First Day of School

Well, catching 1 out of 3 buses on time might not be the worst record ever, but it certainly isn't the best. I don't like the first day of school. I don't like Back to School with it's endless disclosure forms and permission forms and petitions for money, and I don't like that my free time doesn't coincide with when my kids' teachers need classroom help. Growl. At least my children are all happy to go; that's really the most important thing.

Sir Paul

A few weeks ago I gave Beulah an early birthday present of two tickets to Paul McCartney's concert. She has been a big Beatle's fan for a few years (even going so far as to call one of her online avatars "Beatles Babe"). She agonized over who to invite but in the end she brought me, which, of course, is what I was hoping for.

We got there in plenty of time, despite my stressing about being stuck in traffic. We found our seats at the rear of the stadium (not the very worst seats but most were better than ours) and then we waited. When the fog machines started to blow out electric blue air we screamed and then he came out on stage! It was amazing! He performed a bunch of songs in the beginning that I was not familiar with but over the course of the evening he hit my two favorite Beatles songs--"Let It Be" and "Hey Jude" and many other wonderful songs that people have loved for decades. The coolest part of the night was "Live and Let Die" with the fireworks blazing--I screamed myself hoarse! I loved when he invited the audience to sing along with "Hey Jude" and "Oh Bla De"; there I was, singing along with Paul McCartney! I think my favorite song of the might was, "And I Love Her." "Blackbird" was also perfect. His voice stayed true through all the dozens of songs and his energy was great. He looked so happy to be there and he created such a positive atmosphere for all the people there of all ages. Beulah was thrilled when he gave a tribute to George Harrison (he's her favorite Beatle) and I think she had fun. I have been to many rock concerts--most of them almost 20 years ago. But this might have been the best.

Thanks for taking me, BG. I love you!

Father, Can You Get Your Little Butt in Your Swimming Suit?

What is up with Goose calling me and Husband "Mother" and "Father" lately? She is so funny to talk with right now.
On another note, I felt invincible as I was running down a hill this morning, almost like I could keep running forever. Then as I started running up the opposite hill, I thought that it was a good thing I was close to home. True to form, I am the slowest runner in the world.
Last week T-Bone discovered that the two asparagus crowns we'd planted next to his garden spot had finally sent up something green. It was a wonderful surprise. In the spring, I had bought six asparagus crowns and then planted them and so far the ones that T-Bone spotted are the only ones that have produced.
Cheeseball found a Harry Potter Uno game in mint condition at DI. He has been fun to play with.
Beulah has finally discovered the joy of gardening.
Janey is still the reigning Cheese Queen amongst her friends.
Oh, last week we celebrated the 4th of July on the 3rd and 5th. The family, burgers and fireworks on the 3rd were wonderful and the parade on the 5th was fun. The most incredible thing to me about the weekend was how comfortable the temperatures were. I can't remember the last time I felt a cool breeze on the 4th, but the whole weekend was absolutely beautiful. It has been the prettiest summer since we've been in Utah, with all the spring rain we've had. The mountains still look green.

Dead, Dead, Dead

Well we came home from a very relaxing and enjoyable trip in Phoenix to meat juices seeping out from the refrigerator and spilling onto the floor. Right before our trip, we noticed that our fridge wasn't working. We called the repairman and he checked all the connections and got it working again. But he wasn't convinced that there wasn't some other problem. We put all the frozen food that we could into the garage refrigerator, but it couldn't all fit in. So we left a few things in our kitchen fridge, crossed our fingers, and left for several days.

The rest, as they say, is history.

We have decided that we will pay to repair it again, rather than buy a new one our move in our garage fridge (it has broken shelves in the freezer, so things tend to slide and fall out.)

Also, Beulah's guinea pig Sarah died the day after we returned. Who knows why? Beulah keeps checking the online classifieds to get another one but I am hoping she'll drop the idea.

My kitchen basil, which was pathetic at it's best moment, seems mostly dead. One sad little stalk has four tiny leaves that aren't all shriveled up.

But on a happy note, our flowers are all still alive and blooming (and this after they survived a snow storm!) Our garden areas are overgrown with weeds--I don't think it's ever been worse and I've sprayed Round-Up 3 times this spring, at least--but our tomatoes and peppers are still alive and some other plants are popping up. Let's just hope we can distinguish between the seedlings and the weeds.

The weather in Phoenix was hot, but not too bad. All we did was swim and fish and make one 40 minute trip to the 99 cent store. On the way down, we stopped at Goblin Valley for a couple of hours and saw some amazing sandstone structures.

Yesterday the kids had their piano recital. It was nice; it would have been even better if everyone had practiced their songs in the days before the recital but our being away from the piano made that impossible. I am grateful for the efforts that they all make in practicing. It's nice to have music around.

Now I have to make good on my promise to get a summer membership at the rec center so we can go swimming.

Some Things a Mother Doesn't Know

Goose is very interested in death lately. Her curiosity runs the gamut from what happens to our skeletons as they decompose to what happens to our bones when they're resurrected. Today she asked me if there were toothbrushes in Heaven. Umm. I have no idea. We'll have perfect teeth, right, and we'll be able to eat, right? Will there not be bacteria to form plaque and bad breath or will our mouths be be impervious to said bacteria? These are things that I don't know. I also don't know if there will be potties in Heaven, another question Goose had for me last week.

Beulah questioned me about evolution today, telling me that her teacher told her there was more evidence for evolution than there was about the Holocaust. First of all, I told her that the term "evolution" was inadequate. Obviously, we see evidence of biological genetic change all over the place. But as for Evolution meaning humans descending from apes, I challenge any scientist to produce a homo erectus that can tell us about his daily life in a cave with his clan versus finding a survivor from a concentration camp who can tell about living under the Nazis.

Spring Break with a Sick Goose

A week after I returned from Hawaii, Goose got sick. She had a fairly high fever for three or four days and all I got get her to eat was popsicles. It was the first time she was sick for more than 24 hours. And she got way too much attention and lost a little bit of weight.

Two weeks after that (the night before Easter), Goose got sick again. This time she was vomiting. And instead of getting better after 24 hours, which always seems to happen, she developed a high fever and kept throwing up. I brought her to the doctor Monday morning hoping he would tell me she had some bacterial infection that we could treat but instead he told me that she needed to be in the hospital. I'm such a baby that I called my mom and cried and kept bawling all the way to the hospital (in clothes that Goose had thrown up on). We were checked in and they put an IV in (which she hated). Husband joined us shortly. He kept asking the nurses and he called the doctor with his concerns about the cost of everything (we do have a very high deductible health insurance plan). No one could tell him what anything cost until he met with the financial office to pay the bill the next day. It was interesting how un-consumer driven health care really is.

Goose was in the hospital for about 27 hours. She got hydrated and her fever went down and she was so miserable with her IV that we were all begging to leave. Her recovery at home was very slow but she's doing well now. Our fun for spring break was filled with bowing to Goose's wishes in all things, going to Hee Haw and celebrating Goose's 4th birthday.

Aloha!

My trip to Hawaii was wonderful, all the more so because so many people helped me and my family out during our 10 day separation.

A list of some of my experiences:

Standing on the street in Honolulu (Waikiki) in my pajamas at 4:30 am because someone pulled the fire alarm. "Alert! There is a fire in the building! Please exit now!"

Being blasted by wind at the Pali Outlook, Waimea Canyon, on the ship, and just about everywhere else.

Watching a Samoan make fire from a stick and a coconut

Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay and seeing yellow, blue, pink, and green tropical fish

Eating warm banana bread and fresh coconut and pineapple on the road to Hana.

Loving the black rock beach the the stone church in Maui

Eating yummy pineapple whip at the Dole plantation

Hiking the half mile of fern rainforest on the way to the lava tube

Walking through the lava tube

Watching chickens fly across the road

Looking at steaming craters

Being just about last on board in Hilo and Kauai

Eating yummy hashbrowns from the buffet for breakfast

Singing happy birthday to Donna with the family at our table

Spying the sea turtle in Hilo

Seeing the whale off of Maui! I caught an itty-bitty picture of its tail.

Almost swimming near a sewage treatment plant out of desperation.

Taking a taxi with Tenesa to be brought to a more acceptable beach.

Being repeatedly knocked over by powerful aqua waves that were so heavy with coarse sand that I got exfoliated from head to toe.

Finding a tooth of unknown origin in my swimming suit

Meeting Mr. Photographer

Loving the beautiful umbrella trees all over Oahu and Kauai

Walking with the sea urchins on the pahoehoe shore near Kona

Listening to Darcy and Reed's tales of Lyman

Sailing past the magnificent NaPoli coast

Seeing the whale through the window right when someone talked about seeing a whale the previous day!

Looking at the names at the Arizona memorial

Watching the gray-haired ladies dancing the hulu beautifully

Seeing: Spouting Horn, Kauai lighthouse, blowhole in Oahu, crazy parasailing windsurfers, amazing banyan trees and rainbows and sea creatures.

Getting reaquainted with my brilliant, beautiful, fun and talented cousins and aunts and uncles and hanging out with my generous and fabulous parents.

But the best part of all was getting off the plane, walking to the baggage claim, and seeing Husband and the twinkies waiting for me, the three youngest holding a big banner that said, "Welcome Home Mom." My family is more beautiful than anything in the world to me and I'm so grateful to be with them again and feel their love.