Random Stuff

* I was just getting ready to write- "when do you let your  daughter start wearing make-up. Brandi is 12 and starting Junior High school this year. Do I broach the subject or wait for her?"  Brandi walked into my room and asked, "Can I wear make-up? That stuff that comes in a yellow tube and you put on your lashes and the stuff you put on your eyes?"
Guess we get some of that stuff when we go shopping in the morning.

*I just went through my closet again. I tried on everything and evaluated how it fit. And if I had even worn it in the last school year more than once.  And discarded another whole large garbage bag full of clothes.  And somehow I still have a closet full of clothes!  But I do still need to replace my black and my grey dress pants.  And my 2 favorite skirt suits need to be replaced because they are too big as well.  My favorite dress is about 2 1/2 sizes too big.  I wonder if my sister could take it in for me and if it would even be worth it?  I really, really like this dress.

* I had a yard sale Saturday. I didn't sell as much as I would have liked to, but I still did pretty good.  And I had the kids' dad bring by his trailer afterward and took out all but the front seats and loaded up the entire suburban, the trailer and the entire back of my durango and hauled it all to D.I. thrift store.  When I came home I found a couple bags of stuff that had gotten buried under other stuff and not set out for the sale or hauled off. That was from a first, quick cleaning of all the rooms in the house. Now I hope to do a more thorough cleansing of each room.

* I really want to paint each room. I want to get rid of all my dishes and start over. And do the same with all the towels, blankets, curtains, and furniture.  I really want to cleanse this house inside and out. But I can't afford to do that, and I don't plan on staying here very much longer. But I can paint and declutter and clean and simplify.

*Target has a program that gives back to education. Right now they are doing a push to have customers sign up for their red card (debit card). Sometimes I feel pushy when I ask guests if they want to sign up. Our store is doing a game for the cashiers so we ask more guests than those that the computer prompts us to ask. (on a side note, if you feel like you would like a Target Red card, let me know and I will get you info- and give you my number to use so I get the credit and another chance to win the prize)

*I love my Target red card. I have had one for almost seven years. I get 5% off of every purchase, online and at the store. (now I also get an employee discount on top of that- sweet. Can you guess where we are shopping for school clothes tomorrow?) Did you know that with a Target red card you can link it to the school of your choice and Target will then donate 1% of your purchase price to that school.  AND that Target has raised over $300,000,000 for schools?

*My yard looks so sad this year. I haven't had time to spend working and clearing and maintaining and weeding. The boys have tried, but they don't love it like I do so- the mowing gets done and partial weeding. My pond is just a standing pool of water this year because I haven't gotten the waterfall running.  Plus it has been so wet this year that the plants are looking water logged and sad.  Maybe next year I'll have a routine and be able to get things done.

*I have to go to the podiatrist for therapy on my toe.  I have been dealing with this toe for almost a year now.  It is still swollen and I can only wear my Sketchers tennis shoes, my keds, and two of my dress flats.  Everything else is too painful.  So now I go in for therapy. The nurse puts four electrode patches on my foot, then hooks me up with wires to a machine and turns it on. I then spend 10-15 minutes with electrical pulses going through my foot. then I get to spen 10 minutes with my foot immersed in a warm water bath.  It feels so good. I could use that kind of therapy on my feet every night before bed. 

* My friend is having a baby.  As in right now.  She is in the hospital waiting to meet her new little one.  But it is kind of a scary time for her because her baby is probably going to have to have the first of many major surgeries in the next couple of days. I wish I could do something for her besides pray, but prayer is all I can do for her, so that is what I am going to do.

*School starts in 20 days and I am so ready to go back and get back into a routine and figure out what the new "normal" is going to be for me and the kids.

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Indeed

A random post

You know what is more fun than getting a letter from your missionary son? Opening your e-mail and finding a message from him.

We got a letter from Matt on Saturday and then yesterday there was an e-mail from him. I have posted both his letter and his e-mail over on his mission blog.

I had a job interview yesterday for an internship next year. I felt good going in, but as the interview continued I felt more and more inadequate. I hate those kinds of interviews.

I have another interview tomorrow for the position I really, really want for next year. So, agian, if you feel like praying for me, I would appreciate it.

I got the garden planted Saturday. With all this rain I haven't had to do much watering. I need to finish weeding the front flower bed and removing some flowers that have started to overtake the flower bed. Then I need to visit Lindon Nursery to get some more stuff for the front.

The kitties are eating solid foods nowYay! They each weigh 1.5 pounds so they have gained a pound in the last 2 1/2 weeks.  I wasn't going to name them but we had to call them something besides the black one, the fat white one, the runt. So they all have names now-
Seal- because she has seal point markings,
 Jack- because when we first started feeding them he only had one eye open and Jess though he looked like a one eyed jack
Baby- because she is the smallest of them all. She refuses to touch the solid food, so we are cutting back her bottles so she wil be hungry enough to eat.
Marley- after Bob Marley he is the runt of the litter and when we first started feeding them he would not eat and we had to force the formula down his throat with a syringe. He has a big head and lots of unruly messy fur. He is mellow and always looks stoned, so Jess started calling him Bob Marley (I think he reminds me of Maynard G. Krebs) anyway, we shortened his name to Marley. He was the first to start eating solids and is gaining the fastest.

I really don't want to go to work this morning. I hate the last two weeks of school and all the drama of kids that have waited all year to do anything. And I am really hating the office drama that is taking over right now. Yuck.

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Indeed.

No subject

I have lots and lots of things going on and most of what is in my head is not post worthy or dealing with my Assessment and Diagnosis class, which is really a fancy way of saying Abnormal Psych, what it is and how to diagnose it.

I have been teaching the 15-16 year old Sunday School class and am loving it. Yesterday we were talking about the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood. I had a special lesson planned and could not get the class to settle down. I have a feeling that the adversary was really trying to keep me from teaching something. We finally got through it and the last 10 minutes of class it finally happened. I had asked 4 of the boys to tell us a bit about their feelings as they: prepared the sacrament, passed the sacrament, blessed the sacrament and took the sacrament to shutins. As these young men spoke, the spirit was so strong and the rest of the class so attentive, it was just amazing. That right there is what I was hoping for with this lesson.

Book reviews coming for: Agent in Old Lace- by Tristi Pinkston, English Trifle- by Josi Kilpack, Home- by Marilynne Robinson, Table For Five- by Susan Wiggs (which moved me in a way I have not been moved for a very long time).

League play for soccer begins this Saturday. I hope it is not as hot as it has been the last couple of days, but then it is July, right? At least it is not raining like it did for most of June's soccer.

Where in the World?

Last time we were in Italy. David tells me I was not clear on the fact that I was asking only for the country and not a particular city. Sorry. I'll try to be less like mud this time.

This description is lifted right from the webpage and pasted here with the country name taken out

_____ is one of the smallest European countries, located in the most oriental point of Europe, in the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Turkey. Despite its size, it is considered one of the top vacation destinations by the Europeans and the other nationalities due to its enormous natural beauty and the careless life style that it shows.

Whether for winter or summer vacation, ______ offers many options to its visitors. One of its strong advantages is the calm Mediterranean weather that allows traveling at ease and is ideal for perfect tanning in summer! On the sandy beaches of the _____ islands you will fall in love with the unique blue color of the Aegean or the Ionian Sea.

For those who are fond of sports, many kinds are provided on the hot tourist destinations all over the country. The more adventurous can choose from windsurfing, kitesurfing, rafting, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking offered by quite many places. For those who seek a more relaxed version of ______ active vacation, may choose from horse riding, golf, biking or even from a kind of the special ______ vacation packages, including gastronomy, archaeological, medical, religious holidays that will give you an insight to particular aspects of this magnificent country and will bring you in actual touch with its deep roots and culture.

However, ______ is not only a summer-land. For those who love snow sports or romantic vacations relaxing at the fireplace, then you only have to choose between the popular winter destinations such as Kalavryta, Zagoria, Arachova and many others.

In ______ you will find every type of accommodation, from luxurious villas and hotels to rooms to let and camping sites. Whether you want a cheap vacation or a luxury one, this is the ideal place.

The rich culture and the numerous traditions is another reason why ______ vacation has seen that popularity. The archaeological miracles from the “Golden Era” and even earlier are a major tourist attraction, including tours on the Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Olympia, Delphi, Vergina. On the other hand the Byzantine era has left its indelible stamp, as seen on the countless churches and monasteries spread all over _____. Religious and other festivals are taking place every year on every spot of the country, while the different traditions, cuisine and local products vary from place to place.

Although its heavy history and the many wars ______ has undergone, it would be wrong to imagine it as a deep thought country dipped in philosophy. The Mediterranean temperament does not leave much space for that, as you will easily realize on your vacation to ______. The famous _____ night seems never to end, with the most vivid one being the capital city, Athens. Characterized by many as “a city that never sleeps”, it boasts for a more than vivid nightlife, with hundreds of clubs, bars, cafes, restaurants and taverns. Theatres and music scenes with every kind of music, including the _____ music as well, are filling the city with melodies and a constant movement till early in the morning. The islands of Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu, Ios follow the same entertainment style, more or less; no matter where, it is guaranteed that you will not get bored

We used to have a neighbor from here. I was den leader when his son was in cub scouts. I had the father come and speak to us about his home country and he brought us a treat from there, baklava. Mmmmm. I was in heaven with that. If you have never tried it, you should.

So, where in the world are we?

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Indeed.