"To avoid situations in which you might make mistakes may be the biggest mistake of all." 
- Peter McWilliams, Life 101

Life is an interesting teacher, isn't it?  Trying things and having those things not live up to our expectations teaches us more about ourselves and who we are than anything or anyone could. 

I was really terrified when I was planning that silly conference I did.  What if it was an epic failure? I was becoming paralyzed with the fear of failing that I almost quit. Like every day for about a month.

Then my wise little sister told me to stop and breathe (and quit being a giant pansy). The mere fact that I was trying something proved that I wasn't an epic failure. The only time you are an epic failure, she said, is when you don't even try. Taking the first step and trying moves you from being a failure to a success. Failure is simply not trying.

So what if things don't go the way you "scripted" them... you tried. That's success. People who love you and care about you don't care about "the end result" they care about you and the fact that you had the courage to try.

That pep-talked changed my life.  I had been a pansy for years-- afraid of being that epic failure so I wouldn't put myself out there and try to do something . . . daring.  I realized however that it takes courage to try and in the process of trying you get more courage. If you're going to do something, have the courage to fail big because you will already be a big failure if you don't even try.

*****
 Speaking of failure: I am an epic failure at being the Tooth-fairy.  Every single one of my children has had to call "central command" to complain about the fact that the Tooth-fairy isn't doing her job.

Thing 3 lost yet another tooth at the beginning of the week and I forgot every single night this week to pick it up and leave some cash.  Until last night that is when I was tucking her into bed and she lifted up the pillow and said "Mom. My tooth is RIGHT. THERE. See? Do you think she'll come tonight?"  I promptly replied "Central Command said she was on vacation this week, but they would send a substitute, so don't get upset with what she leaves." 

That substitute woke up in a panic at 6:30am and rushed around trying to find something to leave.  (a crumpled up dollar should work, right?)

Me as the tooth-fairy = epic fail. And, I'm totally OK with that.

*****
Last week I was so sick I figured the second-coming must be on it's way.  I conquered death, and now I'm working on figuring out the secrets of the resurrection.

I'm on the mend. Slowly, but surely.

Let's keep our fingers and toes crossed that the kids don't get it... we've got Disneyland people. DISNEYLAND. And who wants to be sick for Disneyland?

*****
School starts in TWENTY-FIVE DAYS.

Not that I'm counting or anything.

Cause I'm totally not.

Only sort of.

*****
I am in need of a good mind-less read.  I just finished something kind of heavy, and I want fluff people. FLUFF.  Light on the sex but fluff none the less nonetheless none-the-less.  (how do you write that?)

Do you have any good suggestions?

*****
I'm hungry all the time. It's such a pain, really.  I love to eat and preferably eat out. When I'm hungry, I immediately start thinking of places I could go eat. Like right now. I want a Kamikaze Burger and Bottom-less Fries from Red Robin. Yum.

Right now Red Robin (yum) is doing this thing where if you bring a bike you can have a free burger. I have two bikes I need to get rid of so does that mean I can have two burgers?

Inquiring minds want to know. Those minds are hun-ree.



*****
I do have one little confession to make regarding hamburger consumption.  I could eat a hamburger for every stinking meal and never get tired of it.  Ever.  Even for Breakfast. I loves me some hamburger and fries.

My sisters tease me because when we go places I am more than willing to try new restaurants. As long as they have a burger on the menu.  That's not to say that I won't try other foods, because I do. I LOVE with all my heart mind and soul Mexican food. But, I love burgers too. It's a torrid affair between burgers and Mexican food.

This week its Burgers and fries.

Two weeks ago it was Carne Asada Tacos. (twice in one day. Shut up.)

Which makes this next confession rather sad: apparently I am a total sinner when it comes to hamburger consumption because I have never eaten at In&Out Burger. Like Ever.

I am an In&Out Burger Virgin.

So tell me people if one were going to rectify being an In&Out Virgin Burger Eater, what would one order?

*****
That's it folks.  I'm headed to Twin Falls this weekend. So if you see me, don't flip me off when I cut you off in traffic.

Catch ya on the flip side!

1.  Skipping Stones  -  Amos Lee
2.  If I Ask You Nicely - Gomez
3.  Knock 'Em Out - Lily Allen
4.  These Days - Ayo
5.  No One Is To Blame (Acoustic) - Howard Jones *hello 1985. where have you been?*
6.  River Song - Dennis Wilson
7.  Laughing With A Mouth Full Of Blood - St. Vincent
8.  All Summer Long - Kid Rock
9. Day Dreamer - Donavon Frankenreiter
10. Feels Like Home - Chantal Kreviazuk

Bonus: Daughter - Loudon

No matter what your religious practices are this video is what we all should strive to be like: Frankly Forgiving and Truly Christ-Like.

Right now I know I would be unable to be like this man; However, I am humbled when I watch this and find myself desiring to be more like Him. And him.

A bunch of my readers have sent me some crazy photos over the last little while, and since my muse is still on her eternal-freaking-potty-break, I decided to share with you the joy that has come to my in box.









99 Phenomenal Digital Photo Tricks: Crazy Fun with People & Places (US English)

Thing 1: You know what's really cool about the commandments, Mom?

Me: Nope. What?

Thing 1: It's totally cool how you can know exactly which commandments God wanted to be important to you.

Me: Really? How?

Thing 1: The commandments that are the hardest for you to keep are the ones that God wants to be the most important to you.

{insert my jaw dropping}

I think I was just schooled by my child.

At my lemonade stand I used to give the first glass away free and charge five dollars for the second glass. The refill contained the antidote. 
- Emo Phillips

I think I have mastered death and now I am trying to conquer the resurrection. I'll let you know how that goes.

I have been sick for over 10 days now and this past week it hit me full force and with a vengeance.  I have been "knock-knock-knocking on heavens door" and surely death would be better than how I have been feeling. The sad thing--or at least sad for me-- is that when the Mom (that's me) is seeing the spirits from the grave coming to escort her home, the rest of the family still wants dinner. And a drive to their friends house. And a drive across the state to EFY. And more dinner.

It's tragic really.

I think what I have is a cross between Ebola and Pneumonia.

Please put daisies on my grave.

*****
While I have been dying, I have also been reading.  I just finished reading Little Bee and have to say that it was a fantastic read.  It was a clever sort of marketing that Chris Cleave did when he put this on the back cover:

"We don't want to tell you WHAT HAPPENS in this book.  It is a truly SPECIAL STORY and we don't want to spoil it.  NEVERTHELESS, you need to know enough to buy it, so we will just say this: This is a story of two women.  Their lives collide one fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice, the kind of choice we hope you never have to face.  Two years later, they meet again-- the story starts there . . .   Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it.  When you do, please don't tell them what happens.  The magic is in how the story unfolds."

You know what? It's true.  I was hesitant to read this book.  I could find nothing that said what the story was really about, so I took a chance.  I'm glad I did.  The way the author weaves words together is incredibly moving.  I found myself highlighting passages from the book simply because the way he wove the words together made them sing a hauntingly beautiful song.  For instance:

" We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret.  Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived." 

I loved that passage. The other one that I find myself thinking about is this one:

"Sad words are just another beauty.  A sad story means, this storyteller is alive."

If you feel adventurous, you should most definitely take a chance on Little Bee.  I read it in one weekend, and I can't stop  thinking about her.

I give this book Two Thumbs Up.  Way, WAY Up.

*****
There is a boy in my ward who is really sick and the neighborhood has been putting together a fundraiser for him.  I feel really honored to be able to be able to participate in the event.  It's quite the stellar event-- a Nitro Circus Movie Screening with a sneak peek of the upcoming season along with signed memorabilia being auctioned off; Utah Blaze Football Camp; Miller Motor Sports Park Stunt riding and Live Entertainment!


I was updating the website and putting more information on it, when I read a post that he wrote.  I was feeling rather sorry for my sad, little self and his words knocked the wind out of me.  He is a wise young man, who truly has a grasp on what is important.

If anyone has any reason at all to complain, it's this young man and yet he keeps on smiling and looking for the good in his day.  That is a remarkable trait.  His mother has taught him well.

She is a remarkable woman and is always the first one there when someone is in need.  She goes about serving people silently-- never wanting any recognition.  She is the kind of faithful, thoughtful, spiritual woman whom I hope to be like when I grow up.  I watch her care for her children-- and she is a remarkable mother.  You can tell how she mothers them and cares for them by the way her children treat other people's children.

One of her son's is Thing 2's age and I absolutely LOVE having him in my home. He is kind, thoughtful and appreciative.  He is so kind and caring to my two younger girls-- he loves on them and always acknowledges them. He goes out of his way to say "Hi" to them-- especially Moxie-- when he sees them.  He makes such a fuss over them, I don't know how anyone wouldn't fall madly in love with him. 

When my children's friends are kind to my other children, they endear themselves to me in ways that can't be explained. There are only three of Thing2's friends who are like that and I tell you what-- I will bend over backwards to help those children.

So. This boy and the fundraiser.

If you feel so inclined-- will you spread the word on your blog?  You can copy anything you want from the website and put it on your blog to help promote it.  There are press releases, fliers, and buttons.  The committee has been able to land some pretty amazing sponsors for the event-- Like Comcast Cable, The Utah Blaze and Mtv's Nitro Circus to name just a few.  It is going to be the event of the century, that's for sure!

For more information visit www.daviscoxfundraiser.com

*****
Thing 1 has been off to EFY and I got a text last night that simply said: "I am SO HAPPY!"

What more can a mother ask?

Best money we've ever spent.

Bar. None.

*****

Football starts in two weeks.

Two weeks of freedom and then our family will be eating, breathing, sleeping and dreaming football.

I'm not so sure Jefe is as excited as Thing 2 happens to be.  He is the assistant coach of Thing 2's team, and it is a long, taxing season.  Practice 4 nights a week for two hours. Games all over Northern Utah every Saturday. It's a lot.

Someone quite a while ago said they just didn't see the value in team sports-- particularly football.  They felt like you would gain more from Gymnastics, or Dance or Music Lessons. That those events taught you how to compete against yourself.

I have to disagree, and I had to keep my mouth shut. While that may be true, there is a lot to be gained by being involved in a team sport. The biggest is learning how to work with others. There can't be a lone star in a football game.  When there is-- that team suffers. When they all pull together and work hard-- that team profits.

Thing 2 is not a natural athlete, but he wants to be an athlete.  He has learned valuable lessons from this sport that will help him in aspects of his life.  He's learned that you don't always get what you want-- just because of who you are; Hard work will get you further than anything else and if you want something you have to work for it but you still may not get it.  And, that's OK.

I appreciate the life lessons he is learning.

I watched one of the Coaches last year working with a boy.  He made a grave mistake in a play that cost us dearly.  The boy pulled himself off the field and went and sat on the bench.  The coach went to the boy and said "What are you doing? Get back in there!"  The boy responded "I screwed up and made a huge mistake. I shouldn't be playing."  The coach then said a remarkable thing to that boy: "Welcome to life. You're going to make mistakes.  That's how life is so get back out there and learn from that mistake!"

Those are life lessons people that some of us STILL need to learn.

*****
That's all for this week's addition of Random 10 Friday.  The TEN part comes in with the songs I list all random like.  I throw Rhapsody on shuffle and write down the first ten songs that pop up. No fast forwarding to something cooler. It's just totally random.

I've been pretty lucky lately because none of the crappy Wiggles songs have shown up in the list.

Now watch I've totally jinxed myself and there will be like four of them. 


1.  Quelqu'un M'a Dit  -  Carla Bruni
2.  All the Color Green - Peter Breinholt
3.  The Best Day Ever - SpongeBob SquarePants (See?)
4.  The Way I Am  - Ingrid Michaelson
5. Win Park Slope - Gomez
6.  Keep It Loose, Keep it Tight - Amos Lee
7.  Falling for the First Time - Jules Larson
8.  California Gurls (feat. Snoop Dogg) - Katy Perry
9.  Sink or Swim - Tyrone Wells
10. Something To Be Proud Of - Montgomery Gentry

Bonus: Slow Dancing In A Burning Room (Acoustic) - John Mayer

Facebook.

It's the veritable reunion-connection-stalker-Oprah-Esq-long-lost-friend/lover/cousin-maker-tool.

Really.

Think about it.

People from your past you haven't seen in YEARS suddenly find you on Facebook and wah-lah! You're friends. Again.

Sometimes you never speak to each other after that first "Hey, thanks for the friend!"

And others, you pick up right where you left off ten years ago.

That has been my experience.

I have recently reconnected all Oprah style with long lost friends from my past and frankly I love it!

I had dinner last night with my very best friend from college.  We reminisced about all the dumb stuff we did in college-- skipping class and hanging out in the bookstore reading greeting cards and laughing so hard we may have actually peed a little-- and realizing that it totally sucks when life gets in the way of friends.

It was good to be laugh with you again, Melinda!

And, the best part of the night? Hearing your twenty-four year old brother call you and ask WHY, for the love of all things holy, are you still out at ELEVEN pm? You're 40 years old, for Google's Sake!

Made my night!

*****
I heard a song recently that punched me in the stomach.  I don't know why it affected me the way it did, but it has been haunting me and I can't stop thinking about it. 

It's the song "Live Like You're Dying" by Tim McGraw.  I don't know why it hit me so hard, but I love the lyrics. I find myself thinking about the line: ". . .He said I was finally the husband [wife] that most the time I wasn't and I became a friend a friend would like to have . . ."

It's really easy to get so caught up in life--work, chores, bills-- that you forget to live life and be what it is you are looking for in others.

I told my friend last night that I had an ah-ha moment when Jefe told me I didn't need to do all the things I was doing to prove that I was more than just a Mom. I had a lifetime to chase my crazy dreams-- but only a short time where these kids would actually want me around.  What a shame to waste this valuable time on my dreams and forget the kids in the process.

I know that little comment could create a veritable fire-storm, but for me it rings true.  I'm not saying AT ALL you should put your dreams on hold, I'm just saying for ME I have nothing but time to chase my dreams and a limited amount of time with my children living under my roof.

I'll take my kids, thankyouverymuch.

*****


Record Club: INXS "Never Tear Us Apart" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

Oh me, Oh my! This is simply the best cover of an INXS song I have ever heard! St. Vincent is absolutely delicious and I want to eat this song every day for breakfast bathed in chocolate sauce.

Listen and see if you don't find it dripping with awesomeness.

The violin is haunting and it adds incredible depth to a 1980's New Wave Band.

It's one of my new favorite songs and I could listen to it over and over again. And, frankly?  I do.

*****

Thing 1 got invited by a boy to a swim party.

A BOY people. A boy.

He actually came to our door and invited her.

I think I was more excited than she was. Maybe. OK. Probably not.

If I didn't thing this boy was the most adorable critter on the planet, I would be a little freaked out. However, his Mom is my friend and his sisters were my young women and he is adorable.

I'm a little worried about the beginning of High School.  She doesn't turn 16 until the end of NEXT summer and seriously?

Have you seen her lately?


*****

I ran over something on the road earlier this week and literally popped my tire.

We all heard it inside the car and all of us said at the same time "Oh No. That didn't sound good." By the time I pulled over to the side of the road, the tire was F-L-A-T.

Thing 1 immediately started chanting "I know how to change a tire! I'll do it! I'll do it!"

I asked her how and she said "Well, I need that weird taker-offer-thinger.  When she said that I lost all confidence in her and called Jefe and then my Mom. Cause really? When you're in trouble, who ya gonna call? Yo Mamma.

I feel sort of bad for not trusting her because apparently she really can change a tire and Jefe had to change it with his bum hand.

*****
Speaking of who ya gonna call? Thing 2 went to sleep over recently and came home in the middle of the night (read: midnight).  I just happened to be up  in the kitchen eating (shut up) and heard the front door start to jiggle.  It scared the wah-jeebers out of me! I creeped to the front door just in time to see his face peer in at me.

I may or may not have screamed.

I asked him why he was home, and he said because the boys were making him feel uncomfortable.

I didn't question him, just praised him for getting the heck out of dodge when he found something that made him feel uncomfortable.

Silently I was doing a cheerleader show because he had actually been paying attention in Family Home Evening when we spent an entire month talking about how when Joesph- who was sold into Egypt- didn't just saunter away from temptation he ran so fast he left his coat.

People. That's fast. 

Thing 2 ran home because he was uncomfortable with the stuff the boys were doing. And, I wanted to cheer!

We told the kids that summer when we had those lessons that they should always run home when stuff was happening that made them uncomfortable and we would never quiz them. They just had to use our "code".

He did just that, and I'm pretty proud of him.

Maybe I'm not such a crappy parent after all.

*****
I wrote a post over on MMB this week.  I think it's pretty good, and it's a call to action. Care to join?
It's for a good cause, and it will make you feel all sparkly inside!

*****
That's all folks! I hope you have a swell weekend!



1.   Fresh Pair of Eyes - Brooke Waggoner
2.   Soviets  -  The Boxer Rebellion
3.   Crazy -  Katy Herzig
4.   Falling For The First Time - Jules Larson
5.   Loving You Is Easy - Ben Recktor
6.   Good Thing - Patty Larkin
7.   Dead Skunk - Loudin Wainwright III
8.   Your Heart -  Donavon Frankereiter
9.   Ma Jeunesse  - Carla Bruni
10. 1901 - Phoenix

Bonus: Skipping Stone - Amos Lee

I think the mistake a lot of us make is thinking the state-appointed shrink is our friend. - Jack Handy

You have been dying to hear the conclusion of the Qwest saga, haven't you?  I knew it.

  I fired them back in May AFTER spending 3 hours on the phone with them trying to cancel their service.  They promised that they would come and bury the cables that have been strung along the length of my .75 acres since FEBRUARY.

Yeah. They suck.

They promptly sent someone out the next day to bury those cables. Or so they told me. The dude they sent wasn't a cable bury man, but a repair man. He was supposed to talk us into staying, and beef up our service so we wouldn't dump them.

He told us we should fire them too because we were paying for a 12mg download but were only getting about 8mg.

Nice.

Then they turned off my phone instead of my Internet.

Even nicer.

Finally, yesterday, they came and buried our exposed lines.

Seriously? Five months to do your job is ridiculous.  Most companies would fire your butt if it took you that long to do a job.

Which is why I did. Fire them, that is.

Have I mentioned that I love Comcast and I know it's true?

I do and it is. 

*****

Moxie has figured out how to open the front door. Which, in and of itself really isn't that big of a deal. Except that the dog has now figured out if she will stand by the front door and whine, Moxie will let her out of her prison.

In a one day period she set the dog free no less than 4 times. FOUR times of me then having to run outside yelling and screaming like a lunatic to chase the friggin' dog back home.

Which the dog AND Moxie both love.

I guess I'm the major pooper to their party.

*****
Thing 1 is able to get her learners permit in a month. She took one look at that drivers manual and rolled her eyes so deeply I thought they were stuck.  She tried to read a chapter, she said, but it was so boring it made her fall asleep for FOUR HOURS Mom. 

I told her I refused to let her get her learners permit if she couldn't even be bothered to learn the rules of the road. 

Then she said the most remarkable thing:  "That book is dumb anyway. I mean, who really needs to know how close you should follow someone or where you can park?"

Ummm.... Sweetie, You Do.

So, until you do "No license for you!"  {said in my best soup Nazi voice}

*****
I have to complain about the person that built my house. Will you indulge me for a moment?

He's a MORON.

He isn't a builder by trade, but an LDS Seminary teacher.

He shouldn't quit his day job, is what I'm saying.

(or maybe he should? )

He wired the entire house backwards. And, the GF plug for the basement is upstairs--on the third level-- in the laundry room.

Doofus.

(I'm trying really hard not to swear.)

(Which is what I really want to do. Because he's more than just a Doofus.)

He ran the furnace WHILE he did the dry walling (which is a big no-no).

He did the HVAC all by his lonesome--which is evident by how screwy the vents are.

If I ever see him in person, it will take every single ounce of self control that I have to not punch him in the throat.

Seriously.

*****
Thing 2 has been invited with his football team from last year to go and be the half-time entertainment for the Utah Blaze game tonight.

His team of 11-12 year old boys are going to play all the mascots.  Like the Jazz Bear, and the Utah Bee's thing.  You know. Mascots.

I think that is going to be hilarious to watch and I plan on taking a plethora of photos to show you the hilariousness of watching pre-teen boys open a can of whoop A on a bunch of grown men dressed up in costumes.

It's going to be a stellar night!

*****
Have a great weekend!

My A/C is getting fixed so hopefully we will have a nice COOL weekend.

Here's hoping.

1.  Smile  - Uncle Kracker
2.  Freedom - Amos Lee
3.  Everybody Everybody - Black Box
4.  Breathe Me - Sia
5.  Sweet Jane - Cowboy Junkies
6.  Friend Like You - Joshua Radin
7.  Voyager II - Virginia Coalition
8.  The Way It Is  -  Donavon Frankenreiter
9.  Forgiveness - Vaughan Penn
10. Slow Glass - Noah & The Whale

Bonus: Nothing But The Whole Wide World - Jakob Dylan

I use the Pillsbury Frozen buttermilk biscuits and put them in to cook once I have started on the gravy.

I have the found that the trick to creating enough drippings for the gravy is to cook bacon before I cook the sausage, and reserve the bacon drippings for later.

Cook 1 pound of Jimmy Dean Regular Sausage on medium heat. Crumble while cooking. Trust me, this is easier.

Pour Bacon drippings into sausage drippings and then slowly reheat.

A good gravy has the ratio of 2 Tbsp flour to 2 Tbsp drippings to 1 cup milk. You need at least 4 Tbsp of drippings to make the gravy.

I cook the flour and drippings mixture for a little bit and slowly stir in the milk. Once it is thick and bubbly, I add in the sausage and simmer to marry the flavors. I add salt and pepper to taste-- usually more pepper than salt because we like our gravy spicy.  Serve over open faced hot biscuits and it is DIVINE!

*My Family LOVES this for dinner.

Never in a million years did I ever think I would say that I love living where I live.

But, I do.

I live in the town where I was raised-- the town where I lived from the time I was four until I was twenty-three (minus those 20 months that I was on a Mormon Mission).

When I got married, I left for bigger and better things. Never EVER to return. Or so I thought.

I can remember when there was only one stop light in town, and only one place to eat--a greasy hamburger joint called Hobo Joe's. Only we all called it Homo Joe's.  (we were not politically correct teenagers. don't judge.)

 I remember when The Pizza Company came to town and that you could find all the Junior High kids in the back party room every single Friday night gorging themselves on pizza and sarsaparilla.

The house that I live in now used to be where the stinky dairy farm was.

I remember when there was only one grocery store in town-- the one where I met Jefe. In the produce section.

It was a small town then, and it still has that small town feel.

My Town has an amazing tradition every Fourth of July:



We have your typical cheesy parade, full of advertisements and off key little kid singers. But, once those pass by, the real fun starts.










I can't imagine spending the Fourth of July any where else.  I was really bummed when I lived in Illinois and realized that not all parades were like My Town's Parade.

Small towns. They are a curse when you are young.  But when you get older, they are a comfort.

As a child, I was the one who said I was going to move as far away from My Town as I could get. I never wanted to live here as an adult. And yet, when the time came for us to start putting down roots, we compared every town we looked at to this town-- to My Town. 

I love this video with all my heart!

None of the kids want to sit by Moxie at the dinner table any more.

It's a huge shift in loyalties because up until about 2 months ago, everyone wanted to sit by her. They would argue about her.  She was a super good eater, and just happy to eat at the table.

Now? Not so much.

She has taken to stuffing her mouth with as much food as is humanly possible to stuff into a two year olds mouth and then she'll stuff it away into her cheeks. Much like a squirrel storing her nuts for the winter.

Then she puts her Binky in her mouth.

And sucks on it ALL.

It's really gross.

Then she gets a panicked look in her eye, and spits everything out. On whatever is around.

People.

The table.

The floor.

My Hand.

Then, rinse and repeat all the live long day.

Seriously.

Two year olds can be so gross.

Good thing she's so adorable!