Just When I Think I've Got It Together

Then the last 10 days happen. (Actually I never think I have things together, but sometimes I do like to dream).

Let's see...in order of things happening (though not of importance) we had our Weekend at Willie's and the official Golden Mallet Tournament.

Before all that started though, we found out the horse races were going at Les Bois Park. Yes!!! We've actually gotten to go twice in a year. We got to go for an hour between getting up and having lunch; then attending the Golden Mallet Tournament. So, when I said it was busy, it was. This was our one hour of taking a deep breath.

Love Les Bois. It is pretty in its own Idaho way. And we saw Rod Stewart. Sort Of. Big Bit played paparazzi and stalked him.

"Rod" is apparently a limo driver in Boise who dresses up for his clients (I found out from my cousin Dan the next day). I guess he's been around for years but we'd never laid eyes on him. Now, we have. And who says you can't see interesting things in Idaho?

Pics of the track and environs - I sure miss this place. All of it.

We even picked one winner before we had to go. I think we cleared exactly nothing if you add in the cost of beer. Maybe less, since we picked the winner to show so I think we made a whopping $4 on a $2 bet. We won a few others but nothing of distinction.

Did I mention it's pretty? I think I did, but bear with me, here's some proof.

Then...it was on to THE TOURNAMENT.

Our friend Steve (well, TH's friend Steve, since he was the ERISA attorney for our department at the old Mother Ship he probably wishes he'd never met me other than because of that he got to meet TH) hosts a croquet tournament annually. The first time he invited us was I think four years ago. Steve has an expensive croquet set he bought from a Wall Street Journal ad back when the Mother Ship actually paid profit sharing because there were profits. He's gotten a lot of fun out of it over the years. I note that it's expensive, because if you look at the pictures, you will see it is NOTHING like any croquet set you or I grew up with.

TH won the first year we went. Then, incredibly, he won the next two years as well. The prize? The total discomfiture of attorneys, college professors and human resource professionals everywhere who really shouldn't be this competitive; and a beautiful gold spray painted croquet mallet (the kind we all have that paid $15 bucks for our sets at Target) with the names engraved. Steve REALLY wanted that mallet out of Utah and we'd heard there was a plot afoot to reclaim it at any costs. There wasn't, and TH almost won AGAIN, but a last minute ploy by Jim the professor killed TH's ball and it was all over. It was almost more fun this year not winning because last year when TH won I thought some people were going to lose their tempers, so now they're all happy.

Here's (from left) Steve, Jim and TH plotting their strategies:

I got to see my friend the Donna-lama (kind of like the Dalai Lama, she is very peaceful and calm). It was good to see her and we will have our final Weekend at Willie's with her in September. Yay!

TH and friend Shawn got to visit some. Shawn is interesting - he lived in Nevada in the same town as my ex in-laws at the same time I lived in Nevada and knew many of the same people I did. But we didn't meet until he interviewed for a job in my department at the old Mother Ship. It is a small world, but I wish I would have met Shawn in Nevada. It would have made it more bearable. He's born and bred Utahn (he is a Utah man, if you know the Ute's fight song) and he won't live here, either.

Shakespeare for that weekend was MacBeth and I really was disappointed in it, though the Green Show was probably one of the best ever. I can't wait to see Tom and Joe in "Greater Tuna" which is the last play of the season. Right now, I really need a dose of Joe and Tom, the Fool Squad, available for parties (www.foolsquad.com). I think the problem was it reminded me of MacBeth when we saw it in Ashland with Cousin Steve with its Asian theme (fun weekend with him, but didn't like the presentation of the play) and we'd just seen it I think two/three years ago at the Festival in a different setting. Plus Mr. Dan P. wasn't there. It made for a cloud.

But here's Tom and Joe being Tom and Joe! (Oh, Big Bit is REALLY talking College of Idaho, he even said it to Grandma. Must make plans to be home in 2 years, but I think it will be sooner given what's going on at work).



Wanted to get this out there - the Sunday, 2nd half of the weekend involving a wedding that made me feel really old and ANOTHER pregnant cousin (I currently have four and counting) - that post is yet to come.

Cheers.

Only In Utah

Both of the following things occurred naturally in Utah.

More update later, but things actually went well with Dad's investigative surgery (not at all invasive) and he'll be back in a couple of weeks to get things taken care of. If you saw my irritated, no, make that very angry rant I posted Friday, I took it down later that night because he came to his senses and did what the doctors told him to do...men...especially of that variety (i.e. irrational) drive me crazy. Big Bit is right, Grandpa and Little Bit are exactly alike. Which is scary.

Now, on to the fun photo fact Big Bit took last night at the grocery store. Only in Utah would this sign be posed next to a stack of Corona. 'Cause that way you couldn't tell your Stake President that you had NO IDEA THERE WAS ALCOHOL IN IT.

Dear God, let my people go.

Fond Memory and a Good Song

This has not been the best week ever - Sybil is going down in full roar so work has been a blast - and Big Bit has decided that protecting his Mom from the EHFH is very important...and he's afraid of standing his ground and handling conflict. So back to Nevada he goes. A backbone is the one thing I've apparently deprived him of whether through living conditions or genetics (I doubt the latter) - but it is what it is and he does seem to be genuinely reveling in the real family life we have as he always has. I figured out a long time ago being afraid of the EHFH is the biggest mistake you can make. I hope he does too.

As if to counteract these lovely thoughts, at least minimally, I happened across this video. I did not have an idea it existed, but as you see the "cameraman" pan through, the middle two of the six heads you see are The Husband and myself. Shot at the Nugget in Sparks, Nevada in April. So I'm on YouTube, thankfully it's anonymous but I about died when I saw the back of my head. Funny how life is.

I also added lyrics from one of my favorite Gin Blossoms songs below, the music makes the song, it's hauntingly beautiful - it's how I feel this week. Thank God we're going to Boise for Weekend at Willie's - hope to see family along the way that aren't involved in the two weddings we have to attend....




Not Only Numb - from Congratulations I'm Sorry

Looking all around the room I see the clutter in the gloom
I’m not only back, I’m not only numb
Changing shades within the evening
In a day then I’ll be leaving
I’m not only back, I’m not only numb
When the air at home is thin
Getting out then looking in
Yeah she knows, she knows, she knows
It ain’t awful hard to tell
What it’s like, my little hell
Yeah she knows, she knows, she knows
I’m now familiar with the tone I hear in bed when I’m alone
I’m not only back, I’m not only numb
In the shade below the eaves
Think I could chain smoke anything
I’m not only back, I’m not only numb
When the air at home is thin
Getting out, then looking in
Yeah she knows, she knows, she knows
It ain’t awful hard to tell
What it’s like, my little hell
Yeah she knows, she knows, she knows
She knows, she knows, she knows
She sees all the cars around the parking lots of bars we’ve played and stayed
Started laughing, looking down upon the bed that we’ve made
We’ve made, we’ve made, we’ve made
She sees all the cars around the parking lots of bars we’ve played and stayed
Started laughing, looking falling down across the bed that we’ve made
We’ve made, we’ve made, we’ve made
The air at home is thin
When getting out, then looking in
I’m not only back, I’m not only numb
Changing shades within the evening
In a day, then I’ll be leaving
I’m not only back, I’m not only numb...

Aw Frack

Brett, Take Your Ball and Go Home.

Let's move on.

Go Pack.

Sunday Wrap-Up

A couple of posts ago, I said that I hoped the Packers would welcome Brett with open arms if he came into camp and it was my blog so I could say so. Oddly enough, that seems to be happening.
Go Pack. And, I may get to see this very scene again, as I did last December:



We met some people through the blogosphere Friday - "Mr. and Mrs. S" - they are funny and entertaining to talk with). Looking forward to being able to get together again soon to discuss gaming, brewing beer and the oddity that is living in Utah. Among other topics...

Little Bit did his final requirement for getting his Bear badge for Scouts. Now, it's on to deciding if he should go on to Webelos (and yes, still leaning towards a different Pack to eliminate the minority issue), or him staying in the Ward - and I'm getting tired of getting hit up on Fast Offering Sundays because our name is on the list - can they please mark us as "Heathen"? - or if he's ready to quit. But he's done a great job and will look cool in his Cub uniform with his additional Bear patch - pictures will be coming later in August.

My Dad's cancer is back (and this, specifically for the cousins or aunts, please don't tell anyone ESPECIALLY Dad you saw it here if he hasn't told anyone but me. I suspect he hasn't -and please don't tell Grandma, he will if he wants to) - but it's back in a very limited scope, and it looks like he'll be coming here for treatment, at least surgery. He's optimistic and it sounds like he has every reason for being so. Please throw a prayer upwards if that is your kind of thing. I'm very attached to him.

Jumping into the week to come - things seem to be moving forward on the job front as far as Sybil's replacement, we have another "Weekend at Willie's" coming up next weekend along with TWO weddings (no Funeral, thankfully!) AND the Golden Mallet Tournament (more to come on that). We have to move back home so we can afford this social whirl, given the price of gas.

Have a great week!

Damn Voles

Okay, so Mr. Katt is about to be fired as our official vole killer. He did well earlier this year, but has slacked and now the voles have made off with two pepper plants. One with many Cayenne peppers on it and all! Stupid voles.

I have sprinkled pepper flakes all over our boxes (this is supposed to work, but please note the damn voles ate a CAYENNE PLANT WITH CAYENNE PEPPERS ON IT).

I may be resorting to mouse traps or coyote urine (I KNOW!) soon to get rid of these evil garden raiders.

And I don't care what you say...they are not cute!!!

Things I Got From My Mom

Again, not a complete list:

• My ability to be a very loyal friend
• My love of Labrador Retreivers (much against my will, might I add)
• Being able to tell my kids I love them openly and often
• My klutziness
• A good work ethic
• A fundamental feeling that my life has value - from day one
• Unwavering support - no matter what the personal opinion of my thoughts or shenanigans

Thanks Mom!