One Year

One year ago, I was working my very last day in Utah.

One year ago, I was nervously walking into my new workplace, knowing only that I was very glad to be home whatever came. What a difference a year has made...and yet in some ways it hasn't. I can't speak for TH, but I know I've never looked back and said "why did we move back?" Yet, it took several months before I really felt like this was real and we were back. Now Utah seems like a pretty distant memory. I e-mailed last week with a co-worker from that job who got promoted when Sybil left - she had been named as the replacement shortly before I interviewed in Boise. The last year, for her, has been pretty hellish from the sounds of things. While I definitely felt for her, it made me so glad not to be in the middle of all that strife and bickering and defying the Mothership's not so good intentions towards employees.

I learned a lot in Utah. Some not so good, some good. I love Deron Williams and the Utah Jazz. I hate Utah drivers. I will not go into the whole "majority rules" thing except to say one thing I think Barack Obama did wrong is getting Jon Huntsman out of Utah, since he seemed committed to everyone living their own lives.

Being in Idaho has been a good thing for Little Bit. His teacher this year seems simply awesome. He's doing his homework without (hardly) any battling. It's been good for us because as we decompress from the high pressure atmosphere we get to look around more and say - "Wow, we're old!" Just kidding, but we do get to look around, at least.

Big Bit has turned into such a grown up. Which is really depressing, yet uplifting. His criticisms of the EHFH are spot on, and I suspect his criticisms of me are also, though he is kind enough to keep those to himself. But the one thing I've found, and I'm old enough to know this (one tends to forget things one doesn't want to remember) - what your problems are, they are. Some of them might be exacerbated by where you live, or where you work, or the friends that you have, but ultimately, they are YOUR responsibility. And I take that to heart, as I approach yet another (gads!) birthday. I've got lots to work on, but I've got lots of opportunity in this beautiful place to do so.

Oh yeah, and Purple Judas still sucks.

And I have seven months of child support left.

Just sayin'.

Nine Hours and 27 Minutes

For Cele, I post the following which was at my workplace this morning:

Yes, that's the "Ugly Duckling" sitting on a Bronco, along with a "Bucking Bronco" stick horse. Someone offered to put the Duck under the Bronco for me when I mentioned I was taking this for a friend in Oregon. I declined.

I can't wait until this game is over. It's like living in Utah with Utah and BYU in your face all the time. It's great to have school spirit, and I did cheer Boise State on in the Fiesta Bowl. I'm even rooting for Ian Johnson to make the Vikings despite the fact he'll be playing on the same team as Judas Favre. But it's all been a bit much, like it's the Second Coming or some such. Believe it or not, I'm not the only person in town that feels this way. Even some people that didn't attend Nevada or Idaho feel this way.

As promised to friend Steve, Go Ducks. I will say - Good Luck, Broncos.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

I have been a bad, pathetic, blogger this summer. I don't have much to blame it on per se - Big Bit has been here (but he's 17 and doesn't always want ol' Mom around), Little Bit has been enjoying his first summer vacation ever (but he's 10 and pretty self sufficient, not to mention going to Just For Kids three days a week), Mom moved up which has been fun (but as Big Bit says, it seems like cousin Danny sees her way more than we do), I haven't golfed, I camped exactly once -last weekend - I went on vacation for one week - I went to Alive After 5 a lot - I rode bikes and walked some but that damned plantar fascitis has really cut into my resolution to get fit and healthy. I listened to a lot of jazz at Hotel 43. I saw Curtis Stigers sitting at a table right by me in Bar Gernika. Yes, he is that cute. If you don't know who he is, he's an Idaho treasure and you should check him out.

What else have I been doing? Maybe if I show enough, I will be off the hook for being a bad friend (in some ways) and family member (in other ways). Or maybe not.

We went to Kevin and Sam's wedding. Kevin is my cousin Danny's son. I don't know Danny or any of his family really well, but I love Danny to bits. He was out of touch with our family for many years due to his mom's divorce from my maternal uncle but resurfaced relatively recently and has established contact with us - my Mom and Aunt in particular. I wish we were closer. Kevin is a great guy and his wedding was really neat. Laid back and really of the essence of him from what I know.

Kevin's sister, Kelli, looks exactly like my cousin Connie who died when I was very small (3?). I remember her vividly because she was simply beautiful and always had these beautifully manicured hands (in my recollection). Plus she really seemed to like me, and for a teenager to really be delighted in me seemed unusual. The first time I saw Kelli was at HER wedding a few years ago and my heart literally caught in my throat. It still does when I see her because I've just never seen that kind of likeness. I always hoped Big Bit would look like his namesake, another cousin of mine, but except for a really pissy impish look he gets when he wants to be cute I haven't seen it.



Another wedding - (boy, with my father in law's escapades it's been a real summer of weddings - Little Bit kept saying "ANOTHER wedding?"). This one was really special though and to Little Bit as well as the rest of us. Our friend R's daughter got married. S was Little Bit's babysitter from when he was 8 weeks old until really just before we moved to Utah (so we could go out on date night) - she was I think almost 13 when she started. She watched Big Bit as well, though we usually spent all of our time with him when he was at our house. Little Bit loved her from day one. When he was two, he'd wander through the house saying shrieking her name at the top of his lungs, so excited was he that she was coming to play with him. She handled him like an expert. He has her senior picture on his bulletin board to this day.



In addition, I got to see my old boss from the Mothership (the Boise one, not SYBIL, for heaven's sake). I love Jenny, I didn't get any pictures of her, but her daughter, another graduate of the University of S babysitting service came to the wedding with her Mom and we got a picture for S to remember her former charges. I also got to have dinner with Jenny the following night and therefore got to enjoy her company and uplifting faith in me. I have the same faith in Jenny. We're neither of us perfect by any means, but we do have faith in each other's possibilities. That is a rare thing.




Little Bit took swimming lessons. He hadn't been to Wings for a few years, and we could never find a place in Utah for him to take lessons, so it was good for him to refresh his knowledge and learn to tread water. He did well and listened so good to the instructor! It's amazing what a few years and some meds have done for his attention span.



Big Bit got his senior photos taken...sigh. I can't post any of them due to copyright issues but you may get to see some of them in an announcement or here if I can get that part resolved. Ouch, said my wallet, but they turned out beautifully. In the meantime, here's "Diddy" in a self portrait. He looks stinkin' grown up and I feel stinkin' old. He got to go to Japan this summer which was a good thing for him. The good thing for me was when he sent an e-mail lamenting we couldn't talk on the phone (he didn't want to take a phone card because his friends weren't calling home) and he wanted to vent about something. And he missed me. It's nice to be needed, isn't it?





We went on vacation on the coast of Oregon with our friends the Hydes. We hadn't gotten to spend this much time with them in eons and it was fun - I think we all enjoyed it enough we'd do it again, eh?

The boys enjoyed the house.



Little Bit and his friend K Hyde had a lot of fun together. One of my favorite photos of them, I think then age 6 and 5 was at the Seattle Aquarium. This one's at the Newport Aquarium and it is very cute as well.



I think there's a picture of us all together - but it's not on my camera - please share Ms. Hyde?

On this trip I also met Cele! We met in the blogosphere a while back and I was excited to meet her, and as an added bonus we also met her husband, Ducky (he is just Ducky too). We all liked meeting Cele and Ducky, though as usual I was somewhat shy at first meeting. Big Bit mentioned just the other day how much he liked Cele. He, too, is somewhat shy at first meeting but we like the same kinds of people generally speaking. Other than the fact she likes the BSU football team for some reason, I thought she was simply awesome.

We went to Shakespeare with Steve, too, and I have a picture of the asshat we sat behind to prove it. (Actually, we went to Shakespeare five times, but once was with Steve, the only time we sat by an asshat...hm....). Since I think it's on my cell phone camera, and since you really don't want to see a picture of him anyway, trust me, with his beer bottles lying everywhere and taking up an acre of ground...but I may add it later. It's the great Idaho land grab, as Steve says. A Shakespearean tradition.

We went to Kaikoa's birthday party. He is Kelli's son, who just turned one, and he is a true Hawaiian (his dad is from Hawaii) - laid back, he all but exudes island charm. He's a cutie.

Now, Big Bit has jetted off to Nevada to start his senior year, we meet Little Bit's teacher tomorrow night and I have as yet not done so, so many things I wanted to do, including keeping in better touch. I'm about to embark on the attempted conquest of a variety of self-improvement projects, much as Little Bit embarks on a conquest of Fifth Grade as Big Bit gets ready to conquer the world. It's time to kick butt and take names, kids. Wish me luck.

Frazzled

I'm feeling frazzled. Vacation was wonderful, enjoyed the beach, the Hydes and meeting Cele - but haven't had time to post any pics. Got back Friday night (really early Saturday morning), had to get ready for a bbq at our house Saturday night thanks to our friends who had so much fun at the housewarming they decided it would be a great place to see fireworks! (And, it is, it's a walk across the street to the Depot where you have a clear view of the whole show.) We really had fun with everyone (again, so busy no pictures - I have to have a more low-key party) but that meant Sunday we were FRIED and since then it's been work, work and my stressed out stomach keeping me awake nights.

I promise to write more soon and post photos, but in the meantime I appropriated this one - I'm glad I didn't try to take any of the fireworks because mine never turn out and (credit Idaho Statesman) others are much more talented. This literally was the view steps from our house. Boise is AWESOME.

More soon!

It's Finally Summer

I can tell summer is finally, finally, here. I'm actually outside much of the time, which wasn't the case in Utah (when you live in the 'burbs where it's 100 degrees or feels like it and there's no shade or real river to cool down in, you don't go out. Trust me). Therefore I'm not blogging much, or commenting on others much (but I do check them). Facebook updates are easy and quick and then I'm out the door again.

We are still working on the boys' bathroom (the project that will never end). I think it's getting done Sunday or TH will be banned from watching NASCAR. That ought to motivate him.

I've managed to sprain my ankle (getting up from lunch, it sucks to get old) and then resprain it walking to my car at work (did I mention it sucks to get old?) but I won't let it deter me from being out, walking, riding a bike etc. Which is probably why I sprained it again. I did buy a brace last night in a nod to getting old and needing to heal.

Our activities so far this summer? Little Bit got to go to an air show in...shudder...Utah. I didn't take him though (Pattie did)so he didn't experience the hives and hyperventilation that would have accompanied his mother's re-entry to the state. And he got to see Grandpa, Pattie and Jazzie in addition to other extended family types. He's enjoying his first real summer break ever.

Of course, TH, Big Bit and I got to see Rick Springfield as well as catch up with a couple of my old Reno friends, Alynn & Stephanie. That was fun. Unfortunately Rick didn't get as close as last time I saw him, so I don't have as good a picture. But Big Bit got to see a bunch of screaming 40 year olds pretend they were age 17 again. Which is never boring. I think he laughed a lot.






We got to see Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe, which we hadn't in years.








Big Bit looks so grown up. I hate it.






We've been to the first two Alive After Fives. I absolutely love this event, which is free each Wednesday (at 5, duh) in downtown Boise and gives you the opportunity to listen to interesting music, watch VERY interesting people (the guy in the dress who dances the whole evening, for instance) and for Little Bit to get very, very wet. He almost got to be on the Channel 2 news as well except for the idiots showed the guy in the dress instead of cute kids.







The garden is planted (yay!) and the Irises have bloomed, and faded, but I did get some pictures.

And, we've been enjoying this new visitor to our house, however, the bush he prefers is losing its blossoms so we're going to have to put a feeder out. He's just too much fun to watch - I don't want to lose him.

How is your summer going so far?

I Found The Camera Cable

Well, TH found it. Or maybe he just knew where it was all along. Whatevs. So, I've got some pictures to share:

This is the view a few hundred yards from our house. I like very much.



The animal conspiracy lives. This guy comes and eyes me while I'm eating lunch.


"Who you looking at, you?"



Actually, he's irritated because I bought a squirrel proof bird feeder for these guys:



Pretty, aren't they?



Big Bit was here this weekend, rocking the Zac Efron look. I guess it looks okay, but he sure is a nice looking kid without having to take the time to straighten his hair. You can see that Little Bit was happy to see him.





Little Bit took his first communion this weekend. It's not a "big deal" like it is in the Catholic church, but he had been thinking about it for quite a while, he has enough questions to stump a theology professor. Which is good, I guess, because it meant he'd put a lot of thought into doing the whole communion thing before he actually did it. I certainly don't claim to have all the answers, I just share what I believe with him and it kind of will go from there where it will go. His dad isn't into organized religion, so he definitely has an example of the fact that you can have a good marriage, be tolerant of each other's beliefs and so on.





Finally (because it's lunchtime and I have to go back to work, here's what goes on most of every afternoon in our yard - Siamese Cat vs. Ninja Squirrel. Who will win?


We'll find out....

News from foundinidaho

We've got some news to share, we do!

First - Homeboy made the Pro Bowl! Way to go Jordan!

http://www.idahostatesman.com/104/story/606361.html

Second - Little Bit turned in his last assignment before Christmas Break - a diorama for Idaho History about Native Americans. There were of course several tribes to pick from but he picked my favorite (without me saying a word) the Nez Perce. Yes, he actually did a lot of work on this including mapping out the locations, helping glue and build as well as placing the horses and people. Granted, the people were from the dollar store so they were pretty stereotypical of the old Wild West movies, but hey, they said to only spend $5 on the supplies (Yeah, Right). Tomorrow night we go back to Winter Garden Aglow for his Pack meeting, although I am suffering from an ear and sinus infection (boo!) and it's supposed to snow tomorrow night, if we don't go we'll never hear the end of it. Hopefully my face won't be swollen up tomorrow night like I've been sucker punched.

Big Bit arrives Saturday and we will make a day trip to see my Dad, Pattie and my Grandmother. Little Bit turns 10 Sunday (OMG) so Grandma will be around for a small party. Next year - big party in the New House, which we signed papers on today. Back in debt we go! I promise a big housewarming party in the spring when we can enjoy the back yard.

Hope you're all having a wonderful holiday season, particularly Mr. Thomas Wayne (newborn baby of Cousin N - now I'm down to TWO pregnant cousins) - I hear it snowed up your way dude, glad you got a first white Christmas as your cousin Rory did. Not that you care any more than he did but at least your Mom and Dad can get some cool pictures for the baby book.

We'll try and post some photos from London, we're taking the laptop but I'm not sure how that will all pan out. We bought tickets to Spamalot on Boxing Day yesterday. Can't wait to see the Killer Rabbit yet again.

Happy Holidays!

Wow. Just Wow.

The promised pictures from Winter Garden Aglow! I have got to figure out this camera - hell, we've only had it like three years and I have no idea how to take pictures with a manual setting. Only three weeks to London, better get the book out!




The pictures I can take don't do it justice. The lights were pretty and despite the cop out of the Botanical Society to some sort of pressure - NO MULLED WINE! - it was a lovely night and we will be excited to back in the summer and see the new Lewis and Clark area - full of indigineous plants the explorers found when they came to Idaho. We could see enough to be impressed.





Oh, and now to the reason I say...Wow. Just Wow. Today has been a day it has, in the clan of the foundindaho. We bought a house today. They took the offer, which was something of a surprise. We've had our eye on this house since before we moved and it's dropped mucho in price. We offered even less and they took it.


Oh, and TH got his job offer today! He starts January 5, and gets to work from home after training near Seattle for a few weeks. I am feeling blessed, and grateful, and now must go off and have a wonderful glass of Kenwood Jack London Syrah and say "Thanks Be to God". And thanks to all of you, and you know who you are, for putting up with the last three years with me and mine. They haven't been easy, always, but they suddenly have become very much worth it.

After all, fifth generation Idahoans (like the one shown below) must grow up at home. My great-great grandmother didn't cross the Snake in a covered wagon in danger so I could live in Utah, for heaven's sake.



Happy holidays, everyone.

BatKid! And More.

BatKid was out in full force this weekend in anticipation of his Boo at the Zoo haul. We didn't get to spend as much time there as we hoped, but we scored a year membership, so we'll be back to see more of the animals.

Many years ago, we began going to Boo at the Zoo, taking Big Bit in his Simba costume (Lion King) etc., and there were people there, but nothing like now. They were limiting tickets to 13,000. I don't think they quite sold out, but it was truly insane. Even worse than the last time we went, which was I think three years ago. At any rate, it was worth it, because BatKid was in his element and we were at a nice zoo, which is adding giraffes and lions! I remember when the most exciting thing there was a porcupine.

BatKid in various poses:


First, battling EvilCat in the privacy of his home (EvilCat as opposed to Catwoman):



Next:

I'm wondering why I can't see my enemy? Where did they go? Oh, my mask is in my eyes:



What else? I took some pictures of the leaves turning from the sixth floor of my employer. Kind of pretty. (Note, I am on the first floor. I am okay with that, I hate heights).

Pretty huh?

Next up - I have a birthday, Big Bit is here for Halloween (he got to go to the Obama rally in Reno Saturday, whether you agree with the man or not, seeing him in person is a historic moment) and then as to the weekend, TH comes home for 10 days Wednesday night and we have a big yummy dinner at Epi's Basque Restaurant in Meridian Saturday night. Celebrating Mom's birthday, mine and just being home.

Miss Cocoa the dog is out of the hospital and doing well so far....Dad has to go to Utah for an appointment Thursday and to see what's next...

Oh, and TH might be working at Bogus Basin ski resort for the winter. He has a 2nd interview Saturday. Getting hired could pay the rent and get him a free ski pass - and then we are all good until April. Fingers crossed, please!

The Most Beautiful Sight I've Ever Seen

Since I'm on my old crappy laptop you'd have to click on the pic to blow it up, but there's the "Welcome to Idaho" sign!

First weeks' observations:

Things are weird in Idaho, too. I always knew that, but it's now reassuringly weird instead of control freakingly weird.

There is a melting pot of election signs in my neighborhood. Obama, Ron Paul and McCain. It feels good to be in a mixture instead of a one party ticket (and I would mean that even if it was my party).

Mom's pooch, Cocoa, is not well still and is headed to a specialist here in Boise tomorrow. Prayers for that neurotic, yet sweet Lab that is our Margarita's sister.

Got to see my Grandma today, yay! She is up at my aunt's and it was good to see her, though just briefly today. (P.S., my aunt is the best ever, she's going to watch Little Bit while TH finishes up his job. I owe her big time).

The trees are turning on the Greenbelt. Going up to the Donnalama's office tomorrow to get some pics - she looks towards Julia Davis Park and the Depot. I can't complain though, I turn around and look at the Foothills. But she's got the better view.

Oh and my DSL is finally working, as is the cable. We might actually live here in a few more days. Yay! Yay!

I know the honeymoon won't last forever and I'll have some 'splainin' to do on some subject but for now all is good!

Pics of Little Bit at Boo at the Zoo coming Sunday. It's fun and we haven't been in eons. Yay again!

Dear GenreBusters

Are you ever going to give Cousin Steve his forum back?

What gives?

Sincerely (and offended on a cousinly basis),

foundinidaho


p.s.

I feel really ovewhelmed by work. But being here seriously rocks.

I know, the happy posts need to stop. I will become muy boring.

Sunday Update

Just a quick update to say it's Sunday afternoon and I'm sitting at Bardenay on the Basque Block having lunch and watching football.

And I couldn't be happier.

We drove up yesterday and managed to get stranded on Interstate 80 in the Pequops because of a freak snowstorm that took (apparently) the Nevada Department of Transportation and truckers alike by surprise. Three lanes of traffic at a total standstill while trucks chained up whereever the spirit moved them to stop...sigh. It took for flipping ever to get through there.

We managed to stop and see Dad and Pattie after we dropped off Little Bit at Grandma's. He's having a feeding tube put in his stomach this week to help him get enough food in to gain lots of weight. He may also have to have some chemo, rather unexpected, but more precautionary than necessary. He looks so much better, though he doesn't seem to believe that. He's even getting some hair on his head.

Then we had to get to Boise to pick up the keys to our new pad from friend Allen. (Bless you, Allen for picking them up). The pad is small, but is clean and other than a few random irritating things about rentals (the deadbolt on the front locks with a key from the INSIDE as well as outside...the garage door won't open), and the fact there's a Ron Paul supporter about two houses down (just kidding) I think it will be fine. The Bits are going to be devastated about the size of their bedrooms, but what can you do?

The Husband's flying back to fair SLC tonight and I will go down next Saturday to help pack and move (hopefully) most of our stuff. Anyone want to help?

Yeah...that's what I thought. Happy Sunday and good luck to your teams (except for the Bears, of course).

My Own Private Idaho

Amazing...it's really happening.

And in celebration, I give you the B-52s. This was the first time I heard my home state immortalized in song (I guess the state song "Here We Have Idaho" escaped me until later)...I was SO impressed that cool people with funky hairdos even knew the name of where I lived. (Sorry, for those of you with a Lego fetish, this video contains real live people. But Lego videos rock too.)

I'm really glad it isn't my own Private Idaho (Shiggy's in Idaho now, and we're glad to have him!) - all of you are invited to partake for at least a visit to my fair homeland, because if you read this, you are someone I'm more than happy to share space with.

After two years that in many ways have felt like a wilderness (often, I admit, of my own making) I am happy and humbled to get to go home, and after twenty some years (no snickers about my age!) I'm still a Wildcat from Filer High dancing in a miniskirt to this very tune, somewhere in my mind.

Home...ahhhhhh....

Better News

Better news on a couple of fronts....

Dad went to the doctor and they said that as long as Dad smokes "minimally" that it is okay...for now...they will give him something to help when he's a little stronger and can focus on doing some things (working or puttering around) and won't have so much time on his hands (causing stress, causing him to want to smoke). So I won't yell at him. And I'm sorry I was so mad (mostly because he scared me to death). But I will yell at him if he doesn't quit when the time is right!!

We also found a place to rent today. Friend Renee went and vetted it for us during her lunch hour (Renee is AWESOME!)so I faxed the paperwork to the property management firm this afternoon. It's a fairly small duplex on the Boise Bench, but the rent was the right price (since we will still have a house payment, it's got to be low) and it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a garage.














Baby steps...after next Friday I'll really feel like this is happening.

Have a good weekend!

Miscellaneous Updates

Let's see. Much to update, and I wish not to ramble.

JETS WON! PACKERS WON! (TAKE THAT VIKINGS!) Jaguars lost...sigh.

Greater Tuna (Tom & Joe for 2 hours) = FUNNY.

1) Little Bit got his Bear badge in Scouts. He is gearing up for Webelos. I found it very interesting for his Scoutmaster to note that he is the Bear with the most arrow points and got his badge first - and - let's get this straight - he's not LDS, his parents aren't doing it for him (and yes, the LDS Scoutmaster who works for me says this is typically how people get their Eagle Scout at age 13 so it happens) and who goes to the den meetings with him? We do. Come on people, get involved with your kids.

Here he's putting a pin on me. Since I am "Akela", his helper - every time he gets a badge, I get a cool pin. TH helps too, of course, but this is interestingly something he and I bond over (I always wanted to be a Cub Scout, and TH was and hated it). We're very proud of him!

2) A couple of interesting things happened last week. I had my interview, which I THINK went well (but who really knows) - I should know what's up this week and Sybil managed to e-mail herself into a corner. Please, people, when you hit reply all, think about what you're sending and who you're sending it too. Without going into gory detail or "dooceing" myself , my ER person tells me I'm in "the catbird seat". Karma, indeed, can be a bitch. At least I'll be left alone until Sybil departs....fittingly...on HALLOWEEN. I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP.


3) Little Bit's playing baseball and really, overall, doing well. It's a laid back program stressing skill building, not competition. However, because his Mom can't read a simple schedule, we missed his game tonight. Argh.


Boys will be boys - please note Little Bit manhandling the kid (last on the right) next to him for this picture. I love the pic for the looks on their faces.



He got to pitch - he really didn't do bad, considering he's never done it before!



4) Dad is having his surgery Wednesday and feeling pretty uppity and ready. Thank God. Please shout out your prayers and well wishes. He would like to feel ready to go fishing with Little Bit during track break in a few weeks. Saw Grandma Sunday - she's looking pretty good too all things considered and I'm hoping after Dad's surgery our family medical drama is done for eons! I'll keep you posted on how he's doing.


5) "Gertrude" had her baby today! Madison was a little over 6 lbs and is apparently pretty and healthy - haven't seen any pics yet. Welcome to the world, Madison! This is going to sound weird, but I hope you look like your grandpa, who is long since gone from this world. He was a very handsome man, and none of his kids or grandkids have really looked like him or had that really quirky, quick and smart sense of humor to the nth degree. That Porteguese look and temper has got to show itself somewhere - I miss him to this day.



Keep those fingers, toes and eyes crossed for the job - I ALMOST smell Idaho, and if not that, at least a boss is on the horizon I will really enjoy working for and with.



Lastly this cat is cute...yet really evil.

Random Thoughts

I am flying to Idaho tomorrow night for a early Friday interview. Keep fingers, toes and eyes crossed and prayers at the ready, please.

My dad's in the hospital here so they can get some things worked out and hopefully be on for surgery Friday. Saw him tonight, he's in pretty good spirits, so all of the above thoughts for him too, please.

In the interests of respecting various members of my family's political viewpoints I will not say anything much about "the" speech tonight. I will note, however, that the fact I am now speechless says a great deal, indeed, if you know me at all you probably just fainted.

Have a good weekend everyone - going to the Final Weekend at Willie's, which I will enjoy thoroughly once I'm at lunch with my friends on Friday and the stress of the interview is behind me.

Fingers Crossed

We really had a good weekend. Got some landscaping and other house related items well started, house cleaned and somewhat organized, I even made it into the pit that is also known as Little Bit's room.

Went for a bbq tonight at Mr. and Mrs. S' house - met some cool people, it was fun. Little Bit didn't want to leave the Wii. Thanks again you guys!

In other news...

I am up for a job at a major employer in the home state (not the Mother Ship)...I think I'll have an interview Friday if all goes well. I'll know more Wednesday.

Please keep your fingers, toes and eyes crossed (that's for Bucky Katt) and prayers abounding, should you offer those up to your higher authority, that whatever's best will happen for us. Obviously I hope that means going home...but not in the wrong way.

Just Because The World Needs a Good Old Song

TH and I got to see "Spamalot" last year here in SLC. It was great, but I sure wish I could have seen Tim Curry in it - LOVE HIM! At any rate, since I've not had time to do the Idaho wedding post (yet), since Sybil's running amok in her last few weeks trying to fire people, screw people out of raises, etc. etc. - since Big Bit's stuck in Hell2, I mean Reno, since our Mom Company (or is it Dad, I can never decide, our company, as with all of us, has two parents and as with many of us they're fighting) is trying to ruin our lives as always due to his/her own bad brand of decisions they can take out on us; etc. etc.

Because of all this I've posted this happy thought, as I do need to remember to always look on the bright side of life. Cheers!

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.

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...