CT Scan and other Scary Things

Standing outside the Radiology Department gulping down the last of my Berry Smoothie, I headed in for CAT scan and the unknown.  No liquids or food after 6am the doctor said.  You bet I woke up early and had a large breakfast at 5:35 a.m. 

Here I am sitting beside the donut shaped machine with my foot stretched out to prove, yes, I am really here.  The technician said to climb onto this very narrow platform, barely the width of my body.  What to do with my arms, which dangled precipitously over the edge.  "Don't move!" they said.  "Hold your arm up here."  I waited to hear the comforting words, "We are finished."  $4,000 later, and grateful for insurance, I await the doctor's report.  I'm glad that all went well no need to worry.  We will save that for another year. 

Brown, Blonde or in Between

Growing up I was a brunette.  I won't deny that often I fancied being a blonde.   I even daydreamed going on a cross country motorcycle trip, dressed in leather with a buff companion.  My unwritten bucket list placed it at, 'strongly attempt this'.

As is the case those hairs change colors around the mid forties.  It doesn't take long for the white to overtake the colored tresses.  Clairol became a trusted friend ala reddish, silver and golden highlights.  After noticing that blondes not only have more fun, but less gray.  My hairdresser recommended blonde highlights.  Next I suggested she keep adding more to camoflauge the white roots.  

Pretty soon I was officially a blonde and even sometimes acted like one.  Several people commented they liked it.  My do-it-yourself gave way to the professional touch.  People that haven't seen me for awhile, seem a bit surprised or make a comment. 

 This is my solution to the old lady white skunkish stripe and I feel years younger, too.   You decide if blonde, brown or inbetween is better. 

Lights and Wake-Up Call

The family went to town to see the lights on Temple Square and all the beauty going on.  I saw more than that, when waiting for the Trax train a man in a wheelchair smiled at me, but I turned away.  Feeling bad about my actions, I tried to make eye contact again.  He never looked back.  What makes one act unkind?

Later walking around holding hands and trying not to get separated from the grand children, a begger woman was asking for loose change.  I had none, but made it a point to mock her.  What had become of my Christian at Christmas deeds? 

I had to rethink my actions and have tried to be more thoughtful of those that may be invisible to us. 

A Searious Way With Words

I have become obsessed with Words With Friends on my ipad.  Currently seven games are in the process with friends and family.  I am losing some and surprisingly winning some.  I am in Scrabble heaven to tell the truth. 

I can't believe some of the words my opponents get away with.  No matter what ones I try, they are never qualified. I'm getting used to ' _____ is not an acceptable word'.  I really think there is bribing going on with the other person since their words make it through the judge.  Qi, re, se pass but que and snkx doesn't. 

Doesn't matter because after thirty years of drought, I am flooded with lots of friend and family that want to play the game.  Thank you for your competitiveness.  Please let me win once in a while. 

Countertop Capers

Our bar is the favorite 'dropping-off' location.  It works for a while until a very large item is set there, such as the old microwave after we get a new one or the electric roaster after the turkey dinner.  I try to ignore them, but how do you do that when they take up half of the space.  

We usually eat breakfast at the counter and often lunch as well on weekends.  I try not to say anything, but left for more than a few hours these items become 'elephants in the room'.  

The microwave was on the counter for six days.  I waited that long hoping he would notice it and do the manly thing.  It's been on the deck table for two months now.  I wonder would it still be on the counter today?

Today I picked up the roaster while getting breakfast, (which had only been on the kitchen counter overnight), Allan said, "I'll put that away tonight." 

"It is in my way now!" I said whisking it to the top of the basement stairs.  Still there waiting.

Oh, the joys of keeping the counters clean.   What is the magical secret? 

Today is Eleven - Twelve - Thirteen

On this day of November 12th, 2013, which numerically is 11-12-13, I went to the Jordan River Temple to do work for Grete Benke born 1645 in Germany.  It felt good to serve this member of my family, in such a beautiful building and such a special way. 

There will not be another 11-12-13 for one hundred years.  May you enjoy your day doing something significant, also. 

Gertrude Gladiola Glechtenbaum

Pulling my outdated but still amazing $100 dress from the back of my closet and a sporting a Pepto Bismal pink hat I picked up years ago at the DI, our office manager christened me, Gertrude Gladiola Glechtenbaum. 

Little did she know, Gertrude has been a favorite 'greatful granny' name of mine for years.  Greeting clients and putting on a happy somewhat goofy face, one repairman thought I was Little Bo Peep.  "I forgot my sheep!" I regretfully told him.  Oh, the joys of Halloween, dressing up and reinventing ourselves. 

Maximizing a Mini Opportunity

I'm not used to standing by amazing cars, let alone driving one, a Mini Cooper no less.

Now how do I start this thing?  Where is reverse?  We will just coast back.  Hope no one is looking. 

When I asked Kevin, at work if he would take me for a ride in his Mini Cooper, he shocked me by saying I could take it for a spin.  "Are you serious? I asked"  He said, "Yes!"

Why not go to lunch and take a friend to capture every second of the "Bucket List" event.
Kevin's caveat, "Don't wreck it!"   Here is my 'don't get in a crash' face.  

Okay, I'm liking this fun ride and taking all the precautions, as well.

We made it to Rumbi's safely.  Now to get back to the office without a scratch. 

Thank you, Kevin.  You are the best and bless you, too! 

Haunted and Hairy Halloween

Tom & Marion, Allan's sister, love Halloween and making haunted things.   For years they have designed spooky places.  It started in the old Draper Elementary School basement.  When that was condemned they moved to garages, barns and vacant property.  This year was no different as their friends and neighbors got together to scare the innocent, old and young in the back corner of their lot.

Marion thought of this 'human barbeque'.  Brian, their son, was the BBQ master enjoying cooking this lovely lady.  Looks like she is having the time of her life, too, with that smile.

This hairy and hungry fellow is waiting for his meal.  See his pile of bones.

A swinging mummy moves at the perfect moment to catch an unsuspecting fellow off guard. 

Behind the mummy field is this giant spider and it's web waiting to pull you in. 

The old witch invited us to look at her husband and to pet her snakes.  With a shot of air, we all jumped at the right time.  Screams were plentiful and generous at this FREE event.

A graveyard and who is buried there, not me, I hope.  Thank you Tom and Marion for scaring our wits off and sending us home with a bowl of chili, hot chocolate and freshly fried donut.  You are the best. 

Swans A Swimming

Fooled one day by these swans a swimming in the pond while deliverying Meals on Wheels, I thought how quaint this senior apartment complex was.  After getting closer to take the photo, it was easy to see they were just plastic floats placed there to fool people like me. 

Maybe they are an easy solution for having a pastoral setting without all the noise and droppings.  Remember stepping in duck droppings or being chased by some brave fowls.

In Huntsville last month, an estate had several fake Holstein cows grazing on their lawn.  Never having to buy hay, milk or feed them, is an interesting choice.  No beef in the freezer this winter either.  Interesting!

$200 for Zambia

It seems these days everyone wants our money.  We have to be very selective in whom we choose to donate to.  The Zambia Scholarship Fund helps send children to school and pays the teacher for teaching.  For $25 a month we fund a student's education and $35 pays the teacher.  $200 will buy a sewing machine or woodworking kit to teach vocational skills. 

I decided to raise $200 to help the cause, since I have been contributing for several years.  A yard sale was the result of this motivation earning $150.  Collecting aluminum cans all summer brought in $60.  I am sending a check this week for my part to help this great cause. 

Want to know more?  Go the thezambiascholarship.org for information about this nonprofit originating with Peggy Rogers of Tremonton, Utah.  Order their book, Foreign Flowers, or a video. Share them with friends to get more people helping this good cause by paying it forward.  It feels so good.

Walking Down Memory Lane With These Walls

Every month when we Home Teach at this assisted living center, I admire these wall decorations.   Now why can't I do that? I ask.   The items around the fireplace make for a classy look.  Perhaps I will enlarge the photo enough to cut out these things and hang them above my fireplace.  Yeah!

Between these framed prints are old aprons hung on rod iron hooks.  What a friendly and great reminder of each of my grandmothers kitchens.  They both wore aprons religiously.  I'm sure they felt under dressed without them.  A walk down memory lane for sure. 

Perfectly Poised

Believe it or not, I took this picture.  To me it is or should be in a magazine, on a calendar, or framed.  The setting is rustic.  The early morning lighting is luscious.  The background is amazing.  Everything is perfectly poised, centered and balanced. 

This picture is worth a thousand words.  Need I say more.  Perhaps I will enter it into a contest.   

I Only Hollered When I Had To

 The Orange Rhino blog talks of a young mother that set a goal to go holler free for one year. That is 365 days of hard earned goals, but blessings unmeasured. I look up to any woman that works to better herself.




Did I holler, scream or shout at my children? Yes, some. I don’t do it now. Is that because the stimuli stepped out or my anger has been allocated? Maybe they just grew up, quit making messes, and pushing my hot buttons. Who knows?

My mom hollered and so does one of my daughters. I probably did, too. I try not to now. The result of being hollered at is low self esteem, unsure actions and lack of confidence. Ultimately, we all suffer.  Walk away, count to ten or step outside to blow-up the experts say.  

Think: "I can't do this, but I'm doing it anyways."  The longer we can go between eruptions, the better we become and it feels so good. We can succeed.

Spending Time with Siblings

Some people pack gum, cash, goodies but I pack a camera.  It really comes in handy when all the siblings are together, which doesn't happen very often.  Snapping a moment in time to enjoy years later.  The posterity likes to reminisce about the good ole days, asking, "What year was that?' or "How old were they?"  "Who is the oldest?" 

We are actually lined up according to age starting with Sandy, Jim, me, Paula and Julie.  Nile passed away in 2000.  I'm happy to say we all get along great and hope to always.  Love you all, family. 

Leap of Faith

We are thinking of down-sizing or other sizing in the near future.  Maybe not quite this small or temporary.  It certainly would make life alot simpler.  Okay, this is really considered homeless, but always a possibility.   Utilities would be nonexistant saving at least $300 per month. 

Shared bathrooms might be a bit uncomfortable.  Allan's snoring would be the least of my worries.  This means I had better get busy dejunking or having that yard sale I have talked about for the past year.  Sprucing up the homestead would be moved to the top of the list. 

We better get busy NOW while the market is good!!

Hot & Hankerin' for a Hawaiian Ice

It is seldom you don't wait in a line at Lani's Hawaiian shaved ice stand.  This place is busier than the furniture store it sits in the parking lot of.  No fewer than three other snow shacks are within a mile, which are deader than dead most days.  But, at Lani's the line is often thirty people long. 

We rush in to get one if there is no waiting.  The prices are unbelievable too, for the size you get. 

Going Skull Crazy

I went school shopping with my granddaughter a few weeks ago.  Obviously not much time is spent in the Junior section any more.  It seemed skulls were chasing me around as she tried on some cute jeans. 

I snapped some pictures to see if any of them looked like someone I may have known before.  Funny thing, they all resembled the same person. Maybe a relative of the store owner.  From perfume bottles to polo's to memo pads.  What is with them?  I personally think a sun, smile or something else would be better. 

The Keys Were on the Counter

Locked myself out of the house a few weeks ago.  Yup, after stopping to get ready for work after being at the gym, which is usually a race against time, I locked and shut the front door.  It didnt take long to realize the car was locked and keys not in my hand. 

Checking all the spots we leave house keys proved fruitless.  I laughed just a week earlier about Audrey, my neice, doing the same thing.  We showed her where to find the keys, but there were none to be found this day. 

Then I spotted the upstairs bedroom window open.  I yelled to Audrey and Ken to help me, since they didn't respond to the doorbell.  Soon they came to my rescue. 

The keys were retrieved, house locked, car started, and a call into work that I would be late.  Miraculously, I was only four minutes late.  Yeah! to Audrey for being home with the window open and a fast commute. 

Sun Screen Sneaks on the Scene

Funny thing happened on the way to the beach, we all had sunscreen sprayed on us.  I hauled out my old fashioned, pink bottle of sunscreen to use and was the only one to slather the white cream on.  It sat on the table and snuck into Zach's picture. 

Then followed me out to the water where it got it's share of attention, smack dab in almost every photo.  Looks like a third playmate in the mud castle photo, doesn't it.  Noah appears to be talking right to the prominent pillar of pink or trying to bury it up to the neck in the sand.  Who knows, but it seems to have taken on a life of its own. 

Perturbed at the Pioneer Days Pageant

Who doesn't love a pageant with a big cast, props, music and special story.  We attended one on the Days of '47 that sounded interesting.  It was a bust, because...

We arrived at 7pm to buy tickets thinking it started at 7:30.  The program booklet said it started @8:30 instead.

 After walking around the food booths, events and such we took our seats.  The MC Nathan Osmond was introduced on time.  He spent 30-45 minutes honoring some people in the community, flag ceremony and singer, talking about the charity we were helping, introducing it, the founder, benefactors, etc.  Sky divers were in the mix.


 

 We watched the founder propose to his future wife.  They rode around in a Cinderella carriage so  we could ooo and ahhh.  Next there were some dancers and more singing by the MC, who invited members of the audience to sing songs to win 'his' CD.  There was more, but by then I was seeing red and not paying attention.

At 9:45 there was a 15 minute intermission.  Say what?  I am still waiting for the 'pageant'.  Remember, that is why we are here.  How about the MC take a break and we get this show on the road.  Young families and fifty plus age groups were the bulk of the audience.  The pageant began at 9:59 pm.  I was so mad from waiting so long, the play was a disappointment (no photos).  Not enough substance and too many cast members.  Parents were carrying their sleeping children out.   The rising of the full moon over the mountains in the distance was more exciting. 

Fireworks began going off during the program in odd spots.  It finally all culminated at 11pm.  We nearly fell off our seats in exhaustion.  We won't recommend it even if the MC said that 100% of our ticket price went to the foundation.  Thanks!