from the mixed-up files of a middle-aged mind

In the past 48 hours I spent  an hour and half getting splattered by hot bacon grease so a band of high-school kids would enjoy a more affordable week at band camp. I stayed up  till well after 12:30 a.m. packing son #2 off for band camp, rising at quarter after five the next morning to take him to Provo High for his departure. Within the next half hour we made three trips back and forth in order to make sure the band had all the supplies they needed donated and my son had his cell phone so he could contact us if needed. I laughed at this son as I asked him to come to the car so I could hug him good-bye but he gave me a hug and a big grin right there in front of all his friends. Later and after a full-days work at the office  I withstood  (not entirely gracefully) an hour and a half being the target of hormonal pre-teen angst/anger while helping my daughter get ready for girls camp (and that was just round one). I later spent  two and a half hours at Wa...

Disclaimer: Lest you think I am someone I’m not, I need to assure you I am not “all that.” By definition I am what is known as a “slacker mom.” Even still: In the past 48 hours… I spent  an hour and half getting splattered by hot bacon grease so a band of high-school kids would enjoy a more affordable week at band camp. I stayed up  till well after 12:30 a.m. packing son #2 off for band camp, rising at quarter after five the next morning to take him to Provo High for his departure. Within the next half hour we made three trips back and forth in order to make sure the band had all the supplies they needed donated and my son had his cell phone so he could contact us if needed. I laughed at this son as I asked him to come to the car so I could hug him good-bye but he gave me a hug and a big grin right there in front of all his friends. Later and after a full-day’s work at the office  I withstood  (not entirely gracefully) an hour and a half being the target of ho...

So not really. But I’ve been a bit worried that poor Moaning Myrtle might feel a bit a badly for being left out of all the excitement in Book 7, so I decided to send a little nod her way. In any case I’ve been tagged by Anne Bradshaw over at  Not Entirely British . I’ve only just “met” Anne, but I can tell you she is a writer, is related to one of my favorite musicians–Phil Collins (yes, I am old)–and is starting a feature on her blog called  Water Wisdom . As a better appreciation of and more conservation of one of our most precious resources is something I’m a bit passionate about, I wanted to give that a nod as well. And now back to the Moaning Meme: 5 people who will be annoyed I tagged them: None. Because I wimp out when it comes to tagging. In a real life game of tag I would thoroughly enjoy my turn being “it” then I would just holler out “Whoever wants to be ‘it’  you’re it !” 4 things that should go into room 101 and be removed from the face of the eart...

So not really. But Ive been a bit worried that poor Moaning Myrtle might feel a bit a badly for being left out of all the excitement in Book 7, so I decided to send a little nod her way. In any case Ive been tagged by Anne Bradshaw over at  Not Entirely British . Ive only just met Anne, but I can tell you she is a writer, is related to one of my favorite musiciansPhil Collins (yes, I am old)and is starting a feature on her blog called  Water Wisdom . As a better appreciation of and more conservation of one of our most precious resources is something Im a bit passionate about, I wanted to give that a nod as well. And now back to the Moaning Meme: 5 people who will be annoyed I tagged them: None. Because I wimp out when it comes to tagging. In a real life game of tag I would thoroughly enjoy my turn being it then I would just holler out Whoever wants to be it  youre it ! 4 things that should go into room 101 and be removed from the face of the earth: 1. Meannes...

PROVO 3:35 a.m. –I wake up. I kick around a bit. Then I remember my husband observing 3:30a.m. would be a good time to run to Wal-Mart to pick up the latest and last Harry Potter book. I ignore the temptation to dash right out for about half an hour, then I can’t resist. PROVO 4:30 a.m.– Don’t bother me, I’m reading. PROVO 5:33 p.m.–  Done!

PROVO 3:35 a.m. I wake up. I kick around a bit. Then I remember my husband observing 3:30a.m. would be a good time to run to Wal-Mart to pick up the latest and last Harry Potter book. I ignore the temptation to dash right out for about half an hour, then I cant resist. PROVO 4:30 a.m. Dont bother me, Im reading. PROVO 5:33 p.m.  Done! The worst part about having finished reading Book 7 already is not being able to say a single word.

PROVO Long after midnight –Still wound up after a great  Lia Sophia  party. Great friends, great product, pretty decent  refreshments , stimulating conversation and just a really good time. I substitute post for a  friend flat on her back with a broken foot , worry a bit about another friend down with a sore back , flip through the paper (Star Jones is being coy about her new look and apparently  “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry”  really stinks and  “Hairpsray” is absolutely fabulous.) and a catalog or two then finally turn out the lights. PROVO 1:30 a.m. –My eyes are shut, but still wide open. I’m deliberately trying to relax my brow, loosen my limbs and breathe deeply. Hoping the effort will be enough to allow me to drift off. It does not. I’m trying to remember to pay some bills tomorrow. Envisioning all our financial obligations lining up like sheep to jump over the bed. Wondering what we will feed the missionaries and how to time work ...

PROVO Long after midnight Still wound up after a great  Lia Sophia  party. Great friends, great product, pretty decent  refreshments , stimulating conversation and just a really good time. I substitute post for a  friend flat on her back with a broken foot , worry a bit about another  friend down with a sore back , flip through the paper (Star Jones is being coy about her new look and apparently  I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry  really stinks and  Hairpsray  is absolutely fabulous.) and a catalog or two then finally turn out the lights. PROVO 1:30 a.m. My eyes are shut, but still wide open. Im deliberately trying to relax my brow, loosen my limbs and breathe deeply. Hoping the effort will be enough to allow me to drift off. It does not. Im trying to remember to pay some bills tomorrow. Envisioning all our financial obligations lining up like sheep to jump over the bed. Wondering what we will feed the missionaries and how to time work s...

Actually, if I were indeed melting that would imply (because I am part witch) that I would not in fact be so parched and dry. I was raised in the lovely town of  Eugene, Oregon , and its environs. Which meant I was accustomed to an annual average rainfall of just over 50 inches. Fifty glorious satiating inches of blessed drink of the Goddesses. Pure clear rainwater fresh from the heavens. Provo, Utah  (average annual rainfall of 16″ plus, in a good year, some snow) became my permanent home in 1982,  during which  Utah had what has been termed a moisture  climax  of 10 times the average annual rainfall. I still have a photo from the front page of The Deseret News that shows a river running down State Street in Salt Lake City. And the story about someone catching a fish from it. Therefore I was deceived. It was not until I was married and settled here that I realized this one startling fact: Utah is a desert. And I had just relocated to this: [brok...