Combine

Everything really good today happened late at night:

1. Chilling with my sons, listening to friends play some street hockey, eating what may possibly have been the world's greatest bagel bites.
2. Checking out a lively USHL invitation at Chicago's Arctic Ice Arena.
3. Arriving with Markus at a west-end Japanese steak house(after-hockey game) birthday party to the words, ‘Can I sleep over at Sam's?!’

God Bless America!

{Twitter photos from this month's camp in Colorado}

Un-birthday

Three great ways to celebrate at Nicole and Jeff's house:

1. A powerful bowl of salad, nearly every antioxidant.
2. Creamy and chocolatey ‘exquisite coconut bars.’
3. Long conversations in the pool, and gifts to show them you love them.

Drink water.

1. What: Successful schedule sign-up with nursing people for August-September gig.
2. Who: Construction worker Max filled up his water jug while packing his lunch.
3. When: After sleeping all afternoon with my night shift hangover, no dizzy-sickness!

Russ

1. Max met me at gelatto, and agreed to pay me back for buying him tickets to a concert tonight.
2. Dancing! On the stage! He spent time at the RUSS concert on stage dancing in front of his largest crowd ever.
3. ‘Off with her hair!’ Another successful haircut, after waiting too long.

I am taking off to work for the night and will not be posting again until mid-tomorrow afternoon. Adventures from the women's center coming soon.

Parley's

1. Casey: I love these summer birthday's. I had been smelling KFC on the way there. Well, lo and behold! Kentucky Fried Chicken.

2. Dad: Dinner and fresh fruit with my sister and family at Parley's Canyon. Awww, seventy-eight!

3. Adam: We didn't feel like heading home yet, so we stayed and let Max drive Markus home.

 Preslee was a much better negotiator, scoring a ride home for her as well. Despite her highly effective skills, we decided to return to SL later that night, pausing at a rest stop under the freeway to take a selfie in the world's hottest (it doesn't have AC), convertible Porsche on wheels. We *will* return to the canyon!

Ferguson

Did you think I meant AJ Ferguson?

1. Actually, I meant the canyon of the same name. Along with steezy music, trail mix, fried shrimp and sunshine.

2. Hiking, hiking, hiking. And a saleslady at Van's running, running, running to fulfill my son's special request.
3. More canyons. Photo shoots. Birthday parties. Cupcakes...

Sparkling

Good morning, Salt Lake City!

1. A pleasurable birthday bicycle ride shared with a sparkling, spirited friend. Do you ever have that special, meaningful friend bringing adventures and activities to your life? I do. And that someone was my ride-mate and inspiration all the way through the Holladay City.

2. Shawna met me out in front of her house and I took her for a delicious birthday-breakfast at a restaurant called Waffle Love.

3. Cycling through the city streets, all marked with bike lanes. Painting white lines can't be that hard! Those bikes took us to the Holladay Boulevard Zumba festival, followed by a day out in beautiful weather in very good company. Company that we've shared since 2003. 

Good afternoon, SLC!

When: 2:30 a.m. Who: An otherwise nice dog. Where: On my stomach. What: Pouncing. This was a first. Funny and flabbergasting. Oddly charming that he would wake me up to tell me that Max had come home. I still chuckle at the memory. It was nothing compared to that nice but energetic dogs snoring.

Sweet Things

Sweet things happened when I reunited two teenagers overnight and for the day:

1. 05:31 - ‘Good morning, Mom … Oh no! I woke up the same time as at camp? … What time did you get up? Are you just going to work or coming home?’

2. 08:00 - Uncle Adam came to pick up Max for work, so I got to sleep for 45 minutes.

3. 20:30 - I turned to watch them both skating, home to great power skating, to find something interactive to do instead of watching Youtube. Markus and Max are huge fans of NHL hockey!

e.e. cummings

may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old

may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
and even if it's sunday may i be wrong
for whenever men are right they are not young

and may myself do nothing usefully
and love yourself so more than truly
there's never been quite such a fool who could fail
pulling all the sky over him with one smile

Summer Time

1. Time to enjoy Markus' pics on Twitter.

2. Time to post photos on here. 

3. Time to catch up on daily recaps.

He's Back

1. If you fall asleep on the last day of your cruise to the carribean, you may be burned on one side. Wear lots of sunscreen!

2. After he was braided up by a rather jolly woman who told good jokes, he watched the island monkeys get their picture taken. It is official: he spent every last dollar.

3. It is never a good idea to run out of money right before riding the zip-line. (Thanks to Aaron's mom for the loan.) But if you do, wear lots of sunscreen!

Bonus: Dancing

1. Having a nice chat with one (of 37) of my cousins.
2. Continuing to dance with one of my uncles.
3. Enjoying even more sunshine. With only twelve precious weeks of summer, I will be a Tannasaurus Rex!

Bonus: Dad

1. Patient: teaching his grandchildren the differences between squares and rectangles.
2. Thoughtful: giving me a sapphire ring because it's my birthstone.
3. Helpful: offering lots of constitutional tips - unsolicited, but undeniably useful, advice.

Just three reasons (of three to the power of n) why we love Dad. Happy Father's Day to you and your daddy-units.

Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow

1. Vote of Confidence I: Twitter. I received a very encouraging message from someone with his best interests in mind.

2. Vote of Confidence II: Groceries. Morgen and I bought food and found some of the best fruits of summer: ‘Cherries!’

3. Vote of Confidence III: Youth. A younger coach invited Markus to join him in Colorado at his VIP training next to a star NHL'er (who is ‘old, late 30s’... uh oh). I don't do dryland, but I'm in!

At the Western Region High Performance Camp

Family Reunion

1. My cousin, my aunt and I reworked the family tree to ‘include' in all kinds of strange and wonderful ways.

2. I learned about the strange and wonderful ways of farmers and that even though they may look angry, they are determined - and beautiful.

3. An uncle at the Outback directed me to some strange and wonderful memories (in lieu of ice cream).

My dad and his brother David and sister Rosella

Newell ~ 1984

Rosella

service

1. Intermountain: provided me employee appreciation lunch via food trucks out front.
2. Top 100: delivered another better-than-most hospitals in the US.
3. Chipotle: served me a scrumptious, chicken bowl.

These dudes had fun sleeping over and doing photo sessions.

They rock, they rule!

Naturally

1. My son gave his friend a lift, bright and early, from the Walmart at 5:00 a.m. It almost helped transform my night-owl nature.

2. Double-whammy: I met a wonderful woman who had just given birth to her third little girl whom I got to give her first bath to. Then I got educated in a high-risk skills day. I appreciate great education and I really appreciate staff who are willing to tell me about the more intricate skills of nursery. Then I got to wish my little sister a happy birthday. Hope it will be the best year yet, Darlin. 

3. Markus good-naturedly told me a hilarious story set in a surf park in Vegas. ‘His fan was allowed to use his board.'

Note

1. This didn't happen to me, but I am thrilled it happened to someone I gave birth to: West Coast Renegades, featured a player I love, he has become a player of Note.

2. My son taught me that there are skaters (found in skate parks, plus scooters) and then there are Skaters. Ice if you count hockey.

3. The gift of motivation was bestowed upon me, unbeknownst to its providers.

Time

1. During our echoey conversation - spoken entirely in between periods - my son told me I was pretty. (Talking in between texts, snapchats, etc. is a variation on being {pittsburgh's} #1 fan.)

2. I caught my wireless signal on the back porch. It was the perfect sunset home game watching setup (Stanley cup included).

3. After I took pics of the celebration, Markus brainstormed with me over our bowls of ice cream how to tidy up the scene of the crime. We washed and dried that kitchen clean - he in absentia, I in present.

Isn't The Past Kind?

It's Always Over

A friend (Shawna) did me an act of kindness, thereby freeing me to enjoy (versus endure) my Friday evening. 

If you must look back, do so forgivingly. 

If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. 

However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present...

Gratefully 

2. I took Markus to buy (yet another) sweet new camera after he had to cancel his order from a company purporting to sell quality goods.

3. Max and I abused our phone plans (he Snapchats me for free; I receive them with wi-fi for free). It was a nice 15-minute chat in the breezy afternoon sun.