I know, I know, I know...

I've been torturing myself for months now when I look at other's blogs (and Mom's given me at least 2 guilt trips) and remember mine has been so neglected for such a long time. It's like so many other things, I do really well for awhile and then life gets busy and I slack. Then I get so far behind that it seems overwhelming to ever catch up. I take pictures and funny things happen that I think, I need to blog this...the title would be...the pictures would have the following captions...then I just don't get it done. Between work, spending time with my cute hubby, church, facebook, emails, producing plays, preparing for a patriotic celebration, laundry, time with Amanda & Sid, and anything else that comes up, more time has gone by and my blog still sits there neglected. Not sure how exactly I'm going to solve this dilemma but I'll do my best to improve. I just have to figure out how I can keep up on this, and everything else, and not feel like I'm neglecting anyone, especially my husband.

So, even though I started this MONTHS ago, I'm going to move ahead with the story of Dan & I. It needs to be recorded somewhere so in years to come (who am I kidding, anytime in the next couple hours is very possible) I have proof enough to say, "I told you so, Honey." :)

One of the biggest things on our to do list was to find a place to live. We searched the paper for listings of places that were available. Based on what was in the classifieds, I was very hopeful we'd find something great with more space and pay as much or less than I paid for my 1-bedroom in Salt Lake. We narrowed down the options and set a few appointments, then headed out to look at the places...suddenly I felt very hopeless about our prospects.

The first place we looked at Dan was really excited about but I wasn't super thrilled. The landlady lived across the street from us. Not a big deal except that during our tour she commented on how we'd need to sweep the porch weekly to keep to free of debris. Well, I'm not exactly the most obsessively clean person, but I'm also not some teenager who needs mom to hang over my shoulder telling me how to clean and I suspected that's exactly what would happen. No way in my opinion.

We went to a couple more places and suddenly the first place wasn't looking so bad and the picky landlady seemed livable. The other places were trashed, small, dark, low ceilings (a 6'6" husband requires high ceilings in the whole apartment), smelly and way overpriced for what we were seeing and what they were asking for.

I was beginning to get a little nervous since I only had 1 day in Pocatello and it was looking like we weren't going to find much success on our trip with time ticking away very quickly.

We looked at the place we later chose but left still somewhat unsure. We headed back to Dan's sister's place so Dan could go back to work in West Yellowstone. I visited a bit with his sister and nieces before I returned to Salt Lake. Before Dan was far on the road and I left, we both called each other saying we needed to take this place:

The kitchen

Living Room

Extra bedroom

(All of these pictures were taken the day we looked at it. Not our things.)

Now began the process of packing up 8½ years of stuff in my 1-bedroom unit to sort, give away, toss, keep, pack and move to my new place in Idaho...

My old kitchen; mid-move

Living room; mid-move

Bedroom; mid-move

Current/Temporary bedroom, yes, it's in the living room.

(I gave way my bed and the bedding so I had to use what was still available.)

My stuff in our new place, safe and sound (living room).

More of my stuff (living room).

Yes, even more of my stuff (extra bedroom). Now which box to begin unpacking...

Well, time for FHE, guess that's it for right now....

Memories....

I saw this on my cute friends', Jennie & MaryRuth, blogs and thought it would be fun to play...

1. As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you and I have together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! (You can play this even if we're just blog friends... something that you remember from our blog time together! haha!)

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see what memories people have of you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses.

It will be fun to bring the memories back so post away! :)

I've got spirit...How about you???!!!!

I know I'm really behind in posting this but too bad, it's my blog and I'll post when I want to, post when I want to...

A little comparison game for you...who had more Christmas Spirit last year?

Contestant #1 (aka Mom's house):

(The bags are what Santa left our stocking stuff in.)

Contestant #2 (aka My house):

Now I'm not complaining, I just find it a funny comparison. Especially since in years past, we'd have Christmas throughout the whole main floor. (That's probably why I have Christmas all over my apartment.)

To Mom's defense, they'd been remodeling the whole main floor and had just started putting things back where they belong. She couldn't get to her decorations because all the furniture was in the garage blocking things. Still a funny memory just the same.

We did have our traditional Christmas breakfast including her cinnamon pull-apart.

Don't they look delicious?! They tasted as good or better than I remember....Maybe I'll have to make some this weekend even though it's not Christmas...

Vest Buttons Popping

Yesterday I would have made my Grandpa B proud of me....I don't have lots of memories of my dad's dad (aka Grandpa B). He was still working as a doctor when I was young and then when he retired, I was about 11, he had 2 strokes so he wasn't as active as he might have been. Plus he and Grandma lived in Cedar City and Salt Lake City, Utah and later Palm Springs, California when I was growing up so visits from Chicago were somewhat infrequent.

Anyway...my most vivid memory of Grandpa B was from when I was probably between 3 and 5. We were walking down the street I think in California (we were living there at the time) and I remember that I was walking ahead of Mom, Dad, Grandpa B and Grandma B. There were some puddles along the sidewalk. Being a typical child I would come to a puddle and stomp through it, stomp, stomp, stomp....After doing this a couple times, Grandpa came up and took my hand then showed and taught me how to carefully walk through a puddle without splashing water all over myself and those around me; "Heal toe, heal toe." “Gently.” “No, don’t splash.” “Careful.” “There you go.” “That’s right, good job.” It took me a few tries to figure out how to do it correctly while Grandpa patiently held my hand and reminded me, "Heal toe, Heal toe..." While holding his hand and doing it without splashing a couple times, he let me walk through a puddle alone again. On my own again…wanting to impress...showing what’d I’d learned…so proudly…STOMP, STOMP, STOMP….of course the adults all giggled at me. Back then puddles equaled splashing, that’s why they were on the sidewalks, wasn’t it? To this day, I think of that lesson whenever I walk through puddles and it always makes me smile.

Yesterday between work and school I stopped to fill my car. I pulled up to the pump, turned off the car, opened the door and discovered I was in a HUGE puddle. This wasn’t your average sized puddle…it was big enough to surround most of my car and I was worried that my car might sink into the depths of this puddle. Rather than restart the car and move to another pump (call me lazy or a conservationist either’s fine with me) I just carefully got out and walked through the puddle. However, thanks to Grandpa’s expert teaching the cuffs of my extra long jeans didn’t even get damp! A life lesson I’m grateful to have learned and eventually mastered…Grandpa, thanks for the memory and thanks for teaching me!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Had this almost finished and then managed to lose the whole thing....guess that serves me right somehow....

Though I think I did this in an email some time ago, it’s still fun to share. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this time of year!!! It's my favorite holiday and has been for years-school breaks, the music, shopping, treats, gift giving, sales, colors, decorations, lights, focusing more on the Savior, what's not to like? Here's a little info on my Christmas memories...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper. I love wrapping gifts.
2. Real tree or artificial?
Um, I don’t have a traditional tree, my apartment is much too small. I do have an artificial pink one on my desk at work and a silver, metal one with about 9 ornaments on it, at my house. Given the choice, I’d probably select a pre-lit artificial, I love the smell of a real tree but not having to deal with the lights sounds so worth it.
3. When do you put up the tree?
No tree (see #2). I do decorate my house though. Since I live alone I get to put up the decorations anytime I want. It’s been as early as the first weekend in November but rarely later than Thanksgiving weekend.
4. When do you take the tree down?
No tree (see #2). The decorations go down as they go up, whenever I’m ready and after that point, once I find the time. One year they were up until March.
5. Do you like eggnog?
Ugh, the thought of it makes me gag.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I can’t remember a favorite one but my most memorable would have to be the purple, pastel cassette/radio player when I was about 15. I really wanted it, had snooped and found it and told Lynette. On Christmas morning there was no box close to its shape so I was pretty bummed. As I attempted to open Lynette’s gift I was informed I had to save hers for last. When I was finally able to open it there was a note sending me elsewhere in the house where I found another gift. She’d sent me on a scavenger hunt from the basement to the loft and I had to come back to the living room before I opened each clue. The last gift was the radio. Yep, it was from her and she was so crushed that I’d found out, she “punished” me by making me run all over the house. I don’t remember being super happy about running all over but I’ve been very good about not snooping ever since. I still have the radio and don't plan to ever get rid of it. Lesson learned!
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Is the Pope Catholic? I have 17 up in my apartment this year and that’s not counting the nativity ornaments I have out too. Plus I have at least 5 more sets still in storage.
8. Hardest person to buy for?
I’d have to say my husband. He never says anything to me about what he wants or needs, course I don’t know who he is so that could have something to do with it. I’d have to say my dad. He buys whatever he wants and often it’s right after he’s given the hint about it.
9. Easiest person to buy for?
My husband, he never complains about anything…hee, hee…just couldn’t resist. Probably my sisters, our tastes are pretty similar so if I’d like it, chances are good they will too.
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Let’s see…the Barbie BBQ set when I was in high school (no, I wasn’t still playing with Barbies then), the orange fluorescent, plaid, flannel shirt (I think that one was mine), or the makeup kit (that’s never been used for anything other than Halloween or flashback parties)...toss up as to which was the worst. Saddest thing about these, they were all from the same person just different years!
11. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail cards. I don’t send them every year (lately about one every 5-6 years) but when I do, they go out by mail. I have sent an e-card Christmas card occasionally but don’t really count that as a “real” Christmas card, more for kicks and giggles.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Toughie. I don’t really have one, have-to-watch-every-year favorite but a few I really like are: “White Christmas” “It’s a Wonderful Life” "Holiday Inn" “Miracle on 34th Street” (The oldie versions, no remakes for me and in black & white.) “The True Story of Santa Claus” “The Santa Clause” (The first one).
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Better question, when am I not shopping for Christmas? I spend much of the year thinking about what to make and/or give. I think some of my gifts this year were purchased in March. Gotta buy when I find something, the price is right and have the money.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
I don’t think so but I know in the past I have received at least one from Ann and one from Deborah.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Our traditional Christmas Breakfast! Yes, Mom, I do want it this year even though we’ll be small in number…Also, ham and funeral potatoes are often served this season in our family plus Mom's orange rolls...mmmm....Hope the kitchen's done by the time I get home... Gingerbread and cinnamon almonds are other seasonal favorites
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Grew up with colored lights on the tree but am growing fonder of the clear light look.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
To quote from Ever After: “I could no sooner pick a favorite star in the heavens.” My short list of favorites would be 10-15 songs long and I’d still miss some favorites. And each season another one or two get added to the favorite list after performing them with choir.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Travel more often than not. Staying home would imply Christmas alone so off I go somewhere to celebrate with others.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
You bet I can: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, & Blitzen. (Did you know that the reindeer didn’t have names, nor was there a fixed number, until the poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas?) Have much of the poem memorized and want to memorize the whole thing. I’m a reindeer purist so Rudolph doesn’t belong in the list above.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
No tree (see #2, gee, this is getting a bit redundant). We never had either but did have a glass tree topper we’d always use. I bought one years ago that I haven’t used yet (again, see #2).
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning for sure. We’d beg and plead to open one on Christmas Eve but were always denied. Thanks for that one, Mom & Dad!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
The cold, slick roads, Utah's inversion, darkness at 4:00 in the afternoon, and driving around any store's parking lot 1000 times and still having to park in Egypt! But even those things are somehow forgotten and worth it each Christmas.
24. Do you buy gifts for your pets?
No pets but even if I did, I would not be buying gifts for them or getting something from them.
25. Have you ever been Christmas caroling?
Yes, when I was a teenager but I don’t think I have been since then. However, if you count my choir’s Christmas concerts then yes more recently than my teen years. (BTW, concerts are Sunday Dec 16th, 7:30 pm, St. Thomas More in Sandy and Sunday, Dec 23rd, 8:30 pm, Assembly Hall on Temple Square. Yes, I’m using my blog as a shameless plug. It’s my blog and I’ll plug if I want to, plug if I want to, plug if I want to. You would plug to if it happens to you…)
26. Hot chocolate or hot apple cider?
Both! Egg Harbor’s caramel apple cider…..mmmmmm….hot chocolate with marshmallows or whipped cream…mmmm….flavored hot chocolate….mmmm….

Ok, I tag Brenda & Kelley (both need to update their blogs a bit if you ask me), Beth Anne (since she loves Christmas enough she’d do it anyway), my sisters (even though their answers might be very similar to mine) and anyone else who might want to share some Christmas memories.

Having fun or not...

...time sure does fly! I attended my 20th High School reunion Saturday night (Oct. 6th). It was fun to see everyone again. Surprisingly, most of those attending were still recognizable after all the years. Several said the same about me. We did a "class picture" and when one of the guys joined the group, I called his name and turned around to say "Hi." Later in the evening when I was talking with him, he said that I didn't need to even say anything, he knew exactly who I was once I turned and faced him; that I hadn't changed one bit since high school. I suppose that's a compliment but I'd like to think that I've done some changing (hopefully for the better) since high school graduation.

Several had their cameras going off taking pictures of everyone. Luckily, with the modern convenience of email and digital pictures, those are already being shared with everyone. I need to email a couple people to be sure and get their copies of pictures since my camera stayed in my purse most of the night. Thank heavens for the spouses of my former classmates, they did a great job catching still images of the whole evening's festivities.

I was really surprised how many people have stayed within our small suburb, or a neighboring one, and of that group, how many did not attend the reunion. I realize that most of us have had no contact with each other for 20 years, myself included, but I made the effort to come 1500 miles for the evening, couldn't they come the 5-10 miles from their homes???? That's ok, the few of us who came had a good time. Don't know if I'll attend any others in the future but after making my appearance at this one, I know better what to expect and can make a more accurate decision.

Though the people won't mean much to you, here are a few pictures of those in attendance....(mind you, I didn't attend a high school with any other active LDS members in my graduating class....)

Pict. 1: Donny Fisher, Justin Koehler & Jack Losic

Pict 2: Me, Neil Buchelt, Todd Hanssen, Moonish Patel (Moonish's wife)

Pict 3: Jason Konder, Katy Quinlan, Karen Reese, Byron Wright, Tomi Taggart & RC McLaurin

Pict 4: Kent Walker, Dan Winz, RC McLaurin, Tom Kellen

Pict 5: Tomi Taggart & Sally Pelzer

Date woes

So Thursday I was writing in my journal before going to bed (thanks again Brenda, I've filled the one you gave me and bought another) and realized that most of the day I had been writing and typing the wrong date. I knew it was Thursday and that Saturday was the 24th but I spent the day putting it as the 23rd. It drives me nuts when I do that. Luckily I didn’t have the days off. I hate that even more when I think it’s Friday and it’s only Tuesday or Wednesday…(I bet you thought I was referring to the male/female dates, huh? Gotcha! :) Those may come in time, even though I’ve promised myself that I won’t use this to vent about dates/men or tell too many crazy guy stories. Too many people are interconnected so I'm sure I’ll end up saying something completely un-Christlike and it will somehow get back to him much to my embarrassment.)

Why can’t I seem to remember simple things, like dates? I hate this getting older thing. I used to able to keep track of everything in my brain but now if I don’t write it down, it might escape. My poor hairdresser has had more than one call from me saying I can’t remember what time my appointment was because I forgot to put it in my planner and the reminder card she gave me is lost. Or I have two times in my brain and am not sure which is correct because...yep, it's not written down! It’s as if my thoughts are telling themselves to hurry and run before I do something with them…I can hear them, "Look, she’s heading this way, hurry get out while the getting’s good!"

I’ve even made lists then forget what the cryptic message meant (just like the list of blog ideas that I re-read tonight…). So making lists doesn't even work 100% of the time.

Speaking of re-reading things…I have to admit that’s happened. I’ve re-read something and had little, or no, memory that I’ve read it before. (This happened most recently when I was reading an article in the Reader’s Digest on brains & memory, of all subjects. I got to the end of the article before I realized I’d already read it!) It gets really embarrassing when I’m out on a date or something and get him mixed up with someone else. You know - confused facts about one guy with a different one…. If you were wondering, yes, I’ve even called a guy by someone else’s name. (Luckily that’s only happened once and they guys were friends with each other and me so not too tragic…course I haven’t spoken to either of them in a while so maybe it wasn’t as innocent as I thought…)

Then, as if not all of that isn’t enough I even lose my train of thought right in the mid…

I have even had times when I leave a room or stand up at my desk and then don’t know why. Usually it comes back but not always until I go back into the other room or sit back down where I was when the thought first occurred.

Please tell me there’s a way to improve this. I’m starting to get tired of the coping skills needed to adjust. Sadly I think it’s just something I’m going to have to live with, whether or not I want to. I know it’s all part of the process of "growing up"…but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.