WE DID IT

We started our "Losing it--if not the weight, then our minds" blog. No one will want to read it because it will be boring, but it's to help keep us accountable.

Tonight I got that strange pain in my armpit again. I was scared out of my mind for and thought, I didn't change my diet quick enough and I'm going to die--again! Not that I actually died the first time but I thought I was going to. But the pain went away after about five minutes so maybe, just maybe I'm not too late.

Pam will be there, daily, hourly, if I need her--she's that kind of a girl--to encourage me, to keep me on track. It's good to have a cohort in this business of changing my life for the better.

I met Pam when I was assigned to be her visiting teacher. I went alone the first month because my partner was a young mother and couldn't get away. I was glad because I got to meet Pam alone and we both knew we would be friends. (For those who are Mormon you are probably wondering why I didn't already know Pam, if I was in her ward. That is because 24 years earlier they had split our ward and then, wonder of wonder, they put us back together. Anyway, Pam wasn't in the original ward, she had moved in just a few years earlier so I didn't know her from before. Is this confusing enough?)

So, blog number four. Not that "Walking in Starlight" ever gets written on and not that the Cookbook gets written on much.

So, what things are new with you?

WAY TO GO, EINSTEIN

I can point the finger of doubt and make up a perfectly illogical explanation for simple events. On Saturday night Phil watched the BYU-Oklahoma football game. I watched a DVD, Last Chance Harvey. At 8:45 I ran to Redbox to return it and then stopped by Pam's house on the way home. When I drove into her cul-de-sac I noticed all the lights were off at her neighbor, Faye's house. I don't know that I've ever seen all the lights off at Faye's house.

When I left Pam's house all the lights were on at Faye's house and their car was gone, their daughter's car was gone--the daughter lives in the basement apartment--and a van was parked skeewompus in the driveway.

I all of a sudden knew they had taken Faye's husband to the hospital. The daughter had gone with them because it was so serious. They had called someone to come and stay with the children in the basement apartment--that was the driver of the van, who had screeched on the brakes and ran to take care of the kids, not bothering to park properly.

Of course I called Faye. No answer. That further confirmed my theory. I called the hospital. No one was there by that name. I actually questioned the operator and had her check again, that is how sure I was. Had he gone to another hospital, I wondered?

I called Pam and told her my fears. I was convincing. I'm nothing if not convincing. Soon she said, "Oh, wait. Faye just drove in. I'll go see what's going on."

Pam called me back. Faye and all the family had gone to one of their kid's houses to watch the game--which BYU won, by the way. Faye had come home early. Everyone else was still watching the game. And everyone was fine, by the way. I never did find out why the van was parked sheewampus in the driveway or who it belonged to. I'm sure there is a story there.

I'm also sure Pam wanted to say, "Way to go, Einstein."

I said it myself.

A WEDNESDAY GIFT ON A THURSDAY

I got a Wednesday gift today. A Wednesday gift is a gift you give--or get, like me--for no reason other than the giver found something wonderful and wanted to share. My giver is Pam and the gift is this little bit of spring. It now sits in my kitchen window. I have wanted one of these little blooms for a long time. The photo doesn't do it justice, it looks real, even down to it's Iris beard.

Even the dirt looks real.

Why don't you start your own "Wednesday gift" tradition? It will brighten someone's life, I promise.

And thank you, Pam for being generous, not only with gifts but with your friendship, which I cherish.

LAUGHING IN THE CARD SHOP

Years and years and years ago Mom and I stood at the card display at ZCMI. We laughed so hard we had to lean on each other to keep from falling over. People coming down the escalator from the second floor didn't know what to make of us. Some smiled and some looked away, maybe they were embarrassed to see two grown women being so silly. I secretly think they might have been a teeny bit jealous that we were such good friends and were having such a good time with each other.

I have looked back on that day time and time again, feeling happy I had that funny time with my mom and then sad that I would never have another one.

Today was a tender mercy day for me. Pam and I had gone to the mall to buy a gift for a friend's birthday. Then we needed a card. We found beautiful, sentimental ones. I bawled, and told her about my difficult week. She sympathized and said, "There, there."

I wiped my tears and we found the "other" section. Soon we smiled. The smiles turned into grins and then into laughter and then...well, it was like time had backtracked. I felt like Mom was there, leaning over our shoulders, laughing with us. We read card after card, some so silly they made no sense and yet were hilarious.

I thought I would remember the caption on this one but can't. Isn't he something? The fun must never stop for him.

This is a perfect visual of my life. I should have bought it and framed it. It's funny, isn't it? You have to laugh when your life's like this. Pam, laughing at yet another funny card. A friend who is willing to be there for me in good and bad times. What would I do without her?And Mom? I know she was there, I just know it. I'm so glad she got to see that the laughter in the card section is alive and well.

CITIZENS OF TAMPA BEWARE

News flash.


This is a warning to all the citizens of Tampa, Florida. There is a rogue "dough blob" loose in the sewer system of the city. Rumor has it that an unnamed woman was making Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls for Christmas breakfast but since the alleged citizen has NEVER IN HER LIFE WORKED WITH YEAST she took a wrong turn in the kitchen and the cinnamon roll dough took on a life of it's own. Things were not going well.


She emailed her sister in Utah for advice. "What should I do with it? Should I flush it down the toilet?"

Her sister--I will call her Pam--, being the compassionate sister that she is, laughed hysterically and then dialed her sister's phone number and when the alleged baker picked up the phone she didn't even say "Hello." All she said was, "It's too late. It's flushed!"

Now we all know about "The Alligator," the one that lives in all sewers everywhere. The Tampa alligator tried to eat the dough blob but by now the dough blob had grown--being fed with sugary treats that had also been flushed by mothers who were tired of children bouncing off walls--and the blob attacked back. The Alligator left town and was last seen heading for Miami.

The Blob then proceeded to worm it's way into various toilets just to have a look around and get decorating tips. If the bathroom was decorated in "early make-up clutter and soapy bathtub toys, towels-on-the-floor" style the alleged blob waited slyly in the pipes. When a citizen was sitting, reading a back issue of the Reader's Digest, The Blob gave the citizen a little whack on the bottom with a blob-like tentacle. Men are particularly vulnerable. Reports have been coming in--from bottom-whacked victims--from all parts of the city and the possibility that the blob has procreated is high.

So, if you are tempted to make Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls--and they do look delicious--but you have NEVER WORKED WITH YEAST, think again. The city can only take so much trauma. The emergency room doctors and nurses are overloaded with bottoms sporting welts of the tentacle whacking type.

And besides that, Tampa is now without an Alligator. The tourist dollar may be on the decline because of this new development. The Chamber of Commerce will be meeting next week to see if they can put a positive "tourist enticing" spin on the blobish sewer phenomena. Tampa citizens are encouraged to call the Chamber of Commerce office with suggestions. Ask for Maude.

End of report.

THE PARKING SPOT

Pam and I went to Border's today to pick up a book about my favorite subject--not that I want this subject to happen, mind you, but it's fascinating--the end-of-the-world or perhaps the almost-end-of-the-world, where civilization is struggling to stay alive. This book is called The City of Ember and they are making a movie about it. I can't wait. Also, I had a 20% off coupon. I also bought a book for one of the grandkids but won't say just which one, in case...well, I don't think they read this blog but sometimes their parents do.

Anyway, we parked, went in to Borders, came out, drove off and had the never ending discussion of where shall we have lunch. We decided, drove around the round-about, and Pam said, "Oh, there's a good spot," and it was the same spot we just drove out of except this time she drove all the way through so she didn't have to back up when leaving...for the second time.

Here she is, being so smart to find such a good parking place. Again.

We had a lovely lunch at Shoots and she sent me home with her leftovers and I gave them to Phil, along with mine, because the first words out of his mouth, when I got home was, "You were going to be gone an hour!"

He really should know better by now, don't you think? And we saved tons of time by finding such a good parking space, too. I could have been gone much longer if Pam didn't have such a good eye.

REAL DEALS--MY NEW FAVORITE STORE

This is my new favorite store. It's in Springville, Utah. 101 East 200 South. It's Called Real Deals. And inside--and outside, too--are real deals. The prices are unbelievable!

The kid is not for sale but he was a good ornament until he wandered off.

This store is only open two days a week. Actually more like 1 2/3 days.

Thursdays 10:00-7:00 and Saturdays 10:00-3:00.

This is Pam. She is demonstrating the first thing we found. Mean people this way and...

...nice one. She one of the nice ones.

Here's what you see just inside the door.

The owners and a cute sales girl. The owners are on the right. He swept the floor while we were there.

Around every corner there are cute things to decorate with.

Pam needs to buy this white picture frame on an easel. It would be perfect for her new black sofa table--which she hasn't painted yet. When she does she will go forth and decorate it with all these cute things.

We each thought this should be in our house. It was hanging from the ceiling.

See all the candlesticks? There were 40% off. I asked how long the sale was going to be on and the girl said, "Just today. Each day we are open we put something different on sale."

"What is going to be on sale on Saturday?"

"We dont' know yet. What ever we have a plethora of, we will put on sale that day."

This isn't good. That means I'll have to call every Thursday and Saturday. Or, more hardship, I'll have to drag a friend--Pam will go, I'm sure of it--and actually go there.

Even the bathroom is decorated.

A cute vanity for you to put in your own bathroom.


Even the hallway is filled with neat things.



These are some neat sayings to think about:

"The hand that gives, gathers."
"Too cute for words."
"The soul is awakened through service."

I love the first and the last and if we did the first and the last we would be the middle one.

You KNOW this one is true.

This one is for Phil. ~I love the way you love me~ He's good at it. He could teach classes. He could teach me.

And this is good advice. Go forth and shop. You won't be sorry.

PS It's a franchise. Maybe there's one in your neighborhood.