Rebecca's observations

most embarrassing moment???

2011-10-11T12:05:00.002-06:00

Growing up I used to embarrass way too easily, sometimes I could hide it okay and other times not so well....then I got engaged and knowing my family I braced myself to be embarrassed at my bridal shower. My family was nice enough and on the moments when I thought I'd be embarrassed, I wasn't, so it worked out very well. From then on, I've not had any issues with being embarrassed, as least not easily embarrassed. I guess I just kind of figured life happens and most times there isn't anything you can do about it after something weird happens.

Then, one year ago tonight, my mom and I went to two viewings. The first was for a great man from the neighborhood where I grew up. It was great to see some old friends and visit with many people that we have known for years. This was a very typical viewing with nothing of note to report.

After that we went to my cousins viewing. Also a very great man! As we arrived we met up with another cousin who introduced me to his sons, again. Unfortunately, we don't see these cousins very often, so every time we see them, we get introduced and joke about them not remembering me! We did the traditional walk through the line and continued to visit with many other friends and family members that were in attendance!

We found out that another close family friend was on his way, so we waited for him to come before heading home for the night! While waiting I was sitting in one side of the room talking to one of my cousins and my mom was in the middle of the room talking to one of my brothers. Then our friend arrived, I waited for him to make the traditional walk through the line and then when he made his way around the room and was talking to my mom, I jumped up from my seat and ran around the corner to go greet him....only...my pants dropped to the ground!

Yes, my pants dropped to the ground, leaving me standing right in front of my two cousins mentioned earlier laughing very hard and my pants twisted in my feet. I'm not really sure how it happened that I didn't fall down, but as it was I had to wait for my mom to come around and help untangle my pants so I could get them pulled up. As soon as my pants were back in place, I continued my rushed walk over to our friend that we had been waiting for and greeted him as if nothing had happened. He was trying so hard to not laugh or react. After talking with him for a few minutes we made our way through some goodbyes and left!

On the way out, we saw another cousin who would have had a perfect view of my backside, but had missed the entire thing! As soon as we were in the car, I sent out a message to twitter and Facebook saying that my pants had dropped but that I was grateful that it happened at the family viewing and not the friends viewing! Ironically enough, the next day at the funeral, this last cousin we talked to was the only one to say anything to me about losing my pants the night before.

Come to find out a few weeks ago, even the immediate family of my cousin who had passed had no clue what had happened. And my two cousins who I continually get reintroduced to that had front row seats to the entire experience...well, they were not at the funeral, but somehow I don't think they will EVER forget me! Oh, and I no longer own those pants, they went into the garbage that night! I have to agree with this quote:

There's nothing I'm embarrassed about.
Brian May

There you have it, what could potentially have been my most embarrassing moment in reality was just a moment and life happens! What are some of your most embarrassing moments? I don't know how I would answer that question, but since that night one year ago, I think I would have to share that story and see what happens...WATSIT2U?

IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK!!!

2011-10-10T12:29:00.009-06:00

Hello everyone! Yes, I am back! It has been way too long and it is great to be back!!! I will keep this post short as I prepare to enjoy my return to regular blogging! I have no great story as to why I've been gone, just life, I guess...it happens!

As you may have noticed by now, I have changed the name of my blog to WATSIT2U? (www.watsit2u.com) I am a major Clay Walker fan and one of his songs is What's It To You? I highly recommend his music and this song, it is one of my top favorites ever! In any case, I saw the use of watsit2u in reference to this song once and instantly fell in love with it and have since used it in many ways. As I thought about my blog and what I wanted it to be about, well, this seemed to be a perfect fit! While it is still my observations about many things, I am also looking to find out, WATSIT2U? So, there ya go...

There will be more changes to my blog in the next few weeks. I am just so excited to be back that I didn't want to wait for them all to be in place before starting again! These include more blogs than just this main one! I introduce you to my other blogs:

Batty Bites - my thoughts & reviews of food related things, mostly restaurants...
Beaker's Bookshelf - my thoughts & reviews of books and other things you may find on my bookshelves...
Family History Engineers - my genealogy blog, to include my personal experiences of working on my own family history for more than 30 years as well as business related topics for my business Family History Engineers
SLBIZZNET - my blog with SLBIZZNET, a networking group for small business owners and sales people in the great Salt Lake area! On this blog we will feature different businesses involved as well as share a few tips to networking! Join us...

Next post will be about my potentionally most embarrassing moment...or was it?! There you have it, ready or not, I am back....WATSIT2U?

RIP - Francis Reid (Allison Grayson Horton)

2010-02-04T02:57:00.008-07:00

A couple of hours ago, I saw the following posts on my cell phone from twitter:

@RealNadiaB: Rest in peace Frances Reid (Alice Horton). She was a great lady whom I feel honored to have known...the heart and soul of Days of Our Lives. 10:22pm PST 02/03/10
@Ali_Sweeney: I'm so sad to hear the news about Frances Reid. She was a truly talented actress & and we are all lucky & proud to have known her. RIP 10:38pm PST 02/03/10
@MarkHapka: It is with a heavy heart that I express this. It has been revealed that Days legend Frances Reid (Alice Horton) has passed away. 10:29pm PST 02/03/10
@MarkHapka: RT Ms. Reid was 96 years old. She will be missed greatly and at this time our thoughts and prayers are with her family, loved ones & friends. 10:41pm PST 02/03/10
@mollydolllyy: To the family and friends and loved ones of Frances Reid. My thoughts and prayers are with you :( 11:10pm PST 02/03/10

Yes, I have a grip on reality. Yes, I know she is a celebrity and is very much entitled to her privacy, as is her family. BUT, with that in mind, you will find many people who have already taken a few moments to blog about this great actress! I wanted to add my observations to the mix, for what it's worth! In doing a tiny search online to confirm mainly the detail of her birth, I came across a few interesting things, which I will share along the way.

First, for those who are not fans of Days of Our Lives, here are a couple of links about Francis Reid and her career. IMDB and tv.com are two great resources to find out about most any actor or actress. Be sure to read the 'full biography' on the tv.com link. The only discrepancy regarding her age is the year of birth. Tv.com has her being born in 1913 while Wikipedia has her being born in 1914. Either way, she lived a long life, which I am certain was a full life. She was married to Philip Bourneuf in 1940, until his death in 1979. Ironically, for portraying one of the most beloved grandmothers (great and great-great grandmothers, too), she never had children of her own! This video is a great tribute to her legacy, even though it is from the show, I am certain that it applied to her real life as well...

She received many awards for her portrayal of Alice Horton on Days of Our Lives. She also received the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement award in 2004. Her last appearance on the show, in a very fragile state, was in December 2007. In their annual Christmas Show with the great family tradition of individual ornaments being placed on the tree. Frances is now reunited with MacDonald Carey, who portrayed her husband on the show, Tom Horton. Even more importantly, she is finally reunited with her sweetheart, Philip Bourneuf, who died in 1979! I am sure that we will be seeing at least one memorial episode of Days dedicated to Frances. Even if you are not a fan of the show, if you happen to catch the tribute, I guarantee you will need tissues!

For me and my family, well, we are long time Days viewers. Yes, I've tried to stop watching it several times over the years, but always go back. There are those that believe that soap operas, such as they are, are all make believe and so far out there that they could never be based on any reality. Well, with most of them, I could agree, and, yes, Days has even had its moments...but for us, there have been several story lines on the show that occurred at the same time as the same story line plays out in our real lives. Including right now.....

Well, I could go into detail, but I won't....suffice it to say, Rest In Peace Ms. Frances Reid. Enjoy your reunions above and continue to watch over your worldwide family as we will always remember you and the love you brought to homes and families everywhere as Mrs. Allison Grayson Horton! Thank you for the memories....

HR3101 - Caption Action 2

2009-11-22T11:11:00.004-07:00

Many of you know that I joined Twitter back in June. This has been the best thing for me and my business venture (more on this later in another post) and I love twitter. I go on record right now as saying that I don't necessarily recommend twitter for everyone. It is addicting and can be time consuming! For me, though, I have made friends, locally and nationally. I have made a world of contacts for my PartyLite business and my Family History business. I've also been able to have some contact with a few celebrities that actually do respond to a vast majority of their messages. It's been fun. Steve and I have both made contacts in the photography world, as well, which has helped Steve learn more about this field as he ventures into developing his great talent! One last thing I would like to talk about today and thus the reason for the post....I have learned more about deaf culture and the fight for things to help...Well, read on:

One great person on twitter is @deafnessguide. She is currently lobbying for HR3101. She has made visits to Washington, DC to lobby for this cause and will be making another visit tomorrow, Monday, 23 Nov 2009. In preparation for her time there, she tweeted out the following message on Saturday. I felt strongly enough to try and help get the word out, so I have asked her for more information to share and copy/pasted the list of the offices she will be visiting on Monday.

If you don't see your specific representative on this list, it is most likely because she has already visited their office, but you are welcome to contact their office (and all of your states offices) and encourage their support of this effort. For more details, please visit: http://captionaction2.blogspot.com/. There is a lot of information for this cause. Also, if you scroll down on the right side, you will see the "Caption Action 2 Blogroll", which includes a file of "Congress Staff Contacts". Pull that list up, share with your family and friends. Email the contacts, as they are the ones that will really help in gaining more support for this cause. There are also links for a summary of HR3101. Also, if you click on "Write your Representative", you can use this to get a phone number or snail mail address.

If you happen to already be on twitter, please follow @deafnessguide and @NADtweets. Also, @MarleeMatlin, who is the NAD spokesperson for accessible broadband services and Internet media. There are many others that I would recommend following, if you are already there or choose to take the plunge into twitter. Oh and you can also support this cause on Facebook, by clicking here.

The idea is to work together, so their offices will know this is not a one woman effort. If you would like to be part of this, let me know ASAP with the easiest and quickest contact info for you. So, efforts can be coordinated to have you contact their office shortly after her visit, while it is still fresh on their minds. Here is that information:

Putting together a to-visit list for my fourth and final visit to Capitol Hill Monday. After list is complete, I'm going do something new..
I am going to send out a series of tweets, one for each state, with the names of the Reps I am going to visit. If you see your Rep name..
Either reply to me or DM me and I will mention you to the office staff when I stop by. Then, you can call or email and verify who u are.
And, I will send you a tweet when I stop at your Representative's office. That will give you a chance to call right away.

Alaska deaf: Visiting Alaska rep Don Young on Capitol Hill Monday for HR 3101.
American Samoa deaf: visiting Rep. Eni Faleomavaega on Capitol Hill Monday for HR 3101.
Arizona deaf: visiting Rep. Jeff Flake on Capitol Hill Monday for HR 3101.
Arkansas deaf: visiting Rep. Vic Snyder on Capitol Hill Monday for HR 3101.
California deaf: visiting these representatives' offices Mon on the Hill: Berman, Chu, Dreier, Harman, Herger, Lewis, Matsui, Miller...
More California deaf: visiting these too: Nunes, Pelosi, Radonovich, Thompson, and Waxman.
Connecticut deaf: visiting office of Rep. Rosa DeLauro Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101.
Florida deaf: visiting these representatives Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101: Kosmas, Meek, Posey, and Young.
Georgia deaf: visiting these representatives Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101: Bishop, Deal, Linder, and Price.
Illinois deaf: visiting these reps Mon on Capitol Hill for HR 3101: Biggert, Costello, Davis, Halvorson, Jackson Jr., Kirk, Manzullo, Rush.
Iowa deaf: visiting these two reps Mon on Capitol Hill for HR 3101: Bruce Braley and Tom Latham.
Kansas deaf: visiting rep. Lynn Jenkins Mon on Capitol Hill for HR 3101.
Kentucky deaf: visiting reps Harold Rogers and Ed Whitfield Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101.
Louisiana deaf: visiting reps Joseph Cao and John Fleming Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101.
Maryland deaf: visiting one representative from Maryland, Roscoe Bartlett, Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101.
Massachusetts deaf: visiting one representative from Massachusetts, Rep. Richard Neal, Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101.
Minnesota deaf: visiting three reps from Minnesota, James Oberstar, Erik Paulsen, and Collin Peterson Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101.
Missouri deaf: visiting 3 reps from Missouri, William Clay, Emmanuel Cleaver, and Ike Skelton Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101.
Nevada deaf: visiting one rep from Nevada, Dean Heller, Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101.
New Jersey deaf: visiting 2 reps from New Jersey Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101: Frank Pallone Jr and Albio Sires.
New Mexico deaf: visiting 1 rep from New Mexico Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101: Harry Teague.
New York deaf: visiting 5 reps from NY Mon on Capitol Hill: Michael Arcuri, Yvette Clarke, Joseph Crowley, Eliot Engel, and Paul Tonko.
North Carolina deaf: visiting rep. David Price Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101.
Northern Mariana Islands: visiting Rep. Gregorio Sablan's office Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101.
Ohio deaf: visiting one representative from Ohio, John Boehner, Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101.
Oklahoma deaf: visiting one representative from Oklahoma, Tom Cole, Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101.
Oregon deaf: visiting one representative from Oregon, Peter Defazio, Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101.
Pennsylvania deaf: visiting 6 PA reps Monday on Capitol HIll for HR 3101: Dent, Holden, Murtha, Sestak, Shuster, and Thompson.
South Carolina deaf: visiting 1 SC rep Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101: James Clyburn.
Tennesee deaf: visiting 2 TN reps Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101: Steve Cohen and John Duncan.
Texas deaf: visiting 9 Texas reps Mon on Capitol Hill for HR 3101: Ralph Hall, Jeb Hensarling, Sheila Jackson Lee, Eddie Bernice Johnson..
More Texas deaf: visting these reps Mon for HR 3101: Kenny Marchant, Michael McCaul, Solomon Ortiz, Lamar Smith, and Mac Thornberry.
Utah deaf: visiting 1 Utah rep Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101: Jason Chaffetz.
Virginia deaf: visiting one rep from Virginia on Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101: Frank Wolf.
Washington deaf: visiting 2 Washington reps Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101: Jim McDermott and Adam Smith.
Wisconsin deaf: visiting 1 Wisconsin rep Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101: David Obey.
Wyoming deaf: visiting 1 Wyoming rep Monday on Capitol Hill for HR 3101: Cynthia Lummis. (end of tweet series)

Roosters & office politics

2009-06-18T11:54:00.008-06:00

I have found it! The ultimate solution to my office politics problem! It's a rooster!!! Any rooster, it seems will do, even!

We are not mall shoppers. Growing up, my mall of choice to hang out on the very rare occasion I did such a thing was Fashion Place Mall. My sisters was Valley Fair Mall. Both of these malls are currently undergoing massive makeovers, so I do not guarantee maps and such on the links. But, anyway, while walking through Fashion Place Mall yesterday we happened upon a store called Asian Gifts. We went in, hoping to find a birthday gift for my mom's best friend. Her birthday was also on Sunday and I hope she had a good one, too. We found a couple of things of interest, but mom decided on a set of 3 Chinese wisemen for Judy's birthday gift. This particular shop does not have its own website. They are to help bring Good Luck, Wealth and Health to your household and are best placed in the dining room.

In looking around, this shop was very good about having papers posted explaining the purpose of many thing on display. One especially caught my eye, it was for The Rooster:I laughed and showed my mom and Steve, who just basically rolled his eyes. Many of you know my background with "jobs" and will immediately get the reason for our reactions! I don't know that I will be in a position to test this purpose, but I found it amusing, at least! Office politics are not my friend...oh the books I could write! My many experiences also lead to my fascination with the only reality show that I really like and watch faithfully, The Apprentice!

So, what are your experiences and solutions to office politics where you work or have worked?!

Flag Day & Birthday wishes!

2009-06-14T19:36:00.004-06:00

I love the United States of America! Most anyone who knows me, knows this. I especially love Flag Day. I also have great respect for the flag of the United States of America! For years now, I have worn a heart flag pin. Way before 9-11 and some people started wearing pins and ribbons and such, for a short while. I still wear my pin, the current one I have I got from AVON in 2004. I have others that I wore before that.

When I worked at the Mesquite Library as a page, one of my duties was to take care of the flag. On days that I worked opening, I was to put it up the flag pole. On days that I worked closing, I was to pull it down and fold it when it got dark or the library closed, whichever came first. I was a bit of a stickler on flag etiquette. Meaning that if it started raining, I was right out there to get the flag down or if it was raining, I would not even put it out. We made sure to fold it properly every night, too. I loved this task of being in charge of the flag.

This day is also special because it is the birthday of two very important people in my life. My Uncle Larry is my mom's brother, who we did not know until 1981. This is when we flew to Florida to meet my mom's dad for the first time. She was 32 yrs old.

The other is a great friend from high school. Rob was a very important part of my high school friendships and learning. Some of the best times we had were during and after the ACT prep classes, remember?! LOL! I wasn't even close the friend to him that he was to me!

Happy Birthday Larry & Rob...hope your day was great!!! Happy Flag Day to everyone else!

Grumpy Old WOMEN

2009-06-09T11:09:00.000-06:00

The year is 1993 and the movie is Grumpy Old Men, which was followed in 1995 by Grumpier Old Men. My dad loved these movies! I can take it or leave them, but my dad loved them! My dad was known as grumpy, but it was more of an act than anything sincere. For example, we would ask for him to take us to the store and he would grumpily say, "It's too far!" We would whine and then move on about our business. A few minutes later, usually 10-15, he would come in and say, "Let's go!" This was common, he tried to be mean, but usually he would give in or just be teasing. In fact, it sort of ran in his family...his older brother was grumpier than my dad. One time we went to visit him, this was just a couple of years ago...he was in the kitchen being grumpy, I told him that he was just like my dad...he smiled!!! From then on, whenever we went over, he would smile. Ok, so back to topic....

This post is about the flipside of that, Grump Old Women! In looking for any info to share on this topic, I found that there is a TV series in the UK by that name. This made me laugh...but, today, I am going to talk about one Grumpy Old Woman in my life, my MOM! Ok, so I don't believe she is old because I believe that age is a state of mind! But, my mom just turned 60 and she thinks she is old! But I know a lot of people that would agree with me that she is GRUMPY!

We will be walking in the store, Walmart for example. Ok, most people have been in Walmart or most any grocery type store. There is one main aisle that people walk up and down to get to the regular aisles where the groceries are, right? Ok, so we are walking up and down this main aisle and someone comes out of an aisle too fast or isn't watching for anyone in the main aisle. Mom gets mad and says that she "should have the right of away". Same trip at the store, we are in a regular aisle and come out, mom in front and not watching or caring and someone in the main aisle is in her way and she still says, "I should have the right of way." I will sometimes look at the person in an apologetic way as we move along. I'm sorry, but I don't see how it can work that way. Both directions can't have the right of way for her? This is probably the most common example of her grumpiness.

So a week ago Sunday, we are having a game night of sorts, one of many, in fact, at our house. There are 5 of us playing, myself, Steve, my mom and two of my cousins. As we are getting started, I mention that the ASL class would be starting the following Saturday. My mom turns to my cousins, both teenage boys, and tells them "sign language would be a really good thing for them to learn." The topic goes by the wayside as we get into playing games.

We start by playing The Game of Life, and for whatever reason, my one cousin owes Steve $5000, but he only has the $10000 bill. So, he goes to hand it to Steve and then pulls it back. They are playing around and my other cousin and I are laughing about it. It is all in good fun! The cousin wants Steve to pick up the change and they can exchange it at the same time. Steve refuses, and I point out that that isn't how it works in real life, you pay your part and then get the change, right? Well, when the time comes that Steve gets a grip of the bill, it rips. Ok, now, this game belongs to me & steve, not my mom, who doesn't like the game in the first place. I don't care one iota that this bill is torn, it only shows the game has been played and enjoyed, imo! I would have probably just thrown the little torn off piece away. In fact, the cousins, Steve and myself kind of laugh about it! But, not my mom, NNNNOOOOOO, ...She gets mad, really mad! She makes the other cousin get the scotch tape. She says, "All Steve had to do was pick up the $5000", I come back by saying, "All had to do was give Steve the money!" She yells at me, I get mad...and would normally start crying because I'm mad...she knows this and so I say, loudly, "And I'm not going to cry!!!"

That did it, the rest of the night; we spent basically walking on eggshells. This is nothing new for me as I do this a lot. It isn't an easy thing to live in the same house as your mom, at least not for us! We finish that game of Life and then move on to Payday. We all pretty much expected mom to go to bed, but she didn't, she stays up and plays Payday, too. In this game, there is a lottery, where each player that chooses to play chooses a number 1-6. The player landing on the lottery then rolls the die and whosever number comes up first wins the lottery. This same cousin that was involved in the tearing of the $10000 bill, which we now call bill, calls out the number 3. Steve can't hear well and even less this night because he has been having some issues with his ears. So, we were trying to hold up fingers to show him what numbers we were calling out. Well, some of us were. This cousin says 3 but uses the sign for 6

(which is the same as the sign for the letter W) and is used by much of the world’s population to say 3 and I know this.

This is really the sign for 3. I took that moment to tell him the difference between the sign for 3 and the sign for 6. Mom didn't seem to like this lesson and told this cousin that it didn't matter for "people like them." Now, she didn't elaborate, so I am not positive what exactly "people like them" meant. Now, mostly because of the grumpiness earlier in the night, my brain was not exactly following the process of all conversation that night.

Later that night, as my non-stop brain was going over the events of the night, I realized that at the beginning of the night, my mom was telling the cousins that learning sign language would be a good thing, but late in the night she tells him that it doesn't matter for "people like them." Hmm....WHAT?????

So, a couple of nights ago, one of these same cousins was over playing games again. We were playing games again and for some reason I mentioned something about sign language and/or the class. Mom told cousin that it would be a good thing for him to learn. He and I glanced at each other and after a moment kind of laughed a little. She didn't catch on that we were laughing at her and her constant changing mind.

Now, call me crazy (I didn't marry into the BATTY family for nothing, you know!), but AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess I didn't know what crazy was until the last 4 years and I'm certain it is only going to get worse as time continues on...so I decided to let out a little of this and do a post called "Grumpy old WOMEN". This woman isn't old and the thought of just how grumpy she will be when she does get old scares the living daylights outta me............good thing I love her so much, huh?!

ASL

2009-06-08T15:50:00.000-06:00

"You will be the same person in 10 years except for the people you meet and the books you read." ---Dave Ramsey

Yesterday, I did something I have not done in quite some time, too long, even! I bore my testimony in sacrament meeting. Sitting in the back row, it was a long walk up to the pulpit. Our ward does not use the microphones, so everyone has to go up to the pulpit, although, I usually did anyway. Ok, so I started out with the Dave Ramsey quote above and went from there. From the moment I was done and walked back to my seat (using the hallway vs walking back through the congregation), I have not really been able to remember what I said.

I remember thanking a few people in the ward for their examples on adoption and talking about looking back at our lives and acknowledging the people we have met that fit the criteria in the quote above.

I remember mentioning that I am a bookworm. Without mentioning any specific books, I noted that I always have a book I'm reading and that I have been blessed to gain something from every book I've read. Maybe that is why I blog all my reviews now, I don't know.

I remember thanking the Macedone's for starting and teaching an ASL class. They have such passion for ASL and the deaf community. I have been told that our stake is getting a deaf branch in the near future. So, the timing of this class is GREAT! I would encourage everyone to learn ASL. In the flyer below, you will see that this class if for anyone 9 yrs and older. They don't have to be LDS, just understand that there will LDS terminology and hymns taught. I decided to blog about this and include the original flyer for the class, with Jim's permission, of course. I also put it on my google calendar and invited everyone that knows me and especially my husband to come and learn. The next class is on 20 Jun 2009. For more information, contact me, or the Macedone's and we will give you the details. We had a great time at the first class and welcome all that want to come!

I also know that I really did bear my testimony. It has been way too long and I am grateful that I took that moment to do this during fast & testimony meeting yesterday!

Incidentally, yes, I do know there is no post for yesterday. We are down to one computer and I chose to not get on yesterday, so I didn't post. Also, I'm hoping that maybe it will get me to post early in the day rather than late at night.

Optimism

2009-06-06T23:30:00.004-06:00

Back in the year 2000, we were living in the north part of Salt Lake City. Some refer to this area as Rose Park. We had run into some issues with family that had made our situation not the best. I have this overall habit of being optimistic about most everything, no matter how bad it looks. During this time, I was having a talk with our Bishop and he told me that I shouldn't be optimistic and that I needed to be realistic. This bothered me, until a matter of weeks later when during General Conference, there was a talk about being optimistic and that optimism is a good thing.

This made me feel better. I have my days of being really upset over even little things. Overall, I am optimistic and I believe, realistic. Even with everything going on in our lives right now, I'm still optimistic. Worrying and stressing isn't going to do anyone any good, is it?! No, it brings so much negative into our lives. Why would anyone want that? I know how dire things in the world seem today and I know that there are lot of people out there a lot worse off than we are. I know that we make our own choices and we have to live with the consequences of those choices.

Ok, a week or so ago, my bestest friend and I were talking about Twitter. We had both checked out the website, a little. We were both thinking that there was a lot of fluff surrounding its popularity. Then a day or two later, I read an article about using twitter in genealogy. So, I took the plunge, I am on twitter. I am still figuring out how to use it to benefit my own genealogical work and that of my potential clients. I am following mostly celebrities, local and national. I actually don't mind it. You can set it up so you can receive the tweets of those you are following as text messages on your cell phone. You can receive one, more or all of them on your cell phone. If you are on twitter, click on the link to the right and start following me, too!

One of those that I am following sends out a daily LDS thought, today's is below and that is what prompted this post: "Of all people we as Latter-day saints should be the most optimistic and the least pessimistic pres Benson" He said this in 1986, in an article in the October Ensign. But even in this last conference, Pres. Monson said, "be of good cheer, and do not fear", but more on that talk in a future post.

So, basically, I will continue to be optimistic. I hope that many of you will allow yourselves the blessings of optimism, as well. I know that we will be fine through our current issues and I know that most everyone else will also be able to work through their issues and come out above where they were before. This is a major part of having so many trials. We are here on earth to learn and grow! We do this, mostly, through trials. What lessons are you currently being taught?!

SMILE, inside and out, it really does make a difference!!!

remembering conference talks

2009-06-05T23:47:00.003-06:00

As many of you know, I've been working my way through the conference talks from April 2009 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know loads of people that watch or listen to conference every 6 months, then they're done until the next one. I know some people who listen to the talks over and over between conferences. And, then there are some, like mentioned in the article that basically only do the monthly lessons for Relief Society and Priesthood.

I am usually the last one, I watch conference and have all the feel good feelings and I will even take notes, usually. This last conference was different, though. It was Steve's birthday and we had plans for the weekend. I did manage to listen to or watch every session, but didn't take notes. I have an Ipod now, so I have them all on there, too. We are among the evil and don't have church magazine subscriptions...OH NO! Anyway, so I listen and then I read on lds.org. For the first time, I have a blog and am taking the time to share my 'observations' from each talk.

This morning, I happened upon this article and I was very pleased with myself that I am making more of an effort this time to remember exactly what encouragements we received. So, I thought I would take a moment and share the link/story with all my readers! What do YOU do to help yourself remember the counsel received during the 6 months between conferences?

PART 1: 4 Apr 2009 AM session General Conference

2009-06-04T17:23:00.010-06:00

Welcome to Conference, President Thomas S Monson: "In the near future, we will be dedicating the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple, and then in the coming months and years there will be many more dedications." I include this quote for the technicality in wordage. It should bring some comfort to some out there. "There is something about a temple dedication which prompts a reevaluation of one’s own performance and a sincere desire to do even better." This is so true. It never ceases to amaze me what big and little things it takes for us to stop and take a look at our lives and where we need to improve. "The work of the Lord continues to move forward uninterrupted." This is most always true, but we are continually reminded because it is important to know and remember!!!
Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually, Elder Robert D Hales: "what we learn now, in our present circumstances, can bless us and our posterity for generations to come." I believe this would apply to anything in our lives, not just monetary lessons. "Of course some debt incurred for education, a modest home, or a basic automobile may be necessary to provide for a family." I love how this is worded and we have been given this advice for many many years. As a fan of Dave Ramsey, I do strive to not go into debt for automobiles or even education. Although, with current circumstances working out education possibilities without going into debt is looking to be difficult. "I pray that in the next few minutes, and throughout this conference, you will be filled with hope in our Savior, Jesus Christ, and find hope in the doctrines of His restored gospel." I know a few people that have looked at these hard financial times that many of us have and lost hope or have becoming somewhat paranoid, in a way. As I listened to and watched conference, I heard many little encouragements like this to have hope! "Our challenges, including those we create by our own decisions, are part of our test in mortality. Let me assure you that your situation is not beyond the reach of our Savior. Through Him, every struggle can be for our experience and our good (see D&C 122:7). Each temptation we overcome is to strengthen us, not destroy us. The Lord will never allow us to suffer beyond what we can endure" As one who has endured some stressful issues, although I openly acknowledge that even our current problems could be so much worse, I have to continually remind myself that I can endure and that there will be blessings to come out of each trial! I'm not always the most patient in waiting for things to work out or for the blessing to come! "Our success is never measured by how strongly we are tempted but by how faithfully we respond" This is very comforting to me! "What is a provident provider?
All of us are responsible to provide for ourselves and our families in both temporal and spiritual ways. To provide providently, we must practice the principles of provident living: joyfully living within our means, being content with what we have, avoiding excessive debt, and diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies." I absolutely love that he uses the word "joyfully" when talking talking about living within our means! Getting there is the hard part, in my opinion, but once we do, I can imagine the joy that will come! "There is an equally important principle underlying these lessons: we can learn much from communicating with our husbands and wives" 'nuff said "The foundation of provident living is the law of the tithe. The primary purpose of this law is to help us develop faith in our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Tithing helps us overcome our desires for the things of this world and willingly make sacrifices for others. Tithing is the great equitable law, for no matter how rich or poor we are, all of us pay the same one-tenth of our increase annually (see D&C 119:4), and all of us receive blessings so great “that there shall not be room enough to receive [them]” (Malachi 3:10)." Early on, as an adult, having not been taught strongly about many things of spiritual nature in my home, tithing was a hard thing for me. As time moves on, my faith in this 'law' has grown and I now have no doubts of the great blessings that come by obedience to this law. I love that there is a certain equalness in this law. The amount of tithe paid in regards to total dollar amount is not the important thing and should never come up in comparisons with others. The equality is in the fact that no matter who you are or how much money you make, we are asked to pay the same 10% of our income! "as children of God, our deepest hunger and what we should be seeking is what the Lord alone can provide—His love, His sense of worth, His security, His confidence, His hope in the future, and assurance of His love, which brings us eternal joy." Again, the encouragement of hope "in the future" even!

fire safety at Madeline's

2009-06-03T23:45:00.001-06:00

Late last week I got a phone call from a neighbor, she said that another neighbor suggested she try calling me. She then asked if I would be interested in listening to a fire safety presentation and get a free meal at Madeline's in South Jordan. Normally for these type of things, you need to go as a married couple, but for this one, that didn't seem to be the case. My mom lives with us, for those that don't know, and so her and I went to this presentation. The presentation was very informative and actually quite enjoyable. Landon was great! They talked about several things, including what rooms are the most common to have fires start and why. They also talked about charitable work and saving lives. Both my mom and I are glad we attended and I look forward to a possible opportunity to attend again with my husband, at some point in time. We had to choose between three delicious meals. My mom got the salmon, so I got the steak. I'm sure that if Steve would have been there, he would have gotten the chicken penne. From the bread, to the green beans to the potatoes, it was all wonderful! We quite enjoyed the food, which really was very tasty! It was 100% true when it said you did not need your wallets for anything! There was just a lot of good information and very good food! I would encourage anyone living along the Wasatch front and willing to drive to South Jordan to attend one of these meetings to take the time and go! No, I don't get anything, at all, for having people I know attend, and I still encourage it because I really believe it was worth my time and know that it would be worth yours! Email me or comment this post and I will make sure my friend calls you, too!

The Chocolate War BY Robert Cormier

2009-06-02T23:14:00.002-06:00

Let me start by saying congratulations to UW for winning the 2009 WCWS in Oklahoma in 2 games over Florida!!! WOOHOO!!! Good job HUSKIES!!!

rating: 1 of 5 stars
I got this book while working at the Mesquite Library. It seems to be a high school book, but I don't really remember if we read it at my high school or not. I chose to read this while waiting for my copy Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes to come in at the library. It is a small short book, so I figured I would read it quick, but it took forever! Almost a month, actually. Ironically, I did finish it right about the time my sisterchicks book came it. I don't normally allow myself to write spoilers, but I don't recommend anyone I know read this book, so I don't care this time!

***SPOILER ALERT....STORYLINE IS CONTAINED BELOW...SPOILER ALERT***

The book starts off introducing a lot of characters very quickly. This alone was a bit confusing to me. Maybe my brain was never completely into reading this book. I did not like this book at all. I had to force myself to finish it just because I hate leaving books unfinished. At one point, it did start to get a little more interesting, but then I really didn't like the ending or the overall themes and really did have to force myself to finish it.

The location of the story is Trinity, an all boys Catholic school. The main character would be Jerry. He has recently lost his mother and his father is not dealing with it, therefore unable to help Jerry deal with it. So, Jerry, a freshman, decides to put everything into making the football team. Then you have Archie, the assigner for the Vigils (Trinity's gang), who is about as evil and cunning as they come, for teenage boys. There is also Brother Leonard, the stand-in headmaster running the show while the headmaster is unable to do so. The story revolves around the annual chocolate sale. Which because of the evil Brother Leonard's choice, is now double the usual...double the quantity, double the price of each box!

Jerry is assigned to not sell the chocolates for so many days. After the assignment ends, he decides to continue refusing to sell the chocolates. He is taking a stand. This is about the best thing in this book, the courage of one boy to not conform and to stand out on his own. Well, Jerry's decision is hailed as a great, in the beginning. That is, until Brother Leonard starts freaking out that the chocolate sale is not going well. He can not afford this sale to not succeed. Enter Archie, who enjoys nothing more than playing with the minds of everyone at Trinity. In the end, he has the Vigils selling all the chocolates but those assigned to Jerry. Then, he sets Jerry up in a fight with another student that Archie has been messing with for years. Here all the students are gathered at the football field buying into a raffle where they write down what punch they want thrown and who they want to throw the punch, this is how the fight is to go down, step by step! With the third draw, which is read off before realizing that it is a low blow, which is illegal, and causes the fight to reel out of control. Just as chaos breaks out with the students about chanting for Jerry's death, the lights go out. The teachers have arrived. Just in time, too...Jerry is about dead. They get him off to the hospital. The story ends with Archie and Brother Leonard celebrating in their own ways for the successes of thier evilness!

Another thing that was very bothersome in this book isn't the fact that there really isn't any female characters of importance. It's that the women spoken of, in any way, are used as sexual beings. Meaning that the only purpose of women is for the pleasure of men, whether the men are alone or not! I will not go into any further details there, as I'm sure you are all smart enough to know what it means!

Needless to say, I am glad to be done with this book and I do not recommend it to anyone! Originally there were a few pages I had noted for quotes, but looking through them now, there really isn't anything worth mentioning. Except maybe, "Do I dare disturb the universe?" A very important question, I think...do we dare NOT conform? I would hope we all would, at some point, stand for ourselves and not because we are told or taught a certain way. Isn't that what free agency is about?!

The Jaguar Touch (WJHS 1989)

2009-06-01T17:00:00.000-06:00

June 1st...this day holds several bits of history for our family. First, 21 years ago today, my grandpa, Bailus VanBuren Dye, died. We had only known him for about 7 years at that time.

20 years ago today, the class of 1989 graduated from West Jordan High School. We had our commencement in the gym at the school. Now they do graduations in big event center places, like the Ecenter, the Huntsman Center or the Marriott Center. Having recently attended a couple of these services, I told my mom that I was glad we had ours in the gym at the high school. I was one of the nerdy ones that actually purchased a videotape of the commencement. I think we may have tried watching it right after we got it, but I don't think I've watched it since then. I pulled it out and watched it this afternoon. It was not the best quality video (audio) I've seen on a video, but it was 20 years ago. I was pretty impressed that it was all over in about 90 minutes. They did the presenting of the class, individually, after they showed the closing prayer. So when it cut off abruptly after the reading of the names, it caught me off guard, until a moment later when I remembered that they had already shown the prayer.

Here is what I could make out that impressed me:

The motto: Today we follow Tomorrow we lead

Michelle Plouzek: We are individuals solely responsible for our actions. Take the road less traveled.

Wendy Griffin: We truly have the best mascot in the state, the Jaguar. (She pulls out a stuffed animal) The Jaguar is the largest most powerful wildcat in the world. Jaguars stand for strength and power. The sky is the limit for us now. We are the ones that others will follow to meet their needs.

MaryAnn Mabey: (with great enthusiasm) High school became exactly what we decided to make it. Graduation is by no means the end of our opportunities. Recognize opportunities and use them for our best interest.

Dax Kiger: He could hardly keep a straight face as the students recognized noisily every time he proudly mentioned the school. (Was this the bouncy balls or was it some other clap/stomp thing? He was by far the funniest speaker.) He closed by commenting that we are the leaders of tomorrow.

Chris Davis: Do we dare stir the universe? Do we dare disturb the world? (I just finished reading The Chocolate War and this was one of the themes of the book, you will see the review for this book this week sometime. If he had made reference to this book before the above comment, I didn’t hear it.)

Jerry McCleary: (addressing the parents, mostly) This class has probably been the best one we’ve ever had. They will accomplish things that you and I have not been able to accomplish in our lifetimes. They are truly unique. They are the last class that attended WJHS for a full four years. God Bless you.

Dr. Tom Owen, Area superintendent: reiterated the motto above. He also quoted Denis Waitley by saying, “Losers make promises…winners make commitments.” I hope you are committed to be the leaders of tomorrow.

14 years ago today, my sister was part of the class of 1995 at West Jordan High School. They, too, had their commencement in the gym at the school. I remember going to her graduation and it feeling like a reunion of sorts from our class as many of us had siblings that were graduating that night.

This year we celebrate our 20-year class reunion and I am sure I will blog about that late in the summer. In preparation for this, if you would email your contact info and the info of anyone else from our class that you may have access to, we can update our file, thanks! I have many other memories about that night 20 years ago and I will share them another time, maybe next year, maybe 5 years, time will tell. But, for today, what are your memories of that night?

goal accomplished, WCWS style

2009-05-31T23:41:00.001-06:00

31 Days ago I started a goal to post something to this blog every day for the month of May. Here we are at the end of the month and I would call it a successful goal reached. I have enjoyed the process, mostly in the things I learned along the way, like linking within the post and creating slideshows. Also, in researching some of the topics or finding links for some of the posts, I learned a great deal. I am glad that I set and reached this goal.

Doing these daily posts have given me other ideas on what to blog about. So, I've decided to keep going on the daily posts as long as I can, we'll see how long that lasts, eh?!

When I was growing up, my mom had me playing softball for a few years. I guess I was trying to follow in my aunt's footsteps. She was very athletic and I idolized her, at the time. I was not athletic and I was afraid of being hit by the ball, so I usually just stood there, never swinging and was often walked. One time, I actually swung the bat and hit the ball. The players were so surprised that they flubbed the play and I made it to second base! That says a lot, considering I have never been a fast runner! At the end of that year, I got my one and only ever all-star vote for that hit. Later, I would become friends with that opposing coach and his family. I was friends with his daughter in school, then they moved into our ward and I was his son's primary teacher. I love this family and miss them...where are they now, I often wonder...

These last few days we've been watching a lot of softball. WCWS from Oklahoma. We watched a great deal of this last year and enjoyed it, so when I saw it on last week in preparation for Oklahoma, I decided to watch it again. Alabama, one of my favorites, was back again, but lost out today in a heartbreaking last moment grand slam with only one out to go to force a second elimination game tonight. We remember watching and we will now miss seeing the likes of Brittany Rogers and Kelley Montalvo again next year! Kelley really is a spark plug and Brittany loves the game and her school! My second choice to into the finals and now my first choice to win it all is Washington. I am not as familiar with this team or its players as this is the first time I've really seen them. I was very impressed with Danielle Lawrie, though. She kept calm and focused for the game! I'm thinking that played a major part in her receiving the 2009 Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. They will be playing Florida in the best of 3 final matchup, starting tomorrow night. In that matchup, Lawrie will be going against one of the top players that she beat out for player of the year, Stacey Nelson. I am cheering for the Huskies all the way! In any case, one of these teams will reach their goal for this season, winning the WCWS. It will be a first in the history of either school. Good Luck all around! PLAY BALL!!!

GOT GAME?

2009-05-30T23:58:00.005-06:00

In a world that has most everyone playing on their computers, much like you are right now, I'm sure, just as I am, there are still people out there that love to play board and card games! I am one of these people. We grew up playing games. One of my brothers gave me a board game every Christmas until he took himself away from this part of the family. The last game he gave me was The Hardy Boys Mystery Game. I still have it and I still love it! I even still have my original Candy Land game, the outside box is pretty worn, but the inside stuff is still great. I even have The Cinderella Game in its original box. I have loads of games, board and card games. Yes, we even play games with face cards! I am blessed to have a husband who is usually willing to come and play games not on the computer. I am even more blessed to live near cousins who love to play board and card games with real live people. We don't have as many game nights as we would like, but we always have a good time, even with poor sports in the crowd and other such negative nonsense! Tonight was one of those nights. The cousins came over and we played The Game of Life, you know the real one, not with credit cards and such. We also played Payday, one of their favorites!

Funny story about Payday, on my mission, my companion and I spent a family night with a family in our ward. My companion was losing pretty bad and then had the brilliant idea that the reason she was losing was because she wasn't paying her tithing, so she started setting money aside for tithing and ended up winning the game! It was really funny.

Another time, playing Monopoly (another favorite, we have several different versions including BYUopoly), my bestest friend was setting money aside for tithing and my nephews couldn't figure out what she was up to, they were convinced she was cheating! Then she won the whole thing and we made them figure out what some people set aside money for and pay to the Bishop. I have tried this with many games, but for me, it works best with Payday and I do it almost every time. Sometimes it works and I win by a lot, not even counting my tithing and sometimes I don't win, but it is always funny to have the new person playing try to figure out what I'm up to by setting money aside every time I get money!

Card games, growing up, we even played 21, or blackjack. It isn't one of my favorites, but my dad loved it and would play. My mom had a hotel bank full of pennies and we used them to play. These type of games, board and card, were used to help us learn counting and often money lessons were involved, too. My dad didn't play many games, his favorite was probably UNO. He would play Skip-Bo, very rarely and Yahtzee, too. One time we got him to play Yahtzee and he got 4 Yahtzee's in one game. We didn't like him to play that one anymore, LOL! My mother-in-law taught us how to play Screw Your Neighbor (face cards) several years ago and it has become a family favorite with loads of funny stories, but they aren't necessary appropiate family stories, LOL. This game is very similar to Phase10, to give you an idea.

After my dad died, my mom and I, would play one sheet of Yahtzee every night before going to bed. It would take us about an hour. On the night, Steve and I met, in person for the first time, he and I were sitting out on the porch talking and my mom came to ask if we were going to do our nightly Yahtzee. Steve and I went in and played. That tradition continued for quite awhile after that, whether it was just the two of us or with Steve.

I also love to do puzzles. I love word searches, cryptoquotes and sudoku! I love game nights! The slide show is mostly games we have and a couple my cousins have that we all love to play. What are your favorites? I can't decide, I love too many of them! Some I have, some I dont'! As I said before, we have tons of games and we love to play them. Who's game?! BRING IT ON!!!

LEHI HIGH CLASS OF 2009

2009-05-29T23:43:00.004-06:00

From beginning to end, in May, we had two major extended family events that occured this month. On 2 May 2009, my cousin (technically, 1st cousin once removed) was baptised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Somehow we didn't manage to get a picture of him, but my husband took this one shot of me with my Uncle Tim, who most everyone admires a lot!

Later, while my husband and Rhett (another 1st cousin once removed) were playing basketball, I took these few with my cell phone:

I also snapped a couple of my cousin (Rhett's dad) while he was visiting with others. It amuses me that he looked right at me, and probably still has not clue I was taking pics, LOL. I admire this family so much, they have progressed greatly and are wonderful examples, to all that know them, of making good choices!

Today, my cousin, Colton (Rhett's brother) graduated from Lehi High School. Steve had to work, so I don't have any good shots with his fancy schmancy camera, but here is his senior pic received in his graduation announcement. Also here is a pic of the "L" at the graduation.

I also have a few shots with my not so trusty cell phone camera, including the L above. I knew several of the graduates, but was only able to get pics of three of them. McKell with her parents. Devin, sorry, my cell phone didn't do better with that window in the background. Both of these amazing young adults are very good 'kids' and we are proud of them and I know their families are as well. Congratulations!

Then, of course, Colton, my cousin. The first two are outside of the Marriott Center and then one at Golden Corral, where he wanted to go for the after graduation family dinner. Thanks Colton, I love Golden Corral and don't remember the last time I was there, it was better than I remember! Oh, and I love the tie dye shirt!!!

This post started out as a short thing, ready to post when we got back from the graduation festivities, but I heard a lot of things that I liked, so I will share them here. First, I love their class motto: "Some succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined to." by Henry Van Dyke. Several of the speakers focused their remarks on this motto, which I found motivational. The senior class president, Reta Ray said, "Although we didn't all receive the same grades, we are all receiving the same diploma." WOW, how true and equal! Of course, what you did in high school matters and can make a difference, but in the end, you all leave with the same diploma! I would say that we each must make the most of what we have, no matter where we are in life, graduating high school or trying to fulfill old and new goals!

I believe it was Carter Durrant who quoted Eleanor Roosevelt by saying, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." He also quoted Dr. Seuss, "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose." It was their Principal, Charles Bearce, or as they affectionately called him, "Chuck" who quoted Cecil B DeMille as saying, "The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication." He strongly encouraged each of the graduates to never lose sight of their goals! Finally, Donna Barnes with the Board of Education, talked about this being the last class that will have students from Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain and said, "There is so much more that keeps us connected than keeps us apart." How true all of these words are and I, too, encourage all of these great young people to keep their eyes open and their minds focused on their goals. Never lose sight of your goals and never give up on reaching them! EVER!!!
Congrats to all these young people for doing their part and making good choices. I hope they continue to follow the many good examples in their lives and reap the blessings that will abound!

PB&J

2009-05-28T23:51:00.001-06:00

I didn't have the best day and am very tired as I type this up and try to figure out what to blog about for today. So, I kept thinking about different funny things from recent memory and so I decided to call this post "PB&J". I will get to the title later on, but suffice to say right now, I do not like Peanut Buter & Jelly sandwiches. I do not like peanut butter.

Yes, that is a Utah license plate taken on the road with my sometimes fuzzy cell phone camera. Anyway, why original Reese's Peanut Butter Cups is one of my favorite candy bars makes no real sense, except that it doesn't seem to contain REAL peanut butter. It's still one of my favorites, yum, RPBC rocks! I could go on and talk about my favorite candy bars and although that could be a lengthy post by itself, it isn't what I had in mind when the title came to me...PBJ stands for several things, yet none of them are the reason for the title to this post, either. That would be movies, if you watch commercials or seen a certain movie this year, you will get it..right here, right now...if not, well, read on...

My favorite movie of all time is It's A Wonderful Life, but it has to be the one with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed...you know the one, the REAL one! I would have loved to meet Jimmy Stewart and I did cry, a little, when he died. There is something about the movies and the celebrities from his generation that I think has been lost in today's society. I practically still have this movie memorized and some people in my family don't like watching it with me because before I know it, I'm talking along with the movie. My favorite lines happens twice, "I wish I had a million dollars, (click), HOT DOG!" My favorites scene is with Clarence right after he 'saves' George! Classic movie that I can watch any time of year!

I want to keep this short, so I will blog about other favorite movies another time, but the current commercial I referred to above is for the new dvd realease for Paul Blart: Mall Cop. I saw this show twice in the theaters and would have seen it more, if opportunity had presented itself. I am a fan of The King of Queens, where I first saw Kevin James. I have enjoyed some of his other work, like Hitch. Haven't seen the commercials or the movie and wonder how PB&J relates? It's quite simple actually, Pahud says, "Peanut Blart and jelly! What, what, what's up, man?" Somehow, I don't see them adding this to the list above of what PBJ stands for, LOL! Have you seen this movie and what do you think?

Cancer - it's nasty stuff...

2009-05-27T23:32:00.003-06:00

In 2000, I went to a PartyLite conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. The American Cancer Society is the charity of choice for PartyLite. They do several things throughout the year including rounding up for donations to raise over $1,000,000 a year for the American Cancer Society. Also, at their conferences they pass around and do separate collections of donations and donate that amount to the local Ronald McDonald house, wherever the conference is being held. But, I digress...at this particular conference, since it was so close, we had a lot of people from our region attend. They did a little demonstration of sorts as a whole group of well over 13,000. They started by having those who currently personally have or have survived cancer stand up...a few hundred did so...then they had everyone who knew someone who has or has survived cancer stand up, all but a few hundred of those there were now standing! In our group there was one lady that was not standing. She was very touched by this demonstration. She has never personally known anyone who has ever had to deal with cancer. This is very unusual, as one could see by this simple demonstration! This great woman was a smoker and such, this motivated her to quit smoking. In the almost 9 years since that amazing and small conference, I have lost touch with her and don't know if she is still not smoking, but I remember how touched many of us were by her motivation and realization of how wide spread cancer really is...we were all also very much more motivated to help in raising donations for The American Cancer Society.

I tell that story to remind people that cancer is out there and that it affects all of us, in one way or another! In my recent visit to Mesquite, I read an article about the current Miss Mesquite and how she is trying to educate people about cancer and using nutrition as prevention. At the bottom of this article they had the picture below of the different color ribbons for the different cancers. I thought this was really cool and wanted to share it with all of you.

Oh, incidentally, I do still sell PartyLite and if you are interested in helping our cause along, book your party and I will donate a vast majority of my profits to the cause, as well....

Valley of Fire - Nevada State Park

2009-05-26T23:41:00.001-06:00

Ok, I know this happened 10 days ago, but I just finally got all my pics from mine and my moms cell phones to the computer and saved so I could learn how to create a slideshow with them. Success, as you can see above, although, they have no captions, which is safer since some of the order got mixed up in the sending to the computer. Saturday morning, mom decided to go into Henderson (Las Vegas) to visit her sister. On the way, we decided to take the llllloooooooooonnnnnggggg way in to Vegas from Mesquite. We have taken the long way a few times before, usually bypassing the Valley of Fire. This time, we decided to drive through it and we loved it! There are a lot of places to hike, have picnics and even use the restrooms! Seeing as how this is in Nevada, we would recommend this as a trip in the early spring and earlier in the day, before it gets hot. We got there around 1pm. We didn't do any hiking at all, just drove through and took lots of pics with our cell phones, since Steve wasn't there with his fancy schmancy camera. Some of them were even taken while we were moving in the car...and they don't even come close to doing this wonderful and beautiful place justice! Then, on monday, I used up almost all the space left on my cell phone to snap a few shots of the nice sunset we witnessed just before getting to Fillmore and eating at Larry's, where there was a sign that said:

We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone
-no matter who you are-
-or think you are-
-or who your daddy is!

Only in Fillmore...or some other small town! Needless to say, we were blessed to see a lot of God's work on this trip and we still wonder how anyone who sees such beauty in the world can deny the existence of God! We respect their right to choose that belief, we just don't understand it! As for us, we will continue to express our deep gratitude for such blessings...

Decoration Day

2009-05-25T23:36:00.002-06:00

My dad often referred to Memorial Day as Decoration Day. I used to just think a lot of people just used that phrase, not realizing that it was because it really used to be called that! I, along with many others, have always thought of Memorial Day as the beginning of summertime. From what I understand all things to do with memorial day are to do with honoring our veterans who have died, mostly in combat. What I don't understand is when, how and why did this holiday become about decorating graves of all we have known and some we haven't but feel obligated by ancestry. Now, most of you already know that I am a family history consultant and that I love my ancestry and the study of all things ancestry in general. With all this in mind, I find that the commercialism of feeling like one has to buy flowers and place them on all these graves is very overwhelming, especially for those with large families, like mine...and that is NOT even counting the countless friends along the way! For example, if money were no object or we had unlimited supply of flowers, these are the cemeteries we would visit every year, at least this one day:

Larken Sunset Gardens in Sandy, UT: my dad, my grandma, my grandpa, my uncle, my aunt, my brother, my sisters ex-fiance (7)

West Jordan Cemetery in West Jordan, UT: my uncle, my cousin, a brother of a former best friend from childhood (3)

Redwood Memorial Estates in Taylorsville, UT: two of my uncles, my aunt, two cousins and several friends (5+)

Salt Lake City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, UT: my best friends baby, a former neighbor friend, a grandpa (3)

East Lawn Memorial Hills in Provo, UT: my cousin and his grandma (2)

American Fork Cemetery in American Fork, UT: my friends mom, an uncle, aunt and their son (4)

Timpanogos Memorial Gardens in Orem, UT: two uncles, grandma, and an aunt (4)

...here is where I lose count, but I think you get the idea:

Orem City Cemetery in Orem, UT: many friends from school and neighborhood

Provo City Cemetery in Provo, UT: grandparents and many other family and a few friends

Manti City Cemetery in Manti, UT: my grandma, great grandparents many aunts and uncles and cousins

I think I will stop the specific list there, but I could go on with cemeteries in davis county, utah...new mexico...gunnison city, lehi city, etc etc.

Now, mind you, I do believe in honoring those that have gone before us, but I think that the original meaning of this holiday has almost disappeared completely and, in its own way, been taken over by a form of commercialism. Between the obligation to buy and place flowers on so many graves and the BBQs, the meaning is lost to many. Do your kids know the real meaning behind Memorial Day? I encourage us to continue remembering all those who have gone before us, but also help everyone remember why we truly celebrate Decoration Day!

With all of this in mind, I would like to thank my aunt for sending me the following the pic just over a month ago. Then, I would like to thank a new found cousin, Danny, for emailing this to me a week or so ago. You both have amazing timing

From Danny: I found this tid-bit online and decided to you. I also found out that Jesus died in Saipan on July 18, 1944 and was buried in Puowaina Hawaii, Military Cemetary. He was born June 23, 1914. He was only 20 years old son of Leandro Trujillo and Angelica Salamon (Sullivan) of Guadalupita New Mexico. Leandro was the son of Jesus Trujillo and Manuelita Pacheco. Angelica was the daughter of John (Jack)P. Sullivan of Missouri, and Guadalupe Romero all of Coyote (Guadalupe) New Mexico

[Jesus would be my great uncle]

Oh, and know that I won't hold it against you if you do place the flowers on graves, we still do it, when we can, too. Maybe it is my guilt of not doing so more often that lead to this post? I don't know. Oh, and more important, I won't hold it against you for the BBQs, either, in fact, I won't turn down an invite, even! As long as we all remember to stop at 3pm and have that one minute of silence and truly remember to focus on the real purpose of this holiday!

Tornado warning & Networking...

2009-05-24T23:36:00.001-06:00

Ok, they have nothing to do with each other, but someone requested I share the story referred to in yesterdays blog post. We went to an Orem Owlz game in the 2007 season. As we arrived, there were some dark clouds coming over the west mountains. Steve kept talking about how he didn't like the looks of those clouds. I kept telling him to 'shut up' and that we would be fine! Before long, they started an evacuation to the McKay events center due to a tornado warning headed right for us. We had a few other family members with us, it was kinda funny to see the different reactions, from nervousness to thinking it was all for nothing. It turned out that it was all for nothing, there ended up being no tornado...but from then on when my dear man starts being negative and then it happens, I tell him it is all his fault, just like the tornado warning! LOL!

Networking - at one time, I was sort of unofficially known as the networking queen. I had tons and tons of business cards from the people I met in my networking circle. I have seen great benefits from the power of networking. If someone needed something, I almost always knew someone that could help them! Having moved from the state for 2 years, people move on and my network is nowhere near as large as it once was, but I am working on it.

This leads me to the changes I made to my blog today...you will notice that I now have a long list of links to the right here. I have added all my friends blogs and business websites that I know about. If you are listed to the right and don't want to be on the list, let me know. If you are not listed to the right and want to be, let me know.

For the month of May, I made a goal to post to my blog every day. This has been a great experience for me. I have researched more topics online and learned a few new tricks in the process. I have come across some websites and information that have taught me much. I hope that we all can continue to help each other build traffic to each other's blogs and business websites and businesses in general. It is by networking and helping each other that will help us all become bigger and better as time goes on....

In the meantime, I am still doing PartyLite. I am also available to do data entry, organizing, family history research, babysitting and a few other things. Let me know what you need and I will see what I can do to help fulfill that need!

Derk's Field Forever

2009-05-23T23:54:00.006-06:00

I am a baseball fan, always have been, most likely always will be. In fact, we would love to make the trip around the country one day visiting all the major league ball stadiums. I was lucky enough to find a guy that would love to make this trip together! Growing up in Salt Lake, we have a minor league baseball team which has been owned by several different major league teams. Now it is finally owned by my favorite, the Angels (I will not use their STUPID official name). I could live with Anaheim Angels, for that is the city in which they play, but they don't even play in Los Angeles COUNTY, so please forgive me for about hating their official name! To me, they will always be the California Angels!

Growing up, I was a Los Angeles Dodgers fan. When I was about 10 years old we visited my uncle's house in Anaheim. He was watching a Dodgers game when we arrrived. The adults all migrated out to the patio while I settled in to watch the game on tv. My uncle told me I could change the channel or go out to the patio. I assured him I was fine. The story goes, my mom says, that Uncle Arvid walked out to the patio with his jaw dropped in shock over a girl that loved baseball. The next night they surprised me by taking me to my very first California Angels game. They played the Kansas City Royals and I believe, lost. I was hooked and have been an Angels fan ever since. I have also been to several games and fan appreciation night over the years! Yes, I cried with excitement when they won the World Series in 2002!

Ok, back to the triple A team in Salt Lake. I remember going to several games growing up, especially remember the Trappers, who we watched play in Idaho. I don't remember details now, but my favorite player was known as Jo-Bo (Joseph Beaulac)and his number was 24, which is my favorite number to this day! I love that they are now called the Bees and especially that they are owned by the Angels. I have a few ticket vouchers for this season and look forward to going to a couple of games with my man!

Incidentally, we went to a couple of Orem Owlz games last year, which is also owned by the Angels and had a blast! Even getting evacuated to the McKay events center over a threat of a tornado and it was all Steve's fault, LOL!!! I have yet to attend an Ogden Raptors game. We just don't make it to Ogden that often.

The reason for this post is my distaste of renaming Derk's Field in the first place. I remember being so mad when they changed it to Franklin Covey Field. I finally, sort of, got over that because at least it flowed off the tongue. But, Spring Mobile Ballpark, are you kidding me?! It's so all about the money! When I heard they were announcing a new name, I thought surely it would be after Larry H. Miller who had recently passed away, to honor him. I am so not pleased with this new name....but I will continue to support the Bees, at least as long as they are owned by the Angels...after that, who knows?! LOL! In my mind it will always be Derk's Field and I will continue to roll my eyes at the new name that I won't be using anytime soon!

Old habits....

2009-05-22T23:12:00.002-06:00

No, I'm not running out of topics, I just been doing a bit of self-admiring lately...and need the boost today, so...

Growing up my dad had long nails. Everyone commented on it, strange for a guy, I know. We used to tease him that if and when he broke a nail he would cry. So, when it would happen, he would do a pretend sniff and cry to make us laugh. We would tease him more. When he would clip them, he would often leave his pinky nails long. I, on the other hand, used to bite my nails like nutso. My dad used to tease me by putting his hands towards me and saying, "Here, want some more?" I would glare at him, not funny, dad! EEEWWW!!!

I don't know when it really happened, but I stopped biting my finger nails, somewhere around the same time I went on my mission. I have not had this bad habit for around 17 years now. I have never been one to use nail polish or have manicures. I am picky about when and how my nails are clipped. I do not like clipping my nails. I let them go and go until one breaks, usually...or is about to break. With this habit, they can get quite long, I've been told too long by one. Most people, when they pay attention, compliment me on my long nails and can't believe they are real, not fake!

I know this is a silly topic to blog about, but, hey, it works, right?! I even have pics of my nails as they are right now...I will be forced to clip them in the next few days. Oh, and, ya, I sometimes don't clip my pinky nails, just like my dad!!! Also, like my dad, my fingers fit perfectly together...go ahead and admire, you know you want to! hee hee

PART 2: General Young Women's Meeting - March 2009

2009-05-21T20:45:00.000-06:00

After typing up all of the thoughts on the talks, I decided to take this one and make it the post for today! So, here is part two of my thoughts on the General Young Womens meeting on 28 Mar 2009:

May You Have Courage BY President Thomas S. Monson: "You communicate through cell phones, text messaging, instant messaging, e-mailing, blogging, Facebook, and other such means. You listen to music on your iPods and MP3 players. This list, of course, represents but a few of the technologies which are available to you....Although this is a remarkable period when opportunities abound, you also face challenges which are unique to this time. For instance, the very technological tools I have mentioned provide opportunities for the adversary to tempt you and to ensnare you in his web of deceit, thereby hoping to take possession of your destiny." I use every one of the technologies he specified. In Jan 1996, I was able hear Pres. Hinckley speak at the tabernacle on Temple Square. He warned of the dangers of the internet. In Feb 1996, my dad died and in Mar 1996, we got the internet in our house...my sister wanted email. I quickly learned what Pres Hinckley was talking about. It was a bit scary and intimidating. I began to pray about to find the good things because I believed that we would not have been given such a wonderful tool if it couldn't be used for good. I quickly found the Mormon Chat room (this isn't always the best thing for everyone, but it was for me at this time) and a giant load of genealogical opportunities. From these finds alone, I am now able to get more training to stay on my skills as a genealogist and prepare to open my business. Most importantly, finding the Mormon Chat room led to me finding my eternal companion, Steve! As well as some eternal friends that we still communicate with regularly! I always add here that Steve and I met before meeting your spouse on the internet was the cool thing to do, what trendsetters we are! hee hee "First, the courage to refrain from judging others; Second, the courage to be chaste and virtuous; and Third, the courage to stand firm for truth and righteousness." Yes, these things do indeed take courage. It isn't easy to not tell the world when you feel wronged by someone. I am guilty of this. Some of you know the experiences we have had in the last year alone and I tell you that it has been hard to teach myself to not just tell anyone and everyone my thoughts and feelings on the subject! One friend inquired and noted that I had not blogged about these events and such. I told her that there were too many people that read my blog that would be offended and I did not want to go there. Not everyone in my household shares this same view and feel it necessary to tell most everyone about these experiences and the pressure to support them is high and hard to resist! As for the third one, well, that was a huge part of what lead to us having these experiences last year. A short time after that journey began and long before it was over, I had to go in and renew my Temple recommend. I was grateful, almost to the point of tears, that I was worthy to renew this because even though I was beginning a very dark journey of struggles, I had kept my integrity in tact and was very grateful for the strength that came with those choices! "Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”" I think Mother Teresa was a very smart and humble woman and gave us ALL a great example to follow to become better Christians! "My sweet young sisters, maintain an eternal perspective. Be alert to anything that would rob you of the blessings of eternity." Again, wonderful advice and a great challenge to us ALL! "My sweet young sisters, maintain an eternal perspective. Be alert to anything that would rob you of the blessings of eternity. Help in maintaining the proper perspective in these permissive times can come to you from many sources. One valuable resource is your patriarchal blessing. Read it frequently. Study it carefully. Be guided by its cautions. Live to merit its promises. If you have not yet received your patriarchal blessing, plan for the time when you will receive it, and then cherish it." A lot of our lives and the choices we make are based on our perspective at that moment! I continue to read my patriarchal blessing regularly, especially when making major decisions in my life. It is a great help and blessing to me! "Esther, through fasting, faith, and courage, had saved a nation" I am grateful for the reminder of the story of Esther. "You will probably not be called upon to put your life on the line, as did Esther, for that which you believe. You will, however, most likely find yourself in situations where great courage will be required as you stand firm for truth and righteousness." If only we all would strive for this same courage and FAITH! Even in the closing of this talk, he tells us that although dark times lie ahead we have the gospel as our beacon of light and with that we can and will have the courage necessary to be "an example of the believers" to many others to come!

PART 1: General Young Women's Meeting - March 2009

2009-05-20T23:20:00.010-06:00

In case you don't know or haven't figured it out already, I set a goal to post something every day for the month of May! I have done very well with this goal, so far! One of the reasons I thought of this goal was a way to share my thoughts about the talks given at the April 2009 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Here we are with the month almost gone and I have yet to say a thing about this topic. So, today that changes, as I will comment on the talks given during the General Young Women's meeting on my birthday, 28 Mar 2009.

Be Thou an Example of the Believers by Ann M. Dibb: I remember being excited to be in Young Women's as I was going to be sharing that experience with an Aunt of mine. Although we lived in West Jordan, we were attending the Copperton Ward at that time. We would spend every weekend with my grandma, who would take us to church. For those that don't know or remember, my mom was not active and my dad was not a member. I turned 12 in March and was very excited about being in Young Women's. Having just worked to get my Gospel in Action award (the first in our ward), I remember getting my Personal Progess book and being very excited about working on the goals for my young women's medallion. I proudly wear both very often even still today. Although, I do not remember the specifics of what I worked on, I do have my book somewhere and look forward to finding it and reliving that time in my life! Alas, in July that same year we moved to a new house in West Jordan, near an Uncle's family. We decided to start attending that ward and continued to do so until I got married 14 years later. Even though my aunt was no longer in my ward, I loved Young Womens. I loved my leaders and my peers. I miss some of these examples and have recently renewed others of these relationships via Facebook. I, too, had a dad that was very supportive, which being a non-member himself, was very impressive to me! He would get up early to make sure I was on time to early morning seminary. He would also make sure I was there for basketball practices and games. No, I don't play, but it was fun then and I loved that he was supportive in everything I did. Oh, I found it interesting that Elder Neal Andersons wife was a big part of this story, little did any of them know that just a week later, he would be sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles!

A Virtuous Life - Step by Step BY Mary N. Cook: "Virtue brings peace, strength of character, and happiness in this life." This is so true and I am grateful for the strength of character living a life of integrity has brought me! "He has been successful in confusing women about their roles in the Lord’s divine plan." I don't think it is just women who are being confused about the roles of women in the Lord's divine plan. I will that at that, though! I had a home teacher once who gave us each a sheet of paper (Bro Reading was a seminary teacher and I'm sure he used this in class) and as he read Lehi's vision, he had me draw it out, I can't remember if this was the one with my eyes closed or not. Anyway, that always stayed with me and helped me picture it better. I need to be way better about holding fast to the Iron Rod, my next goal to complete, maybe? I have my For the Strength of the Youth book nearby most all the time. Although, it is from when I was in Young Women's when they first published them, so it is a much older version than the current one I've seen floating around. I first listened to these talks on my Ipod and this was probably my favorite part of this 'session': "Daily habits of righteous behavior will also help you to continually hold fast to the rod. As a Young Women general presidency we have invited all of the young women in the world to develop three daily habits: First, pray to your Father in Heaven, morning and night, every day. Second, read the Book of Mormon for at least five minutes every day. And third, smile! Why? We have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, which brings us true happiness." I encourage all of us, male or female to strive towards these righteous behaviors, they can only make us stronger and increase our FAITH. No matter your beliefs or mine, we all must continue to progress in our lives and this is best done step by step versus all at once, which is usually so overwhelming it makes it hard to not give up! Hmmm, somehow the phrase "baby steps" comes to mind....

Come Let Us Go Up to the Mountain of the Lord BY Elaine S. Dalton: When I became and adult, one of my Young Women's leaders told me that as an adult, age didn't matter as much to guys looking to be in relationships. I bless her for her efforts and although I am a firm believer that age difference doesn't matter, in the big picture, age was NOT my problem in the lack of attention from guys. That's ok, my time was not to come for several years! "Never before has there been a greater need for virtue and purity in the world." We hear these types of warnings or counsel often in our conferences, it must mean we are not getting the message. I hope that we can all really get it and strive for it, WOW, can you just imagine the blessings that would be poured out upon us and those around us?! It would truly be amazing! "You are not common. You are not ordinary. You are daughters of God." Well said! White roses are my favorite flower, for much the same reason that Sister Dalton said she chose it when she was in Young Womens. Sister Dalton is completely right on when she says that we can change and return to virtue thanks to the Saviors Atonement. "your personal purity will enable you to become a force for good and an influence for righteousness in the world. I truly believe that one virtuous young woman, led by the Spirit, can change the world." This is my hope for myself, those I love and just everyone, no matter your gender or your beliefs!

BE SURE TO CHECK BACK TOMORROW FOR MY THOUGHTS ON PRESIDENT MONSONS TALK!!!

Larry's Drive In (Fillmore, Utah)

2009-05-19T23:05:00.005-06:00

Growing up, when we would travel as a family, with my dad, we would stop every 60-90 minutes. Dad had to stretch his legs. So, I was pretty used to that...then I met Steve. When he travels, he is used to just going and getting there, with as few stops as absolutely possible. I quickly adapted to this way of traveling until my mom started traveling with us....we are at a sort of happy medium. We stop more than Steve was used to, but less than when we traveled with my dad.

Now when we go someplace, we try to just have pit stops when we need to put gas in the car. We also like to get hot dogs....there isn't much like a gas station hot dog...yum yum yum! Maveriks have become a favorite, not only for the hot dogs, but for the rewards program in buying gas and everything now! If you need a card, my mom will be more than happy to help...she works at the Maverik at Thanksgiving Point, affectionately known as "turkey maverik", lol...

On our trips to Mesquite, we often stop at the Maverik in Fillmore. We have been there 3 of our 4 trips to Mesquite this year. We have not gotten hot dogs on any of these visits because they looked very gross....so, I took pictures and I am working on showing them to the powers that be....

these are from 3 Mar 2009, 31 Mar 2009 and 18 May 2009, respectively...

So, last night, after finding the icky hot dogs once again...we ventured off to find something else to eat in Fillmore...we ended up at Larry's Drive In, just across and down the road from Maverik, at 1030 South Highway 99, phone number 435-743-5411. We got there right at closing time, 9pm, but they were nice enough to let us in, anyway. It was a little high priced, so we just got an order of chicken nuggets and a corn dog with an order of french fries. The chicken nuggets were ok, but we probably wouldn't order them again. The corn dog was very good, much like Arctic Circle, as they both use Foster Farms. The french fries were very good, but very high priced, too. We would like to go there again and try the hamburgers and shakes. I tried finding anything about this place on the internet, but didn't have much luck. It does not have a website and it seems that it is listed on a bunch of other websites, but with no reviews or other information. So, I hope you find this helpful and yes, I would recommend Larry's as a great place to grab something fast and delicious!

Coco's Restaurant & Sorority fun...

2009-05-18T23:31:00.002-06:00

I will blog more about my Mesquite trip, but I am too tired tonight, so for a quick post, I decided to post a few memories that came to mind this weekend...I almost always am thinking about blue dots, but what triggered the desire for this post was a song I heard in Coco's restaurant in Las Vegas, NV over the weekend...Georgia On My Mind....here goes:

Ok, after I had to leave Snow College in March 1990, I ended up at the Salt Lake Community College institute, yes, just the institute! I loved this place, it was my home away from home for about 7 years! Bro Hatch was the absolute best!!! I miss him...

I quickly discovered Lambda Delta Sigma, the LDS Sorority. I pledged and became a member in spring 1990. I was a member when I went on my mission in 1992-1993. I came home from my mission and was finally blessed with the opportunity to be an officer, thanks Michelle!!! What an awesomely amazing year that was, 1994/1995! This is one of our officer pictures:

It was during this time (summer 1994, I think), 6 of us piled into my Geo Metro and went downtown to the Michael Bolton with Celine Dion as the opener....talk about getting a bang for your buck! I won't go into details but suffice it to say I don't think any of us will forget about the connection between our pre-concert meal at Subway and having Michael Bolton sing Georgia on My Mind about 7 rows in front of us! Right, Heidi? We were 7 rows up from the floor and at one point he disappeared from the stage, we were thinking just to change clothes or whatever, but then, out of no where, he was right there 7 rows in front of us and he just happened to sing that song! We laughed and loved it!!! Who was it all that went? Michelle W, Heidi S, Janice Y, Becky H, Lori U and myself? Is that right girls, help me out here...

On another occasion, we were at an officer's retreat at Snowbird when one of our own had an experience that many of us will not soon forget! In fact, I have a BLUE bowling ball that became known as THE BLUE DOT to many of us...I still use that ball to this day and every time, I think of my good friend Janice and our wonderful time together as sorority sisters! Ah, the little things that remind me of A LOT!!! I love you all....are we ever going to get together for a reunion??? Let me know the time and place, I'll be there!

Coco's has really good food. My mom enjoyed the tortilla soup. I had a hard time deciding between the Turkey Avacado Jack Croissant or the California Chicken Sandwich. Both sandwiches are pictured here. I went with the latter and it was a good choice. It is delicious.

Oh, and just in case you are wondering, I left Snow College because I ran out of money for school...

Panda Garden

2009-05-17T14:15:00.002-06:00

Ok, I am not sure where this habit of reviewing restaurants came from, but I kind of like sharing my opinion, in case you haven't noticed! Many you know I am in Mesquite, Nevada this weekend. In Mesquite is the best chinese restaurant, Panda Garden. (the website seems to focus more on the St George location, but there ya go, anyway!) This is my favorite restaurant in Mesquite and every time we have visited since moving, I have eaten there! This trip is no different. In fact, we just came from there to the library for me type this post. I had been debating over several topics for today's post when we left the restaurant, I knew it had to be about Panda Garden!

Many you know I love my lemon chicken. I used to go to Panda on my lunch sometimes when working at the library on Saturdays. The quick service was perfect for the time we were given. I have always ordered the Lemon Chicken, but know that the Sweet & Sour is really good, too. Steve's favorite is Sweet & Sour pork. The egg drop soup is good, too...and I'm not a soup person! I just love this place! I did mention it in my birthday blog and included a pic of my mom and her friend out front by their water feature!

So, if you find yourself in Mesquite, just passing through or staying for a visit, I highly recommend eating at the Panda Garden, 12 W Mesquite Blvd. Ste 101! It is time and money well spent!

The Total Money Makeover Live Event

2009-05-16T15:02:00.000-06:00

My bestest friend turns me on to the bestest things....this post is a little about one of them, Dave Ramsey!

I love the things Dave Ramsey teaches. He is about common sense and what it teaches in the Bible! Last year was the first time Dave Ramsey brought his Total Money Makeover Live Event to Salt Lake City! Ok, that clip was just a nibble of what you can expect at this event! Jo and I went and had a wonderful time! We paid for the platinum package and was able to hear a little from Dave before the event in a Q&A, with lunch provided and received a goodie bag with a few autographed books and other goodies. We were able to shake his hand and have our pic taken with him, too! It was awesome! We were excited to do the same this year. BUT when it came time, turns out the price for the platinum package was jacked beyond our means and I couldn't win it from the radio station, so I did not go...although, probably a good thing, maybe, since I ended up in Mesquite and Las Vegas this weekend, eh?!

Jo and another friend of hers paid for the regular tickets and are there right now as I type this from my aunt's house in Henderson, Nevada! She did text me to let me know that Dave (and probably his family) ate dinner at the Red Iguana last night. That is near Jo's neighborhood...cool!

I wanted to do a more complete blog about Dave, but I have yet to take the time to watch The Town Hall for Hope, so that will be in another blog, later in the month or June, whenever I get around to watching it!

I decided that because he is in Salt Lake again today, I would take the time to note a few things that I love about his process, and, I believe, is really good advice for everyone:

The 7 Baby Steps, sorry, but must click the link to see what they are! During his live event, he uses a clip from the movie, What About Bob?, which adds a great deal to the humor! After the event last year, I had to netflix the movie so I could see it! Loved it!

He also uses a gazelle video (this doesn't seem to be the exact clip, but it is the closest I could find quickly) to talk about being gazelle intense in your efforts to become debt free and stay that way. While searching for that clip, I came across this clip on youtube and thought it was very appropiate, too! Sorry, I know some out that have, uh, issues, with youtube, but that is first place I thought to look for these clips!

Ok, I realize that a lot of this advice is similar to what has been given for many many years by the LDS church leaders. BUT, not only does he tell you what to do, he tells you HOW to do it! So, did you go last year? this year? What do YOU think of Dave?! We happen to think DAVE ROCKS!

Mesquite, Nevada

2009-05-15T15:15:00.001-06:00

Growing up my dad liked to take us on family vacations at least once a year! We often went to New Mexico and California. We had loads of family in both places and all along the way. We would also take trips out to Wendover, almost regularly. When in Wendover, my sister and I would go through almost as much in the arcades as our parents would in gambling. My dad especially liked Black Jack, commonly known as 21. I am told he also liked to play craps and roullette and was pretty good at both. He was never into poker at all and did very little on the slots. I have many memories of these trips, but the one thing I would like to focus on this posting is the trips to California during which we would always stay one night in Mesquite, Nevada. We all liked Mesquite much better than Las Vegas, which is too big for our taste. We all liked Mesquite much better than Wendover, too! I really can't say why we liked about it better as kids, there wasn't as much by way of arcades (which I'm a sucker for) and Mesquite was always HOT HOT HOT to us, like take your breath away hot, gasping for air when we get out of the car! I DO NOT like hot weather!!! As I got older and was able to play Bingo there, it was even more fun. Now, if Wendover would get some bingo out there, our viewpoint may just change! Ok, maybe not...

In March 2003, my bestest friend and I took a road trip to Mesa, Arizona (that could be a whole other blog post in itself, lol...already mentioned here) and along the way back spent the night in Mesquite, Nevada. I could not believe just how much Mesquite had grown since my last trip there in 1994. I loved it. I went home and told my mom about the changes and growth and in a matter of weeks her and I took a trip to Mesquite. Mother's Day weekend that year, we moved her down to live there in the Bluffs apartment complex. She lived, worked and played bingo...AND got sick.

In October 2004, she was taken from work to the hospital (yes, they have their own hospital now). I went down the next day and stayed for two weeks. It was beautiful fall, so thankfully not HOT, weather. I went to a multitude of appointments with my mom trying to figure out what exactly was wrong. During that two weeks, I began to have promptings (impressions, whatever your word of choice) that it was time for her to have family closer. I knew she was not willing to move back to Salt Lake and my sister was not going to move to Mesquite. So Steve and I decided that we were ready for a change and took the plunge to move to Mesquite ourselves. A few weeks later, he took time off work and went down to Mesquite. He had showed an interested in wanting to be a dealer, but ended up getting a job at Virgin River in the sportsbook. So we teased him that he was a bookie instead of a dealer, lol. Right after thanksgiving 2004 we moved all our stuff down and also lived in The Bluffs apartment complex.

The following June we found the perfect house with a wonderful landlord out of CA. We all moved into the house together and were there until we moved back to Utah right after thanksgiving 2006. In August 2005, I started working at the Mesquite Library, part of the Las Vegas Clark County Library District. I absolutely loved this job! Of course, anyone who has been reading my blog knows I loved to read, so why wouldn't I love working in a library?! Also in August 2005, Steve, still working at Virgin River, changed from working in the sportsbook to working in the slots department, where he worked until we moved. Mom worked at the Oasis hotel front desk, ending her employment there as a supervisor working the graveyard shift as Night Auditor!

In getting this post ready, I asked mom what her favorite thing about Mesquite was and she said the weather and being able to play bingo pretty much whenever she wanted. Her least favorite thing was the lack of stores and other entertainment without having to go to St George or Las Vegas. She says she finds it ironic that before we moved down there she went to St George more than Las Vegas and after we moved down we went to Las Vegas more. I told her it was because then she didn't have to drive in the Las Vegas traffic! I do the driving, unless Steve is with and then he will usually drive. Of course, with the traffic and my knowledge of getting around, I usually did drive when we went to Las Vegas, anyway.

I asked Steve the same two questions. He didn't know what he liked the best, although, my guess would be the small town atmosphere and the weather as he doesn't so much mind the heat. He said his least favorite was the smoky-ness in the casinos where he worked. I said I thought he would have said no trains nearby. He said, "That, too!"

As for me, my favorite things there...the ward (we miss you tons and tons, Bishop Reber), the library system (I do have to openly admit, though, that the Bunkerville branch is my favorite), playing bingo to blow off steam whenever I wanted and could, and the small town atmosphere. My least favorite thing is easily the HOT weather, although, after living there, it really wasn't so bad, after all! I realized that if you just move there during the winter by the time it gets really hot, it isn't that bad and it DOES NOT take your breath away anymore! So, with that in mind, my least favorite thing was not hearing my beloved train sounds! Otherwise, I miss Mesquite terribly! Steve and I both still keep up with the goings on by reading the Mesquite Local News online several times a week!

Oh, did I forget to mention that pretty much as soon as I post this, I am leaving for a weekend trip to Mesquite with my mom?! YAY!!!

Recession Choices

2009-05-14T13:47:00.002-06:00

Recently there has been a commercial airing on the radio. I have heard it several times, but have not been paying attention to know who the commercial is for until the end when they say "We heard about the recession, we chose not to participate!" I love this and I still wonder which company this commercial is for, maybe some day I will be paying attention before the end of the commercial.

I love this because the so-called recession really is a matter of opinion. I have always felt this way. Life is made up of highs and lows, ups and downs, as it were. Maybe we are too poor to really feel any affects from this so-called recession, but I don't think so. I think that some people will take any excuse to complain about their money issues. What people tend to forget is that whatever their money situation, it is a direct result of their choices! Obviously, there are many others out there who agree with this theory!

Perfect example, me being fired from a couple of jobs over the last few years. No, I did not choose to be fired, but in a way, I did. I refused to put my integrity on the line for anyone and didn't like it knowing that others were very willing to throw away their own integrity in the name of better business. I hope they know that in the long run this method will not work and most definitely will not be worth it. Another choice I made (make) is to not be ashamed of being FAT! Of course, if you have read any of my posts in the last few days or if you know me at all, you already know this! I am FAT, it is a major part of who I am and, again, if I can accept it then others should, too! BUT, this is not the topic for this posting...

So, you can see that even though I did not choose to be fired and left unable to impress anyone enough to be hired again, I did choose to do things that people (following society) didn't like or agree with and rather than accepting me for who I am and learning to work together, which, I promise, would have been possible, it was easier for them to get rid of me. I have accepted this for what it is! I also think that once a few people starting making choices that leads to others making choices that resulted in someone somewhere having new negative money issues...well, it just kind of snowballed from there to this so-called recession.

As for all the "layoffs", it is my opinion (and many others) that some companies will take ANY excuse to make adjustments to the bottom line and it is much easier to cut people loose altogether than it is to make more frugal choices that can result in people keeping their jobs, but means less profit to be shared among the big shots or even hours being cut, at least on a temporary basis. Some complain about there not being any jobs, well, I'm sorry, but this is just not true. There are a lot of jobs out there, a lot of companies are hiring. The problem isn't the lack of jobs available, it is the choice people are making about just how picky they are about what they are willing to do for legitimate work. Then you have companies like Hobby Lobby that run on virtually no debt and recently gave their employees raises.

As far as our time during this so-called recession, we started it out with Steve choosing to leave a position where he was being treated worse than a 2 yr old. A month later, I was "let go" from my job. On the plus side, I was able to draw on unemployment for a short time and throughout the last 15 months, we have both learned many lessons about ourselves and each other! We made a few choices to cut expenses which taught us even more about ourselves! I am a fan of Dave Ramsey, which I will blog more about on Saturday. He is very big on the fact that just because someone chose to announce that we are in a recession does not mean the world will end. I fully agree with this same sentiment. We are not as prepared as we need to be and the process we have gone through over these last 15 months or so have brought us closer together and closer to some goals that we now share! As things go right now, I am still working towards starting a Family History business. Steve is happily working for the USPS. He is working and his hours are being cut, so, as a temporary fix, if anyone knows of little odd and end jobs, let us know. I am great in an office or better yet, when are you going to claim your free candles?! Steve is even better with a camera! Bring it on!

There are so many choices we can make and we do make, what we tend to forget is that each choice has a consequence, whether good, bad or ugly! It is my hope that we can take our own reality for what it is and not let the role of society and over dramatized media stories control our choices. It is time, now more than ever, for us to look within ourselves and be truly honest! Where do we really sit? Are things really as bad as they seemed a short time ago, when the media was really focused on dramatizing the end of the world as we know it! Personally, I think not!

A Promise IS A Promise

2009-05-13T22:34:00.003-06:00

The Way I See It #299: "There is a subtle difference between a mission and a promise. A mission is something you strive to accomplish - a promise is something you are compelled to keep. One is individual, the other is shared. When a mission and a promise are one and the same...that's when mountains are moved and races are won." ---Hala Moddelmog, President and CEO, Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Several months ago, I took this quote from a hot chocolate cup from Starbucks. I have a thing about the word "promise". I take that word very seriously and do not just throw it out loosely. Seriously, ask anyone that really knows me! If I said that word, you can count on me that it will be kept! AND, thusly when someone "promises" me something, I fully expect that it will be done! The hard part for me, most of the time, is the wait for the promise to be fulfilled. Just something to keep in mind when you think about making a promise to me or anyone...say it like you mean it and then, MEAN IT!

Mission, so many meanings, so little space on this blog post. I served a "mission" for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have worked for many companies that have placed a lot of focus on their "mission". I am working on putting together a business myself and working on my own "mission" for that company. I have also been giving some thought to my "mission" in life. All of these missions worked to accomplishments. Some created for me, some I am working to create for myself, but all will lead to great things! What's your mission?

I say we all work together to move mountains! Who's with me?!

REALITY BITES!!!

2009-05-12T00:28:00.001-06:00

I am talking about the so called reality show craze...I was never excited about any of them. Then one day I was checking my yahoo email and saw a headline on the home page about a new show, The Apprentice. I read the article and was instantly excited for this show...it was about what so much of my work life had been destroyed by, the dreaded office politics! I have watched every season of this show. I miss the days of just sort of regular people, but don't know that they can ever go back to that now! I have even enjoyed the celebrity versions, although have been greatly disappointed in the finales for both, so far. I read recently that there is going to be a third season, so I will be watching for the release of the celebrities for that one....he's had Trace Adkins and Clint Black, so I can't help but hope against hope that Clay Walker could make an appearance and work for his own charity, BAMS!

The second season of The Celebrity Apprentice just ended two days ago. Joan Rivers (her official site would not come up) won out over Annie Duke (read the bio and in her blog post about the finale, she encourages everyone to visit her charity site, research it and if you can donate because they are the ones who lost, not her...great attitude!), who played the game exactly as Donald has liked in the past. Her style of play was no surprise, Annie said early on that she has watched the show in the past, she knew the things he liked and didn't like in how people played the game. After Donald fired Melissa Rivers and she left like the high school aged spoiled brat baby that she is, it is no wonder that Donald took the wussy way out and hired Joan! One can only imagine what kind of temper tantrum would have been displayed if Joan had been fired! Again, office politics win out over most anything! Last night I just happened to catch a few moments of The Tonight Show, Jay said something along the lines of "between Donald's hair and Joan's face, not much reality going on there" which made me laugh right out loud! But, enough about that, even though The Apprentice is my favorite, it is not the reason for this post!

Over the years, I have watched several finales of several reality shows. I have even watched one sesaon of Survivor, when Neleh was on it and coming in second. I have also watched one season of The Amazing Race and could probably get hooked on that one, but so far I'm ok not watching it! I have tried watching one season of Dancing with the Stars, but couldn't keep up with the million episodes on each week, so I gave up. Steve watched Cops before we were together, so now we watch cops, which is strangely considered a reality show, although not in my book. To me, the typical reality show involves an elimination process and challenges, not just a camera following people around doing their job, kinda. Oh ya, I also watched the end of the season for the The Rebel Billionaire. Ok, if you were paying attention, you would have noticed that the ones I have only watched one season of are one season when people from Utah were on it and it was well publicized locally. The one reality show that I have successfully avoided since the start and will work to keep avoiding, the only problem would come if I personally know a contestant because there have been a few contestants from Utah already...that show? American Idol! Ok, even after that, these are still not the reason for my writing this post....no, that is saved for my most disliked "reality show" of all....The Biggest Loser!!!

Sigh, ok, now I want to warn you here and now, I am NOT a fan of this show. I never have been and even after now watching one season, I never will be a fan of this show! If that bothers you, then you may not want to finish reading this post! Remember you have been warned! The best thing about this show? Allison Sweeney! I have been a fan of hers since she started on Days of Our Lives and was not pleased with the crap over her being FAT, whatever! Allison keeps everything positive no matter how the contestant did or what others think, this makes her a great host for this show! For the record, much to the dismay of the fans out there, even this show CAN be rigged!!!

Just a few notes on some of the characters, er...contestants! This was the biggest season ever, literally! They had the "oldest, heaviest, sickest, youngest" contestants ever. To note on a few of them: Jerry, the oldest at 63 (now 64), he was on campus for 2 weeks, then he went home, he came back to the finale to win the $100,000 for having the highest percentage weight loss of all eliminated contestants. His final stats, started at 369, final 192 losing 177 pounds or 47.97%. Dan, he was the heaviest starting the season at 454, ending on the finale at 312 for a loss of 142 or 31.28%. In his 'video', he said, "If you want to change your life you can. I feel like a fit person trapped in several winter coats and I can't wait to get them all off." Ok, he didn't win any monetary prizes, but I like his attitude, overall. Ron was the sickest, he started out at 430 ending at 238 for a loss of 192 or 44.65%. The entire time he was there, he played the game to the hilt, ensuring his son was in the finals. Mike, Ron's son, was the youngest ever starting out at 388 ending at 181 for a loss of 207 or 53.35%. Mike was one of the final three, losing an additional 17 pounds since their last weigh in a few weeks ago. Neither Mike nor Ron won anything, YAY, their game playing crap didn't pay off!

Ok, there are several others I would like to mention, then I'll really get on my soapbox! Helen, the winner or as they say the "Biggest Loser" started out at 257 ending at 117 losing 140 of 54.47%, guess sacrificing her daughter was worth it, now that she is $250,000 richer! Helen looked sickly, she has lost too much, having lost an additioal 30 pounds in the last few weeks. She needs to learn the art of maintaining her weight and not continue losing it, there is another extreme, you know! Tara was the third finalist and the absolute favorite to win the entire thing, she won 12 challenges throughout the show, a record. Also, now holds the record for the most weight lost for a female while on The Biggest Loser campus. Over 18 weeks of the show, she never fell below the yellow line, so was never up for elimination. Although, they never say that at least once she would have been had she not won immunity for the week! Tara started the season in tears weighing in at 294 ending at 139 losing 155 or 52.72%. Tara lost 20 pounds since the last weigh in a few weeks ago and missed being The Biggest Loser by just 6 pounds.

Ok, now for my soapbox, this is the part I warned you about earlier! You ready? I AM FAT! I am not ashamed to be FAT! There was a time that I was ashamed to be FAT because everyone around me was ashamed of my being FAT and I thought I was supposed to feel that way, too! I have plenty of family and not so good friends that would constantly bombard me with hypocritical comments about understanding what it is like to be FAT! Some of them even used to be FAT and lost weight, saying this made them more understanding. Ya, right! From my perspective, they quickly forgot what it really was like to be truly FAT! I had one aunt who tried over and over again to get me on one diet or another claiming to be worried about me! Oh brother, you be you and let me be me!

Ok, let me take a minute here to detour to another soapbox, this one about The Biggest Loser. Over and over on the show, you were bombarded with so much negative CRAP about being fat! They give a clear impression that just because a person is FAT they are depressed, lazy, overeaters who "can't" do this or that "because of the weight". ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?! Seriously, it isn't the FAT that is holding anyone back, it is their attitude about being FAT! Do a marathon, I can't, I'm FAT...BULL, even Ron on the show did a marathon...he walked every step of it and had to rest, but he finished it in just over 13 hours! Have a man, get married? BULL, tons (no pun intended) and tons of FAT people are married and a great many of those happily! Some of these marriages are where both partners are FAT and some are not! To the one or more contestants (this year and next) who say that men don't like them because they are FAT....BULL, it is WAY more about YOUR attitude than the number on the scale! Look at the one contestants, Nicole was engaged BEFORE being on the Biggest Loser! There are instances where the man is FAT, which is more common...BUT...there are instances where the woman is the FAT one! Yes, believe it or not, there are men out there that are not scared of FAT women, in fact, I went on a blind date with one that only dated FAT women and he was not FAT himself! He just liked his women to be FAT! I don't remember this guys name and the date pretty much sucked because the gal that set us up was just trying to deter him from her and it didn't work, he really really really liked her! One of this years contestants said she wanted to lose weight so she could have babies...guess what? FAT women have babies, too! It's true, I promise! Kristen was shown as saying, "I was 29 and 360 pounds! What is scarier than that is that I would have told you I was healthy." Honestly, people...FAT people CAN be healthy...but I will admit that not every FAT person is healthy, obviously! Kristen was another favorite being eliminated late in the game as a game move by Mike, the cocky loser boy. She started out at 360 ending at 193 losing 167 or 46.39%, missing the at home prize by just 6 pounds!

The Biggest Loser campus makes huge claims of helping people learn a lifestyle. They justify their 'style' by having Dr H on there. They admit training these contestants like athletes. THEY ARE JUST PEOPLE!!! Tara lost 21 pounds in one week, early on, and I'm sorry, under no circumstances can this be healthy and is definitely not REALISTIC to ordinary people! Nicole went home early on, came back later in the season and won her way back on the show. After just a week on campus and living this lifestyle, she got on the scale to find that she had GAINED 5 pounds!!! Hmmm, that speaks volumes to me!!! Maybe this Biggest Loser lifestyle isn't all it is cracked up to be?!

Ok, back to my FAT soapbox. On BL, a lot of contestants complain about being depressed and that they are dying. We are all dying!!! A lot of people are depressed and many, if not most, of them are not FAT! In 2002, I was introduced to the book Fat!So?. I read it and loved it!!!! My first thought was that everyone who has ever met me has to read this book! If for no other reason than to just understand ME better! I mentioned earlier about the feeling that I should be ashamed of my 'number' on the scale! Well, guess what? I AM NOT ASHAMED!!!! One of the things this book talks about is that it boils down to 4 words: EAT RIGHT AND EXERCISE! Not everyone is meant to be a petite model or whatever your viewpoint in on this subject! Everyone is different in about every way! If you eat right and exercise, your body will do what it is meant to do! Sure, you may lose weight, but you WILL plataeu at some point and maintain the weight that is meant for your body! Ok, more on that book another time.

You may be wondering why I even watched this season of The Biggest Loser? I have asked myself that almost every week. I guess it started because my mom and cousin decided to do the Weight Watchers thing and were trying to work out starting it and so my mom was interested and we happened to watch the season premiere. Now on these silly reality shows, if I happen to see the premiere, I am stuck and I end up watching it all, so there you go. I get caught up in the game side of it! My cousin and my sister are big fans of the show and I'm sure that I may have very well offended them with this post, but they have their opinion and I have mine. This is just another thing we will not be changing each others mind about! Now, as we watched it, sometimes together, I listened to tons of comments that bothered me, but I was a good girl and ignored it all. As I watched the finale tonight, they had a contest for America to choose the final contestant for next season, Erinn, who said "My weight has held me back in relationships. We've done trainers, we've done dietitians, it just doesn't work." Amanda (who won and will be on next season) said, "I've missed out on way too many things because of my weight. I just want to go out there and have fun and do everything a normal girl wants to do, but my life is on hold. I can't do what I want to do because of my weight." Oh my...again, it is the attitude about the weight, not the weight itself!

After reading Fat!So? I gained a new confidence, because it was now ok for me to not be ashamed of my weight! This confidence grew over the years and then I watched this show and with the sidebar comments and the comments on the show, I could hear my brain eat at me with those old doubts. I had to wonder, again, you know the world seems to expect FAT people to be depressed and lazy and overeaters and never EVER happy. One of the biggest impression given by the contestants on the show is that they "thought they were happy", but they were just hiding it! Come on, people, I know several FAT people and there are many of us (some I know and some I don't know personally) that are in fact very happy! REALLY, not hiding it or faking it or whatever, just really happy! We live our lives, we do what we want, if you don't like it is your problem! Ok, with these doubts creeping in, I made the choice to go and read Fat!So? again, so you will see the review right here on my blog soon!

Three more things, my favorites to win were Sione or Filipe, but they weren't that close and that is ok. I have always had a love of the Tongan and Samoan people, but especially since my mission. It is hard for me to not like them. I am happy that these guys are taking what they have learned and trying to help others in their culture. I wish I could find a link to the clip of them doing "the dance"! They rock! After watching the finale, my favorite is David who started the season at 393 ending at 350 losing 43 or 10.94%. He is not my favorite because he lost the least! He is my favorite because he is losing it at a more realistic and healthy rate!!! My mom and cousin did finally start Weight Watchers and they are doing ok, honestly! They don't always seem to think so and I lay a big part of the blame on watching shows like The Biggest Loser for leading many people to very unrealistic expectations in their weight loss journey! On his video, David said, "I just want to live the life of a regular 24 yr old." David, you go on and you live that life! Living life isn't about how much you weight, it is about choices! You can still work on losing weight and live the life YOU want! Finally, Max, who is Ron's other son and Mike's brother...during the season, there was a lot of pressure being placed on this 17 yr old to follow in Mike and Ron's footsteps. Watching the show and watching his face, it was sometimes hard to tell if he really wanted this for himself or if he was just falling to the pressure of everyone else! I hope he can be strong enough to do what HE wants and not what everyone else expects of him! If that is to follow in their footsteps, then good for him, but, please let it be HIS choice!

In closing, some mistake my soapbox to mean that I am against losing weight! I am not, I think there are certain people that may be better off losing some weight. None that I know personally, but I do know they are out there! For myself, I am comfortable with myself and it is my burden to carry, literally. If I can accept it, then it is my opinion that everyone else should respect me enough to accept it, too! I wish my mom and my cousin the best in their goals, but I pray they keep in mind that it is just a number and remind them to please do not let that number define who they are! I respect your choices as I hope you would respect mine and love me anyway! Obviously, this is a HUGE soapbox for me and you WILL be seeing more about it and not just in the review for Fat!So? I make no apologies for the length of this post....and, I am opening the flood gates for the heat I'm about to take for such a post! Bring it on!!!

ALL ABOARD!!!

2009-05-11T16:08:00.000-06:00

As many of you know, Steve and I are huge rail fans. Yesterday was the 140th anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike. But with it being Mother's Day, I figured I had better take the safe way out and blog about Mother's instead of this tiny bit of history. So, today, I will do a blog about Railroads and their role in our lives. We love living so close to the tracks (2 houses separate us)! Last Saturday was National Train Day, yes it is for real, no kidding, I promise!

Those of us in Utah and many more across the nation and even a few around the world know very well that yesterday was the anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike. On 10 May 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad came together at Promontory Summit in the famous Golden Spike ceremony. Now, I have to be completely honest and say that neither one of us has ever actually been out to this national historical site. We will make that trip one day. Steve says he has no idea where his love of all things trains comes from. Me, well, my dad worked for Kennecott Copper (I would love to tag along with anyone going up to the visitors center) for 30 years and ended his career as an engineer and, well, I was (am) a daddy's girl! In fact, when I was little, I used to think or say that my dad sat on the stairs to eat his lunch, LOL...stairs!

We like to go watch trains, yes, watch trains. This is where we go park somewhere and basically wait around for trains to come by. Especially nice now that Steve has a fancy camera to take some really really good pictures, see below! Sounds boring, right? Well, I used to think the idea was boring, too. I am a multi-tasker and so the thought of just sitting around waiting did not thrill me. In this way, Steve is way more of a rail fan than I ever thought I would be! My solution to this possibly boring situation is reading, writing and now listening to my i-pod. These are great things to be able to do and gives me something, no matter if it is day or night when we decide to just go watch trains! One of the best places to do this is in Salt Lake is called Grants Tower, I jokingly call it Grants Tomb. The reason we like this spot is because pretty much any train that travels through Salt Lake goes through this area. Not far from here is the office for the Salt Lake, Garfield & Western Railway, a small company that I almost had a job with once...Michael, if you are out here, I'm still interested in that position, you know how to get ahold of me! There are several places we like to go watch trains, Steve usually knows where to go whatever time of day it is and we always have a good time just spending time together!

We have taken Amtrak twice. Both only between here and Denver. The first time was when Steve turned his truck in to Werner and there were supposed threats that Amtrak was going to die, so we thought we had better take the opportunity while we could, so we rode Amtrak home. Then, of course, Amtrak didn't die. The following summer part of the track was closed in CO, so we took a round trip to Denver and were able to ride Amtrak through WY. We enjoyed both trips and have hopes to one day take a trip on Amtrak completely around the country. There are several places around the country that have some really nice setups for rail fains, for example, the Golden Spike Tower in NE. We love to incorporate our love of trains into our trips whenever we can, too. There are many railroad excursions all over the place for those interested! We have also been on the Durango/Silverton train, which is an absolutely beautiful ride! We have been on the comedy murder mystery ride at the Heber Valley Railroad, very fun! Of course, we can't forget our very own Union Station in Ogden!

The internet is a place where most anyone can find most anything about everything. Trains are no different. There are even subscription sites like Train Orders where rail fans share stories, pics, videos and such with each other. Steve does subscribe to this site and has made a few friends locally and elsewhere that we look forward to meeting in person someday! I especially like the info on trains move our economy found on the national train day website. Another day trip we are interested in taking is the Cumbres/Toltec in NM.

Well, I have gone on and on, so I will close now with a few of our favorite pics (above) that Steve has taken just since he got his fancy camera:

Taken along 500 W in Salt Lake at exactly 4:08pm, which is the time my dad died exactly 13 years before this was taken, the engineer even blew the horn for us at that exact moment, too! It was quite an interesting moment in time for us that day, which was our 12th wedding anniversary!

Taken outside our house. See, we have a great view of the tracks and we love it! I have no idea what date this was taken, but it is Southern Pacific engine 352, now owned by Union Pacific.

This was taken on 2 May 2009 in part of the Provo rail yard. It is Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) 7552 during a crew change.

This was taken in Llynndyl on 5 Apr 2009. I think this is very close to being our absolute favorite pic, so far. I am certain there are many more to come!

My mom once told one of my great nieces that every time she hears a train whistle, it is Grandpa saying he loves her. I think several of us have taken this to heart and find the sounds of trains, not just the whistles, comforting. Hey, don't knock it, if an angel can get its wings every time a bell rings, anything is possible! Enjoy exploring all the links and leave your own rail interest and/or stories in the comments!

Honor thy Mother....

2009-05-10T11:32:00.006-06:00

Mother's Day is my least favorite day of the year. Especially my least favorite Sunday to attend church. I will usually suck it up and go to church with my mom, like the good little girl that I am (uh, ya, that's it). I don't know where people got it in their heads that every woman over the age of 18 needs to be recognized as a "mother", hello?! The definition of a mother does not say anything about it being a woman that is 18 yrs or older! It also does not say that it has to be biology! But, come on, hello, everyone, just because a female turns the magical age of 18, does not automatically make her a mother! Ok, I think I've made my point there, so I will move on to the real meaning of Mother's Day and a tribute to a few of the Moms I know and love:

My own mom, Amber! She was just 22 yrs old when I was born. She had been told, as a teenager, that she would never have kids. Then, when I was born at just under 5lbs. (yes, it is true!) she was told that if she ever had another one and especially if it was bigger than me, she would die. Lo and behold, at the age of 28, my mom gave birth to Tonuah, who was almost 8lbs!!! Amber obviously survived. She lives with Steve and I as she has off and on since my dad died over 13 yrs ago. Since her heart problems in late 2004, when Steve and I were prompted to move to Mesquite, NV, we have all lived together and most likely will continue to do so for quite some time. Mom has a desire to move again right now, so maybe she will be back out on her own soon, only time will tell. Not that I am trying to make that happen, but I believe that she has to follow her heart (promptings) and we have to follow ours. My mom has always stood up for us and most always supported us in everything we have chosen to do. She has been a good example of strength, especially during the time when we lost my dad. I know that I can safely speak for my sister when I say that we both look up to our mom and love her very much!

Kirsten, my cousin, is a great mom! She has always had a focus on her children. She was blessed with a husband who could see the importance that she be able to stay home with their children before they were in school and has done everything in his power to make that possible! Kirsten always wanted a girl but was instead given three very choice boys to raise for our Heavenly Father! I know that she has not regretted that for a moment and, you know, the Lord may very well still have plans for her that we don't know about! (The Lord is funny that way!) Awhile back, I had the opportunity to spend some time with one of her boys and one of our cousins at the same time. They are the same age and it was very interesting to see just how different they act in almost every way. The biggest difference was clearly obvious to anyone, or should have been, and that is that Kirsten has raised (and continues to raise) 3 hard working boys that have respect for people in general and especially their elders!

Pamela, my dear friend, who opened her home to me even though we had only been friends online! In fact, it was about 13 years ago when I came home from work one evening and got on AOL and started IMing with my then boyfriend/fiance when he told me that there was someone in the Mormon Chat room going through labor and I said, "PAMELA!!!!!!!!!!!" He was surprised to know that I knew immediately who it was...this was still when we were online friends only! What an exciting chat that was, never experienced anything like it since...of course, there is only one Pamela, as it should be! She has done very well for herself and Lance (her husband) by raising 4 great kids! Their youngest has a lot of health issues and they plow right through them leaving behind a tremendous example of FAITH and strength for all who know them!

Sara, a good friend that I met through my bestest friend, Jo. When Sara and I met, she and I talked about medical issues (a whole other blog on my part) of not having children. It wasn't too very long before I found out that Sara was pregnant and I couldn't have been happier for her, then the unthinkable happened and she had a miscarriage. I remember when Jo told me this in an IM that night and I cried so very hard. I was angry and learned a lot from Sara's wonderful example during that time! They worked through the spiritual and medical issues and now have three beautful children, a perfect mix of her and her Indonesian husband!

Becky, wonderful Becky, is one of the absolute best examples of exactly what being a mother is all about! Recently, she posted the most touching blog about her blessing of infertility. This post left most all who read it in tears and admiration. Through the great blessing of adoption, Becky is the amazing mother of two beautiful children! She is a great example of what it means to be a mother to ALL, regardless of biology! They are always going to places like the dinosaur museum and family activities on all sides of their family! I thank her so much for her example and enthusiasm for the success of adoption!

Now, my initial intent on this post was to post about a few of the great moms that I know and include pictures of them, but one refuses her permission and I'm too nice to post my pic of her anyway. Another I don't have a pic of my own, so would have to rely on getting one from them, but don't have the patience to even ask because I want to get this posted.

Finally, there are many others that I could include on this list....Nancy, Shalyn, Lisa...just to name a few. I have a multitude of good examples to take from come the day that my Patriarchal Blessing be fulfilled and I will have children. Thank you all and Happy Mother's Day!

TPiR

2009-05-09T23:25:00.000-06:00

While I was growing up, one of my dad's favorite shows to watch was The Price is Right. I often watched it with him, especially during the summer. In 1994, we went to DisneyLand for my sisters birthday. We had every intention of going to a taping of The Price is Right but because of the lawsuit against Bob Barker by one of the models, they had cancelled filming that week. My mom always says it was because of the OJ Simpson trial, but that wasn't until 1995. Anyway, so my dad never got his chance to be on it. Even further back than that, my grandma always wanted to go on TPiR but didn't want to kiss Bob Barker, but rather Johnny Olson. Funny grandma! When I worked at Ernst (I am certain someone out there remembers this place), one of my coworkers was a contestant on TPiR and won a car! It was very exciting! What a nice way to spend her vacation with her kids and grandkids!

Over the years, I would watch it when I could, here and there. I was sad when Bob Barker was finally retiring and wondered, like many out there, who could possibly replace him. Knowing Rosie O'Donnell's background of loving to give stuff away, many thought she would have been a good fit. Although, my theory is that she would have given the house away because she couldn't stand to see people not win! When they announced Drew Carey as the host, I was mixed. I had not been a huge fan of his, but I didn't dislike him, either. I remember being so excited to watch that first show and actually loved to see how very nervous he was that first week. He quickly made the show his own and I love love love to watch it, in fact, I have recorded almost every episode since then and watch it (and Dave Ramsey) about every night as I do my stuff here on the computer. Good thing my man likes it, too! I am not caught up, so if you watch it regularly, I won't know what happened each day it is on, but I enjoy watching my few episodes every night!

I love how Drew recognizes and thanks the models for doing their job. I love how Rich Fields and Drew Carey play off each other. I love the comedy that is now so much part of the show, I have never laughed so hard watching a game show as I do watching some of these episodes! I especially like that Drew really does want the contestants to win! I love how he gets excited with them, jumping, laughing and carrying on like he does!!! And last, but definitely not least, I love how comfortable he is in his own skin...and you can take that however you choose!

Now, I have been bitten by the bug and would love even more than ever to honor my dad's memory and be a contestant on The Price is Right! Just wonder when we will be taking our next trip to Southern California and have the opportunity to spend the time it will take to actually make it on the show! Who's up for the challenge?

Frühjahrsmüdigkeit

2009-05-08T23:11:00.001-06:00

Every year, right around my birthday in March, I start getting these really weird symptoms...weariness (even more than usual, since I never sleep well, all year long), dizziness, irritability (ok, so this is all the time, too, according to some people), headaches (more and more common), aching joints (ok, I have had arthritis my whole life, so this is pretty common for me), and the strongest symptom is lack of drive, I have absolutely NO motivation to do most anything! What could this possible be? I truly believe that age is a state of mind, so I can't imagine I would be depressed about turning just another year older...sigh...

I guess I started recognizing this incredibly distracting sickness when I was 18. I was a senior in high school and everyone told me it was senioritis...ok, so maybe it was...but I think the age and year in school is just an excuse or a disguise for what I would later find out is really Frühjahrsmüdigkeit. And, boy, do I ever get it BAD, every year....no matter what I do...it creeps up on me...I lose the battle, but continue to fight it...maybe, this is one thing I should just give up on?! And, for those that know me well, they know that I don't give up on anything easily!

This year is no different, but, mind you, it technically started at the beginning of February when we made our first trip to Mesquite. Then is started to disappear, I thought surely maybe this year would be different. But, alas, it is not, here we are in May and the symptoms are all there, alive and well and I am stuck with this syndrome yet again. What to do? What to do? HELP!

In the meantime, I will share a couple of pictures that my wonderful husband has taken with his fancy camera. The first one he took this morning. I told him last fall that I thought taking a pic of the tree outside our bedroom window when the flowers started blooming would be a cool shot. What do you think? The second one, a peach blossom, he took one day when I was not home and sent it to my phone saying something sweet like, a flower for my flower....awwww! Did these great shots help me treat my syndrome? No, in fact, it made it worse...sigh...

The Survivors BY Gregg Luke

2009-05-07T14:50:00.005-06:00

rating: 3 of 5 stars
David Kirkham knows his plants and their best medicinal uses...he knows his stuff! He works for a pharmeceutical company and is constantly being sent on trips out of the country spending less time with his wife and daughter. He is being sent to South America for his latest trip which causes him to miss yet another Thanksgiving with his family.

Melodee is a 12 yr old LDS girl who has just visited her grandpa for possibly the last time. She is extremely full of faith, patience and joy.

David and Melodee end up sitting next to each other on their flight. They share a brief discussion of niceties where Melodee quickly makes an overall good impression on David. Then, the unthinkable happens and their plane crashes in the rain forests of Mexico. Obviously, David and Melodee are the only survivors and start on an adventure that has it all, good bad and ugly.

Will they find their way home? and in time? What affect will the drug runners have on them and what secrets lie ahead of them in this strange place? What role will Melodee wonderfully strong faith play in all they endure? Will apathetic David help in any way?

I have now read two of his books and they are very different from each other and I like them both and would find it difficult to say which I liked better. You can read my review of Do No Harm by clicking on the title. I liked the overall storyline of The Survivors. I think I have to say that Ester is my favorite character, especially in the end...so sneaky, lol. I also believe that is about all I can say without giving away anything major in the storyline, which I really really don't like to do...

...on to the quotes, of which there are several:
pg 72: "Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine which is structurally related to caffeine in that they are both methylxanthenes and tehrefore have similar effects stimulation and euphoria." With this statement and a little more explanation, expert David assures Melodee that she perfectly fine eating chocolate. I am sure many of you reading this will be glad to know this, too, LOL!

pg 86: "Good morning...I'd say that statement is the most-often used oxymoron in the world...Oxy-mormon?...Oxymoron. When two contradictory words or ideas join to make a single phrase. You said, 'Good morning.' It's morning, all right. It's the good part I'm questioning." I just had to include this one, my husband always tells me to good morning and I often just shake my head no in response, so this part of the conversation made me out right laugh!

pg 200: "How are you feeling? Fine. You? Better than I deserve..." This one is strictly for all Dave Ramsey fans out there, I couldn't resist posting this one! Most ironically, I am listening to a Dave Ramsey podcast while I am typing this up, lol!

pg 226: "Faith must play a part in all things. Faith and trust....I did not say belief. I said faith." "Faith, belief--what's the difference." "You can believe anything you like, but until you act on that belief, it is nothing more than a wish. Faith requires a show of confidence, even in the misdt of sorrow and doubt." I really liked this explanation of the difference between these two words.

pg 227: "...you must give God a chance. We believe in miracles, but most miracles occur when we meet God halfway. Belief is required, but so is effort. Belief plus effort creates faith. We have done all we can. Now we must trust in God and let His will be done." Again, loved the explanation and it also goes right along with my focus on faith this year!

pg 237: "Alma said to plant the seed and allow it to grow. Don't kill it with unbelief but nourish it with hope; give it a chance. And when it begins to grow you will feel a swelling within you." So true regarding faith and testimony and most everything spiritual. If you ignore it or don't nourish it, it dies.

pg 238: "Faith wasn't the mindless wanderings of uneducated individuals. It wasn't the blind being led by the blind. It wasn't the scapegoat for things unproved. It was the doorway to greater understanding and knowledge and light. And I wanted to run through the doorway at full speed." As hard or scary it can be, for some, I hope we all can have this same desire to run through the doorway at full speed!

pg 255: "A testimony is not a one-time thing...A testimony grows line upon line, precept upon precept. It's something you have to work constantly to maintain or you'll lose it." 'nuff said.

New Water Moon - Draper, Utah

2009-05-06T23:44:00.003-06:00

A few weeks ago, mom and I decided to try out this new restaurant in Draper. It is called New Water Moon and is by the relatively new Harmon's off of Bangerter and I15. It is another new "asian" place that has popped up along the Wasatch front. I had to have my usual, lemon chicken. Mom ordered Pad Thai. The food tasted good enough, but we felt it was high priced and not worth the value. My chicken was breaded such that you would see maybe a very thin fish in a regular restaurant. It just wasn't the type of breading you would normally see in a chinese or asian restaurant. The atmosphere was great, we really a lot of the decor and such. The overall service was ok, mostly high school aged kids, that maybe just need more training on service detail. But still, the prices were a bit high. You can click on the link above to visit the website for the restaurant, where you can view the menu before you go. If you choose to go here, please come back and post your opinions. But, as for me, I will take the extra time to visit West Jordan and go to Enjoy Chinese Cuisine (see my blog post on 23 Mar 2009, under topic of restaurants), it was much better overall...even better food and cheaper, too!

St Therese Catholic Church - Midvale, Utah

2009-05-05T23:32:00.000-06:00

I grew up as and continue to be an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. My mom, although LDS, was not active and my dad was technically an excommunicated Catholic due to having gotten a divorce in the late 1960s. Anywho, a vast majority of my extended family are Catholic. I have several other religions represented, as well, but this post is about the connection to the Catholic part of my family. I could tell many stories about having this religion represented in my life, but I will keep this post to just a few.

Growing up we would go play bingo (and some wonder why I love playing bingo so much?!) at St Therese in Midvale and St Joseph in West Jordan, and even St Francis Xavier in Kearns in our later teen years. Most family events; first communions, marriages and funerals; have taken place at St Therese in Midvale. I also remember attending several bazaars at these same churches. There are a lot of good memories from these events.

In Jan 2008, I was listening to the radio and heard breaking news that this church was burning to the ground. I remember being shocked and upset. I immediately texted the info out to my family that knew that church so very well. I later found out that the fire was not as bad as initially reported, but the main church building was a loss. They quickly moved and arranged to hold their mass in the big hall. They still use the hall for mass, at this time.

In Apr 2008, I attended two funerals at St Therese. The first was the brother of one of my Uncles. After this funeral, we visited my Tio Robert (dad's brother). We had a good visit. The usual, we visited with Tia Mary inside and went out to find Tio Robert working out back. Bless his heart, he really couldn't hear much anymore, but would just light up when he would see me. I used to make him laugh by telling him that he was grouchy like my dad. Anyway, on this day, he kept telling us to come in and we kept telling him that we had been inside visiting already and had to leave. Well, we lost him a matter of days later. Thus the second funeral at St Therese in just over a week.

I bring these funerals up because on 18 Apr 2009, we were invited to attend a mass in memory of Tio Robert. So, my mom and I went up for the service. I remember thinking that I really wanted to focus on what was being said and take in any part of comfort that I would be blessed with, as losing this uncle was hard in that he was one of the last living links to my dad, who I still miss terribly, even after 13 years! Unfortunately, even though I had every intention, I did not make note of the specifics of the sermon, but I do remember thinking that how familiar I was with the Scriptures they were talking about. I am not always on top of when to stand up and the proper respect, I believe, the service deserves. I pretty much just try to follow those that are there and hope that I do ok. I do have to admit that about half way through, I was beginning to wonder what time it was, but couldn't bring myself to look at my cell phone and find out. With this in mind, it seemed that time went on and on and on....we got out to the car and looked at the clock, it had only been an hour. My mom called my sister and let her know that we were done and she commented on how fast it was, I had to laugh and say that it didn't feel like it to me! Now, I must admit here that this feeling of foreverness in a religious service is not exclusive to Catholic services, I have felt the same in services for other religions, including my own. Although, I do not feel it in every religious service I attend!

The best thing about going to these types of events is seeing family. I love this part of my family so much. I am so excited to be renewing some relationships and continuing others as we all are showing up and getting closer on social networking sites, like Facebook. Growing up and continuing to be an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I have taken a lot of meanness from some family members, but not this part of my family. This branch has always just loved me and let me be ME! Thank you to all of you, I could never really truly express how much this has and continues to mean to me!

As we arrived at the church, it was wonderful to see that they are finally working on rebuilding and fixing the church building that burned back in Jan 2008. Not only are they fixing it, the are making it even bigger, which I think is long overdue! It was also nice to see them building a better, more formal, doorway to the hall. During the service it sounded like they were getting ready to redo the kitchen in the hall, as well. I was so excited to hear/see all of this and look forward to seeing the end result. I also look forward to many more services in my lifetime for this part of my family. In any case, I am very glad we went to mass in memory of my Tio Robert! Below are a couple of pics I snapped with my cell phone and you can click on the title of this post to see an artists rendition of the new building.

YES WE CAN

2009-05-04T23:11:00.002-06:00

With a title like that, I have to wonder just how many people will read this post and then it will be interesting to await what the comments will be like, good bad or ugly! I have been wanting to write this post since January, but am just now finally getting to it. So, here goes and yes, it is a long post, probably the longest I have ever posted:

I openly admit that I have been an Obama supporter for the majority of time since he announced he was running for President. I don't talk politics because I am usually not in the popular side and don't think there is a need to fight or whatever over such things. We do live in a nation where we are blessed to be able to use our free agency. I choose Barack Obama, you choose for yourself and I know that many of you do not agree with me, in fact, most of you do not, but that is your choice! I have much respect for our right to choose for ourselves and I would hope that others would respect that right in me!

I have seen and heard many things said about OUR President that cause me concern. I have one family member in particular that thinks it is funny to make racial remarks about OUR President. I showed my displeasure a little that particular night, but must say here, just because you don't actually say that he is this derogatory word does not make it ok to substitute his name for that word! I do acknowledge that I have not heard this said again and am grateful, thank you. I am just using that as an example of some of the feelings that are out there about OUR President. Yes, I know that I have capitalized the word OUR before President several times. This is done on purpose because this same family member referred to President Obama as "your President" when talking to my mom one night. As much as he and many others may not like this fact, President Barack Obama is the President of The United States of America, that is ALL of its citizens, not just those who voted for him. Ok, I have to note here, that in this post I have picked on one particular cousin (more importantly, note that I did NOT use a name, but they know who they are and please know that I still love you as I would hope you still love me!) but I know that there are so many others out there that feel the same way. I would hope they can and will come to an acceptance of facts and be patient for the duration of President Obama's term in office, no matter how long that will be.

I want to take a moment now and note a few things that I do like about President Obama: He is a man, a husband and a father. We are given an insight to this family in a different way. I am not sure why, but I do know that the little things that happen in many of our lives happen in their family, too. They got a dog, they have her mother living with them (although the reason is different than many Americans out there), Michelle and Barack are a married couple that take the time for themselves, going out for Valentines or a date much like I heard about from this last weekend. Just time for them. These things are all very normal. A normal man and family in the White House, could it be?! Anyway, I digress...I like the way he carries himself. I like so many things, but I think I have made my point and I will stop here and just let you, if you choose, read the quotes that I have pulled first from his Inauguration speech, then from the news conference for his 100th day in office. Then, I hope you will share your thoughts on the matter, pray for that acceptance (or maybe tolerance?) in your heart and continue to love me anyway!

From the Inauguration speech on 20 Jan 2009:
"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord."

"We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

"We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. For everywhere we look, there is work to be done."

"Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage."

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth;"

"We honor them {service men and women} not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all. For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies."

"Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world..."

"Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations. Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America."

From his 100th day news conference on 29 Apr 2009:
"Jeff Zeleny. QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President. During these first 100 days, what has surprised you the most about this office, enchanted you the most about serving in this office, humbled you the most and troubled you the most? MR. OBAMA: Surprised. I am surprised, compared to where I started, when we first announced for this race, by the number of critical issues that appear to be coming to a head all at the same time. You know, when I first started this race, Iraq was a central issue. But the economy appeared on the surface to still be relatively strong. There were underlying problems that I was seeing with health care for families and our education system and college affordability and so forth, but obviously, I didn't anticipate the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. And so, you know, the typical president, I think, has two or three big problems; we've got seven or eight big problems. And so we've had to move very quickly. And I'm very proud of my team for the fact that we've been able to keep our commitments to the American people to bring about change, while at the same time managing a whole host of issues that had come up that weren't necessarily envisioned a year and a half ago.
Troubled? I'd say less troubled but, you know, sobered by the fact that change in Washington comes slow. That there is still a certain quotient of political posturing and bickering that takes place even when we're in the middle of really big crises. I would like to think that everybody would say, you know what, let's take a timeout on some of the political games, focus our attention for at least this year, and then we can start running for something next year. And that hasn't happened as much as I would have liked. Enchanted? (Laughter.) Enchanted. I -- I will -- I will tell you that, when I -- when I meet our servicemen and -women, enchanted's probably not the word I would use. (Laughter.) But -- but -- but I -- but I am -- I am so profoundly impressed and grateful to them for what they do. They're really good at their job. They are willing to make extraordinary sacrifices on our behalf. They do so without complaint. They are fiercely loyal to this country. You know the more that I interact with our servicemen and -women, from the top brass down to the lowliest private, I'm just, I'm grateful to them.
Humbled by the -- humbled by the fact that the presidency is extraordinarily powerful, but we are just part of a much broader tapestry of American life and there are a lot of different power centers. And so I can't just press a button and suddenly have the bankers do exactly what I want -- (laughter) -- or -- (chuckles) -- or, you know, turn on a switch and suddenly, you know, Congress falls in line...And I'm -- I'm humbled, last, by the American people who have shown extraordinary patience and, I think, a recognition that we're not going to solve all these problems overnight."

Priesthood Blessings

2009-05-03T23:27:00.001-06:00

Today our Relief Society President, Deborah Pilling taught us a wonderful lesson about honoring the Priesthood, as women. Her lesson was taken from Lesson 13: Women and the Priesthood in the manual, Latter-Day Saint Woman: Basic Manual for Women, Part A. The very first line of the lesson is: "[The priesthood] is … the power of God delegated to man by which man can act in the earth for the salvation of the human family” (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 139). The Lord has assigned to men the chief responsibility for the governing and presiding over the affairs of the Church and the family. They in turn are to use this sacred power to bless and benefit all members of the Church—men, women, and children". I think this was a very simple explanation defining Priesthood. As someone who grew up 'in the church', but not with the Priesthood in my home, sometimes simple things like the opening above are great reminders. During the course of the discussion, many people had some wonderful comments and there was great presence of the Spirit and edification for those in attendance.

One of these comments prompted me to share a story about my dad, who was not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was sick with kidney failure for 13 years. With this, when he would get sick, it would be a big deal and I would always ask him if he wanted a blessing. He never turned the offer/idea down. We would call in our home teachers or whoever we could and a blessing would be given. Finally, after 13 years, his body was tired and he was in the hospital for what would be the last week of his life. He did have a blessing when he was first admitted in the hospital. A few days later, they thought things were looking up, so I went home and in the half hour it took me to get there, they figured out what had been wrong with him and needed to get him into surgery, so I rushed back up to the hospital. During that time, my dad looked at my mom and her sister, a devout Catholic, and then looked at the Dr and asked for a blessing. It was President's Day and the call went out over the PA system for anyone who could help. No one responded. My mission president lived nearby, so I went to his house, he was out of town. We called our home teacher/bishopric, who headed up to the hospital. He was not able to have the blessing that day, but it turned out for the best and he did receive a blessing a couple of days later when he needed it even more!

After sharing that story, Sister Pilling commented that what she liked about that story was not only that after all that time, my dad had the FAITH for himself to ask and receive, but that as a child I had the FAITH that a blessing was needed and would work, every time! I had never thought about that story or experiences as being about me or my FAITH, but rather that my dad believed in that power enough to accept such a wonderful blessing many times over the years. More stories were shared and quotes read, but her comment back to me touched me greatly and was something that I desperately needed to hear at that time.

We also talked about making our homes a place where the Priesthood holder can be worthy of honoring his Priesthood. Praying for the them among many other things that most of us already know and do. I love those in my life that have the Priesthood and hope that they know that I do pray for them and honor the power that comes with holding the Priesthood. This is an amazing power and I have seen it at work in my life many times. I hope that the futures hold many more experiences and even more personal ones...I have not given up on the possibilities that lie ahead!!!

On another thought, I did have another experience or rather comment I wanted to make, but it wasn't mine to share and that person was not there, so I will just say thank you to Sis Pilling for bringing me some much needed comfort and extra FAITH. Also, thank you to some wonderful neighbors we have that set a wonderful example for us of not only FAITH, love, honoring the Priesthood, but in having fun and that infertility (a whole other million blogs I could write about) is indeed a blessing that needs to be recognized and accepted.

They Did It With Love BY Kate Morgenroth

2009-05-02T23:56:00.001-06:00

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Book clubs, murder, desperate housewives, know it all detectives and a new twist around almost every corner....this book had me from the start! We have Sofie, our main character, who has worked at a mystery book store a big share of her life. In the beginning, she loses her dad and finds a supportive husband, Dean, who a short time later suggests his brilliant idea of moving from their Manhattan apartment to Wisteria Lane, ok, not really, but it isn't that far off, imo! They sell their apartment and end up in Greenwich, Connecticut. Sophie soon finds herself in a prestigious mystery book club that is so exclusive, it is by personal invite and approval only! Priscilla, the former English teacher leads the group in a very take charge way. It's all about her. There is also Ashley, who is younger and newer to the lifestyle, coming in behind the first wife and having to fill those shoes, so to speak. Julia, who is the newest member, before Sophie comes along, of the book club and neighborhood. Finally, Susan, who is probably the most like someone I would be friends with.

Sophie is probably the biggest mystery fan this group has ever seen, even more than Precious Priscilla. Sophie is very quick to pick up on the little things that most people wouldn't even think of, for example, when they go to look at a house in Greenwich, the realtor leaves them alone, in the kitchen, to talk about the house, while the realtor steps out back to make a phone call. While Sophie and Dean are talking, she steers the conversation in the direction that proves to Dean that the realtor has the kitchen bugged to eavesdrop on their conversation. Silly, but how many people would really pay attention enough to the realtors' reaction to every word and know that?!

Ok, so, anyway, after some time and this book club meets for their monthly meetings and a few times for dinner and drinks (or something like that)...one of them ends up dead! There the real mystery of this neighborhood in Greenwich begins....

Through all the twists and turns and secrets unravelled, Sophie is determined to solve the mystery. I really liked this story and probably would have given it 5 stars, except for a few uses of certain words I don't like to read/hear. I had several theories, one of which had the correct murderer! I read this book fairly quick, considering I am a slow reader, by nature. My favorite thing is that new detais kept coming up to the very end of the book!

Only a couple of quotes this time. I liked the book as a whole, but not a lot of phrases or lines stuck out individually this time:

pg 87: "You never really know what's going on in someone else's life" This is so true! Be careful in being jealous of other people because if you knew the real deal, you may realize you don't have it so bad, afterall...

pg 181: "I don't think you can have too much imagination. Even in your wildest dreams, you can never predict the crazy things that happen in your life." WOW, is this ever true?!

shoutout to SISTERCHICKS everywhere...

2009-05-01T23:09:00.006-06:00

Most all of you know my obsession with the Sisterchick books. Well, here we are about a year since my last fix and now you will find Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! by Robin Jones Gunn, in stores May 5, 2009! A brief summary: "Summer and Noelle, two pen pals since 4th grade, meet for the first time in the land of tulips and windmills. An abnormal mammogram sends Summer on a quest to fulfill her lifelong wish before she begins the same struggle her mother fought against breast cancer. The story of these two Sisterchicks is brimming with hope and cheer and will bring encouragement for any woman who has faced a fearful future." Sisterchick in Wooden Shoes is sure to be another favorite among us fans, I can hardly wait! I look forward to reading it and you know I will post my review. Above is a preview of the cover and a pic of the amazing author that continues to bring sisterchicks together worldwide! Let me know your thoughts on these amazing books!

Roommates Wanted BY Lisa Jewell

2009-04-28T00:53:00.003-06:00

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I debated on whether this book was to get 2 or 3 stars. Finally decided on 3 stars because I did like the storyline. What I didn't like was the swearing, excessive use of certain words and the talk about porn and sex. Not the normal descriptive stuff, but the talk of how much certain characters participated in these activities. Anyway, enough of the negative, I am one who almost always has to finish the book once I get started.

The main storyline in this book is about a guy named Toby. Toby's story starts out with his father not really putting much love or stock in him. Toby does manage to move on naturally through life, getting married and such. When he is about to get married, his dad buys and gives him a house to start his new life. At the same time, his dad takes off to Africa to start a new chapter in his life. This house is about the only good things his dad seems to have done for him. Then, Toby's wife leaves after a matter of weeks. Left to himself, he places an "advert" for roommates. He receives such response and ends up with a house full of 'mates' that change over the years, except for one, Ruby. Fast forward 15 yrs later and life events turns his life upside down. He meets Leah, his neighbor from across the street and begins a transformation that each of us, at some point, must go through...growing up and taking responsibility for ourselves regardless of our upbringing and parents and everything before!

I really liked this story, as the Toby is about the same as myself and most of my circle of friends. I could really feel some of the same struggles and confusions on where to go next in life as Toby and other characters in this story. Once I chose to look past the language, especially, which I still view as unnecessary, this turned out to be a good book. I am glad I read it...thank you Reader's Choice! Although, I do not plan on reading any of Lisa Jewells other books, now that I know her style and such.

As for quotes:
pg 42: "He's taken ninety-seven years of life to the grave with him. All those experiences, all those emotions. People he loved, places he's seen - gone. I wish I'd talked to him more. Wish I'd let him pass on his stories to me. I could have kept them for him. You know." As a genealogist, I loved this statement, how often we wait until it is too late and then wished we had done something more. My advice, DON'T WAIT, if they don't want to talk, that is their choice, but make sure they know they have the option by asking questions!

pg 217: "I am eminently disturbable, I can assure you. Any excuse to get away from my computer. The two of us spend far too much time together as it is." 'nuff said

pg 337: "Real love, it doesn't just pop up when it's convenient, you know? It doesn't just turn up and fit in with everything. Real love is a pain in the arse. You have to make compromises for it." good advice, imo

pg 350-351: "There were no 'mistakes' in life - just a series of random decisions that led to a series of random outcomes, good and bad." This is so very true, every decision we make has a consequence, whether it is good or bad, immediate or eternal, all choices we make have consequences we must experience.

pg 368: "Because, you know, love's not always convenient, is it? Sometimes it's just a pain in the arse. But if you don't try, then you don't know. And I want to try. And I want to know. Because otherwise I'll spend the rest of my life wondering what happened..." I know this is a repeat of sorts, but I think it is very true in a lot of things, not just love. We have to try and find out what happens, no regrets!

pg 444: "I've spent my entire life letting the world wash over me. But not any more. It's my turn now." EXACTLY!

The State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy

2009-04-18T13:57:00.002-06:00

rating: 4 of 5 stars
When I first grabbed several of the Salt Lake County Library Systems Readers Choice selections, this was the one I was most excited about reading...

Given recent events in our nations history, I am a bit intrigued to read things about the White House. I loved the detail regarding all things White House, the protocols. So many of us don't realize just how much becoming part of the White House, in any manner, changes the way things are done in our lives! From our personal relationships to the protocols of office politics...but Ollie manages it all well in this fun novel.

The book starts out with our aspiring firecracker chef, Ollie, who stumbles into a situation that is about to change her life, most likely for good. She helps stops a 'loony' running around the White House grounds. Thinking she is helping out the Secret Service, she clunks the loony in the head with a frying pan. As we follow her story along, we find out more about just how things work in Washington and the White House itself. I found this part of the storyline very interesting. I mean, we have news stories all the time that come out from our nations capitol. How much of these stories are reality? In this day, we really have to look in ourselves and rely on our own instincts to decide for ourselves what we will believe. Ok, off the soapbox and back to the story...

We follow Ollie through her life, during the next few weeks, as she deals with being thrown into the path of The Chameleon, the most successful assassin ever! As well as dealing with new White House staff (who, come on, no reader really believes is the villian...that would be TOO easy)...yes, I really did just give a hint towards the storyline, WOW! Anyway, Ollie also has to worry about her competition for the Executive Chef position that is about to be open at the White House kitchen. Will her involvement with the Chameleon leave her out of work? Or even without a boyfriend, who is a Secret Service agent? As we continuing reading, we learn about the functions of the White House kitchen. I found this part of the storyline to be quite interesting. What the kitchen staff has to go through just to prepare for any meal in that house is quite the feat. All the details from how they get the food itself to making sure all attendees needs are met...allergies, likes/dislikes, etc! WOW, some moms have a hard time with this in their own homes with a handful of people...imagine managing this stuff for events that have worldwide affects! This is a job I do NOT want, but, with all the above in mind, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to future books in this series. If you love food or love a good mystery, this book is for you....bon appetit!

Almost forgot, of course, there are a few quotes. I will note, now, that most of these are a bit cliche, but they served as a reminder to me of things going on, not just in my life, but in the nation right now...

pg 120: "...if that's what you believe, then that's exactly what will happen. If you give up, then she wins. With no effort." I needed this good reminder right now. We have to put forth our absolute best effort and work for what we want! MAKE IT HAPPEN!

pg 121: "Nothing's impossible with the right attitude." Now, while in this part of the book, this statement is reference to a seating chart for an upcoming dinner at the White House...it serves as a great reminder, like above, that we make our own attitude and our attitude makes a lot of what becomes us!

pg 148: "Sometimes all we can do is our best, and we have to hope that's good enough." I think, especially with the above, that this statement speaks for itself.

pg 265: well, for this one, it is way too long to justify putting it on here...but, for this one page alone, I encourage everyone to read it...reminds us of patriotism. We should be proud of whatever heritage brought us to this land of freedom. We should be grateful that we have such freedoms. We should remember all this and work to make things even better for those to come...

Pushing Up Daisies: A Dirty Business Mystery BY Rosemary Harris

2009-04-11T00:58:00.000-06:00

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really liked this book! In the library a month or so ago, I saw the display for the Reader's Choice books. I have heard a lot of about this 'program' over the years, but never really knew exactly how it worked. I grabbed the list and as many of the books they had copies of on the display. In other visits to this same branch, I've grabbed even more books from the display. My mom has read 2 and is on her third. I had to finish reading Inkheart, so this is my first Reader's Choice book.

I chose this one first because it was a mystery and I couldn't wait to read it, it has been awhile since I read a good mystery. Pushing Up Daisies did NOT disappoint, the mysteries kept on coming and just when you thought you had one figured out, there was a twist or a new mystery added to the storyline! I love the main character, Paula Holliday, who picked up and moved to a new place and started over in a new career...even though, if threw her into the middle of some town secrets! I absolutely loved the mexican characters and the take different people viewed them with...from loving them and fully accepting them for who they are to the racist assumption they know nothing and are only good for labor no one else wants to do! Those who really know me, know this can be a sore spot for me, I really hate prejudice and racism! Stereotyping is a horrible practice! And who wouldn't love a cop nicknamed MOM...

I haven't read as much mystery as I like because I do tend to spook rather easy. I was pleased that this one kept the spookiness to a minimum and just continued to dig through to the solutions of the mysteries! I am usually pretty good at figuring mysteries out before they solutions are revealed, but this one kept me guessing and I like that, a lot!

Of course I have quotes, but only a few this time:

pg 74: "You're having a turkey sandwich for breakfast?" Lucy asked. "It's not for breakfast, it's brunch. And it's never too early for turkey. It's one of God's perfect foods" My sentiments exactly! My sister and mom surprised me with a TBA sandwish from Kneaders a few days ago and I absolutely am addicted...turkey, bacon, avocado...what's not to love?!

pg 75: "IF CON IS THE OPPOSITE OF PRO, IS CONGRESS THE OPPOSITE OF PROGRESS?" I know this is an old saying, but given many people's extra difficulties with the government of late, I found it most interesting to read in this book. Just food for thought...

pg 145: "And he's apologizing for his weight, which means he's somewhat interested." pish posh....you know who you are...the reason this caught my attention and why I had to include it in my quotes here!

MY Steve's birthday....

2009-04-10T23:59:00.000-06:00

...yes, Steve is a too common name, thus the necessity to differentiate between our Steves...we have 3 alone in just his immediate family group! But I digress...

Last Saturday (4 Apr) was Steve's birthday and so we headed to Midway to spend the night at the Zermatt Resort. This is a fancy schmancy 4 star resort that is nestled in this small community in the Utah mountains. Where to start....it was a good weekend, overall…

We got up there, got checked in and went exploring. I wanted to find the steakhouse so I could see the prices on the menu...the menu is online, but no prices, so I was expecting the worst. We basically had no money (beyond the ITEX certificates we were using)....but had to eat...we had looked at the bistro menu as we started to explore and decided that if the steakhouse was too much, we'd cancel our reservation and eat at the bistro. We went all around the building we were in and the one next to us...found the pool (nice indoor/outdoor with waterfall hot tub), the spa and the wellness center (mostly a fitness center, very nice, though!)...We found the conference center (there was a national women MBA leadership something or other going on, I thought that was interesting, but didn't get the chance to visit with any of the women, but did get to observe a few while we were there)…oh and a wedding, too. While in the Conference Center, we popped into the business center and used the computers for a few minutes, literally, I was very pleased that he was also pretty much ready to continue exploring when I said I was done with the one thing I needed to do online. We found the gift shop, the bakery/deli and finally the steakhouse, which was outrageously expensive, as expected. Here is the website for the resort itself http://www.zermattresort.com/site/index.html, on there you can view the priceless menu, if you like, http://www.zermattresort.com/site/zermatt-resort/dining/Menus/Schneitter …the salad at the very very bottom was about $30! I guess, overall, it was about what a steakhouse would be...but with only a $20 cert and really no money, it was way too much for us, this trip...they did have a prime rib buffet for $24.95/person BUT nothing on the menu really stuck out for me, so I wasn't really excited about it and didn't have my heart set on eating there.... and so I left the choice up to Steve as it was HIS birthday!

He chose to eat at the bistro, where I enjoyed a very delicious club sandwich on a croissant and he had a very good buffalo burger. We drank water and enjoyed the food and atmosphere and such...it was nice, I think we both liked it a lot! We headed back to the room, but then I realized they hadn't done the complimentary turndown service and I didn't want to be there when they came, so I told Steve (who had no idea we were having the turndown service...I wanted him to feel/see the fanciness in hopes that he will somehow get the idea that we deserves such things) that I wanted to go hang out upstairs for about an hour. Upstairs was a private club/lounge place...they had a pool table and tables setup to play checkers/chess and even backgammon... except that they only had pieces to play chess. I wanted checkers but oh well...SSSSSSOOOOOOOOO, Steve taught me how to play chess!!! Now, I had a friend in junior high try to teach me, but I don't think I cared enough to really learn and I didn't think I really cared now, except that I've sorta wanted to for awhile now because Steve LOVES chess, he has a really nice set or two! Anyone out there up for the challenge of whuppin’ him at chess…let me know, k?! I love you dear, but I think it may be awhile before I can actually beat you at this game! Although, it somehow clicked, I think he did a great job teaching me in just a few minutes and we played 2 games... he won both, but I gave him a run for his money in that both games lasted a long time, he said he was impressed! It was fun!

We went back to the room, watched a bit of tv, after the news we went back to the bistro for dessert. He chose to each get a piece of cake instead of share one piece and he ended up getting his $7 piece free because I told the gal it was his birthday! I love when that happens! They even gave us the choice of milk...skim, 1%, 2%....and had refills on it, too!! At $4/glass, the free refill made us happy! After that, Steve felt a bit icky and we were both tired, so we went to bed, he watched more tv and I watched a bit while reading a bit...then we both fell asleep....We were going to try hitting the pool, but didn't get up early enough...checkout was 11, but I had them give us until noon so I could watch all of morning conference, which I did and I will be blogging on conference talks throughout this next week.

We checked out, went straight to Nephi so I could take Steve to JC Mickelsons (see my blog below, posted last weekend, about MY birthday weekend). Then went to Lynndyl and watched for trains....I mostly read and we talked a tiny bit. It was a nice quiet time from our hectic noisy lives! As we first started to leave Lynndyl, I saw a horse that caught my eye and I thought was pretty, so I was going to take a pic…by the time he backed up and I grabbed the camera, the other (darker) horse got jealous and had to come join the fun and the spotlight, LOL!

From Lynndyl, we then went to his mom's in Nephi and hung there for a couple hours and then came home. It was a lot to do in just about 36 hours, but it was worth it and fun! I am glad he had fun and loved JC Mickelsons, as I knew he would! He took tons of pics and hopefully he will post some of them, at least, on his blog (http://sjbinut.blogspot.com/). This is one of the very very few pics I have taken with his camera and I told him that I got to put this one on my blog:

Happy Birthday, my love....hope you really did enjoy it as much as I did!!!

It's MY Birthday...well, ok, it WAS....

2009-04-04T13:05:00.006-06:00

Last weekend was my 38th birthday. I decided to spend it in Mesquite/Las Vegas Nevada! My mom, her friend and I left immediately after Bunco friday night. We got to Mesquite in time to get about 2 hours sleep and headed in to Las Vegas for ALL day saturday. We casino hopped so I could play Bingo and get a bunch of different birthday freebies...silly, I know, but it was way fun. This is my favorite freebie of the day......they were giving these out two years ago, but I was not able to get one for me, although I had gotten one for my sister for her birthday and one for my mom for her birthday! Mom played a little bingo and spent a little time with her friend. We ate dinner at Terrible's casino, Bougainvillea Café and Rotisserie, to be more specific. I enjoyed lemon chicken. We finished the night at the Eastside Cannery, where some nice women took a pic of the three of us...just before we finally headed back to Mesquite for the night....

Sunday, we decided to head back in to Las Vegas for a few hours as Judy, my mom's friend had some slot play left at Arizona Joes...er, Bob's...er, Charlies, ya, that's it....In our trip to Mesquite/Las Vegas a month ago, we found out about the free pics with $1,000,000 at Binions. (This promotion is going until the end of May 2009) I was very interested in this, to add to my visualization board and whatever you want to call my collection of "pics with well-knowns". We each had our pic taken individually, but I was not able to scan my mom's friends pic, but here our ours...

Before heading into Las Vegas for the day, I just had to eat at my favorite restaurant in Mesquite, Panda Garden....yummy Lemon Chicken....YAY! Mom had me take this pic with her camera just outside of there....

Monday, we spent hanging out at Virgin River and Eureka in Mesquite. I played Bingo most of the day. Mom and Judy played a little Bingo, slots and drove around Mesquite, a little. Mom took Judy and showed her the neighborhood I would love to live in, IF we ever ended up living back in Mesquite. I can never remember the name of the neighborhood, but it is right next to the Reber's property. Not only is Bishop Reber the absolute best Bishop I have ever known, their entire family are wonderful examples of being true Christians! We love and miss them all tons!

Tuesday, at long last, it was time to go home...we took our time getting out of Mesquite, stopping in Beaver Dam at the Dam store (next to the Dam bar and Dam Deli and going through the Dam door...you get the idea) to get some AZ lotto tickets and show Judy this "part time tourist trap". We then stopped in Bloomington, just outside St George, at my Uncle Leo's house. He was off to work at the Temple, but we had a pleasant visit with his wife, Aunt Daisy and a hilarious trip down memory lane with my cousin, Les....we continued on our trip, making the usual pit stop/fuel fillup in Fillmore. Then decided to eat at JC Mickelsons (http://www.jcmick.com/) in Nephi. As many of you know, this is a landmark business in the Nephi area. It has moved its location, but has remained a great place to eat. Judy ordered the chili, saying that it was okay as it was from a can. My mom ordered the popcorn shrimp and enjoyed it very much, it was delicious...even as leftovers, Steve said they were "alright". I ordered the BLT and loved it. We walked in and were instantly amazed and such by their newest addition, finding out that they had just reopened the day before our visit. We were lucky to be able to eat there, as we got there right at closing time. They were playing with their new toy and gladly served us. The service was good and I would recommend everyone go to JC Mickelsons for this special treat, good food and great service.....oh, ya, I waited until now to post this because I plan on surprising Steve with a visit there this weekend (his birthday) and didn't want him to figure out the newest addition, pics below...BUT once I take him there, his pics will be wonderful, mine with my fuzzy cell phone camera could never do much of this justice!

the myspace.com handbook

2009-04-03T01:00:00.000-06:00

the myspace.com handbook: the complete guide for members and parents BY T. Brian Chatfield rating: 2 of 5 stars
I saw this book on display at a local library and thought it was interesting that someone would take the time to put such a book together, so I picked it up! I have been a myspace user for a few years now and do still check it about once a day, when I am on the computer. I did not read this book cover to cover, but rather skimmed it page by page looking for parts/sections that would interest me. There was not a whole lot of sections I read through. The best thing about this book is found on pg 100-104, a list of "Common Abbreviated Symbols and Emoticons" followed by "1337 Speech" and "Acronyms and Other Phrases". Or, in other words, shortcuts used in communicating on myspace or chat or even texts, now. The one I find the most amusing as misused is LOL. Which stands for Laugh Out Loud, but those new to the internet, especially get confused and think it is Lots Of Love! Anyway, I guess this book can be for those who think that myspace is the end all of social networking or for the parents of those possibly addicted to myspace. As for me, I do my momentary check on the days I am actually on the computer, but my favorite social networking site, especially for those around my age, is currently Facebook! So, come, join the information superhighway of networking and lets all be friends!

The Composer is Dead BY Lemony Snicket

2009-03-27T00:30:00.003-06:00

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lemony Snicket has struck again....he is a genius...GENIUS, I say! Many you know that I loved The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket...and I recently blogged my review of his book, The Lump of Coal, which I loved, as well. I may venture to say that this is my favorite one of his books yet. It is a picture book that includes a free cd (if you happen to check this out at the library, be certain that the cd is there inside the front cover!!!). I read the book in a matter of minutes and instantly loved it! After just a page or two, I was ready to tell my best friend that she MUST get this book, one way or another! A mysterious murder mystery where everyone is suspect! The composer is dead and the inspector interviews all members of the orchestra to find the culprit. As he moves from section to section in the orchestra, it is amusing the personalities that come to life. The list of composers in the story is long for those not very familiar with the classical world. Educational in so many ways! I read the book, then listened to the cd. The first half of the cd is sort of an audio of the book, with much more animation and commentary...very cute!!! The soundtrack that follows on the second half of the cd is good and quick! Even if you didn't like TSoUE, I think you will like this one!

What would a book review of mine be without a quote or two, eh?! Here goes, a little different this time. As the mystery gets underway, the inspector starts his interrogation with the strings. Violins first, of course, then he moved onto the cellos and basses and in my head I thought, "What about the violas, they are always forgotton!" To my utter surprise, this is how the story went: ""Well, I guess that takes care of the strings," the Inspector said. "Oh---the Violas! I forgot all about you." "Everyone forgets about us," said the Violas bitterly." I laughed right out loud and my mom looked at me quite funny. It was perfect! Then as the inspector continued on, I was quite amused by these lines from the percussion section, "We percussed. We employed xylophoniness and cymbalism."

To say the least, this book is a MUST have for every family that wants to expand the horizons of their children or even the parents, for that matter. It should also be included in all elementary music curriculum! Of course, this is just my opinion...read for yourselves and let me know what YOU think!!!

Inkheart BY Cornelia Funke

2009-03-24T11:24:00.000-06:00

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a good book, of course, what book about reading books isn't a good book?! I loved Cornelia Funke's book The Thief Lord so much that I plan on reading all of her books, but having gotten distracted by many other books since I had yet to even start on this endeavor. Then, in December on my ill-fated, not so free date, we saw a trailer for a new movie coming out, Inkheart! I just had to read the book now, so I got on the waiting lists at the local libraries, finally received it AND finally got through it. Mind you, I do think this is a good book and I was interested the whole time but with life's many distraction, it did take this slow reader a long time read this book! At first, I thought this was a book where the readers get taken into the story itself, but, for the most part, it is quite the opposite, the characters come out of the books! The storyline of this book, really made me want to read more and learn to read AND write beautifully. Not only things that are well written, or even popular among the masses, but to be able to bring good things to those who take the time to read such things. To captivate an audience and change their lives for the better, now that is something to work towards! I look forward to seeing the movie and reading the other two books in this series!

With well over 500 pages, of course there are several quotes:

pg 8: "Some books should be tasted some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly." so true!

pg 38: "Her curiosity was too much for her. She felt almost as if she could hear the books whispering on the other side of the half-open door. They were promising her a thousand unknown stories, a thousand doors into worlds she had never seen before." A perfect description of the heart of a true book lover upon entering a personal library!

pg 39: "She was just staring at the books. The shelves on which they stood smelled of freshly sawn wood. They went all the way up to a sky-blue ceiling with tiny lights in it, hanging there like stars. Narrow wooden stepladders on casters stood by the shelves, ready to help any reader up to the top shelves. There were reading desks with books lying open on them, held in place by brass chains that shone like gold. There were glass display cases containing books with pages stained by age but showing the most wonderful pictures." WOW!

pg 87: "...it's not just plants and animals that die out, so do books. Quite often, I'm sorry to say. I'm sure you could fill a hundred houses like this one to the roof with all the books that have disappared forever." I believe this to be true and it is sad, in a way...BUT, at the same time, it does make room for all the books yet to come....what are YOUR thoughts?

pg 125: "She's a real bookworm. I think she lives on print. Her whole house is full of books --- looks as if she likes them better than human company." I think this is one statement that could be said of me, if I didn't love my family so much.

pg 148: "To think of all the times I've wished I could slip right into one of my favorite books. But that's the advantage of reading --- you can shut the book whenever you want." 'nuff said!

pg 181: "The fact that you don't believe me doesn't make that a lie." I have said these exact words on many an occasion.

pg 427: "Only in books could you find pity, comfort, happiness --- and love. Books loved anyone who opened them, they gave you security and friendship and didn't ask anything in return; they never went away, never, not even when you treated them badly. Love, truth, beauty, wisdom and consolation against death. Who had said that? Someone else who loved books; she couldn't remember the author's name, only the words. Words are immortal --- until somone comes along and burns them." How true, even in something as simple as ones journal...hmmm, something to think about!

pg 441: "Happiness made her bold." I don't know if I've ever made this connection, but as I read these words and thought back, I believe them to be true!

pg 528: "...inventing stories in , filling new, empty pages with the right words --- I can't do that. That's a very different trade. A famous writer once wrote, 'An author can be seen as three things: a storyteller, a teacher, or a magician --- but the magician, the enchanter, is in the ascendant.'" I am stating right here, right now, that I will one day be an author. I have the ideas, it is just a matter or learning the trade of putting them together into something worthwhile!

ENJOY CHINESE CUISINE

2009-03-23T15:54:00.002-06:00

Here I am, back with yet another review of a great restaurant...this time it is the new ENJOY CHINESE CUISINE in West Jordan. Click on the title of this review to go directly to their website, where you can see pics and their menus! I have been wanting to try this place since the signs went up way before it opened. One of my friends on facebook loves this place (you know who you are)...well, last Saturday, I finally got the opportunity to try it out for myself. My mom and I chose to eat dinner there...ok, short and sweet, that's the goal here, right?

I ordered my favorite, Lemon Chicken and my mom ordered Orange Shrimp....yes, Orange SHRIMP. The waiter said that had he had not had many orders for this item, at this point. He even asked her opinion on if he should recommend it, afterwards. Of course, she said yes...the food was very delicious and the value for the money was great! The service was among the best, from the moment you walk in to the moment you walk out. The atmosphere is wonderful and pleasant.

I agree with the statement on the website, this is the best chinese food in West Jordan. I would even add, that it is among the best in the state of Utah!!! If you take the time to go to the website, you will see on the gallery page, the pic with the fireplace and "smile" in it, that is the table where we ate. The place was packed when we got there, with people even waiting for to go orders. We chose to wait a few minutes for a table. The entire time we were there, it was a full house. At one point, I told the owner guy that we think they should rent out the available unit next door and expand with an archway entry. With a huge smile, he simply said, "It is grand opening, no money yet." It was cute. This place is here to stay, ENJOY it every chance you get!!!

Emmett's & Ethel's - 90 E Main St Lehi. Utah

2009-03-14T19:22:00.004-06:00

We went to the new place in town today....Emmett's & Ethel's...thought I would take a minute to tell everyone I know about our experience...

In all, we ordered: Teriyaki Turkey Burger, Tangy Bacon Ranch Burger, corn dog, cheese fries, onion rings, sprite, homemade root beer and water

The turkey burger had great flavor! The corn dog was wonderful, beating Iceberg, the best in the area before now, and giving Lagoon's a run for their money as the best corn dog in the state! The onion rings were crisp and very good. They weren't breaded like I originally thought, like say IHOP or Burger King, but they were about the best onion rings I've ever had! The Tangy Bacon Ranch Burger was a little on the messy side, but very good, as well. The cheese fries were cheesy and delicious. The homemade root beer was good, eating in, you even get free refills! Sprite and water, well they were sprite and water!

We visited there around 1 or 2 this afternoon and it was packed the entire time we were there. There are booths and tables for seating, these were full the entire time and there were still about 20 or so people in line waiting to order. Like I said, the place was packed!!! There is a beautiful oil painting on the wall (http://cristallharper.blogspot.com/2009/01/emmett-ethel.html) that can be viewed as you wait to order. There is also a wonderful fun mural on part of the wall....

I look forward to eating there again, but hoping that we can find time to go just for dessert sometime, as well. I'm sure the reviews for that will be just as wonderful! I've put a couple of links below of other reviews I found online:
http://my.heraldextra.com/LehiNews/blog - post on 13 Mar 2009

http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/302682/147/ - from 12 Mar 2009

I encourage EVERYONE to give Emmett's & Ethel's a try and leave your thoughts/review in my comments! ENJOY!!!

To JO: happy birthday!!!

2009-03-13T01:40:00.004-06:00

We all go through life with friends. I would think it sad if someone really truly didn't have friends. With that in mind, if you think you don't have friends, you are most definitely WRONG! I would like to take some time today and share a few memories of the bestest friend I have had in my life....and I've gone through several best girl friends that just ended up not really being true friendships.

Fall 2001, my mom decides to do a 30 min free trial thing at a Curves in Salt Lake, where she meets a gal that sells Pampered Chef. At this time, my mom was a massage therapist selling Partylite (as part of my team). They decide to 'trade' shows. This is how I met my bestest friend...and life has never been the same or better!!!

2002: She turned me on to one of my favorite books, Fat!So? (I am about to re-read this book and will do a review in the next few weeks or so) This book and her friendship have gone a very long way in helping me truly love myself, AS I AM!!! You see, we live in a world where I am not accepted mostly because of my flabulousness. Another major problem is that I'm too stinkin' nice for my own good and many in today's society take complete advantage of that....you know who you are!!! Anyway, I digress...when I first read this book, I knew from the start that everyone who ever knew me just had to read this book...so far, only one person besides my bestest friend has read the thing cover to cover. Oh well, I got what I needed from it and that is the most important thing she could have given me! Also, this year was the first of many times that she was there for me when some tough times hit, she's funny that way...always there for her friends and they are very blessed for it, too!!! Thank you!

2003: We went on what would be the first of our road trips...We drove down to Mesa, Arizona and stayed with her friends family. We had a great trip, which included a naked man, speed reading in audio form and being introduced to the great NEW place called Iceberg...LOL!!! We stayed in Mesquite, NV on the way back and little did I know that just a month or so later, my mom would make the decision to move there and then less than two years later my husband and I would move there, as well....and love it!!!

2004: We took another road trip, this time to Riverside, CA. This was a great opportunity for me, as this was my mission field. I was able to take some time on the Sunday we were down there and go visit my favorite ward/area. What an unusual trip with curfews and a visit to Red Lobster that started the thoughts of cows being lined to be chosen much like the lobsters in the tank, LOL! This trip gave me the opportunity to meet more wonderful people that are also friends with this same bestest friend...reminding all that she is wonderful and popular!!!

2005: After helping my mom through her heart surgery and recovery, my bestest friend and I took another trip, this time a cruise to Ensenada, Mexico. This was, by far, my favorite of our trips together! I loved the cruise and being spoiled. This trip included visiting the San Diego Temple, riding in a glass bottom boat, and yet another partially naked man!!! Sure wish I could remember his name, or his girlfriends for that matter...they were very nice, I hope they did get married and such...

2006: Now living in Mesquite, my bestest friend made a few trips down to visit, but we didn't have any road trips or monthly visits to our usual place of choice, Red Lobster. During the time I lived in Mesquite, I introduced her to Charmaine's, or as she called it "fancy restaurant".

2007: We had moved up to Lehi, UT and I had a broken arm, so had lots of time on my hands. I was doing several book clubs. It was at this time that she gave me a book called The Total Money Makeover and introduced me to a great man by the name of Dave Ramsey. I have not gotten around to reading this book yet...I struggle with non fiction and keep putting this one off for others...again, I digress...she is still making my life better and transforming things for the good!!!

2008: This is one of the hardest years of my married life. We were both unemployed, albeit for different reasons and in different ways, we struggled a lot on a personal level and with others trying to get the much needed help. This bestest friend of mine was most supportive and understanding of our struggles and issues. We also attend the Total Money Makeover Live Event (where the above picture was taken). I really recommend you listen to or watch Dave. He is on the radio every night, from 7-9pm on 570am (salt lake city, utah) and I understand these are available as podcasts. Also, he is on Fox Business news every week night at 6pm. Good stuff, thanks, Jo!

2009: We, with my mom, took a trip to Mesquite just over a month ago. Always the supportive friend, she hung out and took some much needed down time while mom and I played in the first ever Mesquite Bunco tournament. My friend and I took in a movie, Paul Blart Mall Cop (this movie rocks, I highly recommend it), and ate at Katherine's steakhouse. Charmaine's had recently been closed, so we tried a different "fancy restaurant". We miss Charmaine's, but I would recommend Katherine's, as well.

Ok, now that I've gone through and shared the highlights of this great bestest friend of mine. I want you to keep in mind, all things mentioned DID in fact happen, but I may have mixed up the order of the trips and such. I took the time to do this fun little post as a way to wish my bestest friend a very very happy birthday!!! I send out the great vibes for this to be one of her best birthdays ever and am sure it will happen, how better to celebrate a friday the 13th?! Everyone reading this who knows my bestest friend and has wonderful memories of her, too, please feel free to comment and leave your memories...she'll get around to reading at some point....Oh, and it is too late this year, but I say it has been way too long since we've had a 'naked' man experience, think we need to do a birthday trip or cruise next year, LOL!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JO JACOBSEN, make it count...you ARE loved by many!!! Thank you for everything and always being there....Moroni 8:3

The Lump of Coal BY Lemony Snicket

2009-03-09T23:01:00.000-06:00

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lemony Snicket has struck gold again...this is THE most adorable story about a lump of coal I think one will ever read!!! One quote from the first page says it all: "Miracles are like pimples, because once you start looking for them you find more than you ever dreamed you'd see..." Love or hate The Series of Unfortunate Events, this is a must read holiday story!

The Tale of Desperaux BY Kate DiCamillo

2009-03-06T15:20:00.003-07:00

I will post a regular post soon, I have just been away from my computer a lot lately....

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I only read this book after seeing the movie and reading some not so great reviews comparing the two. It is a cute story, in both formats, and for a change, I don't know which I like better. The movie flip flops the introduction of characters a little bit, which I think works out well. I do agree with my one friend, tho, now having read the book, the veggie character doesn't fit well, but I did like that character in the movie. Alas, this is a BOOK review, so here goes: This is a cute story about a mouse who basically does whatever HE thinks he can and wants to do. It doesn't matter what everyone else is telling him he SHOULD be doing as a mouse. In the process of making his own choices, he comes across and falls in love with Princess Pea. Princess Pea is a typical princess you would find in most stories like this. It is quite the feat what role soup actually plays in this story. As far as the spool of thread goes, I wonder why there is so much focus on it being red thread, lol, it could be any color, imo. I mean, after all, purple does represent royalty! As you can see, there isn't a whole lot to be said about this book. I do like the use of light and dark and think there is more symbolism in this book that one would guess at first glance. I think one thing that did make me like it was the independent thought of Desperaux and what he was able to accomplish because of his willingness to NOT conform to the traditional life of a mouse. Hmm, makes me wonder what WE could each accomplish if we would just choose to live for ourselves and not others....Yes, even if it means taking on a bit of conformity, in the end!

Of course, there are quotes:
pg 32: "Love is ridiculous...love is wonderful. And powerful. And Desperaux's love for the Princess Pea would prove, in time, to be all of these things: powerful, wonderful, and ridiculous." I think this a good description of love, as it can be one or more of all these things at the same time!

pg 45: "Reader, do you know what "perfidy" means? I have a feeling you do, based on the little scene that has just unfolded here. But you should look up the word in your dictionary, just to be sure." I love that the author did this, it is ok to look words up to make sure one understands a story better, or better yet, doesn't misunderstand any word in a story. Oh and, just FYI, here is what www.m-w.com has to say: Pronunciation: \ˈpər-fə-dē\ Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural per·fi·dies Etymology: Latin perfidia, from perfidus faithless, from per- detrimental to + fides faith — more at per-, faith Date: 1592 1 : the quality or state of being faithless or disloyal : treachery 2 : an act or an instance of disloyalty

pg 58: "Reader, do you believe that there is such a thing as happily ever after?" YES, I do! But we have to choose it ourselves and many times even make it happen for ourselves!

pg 117-118: "Every action, reader, no matter how small, has a consequence." This is followed by part of the story of the rat, which is basically the opening of the movie, so I will spare the details and just add the quote from the end of this part..."You can see, can't you, how everything is related to everything else? You can see, quite clearly, how every action has a consequence." Take a look at your life and see, for yourself, just how things follow through as one consequence to another!

pg 207: "Forgiveness, reader, is, I think, something very much like hope and love, a powerful, wonderful thing. And a ridiculous thing, too."

This all reminds me something I am known for saying, "You don't HAVE to do anything, you just HAVE to suffer the consequence of what you do or don't do!" ...or something along those lines...

Marley & Me

2009-02-19T02:35:00.002-07:00

rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have such a hard time reading non-fiction. One of my hopes this year is to read more non-fiction, this book was my first attempt. I kept putting off starting this book, finally starting it last sunday because it was due at the library wednesday....I was immediately hooked, reading almost half of it within 24 hours of starting. I did finish it on Wednesday before returning it to the library. I loved this book and the memories it brought to my mind about the dogs in my life...the ups and downs in this book really hit home with pretty much anyone who has ever had a dog in their family. I really liked the way he intertwined their personal lives with everything about Marley...this is reality. Anyone who has had a family pet knows that the pet is a member of the family and most everything that effects one member of the family touches all other members of the family! Marleys antics had me laughing and trying to not to be grossed out. I am very excited to now see the movie, but am prepared to be fully grossed out. This book has me torn even more over having a dog of our own (if ever we live someplace that we can actually have pets). For me, it is all about the companionship BUT I don't want the work that goes along with having a dog. Not to mention that I do tend to gross out easily and that characteristic doesn't bode well with having a dog. So, for now, I will live vicariously through this book and my friends and family that have their own pets!

Now for the quotes:

pg 13: "I was a mutt of indistinct and undistinguished ancestry. My lineage represented more nations than the European Union." boy this statement sounds a bit familiar in even my own genealogy

pg 166: "Our new neighborhood was in one of the few middle-class sections in the city, and its residents liked to joke with a certain reverse snobbery that they were on the wrong side of both sets of tracks. Sure enough, there were two sets of railroad tracks,one defining the eastern boundary of the neighborhood and one the western. At night you could lie in bed and listen to the freight trains moving through on their way to and from Miami." this one is for my hubby, but no, dear, I'm not saying I want to live in florida, too humid, but yes, this would be a good ideal neighborhood for us, huh?!

pg 189-190: "...maybe he held the secret for a good life. Never slow down, never look back, live each day with adolescent verve and spunk and curiosity and playfulness. If you think you're still a young pup, then maybe you are, no matter what the calendar says. Not a bad philosophy for life..." this statement was made on the authors 40th birthday as he realized that in dog years Marley was just over 40 himself. I think this IS a good philosophy for life, after all, AGE IS A STATE OF MIND!

pg 260: "We take it for granted, but it is fragile, precarious, uncertain, able to cease at any instant without notice. I was reminded of what should be obvious but too often is not, that each day, each hour and minute, is worth cherishing." This is a thought the author had while standing in the area where United flight 93 went down in PA on 9/11. I think we would ALL do good to remember this and truly cherish every moment!

pg 287: "Marley had given us a gift, at once priceless and free. He taught us the art of unqualified love. How to give it, how to accept it. Where there is that, most of the other pieces fall into place." Very good way to sum up the book and the experience of having a family pet, imo. Life really can be this simple!

pg 301: "What advice to you have for writers? Take the civil service exam and hope for a job at the post office. No, no, no. Keep a journal and write every day, even when it seems impossible. Read really good writers, and reread the best parts aloud. Write about what you know and care about. Believe in yourself and your voice. And here's what I consider the most important part: Take your finished piece and cut it by 20 percent. Relax, you can always restore the lost text later if it seems just too amazing to deprive the world of. You'll be surprised how seldom you will feel the need. In my own work, tighter is almost always better." As someone who hopes to be a writer at some point in time, I thought this question/answer was something to definitely think about....and, dear husband of mine who happens to now work for the post office, this doesn't mean that YOU, too, can't be a writer, someday!

Sammy's & Heart day...

2009-02-16T22:27:00.005-07:00

No, I'm not going to get into the restaurant review business...although, hmmm...it could mean lots of good food...ok, no, I'm not gonna go there....BUT...going with the ITEX theme this weekend....

For Valentine's Day, Steve and I used an ITEX voucher to stay at the La Quinta near UVU on Sunday night. We got to the hotel early and stayed in our room. Steve enjoyed the on the wall HDTV (his choice, NASCAR) while I started yet another book, Marley & Me (review to come very soon)...We ordered Pizza and Chocolate Dunkers within hours of our arrival, this served as dinner and dessert for the night. We had prepared ahead and brought drinks to keep in the in-room fridge. Later in the evening we watched Hancock on our portable DVD player. This movie was ok, it was a bit confusing but easy enough to follow that it was just ok, imo. After this, I went back to my book and he watched more tv, for awhile....overall, a good time had by all during this stay at La Quinta. If you have never stayed at LQ, I highly recommend it. They have nice rooms with a great breakfast included. We have been staying at LQs for over 6 years and have yet to have a really bad experience! Ok, after leaving the hotel, I was not ready to come home, so I suggested going to Sammy's, since I had my trusty ITEX certs with me...in the hopes that it was open today...it was...

Steve got the Chicken Cordon Blue and a chocolate shake. I got the custom breaded chicken with some additions along with the "add it up..." by getting a peanut butter cup shake and seasoned fries. While we waited for our food, we viewed the wall of photos and next visit plan on getting one of us put up with the caption "gone BATTY for Sammy's!", ok, this is my idea, we'll see if it actually happens! We got our food to go and went to park for a time of train watching, which unfortunately was extra slow today....

REVIEW: (Even though I have met who I assume to be "Sammy", he has no idea that I finally made it into Sammy's nor that I'm writing this review) We both really enjoyed our food. We shared the seasoned fries which were just perfectly seasoned, enough to taste good without being too seasoned...yes, it is possible to be over seasoned! The shakes were both very good. The sandwiches were very very good!!! The value for our money, overall, was very good, as well. I would highly recommend this to any and everyone! When we walked in there was a missionary couple and a family eating at the counter, while we were there, a young couple came in as well as a couple sets of friends. Sammy's appeals to all ages and lifestyles. Makes for a great date night to pick up your food and enjoy someplace you both love to be....there isn't a plethora of seating inside, but the food greatly makes up for this. Go, enjoy and share your thoughts.....located at 27 N 100 W in Provo....so, Sam, great job, keep it up and continued great business to you!!! (final note, check out their blog, now listed under my links)

Sweets Island Restaurant

2009-02-13T23:11:00.005-07:00

Many of you know, I used to work for a company called ITEX. That whole experience is another blog altogether, that may or may not ever appear on this blog....but from that experience, I have learned about a few businesses out there, that I like, this is one of them....

Sweet's Island Restaurant located at 711 Columbia Ln in Provo, Utah...this is right behind the big DI, near Utah Valley Regional Hospital....

Today, we happened to be in the area around lunch time and I happened to have some ITEX certificates with me, so my mom and I decided to give it a try....and it was good! We happened to be the only customers in there at the time and we quite enjoyed the atmosphere and background music....

My mom had the combo #10 with pork and chicken. I had #14 with pork, chicken and beef. It was delicious. My main reason for posting this as a blog, though is because they are having a luau saturday night for valentines day....we found out this is an annual thing. The cost is $15, includes live entertainment and a buffet and loads of fun. As we finished eating and were leaving, I thought I would be very nice to them and spread the word...so, if you get to reading this before valentines night and are looking for a great way to celebrate the day, there ya go!!! If you don't get to it until after, well, still go there and enjoy! Oh, and I do have some ITEX certificates, if you are interested....let me know!

Emmy ... BY Lynne Jonell

2009-02-05T16:44:00.001-07:00

Several months back we were visiting at my sister in laws house, I believe for a birthday party...anyway, I noticed this book and found out that my young nephew had chosen it because the pages create a flip show of sorts. I decided it looked cute, so I got it, read it and really enjoyed it. I think it is very imaginative. Lynne Jonell has created a world where although it seems like something of a child's imagination or dream, you can be drawn in and start to believe that there is a real "Rodent City" right in your own neighborhood! Takes me back to the days of "The Littles", which I absolutely loved! This first book is the story of Emmy, her nanny Miss Barmy and Raston, Emmy's class pet! Emmy, a typical girl who feels left out and ignored by her classmates finds an eventual friendship with Raston and together they battle Miss Barmey, the nanny. This story was so cute, I just had to read the follow up book, Emmy and the Home for Troubled Girls... Only one quote from this book: pg 6: "You're too nice," said the Rat sharply. "A little meanness is good for the soul. I highly recommend it." (A recommendation I have to wonder if was meant for me!!!)

This is the follow up story to Emmy and The Incredibly Shrinking Rat. I will keep it short so I don't spoil much of anything for those reading the first book. In this one we have returning characters, Emmy, Raston, Miss Barmy among others. We also have new characters like Meg that play an important role in the storyline. For those reading the first one, I will leave this review with this one question: Will Emmy end up at the Home for Troubled Girls anyway OR will Miss Barmy win in another way?! Yes, Miss Barmy is still up to her nasty tricks in yet another very imaginative story about doing what's right and helping those we love most! Again, only one quote: pg 130: "Hang in there." ... "What does that mean?" ... "Well, you know, keep doing what you're doing. Don't give up, even when you're discouraged. Believe that things are going to get better soooo---" (I agree with this, in that, when you have a goal or are discouraged by lifes natural course, keep going, keep the FAITH, keep doing what you're doing and things WILL get better!)

fortune telling?

2009-02-02T01:00:00.001-07:00

I don't put much stock in reading my horoscope, but on the rare occasion that I do, it surprises me how often it has something to do with what is going on in my life. Some of the things we look forward to accomplishing this year are a total money makeover, starting my Family History business and getting more organized...so, at the first of the year when I came across the following "overview" and received the fortune cookies below that....leaving me to wonder how things will REALLY turn out, any thoughts? he he....

Year 2009 Overview (astrology - zodiac)
Pioneering and courageous Aries is being called to times of incredible new growth and renewal. The considerable reflective time you have spent rehashing and deciding which avenue will best serve your highest purpose has shaken you to the very root of your personal belief systems. Through surrendering to your higher self, new realizations and golden opportunities you never thought possible are brilliantly opening up for you. Your new commitment to self has given you a renewed appreciation of the your divine wisdom and accomplishments. The understanding you have radiates love and compassion, and is attracting your highest good. As your creative spirit soars, the excitement you feel helps you submit to the larger purpose and vision gained in your dreamtime. You are easily able to bring your work out into the world with clarity and purpose. Your heart's desires are quickly manifesting right before your eyes and you are able to reap long-standing benefits as you detach from the past and are catapulted forward. Because of your humanitarian ideals and desire to be a helper in our emerging world, be careful not to fall into old patterns of helping others fulfill their needs rather than taking care of your own. As you grow, people are drawn to your altruistic ideas and your visionary and compassionate personality.
In spite of your good endurance and concentration, remember to take care of yourself on an everyday basis to maintain wholeness and integration. Finding a good physical outlet for your frustrations is important so that you don't deplete your energy and prevent yourself from getting what you really want. Enjoyment is the fundamental desire of your life, and you are able to create the life you enjoy.

FORTUNE COOKIES:
steve: happy events will take place in your home
steve: you will travel far and wide
becky: prepare yourself for a change of events in your personal life
becky: a sudden change in plans will lead to good fortune
becky: your troubles will cease and fortune will smile upon you
becky: everything will now come your way

KBFUMS

2009-01-29T11:45:00.003-07:00

Ok, so a few of you know about my little work thing known as KBFUMS, even fewer of you know what it REALLY stands for....well, the time has come to reveal it to the world...

KBFUMS was created about 12 1/2 yrs ago when I worked a job that although it was fun with several good people was not the best job I have ever had...I have this problem with opening my mouth and causing problems! So, one day, in my frustration, I made this sign and taped it to the top of my monitor, it simply said, KBFUMS. When this temp job was coming to an end, there were two guys who were desperate to find out exactly what KBFUMS stood for and I refused to tell them. So, they tried guessing...I don't remember the vast majority of the things they came up with, but one was perfect and stuck. Their brilliance changed my not so positive KBFUMS into Keep Being Faithful Under Mormon Standards! I have used KBFUMS many times since then, but always think of both the above and the original meaning....

Ok, I will digress for a moment: I am so grateful to have such wonderful neighbors and friends including Jim, Nancy, their boys and Linda!!! Nancy presented this idea (admittedly a month or so ago) that she took from her cousin and has then encouraged all of us to take from her and I will....it is to have a word for the year that you focus on, that becomes you...my word for 2009 is FAITH. When I first read Nancy's post, this is the first word that came to me. I thought it over and over and over toying with other words that were also coming to me, and it always went back to FAITH, so there it is....my word of focus for 2009!!!

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines FAITH as: 1 a: allegiance to duty or a person : b (1): fidelity to one's promises (2): sincerity of intentions 2 a (1): belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2): belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1): firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2): complete trust 3: something that is believed especially with strong conviction ; especially : a system of religious beliefs

The (LDS) Bible Dictionary says: Faith is to hope for things which are not seen, but which are true, and must be centered in Jesus Christ in order to produce salvation. To have faith is to have confidence in something or someone. The Lord has revealed himself and his perfect character, possessing in their fulness all the attributes of love, knowledge, justice, mercy, unchangeableness, power, and every other needful thing, so as to enable the mind of man to place confidence in him without reservation. Faith is kindled by hearing the testimony of those who have faith. Miracles do not produce faith but strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ; in other words, faith comes by righteousness, although miracles often confirm one’s faith. Faith is a principle of action and of power, and by it one can command the elements and/or heal the sick, or influence any number of circumstances when occasion warrants. Even more important, by faith one obtains a remission of sins and eventually can stand in the presence of God. All true faith must be based upon correct knowledge or it cannot produce the desired results. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel and is more than belief, since true faith always moves its possessor to some kind of physical and mental action; it carries an assurance of the fulfillment of the things hoped for. A lack of faith leads one to despair, which comes because of iniquity. Although faith is a gift, it must be cultured and sought after until it grows from a tiny seed to a great tree. The effects of true faith in Jesus Christ include 1 an actual knowledge that the course of life one is pursuing is acceptable to the Lord; 2 a reception of the blessings of the Lord that are available to man in this life; and 3 an assurance of personal salvation in the world to come. These things involve individual and personal testimony, guidance, revelation, and spiritual knowledge. Where there is true faith there are miracles, visions, dreams, healings, and all the gifts of God that he gives to his saints.

Ok, now that we have FAITH defined, I have been focusing on this word and concept of FAITH for a few weeks already. My thoughts are always drawn back to FAITH and in many things, including movies, there is a lot of talk about and focus on FAITH reminding me even more to keep my focus.

I am choosing during this year of FAITH to not only work on maintaining and growing my FAITH in a spiritual sense, but in those closest to me and myself. I need them, including my Steve (yes TL, MY Steve) to know that I have always had the upmost FAITH in him and that FAITH and trust continues on and grows each day! I am at a point in my life where I am focusing on FAITH in myself as I embark on new adventures. Yes, you will hear about some of these on this very blog throughout the year! I have to thank Nancy, again, for bringing this great idea to my life. I came across this quote this morning and feel the need to share this for her and anyone else out there that I know this will help: ""It is hope that maintains most of mankind." ---Sophocles

So, for 2009, I will leave behind the Keep My Big Fat Ugly Mouth Shut and I will choose to Keep Being Faithful Under Mormon Standards and focus on FAITH! Steve, Jo, Maura and any others that have been enlightened to the original silliness of KBFUMS over the years...you can pick your jaw up off the floor and know that I am perfectly ok with the world now knowing the original meaning! If only, I knew where those guys from so many years ago were, eh?! Oh and just so you know, this doesn't mean I will be keeping my mouth shut, I just caution the world to beware, you never know what will come out of this mouth!

The Christmas Marble BY George D Durrant

2009-01-26T14:00:00.001-07:00

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a very cute short story about a marble and life. In every moment of every day, we all have decisions to make. Some are simple and some are not...breathing, easy, involuntary, for most of us. Believing stories told during a school class, still an individual choice, but not necessarily as easy. The story surrounding this marble and the events following the telling of this story created by George Durrant is a very heartwarming tale of Jake Mobley. I don't have any great quotes to share, the whole book is wonderful. I have to say that I love Herman Henderson, but as a fan of the old radio show Life of Riley, I have a love of undertakers. We are told many stories in our lives and whether or not they are true, how we choose to react to them can make all the difference in our lives and even possibly how our future unfolds.

2008 - It's about TIME.....i know, i know....

2009-01-24T02:12:00.002-07:00

(this post was intended for 3 weeks ago, but I got myself way too busy to even look at my blog page in weeks, so better late than never, right????? You will all be sorry I'm back because I've got loads of posts waiting to be finished or just posted....)

We don’t do a lot of ‘family planning’ in our household. Now, before anyone goes off on a tiff about the evilness of such a practice, or lack thereof…we work with it and someday, I have not doubt this part of our lives will change and we will be a force to reckoned with…and that thought should scare those that know us best!

As I have read many posts and blogs and such regarding 2008 in review and new things for 2009, I have pondered for several days now exactly what I wanted to post…and here goes….

2008: First, I am glad it is in the past! This was not the best year for us in so many ways, but because of the events and choices of this year, I, for one, am a much stronger person than ever before! The year started out rough with Steve not having a job by the end of January. Luckily, we had a trip to Mesquite all planned and taken before this fact had a chance to sink into our consciousness. The trip to Mesquite was a blast, playing old games and visiting many friends, I wish we could have made another trip down during 2008 as I still miss it terribly. In February, I was “let go” from my job for reasons not specifically revealed. How is that to let the imagine run away with? I will spare the details of what my theories are for us parting ways, at least for now. So here we are 2 months into the 2008 and both of us out of work, things are not looking so great for our near future! On the brighter outlook, I was able to get on unemployment, albeit the tiny amount from the NV system until May when I was finally able to switch to the Utah system, tripling my amount received. In May, also, Steve went back to work at Maverik, this time in the kitchen. He actually seemed to enjoy it a lot more than he ever thought he would. That income was helping things along, until a couple months down the road when his hours were cut over a couple of times until he was working one shift a week for 8 hrs! Then come October, my unemployment ran out, including the first emergency batch. In late September, all of us took the test for the postal service remote encoding center, a specified data entry sweat shop for processing the Zip+4, yes having that +4 on your mail does make a difference! I got a 91, but am working out other income ideas before taking the plunge into a job that, although is easy and well paying, is not flexible enough for my responsibilities. (Besides, the Lord has bigger and better plans for me and we all know what happens when you don’t follow His plans, right?) Steve got an 81 and started working for the SL-REC in late October! He passed training with flying colors and loves his job! As far as income and jobs go, we ended the year receiving another emergency batch of unemployment for me, which saved us in a huge way! For more info or from Steve’s perspective, see his blog: http://sjbinut.blogspot.com/

In other news for the year, we had huge trust issues play a major role in our becoming more resourceful than ever in fulfilling household needs and letting go of and/or cutting back on wants. I tend to be one that believes that things in our lives work out or don’t work out for a reason. Finding that reason is not always the easiest thing in the world, but regarding these trust issues, which sort of got resolved, we learned many things about ourselves and each other that will carry through the rest of our lives! Really starting in July, we had major car problems, mom’s car died and our car had expired plates and no insurance…and, yes, we got busted TWICE, once for each of us! By the middle of November we had both cars up and running, licensed and insured…all thanks to some wonderful neighbors with major car expertise that they provided. They will never completely understand how grateful we are for their service to us! Even without this help, they rock!

Mom, well, mom’s life in 2008 was much like a roller coaster, up, down and all around. She finished out the year with a bang….still working at Maverik full time…landing in the hospital for an overnight stay at the beginning of December and then having a surprise birthday party for her 60th birthday! There are not a lot of details to share here that haven’t already been shared in previous blog posts. Since I first started putting this post together there have been a lot of changes for mom, but they will wait for a future post…

Adventures in dating...

2008-12-31T02:45:00.001-07:00

I love nothing more than to go out and about. I don't much care what we are doing, usually, I just love going out with Steve! Over the years, he has turned me into a bit of a home body and we don't actually get out much for dates and such! At my most recent job I received a couple of Carmike movie passes along with Goodwood BBQ certificates. In October, I tried to give these away to my cousin-in-law to take my cousin out for her birthday and he refused them basically ordering me and Steve to go out and use them! Hmmm...so I wonder, can I blame him for all this now?! Read on...

We finally got around to going out this last weekend. With only 3 Carmike theaters left in the state of Utah, we chose to go to the one in West Jordan and therefore go to the Goodwood BBQ in Draper. When we left the house, we went to my friend, Lorilee, house. We exchanged Christmas gifts and to give her a birthday gift (a month late)...and to help her with her Christmas presents from other family members. I got her hooked up on some of the same websites I use a lot on her new laptop, it is wonderful to have her on email now and will be great as she learns more and more about the internet and the great blessings that can be found by doing things like genealogy! Steve also helped her learn a tiny bit about her mp3 player and loaded a cd to get her started. She got some great toys to play with! After leaving Lorilee's, we checked our PO Box and took a gift to my mom's friend, Judy in West Valley.

Ok, so now on to our date....we decided to go out to Draper and eat at Goodwood BBQ next. This was our first visit to Goodwood BBQ and we enjoyed the food and the service. You see, the gift certificates I had were technically expired...but there is a little known thing about GCs not supposed to have expiration dates because the company has received the money for them. The manager was very accomodating! Steve had the bacon cheddar burger and I had the smoked turkey sandwich. We laughed at there not being salt at any of the tables, even though it was not needed. We thought the food was delicious, including the BBQ sauce, both of us preffered the sassy over the spicy BBQ sauce.

After leaving there, he had me drive to the Christmas Utah house in Murray. If you have not seen this, you have until this Saturday to check it out in person! It is really cool. For more info: http://www.christmasutah.com/ If you happen to watch some of the videos, they are from past years, but are similar to what they had this year.

Ok, next, we headed back to West Jordan to see Tale of Despereaux. We had seen a couple of reviews from friends about this movie and they said they would NOT recommend it, so, of course, this is the movie Steve chose to see! As I was driving us there, we got off I-15 at 9000s. As you head west towards West Jordan, you go up this hill where the speed limit drops from 50mph to 40mph. I specifically looked at the sign and lowered my speed, this is about 900w. By the time we got to Redwood Road (1700w), a cop was behind us and pulled me over as we turned south on Redwood. He said that at 1400w he clocked me going 51, 52, 53. I told him that I had just slowed down to the 40mph speed limit. In any case, he wrote me a ticket and because you know the cops are just so very nice and do us such favors, he wrote the ticket as me going 45 in a 40. I asked him if he knew about how much this was going to be, he said that it is usually about $90 for every 10 over the speed limit....so I'm guessing $90 will be coming due to the courts in a matter of weeks. I don't agree with him that I was speeding, but I don't have the energy to fight it, so I'm hoping that I can just pay it and not waste my time by making yet another court appearance this year!

Oh, we did make it to the movie and on time, even...Tale of Despereaux! I have seen the commercials and really didn't care one way or the other how soon I saw it, but as it started, I was impressed with the list of well known actors doing the voices: Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Watson, Tracy Ullman, Kevin Kline, William H Macy, Robbie Coltrane, Christopher Lloyd, Charles Shaughnessy, Sigourney Weaver, Bronson Pinchot, etc... I have not read the book, shocking, I know...in fact, I had never even heard of the book before this movie came along. I also usually try not to see a movie without having read the book beforehand. I liked the show. It is a cute story of courage, desires, and luck, imo. I think it is an ok movie for families. I, personally, think that I would not have paid to see this movie, but rather waited until I had read the book and the DVD came out, which is estimated for April 2009, like Twilight. As a matter of response to one of the friends who had previously reviewed this movie, I picked up this trivia on imdb.com: The man made out of fruit and vegetables is a tribute to the artworks of Giuseppe Arcimboldo

So, this adventure in dating had it all, for our boring lives, that is...and turned out way more expensive than any date using free movie passes and gift certificates should have been....but, yes, we did have fun...and I hope to start going out more often!!! Oh and I know I can't blame my cousin-in-law for this night, but a scapegoat would be nice!

16 things about me...

2008-12-26T02:48:00.004-07:00

This is a tag from a very good friend from Washington....she passed it to me awhile back, I just felt the need to post it now, as I've been doing some pondering about myself:

1. I'm a genealogist...looking forward to starting a business, hopefully in January 2009!
2. I have always been and will always be a daddy's girl! I miss him terribly! (yes, still!)
3. I loved living in Mesquite, especially this time of year!
4. I love trains and am very happy living near the tracks!
5. My first job was at Lagoon (games and merchandising - great first job, loads of fun, but not much money)!
6. My favorite job was at the Mesquite Library!
7. I love to read...my current favorites are any Sisterchick book (http://www.sisterchicks.com/) and The Heir Series (http://www.cindachima.com/)!
8. I have been selling PartyLite for well over 9 years! (www.partylite.biz/chainoflove)
9. I will write books someday!
10. I always have too much to do...and yet never seem to get anything done! (yes, Pamela, this habit will give you a run for your gold medal on procrastination!)
11. I love hooking up with old friends on facebook, myspace, linkedin, myyearbook, etc...isn't modern technology such a blessing?!
12. I love to travel and look forward to doing more and more as time goes on...
13. My first real concert (not state fairs, etc) was Celine Deon opening for Michael Bolton!
14. I have no sense of smell.
15. I have met a few Olympic Gold Medal winners, Dave Ramsey, Zig Ziglar, Amanda Dickson, as well as many very successful people in PartyLite!
16. I would do about anything to meet Shirley Temple Black, Clay Walker, John Schnieder among many other well known people!

2008-12-24T02:44:00.002-07:00

Things I Have Done...

To participate just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept over night on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23.Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone Deep Sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling Both
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class The emphasis being on A class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100 Blogged while lying sick in bed.

WOW, my life is boring. Oh well, there are a few of these I'm working on and a few I would like to accomplish in the future. Thanks, Dirk, for sharing this with us...

Mom's 60th birthday party...

2008-12-21T21:46:00.004-07:00

After a stressful day before the party when the catering fell through....my sister came to the rescue...again...she is quite the little hostess with great a looking spread of delicious foods for everyone to eat, although the cake was from Sam's club where the decorators loved working on it so much, they didn't want to give it up...The party was a success, we had about 35 people here giving us a full house and loads of fun! Here are a few pictures that my sister took:

SURPRISE 60th bday party...

2008-12-15T11:41:00.004-07:00

Amber is turning 60

Of that she is aware

But we want to surprise her

With all of you there

So the party is a secret

She doesn't it know yet

And if you keep it quiet

A surprise she will get...

Please join us if you can, I know she would love to have everyone she loves there. If you have any question please email or call Tonuah or Rebecca. Please arrive early, we are planning on the big surprise at 5p. Hope to see you there!

WHO: Amber Trujillo

WHAT: SURPRISE Bday Party Open House

HERE:

WHEN: 20 Dec 2008...she is expected about 5pm, so if you want to be here for the SURPRISE, please arrive by 4:30pm and park on 1900 W or west of there on 1835 N.

***PLEASE INVITE ANYONE ELSE YOU KNOW THAT KNOWS AMBER***

(the link on the title of this post leads to the official evite, thank you for keeping this a surprise!!! - good thing my mom stays OFF the computer, huh?!)

twilight

2008-12-09T01:48:00.003-07:00

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

I have seen the show twice, so far, and love it! I tried this quiz a few days ago and it didn't want to work, so here it is now...funny thing is, as I was answering the questions, on several of them, I was thinking that it sounded like Alice!

Mars, Cars and Bars....

2008-12-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

SIGH, wow...I finally caught up on all my friends' craziness...good, bad AND ugly! Now, I guess it is my turn to catch all of you up...

As you can tell this was posted relatively early in the morning (for me), considering I have NOT been asleep yet this last night, it is very early for my body. I won't be getting any sleep just yet, either, as we are headed to West Jordan for my moms Dr appt. Hopefully, I can find a way to take a nap after that and before heading out to the Festival of Trees. My sister and her friend did get their tree done. For anyone who is going, it is located at N7 and is the NFL Tree. Then, I will get to play Bunko, again! I love that...I'm still willing to get a group going, if we can get enough interest! Who's game?!!!

Ok, now to my title...forgive me for going out of order, but I will start with CARS: This post has been long in coming, I'm just now getting a chance to get it done. We have two cars in our household, a Ford Taurus belonging to my mom and a Dodge Neon belonging to my husband. The Taurus has been out of service since July and through a string of events, we finally got some work done on it during November. There are still a few questionable things that will hopefully turn out to be nothing to worry about, but we are so grateful to have this car back in running condition! Because the day before this car was done, sort of, the Neon died...we thought we had the Taurus fixed, but Murphy had other plans for us, still. So, we took the Taurus back to our wonderful neighbors to take another look at...basically trading it for the Neon, which we also thought was fixed. I think you get the idea, I think it was the next day, the Neon died AGAIN and really died this time. Luckily Steve was able to coast into a parking spot at a gas station about 15 min drive away from where we live! It was something like 1am, so by lucky circumstance a Draper police officer brought him home, leaving the car there until we could figure out how to get it towed to our neighbors! A day and a half later, we finally got it down and now after it being fixed some more, it does seem to run better than it has in two years! Oh ya, we got the Taurus back while the Neon was down and overall, it runs ok, too. So, I've had my fill of car problems, for a long while!!! Mostly, we are more than very grateful to have such wonderful neighbors to give us such service and help us out with our vehicles!!!!!

BARS....bet you are really wondering where I'm going to go with this one, huh?! Come on, be honest, you are really curious, what could I possibly have to say about BARS?!!! Ok, ok, I'm talking about Cell Phone BARS that represent how much battery power you have left...During all of the above issues with the cars, my already problematic cell phone gave me even more stress, one night having my battery run very low trying to find rides for everyone and change other things around to be able to function with the limited to no use of our cars! One day that we had no cars at all, my battery died, I was left to use my moms phone for texting, at least. Then, I got it all charged up, only to have ME leave it in the Taurus while Steve went to work...so, again, I had to use my mom's phone for texting, at least. I was so lost without my phone. This was the same day that we managed to get the Neon down to the neighbors! Good thing, we have a phone for my mom!!! My phone is still giving me grief, but I hope to be able to replace it very soon, as I am using more and more often in my 'jobs/yobs' and in taking so many pictures. If I don't diligently charge it every night, the battery runs low faster. It has been dropped several times, so the camera takes fuzzy pics at best. Ok, I'm rambling about this now, suffice it to say, we need new phones, too, and with Steve working again, I hope to be able to resolve this issue in the next few months!

MARS: ok, seriously, I didn't know how else to put this one, but with just the above stress alone, I sure could use some CHOCOLATE!!! No, Mars is not on any of my top favorites lists, that would be the RPC, but that is beside the point, especially since it doesn't rhyme with cars or bars!

Right after most of the above, but before I could take a moment to vent about it on here, I got sick with a cold....I'm over that, except a little coughing and my voice can't seem to make up its mind if I can have it back or not! I'm rambling really bad and my heading keeps bobbing, so I need to run upstairs and get stuff together so I can get cleaned up at my sisters place later and hopefully throw in a power nap, for now, before leaving for mom's Dr Appt...confused yet?!

DARN, I didn't do a good enough job....

Christmas Jars BY Jason F Wright

2008-11-17T13:24:00.004-07:00

I absolutely loved this book, as did everyone I know that has read it. I think it would be very hard to find someone who didn't just love this book. I would recommend to everyone, all year round! This is the absolute example of pay it forward or blessings that come from generosity! For those that have read it, I knew the ending would happen, but until that particular door of opportunity opened, I had not put the two together. Life is funny way, continually going in circles, in the good way...it truly is a small world! I would encourage some kind of Christmas Jar action. That may not mean an actual jar somewhere in your home that you then pass on to someone else in need. To me, it means sharing of yourself, using the talents you were blessed with, to bless the lives of all around, strangers, family and friends alike! This book came at a perfect time for me, as usual...see my last blog regarding 15 Nov. As I strive to follow the good examples of my life while leaving the bad things behind, I challenge all of us to look for the good in everyone, it really is there! The harder challenge then often becomes focusing on that good and letting go of the fear or nervousness you may have and just give. The act of giving does not have to include a financial cost. Just as in this book the act of giving the jars full of money was helpful to those receiving, I think the great gift received, for most of them, was the hope they needed and a restoration of faith in the goodness of mankind! Ok, there were a few quotes:

pg 55: "Genuinely batty? I concur." Those that know me, know how true this statement rings in my life!

pg 95: "...no one can rush the process of perfection." No matter what is being talked about, a thing or a person, this statement is a great reminder to us all!

pg 110: "I guess some people just need to learn how to give..." I think that speaks for itself and I challenge each of us to learn how to give, share of ourselves with others and I promise that we will each be the better for it!

15 Nov 1934...2000

2008-11-15T23:11:00.000-07:00

I finished reading the book Christmas Jars early this morning. I will review that one in a day or two. I missed a book club meeting for this book, but had only started it the night before the meeting and wasn't finished with it by then...but the reason I missed the club meeting was because of yet another car crisis, which I will probably get around to blogging about soon, too. You see, I have all these events/ideas of things to blog about, but don't take the time to just sit down and DO IT!

I wanted to write this blog first thing this morning, but one thing after another and I am finally getting to it now. I was determined to do this blog TODAY, though! Finishing the book this morning seemed very appropriate, in my mind. This book reminded me of two very generous men in my own life, both of which happened to be tied to the date of 15 Nov...

15 Nov 1934: Jose Toribio Gilberto Trujillo was born to Ignacio and Eliza Rebecca (yes, I am named after her) in Mora, Mora, New Mexico. This is a little farming community in the mountains above Taos, New Mexico. This is my dad; he lived only 61 years on this earth. I was always very close to my dad. We lost him over 12 years ago. I have my moments of grief just as most anyone would, but usually he is there in the back of my thoughts, just as he was my whole life with him. One of the fondest generous memories I could think of this morning was his love of cleaning the snow in our neighborhood. He loved to shovel snow, I am certain he was nuts...yes, I come by this naturally! One year, he finally got a snow blower, with this; he would do the entire neighborhood. He would do our driveway and sidewalk and work his way around the big 'half circle' that made up most of our neighborhood. He would get half way through one side and run out of gas. Then he would walk home and go down to the gas station, fill up his can and get back to working on the neighborhood. He would do this until he pretty much did what everyone else had missed along the way. I should note that he was forced into a medical retirement around the age of 50, so he had lots of time on his hands. My dad would never take money for doing this; he just loved to clear the snow. He often did receive cookies and other baked goods for his services and yes he did share these with us, of course. He was very generous, remember?! One of the many who would offer goodies was a group of 20something ladies that happened to share the house across the street. When he died in Feb 1996, a day or two after, it started snowing and it snowed pretty good. We fully believed that this snow was from Dad, punishing us for not EVER helping him in cleaning the snow! When we woke up in the morning, we were dreading the need to clean the snow, but when we got around to opening the blinds and such, we found that the girls from across the street were already out there getting it done. We were so grateful and even though the snow provided the opportunity for some in the neighborhood to return dads sweet favor in cleaning snow for us, some of us still like to think it was his way of paying us back. This is just one example of my dads’ great generosity...but I will move on....

15 Nov 2000: Leon John Myrup died from injuries he sustained in a fall a long while before this date. I only had the privilege of knowing this great and generous man for just over 4 years. He is my husbands' great grandfather, granddad, as he was called...This man was in his nineties, but you would never know it! He still mowed his lawn weekly and did his home teaching, faithfully, every month. He went to church every week and did give of himself and what he had to all he could. He took my husband in to live with him in 1988, shortly before losing his wife. Steve lived there and they took care of each other from that time on. When my husband and I got married, in 1997, I moved in with them. This was an easy choice for us and we lived there for 11 months. Moving was a hard choice for us, but Steve got a job in Magna and we wanted to shorten his commute from Orem to somewhere closer in Salt Lake County. I witnessed the kind generosity of this great man in so many ways. He always stood behind Steve in all he chose to do. They truly took care of each other and they were both the better for it! With all the great things that Granddad did for everyone who crossed his path, I am most personally grateful for all he did for Steve and even for myself! I look greatly on his example as one to learn from and follow in striving to be closer to our Savior!

These two wonderful men played very important roles in my life and I miss them both terribly. I was grateful to be reminded of them and the generous things they did with their lives and talents. They have touched my heart and will continue to live on forever. I am grateful for the knowledge of the Saviors gospel that teaches us that families can be together forever. I hope to live so that I will be with them again. Thank you, Dad and Granddad, for ALL you brought to my life, most importantly for bringing me to my husband, Steve! They both played a very important role in us finding each other. That story will come in the future, I am certain. I just want to close by saying that I love you, Dad…Granddad…and Steve so very much!

SLBizzNet...update

2008-11-12T23:54:00.001-07:00

Today was the third official meeting of SLBizzNet. This is the official name of our group. Each week has gotten better with more people in attendance. This is as it should be, although I admit that the attendance isn't all my doing. This next week will be a new test, as the powers that be have finally jumped on board relenting it is ~~past~~ time to start calling new contacts and not just the previous members. I will continue on and do even more to get people in the seats at the weekly meeting and hope that the others 'in charge' will be able to do their part and get the visitors to become members. I now wish that I had jumped on board with this venture months ago, but, you know....woulda, coulda, shoulda....live and learn! Anyway, we are here now and if everyone does their part and we keep the energy good and high, this venture will be the great thing it once was 4+ years ago!

Some have asked exactly what SLBizzNet is...it is a networking leads group. This is a group of small business owners (or sales reps) who meet for lunch once a week. At this meeting we each take about 60 seconds to talk about our business and who/what would be a good lead for us that week. Leads are passed to each other, thus helping grow each others businesses. As small business people we are also there to be supportive in the understanding of what it is like to be in business for yourself. I have been networking since about 2001 and love it! Not only have I made some great business contacts, I met my bestest friend ever, and a few other friends, because of a networking group! It is a great way to build a business via the best form of marketing our there, word of mouth advertising! So, with all this in mind, anyone you know who has their own business in anything or is in sales, directly responsible for their own commission income...pass their info along to me and "Discover the power of networking"!

Photo Tag....

2008-11-07T01:43:00.004-07:00

I was 'tagged' for this from my Sister in Laws' blog. Basically, what you do is open the folder or disk where your pictures are kept and open the 4th folder then post the 4th picture.

I know that this is small, but that is the size I had it saved. I don't really know any story behind this pic, but I do know that it is a picture of my sisters coffee stand, Red E Espresso, in Tacoma, WA. It was obviously taken in the dead of winter with rare 'big snow' accumulation in WA. It had to have been taken winter 2003/2004. Although the stand still exists, as far as I know, she sold it long ago and moved on to another coffee shop and even beyond from there to another career altogether. She did very well with Red E in the long run and I know she would not trade the experience of that time for most anything!

Ok, now it is your turn, and make sure you post me a comment so I can see what you find!

BizzNet

2008-10-29T00:39:00.004-06:00

I am feeling quite anxious tonight and felt the need to blog about it. I figured it would help ease my anxiousness, if nothing else....I hope! Many of you are aware of the struggles we have had this year. Now, I am working with a former client and friend from my networking days, which were among the best of my businesses. We have teamed up with another friend we made via the old BizzNet group and are restarting BizzNet! BizzNet is a leads group. We meet for lunch once a week and learn about each other and each others' businesses, then we help support and grow each others businesses. We are very excited at the opportunity this affords us and our businesses. We look forward to the many friends we have yet to meet and keep. Our first meeting is today (technically, if you look at the time, it is officially Wednesday...yes, I'm a nerd and I know it!) and I am very excited but also nervous. This meeting alone could make or break this venture being a success, in a way. I have no doubts the great help and importance networking plays in the bottom line of small business. I have done all I can, at this point, to make this first meeting a success. I just hope it is enough. The end results rely on others, who I know are very capable of doing their jobs, but the nerves are there anyway. Given all that has happened this year, one of the lessons I have learned is that sometimes we can work our behinds off and it still comes down to what others choose to do or not do that can make all the difference between success and failure OR positive and negative results. Anyway, I could ramble on all night about this, but suppose it is time to get some rest before the big day officially starts! Send all your good thoughts, prayers, karma, etc, etc my way, k?! I know you will....have a great day, I will too!

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TERRILYN!!!

Fahrenheit 451 BY Ray Bradbury

2008-10-27T15:20:00.002-06:00

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I guess I can now officially say I have read this book. I have heard a lot of hype about this book for years and finally decided to give a try. I am glad that I read it, but don't necessarily see what all the hype has been about. The title, for one thing, always confused me, but now in just the introduction I understand that this is the temperature at which book paper burns. Ok, I guess that makes sense for this title to a book where the main topic is books.

The futuristic world that Ray Bradbury has created is one where books are bad and, in fact, if caught with books your house is burned to nothingness. The firefighters start these fired instead of putting fires out. I guess in the end we all have to decide if we are like Montag, Beatty, Clarisse, Faber, Mildred or even the Hound, how do books fit into our life and the lives of those around us?! I think everyone should read this book, once, unless you really really like, then be my guest to read it over and over. My challenge, in any case, is to keep books alive in whatever way we can. That, in my opinion, should be everyone's desire!

Now for the quotes, with a few thoughts, too:
pg 90: "If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none." hmmm....sound like something that COULD be applied today?! Yes, I'm glad it isn't, but it COULD be!

pg 158: "You'd better head for the river if you can, follow along it, and if you can hit the old railroad lines going out into the country, follow them." Sounds like good advice to me, on so many levels!

pg 180: "Don't judge a book by its cover," someone said. And they all laughed quietly, moving downstream." This could make sense to all of us, but in the context of this book, it is an amusing statement.

pg 181: "...when he died, I suddenly realized I wasn't crying for him at all, but for all the things he did. I cried because he would never do them again...He was part of us and when he died, all the actions stopped dead and there was no one to do them just the way he did. He was individual. He was an important man. I've never gotten over his death." see below

pg 182: "Everyone must leave something behind when he dies...It doesn't matter what you do...so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away." see below

I had a really hard time getting into this book, but as I said before I am glad that I read it. Not only does it challenge me to continue my love for reading and soaking up all the information I can, it left me thinking about what kind of legacy I hope to leave behind. Not just in the monetary or famous way, if even that, but in the basic personal one on one connections in my life. Yes, it reminds of the whole message of my all time favorite movie, It's A Wonderful Life, we do touch the lives of others, hopefully for good, even if we can't see it now. At least, that is my hope!

The Heir Series BY Cinda Williams Chima

2008-10-24T12:34:00.001-06:00

I have read a lot of books this year, good ones even, but this series is the best I have read all year. Yes, it was even better than the new Sisterchicks book and you all KNOW how I love them! After I read all three of these heir books, I had the absolute pleasure to meet Cinda herself. I look forward to her future works! Here are my reviews for all to enjoy, i hope...

THE WARRIOR HEIR

I absolutely loved this book! Upon reading the description, I thought here we go with another Harry Potter type story. You know what I mean, young boy finds out he has abilities and there is a whole other world out there that needs him to use those abilities, etc. I started reading this and was immediately hooked. Of course, the genealogical direction it took had everything to do with my fascination. I did find the book a little bit predictable. I think every teenager would love to have an Aunt Linda in their lives! I loved how even the genealogical aspect was brought full circle. My favorite quotes: pg 60: "Weird is good, strange is bad," Fitch always said. Jack felt better. pg 254: "Just remember who you are, Jack, the old man said. "The world will try to change you into someone else. Don't let them. That's the best advice anyone can give you." pg 420: "More and more, there were no revelations, but simply the uncovering truths long known but dimly remembered. Everything had been written long ago. There was nothing truly new in the world, but only the slow, circular march of time that revealed the old things once again."

THE WIZARD HEIR:
I felt the first in the series ended in a way that didn't leave a ton open for a sequel. As I started this one, I did find that is continued from the first one beautifully. There was not as much focus on genealogy, and no research really involved. This one focused on "weirbooks" which is ones Weir genealogy, so it was still interesting in that way. I loved the storyline following private schools. I think the author did a wonderful job of capturing the teenage struggles and views. Especially given the added stress of being 'orphaned'! It kept me very intrigued the entire time. Also, I love the nickname of "Seph" as I had not heard that one before. I did find one funny quote given a recent popular series....pg. 395: "What were you thinking...taking up with a vampire who sucks magic from innocent wizards?" You will have to read the book to find out what that comment is all about!

THE DRAGON HEIR:

The Wizard Heir left huge openings for this sequel, and (for now) final installment of The Heir Series! Again, no genealogical research and not even a big focus on weirbooks and such. BUT this one did focus on relationships as they are, now and in the past! With multiple generations playing their part in trying to save the Weir World, EVERYONE had something to do. Most of the responsibility fell upon the youngest generation to fight this great battle. You will have to read it to find out how it all ends and exactly who survives on ALL sides of the battle! I think the author did a wonderful job of letting the reader know and remember that although there is this whole Weir World with all of its powers, the characters are just human with all that entails. I do feel that the book ended well with slight openings and possibilities for future additions to this great series! For more information on this author and her works, visit her website: www.cindachima.com! A couple of quotes that caught my attention: pg 297: "Bats fluttered like black handkerchiefs among the trees at the edge of the clearing." AND pg 444:"There he hung silently like a bat in a cave..." It should be obvious why I like these quotes, but if you must, you can ask me.

The Camel Bookmobile BY Masha Hamilton

2008-10-17T02:41:00.007-06:00

I really enjoyed this book; it combined my love of libraries with a culture that honors its ancestry. Fiona Sweeney is a librarian in New York City who desires more than her world. She applies for and is accepted to be a consultant in a new venture in Africa, the camel bookmobile. I really liked that this book didn't linger too long on the African culture itself as some books I have read in the past. It did discuss it, but in just the right amount to not lose the readers attention. As Fiona continues on, the village of Mididima embeds itself on her heart. Specifically three people, Taban, Kanika and Matani are deeply affected by the Camel Bookmobile. This story carries with it the good, bad and possibly considered ugly effects of having change brought to peoples lives. Most people on this planet are happy in their own world, some would say ignorantly happy because they don't know anything different. Some don't want change in their lives because of this happiness and some just fear the unknown. And, in the end, sometimes we try to go back for what we once had only to find it is no longer there OR it is never the same. I would challenge each of us to look back on our lives at the changes we have experienced, the ones we have chosen and the ones placed upon us by others whose intention is only to improve our lives. Then take it a step further and look back at the lives of your parents, grandparents and beyond, what differences do you see, are they all for the better? Most specifically to the storyline of this book, what books have changed your life?

Quotes:

Pg 10: “Books are their future. A link to the modern world.”

Pg 61: “May you never forget what is worth remembering…and never remember what is best forgotten.”

Pg 62: “she felt embraced by those tall, narrow stacks; she felt nurtured in the library and supplied with information”

Besides the link in the title, you can also find more information at the following website: http://www.africanlibraryproject.org/

In looking at information on the internet about the above, I found that there is a similar system in Venezuela using Mules, see picture below:

Festival of Trees

2008-10-15T21:05:00.004-06:00

Tonuah is my sister and has given me permission to post the following to spread the word even farther:

We are donating a Christmas tree to the Festival of Trees benefiting the Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. We have chosen an NFL theme for our tree this year. We are asking for donations large or small. We need items such as NFL themed Christmas ornaments and other NFL themed decorations, items to place under the tree (i.e. footballs, blankets etc.) or money is always needed to help purchase any remaining items. Anything would be greatly appreciated.

If you choose to contribute please send your donations by the 15 November. You can mail any donations to:

Tonuah Proudfoot

c/o Festival of Trees

8527 S Cascade Springs Ln #711

West Jordan, UT84088

Any monetary donations please make checks payable to Tonuah Proudfoot and mail to the address above.

Every penny (100%) raised at Festival of Trees goes to provide medical care for children in need at Primary Children's Medical Center.

Thank you for supporting the Festival of Trees, a "Gift of Love" to children at Primary Children's Medical Center.

If you have any questions or concerns please call 801-884-2313 or email us at nflchristmas@q.com

Sincerely,Shaulynda Gines and Tonuah Proudfoot

Angel's going on and on....

2008-10-05T22:49:00.001-06:00

Yes, I know, you all expected a blog with my observations of this weekends General Conference....I will get there, but it will probably be a few days.

Right now, we are watching the CALIFORNIA ANGELS (yes, I know they changed their name, but I think it is dumb, so, there you go!) fighting to continue their 2008 season! They had a pretty amazing year, with 100 wins for the season, a first for this ball club! Only to end the season losing and continuing to choke in the first round of the playoffs! So, here Steve and I sit, game 3 vs Boston Red Sox in Boston, in extra innings. Yes, there is a little holding of the breath, on my part, when they let Boston get bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th, but luckily managed to get out of it fighting! While I am nervously awaiting the ANGELS to kick it up a notch and play THEIR game, I will tell you how I came to be an ANGELS fan...

I was always a baseball fan, don't know exactly how or why that came to be, but when I was a kid, I liked the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1982, we went to Anaheim for a family vacation, I'm sure you can see where this story is headed, but it is my blog, so I will tell the story how it goes anyway...We went to my Uncle Arvids house, who happens to live near Disneyland, and he had the Dodgers game on TV. The family all went out back to the patio to visit and such. I leaned on his little stairs next to the TV and was watching the game. My uncle came in for something and invited me to go out with them and even offered to change the channel on the TV, after all, I was just 11 years old (on to the 12th inning tonight, whew!) and a girl at that! My mom says Uncle Arvid went out to the patio with his jaw dropped and when asked why he said, "A GIRL that likes baseball?!!!" (yay, the ANGELS score, now to keep the Red Sox scoreless in the bottom half!!!) Needless to say, the next evening they all surprised me and took me to my first Major League Baseball game at Anaheim Stadium! I was hooked and have been a CALIFORNIA ANGELS fan ever since!

Ok, so back to reality, we are 2 outs away from winning this game 3 and continuing the season....1 out away.....AND NOW THEY HAVE DONE IT!!!! WHEW!!! YAY ANGELS!!!

Bunco, Bunko, Bonco, or Bonko

2008-10-04T02:12:00.003-06:00

Whatever you call it or however you spell it....

Thursday night was my first ever at Bunko! I had a blast! This was a very last minute event for my mom and I. Early that afternoon, my sister called me and invited us to be subs that night for her group. My mom has played as a sub a few times before and enjoyed it everytime. As said before, this was my first time. I have had several people try to explain how to play this with not much luck, but it was so very simple once I was there. I ended up with the prize for the last bunko of the night. With everything going on this year and this week, I really needed this night out and am very glad I took the time to spend with my mom, sister and her friends!

This group was all women and did dessert during the halftime break. I understand some groups are couples. Also, that some groups do dinner before and dessert at the half OR just dessert at the end. No matter how it is done, I am competitve and had a great time! This group of women were loads of fun, as usual, there was all types of people there from the overly exuberant to the overly inverted and everything in between! This group had 12, I understand some groups to have 16.

Needless to say, now that I've experienced this night of fun, if anyone ever needs a sub, I'll do what I can to be available...OR better yet, let's get our own little group going!

Into the Fire BY Jeffrey S Savage

2008-10-01T00:54:00.003-06:00

rating: 4 of 5 stars

KNOW YOUR ENEMY AND PROTECT THAT WHICH YOU DEEM MOST VALUABLE! what do you deem most valuable?

I have been meaning to read this book since May. I finally got to it this week. The timing was quite interesting as it leaves me with intense mixed emotions. This is a moving fictional story about a man who is left to be tested by Satan himself. This is a modern day story of Job. We are having some major struggles in our household right now and this book left me mixed on feeling like I am being similarly tested yet knowing that our situation really could be so much worse! I have had many dreams over the time that we've been having our major struggles this entire year, but they seemed to intensify while reading this book. Power of suggestion, maybe?! Overall things are gradually getting worse for us, I (as of right now) am still holding strong to my faith! It is one that can't easily be messed with! I will let the following quotes and thoughts from the book speak for themselves:

pg 112: "Fish aren't the only ones with scales. The world can place scales on a child's eyes sometimes, blinding them from seeing what's important in life. And it's not just children that can be blinded either. Nope, no one's immune to scales."

pg 185: "On this earth. You are here to experience, to learn. Somehow your generation has come up with this crazy notion that God is supposed to keep you from experiencing pain. You think that adversity is a punishment, instead of realizing that it is an opportunity. You are so busy trying not to get hurt that you miss the chance to grow ---"

pg 205: "...maybe the real message of the story is...we can't control what happens to us, be we CAN control what we do about it---what we learn from it."

This book openly leaves one to wonder at the reality of just how much those that have gone before come back to help us. Also, if we believe that is possible, do we open ourselves up for that help?! Things that make you go, HMMM....