Day #266 - Expression

This past weekend my sister Keri stopped by our house quickly to pick up something. When she and Golden pulled into the drive-way we were out porch sitting, waiting for them. She got out of the car on the phone and stepped around the corner of the house to have a quiet conversation. Golden told us she was talking to the Landlord of a house they REALLY wanted to rent and they were talking it over.

This is a darling rambler w/3 bedrooms, a fenced backyard and tons of curb appeal. They have been living in an apartment building on the 4th floor, cramped and inconvenient to come and go. This house would cost about the same amount of money and be much more family friendly. The only problem is there are NO PETS allowed and they have 2 cats and a dog. My brilliant sister wrote a 3 page letter explaining why that home would be so perfect for them...Golden condensed it to 1 page. They were on pins and needles waiting to hear.

My Mom called last night and I was reminded of Keri's face when she came back around the front of the house. It can only be explained as radiant, sun washed w/shiny eyes and a bright white smile. All I needed to say was, "You got it". Accompanied by a big hug of course.

There are so many forms of expression and my family is blessed big with one of them...facial. It always bothers me to see myself on video - too many strange movements in the face, even during normal conversation. I have a hard time hiding any kind of emotion - it is all there for anyone to see. After seeing Keri, though, I thought it can't be that bad to be able to share that kind of joy just by being who you are.

In the end, the landlords couldn't resist that presence either - they caved and are trusting their home to my sister and her family. It was hard for them to give in to the pets. The landlady told Mom, almost in tears, that they couldn't get Keri and Golden out of their minds and they kept popping up even though there were other better fit candidates to consider. I love this and just shake my head - who can resist Keri? They won't regret it.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "A smile is a window on your face to show your heart is at home" 

Day #265 - Compliments

Today I was sitting at my desk doing data entry and the plant lady, who comes by the office once per week, stopped by my cubicle and paid me the nicest compliment. It caught me so off guard. It turned an ok day into a great day.

It is such a good reminder to me how much a kind word can change even the energy in a person. There was nothing wrong with me today, I was just doing my thing and typing away, but after her thoughtful stop, I felt lighter and smiley. It didn't cost her anything to stop, except a few seconds of her time, and it meant so much to me.

Don't forget to notice and if you notice, say something.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "I can live for two months on a good compliment" Mark Twain

Day #264 - All the Words

Don't you love it when you hear a song and know EVERY word to it? "Somebody" by Depeche Mode is like that for me. Depeche Mode was my first real concert that I went to and I know most of the words to ALL their songs on the Black Celebration album. It was the first tape I bought also. I would sit and rewind that song over and over until I had it memorized and then again so I could sing it loud and proud.

Then there are those songs that I REALLY want to know every word, like "Under Pressure" by Queen & David Bowie. For some reason I can't get those down, but I really like the song. Travis and I will often just sit out on our deck listening to music and this is one of our favorites lately.

Trav and I both also like Neil Diamond - mostly just the popular songs. Once on a long driving trip we put in the CD and had a competition of who knew the most words to the songs; it was actually pretty fun. Travis also has a secret love of The Carpenters - he can spot a Carpenter song from the first bar and knows even the more obscure songs from heart.

I just spent the better part of 2 hours creating some music discs to listen to at work, so music is on my mind, and it really bought me back w/Tori Amos, Bjork, Cindy Lauper, Tears for Fears, Thompson Twins, Bon Jovi, The Cranberries, etc. Thank goodness for the Internet - I'm going to look those words up to "under pressure" and memorize them.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure." Peter Marshall

Day #263 - 17 Years

Today is my wedding anniversary...17 years ago today I had just said "I will" and was walking into the sunset with a man I knew was everything I could want or need.

Look how young we are...

Everything turned out just as I planned...NOT. You know what they say, "if you want to make God laugh, make plans". I had my whole future planned out when I was 15 years old. I knew exactly how it would all go. On this day 17 years ago, the plan was right on target. Little did I know life doesn't always turn out how you plan it. I also didn't realize that a wedding day is not walking into a sunset, but waking into the sunrise. It is the beginning of a new stage of life, not the end to years of dreaming and scheming.

I also didn't know that I would continue to change. I thought I knew it all, mostly anyway. I thought Travis would never change. I thought I knew all of who he was. Keep in mind I was still a baby - only 20 years old, which seemed ancient enough at the time to be setting up house on the way to happily ever after. And when I map out the last 17 years there are definite landmarks and also some landmines over that time.

Today, I feel that I know my husband better then ever, but I know I don't know it all. I feel I know myself better then ever, but I know, and hope, I will continue to change and grow over the next 17 years. I know I am happy with the way my life has turned out, even though it is not how I planned it to be, and I am so happy to have Travis as a partner in my life. He is the first person I think of talking to about things that bother me and things that excite me; he is charming, funny and sensitive; he makes me laugh and he makes me want to scream; he has taught me more about myself then I ever thought I would want to know; he is my champion when I need it and my cheerleader when I don't.

Travis is the best and brightest spot in my unplanned life and I look forward to many more sunrises and surprises as life marches on.

I Am SO Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "Love one another and you will be happy.  It's as simple and as difficult as that."  ~Michael Leunig

Day #262 - Choose Easy

I saw my friend tonight who has a daughter that got pregnant and is having a baby within weeks after she turns 20. At least she is out of high school, but it is still awful young and several of her friends already have babies. When I walked in the shop to get my hair cut she was there in tears because she was having trouble with her boyfriend who is also 19. I told her, in my all knowing way (ha ha), that she chose hard and it was going to be hard. I don't say this from a moral standpoint, only a life choice standpoint.

I don't kid myself that I always choose easy and looking at it now, would it be so terrible if I had a 17 year old kid? It is easy to look back and think of all the things I would choose differently, but looking back can be such a disaster...so, no matter what the choices have been there is only one thing to do...look forward; forge ahead and maybe choose easy next time.

Today's quote goes with the post:

 "There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them" Denis Waitley

Maybe the easy choice is to move forward through the hard choices...life is such a circle, isn't it?

I Am Grateful,
HB

Day #261 - Back Hand

Today I got a back handed compliment...it was so weird. I was at a meeting and I ran into a woman I used to work with all the time. She is a micro-manager type, but friendly enough and I liked working with her.

She said "Hi teenage girl" I asked what she meant by that strange greeting and she said it was because of my long hair and bright red shirt that was "blingy". Then later we were talking about not wearing nylon's with sandals and she said "well, young girls can get away with it, but us older ladies should really wear stockings"...I happened to be wearing sandals today...WITHOUT stockings. You think that is enough don't you, but no, there's more...she went on to say that it is ok for me to wear "blingy" clothes and jewelry because I am not working in the same capacity as she is and she has to be professional. Now, by this time I was starting to feel a bit offended...would you?

In the end I had to remember that she really is not a spiteful person and I am sure she didn't mean to make me feel uncomfortable...I think I'm sure. This reminds me of a book I read that explains how we create stories in our heads - she tells how she went into a public bathroom and saw a woman washing her hands and humming a lovely song. She smiled at her and went into one of the stalls and there was pee all over the toilet seat. This woman was appalled and was about to go out and give the humming woman a piece of her mind, but instead cleaned of the seat with TP, shaking her head with disgust the whole time, and then used the facilities. When she was done and the toilet flushed automatically, water came splashing up out of the bowl and soaked the seat again. She had built up a whole story in her mind about this inconsiderate individual who had no idea what was happening.

I have decided that is what I did today. I think she might have been saying she liked my hair...I'll just go with that.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up."  ~Jesse Jackson

Day #260 - Ooops

I was just about to make my way to bed, brushed my teeth (in the main bath), accidentally swallowed some mouth wash while swishing (gross), filled up my water glass and turned away from the sink and somehow smelled, with my plugged up right nostril, gas...I ALMOST dismissed it, but my mind was like, "hey, now...that's not right, just check" and sure enough the gas range was on just the tiniest bit from when we were trying to keep the homemade bbq sauce hot, but not boiling, while the rice finished cooking. I guess the flame went out since it was so low and the gas was on since about 7 p.m. What is that? 3.5 hours.

I turned on the fan for 10 minutes and opened a window and now I sit here typing thinking about all the "what if's". Pretty creepy to think of ALL the things that could have happened. I was just sitting at the kitchen table reading my new Good Housekeeping Magazine to find out why Merideth Viera REALLY left the Today Show and I could have been blown away...just like that.

Let that be a reminder...check the stove, turn off the curling iron, don't leave the iron plugged in, be sure to remove the lint from your dryer, move the grill away from the side of the house and be sure to be grateful for that sniffer, even when it only half works.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "If you ever find happiness by hunting for it, you will find it, as the old woman did her lost spectacles, safe on her own nose all the time." Josh Billings

Day #259 - Check Mark

One more item has been checked off my Summer chores. This weekend I scraped, sanded & painted the gray deck railing. OK - not the whole railing, just the top, but that was the part that was peeling. I'm zipping right through my most important Summer projects and, aside from the Moose eating the two trees I've been working hard to save and also downing the day lilies, I'd say it has been a successful year-to-date.

Travis rode his mountain bike for 47 miles today in training for his big race day on Sept 3rd. Afterward we went to my parents house to meet everyone for dinner. While we were driving there Travis told me his back was cramping and his leg felt tight. In my parents drive-way Travis got out of the car, holding the big yellow water cup, and leaned over saying "my leg is cramping". I chuckled and told him to go in to see my Mom and make some noise in remembrance of her 'leg cramp' episode in Nephi this past July. Travis looked at me accusingly and whispered "are you laughing?"

Then I really looked at him and he was in terrible pain. I haven't seen his face contorted like that for a looooong time. I was horrified and then did my very best to hold back a laugh attack...that's right; my husband is doubled over in pain & I am about to belt out a huge laugh. It was from stress, I am sure, but still...it reminded me of the time our neighbor came to our house when I was around 16 yrs. old to tell us another neighbor had passed away. I just laughed and laughed until he left..."ha, ha, ha...yes, I will tell my parents, ha, ha, ha" not a very comfortable situation.

Right before we left to come home my baby brother Chuck pulled out his needles to practice drawing blood on us since he has clinicals tomorrow. I volunteered right away and then chickened out. Mom went first and put on her smiley mask...she was pretty tough and Dad and Josie watched the needle go in and we all watched their faces while Chuck did a bit of digging. He did hit gold fairly quickly. I am very proud of him and it is fun to watch him mature into a career. I think he will be good in medicine.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "There is no cure for laziness but a large family helps."

Day #258 - Mirror Lake

Yesterday I took work off. It appears I have over 3 weeks of vacation I MUST take by the end of the year or I will lose it. I told my boss to say "bye bye" for a while because I refuse to lose my vacation days. A 3 day weekend, two weeks in a row, works for me.

Friday morning I slept in...woke up, cooked breakfast, cleaned the kitchen, read a book and THEN got ready for my day. It was lovely. When Trav got back from his bike ride he suggested a car ride to Mirror Lake. I jumped at the chance.

It only took about 40 minutes to get up to the top of Mirror Lake Hwy (don't call it a Canyon...it is NOT a Canyon) to Bald Mountain and then only about 10 minutes more to Mirror Lake camping ground. Trav and I are already making plans to invite my family out for a Summer camp out next year (camp sites above #41 - 60ish are by the lake). It was beautiful. Yesterday was such a great day - I couldn't have asked for better.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "The time to relax is when you don't have time for it."  ~Attributed to both Jim Goodwin and Sydney J. Harris

Day #257 - Front Porchin' It

As you know we have several decks at our house - I'm always prosing on about sitting out there watching nature. Well...we recently bought 4 plastic chairs from Home Depot because Travis likes to sit outside on the driveway to people watch.

At first I was a tad mortified - it seemed silly to sit in the driveway when we have perfectly fine decks out back...what would the neighbors think? I have to say my views have begun to change. We were just sitting out there tonight chatting about our respective days when our neighbors across the street walked over to join us. We waived to several drive-by's and there were 3 bikers, 4 walkers, several dogs and one cat staring at us longingly from the window across the street. It was a fairly active night.

Everyone always waives and some stop to chat for a moment and we have learned where several people live as a result of our night sits. Another neighbor called me to see if we were still 'porch sitting' so she could come over for a minute and unwind from work - we were already inside for the night, but I was tempted to say "come on over, we'll just get the chairs out again".

I should never doubt the Karma of Travis - he attracts people wherever he goes. He has an "always open for business" disposition...unless it is after 8:30 p.m. Then you can just forget about it.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "Friends are the pillars on your porch. Sometimes they hold you up, sometimes they lean on you, and sometimes it's just enough to know that they are standing by."

Day #256 - Pedicures

My sister Amy works at an amazing spa called Kura Door. I begged her to get me in for a pedicure (ok I just asked) because my feet are sooooooo gross!! Dry and scaly. I told her I knew it was bad when I decided it was a better effort to scratch my leg with my heel then my nails. The other day I did my best to file away the rough patches with a fingernail file, but I needed some professional help.

I always forget how wonderful spa treatments are. This spa is pretty great. I had some herbal tea that tasted like dessert and came in a cloth baggie; she let me take a few home with me for later. It was super nice to be pampered and Amy is REALLY good at what she does - at EVERYTHING she does.

I took a picture of her working at my feet - I have so many photos trapped in my phone. I must get to the bottom of how to EASILY get them off...surely it cannot be so difficult!!

Travis drove down to Salt Lake with me and he had a steam while I got my feet done. It was a lovely evening and I feel so much better about myself just knowing I won't be embarrassed if someone looks at my feet and Travis won't screech like a girl if I rub my foot against him in bed.

I am determined to use my foot scrubber in the shower daily so it won't get so bad again.

Thank you Amy - it was LOVELY.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "There are no traffic jams along the extra mile." Roger Staubach

Day #255 - Non ya Business

What do you do when you don't know what to do? How far do you step into someone else's life when it is non ya business?? Do you stick your neck out? Do you say the hard things there are to say? Do you teeter on the edge of totter or do you upset the balance completely and risk hitting the sand and bruising your tailbone? Do you do nothing at all and risk worse?

Last night I got a call from a friend who asked me to come over without any explanation. Turns out we have a mutual friend that has an alcohol problem, was on a weekend bender and mixed a scary cocktail of alcohol, anti-depressants, sleeping pills and Ibuprofen. After much deliberation and noticing he was coherent, knew who we were and could walk to his bed, we decided not to take him to the hospital...should we have? Then we checked on him every half hour, woke him up, talked to him, put him back in bed. We also gathered up all his prescription drugs, all his vitamins everything we found that could be abused and I took them to my house.

Now what? Now what do I do? He apparently has a Doctors appointment tomorrow to look at getting himself some treatment, but he came over tonight to get his pills back. Travis told me before he came I should give them to him, it is NOT MY BUSINESS to hang onto HIS things. What if something happens to him? I gave him one bottle of anti-depressants and one bottle of sleeping pills (he had several).

THEN I was outside taking Bart potty for the night and heard a noise like a door over there, so I went to my drive-way to see if they had ventured out...nope, it was just his 14 year old son climbing on the roof from his bedroom window. Sigh...NOW what do I do? Tell his Dad? Let the boy have is quiet place? Should I have gone over and insisted he climb down? I did waive and say "Hi, are you ok?" what a DORK. Now I sit here fretting and worrying about how I can help; wondering if I want to get in the middle of something...

I guess the closest answer came with "what would Jesus do"? I am pretty sure he would react with no fear and only love as his intention. I am not perfect and will most likely make a mess of things, but it will only be because I care.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "The spirit of brotherhood recognizes of necessity both the need of self-help and also the need of helping others in the only way which every ultimately does great god, that is, of helping them to help themselves.” - Theodore Roosevelt

Day #254 - Living

I just finished listening to a book while cleaning today - it is called "Ice Queen". Have I already mentioned it? It is about a woman who gets struck by lightening and loses the color Red, but really the book is about death and life and healing.

There are Grimm's Fairy Tales woven throughout the book. I am not real familiar with them, but they are fairly dark in the telling. The one most mentioned in this book is called "Godfather Death" about a physician who learns, when Death is at a person's head, one must simply turn the body so the feet are where the head once was and Death will move on. It doesn't end well for the Physician, because no one can cheat Death forever.

I found myself sitting and listening at the end, not moving, just crying because it was heart breaking and beautiful and the message is worth sharing. The woman in the book asks a friend "what is the best way to die" and he answers "while living".

I think this can mean many things, but to me it means to make life matter; to notice that every day counts. It was a good book.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today." William Allen White

Day #253 - New T-Shirts

I got some new T-shirts today. I always need new T-shirts in the Summer because I tend to sleep in, exercise in (when I actually manage it), do yard work in, clean in, paint in and generally abuse the T-shirts I have to wear around during the Summer; then I can't wear them around anymore because they are too abused. Now I have a "wear around" set and a "work around" set...Pretty handy.

I might have got a little bright with a few of the colors, but why not? Black and white are boring...how about jewel tones purple, yellow and orange (or is it salmon)? Mix it up a little, right? It is just nice to have a few cool (as in not hot) shirts to get me through the season. Although, I am wearing one right now, just put it on tonight to lounge around in, and will probably end up wearing it to bed. Oh well, I have another to wear tomorrow!!

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: Speaking of T-shirts...My Mom has started to give us T-shirts each Christmas with goofy sayings on them. I think she spends a good deal of time picking a shirt JUST for each one of us and we all get a good laugh out of it. My last one said something like "let me drop what I'm doing to work on your problem"...Another good one is "to err is human, but to blame someone else shows management potential" or "people like you are the reason people like me need medication"...She is so funny.

Day #252 - The Long Way Home

Today I came home from work, picked up Travis and drove right back down the Canyon for my work picnic/Summer party. We got there a bit late hung out with a few people and tried to at least talk to everyone for a minute and left after about an hour. Dinner was yummy and it is always fun to see work mates outside the office with their families that you only get to hear about. The best part of the night was Carrie getting stung by a bee on her lip...how does that even happen?

On the way home Travis suggested we go up Big Cottonwood Canyon and over Guardsman's Pass then thru Park City Main Street on to home. We knew it would be a longer drive, but the night was still bright and it was beautiful out.

What a fabulous drive. Steep Mountain peaks to sunset views of Mountain Ranges to open fields to steep roads w/drop offs to the side, that made me clench my teeth and duck my head, to Deer Valley Resort and Park City Main Street w/all the temporary outside deck seating, lots of people, mood lighting, shops lit up w/ambiance...it was a fabulous drive and a great way to spend a weeknight. Sometimes the long way is the best way...

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "I've been a long time coming, and I'll be a long time gone. You've got your whole life to do something, and that's not very long." Ani Difranco

Day #251 - Visitors - Episode 2

Sunday night my friend Jen came up with her husband, Steve (now a very good friend of both Trav and I as well) and their 3 year old Erica. Steve is an avid biker, just like Travis, and broke his ankle (badly) early in the ride season in a freak biking accident. I say it is "freak" because it doesn't sound like a radical crash, but rather a poorly executed dismount. Anyway, he is limping around after surgery with screws and pins and things...poor Steve.

In the meantime, Travis is riding almost every day and giving Steve bike envy. Just the month before Steve's unfortunate ankle roll crush and burn (he had to ride an hour back to his car with a broken ankle - OY) he rode in a small bike race with Travis (see post #222 for dete's) and did REALLY well. I know this year was to be a very dedicated bike riding/training year for both of them. This bit really has nothing to do with today's post other then to express how badly I feel that he got hurt.

Anyway, we made dinner and ate on the deck and Erica tortured my cat and dog and got bored in two seconds at my un-kid-friendly house. I am realizing more and more there is NOTHING for kids to do here. Oh, I could put them in the back yard and hope they can tolerate a few ants crawling up their pants, or stick them in front of the TV, but what in the world do kids do all day? I feel like I need to invest in a toy box good for ages 1 - 11...surely 12 year olds can figure out how to entertain themselves.

At any rate, I gave some sour patch type gummy candies to Erica in a baggie and told her she could have them if she promised to be nice to Bart (the dog that bites if provoked) and she promised. Then she jumped at Bart like 1 minute later and he skittered away and scared me to death (I would die if he hurt a kid). Jen told her I was taking the candy away. She apologized and promised not to do it again so Jen told her I said she could take the candy home and have 3 pieces tomorrow. A few seconds later - BOOM she DID IT AGAIN.

Jen reacted well to the challenge I thought, although, she told Erica I was taking the candy away for good and she would have to wait for the candy until she came back next time. I REALLY wanted to cave in and give it to her - Bart was fine and she was crying so sadly and saying "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry" "I'll be nice to Bart I prooommmmisssse" all the while hiccupping and sobbing big tears. Jen just held fast and kept speaking on my behalf since I'm sure she could tell I was going to say something stupid like, "oh, it is ok she can have the gummy savers" and to Erica's credit she still found it within herself to give the mean lady who refused her treats a hug goodbye.

Next time we will go to Jen's so Erica is in her own environment. It is hard to give the kids the attention they need and deserve when friends are trying so hard to catch up after a few months of not seeing each other. It probably wasn't fair.

I did get some pretty cool flamingo stickers from Erica that I put on my favorite bookmark...very cool. It is always good to see Jen and Steve. They are such nice, funny, smart and solid friends. I really love them. The best part is Sunday was their anniversary...REALLY? Well, OK - we are happy to celebrate with you!! HAPPY 13th ANNIVERSARY Jen & Steve!!

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you." - Elbert Hubard

Day #250 - Visitors - Episode 1

My baby sister Keri, her husband Golden and their baby Seerie came to visit on Saturday night. We talked them into staying over (why have a guest room if you never get to use it) and it was fun to catch up. It got a little stressful at times with the baby running after Bart's tail when we weren't looking and when she was out on the deck for ONE second and ran straight over to the uncovered outlet with her pointing finger headed right for the socket, but Seerie is at that more then cute stage where she sort of gets what you are asking her and says "yes" to almost everything, but just shakes her head or screams for "no".

It is fun to watch my siblings be parents. I can see their perfection AND their flaws as they do their best not to loose patience and make the best decisions, but ALWAYS it is about the kid. I love to see my spoiled baby sister be a caring and concerned Mom. Oh, I don't mean she wasn't always sweet and kind, etc. But she and Chuck were the babies and everyone knows the babies get treated differently then the oldest kids. I am just a middle child - that is probably why I am so well adjusted (LOL).

Keri left for Las Vegas today WITHOUT the baby or Golden who usually go with her while she does hair for a week at a time once per month. She was pretty worried about leaving her little baby and got teary when she talked about it. I hope she is doing ok and that Golden is surviving without her - at any rate I am thinking about them all.

Here are a few photos:

Golden and Keri freezing on the deck on an August night,

but we can't bring ourselves to sit inside instead

Seerie in her Big Girl Chair

I'm in love with this photo - Travis and Seerie - SOOOO CUTE!

It is always fun to have visitors...come over anytime!!! At least when the house is clean :)

I Am Grateful,

HB

Diva Quote: "If you are a host to your guest, be a host to his dog also."  ~Russian Proverb

Just for you Aesop...



Day #249 - Getting to the Bottom of IT

It has been a rather busy weekend for Trav and I and there are several things to be grateful for. I admit I have become a bit lazy this last month, but I am determined to get back in the saddle and focus on the reason I started this blog in the first place - to remind myself of all the little things there are in life to be grateful for.

1st - Bart keeps having some irregular...um...BM's lately. All of a sudden he will just have diarrhea for a day and then he will be regular again. I am so GRATEFUL that we think we have figured out what is going on.

When we sit out on the Breakfast Deck Bart will often lick the bottom self of the grill we have out there. Travis is a master griller and we use it often. Bart likes to lick any grease that may escape. Travis tried to clean it off the other day, but there is charcoal bits stuck fast that he couldn't get up with soap and water. We think Bart has been licking his belly sick in the evenings we spend out there...silly dog.

The UN-Silly part is he tends to leave presents on the carpet by the sliding glass door - not just one, but multiples. Lately Travis has been the "finder" and therefore the lucky "cleaner". On Saturday he woke up at 5:30 a.m. and yelled up the stairs that it was my turn and he wasn't going to do it. He is right, I have not had the pleasure for quite some time, so I got up and handled it.

While on my knees cleaning up spot 4 of 6 I started to feel a bit snarky...when I was done I wrote a list of the Saturday chores I normally handle while Travis is out doing a bike ride to train for his big 80 mile mountain bike race in September. It was a full 8x10 page looking sort of like this:

KITCHEN:
Empty and load dishwasher
clean fridge (in and out)
clean oven (pull apart all burners and wash underneath)
vacuum and mop floor
clean sink

MAIN BATH:
Sink
Mirror
toilet
floor

That sort of thing for every room in the house...Then I went back up to bed and very nonchalantly said something like, "Ya know, I am glad you woke me up to give me my turn to clean up Bart's mistake, you are absolutely right that it was my turn; it got me thinking that, since you can't ride today, maybe you can take a turn at cleaning the house."

Travis "What?" confused look on face

HB "You know, so we can keep it even"

He informed me, after I mentioned I had left a list for him on the kitchen table, that "the jerk store just called...they are out of you!!" I told him I thought he might take the idea well, but my point was made...LOUDLY, although in a quiet voice, and not without consequences in a less then peaceful morning.

Travis did clean with me on Saturday and the whole house got cleaned in 2 hours instead of 4 and it was REALLY nice to have the help. I have to say, I don't mind doing the weekly chores because I usually take my time and listen to a book on tape while I do it and actually enjoy my "alone" time. Besides that Travis doesn't expect me to do it. If I don't feel like doing it, I don't, and I very rarely get grounded for not doing my chores :)

Travis helps out plenty, but I was actually irritated on the "equality" thing. Are things ever REALLY equal in life? I don't think so and I don't pretend that they should be; why waste the energy on believing something that is not real and will only disappoint you?

I hope we have resolved Bart's "issues" and we will not find those lovely gifts anymore...I still laid out 8 pee pads tonight just in case.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "Always forgive your enemy's - nothing annoys them so much." Oscar Wilde

Day #248 - Floridians

I thought I would just write a tad about my Sister's kids since they flew back to Florida on Weds. I had a few opportunities to get to know them a tiny bit better while they were here this last month.

Ethan is Melissa's oldest and he is the kind of guy the girls all crush on. He is funny, nice and cute (gonna be handsome). I loved it when Avery, his 4 year old cousin, walked over to him and he said, "No, you can't hang onto my arm." The next time I looked -  there is Avery with both arms wrapped around his arm. He didn't look too happy about it, but he was a good sport and he was very nice and patient with her.

Ryker got some of the Avery weight as well. One thing I didn't know about Ryker is how he enjoys to sing...I say sing and should probably say hummmmmm....I don't think I was around him when he wasn't humming something. I hope he has the opportunity to develop the desire and enjoyment of singing.

Ethan and Ryker w/Uncle Travis

Lawson...I got to know him better than the others this visit. Lawson has a lot of depth and a big personality. His expressions are mature and he is SUPER funny. He tells stories in mega details and in turn wants EVERY detail related to him. I am used to being the bottom line girl...I couldn't get away with that in Lawson's company. Plus, Lawson has his own interesting style that I loved and the friendliest smile in the whole world.

Lawson w/the aforementioned Avery - I told him to smile..oh well.

McCauley...dimples, smiling, beautiful, poser...literally posed all the time, well whenever we mentioned a photo. So cute and such a little helper. She is such a girl, but I also saw photos of her cliff diving and heard tales of her wrestling with her big brothers - definitely one to watch.

Mc w/Aunt Keri and Cousin Seerie

It was so great to have them here and to get to know them a little better. I asked if they were excited to get home and Lawson said "no"...I know they have missed their Dad and are excited to see him, but I was touched they had been having such a great time here and then he said, "school starts 4 days after we get back." Ah, I get it, still I think they enjoyed it here in UT and it is AWESOME they made it a priority to come visit this Summer.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."  ~Stacia Tauscher

Day #247 - Beautiful Noise

Last night I was awakened at 2:19 a.m. by thunder so loud it felt like the house was coming down.

It was AWESOME!!!

There is a skylight in my bedroom. Sometimes I can see stars out the window and I often just lay there for the minutes before sleep begins to claim me and just look at the sky. Last night there was no sky, but there would suddenly be a bright flash and seconds later "BOOM" like the shot of a cannon, right above me, and then the echo...this happened about 3 times in a row and then it seemed to move farther away and there was only hard rain and distant thunder.

The Sonic Boom had startled me awake and my heart was pounding - it was a little rush to wake up like that, but it didn't take long for the pouring rain to put me back to sleep, even if I did think fleetingly of the leak in the mudroom...Oh well.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "If the thunder is not loud, the peasant forgets to cross himself." Russian Proverb