Are you Kidding ME!

It has been quite a while since I took the time to post a blog entry. I recently had an experience that has inspired me to tell a story.

As you know I work at the corporate offices for Starbucks in downtown Seattle. I sit in a cubical that has walls with fabric on the sides. This type of wall allows me to pin up notes and sheets for ready reference. From time to time, the pins work their way out and the paper or calendar falls down. In order to prevent this wiggling out action, I have started to use some long stick pins. The only problem is these stick pins are hard to find in the office.

A couple of months ago, I arrived early on a Monday morning to start work. I was sitting there and a page fell off my cube wall. Bugged, I walked into the nearest conference room to see if by chance I could find a couple of longer stick pins. As I said, it was early in the morning so many of the office lights were not yet turned on. Upon entering the room, I headed for the bulletin board.

The smell in the room did not register in my brain until I stepped in it! Yep, there was a pile of dog poop in a 9th floor conference room! "Are you kidding me?!" Apparently, someone had work to take care of during the weekend and brought their trusted companion.

So that no one else would have the same experience, I quickly posted a sign:

DO NOT ENTER

DOG POOP ON FLOOR

Yes, you read it correctly

Facilities has been notified

It is not everyday that someone steps in dog poop at our office so word of the incident spread (no pun intended) quickly. Throughout the day, I would be heading to a meeting and someone would stop me and ask if I was able to get it cleaned up or ask what the nasty smell was. Great fun!

Needless to say, from that point forward, my week improved!

Halloween

Halloween came and went very quickly this year. Yahoo! The faster the better. The boys and Jaycee carved pumpkins this year. I was impressed. Aaron was home to take the boys around the neighborhood. Preston was an Army guy and Chris put stuff on just to get candy. Didn't spend a dime on costumes this year. Yeah! Chris had a party he went to at a friends house. Jaycee had a couple of friends over and they put on blind folds and put make up on each other. Luckily, no eyes were lost with this activity. Ness was home until later and then went to a church dance. Seeing that my older kids were home, they passed out the candy. I don't care much for this holiday, so I locked myself in my room, sewed, and watched the Utes play football. I had a great night!

Ness Homecomming

Wow, I am so behind. Ness had Homecomming on October 24th. It was a busy day for her. She had a League swim meet at Curtis High School that didn't start until 3:00 in the afternoon. She had to swim the backstroke and that is 3rd to the last event. She didn't get home until 6:40. She, with the help of Jaycee and I, was able to get ready in 20 minutes! A record I think. Her date was Justyn Pollock. She went with three other couples. They had a progressive dinner at the boys' homes and then headed off to the dance. Afterwards, they went ice skating.

Girls Camp 2009

Girls Camp was July 13-17th this year. I went as the Ward Camp Director, Nessa as a YCL (Youth Camp Leader), and Jaycee as a 2nd year. We went to Zions Camp in Belfair, Washington. What an incredible place. The church owns it and is run by 4 missionary couples and the spirit is definitely there. We camped in Cabins (mine a bunk that made me feel like I was in a ship) and spent a great deal of time at the lake. Yes...I did get in the lake, first time in 10 years. The second we got to camp they were having swim tests. We, as leaders, were told that the girls were not allowed to get in the boats if a leader was not present. Leaders had to take the swim test. Well, we have 28 girls in the ward and odds were pretty good they would want to get in a boat. Wanting to be a cool camp director and all...I put a swim suit on and jumped in the lake. COLD! I had to tread water for 30 seconds, swim to one dock front stroke, swim to another dock back stroke, then any stroke on the way back. I thought I would die! My body didn't care that it could run 13 miles just a couple of weeks ago, this swim exercise is a whole new ball game. Nessa was a lifeguard there and I just kept praying that I didn't go under and she would have to save me. Embarrassing for us both. Luckily I made it only to find out someone made a mistake and the leaders didn't really need to be in the boats with the girls. Oh well, glad I did it. Luckily Ness and Jaycee were there to witness it or Aaron never would have believed it. Sorry, no pictures of this event.
Anyway, the theme for this year was SWAT (Sisters With a Task.) Our individual ward was given the Value Compassion with the color red. We decided to focus on the story of "The Good Samaritan." We have such great young women in our ward. What a pleasure to go and spend 4 days with them. Lots of compassion and service all around. Loved it! The Stake did an incredible job setting this all up. A great group of ladies who deserve a week at a spa for all their hard work.
Ness was a lifeguard all week. She was only required to work one hour a day, but ended up volunteering to work three a day to make sure they were covered. She gave up all of her free time at camp to do this. Awesome! They rewarded her at the end of camp by bringing her up in front of all 300 girls. It was cool. She was a YCL and also had to certify all the 2nd years. She was busy at camp. She was giving the opportunity to swim the mile and finished. Only a handful of girls did it. On the last full day of camp, she needed a break and hung out with me all morning. We went and did Archery, tomahawks, and knifes. Wouldn't you know it, right off the bat she threw two bulls eyes in Archery and one in tomahawks. I was able to throw one in knives. Who knew?!
Jaycee was nonstop, constantly going from one activity to another. Certifying to swimming to crafts to fishing, to ropes course and then all over again. She did the polar bear dip both mornings in a row. My jumping in the lake days were over, so I was the photographer.
Overall, the week was a blast. So fun to spend with my daughters and be able to witness their experience and to feel the spirit. I love camping for that reason, leave all the technologies behind and feel the peace and quiet. The spirit always shows up then, love it. I took over 250 pictures, but for this blog will only put my girls. All other photos are on the girls' facebook. Enjoy!

SunRiver, Oregon

I did it, I actually did it! I ran a half marathon and finished. I didn't think I could with my health. Mind over matter. I was doing so well with training these last few months. No injuries what so ever, just tired from time to time. Then, wouldn't you know it, two weeks before the race I broke my left pinky toe. Then, a week before the race I tripped over a suitcase and bruised ribs. Good grief! Plus, I went camping that weekend to save money and had about 3 hours of sleep on both nights before the race. Not real smart. Plus it was hot and there was a change in altitude. Lets not forget the ugly head of MS that is forever present with me. Putting all that aside, I did it, I actually DID IT and FINISHED! It wasn't pretty though. I hit a wall at mile 9, a major wall. My body just broke down. I had to walk/run the last four miles. I didn't even care at the time that I was walking, I just wanted it over with. I had run 11 miles two weeks earlier and did just fine, but this race was a whole different story. I crossed the finish line and was so sick! Yikes! I threw up in the car on the way home from the campground and was weak for about 4 hours, but then I was fine. A Pepsi and Pretzels will do that to you. I swear by it. Even though it wasn't pretty, I am so grateful for the experience. Now that it is over, I want to do it again. Not today or tomorrow, but in the near distant future. Now that I know what to expect, I will prepare better. A big thanks goes to Sally and my Dad. Dad wrote up our training schedule and coached me throughout it all. Thanks Dad! Sally was my running partner who I trained with. Couldn't have done it without her. A big thanks for all her motivation. I'm so glad she left me at mile 9 and finished out the race the way she wanted to. She did Awesome!

We also went with the Horne and Atwood family. We all needed to save on money and went camping for this trip. We stayed at Lapine State Park. We toured the Lava River Cave and played in the Deschutes River. Lots of fun. My kids had such a great time hanging with friends. Taryn and Rachel also ran the marathon and did great. In fact, Sally was the only one who wasn't injured. We were quite a group! What a great weekend. Thanks to my hubby and kids who supported me in this.

OOPS!

This is what happens when you mix a sunny Saturday afternoon, a weed wacker, and pea gravel.

Hoedown!

This is what happens when you mix a cool Aunt (who is pregnant), two teenage girls, and the viewing of the Hannah Montana movie.....