experience with sprinklers yet, so I was just going to deal with it after work on Monday afternoon. Shortly after I got home Sunday evening, Daniel arrived home, as well. Before I knew it, he had gone outside with a screwdriver to adjust the head. I heard him hollering and whooping it up, so I went outside to see what all the commotion was about. What I observed was one of the most seriously crazy comedies of my life. He kept turning and turning the screwdriver in the little hole on top of the sprinkler head, but the spray pattern was not changing. I was trying to give advice but did not want to get soaked and wanted him to learn how to fix it. I kept running out of the backyard as the substantial stream of water would come my way, laughing hysterically as I went. Dan just stood there laughing this high pitched cackle as the water hit him. I finally ran over and asked for the screwdriver to see if I could get the thing to turn. He was quite reluctant to turn the job over to me -- he had something to prove to that sprinkler head. When I looked at the tool, I realized he was using a crosspoint (Phillips) screwdriver. No wonder! The job requires a straight head!! Since the water was coming my way, I ran out of the backyard again and changed out the head.

Dan's friend, Ben, was across the street visiting his family. He and his wife heard and saw the commotion and came over to see what in the world was going on. Under Ben's watchful eye, Dan felt the screwdriver engage and started to turn. However, he turned it the wrong way. This time the sprinkler head did a 360 instead of a 180 and he and his friend got soaked. I should say, though, that Ben used Dan as a shield and avoided the worst of it. My son took it, full force, right in the back. Eventually, he turned it the other way and obtained satisfactory results. It was quite an ordeal for poor Dan, but I'll love him forever for taking the bull by the horns and trying until he succeeded.

These are the things of which great memories are made. I imagine it will be one of those stories we reminisce about in years to come. This hits me pretty hard right now as I anticipate his upcoming marriage and move to Idaho. You'll be missed, son. Thanks for the wonderful memory!

Profiling

2010-06-20T06:57:00.006-06:00

If you had to put, on one page, a description of exactly who you are, what would that page look like? Think of it as a scrapbook page, perhaps. You want to represent what you look like, how you feel about key subjects, your personality, what made you who you are, what you're looking for in a partner, and your hopes and dreams for life. That's a pretty tough assignment, don't you think?? Well, E-Harmony has it down to a science. There is not much room for individual taste nor creativity. Everyone has to fill in the same template -- you have only words and photos to represent yourself as someone worth getting to know.

The first thing you notice on a profile is the photograph. You can post anything you like, and as many as you like. You can also choose to not post a photo at all. I posted a photo of me taken on the deck of my home on Christmas morning (fairly close up) and another of me standing near the cruise ship on which Katie and I sailed to Mexico (distant full body). If a person doesn't like the way you look, that's as far as it goes. Can you say "Close Match?" So it's a pretty important piece of your post.

I've noticed a trend among the men I've found on E-Harmony. I would say that 75% of them post pictures (I've seen up to 8 on one profile) with some beloved "toy," such as a fancy car, ATV, a boat, a tent, a trailer, with a line of fish in hand, a deer head in the back of a truck. I guess this would appeal to some women, but I sure don't know any of them. Perhaps one shot of this sort would be ok, but 7 or 8? I have a couple of thoughts about this. 1) could your dedication to your toys and recreation be the reason you are still single? How many women of a certain age do you know that want to spend the last part of their lives huntin' and fishin' and being tossed around on an ATV? How many want to be a recreation widow? Not this woman. 2) what are you compensating for? Are you posting pictures of all your toys and hobbies because you feel like you don't have anything else to offer, such as the ability to communicate with a woman, a real job, willingness to invest time in something besides the pursuit of increased adrenalin and recreation? Are you hiding behind them?

Perhaps I am being a bit harsh. Perhaps I need to change my "parameters" in my profile. I've never been a camper, hunter, fisherwoman, and I don't really want to start that now. An occasional ride on a motorcyle, or a day spent fishing now and again would be lovely. Call me boring, but I am not interested in spending every single vacation and day off doing these things. Enough said about this.. I'm sure you get my point.

A profile is important. I'm really not a mean-spirited person, but some of these photos have made me laugh right out loud and holler for my kids to come see. For instance, one gentleman posted a photo that was obviously a studio shot. He was wearing a red button-down shirt, with a little scarf tied around his neck. He was holding a little Yorkshire terrier which was sporting an identical scarf. Are you serious??? I can see a woman doing this sort of thing (well, no I can't), but a man??? As you scan further down the profile, you see the standard question: The most influential person in your life has been....... This lovely man said DIANA ROSS! I nearly choked on the water I was drinking. I wondered if he accidentally posted on the wrong dating site.

As luck would have it, out of 100 possible matches, this man contacted me. We exchanged the standard list of questions. His replies only served to justify my impression of him. One of the questions I sent him was: What do you find attractive in a partner? The response was overwhelming.... "she must have a sense of personal style; she must have perfectly manicured hands and feet; she must have a beautiful smile, including straight teeth; she must be sweet, patient and kind." And the list went on for quite some time. What are you thinking, man? Good luck, buddy. This woman DOES NOT EXIST. At least not in Riverton. Click! Close Match.

I must admit that my judgment is not always correct. My relationship track record proves this. And I must eat some crow here. There was one profile I nearly deleted because of the photos. But, for some reason, I did not. This gentleman did contact me, and I decided to go ahead and pursue it. I met him last night for the first time, and what a lovely gentleman. I had a wonderful time, and this is one man that I hope will call me for a second date. And I think he just might. :o)

Some people call me "brave" for putting myself out there like this. You know what? They're right! This has been very scary for me. But, as they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained. You just never know what might come of it.......

Harmonious Dating at 53??? Oy Vey!!

2010-06-17T16:08:00.002-06:00

At the request of a number of my friends, I have decided to entertain all of you with my adventures in the world of "nearly senior dating." Not all of you know that about three weeks ago, on an impulse, I signed up for E-Harmony. I had taken a couple of days off work, and you know what they say -- idle hands are the devil's workshop! Actually, I worked in the yard and various other things, but one night I was bored. And, boy-howdy, how I changed the course of my peaceful, uneventful life! Well, look at it this way. At least I have something to blog about now.

Let me explain how it works: You sign up and start filling out a profile -- for free. Before long, you discover you can't really do much until you pay the big bucks. I forked it out reluctantly -- I argued with myself for an entire day. I spent about 2 hours filling out questionnaire after questionnaire about myself -- it's basically a personality test. Then you fill out questionnaire after questionnaire about what you're looking for in a potential partner. You upload a picture, or pictures. You give them a list of parameters -- how far from your home they can search, preferences with regard to race, religion, smoking, drinking, age, your feelings on kids, etc. Then.............. drumroll.................. they do their magic.

Before I knew it, I had 7 matches just waiting for my perusal. You look at the profiles and see if there's anyone you are interested in. If you are, you can start communicating with them by sending a list of multiple choice questions you have chosen from their selection. They respond and send you a list of their own. The same thing happens with a list of "Must Haves and Can't Stands." Then, you send three open-ended questions -- meaning that the answers are basically an essay. If you get past these three things, then you can communicate through their email. It is done through the site, so you don't give up your personal email information.

I will save details for another post, but just let me tell you that I have not had this much social anxiety since I was 23 years old!! I have actually met 4 "potentials" in person, and have plans to meet another this weekend. I've been a nervous wreck! haha What should I wear? Do I look fat in this? Look at those gray roots!! I hate all my clothes!!! Ugh! I'm having SUCH a bad hair day! And the list goes on. You all remember what this was like, right? hahaha Imagine going through it as an oldster. On second thought, don't. You do want to sleep tonight, don't you?

So, stay tuned folks! More to come.................

Thanksgiving Poem

2009-11-26T11:06:00.005-07:00

On the kitchen table was a turkey fat and round;
But when we went to cook it, it was nowhere to be found.
We looked all through the kitchen, in the pantry, in the well.
We asked Jim if he'd seen it, and Kate and Annabell.
And even little Mary. We asked her if she knew.
She looked at us a bit surprised and said, "Of course I do."
"Poor turkey wasn't feeling well because he lost his head.
So I put him in my nightgown, and I tucked him into bed."
---Unknown

I learned this poem in 2nd or 3rd grade. I think I still have the picture I drew to go with the writing assignment. It's now a family tradition to recite this every Thanksgiving.....

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!

It's The Little Things

2009-11-24T23:15:00.001-07:00

Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday of the year. There is really nothing quite like gorging on fabulous food with the people you love the most!!! Almost everyone in the family will attest to the fact that grandma's stuffing is the best on the planet, by the way.

We all know there's more to Thanksgiving than eating until we're sick and watching football. It's about being thankful. And I am. I could go on and on about my dear family, friends, having a roof over my head and my relative comfort. But, I think we all tend to forget about the little things that add that extra zing to our lives. So, here's my list of ten things that I don't recognize nearly often enough.

1. Cranberries -- I made some whole cranberry sauce the other day, and I realized how much I love those little red berries. They are beautiful, for one thing. There is nothing like cranberry red. They are awfully tart, but add a little sugar and they become a flavor explosion. And, of all things, they are good for you.
2. Space Heaters -- What would I do without my space heaters? Hmm, maybe shrivel up and die? I don't use one at home, but I would surely freeze to death at work without one (yes, both jobs). I have even been known to run one in the summer when the air conditioning is set on "Planet Hoth." I love that little powerhouse of heat that makes my life at work much more pleasant.
3. Trees -- Have you ever hugged a tree? No, I mean REALLY hugged a tree. I have! In fact, on those rare occasions when I get up into the hills for a hike, I make a point of hugging at least one tree. Trees are beautiful, strong, resilient -- all characteristics I would like to emulate. I have had people sneeringly call me a "tree hugger" as if it were the worst insult ever. I just smile and say, "Why, thank you!" Did you know there are some trees that, at the end of a warm day, actually smell like cookies baking in the oven? Strange, but true. There is much we could learn from trees, but that's a blog for another day.
4. Libraries -- I love the library. Since I love to read, but cannot afford to purchase books, the library is a treasure to me. Some of my earliest memories include trips to the old Chapman Branch in Salt Lake and the books I checked out and read. (In fact one of those books of my youth is, in large, responsible for my insane desire to go to Northern Ireland.) In this day and age of E-books and budget shortfalls, one worries about the future of libraries. But there is something about actually holding a book in your hands. There's something downright exciting about wandering the quiet aisles filled with so many different ideas. I have no desire to sit in front of a computer screen to read a book. I spend enough time in front of that screen every day.
5. A Boss That Makes Me Go Home -- I have changed jobs in recent months, and I have gotten into the habit of not leaving when I should. I do tend to be a bit of a workaholic. I go in early, often work through lunch, and leave late nearly every day. It has become a bit of a contest to see who gets there first in the morning. He rarely wins. But at the end of the day, he has been known to say: "If you're not out of here in 15 minutes, you're fired!" Yes sir! Right away sir!! Sometimes I don't know when to say when, so he says it for me.
6. Flannel Sheets -- About a month ago, I noticed that I had a hard time getting warm once I got into bed, especially if I was a little bit cold before I crawled in. My sheets were COLD! My thermostat drops into the mid-60's at night, and I just wasn't staying warm enough. Out came the flannel sheets, and what a difference it made. I can actually roll over or move my feet without feeling like I've been thrown onto the floor of a meat locker. Just don't try to wear flannel pajamas. It's like wearing Velcro to bed.
7. Alternate Routes -- I take a pretty convoluted route to work in the morning. I have tried the major roads, but traffic is hideous. So I have created a route on less frequently used roads, and I really enjoy it. The speed limit is lower, but I still get there more quickly because I'm not jousting for a position in a turning lane, nor sitting through three green lights. I've gotten a kick out of watching the evolution of a large pumpkin field--from lush green vines, to just pumpkins laying in the field waiting to be selected by excited children, and finally to the plowed-under remains of orange flesh speckling the field. I've watched the colors in the river bottoms change, as well as mist coming up from the river on cold days. It's SO much better than watching the bumper of the car in front of you. I find my route to be a microcosm of my life. My life has definitely not been the straight path I had once envisioned. It has been full of crazy twists and turns. But they have added a beauty to my life that I would not have experienced if I had not chosen to take the alternate route.
8. Bill Pay -- I love the online bill pay feature offered by my banking institution. Katie tried to get me "hooked up" for a couple of years before I took the plunge. Why did I wait so long? It's so easy, quick and worry-free. I've paid hundreds of bills this way now, but I still haven't won the $5,000 sweepstakes they dangle in front of my nose. What's up with that?
9. Talent of Others -- Since I have yet to discover any great talent in myself, I greatly appreciate the talent of others. I love listening to music that others create. I am awed, and often inspired, by beautiful paintings and photographs. I love going to a movie and watching this thing that someone else has put together that takes me out of my own life for a few minutes. We enjoy the fruits of the imagination of others every minute of the day in all of the conveniences we enjoy, like cars, appliances, electronics, etc. The diversity of talent in this world makes it a place of wonder.
10. Retreats -- Isn't it great to be able to step back and retreat from the world for a time? This retreat can be for a few days or even a few hours. There's nothing I love more than traveling. I try to always have a retreat of some sort in the making. Even if I don't have reservations, just the thought gives me something to look forward to. Of course, finances do not allow an awful lot of travel, so I have to find other ways to retreat. A drive in the mountains will do, as will a walk along the river, going to the gym and swimming in a nearly empty pool, watching the sunset at Antelope Island, or even closing the doors to my bedroom and getting lost in the pages of a good book. As busy as life is, it's important to step back for a few minutes and replenish.

That was a bit long-winded. Guess I'm back in the blogosphere with a vengeance. I would love to hear about some of the little, not-often-noted, things in your life that bring comfort, happiness, and laughter. Please share...............

COMPLAINT FREE WEDNESDAY

2009-11-22T20:52:00.002-07:00

Yes, I realize that today is not Wednesday, but I wanted to post this early so you'd have time to think it over. I was listening to the radio yesterday, and there was a report about a bill that Missouri's Congressman, Emanuel Cleaver, is sponsoring (House Concurrent Resolution 155). It designates the day before Thanksgiving as official "Complaint Free Wednesday." The radio program was Wait, Wait -- Don't Tell Me, which I enjoy immensely. They were, of course, making light of the bill, just as they do every other topic they tackle.

The resolution states: "From time to time, we all experience anxiety, frustration, stress, and regret. And often, we respond to these feelings with a criticism or a complaint. Regrettably, complaining keeps people stuck on current problems, inhibiting them from thinking constructively to find solutions. Research has also shown that complaining can be harmful to one's emotional and physical health, relationships, and can limit professional career success."

WOW! I didn't know there had been studies, but it makes complete sense to me.

The bill continues: "In the spirit of hope, optimism, and positivity, and in honor of its efforts to encourage people to look forward, not backward, the group A Complaint Free World is to be recognized. A Complaint Free World's goal in fact, is to motivate 1% of the global population (about 60 million people) to become complaint free." This bill is revenue neutral (meaning it won't cost anything). It mentions that setting aside the day before Thanksgiving as Complaint Free Wednesday would, indeed, help us prepare for a day of gratitude.

This report piqued my interest, so I did an internet search. Every site I visited was overwhelmingly negative. Readers' posts were filled with resentment, hatred and negativity. It was almost frightening. It seems that these "bloggers" can see nothing but the political problems this country is experiencing, and they hurl their blame like poison darts. They can't seem to see past their anger for even just--one--day. Carrying around that kind of anger cannot be healthy. It would be good for everyone to take a rest from it for one day.

I know that we live in very difficult times. Many people are out of work and are suffering terrible financial setbacks. It seems that the majority of us are struggling to make ends meet. The economic climate is frightening. I, too, worry about the future. But I would look forward to one day when I make a concerted effort not to worry about these things. I would love just one day to concentrate on the many good things of the world and focus my energy in that direction.

I must agree that this bill is really nothing but feel-good "fluff." But wouldn't it feel good to feel good for just one day? I don't think the bill has a chance of passing. I'm sure there are not enough members of Congress that want to waste their time on such things. But I don't need this day to be "officially" declared. I can recognize it on my own, and I fully intend to do so. WHO WANTS TO JOIN ME??

So, if any of you catch me complaining on Wednesday, will you please send a reminder my way? You never know, I might like not complaining so much that I'll decide not to complain on Thursday, or Friday, or Saturday..............

Is it time yet?

2009-11-18T18:42:00.002-07:00

It has been many busy months since I posted anything on this blog. I'm trying to decide if it's time to jump back on the wagon. Has everyone given up on me?

The Ravages of Age and David Garcia (?)

2009-05-25T15:00:00.003-06:00

I am sure you must be wondering what in the world the ravages of age have to do with David.... um.........Garcia! (?) Well, I have no doubt that you've guessed that there is a story to be told......

A week or so ago, I went to grab a sandwich at Arby's with my two sons. Those two boys are extremely entertaining, to say the least. I'm not quite sure where they came from--they quite outdo their mother in the "wit" department. As we sat munching away in the restaurant, they were poking fun at the piped in music. They didn't much care for it. Just as we were finishing up, I heard a song that I recognized from current radio play. I said, "Hey, this is that song by that Utah kid that almost won American Idol last year. David........... um........... David............... oh, you know. What is it? David.............. is it Garcia????"

Seriously folks, I couldn't remember his last name. Now I am not an American Idol fan, and I never watch the show. But I would have had to be living in a cave in Africa to not hear about David. I know his name as well as I know my own. You heard about him on the local news every single day for six months. But do you think I could remember???? Well, that's all it took for my sons to launch into the merciless teasing of their mother. "No mom. It's not Garcia; it's Gonzales." I KNEW it wasn't Gonzales. They proceeded to say it was every Latin name they could think of. But nothing had the right ring.

When we got into the car, I had the bright idea of calling my daughter. I knew she would know. So I got Katie on the phone and posed the question. The boys were yelling as loud as they could, "Don't tell her, don't tell her!" Katie, being the sweetheart that she is, said: "Mom, I can't believe you don't remember. It's David Enchilada!" Well, that did it. I dissolved into tears of uncontrollable laughter. I was also just slightly perturbed that she wouldn't give me the answer.

After we got home, I decided to call my mother. I knew that she would know, as well. I was very sneaky about it, because I didn't want the boys yelling at their grandmother to keep me in the dark. Sure enough, mom had the answer. "Why, it's David Archuleta!" OH, OF COURSE!!! How could I possibly forget that!!! (I'm sorry, David.) Later in the evening, I received a text message from Katie that said, "Do you remember the name of the people that live across the street from grandma and grandpa?" I couldn't figure out why she would ask such a question. But then I realized, "Their name is Archuleta." Katie really thought the word "enchilada" would trigger my memory. She tried to help me without incurring the wrath of her brothers. But, alas, her hint was wasted on me.

I'm noticing that memory lapses such as this happen a little more often than they did when I was younger. Should I worry? Probably not, according to the experts. They say when you forget your own name, or where you live, or other fundamentals of your everyday life; then you should worry. So worry about it? No, I won't. But laugh about it? YES! ABSOLUTELY! For years and years to come. And I know three other people who will NEVER let me forget it!

And you know what? I will never think of Mr. Archuleta as anything but David Enchilada for as long as I live.......

Ghost of Vacations Past

2009-05-16T21:59:00.001-06:00

Last week when Katie was showing me how to load pictures onto my blog, we ran across this photograph. At first we were confused by it, then fascinated, then highly amused. This was taken in environs outside of Ensenada, Mexico. We took a bus to the famous Blow Hole (can't think of the name right off). I took the picture through (or at) the window of the bus. Yes, that is my disembodied hand you see holding the camera that is taking the picture. It's like something you'd see on those documentaries about paranormal events.

Isn't it odd?

I wonder if I could pass it off as a ghost or something and sell it on E-Bay for hundreds of dollars?

Just Learning..............

2009-05-12T17:21:00.003-06:00

I'm just learning a lot about Blogspot. I've learned now that if you save a blog for later publication, and it is dated before your most recent published blog, it will not show up at the top of your list.

So everybody needs to check out the second one after this one. It's called JOEY'S IN LOVE............

Now how's that for a teaser. Hurry up--go check it out.

Daniel - The Man of the Hour

2009-05-09T16:31:00.004-06:00

As you can see, we had a very important event in our family this week. On Friday, Daniel walked in his graduation ceremony at the University of Utah. He actually finished school in December of last year, but he decided to savor his victory and participate in the "big march." The University invited author, David McCullough, to address the graduates. I had been looking forward to hearing him speak, but I have to admit that I started to nod off in the middle of it. Boy, was I relieved when Daniel told me he had the same problem! The student speaker was very impressive, but nothing impressed me as much as my son marching into the Huntsman Center, a college graduate. He's worked very hard, and I couldn't be any more proud! (By the way, I wanted the picture of just him at the top, but I have yet to completely figure out how to get pictures in the order you want them. Hrmmmph!)
From the time he was a small child, I always knew that he was destined for great things. Any 2-year-old that can say to you, "Was that really necessary?" to his mother when she burps aloud is going places. I'm very sure he will do great things with his life. You can see from the top picture that he's anxious to get on his way to wherever he's going. The day was made even better due to the fact that his best friend, K.C. Marett, graduated with him. Those two have been best buddies since 4th grade. After the ceremony, we were able to meet up with Grandma and Grandpa for a celebratory lunch. It's a day to be remembered for years to come.
And what could make the day any better than hanging out with my very favorite peeps on the planet. They can even make a trip on public transportation entertaining.

I don't think there's a luckier mom on the planet than me!

Joey's In Love

2009-05-09T16:04:00.005-06:00

OK, before anybody gets all excited, let me explain. Yes, it's true. I'm in love, but not in the traditional way. Nope, I'm simply in love with my garden. After allowing them to wallow in dormancy for several years, I decided that I wanted to revive my Square Foot Gardens this year. It has rejuvenated my winter-shrouded soul.
Anyone who really knows me will tell you that I love to play in the dirt. I don't know what it is (perhaps genetics), but it definitely works for me. I simply cannot be angry, sad, upset or disturbed when I'm working in my garden, getting dirty.
I really enjoy things that are orderly and compartmentalized, so you can see that this is the PERFECT gardening method for me. Every type of plant is neatly boxed in it's own little space. There was a bit of work getting them up and running, but nothing major. The boxes were already built, so I just dug about 7 inches down in each box (at least Dylan did). Then I made the soil mix in a wheelbarrow (8 batches for the two boxes I worked on). Before pouring the dirt in, I laid down some weed barrier fabric. Then all I had to do is make the grid out of some wood strips, and I was ready to plant. I started planting in mid-March, and things are beginning to take off.
This spring and summer, we will be enjoying radishes, lettuce, spinach, carrots, beets, onions, garlic, shallots, kohlrabi, peppers, tomatos, cucumbers, peas, squash, chives, beans and parsley. I can hardly wait. There is just something so gratifying about planting and seed and watching it pop out of the dirt. I can hardly wait to get home from work to see what's coming up, or what has grown. I do believe I'll have some radishes ready to eat within a couple of weeks.

For anyone who is curious about Square Foot Gardening, let me just say that it makes growing vegetables FUN. There is little-to-no weeding. The soil mix is so workable, all you need is your fingers to pull an occasional weed or plant a seed. You hardly even get your hands dirty. Stay posted in the coming weeks for more pictures of what's growing. If you want more information about this method, just type Square Foot Gardening into your browser.

This is my very favorite time of year--and this spring is turning out to be one of the best yet for me. I hope you're enjoying yours, too.

Farewell, Dear Friend

2009-04-23T07:57:00.004-06:00

The world is a little less bright today. It lost one of it's sweetest occupants yesterday. My dear friend, Arlean, passed away after a lengthy illness. I was able to visit with her one last time about 24 hours before her death, and I am so glad I got to see her one more time. Although she could not really speak to me, I just wanted her to know how how much I love her and appreciate all of the kindness and love she has shown me, and my family, over the years. It was so good to look into those pretty blue eyes and touch those long slender fingers. Although age had ravaged her body, she never lost her beauty in my eyes.

Arlean's daughter, Trisha, was my very best friend from the time we were old enough to cross the street. We were pretty much "joined at the hip" until our early 20's. Then life happened. Although we don't communicate very often anymore, she will always be that best friend!!!! I spent hours and hours with Trisha and her family. Her brothers became MY brothers. Arlean and Bill were so good to me. They took me on family camping trips, jaunts to the Hill Air Force Base swimming pool in the summer, shopping and included me in many family activities. I even got to know their cousins. Arlean called me JoNanny--the only person that has ever done so. Even after I married and left the nest, Arlean NEVER forgot to send me a birthday card. She has been a wonderful friend and neighbor to my parents, as well. They will surely miss her.

After her husband, Bill, passed away over 20 years ago, we were all very concerned about her. But she fooled us all! She got a job as a "foodie" (passing out samples in stores) and became a Jazz fanatic. I believe she had season tickets, and she never missed other events involving the team. I heard stories about her taking her grandson, Benjamin, to those games with her.

I didn't get to see her very often, but every now and then I'd run into her at a store handing out samples. She always had a big hug and words of love to share with me. She was just one of those people that always made you feel like a million bucks.

So farewell, dear friend. I hope you know how much your family and many friends love and miss you.

A Day of Accomplishments

2009-04-07T17:45:00.002-06:00

I haven't washed my car for months and months. What's the point? I've been parking it in the driveway, or on the street, for about 10 or 11 months now. I'm happy to report that my car will soon know the luxury of having a bath, for it now has a place to sleep at night.

After PM left, I moved all of the belongings he left behind into "my half" of the garage or in the storage unit. I thought it would be a matter of days, or maybe weeks, until he came to retrieve his things. Boy, was I wrong!!! In the few conversations I had with him shortly after he left, I asked, begged and demanded that he come get them. I guess he had other ideas....

Spring turned into summer, summer turned into fall, and fall into winter, and my car was still on the street. It was almost a relief not having to back up the hill after it snowed, but I sure got sick of scraping windows. In December, I had PM served with an eviction notice, but to no avail. So after the 30 days was up, I started getting his things out of the garage. I then emptied the storage unit into the vacated space. I was finally able to find a home for most of the furniture, but there was still enough left that I could still not get my car into the garage.

Well today it all changed. I took the day off and the boys helped me rearrange things in the garage (and also encouraged me to get rid of more junk) so I can actually pull into the garage. It was a lot of hard work, but there were a few lighter moments. There were two large cabinets I asked them to move into the basement. My house is full of funny angles, and the entry from the garage into the house is one of those places. They ended up having to take the cabinets past the water heater and over the top of the washer to get it into the proper room. I didn't realize I had such talented contortionists living under my roof. When they lifted the second cabinet up off of the garage floor, Daniel had the honor of disturbing the skeleton of a mouse (he called it a rat, although I was convinced it was a small dinosaur). He was NOT pleased. We spent several hours moving things, sweeping, vacuuming and rearranging. I put a couple of old bikes out on the street with a "FREE" sign. A little girl just came to the door and asked if she and her sisters could have them. Hallelujah! And this afternoon, I have a nice place of repose for my car. I'm doing a happy dance, I'll tell you what!!!! So, tomorrow after work, I believe I'll head for the carwash! It's about time.

I had another nice surprise--well nice for me, anyway. My dear daughter called to ask advice about her cold and how she could help herself feel better. She had been to the doctor because she has a trip coming up and she doesn't want to be sick when she goes. As it turns out, she did not have anything that's treatable with antibiotics. He did give her a prescription for codeine (even though she's not coughing???????). I'm still shaking my head over that one. I made a few suggestions, one of which was rest. She was dreading going home for several reasons, so I suggested she come out here and rest. I made her hot honey and lemon, and we spent a couple of hours watching a movie together. She was actually feeling a little better by the time she left. I never seem to get enough Katie time.....so I was glad she came--sick or not.

So, I used a day of precious vacation time doing something a little less than relaxing. But what a relief to have it done and to be able to park in my garage for the first time in nearly a year. Definitely a day of accomplishments, thanks to my fabulous sons!

Take This Job And.......Love It!

2009-04-02T13:50:00.004-06:00

The current downturn in the economy seems to be touching nearly everyone. I have not been immune. Although nothing has happened yet (and maybe nothing will), I am looking at the possibility of having my hours reduced at both of my jobs. I suppose there's a possibility I could even be RIF'd. I don't believe it will come to that. But contemplating these things has made me a little more appreciative of my jobs. I'm going to list some reasons I love my jobs:

1. I live in very close proximity to both jobs, especially my primary job at the prison. It takes me 5 to 10 minutes to get to work. I can run home and do a load of laundry on my lunch hour if I like. I'm so glad I'm not a commuter.

2. I love my schedule. I work four 10-hour days at the prison. That gives me a three-day weekend every week. Of course, being the workaholic I am, I use the weekend to work the second loved job. However, someday I would love to be able to keep those weekends to myself, accomplishing large projects at home, or perhaps taking little trips. Gotta' keep that hope alive!

3. I love my fellow employees in both locations. I have made some enduring friendships in both locations. Many of them have become almost like family. I actually even socialize with some of them. I go to movies, dinner and lunch with Jodie and Tamara. Nadia and I go to water aerobics together. We've created a group called "Bored of Education" (yes I know it's ironic that this grammatically incorrect title was created by educators). We get together every couple of months and go to dinner. Anyway, you see what I mean. My life would be a little less full without these friends.

4. My job at the prison is interesting and different every day. I never lack for stories to tell. I interview inmates every day. Some of them are a bit frustrating to deal with, but most are respectful and cooperative. They come from all over the country, and even the world. This is a very diverse population, and it's interesting to hear their stories, their accents, their EXCUSES, their whining, and their appreciation for what you do for them. Yesterday, a potential student came in and sat down. He started to talk before I looked up. I thought for sure that when I raised my eyes, I would see a man with a worn plaid flannel shirt, a coonskin cap and a huntin' rifle in his hands. His hillbilly accent was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. But he was so very courteous. On the other hand, a student came to my office last week and wanted me to do something I could not do. I told him to go back to his teacher. He argued with me a bit, but I stood my ground. Well, I learned later that he thinks I'm "grumpy." Ya, I'll bet that's what he called me! haha This job has really opened my eyes to a side of life I hardly knew existed 10 years ago. It certainly makes you appreciate your own problems.

5. I love the fact that I really feel invested in what I do. I believe in what I'm doing. I think it's important to educate this segment of the population, if we want to hope that they will ever become productive members of our society. It's too bad our funding is being cut year after year. There are some out there that feel they don't deserve a second chance. What a shame!

6. I have a lot of fun chatting with people at my "other" job at the recreation center. It's amazing what a smile and hello will do. People who would otherwise blaze right past you, stop and chat. I have shared a lot of laughter, and even some tears, with these folks. I especially enjoy the elderly folks that come in. I so admire their dedication to maintaining their strength as they age.

7. I love the fact that I am self-sufficient. These jobs make that possible, of course. There have been times in my life when I really didn't have any confidence in myself, nor my abilities. But both of these jobs have pushed me into my "discomfort" zone and helped me develop skills that I would not otherwise have. I have learned to really enjoy people--all sorts of people. I have become less judgmental of those who make mistakes. "But for the grace of God, there go I......." I try to remember that every day. I've learned to have empathy without having sympathy.

Those are just a few of the reasons I love my jobs and hope to hang onto them for a long time. Yes, I have bad days in both places, but they are far and few between. And I feel lucky to really like what I do...................

Happy weekend, ya'll.

Spring is the TRUE Season of Joy

2009-03-14T17:54:00.002-06:00

It's the beginning of a new season. And we're quickly approaching my very favorite time of year. Not only does the earth wake up--so do I! Seeing the sun does so much for my physical, mental and emotional state! Anyone who knows me knows how much I detest the cold, dark winter. There's something inherently evil about waking up and going to work in the dark, working in a windowless building all day, and leaving work as the sun is going down. Now it's nearly over, and I am SO excited. I LOVE Daylight Savings Time!

I actually spent some time outside working in my poor, ugly yard today. I pruned a few rose bushes, then Dylan helped me dig some dirt out of a couple of my Square Foot Garden boxes. I'm determined to try my hand at growing vegetables this year. It's been many years since I've attempted this, so I hope I remember how. I need to make some new soil mix and was all ready to buy the supplies and get started, but the place that sells the vermiculite I need was closed today. Oh well, I just pruned rose bushes instead.

To me, there is nothing more gratifying than working the soil, planting seeds, watching them grow and then enjoying the results for dinner (or lunch, breakfast or snacks). I feel this special connection with the dirt, for some reason. I think it might be genetic? I feel the most centered and peaceful there. I wish I could feel that connection with field bindweed, whitetop and lawn mowing! But alas, there is a definite difference. So, Monday I will try to procure the supplies I need and be ready to plant a few seeds by next weekend. We are supposed to have some nice weather in the coming days (except for tomorrow's expected rain/snow).

My other goal in coming weeks is to put more memory on this computer, start taking more pictures, having Katie teach me how to put them on my blog and Facebook, and maybe sharing my successes or failures in said garden........

Happy Spring to one and all. I hope it makes you as happy as it makes me!

"Wouldja Make Up Your Mind?"

2009-02-04T18:59:00.002-07:00

I left for work this morning absolutely puzzled! And I haven't become less puzzled as the day has passed. So maybe someone can help me understand this.

You will all recall the eternal presidential campaign we have all just suffered through. How could we possibly forget? There was so much news coverage--we had a constant IV drip of it. I, for one, was so relieved when it was over. We then had a relatively peaceful couple of months. Then President-elect Obama became a little more press-shy during this time period. Sarah Palin faded into the background and John McCain seemed to disappear. It was pretty nice!

Well, I remember news pundits complaining that the president-elect had become less forthcoming. He sort of backed away from the bright lights. He almost shunned the press on more than one occasion. I remember him basically telling them to back off, that he was not going to share with them. His grass-roots supporters seemed to be hungry for him to tell them what to do next, but not much was said.

All of that changed with the inauguration. There was such fanfare and days-and-days of news coverage. The press was in hog-heaven! I actually enjoyed every minute of it. There was a feeling of elation. Since the inauguration, President Obama has rolled up his sleeves and has gone to work. He is trying very hard to produce the changes he promised during the campaign. You see him constantly on the news. CNN talks of nothing else. He's been interviewed by a myriad of big-name "interviewers" -- Anderson Cooper, Charlie Gibson, Katie Couric, etc. etc. etc. He really wants the American public to understand what he's trying to do and how he wants to do it. He wants the workings of Washington to be transparent and understandable. I actually heard him say he made a mistake in choosing the wrong candidates for positions (i.e. Daschle). Imagine that! I don't recall anything like it in all the years I've been aware of politics. I find it refreshing.

So this is why I'm puzzled. NOW, the news pundits are complaining that he is too much "out there." They think he's too much in the public eye. I heard one newswoman say that he was destroying the "mystique" of the presidency. She said that President Obama should NEVER apologize or admit he was wrong. HUH????? I thought we were tired of secrecy. I thought we were tired of not understanding what was going on or why? I thought we were interested in what is being done to solve the dire problems this country is facing. I thought we were invested. Apparently, the press doesn't think we're smart enough to handle it all. Maybe the President speaking directly to us makes them less valuable?

I, for one, am so relieved to have a president who is thoughtful, careful, well-spoken, intelligent, and seemingly up-front and honest. I guess time will tell in the end. I appreciate his candor and his desire for people like me to know and understand what's going on, what he believes should be done and why. Even if you don't agree with his policies, you have to appreciate the way he is handling the terribly difficult job he has. He seems to be more "real" than any president I can recall.

OK, so I've gone on way too long. I've been thinking about this all day and had to get it off my chest. There now----I feel much better!

Musical Computers

2009-01-17T08:14:00.002-07:00

My head is spinning. Do you remember playing Musical Chairs as a child? I remember it being one of my favorite birthday party games. Well, we seem to be playing a grown-up version around here. We call it Musical Computers.

This all started a few years back when Daniel gifted his old I-Mac to his sister, Katie. He had purchased a new computer. In 2007 when I married Paul, he brought his computer with him. Katie decided she would like my old computer, so I gave it to her. My monitor was an undesirable HUGE monster, so Dylan gave Katie his flat screen monitor when he purchased a new one. When Paul moved out, it left me without a computer, so Katie gave me her I-Mac, which had been given to her by Daniel. Things have settled that way until recently.

Dylan purchased a bigger, better monitor, so he gave Katie his newer old one. Then he decided he did not need his "tower" anymore because he has a laptop. He gave Katie the tower, too. So now, Katie is giving me my old computer back, plus Dylan's original flat screen monitor. I am taking the I-Mac back to Katie so she can retrieve all of her music from it, then it will find its final (maybe) resting spot back with Daniel.

Wow! Got that?

Fever Induced Insanity

2009-01-05T10:16:00.002-07:00

I've been quite sick for nearly a week now. I am slowly improving now, but it has been a VERY long few days. Of course, I managed to get sick right when I had time off. I can't decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing. On the plus side, I did not have to miss any work. On the minus side, it totally shot a hole in all of my plans.

It's amazing what a fever will do to you. I haven't had one for so many years, I had forgotten how crazy it makes you. I have had fever and aches--no cold or cough. I've also been extremely tired, due to the fact that I have trouble sleeping. I tried to control the fever and aches with ibuprofen (my miracle drug). I would feel better, but I would sweat absolute buckets. I am not generally a "sweaty" person, so this has been an interesting (and disgusting, I might add) experience.

On Saturday, I felt well enough to go to work for a couple of hours. I had not had any appetite for a number of days (other than a mad craving for oranges). I had to force myself to eat. But while I was at work, I got this uncontrollable hankering for a quarter-pound cheeseburger from McDonalds. STRANGE, but true. So when I left work, I called home to see if anyone there wanted anything. Dan wanted a two-cheeseburger meal.

So, I get to the driveup. I'm half-crazed with hunger. I order the two-cheeseburger meal, and the person on the other end of the speaker says, "We don't have that." I asked him how they could not "have it." He said they'd never had that combo. I said, "You absolutely have had it. I've gotten it 500 times." The argument continued. I was getting really angry (and not in my right mind). I finally told him to put two kids cheesburgers in a bag with some fries and a drink FOR A GROWN-UP. I also ordered my meal.

When I got to the window where they handed me my order, they handed me two kids meals, complete with toys and ice cream. They also gave me what I'd ordered for myself. I told them that it was wrong and asked why they couldn't figure it out. I finally just took the food and left, madder than a wet hen.

When I got home, I set the food on the kitchen table and called for Daniel. He came into the kitchen, looked at the food and said, "Oh, so you went to Wendy's instead, huh?"

It all became glaringly clear....... I was officially losing my mind. I had driven up to Wendy's instead of McDonalds and had been extremely rude and argumentative with the employee. I felt so bad, I started to cry. I am planning to write a letter of apology and take it over.

Did I mention that part of this illness I've had has been an absolute inability to be rational or to control my emotions? Let's hope I get well soon. I've had just about enough of this nonsense....

T'was Lovely

2008-12-28T19:16:00.002-07:00

It was truly a lovely Christmas. I think it was probably the most peaceful and least stressful I've had as long as I can remember. I was surrounded by the people I love the most, I had a warm roof and plenty of nourishment. Not a cross word was spoken by anyone. Gifts of love were given. The bad weather was a small glitch, but it was overcome. I have so much love in my life--I am undeservedly lucky...... The trick is to keep this feeling all year. Of course, we never succeed--we can but try.

I will be relieved to say goodbye to 2008. It has been a challenging year for me, but all of those challenges taught me such grand lessons. I'm sure 2009 will have its challenges, too. But I am hopeful that the best is yet to come.

I am now looking forward to four glorious days of "not working." I'm not sure what I'll be doing, but I'm sure puzzles will figure into the mix somewhere. They always do. I haven't even considered taking down the tree yet. That's what long, boring January is for.......

I hope all of you have a very happy and prosperous New Year!

Christmas Tag

2008-12-23T08:26:00.003-07:00

I've been tagged--so I guess I have to post, huh? Thanks, Clodhopper, for "reminding" me to do this:

!. WRAPPING PAPER OR GIFT BAGS?
Like my dear sister, I love wrapping paper!!!! And there are degrees of wrapping paper. Some is wonderful, some is crummy. I love it when Katie comes to help me wrap here brothers presents. She's an amazing gift-wrapper (thanks ZCMI). I must say, though, that gift bags are wonderful in a pinch. And they solve some of the more difficult wrapping problems.

2. REAL TREE OR ARTIFICIAL?
I never thought I'd see the day that I would have an artificial tree. But I've learned "never to say never." I finally caved in to the convenience and practicality of the artificial tree. I was VERY particular about said artificial tree, though. I do miss the "real" tree, but I don't mess shopping for it, nor the mess it makes.

3. WHEN DO YOU PUT UP THE TREE?
I try to put it up the weekend after Thanksgiving. I'm happy to say that I was successful this year, thanks to the help of Katie, Troy and Carla. They came to the house to help. :o)

4. WHEN DO YOU TAKE THE TREE DOWN?
I hate to take the tree down. It's not the work. I just love having it up so much. It adds a warmth to the living room. When I take it down, every looks so cold and bare. I generally put it off for a couple of weeks. It usually comes down when the boys start complaining. One year it was Valentines.

5. DO YOU LIKE EGGNOG?
Actually, yes I do. I can't remember the last time I had any--it is SO INCREDIBLY BAD for you! I like eggnogg flavored salt water taffy, too.

6. FAVORITE GIFT RECEIVED AS A CHILD?
One gift stands out in my mind. I was in high school. I saw this beautiful camel colored coat with a fur collar at ZCMI. I really wanted it, but it was so expensive. I knew that it was unrealistic to think that I might get that coat for Christmas. But lo and behold, on Christmas morning there it was. Grandma and Grandpa got it for me and what a surprise it was. I still have that coat, and I believe it still fits.

7. HARDEST PERSON TO BUY FOR?
I think my sons might qualify. I have to BEG, CAJOLE AND PLEAD for ideas from them. They were actually pretty good about it this year, though. I haven't had to resort to cash or gift cards this year.

8. EASIEST PERSON TO BUY FOR?
Katie, of course. She puts her list right on her blog. I could shop for her until the cows come home.

9. DO YOU HAVE A NATIVITY SCENE?
Yes! Several, in fact. The nicest one is Katie's. It is on loan until she has a place to put it. I might have to invest in one after she claims permanent custody.

10. MAIL OR EMAIL CHRISTMAS CARDS?
I love receiving them in the mail. I must sadly admit that I haven't really sent cards in a long time. I never seem to be "together" enough to get it done. I think Easter cards would be easier. I did receive a darling email card from a friend of mine yesterday--and that was a nice surprise, too.

11. WORST CHRISTMAS GIFT YOU EVER RECEIVED?
Good grief! What a question? I don't think there is such a thing!!!!! All gifts are given with love. What more could one ask? The most amazing and memorable gift I ever received was my daughter, Katie! She was born early Christmas morning. She is definitely the gift that keeps on giving. :o)

12. FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE?
Hmmmmm, I don't really have one. However, I have very fond memories of the little Muppet Christmas movie that was made for TV many, many years ago. Grandma and Grandpa recorded it and we must have watched it 100 times. The tape disappeared -- but Katie ordered a copy this year. I definitely MUST watch it over the holidays....

13. WHEN DO YOU START SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS?
I usually try to start in November. I always set a goal of being finished by December 10. I have only reached that goal once--about 10 years ago. I plan to finish everything today.

14. HAVE YOU EVER RECYCLED A CHRISTMAS PRESENT?
I'm ashamed to admit that I have, sort of. I had a gift card for Bath and Body Works. There is a long, dramatic story about where the card came from, so I felt funny about spending it. I was making some Christmas purchases at the store one day and remembered the card--so I used it. Does that count?

15. FAVORITE THING TO EAT AT CHRISTMAS?
Oh my goodness, how can I choose? EVERYTHING!!! I especially love those little butter cookies that grandma makes in her cookie press. You can pop them in your mouth--they're as easy to eat as popcorn. I also love to make ROLO cookies and soft caramel popcorn. And then there's the sweet Vidalia onion salsa from Pirate O's. Oh my, the list is endless.......

16. LIGHTS ON THE TREE?
YES! Lots of white ones, permanently affixed. Did I mention that's another reason I love an artificial tree? I don't have to put lights on it.

17. FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG?
It's Christmas Through Your Eyes by Gloria Estefan. I've had some real humbug years, and that song really hit home. I am happy to say that this has been a wonderful Christmas season and I'm enjoying it immensely.

18. TRAVEL AT CHRISTMAS OR STAY HOME?
Well, silly question. You know me and travelling. Given the opportunity, I would love to travel ANYTIME. However, I like being home at Christmas enjoying my dear family and friends. I can't imagine being away.....

19. CAN YOU NAME ALL OF SANTA'S REINDEER?
Of course I can.

20. ANGEL ON THE TREE TOP OR A STAR?
Funny you'd ask. I have a gold star on the top of the tree, but with a "twist." Superman is riding the star. I'll have to take a picture and figure out how to post it. Superman always shows up in interesting places on my tree. I also have a cute little metal biplane with a Star Wars creature wingwalking. Guess you just have to be there.............

21. OPEN THE PRESENTS ON CHRISTMAS EVE OR MORNING?
In the morning as soon as we can pry the boys out of bed. I never thought I'd see the day......

22. MOST ANNOYING THING ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR?
Two things, actually. The cold weather puts a damper on it. I'm jealous of my Arizona family. I'd love to be shopping without a heavy coat and sliding all over the road. The other thing is that people are so grumpy. It makes me very sad. So, I try to be cheerful enough to make up for them. And that probably shows up on THEIR list of annoying things....... hahahaha

23. FAVORITE ORNAMENT THEME OR COLOR?
No theme tree for me! We have an amazing variety of ornaments, and nearly every one of them has a story, face or memory attached to it. I love to look for unique, off-beat ornaments. We have a lot of jungle animals, ethnic baubles, a pickle, and of course Superman......

24. FAVORITE TIME FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER?
Anytime it's ready!!!! :o) Usually early afternoon. That gives you plenty of time to work it off, sleeping or working a puzzle.

25. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR?
Just peace--in the world, in my family, in my life. That's all.......

All the people I would tag have already been tagged..........

Your computer works just fine. Now post something!

2008-11-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

Oh, alright already!! I'm writing.

Thank you, Dylan, for fixing my computer. I'm sure you'll be relieved that I'm not bothering yours! And I won't have to work through my lunch hours to use my computer at work. :o)

As I told Katie, I really don't have a whole lot to write. It's pretty sad that you can go nearly six months without posting and have nothing to say. But I think "excitement" is overrated. Life is really very calm and peaceful right now. And I'd be happy to keep it that way!

I am happy to report that my divorce was final on October 3. It is good to close that chapter in my life. On to better things...... As you all know, Katie and I went on a wonderful trip--a cruise to Mexico. I have yet to do anything with my pictures, but they're coming sometime. I'm ready to go on another trip already.

I'm really not very fond of "winter." My #1 priority (even before eating or sleeping) is staying warm. It hasn't been too bad thus far, but I'm dreading the next 5 or 6 months. I always feel like hibernating (eating, sleeping and nothing else). Does anyone out there have a cattle prod I can borrow? It's a perfect time to be working on "house" projects, but you need motivation for that, and I seem to have lost it somewhere. I have committed to myself that I'm not going to be doing 3/4 of my Christmas shopping after December 20 this year. I'm going to hit it early. I have actually already started. I think this is going to be one of the best holiday seasons I've had in many years. I'm actually looking forward to it--something I haven't done in a long time.

Hmmm, I guess I did have a little bit to say, after all. I'll be darned! I need to go get ready for another day of working with society's best. Take care, y'all.

Let's hear it for the Jo...

2008-09-15T14:18:00.002-06:00

So, my momma is working around about seven days a week, and her computer is dopey. Thus, it has been a magnificent FIVE weeks since she posted anything here. I felt like her blog needed some Ireland-izing, so I've taken the liberty of messing with her background and posting a nice hello to all the people she loves! Hello from Jo.
In case you were wondering, Jo may also be called:
Josephiclesiostamus
Jonocerous
Jo-Momma
Jonas (not Brothers-- that would be rude.)
Jonah (in the whale, whale, whale, whale)
Joeeeey
Joda
Mommy-pants

There, now you know something you probably didn't know before. :)

Something's fishy.....

2008-08-07T22:08:00.002-06:00

Something's fishy--and I think it's me. I have always had this love of the water (swimming pools--not natural bodies of water). When I was a girl, they built the Wild Wave swimming pool (which later turned into Raging Waters). I spent a good deal of time there as a teen. But once I grew up, married and had children, my days in the water ended. There was an occasional trip to the pool with the kids, but that's it.

Then in about 2001, my friend introduced me to water aerobics. I became a fanatic. I went almost every day. I lost about 30 pounds and moved onto things such as kickboxing, etc. Little by little, I wandered away from the water--and oh how I missed it. Well, I have once again found my gills and have returned to it and am enjoying it immensely. I have discovered a class that offers a very good aerobic workout (not all water aerobics classes offer that). Our instructor wears one of those devices that looks like a watch. It counts the calories she burns. She is quite the drill sergeant. We are burning between 600 and 700 calories per class. It is mostly a deep water workout, except for the stretching at the end of class. During this part, she turns off all the lights except the underwater pool lights. It's SO relaxing.

I think I love the water so much because it is the only time in my life that I feel somewhat flexible and graceful. On the land, I am pretty much a klutz. When I have a sore back, the water is so soothing. It helps me stretch the muscles that have become so tight and cramped during the course of the week. I can move in ways that I cannot on the land. It is low impact, so it's easier on my feet, knees, hips and back.

I realize that water aerobics immediately brings to mind a bunch of white-haired old ladies. Well, I guess I have arrived in that place. Even the white hair part would be true if I didn't hide it.

I'm just feeling so deliciously relaxed after a very long and difficult week at work, I just had to share it. If anyone would like to join me sometime, the class is taught on Tues and Thurs nights at West Jordan Middle School swimming pool at 8:30 pm. The regular attendees range from teens to elderly, every shape, size and walk of life. It's a great time! Come join me sometime....

Free Rice

2008-08-02T20:46:00.002-06:00

I noticed that I have not posted in quite some time. So why do I feel guilty about it? It's silly, isn't it? Nonetheless, I feel a little sheepish when I don't write SOMETHING.

Because my life is pretty darn ordinary, I don't have a lot to share right now......

BUT................

If you don't already know about it, go to a website called www.freerice.com. It has been verified by Snopes as being authentic. Basically, you take a vocabulary test. For every word you define correctly, you donate 20 (I think it's 20) grains of rice to the poor of the world. I was amazed at the words. I would say that I had never even heard at least half of them. If you miss one, they tell you the correct definition and then it comes up again later on in the test. In just a few minutes, you will have accumulated hundreds or even thousands of grains of rice (and increased your vocabulary). It's pretty addicting. It will test your skill of dissecting words and defining parts so you might choose the correct answer.

Anyway, give it a try. It's educational and you benefit the poor while you learn. Can't beat that!!!

Larsen Look-alike Meter

2008-07-14T16:09:00.001-06:00

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Free family history - Family history

Tag Along..........

2008-07-14T14:42:00.002-06:00

I decided to post this on my blog, too, to see what people might remember about me. What a fun idea. Heidi's comment to Katie brought back a rush of memories. I'm the one that made her write those apology notes.

Here's a fun little tag-type thingy. Enjoy!

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, repost these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Lucky Duck

2008-07-13T22:16:00.003-06:00

I am one lucky duck! Last night, I got into one of my closets (the one with the newly hung doors). I got something out and moved over to the other closet. I had been away from the first closet not even 30 seconds when one of the doors from the first closet came out of the track and went crashing to the floor. I was stunned!!! And frustrated. And amazed that I had not been struck and hurt!!!!

Another truly amazing thing about it is that it fell at an angle and did not hit my new dresser, or the other closet door, or a newly painted wall. It fell straight onto the floor. The one bad thing is that it landed on the side with the new knob. The knob went straight through the door and jammed the screw into the back side of other door in the set. So there's a big hole in the door. I received a suggestion that I get a washer that matches the knob (and put one on the back, too). Hopefully, if I do them all the same, it won't look too bad. The only other solution (I think) would be to replace the door. And what do you think the chances are that I could find a door that is the right size and style? Not great, I would bet.

Anyway, I'm not too upset because it could have been much worse, on many levels.

It's Sunday night, and I'm pooped. I've worked about 68 hours this week. I'm so looking forward to this Saturday when I don't have to work at all. :o) I'm also looking forward to seeing my sister Claudia and her family this week. That will be the highlight!!!! I'm so excited to seem them all.

Surprisingly, I have actually accomplished a few things this last week regardless of my work schedule. One of the biggest things is ridding my driveway of Daniel's old Corolla. I found a buyer AND cleaned the thing out (which was one of the most disgusting experiences of my life). Don't even ask.............. But it has a new home with someone who will fix it up and get a little more life out of it.

This coming week is going to be very busy, but I hope to finish painting my closet doors and get them hung by the weekend; finish up filling out the papers for my benefits at work (I have a couple of changes to make, and they make it SO complicated); register at least 50 students at work; give my house a good cleaning; clean up the laundry side of the basement. That may be a bit ambitious, but if I don't have at least a loose plan, I'll accomplish nothing.

Have a good week everyone.....

Is It Just Me?????

2008-07-07T14:56:00.003-06:00

Is it just me, or do little, doable projects ALWAYS become huge, expensive projects???? Must simple things ALWAYS become difficult???

Case in point: I am in the process of painting my closet doors. I have two large closets. Each closet has two folding doors. Each of those folding doors has two panels. That means I have 8 separate, beveled doors (on both sides) to paint. Now that's a doable project, right? So I took all the hardware off and set it carefully aside. I have begun painting. I have completely finished three panels and am halfway through a fourth.

Yesterday I was going to put the hardware back on the first set of folding doors. I started to put the knob back on and realized, "Wait, this is gold. All the other hardware in my room is black." So, another trip to Home Depot to get new knobs and hinges. Simple, right? That's what I thought, too.

I get to Home Depot. I find plenty of knobs I like, but I can't find the right hinges in black. In fact, they don't even make these particular hinges at all, let alone in black. So I'm thinking I'll have to drill new holes in the door for different hinges. Then I have a brainstorm. Why don't I just paint the silly things black? So I go to the paint department and talk to the guru there. He says I need to sand them a little, then prime them, then paint them. And he's talking multiple coats. And there are 12 hinges!!! So, I bought spray paint. Then talking to someone here, I learned that you don't paint the screws until after you screw them back into the door. Then you get an itty bitty paint brush and paint them black. That way you don't scratch the new paint off.

Oh, and the screws for the new knobs aren't long enough. I have to go back to Home Depot to get longer screws.......

ARRGGGHHHH!!! I won't have my doors back up for another two months at this rate! It's so ridiculous, it's hilarious.

Does anyone else ever have these experiences?

Happy Independence Day

2008-07-04T07:09:00.003-06:00

Happy Indedpendence Day, everyone!!! This truly is a great country and I'm glad to be a citizen. It's true that we have some very serious issues these days, but it is still a land of freedom and opportunity. It is full of wonderful, good people. And it is BEAUTIFUL!!! If it was a terrible place, we would not hear near as many accents as we do. I fly our flag proudly today!!!

I have been enjoying my time off immensely. I have accomplished some big tasks but have also done some enjoyable and spontaneous things. On Wednesday, I spent hours pulling weeds and dragging the hose around. In addition, I cleaned up a disaster of a kitchen and did nearly all of the laundry. I had a lovely, yet hilarious, conversation with my sister, Claudia. (We discussed our common aversion to pets.) I was finally able to complete the legal paperwork that has been hanging over my head. Yesterday, I officially filed it. (My "almost" Indepence Day came a day early.) The die is cast. The clock is ticking. It's just a waiting game now for at least three months........ Last of all, Nadia and I went to the gym and flailed around in the water.

Yesterday, I did housework, finished laundry, filed paperwork, went downtown to the courthouse, went to lunch with Mom, Dad, Katie and Doug, went to Western Gardens with Katie and got some plants, went to the parade with all three of my kids, rushed home and picked up my friend Nadia for another water aerobics class, and slept like a baby!! The class we went to was at the West Jordan Middle School pool. I've never been there before. The facility itself is old, and doesn't seem particularly sanitary, but the pool itself is very nice. The instructor (Teresa) does such a great job--probably the best class I've ever attended. At the end of class she turned out all of the lights, except for the reflective pool lights, and we did our stretching to very relaxing music. It was so great!!!!

Today I am going to weed and plant for a while in the morning before it gets too hot. Then I will head to the Equestrian Center to deliver a package to someone. When I get home, I plan to start painting closet doors. I have just GOT to get this done. Tonight, Nadia and I will go see a movie--don't know what yet. All in all, I feel good about what I've been able to do the last two days. I haven't missed working AT ALL!!! :o) I desperately needed this time to be on my own clock and do the things that I wanted and needed to do--things that have been weighing on me heavily in recent weeks. I feel great!!!!!

Well, it's 7:30. I had better get out there before the sun hits the patch I'm working on. Go enjoy your holiday!!!

Three Days

2008-07-01T21:52:00.002-06:00

Woohoo!!! I see stretching before me three whole, entire days without having to report to either job!!! I am totally psyched about it. I have such plans--so many things I want to accomplish. I realize, of course, that I won't get nearly as much done as I would like, but I AM going to be a busy girl! There's always room for spontaneous interruptions, though.

Some of the chores I plan to complete (or at least get started) are:
1. Legal paperwork.
2. Weeds, weeds, weeds. And deadheading the roses.
3. Painting closet doors.
4. Get our living quarters in order.
5. Plenty of SLEEP.
6. Organize the basement a little.
7. Laundry, as usual.
8. Some reading.
9. A trip to D.I.
10. Go to the Water Conservancy District demonstration gardens to get ideas.
11. Go to Costco.
12. Get my camera out and start taking pictures again. Perhaps Bug can teach me to post them????

This list is a little ambitious, I think. But if I can accomplish just a few of them, I'll feel great about it.

20-year tag

2008-06-27T21:20:00.003-06:00

20 Years Tag

20 years ago I was:
1. Thirty-one years old.
2. Thinking about having another baby.
3. Working nights, weekends and holidays as a pharmacy technician.
4. Still getting perms.
5. Gardening up a storm
6. Teaching Katie to read and chasing a toddler.

10 years ago I was:
1. Forty-one years old.
2. Changing jobs from pharmacy to sales rep for a wholesaler.
3. So depressed I could hardly breathe.
4. Worried about Dylan being off track alone.
5. Running carpools and going to the kids' ball games and school activities.
6. Very involved as a volunteer at the elementary school.

5 years ago I was:
1. Forty-six years old.
2. Newly divorced and petrified of not being able to survive financially.
3. Working two jobs--one at the prison and the other at the rec center.
4. Starting to date.
5. Working out a lot and losing weight.
6. Breaking up fights between my two boys.

3 years ago I was:
1. Forty-nine years old.
2. Beginning and ending relationships.
3. Still working two jobs.
4. Traveling to New York and Washington D.C.
5. Really enjoying my children.
6. Discovering the joys of hiking.

1 year ago I was:
1. Fifty years old.
2. Engaged to be married.
3. Taking moonlight hikes at Bryce Canyon.
4. Still working two jobs.
5. Trying to get rid of junk.
6. Making a lot of car trips to the Ogden area.

So far this year I have:
1. Been dreadfully unhappy for a time, but am greatly improved!
2. Started ending my marriage.
3. Started working more hours at the gym again and overtime at the prison.
4. Painted my bedroom and purchased new furniture.
5. Started online banking, using an Ipod and blogging in earnest.
6. Dyed my hair at home for the first time ever (thanks to Bug).

Yesterday I:
1. Went to work as always. Worked extremely hard to get things ready for the new quarter and school year which begins Tuesday.
2. Left work early to meet my friend, Shirley, for lunch.
3. Made Rice Krispy treats for Dylan and his friends.
4. Did laundry.
5. Pulled mountains of weeds.
6. Played catch with a mitt for the firt time in my life (thanks to Dylan). It was fun!

Today I:
1. Showered twice because I couldn't get my hair right. I tried to rinse it in the sink, but it got all over my face and ruined my makeup.
2. Worked at the gym.
3. Talked to a couple of people about do-it-yourself divorces.
4. Went to WalMart and Home Depot.
5. Got online to register for credit reporting. My U of U Healthcare records were among those stolen.
6. Pulled another mountain of weeds.

Tomorrow I:
1. Will work at the gym from 7 am to noon.
2. Will meet Nadia for lunch.
3. Plan to go to Target and Barnes & Noble.
4. Want to start painting my closet doors.
5. Want to mow the back lawn and pull another mountain of weeds.
6. Plan to go to the Water Conservancy District demo gardens to get ideas. I would love to start xeriscaping portions of my yard.

In the Next Year I:
1. Hope to be divorced and have a new life.
2. Plan to work very hard toward paying off the house.
3. Will drive as little as possible.
4. Will try to be a good mom to my wonderful children.
5. Would like to take a simple trip somewhere.
6. Would like to have a small garden.

Wow!!! That was hard!!!!

I will tag my sister Claudia.

The Mystery of the Missing Soap

2008-06-24T21:23:00.003-06:00

A few months ago I bought some dishwashing soap to keep at work. It was very fragrant and actually had an air freshener at the bottom of the container. Everyone enjoyed having it in the rest room. I always eat breakfast at work and often lunch. I keep a few basic dishes and utensils there for my use. Keep in mind that we do not have a break room. I almost always eat at my desk and wash my dishes in the staff rest room. I put the soap in the rest room so that others could use it, too. Well, I went to use it today and voila, it's gone. Disappeared. No where to be found. Immediately you would think a thieving inmate took it. But we keep the staff restroom locked. That means an employee took it. One of our officers went looking for it in areas where known thieving officers reside, but to no avail. We think someone took a fancy to it and took it home. Brother!!!!!! If you can't trust corrections officers, who can you trust???? It was not a huge loss and can be easily replaced, but it puts a damper on your good feelings about your fellow man. :o( And I place my life and safety in their hands every day. hahaha Other things that have come up missing are a toaster, a large jug of Mt. Olympus water for our cooler, many food items, radio batteries, entire computers and printers, etc. Amazing isn't it?

Here's another amazing phenomenon. Have you ever noticed that if you ever lose anything, the best way to find it is to buy a replacement? My sunglasses have been missing for weeks. I had looked everywhere. I finally caved in and bought some on Saturday. Well, lo and behold, guess what I found today? My sunglasses. I was vacuuming my car. They were under the front passenger seat. They were just far enough under that they could not be easily reached or seen. I was happy to find them--having a second pair is always good. But it's still a little bit annoying. Does anyone else experience this as often as I do???

I'm happy to say that I was able to repair my broken disposal. It was all jammed up on Sunday, and I couldn't get it unjammed, even by using the little allen wrench. I found the owner's manual and was going to read up on how to take the thing apart. I was not looking forward to the prospect because I knew it was going to be stinky and slimy! GAG!!! I had not yet had time to read up on it yesterday. I was cleaning up the kitchen and that side of the sink was draining so slowly. I figured someone had put food down there so I reached inside once again to clear out any food that might be sitting in there. Disgusting job. Low and behold, I felt something long and skinny poking out of one of the edges. I wiggled it around and it broke free. It was a two-inch screw! What was a two-inch screw doing wedged in my disposal???? It's a mystery to me. But all's well that ends well. I hit the reset button on the bottom of the appliance and it runs like a charm!!! What a relief!!!

Tonight I edged the front lawn and also got the weed wacker running. I was able to trim around the sprinklers. Hopefully they will be a little more efficient now. Now I need to really start tackling my weed problem. I just can't seem to find enough hours in the week to get everything done. My closet doors are STILL waiting to be painted. And it's driving me crazy. I am planning to take a couple of days off before the 4th of July. Perhaps I'll get to it then, unless I get called in to work at the gym. I volunteered my services on those two days.

Work is insane and I have aready put in about 4.5 hours of overtime this week. Our clearance process has changed and I can no longer generate a clearance from our database. It has to be manually entered into an Excel spreadsheet. Most of our students will have to be entered on this spreadsheet at least 12 times, some of them up to 26 times. Multiply that by about 150 students and you can see what a job it's going to be. Thank goodness we are running a small program during July. Maybe I'll figure out some things to make it a little easier.

Well, I've bored you with enough of the mundane things that make up my life. Maybe the next few days will bring more exciting entries.

Spontaneous Adventures Rock

2008-06-21T21:41:00.003-06:00

I can't say enough about spontaneous adventures. I had one today that I wouldn't trade for anything! So much for all the "chores" I wanted to do today! Ehhh, they'll be waiting for me another day.......

I got a phone call from Bug (Katie) this morning. She asked if I wanted to go get some breakfast. I said sure, and we hooked up at Kneaders for a croissant breakfast sandwich. Afterward we went to Target where I needed to shop for a couple of items. We also went to Ross and tried on about 30 different things. If you ever want to really enjoy shopping, go with Katie. She's a scream! On our way back to the car, Katie noticed the halo of gray hair emanating from my scalp. She suggested that we go back into Target and get a box of hair dye. I have always had it done by a professional, so I kind of recoiled. But next thing you know, we were in my bathroom dying each other's hair (we were actually highlighting her hair). I was petrified!!! But you know, it actually turned out alright! After we were finished, she styled it too. Man, I was in heaven!!!!

We ended up spending nearly the entire day together--and what a treat that was for me!!!

I did get a few things on my list accomplished today. I filled up my car and the gas cans, did most of the laundry, dragged the hose around, paid bills and did paperwork, and visited with my friend Elisabeth who has been so sick.

It has been a lovely day. Thanks, Bug, for sharing it with me! :o)

Oh, and by the way, Katie decided she had to know what famous people I looked like. So take a gander at the little clip on the right. The picture of me morphs into someone very famous. I would never have guessed we looked anything alike. You be the judge. But just so you know, the website that sponsors that little "morph" also thought I looked like Heather Locklear, Emma Thompson, and even ALEC BALDWIN!!! YIKES!!!!! Shoot me now!!! hahaha

Let me know what you think.....

Cool Adventures

2008-06-20T23:22:00.002-06:00

I've been having such grand adventures!!! You will laugh when you hear them and wonder that I am so easily entertained.

First of all, with the onset of much warmer weather, we found it necessary to get the old swamper up and running. We had a few VERY warm nights in the house when we found it difficult to sleep. So, up onto the shed roof I went to get started. I was able (with Dan's help) to get the panels off, the pads pulled and and replaced and things put back together. I must say that I always put this chore off because there is ALWAYS something that has to be replaced or repaired. This year was no different. This time it was the drain. I worked on it for a good half hour before my neighbor took pity on me and came to see if he could help. He had trouble with it, too. But we finally got it fixed. We filled it and it was running beautifully. Later, after it was dark, I heard water POURING from the drain. My other neighbor heard it too and called me. I shut the water supply off and left it for another day. I knew that it was a "float" problem.

This evening I got back up there and immediately discovered the problem. The float is very close to the front panel of the cooler. When I put the panel on last night, it caused the float to get stuck and not rise and turn off the water supply. So, the silly thing overflowed. I was able to bend the float the other direction. And Hallelujah!!! We have it running. In fact, I just had to close my bedroom doors because I'm FREEZING!!!! And we did it all with only ONE trip to Home Depot!

So now, you know a whole lot more than you ever wanted to know about swamp coolers!!! I figured if I have to know, so do you!

I went to a cooking class this week (a Mother's Day gift from Dylan.) It was a Summer Salads class, and I really enjoyed it. I learned a few new things and left absolutely stuffed with delicious salads. First of all I learned that if you have arthritis or gout, you should not eat lentils. They cause those diseases to flare up. I guess this applies to all legumes, but lentils are the worst offenders. I also learned that when you're grilling steak, if you try to turn it over and it sticks to the grill, that means "leave me alone." It's just not ready to turn. Don't turn it over until it pulls away from the grill easily. One of the garnishes they used on the steak salad was little tiny julienned pieces of fresh ginger. I mean tiny--smaller than toothpicks. You fry them in a little olive oil then drain them on a paper towel. And my favorite thing was a garnish he prepared for a Ceasar Salad. He grated some Asiago cheese and covered the bottom of a saute pan--maybe 8 inches. He cooked the cheese until it started to turn golden brown around the edges and was dry. He then slid the cheese out of the pan and put it on top of an inverted bowl. When the cheese cooled, it was like a little bowl. You serve these "bowls" with the salad. You crumble the cheese and put it on top. Yummy stuff!!!!!

I have the day off tomorrow. YIPPPEEEE!!!! I have SO many things I'd like to accomplish. I need to clean up some big tool and paint supplies messes in the kitchen, do laundry, do paperwork, go to Sears, visit my ailing friend Elizabeth, do yard work, paint my closet doors, go to Barnes and Noble, wash and vacuum my car, clean the bathroom, drag the hose around, rob a bank so I can fill my gas tank and the gas cans, get my sweaters back on my shelves, shampoo carpet, and more. Do you think I can get it all done?????? Probably not. But it will all be waiting for me on another day. I will certainly not be in danger of being bored. I am taking a couple of vacation days in early July, so I hope to make some real progress in the coming weeks.

Wow, where does the time go? It's nearly midnight. I am so happy to be able to turn off the alarm clock and sleep until my body wants to wake up. Of course, that will probably be 5 am! Argh.

G'night all.

I know -- it's about time I posted

2008-06-16T21:27:00.002-06:00

It's about time for another post, I suppose. Katie has posted at least my last two blogs. I don't know why I don't do this more often, other than the fact that I am truly the most boring person on the planet and have nothing to say that would be of interest to anyone else!

So I'll catch you up on a bunch of not much that's been happening in my life:

1. More hours of work. I have picked up more hours at my second job to help me pay for gas and other things affected by the price of gas. I am now working every Sunday and the 2nd and 4th Saturday mornings of the month. I am still working the Friday shift every week. This means I have two Saturdays off during the month. It's kind of a rough schedule, but it won't be forever, I hope. The upside is that it is an easy, brainless job; and I have met so many nice people that I get to visit with every week! :o)

2. Prison graduation. We had our graduation ceremony at the prison. We topped our record and awarded 270 high school diplomas this year. This is really amazing because we had so many changes in requirements this year. The ceremony was great; however, I nearly froze to death.

3. Bedroom progress. I continue to make a little progress on my bedroom every week. I am trying to find some time to paint my closet doors and hang pictures, etc., on the walls. Otherwise, it is mostly completed. I'm really enjoying it and love having my clothes out of boxes and into drawers and closets again. :o)

4. Green grass. My lawn looks better than it ever has before. I think part of it is the cool, damp spring we've had. The other part is having a lawn care company come to apply fertilizer and weed killer on a regular basis. It has been a challenge keeping it mowed--it grows so fast. And it doesn't help when someone vandalizes your mower. I'm happy to say that the mischievious trick was easily reversed and it's running better than ever.

5. I LOVE SPRING!!!!!

6. Tomato plants. Mom gave me three tomato plants this year. One of them actually has blossoms on it, and I'm so thrilled. It's been several years since I grew anything in the garden. I truly love puttering in the soil, but my time has just been so limited in recent years. It is my dream to get back to it before too many years pass.

7. Goodbye big red purse. The red minivan that Dylan has been driving finally gave up the ghost. The transmission finally blew up. I was able to find a buyer that gave me $200 for it and towed it away. I drove a lot of carpools in that van, and both Katie and Dylan depended on it for years. I realize it was kind of embarrassing for them, but it was "wheels." So farewell, good friend. Sniff.

8. Car shopping. I spent some time car shopping with Dylan. We needed to get him into something quickly. It took about a week, but we finally found a cute little 2005 Suzuki Forenza. He's really enjoying it and it's a relief not to be worrying about him getting stranded somewhere.

9. Baseball game. I finally got to go to a baseball game!!!!! I went with Katie and Troy. It turns out a good friend of mine was there, and I ended up sitting with him while K & T sought out her friends and coworkers. The Bees lost that night, but it was delightful anyway. I so love baseball.

10. The Scottish Festival. I went with a couple of friends to the annual Scottish Festival at Thanksgiving Point. We watched the Highland Games, ate junk food, got sunburned even with sunblock, wandered among the booths and listened to a lot of good music. If you want a sample of the band we heard, go to You Tube and type in Wicked Tinkers. They are what you might call the hard rock of traditional Scottish music with bagpipes, drums and even a digeridoo. There's actually one of their numbers on my playlist. You'll love em, I promise.

11. Father's Day. I truly have the best dad in the whole universe. He is truly the one man in my life that I have always been able to count on. He is ALWAYS there for me, cheering me on, whether I deserved it or not. I was not having a good day yesterday (Father's Day). His big hug brought me so much comfort. Add to that the fact that he and mom drove clear out here last night to help me figure out my lawn mower situation. He helped me drain the mower of its tainted gas, and it fired right up. I was in a near panic because the mower was broken and my lawn was halfway to my knees. Thanks, dad, for rescuing me once again. I love you bunches.

Well, I think I had better sign off. Tomorrow is trash pickup and I need to go fill up those cans and then get to bed. I truly do intend to get better about this. I'll try to find some things to make my life a little more exciting so I have something to write about. haha

I love you all.......

Purty.

2008-05-31T07:37:00.001-06:00

Joey's amazing plant.

Nerd Alert.

2008-05-27T09:03:00.002-06:00

KC, Daniel, Dylan
KC, Dylan
KC, Bejamin (the groom), and Daniel

Mom, sorry I didn't use the pics you sent me, these looked better, because cellyphone pictures are fuzzy. Anyway, you all get the idea. :)

The line at the wedding was the longest I have ever seen. Troy counted 20 people. Daniel says he will never stand in line again, not even when he gets married and if his future-fiance ever asked him to stand in a line he would dump her on the spot. Precious little ones.

Belated Post

2008-05-24T22:18:00.004-06:00

Just a quick update:

The photo of my new bed was to have been accompanied by a little information, but alas my computer was not cooperating at the time. My dear daughter came to my rescue once again and fixed up my computer. So here's the story of the bed:

I had planned to purchase a fairly similar bed at Ikea. It just so happens that my dear neighbor, Ted, was here fixing a problem with my sprinklers. I mentioned I had been painting, etc. He wanted to see what I had done, so I brought him in the house to show him. I showed him a picture of the bed I was going to purchase and he said he had something he needed to show me. So off we went to Ted's shed. Up in the rafters, in many pieces, was a lovely black wrought iron bed similar to the one I was going to purchase. He said it belonged to his daughter but he would check to see what her plans were. She called me later in the evening and offered to GIVE it to me. About two weeks later, Ted dropped it over the fence and came over to put it together. And I LOVE it. It has the pieces necessary to turn it into a canopy, but I've opted not to use them at this time.

I have yet to paint my closet doors and get them hung. I also need to get the big, unwieldy desk out of my room so I can put together my new dresser. Once those things are finished, I can put all my things away and live a normal life again!!! I can't wait. But it seems that my patience needs to be tried. So many other things have come up to prevent me from accomplishing these things. I'm hoping I can start painting the doors on Monday--we shall see.

There's not much else new on this front. I work, I come home, I sometimes go to the gym, I go to bed and get up in the morning and start the same routine all over again. Day in and day out. But the consistency makes me happy in a strange and wonderful way!

Oh, I did take some pictures of my darling sons in tuxedos at their friend's wedding reception. I've sent them to Katie, and I'm hoping she'll post them for me. One of these days I'll learn to do it myself. Thanks to my dear daughter, I am now paying all of my bills online and blogging. I may be slow, but eventually I catch on........ She's even taught me how to load music on my IPod. Will wonders never cease?

Sleep well all. I intend to.........

2008-05-19T20:42:00.002-06:00

Jo's new bed!

Sunday Night Exhaustion Can Be Good

2008-05-04T21:58:00.003-06:00

It's Sunday night and I'm exhausted. I thought weekends were supposed to be restful and recreational! Ha!!!

It's been a busy weekend, and I have actually accomplished more than I anticipated, AND I worked a shift I wasn't planning on working. So although I'm tired, I feel "accomplished!"

As soon as I was off work on Friday, I started painting. It was time to apply the COLOR. Whoa Green!!!! Why is it that once you are committed (you have purchased the paint and have started slapping it on the walls), it's not quite what you expected. It was a little more limey than I expected. But you know, it's growing on me!!! I had a real struggle with the edges where the green met the cream (and they are FAR from perfect), but they'll do for now. I am SO anxious to get my bedroom back together. The green paint is on and the trim is done. Tonight I cleaned up the mess, moved what furniture I have to one side of my room and vacuumed. I am ready to clean half of my carpet. Perhaps tomorrow or Tuesday will be the day.

I ended up trading a shift at the gym and working today. Instead of having today off, I will have Mother's Day.

This evening, the kids and I hooked up with Grandma and Grandpa for dinner. What a delight they are. I am so lucky to have had them in my life for so long. I have so many friends who do not share such wonderful relationships with their parents. Many of them lost their parents many years ago. I treasure every minute I get to spend with them--even if it's just talking on the phone. They are so kind, generous and wise. I appreciate their generosity and wisdom.

Another week ahead. No big, wonderful plans. We'll just see what it brings.

So, although I'm exhausted, it's a good feeling. Once I throw my alarm clock against my newly painted wall in the morning, I'll be ready for anything.

Fifty-oneth

2008-04-30T09:43:00.002-06:00

Yes, sure enough. I survived another year to celebrate number 51!!!! And what a great birthday it was. I was SOOO sick last year on my birthday. I had that horrible gomboo that leaves you with an eternal cough. I was coughing with every breath for my birthday last year. So, I really appreciated being well and strong for this one!

Yesterday morning, Dylan and I got up early and went to the new Harmons store Grand Opening. And what a "grand" place it is. It is certainly not your ordinary grocery store. One of the officials actually told us that there are only 4 other stores like it in the U.S. and they are all back east. I won't go into a lot of detail, but I will tell you that you MUST try their grapefruit gelato. It is to die for.

After our trip, we ran home and I grubbed down and started applying primer to the few things that needed it. Katie (who took the day off with me) showed up. I finished what I was doing, changed clothes again, then the three of us took off. By this time, Daniel (who was working at IKEA) was grumbling that he was hungry and would we please bring him food. We went to IKEA to deliver a box of mints to tide him over. (I don't think he was terribly pleased.) Then we went to Harmons and had lunch. We took a nice "rubber" tri-tip steak lunch back to him. (They misspelled "rubbed.") If you look at Katie's post, you will see a picture of Katie and myself wearing some very funny "hats." We're not sure what they really are, but they served as hats yesterday.

Once we got back home, Katie and I both grubbed down and started painting. We started with the closet. Oh how I hate painting closets. I'm so glad she was there. She really made an otherwise dreadful chore a lot of fun!!! We kept going at it until it got dark, and then some. I was just finishing the last of the day's painting when the power went out, several times. Luckily it came on so I could finish what I was doing. I am now ready to roll the ceiling, which I may attempt tonight. I need to start taking pictures and have Katie show me how to post them so everyone can see. Maybe not for this project, but someday........ :o)

In the meantime, Dylan and Daniel had made a trip to Harmons after Dan got off work. When they got home, the kids presented me with my birthday present. They purchased the very first piece of my new bedroom furniture--a chest. I am thrilled. I can't wait until my painting and carpet cleaning projects are finished so I can put it together. I'm TIRED of living out of boxes. Dylan also purchased some delicious Italian sausage which he grilled. Someone left the back door open and all sorts of delightful pests started flying into the house. HUGE moths and who knows what else. But we had a good laugh when Katie referred to one of them as a bird, which reminded me so much of my dad's humor!!!

All in all, it was a delightful day. Not only was it my birthday (and the best ever), but it was also a payday. I have such great kids!!!!! I know I am a very imperfect mother, but somehow my children survived my mistakes and became wonderful human beings. I love them all so very much. They are truly the light of my life!!!

Thanks to all three of you for making my day so wonderful!!! Also, thank you to my incredible parents, sisters and friends who took the time to call and wish me a good birthday. I felt so loved, even covered with all my warts!!! I love you all right back!!!

New Beginnings

2008-04-26T11:18:00.002-06:00

As those of you who are close to me know, I am once again living life single. The last few months have been so very challenging and difficult--the last month the hardest of all. But I am actually feeling a peace I haven't known in some time. I don't dread coming home anymore, I'm enjoying my sons as never before, and I have managed to recapture much of the motivation I have lacked in recent months.

It truly is a new beginning for me. Sometimes I am petrified, but mostly I am feeling very hopeful and positive. I have begun to spend more time with great friends again. I am feeling closer to my children (whom I love more than my very life). I have experienced the incredible love my dear parents have for me. I am starting projects at home that have needed doing for a number of years. I am enjoying the peace I feel at home--something that is so important for rejuvenation at the end of a busy day. There has been so much turbulence here in recent months, so it is such a welcome and surprising change. It is absolutely amazing to me how one person can have such an affect on the aura of your home. I have learned through all of this how important it is to have a peaceful place to call home.

I have no bedroom furniture right now. I have plans to buy new furniture, but first I decided I would clean and paint my room. It is a disaster area. I have been washing walls, then repairing them and sanding. I have less than one wall to go before I can wash everything down one more time and paint. Then I'll get the furniture I've picked out. I'm hoping that this renewal in the room where I spend the most time will purge more of the toxicity from my life. I am trying very hard not to let fear, bitterness, anger and resentment gain control over my mind and spirit!

There are many more projects waiting for me. But I had to put everything on hold to do this one thing for myself. The work has been therapeutic. The sanding dust has settled on every inch of my house (UGH), but that is a small price to pay. I can clean it up and throw it out with the bad memories and feelings that still plague me just a little. I'm so very excited!

And, of course, it helps that it is spring--a perfect time for a new beginning.

Thanks to all of you who have been so loving, kind and supportive throughout this ordeal. I will never be able to repay all you have done.

Purse Tag

2008-04-16T18:48:00.002-06:00

I can't resist being tagged. It will be an adventure diving into my purse--it's been a while. Who knows what I might find!

. My checkbook
. A calculator because my real brain doesn't like math
. A small bottle of B & BW Cherry Blossom lotion. YUM!
. Some Airborne to ward off evil bugs.
. A little package of tissues
. My wallet that contains gazillions of cards, but no money save some small change.
. A little container of ibuprofen and tylenol.
. Two Bliss dark chocolates (I forgot about them.) Glad I found them before summer.
. Some reading glasses.
. Three pens.
. Oh! Another Bliss.
. Various receipts.
. Girl supplies.
. One tube of lipstick.
. One tiny tube of Mary Kay lotion--dunno where that came from. Hmmmm.

Wow! Is that boring enough for you? How about if I tag Clodhopper? If she hasn't already been tagged, that is. I haven't read it for a while. I really need to get back into the swing of things.

OK, now I have to go cook some dinner for the Dylmeister!

Heidi's Tag

2008-02-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

Heidi's tag intrigued me. It's just what I needed to spark enough interest in blogging to do this!

OK, so you choose a book, go to page 123. Find the fifth sentence. Then record the next three sentences. Here goes:

"I too had that moment of thinking this was the first truly authentic man I'd ever met, the kind of person I'd traveled to Wyoming as a twenty-two-year-old to find (indeed, to BECOME)--a genuine soul uncontaminated by modern rust. What makes Eustace seem, on first encounter, like the last of some noble species is that there is nothing "virtual" about his reality. This is a guy who lives, quite literally, the life that, for the rest of the country, has largely become a metaphor."

I can't think of 5 people to tag. But I will tag Hollyoak!

SLACKER MOM, YES I AM! :o)

2007-10-08T08:07:00.000-06:00

Yes, 'tis true. I am a slacker. A busy slacker, though. If that buys me any forgiveness at all.

I sit in front of a computer all day, and the last thing I want to do when I get home is sit in front of the computer. That explains why I'm doing this at work (tsk tsk). That's also why it's short!

Thanks very much to Katie, who spent hours on end going through our pictures on the computer and straightening out the mess. I'm pretty much a techno zero, and Paul is probably a techno negative 1. Her help was very much appreciated. Thanks to her, there is actually a picture on this blog. I'm hoping to post more, if I can remember how.

Yes, I got married last week in Alaska. We had a perfectly wonderful time. It was so much fun to discover a place I never thought I would see. It was absolutely stunning!

That's it for now. I must get back to work, although I am completely alone here today. SOME people get Columbus Day off. No rest for the wicked, I guess. :o)

Slacker Mom. ;)

2007-10-07T09:11:00.000-06:00

If my mother isn't going to post here, I will... Congratulations to her on getting married last week.! :) Love, Katiebug

Procrastination

2007-07-10T22:10:00.000-06:00

I'm convinced that procrastination is one of mankind's worst enemies. And how do I know this? Personal experience.

I don't generally procrastinate to the point where I'm in real trouble, but I do it for long enough that I have to listen to those voices nagging me. And then I find when I take care of those things, they really weren't that bad to begin with. You'd think after 50 years, I would figure this out. ha

This morning when I woke up, I was just dragging. I didn't want to get up and go to work. I think part of it is the heat. It kind of drains a person--and my office is an oven. Regardless, I vowed to take care of at least two things that I've been putting off. I'm happy to say that I actually did more than two!!! And wow, I feel so much better tonight! I've actually been feeling somewhat depressed and overwhelmed.

The one thing I procrastinate continually is updating my checkbook and paying bills. It is always SOOOO depressing. Maybe it wouldn't be so depressing if I did it more often and didn't have to worry about the unknown. ha

So tonight, after I mowed the lawn (1), I turned on the All-Star Game and worked on my checkbook (2). I paid a couple of outstanding bills (3) and filed some paperwork (4). Earlier in the day I called my insurance company and paid for my cars for the next six months (5). I also called U of U Healthcare regarding an outstanding bill I am questioning (6).

Even though my house is a bit of a mess tonight, I have to feel good about accomplishing the things I did.

Tomorrow..........................I'm going to wash and vacuum my filthy, disgusting car!

So I'm interested..................... What sorts of things do you all procrastinate doing?

My Decision

2007-07-08T08:17:00.000-06:00

Thanks to all of you for your input about the damage to my car. I am going to go for the $85.00 dollar fix. Anything else seems absolutely insane.

The Dilemma

2007-07-03T13:16:00.000-06:00

So, I have a dilemma.

Last week, a woman hit my parked car in a parking lot. She tried to drive away, but an employee of the grocery store where I was shopping saw the whole thing and chased her down. To make a long story short, she agreed to pay for the damage. She wants to pay for it without involving insurance if it doesn't go over $500.

This woman was not having a good week. She had just moved here from out-of-state. When she got here, she discovered that her apartment was not going to be ready for a couple of weeks. She is staying in a hotel. She also hit me with her 2-week-old car.

The damage to my vehicle is fairly superficial. There are no dents. There is a sort of scratch along the back quarter panel and on the bumper. There are a couple of small chips in the paint, but no bare metal is exposed.

Today, I went to get a couple of bids on the repair work. The first place I went gave me two bids. One of the bids was for doing some buffing and minor touch up for about $85.00. The other bid was for "doing it right." It would entail painting the entire panel and bumper and would be about $505.00. I went to another place and got a comparable bid that came in at $675.00.

Herein lies the dilemma. Do I go with the bid for minor work, or do I go for the brass ring and take her for every dime I can. My car is nearly 8 years old. It has other unrepaired body damage (my fault). My gut tells me to go with the minor work and charge her $85.00.

I made the mistake of mentioning this to my friends here at work. They think I should go with the very highest bid I can get and fix my car, OR NOT. They suggested that I might take the money, not fix my car, and spend it on something else like a vacation.

I WAS UTTERLY APPALLED!!! Isn't that dishonest? They say no, it's not. They claim that this is why we pay for auto insurance. I feel like it would be stealing to take the money and not fix my car.

I will digress here. A number of years ago, I took my kids to the batting cages. I opened the door to my van and the wind tore it right out of my hands. It took the rear view mirror right off the car next to me. I was heartsick. It was a beautiful muscle car, 60's vintage. It was in cherry condition with a gorgeous paint job. I left my name and number on the windshield when I couldn't find the owner. He called later and said he would get back to me. A few days later he called and said he had gone to a junk yard and found the part he needed and repaired it himself. He charged me about $60 to $70 for the part and paint. I was so relieved. I had envisioned hundreds of dollars that I could not afford.

I'm thinking that this might be my chance to "pass it on." Other people think I'm naive and crazy.

So what do you all think??????

I'd like some opinions. Please share.........................

Just trying something........

2007-07-03T10:25:00.000-06:00

I am technologically impaired. I have been trying to play around with my template, my post, my profile, etc. I have also been trying to upload pictures from my camera. All to practically no avail.

They say that everything you know, you learn in kindergarten. Well, I didn't learn how to do these things in kindergarten in the early 60's, so I guess I'm in trouble. Pretty much anything I know comes from asking my kids to do it and watching. But I am determined to push on. I am beginning to lose my fear of "playing" with these things, at last.

This blog is merely designed to test my skills, or lack thereof.

Moon Walk

2007-07-02T07:57:00.001-06:00

I have returned from my short sojourn to the regions south of my reality. And yes, it's always good to come home and find things in order and everyone intact. But I always suffer from mild melancholy when I come home from vacation, whether it be long or short. I find myself wanting to plan another one. ha

I was so relieved to finally get out of town. I came close to not going at the last minute because of family illness and because my car was hit in a parking lot the night before I was to leave. But I was firmly told that I was to go--and of course I always do what I'm told. haha

What a fabulous time we had. I went with three ladies from work. We got along famously and had a very relaxing weekend. We did a little hiking, a fair amount of eating good food, and plenty of sleeping.

The highlight of the trip was the Moonlight Hike. This is something I've wanted to do for a number of years. It's always nice when you have a wish granted, and this weekend I did. Thanks, Sherry, for sharing my enthusiasm and helping this wish come true.

There was a full moon over the weekend. We waited in line for 2 hours early on Saturday morning to be sure we got a spot on this park sponsored hike. We met at 9 pm just after the sun set. The ranger warned us there was a bear in the area, then directed our gaze at the sky at exactly 9:11 pm. We saw a bright flash--a satellite that was passing through the area. She then pointed out Jupiter, Venus and Saturn as they appeared in the darkening sky. By the way, Venus and Saturn were more closely aligned that night than they will be again for many years to come. After the hike we were able to see Jupiter and her four moons, and our own moon, through telescopes the rangers provided.

As we proceeded down the trail, we watched a gigantic orange moon rise out of the horizon. It appeared to be on fire. She explained that it looks that way because the atmosphere is thicker right at the horizon level. As the moon rises it becomes whiter and whiter. We stopped every little while and received lessons on how to locate Polaris (the North Star), how to determine where we are (both latitude and longitude), a history lesson in navigation, and the myths associated with constellations we saw in the sky. The moon was very bright, and we were able to see the trail well enough not to topple over the edge of the trail into oblivion.

The moonlight cast such eerie and beautiful shadows across the jagged landscape. The weather was perfect, and it wasn't too cold. The ranger had us go right up to the Ponderosa pines that were scattered all over the area. Did you know that after these pines are exposed to the hot sun, they smell like vanilla? You walk up and put your nose right on the tree, and sure enough, they smell like sugar cookies baking in the oven. It was amazing.

The ranger finally led us off the hiking trail and onto a horse trail. We sat at the top of a large, fairly barren rise that looked just like a moonscape. We were able to stay as long as we wanted to bask in the light of the almost full moon and enjoy the sounds, sights and smells of the canyon at night. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life!

I have rambled on way too long, but I had to put this in writing before I forgot everything. I would highly recommend this activity to everyone. It was a fabulous experience.

So, back to work...................

Vacating Soon

2007-06-27T12:47:00.000-06:00

Vacation. Notice that the root word is vacate. Which is what I'd like to do right about now.

I can always tell when a break is needed. I went to a staff meeting this morning which was supposed to be short (but wasn't). We were to address the events of the last few days and how they will affect our program in the next few days. I must say that I work with some of THE most negative and judgmental people. By the time I left, I was angry and upset. I usually let these things roll off my back--but today was different. Hence, I can tell I need a vacation.

Actually, my timing is pretty good. I am leaving on Friday to go to Bryce Canyon with some "work" friends for a couple of days. We are planning to participate in the Moonlight Hike, a park sponsored program which occurs during the full moon. This is something I've wanted to do for many years. I'll be able to check one more thing off my list.

I'm looking forward to a weekend of nature, fun, laughter, hiking, food, and good company. What more could one ask for? I always feel an actual physical change when I'm able to enjoy the beautiful outdoors on a real personal level. I can feel the stress roll off of me in waves. I can get some of that same change just digging in the dirt (I'm sure my sister can attest to this phenomenon).

So, now I struggle to put my anger away and look forward to "vacating" the premises. Maybe I'll even have some pictures to share upon my return. My dear daughter will have to tutor me in the procedure to do this!

On a different subject........ You think you know the people in your family and close friends. But then you read their blogs, and there is so much more than you ever knew. I must say that this whole experience is proving to be enlightening and absolutely delightful. Keep the blogs coming.....

Temporary Farewells

2007-06-21T13:21:00.000-06:00

My dear sister has been visiting the past few days from afar. What a treat it has been for me to spend some time with her! We often go weeks without communicating, which is really inexcusable with all of the electronic communication devices we both own. Our communication may be sparse, but when we see each other the days, weeks and even months just dissolve. We talk, laugh and giggle like kids. Hmmmmm. I don't remember doing that when we were kids. The years have been very kind to our relationship. In fact, time has been kind to my relationship with all of my family members, and I feel very lucky to be able to say that. Not everyone can.

She and her adorable daughter are leaving to return to the warmer regions of the southwest. I will miss her, as I have for the last 17 years. But happily, she will be returning in less than two months for a "planned vacation." I look forward to renewing that relationship once again and being able to spend a little more time with her.

So I bid them a temporary farewell. Safe journey. See you soon.

The first time......

2007-06-20T15:24:00.000-06:00

This is the first time I've attempted to do this sort of thing. It's not something I'm particularly "into" or comfortable with. My main goal is being able to comment on other blogs--especially my Bug's. Her blogs are so creative and insightful. Since I don't get to see her or talk with her as often as I would like, this will be a way to have an ongoing dialog about things that are important to us.

Anyone who really knows me is aware that I do not enjoy being the center of attention, or even being slightly noticed. So this is way out of my comfort zone. But I decided that it's always good to step out of the zone every now and then to try something new.

So here I am................. For the first time.........................