Choices We Make

-Excerpt from Echoes of the Maggid, by Rabbi Paysach Krohn-



At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?"

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. "I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled, comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child."

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?"

I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!"

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball ... the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay"

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third!"

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, "Shay, run home! Run home!" Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

"That day", said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world".

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

Really Sick or Kinda?

Ben came home from the movies the other night sicker than a dog. He was sweating, pale, and said his stomach was churning. Said it started up about 1/2 way through the film. When he left for the movie, he was just fine.

I got worried that we'd both be horizontal for a while, until hearing about this on the TV the next morning.

Apparently, people are getting quite motion sick during the latest scary movie, Cloverfield. I guess it's similar to The Blair Witch Project that involves the characters in the movie hand-holding the video camera, making the scenes very unstable. Your brain might get vertigo if it can't separate the movie from your stationary surroundings. I'm sure it didn't help that the premise of these movies is scary, bloody, and horrific (I am not a fan of scary movies; they're scary).


I had to leave I Am Sam in the first 30 minutes from the wiggly, jiggly perspective. Barf. I get motion sick even THINKING about it :o)

Drug Problem

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, ''Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?''

I replied, I had a drug problem when I was young:
I was drug to church on Sunday morning.
I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.
I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.
I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.
I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, didnot speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.
I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four-letter word.
I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad's fields.
I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place. ~author unknown~

Back Is Out

First time since we've moved that my back has been "out" so bad that I can't walk without supporting myself along the furniture, walls, and children. Got off the couch and fell to the floor it hurt so bad. Not in the mood for this (especially since I don't have a chiropractor up here yet). So, if you're the kind that prays for someone else to get better, then please throw my name in there because I'd like to function tomorrow when I wake up (at least by the end of the day tomorrow). I've done my part with staying off of it, ibuprofen, and about to go ice before I fall asleep. Thanks :o)

Sweet, sweet, Serentine

A while ago, I was talking with a teenager who wants to be a novelist when he grows up. "Really? Then I want to read something you've written," I said. He gave me the high school booklet that had his story in with a bunch of other students drawings, poems and stories. I read his and then some others and found that I truly enjoyed his much more than the rest. I wonder what you think...?



-Sweet, sweet, Serentine-

by F.K.

I met her in first grade.

Innocence was caked in our eyes and smeared all about our scrawny little frames. Inside, I suppose I was the same as I am now: contemplative, reasoning, always questioning. She was different and oh, we were in love.

She had but to cast her laughing, secretive smile at me. The smile that said with the subtle, tricky shine in her eyes “I’ve traveled the world, time, space and beyond; and if I feel like it, I’ll take you with me.” I would be hooked, shot by her harpoon gun of curiosity. And all she had to do was reel me in.


But, to my great, unyielding torture, she didn’t reel me in. I knew there was nothing to be done. I couldn’t just walk over to her during class. So I sat and waited for what seemed like an eternity.

There were worksheets to be completed and they were sitting on the desk before me. But I couldn’t touch them to save my life. All I could do was watch the sweet, sweet Serentine.
She looked back at me from where she sat by the window, while pointing out at the clouds, the trees and the birds. She showed me what we would look like if we could fly. She put into my head what it would be like to ride the cumulus from fiery dawn, to fiery sunset. She was beautiful, smart, and uproariously funny.

We’d make silly faces at each other from across the room as we tried to suppress our laughter, so as not to be noticed. But it was always inevitable, being caught, and so horrible when it happened.

The teacher would pause her lecture a spell, glance from me, to the window, and then back again. She’d open her mouth in hesitation to speak; close it again, and then let it all out.

“Freddy, are you having troubles focusing?”

I’d whip my head around and straighten up in my chair. “No Mrs. Hansen, I’m alright”

Mrs. Hansen would give me her famous, narrow-eyed, truth serum stare. She could crack even the most experienced liars like an egg with that stare. I’d straighten up even more and swallow under her burning gaze.

“Alll riiight.” She’d say in false satisfaction, before warily returning to her lecture.


I’d fall back in my seat and gasp a sigh of relief. Then I’d check the clock, to find that there were only five minutes until recess, and all happiness would instantly be restored. Recesses with Serentine were unparalleled adventures, which put to shame any and all of humanity’s most compelling classics.



The playground was our enigma. Tools in our hands, we were masters, elite craftsmen who could shape anything we wanted. Or we were pirates, lost at a torrential sea. We could be explorers in Antarctica, geologists in the belly of a churning volcano; it all depended on the day.



But recess was short. It was a mere twenty-five minutes in which Serentine and I could play, be free with one another. And all too soon, the bells that signaled slavery were ringing in the distance.



We’d return to our classroom still reveling in our grand and glorious adventures. I’d sit down at my desk, shaking from the adrenaline that still coursed through my veins, and start on my class-work.



But it was futile. I’d cast a glance at Serentine, to find that she was looking at me as well. A few giggles would be exchanged, and we’d return to work. I’d begin reading a problem on my paper. I wonder if she’s still looking at me, another glance at Serentine, another round of giggles. Work was impossible. Now I didn’t even need Serentine to distract me, as I was distracting myself!
I’d draw things in the margins of my worksheets, things related to the latest adventures Serentine and I had encountered. And from where Mrs. Hansen stood at the front of the class, it looked like I was working. But the fact remained: I wasn’t.



When the time came to turn in my papers, I had nothing to show for my time save the drawings that I’d come to adorn my papers with. And so the trouble started.



Through all my flirtations and adventures with Serentine, I was left with no time to complete my assignments. One or the other had to go. But both seemed so crucial, so great that I couldn’t live without them. The right choice had to be school.



I got to school the next morning and sat down at my desk. Taking care not to look at the window, as that’s where Serentine sat, I pulled out my worksheets and began to fill in the answers. Things were going well. I had gotten a whole answer down!



Suddenly, a boy dropped his pencil across the room. I looked over to where he stooped down to pick it up, and there sat Serentine; Sweet, sweet Serentine. She was smiling again, show-boating that dazzling set of brown eyes, with that sly and tricky twinkle. My heart warmed and swelled for her. I wanted to run away with her once more, travel some distant planet, or brave some raging sea. She was a beautiful girl, who’d seen many strange and beautiful things. She could show them to me. In all their foreign, magical glory she could show me all the places she’d been.



All I had to do was follow. All I could do was follow. Physically and mentally I believe I had no other choice. And so it was: I chose to travel with Serentine; and that made all the difference.



No one has really understood me since then: the day I first met Serentine. Some have pitied me; seen me as diseased or cursed with a wandering mind. Others have simply seen me as a freak. But I think I’m just the same as anyone else.



I’ve come to the conclusion that Serentine could have gone to anyone in the world, regardless of his or her normalcy. But she chose me, and I am made to live with that.



Alas, it is even as I write these words that Serentine is standing at the windows, gazing out at the nature beyond. We’ve both matured since we first met. Our adventures are less spontaneous; more planned by plot and reason.



She’s coming over to me now, pulling at my hand in want for me to follow. She wants to take me to the depths of space and time to where a foundation’s being laid in the stars, a genesis, over which we are made the overseers. We’ve many places to be and people to see, but many more to create.



Can you believe it? After all the adventures I’ve seen with her, all the battles we’ve lost and won together: she’s finally showing me where she came upon the twinkle in her eyes. It’s at times like these I’m eternally grateful I indulged in the sweet, sweet Serentine.

Wedding Show Geeks

Lori, my Mexico roommate and friend, and I attended the Seattle Wedding Show on Saturday. We got there at starting time trying to beat the rush but with 9,000 people expected, we weren't the only ones thinking that.

Unfortunately, attending a wedding show with a gal friend and no make-up or wedding ring (long story about losing mine, that's why I wasn't wearing it) instantly tags me as lebonese. I say ME because vendors would hand HER their information and ignore me, like I was the dude being dragged along with promises of 'I'll make it up to you if you come to this with me.' She claims it's because she had 'the official bridal show bag' (I was too impatient to wait in line). I know better because this isn't the FIRST time it's happened to me. I don't mind, mind you (get it, mind twice in a row and it makes sense), I just wanted the free stuff LOL. Apparently there were about 400 vendors altogether, with only 30 or so photographers, and we had a BALL checking them all out.

Rentals:
My absolute favorite of all was the dishes rental girl, Sheena, at Totally Tabletops. The booth was uber simple and super tiny (smallest available) but the few dishes she had displayed reminded me of dinners at Christine's and I totally LOVELOVELOVE that look. They were funky, fresh and vintage all rolled up. The BEST part about her dishes rental? Can you GUESS? You can bring them back DIIIRRRRRTY! Now THAT'S a winner in my book (after last nights birthday dishes and tonight's emergency-the-5-person-family-had-their-power-go-out-plus-us dishes, that's 9 if you're counting).

Catering:
Speaking of dishes... how about food to put ON the dishes? Herban Feast is DEFINITELY the place to go for gorgeous, delicious, local and all-natural yumminess. Their display was divine and the chef/owner top-knotch, friendly, sweet and professional. Recently, they've purchased a historical SODO giant open loft with exposed beams warehouse for hosting up to 300 guests (EXACTLY what I'd love to live in)! They sampled their dilectable Sweet Potato & Dungeness Crab Cake and almost had to call security to make me leave. Not really, but my taste buds are calling them out as I type! Look at these babies...

The gal at Volterra Restaurant convinced me to come try their Tuscan cuisine (they also have event space for 12-85 guests). Initially the draw to her booth was that the name is a well-known city in my favorite book series, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. She says she's never heard of it; what the...? I say we get some fans together and try channeling Edward and Jacob over a plate of pasta!

Brown's Catering had the coolest looking chef with his talltalltall chef hat hoovering over the crowd. He was cheerful and poised. Their niche' is that prices are all-inclusive (no extra or hidden charges from start to finish; chef, servers, tables, linens, dishes, utensils and clean-up)!

Cakes:
Lori was all over the cake samples (I DID taste one from Mike's Amazing Cakes... yes, it WAS amazing and definitely worth clicking on... do it, I'll wait).

(Seriously, I hope you checked out his cakes.)

Creme de la Creme had a booth PLUS had miniature cakes on display at a few wedding consultant booths. They were about 4" high and were delicately decorated, mimicking a full-size wedding cake. Their cakes were exquisitely beautiful and looked worth the money people pay for wedding cakes these days. My mom made ours... five tiers of cheesecake... m-m-m. Their website is pretty ghetto and doesn't show their awesomeness. Wish we were allowed to take pics at the show... grr.

Morfey's Cake Shoppe had me at their name (Morfey, hahaha, cute) but their pictures displayed and in the brochures don't do them justice. Sure, they're not Mike's Amazing Cakes or Creme de la Creme, but I'd put these guys in my top three as a mom-and-pop shop (although I don't think they're mom and pop, I'm just saying that's the feel I get from their friendly, down home booth).

There was a gal there who makes ceramic cake trays and stands to match your wedding cake, but the closer I looked there was glaze dripping from some spots and some cracking (which can be seen in her pictures online)... wish that wasn't the case because the colors and design were really adorable. Maybe posting this will give someone the idea to perfect it because that was an excellent idea for a niche product. Imagine being able to use your cake stand from your wedding throughout your marriage!

Paper Products:
There were really pretty invitation designers... Sparkll was my favorite one-of-a-kind designer, even though the spelling of it drove me nuts right off the bat, and letterpress folk like the friendly and beautifully designed Ephemera Press (y'all know how I feel about gettin' me some Letterpress... yumm).

However, Brown Sugar Studios was my favorite letterpress vendor at the show that indulged me by listening to my breakfast story (oatmeal with some BROWN SUGAR and a little bit o' cream).

Oh, Tomato-Tomato (tow-may-toe... tow-mah-toe) had cute little magnet handouts that said "I love my in-laws." That was funny and eye-catching.

Wedding Coordinators:
I really liked Stacy at SK Wedding and Event Design (esp. since the initials remind me of my friend, Tiffany), but Lush Parties & Events had a pretty impressive booth with real grass sod and a place to put up my feet! Jesse and Travis at TrUe Colors Events were absolutely darling too (but should reprint their handout with better resolution on the pictures).

Newest idea:
The newest idea was a vintage umbrella rental gal... Bella Umbrella. She had the most BEAUTIFUL umbrellas we've ever seen, was super-duper nice, prices are pretty fair and got more interest than she expected the whole two days in the first two hours!

Parking was atrocious (3hrs = $11) and entry was $16/person ($2 discount coupon at the vendors before the show), but I suppose I'm not supposed to complain because that's what you get livin' in the big Metro Natural ci-tay (pshyeah, that's our slogan).

Lori was also all over the proper pronunciation of classic business names that, apparently, we've all been saying incorrectly... like Ivars. Go ahead and say it, or think it in your head. You said eye-vars, didn't you? No lying, that's bad and you'll get lashes. It's actually ee-vars, as in the Norwegian way. She's quite learned, ain't she? That's why I keep her around (she makes me look good). She finally dragged me into the Photo Booth for some lebanese looking pics... ain't no shame in it... Hey, you can ALMOST see how cool my new teeth look!

Happy Birthday, Ben

I might not get through this post because my space bar is sticking. Sadly, I cannot blame my beautiful children. No, this time it's all my fault (I don't mind the blame, 'tis true).

See, I deemed myself the Hostess today to Ben's side of the fam + Freddy for dinner after a day of fasting (not for me because I'd fall over with the shakes and not Britanny because she's less than 5 weeks away of giving birth to no. 2... oh, and not the kids because their bodies are too young). Usually these get togethers mean we all chip in and bring a dish but I'm kinda anti-that (not sure what you'd call it). Some people like the help (my MIL said she does), but for me I'd rather take care of it all myself. Call me crazy (k, I'll wait for you to say it).

So in the midst of scattering things together for the birthday boys' dinner, I checked online to see if I could fine the cream cheese measurement for the cheesecake, seeing that that is THE most important part of the dessert. While I was clicking around, I sucked on my Henry Weinhard's Root Beer (draught style head) and sat it in between my arms RIGHT NEXT TO THE KEYBOARD. Go ahead and say it... "crazy."

I gasped when it happened, Piper heard and worriedly (made up word) asked what happened!?

I just made a mess.

Uh-oh!

Yeah, don't tell daddy ;o)

Anyway... dinner. We're watching America's Test Kitchen the other day on pork chops then low-fat cheesecake. Really? Is there REALLY such thing as LOW-FAT cheesecake? They took the almost 600 calorie slice down to 300 something but is that REALLY low-FAT?! Anywho, that's not my point. The point is that Ben asked for those two items as his birthday dinner and by golly I was going to deliver (I guessed on the cream cheese amount - couldn't find it anywhere for that specific recipe).

I scored the silver skin on 10 fat pork chops, sauteed and sauced them (my MIL particularly liked the sauce, yay!). Baked the fingerlings with some olive oil (forgot the parchment paper this time... never forget the parchment paper) and seasonings, the asparagus (must admit I overcooked them worrying about undercooking those thick suckers), warmed the meatballs and threw together salad.

Had to call around for a bigger Cuisanart because I have one of those silly mini-combo blender ones then realized I can't find my spring-form pan, dagnabit (used a rectangular one, lame). But, I successfully drained the yogurt overnight to make yogurt cheese for the first time and also the cottage cheese (but that was just 30 minutes). It tasted just fine and I even swirled homemade raspberry puree on the plates and topped the pieces with fresh raspberries ($3.99 at Costco).

Eight adults, three kids and one happy birthday boy!

Canine Dental Issues

...and I'm not talking about human bi-cuspids.

Piper has been more concerned about Posie's teeth lately.

She's been so worried that she interupted Jack's Wii playing tonight.

"Jack. Jaaaack. JACK!" she squealed.

"WHAT PiPER?" emphasizing the PER.

"I fink Posie has a woose toof," she says nicely with raised eyebrows.


__________________________________

Anger: something we're working on in this house. We all get frustrated for different, and sometimes valid, reasons. Figuring out how to teach the proper way to deal with those feelings is another thing altogether.

Thank goodness Steve, of Blue's Clues fame (sorry Joe), had a lesson about that today and they've been practicing...

STOP

BREATH (take a deep breath, filling the chest, then exhale slowly)

THINK (pointing to your cranium, which is the preferred term in our house)

So, Piper reiterated this lesson to Jack when the Wii wasn't reacting properly and he growled. She said, "Stop, brief, fink, JaaaAck!"

The Atonement

My friend, Jacqui, sent me this email today about her experience at church recently:

Today in Sacrament we listened to 6 men they wore short haircuts and white shirts with colorful ties, they smiled and joked. They looked like you and me but this was a sacrament meeting unlike any other I have ever attended and one of the most sobering times I think I shall ever experience but also one of the most spiritual times I shall ever encounter.

Within our ward boundaries we have a drug rehabilitation center called the Renaissance Ranch. People come from all over the country to attend, but all are members of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Days Saints. For an hour and a half our family and others listened to these men young and old confess that they were all recovering drug addicts and alcoholics.

You might think that these men were what you would consider your stereotypical drug addicts from broken homes and not very educated but they weren't. These were men, who had been successful in their lives, who had been bishops son's and had served missions, been sealed in the temple and had loving parents. As we listened they spoke to us of the devastation that drug addiction had played in their lives and how it has damaged their families. They spoke of what had brought them to this point and they also spoke of how the atonement was what had finally brought them home.

Our first young man spoke of how he had been in a family that looked perfect from outside but was emotionally distant within, though they attended church, they were unhappy as a family.

Our second young man from Arizona spoke of how he had served a mission, he was one of five kids and had loving parents but he also spoke of the expectations that come from being a latter day saint and how we are often given the message to be perfect and how often we are judged by those around us if we get it wrong and how we feel we sometimes cant live up to those expectations, so we live a lie. This young guy spoke of how he and his counselor wrote on a stick it note “today is the day I begin to live real.”

Are you living real? Are you happy with your life? Are you being really who you are? These were all questions he asked us. We aren't expected to be perfect. Begin today by living real, being honest and open about what you really are.

Our third guy who spoke to us, he too had served a mission and had a good career, been married within the temple , he had a beautiful family with four children, he was sixty days clean, he had just two years ago began using drugs by the time he arrived at the renaissance ranch he was a heroin addict. He said he felt worthless till he was able to put the atonement within his life.

You see, yesterday I realized the power the atonement really has within our lives. These men told us that they had been to hell and back literally that they had done things that they were so ashamed of, that it was only through the atonement of Jesus Christ that they could stand before us and truly know they were forgiven.

Our last man who stood before us was not young, he was graying around the temples, he was older than the others, he looked like he had been here before but one thing he said touched everyone, he said "help someone around you who is struggling and help yourself in the process."

I looked at my children today and wondered what lessons could be learnt from these men and the other recovering addicts that have passed through our ward this past year. I think the words that were spoken rang loudly in my ears; it’s okay to be you, to make mistakes. Today is the day we can all begin living real, the day we can use the Saviors atonement within our lives.

Today is the day we can look around us and realize we are all part of the same family and that when we help those around us suffering we help ourselves. I felt inspired to share this experience; it certainly made me think of what is real in my life. I hope you can for a moment ponder on what is real in your life and then if you feel someone else may benefit from reading this… PAY IT FORWARD.
Jacqui

I don't think she meant to start an email chain by that last line. But I posted it because I thought it was a good point about being judgemental, (critical, if you will) even within our own families.

Recently, we had a family over for dinner and the husband made a comment that I found interesting. He told me, "I'm glad you talk to me." Then he explained that he's a friendly person and says "hi" to people who pass him. In his experience, he's found that many women shrink away, especially if they see that he has a wedding ring. It's as if because he's wearing a ring, he shouldn't talk to women other than his wife (um, what country do we live in?) or that means they're going to have an affair. That broke my heart to think that a nice guy is getting treated that way because of a snap judgement being made. He doesn't seem creepy or look weird - I'd understand if people were apprehensive if he were, although that wouldn't be an acceptable excuse.

I wish more people would just be niiiice to everyone.

My Christmas List

All I want for Christmas is a bathroom door and insulation in the attic.

Pretty pitiful request, isn't it?

Not diamonds or crafting items, photo gear or shoes. We are a healthy and happy family with no 'needs' that haven't already been fulfilled (because, really, how many needs should we have?). I would just like a door for privacy and noise reduction. The insulation, well that's a no brainer why I would want that... brr and cha-ching.

At dinner Friday night, we were told a story about a young family Monica knows (she helps take care of him/them) who are having some incredible hardships. Two under 3 with another on the way when dad is in an accident that leaves him paralyzed from the neck down and unable to work. He's twenty-six and she's twenty-three. Insurance cancels their policy, she has the baby and loses her job (I'm not sure in what order). Hopefully I'll get their info pretty soon so those who are interested in helping their family this Christmas, and beyond, will be able to. They live in Utah.

We are blessed and I can't complain.

UPDATE/EDIT: Monica sent me this...
I read your blog this morning. Thanks for what you said about Ben and his family. Here is a little info... Ben is a friend from Seattle. He has a 3 year old little boy named Aden. Aden is very shy, but very sweet. He likes anything to do with cars. Hailey is 2 and the cutest thing ever. She is more outgoing and often talks for her older brother. She loves kitty's and anything girly. Ben's wife Megan just gave birth to a new baby boy named Kurt Corey Brust after Ben's dad that died a few months ago, and Corey is Ash's little brother thats in Iraq. Baby Kurt is a sweet little guy. Here are a few links with more info about the family. Anyone who wants to help can email me (monica *at* brides club dot com) or they can go to Ash's blog, and he has a donate button for a paypal account.

In Utah This Weekend

Just went out to dinner with a few friends (thanks, friends) and had a marvelous time. Oh, I should start by telling you what I did YESTERDAY...

I say, let's leave for the airport at 4:30. Ben says, it doesn't take that long to get there so we plan to leave at 4:45 and end up leaving at 4:56. My flight (which is the last of the night) leaves at 6:20. Stuck in traffic, I keep glancing at the time as it gets past 5:20, 5:38 then 5:57. Call up Southwest and the only thing she suggests is to ask for cuts at security to catch my flight or reschedule for the morning (Tiffany and her girls are picking me up at 9:10 and my last dental appointment is 10am the next day). Get out of the car at 6:09 (oh, I should mention that I DID say a silent prayer to help me make my flight). I book it to security... lines are too bad but it's still about 30 people and I don't muster the courage to ask for cuts (yeah, ME). The security guy waves me through at 6:12 and I get behind a couple military boys. They're unlacing their boots when I say that my flight is in 9 minutes and they gladly let me go ahead (and say their flight isn't for another two hours so they have plenty of time). About to waltz through the x-ray thingy (I know it's not an x-ray, but you know what I mean) and realize I have my hefty metal belt... rip it off in a flurry and slap it on the dealio before walking through without a beep... YAY! It's 6:14 so I'm hurridly redressing and start hauling tail to Egypt. Because at SeaTac my gate is ALWAYS in Egypt (almost as bad as the SLC airport). The digital clocks along the way say 6:14 then 15. I have to stop running because my pants aren't staying up (didn't get the belt on) and I feel like I'm going to hyperventilate. Yes, now is the time I'm thinking about how out of shape I am and that I should work out... someday. I'm walking as fast as I can and pounding my chest thinking that will keep my heart beating. It's 6:16 and four minutes from take-off when I think about how they close the doors five minutes before departure. I see Egypt... it's the round area at the end that you can never tell where the gate is for some reason. My eyes scamper around frantic to find the gate... there it is... but there are a bunch of people standing in front of it. "Excuse me, (gasp, pant, pant) is this the Southwest flight to SLC?" Yes, it is, and they've delayed boarding but we don't know why. Hallyjulia!

So I make my flight, see a buddy (Steve S. who rides a chopper) and friend (Kathy G.) then use the plane restroom because I love the flush and washing my hands (but I'm not OCD, as one attendant suggested... I just like to wash my hands, especially in public). If you've made it this far in the story, I commend you (and you're probably my mother), because it's not all that interesting and I'm not trying to be creative because I need to hit the hay. But I'll keep going.

Tiffany and the girls pick me up, we drive through Taco Hell for a Grilled Gordita (chipotle-style, whatever that means but it was good) since I missed dinner altogether and then she shows me her new art gallery on our way to her new loft in the city. I stayed there last night then she drove me to her extra car in the morning (I'm using it while I'm here, YAY). I forgot she had cats but I didn't have a huge reaction (slight, but I'm not complaining). Her loft is SO cute and the gallery is amazing!

We're to this morning (I had a cup of strawberry yogurt so I wouldn't get crap stuck in my teeth). I got my 2nd set of temporary teeth off this morning then meticulously had work done to put on my six new permanent front teeth. Dr. Hillam and my dental lab tech (Hi Craig) spent more time than normal, but they made sure I have the best dang teeth on the planet. Really. I'll post a picture sometime (although, I just realized I don't really have "before" pics to show the comparison, but whatever). Dr. Boehme had done the gum reconstruction surgery in August that prepared my mouth for the better, newer teeth. HE did an amazing job. All-in-all, it was an amazing transformation. I'm a big smiler, so this makes me thrilled. I spent WAY more time in that dental chair than I thought but it was all worth it in the end.

Missed lunch (in the chair) and waited 'til dinner/dessert with friends at Carrabba's. Oh, I did have a chocolate chip cookie with McKinley and Olivia, but no milk (dangit). Saw Lauri and Perry's new baby, Jack (I'd link but I'm tired), took a gal to see our washer and dryer for sale (she purchased them), unloaded the mail THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FORWARDED TO OUR NEW ADDRESS from the mailbox, swung by the Harley shop to hug Lance (he taught the Riders Edge course at the Harley dealership) and maybe pick up a shirt for Jack and Piper (2 separate ones, of course) and started on some med's to keep my pain at a low threshold.

So, dinner. Laurie, Monica, Tillia, Cathy, Jen and Sarah made my night fun with catching up and talking deep (mostly) and shallow (not as much). Jared was our server, as I always request (dangit it's his last week because he's quiting to concentrate on school -- yay for school, boo for when I visit). I asked him if he'd do anything I ask... he said yes (that's a whole 'nother story about why he'd trust me enough to answer YES before I tell him what it is). So the owner (whom I love and is my friend) came back with the container of cinnamon and a teaspoon. See, this isn't the first time we've done this. Tristan was the first then a few other servers and a hostess. We told him that it's impossible to swallow a teaspoon of cinnamon. He said, "Oh that's easy. I can do it," then put it in his mouth and closed it tight. First came the wide eyes then the poof of smoke from his nostrils. Then another shocked look and another nose poof then a puff out his mouth before he bee-lined to the back for water. I guess we should check to see if that's dangerous. So far it's just been funny. Brenen is the one that told me about it in the first place.

Anywho, I'm beat and have a busy day tomorrow with Kristy and Phil's wedding! Hope you didn't mind the long and boring story of my day. Peace out.

Chicken Head

Know how you have those times when you feel like a chicken with its head cut off?



Well, lately I'm not sure where mine is.



I guess right before I moved until this very moment I've felt that way.



There's always something to do, plan or somewhere to go. When this hits, I neglect my blog and that saddens me.



Wanting to show pictures with every post, I put off writing if I don't have the time to get one (said "up" then realized I should find another way of saying it) prepared to upload (yeah, doesn't sound right, does it?).



I just got back from a few days in Utah for:

1. A badly-needed hair trim. Not cut... I'm growing it out. There is a small window of opportunity to have long locks again before I'm too old to pull it off. But I was (pinches index finger toward the thumb) THIS close to messing it up today by getting an at-home color-in-a-box. I was standing in the hair color aisle at Walmart trying to figure out which one I should buy (can't remember the last time I used a color-in-a-box). Riley answered his phone, luckily, and talked me off the roof. I was about to jump and it wasn't gonna be pretty. He said, "Don't do it. You need to seek professional help." Maybe he didn't say those words exactly, but that's how I hear 'em and whatever it takes for me to come back from crazy is what I'm going with. Last night I contemplated going short again (I'm in the middle stage where it's just past my shoulders but you can't tell because it isn't long enough to lay against my back and instead forms a dorky flip out making me look quite matronly - I don't want to look matronly, thankyouverymuch). But, luckily, I had encouragement to stick it out. Let's see how far I go. Update: So I started this post a couple days ago and today I got in to see a semi-professional hair artist... it was a beauty school and my gal is all of 17 and still in high school! Yikes... but she did fabulously... took FOUR hours but it's a 100% if I were too hot for teacher (by-the-by... her instructor has a bald head with an eyeball tattoo'd on the back -- if it were two he could say "I have eyes in the back of my head" but it's just one... stumps me).


2. Lunch with some labies at Carrabba's (Azucar, ~j, Cdub, b., Tiffayfay, Geo and Peef). Had the salmon, needed me some Omega's, and got to participate in voodoo at the table (I contributed the materials and Geo performed the ritual... restaurant manager, Leo, had to help facilitate). Tattoo and voodoo in one and two.


3. Wicked football game of Colby's that I spent ON THE FIELD taking pictures. So it's the playoff's and security is heightened. I guess the previous weeks game had some drama (as in the other teams coach stomped a pheasant to DEATH on the field; he's been slapped with a cruelty to animals fine) so everyone was on tight alert. I had my gear and asked Colby's dad if he thought I could get on the field to shoot a few. He doubted it but cheered me on to give it the old HS try. With my 70-200mm lens in hand, I marched up to the bouncer guys at the gate to work my magic. Well, apparently my magic preceeds me because I didn't say a word but instantly had a field pass in hand. SCHWEEET! I said "thanks" like I've done this a million times (my first time) and played the part by chatting with the cops as we prepared for the national anthem. I was IN and stayed down there the whole game (except 1/2 time when I joined the fam back in the stands to show them a few shots and squeal about how much fun it was being in the middle of all the action).


4. Dinner out... went with Colby's family to Chaddar's for the first time. Was cool because they've been sued by In n' Out Burger for copyright infringement and I've always wanted to know what the fuss was all about. Personally, not impressed (but I'm not impressed with INO either... give me a Fuddrucker's anyday). But it was good company and that's all that really matters (especially when I had Carrabba's for lunch).


5. Shopping with my friend... okay, it was a quick trip to Walmart to find more 2.5 oz travel size Big Sexy Hair (no, I still haven't found it in case anyone out there wants to get me the perfect give or two or three for Christmas, Hannukah or New Year's). But being with a good friend doing something mundane is better than doing something mundane alone.


6. Getting a second set of six temporary teeth installed (I'm sure that's not the technical term)... my front two teeth were due for replacement after 18 years of cap-tivity (harharhar) so my dentist and lab tech friends convinced me that the best way to go was to do all six to make it look more natural --- I'm extremely pleased with how they're coming along. This time I chose NOT to be sedated (note to self: ALWAYS make arrangements to be sedated) and found out my metabolism (what? I HAVE a metabolism?) is pretty high because I go through the numbing meds like they're soft packages of Suzy Q's cream cakes (m-m-m even though I haven't put one to my lip in years). As I was trying to brave out the last bit of drilling, grinding and chopping so I could try and have use of my upper lip sooner than later (Bart Simpson look-alike isn't what I'm going for), a seriously strong and quick whip of pain thrusted through my torso that hurt so bad I'd rather give birth again (and all my friends know how much I DON'T want to ever do that again). Phew... so excited that I get to endure it all again in December when I get the permanent stuff "installed." I love my dentist(s) and lab tech. I love that I can make them all laugh too. They kept saying something about a labial something-or-other and, of course, I couldn't help but think they were saying something else (if you don't get it, that's good).


7. Football uniform pictures for Colby's folks (LOVE them) and grandfolks (they're so VERY cool)... I swear (a lot of that going on, huh?) I have some great giggles with that kid and have the pictures to prove it. Won't be able to edit them 'til after next week, darnit.


8. Bridals for Kristy (absolutely gorgeous girl) at a crazy hospital with her FUN mom and about-to-pop-out-a-baby-any-minute sister who I photographed two years ago at HER wedding. Hopefully I can get a few shots posted to show you before Saturday. Update: no, I won't, because Phil can't see them :o(


9. Dinner with Cathy (just the two of us and much needed since we hardly get the alone time anymore) at Carrabba's that was beyond packed in the waiting area AND outside (can I just say I LOVE it when I don't have to wait... I make a call and bing-bang-boom I'm in). We both had the tilapia special and had the privalege of being served by the BEST server there (another request)!


10. Shopping with more friends... stocking up Saturday night for Sunday dinners and laughing over butcher meat.


11. Sunday went to church and didn't shed a tear this time. When I was there two weeks ago I was a complete basket case and couldn't hold it in. I swore (see, more of it) this time I would try and keep my cool, and I did. I miss everyone there so very, very much. Because we didn't have family there, they were my family. They ARE my family still. Great, NOW I'm gonna cry. Gotta get off the computer and take my mind of it.

Will do my best to get some pics for you to see soon. Peace out.

Ache

I ache.

I miss my Utah friends.

I do love my new place,
even though there's still lots to do.

But I miss my Utah friends.

I ache.

Personal Space

Through linking a few times, I stumbled across this blog post and found it an interesting read.

I can relate to a lot of the points made about personal space and wonder what your thoughts are (that's an open invitation to leave a thoughtful comment about your experiences).

Although I haven't analyzed my boundaries as closely as the writer has, I notice there are some people I rarely touch (some of my absolute best friends), others I can't seem to get enough of (Cjane, but who DOESN'T want to touch her - she's like Midas), some I cringe to think they'd touch me "hello" and others (they could be strangers I've never met or spoken to before) I kiss on the cheek as a greeting like it's nothing at all. I am much more affectionate with men than women and kids are welcome to smoosh up to me anytime (hopefully when they're not sticky or messy, hahaha).

It's kind of like a cat that rubs itself against people they adore, trying to leave their scent, or is it something else entirely? My mom likes to insist she knows the exact reasons why I turned out the way I did based on my youth but is it as easy as that? My answer is no.

Excerpts from Everytime (which should be Every Time) We Touch by Cascada...

I still hear your voice, when you sleep next to me.
I still feel your touch in my dreams.
Forgive me my weakness, but I don't know why
Without you it's hard to survive.
'Cause everytime we touch, I get this feeling.
And everytime we kiss I swear I could fly.
Can't you feel my heart beat fast, I want this to last.
Need you by my side.
'Cause everytime we touch, I feel the static.
And everytime we kiss, I reach for the sky.
Can't you hear my heart beat so...
I can't let you go.
Want you in my life.

And a little 80's video (I remember singing along to this song and, yes, I am a little embarrassed by that statement)...

What Could've Been...

Lisa found these amongst her moving items which brought on the giggles, gfaw's and gasps. This was five years ago before the Utah move. We wanted pics together at the last minute and ended up with THESE.

Should I explain that Lisa and I are best friends and COMPLETELY heterosexual? I am married to a man, she is single, 30 and looking for a man. Oh, and she's fabulous with people (am I her pimp all of a sudden? Maybe and that's okay), kids absolutely adore her (ask mine if you don't believe me), smart as a whip and funnier than anyone I know. Check out some more pictures I took of her last year wintertime...

Don't you love the term "wintertime"?
That may be two words but I'd like it to be
one lovely sing-song sound.

She's got shorter hair now (shoulder-length) because she donated to Locks of Love (again, this wasn't her first time) but still has those yummy, perfect-not-too-tight dark curls and is finally out of her adult braces YAY!

Sure our hair styles and extra insulation (if you know what I mean) were laughable but POSING TOGETHER LIKE THAT... WHAT WERE WE THINKING?!? Seriously. Weird. I don't mind the floating-head-totem-pole one but the laying down one... YIKES!



Q: What embarrassing pictures will YOU post of YOURSELF?!?

THE Move - update

We are HERE! Yay!!! Don’t take the enthusiasm as an indication of my feelings for my Utah peeps --- still got the luv, y’all. We are not settled yet, but we ARE here.

Now for the conclusion of our move. It’s LONG because there is a LOT to tell. The gist is that the process has sucked, in case you don’t have time to read the details (or don’t want to… no shame in it).

I had dental work done two days before we left: gum surgery… chopped up the gums above my six top front teeth to elongate them in preparation for my new veneers in October. I don’t remember about 24 hours after the procedure because I was way doped up on sedatives… WAY doped up (which makes me wonder what I said that will be held against me later, haha). Luckily I was taken care of by Michelle, Ben and Tiffany so I don’t think I did anything crazy. Well, anything crazier than what I normally do. So I couldn’t eat anything normal for about a week and three weeks after that it’s been touch and go. But my gums look GREAT and I’m excited for my new smile :o)

Drove down to Provo to get the UpaininmybacksideHaul and found out I needed to go buy the hitch part (thought it was already on my rig). So down the hill I go to the other UpaininmybacksideHaul but stopped at Napa Auto Parts instead (cheaper). Got back up the hill to have the guy tell me I also needed the 4 to 7 prong adapter. Back down the hill I go and the Napa people greeted me with, “You’re back for the electrical adapter, aren’t you?” Back UP the hill to attach the UpaininmybacksideHaul. That night I attempted to get the Harley inside but had to call my neighbor (who’s the one that’s making my veneers, actually) and it took three of us to get that sucker in there (after disassembling the front fender so it wouldn’t crunch on the ride up and took off the mirrors too). Didn’t have room for much else but managed to bring the plants and other odds n’ ends. Harley arrived save and sound (phew).

We drive out early Friday morning for our 12 hour trip that turned into 15 and got my rig all persnickety from having to haul all that way (yesterday it was fixed to the tune of $445 with more problems found that will have to wait). The drive went relatively well… so that’s something positive to report. The kids were a dream (yay, kids!), traffic was smooth and the dog didn’t throw up or get the squirts (yay, dog!).

However, one part of the drive that DIDN’T go well (at the time, now looking back it turned out okay, but in the heat of the moment…grr) was the fact that our moving truck that was scheduled to arrive on Friday got stuck in Portland and couldn’t get delivered to the new place until Monday (Ben’s flight back to Utah was Monday afternoon). That’ll be fun… me with the kids unloading and unpacking the entire 28’ moving truck without the man of the house. I didn’t get all cranky about the news (Gordon at UT dispatch ended up being the most helpful and the WA dispatch didn’t know what Utah’s abbreviation was (um, U-T, and you work in dispatch for a moving company that serves the lower 48?), even though I was warranted to throw a fit ;o)

We stayed at Ben’s folks Friday night. Saturday morning we headed over to the new (old) house to unload the tiny 4x8 trailer and get the Harley out. We managed to make it work, phew.

Then my FIL and Ben concluded that since we had to wait for our stuff to arrive (and Ben would have to reschedule his flight), they’d get started on scraping off the popcorn ceiling in 1/3 of the house (family and dining room… about 600 sq ft rectangular). Taking the drapes down we discovered that there were pieces of paneling missing from the wall that couldn’t be replaced since it was so old (in its defense, it had been painted over and I liked the architectural look it gave with the vertical lines). Pulled the paneling off to reveal NO SHEETROCK/DRYWALL behind a lot of the paneling and even further (yes, I told you this is a long post) there are buckets (literally, I’m not exaggerating) of dead ants that fall out of the wall and most of the walls in the room were NOT insulated. There were spots that had paneling, studs then the outside siding… that’s ALL! Once we realized there was insufficient (or none at all) insulation we tore down the remaining drywall which meant we might as well just pull down the ceiling (instead of wet and scrape it) and re-sheetrock that too. After pulling the ceiling down we found four or five uneven overhead studs (watching the guys use a floor jack to crank up the ceiling… priceless) that made the previous ceiling scallop four times and, the piece de resistance (said in your head with the finest French accent), absolutely NO insulation in ANY PART of the attic throughout the whole 1760 sq ft of our new/old house!

Oh yay… we get to spend over 1k blowing insulation into the ceiling (there WAS beautiful, fluffy, pink billows around the 3 skylights… that’s probably what the inspector saw to then report that the house had “adequate” insulation).

Since the giant room was raw we added electrical to code as well as more canned lights, a chandelier in the dining area and directional mini cans for artwork (oh, and wired for surround-sound speakers even though we don’t have speakers yet). We pulled out the giant piece of carpet so it wouldn’t get ruined (but then couldn’t re-lay it properly and had to fork out $230 for a carpet layer to do it for us --- plus the guy charged me an extra $60 because it took me 20 minutes to get here even though I told him I was going to be that long and he said no problem… jerk), sawed off the bottom of the French doors so they’d open/close properly (I’m going to paint them black, they will be gorgeous and you will love them), fixed the laundry closet by tearing out an overhead bulkhead thingy that was useless, re-sheet rocking and adding proper flooring so my new washer/dryer combo would feel at home (then we put the former bi-fold doors on and the washer/dryer doors won’t open so I have to rip out the framing to re-jam it for open out doors), added yummy tall baseboards, re-trimmed the windows and doors and added crown molding throughout the space. Still need to putty, sand and paint the trim but the hardest part is over and we can live in the space finally.

Let’s see what other things we found:

• Pee around the toilets (despite the sellers promise that he’d leave the house clean because it’s wrong to leave it dirty… come ON… PEE!?!)
• Black lab (I think Henry was his name-O) hair EVERYWHERE; floors, carpet, trim, walls
• At least five rusty propane tanks (three in the garage and two in the dilapidated doghouse)
• 35 cans (Ben counted) of partially used paint (I asked for paint to be left so I could match it but most are colors that don’t even belong to the house and there should’ve only been three cans left, at most)
• Hole in the wall to nowhere in Jack’s room (might’ve been a doggie/cat door at one time, but not lately)
• Dirty carpets with stains that were hidden by the beds
• Toilet still leaks that seller was supposed to fix
• Dirty, nasty inside of the microwave (how hard is it to wipe out the microwave… especially for over 450k $’s)
• Dead mosquito eater in the freezer
• Main bathroom door doesn’t lock
• Master bedroom door doesn’t shut (seller hung it wrong, I know that because there wasn’t a door at ALL when we walked through the house) and isn’t easily fixable though we’ve tried
• NO DOOR on the master bath (not sure why I didn’t notice that before, but come ON, it’s the BATHROOM)
• Grease, sticky stuff & crumbs in kitchen cabinets
• Huge Pile of debris in the backyard the seller said he’d get rid of before we moved in
• Ton of junk left in the garage (tacky plastic horse wall art, old Formica countertop, unsturdy/gross shelves that weren’t attached so they should’ve been taken away, moldy rolls of carpet, random bits of construction)
• Attack of the flying carpenter ants during demolition (as well as their main residence at the back of the garage)
• Mold in the master bath that looks like they tried to bleach it or paint over it
• Back French doors wouldn’t open from the outside
• Drain spouts exit at the foundation of the house (isn’t the point to get it AWAY from the house?) or don’t work
• “Fire Pit” in back yard is just a pile of rocks with seller’s leftover burnt debris

And yet more stuff:
When the moving truck company came to pick up the empty trailer they severed the cable/internet wiring when pulling it out of the driveway (even though I called specifically to tell them about the potential disaster BEFORE they came out, even THAT day I reminded them)
The cable guys came out within two hours to fix it (yay, Comcast guys!) PLUS what the original installer did wrong making the internet unworkable .

Cleaning the ducts cost twice as much as we were told (four hours from start to finish) and they actually made it worse with debris blowing out every time the furnace kicks on (yesterday a different guy came out to re-do it and discovered that there isn’t any insulation UNDERNEATH the house either).

Floors aren’t properly sealed so I can’t use my Eureka Steamer (wish I had a link for you but it's an older model) like I did on my other wood floors (and they NEED it something fierce).

Manual laborers here are a FORTUNE (no lawn boy anymore or house cleaner, sniff cry).

Shop/room off the back of garage wasn’t done properly so there is mildew, wet dog smell and other structural issues.

None of the bedroom ceiling lights are centered.

The kids rooms were one room but the seller put back the wall, sloppily with seams showing and bad paint job.


But the things we love:

• The neighbors are really quiet and keep to themselves (NOBODY even looks at each other around here)
• Sound of the wind blowing through the trees
• Neighbor has a water feature running that we can hear when outside
• The miles of maintained trails through the greenbelt/forest behind our house
• Privacy, nobody’s backyard overlooks ours or visa versa (despite the 9 backyards I saw at several of the other houses for sale)
• Three skylights, one in the family/dining area, living room and kitchen (I’ll add another in the main bath)
• Lots of light despite the overcast days
• Architectural elements (rounded wall & corners, archway) and coziness of this house
• Directional lighting for our artwork
• Fresh breeze blowing through the windows during the spring/summer
• French doors (two doubles and one single)
• Stone front entry floor
• RARE blaring sunshine to burn our bodies, kids play comfortably outside without getting dehydrated
• Craftsman front door with six-pane windows (although I think I’ll front them to avoid peepers)
• Trees, trees, trees, trees, trees (did I mention trees?)
• Overcast days (I really cannot handle squinting all day long)
• Cul de sac living
• Not too far from the city but not too close either
• School is a hop skip and a jump around the corner
• Church isn’t as close as before but we get there in about 5 minutes
• My new HUGE 47" HDTV (which we broke 4 days later trying to move it… I KNOW!)
• Wood burning fireplace for fall/winter (although I’m sure I’ll curse it when we have to clean it)
• Moisture in our skin, hair and lungs (my hair has always been soft but it’s been even SOFTER)
• Close to so much family (Ben’s side, but I do have a grandma nearby too)
• MORE riding days; I do NOT like riding in 100 degree weather so I think I will have more here
• Even though the place is ½ the size I feel comfortable in this house (when I get it cleaned anyway)
• Hop down to Portland, up to Canada, over to the ocean
• Water, lakes, streams and ocean everywhere (ferries are a fun way to travel)
• Rain… seriously, I LOVE the rain (it doesn’t rain as much here as you think, not even in the top 10)

So there you have my fiasco of the move. Ben is still flying back and forth for work and I’m trying to get the house in order, Jack off to school then picked up afterward, Piper off to preschool 3 times a week then picked up afterward, dog to the groomer that’s too far away and more expensive than Utah groomers, get the car fixed (tune-up was $445… ouch) get my passport for Mexico in November, vehicles registered, drivers license renewed, house in order, laundry done, hang curtains, find shelving that will fit the spaces we need done, clear out the garage so I can park there, figure out how to haul all the debris from the remodel to the dump, find a way to fit everything I need into my tiny old kitchen, get the closets outfitted to house all our stuff, decorate the kids’ rooms with a way to keep the toys contained but easy for them to get in/out and clean up, maintain the rose bushes, edit client images and get them products, etc. I still have to fly back to Utah twice for the dental work (once to prep and another to install my new teeth) and once to get my legal stuff done for my back from 6 years ago.

And on top of it we three are sick with cold, sore throat and sneezes.

P.S. Will post pictures when I can find/unpack the wiring for the camera!

Baby Names and Married Names

My lovely knocked-up friend Georgia had a cute post on baby naming.

Fluffy vs. Fat vs. Obese

Read this before moving on to today's post.





Did you REALLY read the link?





I'll take your word for it. Read on.


My theory for the overweight issues in America are the chemically and hormonally enhanced foods we eat in conjunction with more TV watching slash computer time slash game playing.

Theory talk over. Storytime...

When I went in for my OB check-up five years ago, I went through the standard riggamaroll of temperature, weight and blood pressure tests.


Temperature, good.

Weight, obese.

Blood pressure, good.

Um, OBESE, (I freak)?

Technically, yes.

Are you SURE? I mean, I know I'm fluffy, you could even say fat, but OBESE?

Yes, you are obese. But don't worry about it.


Um, don't WORRY about it, you say? I sure as h E double hockey sticks WILL worry about it (not enough to go on a diet or exercise, of course hahaha). I'm 5'9, big boned (seriously, that's not an excuse) and muscular (muscular also includes being well endowed despite a bilateral reduction mammoplasty in '94).

My waist curves IN instead of out; which, in my opinion, is when you move from fluffy to fat (for crying out loud, nobody get mad at me because your waist curves out instead of in and you don't call yourself fat, I'm just sayin').

I'm wondering who came up with the measuring system that determines obesity, based on height and weight alone. I wanna knock them on the head (not hard enough to hurt them, just enough to get their attention).

P.S. I should've been saying "over-weight" in place of "fat" throughout this post, but I'm too busy to go back and change that.

The Easy Way to Stop Smoking

Editorial Review for The Easy Way to Stop Smoking from Amazon.com:
A new edition of the revolutionary bestseller, with four million copies in print. Allen Carr’s innovative Easyway method—which he discovered after his own 100-cigarette-a-day habit nearly drove him to despair—has helped millions kick smoking without feeling anxious and deprived. That’s because he helps smokers discover the psychological reasons behind their dependency, explains in detail how to handle the withdrawal symptoms, shows them how to avoid situations when temptation might become too strong, and enables them to stay smoke-free. Carr discusses such issues as nicotine addiction; the social “brainwashing” that encourages smoking; the false belief that a cigarette relieves stress; the role boredom plays in sabotaging efforts to stop; and the main reasons for failure. With this proven program, smokers will be throwing away their packs for good.

Read the Customer Reviews about the middle of the page.

My mom and dad (who's smoked most of their lives) and brother (who's smoked about 10 years; he asked for a quit smoking gimmick for Christmas one year - didn't work) quit by reading this book. They've tried other methods before, with no lasting success so I highly recommend this book to anyone who's interested in kicking the habit. My brother has given this book as a gift to 6 of his friends and 10 of them have quit (are you trying to figure out the math? ...4 friends borrowed the book).

BTW: it's cheaper at Walmart.com (especially with the 97 cent shipping and $9.76 price tag). I pre-ordered Eclipse through them, guaranteed delivery on Aug. 7, and got the hardback delivered for under 12 dollars!

Top Scholar 2007 MBA program University of Nevada, Reno

This is my daddy (hi, daddy). I am very proud of my dad.

He married my mom when I was just 5, moved us around the country (California, Florida, New Mexico 5th grade through junior in HS & Washington for senior year plus a couple years) and out of it (Germany for 3) while serving in the armed forces long enough to retire a Lt. Colonel (he once had a job that was so top secret that his office was in an actual vault - pretty dang cool).
He graduated with his bachelors degree from the University of Washington in his early 20's, flew as a navigator in fighter jets (went to the REAL "Top Gun") and aerial refueling tanker aircrafts. He worked with the DEA tracking drug dealers and was offered a job as dean of a state university (but it was in a farming state so I'm glad it didn't work out because I thought I'd have to walk my cow to high school). His nickname in the military was "Doc" because he's so friggin' smart. With all that experience, expertise and training he decided after retiring that he'd go get a job to keep him busy, supplement the retirement pay and have fun with people... so he went to a casino to be a game dealer.

Craps is our family specialty but he can deal anything. Seriously, what some call "family night" we would set up the craps table downstairs and double down and yell for 7 or 11 :o)

Anyway... he didn't last long dealing (which is too bad because he has fun doing it) and soon moved into supervisory type positions because he was over-qualified.

Long story short he decides to sell the house in Spokane (Mead, technically, but more people have heard of Spokane... just like we say we're from Seattle but really it's Redmond or Woodinville), move to Reno, Nevada (Fernley, technically), and attend UNR to get his MBA, concentrating on Casino Management plus work full-time at a casino.

On May 18, 2007, my dad graduated with a 4.0 as the TOP SCHOLAR (number 1, as in no other nor a tie) in the MBA graduate program, summa cum laude, at UNR.

I wish I could've been there cheering him on but since I wasn't I dedicate this post to my daddy.

"Way to go, daddy!"