Wizard of Creativity

Putting in 400 amps

2011-06-26T08:50:00.005-07:00

Well, it is 110 degrees outside and we are still laying pipe. This is the second weekend in a row that I have looked my absolute best.

Last weekend I took Tarzan on a Father's Day fishing trip. He caught 15 beautiful trout. I sat and watched -- watching someone fish for 8 hours is akin to watching a computer boot up. Next time, I will fish too.

I'm back

2011-06-10T11:21:00.003-07:00

I have been encourage enough to begin blogging again. The problem with blogging is that when you get involved in it, you want to read what everyone else is saying. I don't have time for that, if I am going to be reading anything in the next week it is going to be one of these:

Allen, E. I., & Seaman, J. (2010). Learning on demand: Online education in the United States, 2009. Needham, MA: Sloan Consortium. Retrieved June 8, 2011, from http://www.sloanconsortium.org/publications/survey/pdf/learningondemand.pdf

Chopra , B. (August 2005). Intent Life [Blog]. Retrieved June 9, 2011, from http://www.intentblog.com/archives/2005/08/a_five_year_pla.html

Seaman, J. (2009). Online learning as a strategic asset. Volume II: The paradox of faculty voices. Washington, DC: Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. Retrieved June 8, 2011, from http://www.sloanconsortium.org/sites/default/files/APLU_online_strategic_asset_vol2-1.pdf

Shattuck, J., Dubins, B., & Zilberman, D. (2011). MarylandOnline's Inter-Institutional Project to Train Higher Education Adjunct Faculty to Teach Online. International Review of Research in Open & Distance Learning, 12(2), 40-61. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Smith Nash, S. (2005). Learning Objects, Learning Object Repositories,and Learning Theory: Preliminary Best Practices for Online Courses. Interdisciplinary Journal of Knowledge & Learning Objects, 1217-228. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Tipple, R. (2010). Effective leadership of online adjunct faculty. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 13(1). Retrieved June 8, 2011, from http://www.westga.edu/%7Edistance/ojdla/spring131/tipple131.html

Varvel, V. E., Jr. (2007). Master online teacher competencies. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 10(1). Retrieved June 8, 2011, from http://www.westga.edu/%7Edistance/ojdla/spring101/varvel101.htm.

So, if I don't comment on your blog, know that I still care about you, but for two more years, I am reading something else.

Gladys Knight

2010-09-30T13:45:00.004-07:00

I just got a phone call from Gladys Knight's secretary asking me what kind of help we needed for music at our Women's Conference to be held January 22nd. I was specifically asking for sheet music arrangements for hymns when I blithely sent an email to her from her webpage.

I audaciously asked if Gladys would like to come and sing and was kindly turned down due to time constraints.

I further asked that she put our conference on Gladys' calendar and perhaps a miracle would happen and she would come.

Isn't that a hoot? I have a contact phone number for Gladys Knight.

1 Nephi 17:3

2010-06-08T07:30:00.002-07:00

"And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them..."

See how simple that is?

PhD

2010-06-04T12:18:00.001-07:00

I have finished my first class. It was a no credit, no grade class, just pass fail and I passed.

This was an orientation class to help you get used to the online community and learn to use the application.

"I done good."

Mother's Day

2010-05-10T08:21:00.006-07:00

I've had 43 Mother's Days. This year just about wins the prize for the mother of all Mothers' Days.

Tarzan said, "Do you want to do something for Mother's Day?"

I said, "Not if I have to plan it."

Tarzan, "Oh."

End of conversation.

About two hours later he called me back and said, "We have a date at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Is it okay to celebrate Mother's Day a day early." "Sure." I say.

Then I start thinking about it, Saturday at 5:15 is the Laker's game, I bet we are going to a sports bar.

Maybe he is taking me to Circle K for hot dogs--but that is another story.

Hmmmmm, what could it be, I resist the temptation to ask.

Saturday morning we got up early and started working in the yard. Several times during the day he reminded me we had to leave before 5:00 p.m. Then I started wondering if someone was coming to the house and he was surprising me.

I still did not ask.

At 4:45 exactly, we were cleaned up and in the car. We started to drive and conversation ensued. Finally, I said something that made him casually say, "Oh, I'm taking you to that Puerto Rican restaurant I told you about."

Wow. What a night we had and to make it even more impressive, he was willing to completely miss the Laker's game to be with me (but because I am a good wife, I recorded it and we watched it when we came home--he was pleasantly surprised).

This place is in a guys home. He doesn't provide a menu, you just pay $15 a person and you eat what he and his wife cook. When they run out of food, they quit serving. You have to have a reservation.

We had an awesome authentic Puerto Rican meal. I would try to explain to you what it was, but I can't think of anything to compare it to so you would know what I'm talking about. One thing I can explain. There was something like a tamale, except it was not made with maza, the outside was mashed plantains. The stuffing was pork and it was to die for, then there was a rice dish -- oh yum. It was cooked in a banana leaf.

When we left, I had to take half of mine home, so he put it in a to go box and stapled the paper sack shut. When he handed it to me, he said, "I have put a little something in there for both of you."

Sunday morning, I opened the bag to finish my dinner for breakfast and he had put two breakfast rolls on top for our breakfast. When I opened the to go box, he had carefully wrapped everything back up in the banana leaf so it would stay moist.

We are going back on the 29th. We already made our reservation.

Then each of my children called me, each shared their love for me and each made me so happy to be a mother. I know I am blessed.

And you should see our yard!!!

Sitting in Safeway waiting for a Prescription

2010-05-05T15:05:00.005-07:00

A man comes over--he smells like sweat. He sits down at the blood pressure machine. I speak to him. "Hi, how are you today." "Good. I have to take my blood pressure it is all over the place." He closes his eyes, takes several deep breaths and -- with his eyes still closed pushes the button to start the test.

"Did you pass?" I ask.

"134/72." He replies.

"Not bad." He smiles and goes off. The little cubby hole I'm in still smells of sweat.

Next, a little three-year-old boy comes up. He looks over the machine. "What dat?" He asks me. I explain what it is and he asks how it works. I explain about the buttons and he wants to push them.

"Don't push the buttons -- it's not a toy."

"Otay. If I put my fingow heeow, it pinch me?"

"No, it is made for a big boy. Your finger is too little."

"Oh. If i put my aaam in, it pinch me?"

"No, your arm isn't big enough."

He gets closer and casually puts his finger up to push the buttons.

"Please don't play with the machine, it isn't a toy."

"Otay." He backs off, then his Mom or sister, or aunt or whoever she was finishes her business with the Pharmacist and yells at him, "get over her, we need to go home."

Why do people do that? Why can we just speak to children the way we want to be spoken to? I bet if her boss talked to her that way she would quit her job.

Whoops--Monday Memory

2010-04-26T07:57:00.002-07:00

So, I was sitting in Ward Council meeting (or as Tarzan calls it, the meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) and I took a Wintergreen Ice Breaker mint out of my purse and popped it in my mouth...

Except...

I missed and it went down my blouse...

So, I naturally looked down there to see if I could get it out and it wasn't there...

Thinking no one was looking at me...

I put my hand down between my cleavage to see if I could find it...

I did not find it...

When I looked up, all the brethren in the room had averted their eyes...

I demurely smiled and acted like nothing happened, so did all of them...

When I stood up, it fell out from under my skirt onto the floor...

Once again, I demurely picked it up and put it in the trash.

Don't you wish I had pictures.

Recycling to pay for PhD--Thursday Thought

2010-04-22T07:06:00.008-07:00

Since I have become aware of the monetary value of recycling, I have become more "green" conscious. There are many variables to figuring out what, in the environment, can be saved by recycling, but I found one source with calculations on paper alone.

SOME TYPICAL CALCULATIONS
· 1 ton of uncoated virgin (non-recycled) printing and office paper uses 24 trees
· 1 ton of 100% virgin (non-recycled) newsprint uses 12 trees
· A "pallet" of copier paper (20-lb. sheet weight, or 20#) contains 40 cartons and weighs 1 ton. Therefore,
· 1 carton (10 reams) of 100% virgin copier paper uses .6 trees
· 1 tree makes 16.67 reams of copy paper or 8,333.3 sheets
· 1 ream (500 sheets) uses 6% of a tree (and those add up quickly!)
· 1 ton of coated, higher-end virgin magazine paper (used for magazines like National Geographic and many others) uses a little more than 15 trees (15.36)
· 1 ton of coated, lower-end virgin magazine paper (used for newsmagazines and most catalogs) uses nearly 8 trees (7.68)

While there are tradeoffs for lowering your use of paper and raising your use of electronics, think about this—

Any time you do anything new, you have to learn it one step at a time. First, we figure out how to save our trees and then we figure out how to create less electronic junk, and move on to actually increasing our green print.

We have been here for 2,000 years without working to save our mother earth, who groans from her abuse:

1 Ne. 19: 12
And all these things must surely come, saith the prophet Zenos. And the rocks of the earth must rend; and because of the groanings of the earth, many of the kings of the isles of the sea shall be wrought upon by the Spirit of God, to exclaim: The God of nature suffers

If you want to recycle you aluminum cans, plastics, paper, cardboard, electronics and car or boat batteries to help save our earth, let me know, I will pick them up weekly. You see, I am paying for my PhD by recycling.

Recycling is hard work and a large effort sometimes gives a small return, but my determination to pay cash for my PhD and not go into debt for it causes me to work, collect and even pick up cans and bottles I find in the parking lot.

I’m not dumpster diving – yet.
I don’t wear a stocking cap – yet.
I don’t have a shopping cart – yet.

But know this, to reach my goal, I’m game. Call me or email me if you want to contribute to my project.

Monday Memory, Tuesday Tip, What I Saw Wednesday

2010-04-21T09:06:00.003-07:00

Don't think ill of me...

I believe that women should be strong and that we can do anything we want to do...

Therein lies the truth "anything we want to do..."

Here is the memory: I remember when my children were small that they wanted to go fishing. We lived in New Mexico. Their father would not take them, so I loaded everyone in the car, bought some fishing rods and worms at K-Mart and off we went.

We stood on the pier and caught several fish. They had a wonderful time. Brian put the worms on the hooks and they all caught fish.

So, here's the tip: If you don't like to clean fish and there is no one at home who will do it for you, go to the place on the pier where you can clean fish. Stand there with you children around you and wait for the first guy to walk by, then say, "My children just caught some fish. Will you show me how to clean them?" He will gladly do so. You put the cleaned fish in your ice chest and then you just wait for the next guy to come along and ask him to show you how and so on until all the fish are clean.

What I saw: Three delighted children who experienced success.

2010-04-18T19:40:00.002-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, the time has come!!!

Joete's Playground is hosting its Mother's Day auction HERE and it begins Monday, April 19th!!

Joete's was founded a few years ago by my friend Amberly's amazing sister, Lindsay.

You can read all about the non-profit organization HERE.

Here is what Amberly says in her blog:

"We have had fabulous people and companies donate fantastic things to this auction... so please check it out, let your friends know and bid on something great for the women in your lives!
All proceeds from the auction will go directly to new playgrounds that Joete's has in the works, so be generous! Give the mothers in your life a fantastic gift and help impoverished children at the same time. We'll ship the gifts directly to mom, or wherever you'd like them to go, it's so easy!

And... if you'd be so kind, it would be very much appreciated if you'd repost this on YOUR blog to get the word out. Thanks, bloggies... you're the best!! "

This should have been on What I Saw Wednesday

2010-04-15T11:19:00.003-07:00

As many of you know, we have been remodeling. We replaced all of the windows in our home with double paned, tinted Milgard windows. They come with a lifetime guarantee on the glass. We have had them for three months and a pebble hit one of the big windows and broke the outside glass.

I called Milgard and they sent two guys out and it was amazing, I'm sorry I didn't grab my camera. They pulled out the plastic strip on the inside, that I didn't even know was there, and with the suction cups pulled both panes out in a unit, then they put up two kinds of glue and went out to get the new window unit. They popped it in, secured it to the glue and replaced the plastic strips, you can't even tell we ever had a problem.

They even washed the windows. Amazing

Spring--What I Saw Wednesday

2010-04-14T07:59:00.001-07:00

Old Shower Curtain--Tuesday Tip

2010-04-13T08:45:00.006-07:00

Old shower curtain?

Torn holes at the top?

Mold at the bottom?

Getting ready to replace it?

Here's what you can do with it:

After washing it with bleach, take it with you the next time you go on a picnic, put it down first to keep the blanket dry.

And then there is always the idea...

Use it to cover things when you are painting or crafting.

Just a thought.

Anniversary-Monday Memory

2010-04-12T12:50:00.005-07:00

I remember 11 years ago, standing next to the man I love and saying "I do."

Saturday we celebrated by going to the Bourbon Steak Restaurant. Wow, what a lovely evening. We sat on the patio and the weather could not have been better. Tarzan had steak, I had lobster pot pie (2 lb lobster in a pot pie) yum. It was expensive, but worth every bite, every minute and every year of celebration. We talked it over and we like being married to each other.

Kinda nice, don't you think?

Just something I wrote in 2002 to accompany a newborn gift.

2010-04-09T08:25:00.005-07:00

What is the first thing you remember, Jake?

Being loved?

Soft voices?

Mother’s arms?

Or do you remember more?

Do you remember the heavens,Stars, moon and more?

Did you bring that with you?

To share with me awhile?

You are a prince above all princes.

Your life will always be filled with joy.

You bring happiness to everyone who knows you.

Silver gifts pale in your beauty.

For you, Jake, are the light of our lives.

You, Jake, give purpose…

I've thought about it....Thursday Thought

2010-04-08T12:39:00.008-07:00

I really do like pink and polka dots and red, yup, that's me alright, pink, polka dots and red.

Psssssstttt...What I Saw Wednesday

2010-04-07T08:31:00.000-07:00

I saw my Hair Spray in the bathroom cabinet right by the hinge that opens and closes the door. I closed the cabinet door and that hinge was just too close to the can...

and I heard this aweful pssssssssttttt noise. I opened the cabinet door and got hair spray all over me and the bathroom. See the little hole right above the words "Ultra Strong"...
Hair spray is real sticky.

2 Second Rule-Tuesday Tip

2010-04-06T07:49:00.005-07:00

The two-second rule is a way for a driver to maintain a safe following distance at any speed. The rule is that a driver should ideally stay at least two seconds behind any vehicle that is directly in front of them.

You do it by spotting a landmark, such as a light pole or street sign, then count "one thousand one, one thousand two." If you reach the landmark before you get to two, you are too close. The interesting thing is that the distance shortens and lengthens based on your speed to keep you just 2 seconds away from rear ending someone.

And how do you know that, you may ask. Several sessions of safe driving classes, but I was never there for a rear ender :-). Oh, and if you are over 60, you can get a discount on your car insurance if you take the class (they don't ask you why you took the class, just if you took the class)

Easter-Monday Memory

2010-04-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

When I was a child, my mother always made sure my sister and I had new Easter dresses. Mom would dress in her favorite suit of the season and with hat and gloves we all dressed up to pay reverence to the resurrected Christ. Mom made it clear that we were getting new dresses to show our love and respect for the Savior and not because we needed to be cute or well dressed.
I don’t know if I instilled that in my children, but I do remember one Easter dress event with them. Tori was about 3 years old and Celia was about 1 year old. I made matching Easter dresses for the three of us. They were yellow and white (double knit polyester :-)). The girls’ dresses had little orange appliqué carrots on the front.

Saturday night, I had hung the dresses on the door in the kitchen so they would be fresh and ready Sunday morning. When we got ready to go to bed Saturday night, Tori started to cry. When I asked why she said “if you don’t turn the dresses around and hide the carrots the Easter Bunny might eat them and ruin our dresses.”

I love children.

Thursday Thought--Make the World a Better Place

2010-04-01T08:31:00.003-07:00

As I drove to work today, I saw four people standing at the bus stop. Interestingly, my first thought was that they were all together because they were all dressed in dark cloths and had on shirts or jackets that, from a distance, looked like they matched.

However

As I got closer to them I noticed they were strategically positioned so they would not make eye contact with each other or have to speak to each other. For some reason this saddened me.

And I thought...
How did we, as a society get so that we don't interact with each other on a casual, friendly basis?
How did we move to a position of self absorption so that we avoid contact with strangers?

Let's change that.
Join me in this movement.

I will:

Speak to strangers on the street -- just a simple nod and hello
Greet the clerk in the store with a smile and ask how their day is going
Smile at little children in public and tell them I appreciate how nice they are acting
Get to know my neighbors better
Listen carefully when someone talks to me
Speak to people on the elevator
Speak to people on the bus or at the bus stop

Will you?

One Good Day Among Many...

2010-03-04T14:43:00.003-07:00

As Jenny lay in bed that Sunday morning in the twilight state between being asleep and being awake she felt the old familiar joy of starting a new day with the man she loved. What would today bring? As the foggy waking up dissipated she slowly remembered that what the day would bring was not what she had dreamed of.

Keith lay in the bed next to her. She could hear his heavy breathing. His wavy blonde hair tussled over the pillow like a little boy. Though his face and body were at rest now, those beautiful blue eyes that sparkled when he laughed and the way his mouth was always turned up as though he would burst out in laughter at any moment brought a smile to Jenny’s face even as she thought about the labors of the day ahead. With love in her heart she got up. It was 5:00 a.m. The acid smell of urine on the sheets permeated the air.

Jenny took a hot shower to ease her aching, overworked muscles. She was only 5’4” tall and weighed just 100 pounds. Yet she shouldered her responsibility with a glad heart knowing Keith would do the same for her if the circumstances were reversed. After the shower the ritual called for daily hygiene and cosmetics then dressing comfortably and layered so the temperature could be right for Keith.

Jenny went into the kitchen and decided to give herself a little treat today. She turned on the oven for a little extra heat in the room, put a teapot on to heat the water and got out her favorite hot chocolate mix with hazelnuts, the one she had been saving for a time like this. Today was Jenny and Keith’s fifth wedding anniversary.

As she sat sipping her hot chocolate she wondered if Keith was even aware of what day this was. It didn’t matter, she would celebrate just the same and then give her gift of love to him for the rest of his life and receive his gift of gratitude in return for the rest of hers. Ten minutes she gave herself, just ten minutes and then it was 6:00 a.m. and time to start Keith’s day.

“Good morning merry sunshine, what makes you shine so bright?” Jenny sang her usual wake up call.

“Gmmmmg” Keith always tried to respond.

Jenny rolled Keith over on his side and got ready to hoist him into the wheelchair. The chair was anchored and, with the pulley system Keith’s brother had set up for them, she lifted Keith into the wheel chair and headed for the bathroom.

“Keith, what soap scent do you want today, apple, peach, or pear? “

“Puhhhh.”

“Pear?” Jenny stopped pushing and came around in front of Keith for a response.

His blue eyes sparkled and she knew she had guessed right.

To be continued...

Sandi Grandberry (c) copyright 2010

At firs I was...

2010-02-15T09:12:00.002-07:00

Almost

2010-02-08T11:04:00.003-07:00

We almost finished the remodeling
We almost emptied all the boxes
We almost have the living room put back together
We almost have one room ready
We almost have the electrical stuff getting done
We almost have ...

Are we ever finished
Or do we live in a perpetual state of almost...

My Life is One Big Drama and I Love it

2009-11-23T08:54:00.003-07:00

Sunday morning I attended Welfare Meeting. Between Welfare and Sacrament Meeting, I was standing in the hall and a man, all dressed in white, came running in with a small 4-year old boy in tow.

He came up to me and said, "Is this the place where they have church for children?"

I told him we did have a meeting for children and he replied, "Good, then I will leave him here. What time do you finish so I can come and pick him up?"

I said--in total shock--"We finish at noon."

He replied that he would return at noon and leaned over to the boy and say "Give me a kiss mija." The boy gave him a kiss and he left with me standing there in charge of a strange 4-year old boy I knew nothing about.

I took his hand and told him to stay with me, asked his name (Damon) and introduced him to the Primary President, Sister Faller.

We went to Sacrament meeting together and, being the good grandma that I am, I had candy in my purse to entertain him. Sister McFall asked him if he had any breakfast and he told her he had a muffin. She gave him an energy bar, which he saved for later.

He was very obedient and behaved during the meeting, though he was bored. I kept thinking, "I hope I haven't just adopted a 4 year old boy." His teacher, Sister Mickelson, was sitting behind me and told me she would be sure he got to all the right places.

I asked him who brought him, "Was it your grandpa?"
"No."
"Was it your Dad?"
"No."
"Who was it?"
"Never mind" and he shut his eyes.
"Where do you live?"
"Far away"
"What is your Mother's name?"
"Never mind" and he shut his eyes again.

Oh, my, I think I may have just adopted a 4-year old boy.

During the meeting he noticed he was not wearing any socks and then checked to see if he was wearing underpants--he was, trauma averted.

After Primary started I walked out into the hall and saw the man who brought him pacing back and forth as if he was looking for Damon. I stopped him and introduced myself. He was quite embarrassed that he had not even found out my name when he dropped off the boy and wanted the check and be sure he was okay. His name was Rick and he was Damon's uncle. He gave me a little personal information about Damon's family which I won't put here, but it was an interesting story.

Man, was I relieved.

We walked to the Primary door and looked in through the window and saw Damon up in the front of the room with Sister Faller. They were singing the Hello song to him. Rick was ecstatic and thanked me and said he would be back at noon to pick up Damon and then this..."If he has a good time, I will bring him every week."

I'm thinking..."and who are you going to leave him with?" but I didn't say that.

After the meetings, I went to the classroom for the 4-year old children and found Damon just finishing a picture that said, "I want to hold the Priesthood." He was so excited and couldn't wait to show his uncle the picture. I guess the uncle will find out very quickly what he is learning at the place were they have church for children.

So, Rick picked up Damon--Damon jumped up and down with excitement because he had so much fun--Rick said, "see you next week"--I realized the sign on my forhead that said "sucker" was flashing--all in all it was a great day.

Pre-Holiday joy

2009-11-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

Tamales homemade by Jackie Harrison. I'm in the holiday spirit now.

I do not sweat--Recent Monday Memory

2009-10-26T10:44:00.014-07:00

You remember Papa's Grow Sticks? Of course you do, how could you forget something so important to me? Well, we finally found a lumber source in Springerville, Arizona. They custom cut them for us and every stick is from a forest conservation project so we are not not only made in the USA, we are green.

This is Charlie, he is loading 700 pieces of lumber into the pickup we rented for the trip.

That's a lot of lumber. We are going to be very busy.

See how neatly it is stacked.

Whoa, it looks a little crooked. Watch out Tarzan...

Do you think that pickup can hold a load like this?

Tarzan looks a little worried.

Those straps are ingenious. We thought we were going to have to unbundle it to get it in the truck.

Up-se-daisy

Going doeoeoeown...See Charlie standing up to be sure it goes in the bed of the truck?

And in it goes, we made it...

Tarzan is guiding it along...

Notice the wheel well...

Whoa, that is one heavy load. Not much space left in the wheel well.

Tarzan and Charlie are checking out the weight on the pickup...

We made it home but about 30 minutes into the drive home, we did have to stop and redistribute the weight of the lumber, see in the last picture how it is over to the left a bit? That made things real scary and having had another scary experience with weight shifting, we decided it was worth the effort to break down the bunch and redistribute the weight.

When we arrived home we had to unload that lumber, we were having an unexpected 100° day. I do not sweat. I get a little moist sometimes, but drops of sweat like basketball players have do not form on my body, especially not on my face. Well I got so hot and worked so hard that sweat actually dripped off my eyebrow. I thought I was bleeding. When we finished we were going to run some errands and go out to eat...

NOT

When we finished, we ate leftover roast beef sandwiches, took a hot shower, and fell into bed exhausted.

The ole' gray mare, she ain't what she used to be.

I'll be back from time to time

2009-09-27T18:07:00.002-07:00

School has started and I am now in full swing with 200 students--yes I said two hundred. That means I have 200 papers to grade every week besides working full time, being Relief Society President and making Grow Sticks every day.

Blogging must wait. See ya now and then.

Tell me your story...see medical note at bottom

2009-09-18T11:39:00.006-07:00

My friend and I have been laughing at our stupid behavior when visiting with different doctors and the stupid behavior of doctor’s offices and insurance companies and we are wondering if there are others who have stories to tell.

If you have an interesting story, please email it to me…grandberry at gmail dot com.

So, I went to the dermatologist to have a full body skin exam. There are a few things I’m concerned about that could be melanomas. There I am totally naked in the doctor’s office (except that silly little paper thing they give you) and he is doing the exam.

Me: I have had this bump on my arm that won’t go away and it has changed colors. I've had it for four months.
Doctor: That’s normal, probably a bug bite
WHAT I DON’T SAY BUT WANT TO: Are you crazy, a bug bit that lasts four months? That can’t be normal.

Me: I have these bumps on my scalp and my hair dresser tells me they look like moles (I find one and tell him where to look, he doesn’t touch it or part my hair to get a better look or anything. And my hair is clean--very clean and shiny)
Doctor: Yup, they are moles, that’s normal
WHAT I DON’T SAY BUT WANT TO: What do you mean they are normal, I have done the research and Google tells me that moles on the scalp can be precursors to melanoma. You need to look closely and be sure none of them are putting my life in danger.

I point out a few more things and then, he proceeds to check me out front and back, as I stand in the room wearing nothing but a smile and that silly paper thing they give you, and then...

Doctor: You have good skin, nothing unusual.
WHAT I DON’T SAY BUT WANT TO: The bumps and things I pointed out may all be normal, but not very sexy.
Me: Okay, thanks doctor
Doctor: I’ll see you in six months
Me: (total silence)

The doctor doesn’t even notice my silence and rushes off to earn his next $500 for a 10 minute exam.

Then I am sitting in my car—fuming—and I remember the wart on my stomach. I have a wart on my stomach the size of a tic tac, and he didn’t even notice that? I was going to have him freeze that right off, but he got me so frustrated that I didn’t even mention it and now, here I am with a very unsexy wart on my stomach…did I mention it is the size of a tic tac…and I am going to have to do the freeze job myself.

So, to recap, bump on my arm—no diagnosis (doctor visit of no value), moles on my scalp, diagnosed by my hair dresser (doctor visit of no value), wart on my stomach, unnoticed by doctor (doctor visit of no value).

And insurance paid for that…

For your information, the American Medical Association says that if you have moles on your scalp you should have pictures taken of them so you can compare and see if they change color or shape.

So, if you have a doctor story, I need it. I am collecting doctor stories. Not sure what I am going to do with them. In case I decide to publish them please include permission to use the story and if you want your name included with the story or not. Again, send them to grandberry at gmail dot com.

I don’t want the name of the doctor or insurance company, but if you have a doctor story or doctor experience or an insurance story of some kind. I am interested. Positive and negative stories are accepted.

Image from http://healthcare.zdnet.com/?p=1163

Courage--Thursday Thought

2009-09-17T16:32:00.005-07:00

"Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it with use."

Ruth Gordon

____________________________________________________________________________________

You will recognize her best from this picture

She also looked like this

Smiles--What I Saw Wednesday

2009-09-17T16:23:00.002-07:00

I saw SteveE crossed eyed with one eye. He didn't know he could do that.

I saw myself crosseyed with one eye, I've never seen myself do that, kind of hard to see your self when one of your eyes is looking left and one is not.

I saw Tarzan with one lense missing in his sunglasses and he didn't know it. When I pointed it out, he said "I wondered why everything looked so funny." Then he spend severl minutes wondering how long it had been that way and why no one had told him before me. I assured him it was because I love him most of all.

Auto Pay--Tuesday Tip

2009-09-15T09:30:00.002-07:00

It seems like such a good idea....

The companies make it so easy for you, right?

Just sign up for auto pay and they will magically take money out of your bank account to pay your bill and you never have to worry about it...

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE

Don't be so fast to sign up for auto pay that way. Once you do that, you lose control of the money being taken out of your account.

The company can take your payment out twice, yikes, overdraft.
They can continue taking money out even when you don't owe them money any more, yikes, overdraft.
They can make a typo and take out too much or too little, yikes, over draft and late fees.

The experts say the better way to do this is to set up the auto pay from your bank.

That way you have control over the money. If you want to stop the auto pay, it is a simple matter of you canceling it on your side and not trying to get someone on the receiving end to stop it. I have wanted to stop an auto pay "immediately. Sometimes, the receiver has a 30 day window in which they still have access to your account before they cancel the autopay.

Take my advice on this one, use the banks autopay, not the creditor's autopay.

Thank you very much for listening

My crazy sister-Monday Memories

2009-09-15T09:15:00.006-07:00

My sister, Inez, is so fun.

I have fond memories of playing with her when we were children. I don't recall that we argued a lot. We always shared a room and playing in there alone with her was fun.

Our father was in the Air Force. We traveled all over the world and in our travels we each had a collection of something. She collected dolls. Our father made her a cabinet to put the doll collection in it was painted blue and had glass doors. We were not allowed to play with the dolls...

...that is unless we were alone in our room.

We were oh so careful and soon learned we could not play with the Dresden ballerinas because the glass net on their tutus just crumbled in our hands.

I wish we lived closer.

Isn't she just the cutest thing? This is Inez, Mom, Tarzan, and me at the Springerville, Arizona 4th of July parade 2008.

911

2009-09-11T14:38:00.003-07:00

They said it for me:

Becky

Ree

Amberly (not a 911 salute, but a reminder of why I love America)

Shellie

Lenn

Choice--Thursday Thought

2009-09-10T08:42:00.002-07:00

Once you make a choice, it is your responsibility to make it the right decision.

This is a loose quote of something Paton Manning said on NPR. He was specifially speaking of choosing a college to go to, namely once he chose a college, he had to work to make it the right choice.

I have thought about that for awhile now and I believe that it can be extended to many other choices we make in out lives. Think about it, what choices have you made that now you have to work at to make them the right decision?

Hubble--What I Saw Wednesday

2009-09-09T08:33:00.000-07:00

I saw images taken by the Hubble after it was repaired by the Astronauts, so I can still say to the question, "What's up?" "The Hubble Telescope."

Envelopes--Tuesday Tip

2009-09-08T18:22:00.002-07:00

We have long been advocates of the envelope method of budgeting.

As you know, I am saving for my PhD, that is a little more than an envelope worth of money, however, the new kitchen door and security screen we want is going to cost us about $800 installed. Here is what we do...

We get an envelope and put a few dollars in it every week. Both of us contribute out of our personal spending money. When we get the money saved up, we buy our doors and hire our installer.

We never feel the pain of a large purchase such as that. Sometimes it takes us longer than other times, but we can always reach our goal.

Once we hired a surveyor for our property, he was going to charge us $600. He finished before we had the whole $600. I got out my envelope and told him that I would give him the $400 we had saved up and the other $200 on payday.

He laughed and said, "You have been saving up for this and you only have $400 in that envelope? I'll take that and call it even."

I love a bargain.

Memorial Day--Monday Memories

2009-09-07T12:24:00.001-07:00

I remember when I had time to relax and enjoy Memorial Day and a cookout with friends.

Wisdom--Thursday Thought

2009-09-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, "My gracious, look how wise I am!"

I don't know who said this, but it's mine now.

Many Things--What I Saw Wednesday

2009-09-02T18:19:00.005-07:00

I saw my 87 year old mother, walking sprightly up the stairs.

I saw blackbirds on a fence
I saw the sun on the lake
I saw Tarzan wishing he had his fishing pole

I saw poop on a sign. No actually I didn't see the poop until I got the picture on the computer. I saw a cool sign on a country store.

I saw wood for Papa's Grow Sticks.

All in all it was a glorious weekend.

Holey Joes--Tuesday Tip

2009-09-01T09:49:00.003-07:00

This is a silly tip...it's actually more like Tuesday Trivia, but whatever...

You know those "Ineroffice Envelopes"? Like these? Welllllll, here is some funny trivia for you.

These were invented by the military (of course we believe it was the Air Force that invented them).

In the Air Force they are referred to as "Holey Joes." 'Cuz of those holes.

Did you ever wonder why they have holes in them? Well, I just found out today from Tarzan...

When the military was passing top secret information around the office in these Holey Joes, they needed to be sure there was nothing left in the envelope, thus, the holes.

Isn't that kewl?

Rough Out Boots--Monday Memories

2009-08-31T10:23:00.004-07:00

Digger always wore black shiny, pull on work boots.

Always.

One year, when my brother and I were both married and living in Utah, Digger began a campaign for new boots. He would say, "Boy I sure would like some rough out boots." And then in a few days, "I have always wanted a pair of rough out boots." And so on, for about 4 or 5 months before his birthday.

Digger was never one to ask for anything, so I'm sure in retrospect he was not hinting for us to buy them for him. Rather, he was talking himself into it.

If you don't know it, rough out boots are brown and they have a rough leather exterior like unfinished leather. Well, not that rough, but anyway, they are not smooth and shiny.

So, my brother and I went together on our struggling college budget and bought him a pair of brown rough out boots, just like his shiny black ones, only brown and rough out.

We all met at his house and had lunch, then he opened his present and put the brand new brown rough out boots on and said, "Boy, these are nice, they would be nicer if they were black and shiny."

My brother, boxed them up, went back to the store and got him a pair of black shiny boots. Have I told you--I loved Digger.

Calling All Private Blogs

2009-08-30T15:32:00.001-07:00

If you have or want me in your private blog, please do this for me so I don't lose track of you.

http://pensivebrenda.blogspot.com/2009/08/attention-all-private-bloggers.html

My email address is grandberry at gmail dot com.

Thanks

Oscar-What I Saw Wednesday

2009-08-27T05:49:00.004-07:00

I love Oscar...

No, Tarzan is safe, he loves Oscar too...

Tarzan walked outside and turned back to tell me "Oscar's back."

I stepped outside and sure enough, there was Oscar just sitting by the house, like he does every spring and fall.

We always muse, "Why does Oscar come up here every spring and fall?"

I turned to go into the house and noticed something on the bottom of the door. I looked closely and saw a scorpion with a BODY THE SIZE OF A QUARTER.

(Insert ooos and yucks here)

I calmly said, "Tarzan, look at the bottom of the door."

Tarzan moved quickly, and manly when he saw it. He took a broom and swept the scorpion outside and then beat the living daylights out of it.

We then both -- at the same time -- (I love it when that happens) looked at Oscar and then back at the scorpion and said "oooooooooooh." (You have to say that starting low and then making your voice go up and then back down)

Tarzan took the broom and swept the now deceased scorpion over to Oscar and we went into the house.

5 minutes later dead scorpion gone...we love Oscar.

Cost Per Use-Tuesday Tip

2009-08-25T08:56:00.004-07:00

You know there is a rule of thumb on whether or not you can afford to buy the kewl thingy there in Ikea that you just have to have.

It is called cost-per-use. You figure out how many times you will use the item and divide that into the cost if the item to figure your cost for a year--as an example...

I had to have a fancy delux vacuum that all the young girls in the ward were talking about. So, it cost me (because I got the really fancy one) about $500. I vacuum about 150 times a year. If I have the vacuum one year, it costs me $3 each time I use it. If I keep it for 5 years, it costs me 66¢, now that makes it a bargain.

However, here is a good one, you want a new blouse, it costs $50. You may wear it 10 times in a year, less if you have lots of cloths. At $5 a pop, that is an expensive blouse when you could go to a discount store like Ross and get a perfectly good blouse for maybe $10 and have that cost go down to $1 per use.

If the item is not something you "use" rather something you will just enjoy such as a picture on the wall, you can say cost-per-enjoyment. Now, that's my favorite, 'cause I can really enjoy something----a lot.

And finally, the cost per use on boxes or bottles of consumable products is something you should pay attention to. It used to be that bigger was cheaper. A larger box of cereal cost less per ounce than a smaller box of cereal, but not anymore. One example I have seen is a popular brand of shampoo at a cost like this:

15.0 ounce bottle 90¢ cost 06¢ per ounce
22.5 ounce bottle $1.47 cost 06.5¢ per ounce

Watch out for that, most price labels have the cost per unit on them, do some comparison and save yourself some money. That may not seem like a lot of money, but when you realize it is 8.9% more for the larger bottle, you might want to give it some serious thought. How would you feel if the store charged you 8.9% more for everything you bought. Yikes.

Septic Tank--Monday Memory

2009-08-24T09:03:00.002-07:00

I'm a city gal, at least I think of myself as a city gal. I love theater, I love sports, I love the action of downtown, I love the feel of a college campus, but...

I have spent several years in the country, so maybe I'm a country gal. You be the judge...

Tarzan and I had company coming early Saturday morning. Friday night the septic tank backed up. Do city gals have septic tanks?

Anyway, several hours and a few dollars later, it was running again. Thanks you Shad you are the best.

This reminded me of another time and another septic tank in another place where this city gal lived in the country.

The places was Fruitland, New Mexico. We lived on a 2 acre farm with a septic tank. It needed to be replaced, so we hired someone to do it for us. They built it with cinder block and cement. It was all finished...a thing of beauty...the lid was not on yet and we could see that things were flowing into it as they should (sorry if that grosses you out).

The next day they came to put the lid on and cover the tank. With the lid in place, the tractor started covering it up and when the weight of the dirt and tractor ran over it one too many times, you guessed, the top broke and the front of the tractor went down into the hole.

Now, I am laughing at the picture, I hope you are.

Not only did they have to pull the tractor out, they had to clean all the cement and dirt out (along with the other stuff that had flowed into the tank). It seems they had not put enough rebar in the lid for the tank.

The moral is, "Anything worth doing is worth doing right." OR "Don't take shortcut they can be a yucky mess."

Languishing--Thursday Thought

2009-08-20T09:11:00.001-07:00

"Sometimes, languishing in the arms of your sweetheart for an extra half hour in the morning is the best way to start your day."

Sandi Grandberry

Moving Manuer--What I Saw Wednesday

2009-08-19T07:55:00.002-07:00

Remember this? Here is the tractor we moved, innocent looking isn't it?

She moves with style and grace...did you ever see such a stylish hat for shoveling you know what?

See how the hat is tipped slightly to give her some style?No, not turning away from the smell, backing up. In case you don't know old manure doesn't smell bad and this is OLD horse poop. Yeah, she's cool, well, not really, it's 115 °

What would Tarzan do without a good partner?

Miche Bag I have to have one

2009-08-19T07:29:00.000-07:00

The Park Avenue Princess is giving one of these awesome purses away. I want one so bad it is silly. This is my favorite shell

Miche Bag, Utah based business, unbelieveable idea.

Committee--Tuesday Tip

2009-08-18T11:11:00.001-07:00

If you are going to be on a committee that receives long, detailed presentations from several different experts in their field, you may need to have some caffeine to survive.

Embarrassing--Monday Memory

2009-08-17T08:17:00.003-07:00

My most embarrassing moment happened when I was 16 years old.

I was taking a speech class from Mr. Udall. He had one day a week when you could give in impromptu speech and complain about anything you wanted as long as you did not slander anyone or badmouth any individuals.

It took me about three months to come up with something to say for that assignment. Finally, a couple of things began to bother me so I stood up and said (with my hands on my hips)...

"I've had two things on my chest for the longest time."

Mr. Udall couldn't get the class back under control and I didn't get why they were laughing. I was really hurt that everyone was making fun of me. When I did finally catch on....

one word

mortified.

What is your most embarrasing moment?

My PhD

2009-08-12T17:49:00.000-07:00

You can't see it in this itty-bitty picture, but I am at 4% of my goal.

It is a life long dream of mine to get my PhD.

I am a person of no particular circumstance. I do not qualify for any scholarships or grants. There is no way I will be able to pay for this education out of my meager State salary.

I am going to start my PhD journey next year. My degree will be a PhD in Higher Educaton Administration.

There are 6 months left to earn the money for my first year.

If everyone who knows me donates $1.00 and everyone who knows them donates $1.00, I can do this.

I would love to have a donation from you.

Giveaway--What I Saw Wednesday

2009-08-12T09:23:00.002-07:00

I saw a purse I want so bad my teeth ache. I love purses. Check it out. You can buy one purse and then change its "cloths" so you have lots of purses and never move your stuff. Last Sunday I was driving without my driver's license because I changed purses and didn't move my wallet to the new purse.

Did I say, "I L-O-V-E this purse."

TV--Tuesday Tip

2009-08-11T14:00:00.001-07:00

"Teens who watched just 21 extra minutes of TV daily were more likely to become depressed as young adults, compared with those who watched less (2 hours and 38 minutes vs. 2 hours and 27 minutes), according to a recent study. Could it be a chicken-and-egg situation? Maybe, but research did exclude anyone who was depressed at the start. And really limiting the amount of TV anyone watches is never a bad thing."

Woman's Day July 2009

When our oldest child was just 8 years old, our TV "broke" and we just never got around to fixing it. As a consequence, our children played outside, used their imaginations, learned to communicate with other family members, became readers, yes and even studied the scriptures. I highly recommend you break your TV.

The first week is the hardest, the silence is deafening, but the adjustment was worth it.

Grandkids Week Aug 2009--Monday Memories

2009-08-11T09:37:00.005-07:00

I'm a day late, but you will understand when I tell you that I just spent one week with five of my grandchildren. I was a little busy and a little tired and had quite a bit of catching up to do.

Grandkids week
1
Number of mud fights

Number of splash parks visited

Number of times Tarzan got a personal cool down

Number of Candy Stores Visited

Number of cups of glitter vacuumed up
Number of successful all nighters pulled
Number of 3-D movies in the theater we watched

2
Number of water fights
Number of boys who got to spend 1 hour in the Apple Mac Store

4
Number of girls who got makeup

Number of boxes of cereal eaten

5
Number of Harry Potter movies watched
Number of meals Tarzan cooked outside for us

6
Number of huge trash bags filled

12
Number of tomatoes eaten

80+
number of paper plates used

84
Number of hours spent playing video games

100+
number of Plastic Cups used

168
Number of hours TV was on Disney Channel

174208
Highest score in Snood

???
How many times someone said “Shut the door.”

Life can be a pain in the...

2009-07-30T09:42:00.005-07:00

When I was in high school I broke my tailbone.

I don't recall how, but I do know that I carried around a rubber donut to sit on for about a year.

It wasn't very pretty, but it got me a lot of attention :-).

Anyway, we were all in Flagstaff at a music festival and I bent over a suitcase to get something and one of the girls in our room kicked me in the buttocks.

Paaaaaaiiiiiiinnnnn....

However, when the pain subsided, I was fixed -- leaving my tailbone just slightly slanted out and easily bumped and bruised.

Flash forward (clears throat and mumbles number of years) years.

I work with this great bunch of guys. If you follow my blog, you have seen this picture before.

So, we were sitting around the Perudo table playing ... don't get all pissy because we are State employees playing a game at work ... we were on our lunch break.

I kept complaining that the chair I was sitting on was really uncomfortable, like a spring had broken and was sticking me in the same buttocks mentioned earlier.

SteveE switched chairs with me... he is such a good boy. He is sitting down in the picture with his head back.

The offending chair...Later, at home, on a chair I use all the time, same thing...

What is going on?

So, here's the deal...

Tarzan made an exercise bench and we haven't padded it yet.

I am up to 44 sit ups a day with no pad...

and my poor buttocks (the same one mentioned above) has a floor burn on it--right on the tailbone.

Ouch!

Segullah-Thursday Thought

2009-07-30T05:45:00.000-07:00

I can't say this any better than the original author.

http://segullah.org/up-close/a-different-sort-of-happily-ever-after/

It would be my prayer for you, and for me, that we would each have the personal strength of this woman.

Some days--What I Saw Wednesday

2009-07-29T09:26:00.007-07:00

Some days I see storm clouds in my life -- "look at all that trash," "get off the road stupid," "where was her Mama when she got dressed today," "man every corner has a death memorial."

Some days I see beauty--the world if full of wonder and people are full of goodness

And then some days I just see odd--no this is not my yard, no that is not the couch from my living room, yes that is a gun beside me, yes, that is my dog, Dottie and yes, we are just waiting for the quail to wander by for dinner

What do you see today?

Unusual Uses for Usual things--Tuesday Tip

2009-07-28T08:47:00.004-07:00

I am not ashamed to tell you this.

I really am not ashamed to tell this to the whole world right here on the Internet.

Really, I am above and beyond being embarrassed.

So, here goes...

If you ever happen to own a utility van (no seats in the back) and you happen to be going on a 4 hour trip with your 2 daughters in the car, one in the seat up front and one on a bean bag in the big ole' back part...

And if you happen to stop at Circle K and buy 3 great big sodas...

And if you happen to slam on the breaks and all three sodas spill and start swishing around in that big ole empty space in back of you, with only a bean bag and a teenage girl in it...

Kotex works wonders at soakin' it up.

The Flour Sack--Monday Memory

2009-07-27T12:59:00.001-07:00

This story is about Granner.

Granner had fragile health. She would get feeling low and have to rest to get her strength back. One particular time, she was feeling low, but had the weekly bread to make. She was trying to open a new bag of flour.

The bag was one of those cloth bags with a string to sew it shut. You opened it by catching the string just right and then it would unravel and open the flour bag at the top. She would then have Digger pour the flour into a 5 gallon tin can she kept her flour in.

The kitchen was set up like this…the kitchen was on the main floor, then there were 3 steps down and a landing which led to the outside door.

Digger was standing on the landing, the sack of flour was sitting on the top step and Granner was standing in the kitchen and had a knife trying to catch the string and open the flour sack.

Digger was taunting her. He was saying “Come on Inez, get the sack open.” “I don’t have all day, Inez.” “Hurry up Inez, hurry up.”

With each taunt, Granner grew more irritated and less able to open the flour sack until finally…

She raised the knife above her head and thrust it with all her might into the flour sack, then with a swift left to right motion, slit the sack open and flour went everywhere.

She then stormed out of the room and slammed her bedroom door.

My mother, who had been watching the whole thing asked Digger why he did that, when he knew how bad she felt. He replied, “Oh, don’t worry about it. That will raise her blood pressure and she will be good for several days.”

There was a love in that statement that should not need further explanation.Do you have a family story about love

2009-07-23T10:29:00.005-07:00

Things I need to say. If you are not interested in my personal life, don't bother to read this.

There are different personality types in this world, we each have a type.

There are many tests that will tell you what "type" you are.

These "tests" may or may not peg you right, but if you are aware at all, you recognize your own strengths and weaknesses. If you don't recognize them, ask a close friend and when they tell you the truth, nod your head and say, "thank you"--don't argue with them because they are probably right and if you start to argue with them, they will not give you a true picture of yourself. You can think it over later and dismiss what you think is way off base.

As for me, I have a personality type that does not let people get too close. I dismiss people from my life when I move to another town and I do not keep close friends. In fact, I would say I have only had two close friends in my life, one recently passed away--we had only communicated 2 or 3 times by email the year before she died, and I only talk to the other one maybe twice a year.

Not a good thing.

I have a fear of telling anyone how much I appreciate them and love having them in my life for fear they would soon leave and then I will be stuck with words hanging out there that have no meaning.

When Tarzan and I were dating we met with the Stake President. President Pease asked Tarzan how he felt about me and then they just sat there and talked about me like I wasn't in the room. Tarzan told President Pease how lucky he was that I came into his life and how wonderful I was and how blessed he felt that I am with him. President Pease looked at me and said, "I think you need to stay with this man." You have no idea how that made me feel to simply have them say all these nice things about me, right there in front of me. It was surreal.

Tarzan and I got married 10 years ago and in that time, he has told me, hmmmm, I tried to count and I can't count the number of times he has told me how glad he is that I came into his life. How lucky he is to have me. How blessed he is that we are a couple. How fun I am to be with. How satisfied he is with his life. The first time he did this was on my birthday. We woke up early and he laid there in bed and told me just how precious I was to him. I couldn't ask for a better gift.

There is nothing better than getting a phone call in the middle of the day and have Tarzan tell me what a joy it is to have me as a wife.

This makes me try harder to be a wife worth the compliment.

Don't think by this that we have a perfect life. We agree that sometimes we drive each other crazy and irritate each other, but on the whole we really love each other.

I have learned to say, without fear, how much I love and appreciate him. He has helped me open my heart to others and, without prejudgment, just accept people for who they are and let them into my life as good friends. Perhaps not always life-long friends, but giving them a place in my heart, a place I didn't know existed.

Perhaps if you told your spouse how blessed you are to have them in your life, you would get a similar response, but you have to mean it when you say it.

Email Confirmation--Thursday Thought

2009-07-23T09:07:00.007-07:00

Since I signed up for every scholorship search program in the WORLD. I have been put on the strangest email lists.

I have only found one scholarship that I even qualify for and my chances of winning that one are something like 1 in 100,000.

So, here I am with an email message from DormBuys.com
I ask them to remove me from their list because I am getting WAY TOO MANY EMAILS I DON'T WANT FROM COMPANIES I AM NOT INTERESTED IN
And they send me ANOTHER email confirming the fact that I REALLY DIDN'T WANT THEIR EMAIL MESSAGES IN THE FIRST PLACE.

My thought is this, selling email lists to marketing companies should be a crime. Whatever!

By the way, feel free to donate $1 to my PhD fund. I have enough to pay for 1/3 of 1 class. Your participation would be appreciated.

All fund will be used for my PhD tuition and/or books. Any extra funds collected will be used to pay for someone else's education (person yet to be determined--who knows, it could be you or one of your children) .

Adorable--What I saw Wednesday

2009-07-22T07:40:00.004-07:00

I sat in Church behind a cute family with a 1 year old, his mother calls him "P" on her blog. He was sitting on his mother's lap. When the opening song finished, she stood up to give the opening prayer and he was passed to someone else. He watched carefully as his mother walked up to the front and said the prayer.

When she finished he gave her a rousing round of applause.

Maybe we should do that more often.

Woman's Day Money Tip--Tuesday Tip

2009-07-21T07:37:00.003-07:00

This comes right from Woman's Day Magazine. I have been doing it and I have saved, $100 this month.

"In 2007, Kathy Adams ..., read a tip in Woman's Day that she didn't quite believe. 'It said I could save a lot of money just be stashing $5 bills.' says Kathy. Though skeptical, in January 2008 she opened an interest-bearing savings account solely for her fives. Every times she got one, she'd put it in a jar. Then, on the first of each month, she'd deposit the money in her account.

One year later, she'd saved a whopping $2,703.47!"

Now, my $5's are going in my account for my PhD.

Mini Skirts--Monday Memory

2009-07-20T04:25:00.003-07:00

When I was in high school, mini skirts were just coming into style. I was never allowed to wear anything as short as the picture above, but the school rule was -- when you kneel down your skirt has to touch the ground.

I had a brand new, really cute, green skirt that buttoned up the front and had patch pockets. It was full and made of double knit polyester and it always looked nice. I loved it.

I walked into Mrs. Thurber's Home Ec class and she announced, loudly, to the entire room..."Sandi Conant, go home, your skirt is too short." I was humiliated. I am easily embarrassed when caught off guard.

We lived just across the street from the high school, so I went home. My Mom came home for lunch and I told her what had happened. She was really upset. My skirt just barely showed my knees. She marched over to the school during the lunch hour with a pencil and paper and wrote down the names of every girl wearing a skirt as short as mine. It was a long list, including the Principal's daughter.

I got to go back to school. Mrs. Thurber apologized to me and the skirt length rule was never mentioned again.

No such rules when I get my PhD...I can't wait to get started.

A Few Dollars More

2009-07-19T20:03:00.002-07:00

Got a pledge from 3 more people. Join the crowd.

Don't worry that I may collect too much money. Any extra funds raised will be used to help pay for someone else's education.

If you have questions, feel free to leave me a comment.

PhD Update

2009-07-18T17:42:00.003-07:00

I just left the University of Phoenix graduation ceremony. Our good friend Carl Sizer just got her PhD in Management.

It was thrilling. I can't wait. Best commencment speech I have ever heard--including Harvard grauation. Keith Feerrazzi

All money donated to my PhD fund will be spend strictly on tuition and books.

Just $1.00 from everyone who knows me and $1.00 from everyone who knows them and I will make it.

Another $20 today.

Community of Love--What I Saw Wednesday

2009-07-15T16:21:00.002-07:00

I saw a grieving family, surrounded by a loving community.

I saw Priesthood holders calling on the Holy Spirit to comfort family members, especially those not of our faith

I saw brothers and sisters supporting each other with love and concern

I saw Tarzan, help a special needs son, cook and eat his crawdads, as we all tried to help him get his mind off the saddness of the day

I saw tenderness

I saw the Gospel in action

Habits--Tuesday Tip

2009-07-14T08:47:00.002-07:00

This comes courtesy of a tweet (yes I tweet) from Chris Guillebeau...

"Old habits rarely result in new results. To get new results, start new habits."

Dresses and Softball--Monday Memory

2009-07-13T08:58:00.003-07:00

When I was in high school, we were not allowed to wear pants to school. Every once in awhile we had a day when we were allowed to wear pants, but we were not allowed to wear pants that opened in the front...you figure that one out. All of our pants had to zip in the back or on the side. Whatever.

Anyway, we had PE and we wore these extremely tight, extremely short red cotton jumpsuits (in which I looked really good--NOT). We had PE in the gym most of the time, however, in the spring, our PE teacher (who always wore a suit and tie and dress shoes, what's that about?) would take us outside to play softball.

When we went outside to play, we had to wear our DRESSES. I guess they were afraid the boys might see us in our shorts, like dresses are so much more modest when you are running around the bases and trying to beat the ball and sliding for home.

I was always having female sickness on those days. No way was I playing softball in a dress.

Of course there is always the fact I had to face that I would always be the last one picked--you have no idea how embarrassing that is.

Oh, how grateful I am that we have moved beyond such female suppression. I do have to say, though that it would be nice if modesty was back in style and that school pictures did not look like they were taken in the boudoir.

Next week, "Go home, your skirt is too short"

Prayer--Thursday Thought

2009-07-09T06:57:00.002-07:00

This was from our RS Lesson Sunday. I have changed the caption under my picture to this. I love this thought. Thanks Kim.

“In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers.”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Happiness, Your Heritage,” Ensign, Nov 2008.

Grandparenting--What I Saw Wednesday

2009-07-08T07:52:00.000-07:00

I saw grandparents sitting beside each other enjoying Sacrament Meeting.

I saw grandpa go out to the lobby and come back with 3 grandchildren hanging on him.

I saw grandma move over and put one on each side and grandpa with one on his side.

I saw the children climbing up and down, hugging and pinching. I saw the children crawl under the bench. I saw the children sing the songs.

I saw the grandparents hugging and kissing the grandchildren. I saw the grandparents give up on trying to listen to the talks, I saw the grandparents look at each other with knowing looks. I saw the grandparents try not to laugh.

I saw a family full of love and I understood.

Provident Living--Tuesday Tip

2009-07-07T09:23:00.001-07:00

Finances are a big problem--right?

No matter how many books you read or seminars you attend, every one will tell you one thing that is the same...no matter what the program you are to follow...

PAY YOURSELF FIRST.

Every book I have read, every seminar I have attended, every TV program I have watched says give 10% of your income to yourself.

Try it, you will be amazed how fast it accumulates. If you can't stand to do 10% start small. Even $5 a paycheck. You will see an increase. Don't put it off, start with the next paycheck you get.

Where to put it is another question. Right now, a Savings account or a Money Market account will be your two best bets. Then when you have saved a considerable amount and the market has rebounded, you can get creative in where to put it.

When do you spend it?

This money is not spending money. It is not a savings account to help you by a big screen TV or for a vacation. This money is for emergency use only. If you want to save money for a TV or a vacation, you need to open a separate savings account. Trust me, you will be glad you took this advice.

Compound interest is a good thing:
If you start with $1,000 compounded monthly at 1% interest, and you don't add any more to it, you will have $1,115.67 at the end of a year.

If you start with $100 and put $100 in your savings account every month with just 1% interest you will have

$1,268.25 at the end of one year
$2,697.35 at the end of two years
$4,307.69 at the end of three years
$6,122.26 at the end of four years
$8,166.97 at the end of five years

That is with only $100 a month being saved in one of the lowest interest bearing account out there. Let me know how you do!!!

Another way to save money win neat stuff!!

Irrigation Boots and the Boys Stairs-Monday Memory

2009-07-06T19:18:00.004-07:00

I was a Senior in High School. LeRoy Negle...I forgot how to spell his last name...anyway, he was irrigating the lawn at the school. At lunch time, I somehow got in the irrigation water. That meant my shoes got wet and muddy.

You were not allowed in the school with bare feet, so I asked LeRoy if I could borrow his irrigation boots to go to history class. I put on the size 12 boots and stomped into the school and on a whimmmm.......

went up the BOY'S stairs.

I was sent to the Principal's office and my Mom had to be called. I was such a rebel.

Why did we have BOY'S stairs and GIRL'S stairs, you ask?

Well, the Boy's stairs were by the Boy's bathroom and we were not allowed to walk past the Boy's bathroom and the Girl's stairs were by the Girl's bathroom and the boys were not allowed to walk past the Girl's bathroom.

I guess it was because we might "see" something. Or maybe it was a way to keep us from walking hand in hand in the halls or something. Whatever.

I am grateful the world has moved past that.

Next week, dresses and softball.

Piece of Cake--Thursday Thought

2009-07-02T05:09:00.002-07:00

God's cake...

Sometimes we wonder, 'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why did God have to do this to me?' Here is a wonderful explanation!

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.' 'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers. 'Yuck' says her daughter. 'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!' 'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?' 'Mom, those are all yucky!'

To which the mother replies: 'Yes , all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! '

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!

God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

Shaved legs--Monday Memory

2009-06-29T10:45:00.002-07:00

This weekend we were watching the Track and Field finals for the US Olympic Team tryouts. As we watched I commented to Tarzan, B used to run hurtles, he was awesome to watch, T ran relay, she was so fast, C did the long jump she was really good, and so on. I bored him with my continuing monologue about how the children had performed in sports while in school. Then...

I caught his interest...

It seems that when T was in 5th grade the school was having a track meet in May and it was hot, hot, hot. I bought her a really cute red shorts and tank top outfit. She refused to wear it and came out of her room ready for the track meet in jeans and a t-shirt. I knew that would never work, it was way too hot to be dressed like that for a track meet.

I asked T several times, in different ways, why she would not wear the shorts. I thought it might be because she thought it was immodest. No, it wasn't that. Maybe she didn't like what I bought her. No, it wasn't that. Finally, T burst into tears and said, "I have hair all over my legs and it's embarrassing."

I said, "Oh, I can fix that," I took her in the bathroom and shaved her legs and she gleefully went off to the track meet in a cute red shorts outfit.

As I thought about that, I recall more than once when the "rules" had to be changed to meet the needs of the individual. The one thing I wish I could redo as a mother is to make more times when I gave my children a little more control over their rules.

Maybe you can take this to heart and ease up a little on some things with your own children.

Yum, Google find

2009-06-27T05:41:00.000-07:00

I totally found this with a Google search...yuuuuummmmm. I haven't made it my own yet, so enjoy in its original form. The link to the original webpage is on the date.

"Just Beachy says:
October 31, 2007 at 6:41 pm
This recipe usually goes over very well. I usually double it though.

Cookie Dough Cheese Ball

8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3/4-1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

1. Blend first 3 ingredients until creamy. Add powdered sugar and brown sugar mix well. Fold in choc. chips. Cover and refrigerate 3-4 hours. Shape into ball, wrap in saran wrap-again refrigerate 30 minutes or more. When ready to serve, take the ball out of the wrap and roll into the pecans or toffee bits. Serve with graham cracker sticks or vanilla wafers."

Let's talk--Thursday Thought

2009-06-26T11:47:00.001-07:00

My thought today comes from http://segullah.org/. Inspiring, short essays about women with whom I share a common interest.

"...People need to talk. How will we learn what others have to offer if no one talks?”

I'm sorry I can't tell who wrote the article but it is an excellent read and one that makes you take stock of your own lack of appreciation for simply loving your neighbor with a kind word.

A Happy Father--What I saw Wednesday

2009-06-25T16:23:00.001-07:00

For Father’s Day, we went to a million star hotel

Notice, there is only one sleeping bag. Tarzan was going to sleep sitting up (suppressed laugh). I ended up unzipping the bag so we could both be covered.There was a fabulous nail salon
We had a gourmet dinner and ate outside on the “patio.”
For breakfast, we prepared a meal in the kitchen in our suite
And ate on a lovely dining table with a fishing theme for the center piece
Later, we discovered there was a swimming pool (I love this picture)

And Dottie took full advantage of it.

The resort had a special diet for Dottie and Lucy
We found time to lounge in the shade. Well, it was shady when Lucy fell over asleep.
We visited a museum
With antique farm equipment
Tarzan found time to hunt for dinner where he first found bait and then a meal
Happy Father’s Day doing just what we wanted to do.
(And then there was my hair, yikes)

Brain Muscle Confusion-Tuesday Tip

2009-06-23T05:26:00.000-07:00

Here is some info I got from Woman's Day (My Mom gave me a subscription this year).

1. Crossword puzzles and salmon help keep your mind sharp (My Mom does crossword puzzles every day, and she is sharp as a tack at 86)

2. Stimulate coordination by brushing your teeth with the hand you don't normally use (I did this and guess what, it was weird. I am a counter, I count the number of strokes when I brush my teeth, among other things, I couldn't count when I brused with my left hand.)

What do you do to exercise your mind?

Going to College--Monday Memory

2009-06-22T05:40:00.002-07:00

When our oldest was off to college, we flew to Boston with him. The first is the hardest to let go. It's a scary world out there.

When we got to Boston, we stayed in a hotel close to Havard Square which was a good thing because everyone WALKS everywhere in Boston. We both lost 5 pounds the 4 days we were there, just from walking. I commented that when you are in the west, if someone sees you walking they ask if you need a ride; when you are in the east if someone sees you driving, they wonder where you are going.

I called around to see about a tour bus and they were sooooo expensive. For some unknown reason, I called a limosine service and found out I could have a limo for the whole day for the price of a ticket for just one of us on a tour bus.

Our limo driver took us all over town, we saw all the tourist spots and even went to his favorite pizza place where we stayed in the car, in the middle of a VERY narrow street, and he ran in and got us pizza. It was so kewl. Everywhere we went, people looked at us trying to figure out what celebrities we were.

But the real memory is this:

As we walked our son to his dorm the last day, I looked at the other parents bringing their children to school. All of the students were bright eyed, smiling, standing tall, walking with alacrity while the parents looked worried, slightly slumped, acutely aware of the reality of life.

As I look back on that, it serves as a reminder to me to always keep that childlike innocence around, to remember what it feels like to be excited for a new adventure, to find joy in every experience and not allow the realities of life to weigh heavy on me and bring me down.

Special Post

2009-06-18T11:21:00.003-07:00

We need traffic on our business website. Please go to http://www.growsticks.com/ and poke around for a minute. Send suggestions to me on how I can make it more user friendly and any other comments including things like "yuck, I hate your design." We want your honest opinion.

The reason we need traffic is that we are trying to become affiliates with the NBA. They told us we didn't have enough traffic on our website to be accepted.

Kind of snooty don't you think? After all, the whole purpose of becoming affiliates was to drive traffic to our website.

Anyway, your help will be appreciated.

Lemonade--Thursday Thought

2009-06-18T05:40:00.000-07:00

I have not read this book, The Coldest War, by James Brady, however, I think I need to put it on my list. It is a book about America's "forgotten war." The Korean War lasted just thirty-seven months, yet 54,246 Americans died in that time -- nearly as many as died in ten years in Vietnam. On the fiftieth anniversary of this devastating conflict, James Brady wrote the story of his life as a young marine lieutenant in Korea. It has rave reviews and sounds very compelling.

He has a few good quotes that float around one of them is this:

"When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. I have several stands around here."

I love that quote, I hope your lemonade stands are filled with sunshine.

Corn as High as an Elephant's Eye-What I Saw Wednesday

2009-06-17T05:52:00.000-07:00

This seems to have just sprung up overnight. This is tall corn.

See that building in the center of the picture behind the corn? You can only see the roof. A few days later, you can hardly see any of the roof at all. That has to be as high as an elephants eye, doesn't it?
And even though we don't have elephans you should see that it is in the desert. See the cactus? I am standing on the hill so the cactus that looks tall, if next to the corn would be close to the same height--well maybe a 400 year old saguaro cactus would be a little taller than 1 month old corn, but you get the picture.

That corn is tall.

Unwanted Crayons--Green Tuesday Tip

2009-06-16T05:13:00.000-07:00

I read in Woman's Day that crayons you throw away stay in the landfill "for eternity." They suggest putting your unwanted crayons in an envelope and recycling them at http://crazycrayons.com/.

Here is LuAnn's address:
CRAYON RECYCLING PROGRAM
721 Village Road
Pelican Lake, Wisconsin 54463

I checked it out and I will be buying some from her. You, on the other hand, may decide to get creative on your own. Let me know if you get creative with this idea. I am always interested in creative ideas--oh, I guess that's why they call me the Wizard of Creativity.

Diversity in my Day--Monday Memory

2009-06-15T05:06:00.000-07:00

One day awhile back, I had a day to myself when Tarzan went fishing. I wrote down things I heard that day as I went about my business...

"So far this fishing trip has been a bust."--Tarzan having a bad day.

"Welcome to the House of the Lord."--Renewing my Spirit

"Ladies and gentlemen, the first gunfight will begin in 15 minutes."--A western festival downtown

"Did you try the store across they street?"--Looking for something special for Tarzan

"JC Penney Outlet has tons of them."--Looking for something special for me

"Why did you change your signature?"--It was just too loooooonnnngggg so I shortened it

"This job is killing my back."--A guy at the gas station talking to his buddy

It's funny how you can see simple phrases such as this and have a flood of memories come back to you. These are pleasant and relaxing memories of a day spent at my pace, with no pressure.

What did you do the last time you had a day to relax and do just what you want to do?

Sometimes...

2009-06-13T15:43:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I want to “waller in my own pity”
Sometimes, I like to be sad
Sometimes, it feels good to remember all the sad and bad things that have happened to me
Sometimes, I like to just cry
Sometimes, I like to watch a movie or read a book that reminds me – these things are not what my life is about
Sometimes, a movie or book will remind me that my life is so much more than these sad things I am remembering, these things that make me cry
Sometimes, it feels good to take out all those old hurts and feel them again
Sometimes, it cleanses my thinking and reminds me to be glad for now

Do you ever want to just tell everyone about the things that have hurt you
Do you know it does no good to keep doing so
Have you dealt with them in your own way
Have you put them away, only to take them out when you need to clear your mind

I hope so, it feels so good

How my Week went...

2009-06-12T11:00:00.001-07:00

Wednesday

3 people called in sick at work, there are only 5 of us
Woke up to water break – had watered desert all night--no water in house
New puppy can’t stand up—had to take to vet
While on the way to vet Tarzan called—his truck had broken down
Tarzan's son called and asked him to come to grandson's graduation from GRADE SCHOOL—TOMORROW. ticket to CA. Left large leaf and lawn trash can in bathroom full of water with plastic dipping bucket for flushing and brushing
I called a plumber who could not come until first thing Thursday morning--yuuuuuck

Thursday

Got up at 5:00 a.m. to be ready for plumber
Unlocked gate
Waited for plumber
Fed and medicated BOTH dogs (puppy has tick fever and is better today after shots and meds—got to love those drugs)
Waited for plumber
Clean kitchen
Waited for plumber
7:00 a.m. (have to be to work at 8:00 a.m.—still no shower)
Called plumber “Oh, I’m sorry, I should have clarified what first thing in the morning is”---AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH
Went to work with spit bath and ugly hair
2 people called in sick
1 left early
15 phone calls in a 10 minute time span and I was the only one here to take calls
I am supposed to figure out a way to get the pickup home from the shop TODAY--I called changed it to Saturday
When I get off work, I have 3 ladies dying in the hospital I have to visit and one new mother whose baby is still in the hospital with jaundice
All three of the classes I teach have new books so I have to redo all of my lessons, lectures and assignments—my nights are a little full
Hopefully, I will have water when I get home

Friday

Who knows what today brings

I take this test from time-to-time to see if I change...

2009-06-12T09:03:00.003-07:00

I'm still a dreamer. I know I change my picks, but I always come out a dreamer.

Pessimist--Thursday Thought

2009-06-11T05:51:00.001-07:00

You can find something positive in everything if you look hard enough. One of the computer guys I work with shared this one with me because I am always hasseling him.

"The great thing about being a pessimist is that you are constantly either being proven right or pleasantly surprised."

George Will, News commentator

Community Garden--What I Saw Wednesday

2009-06-10T05:00:00.005-07:00

Some people refer to where we live as the "Barrio." I always took exception to that thinking it had a negative connotation. However, I looked it up and since it simply means "a community" I find it very appropriate for what Tarzan and I saw as we rimmed around on his birthday.

We saw this next to a Senior Citizen's home and wondered what they were doing, so we stopped and asked.
We walked closer and could clearly see it was what we suspected, a garden with several people working in it. This is on a main street not the place you expect to see such a thing.

Look at this beautiful lettuce and look at those greens and onions. Yum. We were told anyone could participate and harvest what they grow. The land was donated so all you have to do is provide seeds and some good old fashioned sweat.

We soon learned this great idea is in several places, not just this one. Several plots are laid out. There is a gardener "organizer" and there were several others there who are from different non-profit organizations helping out. They are laying donated sawdust for those who are in wheelchairs so they can get around. The Seniors in the center next to this piece of land are invited to participate. If they cannot garden, they are invited to harvest anyway. Anyone who will take care of their plot is welcome to plant here. We met a woman from Sierra Leon, she was planting vegetables native to Africa.

Some told us this was the first time they had gardened and showed us what they were growing with great pride.

Tarzan and I were so impressed, we visited another site they had started a garden on. It was in the middle of some commercial property and someone had put up a shaded gazebo in it.

It does my heart good to see communities work together for the betterment of the whole. We are going to get involved in a community garden and hopefully, the idea will spread across our entire community, thus bringing us closer together.

Emergency Fire Starter--Tuesday Tip

2009-06-09T05:53:00.000-07:00

This is a great tip and solves a second problem -- hot grease. First cook whatever it is you are cooking that is greasy and catch the grease. In this picture I am cooking bacon at work (that's another story altogether)

Next, get a small cardboard carton such as a juice carton or a milk carton. Drink whatever is in it. Open the top wide (you know you already messed it up trying to open it, so just go ahead and open it on up). Yup, I'm still at work with my bacon grease.

Now, get a paper towel, which I had at work because I was cooking bacon. Crumple it up and stuff it in the cardboard box you just opened. This is very scientific.

Now, pour the bacon grease over the paper towel. I don't recommend you do this around your computer, however, I am a professional so it was okay for me to do it. :-). You will notice I let the bacon grease cool down at bit, that was so it wouldn't melt the wax on the box, smart, huh?

Finally, staple the top and put your fire starter in the freezer (to keep the grease from going rancid and stinking up the place).
Now, go camping with your kewl fire starter (don't forget the matches) and you won't have to look for dry kindling. I love it!

P.S. Kindling is a real word and it does have a "g" on the end in the dictionary, but not in my world. I had to look it up to use it here. It is "easily combustible material for starting a fire" according to Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary.

Family vacations--Monday Memory

2009-06-08T05:08:00.000-07:00

I asked my children what they remember about our vacations. It was fun getting their replies--it is a great reminder that you children may not remember that you spent money on a brand new bathroom, but they will remember time you spent together...

"I remember a lot of vacations - lots of camping (as a family or with the church), going to Diggers, family reunions, visiting Gram, going to Texas, Mexico, Thanksgiving with your friends in Farmington."

"Some specific memories: The time we were camping in Colorado and it rained so hard for a couple of days that we finally rented a cabin and the sun came out for the rest of the trip."

"The drive to Texas that took 700 days. Body surfing as the hurricane approached. Eating lobsters with Dick and Inez. Going to the baseball game and being bored out of my mind because outside was an amusement park which was so much more appealing to me than baseball. You taking a picture with the tigers. For some reason, I don't remember the drive home nearly as dramatically - must have been tired."

"The trip to Mexico. The cockroaches in our bungalow and lack of water pressure. The pretty beach which we had almost completely to ourselves. Driving around to other beaches. Eating at a restaurant which made everyone nervous. The fishing boat and getting to catch so many fish and then have the restaurant prepare them and then share them with the other guests. Renting the car and crossing the border and being kind of afraid the whole time - but having a great time and being really excited about it. Buying charms and bracelets (which I still have and wear) and a pink peasant shirt which I thought was SO pretty."

"Tons of fond memories of going to the cabin for family reunions. I could go on and on..."

International Birthday Extravaganza

2009-06-05T13:14:00.007-07:00

Birthdays are so fun. Here's what we did for Tarzan's Birthday this year.

I made 3x5 cards with events to attend throughout the day. First stop, Mexico. We went to our favorite breakfast place for Mexican food. We can't pronounce the name so we call it Junk Yard Cafe--why?--'cuz it's in the middle of a bunch of junk yards silly.

Isn't he just cute? I think I'll keep him.

We went to Greece next, Wow, we love IMax

I didn't need Tarzan to pose in front of the Greek gods, he is one.

What a heavenly way to spent an hour.

Service, fantastic

Atmosphere, wonderful

Laker's game on TV, thank goodness (how could I forget something that important?)

If you go, bring your credit card, yikes.

Baby Laugh-Thursday Thought

2009-06-04T05:33:00.003-07:00

"When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies."

J.M. Barrie

Butterfly Farm--What I Saw Wednesday

2009-06-03T05:13:00.000-07:00

Botanical Gardens has a Butterfly House. It has thousands of butterflys in it. There are 3 doors to stop you from letting butterflys out. One escaped while we were leaving and we had to stay in the holding room until we could catch it with a butterfly net and put it back in the house. What a hoot.

Kids Cleaning--Tuesday Tip

2009-06-02T05:10:00.000-07:00

Children work well with a schedule. Remember, a child will watch the same video every day 3 times a day if you let them. They like familiarity and routine.

If you are struggling to get your children to tidy up their rooms, try setting a schedule for them. Have them tidy up every day at the same time so it becomes part of what they do each day like breathing.

My life was much easier when I had children at home and in school, I was forced to keep a schedule. You may not be a schedule type of person, but just this one simple principle can help teach your children to pick up after themselves.

If you are successful with that, you can add to it. For instance, EVERY time you finish with a meal, have EVERY family member put their dishes in the sink. It is a simple thing, but children learn best by repetition.

Wiggle Tail--Monday Memory

2009-06-01T12:17:00.004-07:00

This is not Wiggle Tail, but this cute puppy reminded me of Wiggle Tail. This puppy just wandered into our yard looking for food. She is wild as a march hare and smart as a whip. We have taken her to the vet for shots, now we are deciding whether to keep her or give her to a friend who is looking for a dog.

HERE IS MY MONDAY MEMORY:
Wiggle Tail was a Daschund. We were living in Germany. We didn't have a name for her yet so we were going to have a family council, everyone would submit a name and then we would vote on the name we all liked best.

I was 8 years old and had a little book about a dog named Wiggle Tail and I wanted that name for our dog. Before the vote, I secretly went to every family member and told them that my name was a stupid name and no one would vote for my name and asked if they would vote for my name. I won with 100% of the vote.

Some would say that I was conniving, but those who know my true insecurities would know, I really thought no one would vote for my name and that if I asked everyone, at least one person would vote for my name and then I wouldn't feel stupid.

One Christmas we found that with all the humidity in Germany, the Christmas candy Mom kept out in a dish was sticking together. She would just break it apart and leave it in the bowl and we all had a little from time-to-time and gave it to company.

One day Mom saw Wiggle Tail going up the stairs. Right next to the stairs was a table with the candy on it. Wiggle Tail walked up just high enough to be able to walk out onto the table. She licked all the candy in the dish and then went back onto the stairs and walked on up.

Mom moved the candy dish.

Post Script: We are keeping her, she has won our hearts and we named her Ruby.

Gratitude

2009-05-29T21:19:00.002-07:00

I am grateful for Tarzan
I am grateful for my health
I am grateful that I would never be alone if I was sick
I am grateful for angels who hold me up
I am grateful for service
I am grateful for my Mom
I am grateful for my dog

...just to name a few things.

Einstein Quotes-Thursday Thought

2009-05-28T05:22:00.000-07:00

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

"God is subtle but he is not malicious."

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."

"Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods."

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."