Road rage - NOT just for traffic jams!!!

So, once upon a time, probably 5 or 6 years ago, I was giving my sister grief for the "absolute must" of a portable DVD player, with 2 displays, for their car. You know, for road trips, or even 20-minute trips, to keep their daughters occupied and avoid arguments, etc.

"Also a good time to avoid family bonding time!" was my argument. But, since I'm not a mother yet, what do I know?



Well, DeNeece, you'll be glad to know that I became a believer!! Yesterday I had yet another moment to be thankful for those little screens that can entertain and distract little ones, while in the car! I was driving behind a Chevy mid-size truck, and it had a metallic silver silhouette sticker on the back window -- it was large enough to cover the entire window. Underneath the sticker was a name of a supposed racing team. (I say "supposed" because 1) I'm not into racing -- but it could possibly be the name of a racing team and 2) I would be ashamed to be a member of said racing team, if it does in fact exist!!)



At first glance, I could not discern what exactly the metallic silhouette was supposed to represent. However, a few minutes later, when I did figure it out, I literally felt sick to my stomach! I couldn't even believe that I was seeing such a sight!



Now, people are free to have their opinions, sexual orientations, politics, religion, hair color, whatever! But when they post pornography on their vehicle, that only helps to contaminate everyone who sees it! (Granted, this in NOT the first case of disgusting "car art" that I have seen, but it IS by far the most graphic and disgusting!!)



As I wanted to vomit, I imagined having a little 6-year old, like my nephew, Wyatt, just randomly looking at the back of this truck, and reading the words, and then asking me, or his mommy, or whomever the driver is, "What's that supposed to be a picture of ??" or "Why does that say that?"



So, I suppose that having a movie, approved by Mommy and Daddy to watch, while driving to the grocery store, or to Colorado is a MUCH more desirable alternative to looking at pornographic images on somebody else's vehicle. I am sure that the kids prefer that over blindfolds!



But, I can't help but question, "Where do we draw the line of "Freedom of Expression"?"
Deep thoughts for a Friday, but only because I am still very disturbed by what I saw!!!





Oh yeah -- GO SUNS!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!

Happy "Administrative Professionals" Day!

We've progressed so far in this big ole POLITICALLY CORRECT world that we can't even call it "Secretary's Day"! But, ironically enough, when people go "HUH????" what other words can you use to describe it?? None other than, "Well, it used to be called Secretary's day . . . " with an apologetic tone in your not-so-politically-correct voice.

Who knew that one day it would INCORRECT to be called a seca-terry!

Anyway, I have had fun with this, because one of the fun parts of my job is buying the gifts for the "Administrative professionals" in the office. (myself included! The most fun, for my own gift, is that I got to choose where the gift card was from, purchase it, and then spend my lunch hour spending it . . . at IKEA!! Love that store!! Anyway, back to my point!)

So, I bought supplies to make cards, that I lifted from Maddy's daughter's B-day invite (thanks for the inspiration, Maddy!!) and then gift cards from Chili's and flowers for the desks.

It isn't as big a deal as I would like to make, but the profits are down, right now, in the housing industry, so we have to adjust the budget across the company! But, go me! I came in at $.26 UNDER budget!! And who says I'm NOT doing my part for the economy of my employer???

A different, and not so happy topic -- What is UP with the Suns???? We did a great job against San Antonio, during regular season play! Now, when it really matters, we can't seem to play great for an entire game! I guess that saying is true, "All that matters is what happens AFTER regular season play is over!" I still love you guys, but my dad . . . he's ready to get himself a Utah Jazz jersey! He even said, after last night's loss . . . "I'm not going to live long enough to see this team win a championship!" Okay, let's keep it all in perspective, shall we???

Miracles of Modern Electronics

So, I'm checking in on my blog the other day, and lo and behold, my friend, Cheryl, from high school, has left a comment on my blog, and her email address! Totally AWESOME!! (80's quote, don't ya know!)

Anyway, I was so excited to hear from her and catch up a little on all the time that has gone by! That is a miracle of modern electronics . . . and a blessing of old friends reunited!

Another modern electronics miracle . . . digital cameras! No more waiting until all the pictures on the roll have been taken, and then waiting for them to be developed, only to discover that half of them aren't even worth the paper they were printed on! Instead, we can take photos, look at them instantly and delete them if they are less than perfect. Then, the best part of all -- the ability to send them, via the web, to anyone and everyone you want! That is amazing! And then, posting them on my blog is an added bonus!

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I would post photos from the day of my Grandma's funeral. I finally got the CD of pictures from my friend, (she has one of those fancy pants cameras! She did a fabulous job with it!!) and so, here are some specimens of her handiwork:

This is my parents and my 6 six siblings and I. We are unsure what occasion will bring us all together again, or how soon! So, we took this opportunity to be photographed!

Next, we have my parents with 15 of their 17 grandchildren. Yep, 17! They DO feel that old, just ask them!! LOL

A Spiritual Feast

This past weekend was the 178th Annual General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. (for more info, go here: http://www.mormon.org/) I always look forward to these weekends, every April and October, to have my spiritual bucket filled.

It was quite a priviledge to sustain another modern-day prophet in Thomas S. Monson. He is such a dynamic leader and he eminates kindness and concern for others.

I always love to watch/listen to conference, to be reminded of the love that my Heavenly Father has for me, and the plan that He has for all of us - the plan of happiness. I don't know, or care to think about, where I would be, in this life, if I didn't have the spiritual grounding that is found here.

On another topic . . . Michelle and I went to Scrapbooks, Etc. on Friday night, to work on our scrapbooks. That is always a treat! And, I actually finished a few pages that I had started, and then worked on a few other projects, too. True therapy is what I find in scrapbooking! Besides the added bonus of preserving my families memories! Here are some things that I did:

April . . . Not just for fools!

Hee hee . . . I had to make a joke out of it!

I can't believe that another month has begun! Where is this year running to?? But, so far, this month (in all 3 of its days!), my friend, Shanna, had a baby boy! Who we KNOW is darling, because he has red hair, and he has attractive parents! And, my friend, Michelle, has got her book back from the printer, and is now a book-peddler! (See http://www.papertherapy.com/ for more of Michelle's excellence!)

And life just keeps going on! Jorge will be home from Utah soon . . . even if I have to go up there and DRAG his Colombian butt home! (Just kidding, honey! I love you!) And, my FAVORITE**
(**at least in her mind! LOL) cousin, Brooke, and her mom, my aunt Debbie, are coming to visit next week, from Utah. That will be a fun break from the monotony of everyday and the weather is
bee-yoo-tiful right now, so that will make Brooke VERY happy!

I'm excited to pursue a few ventures of creativity of my own, but am still in the beginning stage with it. Stay tuned for more on that, LATER!

Happy Spring!! For us Arizona "fools" we gotta enjoy the weather while we can . . . the joy of sunshine will soon be gone!

A Worthy (?) Addiction

I am addicted to reading! I, seriously, could spend HOURS just reading! Obviously, the material needs to be good . . . to keep my attention for so long!

But, I love that reading makes me use my imagination and also excersizes my brain cells. Maybe I will get lucky, and reading may actually replace brain cells that I have frittered away in front of the television?!?!?! (Humor me, here, I can always hope!)

My latest obsession, in book form, is this little number:
I am so addicted to this series, (The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer: www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilightseries.html) that I had to leave the first book, Twilight, at work, last week, so that I would stick to my task of making a cute scrappy project for my neice, MaiCee, for her birthday!

But, the minute I was done with that project, (about 12:15 am, Saturday!) I was in my bedroom, reading, okay devouring, what was left of it!

Then, just so I would have some company in my addiction, I called my sister, DeAwna, in Colorado, and told her about this series. She started reading Twilight, and then, before she finished reading it, went out and bought the next 2, yes 2, volumes of the series! She said, "When I finish Twilight, I will want to go right to the next one, so I bought them both!" It's cool, we are doing a little book club, long-distance, over the phone! This is my first book club experience, so why not make it completely unique, right??

I hate to say it, but, if the reading material is good enough, it could just about distract me from life in general, but even scrapbooking! I know, I can't believe that I just said that, but there it is, out there on the 'net, for anyone and everyone to read! And, not without a little shame! (picture a sheepish grimace here!) But, I maintain that reading is like a mental gymnasium, and it is good to get excersize!

The only downer, here, is that I am almost done with New Moon, and will start Eclipse . . . but the 4th and final volume in this series doesn't come out until August!! AAAAAAAAY -- Give me patience!!!!!!!!!

More of a life lesson, really!

Michelle invited me over, this past weekend, to watch "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium". I had been wanting to see it, but had heard mixed reviews about it. Now, having seen it, I know why!
When I saw the previews, I thought that it was a kid pleaser. While it can be interpreted as such, for the little kid in all of us, it is not the entertaining, action-packed film that I would've expected from the previews.

But, that doesn't mean that I didn't like it - in fact, I LOVED it! To me, it was a lesson in staying young at heart, keeping your dreams alive and living life to its fullest. And, understanding that all stages of being - premortal, mortal and immortal - are part of a plan, and we all have to follow that plan. Accepting the path of that plan can be the hardest part. But, living each moment to the fullest is the important part of this mortal life - not letting any moment or opportunity slip by. And, doing our best to make dreams come true is part of the point.

One of my favorite quotes from this movie is this; "Life is an occasion - rise to it!" I believe that and want to do my best to live that way. In fact, I thought of my Grandma, when I heard that quote -- she was a great example of rising to the occasion of life.

Anyway, if you want a movie to remind you how important it can be to view life from the eyes of your own inner child, this is it!