pirate boges

Pirate Bogey wishes you a Happy Halloween!

gem 7

"Honesty is not only morally right, it's also efficient.  You save a lot of time not double-checking."

gem 6

"A good apology is like an antibiotic; a bad apology is like rubbing salt in the wound."

What I did was wrong.

I feel badly I hurt you.

How do I make this better?

 or

I'm sorry you feel hurt by what I've done.

I apologize for what I did, but you also need to apologize to me for what you've done.

...you decide...

I think option #1 sounds lots less painful.  I'm all about avoiding unnecessary pain.

gem 5

"A lot of people want a shortcut.  I find the best shortcut is the long way, which is basically two words: hard work."

all chopped and ready

Ryan has been hard at work in the evenings when he gets home from work.  He finished his most recent project last night, and he's so proud...and so am I.

Our energy saving heat source for the winter. 

gem 4

"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."

This reminded me that although both Ryan and I were previously married, either marriage, for different reasons, ended up working out. Neither of us went into those vows thinking it to be a temporary situation.  We both wanted "forever".  But, it wasn't meant to be.  Looking back, we both see that as a result of those failures, we gained. We became more introspective.  Our inner strength and our souls were stretched further than we thought possible.  We faced challenges that we never thought we would encounter.  We both failed to get what we originally intended, but we armored ourselves with experience. 

And, we found each other. 

Together, we still don't always get what we want, individually and collectively, but no matter what the outcome, we will always gain experience. And, we'll gain it together.

gem 3

"It's not how hard you hit.  It's how hard you get hit...and keep moving forward."

gem 2

"Hip is short term.  Earnest is long term"

Styles, trends, fashions, fads... they are all hip, for a minute.  

True, all in, hard work.  That sticks.  It builds character. Earnestness... it stays with you, it defines you, forever.

gem 1

"Walt Disney's dream for Disney World was that it would never be finished.  He wanted it to keep growing and changing forever."

In my life, I am the project queen.  I love to-do lists.  I love checking the tasks off the list once completed.  I find such satisfaction in doing this, even though I am the only living soul who ever sees the list, and after all the tasks are completed and checked off, I throw the list away.  But, it's just one of my things.  I  like doing it.  It makes me feel good. 

As much as I am a doer, a starter, and a finisher; I realized in reading the words above, that my life must not always be about a finished product.  As in everything in life, balance is best.  Reading those words reminded me, and taught me, that joy is in the doing, in the expecting, in the unknown, in the process...

We often hear people say that the best part of a vacation is not the vacation, it is the anticipation of the unexpected, the break, the prep, the butterflies in the tummy before leaving, the hype...

So, what I learned, when Randy talked about Walt Disney never wanting Disney World to be a finished product, was that: 

It is the "in process" aspects of life that bring the most joy and success.

So, will I get rid of my to-do lists?  Never.  It is part of who I am.  But, I will dedicate myself to remembering that not all things have to have a date of completion.  I think Ryan would be happy...if he ever read these words I just typed, because maybe in the application of this life lesson to my life, just maybe his will be a little easier.  My actions will speak louder than these words though, so even if not read, they will be felt.... he's one observant man.  He'll notice.

unexpected wisdom

Ryan and I drove down to St. George this weekend to see his kids.  Earlier this summer he promised Jordan a golf weekend, just the two of them. So, true to his word, he booked the golf, I booked the hotel, and like a good team, we headed down south.  He and Jordan played on the golf courses, Taylor and I sunned ourselves at the pool. 

At least half of my sunbathing time was spent alone, as Tay had work and other things to do (like tending our dog... thanks sweets for doing that!).  Anyway, I brought a book along with me.  I had no idea how much I would learn.  How much I would love this book.  But, because of our quick escape from reality, I was able to, in my alone time, not only soak up some sun, but some really great words of wisdom as well.  If you have not read this book... read it.  For real.  It's a good one. 

In my next few posts, I will share some of my favorite gems from this little hard back. 

choppin' wood

It was a beautiful day today.  Perfect for a drive up into the Uintahs. 

Ryan and I decided on one more drive up for another load of firewood.

Lumberjack Bailey

It's almost down...

WATCH OUT!  It's comin' down!

Taylor went with us.  It was nice to have her muscles!

Gym? Who needs that?  Just go get wood, there's plenty of weight lifting in this activity!

and... we made it home, with the whole load.

google is so smart

For all you DIYers out there, I am posting this to save you some grief! I did not think to google: how to extract a stripped screw, until tonight.  Sunday night was when I needed this.  It would have saved me the trouble of using up my swear word allowance for the week all in one half hour!  I started a project on Sunday, and I finished it 5.5 hours later, minus one handle.  The stripped screw one!  I changed out all 52 pieces of hardware on all my cabinets.  I am satisfied to say, that it is complete, now with this exta tid bit. 

vibram

Although I will NEVER be sporting these to prove or make some fashion statement, I do humbly admit that I owe my BIL Charles an apology.  They still are very weird looking, but I am wearing them... but very selectively.  He was fashionably parading these a few years ago (in puke yellow..yuck!  aren't my grey and pinks much cuter? ) .  My reasons for the splurge are much different than Charles' though.  His = to continue to carry on and state and overstate his weirdness and need to be different...or cool?   Mine = I looked at my bare behind one too many times in my full length a few Fridays back, and decided it was high time for an intervention.  My 2 year break from cardio and the gym have really taken a toll.  These babies are supposed to be gentler to my poor abused, over worked, over surgereid x 3 knees (a big reason for giving it all up... but I could have done elliptical, I just opted for lazy)

My first date with these puppies was STRAIGHT up Eaglewood Dr... and then back DOWN.  Back in my race days, I would have been running straight to the doc after that abuse.  I have to say, no knee pain.  I was impressed, but now, it sucks, cuz I have no excuse.  Well, maybe the rain?  The colder weather? The lack of daylight in the early morning?  There's always something, eh?  We'll see if I can muster out of me some pent up motivation.  ;)  

...if only ryan wouldn't have canceled that gym membership auto pay...

Then I would have maintained the momentum...

HA! I just made myself chuckle!

vitameatavegaminly good

Remember the "I love Lucy" Vegemite episode?  All of those shows, no matter how many times you see the re-runs, are funny.  Kinda like Seinfeld.  Anyway, Ryan and I spontaneously went out the other night, (big surprise, right!?) and we ended up at the Piper Down.  Unbeknownst to us, they had invited an impersonator to preform for the night.  Jason CoZmo.  He/she is from Magna, but currently resides and preforms in NYC.  It was a fully and completely entertaining event.  We were happy to happen upon it.

It was like we were watching the real thing, only live and in color! 

Lots of laughs... good for our health.

comfort food

Today I woke up early.  Earlier than I would wish to be awake on a day off.  It was cold.  Extra cold.  My tummy grumbled.  I was hungry... one of those days that even early in the morning hours, it felt like it was time for comfort food.  And to me, comfort food = crock pot. 

I dug in the freezer.  There was a turkey breast.  So, by 8:30 am, in the crock pot simmering on low I had: turkey, chopped onion, 3 chopped apples from our tree, a handful of chopped carrots, 1 chopped potato, and a can of cranberry whisked with an envelope of onion soup mix. 

At 5pm it tastes scrumptious.  It is especially comforting after yet ANOTHER painful Ute loss...

roots

I don't think my roots have ever been this grown out.  For someone in "the industry", I should be embarrassed.  But, I am not.  I look at it as an accomplishment in patience. 

I won't lie though, I sure am excited for Jamie to fix me in a few hours!

normie

Tonight was a celebration of our friend Normies 71st Birthday!

Can you believe this man?  At 71 he has more gusto and energy to dance than my own husband!

Gotta love Norm.  ;)

He planned his own party, and he had a great turnout!

me with my good friend Sharon

And, here's to the Birthday boy!  I can only pray that there will be many more celebrations of life to come for this old man!