Smells like my Youth

I love this stuff so much. If I could, I would marry it and promise it all sorts of things.

http://www.goodhomestore.com/docs/0017.html#

Don't sign me up...

Every season I get a brochure in my mail for community education courses. I have never taken one of these classes but that doesn't stop me from flipping through the entire thing, and pretending that I'm going to sign up for a class or two...or two hundred. There are so many things I would love to learn, so many hobbies and so many languages. There really isn't a class I wouldn't like...except for a few of these gems. My imagination will not be registering for any of the following offered classes.

1. Bobbin Lace.
Umm...not high on my list of crafts. I would have to wear lace before I learned how to make it. Good class, not for me.

2. Scrapbook Cards.
I've finally admitted to myself that scrap booking, and making cards from scrapbook stuff will never be within my skills. Instead I will enjoy the beautiful cards my friends make and send them sloppy handwritten notes in return. A gal needs to do what a gal needs to do.

3. Phlebotomy Certification
It would never happen.

4. Computer Keyboarding
I've already figured this one out.

5. Writing: Obituary Workshop
I could see myself taking this class to new levels, the likes of which they've never seen. I am sure my obituary would turn out to be nothing more than a fantastical pack of lies. I would get kicked out for sure.

6. (My favorite so far) Avoid Lunacy- Drive them Sane.
This is a class for couples and singles. I say if you are in a relationship that is driving you crazy, you may want to fore go this class and head straight to the mediation department.

7. Aquatics: Early Bird Run
Swimsuit and early morning? Wouldn't happen.

8. Medieval Swordsmanship Beginning
If you're really lucky, sometimes you can catch the medieval sword fighters at Sugarhouse Park. I love to watch and wonder what their real lives are like versus their fantasy lives. Not for me, but certainly for a lot of people.

9. Dog Obedience: Beginning
My fear of dogs is growing as I get older. My heart would stop if I went to this class.

10. (This really is a class) Forkbending.
I guess I can go and learn how to bend a fork with my mind. Right after this class I will strap on my hot pink superhero costume and patrol the streets for people manipulating stop lights with their minds.

11. Paganism, Witchcraft, Wicca
Living in Sugarhouse, I see enough of this stuff all ready. No need to take a class.

12. Stamp Camp.
Clever name...please see #2

13. Making and Using Blowtubes and Darts.
Umm...

So there you have it. Those are the classes that I will not be daydreaming about. In the meantime I will be daydreaming about learning 5 new languages, how to weld metal, and how to cook for a crowd.

Happy Anniversary

In some ways it's been a long three years and in others it barely feels as if a day has passed. You've accomplished a lot. I've never seen anyone work harder. You've snagged a fabu job, and have a daughter who believes the sun rises and sets because you ask it to. Happy Anniversary to the love of my life. Thank you for being everything I could have ever hoped for and more.

Welcome to the World Ryder!

Something Needs to Change

I cannot sleep tonight. Every time I close my eyes, tears float to the surface. My heart begins to race as I realize that something needs to change.

Seven months ago, my Bishop's pregnant wife, Michelle, his son, Ben, and his daughter, Anna were killed by a drunk driver, just half a mile away from my house. I can vividly recall the blare of the sirens as the ambulances sped by our house as if it happened yesterday. There seemed to be a million of them. My bishop lives on my street. I drive by his house every day. I've tried to write this blog before, but I've always given up because words aren't enough to describe the deeply profound, and yes, sacred effect this tragedy has had on my life.

The first two months following the accident, his house was draped with pastel ribbons and bows, a color for each person that died. Eventually the ribbons were removed and everyone on my street and in my ward tried, and still fervently try, to act normal and that a tragedy of such magnitude couldn't possibly have occurred to a righteous man and his sons living just a half a block away. But we all know it did, and lessons have been learned.

My bishop (now former, he was released this past Sunday), immediately decided to forgive the teenage boy responsible for the accident. He says that after looking at his deceased wife, he knew she would want him to forgive, so he decided to forgive. After that decision, he heard his son Sam cry out from the back seat. I believe that decision has made it easier for him and his family. He now only has to deal with grief and pain. Anger has been left out of the equation. For the first five months, I couldn't look at him sitting up on the stand without the lyrics to a Paul Simon song floating through my head "...Losing love is like a window in your heart. Everybody sees you're blown apart. Everyone hears the wind blow...." I found it so hard, and still do, to think of anything to say. I would say hi, smile and act overly cheery, all the while resisting an overwhelming urge to sob and tell him how sorry I was.

Tonight while watching some mindless entertainment show I hear that Lindsay Lohan is only to get a day in jail and have to finish rehab for a SECOND DUI. Now, I don't know if this is what everyone gets who gets a second dui, or if she is getting special treatment. That is beside the point. The point is that now millions of people who get drunk and drive are going to hear this. What's the worst that can happen? They'll just get some community service and a day in jail, drink and drive all you want, nothing bad will happen if you get caught.

Something needs to change. Something has to change.

The laws need to be tougher. I'm a fan of if you drink and drive your license should be suspended for life. If you get caught a second time, that's ten years in prison. There can be stipulations, like get your license back after five years for good behavior or something like that. I don't think this is too extreme or too tough.

I wonder if the judge who Okayed Lindsay's plea bargain would've made the same decision if he had lived on my street and witnessed the agony that I have witnessed. If he had to watch a man struggle as he does his best to piece together a better life for him and his sons. I daresay the outcome might have been different.

I don't know where to go from here, or if I'll ever be able to help make a change. I hope so. I hope I will be able too, but as for now, something has to change.

CONGRATULATIONS!

My little sister is now a little mama. On Saturday she gave birth to an 8 pound, 10 ounce beautiful baby boy named Ryder. Jazzy, Phil, and Ryder are all doing very well, if not a little exhausted. Congratulations! Ryder is one lucky little boy.

(I'm having issues with getting a picture, and Sean is not around, which means I am totally clueless. Stay tuned for more pictures. I will get some up as soon ASAP.)

As a Side Note

Earlier today I exchanged my drinking glass for a new one because I saw a floaty in my water. I just walked into my kitchen, apparently more parched than the dessert because I grabbed the first glass I saw and swallowed it's contents. As I finished I recognized the glass as the floaty glass. I drank the floaty. It's really bothering me...