Catching Up!

I am spending the day recovering from what felt like a truly crazy week.  Watching the NASCAR race, doing laundry, and as little of everything else as possible.

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Last Saturday I made a trip to Wasatch Running where mcat helped me find a great pair of shoes.  I am not a runner but with all of the pain in my right heel I need something that I can walk in that won't aggravate the pain.  So far, I have not had any pain when I where the new shoes.  They are pretty too!

Afterward, my son and I visited the new City Creek Center in Salt Lake.  It is a pretty cool mall but not somewhere I  feel I need to visit often.  Plus it is quite a drive from where I live. 



View of Salt Lake Temple from City Creek.



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Work has been a little busier than usual.  Trust me, I am not complaining about this.  I need to keep busy with work.  I am constantly worrying about getting laid-off.  I know it is nothing I can control but the reminder is always there.  Whether it is a comment being made in a meeting or a client who decides to take more of their business in house.  I know a lot of people in every industry feels similar stress.  It is hard to give your all when you are worried that it doesn't matter.  To add to the stress, I have been with this company for 13 years.  There is not a lot of need for the type of work I do.  I am the bread winner of the family and if I lose my job, I could lose everything.  Going back to school is not an option right now.  Been there, done that.  Have two worthless diploma's and tons of college debt.

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I started water aerobics last Monday. Got up at 5:30 am on Monday and Tuesday for class at 6.  The rest of the week didn't go so well.  But this is a new week and hopefully, I can get in a few more days.  I love the exercise and water in the morning.  Makes me wish I had a pool of my own.  The public pool is only a block away, the cost is minimal, and it is fun.

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My niece had a dance recital on Thursday evening.  She is beautiful.  I wish I had taken a picture of here before her dance.  We had plenty of time. There were over 40 dance numbers and hers was the last one.  By the time those girls were able to perform they were so tired and bored, that you could tell they didn't care and just wanted to get it over with. 

I have been in and watched a lot of dance recitals, plays, and other performances, and this one was the worst planned and executed performance I have attended.  I felt bad for the girls and parents.  The recital was scheduled to start at 5 but the audience was too large for the auditorium.  They asked families with girls dancing in the last half of the recital to give up their seats to those who were dancing earlier.  We spent the first hour and a half in the lobby waiting for seats. It really should have been split into two nights.  Despite the delays and annoyance, I am glad I went to support Sissy. Did I mention she is beautiful?  I like to think she gets it from her Aunt.

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Pounding on my door and ringing of the doorbell  interrupted the Thursday night quiet at my house.  My son's friend had run away and another friend came over to tell him and ask if he had heard anything.  All I know right now is that she left the house of another friend, got into a silver car with two other people and left.  Thankfully, she was found on Saturday.  I am happy that she was found.  I am super annoyed that she put her parents through the worry. 

In an odd twist, at the time we found out she was missing, I was reading a book where a 17 year old girl had runaway with her 18 year old boyfriend.   

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The fickle Utah weather continues.  Wind all day yesterday.  Ever try casting a line on the lake in the wind?  Not fun.  Watching a parade in the wind? Not fun.  I am cool with any other type of weather but I really DO NOT LIKE wind!

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A final note (that I know only Jo might appreciate), NASCAR season coverage is split between FOX Sports and TNT.  Today is the first race of the season covered by TNT.  They are not as good as FOX.  It takes getting used to plus they keep putting Twitter Tweets up on the screen.  In some instances it covers the view of the race.  It stinks.  I am tired of networks thinking they need to post twitter feeds during their shows.  In my opinion, it takes away from the viewing experience. 

On the upside the driver I picked for this week is doing great.  If he keeps it up, I will regain my point lead - I am one point behind.  If I am the leader in points at the end of the season, the winner gets $130.  So far, so good.  I love being in the lead!  

Update - between writing this and getting ready to hit publish my driver has lost a lot of places.  He broke a valve and lost a cylinder.  This is not good.  Ugh!!!

Fickle Weather

I love living in Utah.  There is so much to do.  The scenery is beautiful.  The weather is fickle. 

Example: Memorial weekend - Snow, Rain, Sunshine.

 

Mt. Nebo Scenic Loop
Just above 9,000 feet on Sunday afternoon.

 

The Grotto
A few thousand feet lower.



Big East Lake
Same Canyon. Thursday Evening.  Beautiful.



  The weather man says this weekend should be good.  Crossing my fingers.

Sunday Snippits

My son posted this on Facebook this evening:

"My mom is one of the best moms in this freaking world and you all should be jealous. My mom's got street smarts, computer smarts and all sorts of awesome smarts. But one must know these things if they are a single mom raising a teenage boy lol XD you rock mom and don't let anyone tell you other wise.

Love you like a fat kids loves good yummy cake."

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Had dinner Saturday night with my Mom, Grandma, Aunt and Cousin to celebrate Mother's Day. The food was great but the company was better.  

***

 I hold grudges.  It it not healthy or attractive.  Those who (or it whom) I hold these grudges against probably have no clue or could not care less.  I really need to work on getting over somethings. 

It is particulary bad when I blurt out a HORRIBLE thought about the person and realize how terrible and pitiful I have become.  To make matters, this person may never know I said what I did, yet I feel so terrible about it that I feel an absurd need to apologize to the person.  I won't but I did apologize to those who heard what I said.

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It is the start of a new week and I hope it is better than last.  Last week was filled with work worries, financial worries, digestive troubles, headaches, and weight gain.  All made worse because I ran out of my, "Calm the bleep down pills".  UPS should deliver my prescription tomorrow. I have to order certain prescriptions through mail or they will not be covered through my insurance.  I will share my thoughts about THAT another day.

*** 

This week I am going to work on:

My attitude.

Accepting the things I can not change and working to change that which I can.

Letting go of anger and resentment.

Losing  the weight I have gained over the past week.

Relaxing and enjoying the susnhine.

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Hope everyone has a great week!

Wanted: Brain Bleach

My son has no filter!

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that he thinks he can say anything to me.  BUT really?  Somethings I do not need to hear.

I won't repeat on here what he said but every time I see a particular commercial my mind goes back to our conversation and I need brain bleach. 

I didn't want to but I had to tell him that he needs a filter.  There are just some thoughts Mama doesn't need to hear.

Here Fishy Fishy...

The weekend  was more eventful than most.  It wasn't planned that way but I generally don't make too many plans for the weekends anyway. 

Friday evening I played farmer and planted my vegetables in pots.  I will post pictures when they start to grow a little larger.  This turned out to be a good thing.  The spot I had intended to use for my garden happens to be the dog's resting spot.  He can dig, he can lay down.  Hopefully he will stay away from my plants.

Prom was Saturday night and I allowed my son to take my car with him to his dad's house for the weekend making it easier for Austin to run his prom errands.  I walked the mile to the library and the gas station for a coke and headed home, intending to spend the afternoon curled up with a good book.  I sort of got sidetracked by the television and about the time I decided to pick out one of my books to read, my son and his friend pull up outside bearing groceries.

Apparently the dinner plans has changed and they were having dinner in our backyard.  While the boys scurried about to get everything set up, I drove the dog to my parents house for rest of the weekend.  An attention whore of a dog, prom dresses, tuxedos, and food did not seem to be a good mix. 

The kids had their dinner on the patio while my  "male friend" (who from this point forward will be identified by his initials JP) and I had dinner at a restaurant in town, followed by a long drive by Utah Lake.

When I arrived home, the kids had left me a lovely mess to clean up.  Between cleaning the kitchen and patio, and getting my fishing gear ready for Sunday, I didn't get to bed until after midnight.  This only left five and a half hours before I had to get up for a day of fishing.

JP picked me up at 6:35 am (ten minutes early) bearing breakfast and we headed off to pick up his friend and head into the mountains.

By 8:30 our poles were in the water.  While the lake was still pretty glassy, I managed to get a shot of the view from my camp chair.  The camera on my phone does not do it justice.

JP caught the first fish of the day. He was a teeny little bugger and was  released to be caught another day.   I caught the first "keeper".  He wasn't impressive but I was happy with myself.  It was also the only fish I managed to reel in. 



We obviously need to work on our fish photography skills.

Soon after I caught the "big one", a bunch of Pelicans flew in and shared the lake with us.  I do not know what the proper termsis for a group of Pelicans. They sort of drifted in and landed gracefully on the water, when they took off again you could hear the flapping of the wings. I think they are graceful. JP thinks they are ugly and awkward looking.  

We left the lake at six.  Relaxed and happy with a line full of fish.  After loading the car, JP turned the key  - dead battery.  With no other soul in site, we attempted to push start the car - no go.  Luckily, a family pulled up and had jumper cables.  A quick jump and we were on our way.

I love fishing with JP.  He isn't obsessed with catching the most fish or even the biggest fish.  He simply enjoys the day.  He is rarely in a hurry.  He is teaching me to improve my cast and when he helps me he isn't condescending.  Because of this, I ask for his opinion and I allow him to help me anytime he thinks I need a helping hand.  He doesn't realize how significant this is for someone as independent as myself. 

When I came home, Austin was here to greet me and put away my fishing gear  - it goes in the attic and I am not really fond of climbing up there.

It may have been a busy weekend but it was a great weekend.  I spent time with people I care about.  Saw my handsome son in his tuxedo and because I cleaned up the mess from his date, he promised to organize the Tupperware cupboard.