This winter has seemed longer than others and I was very anxious for what I consider the first day of spring - Opening Day! Here in the Salt Lake valley we have a beautiful minor league ball park. After much begging and pleading (from me) we went to a game on opening weekend. It was typical Utah spring weather. We got some sunshine, some wind, some rain and there was still snow covering the mountains.
We like to get to the ball park a bit early so we can enjoy the atmosphere. That day was a day game and we decided to get there early enough to have lunch. We had just settled in with our food when a man from the Bees staff tapped Jim on the shoulder. He asked if one of our boys was 14 or older and would like to be the Honorary Bat Boy for that game. Well, if any of you know Kyle, you know that he LOVES baseball (for further proof, look here and here) It was a no brainer. We HAD to let him do it! So they wisked him away, changed him into baseball pants and a cheesy t-shirt and sat him right next to the dugout. He had to really hurry because they announced his name over the P.A. and put his face on the scoreboard! (We were surprised so the pictures aren't that great) I think I was just as excited about it as he was. He loved being right there in the action. Here are a few pictures from the day:
I uploaded an "app" onto my BlackBerry to be able to send blog posts right from my phone. This is just at test to see how it works and what it looks like. Maybe I will blog more if I can do it from my phone! We shall see...
I took my laptop out of the docking station and here I am in bed catching up on all those things that I don't sit and do when I am feeling well. This includes blogging among other computer related things. There are only so many Law and Order reruns and old movies I can handle in a weekend!
It is not that I haven't had things to blog about. In fact, I have had several things to write about. I think those things will come out in the next few days and weeks.
For now, here's a funny little tid-bit for you:
Our puppy, Macy, turned one this month. She has been a good dog, learns quick and has quite the personality. She knows that her place is on her "bed" which used to be a big pillow (until she chewed it) and is now a blanket.
Well, one night she had an accident and her blankie had to be put in the wash. She didn't know what to do. The Princess didn't want to lay on the tile so she cuddled up on the bottom of the curtains and gave me the stink eye while I sat at my desk. I HAD to take pictures.
We also think it is pretty funny that she doesn't sit like a dog, she sits like a person. Notice she is sitting on the curtains so she doesn't have to sit in the tile. She has also been known to sit on the bottom step with her feet on the floor, also like a person. I haven't been able to get a picture of that yet.
I got this in an email from a friend. I thought I'd share it with everyone.
Exactly What Does a Basic 1 Year Food Storage for 1 Person Look Like? These are the MINIMUM Basic Amounts of Food Needed for Survival for ONE PERSON for ONE YEAR:
DO YOU REALLY THINK YOUR READY TO LIVE ON THESE SURVIVAL RATIONS.
BARE-MINIMUM LDS Church Food storage requirements for 1 adult male for 1 year Appx. 2,300 calories per day. (only 695lbs total)
This will keep you fed, but leave you hungry.
TOTAL FOOD PER DAY = 24.65 Ounces
It seems like we beg, plead, and even offer to help anyone that will listen in an attempt to get others to get their food storage. We try to explain why they need it, and it feels like we are beating a dead horse. Some people try to rationalize that we "really" don't need to store everything that we have been asked to store. As I'm sure most of you have experienced, we hear every excuse for reasons why we can't store. The regular excuses of no money, no room, no time, don't know how to use wheat, or don't eat wheat, etc. But lately, I've heard "that is so much to store", that "our family would never use 400 pounds of grains per person in an entire year". Also, "we don't use that much salt or oil", therefore they don't feel they need to store it.
As what felt like my last feeble attempt to try to help, the thought came to actually create a display to show 1) what does that one year basic survival food for one person look like (the amounts the First Presidency has recommended), and 2) how much does that really work out to be per day?
This display has been amazingly successful in our Stake.
We purposely bought food that they could get at a grocery store, rather than overwhelming them with seeing tons of dry-pack cans or buckets. We broke out each item and gave them the prices of what this would cost locally. We even gave them the price of a shelve to store it on.When I measured out the amounts to show what you would get per day, per person it was impressive. We took all those ingredients and by adding yeast (which we know is not on the basic list – but hopefully we have stored), we were able to make one loaf of bread and 1/3 cup of beans. That would be your food for the entire day. Not much. You would survive, but it won't be pretty.
Grains (400lbs) Unless your family already eats 100% whole wheat homemade bread, white flour should be used in the transition process to whole wheat. Adding rye flour (10%) helps make wheat bread a more complete protein. Dent corn is used to make tortillas.
Beans & Legumes (90lbs)
{minimum reduced to only 60lbs in 2002} Black beans cook quickly, make a good salad complement with a vinaigrette dressing over them. Soybeans can be used to make soy milk and tofu, a protein food you should be prepared to make. Familiarize yourself with sprouting techniques. Learn how to make wheat grass juice - the best vitamin supplement you can use.
Milk-Dairy products (75lbs) {minimum reduced to only 16lbs in 2002} Milk powder can be used to make cottage cheese, cream cheese and hard cheeses. Ideally your milk should be fortified with Vitamins A & D. When reconstituting aerate to improve flavor (special mixing pitchers can accomplish this). Whole eggs are the best all-purpose egg product. Powdered sour cream has a limited shelf life unless frozen.
Meats / Meat substitute (20lbs) {minimum reduced to only 0lbs in 2002} Use meat in soups, stews and beans for flavor. Freeze dried is the best option for real meat. Textured Vegetable protein is the main alternative to freeze dried meats.
Fats / Oils (20lbs) This group can boost the calories one is getting from food storage products, and supply essential fatty acids.
Sugars (60lbs)
Store your honey in 5 gallon pails.
Candy and other sweets can help with appetite fatigue.
Fruits / Vegetables (90lbs) {minimum reduced to only zero lbs in 2002} Some fruits and vegetables are best dehydrated, others freeze dried (strawberries & blueberries). Fruits are a nice addition to hot cereal, muffins, pancakes and breads.
Auxiliary foods (weight varies) Vanilla extract improves the flavor of powdered milk. The production of tofu requires a precipitator such as nigari, epsom salt, calcium chloride or calcium sulfide (good calcium source).Learn how to make and use wheat gluten (liquid smoke adds good flavor). Chocolate syrup and powdered drink mixes help with appetite fatigue.
Vitamins and protein powders will boost the nutrition levels of foods that may have suffered losses during processing.
Note:
For an average adult Female - multiply the weight by 0.75
For children ages 1-3 multiply by 0.3, 4-6 multiply by 0.5, 7-9 multiply by 0.75
For adults engaged in manual labor multiply by 1.25-1.50
I just visited my friend's website, and she had this fabulous "tag" on her blog. I love it because it is a "tag yourself if you want to be tagged" so no pressure for anyone who doesn't want to do it!! How great is that?!
So here are the rules: The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make! 2- What I create will be just for you 3- It'll be done this year 4- You have no clue what it's going to be
The catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!!!So there you have it! If you want me to make something for you...hmm, what could it be? A new toilet paper dispenser? just leave me a message.
I have been back home for two weeks now and I am finally starting to feel like things are back to how they were before I left. If that's what normal is. It usually takes about two weeks to get back in the home life groove after being gone for 26 days but I'm happy to do it.
Some people may think that a month in Tampa would be a great thing. And I also think it would be great if I could go see the sights and lay on the beach. I think it's only fun to visit a warm location in January when you get to enjoy the warmth and do things that you can't normally do in your cold weather climate. But for the most part, I was either in my car, in meetings or sitting at my desk in the office. I also tend to have a sick stomach the week of operations because I worry so much about something I forgot to do or something going wrong. And this year, as in years past, the city that hosted the Super Bowl was unseasonably cold. There were actually overnight frost warnings about one third of the days I was there. It was a big news story. That wouldn't be a problem for a person from Utah except that I packed for 60-70 degree weather. I wore my flip-flops two of the days I was there and my feet were cold both days. At least there is no Inversion in Florida. That is the part of winter I am glad I get to miss. Jim always tells me about how his throat and eyes start to hurt about a week after I leave. And I don't have to pick up a snow shovel any of the days I am away. (except for the year the Super Bowl was in Detroit!) Don't get me wrong, I did have some good times. I enjoyed reconnecting with the friends that I only get to see that month I am away for work. I got to make some great new friends. I get the opportunity to help contribute to the family financially. I get the chance to do something I am actually pretty good at (well, that is a matter of opinion, I guess).
But as I sit here at the computer, I can see giant, fluffy flakes falling outside the big window. And it is supposed to snow all day. I can see Macy curled up on her big round pillow. I can smell fresh bread baking (Really, I'm not that domestic, it's just a R.S. goal I have been wanting to pass off for about four months). I am still wearing my flannel p.j. pants and it's after noon and I can hear Fall Out Boy playing in the background (well, my whole life can't be a Norman Rockwell painting!). I guess what I'm saying is I am just so happy to be in our home. Even with the snow and the dirty bathrooms and the mountains of laundry and the boys' homework...the list can go on and on with things I don't like to do.
The challenges I face at home are, to me, "real life" challenges. What's for dinner? What am I going to plan for the next Enrichment activity? How am I going to show my husband/children that I love them today? Did I pay that bill? Did I think to pray? Am I raising productive, responsible, kind, thoughtful, respectful young men? What can I do to help my neighbors today? When I get dressed, are my jeans going to get up over my butt? I don't' take any of those things lightly. I personally feel like, however simple they may seem to some people in the business world, those things are more important than the things I worry about in the month of January when I am working. I know my work is important to a LOT of people, including me. I want to do a good job. They are just different types of worries.
I guess the difference is the Eternal Perspective I am so blessed to have in my life. It helps me know that being kind and helpful to others is more important than ruling with an iron fist. I know that in 20 years my kids won't remember that we had Hamburger Helper for dinner but they will remember that we had dinner together as a family often. I don't really care if in 20 years anyone remembers that I was responsible for getting the Steelers to practice on time or that I was able to get an extra bus for the Cardinals Friends and Family to be able to view the Saturday Walk-through. I just hope that in 20 years my family remembers that there was a good feeling in our home and will want to return often. Some people might think I'm crazy and my priorities are all messed up but that's OK with me. I would rather have my Heavenly Father proud of me than some random person who at one time worked with the NFL.
So I will help the boys with homework and I will fold the pile of laundry on my bed until 11:00 pm (so I can actually get in my bed and sleep for a few hours). And I will even scrub the bathrooms. I will try to do it the best I can even though it's not as glamorous as seeing Ben Roethlisberger and his teammates deplane and get on one of the buses that is on the tarmac because of the work I did.
I guess what I'm trying to say is I would rather be with my family on a cold, snowy day than in a warm place without them. I guess that's what normal is for me. Being home.
Things here have been good. Just work. Of course, they are having unusually cold weather. Go figure! That tends to happen in cities that host the Super Bowl. I guess I should count my blessings because I could be in Utah where it is freezing cold and the dreaded inversion is solidly in place.
Here are a few pictures of things I have seen (for those of you on Facebook, these will be repeats):
Our offices are at the spring training facility for the Phillies. It's called BrightHouse Field and in Clearwater, FL. We try to have our offices in a place that has a large parking lot for all the buses and plenty of space (press boxes) for us to work.
You know you are in FL when there is a gator in the little mote by your hotel. You can't tell from this picture but he is kind of small; only about 3-4 feet long. He was just floating there in the water.
This is the GIANT flag that is flying near the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice facility. The building in the background is the club offices, locker rooms, etc. with two practice fields behind. It is two stories tall and pretty big. I wanted that building in the background so you could see just how big the flag is. That flag is enormous!
This is my friend Jen. One of the reasons I keep coming back every year and enduring the time away from my family (and the stress) is because of the good friends I have made over the years.
I will have more pictures later. All the cool Super Bowl "look" is not completely up around the stadium yet. I want to wait until that is up to give everyone the full effect! Love you all. Thanks for all the support for me and my family.
Our offices are at the spring training facility for the Phillies. It's called BrightHouse Field and in Clearwater, FL. We try to have our offices in a place that has a large parking lot for all the buses and plenty of space (press boxes) for us to work.
This is my friend Jen. One of the reasons I keep coming back every year and enduring the time away from my family (and the stress) is because of the good friends I have made over the years.