Pure. Random.

No pics this go around. I am not even sure what's on the camera. Guess it doesn't matter. The desktop computer has been infected with a virus. So it's at the Tech Hospital getting all better. I rarely use the desktop anymore, because the basement is unfinished, and any body who knows me well, knows I don't do well when it's less than 68 degrees :) That's where the desktop is. Therefore, one of my little lovelies was on a gaming site and picked up a bug. This is forbidden. They have strict site rules etc. And then of course, nobody warned me the AV software had run out. SIGH!! So this time I will fix it, next time, they will all have to pool their resources together to get the computer well again.

Back to my picture issue. I load and store all my photos on the desktop. I don't put or store anything on this, Todd's laptop. It's his, not mine. Which again will make for a long week. I don't allow the kids on here either. Oh the whining that will be had. LOL Hopefully this will make them THINK. Yeah...right...

Michaela now has her Learner's Permit. WOO HOOOO! She still has no interest in using it. Not that I would let her now anyway, since it's not optimal learning conditions. I know one day she will overcome her phobia.

Work was stressful this week. Patients are cancelling, rescheduling or just plain not showing up to confirmed appts. This makes the office manager (doctor's wife) VERY agitated. And frankly, she scares people when she goes off (Think Exorcist). The two new assistants were COMPLETELY freaked out apparently. So basically the WHOLE office (10 employees) is on the phone. Which is just asking for trouble - "too many cooks in the kitchen". Fact of the matter is: the economy sucks, MANY ppl here are unemployed and they have more imporant things in their 'Heirarchy of Needs' to attend to than their teeth.

Todd is once again back in Minnesota working. It's been SO cold back that way. As much as I miss (yeah..weird huh?) Minnesota and Todd...I am SO FREAKING GLAD I'm not in -35 degree weather. In a funny contrast, our weather here has been in the 35 to 40degree range, sunny and fabulous! People are wearing shorts! I hear this "January Thaw" is normal. The snows will soon return. Sure has been nice! The full moon was STUNNING at night over the snow-blanketed mountains. The HEAVY frosts in the morning make everything ornate. Really need to get out and try to catch some photos.

I am taking this semester off from school. The one class I was to focus on this semester involved me student teaching. Which would have been ok except that I live 3-6 hours from the nearest dental institutions, in the snow burdened mountains as a single parent. Scheduling and traveling to these instituions would be one issue, not getting back at the end of the day with the kids here alone..quite another. And everything is on a time table. So if I couldn't get there, rescheduling would be a nightmare. All in all, not sure I am up to dealing with it or stressing over it. I will need to figure this out another semester when I have more space on my plate (who am I kidding?). I hate that we have to take these education administering classes. I have no intentions of teaching. I think for those who want to teach..fine...the rest of us should be able to take sales and marketing or something...anyway..Of course, this means I will not be graduating in 11 months. I'll be going an extra semester. Oh well. No rush...I've been waiting this long, what's another 3 months?

My new love is Facebook. It's fun. I get to keep up with all my friends from every corner of the planet; including my entire GHS population from the 80's. Fun, freaky and intriquing. I have my 20 year HS reunion this June. TWENTY YEARS. Where did that go? Truth be told, I'm pretty jacked to see everyone. And the fact that we get to catch up on Facebook before we go, might make it more the interesting. But my MOST favorite part about FB is that I get to play Scrabble with my friends! It's Scrabbulous!

Three months from now..I get to go to MN for a weekend to attend The Star of the North (annual dental convention). My friends and I are already coordinating schedules, classes and fun. It will be a completely orchestrated 5 days of wonderfulness. I get to be a dental geek, shop and hang with my gang. Perfect!! Can't wait to get out of the Valley for an extended weekend. Funny how one would need a break from 'nothing'. But the vast doses of 'nothing' do get old rather quickly.

And as I sit here lamenting about the nothingness, there are 4 law vehicles at the house behind me. Somebody's taking a ride. This will be front page news. Actually, our local paper only comes out on Thursdays. I bet I have the story by noon tomorrow :)

UPDATE: I had the answers to the events regarding the neighbors before 9:30pm :) I underestimated the speed of word!

My New 4 Letter Word:

SNOW

Yes, that's it folks, snow is now a swear word! I am too old for this much white stuff. What was I thinking? Yesterday we were suppose to get 3", we got more like 10 and, AND it's STILL GOING! UGH!

I am also beginning to think I should have considered Meteorology instead of Dental Hygiene. How many other jobs (that pay 6 figures or close to) can you be consistently off and STILL be employed? And I'm not talking a little off here! SERIOUSLY!

Memories and Mochas

I'm telling you guys, Starbucks makes me happy! Even more so these days since I have to drive hours to get one and it's a SPECIAL treat! And my special holiday treat is their Peppermint Twist Mocha ..Mmmmmmmmmm!

On our recent trip to the Salt Lake City area to get the smalls, Todd and I met up with a couple of my fellow GHS alumni who live in the SLC area. In the center is Amy (Despain)Beatty who was in my class, and to our left is Rachel (Gaut) Tyler who was 2 years behind us. Rachel was born on my 3rd birthday! This was arranged through that wonderful sight Facebook. The people I've reconnected with since joining there is AMAZING!

Rachel brought her photo/scrap albums from GHS and I had a good laugh! I hadn't seen them since well...I saw Rachel at the all-school reunion in '01 but hadn't seen Amy in 20 years (her grandma use to live here in Afton - small world)! What a great trip down memory lane and was so good to catch up! Thanks Ladies!

Free snow! U-HAUL!!

We do not have a shortage of snow! While we are far behind last year's record snowfalls for the area, I think we have more than enough! We've had several feet in the yard for weeks now. Winter is just starting! The snow is giving us a break and while it's -14 outside, it's GREAT to see the sun and blue sky! We get clouded in for long periods of time and the grey and snow get old quick! I think it's far worse than when I lived in Seattle or Portland!

Todd clears space for the dogs in the back yard as the snow towers some 3X above their shoulder height. And he even made them an oblong running track!

Office Flair and Tidbits

Here's a photo of my boss, Dr. Livingston, taken at our office party which he and his wife were kind enough to host at their house! We had HEAPS of food, played games and did "white elephant" gift exchange. For the most part, I love my work environment. I have a lot of independence which I LOVE! My co-workers are great and easy to work with. Business has been a bit slow, but hopefully that will pick up soon!

Michaela is in the Art Club at school and to raise money they ran around painting business windows. She did both of Dr. Livingston's offices and the office of the physical therapy crew that shares our Thayne office space. Good job!

Christmas comes again...

As I've been told all my life, Christmas comes faster and faster the older you get. It's absolutely true. I feel like we just did this! I probably said this last year. LOL

The kids went to their fathers' houses for Christmas so we celebrated when they returned. That was fine...only we have to travel to two VERY far apart airports to do this. Michaela can fly out of Jackson, 1 hr north, but because Alex isn't 8 he cannot make connecting flights. So he and Rebecca have to fly out of Salt Lake, 4.5 hours south. A complete unfun time, I can assure you.

I wasn't at all into the holiday spirit this year. I hardly baked, I didn't sent out cards (sorry gang!) and I think putting the tree up was about all the decorating I could do. I wanted to take the kids out and hike the mountain for their first REAL FRESH CUT tree, but decided not to since they wouldn't be here. Kind of a cop-out I suppose! I'm sure my mood is partly due to the recent move, partly to finances and partly because the kids weren't here and our families/friends are far away too.

The past couple of months have been very hard. Not only adjusting to this place, which is quite desolate in the winter, but not having Todd here FT is the worst. He still works in MN most of the time as the job he was to have here fell through. And there aren't an abundance of them here. I feel awful. I had to take this job. I needed the 'under the belt' experience. But this presents with new problems. This cannot go on for a lot longer. New plans will have to be formulated.

The kids had a great time at their fathers' and that was fantastic and always what "it's all about". They got some things they'd been wanting and have been having a fun playing with them. Tomorrow school starts again...The break went fast. Even I had a 13 day one. Can't believe it's over as I wasn't thrilled about taking 13 day mandatory vacation w/o pay. But back at it! Tomorrow I start a new semester of school too. Am looking at revamping my schooling plan. Which will mean I'll be at it longer than I had wanted to be. But for my own sanity and financial reasons, it will probably work out for the best in the long run.

Lucky Number 7

On Dec 5th, Alex turned lucky #7! I call it lucky as there are days I swear he wouldn't make it that far! And now, I can't believe that my baby is 7 and in first grade! We had a simple time at home. He requested a 'snake cake', so I did the best I could! His friend, Thomas, came over and played, had dinner and helped break in the new gifts!

He just cracks me up

Every night, before I go to bed, I check on the kids. Even Michaela, who is 15. Must be some undying Mommy duty. Anyway, I was absolutely tickled to find Alex passed out with his head perched upon his bunk guardrail. I'm not sure how this is even remotely comfortable, but sure made for a good photos!

Thankful in Wyoming

Ahhhhhhhhh Thanksgiving!! I had been a bit concerned this year as I cannot tell you when I was last 'in charge' of the big meal! Thankfully it all turned out quite awesome and we had more than plenty to go around. 26 lbs of meat/(3 adults + 3 Kids) = a lot of leftovers! We were very thankful that both Todd and Doug made it to Wyoming to be with us for the holiday and that their cross country travels went well and without incident.