Busy busy busy. Christmas is so magical. I love that. We drove the bus down to Vegas this weekend and had a riot. Plus it only cost $22 in gas! With the Mr. Buddy heater on the back seat, set on Medium it was a very comfortable, enjoyable drive. I can't wait for Jason to surprise me with a trip to the beach one weekend in the bus!
Saturday morning we had Christmas breakfast with my mom and Larry. Waffles with peanut butter, ice cream and syrup-very hard to beat it for breakfast! We exchanged gifts and I got a bunch of orange kitchen stuff, LOVE IT! It almost makes me want to spend more time in the kitchen. We also got a new dutch oven, we will enjoy the heck out of that! Thanks mom and Larry. Love you.
Saturday afternoon Jason's cousin Adam had the Eckel Christmas party at his house. It was fun getting together with family. Santa even showed up and I was impressed with his laugh and jolly looks....Gotta love cousin Jeremy! We enjoy the heck out of these cousins and are grateful to be reconnected with them the last couple of years.
Sunday we went for a jeep ride at the Hurricane dunes- Sandra came along and laughed the whole way. Kelly and Rob came along in their nice newer jeep that made things that were rocking our world look easy! Never a dull moment- both doors kept flying open, at times I had to retrieve the door with my foot. Jason got one monster slide that he can't quit talking about. Frost the dunes with a layer of snow and the fun factor just goes up, up, up.

EXCELLENT DAY!!

• Watched an Elf dance with me, Jas, Brent and Alicia, laughed out loud and enjoyed it thoroughly, thinking of paying the $5 to keep it forever!
• Lunch with friends at Durango's, no wait at noon, small portions (still full) and next time it is free!!
• 1 gallon of Paul Mitchell Color Care Shampoo and 1 gallon of Paul Mitchell Color Care Conditioner. This will last at least 6 months. They smell delicious and make my color last a bit longer...
• Barnes and Noble Cafe with Alicia and Elizabeth. We all love books. Plus the cafe has delicious drinks (I had peppermint Hot Chocolate). I spent a lot of my $5o Christmas gift cards! So many books and so little time. (forgot my coupons at home, bummer, will have to go shopping again!) Bought- The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella, The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger and Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson.
• Learned how to spice up the background to my blog, do you like it? Thanks Alicia, blogger extraordinaire.
• Dinner at Chilli's with Alicia and Elizabeth and Jas. Good food, laughter and snow!
• It has been snowing for hours. It is sticking. It is silver and shimmery and beautiful right now, live in the now Tam Tam, don't worry about the drive to work in the morning....
• Reading Leven Thumps and the Wrath of Ezra- love it!
• Herc is so cute. He has the top half of him on the couch, maxin and relaxin right now. Watch and learn Tam Tam.
• Jason has built a fort around the jeep in the driveway. There is plywood in front and on both sides of the jeep and the diesel heater is blowing in from the rear of the jeep. He is putting in the drivelines. He is almost done with this project!! The jeep will be completely fixed within 2 weeks of destroying the transfer case- that has to be a record recovery time for a Fullerton project! Way to go Jas! Just in time to go play in the snow...snow in a jeep does sound fun.
• Eating the butterscotch snacks from Niccita The Banana's Christmas snack tray- oh so tasty.
• Playing fetch with Herc with the tennis ball- he is still soft from his bath on Saturday, I love my puppy and he loves me.
• Gonna be in bed by 10pm- 9 hours of sleep sounds just about right. Good night and God Bless Us Everyone...

Unapologetic Flatulator

This says Unapologetic Flatulator. And for only $29.95 I know where you can get one of your very own! This was what Jas and I gave Kim B. For her birthday. She loved it, clapping and laughing are good in this case, right?!

WCYCC did our Christmas potluck to celebrate today. I think it turned out pretty well. Excellent food! I hope staff enjoyed themselves, I had to eat and run, to attend a hearing in court at 1:30 and we started at 1pm...best laid plans and all that. The hearing ran 2 hours, but it was an encouraging hearing where several players in the community are coming together to try and help preserve a family and help some kids with some very significant needs. I could blog a lot more about that but a lot of it doesn't fit in with the gratitude theme...suffice it to say cooperating agencies is the upside.

Christmas Cheer

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.... Snowed all day in Sunny St. George.
The whole reason I live here is because it does not snow here! Of course it is merely slush, doesn't stick, so we don't even get any of the beauty of the snow, just the cold and the ugly. And that has been my mood much of the day cold and ugly.

Wait a minute, this is the gratitude blog.
Switch gears.
Thanks to my friends, both at work and in my personal life, I do have eversomuch to be grateful for, even on this miserable snow day.
We had a Christmas luncheon today at Melinda's house. She made DELICIOUS food. White Chilli, ham and cheese rolls, stacked salad and a juice drink that was succulent. It was a really nice get together and Melinda's house is so festive it put me in the Christmas spirit.
Then this evening my bffs and I went to Starbucks to exchange gifts. I as a slacker did not have all of the gifts yet, 3 are in the mail, so not a great gift giving experience for me today- in fact the snow mood matched my gift giving skills of the day. However Kim's gift made me cry. She has a picture in her bathroom that was drawn by her sister in law Sunny Belliston- A very gifted artist, that I LOVE! It is a fish riding a mountain bike. I have long thought that this picture belongs in my living room, I mean come on, our bikes are the living room decorations, not to mention that I have feminist tendencies so the "A Woman Needs A Man Like A Fish Needs A Bicycle" analogy fits to a T. I have vocally admired that picture for a long time, but it is one of like 5 in existence, not to be reprinted so I also knew that it was not to be.
Well, Kim got one of the precious 5 and gave it to me for Christmas. She has had it since March. She knew it was the perfect gift and that I would love it. I think she even got the reaction she was looking for. I am so blessed. I also got $50 total in Barnes & Noble gift cards from Cindy and Sharlie so I can go shopping to my heart's content, and their gifts will keep on giving and giving as I get books that I can read and share!! I love reading almost as much as I love to ride my bike (more on days like today). It feels so warm and fuzzy to have friends who know me so well and love me so much.

To top off the day I was able to get a room at the Courtyard in Vegas for $44 for this next weekend, so we will be comfortable for cheap...can't beat that.

Are Toes, like Ice Cream ruined after freezer burn?

Have I mentioned that I love to ride my bicycle? Yes? Oh well today was a bit of an exception. I went for a ride with some friends this morning at 9:30am. 37 degrees, plus I haven't ridden much since October (I know I can't believe it either, how did that happen? I still don't get how it is mid December already...)
SO today was a bit different for me. I thought I was adequately clothed. bandanna, ear warmer, helmet. Long sleeve jersey, short sleeve jersey, windbreaker. biking gloves, cheapie cotton gloves. Biking shorts, leg warmers. 2 pair of socks, shoes. NOT ENOUGH, especially on the feet. One of the other girls was gracious enough to turn around with me about 1/3 of the way into the ride. We hadn't even made it off the trail system yet. But I was done! My toes were completely numb and I thought for sure they would have freezer burn! (I wonder if toes, like ice cream are ruined after freezer burn?) I think freezer burn must be one step from frost bite...and I was there! To top it off my arms were soaking wet under the wind breaker because it would not allow the water out...no wind in=good, no sweat out=bad. I was huffing and puffing for all I was worth as well, the fitness and stamina on the bike is hard to come, easy to go-you'd think I would remember that and keep on my bike!!!

Anyway, I'm back on the bike. I thoroughly enjoyed the company and conversation on the ride. I am planning to give Utah Hill a try tomorrow, despite the freezer burn of today. I'll let you know how it goes.

Birthday Girls

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TARA!! It is my sister in law's birthday to day. 33. Just a baby, except for the part where she is a mom with a baby who is 5! How does that happen? I am not old enough to have a 5 year old, how does my baby brother have a 13 year old and his baby is 5? Anyway, it sounds like Tara had an awesome birthday and I once again scored with the perfect gift---1st Jason's Birthday, now Tara's...don't get your hopes up if you are on the birthday gift list, but I am improving. I got Tara a darling pink, white, and black Timeless Trinkets watch. If you'd like more info on them email Jennifer Johnson at dxjjohn3@ihc.com. I have the most fabulous orange, blue and green watch that I am in love with! When I get my digital camera I'll have to post a pic!

Also on the Birthday list for this week is BFF of many, me included (don't mind sharing), Kimmi B. We went to lunch today for her B-day at Samurai 21 and were entertained by the Hibachi chef! Great food, awesome company, just an all around good time. I am a slacker and assumed I could find the gift I was looking for at Kohls, but nooooo. It was Kohls.com and won't be here until possibly 12/24! Slacker. Loser. Procrastinator. Oh, well- better late than never I always say and if you don't want to hear that then we will have to agree to disagree. I try, genuinely try (not the Yoda brand "Do or Do Not, there is no try"), and I have intentions of gold, but to be honest quite frequently my timing turns into pewter. Banish me, exile me, I'll still probably be a bit tardy. It is nothing personal, it is just the story of my life--and ask Jas I am better than I used to be and I come by it honestly...

Twilight!

I finally watched the movie this afternoon. Much anticipated, much debated, much enjoyed! There were only 2 things I would have changed- let me cast it-some characters were perfect (i.e., Charlie, Jacob, Alice, Vanessa and a few others) and some were just not what I pictured at all but still I was able to adjust and live with it and love them anyway (i.e. Bella, Edward- to be fair, no one could have played Edward to my heart's content, except maybe my Jas as a vampire.... and I wanna be Bella.) I also would have kept the cameras off of the legs as Edward was running and done some "flash" sort of movement stuff rather than trying to make the fake speed look real. OK, OK, THREE things- I wanted his skin to be much bigger diamonds and much more brilliant, almost to blinding- I was picturing 5 carat diamonds all reflecting off tinfoil or something, not just a diamond rub.

Overall though I would have to say that I will buy the DVD and though a movie can never compete with a book (or I have yet to experience it) this stayed true enough that I still love the story and the characters (even though I hate vampire movies- I wonder how Stephanie Meyer came up with the perfect "good and pure" vampire as an idea? I personally think vampires may be the next stage in our evolution to perfection!)

Your thoughts?

BBBS 5 Year Celebration

I was privileged to attend The 5 Year Anniversary Celebration for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah-Southern Utah tonight and even convinced Jas to go with me. It was an excellent event. Awards were given to people who were instrumental in getting BBBS going in St. George (over 5 years ago--5 years since we got an actual office, the fight to get that was actually some of the hardest work!) I saw a couple of people who I haven't seen in quite some time and it was a terrific reunion. What an honor to be recognized as a "Big Legacy Member". The Big Brother and Big Sister of the year were honored and spoke about the unbelievable experience they have had with their match. It was uncanny the similarities between the Little and the Big! There was a slide show that highlighted the matches that have happened over the last 5 years and that was nothing short of magic! I so believe in this program--it is one of the things that could lead to putting me out of business--which would be a miracle I would welcome. If we can prevent ANY kid from going through the juvenile justice system it is worth every effort...let alone becoming friends and spending time with a great kid- it is amazing that so little can result in such BIG differences. I LOVE BBBS!

We had some delicious tri tip steak and asparagus for dinner last night, it was mouthwateringly delicious! I had a very productive day at work today, I love when that happens. Am I a scrooge for not putting up any Christmas decorations? I just don't want to get it all out, only to put it back away. Christmas just came too fast this year. I am in awe that it is 1/3 of the way through December of 2008, where has the year gone? Not that we wasted any of it, we have had an incredible year, full of friends, fun, laughs and of course bicycling!

I am so grateful for the assistants at my orthodontists office, even though I got hurt today they make it as easy as possible and they are such fun women!

All of my teeth are now connected to the braces, that must be a step in the right direction!

I rode to Kanab with my boss today and it was a great experience. It is so nice to have someone express confidence in your abilities and affirm your competence! Malcolm's confidence in me made my day.

Back on the Road Bike

Bicycle, bicycle, I love to ride my bicycle, I love to ride my bike. Jas and I got back on our road bikes today! It has been over a month, way too long. We were running out of daylight (damn the daylight savings) so we only went 6.5 miles but oh boy it was fun! (OK, OK we may have been tired after the first 2 miles after the long break, but also Jason's back is seizing...he should have known better than to lift the transfer case into the back of the truck by himself, he's not 25 anymore, but he forgets!)
Anyway the point is that we rode the road bikes today and we liked it!

I also got to go look at and buy a couple of Timeless Trinkets tonight- Tara is going to love hers!

I am eversograteful. Grateful for my life. Grateful for my health. I have continued to lurk on the desmoid tumor list serve for the past 3 1/2 years and occasionally see posts that remind me how very lucky I am to have those tumors behind me and to not have FAP... Most people with desmoids have FAP, it is a genetic disorder that leads to early colon cancer if the colon isn't removed. Tumors from hiking are much easier to handle than tumors from FAP. I am also grateful that I only had to have 2 surgeries and that radiation has kept me from a dreaded recurrence. I am also grateful for Jason and the strength and comfort he brought when I needed it back in the year of the tumors. We were talking on the way home from Vegas after Thanksgiving and he mentioned how hard he took it when we learned that the bumps I felt post surgery #1 was another tumor. He didn't even let on to me, but it terrified him. Oh, to never deal with something like that again will be too soon.

On the bright side for today, we have decided what we will be getting for Christmas...a new transfer case for the Jeep. That was the casualty from Dumont and Jas will be taking it in for a rebuild tomorrow. The good news is the 4 wheel drive shop is slow, so it won't take long and we can be back on the sand again! Next time we will just stick with 4 tires of all the same size!

We also enjoyed some excellent steak at Ja son son's restaurant last night with friends we are enjoying very much, hopefully we will hang out again soon, even though I made an idiot of myself last night...

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My mom cooked up a storm and we ate up a storm. We had a terrific visit with mom and Larry and got home before too late and slept like rocks. Friday we went back to Vegas with Brent and Alicia and had a fantastic time. They stayed at the Palazzo, it is an amazing hotel. Beautiful fountains, flowers, chandeliers, and the room was HUGE! We just shopped and wandered and watched people and had a great time laughing and playing.
Jas and I got back on the bikes today. We were headed for the Green Valley Loop when Jason got a massive flat. I had the tube and the CO2 cartridge but no "pump" to get the CO2 into the new tube. Darb saved the day and came to pick us up. We got almost to the bottom of "The Hill" that would have lead us to the fun part of the loop. Bit of a bummer, but my legs were already tired, so maybe it was a blessing in disguise. We will try again tomorrow, because as we were singing on our ride "I love to jump my bicycle, I love to jump my bike!"
Tonight is just a quiet night at home, maybe we will watch Kung Fu Panda and snuggle.

Happy Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I am thankful for my family. Jas. Shawn, Tara, Kailee, Ausitn, Tyson, Kyler. Chris, Michele, Braxton, Kaden, Kurklan, Preston. Mom, Larry. Dad, Karen, Jill, Randy, John, Jeremy. Keith, Betty. Jennifer, Mike, Kelsie, Taylor, Gracen, Faith. Jeffrey, Sara, Kaylin, Nick, Drew. Grandmas Bea, Jean, Joy and Gerri. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins...the list could take up the whole page. We are so blessed to have such a large, loving, wonderful family. Love you all and we're thinking about you today, wishing we were with you all.
I am thankful for my health.
I am thankful for my pets. Hercules. Hambone. Turt. Even Birdie- she woke up talking and singing this morning.
I am thankful for my job and the dedicated people I work with.
I am thankful for Jason's job and the goofballs he works with.
I am thankful to live in beautiful and sunny (though not today) St. George, Utah.
I am thankful for our friends.
I am thankful Jason is a good cook.
I am thankful for our bicycles.
I am thankful to be learning to play guitar.
I am thankful for great books to read.
I am thankful for a comfortable home.
I am thankful for our reliable truck.
I am thankful for the unique and not always working other vehicles.
I am thankful to live in a free country.
I am thankful for sunsets.
I am thankful for the smell of rain.
I am thankful for our financial security.
I am thankful for life!
I am thankful for love!
etc. etc. etc.

I have made a decision about Thanksgiving. We are going to go down to Las Vegas and have dinner with my mom. Then we will come home and veg. Then Friday we will take our friends Brent and Alicia down to Las Vegas to catch their plane home on Saturday. This will beat going on a day trip to SLC tomorrow, then back on Wednesday (when there is supposed to be a snow storm- the deal breaker) and dinner on Thursday and home that evening, then down to Vegas on Friday...
I am excited to be going to SLC tomorrow and visiting Braxton after my meeting and he will tune my guitar for me!!! Then I can play the blues (since Brax taught me that last time I went up to SLC)...and Jas can sing the blues, dun nu nu nu nuh!

I also LOVE Michael Clarke Duncan! (He just showed up on 2 1/2 Men and his voice just gets me, plus he is HOT!)

Dumont Dunes and the Trip Home

We had an absolute riot this weekend at the Dumont Sand Dunes! Camping, no cell service, family, friends and fun....what more could you ask for? We met Jason's cousins Adam and Shannon and his Uncle Dave and their families out there, along with several "extended family members" and played in the jeep until it broke--thankfully we were almost done anyway and it made it back to camp and is now in the driveway with no added expense (yet).
We were able to stop and see Grandma Bea and Aunt Glory (and Kayla and Kameron and the dogs) on the way home, we can't wait to head back to the dunes with them and get a ride in the new sand rail!!! It was so good to see Grandma, we love her with every ounce of our hearts.
Finally we got to have some dinner with my mom and Larry and that is always a great way to end a trip.
We're glad to be home and showered and ready for a great nights sleep before work tomorrow.



I'm still trying to decide what to do for Thanksgiving, it gets so complicated when I want to go in so many different directions...we will have to decide tomorrow and Jas says it is totally up to me...oh the pressure!

I am grateful for our nephews and nieces. They are such great kids and we love and treasure them with every fiber of our being. Braxton and Kelsie are 17, wow, it is tough and wonderful to be 17 in our world today! Keep fighting, keep loving, and keep going...ask for whatever we can offer and it is yours.

I am also grateful that my feet carry me around day in and day out. Went to the Podiatrist today and my metatarsus adductus is still on going, it looks like I have 1 to 3 years until surgery will be necessary. I am grateful every minute that my feet feel good.

Today I am grateful for "Power Thought Cards" by Louise Hay. I was having a tough day and went to a meeting at noon and used the cards as an opener...everyone picked a card and talked about how the affirmation related to why they serve on the board for Big Brothers Big Sisters. It just lifted my spirits and reminded me to relax, breath, and remember that all is well anyway!

Halloween pics at last

I finally got the Halloween pics and downloaded them to the computer so I will post a few... These are from the Fantasy and Fetish Ball in Las Vegas, held Oct. 25, 2008- what fun!

Jas, Tami, Brent and Alicia in the lobby of the hotel, after the party.
Tami knows Jack

Jas looking the part of the serious mobster.

I actually tried on a wig just a little darker than Alicia's and it looked horrible on me.

I should have taken a picture so I would remember that I never want to be blond again!

(Yet another thing I wish I had known in Junior High)

Jas being arrested, serious criminal that he is...

These are just a few of the fun pics we got. If you want to see more come on over and I'll show you all of them!

Great day at work today. I got to somethings on my list that have been there for like a year! Just in time to spend the rest of the week in SLC and get behind again. This cold just lingers and lingers...

Tough time being grateful today. I am very grateful that Jas is clearing the driveway tonight! I love kisses from Herc. I love when Birdie talks to me. I love that there is now a social website for Sunday Road Rides.

For Halloween Pics, look elsewhere. I Love Herc.

OK, so if you would like to see any pics of us from Halloween (they are quite fun) then you'll have to go to our friends blog. It is on the list of blogs to the side, it is the Molly Moo one. Brent has not sent me the pics, as promised, so you will get to see the ones on their blog...not here.
Maybe I'll get to post some for Thanksgiving.

Watched Indiana Jones last night, I think it was just like the old ones and loved it, that is what happens when you don't have expectations! We also watched Eragon today and I can't believe how much they had to leave out, great movie, but the book is so much better- read it!!!

I cannot believe I am still coughing and blowing my nose, but do feel so much better! Ready to go to SLC for the week, yee haw!

The best thing about today is Herc. He is just about the cutest and sweetest little furry person ever. I love him!

Feeling better? Farewell Circus Cookies...

On the bright side I was able to go to work for a few hours today.
On the down side I learned the tragic news that Mothers Circus Cookies are no longer. For the scoop go to the Occasional Genius blog from my list, this is where I learned the news. The bright side of this is that the temptation of those sugar coated morsels will no longer taunt me.
I cannot wait to feel better so I can ride my bike!

Sunset Extraordinare (plus a cold)

I love sunsets! Tonight we had a beautiful sunset, the pink, red and orange colors spread across the entire sky, with just enough blue sky and white clouds to set it off brilliantly!

I also love Nyquil, Jas and I are both suffering from a cold, miserable sore throat, stuffy nose, and cough. Nyquil is the saving grace for getting some rest. I am also taking Airborne and Zicam and have full confidence that I will be better by Thursday when I am presenting to the Youth Provider Association of Utah on the What Works Principles.

Halloween and Hanging out

We went to the Firehouse on Halloween with Cindy the con and Officer Hathaway and had a riot! Jas dressed up as a bottle of Tequila, people at the bar had fun with that. Cindy and I danced to Marsha's band for 2 1/2 hours straight! I am way too old to do that, my knees are killing me, still. I love Halloween and dressing up!

Last night we hung out with the whole gang- Cindy and Dennis, Kim and Troy, Sharlie and Glen and new comers Rachel and Dennis II... excellent burgers, margaritas, and Wii. I was the champion boxer, whipping Dennis and Jason! I love hanging with friends and being victorious!

We had an incredible thunder storm last night. The lightning must have been right in our back yard because the thunder woke us up and several of the rounds lasted over a minute! It also poured down rain- I'm sure it smelled heavenly, but due to a stuffy nose I can't smell anything.
The rain should make for an excellent time at the Hurricane sand dunes this afternoon in the Jeep! I love thunder storms and the smell of rain!

Addictive Sounds

I remembered something else that I love last night. That sound when you plow through the crisp fallen leaves on your bike...it is an addictive sound. The only thing better is the idea of the the sound of landing in the huge pile of leaves when we dropped off the branch of the maple tree into the 3 ft tall pile of leaves when we were kids. I say the idea of that sound because I am fairly certain that the reality of that sound as an adult would be much less enjoyable, probably more like the cracking of bones, or stiff joints at least, not the crunching of leaves.
We rode 17.5 miles on our mountain bikes last night and 16.5 miles on Tuesday night, and there were several times we rode over crunchy leaves, I LOVE THAT! (Plus the sound, or lack of sound, when I jump my bike on the Green Valley Loop is also pretty sweet!)

Tonight we thoroughly enjoyed catching up with a great friend over dinner, what an excellent week!

Color Code

Whew, what a day. Work was meeting after meeting after meeting. I didn't even have time to get through all of the email. I think the day was productive over all, though the to do list is once again longer than when I started.

I did get to take the Hartman Color Code test for free and also get the 20 page profile for free, can't beat free! No surprise to many that my primary color is Blue with a secondary of Red (I think I hid the red for years beginning with the turmoil of adolescence, but it is back). Jas took it too, reluctantly. He is White with a secondary Blue. How does he ever put up with me and my need to control when all he wants is to avoid being controlled? We make it work and both choose to bring out that YELLOW fun together!

Drove around with my dad looking at real estate this evening...how exciting and incredible how much stuff still costs, and it has come down!

Finally ate some delectable carne asada for dinner, THANK GOODNESS for a man who can cook!

Jumping my bike, oh my!

I love jumping my mountain bike! Oh what a glorious evening...
We rode the Green Valley Loop, oh what fun it is when what goes up up up must come DOWN!
The temperature couldn't be more perfect in our little town of St. George. We saw trees that were ON FIRE the leaves are so red, we saw a little grey fox, the sky was brilliant with color. We love to ride our bicycles, we love to ride our bikes!

The damn bird dive bombed me and made me hit my head on the bi-fold door into the TV room. I was only trying to be nice and let her out of her cage, see if that happens again.

Darb made dinner, ribs ala sloppy joe, delicious, and what a great surprise to come home to dinner ready!

Weekend in Vegas

Just got home from a fantastic weekend in Vegas. We went to Carrot Top Friday night, he is hilarious and kind of cute too. My stomach hurt from laughing so hard. Then last night we went to an over the top costume party! It was fun. Great music and fun dancing and people watching unlike anywhere else in the world!
I still don't have a digital camera so I have to wait for Brent to send me the pics and then I'll post a couple so you all can see Jas and me circa 1920. We were lookin' good if I do say so myself. It was fun to hang out with our friends Brent and Alicia from Louisiana, as you can imagine we don't see them much anymore.
The only bummer was that we missed our other friends Halloween party here at home. Thanks Kimmie for the pics-you are fast! It looks like they managed to have a riot, even without us... hmmm?
Now I will be looking forward to our trip to Moab next weekend to mountain bike! Yee Haw!

A TAN TAM TAM

I am TAN! Well not really tan I guess, but BRONZED. I got one of those airbrush tans today at Euphoric Salon and I have actual tan lines. It is cool, I am typically a pinkish beige color underneath all my darkly tan looking freckles, but this is actually a tannish brownish sort of color, not much pink involved at all. It is kind of fun and I had no risk of getting burned in vertical stripes, nor did I have to get undressed, hop in a suitcase with light bulbs for 5 minutes then hop back out and get dressed again for days on end...(my experience with tanning beds, while limited, has not been great)...
Hopefully I will be able to post some pictures next week, I hope to be able to find a new digital camera (one of the kind wrapped in rubber so it is drop proof) this weekend...so keep your fingers crossed for me.

Today I am grateful that my meeting was cancelled and I didn't have to drive to SLC at 5am and attend a 2 hour meeting and then drive home today.
It was like a free day.
I left for lunch at Pizza Factory with Jason, best salad bar in the world.
I left early and went for an afternoon at The Skin Institute.
It was a great day, my Jas loves me, I saw Lamas getting frisky--it is a bit more rigorous than I would have imagined, maybe we will have another baby lama this year...
However when I arrived late for work this morning (9:20 am--when I didn't have to go in at 5am I did the dishes, read during breakfast and luxuriated before leaving for work) my boss was there. Why is it that when Malcolm comes in I am always late? Murphy's law at work! Thankfully he didn't say anything about that, and I still had a productive day.

HOUSTON TEXAS and the FULLMER FAMILY

Sitting in Houston, writing a brief note that won't do my trip justice, but oh so grateful for my family. I have had a riot this week. I got to play in a giant castle bounce house and sleep out in it too. I think that will be the plan for my next birthday party, though the water slide one sounds like a hit too! I went for a walk or bike ride everyday around the lakes down the street from Shawn's house, yesterday we saw turtles, today I saw a huge white crane...
I went shopping with Tara and Kailee and enjoyed the "Girl Time" (and bought some really cute pink cargo pants and fit into my first pair of size 6 pants in a LONG TIME). I also finished 4 books and will hopefully get through one more on the plane ride home. Shawn said more than once that he's so glad I could come out to Texas to read my book....
I gave all the kids books that I LOVE... The Alchemist to Kailee, Eragon and Eldest to Austin, Fablehaven to Tyson, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane to Kyler. It is so much fun to share these fun reads with kids who will also love them!
The highlight of the week was the reason for the visit- Tyson's baptism. Austin spoke about baptism, what an orator! Kailee sang Families Can Be Together Forever and knocked my socks off. Shawn did the "work" of the day, what a great dad he is. and Tara talked about the Gift of the Holy Ghost, she really explained things in a way that I think 8 year old Ty could understand and she told a very funny story about feeling the warmth of the spirit and happy meals! I felt honored to share this special day with this very special family.
I also enjoyed very much staying up until 2am talking with Shawn and Tara. Though I miss them and we see each other so infrequently, it is so easy to be together and feels like no time at all has passed since the last visit.

I am excited to get home and see my Jas and Herc. I've missed Jason, always do, always will.

Oh, one last thing about the Fabulous Fullmers- Kailee, Tyson and Kyler all made it into the Katy High School production of the Wizard of Oz! They will make terrific Munchkins...and this play is so close to my heart...maybe another trip will have to come sooner than later?

6.5 Miles

6.5 miles tonight. Longest 6 miles of my life. My sits bones may never be the same. OK that is drama, but still, it hurt. I guess it is probably a good sign that my sits bones were the sorest part of my body on the day following the ride that was 10 X the ride today. There is some uncomfortability in the hamstring meets the glutes region and lower back, but by far the quitting zone was the seat region today! A tribute to Jason's manliness I was the one to call it short and he was the one who rode the 65 yesterday on a NEW SEAT! What a man. Though he did not argue with me about cutting the ride short tonight...

I get to go to work at 5:40 in the morning so I will bid adieu for the evening. Try to write tomorrow though if I miss it will be next week cuz I am off to Houston early Wednesday morning!!! I so need this vacation, and it is a vacation with 10 8 year olds at a party on Friday, so let that be the visual. See you soon Fullmers.

Tour De St. George Metric Century Route

Whew, 65 miles today. Have I mentioned that I LOVE TO RIDE MY BICYCLE?! Jason's new bike did not make it any easier for me to keep up with him. He was quite color coordinated, I wish I had a digital camera to capture it, but words will have to do for now....his bike is bright blue and white, it also has yellow stickers (I think they are safety warnings and should probably come off, but nonetheless). He has bright blue leggings/tights that match the bike perfectly (he didn't really choose them, they were a duff at Mega Pro and they are warm, so he kept them). Then he had on a yellow wind breaker and his shoes have yellow S's on them. To top it off, his helmet is bright blue too. For a moment he wore my sunglasses with yellow padding by the ears and that just totally completed the look. He is dead sexy and all mine!

We did basically the route of the metric century for the Tour De St. George, just starting at our house, not in town. We did it in 4 hours and 45 minutes, last year it took me 5 hours or maybe 5 hours and 15 minutes, so I am definitely stronger! The route runs out through Washington, over the Coral Canyon hill, down Highway 9 to the Sand Hallow turn off, around Sand Hallow (that hill is still a killer!) then out through Hurricane, LaVerkin and Toquerville. I have lived in dread of the Toquerville hills and today I kept waiting for the really tough climb and it never came, I really am getting better at this stuff! Then we go up the frontage road along I-15 and through Leeds- I love that stretch, it is a little hilly but you can fly through it. Even with the wind today (a breeze of about 9 miles per hour), we were averaging 18-24 mph. Then we went around Quail Creek- those hills are deceptive and get a bit frustrating, though again it was never as hard as I remembered it : ). We finished up going back up Highway 9, back over Coral Canyon, through Washington and home.

We got home at 5pm, just enough time to shower, hop in the truck and make it to The Smith's for Guy's belated birthday party! We had a great time over there, with excellent food and company. All in all a great end to a terrific (all be it COLD-we went from ideal Fall weather in the 70's to the 40's in one day, I certainly hope Fall isn't over and it is going to warm back up for at least a few weeks!) weekend.

Jason's New Road Bike

I kept up (almost) on my mountain bike tonight when we did the Green Valley Loop with Bobbi, Sandra, Bobbi's boys (Tracen and Jase- my spelling may be off). Tracen broke his femur and collar bone 8 weeks ago and yet was out on his mountain bike tonight, he may have said "Ow" when he landed a few jumps, but 8 weeks post rod screwed into your femur, I think that is AMAZING!

Jason came home tonight with a new bike! He "traded" in his Giant CFR for a Specialized Tarmac Elite. It is pretty and blue and he had to take it out in the dark (danger danger danger) to give it a test run. It is lighter than my bike and I fear it may coast better, that is the one advantage I have had, we shall see if it was the bike or my aerodynamic anatomy...keep tuned for the test results on Saturday! (I do believe that our friend Dave is giving Jas a big fat boy hug, in the way that he knows best, good thing the orange Tarmac wasn't in stock or I would be taking it personally...)

Finally I went to the orthodontist today. I love the girls in the office, they are a fun group. However my mouth is killing me. I got a new spring (bigger) and a new wire (bigger, thicker, stronger) on the bottom. It appears that if the one remaining out of whack tooth won't budge, they will force it! Ow, ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow OWEE! Tylenol is my friend today and carbs or no, spaghettio's were also my friend, no chewing involved.

89 miles so far this week

We have ridden our road bikes 89 miles so far this week (starting Sunday). We rode with the biggest group ever today, it was a riot (though also intimidating-drafting still makes me nervous). We were CRUISING, usually over 20 mph. The weather is fantastic right now in the evenings! We got to ride with our good friend Cindy for the first time in a long time, she was sizzling on her bike.

SNOW CANYON

Oh what a beautiful evening, oh what a beautiful day! I struggled with my day. Then got on the bike at 4:45pm and the rest of the day has been heaven. Snow Canyon is so beautiful and torturous. We rode the whole thing today and as we were heading back out toward Ivins the moon was hanging in between two red rock cliffs in a bright blue sky, hard to beat.
Then we enjoyed a terrific steak dinner with Sandra and Les.
All of this erased the tough day I had at work, I can't even remember what pissed me off (ok, I can but am over it). I LOVE TO RIDE MY BICYCLE!

Lunch and a pedicure with my WSM. Great Friday.
The not so good today was waking up to the sound of Jas hurling, not pleasant and as Dave said "There is no snooze for that"!
On the up side we will be seeing Jen Mike and the girls tonight and spending the weekend at a cabin on Cedar Mountain, can't wait to ride my bike through the brightly painted leaves, fall leaves are like a sunset you can touch!

Zoot Suit, Law School? and books

Will be ordering Jason's zoot suit tomorrow. We are going to look stylin in our 1920's garb for Halloween. I am excited to dress up and have fun.

Great day at work today. I so enjoy the people I work with and am glad to be surrounded by professionals who care about kids.

I took a look at admissions to law school last night. Maybe I'll try the LSAT in December. I said a long time ago that if we are 35 and no kids that I would like to go to Law School. No Brent I am not being a copy cat. I had the idea first. I wonder if I could do it and still work?

Last but certainly not least I got some great books today- Brissinger, can't wait to get back into that series (Eragon, Eldest...). Fablehaven 1, 2, and 3. The Magician (2nd in the Nicholas Flamel- Alchemist series). I'll have reading material for at least a week. Plus I started reading A Million Little Pieces, a bit more mature and serious reading so the kids books will help me get through that adult content. I LOVE TO READ! (and can't wait to write my own books too...-rocket of desire on the way)

Kids, Hills and NEW MUSIC

Oh how I miss interacting with young people who are struggling! I get so wrapped up in the administrative duties I have at work that I am pretty far removed from the kids anymore. Today I attended a meeting with a family and got to talk with a young lady and her mom, I LOVE THAT!! They are so lucky to be asking for some help to navigate the turbulent teen years, they will survive and hopefully thrive because of that!

I also got to ride my bike today, just 6 miles, up Tonaquint Drive and The Legacy hill (tough, but so much easier than last year), but still---have you heard the song...I want to ride my bicycle!

If you haven't noticed I added to my song list. Should you have any questions about why I picked a particular song just ask, I wish I knew how to put a one liner next to each song with a brief explanation...in addition Jason was going crazy having to hear Queen every evening, he needed some variety, I guess everyone doesn't feel the way I do about that song--it speaks to my soul!

Celebrating Pat

Our neighbor Pat passed away and the neighborhood had a memorial barbecue this evening to celebrate her life. It was really nice. I was glad to have an opportunity to tell her husband Pete how sorry I am for his loss. They had been married longer than I have been alive, oh he is going to miss her! I look forward to growing old with my sweetheart like Pat and Pete did. I am also very grateful for thoughtful, compassionate neighbors who got together to celebrate the life of this sweet woman and support our neighbor Pete. I don't know who the "spear heads" were but it was at the Sonju's house, Travis Hafen barbecued, Ken Hinton took pictures and so many others were there with love. Even Jas made it over, anti-social as he is. We really fell in love with Pat and Pete over our mutual love for dogs. They had a dog named Farley when we got Herc, and Herc used to bug the crap out of Farley every chance he got... Pat and Pete always took Herc's annoying antics with Farley with good humor!

These are a few of my favorite things...

Jason.
Herc.
Turt's tank clean.
The smell of rain (getting it right now from the breeze through the open sliding door).
Anything orange.
Old Trucks.
Rat Rod looks.
Finding the perfect dress at the first store we stopped at!
Talking to nephews and nieces on the phone.
Riding my bike.
Fantasy books.
Shoes on sale. (3 pair for $50!)
Oh and did I mention Jas?

53.5 miles baby. enough said.
Well also a perfectly grilled steak for dinner at Ja son son's.

BBBS 5 Year Celebration

I got up at 5am to shave my legs in preparation for the big event this morning....so you know it had to be something important to me! I am on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Utah and we have been planning a 5K fundraiser for the past few months...Today was the day. It was a fabulous day. We held it at Highland Park in Coral Canyon and watching the sunrise from the top of the mountain was magnificent. I'm impressed that they put a park right on the edge of the mesa, valuable real estate, but it makes for a very scenic run along their path. While there weren't as many runners as I would have hoped for it was a great event and I hope we will make it annual and the attendance will grow. We had a band- the Scott Emett band, they were great. There was a bounce house and a 1k for the kids, it was so cute to watch them race and see how excited they were to tell their parents what place they came in!
As an added bonus I bought some of the raffle tickets and I won an acoustic guitar! It is beautiful and I am going to have to hit up Braxton and Kurklan (my nephews) to teach me to play!

Fantastic Life

Today I am grateful for my fantastic life! My teeth are straightening as I type (and I can feel it). I started my day at the orthodontists office. Work was good. Got to see Nicci's new house-it is beautiful and of course already put together after only a few weeks! Then after work a mountain bike ride that kicked my butt, literally, I fell down on my butt-beats falling on my knee, but still...Then some delicious spaghetti, a little house hunters and now off to bed with my favorite person on earth.

A few of my favorite people and favorite things

Yesterday I got to go to lunch with my sister in law Tara and a couple of her siblings. It was so nice to visit with them. Tara is here from Houston and is basically trapped, flights have been cancelled. So Shawn and the 4 kids are home, safe and sound, Thank Goodness, but missing mom very much! For this weekend I am most grateful for the fact that my family weathered Ike ok. So many did not fare so well. If I'm repeating myself, it's only because I am ever so grateful about this!

Yesterday I also talked with and got to hug my great friend Jen Gates. She is awesome. Any kid that goes to Tuacahn High School has the best school counselor in the business, no doubt!

Today we went on another road bike ride in a place to remain nameless because we saw a darling little desert tortoise, about the same size as Hambone, cruising across the trail. On a very sad note I ran over a little lizard, it is so hard to tell the difference between lizards and sticks until they move, I never even saw him, poor little dude.

On a work related note I attended training on working with youth who are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, or Questioning today. It was put on by a person from the Utah Gay Pride Center. It was very informative, I learned several things I didn't know before. It also helped to examine some of my own prejudices that could interfere with creating an environment that feels safe for kids who are GLBTQ. Did you know that 1 in 2000 babies born are intergender- meaning physically either both genders or chromosomally different than XY (male) or XX (female)?

Back on the Road Bike

What a beautiful evening for a bike ride out to Snow Canyon! Nothing like 30 miles on the first time back on the hard as a rock saddle...It is amazing the difference between 100 degrees and 106 degrees-100 is ride able...I love fall!

Jeep Ride

We went on a jeep ride in Browse today (exit 30). It was a blast, so beautiful, just Jas, Herc and me...Now Herc is wiped out, he loves to go for a ride and then also got to play in a creek...that's hard to beat.

Last night we had a fish fry with our friends, it was also a great time. We've gotta do that occasionally just so the house will be clean! Darb cooked up the fried halibut and Jas barbecued the rest, it was delectable! Left overs tonight and no cooking!

Also my brother Shawn lives in Houston and we got a text last night that they weathered the storm well so I am Extremely Grateful that they are safe and sound following Hurricane IKE!

I'll have to write about last weekend in Jackson Hole and the Snake River when I get the pictures developed (I know, how old fashioned but I had to use disposable cameras because my digital is broken)...

Life is FANTASTIC, we are loving our lives!

Power Pointer and GUSTAV!

I learned how to create a power point presentation today and was even able to add in a video clip of an awesome mountain biker- it is a good analogy for creating goals for kids--you get what you focus on, if I look at the rock, it doesn't matter how loudly my brain says DON'T hit that rock, if that is what I focus on that is what I hit! So we must create goals that show kids what to do, rather than simply what not to do. It was kinda fun. I also got to role play a kid in some interviews this morning, I love to pretend to be a kid!



I am also extremely grateful that our dear friends in Louisiana are safe and sound with only minor damages following the wrath of Gustav! Check out the Big B Molly... blog for pics of the flooding...and they are in central LA, not near the coast. I am grateful for the fantastic climate we live in here in gorgeous St. George.

Happy Happy Birthday, its Middle Age for Jas

Happy Birthday to Jas and Darb! Jas is officially middle age now. I am waiting for the mid life crisis. I can't wait until he wants the convertible porsche, that is what I want too.
On a sad note it looks like the motor blew in the double cab today, not a great birthday present for Jas...but at least it is fixable.
On the plus side my attempts at domesticism were successful- Jas and Darb enjoyed thier Chicken Enchilada dinner and Blueberry Cheesecake with a song for desert. Listening to two grown men sing Happy Birthday do each other would bring joy, or at least hilarity to everyone's life!

In case you don't know Jas is my life partner, spouse, love, hero, idol, entertainment committee, etc. and Darby Jones is our life long friend and room mate who happens to share Jason's birthday of September 3. However Jas was born in 73 and Darb in 74... I love to throw people off by talking about my male roommate...gotta have fun where you can!

A Good Surprise for Jason's 35th

Yes! Jas opted to open his birthday presents early tonight. He is turning 35 tomorrow, I'm glad he has to go first, 35, how did that happen? Any way, he LOVED IT! I was worried. I don't have a great track record for surprise gifts. First I got him a 300 ft rappelling rope and he looked terrified when he opened it, and then returned it--the fear of heights over rode the desire to double rope Cougar Cliffs. Then I got the 2nd monster tool box for the garage and he didn't want it so I had to take it back (too much in the garage already, wanted to downsize, not put more in there). So the day after I bought the Safari Window kit (front and rear) for the '64 VW Double cab (perfect gift, I thought) Jason said, "Lets sell the bus and put the money into the 'Burban". He has a 58 Chev Suburban in the garage that we have toted around forever (his dad gave it to him at age 13 or something...it is the dream, but no engine, doesn't get worked on, it is still a dream...the double cab runs and is fun to drive and gets worked on, so silly me I figured lets go with that). So I was thinking "GREAT, I thought I got the perfect gift and now he doesn't even want to keep that vehicle!" I have been in dread since they arrived-they can't be returned! Well tonight when he opened them he saw the "Wolfgang" address label and guessed what they were and LOVED THEM! Yee Haw! I did good, I did good!
Nothing beats surprising the love of my life in a good way.

Lake Powell

We went to Lake Powell this weekend and had an absolute riot! Tubing and water skiing and wave running. Saturday is actually the only day we got on the lake but it was quite enough- Jas' back is jacked and my upper body is SORE!

So now for some gratitude insights over my week in Logan and Salt Lake City...

-Bear Lake is phenomenal, the color of the water is turquoise, it looks like a tropical mirage. However it does not feel like anything tropical. The water was COLD. But that didn't prevent me and Kara from tubing! Can't beat boating for a team building activity! Of course the boys were too chicken to get in the water, they let the cold and a few waves talk them out of it. We had a blast and some exquisite food too- Teriyaki burgers, cabbage salad, wasabi mayo...Thanks to the hardworking folks from the Cache Valley Youth Center!

-The Fire House restaurant in Logan is to die for. It is not the best choice if you are trying to avoid the "white" carbs, but Kara, Jill and I ate salad, pizza (Cordon Bleu--alfredo with canadian bacon and other tasty bits), and pasta (artichoke something or other that was delicious), and a SMALL cookie and icecream dessert (we shared, it was small, I walked later, these are the justifications I used), all for $30!!

-Diana Wavra is my hero. I attended PRA 3 Advanced Motivational Skills training in SLC on Wed and Thurs. I am supposed to be preparing to be a trainer on it and I can only hope that some day I will be 1/2 as good and 1/2 as knowledgeable as Diana. It was also fun to see and visit with Shannon, Kara, and Kimbal. This dedicated group of women are a big part of why I continue to put in extra work on What Works and Case Planning trainings. The training unit folks are great to visit with as well, Alexandra ROCKS!

-If you want to start off your day with a smile, feeling good one sure fire way to do that is to open the door for someone with a smile. They say "Thank you" you say "You're welcome" and you both feel great.

-I got to take my brother Chris and his family to dinner. The service was the worst ever (1.5 hour wait for our food and my filet was over cooked) at Lonestar. But the company couldn't be beat. The 4 boys are all such good lookin', smart and funny young men. Braxton is a senior and taking AP Physics, I can't comprehend that class! Kaden started 7th grade and is playing the clarinet, he reminds me so much of Shawn at that age! Kurklan is in 4th grade and is a little rock star playing the guitar. Preston started kindergarten, he is so excited to go to school and is about the sweetest thing ever, he just walked up to me and leaned against my leg and gave me a huge hug. It doesn't get much better than that for instilling joy in your soul.

-I also got to go to Sweet Tomatoes with Grandma Jean, Aunt Sandy and Angie and Amber. What fun women! I love them so much and they just love me right back. It is fun to see people who are used to the Tami that is 20 lbs heavier....I love to hear about how great my legs look. The hard work is paying off.

-I also got to visit Grandma Joy. Joy is right. It was wonderful to sit in her living room and just talk. Can't beat hugs and kisses from Grandmas.

-Absence makes the heart grow fonder. I missed Jas and Herc. It was fun to come home and get kisses last night.

Last Weekend

Being out of town for a week makes it tough to blog...
Last weekend we went mountain biking in Brianhead, it was an absolute riot, except the part where I turfed it twice. I have never done a "superman" over the handle bars before and have never had that sensation of my face headed for the rocks on the side of the hill. It is a unique feeling that I will not be repeating (creating my reality there folks). Thank goodness my chin stuck out enough to take the impact so that my mouth (braces included) didn't get hammered! I had a nice scrape all the way down the middle of my chin. Hopefully our friend Chrystal will be sending pics and I'll post it! (here it is-Thanks Chrystal)

The 2nd time I fell the handle bar scraped the skin off my right inner bicep and immediately left a beautiful bruise. (It is that lovely greenish brown pond scum color now).
The people I work with find it so funny that I tell them about my most recent crash at our management meeting every month, they must think I am a lame rider...the case actually is that I ROCK! and fall because I am pushing my limits so I am getting better and better all the time! Hey you try the Scout Camp loop at Brianhead! Gravel, steep downhill and ruts combined for the face plant. Roots, stumps and steep uphill contributed to the arm bruising tip over....
Oh what fun though, and so beautiful. There isn't much air up there though, so I am also very grateful for my inhaler! We started off at Dave's cabin, it is BEAUTIFUL! and then rode with Sandra and Chrystal, can't get enough of them!

Then after riding we met the Beckerle's at Mirror Lake (also beautiful, it is near Duck Creek and we hadn't ever been there before) and visited and had dinner with them. It was so much fun to catch up with these life long friends. It is amazing to not see people for months and yet pick up like no time has passed at all. They are a terrific family who we are so grateful to include in our lives! Jas and Mike have been friends since like 6th grade--Jas is 35 next week so you can do the math, they have been friends a long time.

Another Great Day

So much to be grateful for today! I enjoyed a fresh peach with my oatmeal this morning from our fabulous neighbor Ken's tree, that was delectable. Then I enjoyed performance planning with some highly motivated JJS staff. Then I enjoyed being tortured at the orthodontists office and compared jewels with the gals (their watches are Bumbles and mine is a Timeless Trinket), my teeth are moving, I can feel it! They will be straight some day! Then I got my hair done and gabbed with my stylist (who is moving but will be able to color me one more time in December... in the mean time Jason is going to try his hand at coloring the roots for me!)
Now I am listening to my favorite song and preparing to cook spaghetti with wheat noodles...
Life is good!

Bicycle, Bicycle, Bicycle

I am loving having music on my blog. The first few lines of that song make me grin! I am also enjoying wearing my new bracelet....my very kind friend Cindy gave it to me and it is a recycled bike chain bracelet, it is just COOL!

It is Jason's dad's birthday today and we drove over in the jeep which was HOT, but coming home was perfect! It is starting to cool off a little in the late evening...here comes the perfect biking weather.

Are you seeing a theme in my posts? Can you tell how much I WANT TO RIDE MY BICYCLE, I WANT TO RIDE MY BIKE!

Friends are Fun

We had a terrific time with our friends last night. It has been quite a while since we all got together, so it was great that Troy and Kim had us over! We also watched some of the swimming on the Olympics, wow, I had forgotten how inspiring the Olympics are!

I was also able to add music to my blog! That is fun. I love this song, I want to ride my bicycle so it works for making me smile! I hope it doesn't drive anyone else crazy. I am going to have to put a bit of thought into which other songs to add to my playlist, I only want to add the ones that automatically bring a smile to my face!

Lightning Storm

I just laid on the lawn in my front yard for 52 minutes and watched the most amazing lightning storm ever. It started raining a minute ago, huge drops and within 10 seconds the smell was overwhelming. I LOVE THE SMELL OF RAIN/LIGHTNING/WET DIRT/whatever you want to call it. Lightning storms in July/August in the desert are phenomenal. Add the rain and the smell and it is too much to describe in words. LOVE, PEACE, HARMONY, JOY!

What's great about being up at 4am?

What, you may ask, is there to be grateful for on a day in which you must arise at 4am? Well, first thing, when you walk outside at that time in the "morning" the NIGHT sky is beautiful, I could see more stars than usual and the moon was hanging low over Webb Hill. Then just before I pulled through Cedar City the sky was that beautiful light blue along the mountain line darkening through dark Levi blue, to Navy to deep purple then finally black night in the top of the sky. There is something to be said for sunrises!
I thoroughly enjoyed driving to Springville for a last minute meeting with my compadre Jill. It is always pleasant to talk with her and it is nice not to make the day trip on my own, especially when it begins so early.

Blogging Rocks

I checked out the blog for the outreach program at my work today and was IMPRESSED! I am so grateful to have dedicated people who care about kids to work with. It is especially nice to have people who are willing to use their talents to get creative to reach kids and will do whatever and keep busy, even when it seems like there is nothing to do! Blog for work, novel concept but how many of the kids we want to reach are on the internet? Hello, have you seen my space? We have to keep up and get ahead of the drug, gang, street culture that is competing for our kids lives! It doesn't get any more serious than that. Thanks Brooke, the blog rocks! I need to learn some of your tricks for this page, it is dull next to the TEAMRAW blog (of course I know I can't compete with Alii).

I am also grateful for Simple Truths. If you need a boost check out the short videos they have available to watch for free. It is a new company for the guy behind Successories, all those motivational posters with cool pics. My favorite so far is You Can't Send a Duck to Eagle School.

All is well, all really is well.

Hot Hot Hot

Jason and I did yard work all morning on Sunday. It was the first time in a long time the whole front yard has been done at once. We bought an automatic hedger and wow, what a difference. I was able to trim all of the bushes in the same amount of time it typically takes to do 1 bush! The front yard looks pretty put together, I love it! Then nothing beats a cold margarita after boiling out side! (Just remember to eat lunch if you try this at home, believe me).

Monday we went on a mountain bike ride after work, whew, it was HOT! I didn't know my face could turn so purple. On the bright side we did the ride in 1 hour 6 minutes and averaged 8.9 miles per hour, for us, on mountain bikes that is FAST!

I am oh so grateful for Kimmie's home cooking! She made irresistible apple pie, it was delectable and I don't even like pie! I've decided that I can't say I don't like something that Kim is fixing, I like even the things I don't like when Kim's cookin'.

Today I am grateful for sore muscles. It helps me know that they are getting stronger. We started lifting weights again on Monday- I can't wait to see my body change even more with this added piece of healthy living...for those who don't know, I have lost 20 plus pounds over the last year, with half of it "falling off" once I cut way back on sugar, potatoes and simple carbs! Who knew eating healthy and exercising would have this effect? : ) When we saw our niece Kelsie on Saturday, she said more than once "Tami you're just so cute" and told Jas when I walked away from the table that I get cuter and cuter every time they see me, and then Jas had to agree and acknowledge how cool it is to have a wife who is just getting better looking with age! Can't beat those kind of comments with a stick.

Volkswagons, Kids and Vampires, Oh My!

Again, who knew how tough it could be to just put in one thing that is great about each day? Its the time, it flies, like I have said before. Today I am ever so grateful for so many things its hard to know where to start. I LOVE MY BEETLE BUG! Jason just got it put back together and we took a spin in it. I can't help but smile when I am in it. Volkswagons are good for the soul.

I am also grateful to be an aunt. I got to go shopping with our 8 and 11 year old nieces yesterday and it was so fun to shop for school clothes! We are blessed with tons of kids in our lives. Not only our siblings' kids but our friends' kids feel like family too. The two I shopped with were Gracie and Faith...they will be stylin for school! They also slept over at our house a couple of nights this week and that put Hercules in heaven. He loves kids. He pushed Faith down and licked her to his heart's content and couldn't get enough of her giggling. Gracen sang to Birdie with her angelic voice and Birdie let her put her hand against the cage and didn't even try to bite her! Kids and animals are magical creatures full of Joy!

Last for today, I am LOVING Breaking Dawn. I think vampires might be an evolutionary step to perfection and eternal life! I am a 'fraidy cat who has never been able to read an Ann Rice book, and I am absolutely loving the Twilight Series that is full of vampires and werewolves- not even a single nightmare either!

How Could I Forget the Beaver?

On Thursday I went for my bike ride in Provo but I didn't even write about it yet! How could I miss writing about such an event? I started on the trail right outside the hotel and rode to Utah Lake and back on the Provo River Parkway (Trail way?)...anyway I saw a BEAVER swimming in the river. It was so awesome. When Jas and I stayed at the RV park near the trail Herc startled a beaver right next to the river and it slapped the water with a warning, beaver style. It was one of the coolest sounds I remember. It was incredibly loud! It scared the heck out of Herc! So I have fond memories of that trail and only hoped it might be possible to see another beaver swimming in the river. On Thursday morning in one of the very few spots where the river is visible from the trail I saw the V in the water and looked closer and sure enough it was a beaver. They are so cute, such happy, vibrant little brown eyes and ears poking up while they glide through the water. I stopped for a moment to watch and then he went underwater. Oh my fine furry friend! There is a memory for my "Joy File", it doesn't get much better than that.

Cranes are glorious

Wow, what a day! We slept in, it felt so luxurious. Then we took Herc for a walk and went down to the river to let him play with the rocks. It is so adorable when he sticks his head underwater looking for a rock! He gets just far enough away from us that he thinks, "should something go awry they can still get to me and save me." He loves to swim! He thinks he is a bird dog. When he was a puppy our neighbors had a bird dog named Maddie who Herc fell in love with and became convinced he was just like her...we've been trying to convince him ever since that he is a pit bull, baddest of the bad, tough guy and such, he's not buying it. Anyway when we were getting ready to head home he went down a side stream and "spooked" a magnificent grey crane. He was about 10' away when the crane lifted off and Herc looked at us like "did you see that?" The bird was bigger than him! What a phenomenal way to start a day. Cranes are one of the most beautiful birds I've seen and to see them fly is glorious!

We ended the day by visiting with Jason's sister Jenn and her two youngest girls Faith and Gracie. Nothing feels better than having an 8 year old cling to you and an 11/12 year old run to hug and kiss you hello! Jenn has had severe health problems for the past 8 years and she looked so good today. She has taken herself off of oxycontin, and it has been 4 days. That is impressive, all I know is she looked healthy and clear and happy and it was good to see and talk to her again.

Then we went to Walmart and spent less than $100 what a great way to end the day! That never happens, I have only recently adjusted to the $200 plus bills so it was nice to go back to the old days and spend less than $100. Of course part of the reason for even going to Walmart today was to buy the last book in the Twilight saga and it was sold out! My dad and Karen went yesterday and said there were stacks left, tonight they were all gone. I really bad wanted it to be Jason's fault that they were gone. I should have gone yesterday, but I thought today would be fine. I am VERY disappointed. I will have a hard time concentrating on work tomorrow. I may have to take a break and go to the Washington Walmart and/or Costco to buy Breaking Dawn. I have got to read that book. I can't wait to see who Bella ends up with, will it be Edward or Jacob? I've gotta get that book! Darb recently emailed me the first chapter of the next book, Twilight from Edward's perspective and I am already hooked on that too! Oh to be Stephanie Meyer...I am going to write, it is in my future. Don't worry about the how, or when or who or what, just focus on the desire and why I want it and then practice allowing goodness to flow in.
I recently read the 3rd book in the Sara Series by Esther and Jerry Hicks and can't wait to read number 4. I am practicing feeling good. When I get distracted and feel something negative I remember that it is simply my guidance system reminding me to find something that feels better and focus on that. There is so much joy to focus on, there is so much fun to observe and experience! My soul is a joy producing being! My body is a health producing and healing organism! I love my life.

9 Fabulous Flying days between posts...

Who knew it would be over a week before I would write again. Time flies when you are having fun! My mom and I had an absolutely glorious time at our Spa getaway in Mesquite. Massage is the past time of the Gods! We meditated, we played, we talked and laughed and laughed and laughed. It is so wonderful to play together and reinforce for each other and ourselves that our lives are on track. This year we did the mineral pool before and after our massages and that is the ticket. The warm water feels heavenly after a relaxing massage.

Over the weekend Jas and I went down to Vegas to visit our cousins Adam and Heidi. They have 4 adorable dogs....one being a 1 year old English Mastiff named Hulk (aptly named) who wanted to sit on me, he thinks he is a lap dog, then the newest addition is a 10 week old English bulldog named Brutus. I haven't seen an English Bulldog puppy before, he is so cute. Allergic to dogs as I am I couldn't resist holding and loving him. It is adorable to watch him and Hulk play, Hulk literally lifts him off the ground when they share a chew toy. Adam and Heidi are just good people, we enjoyed it thoroughly. We also got to see and visit with our cousins Jeremy and Sheree and their new little baby Jerry Dune- they are just so thrilled with him, and he is a doll with his spiky white hair. We were also able to visit with aunt Deb and it was comforting to catch up with her.

On Sunday we went for a L O N G bike ride, and we cut it in about half! We rode from our house out to the top of the hill around Sand Hallow Reservoir and home. It turned out to be 48 miles and took us about 4 hours. We slept in which was fabulous, but then it was HOT on the ride. We had actually planned to go out past Hurricane, La Verkin, and Toquerville, around Quail Creek and then home- maybe next time. Have I said I LOVE my bike? Well let me say it again, I love my bike.

Monday was a blur. Work. I'm grateful for my job.

Tuesday I drove up to Orem for some meetings. I was excited about it because the other people attending are some of my favorite people to work with, laugh with, learn with and train with. I took my bike with me too, hoping to be able to find the trail by Utah Lake that Jas and I rode when we camped in the airstream at Lakeside RV park. When we were there we say beavers in the river and raccoons on the trail.

Wednesday the training was interesting and I realized that we do difficult work and aren't necessarily as good as we think we may be at meeting kids and families where they are to motivate them to change unproductive behavior... I could work on asking more open ended questions (Jas confirmed, it isn't just in work, he said "well yeah, you ask question after question until you get the answer you are looking for, right?"--yes dear.) Wednesday evening I went for a bike ride! It took me a while to find the trail, who knew that Center St. in Orem wouldn't get you to Utah Lake, just to Geneva...Less than 5 miles away Center St. in Provo leads right where I wanted to go. But I found the trail (Provo River Trailway) and rode a very short 7.5 mile ride and discovered that the trail runs right outside the Hotel I stay at in Provo! Then I enjoyed great dinner conversation with Kimbal and Diana.

I'll finish out the week later, gotta go watch Heartbreak Kid with Jason, he hasn't seen it yet and I've gotta see his reactions!