A Few Days in My Paradise

Okay - so MOMD and I are back from Colorado where he was taking a carving class from the world famous(?) Phil and Vickie Bishop from Oklahoma. He was in hog heaven ... and SO WAS I!!! Just look at the perfect set-up that was waiting for me when I arrived at the Hampton Inn -- a perfect desk to scrap at and a comfy chair to sit in and read (note books on bedside table).




I had the best time ever! Everyday MOMD would come home from carving and say to me, "I feel so sorry for you -- you must be so bored." I would say, "I would sacrifice anything to make you happy" ... oh wait, that's not what I would say. I would say, "ARE YOU NUTS? I'm having the best time of my life. Can you go back and carve for a little longer?" (I wouldn't really say that last part.) Let me just say this - it was awesome! The first day (Friday) I did not turn on the radio, did not turn on the TV, or listen to my iPod. I was basking in complete silence. At that moment, my life was perfect. The second day I watched TV (Evan Almighty) while I ate my lunch (Sun Chips) and then the TV went off again. I completed my entire All About Me album (with the exception of a couple of pictures that I need to add). I was so relaxed. The last day (Sunday) we had to check out of our room before the class had ended so I packed up my Cathy Zielske Clean & Simple book (that I've NEVER read because it was loaned out) and read that while I waited for MOMD to finish his masterpiece. AGAIN - I was as happy as a pig in mud.

Speaking of Cathy Zielske - I think she is my new Oprah! I am not kidding. I thought Oprah was the neatest thing since toilet paper on the roll but now I am leaning toward Cathy. I haven't been so inspired to scrap my own way (without embellishments, torn paper, chalk, colored pens, etc.) EVER. She is a goddess! I haven't read her blog yet, but you can bet I will be adding it to my blog favorites soon. I want to be just like her. In fact, I just had one of my boys take my picture looking up at the camera with a big smile on my face (just like Cathy). The result was not quite the same. (Maybe if I cut my hair really short ...)

The Last Days (Scrapbooking-Wise)

Tomorrow MOMD and I are going to Ft Collins, Colorado for a wood carving class (for him). I am happily taking my scrapbooking stuff for a few days of uninterrupted fun. I can hardly wait. The only thing I'm worried about is no one passing gas around me (as is usually the case when I go away to scrap). I will be taking my "CKU in a Box" (still in the original box), my "All About Me" Album (also in the original box), and a bunch of Disney pictures (Disney World AND Disneyland - two separate trips!). I think I should have plenty to scrap. That's why I'm thinking it may be the last days ... if I get this stuff done then I know the end is near. You better start preparing now! If the sun doesn't come up on Monday morning, you'll know I finished!

Hurray for Me!

Okay folks - right after President Hinckley passed away I got an email suggesting that everyone wanting to honor President Hinckley and his life should read the Book of Mormon in 97 days (because he was 97 years old). The organizers were calling it Warriors for Hinckley or something like that.  You may have noticed my graph on my blog tracking my progress.  Well ... the 97th day will be on May 10th and I finished reading on May 7th!  (I'm very proud of myself.) Is there a prize involved and what is it?  Does it mean I am the queen warrior?  Does it mean that I get to persecute the "lesser" (32,000+) warriors?  Does it mean that I get more blessings?  I think it does.  (I don't want to hear any crap about being prideful either!)  Yippee for me!

This is What 50 Looks Like

So MOMD turned 50 last Monday. Who would believe it? Who would believe we would live this long? Who would believe we would someday be this OLD? This is OLD like Grandma and Grandpa OLD ... like half a century OLD ... like dirt OLD. (Note: I have NOT turned 50 yet so I am not included in all this OLD talk.)

This is what 50 looks like if you live at our house ...

MOMD with his mom.

"Now hold still - I just want to 'whisper' something in your ear."

My long-suffering sister-in-law, Juanita. She's a good sport, isn't she?

This is either the Three Stooges, the Three Caballeros, or America's Most Wanted. Whoops - my mistake! This is MOMD with his two brothers, Mike and Tracy.

"What? This is a napkin? I thought it was a bra, or at least a hat!"

A RED LETTER DAY(?)

It's been a few days (okay weeks) since I posted last (with the exception of the 20 Things I Love list last night), so here's what's been keeping me busy ...

On Thursday, April 24, I was at work (minding my own business I might add) when I get a call from FOS. He had just been to the ophthalmologist to get his eyes checked. As the exam was ending, FOS mentioned to the doctor that he had a black "spot" in one of his eyes. The doctor looked and found a retinal tear. He immediately called another ophthalmologist and had FOS drive to that location. The second doctor found an additional retinal tear! FOS had his eye lasered in two spots to "weld" the tears. The doc said one of the areas was right on a nerve and FOS said it was the most pain he had been in (including brain surgery - I'm not kidding). HELLO! I'm a mom! and I'm at work! I can't take that information over the phone. I was supposed to be there, holding his hand and saying loving words to get him through the trauma! How could he handle it without me?

Okay, it's still April 24th and I was still at work. FYS then called me to tell me that the hand specialist he had just visited said he needed surgery on his broken hand! WHAT? How much can I take in one day? Let me just say that FYS got the broken hand the weekend before in a little "altercation" (of course he was defending someone's honor!). Holy crap! I was on overload. The surgery would require FYS to have an external fixator (pin sticking out of his hand). Hooray! The news just keeps getting better and better! Crap, crap, crap.

Moving ahead to April 28th (the day of the surgery and also MOMD's birthday) -- the surgery went well and FYS did well. He is his own comedy routine everyday but especially when coming out of the anesthesia. He asked the nurse out to lunch (which he also did when he had his wisdom teeth removed AND his nose surgery), told her that she was the cutest thing he had ever seen (she had a 23 year old daughter and 17 year old son), and kept asking me if I wanted to take his picture. I did take his picture just to satisfy him. Salt Lake Regional did an awesome job of taking care of both of us (although they did not give me drugs). I did an awesome job of being a mom and supporting FYS.