Confession

I’ll warn you right up front, this could be a long post. I have spent many months pondering this and I think I have finally figured it out.

I suffer from blog envy. There I said it. I didn’t want to believe it was true. But I’m envious that all this technology didn’t exist when I was younger and raising my children.

After high school I ended up living out of state from my parents and most of my siblings. I raised my kids in the era of long distance phone calls, letters from home and occasional visits from Mom and Dad.

Fortunately, by the time I had children my parents were retired. So they enjoyed traveling and we did see them quite a bit during the year. But they had to wait for pictures in the mail to see how the kids were growing and to share in our milestones via long distance phone calls.

If I was a young parent today I would have a blog and my family that all live out of state could watch my children grow up. They would see them at their birthday parties, in their Halloween costumes, playing in the snow, visiting the zoo, you get the idea.

But alas, my children are grown up. I stay in touch with them and my siblings via various sources on the Internet and I’m grateful for that. And also grateful that phone calls don’t have long distance charges anymore.

So where does that leave me in the blogging world? Well, I have decided that I do fit in and have a purpose here. As a middle aged fairly average woman, I have a lot in common with many of you out there.

I work full-time, am in my second marriage, and face many of the same challenges that you do. I have the experience of raising my children, learning to set up a home, learning to shop and cook for a family.

I have hobbies, interests and activities that make me happy. However, I have a struggle fitting them into my schedule, just as you probably do also.

I will continue to blog because that is one of the activities that make me happy. And perhaps I might make you laugh, or sometimes I might make you cry. Or you just might discover something new here. You might get it or you might not. But either way I’ll be here.

T-Day

We had a nice Thanksgiving Day. Spoke with my four siblings on the phone and my daughter. Also Wally's girls in California. It was fun to hear how everyone would be spending their day and who they would be visiting.

The kitchen is cleaned up and we are relaxing, that is until Wally just came and said "if we're going to have something for dinner, we shouldn't eat it too late!" Well, back to the kitchen.....

Thanksgiving 2009

It will be a very quiet Thanksgiving Day at our house. Family is spread out this year so it will just be the three of us. However it still calls for the full turkey spread. Gotta have those leftovers. Since it's a four day weekend, I consider that I shouldn't have to do much more cooking after Thursday.

This Thanksgiving I am so thankful for my family. Thankful for my husband and between us our four children, two son-in-laws and one grand-daughter. And of course our siblings and their families. I frequently ponder the relationships I have with each of my siblings as we get older. Which ones do I have more in common with? How often do we see each other or talk on the phone? Luckily we have all this modern technology so the Internet keeps us somewhat connected. I don't say it often enough but I love each one of you.

It's also fun to stay in touch with extended family that I don't see too often. I like knowing what is going on in your lives. I cheer for you everyday.

I'm also grateful for my friends. That includes co-workers as well as my friends I have known for most of my life. There are those of you that have stayed in my life for so very many years, and for this I am grateful. There may have been times over the years when we weren't always involved in each other's life, but we have a history and because of that history you shall always be a part of my life.

I am grateful for my job and the fact that I have worked for the same company for almost 21 years.

I will remember Thanksgivings past when my Mom and Dad sat at our table with us, or my sister and her husband or most of our kids. There was even one year that my ex-husband's mother spent Thanksgiving with us.

Also at this time of year, my heart and prayers go out to my friends and family who are going through difficult times. My coworker who lost his grandmother, my Uncle who is spending his last days surrounded by his loving family and my little 8 year old nephew who is in the hospital.

To all of you I wish you health, happiness and peace. But wishing doesn't make it so, it's up to you.

Be grateful, be loving, be forgiving, be patient, be comfortable with who you are.

The Nielson family (circa. 1970s)

Crossing Items off the Yucky Things to Do List

1) love new health club, enjoyed the sauna this very evening.
2) car insurance paperwork completed along with an 89.00 refund check, sweet!
3) dog got her shot today and I actually got to stay in the room this time, (long story about her fear of going to the vet, I'll save for another day.
4) successful mammogram appointment, good results came back this week.

Now on to funner lists, like Thanksgiving dinner shopping and Christmas gift lists.

The Yucky Things To Do List

Years ago when my brother-in-law passed away my sister came up with the expression, "I don't like having to be the responsible adult." Although I don't like the fact she had to come up with that statement in the first place, I have nonetheless always liked it. This last week as my "to do" list started getting yucky things to do added to it, the responsible adult expression came to mind.

My list of Yucky Things To Do might not by the same as your Yucky Things To Do List. I very carefully considered each item on my Yucky Things To Do List and decided that by doing them I would ultimately benefit from them in some way. So knowing this I had to put on my responsible adult hat and take action.

Here is my Yucky Things To Do List that I am currently working on:
1. Cancel current fitness club membership; what makes this yucky - I love it there and I have been going for almost 3 years and I'm comfortable with the ladies there. Then why do I want to cancel? For 10.00 less a month I can join a larger fitness center that offers way more amenities. This item was completed today on 11/9/09. It was difficult to walk in and tell them why I was dropping them. But on the bright side - today I had my first work out with a personal trainer, followed by my all time favorite thing to do - sitting in the sauna!

2. Cancel car insurance that we have had with the same agent for the last 20 years, awkward! The reason we are doing this - to combine the auto insurance with the home owners insurance for a 50% savings on the auto insurance. Can't pass that up. Just feel bad leaving the good agent that we had. This is currently in work and will be completed by the end of the month.

3. Schedule the dog for her rabies vaccine. Reason to do this is self explanatory. The yucky part is taking the time to go to the vet, which the dog completely hates, she freaks out and they usually have to remove her into the back room without me there in order to give her the injection. It's painful for the both of us and it's just one of those dreaded yucky things to do. I have a busy week this week so will schedule the appointment for next week.

4. Have my annual mammogram. Again benefit is self explanatory. Especially since I had a cousin pass away last year after losing her battle with breast cancer and two more cousins diagnosed and going through treatment this year. Appointment is scheduled for this month and once it's done it's over for a entire year. It's not that the actual mammogram is that bad, it's just again, time away from work and other things I'd rather be doing.

What's on your Yucky Things To Do List?

October Trip to Los Angeles

Last week I had the chance to travel for my job. I flew out Sunday morning to the Long Beach Airport and spent the next four days in Cypress, California. This was my first time flying Jet Blue and I really enjoyed it. They have TV sets on the back of all the seats. I especially enjoyed the flight home on Thursday evening. I had a window seat, the middle seat was empty and the lady in the aisle seat who was traveling with her husband turned out to be from the same town in California where my son-in-law's parents live, and they knew them!

I stayed at the Marriott Courtyard, it was very pleasant. Nice flat screen TVs that swiveled, so I could watch in the evening as I did work on my laptop at the desk.

Dinner in the evenings was a variety of food and people. One night was pastrami and corned beef sandwiches on rye at Katella's Deli and Restaurant (and Bakery) in the company of my two nieces and great niece. It was a fun visit.

Another night a couple of us walked to Chilis, another night (first game of world series) we walked next door and ate in the lounge of a Mexican restaurant. I had an amazing plate there. It was called sizzling enchiladas with a creamy tomatillo sauce. I had steak, but you could also have chicken. It also had grilled mushrooms, onions and peppers and the flavors were so very good.

Another evening, a group of us went to a small family owned Italian restaurant where we sat for hours visiting and eating. Good food and good company.

The off-site I attended during the day was very good and productive. Good team of people to be working with.

I put in a lot of extra work hours in the evening, but it was good so I didn't feel so behind on Friday after missing four regular working days.

The oddest thing I'd have to say about the week was 1.) not driving a car for four days (we were close enough to walk the two blocks to the office and the others had rental cars so I didn't need one) and 2.) not seeing what the back of my hair looked like for four days!

Trudy vs. James Hill - October

Trudy 4 - James Hill 5

August and September - I am losing the battle big time now! It's now mid-October and I haven't walked the hill since May. But I can say I have been exercising (occasionally anyway). I went running and to Curves just last week.

July - I lost again in July, I did not do the hill. You would think in the summertime I would be out walking the hill every week, not gonna happen. I still have five months left to catch up.

June - I lost again this month, I did not do the hill.

May 23 - 38 minutes (new PB), temperature about 65 degrees, wonderful walk.

Apr. 25 - 41 minutes (temperature about 50 degrees) It was off and on sunny. Springtime is pretty on the hill.

March - I didn't do the hill in March. I blame it on the weather and busy Saturdays, I know that's no excuse!

Feb. 21 - 40 minutes (temperature about 58 degrees)

Jan. 31 - 39 minutes

The goal is to walk up the hill starting at the Chevron on Central Ave. up to the pedestrian walk-way at the grade school and back down the hill, a minimum of once a month this year.

Halloween Craft

So I'm on vacation this week and it's been rainy. Perfect weather for staying indoors making fun crafts. I found this pattern on a web site a couple of nights ago. This afternoon I made 7 of them.

I think they are just adorable and you can do so many different designs with them. I'm going to put candy in them and give them to some friends.

Here is the website with the template and check out the other great Halloween ideas.

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2008/10/28/paper-witch-shoes/

Utah Trip - October 2009

Day 1 - Thursday 8th
Wayne drove Wally and I to the airport. Wayne is a man of few words so when he said, "sit on the left side of the plane", we listened and were rewarded with this beautiful sight of Mt. Rainier.



Wally and I arrived at the SLC airport and waited for my sister Sue to arrive from Boise. Then Natalie picked us up and we went out for Thai food for lunch. On the way home we also visited Dunford Bakers which happens to be right behind Natalie's house. They have delicious donuts and a really good variety. http://www.dunfordbakers.com/index.html

This turned out to be cousin's day. Our cousin Russell came to Natalie's house to visit us and brought us a great little note book of our Mom's letters and poetry which she had written to my uncle.

Here is a picture of my sister Sue, our cousin Russell and me.

Then later, Natalie's cousin Goldie and her husband Matt and daughter Aleena from California joined us. We ate dinner and dessert and they spent the night with us. It was so much fun to see them.

For dinner we had make your own sandwiches, chips, salad and for dessert some "awesome" eclairs that Natalie picked up at Carol's Caked and Pastry Shop in Sugar House. They were so very good. http://www.dexknows.com/business_profiles/carol_s_cakes_and_pastry_shop_inc-b568084

Emily picked Sue up and took her to Nancy's house in Springville for the night.

Here's a picture of Scott, Natalie, Goldie, Aleena and Matt with Lewis the dog.

Day 2 - Friday 9th
It was nice to have leftover donuts and eclairs for breakfast! Plus toast and fruit. Goldie and Matt left to pick up Serene from the airport and head south for the wedding festivities they were in town to attend.

Natalie,Wally and I ran some errands, grocery shopping and bought bulbs to plant in Natalie's backyard. Then in the afternoon we headed to Springville to pick up Sue to drive to Ephraim for the night. We checked into the hotel in Ephraim and went out for Mexican food for dinner. Then back to the hotel where Sue, Natalie and I enjoyed the outdoor hot tub.

Before driving back to the hotel we drove over to Manti to see the temple at night. Such a beautiful sight.

Manti Temple

Day 3 - Saturday 10th
This was a very busy day. It was the purpose of our trip. The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers put together a day to celebrate my great, great-grandparents Robert and Elizabeth Johnson. My father, A. Errol Nielson's mother was Alice Johnson, her father was Alma Johnson and his father was Robert Johnson.

This is a picture of a Pioneer dug out on the side of the hill which the temple was built on.

My Aunt Margaret delivering a speech at the cemetary as a memorial wreath was placed on the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Memorial.After the cemetary we went to the Manti Tabernacle for lunch and a program. At the Tabernacle was a craft table and also display tables of the ancestors.

Sue, Nancy and I

We then drove back to Nancy's house in Springville where Emily made us home-made chili and cornbread for dinner. It was delicious. It's a family recipe that wins many chili cook offs. Here is the basic recipe. Everyone doctors it up a little bit, their way.

http://pomegranatelane.blogspot.com/2009/10/macho-chili.html

After dinner we drove back to West Jordan where we spent the night at Natalie's house.

Day 4 - Sunday 11th
Sunday morning we slept in and then went to brunch at a place called The Dodo. It was delicious. I had raspberry pancakes. http://www.thedodo.net/

After brunch we drove through the avenues looking at the beautiful homes and reminiscing from when I lived downtown during my college days. We even found an estate sale where we bought a ceramic fish, driftwood and seashell wind chime. Later Scott looked up the artist'same and we discovered that it came from Fresno, CA and retailed for 166.00. We bought it for 15.00!

We also went to Memory Grove park where the leaves were turning and it was a beautiful day for photos.

With my sister Sue. We are the oldest and the youngest siblings of five.

This was just a fun bench so we took pictures at it. Just a casual afternoon in the park.

Wally and IHere is picture of the LDS Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake taken from the McCune Mansion.
After the park we went and visited an Italian deli, where we bought French milk chocolate bars. Then it was off to the airport to drop Sue off for her flight home to Boise. When we got back to Natalie's home Sue called to tell me that her flight was 90 minutes late! Luckily she had a good book with her.

Natalie and I planted the flower bulbs in the backyard. It's hard to believe we have to wait till springtime to see the result of our labor.

For dinner we made home-made corn tortilla's with the tortilla press Wally had made. We had chicken tacos with homemade guacamole and pico and all the fixings, it was delicious. Then we relaxed in front of the TV and caught up on some recorded shows.

Day 5 - Monday 12th

Monday was the day to fly home. In the morning I drove Wally to McD's for some breakfast, that's his treat when we are traveling. Then Natalie and I snuck out to do some shopping at Kohls. We had great success. I was able to get everything packed back into our suitcases, including the fish wind chimes, extra clothes and the binder we got from the family event.

We then decided to go bowling. I love to bowl and haven't been bowling for a year or so. Wally watched as Natalie, Scott and I bowled. Then it was lunch at Johnny Carino's.

After that it was time to go to the airport for Wally and I to head home.

I'm always sad when I leave Natalie behind in Salt Lake. It was so much fun to hang out with her and Scott, to stay at their house and spend time together.

It was fun to see all the family and friends that we did get to visit with on this trip.

It was a great trip. When I got home I remained on vacation the rest of the week and we celebrated Wally's birthday. It's back to work tomorrow!

World's Oldest Person Dies at 115

Gertrude Baines died peacefully in her sleep on Friday, September 11, 2009. She was born on April 6, 1894. She became the oldest person in the world in January after another 115 year old woman died. And now the oldest person in the world is Japan's Kama Chien at 114.

Gertrude has no living relatives. She had only been in a nursing home for the last 10 years and before that lived on her own. Her only daughter died at the age of 18. This had to be a woman who had an amazing social network.

I have no plans to live until 115. Even though there's never enough time to do everything we want to do in life, really what would you do for all those extra years? I guess as I get older I might change my thinking about that.

Quote from the news; "According to the Times, when Baines was asked by reporters her secret for living a long life, she would reply "Ask God."

Here's a little fact for you: A supercentenarian (sometimes hyphenated as super-centenarian) is someone who has reached the age of 110 years, something achieved by only one in a thousand centenarians (based on European data). Furthermore, only 1 in 50 supercentenarians lives to be 115.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090911/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_oldest_1

Birthday

Last night as I was laying in bed thinking about my birthday today, I started thinking about a few memorable birthdays I've had in the past.

The first one that came to mind was my 16th birthday. I remember I was babysitting for a family whose parents had gone overseas. I was living at their house taking care of the kids on my birthday. That day my friends came over with everything to make root beer floats.

On my 22nd birthday, I was out of college living in an apartment in Salt Lake City with a friend. My parents were always great about sending letters and fun boxes in the mail. For this birthday my Dad had put together a paper poster like thing (I remember it was orange) and attached to it 22 - 2.00 bills for my 22nd birthday.

The next year on my 23rd birthday I was married and had a 1 month old baby. That night I remember I cooked steak and corn on the cob for dinner and my husband had forgotten my birthday! I didn't say anything about it. A few days later his mother remembered it and we celebrated then. (It was our first year of marriage and coincidentally that marriage didn't last.) After that I learned to start talking about my birthday well in advance.

Another birthday memory is my 30th birthday. At that time I was divorced with two small children and was having a long distance romance with my now husband who at that time worked in another state. He came to town to celebrate my birthday and we had dinner at the Spaghetti Factory in Trolley Square and he gave me a beautiful necklace. The necklace was a tri-colored heart. I wore that every single day for years until the heart wore so thin it could no longer stay on the chain. Now I keep it in my jewelry box.

Birthdays are very different now that I'm older. Mostly less fanfare. I still make it "my day" and actually since it's on the first of the month, I can drag it out for weeks, with lunch with friends and more dinners with family. I enjoyed all the Birthday wishes on Facebook, and email, the cards that came in the mail and the phone calls.

My parents used to call and sing Happy Birthday to me and then hang up the phone. It was the cutest thing. That was back in the days where you paid for long distance phone calls. Those calls are greatly missed. I appreciate my sister and brother-in-law calling and singing today. I told them they were lucky I was by myself and in the car cause I had them on speaker phone!

And then there was the Key Lime Cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory. All in all it was a good day. And besides, really aren't I just one day older anyway? And when you think about it, so are you!