A Day in the Life

A small glimpse into my typical day off ...and a small glimpse (sans vacations) into why I'm still driving the same car I've had since high school and don't have a house yet.  So I woke up today and knew that I had to do one thing. I had to get something cute and western-ish chic for the Kenny Chesney concert I'm going to on Friday with a couple girlfriends. I got ready for the day and realized that I was nearly out of my Hope in a Jar moisturizer... fabulous stuff. So I decided that I'd stop by Sephora quick at the mall, then head to a quaint little western-wear shop in hopes of finding a cute snappy shirt and a looked-worn cowboy hat.

On the way to the mall, I realized that the easiest mall entrance to get to Sephora was through the Borders store. And I had to pick up a book for my Healthcare and Immigration class called 'Like Water for Chocolate.'  Perfect. So I park, go into Borders, pick up my requisite paperback and head toward the checkout. Past the children's books. Well, maybe I'll see if they have anything cute for my nephew since last time I was in.  They didn't. But then I had to walk back toward the cash register past the book-club favorites and staff favorites section. Always dangerous, but I did exercise some self control since I have a pile of 13 (seriously, I just counted them all) books that I've picked up and need to read when I have time to read something in addition to required reading for school.  I love books. I love book stores. I could spend hours and thousands of dollars getting lost among the aisles and piles and stacks of imagination and wonder-land of eras gone by, lands far away, etc.  But I made it through. Right into the medical reference section. And I though, "Well, they're now giving us an additional $1.35/hr raise for each certification we get at work... I have my CEN (certified emergency nurse), I'm working on my CPEN (the pediatric version) ...why not pick up a study guide for the CCRN (critical care nurse)?" So I did. Really, it was just being economical right? Since it's going to help me earn more money and be a better nurse that thing will essentially pay for itself!  Ps, I'm not the person to talk you out of buying anything...

I made it to the check-out line with my measly two items ...a rarity for me, and left the store. Down the escalator past the Auntie Anne's pretzel shop --an act of self control in and of itself --and into Sephora. Land of my needed moisturizer.  I made it all the way to the favorite mascara rack before i stopped --two feet into the store. It was also probably time for some new mascara. So I picked up my favorite DJV lengthening mascara (my fav ...after MUCH personal research). But then I saw that DJV had a new mascara out ...why  not try it?! I mean it's a thickening one, so i can always layer it with the other for going out occasions if I don't fall in love with it on it's own.  So I picked that up too.  I walked past the long display of brushes (another weakness of mine) and made it to the philosophy section where I picked up my moisturizer and my moisturizer only.  Proud of myself for only two unplanned purchases, I made my way past the toenail polish section to the checkout and left the store. Self control points for me for not going in to White House Black Marked (my all time favorite store ...like, ever. Ever. Favorite. Love.) and for not going in to pumpkin patch ...my favorite kiddo couture store to get presents for my nephew.  He still hasn't grown into the last batch of summer clothes i bought anyways, and they don't have their fall stuff in. They would have emailed me. So I made it out of the mall with only one unplanned store and four unplanned purchases ...see how I reward myself :)  Trust me, it could have been worse.

 On the way out of the mall, I drove past a Bed Bath and Beyond store and decided that I needed to go in and pick up a crock pot. I've been craving this Italian chicken that one of my college roommates used to make, and it has to cook in a crock pot.  So really, that purchase was necessary too. Done and done. A little bit further down the road away from the mall is a scrub store where I get my work scrubs. I realized that I lost my trauma shears the other day and should pick up a pair before I go back in this weekend. So I stopped. And picked up my needed trauma shears. And three new pairs of scrubs. Which I needed because some of the 16 pair that I already have are getting worn.  Yes, I already have 16 pair. And I only work four days a week. But like I said, some of them are looking slightly worn... besides, they had new stuff!

On to the western-wear store I go. Where I picked up a darling pink and grey 3/4 sleeve western chic shirt that snaps up the front with a cute lacy cami to go underneath it and a darling cowboy hat. Exactly what I was looking for. Perfect!  And I left that store ...the cami the only semi-unplanned purchase, but not really since it's part of the shirt that I was going to buy.

On the way home from my final store of the day I realized that I left my flip flops that i was planning on wearing to the concert at my friends house on the coast. Better stop by target to get some more that will match my new shirt! And while I'm at it... better get some new denim capris to complete the ensemble! And ooh ... bread sticks ...better get some for dinner!  Shopping trip complete!!!

Moral of the story.  My planned shopping trip for three items totaling $130.00 ended up being a 13-item excursion totalling... $495.00. And I don't feel bad about it at all. That my folks is how it's done :)

Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens

How could I have not gotten a single picture of the barbecued hamburgers with all the trimmings?              Goal for next time :)

There's no place like home for the Holidays...

The 4th of July is my very favorite holiday and the one that I'm the most homesick for if I'm not with my family. I got to be home this weekend because my sister was getting married. She had pretty good timing :)  The holiday is all about patriotism, family, parades, and sunshine.  To me this is the life that so many have shed blood sweat and tears for. This is the life that lives have been laid down for. A life of freedom, a life of happiness and sunshine. Our bravest and finest have fought and still fight each day to protect our way of life. I can't not tear up over a grand fireworks display accompanied by the tones of a patriotic melody. I've shared my feelings on my most favorite of holidays here and of course, here. Rather than share more sentimentality, I thought I'd share a bit of what makes Logan my favorite home to be in for the holiday.  First the sunshine. Pools, family, picnics, etc. And oh, those mountains. My beautiful mountains.

 Me, Chelsea, Boston, and Heidi soakin' up the sun

Yours Truly 

I've been a lot of places and seen a lot of fireworks for a few different occasions. But to me the greatest fireworks will always be the ones at Romney Stadium in Logan UT done by Fireworks West. I think part of it is the sentimentality, but in all honesty, they do a GREAT job!!!  Some of my greatest summer memories from my childhood involve laying on the football field with my family watching the fireworks overhead. They were so close that I was sure they were going to fall in my lap.  If we weren't in the stadium we were all huddled on a piece of grass somewhere nearby. Laughing playing, then silenced when the skies lit up. We'd have our car door open and the program was broadcast over local radio.  We'd ooh and aah and occasionally sing along to the instrumental accompaniment of the songs we knew.  As I got older I'd even torture my family with talk of the chemical composition of the fireworks and the different ions that made the different colors. I'm sure they were grateful :) But the fireworks were still an occasion looked forward to, the days counted down. Some things never change.

 Me and my Papa ...clearly the one I get my good looks from :)

My momma, her cousin Bonnie and Duane

The other thing that means Logan on the first weekend of July is the Cruise-In. It's a giant car show filled with amazing restored vintage cars. They're on display at the fairgrounds all weekends and there's bands, sno-cones,  food, and all sorts of fair-type fun. This year the Beach Boys were even in concert! Saturday night they have a parade where all the vintage cars drive up and down main street. Awesome.

 '67 Mustang

 The original Batmobile!  Complete with .50 cal WWII vintage machine guns!

 '54 Corvette

 '54 Porsche 1600s --same as the car on Top Gun :)

'65 GTO

The rest of my weekend was engrossed in wedding-ness. That will be another post later. I also still have more family-fun-parade-and-picnic pictures for later, but this folks, is Logan on the first weekend of July. The only place to be :)

Quick Catch-up

Hi all!! So... I'm working on figuring out how this business of working 40 hours a week and going to school thing is going to work. And I've been busy getting wedding stuff done for my sister who's getting married this weekend :)  But I'm going to be better about keeping on top of my blogging world. Which is why I'm posting updates for the last week before the actual wedding postings begin.  But my goodness it is nice to be back home in UT with the beautiful blue skies and sunshine.  And my family is great too :)  In fact, I spent the whole morning with my sweet nephew and sisters at the pool.  Good times!  And isn't he just a doll?!

So, school. School was good. It's going to take a lot of remembering how to sit for extended periods of time. My first class is a critical thinking in nursing class, and I'm also taking a health topics class on healthcare and immigration. Both should be interesting, and I can already tell that I'm going to love my critical thinking teacher. The other ...is going to take some work, but the class should be interesting.  I've already written my first two assignments, and I've found that slipping back into professional writing was quite seamless --thank goodness, because there will be much more to come.  We got to do papers on our personality tests that we took, and that was a fun bit of introspective learning. I was a tie between the 'teacher' and 'counselor.' Both are less than 2% of the population, so I'm a rare gem indeed ;)  I agreed with most of the assessments, about how people are my main focus and how I like to get the best from people and I tend to idealize life and relationships ...if they had any idea! But it's been fun so far, and I can't wait to keep going and learning.  That's what I miss more so than anything. I love the learning. I love the University atmosphere. I love the opportunity and the spirit of limitless skies that surrounds it.  I'm missing my second day of class (we only go one day a week) in light of the upcoming wedding festivities, but I'll have a collection of homework to do in the meantime. Until then, I'm excited for nest week!!

Back to School, Back to School...

Today as I was lounging on my couch I came to the sudden realization that I am going to school tomorrow. Clarification, I realized that I was starting classes tomorrow. I had yet to realize until that moment however, that I was going back to school. As in clothes shopping-supply stocking-backpack packing-lay out your outfit for the next day before you go to sleep- back to school. Remember how you'd have all your new school clothes that you weren't allowed to wear until school started, so you'd organize them in your closet according to the order you were going to wear them in? You had everything planned for weeks in advance.

My how times have changed. I realized in my couch-lounging epiphany that I don't even own a backpack. Or a single sheet of paper, let alone a notebook. I have several pens, but they're for work.  So today, just more then 12 hours before my first class starts I made a trip to Target. I had to get a notebook and a pack of pens, and just for good measure I got a new jump drive. For a backpack I think I'll just use my laptop case since each desk/station is laptop equipped with all the plug-ins. Like I said, my how times have changed. Gone are the days of pencil boxes and lunch boxes with a matching thermos. On second thought, maybe I'll pick up a pencil box and lunch box after all. And some new crayons.

Today's Rant

Ok, here's the thing. What the eff is going on in the world?!  Ryan Dunn drinks and drives with buddies and tragedy ensues? Shocking. Not really. This happens every day. Tragic? Absolutely. Surprising? No. You make mistakes, you do stupid things and bad things happen. Let's just say that it's a good thing that innocent people weren't killed as well. Because that is true tragedy. And I see it every day. There is nothing worse than explaining to parents, children, loved ones of innocent people who have been killed and/or maimed because of others' decisions to drink and drive.  It is sad to loose a single life to bad decisions, no matter who's life it is.  I'm by no means perfect. I make bad decisions, I do things I know I shouldn't. So let's let this servo as a reminder to society to be a little smarter, and make RESPONSIBLE decisions. It's a novel concept in our society, I know. Actually having to pay the consequences of your actions? It's crazy I know. But the fact is that we are free to make whatever decisions we may. We are not free however to choose the consequences that go with those decisions. It's a package deal.

Also, Amy Winehouse? You mean rehab for a week didn't work?  Weird. Terribly sad. I'm very fortunate that I have people around me that support positive decisions and expect excellent things from me. That expect me to be a positive responsible member of society. I wish those involved in these stories --and in the ones like them across the country that don't get splayed all over the news-- health, healing, and better decision making and coping skills in the future. And that is my soap box for the day.

To My Dad

I will never forget the times we've spent. The early mornings filled with Smurfs and PeeWee Herman.  The evenings filled with "Your-ami" Vice and "Dukes"  I'll never forget the hours spent over a coloring book ...and how you never minded when I made you switch pictures halfway through. I'll always remember the countless towers made of blocks and races of the cars around the track.  The way you'd watch  movies with me, or watch movies while I rocked away in my rocking chair singing the  words to some Alabama song or "All My Ex's" at the top of my lungs. I'll always remember our Saturday morning drives to go get a pepsi and how you'd listen to and encourage my every rambling word. I'll never forget the lessons you taught me. Lessons learned by example. You taught me the value of hard work and of taking care of the things you are blessed with. Because of you I knew and still know that I can be whatever I want to be.  I'm so very blessed to have a dad who encourages and supports me at every turn.  Remember when we'd drive down the road --perhaps to get a pepsi or two --and I'd proudly read the words to EVERY word on EVERY sign we passed?  Haha! And you never complained, or bid me silent, just marveled at how brilliant your daughter was.  From you and The Happy Man and His Dump Truck I learned to love reading and learning.  I'm sure you still have nightmares of the little fat man coming to take you away in his truck with his animals, I made you read it so very often.  But I remember. Because of you and Mom I know what it is to be loved and to be cherished. I'm grateful that you loved me enough to expect excellence from me. You've always seen in me things that are sometimes hard to see in myself, and it means the world to me that you are there for me still. Even today, far away and grown, I often long to be at home with my dad.  I miss you every day. And my favorite moments in life are when I can come home to visit and we sit and laugh and chat. Or "watch" a movie ...depending on which one of us can stay awake :) I love calling you to share the latest joke or just to see how your day is going when we haven't talked for a while. I love you and wish you the happiest of days on today, your father's day!!