Valkommen Hem !

My how time flies!  It felt like they just left and lookie here - they are right back home again.

My Mom and her awesomingly cool husband just completed serving an LDS mission in Sweden.  I would tell you about all the hard work they did, the long hours, the doors slammed in their faces, the miles walked.  In the pouring rain. With dogs chasing them.  I could go write paragraphs about the long hours.  Early mornings, late nights.  Sleeping in primitive conditions.  Chopping their own wood for fire.

But none of that would be true, 'cause dude, their mission was CUSH!  I really shouldn't say totally cush, because they did do a lot of work in the temple but sheesh!  They also got to see a lot of the country, the surrounding area's and visit some pretty cool places.  And with full disclosure in place - in my church, senior missionaries foot their own bill.  So really, no begrudging the good times they had over the past 18 months or so.

My bestest niece put together a family get together and then let us all know her flight 411 so we could meet them. When they came home earlier in the year for my sister's wedding, no one even met them at the airport (we suck), and she wanted it to be a big deal for them.  I'm glad she is about the only one on the ball to keep us in line.

I headed to the airport for her flight that was to land at 2pm.  When I got there however, I found that her flight was delayed by 2 1/2 hours!  What in the world?  I talked to the Delta agent and she was perplexed because "it only left Paris 10 minutes late and the pilot is bookin it".  Huh.  Quandry.  Do I drive all the way home and then turn around and come back?  Do I stay and just pay for the extra parking time?  After some calls and texts with my brother and niece, it was decided to just hang out and wait.

The ever helpful Delta employee let me know that I was waiting in the wrong terminal so I wandered down to the international building and settled in.  I have to admit that just kickin it with the fam was fun!

Catching up and laughing at the little's.  

Her flight finally landed and we gathered our signs and headed to the breezeway that they would be coming through.  Other families were there for some other missionaries and I couldn't help but remember the same feelings of anticipation when Luke came home.  GAH!! So exciting!

We were standing there as a group when a flight attendant coming through asked us if we were waiting for the missionary couple. When we said yes, she told us that she is just getting her baggage and that she wanted us to know she was okay.

Huh?  Well, alrighty then.  Seemed very odd but whatever.  My mom didn't know all of us were there, she thought it was just my brother so it didn't really make any sense, but whatev's.

We waited several more minutes and then an airline employee wearing blue gloves approached us and asked if we were waiting for the missionary couple.  After telling him yes we were, he said, "She's had an emergency on the plane.  The paramedics are going to bring her out but I'm not sure if she is going to come out this way or that backway over there" pointing to an outside exit.

WHOA WHOA WHOA....an emergency....paramedics...... he was saying that she was okay and had refused an ambulance but he just wanted us to know.

As we questioned him HIPPA laws crossed my mind and I wondered if he would tell us anything.  All he would say is that there was something with her back like a disc.  And then he was gone.

My nephew headed to the window to watch the back exit door in case they brought her there.  The rest of us were a little too stunned to do anything at all.  I texted Splenda and then we just stood waiting.  And waiting.  And then some speculating as to what the problem could be.  And waiting.

20 minutes or so later, the same airline employee approached us again and said,  "You are the Osgood's right?"

*blink*    *blink*

Uh......nope.

"Oh well, then you're not the ones waiting for the missionary couple with the emergency"  and.he.walks.off.

Deep breath.  Well, good news for us, but crappy for the Osgood's!  We did see them wheel out a lady in a chair and gingerly put her in a waiting van so we assumed that it was her and she looked okay.  In pain, but okay.

Back to watching the breezeway.  See other missionaries greet their families and I get all teary eyed.  I'm thinking that this is taking FOREVER, but remind myself that they have to get through customs and all their baggage before they actually get to us.

FINALLY

Sister and Elder Crawford!

(Grandma Soup and Grandpa Jon)

Okay, so we didn't get a whole lot of pic's at the airport but it's all good.

First thing my Mom wanted to do was "party"

We hadn't planned anything for that night thinking they would be tired and suffering jet lag, but NOPE - lady wanted to party!

We made a quick stop at their house to drop off luggage.

(I know, bad fuzzy cell pic- the sign was VERY cool)

Mom decided she wanted the Roadhouse - so the Roadhouse we went!

(figured out that ranch dressing is the bomb)

(mi hermano and sis-in-law)

mi sobrina and great sobrina

It was such a fun night!  So good to have them back!

Welcome home guys - your family is happy!

St George Marathon 2012 - The tale of a sick little kitty

Even as I lay here typing up the saga, I am nibbling crackers and fighting the urge to vomit them all.  Looking forward to the moment that I click publish, slink out of bed over to the dresser, grab an anti-nausea pill, snuggle back under my covers with a warm corn bag on my belly and hopefully drift off to a stomach ignored sleep.

The bottom line?  I shouldn't have attempted it.  I got cocky.  I got over confident.  But when the words St George and Marathon are said together, it's like the siren call of the sea to the captain of a ship.  It can't be ignored.

Really, I had started to feel pretty good.  Actually quite good.   Until the few days prior and then some nausea crept back in.  Nothing huge, but enough to tick me off.  I agreed to work the Expo for WRC for a little bit Friday afternoon, and since Splenda Daddy couldn't take more time off work, I hit the road solo early Friday morning.  A quick stop in Orem for some FOT donations (more on that in another post), another one to refill my water and I hit town around lunchtime.

I love the expo!  So many people, such energy!  In fact as I drove down, about every other car I passed or passed me had a running sticker of some sort on it - it's like the energy was all over the place and I was getting so amped!  I quickly grabbed my bag and bib, worked for a few hours at WRC 's booth and then took a break for a rest.  I found some wifi, talked to my mom and then coordinated dinner with some friends.

An all you can eat pasta bar at the Pasta Factory with Sheri, Don, Christine and her extended family was fun!  Nice runners convo, great food and just what one needs to keep excited for the race!  After helping clean up the booth at the Expo, I headed to the hotel in Hurricane.  Once I finally got settled in my bed, I realized that my lower back was aching and the nausea was hitting.  Should have known at that point that the next day wasn't gonna be my day.  Unfortunately for me, I'm such an optimistic sap that I was pretty sure neither of those things would bother me. I just needed to get running and everything would be fine.  I fell asleep quickly and didn't move again until the alarm went off at 3:10am.

Sheri, Kimberly and I headed back into St George, and made it on one of the first buses.  At the start line after a pic (waiting until Sheri's phone is fixed to post), we found a fire, settled in and waited.  I tried to lay down and go back to sleep but moving just that little bit away from the fire was too cold.  Instead, I fussed around getting my stuff ready, making a little small talk here and there and basically just waiting.

Each of us around the fire had different goals for the race.  For some it was a PR, for others it was just a finish.  Mine?  I wanted a respectable finish.  Sub 4:45 would be respectable and reasonable for me.  I would be ecstatic if I could pull that off!  Sub 5:00 would be respectable and I would live happily with that.  The horn sounded, the crowd started moving slowly and we jumped in just behind the 4:00 pacer.  I lagged behind Christine and Sheri for a mile or so while I shed the silver blankie, got my ipod fixed and got my headphones tucked from bouncing.

Once I was set, I had found a nice easy pace.  It felt FANTASTIC!!  Oh, how great it was!  Not too fast, not too slow, I felt fantastic and found myself passing Sheri and Christine.  I knew they had a different strategy so I figured we'd see each other again somewhere along the course.

The first 7 miles were pure joy!  Oh my gosh!  The sun coming up over the southern Utah desert.  Surrounded by runners on every side.  Pavement moving underneath my feet.  Bliss.  I felt fantastic!  I saw the Veyo hill looming ahead and didn't give it much of a thought other than, reminding myself I had done this hill before - no biggie.  At this point, I was into the race about an hour and since I was determined NOT to bonk from lack of fuel, I opened my baggie and started slowly taking bites of my PB&J.  Deeeelightful!  I ran the hill, ate my sandwich and felt fantastic.  I did need the porta potties a couple of times from the sheer amount of water I had been drinking all morning in efforts to hydrate.  But other than that - I felt good.

(Veyo hill in the distance)

The next couple of miles were spent looking at signs people posted for others, thinking about the first time I ever ran this, and checking in with my body to see how I was physically feeling.  Somewhere between mile 10.5 and 11 - things fell part.

My stomach seized into a huge spasm and I literally thought everything inside of me was going to fall out any open orifice from my belly button down.  Every girl part, every piece of gut and intestine was.going.to.fall.out.  I slowed to a walk and wondered what the hell was happening. So much pain.  I made it to the next porta potty and desperately went in with hopes that if I could expel (TMI?) everything in my gut, I would feel better.

Expel okay.  Better?  Not so much.  For the next several miles I hobbled along with intense stomach pain, cramping and a stop with each porta potty I could see.  As we came into the beautiful Snow Canyon, I tried hard to stop thinking about my body and just enjoy the scenery.  To me, Snow Canyon is the pay off for making it that far into the race.  While gorgeous, it's also downhill and at this point, every step downhill was excruciating on my body.  Each pound of my foot and contact with the asphalt making impact caused my stomach to scream.  And sadly, it was now more than just my stomach - it was my lower back.  Complete muscle spasms.  I wanted to cry.  Okay, I did cry.  A little.   Okay, a lot.

I was starting to see the sag shuttles and oh did they look so appealing!  I had convinced myself to go ahead and get in and call it good.  My body couldn't take any more, I needed to respect and listen to it, I was too frustrated.  I wanted off this crazy ride.  And then, in my mind's eye I saw the results page.  It looked like this:
Melissa Catmull - DNF

A DNF?  No.  No. NO!  I couldn't do it.  Unless I was absolutely sure I was going to die on the course, which while I felt like it, I knew I wasn't going to keel over, there is no way I will have a DNF next to my name!  They will have to pull me off the course in an ambulance to have to get a DNF.  So there, at mile 20, I decided that no matter what, I was finishing this damn thing.  Sub 4:45 went right out the window but so far the 5:00 pacer hadn't passed me (I didn't dare look back) so I kept a glimmer of hope for the respectable finish.

Trudging on.  Every aid station, I stopped and let them rub biofreeze or icy hot on some spot or another.  My knees, my calves, my lower back, my hips.  I didn't care, it was merely a distraction and excuse to slow up.  I walked through every water station.  The porta potties were no longer needed which was nice, but then I lost the chance to sit for at least a minute or two : )

Trudging on.  Noticing that the later you are in the pack, the less spectators there are on the course.  You lose some of the energy and vibe that comes from strangers cheering you on.  Making mental note of that for future spectating experiences.

Trudging on.  Now into town and every step is making me scream in my head in pain.  My entire body now is completely pissed.  My gait was now a walk/shuffle run/walk/shuffle run.  I was able to shuffle run a little more than the walking only because it was no longer downhill, but more flat and that was less painful.  The 5:00 pacer came up on me.  I tried really hard to stay with her.  Nope.  Can't.  Cry.  Watch her and the group with her move forward.  Cry.

Trudging on.  Love me the Popsicles that are usually right here.  Thanks for not disappointing me. I had been dreaming of a root beer Popsicle for 3 miles, so when a little girl stood holding out a brown one that I KNEW was rootbeer was like manna from heaven.  I took my time to walk and enjoy such a simple treat.

As I wound my way closer to the finish, through town I started seeing finishers coming backwards for friends.  They look so refreshed!  How can they possibly look so good?  I think I might die right now on the spot!  It's now mile 25.2

One measly mile left.  One mile. I can do one mile.  I would NOT walk that last mile so back to the shuffle/sorta run style.  As I turned the corner and saw the finish line, I never felt happier!  The death march was almost over!  Thankfully there was still a pretty good sized crowd, so I pulled out my ear buds and listened to the cheers.  Those alone got me to the timing strip.  I approached.  Stopped. And then JUMPED on the timing pad.  I.WAS.DONE!  I hit my Garmin, looked at the time, cursed and then moved through the runners chute.

The last thing I wanted was anything to eat.  I took a bottled water and kept walking to keep my legs loose until I stretched.  One thing about St George Marathon - they do a fantastic job with their runner's corral.  You didn't run it?  You don't get in.  The food and drink is there for the runner's and there is plenty.  It's completely in the shade and while everyone there is stinky, tired, and stripping off their shoes and socks, it's full of positive energy.

I wasn't in the mood.  I was so disappointed in myself, and felt so betrayed by my mind and body that I bolted out of there as fast as I could.  Instead, I wandered over to the WRC tent.  Chatted with friends and runners that stopped by.  Stretched out my legs, got my drop bag and out of my shoes, into my chaco's and continued to stretch.  Once I was assured I wasn't needed at the tent, I hit the road.

I wanted home.  First, I wanted solitude in the car.  I wanted a huge diet coke. I wanted a good cry.  I wanted Splenda Daddy.  I told myself I would only let myself be sad for the 4 hour drive home and then I was going to move on.  I lied.

It's now two days later and I'm still ticked.  Clearly, I have set the recovery I was making with my body back a step.  But not as bad as I thought I was on Saturday.  Yes, my muscles are sore, but not nearly what I expected nor as much as other races this season.  So that's a good sign.  Just back to the whole stomach issue.  Of which there are no answers.  That is more than frustrating.  I'm going to scale back again and lay off the long distances for a little bit.  More cross training.  More bike, more pool, more strength training.  Less pounding of my innards.  All while keeping my fingers crossed that this isn't going to be a permanent state.

Now, I can see it was a good decision to defer USMC marathon to next year.  I wouldn't be able to do it.  That's the sad reality.  Glad I didn't book the airfare after all.  In fact, I've backed out of pacing the Halloween full and will do the Halloween half instead.  My innards can handle 13.1 much better than it can 26.2.  Guess, I'll look for 5k's and 10k's to finish the year up with.  All while trying to come to terms that my performance for this marathon wasn't even respectable. It was pathetic.  It is embarrassing.  It is beyond disappointing.

BUT............It is what it is, and I can't change it.

I shall embrace it.
*snort* Like that's gonna happen

*sigh*

The Presidential Debate - for those that aren't my Facebook Friends

Splenda Daddy and I nervously settled in hoping for a good debate.  Nay, a GREAT debate.  We wanted valid discussions.  Lively back and forth talking.  Facts thrown by both sides and more than anything, SPECIFIC outlines from both candidates defining exactly what their plans were.  I did expect a little more from the incumbent purely because he's had 4 year (2 of which completely filibuster free) showing the people what he has accomplished and his plan moving "forward".

It didn't take long to know how the night was gonna go.  Mitt dished as ass whooping.  I was more than disappointed with the incumbents responses, lack thereof, and his general body language and demeanor.  It wasn't presidential.  It wasn't even hopeful presidential.  It was some smirking.  Some nodding his head (in agreement?) with his opponent and a lot of eye blinking.  Pitiful on every account.

At about a third of the way through. I ran to get the laptop so I could occasionally watch the twitterfeed as the "debate" went on.  Every once in a while, there would be something funny so Splenda would pause while I read it out loud to him, we laugh, and then press play and back to the debate.

At one point, Splenda pressed paused and the TV frame froze exactly like this:

And that my friends pretty much summed up the night.

Eagerly awaiting the next debate on the agenda!

Wednesday's Wrandom Wrambling

It's the first presidential debate tonight.  I'm excited. I want a GOOD debate.  I want the moderator to ask hard questions and not let either one of them tip toe around the answers.  In fact, I wish both candidates were hooked up to a zapper machine and the second either one tells a lie, they get zapped.  I think that would be awesome!

Still no concrete answers on the health front.  They know what I DON'T have, so there's that.   Otherwise, I have gained some weight back, able to eat, and getting some energy.  Other than the too often present, nausea - I feel like I'm on the road up.

Which is good because St George marathon is on Saturday.  I've thrown the goal of a PR out the window.  I'm realistic.  If I could pull a sub 4:45, I would be pleased.  At any rate, I am just excited to be running!!  I ran into work today for a few minutes to work on some posters for our Grand Slammers, and in the short time there talked to a few runners getting ready to go down.  The energy is electric!!

Since I missed the General Women's conference for my church (Homecoming Pity Party), I caught up on the webz.  Wow.  Nothing like watching on the laptop, sobbing my eyes out in the privacy of my own bedroom.  If you missed it or are interested, THIS would be the talk to watch.  Not just for Mormon chicks, but for all women - everywhere.  Well done President Eyring, well done indeed.

So the first of my extended, adopted sons had his first child a couple of days ago. I got to hold her last night.  Oh.My.Precious!!  From the little kid running around in his baseball uniform and trading pokemon cards to a Daddy.  Freaking my freak ya'll.  His daughter Blakelee is beautiful and looks just like him,  But with the beautiful part (lol).  To watch him with her made my heart so stinkin happy!

My mom and her husband come home tomorrow from Sweden.  I don't think they want to.  I think they would stay there forever if they could.  But it's just a matter of time before they are jumping into another project of service somewhere.  'Cause that's how they roll.

I started an account on Twitter.  Not feeling the love yo.  Prob because I'm not doing it right, but I found people I like to follow and I love the news updates I get in a quick feed.  I guess it's nice that I don't have to be their "friend" to see what they tweet, I just follow.  But, it's missing the personal touch like Facebook has.  At least IMHO.

Did you catch Bryan Cranston (Walter White) on Leno the other night?  Me either, but my cute Splenda Daddy knew I would want to see it, so he made a point of recording it for me.  Damn, I love that man.  

Splenda Daddy - not Walter White.

Just clarifying.

It's October.  The only redeeming thing about October is baseball playoffs.  And SGM.  That's it.  And we've both come to terms with it.

We invited Tuffy and 'Tana to move in with us for a few months so they could save for a down payment on a house.  Now is the time to buy, they might as well have their money go towards a home than rent.  Even though I vowed I would never let my kids come back, I'm getting excited to have them here!  

Family is good.  Family you love and want to be with is even better!  Next week should be move in week.  Guess I should start clearing some rooms.  And for the record - Splenda and I are STILL empty nesters.  

Just clarifying.

And a random post is not complete without a random picture

(last snuggle in SoCal)

Off to throw something together for dinner and get settled in for the debates - fingers crossed that my guy performs well!

Adventures in dog sitting

The Shark took her fam and went to the happiest place on earth.   She boldly left Jake her four legged child with me.  She assumed he would be fed, loved, and played with.  Her assumption was correct, but I think all the dogs had other thoughts as the week went on.

Day 1
Jake:  My mom is leaving.  What the aitch is going on?   Why is my crate here? Why is Amelia hugging and kissing me?  Why is Mom hugging me and saying good bye?  What the H?  And why are those other dogs barking at me?  Can't they see I'm having a "moment"?  They won't shut up.  The skinnier ones wants me to play - what is that?  I don't play with other dogs.   He keeps jumping at me wanting me to play and my Mom is still saying good bye.......wait....wait....the front door is opening and they are walking out......wait.....wait!!  WHAT THE CRAP!? They're gone?  Okay, looking around.  I've been here before - it wasn't terrible, but the fat dog keeps barking and the human - where is the human?  Oh whew, there she is.  I'll stick by her for awhile til I get this sorted out in my pea size brain.  Walking around in a daze, not sure what is going on.  I'll just stick by the human who is talking about my eyes and calling them freaky.  What the crap?  SHE'S freaky.  Fat dog still barking.  Skinnier dog still trying to play.  I gotta start sniffing stuff.  I'll feel better if I can just sniff.  Sniff.  Sniff.  Sniff.  Sniff.  *sigh*....Mom is really gone.  There are no little kids shrieking and in my face but these damn dogs are gonna make me lose it!  Oh look, there's a back door - maybe this is all a cruel joke and my Mom is out there.  Why do the other dogs have to come outside with me?  They won't.leave.me.alone.  Mom?   Mom?  SNAP!  She's not here.  That's it.  I've been left.  Let me back inside.  I'm so sad that I am going to go sit at the front door and cry.  Crying.  Crying.   Walking around with a fog over my brain, I can't believe she left me here.  Crying.  Crying.  Human is laughing at me and my ascot around my neck.  Oh, oh how long am I going to have to be here and so humiliated?  My eyes, my ascot, the attempts at play, the sniffing.  I wanna go hoooooommmmeeeee.   WHOA!  WHAT IS THIS?  ANOTHER DOG?  What is this skinny little black thing?  OMG!  He bounces around like he lapped Redbull from the water dish and he wants me to play too.  NO!  Leave me alone!  I DON'T PLAY WITH OTHER DOGS!  *sigh*.......... at least black skinny dog and other gray skinny dog are playing with each other and leaving me alone.  Fat dog has stopped barking and won't leave the human's side.  Oh now look, ANOTHER human - two of them!  I don't like them.  Wait.  Maybe I do.  It just took a second to realize that they aren't going to take me away.  I think they belong to the skinny black dog cause they are super nice to him.  Wha?  Now they are trying to get me to play?  I'll play with a human, but don't let the other dogs in.....crap - now the other dogs want in on the play.  I'm done.  Aaaaannnndddddd.......add in another human.  This one is BIG.  I know him though.  He smells familiar.  He's nice.  Okay.  It's familiar.  Why does the fat one bark whenever a human comes in the door?  And the two skinny dogs?  Do they ever stop playing?  Boooorrrrring.  I'm just gonna stick  the humans.  I know that.  It's dark.  It's bedtime, I can feel it.  Wait....what?  The other dogs are climbing up on that nice soft bed and nestling in and I'm being told to go to my crate?  No.  I'm not going.  Nope.  That big bed looks softer and it has the humans that I know.  No,  I don't want to go to my crate.........FINE!  Ahhhh, I'm in my crate.  Oh, this is good.  I feel home.  I smell home.  I feel safe.  I want my mommy.  Maybe when I wake up - this will all be a bad dream.

Jack - HAH!  Look another dog to play with - YEAH!  C'mon buddy let's play!  I got a toy!  See I tug it and you get the other end and tug.   C'mon - it's fun!  Hey - come play with me!  C'MON!  What is wrong with you?  Why don't you play?  C'mon, I'll show you again how it's done.  Stop ignoring me and come play.  Really?!  I'm gonna just keep at you until you break down and play.  We are dogs you idiot, and we PLAY WITH EACH OTHER. WITH TOYS!  C'mon buddy, you can do it!  Let's play!  It's fun, I promise!  We take turns winning!  PLAY YOU MORON!  Oh, I see how it is, you're gonna sit at the door and cry for your momma?  Oh please - you are a crybaby!  If you would just play with me, I promise you'll feel happy!  C'mon, come play......come play......come play........!   Never mind.  Jace is here. Jace plays with me.  Jace - ignore this one - he doesn't like to play.  Peace out homie - we're going outside and getting our play on!

Jace - What is this?  Another dog?  Hey, he smells familiar - I think I've met him before.  OH YEAH!  He's the one that doesn't play.  Whatev's - let's go Jack, you're it!

Jordan - Dammit.  Another dog.  I remember him.  I'll bark until he remembers that I'm boss and then I'll go right back to ignoring him.  Whatev's, back on my mom's lap.  Things are just fine.

Humans - Oh that cute little Jakey.  Except for those freaky bug eyes and why is he wearing a pink ascot?  What does that mean?  At least no one is fighting and as long as he doesn't pee in our house - it's all good.

Day 2

Jake - I just woke up and I'm still here.  It wasn't just a bed dream, I really am still stuck here.  The big human gave me my food, but that skinny dog that does all the playing wants to share - Oh I'll show him how I share - NOT!  Yeah, you get that message you annoying pesky ball of play?  It's MY food and I don't share!  Where's the other human?  I'll just stick with her today and see how it plays out.  Hey - she lets me on her bed - Awesome!  Maybe I can pretend to be a part of the pack for however long until my Mom comes home.  Mmmmm....this bed is soft.  I can't imagine ever leaving it. Wait.  Wait, what....where are you going nice human lady?  My crate? NO!   I don't want to go in my crate....no.....FINE.  I'm in the damn crate.  I heard the garage close and nice human lady is gone.  Those two other dogs are sitting right in front of me gloating.  Just 'cause I have to go in the crate doesn't mean I'm a bad doggie.  And lay off about the pink ascot!  I'm turning around and not gonna look at them anymore. *pout*

Jack - Boring dude is still here and is a real butthead about his food.  I was just gonna sniff it is all, no need to get all in my face and pissed.  Whatever, I'm not sure he's actually a dog since he doesn't like to play.  At least he's stopped that stupid crying.  Oh what is this?  He thinks he can bogart my Mom?  Listen pal, you don't share your food, I don't share my mom.  Watch this.  I can crawl right in her lap and look at you gloating that you can't be here.  HAH take that you humorless dog......I'm even gonna sleep right here on her lap with the black thing that's always there that she types on.  Hey, what?  What's going on?  Mom, you're getting dressed?  Going out?  Can I come?  Why is new dog going in the cage?  IT'S 'CAUSE HE'S NAUGHTY HUH?!  HA HA - look at you naughty dog in your pink ascot!  You got put in the cage.  I'm gonna just show you how I get to walk around the house and you don't.  Neener, neener......LOOK AT ME!  Whatev's going back to the big soft bed.

Jordan - Oh look, that other dog is still here.  Whatever, where's my mom?  I'm going back to laying right next to her.  Mom?  Going out?  Okay, I'll be right here, want me to warm your pillow?  Ahhhhh, oh how we love the big bed.

Humans - Jake snores.  And farts something awfully fierce.  Come get in the crate buddy while we go out.  Don't trust ya not to want to mark somewhere.  Good boy!

Day 3 -
Jake:  I'm still here.  And I'm okay with it.  Not a fan of sleeping in my cage while everybody else gets the big soft bed, but whatev's, the human lady is nice to me and pets me a lot and talks very soothingly.  Fat dog has stopped barking at me is ignoring me.  Skinnier dog that wants to play all the time has figured out that I'm not gonna play.  I think he's also stopped laughing at my pink ascot.  He does make sure nice lady remembers that I'm in the cage and brings her to me to let me out in the mornings.

Jack - Dude is still here.  I kinda feel bad he has to sleep in the cage.  And I'm still not understanding the pink ascot but I just snicker behind his back.  He won't play.  Lame.

Jordan - Oh yeah, the other dog is still here.

Humans: Those bug eyes are just kinda freaky.  But he's an obedient dog.

Day 4 -
Jake:  Still here.  Still made me sleep in the cage, even though I was all snuggled in the big bed with everyone else.  I think I'm liking it here.  The nice human lady leaves the back door open a little bit in the mornings so I can go in and out as much as I want.  To be honest - I really rather like laying on the big bed with everyone else.  It's soooooo comfortable.  Fat dog leaves me alone.  Skinnier dog is getting the idea that I'm not into playing so much so he's leaving me alone too.  Both humans pet me alot and scratch my ears and let me snuggle.  I could get used to this!

Jack:  If it's the last thing I do, I WILL TEACH THIS STUPID DOG HOW TO PLAY!  Lesson one - stop trying to dominate me.  Try it again pal, and I will let loose on you.  Got it?  Other than that, I guess the dude is okay.  He's quiet and stays out of my way.

Jordan:  Oh yeah, the other dog is still here.

Humans:  Should we make him go in the crate?  Probably.  Wouldn't want to create a problem for when Tib gets back.  Besides, we've already plotted to ruin the girls in November so we'll leave the rules in place for Jake.

Day 5 -
Jake:  I'm still here and I'M LOVING IT!  Oh what a glorious day!  The skinny playful dog made sure the nice lady got me right out of the cage early and we spent the morning out in the backyard in the sun.  I watched her clean house and she never even hollered at me to get out of the way.  I decided to try that playing stuff and it wasn't too bad,  I know I'm not doing it quite right because every time I try to jump on the other dog's back he yells at me.  But we play chase and it's fun!  I don't think I've ever run so much in my life!  I really, REALLY like the skinny playful dog!  I like him so much and I was trying to show him, but he kept running away from me.  I hope he knows how great he is!  It's so fun here!  I love it!

Jack: Other dog is still here.  I feel so bad he has to sleep in the cage that I wake my mom up early to go get him out.  I finally taught the moron how to play.  He still doesn't get it that he can't "dominate" me and I have to keep reminding him I don't play those games, but he's a good competitor at chase.  At least he tries.  Props to him.  Weird thing, all night he kept trying to lick my eyeballs and lick inside my ears. WTH is THAT all about?  Does it have anything to do with the fact that he wears that PINK ascot?  Whatever, he's cool enough I guess.

Jordan:  Oh yeah, the other dog is still here.  I forget he's around now.  Guess he must not be a problem.

Humans:  He's just kinda growin on us isn't he?  But those freakyA eyes.......

Day 6 -
Jake:  I'm still here and it.is.GLORIOUS!!!!   Nice human lady ( I shall now start calling her Mom) got up early and let me out of the cage.  Me and my friends went out to take care of business and then we ALL got to snuggle in the great big bed.  I even pawed at Mom for a second and she lifted the covers and let me crawl in RIGHT NEXT TO HER.  Neither skinny dog or fat dog said or did a thing, just arranged themselves on top of her other places and we all went back to sleep.  Oh, oh, oh how I love this!  When Mom and other big human got dressed up and left, me and my friends hung out in the back chasing each other, and rolling in the warm grass.  Chasing is great fun and I think I really like that kind of play!  I can almost catch skinny dog now!  Fat dog doesn't bark at me, she sniffs sometimes but I'm totally cool with it!  I really, really love it here.  My doggie fingers are crossed that maybe tonight I will have earned the big bed all night and can skip the cage.

Jack:  Dude still here.  Glad he finally learned how to play.  At least chase.  Poor sucker doesn't realize that he will NEVER catch me.  But I don't like that cage in the house.  It's gotta go.  It's just bad mojo and pink ascot or not, dude shouldn't have to sleep there when we got's the big, soft bed.

Jordan:  Other dog is still here.  Meh.

Humans:  That damn dog has really grown on us.  When does Tib come home again?

8:00pm Sunday night - the doorbell rings and the dogs go nuts barking.  I open the door and what do we see?

All love Jake developed for me went flying out in the wind........Never before has he been so happy to see his real Momma

That dog was so excited I couldn't get a decent shot of his pure happiness!!

Jake:  My mommy's home, my mommy's home, my mommy's home, my mommy's home!  Take me back to the noisy house right now!  I wanna go back to the noisy house!  Where's the car, lemme in the car, open the car, let me in!

That ungrateful little thing wouldn't even make eye contact with me to say goodbye!  I had to beg for a kiss and even then, it was one lousy lick.  

And then, they were gone.  Poof.  Our house suddenly returned to normal and the planet re-aligned in the universe.

Jack:  FINALLY!  Gah!  That stupid dog in his stupid ascot is GONE!  I really think he had a crush on my and I couldn't get him to understand I wasn't into that.  Always trying to bogart into my space with MY mom and the whole time, I just stayed a good doggie and welcomed him in the pack.  Glad to have my house back.

Jordan: Did that other dog go?  Huh..... back to the big, soft bed.

Next up - I will be watching her girls while she, Adam and the man-boy go ride Tour de Cure in Tuscon.  I'm already plotting how I can completely ruin them in the few short days I have them.

'Cause that's what friends are for you know.

Pity Party - the GOOD kind

There are two times a year, that I will support a "pity party".  Okay, I actually host it.

Homecoming and Junior Prom.

Ever been the girl that is TOO young to go but all your friends are going?  Or, the girl that didn't get asked?

Well I have!  And it's a drag being at home while everyone else is out having fun.  I got the idea while my boys were in high school and the last two years have made it a tradition for my Young Women who are 9th grade and older (or 14 and older - technically high school since 9th grade is Freshmen).

On the night of the big school shindig, I host a "pity party" for the rest of us!  Pity is a word used loosely and mostly in jest.  There is NO pitying allowed - JUST the partying!

Pizza, games and a movie.  All the girls get home before curfew and we always get our traditional dance picture with Jesus (did this with all my boys).

My hope is that the young women will realize they don't HAVE to go to every single school function to have a life and to have fun.  Their self esteems do NOT rest on whether or not they have been asked to a dance.
Most importantly, that no matter what....their leader (again term used loosely) mCat loves them no matter what!

*sorry Em - we should have taken the pic before you left- crap!  Feel free to snag, photoshop you in and send it back*

Some deep thoughts about Autumn/Fall

I hate it.

The end.

Okay, no not the end because people will wonder and/or have their suspicions confirmed that I'm not necessarily normal.

Everyone loves fall.  Oh, the posts that are out there on Facebook and other blogs showing all the pictures (yes, I had some but they were only for my mother who sadly loves this season), the odes to the crispness in the air, back to school, open windows and pumpkin spice.

I say gag.

I literally hate fall.  I get a pit in my stomach and an ache in my heart.

Fall represents the end of summer.  The end of sunshine, hot cars, suntans, smells of Australian Gold, the pool, early morning runs, girls camp and late nights outside under the stars.

Instead, now it's cold air, dead leaves, brown grass and shortening days.

No more flip flops, shorts used sparingly, and back to long sleeves.

That's just the beginning.  Fall/Autumn ushers in Winter.  GAH - I hate winter.  I loathe winter.  I despise winter.  The darkness, the bitter cold, the wet, the snow, did I mention the cold?  And the dark?

Winter brings holidays which are a slight distraction but some years they just aren't enough to break through the smothering cloud of depression.  Winter means little to no actual running training for me because I just.can't.make.myself.go.outside.  Add that into the depression mix.  Winter sucks.

Oh but what about the Spring mCat?

Meh.  Okay, more them meh - BLEH!  Spring in Utah is so bipolar that one cannot even keep up with her moods.  One day will be gorgeous with sunshine and warmth leading one to hope of more to come. One has a sense of peace that things might be okay, and then SLAM!  The next day it's snowing again.  My mood swings with mother nature and ain't pretty.

Which brings me back to Summer.  The only true and living season on the face of the earth.  I bear my testimony of that one.

So as we head into fall, know this my peeps.  It's gonna get un-pretty around here.  I'll try to remain chipper, happy and full of sunshine, but there are no guarantees.  I'm giving a disclaimer right now that I cannot be held accountable for anything I may say in a negative fashion for the next 8-9 months.  It's not me talking.  It's the damn seasons.

**Clearly, my feelings haven't changed since 2010**