Challenge Day 2- Something I Regret Not Having Done Last Year

This was a hard topic for me.  I'm sure I had lots of little regrets throughout the days, but for the most part this has been a pretty good year on "The Regret Scale" (well, compared to other years).  Plus, it's not always fun to talk about regrets.  Most regrets have an element of embarrassment or even shame attached to them.  So, maybe I was suppressing memories of regret. 

But then, one day in particular did jump into my head with that internal twinge of *Ugh*.

It was last May, right after we came home from Mexico.  I had been really sick from about day three on while there. After still being sick in bed for two days after getting home, I finally went to the doctor and found out I had bronchitis.  Relieved I was finally going to get some antibiotics and feel better, I drove to the pharmacy at the Walmart closest to our house.

The doctor had also written up a prescription for some heavy duty cough medicine, which I was only going to buy if it didn't cost a fortune (I love Nyquil, and it is cheap).  When I went to the pharmacy to leave my prescription, I asked the girl there to please check the price of the cough medicine, and also to see if there were any generic versions.

She was a pretty, youngish woman, and it looked as if she hadn't been working there long.  She was really friendly though, and started looking right away.  I don't know if the computer was giving her a hard time, or if she was struggling with the system, but it was taking a little longer than usual for that sort of thing.  I was feeling very appreciative that she was willing to look so hard for me, when clearly she was very busy.

I was just about to tell her to forget it when a pharmacist (Head pharmacist? Manager/pharmacist?) came up behind her with a sour/smug look on his face.  He proceeded to tell her how slow she was, and that she was holding up the whole operation.  As a customer, I was completely horrified and shocked that not only he would talk to her like that, but that he would do it in front of me.  It was rude and unprofessional in my opinion.  She sort of shrunk into herself, and only looked up at me one more time to tell me the price, and to tell me to come back in about ten minutes to pick up the prescriptions.  I smiled at her, and tried to convey to her that I was upset about what had happened.  Then I left.  Upset.

So, my regret is that I let a bully get away with mistreating someone.  I have always preached to my kids to stick up for other kids if they see them getting picked on, yet somehow this one slid right past me.  My only excuse, is that I really was very sick and not quite myself that day.  I'd like to think that if it were to happen again in front of me, I'd say something. 

The only good thing I can take away from that day, is that I'm aware I need to be better prepared to speak up immediately if I ever witness anything like that again.  Even if it were to do no good, and even if others didn't agree with my take on the situation, at least I would feel better about the role I have to play in the situation.

And there you go; Challenge Day 2 is complete!

Challenge Day 1- Five Ways to Win My Heart

1.  Be a good communicator.  I love the give and take of talking.  I can be pretty quiet at times, which is fine because I love to listen.  With that being said, I really appreciate it when someone listens to what I have to say. Eye contact is great. Actively thinking about what I said before responding is pretty great too. Actual two-way communicating:  Yep, that wins my heart.

2.  Be someone who demonstrates kindness to children, animals, and old people.

3.  Allow me to be who I really am, with absolutely no judgement or comparisons.

4.  With that being said, I also love people who encourage others by always holding up the image of their potential.  It is a powerful thing when someone believes in you, especially when you are struggling to believe in yourself.

5.  Love my kids.  

30 Day Writing Challenge

Inspired by a friend who is going to be doing her own 30 writing challenge in September, I thought I would do my own writing challenge.  Consistency is not one of my strongest suits, but I've heard if you do anything consistently for a couple of weeks, it will become a habit.  Since writing in here used to be one of my habits, and I really loved it, I think it is time to try again.  Because no one list I found completely appealed to me, I added several to my Page list... but I will try to at least go by whatever day I am on, off of whatever list I choose (that gives me three choices a day).  Also, for any days I am out and about with no internet, I will attempt to do a handwritten journal for that day, and just take a picture of it and post.  So, here we go.

First Family Backpacking Trip into the Wild

Derrick and I took the kids on our first ever family backpacking trip into the wilderness this last weekend.  

We went up to Little Rock Creek Lake instead of Canyon Lake (both in the Bitterroot National Forrest), because it was supposed to be an easier hike, and our overall goal had more to do with getting the kids hooked into backpacking (so they'd be excited to go again next time) than doing the actual hike itself.  We invited the another family to join us (Nicole, Travis, Alaina and Luke- I don't use last names in here...), got our gear together (I bought Kloe an Osprey backpack second hand for TEN BUCKS, scrubbed it up and now it's good as new.  Derrin used a backpack I bought at a rummage sale years ago for about ten bucks too.  Thrifty backpacking: it is the way to go), woke up early Friday morning and headed out.  

The kids were very excited- Kloe woke up before any of us (around 5:30), and was practically bouncing with glee out the door.  We were on the trail around 8:00, trying to beat the heat.  Somehow Derrick and I were left behind while everyone raced ahead, but we have a solid policy of slow and steady.  Pacing oneself is the name of the game in backpacking.  

So... the hike went on a bit longer than some of us anticipated.  

My dearest Kloe (if you ever read this as an adult), I hope that you have some fond memories of it (?).  I realize there were some tears, but didn't you learn some great lessons like... well, what it is to hit that wall and have to push through it?  You are (were?) one tough little kid.  You may have cried when you were overwhelmed by the length and the intensity of the trail, but you pushed through it every single time.  I am proud of you.

My dearest Derrin, you were a trooper.  I think you may have found one of your new favorite things this weekend.

Some highlights from our trip (for me) included:   *The day hike we did the next day.  We trekked 3.5 miles further in, and despite the horseflies we (well, I) enjoyed seeing the wild beauty back there. *Travis told fun campfire stories (about the "Miner 49-er", which Kloe especially loved.  *Kloe says here favorite part was climbing all of the rocks.  *Derrin says his favorite part was catching six cut throat trout in a half hour.  *It was fun spending time with our friends.  A lot of bonding can occur on a hike like this one.  *We picked lots of huckleberries!  A new picking spot has been found...

All in all, we hiked 17 miles and gained 3000 ft. in elevation this weekend.

We were so tired when we finally made it back to our truck on Sunday.  After collapsing in exhaustion and cheering in celebration that we could finally stop moving, we drove into town and ordered burgers and whatever other fatty deliciousness we wanted.  It was pure bliss to just sit there and eat.  Going home and walking through our doors was heavenly.

We might go on one more backpacking trip this summer, but if it happens we will make sure it will only be a couple of miles in- and the next day there will be no extra day hiking.  

 

Busy Busy Busy

I keep meaning to post something in here, but it seems to keep getting pushed off of the list.  There are many things I have on this "list", such as returning emails (in an embarrassingly late fashion)and developing pictures of the kids I took over a month ago and sending them out (also embarrassingly late).  I know there are more things on this "list", but I my brain isn't going to reveal them again to me until the usual 3 a.m. time slot.  I do know I have a constant dull nagging trying to get me to clean this house, as in the REAL clean instead of this surface clean I have perfected.  Let's just call it "summer clean" in here right now.  I have way more important and fun things to do that toil around in here, creating instantly destroyed perfection and missing out on the three months of sun granted to me in the mean time.

We've been really busy so far this summer, and it looks like it is going to stay that way.  We've spent a lot of time in the water, in classic summer fashion.  We went up to Lake Mary Ronan and spent the day with Dad and Renae a couple of weeks ago.  We rented paddle boards (sooo fun!), and took our canoe and Dad's little fishing boat out on the lake for some late afternoon fishing.  We were hoping for Kokanee Salmon but they weren't biting that day.  We did catch a bucket of perch, so it was still a fun time.  So far that has been one of my favorite days.  We went horseback riding the next day, which was also very fun.  We were so wiped out by the end of it that we all took three hours naps; most satisfying.

The kids seem to be having a good summer (?).  I compare all the stuff we do as a family to my childhood and I wish I could zap my memories into their heads so they could see just how unboring it really is around here... *sigh*  Not that there was anything wrong with how I spent my summers as a kid, but we rarely ever left Paradise to go camping or travel or anything else.  My days were spent riding my bike all over town, fishing in the pond behind the town, and exploring the river and mountains- mostly by myself.

I know that sounds pretty great to Derrin.  He is 12 going on 13, and this summer I can tell he is starting to get bummed that he isn't allowed to go very many places by himself.  I feel like we try to counter that by doing lots of fun stuff with both of the kids.  He gets to go more places and do more things than I ever did, it's just that he has his parents with him most of the time.  What a big bummer.  This growing up thing is going to be hard on us both.  Just the thought of him riding his bike to the store by himself makes me have heart palpitations.  Visions of the bad drivers sharing the road dance across my head, convincing me that letting him go anywhere by himself will mean sure and imminent death.

The truth is, I do trust him.  He is a smart kid, and totally capable of taking care of himself.  I just don't trust the rest of the world. I am going to have to eventually let him start venturing out by himself alone... but let's not let it be this summer.

They've both had friends over, and also spent the night at their friends houses.  I think that helps more than anything.  Both of the kids are just so social, they start wilting after too many days of not seeing their friends- especially Derrin.  Oh-well.  We will do what we can do. I know I am having a great summer so far, and all of the pictures I've been taking will prove to my grown up children that I was a rockin' parent.  Haha:)

And without further rambling, here are a few snapshots of our summer so far:

I wish it was always and forever like this out there.  July is already burning up the hills.

Beauty.  

My three babies

Our rhododendron bush while it was still blooming and beautiful.

Derrins OBSESSION... photo taken by and for... Derrin (a random citizen's car)

Riding the carousel with our friends :)

Feeding the ducks during a service break.

Daddy-o, enjoying the shade

Rainy giving it a try

Derrin and Derrick paddle boarding

Some of my flower gardens this summer

Kloe's new disclaimer and greeting for her bedroom... enter at your own risk!!

Our horseback riding day.

Silly horses

Sabrina took me to a Bare Naked Ladies Concert!!!

We were up front and center- he even looked  at little ol' me (well my camera anyways) while I snapped a shot

Shannon, Kloe and I hiked clear to the top and over the M- pretty intense hike.  Kloe said it's the last time, but maybe  next year we will give it another try?

Indian Paintbrush... taken on a family drive into the woods last weekend.

Beautiful

It is so amazingly, awesomely, mind-blowingly beautiful here right now.  I think today may have been the most beautiful day of the whole year.  Everything is so green, and all the little plants are pushing out their new little leaves, their flowers are blooming, and everything smells amazing.

There is something special about the light that occurs between May and the middle of July.  I'm sure there has to be some scientific reason for why the light is so beautiful, but all I know is everything almost seems to glow.  Meadows shine as I walk past them, and the shadows seem to have more saturation and contrast.  People even look more beautiful right now- I don't care who you are.  Your skin is going to glow on a day like this and you will look more beautiful to me than any other time of the year.

I want to have my camera with me more (and I am loading it in my car tomorrow) but I also don't want to get to so caught up in trying to capture this perfect light that I miss actually living in the moment and really feeling the awe that all of this beauty inspires.  

The Good Life and Why I Shouldn't Watch Documentaries

I'm technically off of work for the summer, but today I am filling in for a co-worker.  The previous three days of this week, however, have been stupendous.  Things aren't exactly getting done with the reckless abandon I had hoped for, but I have enjoyed the slower pace of life.

I've managed to get my house (mostly) in order (although it could always fall apart again at any moment), go on a couple long walks/runs (well, I ran for a couple minutes; it was mostly fast walking), read a book, learned a new song with Derrin on our guitars, and go on a mom/daughter date with Kloe.

We are going camping/motorcycle riding this weekend, so Derrick and I finally went out and bought some safety gear for Derrin and myself (to share, since we also share a motorcycle).  For once we won't look like the only redneck riders in the bunch.  I'm relieved to have finally spent the money on the gear.  I had some gnarly wrecks the last time we did a moto trip, and I was very fortunate that I didn't end up getting really hurt.  This time I'm planning on NOT trying to keep up with the big boys, and mainly just trusting Derrick to take me out on the trails so I don't end up over my head again.

Kloe and I went out for sushi and shopping for our mom/daughter date.  The boys went to see Iron Man 3, us girls did our own thing instead.  After we went home and Kloe went to bed, I started thumbing through Netflicks, trying to find shows that I would normally only watch if Derrick isn't around (chick flicks and documentaries).  I watched one PBS documentary about what successful relationships have in common.  I enjoyed it, but it's light fluffiness made me feel like diving into darker documentary terrain.

It had been awhile since I'd watched a serious documentary.  I tend to go a little crazy over anything more serious than about what crap our food supply is, and even those tend to make me wander around the grocery store picking up items, putting them down, and then leaving with nothing but (organic) bananas and (organic) milk.   I was looking through some of my older blogs, and found this one about the time I watched a documentary called "Collapse".  Because of that documentary, that summer I convinced my poor father to plant tons of potatoes in his field.  Waaay too many potatoes for any one family to eat unless there was, in fact, the widespread famine they were intended for.  Clearly, documentaries are not my friend.  Sometimes, I just need to depend on my more informed and calmer type friends.

Anyways, I found a BBC documentary about Hiroshima.  It called to me; we all grow up knowing that the bomb was dropped over there, and of course we all know intellectually that it was horrible, but I'd never really taken the time to find out the whole story.  The documentary told the story with old movie footage, and first person accounts with reenactments.  The escalation of events was intense.  It might as well have been a horror movie.  By the time the bomb actually dropped out of the plane, I was following several experiences of what regular Japanese people were doing on that day, including a doctor, a nurse, a bank teller, and a husband and wife having breakfast and playing with their two young children.  These were all just normal people who had absolutely nothing to do with what their wacked out powers-that-be were up to (and the powers-that-be were truly mad), and yet they were the ones to pay a truly nightmarish price.

The portrayal of the city going through the annihilation was so incredibly realistic.  The people who vanished instantly in the eye of the bomb were the fortunate ones.  For the survivors on the edges, the sky was black, and everything was completely blown to bits and on fire.  I watched it as long as I could.  The story that finally made me burst into tears and frantically turn it off, knowing I'd have never be able to scrub it out of my brain, was about the young family who'd been having breakfast together.  The last scene was of the mother stumbling out of her crumbled house, screaming for her children, only to discover that one of them was half buried in the rubble, and there was no way she'd be able to get her out before the oncoming flames consumed her.  Even in my worst nightmares I have never thought of something so horrible.

The whole thing made me think of North Korea.  I read a lot of the articles about their leader's big talk and threats, but beyond the articles I always read the reader's comments below.  There are so many people think that preemptively nuking that country is the answer.  It makes me sick.  I hate how easy it is for humans to strip others of their own humanity.  It makes the whole "might making right" so much easier when you don't have to think about all of the babies and innocents that get fried so you can dominate whatever wack job is threatening you.  Man, I hate this world sometimes.  Once again, yes I know that this isn't how it is always going to be, but sometimes I can hardly take the present.   And that is the end of that rant.

Until next time....

Summer Plotting

May is almost here, which for me translates into my seasonal job going dormant until next October (?), with the exception of days where I will be covering for others who need vacation days.

SO, here are a few things I wanna do, some specifically during the month of May (since the kids will be in school still), and some for the rest of the summer:

1.  Paint the kids bathroom.  Preferably in teflon or rubber spray paint that can just be hosed down once a week (maybe have Derrick add a drain in the floor so no mop up will be required after the spray down?).  I wanna fix up this bathroom, but sometimes making the kids part of the house cuter feels self-defeating.  They bare much of the responsibility of keeping it clean, and it has become my habit to not look too closely at the results of the kid cleaning process.  If I paint this bathroom, I know I am going to feel more compelled to keep tabs on it, thereby increasing my own work load...  BUT, it needs some love.  And hopefully I will give it some in the month of May.

2.  I need to create and complete some photography projects!!!  I have so many people who've asked me to do family and personal portraits, and I need to get them rounded up and make them happen.  My goal is to be more proactive this whole summer with my photography, and have a lot of fun with it.  I have some awesome ideas for some portraits of my kiddies I wanna do sometime around the end of May when all of the yellow flowers are blooming up Blue Mountain way.

3.  RUN.  Must start doing this again.  I've been neglecting it for too long.

4.  Hang out with my homies!  I wanna do some art projects, especially in May when we still have some quiet momma time.  I want to go to their houses and have them come to mine, and have us all sitting around outside drinking ice tea and lemonade while the kids run around and play.

5.  Plan some camping trips with our friends and families.  Need to get that stuff down on the calender.

6.  Get together with my fellow momma-friends and plan out an awesome summer for all of us with water time, art projects, games, and pure awesomeness.  I want this summer to be all about good memories for all of us.

7.  Start planning out my yard and gardening stuff.  I was so disheartened by my inadvertent murder of all of my seedlings (hundreds of my young green children), that I have not even attempted seeds this year.  But I need to get some cold crop stuff in the ground.  I am thinking lots of kale this year, since I use a lot of it in my green drinks.  I am not even going to bother with tomatoes, as I never ever ever ever am successful with them.  I might attempt parsley and other spices (again for the green drinks)... and maybe some sweet potatoes (?) as I know I will eat those too.  I need to buy a ton of dirt to replace all of the dirt I took out of my flower garden and put into pots last year (pure laziness on my part).  Maybe I should actually enlist some help from my more green-thumbed friends this year for this particular endeavor.

I know there are a lot more things I want to do, but that is all I can think of at the moment:)