Photo Resolution 2010

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Temple Square was breathtaking. I'm so glad we took the time to see it up close and personal for ourselves. What an incredible and memorable experience!

Seeing Places We've Never Seen Before

Sadly, we left Colorado yesterday for home but we're taking our time on the road and we took another route home this time around. We've never been to Salt Lake City so we decided to drive that route and to also meet up with a few friends at the same time.

I fully intended on getting together with 2 very dear blogging friends, Janiece and Darlene (they're sisters), but I just learned they are in Idaho right now. Talk about disappointing! Janiece recently had a heart transplant and has been staying with her brother and his family here in SLC where her surgery was performed. Her sister Darlene from AZ is here visiting all of them and I was hoping to meet up with them both. Darlene and I have gotten together a few times when I've been in AZ but I've never had the chance to met Janiece. I really thought this was going to be the time but it looks like they've gone to Idaho for a few days where Janiece lives. We we're so close Janiece!

We were able to get together for dinner tonight with one of our very good camping club buddies, Donna. Donna is an attorney and took a job here in February. Her sons are in college and don't want to move, plus they would lose alot of money if they were to sell their home in CA right now. Donna's husband and sons stayed behind in CA while she is working here in SLC. They moved their RV here and she is living in it for the time being. Donna flies home every other weekend to be with the family and granted, it's not the perfect scenario, but it's working for them right now.

We went to a neat place for dinner, the Red Iguana. When we drove up, I realized it's a place I've read about in blogland and was thrilled to be able to try it out for myself. The food was delicious, but more importantly, the company was awesome!


If you've read my blog for very long you know that I am a devout Christian and am very true to my faith. I am happy to say though that today I got a glimpse of something that is very near and dear to many of my blogging friend's hearts. I got a glimpse of Temple Square! I love my LDS blogging friends dearly and I've come to love their religion because I love them! I love learning about other people's faiths and I cannot wait to visit Temple Square for myself. It's on my SLC "must do" list and hopefully tomorrow is the day! By the way, eating at Cafe Rio also made the list!

Columbine Memorial - Part II

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post Part II from the Columbine Memorial but not only am I on vacation, but I haven't felt like blogging at all. It's just one of those blogging ruts that we all go through.

As I mentioned earlier, in addition to the middle circular area where each of the 13 victims (heroes as I like to call them) were memorialized, they developed a back wall with sayings from students/parents regarding that horrific day...


Here are some amazing examples of what people said and remember about the Columbine tragedy...









You cannot leave this memorial site without feeling overwhelmed, asking yourself how something like this could have happened. We drive past this school daily and each time I imagine the horror of the day. Truthfully, it's a bit unnerving.

I'm so happy that enough money was raised to errect such a beautiful memorial in honor of those killed. The victims, their families, the school, the students, the teachers, the community...they deserve to be honored, and remembered!

Columbine Memorial - Part I

My parents live only a few miles from Columbine High School, the high school where 2 students shot and killed 12 other students and one teacher, and injured many many more on April 20, 1999. A memorial was set up on the school grounds a few years ago and each time we come to Littleton we say we want to see the memorial but never do. Today that changed, and my heart will forever be changed from seeing it.

Tucked away in the back of the school, beyond the baseball fields, and uphill a bit, is one of the most beautiful, touching, and well done memorials you will ever see.




I know the 2nd picture is difficult to read as unfortunately many of them are. Hopefully you will be able to double click on the photos to enlarge them. The picture above is of the soothing water feature that is off to your left just as you enter the memorial site.

In the center of the memorial, forming a circle, are the names of each of the 12 students and teacher that were killed that day. A marble memorial for each, with something written about them by their family, engraved in stone. A lasting tribute to each one of these heroes. Again, I'm sorry that you may not be able to read these very well but at least you will be able to see their names clearly.















As you can see in some of the photos, in addition to the individual memorials, there is a large stone back wall with markings on it. Please come back tomorrow and I'll share Part II with you.

Greetings From Colorado!

We haven't even been in Colorado for 24 hours yet we've been to Urgent Care twice already. Once for me and once for my mom.

I was sick the whole drive to Colorado and spotted an Urgent Care only a few miles away from my parent's house when we arrived. Once we dropped off Jake I headed out to see a doctor. I really enjoy the drive from CA to CO but I was so miserable I didn't enjoy any of it. We spent Sunday night in a small city in Utah and we stopped at the local medical center on the way out of town. I walked in asking for treatment and they said they couldn't fit me in. I was so upset I cried all the way back to the car. They held my ability to feel better in their hands and they turned me away. I was crushed. I knew I just needed a z-pak (Zithromycin) for an upper respiratory infection and thankfully, I got the prescription for it at the urgent Care in Colorado and already feel much improved.

We wanted to go out to lunch today and as we were headed out to the car, I watched as my mom took a spill in her driveway so off again we went to Urgent Care. As it turns out, she broke her foot and is now in the big black boot and using crutches. It brings back all too familiar and recent memories for me!

On a happy note, I had my daughter pick a number today for my 500th post giveaway. She picked #22 since today is the 22nd (and my 30th wedding anniversary by the way!), so congratulations to my fellow nurse Tauna! I'll get the monogrammed plate sent out to you Tauna as soon as we return home.

Thank you all for joining in on the giveaway fun!

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: Did you watch the NBA play-offs last night between the Lakers and the Celtics? What a nail biting game for us Lakers fans but they did it, they pulled it off!

Congrats to the 2010 NBA champions, the Los Angeles Lakers!

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Don't forget to enter my 500th post giveaway!

500th Post and A Giveaway

Just recently I wrote my 500th post! I'm at 514 now and it's really unbelievable to me. I guess a girl sure can write about alot of random stuff if she puts her mind to it! So in honor of my 500th post, I think a giveaway is in order!

Not to long ago I bought a cute housewarming gift for a friend that bought her first home. This darling monogrammed plate and stand...


Of course, I bought one for myself and I'd like to send one to you too with your initial! Just leave a comment and be a follower of this blog. Those are the only 2 requirements.

I appreciate followers and I truly appreciate all of the comments that are left here. Blogging and the friends I've made in blogland have enriched my life so much. I'm so thankful for each and everyone of you.

So leave a comment, be a follower, and you'll be entered to win one of these adorable monogrammed plates for yourself. We're going on vacation Saturday but hopefully I'll be organized enough to pick a winner on Monday. That's my goal anyway.

I'm also hoping to have monthly follower giveaways to show my appreciation (plus, I just love giveaways!) So stay tuned!

Photo Resolution 2010

I'm so thankful for sweet friends that take car trips and bring me home fresh goodies...

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24/52:

Hallelujah!

Today is my last day at work, sort of. I will now be what is called a "per diem" nurse at my job.

I've been on the fence about my work for about a year now. I have a love/hate relationship with it, although it's been mostly love/love up until recently. We were sold to a large corporation 2 1/2 years ago and it hasn't been the same since, and neither has my heart. Big corporations don't put the patient first and foremost. All they care about is the almighty dollar! I've never worked so hard for so little and I just don't know if it's worth it anymore. When this corporation bought us, my pay was decreased by $3 an hour. I was told I could take it or leave it. I took it because I loved my job.

Something has changed in me and I'm now very anxious to break free. The friendships and the patients that have kept me there all of these years aren't enough anymore. It's been a great run but it's time for a change. Time to get out from under the pressure of the job.

Going per diem seems perfect for the time being. I only have to work one day every three months to keep my status active, but I'll probably work one day a week. We'll see!

Right about quitting time today, I might feel like shedding a few tears, but mostly I'll be singing Hallelujah!!

OH.MY.GOODNESS Is All I can Say

Something so crazy happened at work yesterday and I've got to tell someone! I may be a big mouth but when I tell someone that I won't tell their secret, I WON'T TELL THEIR SECRET. Well, except in blogland! No one at work and none of my friends know I have a blog, so the secret is safe here!

You all know that I am a nurse and work in a dialysis unit. Well, let me tell you, nurses see and hear it all! There is never a dull moment, NEVER!

We have a patient that I admitted a short time ago and during the admission process, his wife said she knew me from when I worked at the hospital 14 years ago. As soon as she said that, I remembered her immediately. We both worked on the night shift.

So yesterday she says she has some pictures on her phone that she wants to show me from when the patient was in UCLA hospital a while back. He had a great view from his hospital room and she showed me 3 or 4 pictures of the view and of emergency helicopters flying in and out. Good pictures really.

As she flips to about the 5th picture, there is it, OH.MY.GOSH! I had to walk away for a minute. The picture of a naked man's you know what, ready for you know what if you know what I mean!! She was horrified and sooo embarrassed, and kept saying so. She said it was a picture of her step-son who had used her phone. Hey, if I had a step-son who had used my phone and took a picture of himself like that, you bet it wouldn't still be on my phone! Step-son my eye!

I told her that her secret (now our secret!) was good with me. You have no idea how bad I wanted to pass that little bit of information around at break time yesterday, but I didn't.

Yep, her secret is good with me...well, except in blogland that is!

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: Do you wash your hair every day?

I wash and condition my hair every morning while in the shower. It's impossible to go a day without blow drying and styling your hair when you have natural curly hair and when your hair is on the short side like mine.

My hair is pretty much going in all different directions when I wake up in the morning, so trust me, I need to wash and style it daily.

My hairdresser just told me I should sleep on a satin pillowcase at night. She said my hair won't be so fly away in the morning. She also said I shouldn't be washing my hair each day. I should be washing it every other day. Washing it every day dries it out and takes out the color.

I guess I'm doing it all wrong, but after all these years, I'm.not.changing!

What's That I See...

I've always loved the house that sits directly across the street from us, with it's beautiful red door...


But hey, what's that in the front yard...



Yes, more beloved neighbors leaving the neighborhood. How much can a girl take for goodness sake?!

Wait a minute, there's some activity already...


I prayed for that house yesterday. I prayed that wonderful christian people would move in, just like the wonderful christian people that are moving out.

An adorable young couple with a baby just left. They said hello to my husband and that they liked the house. They liked it alot!

I just wonder what the future holds!