She Sings

"What?"

"Actually, Mayo doesn't have the best doctors..."

This is a statement made by a good friend of mine who really hates this town and can't wait to move! I have heard her say many a crazy thing but this latest tops the list. Now I am not saying that the Mayo Clinic doesn't have it's share of "bad" docs, but by and large the general consensus is that it is one of the best facilities not only in the US but in the world. You don't get that kind of recognition without a few good docs on board! I know the girl just doesn't care for the small town lifestyle and is frustrated but I often have a hard time sitting there listening to her rationalizations for leaving the Clinic. This one tops the list! I worry about that girl...

Wake Me Up When It's Over

This was a very emotional night for me. I don't even want to go into much of it. I'll just say that the school did a horrible job of the ceremony. NOT ENOUGH SEATING. We ended up standing off to the side of the bleachers and lucky us it was the *wrong* side. We didn't get to see her at all. So glad I waited 18 years for that. When we did see her, she had a big bruise on the side of her face from her most recent boyfriend. With Rachel, every step forward also comes with a few steps back. I am just so tired of it all. 18 years of it and I am so done. I can only shrug because I have literally done everything I know how to do for her and it feels like I am swimming against the tide.*sigh*

The lady she is living with came by yesterday. She walked right into the house uninvited which I thought was interesting and then after a few minutes of idle chit chat she proceeded to tell me, " I can't even imagine kicking any of my own children out of the house". I was just thinking to myself: " now I *know* you are not standing in my kitchen uninvited telling me my buisiness! H*&^ to the no!" Know what I'm sayin'? She was nice enough in the end but it was clear she thought she knew all there was to know about Rachel and clearly she didn't. She stayed in my kitchen for an hour while I tried to continue to make pancakes for my husband on his only day off since forever! One of Rachel's boyfried's showed up too to make things even more interesting. Wherever she goes, drama follows and let me tell you, I've had my share of drama in my own life. I will not be drawn into more. I am so tired. So, so tired...

"Ouch"

OK. I didn't even know it was possible to get a charlie horse with a stomach muscle! It was painful and gross. I was pulling up some grass to plant some things when I suddenly doubled over in pain. When I straightened up to see what was going on I could see my stomach moving. It reminded me of pregnancy when the baby is big enough to see moving through the skin. The difference of course is that there is no baby. That is one of the weirdest things that I have ever had happen to me...

Happy Father's Day

We had a very long and busy weekend. I am not sure if I mentioned it before but Jon coaches Rhianna's traveling soccer team. They had a tournament this past weekend and their team won the championship! Two shut-outs even! It was a great Father's Day present for Jon. His little team is becoming quite good! It was so neat to see how happy the girls were after working so hard. Saturday was very hot and humid and several players from other teams became sick from the heat. Sunday was pretty warm too but the humidity held off and a nice wind helped to cool them off. I myself was pretty hot and came close to getting kind of sick. Phoenix ruined me. I had heat stroke the first year we lived there and have had very poor tolerance for heat since.

I have been otherwise caught up in trying to help my friend who is beginning the process of a divorce. It has been such a trying time for her and I am trying to be there and help her all I can. Lord knows I've been through it before and I understand how horrible it is. She is a very strong person though and is doing everything right so I know she will get through it and be better for it. She is also lucky enough to have the full support of her family.

I have some Rachel news too but I am very tired. My entire day got away from me today and not much was accomplished. I did get to spend quality time with Jon and that was very nice. He had a moonlighting gig Sunday night and then went right to work Monday to be on call. He was post call this afternoon so we saw him before he had to leave for another gig tonight. *Sigh* He's a good dad to be sure!

Must, sleep, now...

Grand Ol' Flag

I thought with summer I would have much more time to blog but it just hasn't been happening. Without a regular schedule, my ADD is taking over and I am all over the map. Each day is a mixture of panic trying to fit in all I want to do in the short span of 10 weeks before school comes knocking at my door once again. I do have so much to blog about, I just have to find time. I have Rachel's graduation to chat about as well as a visit from her and a new boyfriend. I have stories of my friend Tracy and all the trials she is going through right now as well as just general info about day to day life that would probably bore the world to death.

Each day my mind is filled with the projects that I haven't even been able to start like picture alblums, painting, running/biking and organizing. Why did I title this "Grand Ol' Flag"? Because my head is also spinning around with useless and seemingly trivial questions like "do they allow personal fireworks in Idaho Falls?" and "I wonder where and when I should get some if they do?"

Sigh. Welcome to the chaos that is my mind. I need some C@ncerta ...

For My Friend

Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are. ~Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha

One of my best friends is going through a really horrible, horrible time right now and I feel helpless as a friend. There is just nothing more I can do for her but "be there" and pray. I am doing both as best I can but it just doesn't seem like enough.

We've Come Along Way

13 years ago we rolled into this town and bought our first home! *cheers*