Where am I?

I'm sitting in a bookstore working. Not only do I get to hear great music while writing reports, I also get to people watch. Life is good.

Jury Duty

My mom called a couple weeks ago to tell me she has been called for jury duty in Federal Court in Idaho next month which is ironic because I am testifying in Federal Court next month in the same state.

My Life

"Want me to help you?"

"No thanks. I've learned to adapt."

Love you much

The phone rang at 7:46a and I took a deep breath as I prepared myself for what was going to be said. You see, receiving a call from home at that time of the morning is rarely a good thing. "Shelley, Grandma passed away at 3a this morning. Your mom and I were with her until midnight and knew it wouldn't be long before she let go. " I numbly listened for a few minutes and then hung up the phone.
So many memories flooded my head as I thought about her life and all that she has taught me. In many ways, she was not only my grandma, but also a second mom. As a young girl, myself and my brother briefly lived with my grandparents while our parents were dealing with some major health problems and since that time I have had a special connection with my grandma.
My almost 4 year-old niece said it best when she spoke these words after hearing about grandma, "Heaven came and got Grandma Bingham."

Love you much grandma.

Favorite child

"Syden, do you know which of grandpa and grandma's children is their favorite?"

"Of course I do. My mom and Clay are the favorites because they have kids and you don't."

Note to self: Do not ask 7 year-old nephew any questions without first verifying that he knows the correct answer.

One day

A little library, growing larger every year, is an honourable part of a man's history. It is a man's duty to have books. A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries of life.

Henry Ward Beecher

Once a Duck. Always a Duck.

I spent the weekend in Oregon for my brother's PhD. graduation from the University of Oregon.

Here are some highlights from the trip:

Hogwarts professor or PhD graduate?

Visiting with Kaydi Rae.

Portland Rose Garden.

Blue Lake Regional Park.

Relief

I turned in my resignation letter this morning and my last day working for the state will be August 27th. I'll soon be a private support coordinator doing the same job I currently do, but working from home. In my free time, maybe I'll write a book. Learn to cook. Improve my musical abilities.

Life is good.

Shoot!

What did I do over the weekend? I'll show you.

Woodland creatures courtesy of photoshop.

*No animals were harmed during this shooting extravaganza. I cannot say the same for the watermelon, cantaloupe, or lettuce.

I'll Wait for You

My friends and I were leaving a fireside and noticed two guys looking at us. We got in the car and that's when things got interesting. One of the guys came to my window and handed me the following note:

(I have crossed out last names and phone numbers to protect the young, but not-so-innocent guys. If you would like their numbers to ask them out or last names so you can add them as a friend on facebook, let me know).

We responded with the following message and their response is also included:

Ah, the innocence of youth. At this point a guy on a motorcycle pulled up and asked what was going on and then drove off. Our response was "Good luck. Unfortunately, we are a little older than you." Our car was separated from the guys and we again saw the guy on the motorcycle. The driver of our car rolled down the window and let motorcycle guy know she did not appreciate him cheating on her with someone else. And no, I was not the driver.

I do hope Stephen has a great mission and may Sam find love.

Rise and Shout

My friend Kristen and her husband Rob bought a house 8 months ago and vowed in this post to paint over a blue Y on the basketball court. I visited their home yesterday for Kristen's baby shower and this is what I found in the backyard.

Go Cougars!

VIP

I love summer. I love concerts. I love summer concerts at Red Butte Gardens. I saw Chicago last night and Indigo Girls in July. My friend's employers gave us VIP tickets which meant we sat on chairs provided by Red Butte and had access to an unlimited supply of bottled water.

We don't live in a vacuum

I was sitting in on a therapy session for a client and the therapist said something that resonates with me. "When life gets tough we push away the people closest to us."

Guilty.

Stop! I'm tired

Rugby tournament. 100 degrees. Black shorts. Black shirt. Running. Tackling. Exhaustion. Dehydration.

One rugby player loudly exclaimed "Stop. Stop. I'm tired." Everyone, including the player, started laughing and yet, you could tell there was some truth to his statement.

There are times in my life when I also want to yell "Stop! I'm tired." Those are usually the times I pack up and head to Idaho for some much need rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. You see, I'm not one of those people who receive energy and strength from spending time with others. I need some alone time. Scratch that. I crave alone time. And I guess the important thing is that I recognize when I've stretched myself too thin and need to take a step back. It can be easy to simply go along with life without much thought as to where I'm going and then one or a dozen things happen that cause me to realize that life is both precious and great. People care and want to help.

Life. Running. Ruminating. Tackling. Exhaustion. Joy.

Pesto Mayo

My friend Lisa and I met at Mimi's Cafe for lunch today. The server was bringing the food to the table and I heard her say she dropped the cup filled with pesto mayo. I looked down and didn't see mayo on the floor, but I did see it on my shirt. The server apologized and I laughed while cleaning the mayo from my shirt. The ladies at the table next to me offered assistance and Lisa was kind enough to help clean the mess I couldn't reach. The manager offered me a free meal and I gladly accepted. In the rush of trying to clean my shirt, I forgot to take a picture. This is not my first encounter with Mimi's so I think I'll wear a poncho over my clothes the next time I eat at Mimi's or maybe I should stop ordering the condiments on the side.

Countdown to September 5th

On September 5, 2009, I will be here cheering for BYU. I may not be a Dallas Cowboys fan, but I am definitely taking the $15 tour of the stadium.

Another Break

My brother in law Travis was 4 wheeling with friends at the Sand Dunes in St. Anthony, Idaho when he flew over a hill and crashed. After a bumpy ride on a sand buggy followed by an ambulance, Travis found himself admitted to the hospital where he learned he broke his left forearm and his right shoulder. He was in surgery for six hours and has pins in his arm and a metal plate, screws, and pins in his shoulder. He has a long road ahead of him but the doctors are saying he will have a full recovery.
On the bright side, his daughter Avry is no longer the only one in the family with a broken arm.

Broken

My niece Avry fell Monday night and fractured her elbow. She will have a soft cast until the swelling goes down and then will have a hard cast. As the Dr. was applying the soft cast Avry said "Stop! I changed my mind. I don't want to do this anymore."

Spotted on 33rd S...

A man riding a motorcycle with a blow up doll behind him. For a moment I thought I was dreaming or I was in the movie Lars and the Real Girl. Sadly, no pictures were taken to document the moment for I was too shocked to get my camera out before 'they' drove by.

Love Story

I need this sheet music. Anyone play the cello?