Melting away.....

The hours have melted together so fast, it is hard for me to believe that it is the end of February already. I finally have a day off and all to myself (that is until the kids get home from school). But there is no expectation of me this day, and yet I am finding that my mind is racing, finding new things to get myself committed to to make my free time fly by faster. So to appease a longing to post something, I will give a synopsis of the past month (more for my journal needs than wanting to bore any of you reading this).

February started out with a trip to San Francisco for the weekend of the 9th. Jim had meetings to attend for 3 days and I had a few obligations myself - shopping! Jim's boss' wife, Dana and a couple of wives of some of the other businessmen we were there with took me on an eye opening shopping extravaganza that led me into unknown territory. I consider myself somewhat of a frugal shopper in a way - Target, Kohl's, Old Navy - that sort of thing. Not with these 3! I was introduced to Tiffany's, Neiman Marcus, Eve St. Laurent, Zara, and some jeweler that made me try on a $23,000 suspended diamond ring. I had a hard time letting that one off my finger - yikes! Anyway, I did manage to introduce a few new articles of clothing to my wardrobe without breaking the bank. It was really fun and we ate really good food, even though we spent a lot of time waiting. Waiting and waiting. Saturday night we ate a restaurant called Scoma's, down in fisherman's wharf by Pier 39. We got there at 6:50. At 10: 15 we received our food. Patience is not one of my stronger virtues and this one tested that quite extensively. I survived though. Sunday we at the Cliffhouse about 30 minutes west of our hotel to the rocky cliffs of the coast line. My only regret is that we didn't arrive sooner, we would have had the most glorious sunset backdrop to our fabulous feast. The food was incredible, as was the service. However, my patience was tested once again with a 2 hour wait for a taxi back to the hotel. This would have been fine if it didn't include waiting with 2 other parties also waiting for taxis - drunk parties at that. Not a fun wait. Once again, I survived. Monday was spent in Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 and China Town. We found the most wonderful salt water taffy at the Pier and watched Sea Lions on the docks. With time running out to get to the airport, we decided to eat lunch before heading to our flights. We hopped into some taxis and we were dropped of at the Nanking House in China town for lunch. I have only heard descriptions of big city China towns. Now that I have experienced it myself, I would have to say that I don't think I will be going back anytime soon. China town made the Vegas strip look like Provo. I am serious, I felt like I needed to walk with tunnel vision. Besides being completely appalled at the "advertisements", we had a nice lunch with our friends and we walked back to our hotel from there (not window shopping for several blocks) We finally made it to our hotel and loaded up our suitcases into the taxi that took us to the airport. We were early (as usual) and I began to read a book that I had picked up at Smith's before leaving Salt Lake - I had heard about it but didn't get around to reading it yet. Had I known the "suction" that it would have on me I am not sure I would have started it! Anyone read "Twilight" yet? I will leave that at that for a minute.
Tuesday morning I was surprised to wake up entirely sick. I was sick everywhere, my body ached and my eyes wouldn't focus. I was freezing cold despite the lack of a fever. My stomach raged and I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. I tried to go to work but didn't last very long. Saturday morning I was somewhat myself again. After laying either on the couch or in bed for 4 days, I was ready to be myself again. I hadn't eaten hardly anything for those 4 days and the realization of this made me more hungry than I was capable of satisfying. Mashed potatoes. Comfort food if nothing else, but it made the pain go away. I was feeling stronger as the hours past, even though I was still really dizzy most of the time. I managed to get out to dinner with our friends and I even dared to choke down a piece of pizza, probably not the smartest idea, but it tasted good nonetheless. Sunday I was surprised with the notion that we were going to go to St. George for the day. A 5 hour car trip didn't sound like fun to me, but the knowledge of sun and the lack of snow allowed me to agree. We went down with our friends, Josh and Dana and their 4 kids. We got down there around 6pm and went straight for the swimming pool. Although it was after sunset and the temperature was nowhere near a "being outside in a swimming pool" degree, we jumped in anyway. Thank goodness it was bathwater heated! It felt wonderful to be outside swimming. Not that I miss being in a swimming suit, mind you, but being outside and not freezing to death was so exhilarating. My long absent hunger pains returned and we marched over to the Cracker Barrell for dinner. We all got to bed late and of course didn't sleep well, hotel beds just aren't the same as home. I should have taken some form of sleep aid. Monday morning was all I was there for - sun, sun, and more sun. The kids swam for 2 hours while I soaked up as much of the 60 degrees worth of sun as I could. I even burned my collarbone a little. It was great. Our fun didn't last long though. After a quick trip to Christensen's to get an Easter dress for Kendrie and a stop at Sonic for ice cream, we were back on the road, headed north. Everything in me wanted so bad to head south to see my dear friends in Mesquite. I hope I can get away soon, preferably by myself and take a few more days to visit with them. For some reason it took forever to get home. We didn't get home until after 1 in the morning. My poor kids - we probably shouldn't have done that on a school night, but they survived.
Tuesday started another round of 7:30 in the morning to 6:00 at night work duty. Good for the pay check, bad for my sanity and my family. Thursday we spent the evening down in Salt Lake at the E center because our dear friends that used to live by us in Mesquite were up for their daughter's high school state basketball tournaments. They now live in Cedar City and it was fun to catch up with them. Friday my parents came down from Idaho and Saturday we spent at the E center again watching basketball tournaments. My mom flew to AZ. and my dad flew to MN. Monday started another round of early to work, late to home routine, until today. A very busy month indeed, not to mention being "sucked" into the Twilight series. Every spare moment of time was spent reading this trilogy of vampire romance. I am proud to say, however, that I have finished all 3 books since starting them back on the 11th. The 3rd one completed this morning. I can't believe I have to wait until August to get the rest of the story. Anyway, my husband is happy to have me back from the book world. I am serious, every spare moment was wrapped up in these books. I stole this from a website I found, it fits a description of me and what some of my friends who have read this have done since picking up these books:

SO...YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE whose life was turned upside down once you read Twilight...Your house is a disaster with piles of laundry in every corner and stacks of dirty dishes at record breaking heights. You imagine your husband is a vampire (or werewolf) and have the libido of a newlywed again! You keep convincing yourself that "cold cereal makes a perfectly wholesome dinner" and the pizza delivery boy is now on your Christmas card list. Your children are free to run amuck as long as no one comes to you bleeding...too badly.Oh, there's guilt alright...but that's not enough! You can't tear yourself away from the books and darned be the consequences!

Most of this fits me to a T, however, Jim did all the laundry, dishes and cooking while I was ...um...lost in another world. He is excited that I am no longer glued to this other world, but I told him he only has until August 8th until the next one comes out. He was ok with that - 5 months. I wonder if I could get him to go to the movie in December?

There it is in a very long nutshell. My February 2008 - I am now looking forward to the end of April when I won't be working for the print shop anymore. There is still Hapari though - anyone need a swimsuit? I make house calls!

Parent/Teacher Confrences

On Monday, Feb. 4th, Kortlan brought home his class newsletter that his teacher sends out every Monday. In the "Things to Remember" box it reads:

Please remember to dress your student warmly - we have been having outside recess and if the temp. is not freezing, children are expected to stay outside in the morning until 8:45. I have had several children coming in lately telling me that their parents do not want them outside. I would appreciate parents cooperation in making sure students are not coming to school too soon.


Now as I read this I was thinking to myself, wow, these poor kids are being told by their parents that they can't be outside until school starts and the parents have been told by the school that they are not supposed to be in the school before 8:45. Some parents just think their child can break the rules. I know that my kids can't be in that early. And who would send their kids to school in 15 degrees without any warm clothes on? Anyway, these were my thoughts as I read this newsletter.


Last night, upon entering Kortlan's classroom to meet with his teacher, he took off his coat and his sweatshirt so he could "be more comfortable". His teacher then proceeded to tell me that this doesn't surprise her because he shows up to school without any gloves or hat and his coat is unzipped and that he tells her that he needs to come inside because his mom doesn't want him outside in the cold. I said what?! I laughed so hard I started crying. I told his teacher that I have never told him that he has to go inside before school started and that I constantly tell him to zip up his coat and put his hat and gloves on. We both laughed about it. I told her while I was reading her newsletter I was feeling so bad for these kids whose parents are telling them to break the rules and not dressing them warm enough - just to find out that I was the one doing it!


My funny little boy! Needless to say, we had a little chat about lying when we got home.