Where have the years gone?

I had lunch with my sister today and we caught up on everything. She had a scarey dizzy spell this morning and had some breathing problems too. Last month my brother had a heart attack and is now a diabetic. My sister also is on thyroid medicine. The years have a way of catching up to us. I used to hear people say that time goes by too fast and I wasn't sure I believed that, but now I think I do. As we get older it seems like life should slow down and get simpler but it seems just the opposite, still too much to do and not enough time. I will probably retire soon from teaching Spanish but the JR High wants me to spend more time tutoring so the Spanish time will be replaced by tutoring time. I no longer work for Murray City Rec. but I'm still umpiring and it seems that I'm just as busy as ever! I'm not complaining though. I think staying physically active is as important as it ever has been. I want to travel more, however and stay close to my family, especially those that have moved away. Jeannine McDonnel, Marin's mother-in-law, and a good friend of mine, was talking to me the other day and we were lamenting that our kids were so far away and we wished they'd move home. This time of year brings out the melancholy in people and I think causes them to reflect on their life and where they are in their goals and hopes. Anyway, those are my thoughts on this cold, windy day.........

I've been tagged!

Ok, six things about myself: 1 I've been sky diving
2 I've been teaching early morning Spanish for over 25 years
3 I'm addicted to the shows Survivor and Amazing Race
4 I read voraciously
5 I hate wearing make-up
6 I can still do the splits

Now I tag: Mandy, Marin, Karen,Emily,Lisa!

I can tell school's back in session....

A lot of my students have been sick and so generously shared their germs with me so now I'm sick! I was at Misty's watching her boys while they were in Park City and woke up Sun. at 4am with a terrific headache and fever and horrible sore throat. Every Fall this happens! Most of the week-end I was fine, however. The boys were all good as gold. Mason was especially helpful by showereing his younger brothers and brushing their teeth and generally helping me out.
Garn and I are going to see Mandy and fam from Nov. 21 -28 and we're so excited! We'll have a great Thanksgiving. Well, not much more happening; just the same old: early morning Spanish and ESL tutoring and umpiring and of course, racquetball as often as I can. Later...

Our day in court

So last June 3rd as Garn and I were waiting at the light after getting gas at Costco and heading onto State Street a truck hit a van in the intersection right in front of us. Both vehicles almost hit us after the collision. It's 4 months ago so we forgot about it. Last month we get a supoena to appear as witnesses because the guy that got the ticket is contesting it. We get to the court about 1 pm for the 1:30 time. After waiting for a 1/2 hr. they begin with some other cases and then finally get to ours. Garn and I had to testify on the witness stand! It was cool but then it dragged down with the prosocuting attorney cross-examining over and over. Seems she didn't understand the traffic light patterns. She'd never make it on Law and Order! We got compensated for our two hours, a whole $18 each! We each had a headache when we got through and it was a simple red light citation! :( That's our court system in action!
By the way, Marin, Marcus was wondering why you and JR weren't at the corn maze with us!

The crazy corn maze

We had such a great time! The weather was perfect and it was only the second day so it was in perfect condition. My only problem was that I can't read a map to save my life! If I hadn't been with Dan and Misty and Garn I would still be there! McKy, Austin and McKy's friend Brad went off together and Devan and Mason went off together and that left Merrick and Marcus with the adults. We finally made it out and Devan and Mason had been out for some time. McKy and the other two were still in and after waiting a half hour Dan went in after them. They had decided to follow the other half of the maze reserved for the haunted part and got lost and cut through to another field altogether; at least that's the story they told. I think they just liked wandering around cutting through the stalks! Then the 11 of us went to Carl's JR for burgers, fries, onion rings, and shakes and had a great time! Our only regret was that we didn't have Mandy's family and Marin and JR with us. We kept saying how much they would have loved it and that it would have been easy to take Ali and the stroller through on smooth, dry ground. We miss you guys!!!

Umpiring

So, quite a few years ago I came out of retirement from umpiring fast pitch softball to umpire and help train the 8 and under girls. One reason was because I don't have to wear the chest protector, shin guards and face mask anymore. Most of the time I can catch or dodge the balls missed by the catcher because it is coach pitch and not so hard. This week the same batter kept throwing the bat after she hit. I warned her Tue. night and again last night (Thurs.) When she came up to bat again I moved the catcher back because she was so small and I thought she might get hit. I stood in front so as to protect the catcher and sure enough the batter flung the bat again and nailed me right below the knee. That was why I stopped umping before. I called her out but my leg still hurts today and has a nice lump (take the "l" out of the word "lump" and what do you get?) After the game I had a racquetball match so it was some time before I got home to ice it. (Luckily I won the 2 games of r-ball). Tonight we are going through the crazy corn maze with Austin, Devan, and Misty and her 4 boys. Should be fun ; I'll let ya'll know...Welcome home Sadie! (she went to a three day camp with her school class in Texas-Sky Ranch) I expect a report! Later....

September's Post

What happened to the summer? We had a BBQ for Labor Day and then I started back tutoring at the JR. High. I'm picking up a Chinese teacher from Bennion JR High each day and bringing her back to our JR High to teach. It kind of cuts into my day and I have to work longer at the end of my 3 hrs a day to make up for the missed time. Garn completed a Triathalon Sat. at Yuba Lake. He doesn't know how he did because the power went out and the stats couldn't be posted. I played in a Racquetball Tournament Sat in the women's B and was lucky enough to not lose a game and take first. Since I had slacked off over the summer I was a little sore, but most of the women I played said the same thing so we were all in the same boat. I've started back to my religion class on Tue. afternoons with Joseph Fielding Mc Conkie, son of Bruce R. We're studying the Book of Mormon. Last year we studied the D&C. He is so knowledgeable and interesting. I love his classes. I also started my early morning spanish classes this week every morn at 7:30. I miss Sadie and Haylie coming. It's sad not to be able to touch base with them almost on a daily basis. Misty and I went to a Modbe blow-out sale Fri. at Thanksgiving Point. This year it started at 12 noon to 5pm instead of 7am to 12 like last year. About 200 more women were there this year with tons of kids and strollers! You couldn't move. Misty got a couple of swimsuits and skirts and I got some skirts and a pair of cool jeans. I even saw a girl that had grown up in our ward and is now married with 3 girls and 1 boy, Melissa Cutler(can't remember her married name). Last night Misty and her 4 boys and Mike and Marcie and their twin boys and her sister Micheale went to the State Fair. It was crowded since kids 12 and under got in free and adults were the price of kids: $6. That got all of Misty's boys in free. Garn and Mike and 3 of Misty's boys went into the "all you can eat ice cream" tent for $3 adults and $2 kids. Misty and I went to watch cattle rustling on the rodeo grounds and Austin, Devan,(Mike's twin 14 1/2 yr. olds), and Mcky(Misty's 12 1/2 yr. old) went off to look around as did Marcie and her sister. We saw the butter sculpture and it is always amazing. A lady here in Murray does it every year and it's life size with lots of detail. We went in all the animal buildings except I couldn't take the pig smell and said I'd wait for the kids on the other side. Man those pigs stink! I felt like we walked miles! Misty drove since Dan was out of town. I think the kids really enjoyed it, especially Merrick, Misty's 4 yr old. He really loves to see the animals! Tomorrow I am interpreting at an elementary school here in Murray. I went to the Dr for a check-up yesterday and the dentist today for a cleaning and Thurs. we have all the carpet in the house cleaned so all that Fall stuff will be done! Til the next time.....Pat