Our Summer Vacation

Some people travel all over the world for their summer vacations. Although that sounds like a dream come true, I could not afford to do that financially or with the vacation time I have accrued at work. This year I took a week off work for my vacation. I haven't done this for many many years, but thought it was a good idea to get away and to get some things done at home. We left on Monday for Bryce Canyon and took Rocky with us. Rocky has never travelled more than a 15 minute drive to the vet. It was like packing a baby. We put a sheet on the back seat, put his kennel with his special blankey and toys in it. I had his treats, dishes and water behind the seat too. He actually did pretty well. He cried for awhile, then Malek held him because I was driving. Rocky really wanted to sit on my lap, but Malek kept him at bay since that wasn't safe. We stopped in Beaver for gas and to let Rocky out for his business. He was happy to get out, but it was really hot and I had to make sure he stayed hydrated. He wouldn't drink water out of his bowl, so I poured a little in my hand, and he licked it right up. (Yes, I washed my hands afterward.) He got back in the car and put his face in front of the air conditioner to cool off. We also brought a water bottle to "mist" him and keep him cooled down. He did spend some time in his kennel sleeping.

When we got to Ruby's Inn, we discovered that they did not allow pets in the main building of the hotel. Well, that is where my original reservation was because I wanted a whirlpool tub for my fibromyalgia. They had other outlying buildings that did not have the whirlpool but pets were allowed there. I explained that I had reserved the whirlpool room in the main lodge because of my fibromyalgia and that their website said they accepted pets and made no mention of the no pets in the main lodge rule. They made an exception and allowed it. I must say, Rocky was a perfect gentleman and made no messes. He was very good about telling us when he needed to go and we took him outside. He even stayed in his kennel without barking for an hour while Malek and I went to dinner. We sure got a lot of compliments on him. By the way, the whirlpool was totally awsome! Someday, I would love to have one in my own bathroom!

We ran into another snafu regarding pets though. Malek and I had planned to take the simplest trail with Rocky and found out that pets aren't allowed on the trails either. Oh brother! So, we drove to each of the designated sites and got out, let Rocky out, and took pictures of the beautiful canyon. This actually worked out for the better because I don't think we would have seen all the views if we had walked only the one trail. Even though bringing Rocky seemed to be an obstacle, we worked around it and were very glad we brought him. We really bonded.

We took several pictures and I'll have to post a few when we get them developed. But I did want to write about our experience while it was fresh on my mind. We got home late Wednesday afternoon. I had a major headache all the way home. By the time I got home, it was a migraine. Thursday was a blur to me. I remember trying to get to the doctor to get a shot, but my doctor was out of town. So I asked them to look in my file and see if they could prescribe something and call it in to the pharmacy. They did. I was so grateful. I slept the rest of the day Thursday and most of Friday. I think I will change my schedule at work to 1 1/2 days of sick leave.

Friday afternoon my head felt better and so I took the challenge of cleaning out the garage - a task that was on my list of things to do while I was off work. There were some items I had to throw out and some items I am giving to Malek's girlfriend to sell at their garage sale next week. Most of it is just junk that will end up at the DI if it is not sold. My other planned task for my time off was to clean out my file cabinet. I hope I can at least begin that tomorrow. However, Saturday is scheduled to be a very busy day for both Malek and I and I hope that I will find the energy to accomplish everything that needs to be done.

Monday will be here soon enough and I'll have to return to work. I am so grateful for work, but it sure has been nice to have this time off.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July everyone. Yesterday marks our one year anniversary of living in our Murray condo. I can't believe it has been a whole year since we moved from Tooele. It is so nice to be living closer to family and to work. I really love my ward and feel so blessed to be here.

It is a holiday today, and so Malek went over to Lexi's house to do fireworks with her family. I am home alone, but I'm really ok with that. Earlier today, Malek and I went over to Shane and Debbie's house to swim. Lori and her whole family came over. I got to see the grandnieces. Jaylee seems so grown up and she is just turning 7. Kylea was a joy. She is only 17 months and she let me hold her in the pool and hold her to eat her dinner. It was so cute the way she curled her lower lip when Shane told her "no" and she began to cry...but ever so slowly. I wish I had a camera to take a shot of that little girl. She is an absolute doll!

Malek and I are getting ready to go to Bryce Canyon on Monday. We are only going for two nights. We'll be home Wednesday night, but I'm excited to take some time off work and get away to see nature's beauty. We are taking our sweet little Rocky with us, so I am sure it will be quite the adventure. I have made a list of things that I would like to accomplish while I am off for this week, but I know the time will pass quickly and I probably won't get it all done. No matter, I'll finish it sometime.

Well, I had better get to sleep so I can start my day at a fairly decent hour tomorrow. I'll write again after we get back from our trip.

Feelings

Today has been one of feelings. Nothing more than that. Michael Jackson died today, and I think Farrah Fawcett died yesterday. These two actors were icons as I was growing up. Michael Jackson's music is what I danced to back in my twenties. Wow, an era has gone by. Now my own son is twenty.

I also just want to take a moment here and say that I am extremely embarrassed about asking for money for the tortillas at dad's party. Normally, I never would do that. I usually don't take leftovers home either. As a matter of fact, I left the extra tortillas and a multitude of sour cream and thought nothing of it. I guess I just was thinking about how I bought too many of those good tortillas from Taco Time that others might want to buy a package. I should have kept my mouth shut because it has bothered me ever since. I am sorry - so very sorry.

Also, I am sorry I didn't help clean up. I was really hurting that day, but that is no excuse. I should have helped. I will make more of an effort to do so at future family functions. I feel sometimes like the family talks behind my back about my lack of ettiquette. (Probably not true, it's just my own lack of confidence/esteem.) I do apologize and hope that you all will forgive me.

I love you all very much and would not ever intentionally hurt anyone's feelings. If I have offended anyone, I apologize. Life is too short to carry the pain.

Love, Mel

Dad's 80th Birthday Party

I knew today would be a better day, in spite of the rain. So we didn't get to swim. The small children didn't seem to mind swimming in the rain. After all, the pool was 95 degrees. As usual, Shane and Deb were the perfect hosts. Everything was so nice from the Mexican Fiesta decorations to the wonderful food buffet of Mexican tacos, fruit salad, virgin margaritas, and many many desserts. Shoni had prepared a wonderful photo video of dad's life and with Shane's help it was set to music. In fact, it was Jim Reeve's music and singing - one of dad's favorite and one that I remember when I was growing up. We saw so many people from my childhood. The Eubanks, the Yates, the Lunts, Sheryl Bohn, dad's sister Liz, and so many more. It was wonderful to see them. I think dad enjoyed his party. We sure enjoyed giving it to him.

A Day of Bad Luck

I kept wondering if today was Friday the 13th or something. I got to work and my boss called. He sounded awful. He said he had been up all night in the ER. His wife and son have the swine flu. Of course we all worried about that. Everyone is taking precautions at work. Then I got a call from one of the area office coordinators that I work with. He and his wife just bought 4 wheelers for the summer and wanted to try them out this last weekend. His wife crashed, broke her arm and pelvis. He was trying to work and go to the hospital to see her. Another secretary that I work with - her father passed away. After that phone call, someone saw our senior missionary on a stretcher. He had just passed my desk an hour before and now he was having a heart attack. Then Malek called me and said that Discover Card had won the battle and he was no longer eligible for unemployment benefits. Hello - what a day!

I am so looking forward to seeing the family tomorrow for Dad's birthday party. I know it has to be a better day.

Introduction

It's official - I have entered the world of technology. I'm a blogger. Having been an avid reader of my brother Evan's blog, I have found it an interesting way to keep a life journal. I would like to begin today. Today I created and formatted my official blog. I hope it looks ok, I kind of like it.