I pretty freely admit it…I take Ambien. If you have had very many conversations with me or if you are friends with either my niece or me on Facebook, you also know it. Thanks to Jackie’s sharing, everyone knows I get a little wacky after taking it. Also, if you have called me after 8:30 pm and I haven’t made very much sense, you probably figured something was up. I have taken Ambien for years, and I will probably continue to take it. I simply don’t sleep, and when I don’t sleep, I get really mean and very nauseous.
I live in a family of insomniacs, my mother was always awake when I got home from a date, my husband can literally go days without sleep, Erik doesn’t sleep, and Emily never slept as a child, she sleeps in now, but to make up for all the sleep she missed in her childhood she sleeps in Sacrament meeting.
Occasionally I get the wild notion that I am going to go off my little addiction…then after a night of two without sleep, pretty much everyone wants me back on. Even my doctor has asked my why in the world I would want to stop taking something that is working, so - I won't.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Seasons Change
As noted in the previous post, going to the orientation for Emily’s school got me thinking about how I am feeling about my little girl heading out “on her own”. Most of the day focused on re-assuring the parents and how to deal with the changes in the parent/child relationship. On the way home Emily asked me how I was feeling about her heading out. So I told her that if I had wanted a child who was going to remain completely dependent on her parents we really shouldn’t have ever taught her how to walk, or talk, sent her to school…
The truth is I do have a lot of emotions about her going off to school. I am nervous for her, worried for her (and her Dad), and I’m melancholy about her leaving us and the matrix of our family possibly changing forever. But I’m not sending her to the moon (although Mines did feel like another planet). I always knew this time would come, and while I will miss the life we had, I’m excited about the life to come. Emily’s future is out there and she is going to go look for it. If it ends up being 4 years at Mines, awesome! If it ends up moving around…OK! Wasn’t the goal of teaching her, giving her responsibility, letting her make the little choices all part of the master plan that she would eventually be an adult? I’m not saying she is there tomorrow, or that I’m not anticipating frantic phone calls, tears, homesickness, or major mistakes.
This is now; this is where we have progressed to. Will I miss the past? Of course. Do I have regrets? ABSOLUTELY!!! There are so many things I wanted to accomplish with my kids before they started leaving home, so many experiences…but…forward, always forward. That season is fading, it’s not over yet, but change is in the air. So I am grateful for this season and hope I can enjoy the changing world.
The truth is I do have a lot of emotions about her going off to school. I am nervous for her, worried for her (and her Dad), and I’m melancholy about her leaving us and the matrix of our family possibly changing forever. But I’m not sending her to the moon (although Mines did feel like another planet). I always knew this time would come, and while I will miss the life we had, I’m excited about the life to come. Emily’s future is out there and she is going to go look for it. If it ends up being 4 years at Mines, awesome! If it ends up moving around…OK! Wasn’t the goal of teaching her, giving her responsibility, letting her make the little choices all part of the master plan that she would eventually be an adult? I’m not saying she is there tomorrow, or that I’m not anticipating frantic phone calls, tears, homesickness, or major mistakes.
This is now; this is where we have progressed to. Will I miss the past? Of course. Do I have regrets? ABSOLUTELY!!! There are so many things I wanted to accomplish with my kids before they started leaving home, so many experiences…but…forward, always forward. That season is fading, it’s not over yet, but change is in the air. So I am grateful for this season and hope I can enjoy the changing world.
Mines Orientation
I checked with Nancy, and Ellen (she still hasn’t responded), about what happened to them when our parents took them to college. It was pretty much the same experience; ok, here we are, unload, hug good-bye, best of luck and then they headed back home. When I look back at my failed attempts at going away to both Snow College and Weber State, I realize that part of it was that I had no idea where anything was, how anything worked, or that I didn’t know any other soul at either of those schools. Another aspect was that I was incredibly homesick and my parents made a huge mistake by giving me a car.
Anyway, to help my daughter, not only with her college choice, but the plans to head out, we have tried to get her to feel very comfortable about her choices. We made Emily do all of her own applications, and then we did the campus visits. The campus visits sealed the deal, but because they had the option we also attended a summer orientation visit that Mines had this Friday. I’ll admit that I had originally planned to just drop her off, do a little shopping, come back and head back over the divide. But then my little miner admitted that she had forgotten her cell phone and her photo ID, so I decided I at least better hang around campus. It turns out that the orientation was for way more than just Emily.
All the other parents were there, and the entire day was planned around both student and parent. Maybe it’s because it’s a college full of engineers, or because Mines has dealt with the unique student body that is attracted to a school that PE doesn’t stand for physical education (its Petroleum Engineering). But, the day was spent going into germanesc detail about everything from the moving in process at the dorm (there is a flow chart on-line) to expectations of professors, to a seminar for the parents entitled “Letting them Grow”. I was amazed not only the detail that they went into explaining, but the resources that are available to students. Maybe, if I had had a college orientation like that I would have felt a little more at home, but I probably would still have found my way home, that’s why Emily isn’t taking a car with her….
Anyway, to help my daughter, not only with her college choice, but the plans to head out, we have tried to get her to feel very comfortable about her choices. We made Emily do all of her own applications, and then we did the campus visits. The campus visits sealed the deal, but because they had the option we also attended a summer orientation visit that Mines had this Friday. I’ll admit that I had originally planned to just drop her off, do a little shopping, come back and head back over the divide. But then my little miner admitted that she had forgotten her cell phone and her photo ID, so I decided I at least better hang around campus. It turns out that the orientation was for way more than just Emily.
All the other parents were there, and the entire day was planned around both student and parent. Maybe it’s because it’s a college full of engineers, or because Mines has dealt with the unique student body that is attracted to a school that PE doesn’t stand for physical education (its Petroleum Engineering). But, the day was spent going into germanesc detail about everything from the moving in process at the dorm (there is a flow chart on-line) to expectations of professors, to a seminar for the parents entitled “Letting them Grow”. I was amazed not only the detail that they went into explaining, but the resources that are available to students. Maybe, if I had had a college orientation like that I would have felt a little more at home, but I probably would still have found my way home, that’s why Emily isn’t taking a car with her….
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Micro Audit
That sounds like it is a little deal, doesn't it? I mean, micro is small right? But my micro audit is tomorrow, and it doesn't feel small at all!!! I have been all alone in my lab (which normally has two analysts) for well over a year now, since my lab mate became my boss. While I can do microbiology, it isn't my favorite any more. Back in at Weber Basin, I did micro almost exclusively for about 2 years. Anyway, I haven't really done micro here for about 10 years, it was my lab-mates job and when he was on vacation I used the dummy method of micro. But now I have been doing it, along with all my regular chemistries and plant work.
Anyway, the state requires yearly blind audit samples for all my methods (I currently have two micro/bacteriological methods) and then an on-site every other year. Well, normally I haven't worried to much about the on-site for micro, because that was the other analysts forte and I only needed to show up. Not this year, my auditor is a nice guy but I must admit I am a little nervous. Plus, just in case I'm not stressed enough about it, they have finally hired a new guy for the lab...and guess what?? his first day is...yup, tomorrow!
I like chemistries much better, they are definitely more defined and you know exactly what you are going to get with specific concentrations and analysis. Micro is as much art as it is science, I never know if my 1:1,000,000 dilution of psuedomonas is going to yield a countable number or if I should have done a 1:10,000,000 dilution. Not to mention, I had to do my inhibitory residue test this last month...it took me 4 tries to get the right numbers of that nasty enterobactor to grow! Fortunately today though those numbers came back just right...talk about the nick of time.
Ok if you are still reading this, you must be bored!! Even my mother gets a glazed over look when I talk about my job. All I really want is some sympathy and maybe a few extra prayers, because even though it is scheduled for 9:00 am, my auditor will be rolling up on his BMW motorcycle at 8:10 tomorrow, so I hope I am ready.
Anyway, the state requires yearly blind audit samples for all my methods (I currently have two micro/bacteriological methods) and then an on-site every other year. Well, normally I haven't worried to much about the on-site for micro, because that was the other analysts forte and I only needed to show up. Not this year, my auditor is a nice guy but I must admit I am a little nervous. Plus, just in case I'm not stressed enough about it, they have finally hired a new guy for the lab...and guess what?? his first day is...yup, tomorrow!
I like chemistries much better, they are definitely more defined and you know exactly what you are going to get with specific concentrations and analysis. Micro is as much art as it is science, I never know if my 1:1,000,000 dilution of psuedomonas is going to yield a countable number or if I should have done a 1:10,000,000 dilution. Not to mention, I had to do my inhibitory residue test this last month...it took me 4 tries to get the right numbers of that nasty enterobactor to grow! Fortunately today though those numbers came back just right...talk about the nick of time.
Ok if you are still reading this, you must be bored!! Even my mother gets a glazed over look when I talk about my job. All I really want is some sympathy and maybe a few extra prayers, because even though it is scheduled for 9:00 am, my auditor will be rolling up on his BMW motorcycle at 8:10 tomorrow, so I hope I am ready.
Pressure Perfect
Yesterday I was blog surfing. I know! Can you believe I wasn’t productively using my time to solve the world’s problems, worry about the new royal baby, reading my scriptures or calling less active families in our ward? Such a slacker…
Which brings me to today’s rant. I can’t believe all the stupid picture perfect family blogs out there (to be fair, many haven’t been updated for a really long time, which indicates to me that they found their lives boring also). But, I did find quite a few that only chronicled the birthday parties, the momentous mother’s day feelings, pictures of the “most awesome family vaca EVER”, discussions on how awesomely blessed they are to have the most super supportive husband ever, ugh..nauseous! I can only wonder at one of the many causes in this day and age of why families manage to absolutely fall apart with amazing speed.
My niece Allison and I were discussing the “Perfect, everything’s perfect face” that so many people feel the need to put on when at church or school. Why in the world do people insist that everything in their lives look so cookie cutter perfect to strangers or even fellow family members. Why put that incredible pressure on yourselves? Your spouse? Your children? Why put yourself in that glass house? I think that every time I read on a blog or on Facebook about how perfect someone writes that their spouse is, or how wonderful their marriage is…are they trying to convince me? Or themselves?
My mother used to say that couples that loved in public; fight in private and couples that fight in public; love in private. I think the more updated version of that might be: Couples that FB their undying love; fight in private. This was evidenced very clearly at our family reunion this summer, when a member of my family observed a heated scene of a cousin slapping her husband (yeah! You were observed and you really should get some help, because that is completely un-acceptable; and you know who you are!).
Anyway – back to my rant- to all those picture perfect people out there…get over yourself! Have a reality check and deal with your life, because no one, and I mean no one is perfect on this earth today. And for all of you people that are busy making sure your glass house is so shiny…watch out for that rock!!!
Which brings me to today’s rant. I can’t believe all the stupid picture perfect family blogs out there (to be fair, many haven’t been updated for a really long time, which indicates to me that they found their lives boring also). But, I did find quite a few that only chronicled the birthday parties, the momentous mother’s day feelings, pictures of the “most awesome family vaca EVER”, discussions on how awesomely blessed they are to have the most super supportive husband ever, ugh..nauseous! I can only wonder at one of the many causes in this day and age of why families manage to absolutely fall apart with amazing speed.
My niece Allison and I were discussing the “Perfect, everything’s perfect face” that so many people feel the need to put on when at church or school. Why in the world do people insist that everything in their lives look so cookie cutter perfect to strangers or even fellow family members. Why put that incredible pressure on yourselves? Your spouse? Your children? Why put yourself in that glass house? I think that every time I read on a blog or on Facebook about how perfect someone writes that their spouse is, or how wonderful their marriage is…are they trying to convince me? Or themselves?
My mother used to say that couples that loved in public; fight in private and couples that fight in public; love in private. I think the more updated version of that might be: Couples that FB their undying love; fight in private. This was evidenced very clearly at our family reunion this summer, when a member of my family observed a heated scene of a cousin slapping her husband (yeah! You were observed and you really should get some help, because that is completely un-acceptable; and you know who you are!).
Anyway – back to my rant- to all those picture perfect people out there…get over yourself! Have a reality check and deal with your life, because no one, and I mean no one is perfect on this earth today. And for all of you people that are busy making sure your glass house is so shiny…watch out for that rock!!!
Thursday, July 11, 2013
A MONTH???!!!!
WOW! Has it really been a month since I have posted?? Holy Cow! I can't believe it, where has the summer gone? Emily came back from Germany, had a great time and wants to go back. We went to a family reunion, had a 4th of July celebration over at my sister Nancy's, started renovating Donna's house next door for Allison and Jason to move out here, started the interview process and hired someone to work in the lab at work with me, and started getting serious about sending Emily off to Mines.
One of the things that makes it hard to believe that it has been a month since I posted is that I am forever writing blogs in my head. Especially while I am driving, I have so many conversations in my head that I want to post here, but by the time I get home from work I either don't have the energy or the time. In retrospect, many times that is a good thing because the blogs I really want to write I would end up having to take off because my Mom would make me.
The other reason I haven't blogged very much is that I haven't exactly felt 100% for a while, not really sure why. I went to my doctor's office and had to see another doctor because mine wasn't in that day, and he immediately informed me that I had West Nile, he was pretty insistent actually. Turns out that I don't, but it doesn't explain some of the symptoms I have been having. It is probably "Not ready to send my daughter off to college, not enough hours in the day for either work or home, trying to get a bunch of things all accomplished at the same time -itis".
That is more that likely it, so I will just have to power through...
In the mean time, here are a few blogs that I did manage to remember composing in my swiss cheese brain...enjoy!
One of the things that makes it hard to believe that it has been a month since I posted is that I am forever writing blogs in my head. Especially while I am driving, I have so many conversations in my head that I want to post here, but by the time I get home from work I either don't have the energy or the time. In retrospect, many times that is a good thing because the blogs I really want to write I would end up having to take off because my Mom would make me.
The other reason I haven't blogged very much is that I haven't exactly felt 100% for a while, not really sure why. I went to my doctor's office and had to see another doctor because mine wasn't in that day, and he immediately informed me that I had West Nile, he was pretty insistent actually. Turns out that I don't, but it doesn't explain some of the symptoms I have been having. It is probably "Not ready to send my daughter off to college, not enough hours in the day for either work or home, trying to get a bunch of things all accomplished at the same time -itis".
That is more that likely it, so I will just have to power through...
In the mean time, here are a few blogs that I did manage to remember composing in my swiss cheese brain...enjoy!
Family Reunion
About two weeks ago I went to an RE Whiting Family reunion. My Aunt Nellie's family was in charge and we had it at a campground just above Beaver. It was a great location and the reunion went really well. I would like to post some pictures, but I forgot my camera. So you will just have to imagine a large number of Whiting family members camping and playing horseshoes and volleyball. This location had the additional bonus of canoes and a lake, even Aunt Lois went for a ride in one.
Once again, my branch of the family managed to lose in the championship round of both volleyball and horseshoes (except for the women's). Volleyball was understandable, after all, we had Jay, Scott, Me, Jackie, and Sam on our team (all over the age 30), and we were playing the much younger generation of my Uncle Lester's grandchildren. We did manage to go three games, but in the end we lost. Horseshoes received partial credit because my niece Allison managed to win the women's division with my Uncle Jerry's granddaughter-in-law. Men's horseshoes however, have continued to elude my family. There appears to be some sort of curse on my Dad and his progeny concerning horseshoe championships. Back in the day, my Dad (who was an awesome horseshoe player, of course) always ended up paired against a cousin-in-law named Jack Cooper at the big family reunions. It didn't matter if it was in the beginning brackets or the championships, it didn't matter who they paired with for their partners, my Dad always lost to Jack Cooper. Now that torch has been passed to my brother-in-law and nephew, Jay and Jason. It doesn't matter how many years they go, the teams they end up going against may come and go, but in the end...they just can't quite pull it off. And will this keep us from competing next time? ....no..
Unless you have actually planned a family reunion, you really can't appreciate the amount of work that goes into one. Especially a Whiting Family reunion. We don't just meet in the park one afternoon for a potluck. No, that isn't how it goes. Whiting's require themes, multi-day events, large productions for the Saturday night program, facilities that accommodate both the very ancient (Harriets, Lois, Uncle Jerrys, etc) and young families with no money. Reunions must be centrally located, in the summer and at locations that are not the same temperature as the surface of the sun. They must have a way of raising capital that allows the newer incomes to pay less and the older incomes to "help" without asking them. There must be room for regulation volleyball nets and at least 4 horseshoe pits. To say this is complex is putting it mildly.
Next time it is my family's turn. We are already having planning meetings, projects are being determined, raffle items being made.
But the truth of the matter is that I don't really like family reunions. I'm not all that fond of a lot of my relatives, nor do I have the overwhelming urge to catch up with them. It's OK, I don't think a lot of them actually like me either. But, I'm a Whiting, and over riding the bah hum bug attitude is the tradition gene. So regardless of whether I actually enjoy it, I will do it, and I will do it big. Because that is who I am! (Begin singing the song "Tradition" from Fiddler on The Roof here in your mind).
Once again, my branch of the family managed to lose in the championship round of both volleyball and horseshoes (except for the women's). Volleyball was understandable, after all, we had Jay, Scott, Me, Jackie, and Sam on our team (all over the age 30), and we were playing the much younger generation of my Uncle Lester's grandchildren. We did manage to go three games, but in the end we lost. Horseshoes received partial credit because my niece Allison managed to win the women's division with my Uncle Jerry's granddaughter-in-law. Men's horseshoes however, have continued to elude my family. There appears to be some sort of curse on my Dad and his progeny concerning horseshoe championships. Back in the day, my Dad (who was an awesome horseshoe player, of course) always ended up paired against a cousin-in-law named Jack Cooper at the big family reunions. It didn't matter if it was in the beginning brackets or the championships, it didn't matter who they paired with for their partners, my Dad always lost to Jack Cooper. Now that torch has been passed to my brother-in-law and nephew, Jay and Jason. It doesn't matter how many years they go, the teams they end up going against may come and go, but in the end...they just can't quite pull it off. And will this keep us from competing next time? ....no..
Unless you have actually planned a family reunion, you really can't appreciate the amount of work that goes into one. Especially a Whiting Family reunion. We don't just meet in the park one afternoon for a potluck. No, that isn't how it goes. Whiting's require themes, multi-day events, large productions for the Saturday night program, facilities that accommodate both the very ancient (Harriets, Lois, Uncle Jerrys, etc) and young families with no money. Reunions must be centrally located, in the summer and at locations that are not the same temperature as the surface of the sun. They must have a way of raising capital that allows the newer incomes to pay less and the older incomes to "help" without asking them. There must be room for regulation volleyball nets and at least 4 horseshoe pits. To say this is complex is putting it mildly.
Next time it is my family's turn. We are already having planning meetings, projects are being determined, raffle items being made.
But the truth of the matter is that I don't really like family reunions. I'm not all that fond of a lot of my relatives, nor do I have the overwhelming urge to catch up with them. It's OK, I don't think a lot of them actually like me either. But, I'm a Whiting, and over riding the bah hum bug attitude is the tradition gene. So regardless of whether I actually enjoy it, I will do it, and I will do it big. Because that is who I am! (Begin singing the song "Tradition" from Fiddler on The Roof here in your mind).
Take it like a Man
I have been thinking a lot about men in our society lately. Maybe it was because while in an interview for another lab rat recently, a male applicant randomly said, "I don't have a problem working with women"...uhmmm...that's not a big red flag.
So what's the deal with men? Back in the day we adored a Man's Man. Appreciated his masculinity, now we want "sensitive males" WHAT??? I can assure you that was never on my list of top 5 attributes.
Recently Scott was watching the old MY TV channel that shows 1970's nasty shows, and MASH came on. "I hate MASH I told him, all Alan Alda does is cry. Why can't he take war like a man? Such a stinking coward" Sure enough, half way through the first segment....wahwahwah!
I blame MASH partially for the neuterification of our current crop of males. Among other things, such as the feminist movement of the 1970's, the welfare program, society's acceptance of single mothers, and not allowing boys to play with guns.
You see, after Alan Alda's portrayal, women embraced the sensitive male as the epitome of a desirable male. Never wondering if they paired with him who would hunt for their meals during the great economic melt down.
Then there is that stupid feminist movement of the 1970's. HELLO!! women are not the same as men, we are not designed the same as men, and while we should be paid the same as men for the same job, we are definitely wired differently. With the feminist movement we managed to convince women that men were really not necessary. The welfare program? With Uncle Sam footing the bill, there really isn't a need for the man's paycheck. Then telling women that is OK to keep babies in a single home? making it totally acceptable makes women value men even less. Then we tell little boys that guns are not to be played with, are dangerous, and we even get mad at them for playing "violent" games at school, this was the final nail in the coffin for masculine men.
Now we have punk boys running around without any role models. They have no idea what being a man really is about, they don't know how to work, they don't know how to open a door, and they sure don't know how to step up.
I know women that have so completely neutered their husbands that the men are unsure when and if they can go to the bathroom. I swear these men are so timid they flinch. Then the women complain, "I just want him to man up." "Why doesn't he take some initiative". Seriously??? Give him back his testicles!!
So what's the deal with men? Back in the day we adored a Man's Man. Appreciated his masculinity, now we want "sensitive males" WHAT??? I can assure you that was never on my list of top 5 attributes.
Recently Scott was watching the old MY TV channel that shows 1970's nasty shows, and MASH came on. "I hate MASH I told him, all Alan Alda does is cry. Why can't he take war like a man? Such a stinking coward" Sure enough, half way through the first segment....wahwahwah!
I blame MASH partially for the neuterification of our current crop of males. Among other things, such as the feminist movement of the 1970's, the welfare program, society's acceptance of single mothers, and not allowing boys to play with guns.
You see, after Alan Alda's portrayal, women embraced the sensitive male as the epitome of a desirable male. Never wondering if they paired with him who would hunt for their meals during the great economic melt down.
Then there is that stupid feminist movement of the 1970's. HELLO!! women are not the same as men, we are not designed the same as men, and while we should be paid the same as men for the same job, we are definitely wired differently. With the feminist movement we managed to convince women that men were really not necessary. The welfare program? With Uncle Sam footing the bill, there really isn't a need for the man's paycheck. Then telling women that is OK to keep babies in a single home? making it totally acceptable makes women value men even less. Then we tell little boys that guns are not to be played with, are dangerous, and we even get mad at them for playing "violent" games at school, this was the final nail in the coffin for masculine men.
Now we have punk boys running around without any role models. They have no idea what being a man really is about, they don't know how to work, they don't know how to open a door, and they sure don't know how to step up.
I know women that have so completely neutered their husbands that the men are unsure when and if they can go to the bathroom. I swear these men are so timid they flinch. Then the women complain, "I just want him to man up." "Why doesn't he take some initiative". Seriously??? Give him back his testicles!!
Things you won't find me doing...
A few months ago I was sitting with a lady at church that has known me since I was born, she appreciates me shoe issues. Anyway, we saw someone wearing flip flops and she said, "If I ever catch you wearing those to church, I'll slap you." So I started thinking about all the things you will (hopefully) never see me doing..
Cheering "Go Cougars"
Ordering a grilled chicken breast
Not wearing nylons to church
Pouting with duck lips, sticking out my butt, taking a picture and posting it on Facebook
Going to Wal-Mart in my slippers
Willingly going to a Leonardo DiCaprio movie (yup, I'm the only one in the world that has never seen Titanic)
Wearing a headband
Attending Country Jam
Advertising Aeropastale across my chest
Bragging on FB about how absolutely awesome my "hubs" is
Not decorating for Christmas
Attempting to grow a garden
And of course, NEVER wearing flip flops to church.
I'm sure there are a lot more things I can think of, I'll be sure to share when I think of them.
Cheering "Go Cougars"
Ordering a grilled chicken breast
Not wearing nylons to church
Pouting with duck lips, sticking out my butt, taking a picture and posting it on Facebook
Going to Wal-Mart in my slippers
Willingly going to a Leonardo DiCaprio movie (yup, I'm the only one in the world that has never seen Titanic)
Wearing a headband
Attending Country Jam
Advertising Aeropastale across my chest
Bragging on FB about how absolutely awesome my "hubs" is
Not decorating for Christmas
Attempting to grow a garden
And of course, NEVER wearing flip flops to church.
I'm sure there are a lot more things I can think of, I'll be sure to share when I think of them.
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