Decompressing...

This has been a rough week in a lot of ways...

Work has been exceptionally physical this week, and busy, busy, busy.
Just as I was finishing my shift Tuesday, I got called up to the register.  I ran right up there to help out for a few minutes, when one of my managers came over to me and made a comment that completely devastated me. 

I like all of my bosses, but I don't like being compared to everyone else.  There were customers standing there in line to overhear too.  I was so humiliated - if it hadn't been so close to the end of my shift, I think I would have walked out.  It hurt, especially with how hard I have worked this week.

Quitting my job is not an option, so I just have to find a way to deal with it.

I've had the last 2 days off, so I have been wallowing.

Yesterday, I worked on some things I was asked to do for the Relief Society's Super Saturday this weekend.  I've also been listening to some really old tunes that I dug up on youtube.

Petula Clark.  Remember her?  I loved her songs as a teen - this video is a hoot - especially the go go dancers...



I've also been doing a lot of pinning...  When things aren't going well, that's where I go lately - it requires nothing of me, and is kind of a soothing passtime.  While browsing yesterday though, I found this:

That's how I feel so often these days.  It feels like everything that is good, happy and fun is pretty much over for me.  I'm just going through the motions, waiting for it all to be overwith.
 Not a healthy mind-set, but that's where I'm at today. 

Maybe if I go try to make something pretty, I'll feel better.

Here's hoping...
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Off

I've had the last two days off, finally, and I have been enjoying them.

Thursday, I did absolutely nothing.  I have been so exhausted, that I'm ashamed to admit, I sat right here in my chair and played, wrote, pinned and read the whole day away.

Friday was not quite so relaxing - I had a lot of errands to do.
I took my car up to be looked at, because it's been making angry noises and I needed to leave town - just wanted to make sure it would get me where I needed to go.

Ouch.  It's going to be an expensive fix - the radiator is damaged, and it's leaking antifreeze.
They told me it was ok to drive it, as long as I watched the temperature gauge and didn't let it over heat.
...So I went.

I spent the afternoon at Barnes & Noble.  My son had given me a gift card for my birthday, and I had seen a publication on family history that I was interested in.  It's a monthly thing, so I wanted to get it before it wasn't available any more.  (Research.)

I found that, and a few other fun things.

Then I ran up to A.F. to a little quilt shop that my sister had introduced me to.
She made me a gorgeous quilt a few years ago, using some reproduction Civil War fabrics, that she got there.  I've been wanting to make some pillow shams to match it.
 I found what I was looking for, but Ouch! they were a bit pricey.
I'll have to tell hubby he's not allowed to drool on them...

It was rush hour by the time I headed home - so I opted to take the old highway instead of the interstate.
 I-5 is still under construction, and the last time I was up this way, the traffic was a horrible bottleneck from Springville all the way to Payson. 
 Sitting in stalled traffic idling is not a good place to be with a car that overheats.  
So I rolled down the windows and sailed...

I love my family, but once in a while, it's awesome to have that kind of freedom - no one to hurry home to, no deadlines - just me and my car, and the wind.  I enjoyed it.

My girls left for St. George yesterday.  Without their mama!  Can you believe such rudeness?
It's baby's birthday today, so they are having a girl's weekend.  Baby is no longer a teenager.
It's sweet that they are such close sisters.  I certainly do enjoy mine.

I thought hubby and I would have some time to spend together while they're gone, but alas, we are two ships that pass in the night.  His work schedule has been beastly this weekend.
I did run over and take him to lunch on my way North yesterday - so at least we had that hour...

I unearthed this picture on Pintrest  the other day that made me laugh out loud...

...And I'll tell you why -

When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time at my friend's house.  Her mom made the best pickles ever!
We used to slip downstairs from time to time, and snack on them right out of the jars.

One day my sister was with us, and the three of us went down and polished off 3 whole jars of them in one sitting.  Feeling very silly, (probably all that pickle juice,) we then took apart an old baby doll that was laying around down there, and put the body parts in the jars to replace the pickles.

...Just a little "thank you" surprise for her mom...  :-)
 (Who years later was still laughing at the fact that we had eaten 3 whole jars of pickles!)

Memories.

One more little photo that made me smile;

I wish I still had my boots - such memories of marching in parades and at ball games (and all the blisters!)  1970 - 71 Best year ever!

I'm not free today, it's a work day, so I should probably get something done...

Later.

(P.S. I don't know what's up with that highlighted paragraph - I tried to fix it, but it won't go away.)
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Rain.

This morning, the dog woke me up at 5 a.m. to go let him out.
I could have killed him - on my day off no less!
When I opened the door, the air was so heavy with moisture, it was certain that it was going to come down.

Sure enough, when I rolled out of bed again (around... 10?) it was raining.
Not a sprinkly little shower, or the kind of downpour that sends rivers running down the street - but the long soaking kind that rinses the earth and quenches it's thirst.

Ok - I'm reaching for metaphors here, but it was the first rain we have had all summer, and it was sorely needed!  It's been so quiet outside, it's like all of nature is finally relaxed.
The plants in my garden are standing up for the first time all summer.

I love rain.

I started reading that book about aging today (trying to improve my outlook.)
In the first chapter, the author talks about "lightening strikes" ...that first realization that we are not immortal and that something is going to change.

For me that strike was when the doctor looked at my x-ray and told me that I had a heart problem.
I went home in shock - thinking that my life was over.  I was 44.

I've been through a lot since then, but admittedly,  I'm still "having trouble getting used to my new situation,"  I'm not growing old gracefully - I'm about as awkward as they come, choosing instead to be in denial, and fight to hang on to that teenager who could do and say anything she felt like with no repercussions.

Boy, do I need my head put on straight!  Ha ha...

Well, like the author says; it's all down hill from here - but are you going to slide, or are you going to steer?

That remains to be seen.
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God Bless the U.S.

Happy Independence Day!

I'll be working all day, so no celebrating tonight.
 Hubby and Jen both work today too, but will be home for the evening festivities.

Fireworks have been banned here, except for 3 locations around town - large parking lots, where the city can keep an eye on folks and have some control.

There was a new fire yesterday, up in Alpine, so the restrictions are understandable.
(Bountiful Temple with the new fire coming up over the mountain.) 
Very scary - there are homes all along that ridge!

Went to Uncle Dennis's place this morning for his birthday breakfast - Aunt Kathy always puts on a great spread.  Not only tasty, but festive tables with flags and the like.  Yum.

Here's a few visuals (and an audio) from me to you for the 4th.

...And Sweet Baby James.  I love this song;


Celebrate for me, will you?
...And hey, stay safe!
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Eight Days Makes One Weak...

It's been a long week already - my department manager is on vacation, so I don't get a day off until she gets back.  I don't think I've done 8 days straight before, even in the height of the Christmas season.  But I guess I will survive - knowing that at the end of those eight days will be a very big CRASH.

Today is my birthday.  I have no idea how old I am, and would like to keep it that way, but I know that soon my mother in law will call and tell me exactly, and to the minute...
"Let's see... Carol is X number of years, and you are 6 months older than she is - that makes you..."
Happens every year.  Drat.

My daughter spoiled me yesterday and took me shopping.
It was fun.  She is my stylish girl, and she is very honest - if something doesn't work, she will say so (and vice versa.)  I really appreciate that.  I've been very self conscious about the way I look lately - you know, because of the impending reunion, so her input was something I needed.

I came home with 3 cute tops, a pair of jeans, and some capris.  Not bad for a few hours time.
(The happy bonus was that the jeans are a size SMALLER that what I've been wearing!)
...So when I tell you that I'm running my butt off at work - it is a true statement!  ha ha

I've been trying to stay up beat about the growing older thing - it gets harder every year.
I ordered this book this week to try to get some perspective on it - because I must be doing it wrong.  It has not been fun for me.

Fun has always been very big in my book.

In maturity and wisdom, I seem to be stuck at 17.  Just can't seem to move on from there...
Wrinkles, pain and creaky joints are just SO not amusing.

Anyway, I'm getting side tracked. 
Last night, hubby was telling me what was on the menu for my birthday dinner - sounded good, but I told him to enjoy it for me, because I won't be there - back to work for the long haul today.

I have a few hours to spend with the fam. before I go, so, what am I doing here?   :-)

Here's a little ditty for your enjoyment in the meantime - appropriately called "Love is Always 17"
It's true.


Hubby surprised me with tickets to see David Gates at the Scera Park venue a few years ago - one of my happiest surprises to date.  Those mellow old Bread tunes from days gone by, on a summer night under the stars?

Perfection.

Hey, - Love ya!
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This is a test...

Oy, what a week this has been!

All the drains in the house have been chronically plugged, so that keeping things clean has been a challenge.  The hot water heater quit working,  the pipe for the irrigation water has been broken, so the lawn has been burning up.  The plumber visited us yesterday ~ cha-ching ~ that was a costly visit.

Someone stole our gas cans from the yard - hubby found this out while trying to mow the lawn...
(I'm surprised they didn't take the generator too - knocking wood.)

We must have really done something to anger the powers that be - because they are really ticked off at us!
 
The wildfires in the state are out of control - it seems the whole state is on fire.  Fireworks for the 4th are being strictly regulated, and I heard today, that pretty much all the canyons will be closed.
What will people do for the holiday?

My supervisor left for vacation yesterday, so that means I don't get a day off until next Thursday.
Yep, I'll be working my birthday AND the 4th of July.  Nice...
At least it's time and a half...

Speaking of bosses, I left my other job because it was so unfriendly, (and because the hours stunk.)
I had very low expectations of this job, since the store is so BIG and there are so many employees.
I have been pleasantly surprised though, it's a great place.  It's like it's own little community of friendly neighbors.

I have one supervisor who greets me every day with a big bear hug.
 Not a creepy leacherous hug, just a warm "glad to see you" kind of thing.
I'm not sure how I feel about it though.   I guess it's a cultural thing, (he's Hispanic) he does that with everyone, but for me - from a boss - it's a little.... odd.

That's life here at home, just trying to keep the body cool, and the spirits up.

Maybe some ice cream would help...
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Hot Hot Hot.

I've been here less than I've been in my kitchen lately...  Ha ha.

June has busted out all over - with heat.  It's been really dry too, which makes a bad combination.
Fire season has started early, and with a vengance.

Four major wild fires are burning in the state at present.
 Between that and my neighbors tree - my allergies are at their peak.  Ka-Choo!

I went to the Parade of Homes with my sister on Thursday.  We had a good time.  Most of the homes we saw were in the area where we grew up, so it was fun to visit the old stomping grounds and see how the other half lives.  :-)

Lots of beautiful homes - this one is in Alpine.  Such a gorgeous area, with killer views.
Budgets must have been smaller this year, because the decorating was much more simple...

My garden is a bust this year - everything I've planted is either fried, flattened out in protest, or is not what I thought it was.  I should just give up and let the grass take over.  >.<

My big flower pot is thriving and beautiful though, so at least that's something...

Hubby put in his papers to manage the St. George store yesterday.  It's down the road a bit - they won't open until November, but I guess it's time to start de-junking the house in case we have to make that move this year.

We've been here for a lot of years, but I'm kind of looking forward to a change.  I think it would be good for us in so many ways.

Monday (yesterday) and Tuesday are my days off this week - I was on my own yesterday, so I went shopping.  Trying to find just the right top to wear to my 40th reunion next month.

...Let me just say, I hate shopping for clothes.  My mood goes from 100 to 0 in less than 30 seconds.
I guess clothing manufacturers think that large people are already ugly, so why bother - just cover them up in gaudy awful colors and shapeless forms - don't waste the embellishments - let's save those for the cute people.

Ugh.

I left the mall hating myself even more than usual.  I stopped at a little local shop on the way home, just in case, and found 3 that I liked right off the bat - and on clearance too.  So there.

I'll probably wimp out and not go to the reunion anyway.  Never been yet - why break that record?
It's causing me too much stress.  I enjoy talking to everyone on Facebook, but I would really rather not be seen.

Just checking in, it's been a while.  Hubby has the day off today, so no rest for this day off - I'm already 6 items behind on his "to do" list.

Chow.
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Cat's Away...

Hubby left around 4 this morning for a trade show for work.
I'm not envying him that 4 hour drive at such an ungodly hour.

He used to travel a lot for work, and I was a paranoid little housewife who would lock the house up tight and stay awake every night until he returned.

That mentality is a bit crazy-making.
Me with no sleep for weeks at a time is not healthy for anyone!
So I re-trained myself.  I started using the time he was away to do all the fun things I didn't get to do when he was around - crafty stuff, shopping, chick flicks, mexican food (he hates mexican!)

Soon I was looking forward to his time away...

It's not the same anymore - the kids are all adults, and not totally reliant on me (in fact, they take care of me now more than the other way around!)  And I'm not the timid little house frou I used to be.

He left me with plenty to do while he's away - we have a family reunion this weekend, so somebody has to get the trailer ready...

That, and work will keep the days pretty full.

The weather has taken a turn lately - it's been getting really cold at night.
We've had to keep the windows shut, and even turn the furnace back on a time or two...
There have been a few nights that I've wondered if I needed to cover my seedlings outside to keep them from freezing!

Saturday, we had a sidewalk sale at work, and the wind came up so strong that we had to rush to drag everything back inside.

Very strange for June, but as they say, "Welcome to Utah."  The saying goes that if you don't like the weather here, just wait five minutes, and it will change.

Not that my garden is worth fretting over - nothing's doing very well out there.  It's hard to get a garden to flourish in soil that's like cement.

Another lovely thing about this area.

The garden I wish I had:

Unfortunately, what I do have looks more like this...

*Sigh*

Time to get started with my day...
 I saw something frightening in the mirror that must be wrestled into submission.

Later.
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Random Poo.

...To borrow a phrase from my daughter.
Reading the titles on her computer files is... well, interesting to say the least.

Anywho, just a few little tidbits today - first of all to wish my Daughter in Law a Happy Birthday!
I tried to text her yesterday, but I can't send or receive messages on my cell phone anymore.
I can't even make calls on it.  What a useless piece of...

Never mind -

Happy Birthday to Libby,  I'm so glad she's part of our family now!  Awesome, awesome girl!

...And of course I swiped the photo from your blog - (um, hope you don't mind =)...)

Brad posted a link to this article on his Facebook page - and I'm re-posting it here, mainly because I don't want to lose it.   It's the report of the attending physician at President Lincoln's assassination.  Pretty darn interesting.

Jeff telecommuted at work from my basement yesterday - and the girls rode their bikes down here to have lunch with him.  (Jennie came later with the food.)
 It is so nice that the girls are getting old enough to do things like that - gave me all kinds of little notions for the Summer.
I enjoyed having them here - it gives me warm fuzzies to see them spend family time together this way!

I have a later shift today, and everyone else is off, so we went to see The Avengers.
Pretty good movie, if I do say so myself.
My favorite moment is when the Hulk takes the bad guy and...  well, I don't want to spoil anything for you.  =)

Lastly, Jenny and I were watching a movie together one night, when she made the comment that she hates it when the female lead uses her femininity to get her way.  She said, it's just so unfair!

I laughed and told her that I myself have no problem with it - that it's still a man's world, pretty much, and a girl has to use every advantage she has.

*Before you go feeling sorry for my husband, don't - he must have had all his shots, because he is completely immune to anything I can throw at him...

Anyway, it's a philosophical difference we have between us, and an ongoing argument.
 Maybe she'll change her mind as she gets older...  Ha ha.
(Judging by the way her sister was dressed for her date the other night, she agrees with me.  ^.^ )

I love my family - they are such fun!

Time to get ready for work again.

I helped unload the truck yesterday - a job that usually takes two hours, we did in 45 minutes!
...Must be some kind of record, but my body is not appreciating the effort today.

Hoping it will be a quiet night - but Fridays rarely are.

*Sigh.*

Playing Hookey

I called in sick to work today.

I almost never do that, but I've been on the downward slope for about a week now, so hubby told me it was time...  (In fact he made the call.)
I only let them do the bare minimum (tests) because of the lack of insurance.
 It was an expensive outing, but hopefully I can straighten up and fly right now.

I bought a new book the other day, and finished almost half of it while I sat there in the waiting room.  It's a new one by Josie Kilpack called "Daisy."
I like Josi's writing, so I figured it was a safe purchase.

I still play at the writing thing now and then, but I am always in awe of people who can make their characters so multi-faceted - something that is tricky for me, since I'm such a one-dimensional person in real life... Ha ha.

Anyway, I came home and took the meds I've been missing, and my body promptly rejected them.
(Sorry for the graphics.)  So I spent the rest of the day in bed.
...Mostly out of frustration.

Later, I decided I'd better get up and move around (or be up all night,) so I went outside and worked in my little garden.

For the past week or two, hubby has been accumulating plants from somewhere - (some of them were being tossed out by a neighbor! )
 But they have just been sitting on the driveway, looking very forlorn, so I found a place for them to live.  ...In my big flower pot by the front door.
Not what I would have chosen to plant there if I had my choice, but hubby was pretty happy when he got home.

A few of my digits still have some green in them, so I'm hoping I can perk them up (and keep them alive!)

We shall see...

Some more interesting news;  The Queen celebrated her Diamond Jubilee on Sunday. 
How would it be to have the same job for 50 years?  Wow.  Kudos.

Also, there was a planetary eclipse type thing today (which I slept through.)  The Venus transit across the sun.  Would have been a cool thing to see - it won't happen again until 2117.
 I missed the solar eclipse this past month too - I'm 0 for 2 on the heavenly signs and wonders, but - Cool!

Cold Turkey.

I have made the decision to give up a few things around here - like sleeping in, computer time - Pepsi...  And I need to re-instate the morning walks.
I don't like mentioning those things out loud because when I crash and burn falling off the wagon (which I inevitably do, the fewer people I disappoint, the better I feel.

I did some work outside this week though, and the difference it made in my outlook and how I feel physically was amazing.   Wow - who knew?

So for my own health and well being, I need to at least cut down - big time.

Speaking of the health issue, I've been a bit lax lately - been out of all the meds for over a week now.  I actually thought I could hang in there until the first of July, when the insurance kicks in - (besides, I haven't had TIME to go to the doctor!) ...but judging how I'm feeling today, I don't think that's a good idea...   I'm so swollen and achy - and I have this weird "Angelina Jolie" thing going on with my lips, - they're bigger than my whole face! (Allergies?) Weird.

I worked so hard yesterday - I had three pallets of freight to get out - by myself, plus, no one had been there for the previous night shift (Friday nights are a nightmare!) ...so the place was trashed.
I ran my little buns off all day long - and I would have finished, IF they hadn't kept calling me up to the register.

Busy busy day.

I was so wiped out that I went to bed - BEFORE midnight.  And I almost slept through church this morning!  I walked in just as the opening hymn started.  So strange.
When I saw they had a substitute, I almost turned around and went back home and back to bed, but I soon repented of that thought...

I'm not sure whether to be flattered or offended that I've become such a fixture there that they don't even notice if I'm there or not, until the song starts.  (Bishop's comment afterward.)
But I really do like what I do, so I'll just continue to be that 'piece of furniture,' I guess.  =)

Moving on - I finally got to watch that episode of Dead Files that was filmed at a local restaurant, and aired this past month.  Wow, super creepy!

The girls have been talking about it for a while now - my oldest even had some friends over to watch it, and then she took them there for dinner.  (I love my girls!)
The place seems to be haunted by multiple creatures...  I got cold chills watching it - and I NEVER get cold chills.  (Knowing the place and people brings it home in a whole new way!)

Here's the episode - watch it if you dare...



Hubby's moving furniture today, so I'm just going to hide out in the basement until it's over -
maybe take a nap.  I have 2 Sunday's off in a row - which never ever happens.

I am determined to enjoy them.
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Good Times at the Gala

My son Brad is attending Snow College. This past week, he entered several of his best projects into the juried show for art majors. His professor said that it was very competetive this year - they had somewhere around 250 entries to fill just over a hundred spots. Brad was very gratified to have 4 of his 7 pieces accepted.
We all drove down for the opening tonight.

This is what happens when you give "granny" the camera - nice reflection of me, but not a good shot of the artwork! Bleah - hopefully Brad can go back and get a better one. He made the frame himself too, I really like how it turned out!

This is one of his "art books" the image on the main piece is a self portrait, and the text on the circles are random articles that he found in newspapers & magazines which related to the positive and negative aspects of his personality. "Closed", the discs are intermingled...

...When the cord is pulled, (by our lovely Libby / "Vanna", Brad's wife)
the discs separate - positive on one side, negative on the other.
Very clever, no? (and isn't she cute?)

Brad's other "art book", displayed with some of the other students' projects. There were some really impressive displays there...

This piece is a diagram of the appropriate ninja techniques for throwing a vacuum cleaner. ( Brad works the graveyard shift as a janitor - that's the only explanation I can give ) Believe it or not, this is the one he won the cash award for!...and while they were hanging it, one of the judges offered to buy it! Go figure...
(If you click on the image, you can see it larger)

This piece didn't make it into the show. Why? The judges said that all of his other pieces were "conceptual" art, and this one being more "traditional" didn't represent Brad's work properly. That's ok - it's hanging on my wall, and I like it! - It properly represents Brad's grandpa!

The artist himself, working the crowd (aka my family!)

We all went out to the "Snow Dragon" for Chinese after the show - what a fun evening!

For want of a Pepsi....

A little background first:
We had a surprise snow storm yesterday (well, it was a surprise to me...) The weather man said we may get 1 to 2 inches, but it turned out to be an ugly storm with lots wind etc. (it blew in just as I was supposed to go meet my sister to go to a movie Grrrrr)...needless to say we had to cancel.
...Anyway, by the time the storm blew over, we had almost a foot of snow! (But then, there were areas that were worse off - Tooele got 2 feet of snow, and in Alpine, over 40 cars were so snowbound that the owners had to be abandon them, and go back for them after the roads were cleared. Also, in that same area, a bunch of school students busses' got stranded, and they ended up having to spend the night at a nearby school.

Back to today....My house has been shockingly bereft of Pepsi products - I've been out for 24 hours now, and that was really starting to annoy me, so I thought I would brave the streets, and run down the block and get me some. I thought I would have better luck in our old truck than in the car (seeing as how if I took the car, I would have to shovel the whole driveway)...and the truck has 4-wheel drive.
So, with the help of a kind neighbor, I cleared the snow off the truck, and made my way out of the snow bank, and around the corner to the main street - where, (you guessed it) I stalled. Could not start the beast again.

Another neighbor just happened to be out in the yard and saw me, and came to try to help.
He couldn't start it - or push it either (because as we discovered walking around the truck - I also had a flat tire. We are talking pancakes here!)
I called hubby on my cell, and he called his brother who works here in town. Meanwhile, the helpful neighbor went to solicit help from another neighbor who had been out on his 4-wheeler clearing snow. He came and tried to help push, but decided it would be easier to go get his truck and a chain and drag me.
Dennis arrived then, and between the 3 of them, made it back around the block to deposit the useless beast in front of the house.

A few minutes later, the first helpful neighbor pulled up carrying....Yep - a pepsi!
...Not only that, but he stayed and shoveled my entire driveway, and swept all the snow off my car!
The moral of this story? (besides the fact that having bad habits can be a lot of trouble)
.... Chivalry is not dead - it is alive and well, and living in southern Utah county!
Happy Valentines!

Hello June

May has flown away - Hoo-Ray!  What a busy hectic month.

Yesterday was my only semi free day for the entire month, and I had the grand kids for an overnighter.
(Jeff & Jennie's anniversary.)

I did take the morning and have some fun - lunch at the park with hubby, driving the back roads with the windows down and the radio cranked, strolling through rows of flowers at the garden shop - played in the dirt a little....
My idea of a perfect Summer day.

I picked up some things for the girls to do at Walmart, but it seems they have crossed over to the dark side already - all they wanted to do was go down to the basement and watch movies and play video games.

Ellie chose to be my bed partner.  ...And a good little partner she was.  She fell asleep half way through the Goofy movie she insisted on watching, and let me sleep all through the night.
Pretty painless weekend.  The girls are pretty low maintenance these days.

Sweet Aunt Jenny did all the running (the older girls had karate lessons - at different times.)  And she paid for dinner (Pizza.)  She is such a good Aunt.

She's also a lovely friend.

Her best friend got married last weekend.  It was pretty hard for all of us to lose her.  She's been a fixture in this household almost as long as Jenny has.  (She even calls me Mom.)
Jenny is not even 20 yet, but she has no single friends left.

Crazy.

Here she is at the wedding reception, in that dress that I lost a few night's sleep over...
Isn't she pretty?

Such a lovely child.

Weekend Wearier

Not the usual concept, but that's how this one's going to play out.

I had the last two days off, but I have worked from morning until 2 am trying to create a bridesmaid dress for my daughter.   Her best friend gets married this weekend, and shopping trips to find one ready made were epic failures.

It's been so long since I've made anything major like this, that it's been a challenge for me - not to mention the fact that she chose a very unforgiving fabric, and a pattern from H-E- double toothpicks.   (It's a project runway pattern - not very user friendly.)  And that she's kind of a tricky size right now (top and bottom sizes don't coincide.)

I probably should have waited until this morning to hem the thing - I thought i was getting it straight, but it's looking a little wonky this morning...  I just hate leaving things until the last minute - I don't like that kind of pressure.
Anyway, it's done.  I work the rest of the weekend, and my house looks like a bomb hit it, so no rest for the weary.

A former neighbor of mine was on a local television show this morning - Judson (Judd) Burton lived across the street from us for years, until they moved up the hill (about Jr. High age.)
He and my son grew up together and are still good friends.  He dealt with a lot of tragedy in his young life, (his brother committed suicide) but he has grown into a very intelligent and wise young man.

Here's a link to the show, where he discussed beliefs of the Mormon religion.   The Julia Currey Show.

I work through the holiday, but I do have Sunday off, so maybe I'll get to visit the family graves and have a picnic / barbecue with the family - haven't seen my grand kids in weeks!

...Just checking in.
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In 1976

I was married on this day...

We celebrated our anniversary yesterday, because we both had the day off - went movie hopping.
First we saw Dark Shadows



And then Hunger Games



Pretty intense afternoon...

We were going to go out to dinner afterward, but everything in town was closed (at 9 pm, really?)
So we ended up at the drive up window at the greasy spoon on the hill.
Our first apartment is right over the fence from there, so I guess it was appropriate.

36 years and counting...
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I'ts May

Crazy crazy May.

This past weekend we drove to Seattle to attend Bradley's graduation from Cornish College of the Arts.
It was a Looong drive for a short visit, but we crammed as much into it as possible.

Brad's BFA show was a successful event - lots of people, and interesting things to see.
We were also able to squeeze in visits to Deception Pass, the Volunteer Conservatory, and Pioneer Square, along with the usual sights at the famed waterfront there.

So tired this week, but no day off until Monday.  Hanging on until then...

 At the UPS memorial near Pioneer square

 A little antique shop we stopped at

 On the waterfront - finally captured the elusive Mt. Ranier on film...

 Seattle skyline from the pier

 Brad's BFA show exhibits - these are all ink prints - he carved the designs onto wood boards and printed them.  No small task - they are Large!

 Lords of Space Time is becoming his iconic work...

 This one blew me away - it is HUGE!

 Not a great shot, but the last of his prints - they are all based on scientific theory, with a bit of a twist...

 This was another exhibit at the show - fun design work!

 ...Also liked this one's work...

 The next morning, we went to the farmer's market before hitting the road again

 Funky fishes at La Conner

 La Conner is a cute little touristy town 2 hours north of Seattle.  A fun little place to shop and walk around.  This is a cute little antique store, where I scored some vintage post cards - cheap!

 Another fun little shop - loved these paintings based on playing cards...

 Hiking down to the beach at Deception Pass

 Looking up at the bridge...

 Jenny having fun on the beach!   :-)

 Father & son

 Hiking up to the bridge...

 Views from the trail (above and below)

 Under the bridge

 Walking across the narrow walk way between a hundred-ish foot drop and oncoming traffic.

 No kidding!

 Sunday morning before Brad's graduation, we went up to the Volunteer Conservatory.  The oriental art museum is also here - this is one of the statues there.  (Caught the Space Needle peeking through the hole!)

 Ma & Pa inside the doughnut...

 The Conservatory

 Lots of beautiful flowers & plants inside - purple orchids.  (My camera battery died just as we got here, the rest of the pics are on my phone.  Working on getting them off...)

After graduation party - a lady Libby works with made the cake - she re-crated Brad's artwork in the frosting - incredible!  (And delicious!)

Zoom Zoom

April went by so fast - it's crazy.

So much to do this week, and I work every day until road trip time, so it's going to be a challenge to get everything done.

Took hubby to breakfast this morning - that's about the only time we get to see each other any more. 
We go to this little place in the next community over - smaller even than our town is.
It's kind of fun, hubby shouting at the cook over the grill - people wave and talk to you, whether they know you or not.  I like the small town life.

Speaking of which, one of the girls' ghost shows last night, featured another eatery we go to in that town.  Seems it's quite haunted.  I didn't see the episode, but Jenny says it was so creepy, she doesn't think she can ever go there to eat again.

Interesting.

Had a horrible day at work yesterday.  Just busy, and blah.  Just as I was trying to clean up to go home, a band of "tween' boys came in, and while I was off trying to help a customer find something in housewares, they completely tore up my department.
I'm afraid I finally lost my cool.  I chewed them out, and told them to go elsewhere.

I'm probably the one who will get in trouble though - it took me an extra half hour past my scheduled time to clean up the mess, and the company frowns on overtime.

Oh well.

It's back to the salt mines for me now.
Hope today's a better day...
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Joy.

When I turn on the laptop, a little chord plays to let me know it's starting up - it's kind of a happy "ta da" sound.  I wish I had one of those - a little "ta da" sound when I wake up in the morning that says; "I'm here and I'm ready to make your day!"  LOL - wouldn't that be fun?

Anyway, another week has gone by, and April is almost over - how did that happen?  Wow, it went fast.

I should have stayed at church today, but I've had so many thoughts swirling around in my head, and if I wait, everyone is up and stirring, and they get lost in all the hubub of life...

I've had bad days this week, like Thursday, when a customer wanted a bike from the hanger on the rafters - I had the bike guy show me how to get them down, because that always happens at night after he's gone home.  Anyway, the rack malfunctioned (of course,) and I couldn't get it down the normal way, so I had to get the ladder and lift it down.  I shouldn't have.  I'm really not strong enough for those big bikes.  It came down - mostly on my head.  I had sort of braced myself for any contingency, so I was able to at least stop it from falling down on the customer, but I did not enjoy the experience.  It could have been a lot worse, but I'll be sporting some pretty spectacular bruises for a few weeks.

Then there were good days, like Saturday.  Nothing amazing really happened, it was just unusual for a Saturday.  We were just as busy as usual, but somehow it stayed cleaner, and there were fewer returns, and,  I don't know, it just made it possible to maintain the good mood that I always try to start out with.

A few people from the ward came in, and I had the chance to chat with them for a while.  Then Jenny came in just as I was going for my lunch break.  I debated about taking the car and going home, but instead, I opted to get something from the deli and stay.  I like to find a quiet corner to read on my breaks, and I can't do that at home because there's always someone to talk to.

Just as I finished eating, one of the cashiers came in for his break - he surveyed all the tables, then walked straight over to mine.  I had a slight twinge of annoyance, because I wouldn't be able to read after all, but these people seem to feel a connection to me, because I'm Wayland's wife, and they miss him being there.  (So do I.) ...And one of the main things I get a job for (besides the money) is to find friends, so I set the book aside...

The conversation got rolling, and others joined in.  The kid who retrieves the carts from the parking lot was at the next table, and he dove in too - soon he had me laughing so hard that I had to keep checking to make sure my mascara wasn't running down my face. I don't think he even meant to be that funny, the kid just can't help it - the best kind of funny.

  I haven't laughed that hard in ages - so good for the soul.

After lunch, I walked through the fabric department just to see if there was anyone there.  My supervisor told me to learn a few of the other departments, in case I ever need to help out there.  I've been putting it off, because it just feels weird to me to walk up to someone and ask; "Hey, could you teach me how to do your job?"  Couldn't get up the nerve, so I just kept walking.

When I got back to my department, miraculously (and I do not use that word loosely,) it was still pretty clean!   Just then, there was a call on the P.A. system for any available associate to go to hardware for customer service.  That made me feel guilty, because that's one of the areas that I was asked to learn.  I pulled up the boot straps and walked down there - but the sporting goods guy had gone down there, and I'm not even sure he speaks English (in fact, I've never heard him speak!)
I'm deaf anyway, so I kept going back to fabrics.

Having worked a fabric store before, the measuring and cutting was not the issue - the issue is learning all the applications of the telzon (scanning, printing labels, etc.) which I kind of stink at because I have such a short memory.
The lady there went over them with me and let me play with it for a little while.  (She was awesome, patient and thorough - just enough information to get started, but not so much that my brain overloaded.) 

Just as we were getting through with the basics, the other lady who works there came off her break - she started telling us about her trip to Buffalo to find her birth family.
Her story was really fascinating, and this might sound crazy, but I think I was meant to hear it.
It works right in with a project I'm working on, and that's all just a little too coincidental.
Life is so cool that way, don't you think?

My brain is whirring now, and I've had all kinds of inspiration...

I'm going on and on, and there are other things to get to - such as this:

Source: spirituallythinking.blogspot.ca via Pat on Pinterest

I found this on Pinterest, and I felt it was such a profound thought - I read it over and over just to let it sink in.  My children are all grown, and pretty independant, but there are times I find that they still need advice, encouragement, or even just approval (or applause!)   And I am so, SO thankful that those lines of communication are still open.  I need this constant reminder because I always, always, ALWAYS want to be there for them.

Lastly, I had the opportunity to spend a day with my sister on Tuesday.  We went to Thanksgiving Point to walk through the gardens for the Tulip Festival.  I wish I knew how to post them as a slide show, because I viewed them that way on iPhoto, and it was really cool, but you'll have to look at my still version, since I lack the tech skills...