Laundry

Some people hate doing laundry.
Some people hate folding or putting away clean laundry.
This has never been an issue for me. I quite enjoy doing laundry actually.

I have pretty much always folded or hung up my laundry right out of the dryer. When the kids were younger, I would fold the laundry and have them carry up their piles to their rooms where they would usually heap them on the floor or on their bed. That part annoyed me but, as a mother, there are things you just have to let go.

I'm lucky to have an area in my laundry room where I can hang laundry up easily and quickly straight from the dryer.  I will admit that I have been known to leave things hanging in the laundry room for some time before moving it to the proper closet.  But at least the clothes aren't sitting in a pile getting wrinkled. I despise wrinkled clothes and I'm not a fan of ironing...so I'm pretty careful not to let things sit in piles.

Lately though,  I have not been keeping up with the laundry. At all.

It's probably the new rental house and all the time we spend over there.
Or my job and the fact that I'm super tired at the end of the day.
Or maybe the laundry is going the way of some other household tasks: dishes, bathroom cleaning, vacuuming.  All of them are taking a backseat lately.  To what, I cannot actually say.
Or maybe, with just the two of us, the laundry just doesn't seem like a priority.

With the empty nest thing that's going on here, I have started using the guest room in a new way.
As a place to pile laundry for days on end.

I do try to lay the shirts and things out in such a way that they don't get all wrinkled but in general, it's just a big pile. 

This is a new thing for me and when I see this pile of clothes I can't help but feel overwhelmed by it.

I'm understanding how people can dislike laundry. 

It's the PILE that is no fun.

I folded most of the pile today but for some reason I still haven't been able to get them put away.

Baby steps I suppose. 

Diving in again

We had planned a trip to Puerto Rico for January.  I can’t remember exactly when we planned it but it’s been on the calendar for awhile. For some reason, when we planned it, early January seemed like a good time for a vacation.  Then it turned out that by the time January rolled around with Christmas vacation and Frank’s birthday and my birthday and each of us having a few days off work…well, we were totally not in the mood for ANOTHER vacation. Or that’s how it felt.  We knew we would have fun once we got there but it just seemed like we needed to get back to normal life.  Anyway, the day before the trip (as I’m sure you’ve heard on the news) Puerto Rico had a big earthquake!  We called the AirBNB that we were going to stay at and they said they had no electricity and she was concerned that the stores had been cleared of most of the food. Ugh. Obviously the biggest concern is for the people dealing with this tragedy but it didn’t sound like a recipe for a relaxing vacation. So, the day before the trip, we cancelled.  Frank spent so much time getting it all arranged and places to stay and car rentals and flights…and it was all cancelled within an hour.  I was a bit surprised at how quickly he made the decision to be honest.  It was definitely for the best because they had lots of aftershocks and stuff and I’m sure it would have been a nightmare to be visiting during all of that.

Another reason it was good that we didn’t go was that we did something crazy only 2 days before the vacation was supposed to happen…we made an offer on a house.  It’s kind of a long story but with Frank getting some money from his Dad’s life insurance, he was looking for an investment.  Not super active looking…just in the back of his mind. We had a house come up for sale in our neighborhood so we went to look at it. It was a disaster inside so we decided it wasn’t for us but it did get the wheels turning in Frank's head and he started actively looking for a rental property.  We had a previous rental house in Provo for about a year. We worked like dogs getting it fixed up and then sold it a year later. I’m not sure what reasons Frank would give for the sale, but I think he was missing having a Jeep!  But since he now has a Jeep again, he’s ready for a new project I guess.

Anyway, a week or two after we saw that first house, I got an email from a realtor site that a new house was on the market that day. Somehow I started getting realtor emails, I don’t remember signing up for them!  I told Frank about it and we went right over. So it had been on the market for a few hours at this point. 

It’s actually an old house (1931) with a detached garage that was at some point remodeled to be another house. So two houses on one lot.  It’s considered by the town to be a duplex but it’s two separate houses.  The original house is occupied by renters and the garage house was unoccupied.  We were only able to tour the empty house.  Well, it’s such an unusual thing to find two houses on one lot that Frank decided to make an offer right then and so we did. It was only slightly more expensive than the piece of junk in our neighborhood…but it’s two pieces of junk! The owners were not comfortable with accepting our offer since we hadn’t seen inside the main house so they said they would accept it after we toured the house Monday (just remember…we are supposed to leave for Puerto Rico on Wednesday).  So they accepted our offer Monday morning after Frank had a tour (I was at work).  Turns out later that day they got 3 or 4 more offers!  Too late though since they had accepted ours.

Both houses are a bit dilapidated.  For some reason we love a project…and this is going to be a big project.

I don’t think the owners have done ANY upkeep. And we were surprised to find during the home inspection that the main house was at some point on fire!  The attic is charred. They say it’s structurally just fine though but that was a shock to find. The outsides both need painting badly and the kitchens and bathrooms are really old and probably need gutting.  I’ve never actually seen a bathroom as small as the one in the original house. You could shower, use the toilet and wash your hands all at the same time it seems! Good times.

So we will be fixing up the garage house first since it’s empty and then we will hopefully rent it out. Then later we’ll figure out what to do with the original house.  

There is also a small shed on the property as well as another building that we thought was a shed but turned out to be a root cellar. Frank’s pretty excited about that…no idea why! haha He just likes that it’s something weird and different. They both look like they are about to fall down, so that’s fun.

Anyway, we would have had to do all the financing and inspections and whatnot while in Puerto Rico which would have been so stressful. So that’s one more reason that we weren’t too sad to cancel the trip. 

We closed on the houses last Thursday and we have spent every possible moment over there ripping stuff out. We've gone back and forth (and back and forth) over how much to change/fix and what to leave. But both Frank and I are on the perfectionist side of things and it's hard for us to let things be subpar...so we're changing a whole lot.

It has already been SO MUCH WORK and we've really only just begun.

I'll probably keep updates here just for remembrance. Someday we will probably be amazed at all the work we were able to do!

Frantic

I was lounging on the couch in my pajamas at 8:15 this morning when I realized, suddenly, that I was supposed to be at an appointment in Salt Lake City at 9:00 am at the airport which is just about 45 minutes away.

This is not just any appointment.
This is the appointment for my interview for the trusted traveler system.  Something I have been waiting over 9 months for. Something that was so important I had set up several alerts in my phone: 2 hours before and 1 hour before so that I absolutely would not forget.

I have no idea why it has taken all these months to get this appointment but it was the only option for scheduling. The next available appointment is June.
And I have no idea what happens if you miss it. I'm guessing you wait lots of more months.

I don't have a trip coming up soon but just the fact that I've been waiting all these months makes this appointment very important to me. I filled out the paperwork months and months ago and it took forever to just be allowed to be able to book the interview and then there were so few interview slots available that I was lucky to find this one.

And I forgot.

And my stupid phone did not beep or give me ANY kind of reminder. GAH! (actually, I did find a little silent alert on my phone later but I really needed a beep or noise or something more intrusive, obviously!)

Picture me suddenly jumping up, running into my room and saying "I'm supposed to be in Salt Lake!" while I run around frantically getting dressed.
I threw some jeans on. I picked up my bra and thought "I don't have time for this!" and threw it back in the drawer and pulled on a sweatshirt.
I haven't brushed my teeth. I haven't brushed my hair. I haven't even looked in a mirror for Pete's sake!

As I'm running out the door, THANK HEAVEN I think..."do I need my passport?" Of course I do!  I run to the basement and rummage way longer than I wanted to before finding my passport.

I'm always good about keeping gas in my car but, of course, this time I have let it get below 1/2 tank. Which honestly is enough gas but I'm still annoyed at myself.  I left the house with 38 minutes to my appointment. And a full bladder.

I drive like a maniac. I speed. I pray that no cops see me.  I arrive at the airport at 8:56.

I actually RUN past the people waiting in line for security.  I have no idea where I'm supposed to go even though I had Frank text me the directions. I find the help desk and he tells me I'm in the wrong building, to go to the next Terminal.  I RUN to the next terminal. As I'm running I was thinking "Gosh, my foot actually feels ok and I'm running pretty well. I should probably be exercising more."
I'm also wondering what the people around me are thinking of me as I sprint by. I'm also wondering why I didn't take a few more seconds to put on my bra...

When I arrive to the proper door I am winded, my throat and mouth are totally dry and I'm trying to just pull myself together to look unfrazzled as I walk in.  The guy greeting me talks so fast my brain literally can't figure out what he is saying to me. Either that or I was just too discombobulated to decipher words. It was the weirdest. I was just staring at him trying to figure out what he was saying. He had to say it 3 times before I understood that he was saying "Are you here for a global entry interview?"

Haaa!  Why, yes, I am.  When he realized I actually understood him he was like "good, we speak the same language" haha oh man.

It wasn't really an interview, just fingerprinting and information gathering/sharing. I DID need my passport so thank heaven I remembered that in my spastic state.

As I feared, they took my picture.  Unbrushed teeth, uncombed hair, wearing my thick and ginormous brown sweatshirt. Yeah, that was awesome. And will probably last 10 years or something...if not longer.

As I left the airport a short time later, walking leisurely and after using the restroom (blessedly), I took a selfie to remember this fine moment and my wonderful hairdo.  I was right by some people waiting in line for security so I felt a bit weird about it but sometimes you just gotta take a selfie.

You're looking at the newest Trusted Traveler.

Now to book a vacation overseas...

2019 in Review

I was looking back and realized that I forgot to do this last year, so I'll try to do it this year and hopefully get back on track. I like reading these later!

1. What did you do in 2019 that you'd never done before? Went to Wales! Visited Michigan!


2. What would you like to have in 2020 that you lacked in 2019? Motivation to improve, Daily scripture study/prayer, a full head of hair, a foot that works properly, a knee that never hurts. Wow, I sound old!


3. What dates from 2019 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? None, because I forget everything BUT some important things did happen. I will just have to look it up.  Let's see: Carter got engaged! Branden and Amber relocated to Michigan. Katy and Austin are in process of buying a house. Lost some loved ones this year: Grandaddy passed away on April 30, 2019. My mom passed away on November 23, 2019.
4. What was your biggest achievement this year? I don't feel like I really accomplished much this year overall. I worked my job and enjoyed it for the most part. We built a pantry in our kitchen which we actually started in 2018 but it wasn't finished until 2019. Put hardwood floors in the front room and pantry, so making headway in that department...maybe? 

1. What was your biggest failure? That seems negative. Hmmm I failed to become a size 6. Again.


2. Did you suffer illness or injury?  I had foot surgery for osteonecrosis. So weird.


3. What was the best thing you bought?  A new pantry, wood floors for part of the house, a trip to Wales, a trip to Michigan


4. Where did most of your money go? Who knows!


5. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Going to Wales to see Austin and Katy! We had lots of fun!  I also got to go wedding dress shopping with Harley and her family! Went on a business trip with Frank to Orlando!


6. What song will always remind you of 2019? None. I can't even think of a song right now...I have had the song "Prince Ali" from the movie Aladdin in my head for about a week now. Not sure it will remind me of 2019 though. ha!


7. Compared to this time last year, are you:
   a) happier or sadder? probably overall happier
   b) thinner or fatter? ever so slightly thinner
   c) richer or poorer? I feel poorer...


8. What do you wish you'd done more of? Being thankful, seeing my grandkids and kids


9. What do you wish you'd done less of? Complaining, being lazy


10. What was your favorite TV program? I should write these things down earlier! My memory just can't pull this kind of information out on demand.  Ok, hmmm, Frank and I watch something most evenings before bed.  We watched several shows on VidAngel-Mrs. Maisel, Game of Thrones (was that in 2019?)...can't think of any more at the moment. I still love This is Us and The Good Place


11. What was the best book you read? Didn't read a lot this last year. I must do better for 2020. I did most of the books from book club though but can't seem to name any.


12. What did you want and get? Wood floors for part of the house and a new pantry. A couple of visits to Alaska and Michigan. A trip to Wales. Got to visit my mom one last time before she passed.


13. What did you want and not get? Self control, motivation to work out. HA!


14. What was your favorite film of the year? I am easily entertained and enjoyed pretty much everything I've seen this year. Here's a few: Knives Out, Ad Astra (different than expected), Toy Story 4, Captain Marvel, Downton Abby...I'm sure there are more but having trouble remembering.


15. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I keep track. Here it is. I turned 52 in 2019.


16. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2019? Here it is: flowered shirt (from the career section), cardigan if it's cold, jeans, boots in the winter-converse in the warmer weather. I have no explanation and I don't know why 95% of my shirts have flowers on them! On my days off it's yoga pants and t-shirts or possibly jeans if I have to go in public.  Also I began growing out my grey hair. It hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be.


17. What kept you sane? um, nothing? haha  OK, OK I work with great people that I enjoy, that helps. Frank is pretty patient with me, that helps too. 


18. Which celebrity did you fancy the most? I don't have time for celebrities.


19. What political issue stirred you the most? Trump is the worst.


20. Who is the best new person you met? Olivia, Maggie, finally met Riley in person and even though she's not a person, she counts as a member of the family :-)


21. Who did you miss? My distant kids and grandkids, my mom and dad, Frank's parents who have both now passed on.


22. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2019. Get a will or, even better, a trust. Our physical belongings are not that important and certainly not worth what we think they are. Family is important. Life isn't easy (already knew that one actually). Some things you stress about are not as scary as you think.

Some favorite pictures from 2019:

Visited Orlando again! Went to Animal Kingdom by myself and used a scooter all day because of my foot surgery. 

Peaches from our very own peach tree. Amazing!

Though it was a sad occasion, we enjoyed our family time with Frank's family when we went to Oregon before/during/after his Dad's passing. The military tribute at his funeral was so touching.

Visiting my Mom and Dad in Arizona

 Visiting Wales and seeing Austin and Katy. Loved seeing where they lived, the city, and their favorite places. Got to see Katy's family as well. It was a great trip! (Other than how frightened I was every time we drove anywhere)

Got to go wedding dress shopping and then also got to go to Harley's bridal photo shoot 

(bouquet shown but can't show the bride!)

Two different trips to see the grandkids! One to Alaska and one to Michigan.

Carter and Harley got engaged! (obviously these pictures are in no particular order)

Foot surgery

Seeing old friends!

Mail

I am trying to mail off the fitness reimbursement forms to my insurance because I do have a membership to a gym and I did attend at least a handful of times last year.

Luckily, they don't ask me on the forms how often I attended the gym or if my weight has improved or any other health questions so I figure I still deserve the reimbursement. I spent the money. Apparently that's the only criteria, thank heaven.

It takes all kind of time to fill out the forms, locate the receipts for payments, photocopy everything and then mail it off.

I have a whole box of business sized envelopes in my desk just waiting to be used for such a purpose. I mean, I rarely mail anything so this is pretty exciting stuff.

The box of envelopes must have gotten damp somehow however because every single envelope is sealed. Every. Single. Envelope. IS SEALED.

And yes, I've tried to gently open them and have ripped quite a few now.

It has already taken me 12 months to get down to filling out the paperwork and making the copies. If I have to go to the store and buy more envelopes, this thing just might not happen.

I tried 2019 budget, I tried.

Me. At 53.

It's my birthday today! I am 53 years old which is just crazy. I mean, 53...definitely past "middle age" right?

I will continue the tradition of writing down what I did on my birthday. Here is last year.

Since my birthday fell on a Sunday this year, it will obviously be a quieter day. No eating out or going to do activities.

I woke up late and got ready in leisurely fashion. Our church changed from 9:00 am to 10:30 am today. I let my hair dry naturally and then decided to just leave it curly for church. I took a picture and it's pretty surprising to see how much of my grey has grown in. It's way more noticeable in pictures than in real life I feel like.

Meeting at 10:30 is obviously nice for the morning routine but will have downsides, one of which is that another ward has already been in the building so the perfume is already in the air. I got a migraine last week from perfume and was pretty frustrated. I ended up posting about it on Facebook and so now more people in the ward are aware of my issues which is mostly good but I still feel awkward. Several people commented today on how they could smell the perfume in the air.  I got a bit of a headache but moved back by the stage to sit for awhile and that helped. Since today was the first week of Sunday School I really didn't want to miss meeting my new class.

I hope I can give them rave reviews as the year moves on but today was a struggle. I didn't teach this week but considering it was week one of the year, these kids weren't exactly trying to impress us. First impression: there are 2 that seem pretty good in the 'interact with the teacher' department, 1 that can be convinced to interact,  one that literally read on his phone the entire time (instagram? who knows!  Definitely not scriptures) and one who put his head in his hand and basically slept from what I can tell. Oy. I'm ready for Sunbeams!

After church I have basically napped intermittently, done some laundry and wasted time on my phone.  Frank has been slaving in the kitchen all day.  Poor guy. He's made 2 different chocolate pies (one is a "freezer pie" and one is a cooked pudding pie) as well as some Keto pork chops. (We've been dieting since before Thanksgiving and Frank has been really good...I've been a bit more flexible, as is my way. Ha!)

Frank had me open a present right when we got in from church. It turned out to be an automatic stirring device that he wanted to use to make the pudding for his pie! ha!

We also went shopping on Saturday for a new dress as a present. We ended up buying 2 and I wore one to church. I put the other one in the wash on cold/delicate so I could wear it on our vacation later this week...and it shrunk! gah. So annoying.  I'll probably still use it as a swim suit cover up but this is the second dress I've shrunk before even wearing it!  I've got to figure that out. :-(

At this moment, we have just finished the pork chops and they were delicious.

I got a pound of See's for Christmas (only one pound because we are dieting after all). I've allowed myself one per day but stopped a few days ago and saved the last one for today. It was hard. But I just ate it and it was fabulous. If only I had another pound box hiding somewhere...

Dion's family and Doneen's family are coming over later for dessert so we'll have the pie then. I'll try to update later after the festivities.

All of the boys sent me texts wishing me a happy birthday so no one is in the doghouse today! hooray!

------

The siblings and families as well as Jansen and Heather came over for dessert. I even had a surprise pop-in from Carter and Harley!
We had 2 kinds of chocolate pie, brownies and apple crisp! Yes, I tried them all!
And, bonus, Dion got me a small box of See's as a gift! I am saved.
It was super fun to hang out and talk together. It's one of my favorite things actually. Makes me glad I live close now.

2020

Well it is officially 2020
and I have no idea what that means.

Everyone is all full of goals and aspirations and words of the year and I'm over here feeling kind of meh about the whole thing.

I've mentioned before that I'm just a content person. But perhaps its more fear than contentment? I am fine with never pushing the envelope because I'm afraid to?  But if I wasn't afraid, what exactly would I want to do?

Most of the time I think contentment is a good thing. I don't need to be constantly entertained or excited. I think that's good.  But I also don't really try to improve or change too much. Perhaps not so good.

I like the idea of starting the new year with goals and stuff like that, although I always start my new year AFTER my birthday on the 5th, just in case there is dieting involved. No way am I missing out on birthday cake just because it's the New Year.

So anyway, I'm going to ponder this for a bit (at least until the 5th) and see what I can come up with for my plans for goals for this upcoming year.

I'll keep you posted.