Did I mention I do not like New Years? I think I am a curmudgeon, a grump, a bah humbug if you will! I don't like change. I don't want to get used to writing 2013 on checks-not that I write more than 8 checks in a year, but still! I didn't like watching self serving politicians decide if we could fall off a financial cliff- whew that was close, thank you oh wise ones for saving us...PUKE!! (as if we won't be right back on the precipice of that same stupid cliff in 2 months...SIGH!) I don't like how fast time seems to be rushing by. I don't want to be optimistic about the future and excited about the prospects. They are the same"prospects" I did last year. Work a lot, play a bit, eat too much, gain and lose the same 5 pounds over and over...feel like I am not accomplishing much, kind of flailing about, playing at being an adult and failing miserably. What is an adult anyway? New Years reflections are painful, and resolutions are hard and changing is just so tiring. I don't even know where to start changing or what to change and there's this nagging feeling that I should change something but there are too many things so it's easier to just maintain the status quot, curl up in a ball and eat more cookies. I do this thing where I put away the Christmas crud, little by little because that too is a chore, I continue to eat the Christmas goodies because you can't waste them and as soon as they are gone, I will start to eat correctly again and lose the fab 5, and I sort of keep stepping close to the New Year like it's a lump in the road covered by a blanket. I don't know what it is, it could be anything but do I really want to see what's under there? I have a good idea what's under there but I think it might be worse than I imagine. Leave the blanket on- then you don't have to deal with it.
Some people are just so darn excited to crawl under that blanket- thinking they can change the outcome of what's under there. I think I used to be one of them. But now I have a feeling of being swept along, not quite in control, powerless to change the lumps of life in the road. The lumps are bigger, they are getting meaner and I am getting old and tired. Where do you find the energy to fight life's road apples? Where do you get the will to shovel road kill?
The good thing is after living in the New Year a few weeks, wearing it around like a pair of new boots for awhile, breaking it in, realizing that it's a whole year until I have to do it again, somewhere, mostly by the grace of God, I perk up and get excited about life again. I guess there's a will to achieve something, even if I'm not sure what that something is. You feel all those lumps in the road but after awhile, they get old and flat and worn and more comfortable. So yeah, out with the old, in with the new I guess.
Problem is part of that "new" is going to be dealing with the death of my Mother. There I said it. That is one hard lump. I guess everyone has to go through this and I am no exception. But I don't really know how to do it right. Is there a right? Maybe I don't have to figure that out- It just is what it is. Where did that saying come from? I seem to be using it more and more, as if it explains everything. What it is...is, as my Mom put it, just a stupid thing. She makes me laugh.
So Happy freaken New Year, folks. Don't worry, I'll be back to me old self soon. What do they say? You can't keep a good man down? They also say before you judge someone, walk a mile in his shoes. Good advise- cause if that guy gets mad, he'll be a mile away and you've got his shoes! Aren't "THEY" smart! And as Charlie Brown (or should I say Charles Schultz) said...I am only going to dread one day at a time! One last piece of sage wisdom to get me through... this one by Mark Twain- one of my favorites...I've suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened. SO I shant be borrowing 2013 troubles just yet. And look- there are still more cookies! yipee...see. I am cheerier already.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Sunday, December 9, 2012
2012 Christmas card-
HI all- This is the lazy mans (or woman's) way of sending a Christmas card: Sorry it's a bit silly but ppfff- what do you expect- I am NOT a poet! Wishing all friends and family a very Merry Christmas and may the Lords blessings reach you all!
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Twas the night before Christmas, well, a few weeks before,
Family letter’s not done, but who cares, they’re a bore.
I’ll recap the year,
and hope that you care
Getting all this to rhyme will sure be a bear
I’ve mastered some photo shop but still there are gaps
And maybe someday I will learn to use aps
Selling art in this down time is really quite hard
But it still pays the bills, with the help of a card
Kurt’s life is settled but not very stunning
Except while at work with his weekly drug running
He’s a whiz with computers and helps with my work
And keeps us all laughing, which is always a perk.
Grandpa Stew
baby-sits quite a lot, but I’ve found
He’s becoming quite deaf because of the sound
Without all his help, I don’t know what I’d do
You can see for our family that Stew is the glue
Whitney works as a nurse helping others get better
Making things for her house, she’s such a go-getter
She serves in her ward and she’s raising three boys
With the help of her Dad and his millions of toys
Roman’s in first grade, at school the whole day
We’re hoping that reading will click in some way
He’s such a good brother being oldest and all
He plays with his siblings and his friends when they call
Finn goes to pre school, by himself… well, almost
Whit leaves after pealing him off like a ghost
But he’s such a great boy, he’ll figure it out
And then we’ll all wonder what the fuss was about
And Oscar’s just happy to play with his cars
In his own little world with his head in the stars
Wiggles and Blues Clues keep him content
He’s the end of the line, till the next one is sent
Brad’s working two jobs, carpentry and he’ll teach
As a sub for the schools. That’s no day at the beach!
With young men as a calling which he loves quite a lot
There are boys in his ward who are very well taught
The Munchkins in Calgary, in their ward they are thriving
Now if we could just get that boy to start driving!
Paige captions at home, fast fingers and brain
Eric’s temping for Husky, permanence he’ll soon gain
I’ve come to the end, and if you're confused
Because of the grammar that I have abused
Just know we are fine,
loving life and each other
Prayers for you and the world and especially our Mother
Her life has been full but it’s time for a rest
She’ll go back to God cause she’s mastered this test
We know we will be with her after this life
And dad will again reunite with his wife
So for now, with our Savior, we’ll all celebrate
His birth and his life, giving thanks on this date
Putting trust
in the Lord we’ll continue the fight
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
I do NOT heart Cafe Rio
I know, I'm the only person in the whole wide world who doesn't LOVE and pine away for Cafe Rio. When last in Salt Lake City, Whitney, who would sell her first, second, and last born child to eat there, made us go to said dreaded restaurant. Not once, but TWICE. Two times the aggravation and assault on the ears, senses and taste buds! Well, it's not horrible food, (unless you make the mistake of ordering the fish taco, which sounded good on the sign and I love fish so in my ignorance thought it sounded good. Note: to those of you thinking "who orders a fish taco?" and "you got what you deserved," let me explain myself. I always watch the food channel, why I don't know because 1-it makes me hungry, and 2- the fish tacos people are having food conniptions over look sooo yummy, but they don't exist. They never seem to materialize, no matter where I try to find them. On the Cafe Rio sign it said fresh fish with coleslaw...NOT! The fish was not fresh and it was salmon. I could stay home and get salmon! SALMON is the only freaking fish they have in Canada! And coleslaw? This is the same dang lettuce you shovel on everything else in here, dag nab it, who are you trying to kid???!!!)
Back to why I hate Cafe Rio...
First of all you have to stand in line for an entire lifetime. To be fair, the first trip wasn't as bad because it was 2:30 in the afternoon and the "lunch crowd" had thinned considerably, so our wait wasn't too long, but long enough for me to read the menu and come up with fish taco. Actually, I am going to forget about the first trip, I have sort of blocked it out- it was a disaster...so I am going to give you an account of the second trip into hell on earth.
We waited just inside the door at the back of the line for literally 45 minutes. It wasn't too bad because we didn't have any hungry children to entertain (can you imagine???!!!) I was lucky enough to have my sis in law and Paige with me so the time passed by quite nicely. BUT 45 MINUTES? for this abuse???
The lady behind the glass that I am too short to see over says "Ihepya?"
I cleverly deduce that this must be where I give my order because you have to begin somewhere and this is as good a place as any. Because I took 2 years of Jr. Highschool Spanish, I will now translate for you. Ihepya translated means "good evening, I am sorry for the long wait, but Id be pleased as punch to take your order now." Isn't it funny how such a short word in a foreign language translates? And vise versa: In Japanese, domo arigato gozimass (sp?)translates to "thanks". Awe the intricacies and nuances of human verbal interactions. The art of communication! a pox on ....I digress.
Well after 45 minutes I still know only one thing...no fish taco. I don't know what I want because it all looks the same to me. Burrito, enchilada, casadilla, tostada... it all looks like a pile of lettuce.
Me-"I'll have the taco salad please." Why confuse the lady- it's all taco salad.
BLAM- tortilla slammed in a tin foil bowl. Now comes the hard part.
Taco Nazi-"backapino?"
Me-"pardon me?
Taco Nazi-"BACAPINO????" Dang-I got nuthin! I rise up on my tippy toes as high as I can and peer over the wall, hoping to maybe SEE what she's saying. She has her dripping spoon clutched tightly in her hand and I know if I don't say something in the next 1.4 seconds she's going to hit me with it. I search my brain trying to remember my 2 years of Jr. High Spanish but for the life of me, I can't recall bacapino. I do know that sometimes the "N" in pronounced ENYAY. Back-o pinyo? that can't be right. Biblioteca? Nope- that means library. Not entirely sure, but I don't think that's on the menu. I look at Paige for help. PPFFF! she's 5 foot tall, she can't even begin to see over the wall. I look desperately to the Nazi for a clue and she yells it even louder. OOOOH the volume helps!!! Black or pinto! "Black please." BLAM! drippy black beans are slammed onto the tortilla and then she says"rize?"
Me -Pardon me? (this is getting to be a habit)
Nazi- "RIZE?" Again with the volume- They must think I'm deaf. There are 400 people in there and it is kind of hard to hear. Rize- I comply- tip toes- not much help but the spoon is shaking in her hand so I figure what difference does it make, it's some kind of food and it's probably ok so I mutter yes please.
Balm- rice it hurled unceremoniously on top of the now runny gooey black mass. OHHHH, RICE! She glares at me, shoves my salad down the line and I am onto the next nazi. Darn it, I was just starting to understand her. We had something going. A pithy conversation, she and I. Oh well, I am nothing but resilient, so I move down the line, girding my loins for the next test.
Nazi-"meed?" Shoot. One word, this should be easy.
Me- "pardon me?"
Nazi-"MEEEEED!" Again with the yelling and again with the tip toes. There are pans of "stuff" and her claw is racing around over the top of them. Hmmmmmm .I eek out "yes please?"
Nazi with one very angry eyebrow-" whakinemeedyowand??"
Think Carol- what's in a taco salad? Taco- meat MEED! CHICKEN!! I want chicken. I am very proud of myself now, but it doesn't last for long.
Second nazi proceeds with a string of totally illegible ingredients, one of which is sheese. You said it lady, SHEEEESH! Wait no I hate sheese, no sheese! Leedus? Not into temptation? yes please. Note: The amount of lettuce they hurl on your salad, taco, or enchilada is directionally proportionate to the size of your head and shoulders- how they know that size is beyond me because you are by now cowering behind the glass wall mumbling please, for the love of all that is holy, just put on what ever you would eat. Whitney has given me orders that she wants shredded lettuce, not chopped.......Yeah that's not going to happen- you're getting whatever the heck kind of leedus the nazi gives you, girlfriend!! I come away with salsa and who the heck knows what else but I am adamant that I want those little strips of hard taco shells on top of this mess. Who says there are not miracles in the last days? I tell her to put the hard little taco strips on top please. She does! I am cooking with gas now- I've got this mastered!! "dresin?" Pride goeth before the fall. Oh what fresh hell is this?
I fall back on my regular- "Pardon me?" "DRESIN?" as in you dumb, deaf ignorant gringo, Dresin DRESIN!!!! Salad dressing! Yes please. One eyebrow. WHHHHHHakine? OH. Whitney has given me very strick orders- Lime cilantro dressing. That's the part that makes all this eatable! Me-"Lime cilantro please." bang bam slam in the bag, pay your pesos and we are OUTTA HERE!!!!
I am wondering how my Canadian husband got through that gauntlet so unscathed. I ask him how he managed this. "I don't care what they are saying I just tell them what I want." SIGH. Well that might have been good to know an hour ago!!!
So we get home, through 2 feet of slush and snow and miles of traffic, with our piles of soggy lettuce, with who the heck knows what's under it, but hey, I got the hard little taco strips on top so I am deliriously happy, ecstatic beyond belief so get ready to go into gastronomic Nirvana people!!!! and we discover to our utter displeasure and dismay ust h(slight understatement) they have NOT given us lime cilantro dressing. Instead we have some oil on the top, dark green glop on the bottom goo that has congealed and doesn't smell very nice, and Whitney is furious. That's the best paaaaart, she wails . Yeah, I know- that's what makes the lettuce taste good. I refuse to go back. It is snowing and has been snowing for 3 days. I will not go back there for that abuse a third time. I look at the green crud and think to myself just pour it on, close your eyes and eat it! My sister in law, who is the kindest soul on the planet takes Whitney back to hell and retrieves the correct dressing. Just how they did that is still a mystery and will forever be a mystery to me. Just one of those things that you have to take on faith. I know they gave me the WRONG dressing to spite my ignorant, spanish illiterate self.
I do NOT heart Cafe Rio!!!! I could have gone to Cowboy Grub and had a lovely scone with honey and butter! Hey, maybe they have hooneyantbadder at Cafe Rio and I could have that on a tortilla.
I'll suggest that nestime I am drug to that place. I got news for ya.... NEVER AGAIN!!!!
Back to why I hate Cafe Rio...
First of all you have to stand in line for an entire lifetime. To be fair, the first trip wasn't as bad because it was 2:30 in the afternoon and the "lunch crowd" had thinned considerably, so our wait wasn't too long, but long enough for me to read the menu and come up with fish taco. Actually, I am going to forget about the first trip, I have sort of blocked it out- it was a disaster...so I am going to give you an account of the second trip into hell on earth.
We waited just inside the door at the back of the line for literally 45 minutes. It wasn't too bad because we didn't have any hungry children to entertain (can you imagine???!!!) I was lucky enough to have my sis in law and Paige with me so the time passed by quite nicely. BUT 45 MINUTES? for this abuse???
The lady behind the glass that I am too short to see over says "Ihepya?"
I cleverly deduce that this must be where I give my order because you have to begin somewhere and this is as good a place as any. Because I took 2 years of Jr. Highschool Spanish, I will now translate for you. Ihepya translated means "good evening, I am sorry for the long wait, but Id be pleased as punch to take your order now." Isn't it funny how such a short word in a foreign language translates? And vise versa: In Japanese, domo arigato gozimass (sp?)translates to "thanks". Awe the intricacies and nuances of human verbal interactions. The art of communication! a pox on ....I digress.
Well after 45 minutes I still know only one thing...no fish taco. I don't know what I want because it all looks the same to me. Burrito, enchilada, casadilla, tostada... it all looks like a pile of lettuce.
Me-"I'll have the taco salad please." Why confuse the lady- it's all taco salad.
BLAM- tortilla slammed in a tin foil bowl. Now comes the hard part.
Taco Nazi-"backapino?"
Me-"pardon me?
Taco Nazi-"BACAPINO????" Dang-I got nuthin! I rise up on my tippy toes as high as I can and peer over the wall, hoping to maybe SEE what she's saying. She has her dripping spoon clutched tightly in her hand and I know if I don't say something in the next 1.4 seconds she's going to hit me with it. I search my brain trying to remember my 2 years of Jr. High Spanish but for the life of me, I can't recall bacapino. I do know that sometimes the "N" in pronounced ENYAY. Back-o pinyo? that can't be right. Biblioteca? Nope- that means library. Not entirely sure, but I don't think that's on the menu. I look at Paige for help. PPFFF! she's 5 foot tall, she can't even begin to see over the wall. I look desperately to the Nazi for a clue and she yells it even louder. OOOOH the volume helps!!! Black or pinto! "Black please." BLAM! drippy black beans are slammed onto the tortilla and then she says"rize?"
Me -Pardon me? (this is getting to be a habit)
Nazi- "RIZE?" Again with the volume- They must think I'm deaf. There are 400 people in there and it is kind of hard to hear. Rize- I comply- tip toes- not much help but the spoon is shaking in her hand so I figure what difference does it make, it's some kind of food and it's probably ok so I mutter yes please.
Balm- rice it hurled unceremoniously on top of the now runny gooey black mass. OHHHH, RICE! She glares at me, shoves my salad down the line and I am onto the next nazi. Darn it, I was just starting to understand her. We had something going. A pithy conversation, she and I. Oh well, I am nothing but resilient, so I move down the line, girding my loins for the next test.
Nazi-"meed?" Shoot. One word, this should be easy.
Me- "pardon me?"
Nazi-"MEEEEED!" Again with the yelling and again with the tip toes. There are pans of "stuff" and her claw is racing around over the top of them. Hmmmmmm .I eek out "yes please?"
Nazi with one very angry eyebrow-" whakinemeedyowand??"
Think Carol- what's in a taco salad? Taco- meat MEED! CHICKEN!! I want chicken. I am very proud of myself now, but it doesn't last for long.
Second nazi proceeds with a string of totally illegible ingredients, one of which is sheese. You said it lady, SHEEEESH! Wait no I hate sheese, no sheese! Leedus? Not into temptation? yes please. Note: The amount of lettuce they hurl on your salad, taco, or enchilada is directionally proportionate to the size of your head and shoulders- how they know that size is beyond me because you are by now cowering behind the glass wall mumbling please, for the love of all that is holy, just put on what ever you would eat. Whitney has given me orders that she wants shredded lettuce, not chopped.......Yeah that's not going to happen- you're getting whatever the heck kind of leedus the nazi gives you, girlfriend!! I come away with salsa and who the heck knows what else but I am adamant that I want those little strips of hard taco shells on top of this mess. Who says there are not miracles in the last days? I tell her to put the hard little taco strips on top please. She does! I am cooking with gas now- I've got this mastered!! "dresin?" Pride goeth before the fall. Oh what fresh hell is this?
I fall back on my regular- "Pardon me?" "DRESIN?" as in you dumb, deaf ignorant gringo, Dresin DRESIN!!!! Salad dressing! Yes please. One eyebrow. WHHHHHHakine? OH. Whitney has given me very strick orders- Lime cilantro dressing. That's the part that makes all this eatable! Me-"Lime cilantro please." bang bam slam in the bag, pay your pesos and we are OUTTA HERE!!!!
I am wondering how my Canadian husband got through that gauntlet so unscathed. I ask him how he managed this. "I don't care what they are saying I just tell them what I want." SIGH. Well that might have been good to know an hour ago!!!
So we get home, through 2 feet of slush and snow and miles of traffic, with our piles of soggy lettuce, with who the heck knows what's under it, but hey, I got the hard little taco strips on top so I am deliriously happy, ecstatic beyond belief so get ready to go into gastronomic Nirvana people!!!! and we discover to our utter displeasure and dismay ust h(slight understatement) they have NOT given us lime cilantro dressing. Instead we have some oil on the top, dark green glop on the bottom goo that has congealed and doesn't smell very nice, and Whitney is furious. That's the best paaaaart, she wails . Yeah, I know- that's what makes the lettuce taste good. I refuse to go back. It is snowing and has been snowing for 3 days. I will not go back there for that abuse a third time. I look at the green crud and think to myself just pour it on, close your eyes and eat it! My sister in law, who is the kindest soul on the planet takes Whitney back to hell and retrieves the correct dressing. Just how they did that is still a mystery and will forever be a mystery to me. Just one of those things that you have to take on faith. I know they gave me the WRONG dressing to spite my ignorant, spanish illiterate self.
I do NOT heart Cafe Rio!!!! I could have gone to Cowboy Grub and had a lovely scone with honey and butter! Hey, maybe they have hooneyantbadder at Cafe Rio and I could have that on a tortilla.
I'll suggest that nestime I am drug to that place. I got news for ya.... NEVER AGAIN!!!!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
10 on Tuesday
Hmmm -skipped a few Tuesdays I see. ho hum.
1. Just got back from a trip with the entire family (minus Kurt, dag nab it-see #2) to Salt Lake City. We picked such an opportune time to travel...NOT! Freezing rain, followed by 2 feet of wet snow, creeping along at 40 klicks-that's kilometers for you American folk, up hill traffic came to a standstill on a mountain side outside of Helena, Montana, with both Paige and I doing the pee pee dance- Oh my lanta! 13 hours of frosty frozen fun.
2. Kurt was going to fly down the day after we went but the roads were so bad they opened and closed them off and on all day. Good thing because he ended up in the ditch. An angel showed up instantly(I am not kidding, where did this guy come from) with not one but two shovels and dug Kurt out. I told him to turn around and go home. SO he missed all the family fun and we missed him, but oh well, what ya gonna do when you live in a shoe???
3. We went down to visit my Mom. She was diagnosed with multiple cancers and given 2 months to live. This is not going to be a winter I will want to remember. But it was so good that she met all of her new great grandsons, whom she had never met with the exception of Roman. She did see him once when he was 6 months old. And my parents got to finally meet Eric, their newest grandson in law. Poor Eric was force fed ice cream and thrown into the deep end with half of the Davis clan- Sink or swim buddy!!!
4. We had a breakfast at my brothers house. 24 adults, 9 and 8.9/9th kids (Lindsay was in labor off and on throughout the day-yikes!) and 4 dogs. We had a marvelous time!! Sometimes its better to not know what you are missing... now I miss my family sooooo much!
5. We stayed with a friend of mine who I have known most of my life. Michele and her family made us so welcome- they opened their home and hearts to us and Scott made bacon at 10 pm for Paige. Paige has a new BFF!!!The snow was insane! We had to move broken tree branches to get in and out of the lane that they live on but it was absolutely breath taking! Beautiful! We all decided to move in for good.....just kidding Scott!
6. I am not going to talk about the election. Except to say once shame on him, twice shame on you!!! I do think that Mitt Romney is a good man and it would have been nice to see if he could make a difference for the country. I believe he was put there to make people accountable for their choices. It's just sad that everyone will be brought down in the process.
7. Back to work- pumped out two fun photo shop pieces this morning, sent them to New York and poooof! I love to hear "send us the files" No revisions, no tweaking. AWESOME! I called them "Flower Power"- Kind of a throw back to the 60's I suppose.
8. Before we left for Salt Lake, we said good bye to my niece, Gina Zilke. She died at the age of 41. Way too young! She had cancer..I am sensing a pattern which I really do not like. Why is it we can put men in space but we can't figure out how to do away with this horrid, insipid disease? My good friend Peggy Gurney is in the hospital with a second bout of it and another sweet friend's husband Don is fighting his second go round. Another friend has fought it back for the third time and she is doing well, which I am grateful for. Cancer reaches out and destroys each and every family at one time or another. It is all around me right now and I feel helpless in it's path. I do NOT heart cancer!!!
9. I am feeling like life is accelerating in some way, that things are coming to a head and there's going to be some very rocky times ahead for all of us. It makes me stop and wonder if I am prepared. I am betting that I am not as prepared as I should or could be. This next few months will be very challenging. I am thankful for my knowledge of a loving God who knows us all personally and who sees the big picture. Now more than ever we need to trust in him. That's all we may have to get us through.
10. BUT...right now I'm going to go split some heads at hockey! Too much doom and gloom is NOT good for the soul!
1. Just got back from a trip with the entire family (minus Kurt, dag nab it-see #2) to Salt Lake City. We picked such an opportune time to travel...NOT! Freezing rain, followed by 2 feet of wet snow, creeping along at 40 klicks-that's kilometers for you American folk, up hill traffic came to a standstill on a mountain side outside of Helena, Montana, with both Paige and I doing the pee pee dance- Oh my lanta! 13 hours of frosty frozen fun.
2. Kurt was going to fly down the day after we went but the roads were so bad they opened and closed them off and on all day. Good thing because he ended up in the ditch. An angel showed up instantly(I am not kidding, where did this guy come from) with not one but two shovels and dug Kurt out. I told him to turn around and go home. SO he missed all the family fun and we missed him, but oh well, what ya gonna do when you live in a shoe???
3. We went down to visit my Mom. She was diagnosed with multiple cancers and given 2 months to live. This is not going to be a winter I will want to remember. But it was so good that she met all of her new great grandsons, whom she had never met with the exception of Roman. She did see him once when he was 6 months old. And my parents got to finally meet Eric, their newest grandson in law. Poor Eric was force fed ice cream and thrown into the deep end with half of the Davis clan- Sink or swim buddy!!!
4. We had a breakfast at my brothers house. 24 adults, 9 and 8.9/9th kids (Lindsay was in labor off and on throughout the day-yikes!) and 4 dogs. We had a marvelous time!! Sometimes its better to not know what you are missing... now I miss my family sooooo much!
5. We stayed with a friend of mine who I have known most of my life. Michele and her family made us so welcome- they opened their home and hearts to us and Scott made bacon at 10 pm for Paige. Paige has a new BFF!!!The snow was insane! We had to move broken tree branches to get in and out of the lane that they live on but it was absolutely breath taking! Beautiful! We all decided to move in for good.....just kidding Scott!
6. I am not going to talk about the election. Except to say once shame on him, twice shame on you!!! I do think that Mitt Romney is a good man and it would have been nice to see if he could make a difference for the country. I believe he was put there to make people accountable for their choices. It's just sad that everyone will be brought down in the process.
7. Back to work- pumped out two fun photo shop pieces this morning, sent them to New York and poooof! I love to hear "send us the files" No revisions, no tweaking. AWESOME! I called them "Flower Power"- Kind of a throw back to the 60's I suppose.
9. I am feeling like life is accelerating in some way, that things are coming to a head and there's going to be some very rocky times ahead for all of us. It makes me stop and wonder if I am prepared. I am betting that I am not as prepared as I should or could be. This next few months will be very challenging. I am thankful for my knowledge of a loving God who knows us all personally and who sees the big picture. Now more than ever we need to trust in him. That's all we may have to get us through.
10. BUT...right now I'm going to go split some heads at hockey! Too much doom and gloom is NOT good for the soul!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
10 on Tuesday! Huzzah!!!
Tis Tue-ezzz DAY! Time for 10 random yet intellectually stimulating thoughts from MUA!
1. I am sitting here at my computer and I look over yonder on my desk and perched there is a HUGE moth, with antlers- they even curl! DANG!
2. Poor little Finny Bean started pre- school today. Finster has issues- mostly huge separation anxiety issues. Stewie will babysit Oscar so that Whitney can go with Finn until he gets the hang of this. He's never been able to go to nursery or Primary by himself. This is going to be hardest on his Mom I think. Pray for Whitney and Finn!!
3. I saw a good quote today- it said "what we allow is what will continue"...think about it...Wait for it...here it comes.....get ready....AND Shazam....if we allow that nincompoop to stay in the white house, the insanity will continue!!! Period.
4. Paige and Eric are living in Calgary- just 2 1/2 hours away. AWESOME. But even better is Whitney and Brad and the 3 bears/boys are 2 1/2 BLOCKS away. Life is grand and glorious!
5. Good golly Miss Molly I am 23 years at this job and still they want more wine!!!MORE WINE! Apparently folks like this kind of stuff- who knew...well I did because I paint a kicken lot of it. But come on, can we not get out of that box already. Yeah- I need some cheese to go with my "whine." SIGH. Finished this one today. yippee skippy.
6. I have the attention span of a gnat. I don't like it, but I am not sure what to do about it. Seems like I can't focus my thoughts on any one thing for more that a half a minute, tops. Even as I am typing this very thought my eyes are inspecting the moose moth on my desk and he has really cool wings. Should I touch him? He's actually standing on his tiny moth feet. Meh- on to the next thought...
7. We went back to the lake to bring the trailer home. I water skied so many times around that lake Friday and Saturday that on Sunday I was sitting in church wondering why my head felt like someone had whacked it with a tire iron. Hmmm. And because, as I said, my attention span is shorter than a baby toe, and because the speaker sounded exactly like the Dad in "Forget Paris"...Yoooouuuuuuu aaaasked for it, yooooouuuu gooot it, Tooooooooyota" kind of slow, drawn out and nasally- I just couldn't stay with the guy, I tried but nope. SO I amused myself by counting exactly how many trips around the lake I had made......22. Yup, my neck muscles were a tad on the tired side and they were telling my head to pound away like a hyperactive kid with a new drum set. OUCH! Is there any combination more exquisitely excruciating than a dry church speaker and a wicked headache? I think not.
8. I am trying to decide if I am brave enough to ride my street bike instead of a mountain bike on the annual Logan Pass bike hike this Thursday. Can I handle the skinny tires at 40 MPR? Speed or stability?? Hmmmmmm. What say you?
9. My house is soooooo neglected. After 3 months away, it looks like Pig Pen was house sitting, with his little clouds of cartoon dust wafting here and about. Possibly the dragon sized moth lived here for awhile too.....do I dare touch....well what the heck do you know...dragon moose moth lived and DIED here. He's quite perfectly preserved! Sheeeeesh- time to clean the freaken house!
10. I dislike house cleaning ever so!
1. I am sitting here at my computer and I look over yonder on my desk and perched there is a HUGE moth, with antlers- they even curl! DANG!
2. Poor little Finny Bean started pre- school today. Finster has issues- mostly huge separation anxiety issues. Stewie will babysit Oscar so that Whitney can go with Finn until he gets the hang of this. He's never been able to go to nursery or Primary by himself. This is going to be hardest on his Mom I think. Pray for Whitney and Finn!!
3. I saw a good quote today- it said "what we allow is what will continue"...think about it...Wait for it...here it comes.....get ready....AND Shazam....if we allow that nincompoop to stay in the white house, the insanity will continue!!! Period.
4. Paige and Eric are living in Calgary- just 2 1/2 hours away. AWESOME. But even better is Whitney and Brad and the 3 bears/boys are 2 1/2 BLOCKS away. Life is grand and glorious!
5. Good golly Miss Molly I am 23 years at this job and still they want more wine!!!MORE WINE! Apparently folks like this kind of stuff- who knew...well I did because I paint a kicken lot of it. But come on, can we not get out of that box already. Yeah- I need some cheese to go with my "whine." SIGH. Finished this one today. yippee skippy.
7. We went back to the lake to bring the trailer home. I water skied so many times around that lake Friday and Saturday that on Sunday I was sitting in church wondering why my head felt like someone had whacked it with a tire iron. Hmmm. And because, as I said, my attention span is shorter than a baby toe, and because the speaker sounded exactly like the Dad in "Forget Paris"...Yoooouuuuuuu aaaasked for it, yooooouuuu gooot it, Tooooooooyota" kind of slow, drawn out and nasally- I just couldn't stay with the guy, I tried but nope. SO I amused myself by counting exactly how many trips around the lake I had made......22. Yup, my neck muscles were a tad on the tired side and they were telling my head to pound away like a hyperactive kid with a new drum set. OUCH! Is there any combination more exquisitely excruciating than a dry church speaker and a wicked headache? I think not.
8. I am trying to decide if I am brave enough to ride my street bike instead of a mountain bike on the annual Logan Pass bike hike this Thursday. Can I handle the skinny tires at 40 MPR? Speed or stability?? Hmmmmmm. What say you?
9. My house is soooooo neglected. After 3 months away, it looks like Pig Pen was house sitting, with his little clouds of cartoon dust wafting here and about. Possibly the dragon sized moth lived here for awhile too.....do I dare touch....well what the heck do you know...dragon moose moth lived and DIED here. He's quite perfectly preserved! Sheeeeesh- time to clean the freaken house!
10. I dislike house cleaning ever so!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Back at it!
Well the summer is over, the leaves are changing and I am back hard at it. What "it" is I am not quite sure...work, home, life. We will be going back to the lake to drag all of our paraphernalia home, which is a 2 trip endeavor. HATE this part! Sigh. But the boat is still there and so is my full body wet suit! whoot whoot! All is not lost!
This past week, a very good brother in my Raymond ward/congregation, who I respected and admired very much, was painting his house, and for what ever reason, he fell off the ladder and died. When I heard this awful news I first rejected it and said no that is not possible, that can't be true, maybe you heard wrong. Did you get the name right? That's not right! Then it sinks in and your stomach goes completely hollow. Kind of a buzzing fills your ears and your mind just can not wrap itself around the fact that this wonderful man is gone. You won't see him at church and laugh and talk with him about your life or work with him in a calling ever again. Now can I just preface this next comment with the stages of grief cause I have been through them a few times and unfortunately I always get to the anger one at the worst possible moment, but that's where I am tonight- in the anger phase. I did shock and denial, I did pain, but now I am in the anger, bargaining stage. Mad that such a wonderful human being is gone and mad that there are really crummy people still here- Let's make a deal, take so and so instead....OH MY GOSH DID I JUST SAY THAT OUT LOUD??? Yup, I did. But at least I am honest about it. Do I get credit for that?
But that is the hard part. Accepting that there are good and not so good folk all over this world and we don't get to choose when who goes and who stays. GOOD THING, EH! If we got to choose each others exit dates, I'd be long gone. Folks would have given up on me years ago. Hmmm- maybe that is why the good die young. They got it right and did what they were supposed to do and learned what they were supposed to learn so they get to blow this popsicle stand and go on to bigger and better things? The rest of us still have some learning and growing to do? Is it a test for us? Does it strengthen our faith? All of the above? I think that when I get mad because someone I love dies it's mostly me being mad at me. Mad that I don't take more time to know people better, and now they are gone and you blew your chances- well not entirely in this case, I did get to know this fine man, but mostly in a church setting. I should have been on more personal terms and dang it now there's no time left for that! Angry! Mad that I don't do all the things I know I should do, that he did. Mad that it seems so unfair but if we could see the big picture, we'd understand, but darn it we just have to go by faith and hope. Can't we just see a corner of the big picture? Just a peak? Maybe we do and we don't always realize it. Do we realize that big picture and see we aren't fitting into it very well? oh dear, look at me in that big big picture- I am falling off a cliff! Barely hanging on to a tree branch, or maybe I am just standing there dazed and confused, deer in the headlights. Or shooting my mouth of yet again! Do not pass go, turn around, go back and get it right, dummy! That would be mua!
Can you even imagine what this would be like for people who don't know that there is life after this??? SHOOT, WE SHOULD BE TELLING THEM!!!
But oh no that's scary. They'll think I am nuts, one of those crazy Mormons with Mitt Romney ideas! Guess what...I am mad the world won't listen. Then I get mad and say well serves them right. I warned you I was in the anger phase, didn't I gggrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Thankfully this "mad" stage always passes, quite quickly I have found ( thanks to the teachings of my Mormon faith by the way!) and then there's a bit of a reflection stage, which is also where I am tonight- thus the incoherent ramblings you see before you.
I am reflecting on life, death, good, bad, heaven, and earth and all that goes on behind the scenes in all those places that we haven't the slightest inkling of. We don't know what goes on in other peoples lives. That's why you try really hard not to judge- it's hard but I am slowly making progress there. I slip up...lot's... but I am at least more aware of it now, aware that it's harmful and unproductive. We don't know what makes a person "good" or "bad" so we don't get to bargain and say take that guy and leave us Mark. Seriously, God would that be so bad? Did you need him that badly? Apparently, yes he does. You got a good one, God. I know I am not supposed to judge, but yep, I'm just going to go out on a limb here and say that Mark's a good one!
We then have to get to the working through stages which unfortunately for his family will take a long time. For the rest of us, we get over it a bit sooner. We aren't faced with it day in and day out. That's the heartbreaking thing tonight though. You know, empathy is really a bummer sometimes!
But thankfully, though be it at different times, we will all come to the acceptance and hope stage of grief, the last stage, because that is what we do as people of faith. We accept and hope to be reunited after this life.
Guess what world. I know I will see my friends and family again. They are with their friends and family who died before them. I know that because I have had a personal witness that this is the way it is! Because Our Savior Jesus Christ died for us so that we could be resurrected and live again. You can take that to the bank...or not- your choice, but you can't say I didn't tell you, cause I just did!!!
Rest in peace Mark (Allyskin) Ellingson. Pfff... that guys not resting, believe me- he's working and working hard! You go Mark!!!
This past week, a very good brother in my Raymond ward/congregation, who I respected and admired very much, was painting his house, and for what ever reason, he fell off the ladder and died. When I heard this awful news I first rejected it and said no that is not possible, that can't be true, maybe you heard wrong. Did you get the name right? That's not right! Then it sinks in and your stomach goes completely hollow. Kind of a buzzing fills your ears and your mind just can not wrap itself around the fact that this wonderful man is gone. You won't see him at church and laugh and talk with him about your life or work with him in a calling ever again. Now can I just preface this next comment with the stages of grief cause I have been through them a few times and unfortunately I always get to the anger one at the worst possible moment, but that's where I am tonight- in the anger phase. I did shock and denial, I did pain, but now I am in the anger, bargaining stage. Mad that such a wonderful human being is gone and mad that there are really crummy people still here- Let's make a deal, take so and so instead....OH MY GOSH DID I JUST SAY THAT OUT LOUD??? Yup, I did. But at least I am honest about it. Do I get credit for that?
But that is the hard part. Accepting that there are good and not so good folk all over this world and we don't get to choose when who goes and who stays. GOOD THING, EH! If we got to choose each others exit dates, I'd be long gone. Folks would have given up on me years ago. Hmmm- maybe that is why the good die young. They got it right and did what they were supposed to do and learned what they were supposed to learn so they get to blow this popsicle stand and go on to bigger and better things? The rest of us still have some learning and growing to do? Is it a test for us? Does it strengthen our faith? All of the above? I think that when I get mad because someone I love dies it's mostly me being mad at me. Mad that I don't take more time to know people better, and now they are gone and you blew your chances- well not entirely in this case, I did get to know this fine man, but mostly in a church setting. I should have been on more personal terms and dang it now there's no time left for that! Angry! Mad that I don't do all the things I know I should do, that he did. Mad that it seems so unfair but if we could see the big picture, we'd understand, but darn it we just have to go by faith and hope. Can't we just see a corner of the big picture? Just a peak? Maybe we do and we don't always realize it. Do we realize that big picture and see we aren't fitting into it very well? oh dear, look at me in that big big picture- I am falling off a cliff! Barely hanging on to a tree branch, or maybe I am just standing there dazed and confused, deer in the headlights. Or shooting my mouth of yet again! Do not pass go, turn around, go back and get it right, dummy! That would be mua!
Can you even imagine what this would be like for people who don't know that there is life after this??? SHOOT, WE SHOULD BE TELLING THEM!!!
Thankfully this "mad" stage always passes, quite quickly I have found ( thanks to the teachings of my Mormon faith by the way!) and then there's a bit of a reflection stage, which is also where I am tonight- thus the incoherent ramblings you see before you.
I am reflecting on life, death, good, bad, heaven, and earth and all that goes on behind the scenes in all those places that we haven't the slightest inkling of. We don't know what goes on in other peoples lives. That's why you try really hard not to judge- it's hard but I am slowly making progress there. I slip up...lot's... but I am at least more aware of it now, aware that it's harmful and unproductive. We don't know what makes a person "good" or "bad" so we don't get to bargain and say take that guy and leave us Mark. Seriously, God would that be so bad? Did you need him that badly? Apparently, yes he does. You got a good one, God. I know I am not supposed to judge, but yep, I'm just going to go out on a limb here and say that Mark's a good one!
We then have to get to the working through stages which unfortunately for his family will take a long time. For the rest of us, we get over it a bit sooner. We aren't faced with it day in and day out. That's the heartbreaking thing tonight though. You know, empathy is really a bummer sometimes!
But thankfully, though be it at different times, we will all come to the acceptance and hope stage of grief, the last stage, because that is what we do as people of faith. We accept and hope to be reunited after this life.
Guess what world. I know I will see my friends and family again. They are with their friends and family who died before them. I know that because I have had a personal witness that this is the way it is! Because Our Savior Jesus Christ died for us so that we could be resurrected and live again. You can take that to the bank...or not- your choice, but you can't say I didn't tell you, cause I just did!!!
Rest in peace Mark (Allyskin) Ellingson. Pfff... that guys not resting, believe me- he's working and working hard! You go Mark!!!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
10 on Tuesday
I am going to combine a 10 on Tuesday list with a "what I did on my summer vacation/what I love about summer" list. Are you "having pins and needles you are sitting on"??? (love Despicable Me..Gru is my kind of guy!) Onward and upward.
1. The summer started out a bit rough with rain at the lake and one broken hand bone due to Stewart's inept throwing of the ski rope and my hand deciding all on it's own to fist slap said ski rope.
2. I climbed the second highest mountain in Waterton, Lineham peak, standing at a whopping 8950 feet and we didn't even mean to climb it. There was so much snow on the regular trail that we climbed up a totally different way and couldn't get down so we had to keep going up! It was amazing though and now I can say I did it!! Here is a picture of Lineham from the correct trail.
And here we are not quite to the top. Yup that's me with my broken hand. It wasn't much help! And behind me is faithful Cheri- she was afraid I would fall and not be able to catch myself- she worried about me all day- such a good friend!!
3. I started training for the triathlon a bit late because I couldn't swim or bike but things are back on schedule and the triathlon is on August 13th. The swimming and biking are very easy for me but the running seems to be the killer. Not sure why that is. I used to run for 2-3 hours every day playing soccer at BYU. My my how time flies and my my how fat and old and tired and out of shape you get!
4. We have had a bear infestation at the lake. For some reason known only to him, Stewart has taken on the roll of bear chaser. I do not like this! He picks up his weapon of choice (a children's sling shot... which in all fairness he is quite proficient with because much to my amazement, a few years ago, he killed a snake with it) he calls our willing boxer, Mattie to come with him and he runs after these bears. What happens when the bear stands it's ground or turns on you, Stewie??? I will be picking up Stew parts in the forest, that's what!!
5. 3 more sleeps and Paige and Eric will be living in ALBERTA!! Huzzah!
6. I broke my hand on the 21st of June. I was supposed to keep my cast on 6 weeks which would be this Thursday, August 2nd. I took it off July 9th and skied. It hurt getting up but once I was up, it stopped hurting. I took this as a good sign and never looked back. I actually think that skiing and swimming has helped to heal the broken hand and make it stronger faster...that's my story and I am sticking to it.
7. We had Brad, Whitney and the boys at the lake for a week and it was a blast. Little boys love camping and fires and lakes and forts and water fights and treats but not rain or bears or going to bed.
8. We took the boys to the Trail of the Cedars in Glacier. Oscar was very careful not to step on the cracks in the boardwalk...it took a long time! We had so much fun we hiked the trail twice. On the first go round the boys ran- on the second go round the boys walked and actually looked at a few things... Finn was gocking up at the tall trees and walked right off the trail and splatted about 3 feet down. He was pretty brave though. Tears for only a few seconds.
9. What I love about summer...fresh fruit and vegetables, water skiing, getting in shape, (well better shape that in winter) a quiet, glassy lake in the early morning, time away from work, hiking, long days and nights, I used to love summer thunderstorms but Mattie is so neurotic that she has ruined them for me, ( we even tried a Thunder Jacket- it doesn't work!) I love Canada day, being close to Waterton and Glacier, green grass and lot's of flowers, raw peas from the garden, cool nights after a hot day. Oh and of course watching the Olympics!!! Go USA! Summer rocks!
10. Hmmmm- not much else going on except lazing around at the lake- that's about it for this Tuesday! Hiking Grinnell Glacier this Thursday...can't wait!
1. The summer started out a bit rough with rain at the lake and one broken hand bone due to Stewart's inept throwing of the ski rope and my hand deciding all on it's own to fist slap said ski rope.
2. I climbed the second highest mountain in Waterton, Lineham peak, standing at a whopping 8950 feet and we didn't even mean to climb it. There was so much snow on the regular trail that we climbed up a totally different way and couldn't get down so we had to keep going up! It was amazing though and now I can say I did it!! Here is a picture of Lineham from the correct trail.
And here we are not quite to the top. Yup that's me with my broken hand. It wasn't much help! And behind me is faithful Cheri- she was afraid I would fall and not be able to catch myself- she worried about me all day- such a good friend!!
3. I started training for the triathlon a bit late because I couldn't swim or bike but things are back on schedule and the triathlon is on August 13th. The swimming and biking are very easy for me but the running seems to be the killer. Not sure why that is. I used to run for 2-3 hours every day playing soccer at BYU. My my how time flies and my my how fat and old and tired and out of shape you get!
4. We have had a bear infestation at the lake. For some reason known only to him, Stewart has taken on the roll of bear chaser. I do not like this! He picks up his weapon of choice (a children's sling shot... which in all fairness he is quite proficient with because much to my amazement, a few years ago, he killed a snake with it) he calls our willing boxer, Mattie to come with him and he runs after these bears. What happens when the bear stands it's ground or turns on you, Stewie??? I will be picking up Stew parts in the forest, that's what!!
5. 3 more sleeps and Paige and Eric will be living in ALBERTA!! Huzzah!
6. I broke my hand on the 21st of June. I was supposed to keep my cast on 6 weeks which would be this Thursday, August 2nd. I took it off July 9th and skied. It hurt getting up but once I was up, it stopped hurting. I took this as a good sign and never looked back. I actually think that skiing and swimming has helped to heal the broken hand and make it stronger faster...that's my story and I am sticking to it.
7. We had Brad, Whitney and the boys at the lake for a week and it was a blast. Little boys love camping and fires and lakes and forts and water fights and treats but not rain or bears or going to bed.
8. We took the boys to the Trail of the Cedars in Glacier. Oscar was very careful not to step on the cracks in the boardwalk...it took a long time! We had so much fun we hiked the trail twice. On the first go round the boys ran- on the second go round the boys walked and actually looked at a few things... Finn was gocking up at the tall trees and walked right off the trail and splatted about 3 feet down. He was pretty brave though. Tears for only a few seconds.
9. What I love about summer...fresh fruit and vegetables, water skiing, getting in shape, (well better shape that in winter) a quiet, glassy lake in the early morning, time away from work, hiking, long days and nights, I used to love summer thunderstorms but Mattie is so neurotic that she has ruined them for me, ( we even tried a Thunder Jacket- it doesn't work!) I love Canada day, being close to Waterton and Glacier, green grass and lot's of flowers, raw peas from the garden, cool nights after a hot day. Oh and of course watching the Olympics!!! Go USA! Summer rocks!
10. Hmmmm- not much else going on except lazing around at the lake- that's about it for this Tuesday! Hiking Grinnell Glacier this Thursday...can't wait!
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