Category — Life

It’s a holiday today. Kelly had the day off, so we ventured out on a family bike ride. I had Beck attached to my bike, which is kind of like dragging a boulder with wheels behind me. But, he is cuter than a boulder and sometimes, ok, all of the time, he chats with me about the scene around town where we ride. He noticed cars, and grasshoppers mostly today.
We rode 7 miles. This was a pretty good ride with the kiddies. We stopped halfway at a park and let them play on the swings. Kelly and I sat under a tree, his head in my lap and we chatted. It was precious.

Later, we went out for lunch, during which Kelly D. and I shared a beverage. He hates diet soda so I relented and we split a Coke. I had forgotten how good real Coke is.

I took my bike in to the shop for a tune up because I have a big ride coming in October. I have decided that the Tour De St. George is not the ride to do my first century on. I saw a map of the course, and not only am I not fast enough yet, I think the climb into Snow Canyon might be the last thing I ever do. So, instead I am doing 65 miles and calling it macaroni. It’s going to be fun!

Speaking of fun, I have signed up to do this Dirty Dash race with a group of friends. Our team of 5 women vs. the husbands. It looks like lots of fun, but um… have you met me? I don’t run. Like, ever. I was trying to think of the last time I ran a mile without stopping and I couldn’t think of even one time. And you should see some of my team mates for this thing. They are serious athletes! I asked Kelly why we were included in this group, seeing how we are totally out of shape, and he suggested that maybe we were invited for comic relief.
In an effort to avoid embarrassing myself, I have been running in the mornings for the past week. I thought a month of training is better than nothing. I wake up The Fish, my 9 year old at 6:30 am, and we run. Cough-cough. Ok, we run sporadically for two miles. You guys, he is able to run for longer distances than me. I’m worried.

Later tonight, we are going for a little hike with the family. Yesterday when Kelly D. suggested this, I said, “Seriously? A bike ride and a hike in the same day?” And he said, “Yeah. Let’s just cram tomorrow with a bunch of strenuous activities.” I shrugged and thought, whatever. But, here we are at home having a break. I’m at my computer, with the sweetest black and white puppy you ever did see at my feet, the boys are playing XBox and Kelly is probably asleep on the couch. I guess we’ll get back to strenuous activities in a minute.

#20! Dawn B
who said:
Dawn B { 08.27.10 at 4:05 pm }
Thanks to Nicole W for forwarding this contest and your blog to me! Those are beautiful! And yes, Fall is awesome. So ready for cooler weather.. I can’t believe I’m saying that since it snowed here in May. LOL ah well.

Congratulations Dawn! E-mail me with your mailing address and I’ll get this baby in the mail to you.
Thanks to all that entered!

Dear Kelly D,
Yesterday when I took you to the airport, and you said, “I sure hope my plane doesn’t crash”, it was kind of funny. Then you told me that I’m all set though, if it does, and you proceeded to tell me where to find the life insurance documents and advised me on how to handle the money; that I should use the studio as a rental property and have my dad help me with the landlord responsibilities. You told me to ask your dad how to invest the rest, because he knows all about that kind of thing. We talked about how I wouldn’t really have to work full time if I was smart and that the house would be paid off and the car too.
Remember I said, “Well, who needs you then?”
Well, I have only been without you for two days now, and as it turns out, I do.
Come home.
Love,
Kelly

Don’t fight the nature of the creature you’re teaching. If you bought a border collie, then it’s going to behave like a border collie.

It is possible to channel crazy energy into a positive behavior.

Yelling is not an effective form of communication.

Positive reinforcement is always the best way to go.

Walking is therapeutic.

If you spend quality time together, respect happens naturally.

It’s always useful to have a pocketful of treats.

Well. That was an experience.
The Artisan Fair and Boutique was a success, I think. People came. I was busy ringing up sales all day long, so was my friend Erin who partnered with me for this adventure. I heard how much people enjoyed the variety of items to see and how talented the vendors were. I was asked over and over if we plan to do this every year. I’m thinking not. But, I may still just be exhausted from it all. It was a bigger undertaking than I anticipated.
But we did it. So, I can check that off my list of crazy things to try. I’m posting pictures of it HERE if you want to see a glimpse of the fun.

While Erin and I were cleaning everything up and chatting about the day, I asked her about an observation I’ve made after meeting several of her other friends. I’ve noticed that every time I meet one of them, I walk away thinking how sweet and genuinely good they seem. Kind, somewhat soft in speech, smiling warmly, and with all the good social graces one could hope for in a woman.
I asked her, “So, am I like your most harsh friend?” She laughed and asked me to explain. So I told her that if you stood me in a line up with her other girl friends, I would come off like a hardcore motorcycle chick. You know? Sort of obnoxious, maybe even loud at times, non-stop wise cracks, irreverent humor, questionable language from time to time, and never shutting up.
I don’t remember exactly what she said, but it was some sort of reassuring words about how she likes me for me and some such.

But, I have thought about this before. It’s not like I want to be someone else, but I do admire that soft, feminine quality in some women that I don’t seem to possess. I’ve thought about it off and on since then, because I am a dweller. Are you? Dwelling is one of my favorite (least favorite) ways to pass the time.
But earlier today, I had a thought. Did you ever read the book These Is My Words by Nancy Turner? (If not, turn away from this nonsense I’m writing and get your hands on that book.) I remember the main character, Sarah was always so hard on herself. She was never a proper lady the way her beloved sister-in-law was. She mentioned admiring the soft, sweet qualities she saw in her and thought about how, by comparison, she was bad and even unsavory at times. I can see now why that stuck out to me. Why I related to her.
But, I loved Sarah in that book. I loved her moxie.
So, today, my thought was that I should just be grateful for friends who love me just the way I am, because I just don’t see it changing anytime soon.

(dwelling…over and out)

Please come, you guys.
I just set up ten million tents and I was so sweaty that I could actually smell my own pits. Not cool.
It was so fun to see the whole thing coming together and the tents outside look so festive. I already have a list of things I want to buy from the vendors who set up tonight. I can’t wait to see everyone’s stuff tomorrow.
There will be fabulous shopping, giveaways, free lemonade (you have to come just to see the sign Tate made), and me! (the non-sweaty me.) (I hope.)
Anyway, it’s from 9am to 7pm and I promise it will be worth your time.
The studio is located at 57 E. 400 S. in Bountiful.
See you there!

We traded in my giant mom-mobile for a smaller car and I am so happy about it, I’m like a teenager that just got a driver’s license. Out of milk? I’ll drive to the store! Need to run to the post office? Let me do it!
I love parking a smaller car, I love that I can reach my kids in the back seat to clunk their heads together when they tick me off. I love that I don’t need a ladder to get my groceries out of the back. So, so many little things to love.

We were having a trailer hitch installed on Tuesday (gotta be able to haul my bike!) so the dealership gave me a rental car since the process would take the better part of a day.
I noticed that as the rental car guy was entering my info into his computer, when it asked for the car type, he skipped past words like economy and standard, and settled on elite. At the time, it struck me as noteworthy, but I was more concerned with getting home to take my boys to swimming lessons so I didn’t think much about it.
As I was led out to the car lot to pick up my rental, there was a line of cars much like the car we just purchased, and I thought, I hope it’s the red one. I like that red one. But no. He led me toward a silver Jaguar. I laughed and said, “Are you setting me up with that Jag?” (har har, chortle, chortle) He said, “Yep.” I laughed again, but stopped laughing when he opened the door and handed me the key. “Oh. Serious? The Jaguar? Oooookay.”
On the way home I called Kelly to tell him I’m running late and would he please ready our boys for swimming lessons as I will be picking them up shortly in my Jaguar. He said, “Shut up.” I said, “You shut up. They gave me a dang Jaguar.”

So here I am. A mother of three messy, mostly unrefined boys, driving around in this ridiculous car, hoping The Fish doesn’t puke in the back seat (he’s an easy barfer) and making sure they don’t wipe boogers on the leather upholstery. Among the extraordinary things I did that day were, go to the post office, take Beck to karate, thrift store, Arctic Circle for a lime ricky run, and pick up the dry cleaning. And everywhere we went, people looked at this car. And then they looked at me. Like, they wanted to see who was driving it. I didn’t like being noticed this way.
I felt like a giant douche bag. And just so you know, I really tried not to say douche bag there, but I thought and thought and thought and there is no other phrase that can describe how I felt as accurately as that one.
I couldn’t wait to unload that car.
Tate said it best as we drove out of the Costco parking lot. He said, “Mom, we’re not fancy enough for this car.”
I think he hit it right on the head. Maybe some day, but for now, I couldn’t agree more.

PS. If you own a Jaguar, I’m sure you’re a lovely person. Fancy, but lovely.

Summer vacation is handling me. And, when I say handling me, I mean more like kicking my trash.
Kelly D. is gone all the time shooting summer weddings, and I have forgotten what it’s like to have all three boys home all day long.
I have things to write about but I’m so exhausted at the end of the day that I crash. Too tired to think.
Today is no different and I have jewelry orders to fill, so I’m just going to share this:
At the boy scouts bottle rocket launch tonight, the scout master told me to take off my hat when we said the pledge of allegiance. He singled me out, gestured to me and said, “Hats off.” I am just as patriotic as the next guy, but I didn’t think that rule applied to girls. Am I wrong? Besides that, the hat had been on my head since right after my shower this morning and the hat-hair that was happening under there was beyond description.
I guess I’m not totally for the equal treatment of women.

Usually, my requirement for what I post about here is that it be something I want to remember.
Because I forget some of the best stuff, and then I go back and read my archives and I’m so happy I wrote about these nuggets because I’ve already forgotten them and they are gems.

Today, however, I am writing about how I saw a man pee in the driveway across the street from my house.

This is not something I care to look back on fondly, but I’m afraid it isn’t going to leave my mind anytime soon, so let’s just hash it out then, shall we?

There is a huge construction project happening on our street right now. The whole road is torn up, and it’s just a big mess. Tractors, trucks, etc. It’s all here. And I’m pretty sure it will be for at least a month.
Anyway. My mail isn’t being delivered because there are trucks parked in front of my mailbox and I’m annoyed because I am expecting packages and letters. Good letters, not just bills.

So, I am in my truck in front of my home calling the post office to see if I can pick up my mail since it’s not in my mail box, when I watch a man walk down the street, turn onto the driveway across the street from my house, unzip his pants, pull out his… (yes! I saw it!) and pee.
Who does this?
My mouth drops open, and a sound of amazement and disgust escapes. The boys were in the back seat and are at this point saying, “what mom?” “what did you see?” “WHAT??”
You know what I did? I got out of my truck, I walk right over there and I say, “Hey! Are you peeing? Are you over here peeing in the driveway?”
The guy looks over his shoulder, finishes up what he’s doing, zzzzzippppp, and then turned around and said, “Yeah.”
Except that he won’t look at me. I’m looking from him, to at the pool of urine at his feet and then back at him. Then I say, “And is that your truck parked in front of my mail box?” Again he says, “Yeah.” So I say, “Well, go move it! The mail isn’t coming because you’re parked there, you animal.”

As he walked up to his truck, he muttered, “Sorry I offended you.”
I was totally wound up and mad about it for at least an hour. But, now it’s like 6 hours later, and I’m wondering if I overreacted. Maybe animal was a bit harsh.
Thoughts?

I have talked my dear friend into reading a book.
Ok, it’s Twilight. Don’t hate.
It was kind of a trade, I would watch Casablanca and she would read Twilight.
Both, being cultural phenomenons, you see. Just from our respective generations.
So, we were discussing it the other day, and she had just finished chapter 13, which as we all know, is the very best chapter.
She was full of questions about how things were going to turn out. How can they end up together? How can this end well? What if this? What about that?
I don’t remember having those questions. I was totally happy to just live in that present, soak up the story and not worry about tomorrow.
I realized that this is how I live my life as well.
I never really think about the future or worry about how it will turn out.
And I can’t decide if that’s good or bad.

Sometimes I think I would like to move.
I like the idea of being new somewhere. Anonymous.
But then I remember how much I would miss this person and that person.
And how people know my family and are nice to my kids.

I would miss the sycamore trees that line our street.

And the lilacs I planted. And the herb garden.

Early this morning, I took Nelly outside as I always do. She wasn’t in any hurry to do her business. Instead, she sat on a rock and watched robins finding worms. She spun around to follow the sound of birds chirping here and there. So many birds this morning! She plopped down in the middle of an ornamental grass that has now become her outdoor bed and chewed on a stuffed monkey toy that she has taken a liking to.

I watched her from my patio chair and listened to the birds, my fountain and my wind chimes. I could smell chives and lemon balm. I marveled at how big the yews and weeping mulberrys are.
Sometimes I think I’d like to live here forever.

Today is Sunday. A week ago today I stupidly wrecked on my bike. I am still feeling it.
In two weeks there is this ride I’m planning to do in Logan, where I will be riding 60 miles. I can’t even tell you how excited I am to do this, but my knee situation has me worried.
Can’t I just have someone inject it with something so I can peddle through the pain? I’m looking into that possibility.
I’m just so mad at myself for being such a clutz. Did you know that I once sprained both my ankles at the same time? Kelly D. loves to bring that incident up whenever I injure myself. He says, Who sprains both ankles??
To add to the misery, I have upgraded my bike and I am the proud owner of a sweet, new road bike which I have put exactly 2.15 miles on. It sits in my garage taunting me and my bum knee.
But, enough about that.

At the risk of jinxing it (you should know I have a strong testimony of the reality of the jinx) Beck has been such a delight lately. He says please and thank you. He doesn’t argue at every turn. He goes to the bathroom without a fight. In fact, he usually says, “Mom, I’m going to go to the bathroom because I’m listening to my body.” and often, he’ll punctuate these types of statements with a wink.
I have found myself looking forward to our time alone together. Just me and my tiny boyfriend.
Last week we went to one of my favorite places on earth. Ward and Child The Garden Store. If you haven’t been, you are missing out big time. So many things to spend your hard-earned money on!
There is a garden in back that is simply magic. I took a few iPhone photos while we were there.

Beck and I were there to pick out some red pots to flank the stairs at the studio. We found the perfect pots and they are now full of lovely plants which I love to drive past the studio to gaze at. I also found a sleeping cement dragon which I really think would be the perfect thing in the little boy area in my back yard. I resisted the urge to by it though. It wasn’t cheap.
We held hands while we looked at everything because there are so many breakables in that place. Beck said, “Mom, I really love holding hands with you while we walk in this garden.”
Man, I tell you. I melted right on the spot. And then I bought him an ice cream cone.

Today was just about as perfect as it could have been weather-wise. Great day for firing up the BBQ and eating outside. That has to be my favorite part of spring and summer. Al fresco dining is one of the greatest pleasures to my mind. We always linger around the table for longer than normal when we’re outdoors. No hurry….relax.

Earlier in the day I was delivering a photo cd to a friend who lives just two streets down away from me, and to squeeze as much enjoyment from the day as possible, I hopped on my bike and invited The Fish to come along. I held the cd in my right hand, and halfway down the street, I hit my brake hard with my left. Yep. That’s the front brake and this is a bad idea. The back wheel flipped right over my head and I ate pavement. It was ugly.
Worst part… there were witnesses. Nice neighbors who expressed concern. It was totally embarrassing. They said, “Are you ok?” I said, “Yes, thank you. Now let us never speak of this again.”
I landed right on my knee and man is it swollen. Ice, elevate, ouch. I am staying off it for tonight.
Good news is that I have plenty of time to watch Casablanca.

Yesterday was one of those days when I wake up and don’t sit down until it’s time for bed.
Get boys to school
Finish tagging jewelry
Load truck with boutique display
Set up at boutique
DRIVE
Do photo shoot at studio
DRIVE
Back to boutique to finish display
DRIVE
This brings me to the part where I feed my family. Kelly D. was shooting a reception, so it’s just me and the boys (or da boyz) and since we’re on the opposite end of the valley from home, we decide to hit V.I. (you know, Village Inn) My friend Erin lives in that end of the world, so she brought her three kids and met me and my three kids at the restaurant.
We’re sitting in side by side booths, me and my crew in one, her and her crew in the other. The sounds from the Sansom booth went something like this, Please don’t saw the table with your knife. Beck, don’t drink the syrup. Stop hitting your brother! Why are you ripping up the menu? Use your inside voice, please.
The sounds coming from my friends booth consisted of crayons on paper, breathing, and that ‘ching’ sound that happens when her kids look at each other and the light gleams from their teeth when they flash the angelic smiles.
So, my thought is that Erin needs to teach a parenting class.

Near the end of our meal, I offer The Fish a dollar to consume a spoonful of Tobasco sauce. Why? Well, because it was sitting on the table. I know this kid and he’ll do anything for money, so he agrees and I’m entertained for a minute while his face turns the color of a tomato and his eyes begin to water. My amusement ends when he starts to give the universal sign for I’mGoingToVomit. There goes $3.49.
While The Fish is losing his dinner in the bathroom (actually it was pancakes, but that’s not important) Beck is playing with the Tobasco sauce and spills some on the table. Tate touches this mess and then rubs his eyes.
So now we’ve got Tobasco sauce in the eye emergency. Right then the waiter appears and asks if there’s anything else he can get for us. “Um, yes please. Glass of water and a stack of napkins…. STAT.”

What was happening in my friend’s booth all this time? Kids eating their meals without mess or incident, a bit of laughing at my little circus, pleasant dinner time chit-chat, and I think they might have joined hands and sang Kumbayah, but I can’t be sure, I was a little busy.

But in retrospect, some of this might have been my fault.

…I’ll be at the baseball field.

It’s all we’re doing these days.