Beneath the Wraps

  I think in many cases the “personality” quizzes are geared towards job/career and not so much “personal” life.   But I seldom ever take a quiz with a job in mind, let alone a career.   Why not just make a career out of uplifting others?   Even if it means one doesn’t get paid.   Money isn’t everything.   Nor does it necessarily equal success.   Not in my book anyway. There have been many times I have passed up opportunities or advance in promotion when I know that someone else can benefit.  I think putting another’s happiness before my own can make me equally as happy if not more than if I allowed myself to take the reigns.  One example that comes to mind is when a friend and I had joined a bowling team.  One of the members was a single guy who seemed to be interested in both of us, and I knew she liked him.  I could have gone out with him but thought she might do better in his company.  They were marrie...

             I vaguely remember having a “Christmas Pickles” on our tree.   At least I think I do. I don’t even know where it came from or why it was there.   We obviously didn’t know its tradition as it was never hidden.   Tradition says the pickle is “hidden” to bring good luck to the finder.   We never hid the pickle.             I don’t remember hiding any ornaments intentionally.   Many times the fuller trees seemed to swallow up ornaments that had been pushed into the tree which is why I prefer Charlie Brown trees.   Every ornament can be seen on a Charlie Brown tree and none get lost.            There is speculation about the Christmas pickle – or legends. Lost truths.   Invented stories perhaps.   It’s kind of a fun idea.   A little bizarre.   I mean a pickle? Not an item I have associated with Christmas.  ...

          When we are taught to read the letters will sometimes give us problems.  Vowels don’t always make the same sound.  The pronunciation of “a’ sounds the same in words like “apple”  and  “cat” but differs when saying words like: “clay” or “talk”.  What’s even more confusing is seeing the letter “ a ” and writing it in a different way.            I don’t remember questioning that as a child, but I do as an adult. With so many fonts, the appearance of letters might appear differently from the other.   For example this font which I am currently using versus what comes up automatically in my computer .   I like this font so much better.   The “a” looks like what I’ve been taught to write, not this foreign letter that has an extra hook on top.             Who changed the font?   Who decided that...

After my post yesterday, the rain fell off and on. When I left the house to go pick up Jenna, the sky was pouring down water from the sky.  POURING.  I had to return to the house for different shoes so my feet wouldn't get wet. I had grabbed Jenna's umbrella and coat as that morning we had both left the house with just sweatshirts and I knew she wouldn't be prepared.  The spine came out of her umbrella as I was putting it into my bag. Roland had forgotten his phone, but I can text him through an texting system that he set up through his computer at work.  I told him that it was pouring and asked if he could meet us at the school.  It would be an hour wait, but still.  Jenna and I are both okay with the rain, really.  But she is currently taking swim lessons, and I didn't know if the weather would interfere with the bus schedule running on time. When I exited the bus less than 20 minutes later, the sky was barely drizzling.  No one in Salt ...

       Shortly after school started, Jenna found some roller skates at a second hand store and Roland bought them for her.   She would never admit that they were tight on her, but I think they were.           She did try using them on occasion, but never really got the flair for using them comfortably.   After two months of leaving them outside in the cold, I told her to put them in the car and give them to Anna – not that they would currently fit her four-old cousin - but Anna can grow into them, whereas I believe Jenna has grown out.          The wind has been howling something fierce.   Yet the last two days have been like a spring/summer transition.   Neighbor kids were riding up and down the street on bicycles and scooters.   How fun it would have been for Jenna if she did still have her skates – or maybe she'd feel embarrassed as s...

I don’t mind the change in the weather.   I welcome the cool air.   Even if it means I need to bundle up or dress in layers.   The thing I don’t like is having bus drivers blare the heat as though it’s his or her sole responsibility of heating the entire universe. When I lived with my mom and was working downtown, I would get on the bus and start stripping down.   It was a good 30-40 minute ride.   Just before we got to second south, I’d layer up again.   But the distances I have from West Valley to my destination are so much shorter. It seems senseless to strip down.   At the same time it seems I will suffocate if I don’t remove something. I sit next to the door as often as I can – though the back door doesn’t always open.   I’m getting familiar with which drivers are able to deal with a minimum amonut of heat and which ones have to have the heat cranked up as though Roland is the driver.   I try to avoid their route...

In addition to celebrating the nations birthday in July, Utah also celebrates its roots with “Pioneer Day” or “the Days of ‘47”    On the 24 th of July Salt Lake holds its annual two hour parade in addition to the youth parade that takes place the week prior.   “The Days of ’47” parade is well attended.   There’s several people who will actually camp overnight in order to get the perfect parade watching spots.   I happen to believe that all of these people are crazy – yet at the same time I admire their enthusiasm.   The parade is truly an awesome moment for them and I’m grateful for the enthusiasm.   I really am.   I’m also grateful that the parade is televised and I am able to watch it in my air conditioned home.   I am not a parade person – actually I am not a crowd person.   I could handle the parade in Afton, Wyoming just fine.   I don’t think the entire population of their small town matches the tremendous ...

I went out to see my mom at the assisted living yesterday.  The last two times I have gone, I’ve taken her out to see Aunt Trudy – who is currently in rehab and in a facility with a name similar to the place where mom is staying, but such radical difference in the two places. Granted, the facility my aunt is in is not the last place that she will ever call home. It is a rehab center.  But it reminds me of some of the assisted living facilities that Corey and I had looked into but could not afford. I don't know how this rehab bill is going to affect Aunt Trudy – for I know that it will be more pricy than the bills Corey gets for mom. The center where mom is currently seems understaffed.  And each of the staff members assists with the seating and the feeding and the meds and forms of entertainment.  They start setting up and bringing residents to the table starting at 11:00.  They don’t eat until 12:00.  There is one cook. At the center where my...