Time and all it's frustrations

Why is it that sometimes time flies and other times it seems to stand still? I have classes that it seems I have all the time I need to get through the information I have prepared and the next period I feel like I'm cramming that same information down my students' throats. We have multiple modern technologies (cell phones, computers, email, microwaves etc.) that are meant to save time and yet all they REALLY do is allow us to cram more into our days.
I have been trying to figure out how to get everything that I'd like to done in 24 hours without wiping myself out: praying, reading my scriptures, teaching, athletic training, working-out, advising, church calling, social life, supervising students, reading, etc. I've figured out how to do it....never sleep.
I have found, however, that I am better busy than bored. I actually get a little bit of anxiety, especially over Christmas Break, when I don't have to be anywhere. I am getting better at time management although I still need to cut unnecessary things out of my life. It is definitely a work in progress. I appreciate those around me who have helped me in my quest and have provided opportunities to have a life; My principal for giving me an extra athletics period, Byron and Niki for asking me to play in their softball team, my co-workers and student trainers who make my jobs easier. Hopefully, as I get more organized, things will open up more and more. Here's hoping for a less stressful, less time crammed, more fun-filled life.

Last weeks with Jack!

The following are a few of the videos I (and Allan) shot of Jack his last few weeks here in Utah. 1. I love how he cracks himself up and gets giddy goofy sometimes. 2. Pool time! Our goal was to get him used to going under the water and jumping in. He took baby steps and would jump off of my leg and into the pool if he could hang onto my thumbs. When he got used to doing it a bit he'd exclaim, " All by myself!" even though he'd be hanging on to my thumbs. I had a blast with him and miss him immensely! Now if we can just keep him in the pool. 3. We also got to go to the Eccles Dinosaur Museum in Ogden. Jack loves dinosaurs and showed us his "excited face" in the video. Love that kid!

Pioneer Day!

Yesterday, Mom, Molly, Buffy Jack and I went up to This Is The Place state park for a pre-Pioneer Day celebration. Jack took a while to warm up to the animals, in fact the peacocks terrified him, but we were able to get him on the horse ride. I guess I can't really blame him when I got gored by the cow that I was petting because I stopped to talk to mom. Next thing I know I was feeling a horn in my side. It wasn't very hard but it did startle me.




The highlight of the day, or should I say highlights, were the multiple train rides we went on. Jack was in heaven! There is a miniature train that we rode that Jack called the "pokey train." See attached video. He was such a trooper and walked all over.His favorite was riding in the yellow caboose! Look at his grin! We also went to a puppet show and Jack decided that he wanted to be a part of the show and before we knew it he was back behind the curtain with puppets. The girl doing the show was great and let him play with the puppet, which was as tall as he was!

At the entrance of the park is a brand new statue that was just unveiled last week of Brigham Young and Joseph Smith together. I really like it. You can almost feel the love and respect that they had for each other in the statue.

I'm grateful for my pioneer heritage and it's amazing to think that I had relatives in the Martin handcart company and other later companies. They went through and survived a lot...more than I ever could! I've realized that I really need to learn more about them and hope to. I'm also grateful for the faithful examples of my grandparents and parents! They're amazing and such a strength to me!




We had a great time at the park and we wore Jack and Buffy out! It didn't take long for them to doze off in the car. A day well spent and fun memories!

Oh what do you do in the summertime.....

Play with family of course! I love being with my nephews and nieces and don't stop laughing by the cute things they do and the fun things that they say. I just wish they all were closer so that I could spend more time with them!

We had a lot of fun listening to Andrew perform his various animal voices and we all had fun swimming at my pool!

Jack had fun on the 4th jumping on the Rampton's trampoline and sword fighting with Andrew and Greg.

The 4th of July!

The Fourth of July is such a fun holiday! I love it for a lot of reasons the first of which is family, followed by great music, BBQ's (thanks Janice and Vince), freedom and fireworks! My sister and her family came up from Phoenix and my brother and his family are here for the summer before heading to California and we were able to play a bunch during the week. My nephews are so much fun and they're at such a fun age! My sister Amy, brother-in-law Greg, nephew Jack and sister-in-law Buffy went hiking to Stewart Falls on the 5th. I love that hike because of the scenery and the pay off waterfall at the end! I always take my camera when I hike it. It's the best hike in the fall because the fall colors are amazing! It's also fun to do at night when there is a full moon because the moon lights the path. You don't even need flashlights!

My only complaint is that my legs struggle....well my right leg. I few years ago I had a disc in my back fragment and it shifted out on my spinal cord and spinal nerves. My leg was completely numb for a week and I still have a little numbness in my shin. As a result it left me with permanent nerve damage in my leg which affects the motor functions. I don't really notice it with walking but I do notice it when I hike and when I run. When I'm hiking my leg gets tired really easily. I feel like I'm dragging it along towards the end. It did it on this hike unfortunately. When I'm running I notice it because I have a little drop foot. I catch my toe on things and about trip myself. I'm waiting for the day when I biff it running out to one of my injured athletes. I'll let you know when it happens! The following are pictures from the hike!

Let the home improvement begin!

Now that I've been in my townhome for a year and a half, I'm finally getting around to painting my garage and bedrooms and putting things on my wall. I painted my garage walls white. Now it's a true AF garage since I had already epoxied the floor red! :) I painted an accent wall in my bedroom and this next week I'll be painting my extra bedroom a seafoam green color. I'll be glad when I have it all done. I've also finally got some vinyl stenciling and wall hangings up too. A year and a half to start it and 2 weeks to finish!

Delta may have redeemed itself...

I got an email today from Delta stating that they had reconsidered my complaint and they were going to refund my money. I may actually look at flying with them again.

Explanation....I flew to Phoenix for an athletic training convention on April 30th and flew home on May 5. When I went down I took 2 pieces of luggage, one empty, because I was doing a swiss ball/foam roller workshop and I needed to transport the supplies home.

When I went to do my online check-in it would only let me check one bag. I tried it a couple of times thinking there was something wrong with the website. I finally did a search of Delta's website and found a link that said that Delta had changed their policy and the the first bag was free and and other bags were subject to a $25 fee. Oh, and the policy went into effect May 5th. WHAT?!

I hadn't been notified at all about this change. I received emails telling me to check in on-line and reminders of my flight time etc. but hadn't received anything notifying me of this change. I was ticked and bound and determined to fight it. I came with 2 bags, had a round-trip ticket and I planned on going home with 2 bags. What a joke! What did they think I was going to do, leave one of them on one leg of my trip.

Long story short, I complained at the ticket counter and they basically said, well that's the policy. I had to pay the fee to get my extra bag home. I was so irritated, as soon as I got through security and to my gate I pulled out my computer and sent a formal complaint to Delta. I heard back from them about a week later and they said that they weren't going to refund my money.

I guess enough people complained and they reconsidered. Hmmm, sometimes it does pay to be a squeaky wheel...even if it is a delayed response.