Mother and Daughter Shopping

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

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

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!!

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

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

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

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..............