things that must go

Well the only thing I have energy to write about is one thing that really must go...

Public groups on Facebook for people getting married

Sure there are lots of clever ways to state they're getting hitched. Recent ones I've seen "So and So and their Carnival of Love", "So and So are getting married!!!!", "Team So and So. We're getting married!!!" And no, I am not a bitter single woman. I just don't understand why people will give out their address in a group that is public content. Anyone can access it.

People... make your group private or better yet, send a personal email or phone call asking for addresses you don't have. I guess I still believe that weddings should be for close family and friends so getting an address shouldn't be too difficult OR too public.

There I said it.

*If you, or someone close to you, has had one of these groups, this is not a personal attack. But really, it must go!

before and after

So I still need to hang pictures and decorate, but here are some photos of the paint job.

Living room (many thanks to my folks for helping me with this huge task)

Before:

After:

Bedroom Before:

After: (Sis, please note the bed is made better... just for you!)

nothing but the truth

There are times when I sit in therapy wondering what important details my clients are omitting from their stories. Details that would likely help them (and help me help them) in making some changes. Changes that would make their life better. I can't force it out of them. I can't always be sure my intuition is right. But I choose to believe I'm brilliant so I must be right!

And there are times outside of my work life when information would enlighten a situation. It seems like this week was full of unknown details that came to light. It isn't anything I want to publicly write about... I guess I too want to omit certain details in this forum. I do know that I'm grateful for a new week and I hope for less surprises. I hope for more loose tongues and upfront, straightforward discussions in all spheres of my life.

distracted or clumsy?

I have always stated that I am just clumsy. But lately I've been wondering if the real problem is being distracted... which leads to clumsy. Regardless, a screwdriver hitting me in the head still &%*$# hurts.

The good news... my bedroom is finally painted!

A handy painting tip for high walls - don't leave a screwdriver on top of the ladder. When you move the ladder you could end up with a very nasty surprise.

giggles

Usually my house is quiet and peaceful... except when some unwanted visitors paid a visit two weeks ago (not my parents, but the mice they so lovingly disposed of for me). I loved having my parents around. I don't think I've eaten that well in months. And they even helped me paint the place. I couldn't ask for better parents.

But tonight was a special night filled with little kid laughter. My two nieces christened my home with giggles and dancing and singing. We snuggled under blankets, they each ate their chocolate treat of choice and introduced me to the world of High School musical. Parker managed to set off a mouse trap which gave her a good fright and me a good reason to say "probably time for bed." As Parker snuggled in super close in the bed, with her arm draped across my stomach and her stuffie (aka stuffed animal) wedged between us, digging in to my back, I could only smile. Tonight this place felt even more like a home.



On the agenda tomorrow: Lucky Charms. Isn't it every Auntie's job to sugar them up before the folks pick them up???

time to sleep

It's a sign that you should have been asleep an hour ago when you use nail polish remover instead of eye makeup remover.

My right eye is not burning anymore and I seem to be able to see out of it okay. But about 10 minutes ago as I swiped my cotton ball on my eye I quickly realized I hadn't used to the right bottle. It burns folks, it burns.

One of these days I am going to seriously hurt or maim myself.

what do you call it?

It's not irony... I think... since Alanis Morrisette's song does not apparently contain "ironic" situations. But definitions are not my strong suit.

So readers, tell me what you would actually call this true event:

A person spends an hour talking with teenage boys about how to be mature and appropriate in relationships. She takes some time and effort in telling them that communication is key, and that you have to learn how to have real discussions. Texting, IM'ing is not really talking. You can mask your insecurities, show more courage and boldness without having to face the person. She hopes they have taken just a kernel of what she said to develop healthy, mature relationships.

An hour later she receives a text message from a man she has never met. He could be a perfectly nice person. He was given her information by a mutual acquaintance... a set-up of sorts. He asks her out over text. They don't even know what their voices sound like. She wishes he had listened to her advice that she gave to teenagers just an hour ago... and wondering if this is really what the adult dating world has also come to.

So, is this irony? Word aficionados please help.

This is not meant to slam this person or make fun or be cruel. It's just a huge pet peeve of mine when people use impersonal means to start/initiate relationships or hide behind their fears or insecurities. I worry that the younger generation is losing all of their communication skills because they don't even talk on the phone anymore. I'm a fan of the text, don't get me wrong... but timing and situations need to play a role in to when it is used.

posse

Sometimes I envision a posse of past pets (dogs) roaming around Heaven. Maybe not crazy Jiggs or nutty Ben... but Albert and Breta would be the best of friends... The top dogs of all the pets we've had. Ted's iguanas and geckos might be tagging along when they're not "too cool for school." And if Jiggs has learned to quit barking up in Heaven, the head honchos might let him play. That dog could be so annoying, but it was nice to finally have a dog I could put on my lap!

I might be off my rocker, but yesterday I had this image of my sister's dog Charlie jumping and licking and playing with the rest of the crew up there. His hair would still be in his eyes, and he would be as lovable and hugable as ever.

My sister once told me that getting Chuckie was the best decision of her single life. He adjusted well to her marriage and loved her kids... and they all loved him. As hard as it is to say goodbye to a sweet member of the family, I wonder how enriched my life would be if I could come home to an unconditionally loving pup. But saying goodbye is hard, really hard. And when it came to saying goodbye to our past dogs, I had a hard time remembering "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." (Oh Dr. Seuss, so wise)

As far as becoming a pet owner, I haven't decided yet. But one thing I do know is that all dogs DO go to Heaven.

when bad things happen to good people...

...who procrastinate.

Due to some bad business practices of my "former" bank surrounding my past potential mortgage with them, I decided to switch banks once I actually bought my home with a new lender. I pulled out most of my money and left just a little bit to cover the last automatic withdrawals that would happen before I could switch it all over. That was several months ago. I kept thinking I should close the account but it wasn't on my priority list, and hey, I do procrastinate. So, I was going through my secondary email accounts that I don't check every day when I saw an alert that I was in overdraft with my former bank. What the heck?! Having never been in overdraft I was mortified and confused as to how that could happen.

Turns out that a year ago I authorized my AAA account to use automatic withdrawal. Well, that yearly payment from my OLD bank account put me in to overdraft. Awesome. To top it off, I continued to get a daily charge for each day I was in the red. And because I don't often check that one email account, I've been in debt for three days. So I decided to deposit a cheque tonight to clear it all up and to once again feel like a financially responsible person... until I remembered that my debit card from that bank had expired. I shredded the new card last month because I was closing the account. Are you all following me here? So, now I get another daily charge until I can go in to the bank and deposit the necessary money. Then can you guess what I'm going to do? Yup, close that damn account... which I should have done months ago.

Lesson learned.

Oh, and I still hate that bank. Yes, I hate you WELLS FARGO.

late nights

I have this bad habit that I stay up late when my schedule changes. Since I'm going camping with my work girls tomorrow I suddenly think I'm on vacation. I'm forgetting that I'm going to be camping with them for three day and will be "working" 24 hours a day rather than my usual 8-9. I'm thinking this night owl routine is going to kick me in the butt tomorrow at about 3 p.m. Either that or the girls. Ha ha.

Wish me luck!

i'm the king of the world...

You know it's a good vacation when it involves Titanic re-enactments. I went to Vancouver Island earlier this month to spend some quality time with my folks, sister and her two adorable kids. It was what a vacation should be.

We rode a ferry (and saw Orca's on the way back)

Went to Sooke and went on some cool ziplines

Enjoyed the scenery in Sooke

Checked out Victoria Harbour

Sailed!

And rode some rides in Seattle.

This picture really epitomizes how fun the trip was.

Other non-pictured highlights...
-Watching Parker catch rain with her mouth which resulted in a soaking top
-Finally getting ice cream at the Big Moo
-Running by the ocean
-Being told by the Sushi man that I have a "nice shape and beautiful."
-Retelling family sailing stories, especially those involving my little brother
-Having my sister catch me from gossiping about a stranger that happened to be on the same bus as us

timp

Timpanogos at sunrise... need I say more?

Well, I will... For those of you that don't know Timpanogos is the looming peak just up Provo Canyon. I have wanted to hike this mountain for years and this summer WAS the year. We started our hike at 2 a.m. with our headlamps, toques, and snacks. We reached the summit just as the sun came up and it was spectacular... and cold! We decided to go down the glacier but at 7 a.m. the snow was more ice than snow which made for a dangerous trek down (Chris's back is living proof).

Great company and great views. I loved it!

biking aftermath!

Pictures don't quite do justice to this spectacular bruise! I'm kind of proud of it. My own badge of honour.

And to give you a size perspective:

mountain falling

Yesterday Aaron took me on my first mountain biking adventure at Sundance. While my road biking skills helped me know how to clip in to my pedals, that's about all it helped me with! I found it harder to clip out of my pedals, which resulted in some spectacular crashes. We started out by riding the lift and then biking down. After the first ride down the trail I was ready to quit! I had managed to hit a tree, scratch up my hip, arm and ego!

Aaron took a different approach and took me up a trail first, coaching me to "pedal, pedal, pedal." The second trail was beautiful but scary. There were several parts where I had to avoid looking to the left as there was nothing to stop me from falling down a steep ledge if I wiped out (which wasn't too difficult a task for me).


I gained a bit more confidence and the view was definitely worth the work.


Aaron did "force" me to practice going over a tree root. I did it, but looking at the picture reminds me that I clearly have some biking form to work on.


My last spill put me out of commission. I was able to stand up and laugh it off but my elbow wasn't laughing. Today I have some pretty impressive bruises and scratches. It was definitely an experience. I'm not sure I'm a convert yet, but I'm glad I finally tried it out. It will take a lot more practice to feel like I can conquer it... but maybe... maybe I'll go again...

ridin' low

Another reason to pull your pants up to a proper fit (this one's for you J-Bug)!

surprise!

I really wasn't going to come home... but I knew I couldn't resist if everyone else was there. So just over a week before the Bostonians were coming, I booked a flight with my points. With my sister as my accomplice I decided to surprise the family. There were some double takes, a punch in the arm, and maybe a few tears (crier will remain anonymous). The surprises were fun... but not as fun as the whole week.

Highlights:
1. The stampede with the kids. Smiles, holding hands, screams on the rides, allergies in the barns.

2. The stampede with the adults. Chuck wagons, rides, brother screaming like a girl on rides, sister laughing so hard she was crying on the ride, caramel apples x 2.
3. Mocha mud pies, laughing so hard on the way home, kid wearing my glasses with a fake smile.

4. Sunday afternoon drive, Kananaskis country, renewed love of my homeland.
5. Games, laughs, brain scars, more laughs.

Lowlights:
1. Feeling sick from so much junk food.
2. Two days of pouring rain, no beach days, nasty tan lines still in force.
3. Running out of time.
4. Saying goodbye to everyone for another year.

The time always goes so quickly. I always have intentions to see others or do something different but in the end I want to absorb as much of the family as possible. The kids are so funny and always changing... and I want to be a part of that as much as possible. I love every one of them.

uh oh

Bad Idea:

The AC is out in my car. It's pushing 90F/32C outside. I am driving home and talking on the phone with the windows rolled up so my friend doesn't feel like he is in a wind tunnel. I'm sweating profusely but I need to finish this conversation. It lasts about 20 minutes. I get home and am a hot, sticky mess.

Result:
My keypad is no longer working properly. Too much moisture. Maybe it will work tomorrow. Some users on the internet said it might.

Probably my Result:
I'll have to get a new phone.

But hey, at least I wasn't texting!

when in rome...

Do you have to do as the Romans?

I have been solicited three times to donate to my local scouting troop. For $35 I will have the American flag placed on my lawn each holiday. I want to support the scouts but I don't really have a desire to have the flag. While I know I am living in the USA, I'm Canadian... so I am not really patriotic to the country or the flag. Don't get me wrong, I have amazing friends, love my job, love many things about where I'm living. I just don't really have warm feelings when I hear the anthem or see the flag.

So tonight when a man came by yet again, I said "Well, I'll think about it but I'm not American... so..." And his response?

"When in Rome, do as the Romans."

Sorry man, that's not a selling point. In fact it reiterated why I don't want it. When in Rome, I can love the history, the food, the people, the weather and that I'm a Canadian hanging out in Rome.

busy body

I will admit that I was "technically" breaking Utah's new law of texting and driving. However, sitting at a stoplight does not "technically" mean you are driving. So, I took advantage of a very long red light and started texting a friend back. An old bird, with a dyed black coif, in a huge white SUV with a Utes sticker plastered on her door honks her horn at me. I look over and she's shaking her head and finger and me. Not one to be told what to do, especially from strangers, I roll my eyes at her, shake me head back and go back to texting.

As the light turns green, she is straining her neck to try and read my license plate. When it dawns on her that I don't have a front plate, she slows down to 15 mph. I laugh and slow down too. Not only is she a bossy, busy body but she thinks I'm stupid enough to pass her. Realizing that her tactics are greatly slowing traffic she speeds up a bit. At the part when it is clear we will be going different directions she tries to slow down again. No luck lady, I'm on to you.

I guess I should have let her get my plate just for kicks. Maybe her vigilante tactics would have helped her feel better about herself. The cops couldn't do anything about it if she did call... and I'm sure they have more important things to deal with... like forcing people to water their lawns.

Oh busy bodies. Life would be so much better without them.

read...

If you have a moment, click on the "I read Nie Nie" icon on the side of my blog. I usually tear up when I read her posts, but today especially. Her life puts my own in to perspective. I would only hope to have her faith and optimism if I were to experience a near death tragedy that left me burned that badly.

I try to explain to my girls at work that life will be full of ups and downs. The least of their struggles will be in a residential treatment centre... but I know full well that they rarely believe this. For most up to this point, this is the biggest challenge they have faced. They can't fathom that life after 18 does not magically erase any hardship or obstacle. Some will live life with goodness and hope, while some will sadly continue their destructive path to a sad and tragic life.

It's about choice and what we do with the one thing we have control over. Even my fortune cookie had it right today!

"Your choices at the moment will be good ones. Trust yourself"