Father Hearts

So, today on the 4-5 hour drive back from the beach with my family, aside from listening to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (only 2 1/2 chapters left!), I was doing quite a bit of reflecting. If you know me well, you know I am prone to do this on long trips.

First, I was thinking about my calling, and how I wish I could be more involved from a distance. It's frustrating to not know what's going on when I feel like it's so important.

Second, it being Father's Day, I was thinking about the dads in my life - my own, my grandfathers, my uncles, my cousins, and even other people's dads that I admire. I'm quite grateful for these men in my life - they all have their own quiet strength, and are wonderful examples in my life.

Third, I thought about some of the really great friends I've had in my life. I'm hitting that third growing-pains-wave in my life when it seems like all my friends are moving on - getting married, having babies, going on missions, getting master's degrees or starting them. In the past these phases have generally ripped me to shreds for a while, and I won't lie, this time isn't exactly cake, but, I feel like, in this case third time's the charm and I'm more equipped to handle the change, and ready for some of my own. I have a job that, in spite of the gut-wrenching parts, I love, an apartment I enjoy and friends I adore. I finally moved away from where I was comfortable, and quickly found it is home - something I never thought I'd do, and yet, a sign that I'm moving on and growing up.

As I was thinking about all of this, I thought about all of the friends that have gotten me to this point, and especially, it being Father's Day, the male friends I've had who each have had what I like to call "Father hearts", and have helped me get to this point. They are the ones who tell it like it is, but love me for who I am, and thus teach me to be happy in my own skin. The ones who protect and defend me. The ones who drop by, call, text, e-mail, or even facebook me, just to say "hi" and that they're thinking about me. The ones who know who they are and who I am and act accordingly. The ones who, when I seem to forget, remind me of my value - sometimes verbally, but more often by quiet acts of kindness. The ones who provide the protective arms of comfort when the rains start pouring down, and provide the laughter to drive the clouds away. The ones who are gentlemen in word and deed, not because they are trying to impress me or other women, but because they respect us, teaching me to expect chivalry from men in general.

These are men with father hearts. I have been blessed to have many such men in my life, for which I am eternally grateful.

Um, WOW!

Check out this awesome video - so awesome in fact, that it was the Number 1 YouTube Music Video!



Seriously, I love both of these songs on their own, and I can't wait for them to settle the rights so the MP3 can be released, and as always you can bet I'll be one of the first for the PDF sheet music download too! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!

Jon Schmidt has such a gift for creating magnificent medleys and melodies that are just awesome. I can listen to any of his music, and even his Christmas album at anytime of the year and I'm immediately happier, no matter how I may have been feeling before hand. Ask any of my friends, I can't sit still at his concerts - I'm too excited about the music! And it doesn't hurt that Jon's such an awesome entertainer in general. I rarely miss a Christmas concert, and I think it's about time for me to enjoy a summer concert.

There's three Utah options, thus far:

Fri., July 10, 7 p.m. in Sandy, $7 or $10 for tickets.

Sat., Aug 8, in Eden, details forthcoming.

OR

Sat., September 5, in Lehi, more details forthcoming ~ But we DO know that he will be debuting his "Bonus Tracks" album here, with "Love Story Meets Viva La Vida". So yeah, this one gets my vote, or, you know, all (or most) of the above!

Check out more of Jon's spectacular music at www.jonschmidt.com

I highly recommend it as great for your health! :)

How to survive a rip current

So, my sister and two of our friends survived a rip current today at OBX.

We started out enjoying some REALLY cold surf (seriously like 65 - 70 degrees). It was all fun and games, and we could all touch the sand just past the surf line. I was actually enjoying myself since we were past the breaker line where I wasn't being doused and tumbled every five seconds.

All of a sudden, I realized that I couldn't touch the sand anymore - and being the resident wimp, it was my job to decide when we came in, so, I chose that time, as I didn't like being in over my head. About that time, a surfer next to us shouted to us, "That's a rip current!" Needless to say, I freaked out, and started swimming as hard as I could toward shore - which is exactly what you are NOT supposed to do. My friend was telling me to swim toward her, as she and her husband were swimming to our left. I chose to follow my sister, in a diagonal fashion toward the right, and toward shore. Still, NOT what you should do. We were in the current itself for about 3 to 5 minutes, but made it out, shaken, but, fine.

For those of you who are wondering, this is how you identify a rip current:
• A channel of churning, choppy water;
• A line of sea foam, seaweed, or debris moving steadily seaward;
• Different colored water beyond the surf zone (check)
• A break in the incoming wave pattern as waves roll into shore (check)
* A sudden change in water depth (check)

And to escape a rip current, you swim parallel to the shore, as shown below:

On another totally unrelated, but WAY less scary note, we saw dolphins today! In fact, they were hanging out just off shore most of the day! We also saw pelicans and crabs. It was awesomely cool!

Videos coming soon.

Welcome to North Carolina!

Well, we made it to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina yesterday, where we will be staying for the week.
This was our first glimpse of a large body of water. It's the Chesapeake Bay, and we were still in VA at the time. I spent part of just about every summer growing up down at the Bay with my grandparents and uncle, checking out historical sites and gathering sea shells.

This was the "Welcome to North Carolina" sign. I always contemplate getting pictures of such nifty signs, but rarely manage to. That problem was avoided, however, when we stopped at the Border Station, right, as the name indicates on the border of the two states. This Border Station is rather cool, seeing as it is half in VA, half in NC. I couldn't find the "i' m standing in two different states" photo-op, but, yeah, still cool. I wonder how they work out the taxes on that place!

So, I must say our beach house is quite cute. I'll take pictures later, but, we can see the beach from the house, even though were a block and a half away. It's beautiful. I love being able to hear the water all the time!
Today, Chelsea managed to step on a HUGE horseshoe crab! Seriously, the thing was ginormous! Two feet from tip to tail! Apparently the claw-like things on the side are rather sharp!

I on the other-hand, finally made it into the ocean. I have to admit, that while I love the sound and smell, and even sight of the ocean, I REALLY dislike getting into it. My overactive imagination prevents my being comfortable with being unable to see what I'm stepping on, or even swimming next to. I also really hate getting my mouth, nose, and ears full of salt water - EWW! But yes, I went in today, and I'm sure I'll make it back in several more times this week. I did not get eaten by a shark, and also did not swallow, inhale, or otherwise intake too much of the ocean - yes friends, it's still there. Feel free to visit at your earliest convenience!

American Airlines, I roll my eyes in your general direction!

Ok, before I start into the chronicle of my day, let me just say that after my sister's experience in April with AA, I'm predisposed to dislike the company in general.

However, that dislike promptly turned into full-on loathing promptly at 11:36 this morning when their customer service representative informed me that since I was late for my flight (which left at 12:05, mind you), and I could not check my bag after 11:30 (6 minutes?! SERIOUSLY?!?!), that he would have to rebook me on a later flight.

Now before all you veteran fliers get your panties in a bunch, let me state, that I am NOT exactly a first-time flier. In fact, I've done this procedure at least 4 times a year for the last 6 years. I know you're supposed to arrive 2 hours early, but I never get there more than hour before hand if I can help it. Seriously, airports are more boring than the desert between Beaver and St. George, and many of you know my experience there! So, yeah, I was running late. I should have been there a little sooner, but, if you've never ever been running late in your whole life, I would love for you to please stand up, take a bow, and pat yourself on the back.

With that ridiculousness behind us, let me continue. Let me please state the well-known fact that your luggage does not travel on the same plane as you, therefore, if checking my bag was a real problem, they could've sent it on another flight, and let me continue on my way to my 12:05 flight, which, for the record, I would've made, with time to spare. It was clear to me, and a good friend of mine, that they had probably overbooked my original flight, and this provided them a perfect opportunity to solve some of that problem without me causing a scene (which I can tell you, with them, I probably would have) in the terminal. Yeah. So, they rebooked me and promptly informed me that when I returned I would have to pay the $15 for my checked bag on my return flight because they had had to rebook me, but that otherwise, that flight would not be effected.

Now, I realize with the cost of gas and loads of other travel crappiness going on, that costs have gone up... But what a rip off! Put my luggage on the dang plane, free of charge, and smile, I'm paying part of your paycheck! I appologize if my years of work in the customer service industry and my therefore high expectations bother you, but, that's a pretty big pet peeve of mine.

Please don't mistake my bluntness as me being disgruntled... Not at all! I have been giggling and laughing at myself for most of the remainder of the day after I vented to my friend!

After I made it through security, I was checking my pockets for my ID so they'd let me on the plane, and found my friend's school ID!!! Yes, folks, this is how we enter our school building, and I had to use his to drop in to school last night before I left, since it was cold and rainy and I was too lazy to drive the 5 minutes to my house to get mine... OOPS!!! Then came the adventure of finding an envelope and stamp and post office drop box to mail it back! Hee hee!

After that, I went to grab some lunch... Yeah, the Burger King at SLC does not have their classic chicken sandwich, or chicken nuggets! REALLY?! Yeah, since those are my two favorite things on the menu, I was a bit disappointed, and left the premises to go next door to a better, quite a bit yummier establishment. But seriously, the disappointment level was about as high as when I pulled into the Pizza Hut in Heber for my yearly craving a week ago only to find that they had done away with their lunch buffet! WHO DOES SUCH THINGS?!

Well, now, I'm sitting in Chicago, after finishing one novel, and having a nice, attitude-adjusting nap on the plane. I found my friend a cool thimble while wandering around the airport, and I also discovered something quite cool! Drumroll please....

There is a Children's Museum in the Chicago-O'Hare Airport!!! Ok, so, I only have minutes left until I board, but, when I come back in 3 weeks, I will have a 2 hour layover... PLENTY of time to explore such a cool airport feature! I'll take pictures, too, if they let me !

Ok, the other funny thing that happened today, was when my friend dropped me off at the airport, her four-year-old, ever the adorable ladies' man, apparently shouted! "See ya later hot stuff!" Hee hee! Well, at least someone thinks I'm good lookin'! ;-) Gotta board now!

Tyler got his mission call!!!

Ok, so, I hope I'm not stealing his thunder, but, Tyler got his mission call this morning!

I am so excited for him! I'm sure this will be a wonderful experience for him!

He will be reporting to the MTC on September 9, 2009 to prepare to serve for two years in the Utah Ogden Mission.

Here is his mission website: http://www.mission.net/utah/ogden/

The Joys of a Community Carnival

So, Friday was the last day of school - Hallelujah! I celebrated my first day of summer vacation (NOT the first day of summer, as corrected several times by Tyler), by sleeping in a bit, tidying my house (FINALLY!), going to a community carnival with the Ailshie's, and going shopping with Stacey twice in one day - DI, WalMart, thrift stores and yard sales rock my world! :D

However, I have to say that as great as the whole day was, and just getting to be my own boss all day was spectacular, the best part was the dunking booth at the community carnival. All proceeds were benefiting a young boy in our community with some health challenges. Obviously, it was generally geared toward fun for the kids, but, I am a big fan of dunking booths, and I can be pretty accurate when motivated.

You see, the principals of the school district each took about a half hour shift in the dunking booth, and I happened to be present when my principal was up. I'll just cut to the chase and say that I got to dunk him twice. And yes, there was some vindictive pleasure there, after the hell of a year I've had. Now, it was all in good fun, with no malice, and he was good sport, so, all is well - at least I think it is, and if it's not, he's got 3 months to get over it before we go back to work. :)

Memorial Day at the Sand Dunes

I think I already mentioned that I went to the Sand Dunes with the Ailshie's and Stacey's extended family for Memorial Day weekend - on facebook, here, somewhere, it was definitely mentioned.

Anyway, it was A BLAST! Here's the run down.

Stacey, Ben, Ty, and Spencer went down Friday morning, and the rest of us (Brian, Carter, Lauren and I) had to wait until school let out, but we made a quick escape (after the standard detour to Walkers for a candy and a soda), hitting the canyon at about 4:30 - not bad, considering that contract time requires us to be at school until 4! On the way we jammed to iPod and Disney tunes and played a few of my personal favorite road trip games - cow poker and the semi game. We had to make a pit stop in Eureka for a potty break, and happened to stop right next to a virtual geocache at the Orrin Porter Rockwell cabin. It was too late to go inside, but we still got to peek in the windows. My two favorite parts, however, were the outhouse (I just have a thing for outhouses. I think they're cool), and the "graveyard"... Laure and I got to make Brian and Carter bury their cow poker points as we drove past it too! Yeehaw! :)

We camped just outside of the Little Sahara Sand Dunes park thing. It was nice to be outside of the park. I finally caught up on some journal writing I've been meaning to do, and just enjoyed a nice relaxing weekend, where I didn't think about school one bit! It was joyous! We played games and baseball, read, the kids went lizard-hunting, and several of the adults there picked out an eternal companion for me (Stacey's cousin who's on a mission). I went on my first two four-wheeler rides (and didn't scream at all, only nervously giggled A LOT), and was the first to spot two of the geocaches we found! All-in-all, it was GREAT fun!

Here's the Orrin Porter Rockwell House:


And the view from Cherry Creek View geocache Stacey and I found:


Me after my second four-wheeler ride (the fast one, when I was supposed to scream, but didn't):