Fall!

1. The voice of reason: gorgeous fall walk beckons.

2. The voice of improvisation: Morgen going for a run calls.

3. The voice of an angel: Anika during my first ever facial.

Spend Your Time

Loving Your Life

1. Online: Live from PA! Marko, tomorrow night.
2. Offline: Japanese green tea facial.
3. In line: Encouraging coursework grades for Morgen.

Imagine

1. Meeting up with Skip.
2. Meeting up with Markus.
3. Meeting up with Morgen!

Spinning

1. Creating solutions, like how to affix stubborn spider webs to siding (damn it), with Marko, my Friend in frustration and small pleasures.
2. Creating new friends at work (Hello) at a party I was lucky enough to be invited to.

3. Creating (not I): new media on the way home at the Walmart. Not spun sound; spun images!

Meeting

1. Meeting of the minds: kitchen table collaboration.
2. Meeting of acquaintances: fraternity dialogues of Morg.
3. Meeting of the hearts: old teammates catch up.

hypnosis

Working a Saturday Night shift is the best! Direct from overnight, here are some of my favorite lines from recent babies' births:

1. ‘Aunt D, call me when you want jr. to learn how to be steezy.’
2. ‘In praise of Cole… A baby who is the rebirth of Goliath.’
3. ‘The hypno-birthers people don’t use pain medication. They have their self-respect.’

AND: ‘Nowadays I have a habit of keeping my hands to myself.’

If you could go anywhere???

Joining a blue-and-white fundraiser game for free is more than enough fun. Especially when you need a ride home and your friend helps you coordinate an uber (which you may or may not have successfully pulled off, seeing as Jared's parents were a part of the equation). So, what to do with the spare cash? Why, throw it into charity fun, of course!

His winnings included
1. Game tickets,
2. Fancy snacks in the suite, and
3. Meeting with the players packages.

The trip to Italy has eluded me, despite my best concerted efforts to concoct a plan, but I got a great return on his $20 bill nonetheless... and the smiles just kept flowing.

Parties

1. Two free concerts, one exceptional percussionist, one paint party.

2. Two teammates, one outstanding player, one new assistant-captain.

3. Two friends, one happy accountant, one Delta Sigma Phi invite to join.

October Sky

1. Privileged: to observe an October sky morning.
2. Surprised: to meet a Skip inside Markus' room.
3. Delighted: to be called off work and catch a hike instead.

You Will Always Be A Part of Us

A. Jonas' golf cart in the Public school is clipping along midday 15 minutes after school let out. It is beautiful, yet perplexing.

1. Feeling it as I am welcomed into several extended Sparta-nation families.

B. Email from old friends, keeping those connections, everyday thoughts, especially those at the rink, being courageous, gigantic explanations.

2. Feeling it as Tim helps me get to where I need to go in a hurry.

C. The privilege of reading ‘you will always be a part of us’ in a three page email - with extraordinary feeling - from a mother to her daughter's coach (‘you were like her second mother’).

3. Feeling it as the email went on to say that she still has pictures of me hanging in her room (à la Lost Boys) plays a constant reminder over dinner.

Priorities

1. Dough. Max's at this thing. He met this nice guy from Ventura, CA. He'd like to work only in the mornings; I'd like to him share his hockey bill. I talk about taking baby-steps. He is half-in agreement, half-asleep. My bills are half-due, half-coming due. We take advice from his team manager to talk to someone named 'Paddy'. We hope he can help him find a job that he hasn't already applied for on-line. The idea is thick and creamy like pizza dough.

I've always liked people from California.

2. Birth. I'm at this thing. I see this schedule feature titled The Recovery. I learn about the mom and baby and the water breaking. Inspired by the perseverance and the conviction of its people, I get a reminder I must make my appointment with the dentist tomorrow. ‘If the people lead, the leaders will follow.’

I've had this visit on my calendar for 6 months with the dentist.

3. Win. We're at this thing. I re-meet this nice guy from hockey. We drink water and talk about ... well, we talk about all kinds of banner raising things. He is a writer and communicator who keeps on keeping on ... and even though we should both call it a night, we can't. Priorities? These are the moments.

I've always liked kindred creative spirits.

Giving Thanks

Yesterday was Canadian Thanksgiving. Since this is at heart a blog of thanksgiving, I want to pay respect to this underrated holiday. 

This morning, I am thankful for my brother, Adam. HBD bro. 

POST

1. Free replacement hockey stick (already worn down). He's going to keep using it through the winter: wear it down again!

2. Night-shift-hair-meets-bed-head. Getting the up and down - in a good way - on the elevator. I love arriving at work in my bike-greased scrubs. 

3. Complimentary pickled ginger from the local sushi restaurant. When all else fails, I cut it up and improvise tea. I refuse to get sick.

Now I'm pickled tink! This is my 2,830th post.

Hot Shower

like a regular shower

but with me in it

A bathroom shower curtain is a good way to learn a few lessons.

1. Inspect sister's new home in Boise. Check.
2. Leave town for a weekend while work is completed. Check.
3. Do not - I repeat, do not - hire the contractor if he says he will be back tomorrow with his trailer. Oops, did not check.

Lemonade

My employer called me in for my on-call shift. How flattering that someone needs me so desperately.

1. Hence the opportunity to make lemonade out of lemons.

2. Lessons from a woman who made lemons out of lemonade:
‘If my Tesla hadn't been built so well, I never would've survived .’ - my sister Marilee 

3. She called her insurance company at once and significantly improved her health by going in to be checked for a concussion today. The benefits cannot be overstated. I'm bringing back the almighty penlight!

FOR LIKE {ever}

Noni + Drew = forever

1. Urination: I have placed two new urinary catheters today!
2. Consideration: I was asked whether I had any ‘philosophical objections’ to doing two cesarean sections in a row.
3. Salvation: I found a can of chili in my empty kitchen.

Scrubbed?

How will this adventure end? So far:

1. Strength: The buyer (of my CRV) asks me if I'm going to ‘seal the deal’ at 7-11. The universe gives me strength to resist harsh negotiations (since I don't want any, either). I ask to please send feminists into this man's life immediately.

2. Story: I give the seller (of the i3) and his daughter a ride home. The seller tells the tale of his father-in-law, who would only drive this car when he didn't have to go far. He'd drive it to Jazz games; he never paid for parking, just for charging. It just happened to be on that exact day that I called to buy it.

3. Plate: The seller demonstrates what he used to do back in the day, way back when, at BYU: turn the ride around out by the lake. Either he scrubbed it clean or I will never have to do another car wash so long as I take it to the dealer.

yesss

I spent the whole day with nice people at work. I left with a sense of urgency: to enjoy my youth and my body now!

The wise nurses tell me:
1. ‘A man can be nice – but not too nice! If he's too nice, he won't be strong.’
2. ‘You can be nice to a man – but not too nice! Be nice – but never beg!’
3. ‘The most important thing in this life is to be healthy. And to be young!’

Look For The Helpers

I have just learned of the 59 deaths. In honor of those souls, I'd like to share what made me reflect about the terrorism today.

1. Sonny Melton, Health Coach, RN, who believed that he had the power to do good. ‘His wife is an orthopedic surgeon. Such a hero to shield Heather and save her life by losing his...so sad.'

2. Candace Bure, Actress. ‘In the light of what's going on in Vegas...there are angels among us - be one.’’

3. The Bucket List Family, travel journalists. Best-known in America for traveling around the world with his family. ‘Hug those you love...and hold them extra tight.’

‘Michelle and I are praying for the victims in Las Vegas. Our thoughts are with their families and everyone enduring another senseless tragedy. ’

Holy October!

Dear friends and followers,

I've been positively swamped! I dared to refinance my house again. After which I looked up to hope, stared down despair, fooled around with busy, flirted with a little chaos and engaged in a few slices of fun. So when an emergency basement back door descended upon me, I didn't bat an eyelash!

I'm paper blogging right now (well, scrap-book blogging). This is like my 40 days and 40 nights... wow, I miss this space!

Cheers! Here's to no more leaking door seal and no more spiders crawling through the cracks!

Wake Me Up

1. Thanks: Markus set up the net from the garage for the game.
2. Thanks: Mother Nature waited until after I left for work to let it rain.
3. Thanks: Christine listened to my sob story about Karsen's 14th birthday tomorrow (his first without his parents) at my second night shift in a row.

Plus Karsen and Kinyon, who came running into the car in their stinky hockey warm ups. Sweaty side way hugs never felt so good!

Lunch

No breakfast.

Lunch #1 with coworkers was served at the women and newborn conference.
Lunch #2 with Morgen was served with delight at fulfilling his court requirements.
Lunch #3 with Markus was served with napkins before hockey practice.

No dinner.

Spa Night

Yes, I've blogged backwards a couple of times. I go by email and my calendar. Today is September 28, but September 26 isn't lost. This particular Thursday, however, was a Totally Original Thursday.

And with Totally Special People:
1. Laurie
2. Kelli
3. Heidi

and Naomi: who is getting married!

Apple of My Eye

"THE POWER OF ONE, THE VALUE OF MANY’

More on this later . . . I will leave you with that while I attempt to find a moment in which to blog.

(I have been attending lots of events this week - it is hard work!)

Speaking of, I'd like to encourage everyone out there, as we move into my favorite season, to enjoy an apple. I propose braeburn instead, or anything vintage and shiny.

$50

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota

1. Historic? A team manager offers Max a $50 shuttle ride to LAX.
2. NAHL? Outside the super rinks, the sweet smell of success.
3. Full House? Max's teammate has a mom that starred in Full House.

Never Look Back

you're not going that way...

1. The furnace contractor gets my heat working again, pronto.
2. My friend's husband arrives to help negotiate the back door job.
3. After a near heart attack over the whole car malfunction in the middle of the drive to Idaho, Zen where I least expect it. I spend a couple of hours sending pictures to potential buyers. Check Engine Lights, Transmission fluid, gears humming, low frequencies buzzing after sea foam is added to the oil... it is unbelievably soothing.

Boise Fog

The city was steeped in fog so thick you could scoop it up in your palm like bubbles in a bath. When it lifted, rays of sun hit the skyscrapers like daggers piercing through sheets of snow. We returned at night to tuck us back into bed.

Slammin'

My sister runs a travellers' hostel, where I met her for the weekend. Sister Hostels are where it's at. 

1. Chicken Enchiladas: Fresh from Sheri's oven.
2. Clean sheets: Fresh conversation from Shane, Josslyn and Connor.
3. Slammin': As in, Mmm, Fresh Slammin' Hotties from their hot tub!

Journey

1. Being introduced to members of a Boise hockey organization.

2. Having conversations with them about the hockey journey.

3. Talking about the journey on the drive to my sister's home, with me renewed optimism.

I want to mention it was a great hair day. I don't give it enough credit sometimes.

Do you remember??

The twenty-first day, of September.

I haven't fallen off the wagon. September has surprised me. Didn't Ernest Hemingway say that in order to write about life, first you must live it? I've been going the way of Heming, but my blog will soon again go the way of me.

Without further ado, this rainy Thursday:

1. Artists: Friendly sons, served with delicious cheesy bread and tomatoes alongside spicy and non-spicy thai at a noodles and co.

2. Creatives: Dinner with Markus sharing his editing of homecoming video skills, a free viewing of said edits and other nuggets of imagination.

3. Players: On the ride home, conversation all the way from the west end with one sweetie-pie from West Coast. Who really is a Spartan. Who is an adorable young man. Who thought Morgen would still be at college. Which he was not. Which was fun to hear about his group project.