Now where did I put that smiley mask? I'm going to need it. Would not want to expose the real me. I smile spontaneously most of the time anyway so fortunately I can misplace the mask without worrying too much about where it is. Just now... when people only want to see the superficial me.
I received the nicest compliment today. Twice in the past two years I have had someone from my very distant past say something I had said or done that made a small, positive difference in their lives. In both cases I was totally blown away at the detail they remembered after 45 years. Don't get me wrong - it was no big deal, but it testifies of the impact even the little things can have on a person. This is not to discount the nice things people say to me now and the compliments I receive from very thoughtful friends and loved ones. I was just totally surprised at these "old" acquaintances. It really made my day at a time when I needed a lift. These people have now kind of repaid whatever they perceived to have gotten from me.
Karla also got an official due date - 3/3/10 - might just arrive on Jon's birthday.
Yesterday I bought a ticket for South Carolina for Labor day weekend. I was able to get a buddy pass for Delta making it a bit more affordable. Charleston is not on the economy run! It's standby and that's always iffy - especially on a holiday weekend. Hope it's not a mistake, but I won't have any vacation time left after Japan and Education Week so I have to use a holiday and extended weekend - wish me luck. Even the buddy pass seemed like a lot of money compared to what they used to be but it's the only way I could go and there was a pass about to expire so....
I did decide to wait for next year on the Shakespeare Festival, though the Bard Bus idea really was quite a deal. I hope they'll do it again, but I must use some self-control.
We're just us...
Aubrey says it goes with the territory. Large family=drama. If you're removed from this you might never know but someone's always got something going on and the more family you have the more drama there will be. I'm glad to be involved with my children's lives. I love having a large family and I wouldn't trade one single grandchild!
I'll never be a wine sipper relaxing around the pool, but I wouldn't trade my life for anyone else's. Chaos seems to follow us everywhere but at least there's never a dull moment where I am. I hope they all know what they mean to me.
Crucial
Because of recent abductions
In daylight hours, refresh yourself
of these things to do
in an emergency situation...
This is for you,
and for you to share
with your wife,
your children,
everyone you know.
After reading these 9 crucial tips,
forward them to someone you care about.
It never hurts to be careful
in this crazy world we live in.
1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do :
The elbow is the strongest point
on your body.
If you are close enough to use it, do!
2.. Learned this from a tourist guide.
If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse,
DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM.
Toss it away from you....
Chances are that he is more interested
in your wallet and/or purse than you,
and he will go for the wallet/purse.
RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car,
kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole
and start waving like crazy..
The driver won't see you, but everybody else will.
This has saved lives.
4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars
after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit
(doing their chequebook, or making a list, etc.
DON'T DO THIS!)
The predator will be watching you, and this
is the perfect opportunity for him to get in
on the passenger side, put a gun to your head,
and tell you where to go.
AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR ,
LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE..
If someone
is in the car
with a gun
to your head
DO NOT DRIVE OFF,
Repeat:
DO NOT DRIVE OFF!
Instead gun the engine
and speed into anything, wrecking the car.
Your Air Bag will save you.
If the person is in the back seat
they will get the worst of it .
As soon as the car crashes
bail out and run.
It is better than having them find your body
in a remote location.
5. A few notes about getting
into your car in a parking lot,
or parking garage:
A..) Be aware:
look around you,
look into your car,
at the passenger side floor ,
and in the back seat
B.) If you are parked next to a big van,
enter your car from the passenger door.
Most serial killers attack their victims
by pulling them into their vans while the women
are attempting to get into their cars.
C.) Look at the car
parked on the driver's side of your vehicle,
and the passenger side... If a male is sitting alone
in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back
into the mall, or work, and get a
guard/policeman to walk you back out.
IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)
6. ALWAYS take the elevator
instead of the stairs.
Stairwells are horrible places to be alone
and the perfect crime spot.
This is especially true at NIGHT!)
7. If the predator has a gun
and you are not under his control,
ALWAYS RUN!
The predator will only hit you (a running target)
4 in 100 times; and even then,
it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ.
RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!
8. As women, we are always trying
to be sympathetic:
STOP
It may get you raped, or killed.
Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking,
well educated man, who ALWAYS played
on the sympathies of unsuspecting women.
He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often
asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle,
which is when he abducted
his next victim.
9. Another Safety Point:
Someone just told me that her friend heard
a crying baby on her porch the night before last,
and she called the police because it was late
and she thought it was weird.. The police told her
'Whatever you do, DO NOT
open the door..'
The lady then said that it sounded like the baby
had crawled near a window, and she was worried
that it would crawl to the street and get run over.
The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way,
whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.'
He told her that they think a serial killer
has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax
women out of their homes thinking that someone
dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it,
but have had several calls by women saying that
they hear baby's cries outside their doors
when they're home alone at night.
10. Water scam!
If you wake up in the middle
of the night to hear all your taps outside running or what you think is a
burst pipe, DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE! These people turn on all your
outside taps full ball so that you will go out to investigate and
then attack.
Stay alert, keep safe, and look out for your neighbours!
Please pass this on
This e-mail should probably be taken seriously because
the Crying Baby Theory was mentioned on
America 's Most Wanted when they profiled
the serial killer in Louisiana
I'd like you to forward this to all the women you know.
It may save a life. A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle..
I was going to send this to the ladies only,
but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc.,
you may want to pass it onto them, as well.
Send this to any woman you know that may need
to be reminded that the world we live in has a lot of crazies in it
and it's better to be safe than sorry..
Kiyomi is a wonderful daughter-in-law. She is also a great cook, great mom and talented artist. Her kids get that trait as well. An interesting thing about Kiyomi that not many people know is that she is proficient at archery. Her mom passed away at Christmas time. It was sad for them but they are happy that she no longer has to be confined to bed and needing complete care. We do hope they will be able to move back to the states very soon.
With Jordan at his sixth grade graduation.
With the family at church in Japan
With Julia at her baptism
We miss Kiyomi, Chris and the kids who are in Japan. I'm looking forward to going there at the end of the month for a visit though!
It's always inspiring to read of Mother Teresa type people. Every once in a while someone's remarkable contributions to mankind are brought to my attention and I know these are just a few examples representing so many others. When selfishness abounds in the world, it does my heart good.
Click here to read about one amazing young woman who is making a difference with orphans in China and who is experiencing the unexpected life - not what she planned, but apparently what God planned for her.
Becky Thomas wrote in the Bloggernacle, "Whether we are divorced, without a spouse, without children or with specific challenges that we never anticipated, we can find great joy and mobility in our lives. It's all in our perception as to whether we sink or swim! Now go get your suit on and start swimming!"
I got the shirt...
I am so grateful I had the opportunity to attend Granite High School. It was a school with character; one of the first in the valley, opening in 1907. The Song of the "G" says, "...echoes of old songs and cheers..." Attending and today while touring, I felt the echoes of many students over 100 years' time who walked the halls, lived, breathed, loved, studied, worked, cheered, sang, danced, competed, and played here. I attended in Granite's "Glory Days" before the population dwindled. It was stiffly competitive with around 2500-2700 students at that time. I gained experiences here that I could not have in any other way and the time would never come again. Those brief three years I spent here went by so quickly. There is more to school than the knowledge gained through study and I am proud to say I'm a Granitian and a "Farmer Forever." I thank those who were part of my education, who gave me a well-rounded experience in life which helped prepare me for my future. I didn't learn everything here but what I did was unique and very special to me. I get teary-eyed just thinking about it. Now the school is closing and another history book closes. (Read about the closure by clicking here.)
I'm so glad I got to go to a school that was old, that had history, character and ghosts from the past. Today I roamed the halls and took a few photos to remember these very special days.
The Seal. At sophomore orientation we learned never to step on the seal. If someone caught you doing it, you had to clean it with a toothbrush. It was inlaid tile.
The main stairway of the science building (main building). This was the coveted spot for campaign signs and banners.
Lots of well-known people hailed from Granite. Top right is KSL radio's Doug Wright. Top photo on the left is Steve Brown, local sportscaster. Dian Thomas is here, Gerald Ottley and many others.
An old picture. Originally the North end of the "new" building was the senior high and the south end was the junior high.
An old pep club uniform
Band, cheerleader and pepclub uniforms
Granite memorabilia. The spotted vest was part of the male chearleader's uniform my senior year.
Around my era - late 60s
My senior year's Pep Club uniform (My sister, Carolyn had this one). I was in Pep Club the year previous to this one. They were the rebels. They convinced the sponsor, Nellie, to allow a darker (navy) blue and even some white in the plaid and a shorter skirt. Previously (up through my year in the group) it had to be royal blue and fire engine red with NO white in the uniform at all. Our trademark was the red petti-pants we wore that showed when we did the can-can which was part of every performance.
A classroom where English was taught.
A science lab room
We actually had flags in the room and real chalk boards
The office entrance and counseling center.
In the ballroom - the museum of memorabilia through the years.
The auditorium where we did our musicals, assemblies, dance programs, etc.
Home Ec
More stairs
Sardine hall (lots of sophomores were assigned lockers here - the dreaded spot because when students were using this corridor which connected the two sides of the main building and more students were getting into their lockers, we were packed like sardines.
Classic yellow tile throughout the science building
Lockers - in the general vicinity of mine
Principal, Leland Bird
The office
The "G" in front of what used to be the "L" building. We were a rare school in the area because it was a campus made up of multiple buildings. We still only had five minutes between classes to go up and down stairs, in and out buildings, often at quite a distance, up more stairs, maybe even a stop at the locker or bathroom. We had to hustle.
The floor I marched on
From the bleachers where I sat
The football field
The Song of the "G"
The court
This is where we sat in Pep Club
Driver's Ed classroom was right by the outside door to the parking lot and student driving cars.
Stage access and more balcony gym seating.
This is how we got to the home side of the basketball court. there was no floor seating; all balcony.
The tunnel - you had to go down under the gym and out the other side to access the parking lot. So every morning and afternoon we went down, then back up to get to the building.
She is calling, calling to you ever, honor the grand old "G"
I had to give Jon, Karla and Aubrey a chance to get the word out before I blogged the news. Now it's fair game...
Jon & Karla are expecting (end of Feb) and Aubrey is having a boy (around Christmas) bringing the grandchild total to 18! Both were surprises - J/K weren't technically trying though anxious for another baby and Aubrey was going for routine first doctor appointment. He did an ultrasound and the baby cooperated. So, it's not the full-blown mid-pregnancy sonogram, but enough to know. Now Aubrey will have a while to adjust to the idea of having THREE (or should I say FOUR?) boys in the house.
Besides record-breaking rain in June, I have been very busy doing things, with little time for writing about them. I finally have a secretary, though she's out sick today, so I spent the last week of the month orienting her to the job.
So, some of my life updates...
I also attended the singles conference in Orem (my 3rd year so not really unusual). I met some new friends from Preston, Idaho and one from England, reconnected with some I haven't seen since last year (also from Idaho - Burley) and some locals too. I didn't get to attend all the events but those I went to were great. This is how the shopping came about - the conference was right next door to University Mall. This is something I rarely indulge in but Nordstrom was having their half-yearly sale (I think I've gone to one other one before) and I enjoyed it since I wasn't overly extravagant. I bought two outfits - including accessories - and some personal pampering stuff too. Wow! Talk about breaking records! But, no charge cards were involved so I stayed on track.The conference was excellent, as always. I especially enjoyed a session on Abundant Living. I only had a couple of mishaps like locking my keys in my car - again!. Fortunately Orem Police are as nice as Bountiful and they were willing to come to my assistance. The officer was downright cheerful and said he was happy to be able to help me out. I just love public servants who really are. I received help from several friends as well (Steve, Dan, Paul, Chip). 
Posts
All Comments
