Monday, March 31, 2008
The Dump
We took a trip to drop off some old paint this weekend. The people at the dump have an unsual sense of humor. I guess being around all that garbage, you have to do things that make you laugh.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Good Week
Last month I was a blogging maniac! This month I haven't thought of as many things I want to post. But, I just stopped over at my other mom's blog (thanks Janet) and was inspired. It was fun reading about the chairs.
The last week has been fun. A week ago today we were preparing for my other mom - Matt's mom - Sandi to arrive for the weekend. Isn't it fun to have a lot of mom's! I currently have 4. But, I find that many people frequently step up as a "mothering figure" when I need one.
Anyway, we had some fun adventures over the weekend and got to hang out with a lot of family. Some highlights were walking through the Salt Lake City Public Library (wow!), going to Bambara for lunch (yum!), and playing with Jack at the park (cute!). Here are a few pics:
Kendra going down the slide by herself!
Grandma and Jack in the back seat. "Do you think Kendra's OK?"
Kendra and Jack on the stairs. Bug hug!
Jack at the library.
And one of Quincy, for good measure.
The last week has been fun. A week ago today we were preparing for my other mom - Matt's mom - Sandi to arrive for the weekend. Isn't it fun to have a lot of mom's! I currently have 4. But, I find that many people frequently step up as a "mothering figure" when I need one.
Anyway, we had some fun adventures over the weekend and got to hang out with a lot of family. Some highlights were walking through the Salt Lake City Public Library (wow!), going to Bambara for lunch (yum!), and playing with Jack at the park (cute!). Here are a few pics:
Kendra going down the slide by herself!
Grandma and Jack in the back seat. "Do you think Kendra's OK?"
Kendra and Jack on the stairs. Bug hug!
Jack at the library.
And one of Quincy, for good measure.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
No Fear
I took a brief look through some past posts and realized I've been telling a lot about my fears such as elevators, crawly beach creatures, public speaking ... I'm sure there were more. I'm starting to sound like a whimp! Here are some things that I am not scared of:
- Spiders - I don't like them to crawl on me, but I don't freak out. I know a few people who are desperately scared of them and will scream and run away at the sight. You know who you are - - - Stephanie, Andi, and Tyler!
- Heights - As long as there is something around me I'm usually pretty good. I don't get dizzy or panicky. Or get vertigo like poor Robert.
- Public speaking - I was petrified when I was young, but I did explain that I got over that, right? By the way - you did great on Sunday Cherlyn! The more talks you do the better it gets - I promise!
- Snakes - I'll touch them but not hold them. If I see one I'll stay and watch. However, my niece Tasha definitely takes the cake on this one! She loves all creatures and will catch and hold most anything!
- Power tools - I've used my fair share in the past few years. Now it's your turn Andi!
- Unusual foods - I used to be squeemish about this, but you can't be when you're married to Matt! He'll try almost anything. In the past, under his tutilage, I have tried pickled okra, gefilte fish, and eel. That's the short list. A list of what Matt's tried could be its own post!
See --- fears don't rule my life!
Hopefully this will bring back a little of my self-respect.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Fear
First, I have to say that this is my 100th post! That's kind of embarassing. I really can't believe I've done that many ....
Second, I have to say afer the last 5 posts, which were practically novels, I had decided I wouldn't put anything on here for awhile.
However, at work today I walked past the elevator. The doors were propped open and the floor of the elevator was at eye level. I jumped an scurried away. My heart was racing for the next few minutes.
I have fears associated with elevators.
Since I was very little I have never liked dark holes - like elevators or mining shafts. Or the roof access at Fashion Place Mall that was located in a side hallway. I would cry when my parents would walk under it. Seriously - even looking at this picture makes me scared, nervous, sick, etc.
It's true that if I fell into a shaft like Baby Jessica that I would die of fright. Don't worry about trying to dig me out.
For my fears to kick in, the situation has to be just right .... for example, I did go down the deep, deep, deep shaft at the Park City Silver mine. I did it three times, and I was fine. If the lift had somehow plummeted to the bottom (and I'd lived) and there were no lights, I would have panicked. I maybe would panic just as much if there were lights. If I was there alone, I would be curled in a ball, crying, with my eyes closed.
While working at the Kearns Building downtown in 1996, I would take the elevator to the 7th floor where I worked. Once the elevator stopped unexpectedly to blackness. Twilight Zone!
My eyes adjusted and I could see a few boxes by the elevator doors. Thank goodness I was with another person. I probably would have started screaming uncontrollably. That person explained that there was a floor between 1 and 2 that was used just for storage, and occasionally it would accidentally open on that floor.
From that point on, anytime I took that elevator alone I would face the back until I knew I had passed that floor. It only happened one other time, and I was with a group of people. Phew!
Elevators have an agenda of their own and aren't to be trusted!
Second, I have to say afer the last 5 posts, which were practically novels, I had decided I wouldn't put anything on here for awhile.
However, at work today I walked past the elevator. The doors were propped open and the floor of the elevator was at eye level. I jumped an scurried away. My heart was racing for the next few minutes.
I have fears associated with elevators.
Since I was very little I have never liked dark holes - like elevators or mining shafts. Or the roof access at Fashion Place Mall that was located in a side hallway. I would cry when my parents would walk under it. Seriously - even looking at this picture makes me scared, nervous, sick, etc.
It's true that if I fell into a shaft like Baby Jessica that I would die of fright. Don't worry about trying to dig me out.
For my fears to kick in, the situation has to be just right .... for example, I did go down the deep, deep, deep shaft at the Park City Silver mine. I did it three times, and I was fine. If the lift had somehow plummeted to the bottom (and I'd lived) and there were no lights, I would have panicked. I maybe would panic just as much if there were lights. If I was there alone, I would be curled in a ball, crying, with my eyes closed.
While working at the Kearns Building downtown in 1996, I would take the elevator to the 7th floor where I worked. Once the elevator stopped unexpectedly to blackness. Twilight Zone!
My eyes adjusted and I could see a few boxes by the elevator doors. Thank goodness I was with another person. I probably would have started screaming uncontrollably. That person explained that there was a floor between 1 and 2 that was used just for storage, and occasionally it would accidentally open on that floor.
From that point on, anytime I took that elevator alone I would face the back until I knew I had passed that floor. It only happened one other time, and I was with a group of people. Phew!
Elevators have an agenda of their own and aren't to be trusted!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Last Ones
Alright, so here are the last few items from my Leap Day post voting:
Best of the Bull - This can be ordered and eaten at the yummy Cowboy Grub. (May I recommend the Big Monty?) I tried this the first time about 5-years ago. I tried it to be brave. The same way that I've tried sushi. It's not my favorite, but I didn't whimp out.
Anyhow, the second time I tried it was on a little dare with our friend Joellen. She was going to prepare cow tongue for us, and so we agreed as long as she tried Best of the Bull. Ew. This time was different than the first. It could best be described as being like fried, breaded spam. Blah.
Summer 2001 - This was the summer during our house construction that reached 106 degrees for weeks straight. The summer we didn't have a roof. The summer the rain fell inside our house. The summer I experienced depression. The summer I nearly had a mental breakdown. With the good comes the bad. I love our house .... now.
Richfield road rash - This occurred summer 1992. Having some fun with friends while visiting my grandma, I ended up in a situation where I was hanging onto the bed of a truck and my feet were drug about 15-feet through gravel. I was wearing shorts, a tank top, and sandles. I had rocks imbedded in my feet and spent a couple hours that night in the ER and a couple more hours trying to get comfortable enough to sleep at my grandma's house after being bandaged up. And of course weeks afterward recovering.
People always ask why I didn't just let go. It's amazing how clear my mind was during the entire incident. My cheek was inches away from the bumper. I knew logically that if I let go, I would hit my face, and probably break something. Instead I let go with one arm which turned me around so I was facing up, and then I let go with the other and rolled away from the vehicle.
A Clockwork Orange - I watched this movie purely because it was on the top 100 movies list. It was extremely disturbing, and I am grateful that with each passing year I forget more and more of it. If I could only go back and just not watch it at all!
Best of the Bull - This can be ordered and eaten at the yummy Cowboy Grub. (May I recommend the Big Monty?) I tried this the first time about 5-years ago. I tried it to be brave. The same way that I've tried sushi. It's not my favorite, but I didn't whimp out.
Anyhow, the second time I tried it was on a little dare with our friend Joellen. She was going to prepare cow tongue for us, and so we agreed as long as she tried Best of the Bull. Ew. This time was different than the first. It could best be described as being like fried, breaded spam. Blah.
Summer 2001 - This was the summer during our house construction that reached 106 degrees for weeks straight. The summer we didn't have a roof. The summer the rain fell inside our house. The summer I experienced depression. The summer I nearly had a mental breakdown. With the good comes the bad. I love our house .... now.
Richfield road rash - This occurred summer 1992. Having some fun with friends while visiting my grandma, I ended up in a situation where I was hanging onto the bed of a truck and my feet were drug about 15-feet through gravel. I was wearing shorts, a tank top, and sandles. I had rocks imbedded in my feet and spent a couple hours that night in the ER and a couple more hours trying to get comfortable enough to sleep at my grandma's house after being bandaged up. And of course weeks afterward recovering.
People always ask why I didn't just let go. It's amazing how clear my mind was during the entire incident. My cheek was inches away from the bumper. I knew logically that if I let go, I would hit my face, and probably break something. Instead I let go with one arm which turned me around so I was facing up, and then I let go with the other and rolled away from the vehicle.
A Clockwork Orange - I watched this movie purely because it was on the top 100 movies list. It was extremely disturbing, and I am grateful that with each passing year I forget more and more of it. If I could only go back and just not watch it at all!
Lobster Dave
During my singles ward days, in my ward there were a lot of Daves. We (Heather, Robert, and I ... and a few close ward friends) gave them different names to sort them out. There was Teacher Dave, Dave F, CD Dave, and Lobster Dave.
The first time I met fair-skinned Lobster Dave, he had accidentally spent too much time in the sun without sunscreen. He was painfully red ... thus, we called him Lobster Dave.
He was a few weeks - probably 3-4 - from going on his mission. When he asked me out on a date, I felt pretty comfortable that things couldn't go far in that amount of time and figured it would be fun to hang out.
CANYON CONFESSIONAL:
Our first date we were going hiking. We drove up the canyon and he parked the car near Mill B. Instead of getting out of the car to start our hike, he started talking. Whatever; I didn't really care.
During our talk, he told me things that he had taken care of with his bishop in order to go on his mission. Then he told me a few things that he had slipped on since then and asked my opinion if he should talk to his bishop about them again.
I felt completely uncomfortable, advised him yes, and made some logical excuse to end the date early. He didn't feel uncomfortable, and it seemed that confiding in me had increased his interest.
Some time went by and I avoided the situation. I didn't like to hurt people, and it seemed that it was a short acquaintance anyhow. I was just trying to get through those 3-4 weeks.
Somehow I agreed to another date, which turned into a group thing. Great! The group thing turned into Dave, myself, and my friend Karen going to a movie. Fine. Karen had seen the movie, so it turned into making cookies at her house. Whatever. Karen had a major crush on Dave, thus ...
THREE'S-A-CROWD-COOKIE-COOKOFF:
I drove in Dave's car to Karen's house. I pretty much sat in the living room watching TV while they baked away!
"Check this out!" I said, half-way through their gathering-ingredients-extravaganza!
They came in and watched OJ Simpson in the white Bronco on the freeway. Then they resumed the baking and realized they were missing a key ingredient. I volunteered to walk home (only two blocks) and bring some back. Dave resisted, but I insisted.
I got home and hung out with my family as long as politely possible, turning on the TV so they could see OJ. Then I got in my parents car (I was a smart one, huh.) and drove back to Karen's.
We finished making cookies, ate some, and watched something.
Time for me to leave. Dave walked outside and told me he was sad I brought the car because he wanted to drive me home. Since we didn't have a "real date" he suggested we get together the next night? the next? the next? It appeared I was busy every night before he had to leave town. He went in for .... yea, and it smoothly turned into a hug.
He stopped by a few nights later in between my work and school to bring me a gift.
FAREWELL:
My other friend Janice asked me to go with her to his farewell and I agreed. Walking down the isle to take my seat, he came down from the stand and rushed at me excitedly. His family followed. His parents greeted me and it was clear I had been discussed at home. His little sister looked up at me with giddy eyes.
We took a seat, toward the back. His sister remarked during her talk that she was proud of her brother for being such a good example and going on his mission, although he could have stayed home because of a girl.
Clearly not me!?
During his talk, he stared down at me, and reaching the end of his talk stated that he had met someone for which it was hard for him to leave, and how he was eagerly looking forward to spending more time with that person in two years. Yes, still looking at me.
What it the world was happening? I didn't even know this person!
We left the farewell quickly. Didn't stop by the house. He dropped by once before going to the MTC, but I wasn't home. I didn't write to him. He didn't write to me.
Two years later he called my house, just home from his mission. He talked to my mom. I was freshly engaged, and she told him. My mom suggested that I call him, just to be nice. I decided not to.
He didn't call again.
The first time I met fair-skinned Lobster Dave, he had accidentally spent too much time in the sun without sunscreen. He was painfully red ... thus, we called him Lobster Dave.
He was a few weeks - probably 3-4 - from going on his mission. When he asked me out on a date, I felt pretty comfortable that things couldn't go far in that amount of time and figured it would be fun to hang out.
CANYON CONFESSIONAL:
Our first date we were going hiking. We drove up the canyon and he parked the car near Mill B. Instead of getting out of the car to start our hike, he started talking. Whatever; I didn't really care.
During our talk, he told me things that he had taken care of with his bishop in order to go on his mission. Then he told me a few things that he had slipped on since then and asked my opinion if he should talk to his bishop about them again.
I felt completely uncomfortable, advised him yes, and made some logical excuse to end the date early. He didn't feel uncomfortable, and it seemed that confiding in me had increased his interest.
Some time went by and I avoided the situation. I didn't like to hurt people, and it seemed that it was a short acquaintance anyhow. I was just trying to get through those 3-4 weeks.
Somehow I agreed to another date, which turned into a group thing. Great! The group thing turned into Dave, myself, and my friend Karen going to a movie. Fine. Karen had seen the movie, so it turned into making cookies at her house. Whatever. Karen had a major crush on Dave, thus ...
THREE'S-A-CROWD-COOKIE-COOKOFF:
I drove in Dave's car to Karen's house. I pretty much sat in the living room watching TV while they baked away!
"Check this out!" I said, half-way through their gathering-ingredients-extravaganza!
They came in and watched OJ Simpson in the white Bronco on the freeway. Then they resumed the baking and realized they were missing a key ingredient. I volunteered to walk home (only two blocks) and bring some back. Dave resisted, but I insisted.
I got home and hung out with my family as long as politely possible, turning on the TV so they could see OJ. Then I got in my parents car (I was a smart one, huh.) and drove back to Karen's.
We finished making cookies, ate some, and watched something.
Time for me to leave. Dave walked outside and told me he was sad I brought the car because he wanted to drive me home. Since we didn't have a "real date" he suggested we get together the next night? the next? the next? It appeared I was busy every night before he had to leave town. He went in for .... yea, and it smoothly turned into a hug.
He stopped by a few nights later in between my work and school to bring me a gift.
FAREWELL:
My other friend Janice asked me to go with her to his farewell and I agreed. Walking down the isle to take my seat, he came down from the stand and rushed at me excitedly. His family followed. His parents greeted me and it was clear I had been discussed at home. His little sister looked up at me with giddy eyes.
We took a seat, toward the back. His sister remarked during her talk that she was proud of her brother for being such a good example and going on his mission, although he could have stayed home because of a girl.
Clearly not me!?
During his talk, he stared down at me, and reaching the end of his talk stated that he had met someone for which it was hard for him to leave, and how he was eagerly looking forward to spending more time with that person in two years. Yes, still looking at me.
What it the world was happening? I didn't even know this person!
We left the farewell quickly. Didn't stop by the house. He dropped by once before going to the MTC, but I wasn't home. I didn't write to him. He didn't write to me.
Two years later he called my house, just home from his mission. He talked to my mom. I was freshly engaged, and she told him. My mom suggested that I call him, just to be nice. I decided not to.
He didn't call again.
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