Simple Courtesy

Yesterday I left the office for lunch, and being that it was such a beautiful day, I decided instead of going back to the office to eat, I would stay outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. Because I would just be sitting on the plaza directly outside the restaurant, I figured I could just carry my sandwich, cookie and a beverage without getting a bag to carry it. Well, the exit door was an unusually heavy metal and glass door, one that I had to basically force my entire body against to push open since my hands were occupied with my food and beverage. Just as I was about to make the push, a man walked through the first door. I figured he would see my awkwardness of having both hands full while trying to push the door and grab the door for me. Instead, he quickly bolted to the other entry and walked right by. I was so shocked I had to make a fast maneuver to avoid dropping my cookie.

I consider myself a modern women; educated, successful, self-sufficient - I can open my own door when necessary, but when it comes to chivalry, while it may seem like an old fashion concept - saving the damsel in distress - still has modern day application. It's called simple courtesy. I'm not saying you have to lay your velvet jacket over a puddle. A piggy-back will do. It's that simple. Take note my friends (particularly you male ones).

1. If a person is walking through a door and her hands are full with, let's say, her lunch, get the door for her. And if her hands are not full - get the door!

2. If a lady, especially one who is pregnant or elderly, walks onto a crowded, standing-room-only bus or train and you have a seat, get up and offer her your seat. Don't pretend like you didn't see her. You're not fooling anyone. You just look like a fool.

3. Put the toilet seat down. There is nothing worse then getting up in the middle of the night and while half asleep taking a deep plunge onto cold procelain and who-knows-what else.

4. Hey, when it's cold outside, offer her your jacket. Men are inherently warmer than women anyway, so give it up.

5. Remember when the boy liked the girl he offered to carry her books? Why? Because they're heavy. Well, this still applies and not just to books, but groceries, luggage, rocks, whatever. You take the heavy load. Flex those trophy muscles.

It's time to adapt. Get these few basic, simple courtesies ingrained into your DNA. It will only make your manhood stronger and your ladies love you that much more.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

Well my cabin friends, we have survived the winter. To the left is what it looked like a month ago, in what has been classified as the "winter that never ended." To the right - now we welcome spring!

The snow is finally melting and things are warming up, but not without a few winter casualties. The heavy snow slid off the roof of the garage and broke a window and the snow off the top of the house was too much for the railing on the deck. Luckily the builder is going to fix the rail and has ordered a new window.

We took the usual suspects for a long weekend in the woods. We hosted Grandma Renee and Grandpa Randy, Dan, his boys, John and Josh, and Ben, Amy and Koree.

We got a few mean games of ping pong going. To the left is Dan kicking Ben's butt....

And here's G kicking Dan's butt.

Koree being a silly spectator.

To get out and about, Grandma and Grandpa took the kiddies to Yellowstone, where they saw lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Ok, so they really saw buffalo and water foul, and bears, not in the wild. They also saw that "squirty thing...Old Yeller." (I think he meant Old Faithful).

We also ventured out to Big Springs, a natural spring that forms the Big Spring river, where the water temperature is a constant 57 degrees and trout of many varieties like to spawn. Here is also where you'll find the famous Johnny Sack cabin - the cabin and all the furnishings were built by a 4'11 German man in the 1930s. The river was crystal clear and the fish were huge.
Everyone is doing whatever possible to get a view of the giant trout hanging out under the bridge. If only they'd let us fish!

Big Springs River

And what would a weekend at the cabin be without this goofball?

A Doting Auntie

I was just reminiscing for a moment about what a fun time I had with my neice, Noelle, when she came to town last weekend. She is growing up so fast and is quite the little charmer.

On Friday night we had a sleep over at my house. We woke up early Saturday morning to run in the Race for the Cure. I borrowed a friends jogging stroller to run the race. When Noelle first saw it, she wanted to jump in and immediately go for a ride. I think she was remembering my visits to Boston when I'd take her running in her jogging stroller. I had to practically bribe her to get out.

On Saturday she came over for a family BBQ. We sang songs together, played with the trains, she talked on her pretend phone (can't wait 'til she's a teenager), and did somersaults off my bed with her cousins while singing "No more monkeys jumping on the bed" (Rachel thought it was cute. I was worried they were going to break their necks).

Sunday we spent the morning on Temple Square. Grandma Kathy gave her a pretty new dress, her "poofy dress" (or as Noelle calls it, her poopy dress. She doesn't do so well with her 'f''s yet). The spring flowers were in full bloom, so we took some fun pictures in the gardens. She was quite a pill though, as this expression says it all.

Monday we had dinner with Grandpa Ted and the family. We made a trip to the bead store to make some jewelery, and Noelle had to be part of the action. We gave her some wire and beads and she went right to work. We were all so amazed that she was able to string those beads! She put on another performance from her repertoire of songs for endless entertainment.

Thanks for coming to visit! Auntie really adores you, Jelly Bean.

Race For The Cure

Saturday I took the opportunity to "run" in the Race For The Cure. I participated in this race last year and could remember there being literally 16,000 participants, most of which were walking for an individual they know who is a breast cancer survivor or fell victim to the cancer. This year I took my niece with me in the jogging stroller and stood in another giant crowd of 16,000 people waiting to get the race started. Because I had the stroller, I was instructed to move towards the back of the line so the "runners" (which I was) could get a start ahead of the walkers and strollers. Because I am so compliant (this is what I do for a living after all), I headed for the middle-to-back of the crowd. As I was standing waiting to start, a friendly woman greeted me by saying, "You look like a runner." I was flattered. I do run often and for long distances. I was glad to see it showed. In our brief conversation I learned that this vibrant 70 year old woman was also a runner in her younger days. In fact, she had run 26 marathons in her life and was the first woman to win the St. George marathon in two consecutive years. Two years ago she was struck with breast cancer. She was in hospice care and her outlook was grim. She testified it was by the grace of God and credited the fact that she was so physically active that her life was spared. She was walking the race with her family - grown children and several young grandchildren. Her story was inspiring and had me pumped to go for a good run.

When the race started I really wanted to take off. It was about five minutes into the start that I crossed the actual starting line. It was then that I realized that 15,990 of these participants were walkers and I wasn't going anywhere fast, particularly with a stroller. So I did what no compliance officer would ever do - I broke the rules. I crossed the pink tape and ran outside the race boundaries. I was making a good run for it too when Mr. Police Man forced me back inside the pink tape where I found myself walking and trying to maneuver through the crowd. It was all I could do to not be frustrated. I kept telling myself the purpose of this race was not to win or set any personal race records, but to support those like Ms. Rust who fought a hard battle. Well, forget that, I wanted to run. So about 3/4 miles into the race I ditched the crowd and took a short cut up to the next block where I could see actual runners. I ran hard for the last 2 miles and I felt good about it. You might think I cheated - don't worry, I didn't. This race doesn't keep score.

Here is a picture at the finish line of me with Noelle, Kati and her friend Megan. Don't be frightened by my natural beauty.

My Moms

I love that there is one day a year where all of the focus is on Mom. All too often we forget what she's done for us - just think, as if giving birth wasn't enough, she wiped our bums, taught us to tie our shoes, gave us encouragement when our confidence was waivering, hugged us when we were sad, laughed when we were silly and ultimately showed us how to be good people. I am lucky enough to have three Moms in my life who are all amazing examples of motherhood. Here is a shout out to my Moms because each of you represent unconditional love, sacrifice and strength to raise any kid - angel or brat.

This is my Mom (a.k.a. Mumsie). She has always been my biggest fan. She never missed a game, a piano recital, a junior high orchestra concert (and we all can imagine how painful that can be!). She's seen some tough times, but has somehow managed to keep her chin up. I think this is because she is the ulitmate optimist. She has an instinct only a mother could have. If one of us kids is going through our own personal challenges, without fail the phone will ring and it will be mom saying, "I was just thinking about you. Everything o.k.?" Her love is deep and her example bright. I feel blessed to have her for my mom. I love you mumsie.

If you ever need a poster of a superior step-mom, here's your model. She came into our lives while we were still very young and has been a tremendous influence in so many ways. She's full of energy and confidence - it's impossible not to want to take some of that and apply to my own life. She's always looking out for the welfare of others, especially us kids. She'd give the shirt off her back if the need were presented. I appreciate the example she has been to me in so many ways.

I couldn't ask for a better mother-in-law. G grew up as the only boy with three sisters so for some reason it is a little intimidating to be the only "daughter-in-law." What I know is important is that Julie has always made me feel welcome. She goes out of her way to ensure everyone's needs are satisfied. She cooks up the best meals when we visit and always gives me sweet words of encouragement whenever my lack of domestic skills surface. As she puts it, "Dear, it's because I've had 40 years of practice." In reality I know she's a natural, but I always want to believe that in 40 years I can say the same thing to my kids. I know she loves her family deeply, inspite of ourselves. Thank you Julie for the example and mentor you are to me.

Mr. Bean

Can you find the man in the beans? Look closely, he's really there.

Doctors have concluded (with no evidence or proof) that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, the right half of your brain is better developed than most people. If you find the man between 3 seconds and 1 minute, the right half of your brain is developed normally. If you find the man between 1 minute and 3 minutes, then the right half of your brain is functioning slowly and you need to eat more protein. If you have not found the man after 3 minutes, then you probably ride the short bus to school.

I found him instantly. How did you do?

For the Beauty of the Earth

Friday evening I hired a landscape designer from a local nursery to come to my house and redesign my front and back yards. I am not planning on completely digging up my yard, I just needed someone with an eye for design to take me from this:

to this:

The designer provided some really beautiful ideas. Now I just need a landscape contractor to come and execute. Do you know anyone?

Black Hills Gold - UPDATE

G left this morning for his annual pilgrimage to South Dakota for the turkey hunt. Last year he chose to go in early April, at the opening of the season. Once he got there he found himself sitting around all day in near-freezing temperatures and camping in below-freezing temperatures. To make matters worse, he never bagged a bird. So this year he decided he was going to wait until the end of the hunting season, when the weather was a littler warmer and perhaps the birds more in the mood to frolick.

So about mid-morning I received a call at work - it was G. The conversation went something like this:

Me: How's the drive?
G: I'm driving through Wyoming in a blizzard.
Me: Oh no.
G: And I've been sitting on I-80 for 40 minutes in an endless line of semis who are getting stuck in the snow trying to get up the hill. Gosh, I chose the last weekend of the hunt because I thought it would be warm and sunny.
Me: Why don't you turn around, come home, I'll take the day off and we can make hot chocolate and sit by the fire?
G: I really need to pee.

I spoke with G earlier this evening. He was going to camp, but when he arrived at his location and the temperatures were, again, near freezing and the wind was blowing 60 miles/hr, he found himself a hotel room. Good luck with the hunt, baby!
P.S. Alta and Snowbird got two feet of new snow today. Welcome to spring time in the Rockies!

UPDATE:
Friday G calls me and says,
G: I woke up this morning to a foot of snow, and it's still snowing.
Me: Do turkey's come out in the snow?
G: No.
Me: So, what are you doing?
G: Driving around. The entire town is pretty much shut down. I think I'll come home. I should have just turned around when I was stuck on that hill in Wyoming.

Told ya so :D