miss clavel first exclaimed "something is not right!"

research shows that those people who are sleep deprived are "just not right"!

in addition we are less motivated to exercise, have lower metabolism and bad eating habits. hmm. the report i just listened to said, "someone who is sleep deprived, just needs to make more time to sleep. they need to go to bed and have no distractions and sleep." it didn't mention how you are suppose to turn off your brain, or make the sore joints and aches go away or if you do fall asleep how the heck are you suppose to stay asleep. obviously the reporter has no trouble sleeping.

and...i always knew i was "just not right", i didn't need a study to remind me!

one that desires to excel should endeavor in those things that are in themselves most excellent . . . epictetus

she was born with a spirit that would seek excellence. if the ability to complete a task well did not come naturally to her, she worked hard and studied, observed and learned and soon succeeded in performing the mission as if it were second nature. whether it be gliding down the snowy mountain slopes in excellent form, mastering the art of watercolor, chalk or oil, graduating with a double major, completing medical school and today successfully completing her residency program, it has all been done with solid faith and determination.

the journey has not been easy. there have been major trials and defeats, but there have been glory days as well and like the true olympian that she is, she has obtained her "gold". Margaret Thatcher once said, "look at the day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. it's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing. it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it."

she did it! all the while with the faith that "for with God, all things are possible." congratulations dr. sarah connors petersen.

and because "no bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings." (william blake), kudos to Dave Petersen, Timo, Anna, Cori and David!

we are so proud of you all!

long awaited pictures

i finally got around to downloading pictures from last thanksgiving! the family room was turned into dining room for 40. (actually 39, 1 was a wee babe)










we took pictures of the gang that was here and really missed those who were not!














the pies which were as delicious as they look are one of the reasons that those of us over 50 look the way we do!








the last pic is the one of the gang entire - at least those who were here. minus bryan and stacy who walked in just as we finished taking pictures.

be careful

seems like some whom i love and hold dear are having a few struggles lately. it could be the time of year. it could be the time of life. patty griffin's song "be careful" puts into lyric and music more beautifully than i can how i wish everyone would treat those tender souls i love. take a listen. we should all take heed of the consequences of careless behavior around others.

yuck

i had a bad dream within a bad dream! and i still can't shake it. that's just not fair!

moon, moon, great big silver moon ....

2010's biggest and brightest moon kept me awake last night. it was, beautiful and it was, bright, especially reflecting off of the snow. it was great for a night hike, maybe to delicate arch or something. or say a drive to california because it is easier to spot the deer on the road. it would have been a good night for camping if it hadn't been so cold. but it was not a good night for sleeping. i don't really understand why i can take an afternoon nap, rare but wonderful, when the sun is in full brightness, but the full moon at night keeps me up and i want to just turn the light out.

just a random thought.

in the bleak mid winter

poets, publicists, and psychiatrists all have their candidates for the bleakest time of the year. According to one equation devised by dr. cliff amall, a british researcher from cardiff university, jan 18 is 2010's most depressing day!* with that in mind here is what i shall do about it -

1. be glad it is already 11:30 and the day is nearly half over!
2. go take a shower, maybe even brush my hair and then finish cleaning up the kitchen. ( i do feel better when i am clean and my kitchen is clean too!)
3. plan what wonderful treat i shall have to eat as i watch "24" tonight. (loving the new dvr!)
4. go shopping at kohl's and use my 30% off coupon!
5. take my mother for a ride. gram can lift one's spirit in a heart beat!
6. download music from my favorite singer/song writer ** to my new phone!
7. and speaking of new phones, i do believe it is my favorite new gadget i have had for sometime! 8. send a few much needed return email messages and set up appts for work. work is always good for brightening the day!

goodness - already i feel my mood lifting! i might even be inspired to continue writing in my gratitude journal again!


* http://health.msn.com/health-topics/depression/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100252589&gt1=31009

** http://www.coriconnors.com/

bad words

this cold, stale weather makes ones bones hurt. yesterday, as i was "loading" gram into the car she let out an exasperated "oh hell". i laughed, told her i was sorry she hurt and said an "oh hell" myself. gram paused for a moment. i looked up from having been bent over lifting her legs into the car and saw a very concerned look on her face. she then said, "i don't like it when you say things like that. you shouldn't talk that way! it doesn't sound like you!"

i kissed her forehead, told her i was sorry and i would try very hard not to use that kind of language again. she smiled, nodded her head and said "good".

i love gram!

places

when thinking about places i would most like to avoid this is right there at the top. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/eurostar/6844320/Eurostar-pledges-inquiry-into-hellish-ordeal-of-cold-weather-passengers.html . the article mentions that a number of people suffered from panic attacks - ya think! nothing like being trapped in a crowded train, in a very long tunnel, under a whole lot of water with no lights, blankets or drink.

on the other hand ....

this looks like a very nice place to visit. http://dc.about.com/od/christmasevents/a/WreathsAcrossAm.htm. kudos to worcester wreath company of maine for providing the wreaths and all the volunteers who place them. and thanks steve for the email telling of this event. i think when i die i will have a white grave stone marker just so i can have a wreath with a red ribbon placed on it!

and final random thoughts - who does aaron brown think he is telling me it's time i updated my blog!!!! people in glass houses should not throw stones.
(sorry if that sounded grumpy. i think i'm still trying to get over the thought of being stuck in a train on the bottom of the english channel! .... oh well .... happy holidays.

bright skies at night

it wasn't the end of the world but it looked like something out of "flash forward" or "lost". a brilliant flash of light exploded in the sky just after midnight.. i was sitting on the couch and watched it. i immediately went to the front door, opened it expecting to find ... i don't know what but something. instead the sky was clear and the stars were bright and all was at peace. sherry followed me to the door when i told her about the bright light flash. she said maybe it was a falling star. turns out it was a meteor http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=8714738 and/or http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13814412 .

happy birthday

you may have tangible wealth untold;

caskets of jewels and coffers of gold,

richer than i you can never be -

i had a mother who read to me.

strickland gillilan

in spite of failing eyesight, my mother still reads to me. it may just be the road sign or billboard we pass on our daily "outings" but mom is still the designated reader! she has a passion for good writing. she recalls her mother reciting poetry to her and she continued the tradition of reciting to her own children and grandchildren. all of my aunts have the gifted ability to quote prose and poetry befitting a particular situation we may find ourselves in. i went on my first "coon hunt" with old dan and little anne, (where the red fern grows), learned how to make acorn pancakes, (my side of the mountain) and cried when little carol bird drifted off with the angels, (the birds christmas carol) all while sitting comfortably at my mother's feet. she would sit in the old white rocker and we would gather round anxious to hear her expressive yet gentle voice. to this day i don't believe there is anything more comforting to me than the sound of my mother's voice. it can chase all demons away.

in the morning hours, when the grandkids would sleep over, she would greet their day with a "get in your place". they would crawl up in bed beside her. she would then instruct them to get the book out of the night stand and proceed to read or rather recite favorite poems from robert louis stevenson. (it is only fitting that they should share the same birthday). and when timo comes to visit he to remembers where "his place" is. $5.00 for every poem learned and a quarter each time it was recited. that's what she paid the kids. there is not one grandchild that cannot recite a poem and i dare say that each time they do, they think of their gram.

through the years she has answered to many names, teen, aunt teen, momma afton, momochaka, gram. i am lucky enough to call her mom.

and ...

just in case you were wondering.....this http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33225568/ns/us_news/ is why i don't sing in karaoke bars!

sold

curses - foiled again. lagoon bought three of the four lions for over $16,000. The first one sold for like $8000.00 to an independent bidder. i learned the lions names were patience, honor, integrity and fortitude. oh well. he would have looked nice in the yard but gram already has all those virtues anyway. we will just have to go to lagoon and see him. at least they will be in farmington.

things that make you go hmmmm.....

during the late 1930's and early 40's, a girl, living on a ranch outside of blackfoot idaho, didn't have much of a choice when it came to new fashions. but if she was creative and talented enough she could design and sew her own clothes. gram had what it took. she found some pretty red gingham material and designed a dress that fit tight on her slim torso, with a drop waist that then flared out into two ruffled layers. it had puff sleeves and was trimmed in white lace. her long black hair looked beautiful as it cascaded over her shoulders and the bright colored dress. red is best! she loved that dress and saved it through the years, even though her slim 27in waist grew larger with the birth of her 7 children. she let us play in it. we would pretend and dream that we were as pretty as she was. gram always smiles when that dress is mentioned. even to this day, nearly 70 years since she first made it.

cori has immortalized it in her song "the red gingham dress". and there is still a "lilt" in her sway, although these days it must be expressed in her hands as her legs will no longer carry her. and the "spark in her eye" still catches the glance of any passing guy!

a cherished family photo is of gram, wearing her beloved dress, sitting on top of a 6 ton concrete lion located on the northeast side of the utah state capitol building.(circa 1940.)

this week i learned that those lions are up for sale on ebay. the renovation of the state capitol called for new replacements and they are selling the old, worn out, broken concrete lions. they only weigh 6 tons and are about 6 ft by 6 ft by oh say 12 feet long. a nice addition to the backyard don't you think?!

jordon can get a truck that will move it. our neighbor has access to a crane. gram's birthday is in november. hmmm.........

ebay link to auction site: http://cgi.ebay.com/HISTORIC-CONCRETE-LION-FROM-UTAH-STATE-CAPITOL-NE_W0QQitemZ140348950269QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item20ad7306fd&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

ta da!

i've never had granite counter tops. i tell my clients that they are a good investment in most homes, but never got around to making that investment myself. when we first moved into this house...4 1/2 years ago...can you believe it...anyway....when we first moved into this house i got a bid for granite and it was mucho monzola! the white corian was in good shape, looked nice and was just fine. well this past birthday, my big one, my sisters decided i needed new counter tops. i must have been talking about them too much. so for my present they presented me with money for new granite. with the slow down in the economy the price dropped by nearly half and i got a better grade of granite besides. so.....drum roll please....here's how they look.

i find myself keeping the kitchen just a little cleaner and often sit at the island bar area and just gaze at the beautiful stone. there is good energy from the rock and it is pretty besides.

i have the very best, most generous family in the world! thanks!!!!!!