365 Week: 10

365

Week 10

Day 64

March 5: Amber waves of........weeds. 

Or, crap I see out my window, on the way home from work. I'm working on a series. 

Day 65

March 6: This is NOT lasagna. 

Let me state here, for the record, that I LOVE lasagna. And I am SO grateful for all of the help we've had for the last month and a half, from so many wonderful people. A lot of that help has come in the form of meals. A lot of those meals came in the form of lasagna. 

I had lasagna everyday for lunch last week. My son ate an entire pan of lasagna himself -- because he enjoys his weirdness (I have no idea where he gets it). 

Friday was the last meal before they turned us back over to ourselves. It was...wait for it...lasagna!

So on the way home, I stopped by Dairy Queen and got the polar opposite of lasagna. 

(If you're reading this, and you brought us lasagna  -- I LOVE YOU!)

Day 66

March 7: Any guesses?

Day 67

March 8: I was in an action/adventure mood all weekend. The problem is I have a terrible time making up my mind. And my wife refused to think for me. So, after much inner debate and soul searching, I watched Dodgeball. 

I realize it's not in my stack of movies here. 

And it's not really action/adventure.

But, I just love the line: "Nobody makes me bleed my own blood! Nobody!"

Day 68

March 9: The view from the back porch Monday night. Apparently we sprang forward, right back into Winter. But now it stays lighter longer!

Day 69

March 10: I came north for THIS!? 

Or, why did the robin cross the road? To get away from the crazy guy with the camera who got all wet, laying on the grass to get this shot.

Day 70

March 11: Once again I have called on the immense (if chaotic) brain power of the mighty Cecily, to get me out of my photography funk. Once again she rose to the challenge! 

"Take a picture of the beginning of something," she said.

This is the beginning of the Legacy Highway. If you don't live in southern Davis County, in Utah, you will not understand the significance of this sign. But, for me, when this eleven mile stretch of road opened in September, it meant a twenty-five minute commute instead of an hour and ten minutes. 

It was that significant. 

That's 11,700 more minutes each year that I can spend at home, rather than driving home. 

Things I Did Once: #4 (or, the time that Satan hocked a big one up my right nostril)

I've never tried to explain this without the accompanying gestures, but here goes:

Have you ever eaten at Famous Dave's Barbeque? If you haven't, you really should -- but, here's something you should NOT do.

On each table at Famous Dave's there is a six pack of squeeze bottles full of various hot sauces --for those whose BBQ is never hot enough, for all of you masochists out there who have something to prove. 

I am not one of these people. I like just a little bit of heat -- just a little kick. 

I'm secure in my manhood. 

I don't feel that meal time needs to be a painful experience.

The problem is...I get a little restless. 

On this particular day, I was on a date with my wife and we had just ordered our food. We were engaging in witty conversation, as usual...and then I got fidgety. I started sniffing the VERY FULL bottles of hot sauces.

Just because. 

This is a VERY delicate process. It requires dexterity, and distance. What you want to do is just puff out a little air from the nozzle. And then of course the second half of the equation involves sniffing said air. 

For the first four bottles everything went swimmingly. I would puff and sniff and then offer witty observations. 

Me: Hot and Sassy: Puff. Sniff. Hmmm. That's Hot and Sassy! 

Wife: You are very witty. 

Me: Sassy Chipotle: Puff. Sniff. This smells like Chipotle...with Sass!!

Wife: Didn't see that one coming. 

Me: Rich and Sassy. Puff. Sniff. Is it me or is there a lot of sass in this room?

Wife: (rolling eyes) How old are you?

Me: Sweet and Zesty. Puff. Sniff. Now that's --

Wife: (looking out the window and sounding bored) Are you going to do this until they bring the food?

And then I got her attention. 

Me: (all of this happened in an instant) Devil Spit. Puff (-- WHOOOPS! TOO HARD!!) Sniff!! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHGGGGGGG! HOLY @$#%@&@!! MY BRAIN IS ON FIRE!!

Wife: Rolling on the floor. 

My sinuses were clear for WEEKS!

Photostory Friday: Summer

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Remember Summer?

The 100 degree days...trying to sleep when the central air malfunctions...the muggy, stifling afternoons...the sticky, smelly asphalt...the endless yard work...the allergies...the wishing for winter?

Yeah, me either. 

I believe that the human memory is equipped with  some kind of anesthetic that helps us, if not completely, to forget the pain of uncomfortable experiences. This is, I suspect, why we continue to have more children.

When I think of Summer, I remember dusk, on the midway of our local amusement park -- when all the lights come on. 

I remember evenings when it's still light when I get home from work, and there's time to play catch in the back yard. 

I remember Sunday afternoon walks through the neighborhood.

 

I remember green grass and flowers and trees and mountain streams. 

I remember July nights on the back porch, as we watch rockets paint the sky with a kaleidoscope of fire.

So what does this water drop have to do with Summer?

It snowed last night, but by this morning it was melting. 

That's a good sign.

365 Week: 9

365 Week: 9

The week I mostly took pictures of Emma...

Day 57

February 26: Well, I told you the story of Emma's popcorn last Friday, but here's one of the outtakes. Emma is VERY impressed with her cross-eyed ability. 

Day 58

February 27: You know you wanted to see it. 12 staples here, plus two in the belly button, and one more where the laproscope went in. 

This is what it takes to remove an unwanted guest from the stomach of the most important person in your life. (Well, I didn't do the actual removing -- but you knew that...)

Day 59

February 28: Remember when life was what you made it? I had to buy a new dryer today (because fixing things is just not very likely in my world). Emma, who excels at entertaining herself, immediately confiscated the box. If this doesn't take you back, nothing will. 

Day 60

March 1: Did you know Emma had freckles on her nose? Me either. It turns out the camera lens I've been using for almost five years has a macro setting! (Have I ever mentioned that I don't read the manuals that come with my cameras -- or anything else -- so discoveries like this come with a great deal of serendipity). 

A whole new world has opened up for me.

Day 61

March 2: Maximum (MAAHX-im-muhm): The highest limit. The greatest value. The most. 

So why is it only rated 8 out of 10?

Am I the only one who thinks about these things?

Day 62

March 3: I couldn't decide what to take a picture of  today, so I asked for help. Our friend Cecily responded that I should take a picture of something that required me to lay on my back. The problem is everywhere I lay on my back in my yard, the only view is of sky.

Except for one place. 

So this one's for you, Cecily!

I only almost broke my neck (and my camera -- and subsequently my face) once. 

Day 63

March 4: I just love glass half full people. 

Oh, and the winner is (by one vote):

Honest Scrap and Hugs Awards!!

My friend Kacey, over at Chronicles of a Mommy, has passed on the Honest Scrap and the Hugs Awards to me. But before you read this, you should really go check out her list of fascinating tidbits -- it's unique to say the least (just don't let her know you're reading, she's a little paranoid!)

So, the rules are I have to list 10 honest things about myself...and not put you to sleep at the same time. Get yourself a Red Bull and hang on, here we go:

1. I'm a HUGE Jimmy Buffett fan. In fact I'm listening to "Cheeseburger in Paradise" as I type this. Fins Up!

2. I have more books on my ipod than songs -- currently making my way through "Founding Brothers" by Joseph J. Ellis. It's cool. I swear!

3. I have crooked toes -- the only inheritance I have from my mother. From my dad I get hairy arms. I am truly blessed. 

4. I almost dropped my first daughter the first time the nurse handed her to me. Somehow they still let me take her home. I've never trusted nurses since that time. 

5. Everyone says I make some kind of little, satisfied laugh in the back of my throat, whenever I think I've said something clever. Apparently I also think I often say clever things. I have never heard this so called "noise."

6. I can't stand to type, with someone reading over my shoulder (that's for the benefit of my nine year old son, who is reading over my shoulder as I type).

7. I am addicted to lotion. 

8. I've composed music for my wife and each of my children. 

9. This is a reach: I am 1/32 Paiute Indian. As a child I believed that that is why I could run faster than all the other kids (which is up for debate). It was either that or the superman cape I wore everywhere. 

10. As a child my parents never let me play in the front yard...but I'm sure it had nothing to do with the aforementioned cape...or the space helmet...or the cowboy boots...or the cowboy  guns...or the lightsabers...or the...well you get the idea...

So there it is, and I swear it's all true. 

Thanks Kacey!

(Oooh I think I just made that little noise again)

Oh and VOTE! The time is almost up!

Photostory Friday: The Story I Forgot to Finish

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Many moons ago, I told you a tale of faith and wonder -- but I only told you two-thirds of the story. 

(I apologize for the recap -- and the repeat pictures --  for those of you who have been here for the whole thing).

Last Spring, before we moved, the home we were living in had a big garden on the side of it. 

We are NOT gardeners.

So our next door neighbor worked the ground. Emma, almost five at the time, was fascinated with the daily process of growing and caring for the garden. She would spend hours walking through the garden with our neighbor -- peppering her with gardening questions.

Saying Emma is inquisitive is like saying the ocean is damp...

One day Emma came to me and asked if she could have some popcorn. I told her we didn't have any popped. No, she wanted the unpopped kernels -- she was going to plant them in the garden. 

I gave her eight little unpopped kernels of Orville Redenbacher's finest, and a pat on the head, and sent her on her way. I gave it not one more thought. Until she came to me several weeks later, and told me, excitedly, to come see her corn (looking back now, I realize that she was always talking about taking care of her corn - watering it and weeding it etc... -- it makes me wonder what else I'm missing). 

I actually put her off for a couple of days, because I didn't want to break her heart when I told her that what she was seeing were weeds.  I was wrong. 

What was growing in the garden was eight little stalks of corn, about three feet high. Much to the surprise of me, my wife, my neighbor -- maybe everyone but Emma and God -- the popcorn was growing. 

I knew you could grow popcorn, I just didn't know you could grow...you know...popcorn.

Even then, we wondered what the stalks would produce. It turns out, by late summer, they had produced about ten little ears of corn. We "harvested" them, dried them, and then stripped the corn from the cobs. And that's where we pick up the story:

When all was said and done, we ended up with about a cup and a half of very small corn kernels -- they were about half the size of the original seeds. But would they pop? 

Indeed they did.

This story is more emotional for me than I thought it would be. Such simple faith -- coupled with hard work (Emma did all the watering and weeding) produced such amazing results. 

Emma NEVER doubted that her corn would grow. She planted it and cared for it, just like you're supposed to. She expected results. And she got them. 

I am so proud. 

VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!!

I am considering changing my profile picture, but I'm rather indecisive, so I'm leaving it up to you (the poll is in the top right hand corner of the page)

1. Indiana Jones. I'm a HUGE Indiana Jones fan (I may have mentioned that). This was me last Halloween. A dream come true.

I know, I know...

2. Emma and I, on the Farmington Trail. The picture is blurry, but I love it. Emma is the only one of my kids that still holds my hand when we walk. This is the only picture I keep on my desk at work. 

3. The Guitar. I like to look at this picture and pretend I'm a good guitar player. 

4. Wafers. I love these wafers. I would marry them, but we frown on non-traditional marriage in Utah.

5. The Current Picture. This is Jordan and me (taken by my son, with a little guidance from his father...) You can probably guess why I like this shot. 

If you were here yesterday, you know that I had a sixth picture, but I stupidly forgot to put it on the poll (thanks Corey!). 

Vote Early and Often. 

Pretend like you're in Illinois. 

365: Week 8 (and a poll...oooohhh! a poll!)

365: Week 8

By the end of this post you may be able to guess where I've spent most of my week...

Day 50

February 19: The day of the surgery. My wife's cancer surgery was performed at the University of Utah Hospital (much to the chagrin of my children -- apparently I've been a little too anti-U of U in my comments during football season, and it's rubbing off: Emma, who is 5, said if she saw one more red "U" she was going to gag -- what have I done? But I digress....), but the surgeon was from the Huntsman Cancer Institute, and that is where Sharon was moved for recovery. 

As you can tell from the shot of the front doors, this is no ordinary hospital. Jon Huntsman - father of our governor -- who built the place said that cancer patients are suffering enough, and he wanted them to be as comfortable as possible. The rooms are more like hotel suites (wood floors, private rooms, huge bathrooms, gorgeous views etc...) We feel so blessed to have this wonderful place in our own community. 

Day 51

February 20: Morphine. With all the tubes connected to her today, it was the one with morphine that Sharon loved the most. 

Day 52

February 21: The State Capitol. Our State Capitol building is the scene of a ridiculous circus right now (otherwise known as the 2009 Legislative Session -- or the Chris Buttars Freak Show -- but that's another post), but on a Saturday afternoon, on the way back from the hospital, it was practically empty. The building has recently been renovated (for more than a  year it looked like a giant roll of toilet paper), and this was the first time I had been inside, in several years. The light was absolutely beautiful. I would love to shoot bridals in here -- anyone getting married?

Day 53

February 22: Bella. Bella is my mother-in-law's little dog. She was abused and abandoned at about three months old. She was "rescued" by my mother-in-law, at a shelter that my sister-in-law runs in Georgia. Bella never barks, but is full of mischief, and has more energy than her little body can contain, and found instant love as the newest member of our family. 

Day 54

February 23: Most hospitals have some sort of ambulance helicopter service, and this is an Air-med chopper, from the University of Utah Hospital. I have never flown in one of these helicopters. I don't know anyone who has. But this week we benefitted from their services. 

Over the last week and a half, my wife has had one I-V after another. As each has failed, they have had to find a new spot. Sharon has very difficult veins, and consequently the process of putting in a new I-V is painful and long and has left her arms covered in bruises. 

When they ran out of arm space, the determination was made to put the next I-V in her shoulder. It turns out that the Air-med guys are the best at putting in I-V's, particularly the difficult ones. They gain this expertise from the necessity of often having to work quickly and in extremely difficult conditions. Today they called in Air-med to put the I-V in Sharon's shoulder. She said it was quick and painless. 

Thank You Air-med. 

Day 55

February 24: The view. This is what we see each night from Sharon's hotel (I mean hospital) room.

Day 56

February 25: Still here. We hoped to bring Sharon home Tuesday. We hoped to bring her home today. We hope to bring her home tomorrow. It's a great view, but the view from our back porch isn't too bad either. 

Tomorrow is the day.

Bonus Feature!

Okay Kiddies, I need your help. I'm considering changing my profile picture, so I've decided to leave it to you -- my loyal and misguided readers (why else would you be here, if you weren't misguided). I'll leave the poll up for a week. 

1. Indiana Jones. I'm a HUGE Indiana Jones fan (I may have mentioned that). This was me last Halloween. A dream come true. 

I know, I know...

2. Me and my shadow (and my wall). I was sick when I took this, that's my only explanation. You can't actually vote for this one on the poll, because I forgot to put it on there. Sorry.

3. Emma and I, on the Farmington Trail. The picture is blurry but I love it. Emma is the only one of my kids that still holds my hand when we walk. This is the only picture I keep on my desk at work. 

4. The Guitar. I like to look at this picture, and pretend I'm a good guitar player. 

5. Wafers. I love these wafers. I would marry them, but we frown on non-traditional marriage here in Utah.  

6. The current photo. This is Jordan and me (taken by my son -- with a little direction from his father...). You can probably guess why I like this shot. 

Be sure to vote early and often. 

Just pretend like you're in Illinois.