ODE TO THE BUTTCHEEK

Last night my roommates and I went to a bootcamp class at the gym that totally kicked my trash. The things the teacher had us do didn't seem so hard at the time, but "oh me oh my" my body is paying for it today. My bum actually hurts so bad I wrote a poem about it.

ODE TO THE BUTTCHEEK:
My bum is big and out of shape
Yet the gnawing pain I can not escape.
The time has come for me to transform
By lifting my gluteus onto that platform.
The pain. It burns. WHY??
No matter what I do I still want to die.
All I do reminds me of you
When I stand up, bend over or even sit down to take a poo.
Remember when I didn’t know you were there
You would just sit there and flap in the air?
Sometimes you made it hard to fit in my jeans
I got so used to it, it became part of my routine.
Now that time is over
As last nights boot camp was pure torture.

Nienie Diaries

I am sure some of you are familiar with the popular blogger Nienie, the mother of 4 who got in a plane accident about a year ago with her husband in Arizona. For those of you who don't know of her. Nienie got her husband flying lessons as a gift, but while in flight the small plane crashed killing the pilot and burning both Nienie and her husband. Nienie's husband burned about 35% of his body. As for Nienie she has experienced the worst of it. Having had over 80% of her body burned and has been in the healing process since the accident a year ago. Prior to the plan crash Nienie was known for her blogging skills where she blogged about life, God and motherhood.

After the accident Nienie's blog was put on hold, although her sister would blog about her progress as doctors didn't know if she would make it. Recently Nienie has come back to the blogging world with some of the most touching blogs I have ever read. They never cease to make me cry. Not only are they real testaments of her life still in the process of surgeries and physical therapy they are pure.

The way she blogs is kind of in unfinished thoughts, but still containing full emotion. You know while you are reading it that she truly feels and embraces every part of the stories she tells. From the pain of laying in bed at night to enjoying the smells of her children.

Lately Nienie has been a great strength to me... as I am sure she is to many other readers... although when I read her blogs I feel that I am her only reader and it was written just to me. I feel her pain (which is impossible)... I feel for her... I feel motivated... loved... ungrateful... helpless... blessed... humbled... embraced... taught

One of the things that gets me the most is the picture I have of her in my head. I have still never seen Nienie and there are no pictures posted of her yet as she is still in bandages from the burn scars and surgery scars. The only picture in my head of Nienie is the profile picture of her on the side of her blog. She is wearing the deepest blue shirt I have ever seen and it appears her hair is cut really short that is curly curly by nature. When I read her blogs I see this picture in my head. I can see her sitting at her computer with bandages, splints and guaze wrapped all around her hands preventing her from typing but the joy of blogging is so grate that she does it anyway. I picture that it is late at night with the only light come from the moon in the window. She is sitting at a desk (which in reality is probably her hospital bed) with a blanket on her lap and maybe a few tears rolling down her cheeks.

This is the only picture I have on Nienie and it is only a mental picture. Nevertheless this mental picture of Nienie is one that I love and cherish. This woman truly is something else. She has a power to see miracles in anything. Through her blog she has introduced me this same power. I am truly a better person for reading Nienie's blog. I pray for her health, family and fast recovery.

He just NOT that into you...

We have all been there a time or two (and maybe for some even more) when you just can't understand the guy your crunching on. You super analyze his actions... make stupid actions of your own... and somehow the ending is not what you pictured. BUT in a weird way the result you expected. Tonight I saw "He's just not that into you." This movie speaks VOLUMES... to the world and to me. It hit everything so dead on because nothing was candy coated. Which I totally love/hate about the movie. Although at the end they still gave it that "ump" that makes it a romantic comedy.

Nonetheless the movie was dead on. One of my favorite parts of the night was the older ladies behind me who would make noises every time something "surprising" would happen. I heard a lot of "no he didn't", "oh my.." , "she's going to what" and "don't do it." Of course it was all clouded with laughter. It killed me how surprised these ladies were.

I am sure the things learned from this movie will not be learned material for long because no matter how much it hurts to get "blown off" there is nothing that can describe the feeling you get when he does call you back.

Most the time I am SO tired of going to this and that... just on the chance that I might meet someone there. You never do... well I never do. Nevertheless I always talk myself into to going or doing it one more time. Its a vicious game that I don't even know the rules to and if I did they would be in a different language anyway.

Finding that someone and getting married is a true miracle. You need all forces on your side. There is no rule book, there is no quick fix, there is no magic pill. There is nothing but being yourself.

My Christmas

This past Christmas Melissa and I drove home for the holiday. We looked for plane tickets back in May… then in July… and again in October but never found any below $400. Flying home is never really an option for us because the closest airport is so small. Melissa was really worried about the trip. She researched the weather in the areas we would be in both to Washington and coming back from Washington. We left December 20th planning for a long slow drive ahead of us. The roads were actually pretty clear and we made it home to Washington in 11 hours.

The weather in Zillah continued to get worse snowing almost every day we were there. Actually I don’t think I even stepped outside for 3 days. I went out to Melissa’s car to get out parents Christmas gift and the fresh air hit me like a blow to the stomach. Haha, I actually laughed out loud on the way to the car. The day after Christmas the snow let up in Zillah but Melissa’s research showed that our trip was going to be a double edged sword. No matter what day we left there was going to be storms along the way.

We decided to leave a day early to avoid some freezing rain predicted to come on Sunday. Our trip was slow but the roads were pretty clear. Our biggest worry was traveling through the Blue Mountains located between Baker City and La Grande, OR. The Blues seemed to be better than we expected. We flew right through them although the visibility started to become less and less clear.

As we approached La Grande there was a sign that said the freeway was closed. We and about 300 other cars pulled over into a gas station until they opened the roads again. We sat at the gas station for 5 hours. As you can tell we tried to make the most of it =)

There was no news about the conditions of the road so we decided to get a hotel and try again in the morning. It was nice to get out of the car and get warmed up. The next morning we left pretty early with a goal to make it back to Salt Lake by 3:00 pm.

The roads were… bearable. It was a really slow ride but we were making good time. We were about 15 minutes from Ontario, OR when it all happened… We were driving along side a semi-truck. He was going about 30 mph and us about 40 mph. I was looking down at the time but heard Melissa say, “Oh no!” (She had just hit black ice.) The car started to fish tail and Melissa lost control.

At this point I think the semi-truck started to slow down because miraculously we did not hit him. The car started to spin into the next lane. At one point I remember looking at the semi head on. That didn’t last for long though because the car slid into an embankment of snow where we ended up flipping one time.

Thankfully nothing happened. We were all fine. So there we are hanging there upside down. My initial thought was, “That was a soft landing.” After assessing myself I undid my seat belt… and crashed to the ground, which was really the windshield but you know what I mean. Soon after Melissa undid her seat belt too. We both tried our doors and they wouldn’t budge. This is when I started to panic because there was no one anyone would know we were inside there just by passing by. (P.S. The semi-truck didn’t stop)

At this point I was determined to get my door open. I managed to get it open a little but not enough to even get my arm out. I started digging like mad getting all kinds of snow into the car. All the sudden there was a man at my door asking if we were alright. I answered yes and told him there were three of us in the car. My little sister Alicia was in the back passenger seat. He dug out my door and it finally opened. Melissa and I crawled out but Alicia was pretty stuck. Finally the men opened Alicia’s door and freed her. She was not wearing any shoes so the man threw he pillow on the ground and told her to stand on it. (She wasn’t so happy about that.)

Then after assuring us they called 911 everyone left. At the time I didn’t think it was that big of a deal but honestly no one could stay while we wait for the police officer. There we are standing on the side of the road without coats and Alicia with no shoes and only 1 sock. I am sure it was a sight to see. A young couple in a SUV pulled over and told us to get in to stay warm. They sat and waited with us for over an hour while we waiting for the police officer. After getting our statements he told us the car wouldn’t be going anywhere soon so he released us.

The rest of the day we spent with strangers on our journey home. The couple in the SUV took us to Boise, Idaho where a friends parent’s took us in, fed us, warmed us up and then drove us to Bliss, Idaho where our brother and his wife picked us up and drove us the rest of the way home…. ahhh, now that was exhausting. Even to tell. Melissa and I were glad to be home. We truly had angels watching over us that morning.

This story could be way worse, but its not and all three of us were just grateful to be home. The insurance company ended up totaling the car which in the end is awesome. There is no way Melissa would ever get that much money for her car any other way. If you want to see what car she ended up choosing she has posted pictures on her blog. (she is listed as “Mel to the issa” on my blog list)

Thank you to all of you who help us in any way these last couple weeks. I am truly grateful for my friends and family who make things like this easier.

Confessions of a wannabe chef!

A few days ago I told my sister’s boyfriend, Erik, I would make him dinner. Not really knowing what to make I settled on Pasta ala Sookie, which is really just Macaroni and Cheese bake. Usually I make this the old fashioned way with shredded cheddar cheese and milk. I have always wanted to make it with a rue sauce (a white sauce used in baking many different ways). I thought the rue sauce will cut down on the amount of cheese used therefore lowering the fat and also give the pasta a creamy texture as opposed to a stringy cheese texture.

I got all excited and did a mini google search on making a rue sauce. I started to get all the ingredients out, let the butter start melting and got the water on the stove to boil for the noodles. Just as the butter was melting I ran to grab the flour. Rats!! No white flour. I rarely have white flour in the house and it always come back to bite me in the butt. (Note to self: buy white flour.) I was totally bummed. All the stuff was out and ready to go… and I had no idea what else to make. I decided to try it anyway.

I got out the wheat flour. The butter was already melted so I added the flour and stirred constantly for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes the rue sauce did not look right… it smelled a little burnt too. I was totally bummed. Erik was on his way over and I started to feel the pressure. I decided to just do it again. I melted the butter and added the flour stirring constantly on even a lower heat.

After 5 minutes the sauce looked… descent but even better it smelled right. I slowly added the milk praying it wouldn’t end up looking like lumpy cream of wheat. IT WORKED! It really worked.

Morale of the story: You CAN make a rue with wheat flour… who knew?

Amazing!!

Now if this isn't hot then I don't know what it.

Dark Day

LUKE
What are you talking about? - - - Fine! Do whatever you want!

MRS. THOMPSON
Well, I'm sorry you're so upset.

LUKE
Well, you're giving me a week's notice! What am I supposed to do with a week's notice?!

MRS. THOMPSON
Well, my son just called me from Florida to tell me about the condo Luke...

LUKE
Fine. Go. Enjoy Florida. I hear they have great weather there -- terrific hurricanes. Make sure you bring plenty of plywood and bottled water!

LORELAI
Hey, hi, hello!

LUKE
What are you doing here?

LORELAI
I was just driving down the street and saw you and thought I'd stop by and say "Hey, Hi, Hello". Hello, Mrs. Thompson.

MRS. THOMPSON
Hello, dear.

LORELAI
So, what's going on?

LUKE
Nothing. Nothing's going on.

MRS. THOMPSON
Luke, please understand. There's nothing I can do. I've already found someone to rent the house and they have cars.

LUKE
And you just agreed to that?

MRS. THOMPSON
Well, It seemed rather reasonable to me.

LUKE
Oh, come on!

LORELAI
Oh. ... Um.

MRS. THOMPSON
Luke's very upset with me.

LORELAI
Why?

MRS. THOMPSON
Well, his father rented the garage. He was building a boat, and he didn't have room at his place, so he paid me to do it here. And then when he died, Luke continued to pay for the garage. And now I'm moving to a nursing home, and I need him to move his boat.

LORELAI
You're mad because this little old lady is moving to a nursing home, and you have to move your boat? Is this really the story you wanna stick to?

LUKE
She called me out of the blue, and I've paid for an entire month.

MRS. THOMPSON
I can give you a partial refund if you like.

LUKE
Where am I supposed to find a space to store a boat on a moment's notice, huh? Did you think about that for even a second?

MRS. THOMPSON
Uh, could we sit down? The doctor says the screw in my hip is loose.

LORELAI
Yes, yes, let's sit. Let's sit and calmly try to figure this out.

LUKE
No No, I've got it figured out. Just haul it off! Trash it!

MRS. THOMPSON
Haul what off?

LORELAI
The boat?

LUKE
Yes, the boat. Scrap it! Find somebody to drag it away and cut it up for firewood!

LORELAI
Oh now - Luke –

MRS. THOMPSON
Who's gonna haul it off?

LUKE
Anyone. Just find a guy with a truck and a hook. He'll strap it on and drive it away and send me the bill! I'm done!
STORMS OFF

LORELAI
Luke!
to Mrs. Thompson I'll be right back.
Luke, stop. What, what, and what?

LUKE
I have been paying that woman every month for Fif-teen years.

LORELAI
Luke, she's moving to a nursing home.

LUKE
And my dad was paying her every month twenty years before that!

LORELAI
Nursing home, Luke.

LUKE
I know where she's going.

LORELAI
She's not trying to hurt you.

LUKE
Whatever.

LORELAI
Hey, where are you going?

LUKE
Back to the diner.

LORELAI
Let me drive you.

LUKE
No.

LORELAI
I can drive you back to the diner. I promise if we pass any senior citizens, I'll let you jump out and pants 'em.

LUKE
Fine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know your probably all thinking... not another reference to Gilmore. I just can't help it. Part of me wishes I was a character from that Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire movie, Pleasantville something or other so I could jump into the TV and be on the Gilmore Girls show. I totally love it. Anyway that is besides the point. The scene above describes Luke, the most perfect man on television having a little spat with a senior citizen over his dad's unfinished boat that has been staying in her garage.

Lorelai is about to learn why Luke is having a meltdown; something that is so out of his character Luke tells her that the next day is the anniversary of his dad's death and that every year it puts him in a funk.

Anyway, today is my dark day. Although my father is still alive,THANK GOODNESS, today was a huge day in my life. Today is the day I let go of something I have been holding onto for way to long. The are many times in our lives when we must be stripped of everything we know so we can start fresh, start new. Its scary looking at life this naked and vulnerable but I can only hope that it will bring bigger and better things into my life.

These last few months have been rough for me but I am thankful for those of you who put up with me so that I can travel along this journey we call life learning ways to better myself.