Find the Birthday Girl!

Happy birthday sister! We love you!

Mockingjay!

I'm pretty excited about this book coming out. I got it yesterday and am loving it so far! If anyone is looking for a great series to read you should check out The Hunger Games series. This is the last book in the series and I'm very excited to see how it ends. Don't worry, I will not share any of the details for those of you who have not read it yet. Enjoy!

Michaelmus Prime, Rollout!

More like: Remembered. Today, Michaelmus Prime's reign on earth came to an end. Oriah and I had talked about downsizing to the "one-car-family" status for a while now and today it happened.

I've decided I'm going to write two posts about Michaelmus Prime. This post will be about today's farewell experience. A bag of mixed emotions. The next post will be a trip down memory lane reliving the adventures Michaelmus Prime and I shared.

Where to begin... My last two oil changes ended the same way: The service man greets me and informs me that my front ball joints need replaced = $600 repair. Then, about two months ago I noticed that 3rd gear was jamming - or only going into gear half-way. The transmission would also slip out of gear as I would accelerate in 3rd gear on level terrain or as I would crest a hill and start going downhill. Last, the transmission would sometimes grind when I shifted into 4th. All signs of the tranny going out = $3,000 repair.

So here I am sitting on a 16-year old truck that I thought would yield me maybe $1,000 private-party sale, tops, with about $4,000 in repairs. Now, mind you the 10 years Michaelmus Prime and I have romped around the world I've only changed its starter and tires. That's it. So, it made sense that as it neared 190,000 miles the truck would start needing more significant repairs.

Oriah and I started talking about trying to sell the truck. I called a few individuals that had expressed interest in the past. I also emailed a few folks who I thought might be interested who were not local. End result: No reply. I didn't feel like doing the leg work to do a full-on advertising campaign so the options were basically junk it or give it away. I thought charity was the better of the two options. I contacted the National Kidney Foundation of Utah, filled out the online forms then contacted the insurance company to take the truck off our insurance policy. Oriah and I took some pictures and I cleaned out the cabin and gear box. That was last Thursday. Friday I got a call saying the tow truck would come Monday morning. Sure enough, a little after 11:00 this morning Michaelmus Prime rode off into the near noon-day sun.

Pictures and videos:

And just like that it was gone. For good. I felt sad. Tears swelled. That truck has been a part of my life for more than 10 years (10 years 29 days, or 3,681 days, to be exact.) I bought it on Wednesday, July 26, 2000. It had 55,040 miles on it then. Today the odometer read 189,900. 134,860 miles under my belt in just that one truck. Four trips cross-country and all over the Western U.S. Yep, I've been to a lot of places on this great, green world in that thing. Farewell Michaelmus Prime.

Pallin' With Al

Oriah already mentioned that we had Alyson and Shawnie over the other night for dinner. But I just have to say how much fun Alyson is! She's a blast!!! And so is Shawnie :) So, here's to you Miss Fun Pants! Every time I think of you, I think of this song: "Pallin' With Al"

B.H.E.

Let me tell you why I have the B.H.E. (Best Husband Ever). Today is Michael's day off. Last night Alyson and Shawnie came over for dinner at our house and brought us LOTS of food for a housewarming gift. We are soooooo grateful. We needed to add it to our food storage pantry and needed to make room for it all. Michael and I had talked about getting some of these for a long time, but haven't had a need for them until now. Today he has been driving around town trying to find the best deal for us. He spent a good part of the day doing that. I'm so excited to try them out!

Thank you Michael! I love you!

Campus Education Week

This week is the big Education Week here at BYU. People come from all over to learn from some great scholars on various topics. Because the Marriott Center is a big venue we get some popular speakers here. I really enjoy being able to listen to some great talks/speeches while I work.

My aunt comes down every year with her friend to "attend" Education Week. I put that in quotes because instead of being on campus right now, they are out on the golf course. :) It is more of a fun vacation with some classes thrown in there. That is how I would do it if I wasn't working here. I would make it a fun trip, learn some, but make sure to have fun.

Anyway... good times here at BYU this week!

Declutter

I'm pretty excited about the progress I made in our kitchen yesterday. I had been trying to figure out how to make it look less cluttered, but I couldn't figure out where to put the appliances that were on there. I was at Niki's house this weekend and noticed that she had her appliances in her pantry or cupboards. Genius! I moved around some stuff and BAM my counters are clean! I'm so excited!

You Lost Your Dimple!

I never realized that you could actually lose your dimple. Today I learned that you can. Niki sent me a picture of herself today after she had been to the dentist and had cavities filled. Niki has a deep dimple normally... and it was gone! Pretty crazy stuff.

Here is proof:

Before:

After:

Letting Go

Ladies and Gentlemen, Ron Bartholomew. I first ran into "Brother B" shortly after moving out to Utah back in 2006. I enrolled in an Institute class at UVU (then UVSC) and had the privilege of learning from him for the 3 years I was enrolled at BYU.

I wrote him towards the end of June when my "long road" crisis really started setting in and he responded with this:

"...Perhaps I can offer you this: Lately an increasing trend among young adults in your station of life has come to my attention--the idea that the pot of gold is at the end of the rainbow and the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. That could not be further from the truth. Often, especially in matters that matter most (marriage, career, life) one often has to struggle through the Walmarts of life to get to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow eventually, if not at all in this life. Joy in the journey, my friend. Besides, if you get to where you want to be too fast, what will you ever have to look forward to? Progress isn't at all measured in the miles between the two points; progress, my dear friend, at least real progress, is measured by lessons learned, and character developed, NOT by geographic or social positioning.

Become the best Walmart employee in the history of the company. And not for the sake of moving up or moving out. For the sake of excellence, for the sake of mastering the task at hand, for the sake of true progress."

He wrote that back on June 29th. I went back to his email last Wednesday and his point finally began to sink in. Joy in the journey. I soon decided to stop fighting and submit to whatever God intends this experience to produce for myself and/or another. I need to trust Him and choose a great attitude along the way. And I have to say...the last few days have been ok.

It's going to be ok.

Letting go and letting God.

In other news, Brian (a.k.a. "Bjorn") my best mate from those good old, rowdy University of Wyoming Cowboy days, came into town for a quick visit. It's always a good time when we get together. One day we'll release a "The Best of Bjorn and Ragnar" video, or something, to let you all in on the hi-jinks. He's an athletic trainer by choice and here's a picture of him messing around on some poor, unsuspecting athlete-type. Well, today Brian officially became our very first guest visitor at the townhouse! I cleaned up the whole place just for the occasion. I impressed Oriah and even myself in the feat. It sure was good to see him and to be able to open up our home to a friend traveling through the neighborhood.

Changes

Niki and I decided to start a "Biggest Loser: Harding Edition" for the women in our family. We are currently on week one. I have no idea if I have lost any weight yet this week (I am going to try and only step on the scale once a week for our weigh-in) but I do feel much better about myself. I have been watching what I eat and making sure not to eat too much at meals, and trying to only have fruits or veggies for snacks if I need one. It feels good. I also have made a conscious effort to get in at least 30 min of exercise each day. If I don't get the chance to go to the gym or the track I have made sure to walk to campus and walk around. This is a lifestyle change. I want to lose weight and be healthy and not go back! We'll see how it goes.

Long Road

I started this post with the title "Disconcerted" but went with "Long Road" for simplicity's sake...

I know the Internet isn't the place to bear one's soul but somehow I don't perceive rational thinking will prevail right now. I feel pretty much like this picture. I'm here. On a path to somewhere. Darned if I know where it's going. I should just enjoy the ride - there's plenty of neat things to look at. But I find myself either looking back, second guessing past...we'll call them..."intersections"...or thinking about the future "what-ifs" lost in a day dream of better situations. Definitely not living in the moment.

I had a heart-to-heart with my boss last week. Felt frustrated at work. Frustrated about work. Perhaps more than a little frustrated about life (in the professional career/job sense.) And she proceeded to call me out. Told me that she can't figure me out. That I'm "wishy-washy." Asked me what I really wanted and told me to either commit myself or move on. And while she was at it, she pointed out that I also needed to stop:

1. Letting other's define me
2. Being so judgmental
3. Being too quick at the mouth

I've heard this feedback before...most recently...about two years-ish ago. I guess I either forgot the lesson or never learned it in the first place. Perhaps that's why I find myself where I find myself. Perhaps another chance to learn the lesson. Prior to this conversation a lot of...we'll call it..."sharing" came my way through several near-and-dear-types that I needed to be engaged in the work I found myself. To stop living in the future I wanted to be in and focus on where I was and make the most of it.

Specific examples include:

-The ancient writer Flavius Magnus Aurelius Cassiordorus said: "He is invited to do great things who receives small things greatly."
-"Not knowing the end result."
-"When life hands you lemons make lemonade."
-I even saw a quote on a WorkMed wall from Abraham Lincoln that said: "Whatever you are, be a good one."

But I'm still having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that I have an advanced degree and I work at Wal-Mart. Ain't pride great? Case in point: I'm walking towards the front of the store today when I notice a gentleman walking back towards Electronics. I notice him because he's well dressed. Nice slacks and shoes. Pressed, collar shirt. Business dress. Perhaps the clothes I would want to be wearing if I were in any other job of my choosing. I get closer to the individual. I'm practically on top of the guy and realize that he's a classmate from my MBA program. We didn't make eye contact at close range. Not sure if he recognized me from a distance, or not. All I know is that I felt horribly ashamed. Throw in a mix of embarrassment while you're at it. Now, I know the worst thing in the world you can do to yourself is to fall into the "comparison" trap but there I was thinking that here's "George" in his post-MBA life doing really well (at least looking the part) and I'm an Assistant Manager at Wal-Mart. What am I doing here? How did I end up here?

I feel inadequate. I feel as if I'm not living up to my potential. This isn't what greatness was supposed to look like after graduation. And I feel sad...as if I'm mourning unrealized goals, aspirations and dreams. I'm really struggling with this...

So Simple. So Good.

I would rather think inside the bun. Oriah made Sloppy Joes last night and it's so simple and SOOO good. And don't get me started on McDonald's hamburgers...I could eat a dozen of 'em, easy. I'd gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.

Spudman

This past weekend was the big race that Michael and I had been meaning to train for. :) We got up to Burley, ID and got in line to check in. When we were in line I asked Michael if he remembered his goggles... he had not. The person behind us in line heard that and told us that the lost and found booth sells items from the years past for whatever you are willing to pay for it. Michael got these sweet goggles for $3:

It decided to pour on us when we were setting our bikes up. Here is Lani, Michael, and me:

We got to the race minutes before we were supposed to start. Here is Alyson, Lani, and me before our heat started:

Michael was in a much later heat than us (because he is fast) so he was on his own in this race. Here he is finishing the 25 mile ride:

At the end of the race I ran out to run him in. He loved that!

We had a good time up in Idaho. Last year I had trained much better for it. It took me 3 hours 12 min and 33 seconds last year. This year was not the same. I ended up walking most of the 10K. I ended at 3 hours 42 min and 9 seconds. My bike time was faster though because that is the thing I did train for. :) Michael did great! He came in at 3 hours 18 min even! He was the ultimate winner this year, behind him was Alyson, then Shawnie, then me and Lani. If I do it next year I want to remember how close I came to getting under 3 hours last year and make that my goal!