Evil Puddy-Tat

Our cat is vicious. I have the markings, and so does the rest of my household, to prove it.

Vicious.

I am hoping that this phase quickly concludes, and that the lazy, aloof, mature cat shows up soon.

I was not seeking revenge the night I decided to bathe him. I just thought he was looking a little scraggly.

We bathed him in the little sink in the downstairs half-bath. Just before I plunged him into the warm, soapy water I noticed my bare arms and wished that I had put on long sleeves to protect me from his vicious claws. It wasn't necessary. He seemed to almost enjoy himself. We washed, rinsed, conditioned and rinsed without him drawing blood even once.

What came next alarmed me, and I thought I had given him a death sentence. The poor little guy couldn't stop shivering. We rubbed and rubbed, changing to a fresh, dry towel often. He did finally scratch me when I tried to blow dry is fur. Maddie kept him bundled and he finally was dry and running around being a maniac an hour later.

I have been so sick of the viciousness that I didn't flinch when Maddie plopped down on my bed last night and then crammed the kitty into a shoe box. Let him rot!

But the stupid animal actually liked it.

If someone removed the lid, a little paw would swat, and he was able to pull the lid closed on him self. Once. This went on for at least 30 minutes, us tormenting the cat in the shoe box. We dumped him out a few times and he went right back in.

When he woke up this morning, he went right back to his shoe box. Weirdo.

Thank Goodness for Modern Medicine

I have been very fortunate to not suffer as so many women do from UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections), aka bladder infections. Just a few times have I had to guzzle cranberry juice until I thought I would burst to try an chase that pain away.

And we all know how that you are included in this good fortune, because when I hurt I whine. To all of you.

After nearly 24 hours of lower abdominal pain, this afternoon I was diagnosed with a UTI. I was pretty surprised. I haven't had ANY of the standard signs. You know what they are.

Nonetheless I am relieved to have had a diagnosis, and am so, so very thankful that I live in a world of antibiotics. How wonderful it is.

I was given two prescriptions: one antibiotic, and the other an anti-inflamatory/muscle relaxer that targets bladder. Some of you may be familiar to this. I was not.

The doctor warned me, and then the pharmacist warned me, and later on the phone my mom concurred: the muscle relaxer turns your pee bright orange.

Even with the warnings, seeing what collected in the toilet below me was shocking. I am half tempted to post a picture of it. I tried to get my husband to look at it, he refused. He's such a woman.

This orange was SO orange that it took two flushes to wash it down. I'm pretty sure that you could dye Easter eggs with it. And I'm going to have to buy all new underwear when this is done.

I'm the not-so-Teenage Mutant wannabe Ninja Mom. But then that would be green pee.

What did you do all night? "Pee green soup". That'll take you back to second grade.

Back to the Daily Grind

I moaned and groaned about not having anything to do or any place to go during my time off this week. And I didn't. Do anything. I didn't leave the house yesterday. Or today, with the exception of stake conference.

It felt good. I've done some scrapbooking. I've watched a lot of TV/movies. I've played some Disney Scene It with the kids (I pretty much had to force them). I've napped. I helped Maddie pick out fabric for her school project and then watched her and Kaelyn cut out the future quilt. I made more granola (but the first batch was better). I put together a black & white picture collage for Sarah and Jimmy of their kids. I did a little house work, but you know it's never enough.

And I've relaxed. I'm pretty sure I could relax some more. I am so good at being lazy. This really has me looking forward to the summer, when I will have even more time off. Of course, by writing this I've totally jinxed myself. I just committed myself to a fast-paced, busy summer. Mark my words.

But as I return to work tomorrow, am I refreshed? Am I full of energy? Am I ever? But I guess I'm ready to go back.

But totally counting down to May 31.

PS Allow me to pat myself on the back for not only letting David golf for nearly six hours yesterday, but for also making the T-time reservation.

10 Minute Pity Party

Yesterday was day one of spring break. The long awaited, no where connected to Easter, three-day spring break.

We were supposed to be in Disneyland this week, but David's schedule is quite full and doesn't accomodate vacation until July, maybe not until August.

I thought about driving home to California, and even had David's blessing, but decided I just wasn't up to making the drive alone this time.

Yesterday was great. I showered and did my hair, but stayed in my jammies all day. I got some housework done, folded some laundry, caught up on a couple of emails, and let the kids veg with their overnight guests. I took little cat naps here and there. I made some granola, after weeks of not having time. It was great. Relaxing.

But today I feel sorry for myself. I feel abandoned.

I have tons to do. There will be no sitting around the house today. Lots of errands to run. Here. In Utah.

I want to go. I want to get away. The weather is crappy. We even had snow flurries yesterday. We have had excellent weather every Saturday since early March, maybe all the way back until February. This weekend? Cold, cloudy and potential for rain.

And David? He's in sunny St. George, but couldn't bring us along. He's working. Working on a golf tournament today. I could join him. I could rent a car and drive down. More driving.

But I'll stay here. I'll get my errands done. I'll be the mature grown-up that makes things happen. I'll return David's slacks and exchange the shirt and tie. I'll go to Erika's lacrosse game. Blah, blah, blah.

I'll get over my pity party. I'm fine, really. I'm going to go eat my home-made granola and then get on with my day. But I'd rather be smelling cotton candy and standing in line for Thunder Mountain.

I'm Torn Over Idol

Here in the Mountain Time Zone, Sanjaya has just been booted from his platform on Idol. We've wanted him gone. He doesn't sing as well as the others. But I'm torn.

On one hand I feel like now it's time to get down to business. Now it's a serious ball game. The competition is on, and it's hot.

But on the other hand it's a bit of a let down. Like "now what?". Who do we pick on now? Who's going go shock and awe (whether good or bad) us now?

Maybe we weren't ready for him to go.

Prediction: Lakisha goes next.

Happy Anniversary

Yesterday David and I celebrated 12 years of wedded bliss. (barf)

And to celebrate we went to Vernal, Utah. Vernal?! Might as well celebrate our 13th in Barstow, CA.

The kids and I (in our usual fashion) tagged along with David on a business trip. The plan was to take care of things in Vernal, 3 hours away, and then backtrack and eventually make our way to Park City for dinner and shopping.

The drive to Vernal starts off great, winding through the mountains. But eventually in flattens out and so does the scenery. It appears that the income is low in the little towns and the living situations are poor, like the warehouse with a dilapidated mobile home attached and an old metal swing set nearby in the "yard".

After a little shopping with the kids while we waited for Dad to get his work done, and then checking out the Vernal temple, we discovered that the Dinosaur National Monument was close. Too close to not go. We hadn't done any research, so we didn't know what to expect, and with the Park City dinner plans at stake, it was sort of a risk. But totally worth it.

Dinosaur National Monument is east of Vernal, and the view is breathtaking. Ranches are tucked in and around the park, so for miles you can see bright green pastures surrounded by rolling hills.

After a little presentation from the park ranger and an explanation about the now-closed Visitor Center because it was built on clay that is now shifting, we took a short hike to see some dinosaur fossils.

Hundreds of lizards and many un-afraid bunnies greeted us on the trail.

The heights on this hike weren't nearly as bad as last week's hike to Mill Creek Canyon, but the trail was narrow-er which had me a little (ahem) edgy.

We found the promised fossils. Maddie's hand is resting on the bottom of a dinosaur leg bone.

And tucked in the shadow above her head here (horizontally) is a vertibrae.

In attempt to not crash the world's blogging system, part 2 of the trip is below.

Happy Anniversary (continued)

The hike was fun, the sky was blue, and it was great to be out of the car.

Fifty cents bought us a pamphlet that lead us on a car tour through this wonderful valley, pointing out petroglyphs, geological phenomenons, and giving us some history of the area.

Like today, ancient American men must have been proud of their anatomy.

Our little pamphlet lead us to the petroglyphs, but mentioned that the meanings are unknown. Not to Isaac. He logically explained them to me, including the "exploding spittoon".

We visited Josie Basset's home. She traded electricity and plumbing available to her in the early 1900s, to live completely isolated in her dirt-floor cabin. One glimpse of this valley helped me understand why.

After gaining an appreciation for Josie's lifestyle, we continued on to Turtle Mountain.

We took in the sights. We moo-ed at the resident cows. We didn't make it to Park City, but there's aways next time.

They Grow Up So Fast

Last night was the school Talent Show. Just your regular old song and dance talent show.

For special occasions, Maddie gets to wear make-up. And by special occasions I mean Halloween. Since she was going to be on stage, I figured that warranted a little glam.

She did a great job. She sang Zip a Dee Doo Dah. By herself. Acapella. Microphone in hand. Maybe there's a little too much Idol watching in this house.

But Dang! She looks old. No more make up for a while. Not until she's 22.

More Than An Eye-full

Early in the morning, Sunday before last, we were driving to Sarah and Jimmy's for General Conference.

I'll pause here to mention that they live in a very nice neighborhood. Mowed lawns, beautiful homes, tidy-ness all around.

We passed the house. What was hanging from the garage? I know what I saw, but it couldn't be.

I had David turn around and go back.

Once we confirmed my suspisions, I had to take a picture. Who would believe me?!

You are not looking at the latest in Easter decorations. That is lingerie. All types. Colors. Preferences.

Have we progressed from the late night T.P. trips to THIS?! I hope David wasn't serious when he suggested that someone was just line-drying their delicates.

What the heck?! If anyone out there knows - please enlighten me.

PS As soon as we snapped the picture I insisted that we take off immediatley for fear that the homeowners would blame us for this crazy prank.

PSS On Monday I was visiting my aunt Sandy. I nosily leaned in as her across the street neighbor gave his report to the police for the TP in his tree. Who calls the cops when they get TP'd?!

PSS Ugh! As I've sat here to type, my ears are burning with the unmistakable sound of a broken washer. When did that happen?

She's Back Part 2

I don't handle do-overs very well. Let's get it right the first time.

Lemme see if I can remember what I lost when the blog crashed.

I was probably barking about how busy I've been lately.

I finally put together Maddie's room, and after 6 months of her sleeping on a mattress on the floor, she got her new bed.

Also keeping me busy was Maddie's rock project. It was so overwhelming to me (because I don't get nor do I care to get rocks) so I recruited my friend Jehn. Between the 3 of us, Maddie scored 100%.

More busy-ness... what blast we had with Becky & Terry and Gina & Jeremy coming to town. Sarah and Jimmy were so good to include us in all the goings-ons.

There was a trip to the Mayan and a trip for the older kids to Space Camp. It was great.

Though Maddie's birthday is mid-March, we just didn't get around to celebrating. Finally (finally!) I was able to pull off a little surprise afternoon with a trip to get nails done and then dinner at Appleby's.

This weekend was something of a conquest for me. Me conquering (temporarily) my fear of heights, and David conquering his knee issues, all to hike up Mill Creek Canyon.

I was brave. And then I was proud. David actually hiked further than I did, but let me just tell you that we were way up there.

It must have been hump day, because there were little beetles attached to each other all over the place. Look close for a little Beetle P*rn.

On to Easter. Nothing fancy. Nothing extraordinary. But unlike the last two Easters, we were with family. It's so wonderful to have my aunt Sandy and her family here.

The busy-ness may be slowing down. I'm home today. I was home (for a while) yesterday. I may even be home tomorrow. But send me a note if I forget to tell you about the outdoor-hanging of lingerie.

She's Back

Whatever reader may have once stopped by here is now long gone. Given up. Gone home. But now I'm back.

I have been on the go since March 15th (ish). So do I inundate you with details? Do I catch you up on all the goings-on? Or do I just start here and move forward?

Maybe a little of both.

A family wedding took us home for a quick weekend mid-March. So quick that there were many loved ones that I couldn't connect with. Some day soon. I hope.

And while we were home we squeezed in a 50th surprise party and an Eagle Court of Honor.

There has also been an addition to our family. Bella turned Teddy (with the discovery of some extra anatomy) has been terrorizing our home and family. Yes, he's as evil as he looks. I have scabs all over my ankles and hands courtesy of the kitty. And I'm quite allergic to him. We love him.

***The piece of crap blog just crashed and lost a bunch of my post. Tune in tomorrow.