wind and clouds

It's monsoon season here in Arizona. I love the storms we get...especially the windstorms. Man, when that wind blows it sounds fierce!! My kids say it's scary but I think it's quite pleasant. So today I'm sitting in the living room listening to the wind and watching this (my trees in the backyard)... when Jared (the 9 year old) comes running in. Out of breath and frantically calling my name (Mom) he yells, "Mawwwwm!!! You have to get out here quick!!" A little panic'd I say "Whats the matter Jared" as I get up and frantically head for the front door (thinking someone outside is hurt). "You HAVE to see this cloud Mom!! It's AWEsome!!" "Cloud? Did you just say cloud Jared? I thought someone was hurt!" "Oh...Sorry Mom, but you really have to see this cloud...and bring your camera". So I grab my camera and head back to the front door...all the while rolling my eyes and thinking "I can't believe I got up for a cloud". But when I went outside and followed the direction in which his finger was pointing (just above the Ridds house) I was awestruck. His excitement was definitely justified.

not so fatal after all

I had just sat down at my computer this afternoon when the phone rang...

Hello?

Mom!!

Yeah?

Our bus was in an accident!! They won't let us off of the bus and the man in the other car is dying!! But I just want off the bus. There's other parents here...will you come get me?

What?! Are you okay? Where are you guys?! I calmly asked (because we all know I never panic).

We're in front of the high school and the Jr High.

OK Steph, I'm on my way!!

Luckily, Justin was home to stay with Jarom as he was napping for the 1st time in forever!! I grabbed the keys and out the door!! All the while yelling to Justin what was going on and that I'd be right back. Of course, the whole time I'm thinking to myself "please don't let my kids have to watch someone die". There was so much commotion in the background when she called that I thought "maybe it IS serious!!" Now, I leave many things in my car all too often, but NEVER my camera! I would be disowned if it got stolen due to something I could completely control. Not that I have the best camera on the market or anything but just because Steve always rides me about being careless with my stuff and he spent a little more than he wanted on my camera. Well, lo and behold, I was driving to the scene of the accident, looked over, and saw my camera!! We went to Jareds musical last night and since I parked in the garage, I thought it would be safe to leave the camera in the van. I'm glad I did because I was able to take a couple of pics of the accident while stopped in traffic waiting to reach my loves. The bus must have hit the other car pretty good because the passenger side windshield was all shattered and the door came off of its track. It wouldn't open. So when they finally let the kids off of the bus, they had to exit through the emergency doors on the side which is why you see people standing there. Anyways, that was the excitement for the weekend. And no, the man in the other car was not dying. There were 2 men in the other vehicle. When they were hit, they got out and one of them was cut pretty bad and he was all bloody. As they tried to make their way to the bus, he collapsed. This must be why my drama queen thought he was dying. They did take him away in the ambulance but no deaths!! (thank goodness...can you imagine?)

Great Finds

The kids were off for Veterans Day yesterday. We did nothing too spectacular. Justin and Jared went and helped a boy in our ward with his Eagle Scout Project. Afterwards, Jared went on a fieldtrip with his scout troop to the Desert Botanical Gardens. He had fun. So Steph and I decided to have a little fun of our own. I haven't done anything "crafty" in months (since before football season) and I have not found any of my refrigerator magnets since we moved. Sooooo, we made these cute magnets. We were very proud of ourselves.

And that was the extent of our day.

Thought I would take Jolene's suggestion and post some of the things I got yard sale-ing on Saturday. Let me know what you think....this cute little bowl (with nothing in it) was $3

I have been in the market for some barstools for our kitchen. Of course these are nothing fancy schmancy, but for $2 a piece I couldn't pass them up. They will do until I find those "perfect" ones...if there is such a thing.This duo (which matches the red in my bedroom) was $5. I liked the vases more than the flowers. Can you see how they are antiqued? Love it!!These chairs were...are you ready for this??? a quarter a piece!! I got 4 of them. I mean, for the backyard, they're not bad. They're great for around the pool.This was one of my favorite buys. I did spend a little more on this but it was totally worth it in my book. It is all ceramic. I don't know if you can tell but it is also "antiqued" or "distressed" looking (which I love). So the whole 3 piece set (tray, the vase and the bowl with the wooden apples) was 20 bucks!! That really is a great deal for this set. This beautiful bouquet was my first purchase of the day...I was so proud of it. You can tell someone had it professionally done. It had a price tag on it from Craftmart but that could have been for the vase. Anyways, I paid $3 for this beauty!! I love her and she goes great in my house. So what'd ya think? Great finds or not? I thought so!! I got a couple of other things but nothing worth taking the time to post on this blog.

Now this next pic is worth the time!! Is that model material or what?!?! Maybe I'm partial but this kid should be on the cover of some studly magazine!!

the daily happenings (or mishaps) at Banner

Okay, if you can't read all of this at least read Mondays...crazy!!
Friday - when I was admitted they were taking me to get a catscan when I ran into my next door neighbor who is an RN. She was very nice and wanted to know what was wrong. As they pushed me in my bed she walked next to me and decided to inform me of how many stuffed animals and balls Jarom had thrown over her fence. I explained to her that he has just reached the point where he can get things over the fence and everything from our house is missing!! We chuckled and she was on her way. Later that evening after drugging me with Morphine I got so sick!! And my nice young neighbor nurse came in and took care of me. She got me a wet cloth for my forehead, got me some water to rinse my mouth, pulled my hair back for me and rubbed my back (and I wasn't even her patient!!). Anyways, it's too bad that we're moving...after 3 years of us speaking only during the holidays, I think I like her now.
Saturday - After being up all night puking, my home teacher and another man from our ward came to give me a blessing. What a great surprise that was to both Steve and I when they walked thru the door. Later that evening, 3 ladies from my ward came and visited. Oh my goodness we had so much fun...we just laughed and laughed. I think my fellow patients were a little bugged but oh well!! It was a great time with my ward sisters. I will miss them so.
Sunday - Sick all day from a new drug they tried to give me. I didn't sleep all night or day and was just sick and cranky! My sister in law called and wanted to know if she could come and see me...I was crying and said NO! Just get Steve over here!! Steve was there within 10 or 15 minutes so she must of known Mama wasn't playin!! I hope she forgives me. Then, I yelled at the food and nutrition guy to get "that crap" (my breakfast) out of my room or I was going to puke. I think he thought I was kidding until he saw "the ghetto Julie" come out and tell him off. He left with tray in hand and I did not see him until dinner. I was much more pleasant by that time and he forgave me. I've decided that narcotics and me do not go hand in hand!!
Monday - I was oh so happy because I was going to get to watch Y&R. Then my respiratory Therapist walked in and tripped on my IV. Instead of calling my nurse he decided he would inspect it himself and told me it was still in...it wasn't!! Later that evening, my mother and kids came to see me while Steve was moving and I asked her to help me wash my hair. So I hopped in the shower and while my mom was washing my hair Jarom comes running in the bathroom naked and jumped in the shower with me...it was so stinking funny! Who in their right mind showers with their children at the hospital?!? We laughed so hard over that one. Then after she left I couldn't find my cell phone anywhere. I got a little worried and called my mom to see if it was in her purse..it wasn't. She said now that you mention it, I didn't see it when I was there. I went back and retraced my steps and remembered I had it at dinner. I went to the Nurse's station and advised them of the missing phone. They said the trays were still up there and for me to call it and they would walk by all of the dinner trays and listen for it...nothing!! Then they called down to food and nutrition. They told my Nurse that they had not found one but now that they knew they would be on the lookout for it. Then I remembered...When my CNA came and took my tray she also stripped my bed. We were talking about how white the sheets stayed and she advised me that they outsource their laundry to some linen company. As we were talking, she just rolled my bedding up in a ball and threw it in a bag. I called Steve and told him to keep calling my phone. I thought if he calls it I would walk by all of the dirty linen bags and surely I would hear it. By this time, I had all of the nurses calling it and listening to all of the linen bags...NOTHING!! They called down to housekeeping but they said that most of the dirty linen was already gone but they would call it down there too just in case my dirty linen was still there. They called us back and said they did not find it. I called Steve to tell him the bad news and after being yelled at like a child for not taking care of my phone we hung up. A little while later, a nurse walked in holding my beautiful orange phone!! She said "you're not going to believe this...your phone was already on the linen truck!! Housekeeping kept calling your phone and the driver heard it, found the bag it was in and found the phone!!" How amazing is that?!?!
Tuesday - I was strolling the halls as I always did (I was going a little stir crazy) when a lady crossed my path...she was not a patient as she was in regular clothing and had just walked out of my neighbors room. She said hi. I said hi, how are you? She said "oh, I'm not too good" I'm supposed to meet them downstairs and I dont think I can" I said, "who are you supposed to meet downstairs?". She said "my daughter in law" "He thinks I am on my way and he is in a gold Monte Carlo..please go tell him I won't be down" Again I asked her who and this time she said her husband. I looked around for a nurse but you know how that goes..there's never one around when you need 'em. I said "ma'am, do you have any medical problems?" in my best nurse voice. She said "I'm borderline diabetic" "okay" I said..."what have you eaten today?" she answered "apple juice and a candy bar". "did you take your insulin today?" I asked. "No" she said. Right then a nurse walked by. I yelled for her and told her the situation...told her that the lady was acting very disoriented...she ran and got a chair and said I had done a great job triaging her. She thanked me and they were on their way to ER. What a great way to end my stay there huh?
Even with all of the excitement I sure am glad to be home.

Mi Vida Loca...a little long..but crazy!

I got up this morning and, due to recent events that have taken place, decided I would go to the school for a friendly visit. Upon arrival, the bell rang. As all of the students rushed into their classrooms to get settled in for the day I ran into Stephs teacher from last year and chatted with her for a minute in the hallway. By the time we were done chatting the teacher that I actually went to see had a classroom full of kids. When I walked in to say hi, she was no where to be found. I asked the students where she was and they told me that she was in the classroom next door because the substitute for that class never arrived. I waited there for her and when she came back in she looked a little flustered and said..."hi...sorry about that...I'm dealing with 2 classes right now because their sub never got here". I said "oh, well if it would help I can take that class". Not thinking she would really hand them over to me. Well, she did. She walked me into the teacherless class and said "class, this is Mrs Wright. She'll be sitting with you until a teacher arrives". Next thing I knew, I was barking orders, doing timed math tests and collecting lunch money!! After about 20 minutes, I was replaced. I was a little bummed to leave them. They were such a great class!! I grew quite fond of them. It was actually quite fun. I think I may one day go to school to do that for a living. I could definitely see myself bossing around 30 or so punks!!
Anyways, when I left the school I went to Walgreens and as I was leaving the parking lot of Walgreens I look up and see 2 guys arguing. One of them had a golf club in his hand and was stepping toward the other guy. The other guy was backing up with his hands in the air and yelling "help, someone help, this guys crazy!!". I immediately called 911 and while on the phone with the 911 operator a crowd began to form. Everyone looked a little worried and frantic so I rolled down my window to tell them all that I had dialed 911. The victim in this duo (the one with no golf club) came running up to my truck and said "let me in, please, he's crazy!!..He thinks I just robbed his vacuum shop!! he's going to kill me". While yelling all this at me, he is frantically pulling at my door handles..."please!! Let me in!!". I could see the golf club freak coming up behind him towards my truck so I yelled "get in!!". I put the pedal to the medal and sped off around the building. All the while being on the phone with 911. The 911 operator said "um, ma'am, did you just let someone in your vehicle?". Yes, I replied. She said "do not leave the Walgreens parking lot!! You have no idea who this man is...stay on the phone with me until the police arrive". Okay, I said. Then, it hit me, who is this guy? I mean, what if he's as big a freak as the other one. Immediately, he started asking me to drive him to his friends house...he said "Look ma'am, I don't want no trouble...I don't want to press charges, I just want to get away from that guy. I'm on probation!! I can't be having the cops questioning me". I said, no, I was told to stay in the parking lot. he said "well can you just drive me to the far end of the parking lot then?". So then, I thought, somethings up...he really doesn't want to deal with the cops!! Then I placed him under citizens arrest and everyone praised me and the cops gave me some leftover donuts!! Just Kidding. But I did beging to worry and told him to get out right there. By this time the cops were behind my vehicle and I felt safe. While questioning me though, he disappeared and so did the golf club freak. So there I was...the innocent bystander being questioned while the 2 idiots got away. I kept saying.."the golf club freak owns a vacuum store...go find the vacuum store and you will find him". They had 4 cars with 2 officers each and no one could find either guy. Once I was let go, I went straight to the vacuum store and found the guy...I did explain to him that I didn't know who the other guy was and he just got in my truck. He said that the guy had just robbed him and that he turned me in as the guys accomplice. I assured him I wasn't and gave him a business card to have the police call me. He thanked me and I drove off. Wow!! What a day!!
So now, I don't know, should I be a 6th grade teacher and bark orders? A cop and find vacuum shops? (you know, since the cops cant) or an accomplice? I think I did well at all 3 roles.