Today's nugget of discovery was that while I've not adjusted well to the life of an early riser, the attitude is going to have to change.. I had a scheduled test today that had to be done at 9am, so I was sooo looking forward to the luxury of sleeping 3 hours later (till 7am)... I turned off the alarm clock for the usual day and clicked the choice of 7:15 instead... And danged if my mind didn't just wakeup on it's own... Suck..why oh why? You had nowhere to go and nowhere you wanted to be but sleeping... I should never have styed up till 11pm, hindsight is a drag when you can't ever get time back.
Now there is a drawback to getting up early and that is, that in the middle of the afternoon you really desire a nap. This can be a setback if you have to get something done and your not feeling much up to it.. But by not giving into it, you are so ready to go to sleep, and that's what you hope will happen.. Now, I have found that taking melatonin is a working lfe saver MOST nights in that when it works, I can't stay awake past an hour of taking it.. When it doesn't work, well, that is a complete bummer watching the clock tick late into the night..
Getting into the office at 10 until 5pm is a strange feeling of a time warp for the first time in 5 months of working so early. And where I can usually park right at the street corner you have to cross, or on the first floor of the parking structure right at the exit... Not so when you arrive at the time a operational shift has started. I had to park on the fourth floor no where near the exit. It totally broke up the office routine and just didn't feel right. And the traffic when I left the parking structure right from the get go on the streets. It was a parade of slow moving processing vehicles between quick traffic lights.. I was so missing my commute to Cerritos of either fwy or street and it taking 8 minutes either way. So this commuting with unpredictable traffic, day in and day out gets old, not to mention adding the 60-80 minutes a day to the workday.
So with that said, embracing the 4:15am wakeup means I'm late for bed here at 9:25pm. Why didn't the melatonin kick in 45 minutes ago as expected? Sheesh see what I'm up against...
Goodnight
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
07/03/11 pictures of the garden~up close
I could have sworn I had taken pictures up close, but what happened to them is unknown. So today I headed back out there with "my new getting to know you" Nikon D5100 camera.
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the very back end of our garden and the after thought planting of potatoes
the last tomato plant in the line of 5 at the deep end of the yard
looking back toward the house
These are the corn stalks forming there ears of delictably sweet ear corn for our consumption
two rows of canteloupe GONE WILD, they are growing like wild fire and spreading everywhere with the yellow flowers all over them.. I should google their development and find out about them!
as you can see they are invaders in the middle row are just leaving no row space between any longer.. but we are organic and have no weeds.. that is awesome..
aw, the beautiful growth of a maturing green bean.. a couple more days left in growth. These are what I have been seeing in the grocery store as what I have HAD the option to buy for money! ha, no more!
a bean with perhaps just another day til we snap it off the vine... yummy
Now its kind of hard to pick out, BUT there is one carrot plant or stalk stickin' up out of the canteloupe leaves here, the fuzzy parsley top..
In the center bottom of this photo is the canteloupe flower on it's way to the sidewalk sliding in between the bean plants..
The canteloupe has even gone south into the "flower bed", leave them a space and away they continue to go.. just amazing..
Now, as I am looking at this view of the garden and start to walk WEST, I have completely forgotten that there is an item at the corner to keep the water hose from flippin in and over the plants as you walk along to sidewalk to the back of the garden... and I....
Attempted to step, not seeing it, and flopped right over it and scraped off the top layer of skin, WHERE IS THE RED CAP THAT SHOULD BE COVERING IT?????? Apparently it was knocked off the night before (cuz he couldn't find the super glue yet) and so the sharp metal edge on the top was exposed.
Now dang to the right shin bone, it isn't deep, but it burns like a paper cut.. the skin is still lying next to the gash..
But on I go to finish what I started
The tomato's have now gotten so top heavy that they are collapsing their cages, and we've tied them up to fence line to support them.. once they stop flowering, we are going to trim off some of the outside farthest branches, because we will not be short on tomatoes.. that is for sure.
it looks like I was whipped with the dang piece of barbed wire, but the first shock only caused me to move downward, where its metal direction headed in a zig zag on the chin... hopefully it doesn't scar!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
last remarks on traffic... and how our garden grows...
While I haven't blogged in awhile, I've often thought "this would be a good blog"... it just doesn't get done. And mostly that is because I haven't faired very well as an early morning riser, commuter dealing with the new job, a new gardening gig that requires much energy, and after a full day I don't close off early enough with crawling into bed for but 6 hours max of sleep if I knock out immediately. Not a good mix for this chick..
Have I ever told you that I REALLLLY like my sleep? Well, it's true, I do best on no less than 8 and as I must be a relative of Rip Van Winkle, 10 hours would suit me fine.. I know, I know, than I should go to bed earlier, but the only way I can do that is to remember to take melatonin at say 6pm so that by 7pm I'd be unable to keep my eyes open.. but my sensibility says that would suck for a life. Getting up before the sun is one thing, but going to sleep before it sets would just be intolerable. hahaha..
Some of those thoughts that have perhaps ran through my mind just after my last blog about traffic jams was this; Thought #1 We here in California really have so many possibilities to "fill" our minds and time with that when I'm commuting in one direction, and the traffic on the other side in the opposite direction just visible over the high center divider has slowed to a crawl, I really don't wonder "what is going on over there?" but so many of my fellow commuters have this penchant for slowing down to a crawl, to get a miniscual and momentary glimpse as to what might or might not be going on to slow the traffic. While it might have been a minor or major incident there isn't anyway you will know them, or anything that can be done except pray and keep moving, and actually without even stopping traffic. Thought #2 is that if you still have the misfortune of driving a 1977 Datsun that has the maximum capacity of 48 mph running the gas pedal to the floor board, your place on the freeway is the slow lane with the trucks, so please disregard using your left blinker to advance any farther left in 5-6 lanes of traffic to be an obstacle for the rest of us to use our blinker in order to get around you safely... and if you are one of those who are using your phone next to your ear, against the State Law of California while your driving, and suddenly your brain's inability to multitask on the reason you joined traffic ion the first place and your now going 48 mph on the freeway with a speed limit of 65, I would appreciate that you exit the freeway, and park your car in the parkiing lot of the local market and finish your conversation... because all your going to do is cause an accident for those of us who are commuters on a mission! last word on that...
Okay and so what have I been doing since mid May when I decided to plant a garden and after about a week of watching my progression, joined in. Painstakingly a large section of our back yard at the spot of approxiametely the 135-150th ft of it had to be cleared, mostly of weeds and rock hard soil. There was about 8 ft of existing grass that had to be dug up and removed. With many turns of the shovel, about 20 cubic feet of Amend soil mixed in to a depth of about 6 inches, planting was able to be done. While most of the pictures have already been on facebook, of course they will be a duplicate to my facebook readers.
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This is what we generally take out of the garden every other day as our bounty of bean produce.. better than any beans I've seen in in the grocery store and they taste magnificent in comparison.. My mother in law told me what to do to the beans before I freeze them.. We have been eating them just about everyday and gifting the leftovers, but will need to start "storing them up for winter".. just like a pioneer woman with a cellar would do..
Greg is already talking about his "expansion" program for next year so we can plant other things like cucumbers, green onions, cilantro, radishes, lettuce varieties, strawberries, and perhaps a few watermelons.. And tongue in cheek, perhaps if my medical ailments continue to nag, we could qualify to grow "medical marijuana" for personal use.. hee hee...
Have I ever told you that I REALLLLY like my sleep? Well, it's true, I do best on no less than 8 and as I must be a relative of Rip Van Winkle, 10 hours would suit me fine.. I know, I know, than I should go to bed earlier, but the only way I can do that is to remember to take melatonin at say 6pm so that by 7pm I'd be unable to keep my eyes open.. but my sensibility says that would suck for a life. Getting up before the sun is one thing, but going to sleep before it sets would just be intolerable. hahaha..
Some of those thoughts that have perhaps ran through my mind just after my last blog about traffic jams was this; Thought #1 We here in California really have so many possibilities to "fill" our minds and time with that when I'm commuting in one direction, and the traffic on the other side in the opposite direction just visible over the high center divider has slowed to a crawl, I really don't wonder "what is going on over there?" but so many of my fellow commuters have this penchant for slowing down to a crawl, to get a miniscual and momentary glimpse as to what might or might not be going on to slow the traffic. While it might have been a minor or major incident there isn't anyway you will know them, or anything that can be done except pray and keep moving, and actually without even stopping traffic. Thought #2 is that if you still have the misfortune of driving a 1977 Datsun that has the maximum capacity of 48 mph running the gas pedal to the floor board, your place on the freeway is the slow lane with the trucks, so please disregard using your left blinker to advance any farther left in 5-6 lanes of traffic to be an obstacle for the rest of us to use our blinker in order to get around you safely... and if you are one of those who are using your phone next to your ear, against the State Law of California while your driving, and suddenly your brain's inability to multitask on the reason you joined traffic ion the first place and your now going 48 mph on the freeway with a speed limit of 65, I would appreciate that you exit the freeway, and park your car in the parkiing lot of the local market and finish your conversation... because all your going to do is cause an accident for those of us who are commuters on a mission! last word on that...
Okay and so what have I been doing since mid May when I decided to plant a garden and after about a week of watching my progression, joined in. Painstakingly a large section of our back yard at the spot of approxiametely the 135-150th ft of it had to be cleared, mostly of weeds and rock hard soil. There was about 8 ft of existing grass that had to be dug up and removed. With many turns of the shovel, about 20 cubic feet of Amend soil mixed in to a depth of about 6 inches, planting was able to be done. While most of the pictures have already been on facebook, of course they will be a duplicate to my facebook readers.
because exhaustion of doing this all with simply a shovel, a patched together back of bolts and screws, aching left ankle at times.. there were no pictures taken, cuz once I got up to the house, I collapsed... so this was the "after the starting point"
this was all weeds, cement hard soil.. you can already see after two weeks the seedling coming up
these small plants above filled in between the ones in the picture below
four rows of corn, planted them in staggered rows by two weeks between them
L to R, corn, a row of carrots that didn't fair so well but for a few plants, 2 rows of canteloupe that have gone crazy and sprawled all over the place, and a row of beans that have been the fastest and steady stream of producers for us so far.
we started with 2 tomato plants, I told Greg maybe one more and so he brought home 3 to make 5..
this was about three weeks after planting day
this "blank" spot is where we planted 8 potato's halved with the eyes facing up as an experiment. In the google search we don't have the most ideal climate for growing them. but to the right side against the wall is a rogue wild canteloupe and carrot start where the seed bag tipped over and they "seeded themselves.. ha had we known that we would have just tossed them in the air.
7 weeks after planting, 07/02/11 these are my photo's using my new camera sitting on my porch trying out the long lens. Tomorrow I will take some close up pictures to add.
Greg is already talking about his "expansion" program for next year so we can plant other things like cucumbers, green onions, cilantro, radishes, lettuce varieties, strawberries, and perhaps a few watermelons.. And tongue in cheek, perhaps if my medical ailments continue to nag, we could qualify to grow "medical marijuana" for personal use.. hee hee...
Friday, June 3, 2011
Drive or get off the road
As my commute to work has been lengthened and in the direction of constant traffic that can snarl for no apparent reason, I get frustrated at times with the stop and go of it.. Today was one of those afternoons of frustration with people who get on a freeway and yet drive street speeds.. The speed limit is 65 for petes sake, if an open lane in front of you and no one beside you has you freaked out, you'll crap yourself should others join your vicinity.. but yet there you are, crawling along at 45-50 mph to the left of truck traffic, blocking those of us who are quite comfortable with driving in traffic at the correct (or higher) rate of speed.
This afternoon I got off a lot later than I had anticipated, with a 25 minute commute to my hair appt in Lakewood. When I entered the 710 South Fwy, it was moving along. 5 lanes, and for some reason trucks were in the three right of them. I believe they have the right to the two far right lanes.. This can really slow things down and with three Fwy's to maneuver before reaching my destination.. GET MOVING people...
I, from the fast lane made a little progress with a few here and there slow downs, and then it opens up after a corner where a car is on the side of road with a flat tire, wide open road. And yet this 1965 van in front of me is driving a whopping 60 mph, hey that's for the right lane called the slow lane for a reason, use it. Using my blinker, lane changes and an eye out for the policio, I made it to the 91 East Fwy interchange in about 20 minutes that should have taken 6. And again, slow traffic backup in the transition onto the new Fwy. By the time I have reached the transition to the 605 South Fwy in 15 minutes I am so over the crawling along like it's a Sunday drive... At the Del Amo exit, I am 40 minutes late, and 7 minutes to go to Mary's. She's very gracious to have waited, and I apologize for leaving the office so late.
So now that the hair has been colored, I am enjoying a quiet night at home, no more traffic, till Monday. Hooray!
This afternoon I got off a lot later than I had anticipated, with a 25 minute commute to my hair appt in Lakewood. When I entered the 710 South Fwy, it was moving along. 5 lanes, and for some reason trucks were in the three right of them. I believe they have the right to the two far right lanes.. This can really slow things down and with three Fwy's to maneuver before reaching my destination.. GET MOVING people...
I, from the fast lane made a little progress with a few here and there slow downs, and then it opens up after a corner where a car is on the side of road with a flat tire, wide open road. And yet this 1965 van in front of me is driving a whopping 60 mph, hey that's for the right lane called the slow lane for a reason, use it. Using my blinker, lane changes and an eye out for the policio, I made it to the 91 East Fwy interchange in about 20 minutes that should have taken 6. And again, slow traffic backup in the transition onto the new Fwy. By the time I have reached the transition to the 605 South Fwy in 15 minutes I am so over the crawling along like it's a Sunday drive... At the Del Amo exit, I am 40 minutes late, and 7 minutes to go to Mary's. She's very gracious to have waited, and I apologize for leaving the office so late.
So now that the hair has been colored, I am enjoying a quiet night at home, no more traffic, till Monday. Hooray!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Fearing not what lurks in the heart ~
Today is one of those days of reflection that has taken my head and my heart into some deep places to process...
Their are many very good times in life that I have thousands of pictures from, that are in many rubbermaid containers not seen for quite some time. With my fading memory and/or the lack of it, they are just the trigger it would take to recollect an event. Now, their are also the unpleasant, stressful, frightful, fearful, regret filled mistakes & memories that have wreaked some havoc for me over a long period of time. From many of those, I still struggle with the sins I am drawn to pursue. Those I wish I could just never remember again, those appear without a picture, much like they happened yesterday and some actually did..
Yes, those deep dark times, they've brought spiritual growth and the deep seeded need for Jesus, and they have found me headlong in my own healing to be in a ministry seemingly well suited. Some of those mistakes & memories are areas well healed over with a scar to remind of the grace Jesus died on the cross for. A few others are like a wound, the scab picked off repeatedly or often enough to keep them bleeding open wounds that have no chance of scarring over if not left alone, avoided the revisiting or participating in of not so good behaviour..
It's a cycle of most everyone's life to some degree I am most certain of.. I certainly do a lot of praying, and reading of scripture on the days that I win the battle the most. When I do neither, those are the days or periods of time that sin creeps all over me with temptation and well, some ugly indulgence..
God is a merciful loving heavenly Father, whom I trust with my heart mind and soul... It's me that gets in the way.. Here's to each day bringing a new morning of mercies.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lamentations 3:21-23
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Their are many very good times in life that I have thousands of pictures from, that are in many rubbermaid containers not seen for quite some time. With my fading memory and/or the lack of it, they are just the trigger it would take to recollect an event. Now, their are also the unpleasant, stressful, frightful, fearful, regret filled mistakes & memories that have wreaked some havoc for me over a long period of time. From many of those, I still struggle with the sins I am drawn to pursue. Those I wish I could just never remember again, those appear without a picture, much like they happened yesterday and some actually did..
Yes, those deep dark times, they've brought spiritual growth and the deep seeded need for Jesus, and they have found me headlong in my own healing to be in a ministry seemingly well suited. Some of those mistakes & memories are areas well healed over with a scar to remind of the grace Jesus died on the cross for. A few others are like a wound, the scab picked off repeatedly or often enough to keep them bleeding open wounds that have no chance of scarring over if not left alone, avoided the revisiting or participating in of not so good behaviour..
It's a cycle of most everyone's life to some degree I am most certain of.. I certainly do a lot of praying, and reading of scripture on the days that I win the battle the most. When I do neither, those are the days or periods of time that sin creeps all over me with temptation and well, some ugly indulgence..
God is a merciful loving heavenly Father, whom I trust with my heart mind and soul... It's me that gets in the way.. Here's to each day bringing a new morning of mercies.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lamentations 3:21-23
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Friday, May 20, 2011
a "not" instead of "got" brought back painful memories....
Last night at Alpha, I KNEW something was up with "S.E." almost as soon as we pulled our chairs in closer to pray.. tonight when I spoke to her on the phone we got down to the nitty gritty of what had happened and were able to straighten it out. At the end of our small group time, her immediate exit at a fast pace from the cry room (where we meet), down the stairs and out past the crowd to the exit door had me concerned. I still had women in the room and needed to stay, but my instinct was to go after her as I watched from the cry room windows her escape which is very unlike her.. as we all headed downstairs, I said my goodbyes, found a bible to give to the women who had just given her life to Christ, listened with her as Bill gave her an overview of the bible new vs old testaments, the books that are the gospels and for her to read a chapter a day of John. This only took about 3 minutes, and I was already texting "S.E.", calling her phone a couple of times, only to hang up as VM instructed me which leaves her a missed call instead of a message. To no avail, she wasn't responding.
I tried calling her a couple of times Friday with no response, I was feeling pretty low that their was a rift between us in some way. But she called me later and we coincidentally "tripped" over the reason for her distress. Here's how it kind of went that night and what we talked through on the phone.
Story:
"S.E." is here in CA on a year long internship for her Phd in Psychology and family counseling of some type. She hails from WI., is a commited christian and dedicated to ministry, joined Alpha to connect with others during her remaining stay till she completes her work study. "S.E." had been telling me briefly prior to dinner as we sat at our table before the others had come, about her speaking to her sister who had a torn ACL. Her sister isn't one much for faith, but that she told her on phone that night that she would be praying she would be healed.. her sister responded "okay thanks" which is the best response ever to a religious expression. (these siblings have a monsterous upbringing of horror).. and then "S.E" comes to alpha running late after a tough week and horrible day, and the subject is HEALING (spiritual, physical or emotional).. How is that possible you might ask, well, yes it's possible. God works that way.
During the larger main talk, Lina and Governor Joy (no he's not a governer, that is his given name) shared about her medical miracle of a near death event after donating bone marrow with an infection in the hip and than a wrong blood transfusion that had the dr's telling Governor it was time to pull the plug, but he refused.. 4 months later, she left the hospital alive.. Lina has been sharing her blessing of healing for 14 years. It's a powerful testimony and they give all the glory to their heavenly Father.
We go to our small group and at the onset of sitting down I begin by saying we will just get right into praying for healing with the belief it still happens. "S.E." begins explaining her sisters need for healing for her knee.. and I casually give her the response of "well we can pray for her later, "this has GOT to be about you, personally"... Because "S.E." has had dire experiences since a toddler into her teens of intense verbal, physical and sexual abuse at the hands of people her parents associated with in a lifestyle way out of the norm, she hears me say something else. She hears me say "this is NOT to be about you, personally". Which in hindsight she realizes doesn't make sense after seeing what happened, but it's where her mind took her. She instantly reverts back into the memories of the humiliating words spoken to her about how "it isn't about you" so often and being blamed for the painful bloody wounds of a sister that were not her fault in an accident. Tonight she tells me that she wanted to bolt from the room immediately, but a part of her was trying to focus on what was going on, hearing the good that was going on in the circle, but yet her mind and heart were hurting and the tears started to flow. Which tears in our womens group is not abnormal! The trigger for her was transposing the words "Got" for "Not", and her counselor side trying to work through the place she was going, and doing okay enough to stay but being hurt by the words all over again. But I didn't know what was happening and she said theres no way I could have known and that night if I had caught up with her she wouldn't have been able to explain it except it coming out in a jumbled babbling tear filled mess of words. Thankfully she stayed in the circle, contributed in the prayer time, but her tears were just flowing, and her mind was getting caught up in the replay of the emotions so painful.
She says now that by the time she had cried her way home, cried it out and thought about it, she realized that the tears had been working themselves up during a stressful week, hearing of her sisters plight just before coming, the Lina Joy healing story, and than what transpired above.. a bit like the floor coming out from under her.. tears were inevitable. The physcologist in her knew my words as she thought she heard them just started the avalance, but our conversation on the phone tonight and my asking her what it was I said that caused this.. (I was already apologizing that I had hurt her)... when she said the statement to me, I thought, wait a minute, I didn't say that.. and so I said wait a minute.. "S.E." that statement doesn't line up with what I actually said and how the prayer night for healing played out.. What I said was that "it's GOT to be about you" what your going to ask prayer about, and not about someone else.. She thought it through and we laughed that I just saved her a session on a therapy couch (no charge) for clearing up the misunderstanding.... we chatted a bit as to her's and my thoughts on how triggers with the deep emotional stresses she has endured, will always be a part of her and she knows that she has to work through them.
Praise Jesus for facing up to a supposed conflict head on and quickly, getting it out there on the table and correcting it.. so much easier than turning the other way and letting it "blow in the wind" unresolved. God is good to fill us with compassion and love for others.. And for "S.E." and I, a friendship not lost, but strengthened.
I tried calling her a couple of times Friday with no response, I was feeling pretty low that their was a rift between us in some way. But she called me later and we coincidentally "tripped" over the reason for her distress. Here's how it kind of went that night and what we talked through on the phone.
Story:
"S.E." is here in CA on a year long internship for her Phd in Psychology and family counseling of some type. She hails from WI., is a commited christian and dedicated to ministry, joined Alpha to connect with others during her remaining stay till she completes her work study. "S.E." had been telling me briefly prior to dinner as we sat at our table before the others had come, about her speaking to her sister who had a torn ACL. Her sister isn't one much for faith, but that she told her on phone that night that she would be praying she would be healed.. her sister responded "okay thanks" which is the best response ever to a religious expression. (these siblings have a monsterous upbringing of horror).. and then "S.E" comes to alpha running late after a tough week and horrible day, and the subject is HEALING (spiritual, physical or emotional).. How is that possible you might ask, well, yes it's possible. God works that way.
During the larger main talk, Lina and Governor Joy (no he's not a governer, that is his given name) shared about her medical miracle of a near death event after donating bone marrow with an infection in the hip and than a wrong blood transfusion that had the dr's telling Governor it was time to pull the plug, but he refused.. 4 months later, she left the hospital alive.. Lina has been sharing her blessing of healing for 14 years. It's a powerful testimony and they give all the glory to their heavenly Father.
We go to our small group and at the onset of sitting down I begin by saying we will just get right into praying for healing with the belief it still happens. "S.E." begins explaining her sisters need for healing for her knee.. and I casually give her the response of "well we can pray for her later, "this has GOT to be about you, personally"... Because "S.E." has had dire experiences since a toddler into her teens of intense verbal, physical and sexual abuse at the hands of people her parents associated with in a lifestyle way out of the norm, she hears me say something else. She hears me say "this is NOT to be about you, personally". Which in hindsight she realizes doesn't make sense after seeing what happened, but it's where her mind took her. She instantly reverts back into the memories of the humiliating words spoken to her about how "it isn't about you" so often and being blamed for the painful bloody wounds of a sister that were not her fault in an accident. Tonight she tells me that she wanted to bolt from the room immediately, but a part of her was trying to focus on what was going on, hearing the good that was going on in the circle, but yet her mind and heart were hurting and the tears started to flow. Which tears in our womens group is not abnormal! The trigger for her was transposing the words "Got" for "Not", and her counselor side trying to work through the place she was going, and doing okay enough to stay but being hurt by the words all over again. But I didn't know what was happening and she said theres no way I could have known and that night if I had caught up with her she wouldn't have been able to explain it except it coming out in a jumbled babbling tear filled mess of words. Thankfully she stayed in the circle, contributed in the prayer time, but her tears were just flowing, and her mind was getting caught up in the replay of the emotions so painful.
She says now that by the time she had cried her way home, cried it out and thought about it, she realized that the tears had been working themselves up during a stressful week, hearing of her sisters plight just before coming, the Lina Joy healing story, and than what transpired above.. a bit like the floor coming out from under her.. tears were inevitable. The physcologist in her knew my words as she thought she heard them just started the avalance, but our conversation on the phone tonight and my asking her what it was I said that caused this.. (I was already apologizing that I had hurt her)... when she said the statement to me, I thought, wait a minute, I didn't say that.. and so I said wait a minute.. "S.E." that statement doesn't line up with what I actually said and how the prayer night for healing played out.. What I said was that "it's GOT to be about you" what your going to ask prayer about, and not about someone else.. She thought it through and we laughed that I just saved her a session on a therapy couch (no charge) for clearing up the misunderstanding.... we chatted a bit as to her's and my thoughts on how triggers with the deep emotional stresses she has endured, will always be a part of her and she knows that she has to work through them.
Praise Jesus for facing up to a supposed conflict head on and quickly, getting it out there on the table and correcting it.. so much easier than turning the other way and letting it "blow in the wind" unresolved. God is good to fill us with compassion and love for others.. And for "S.E." and I, a friendship not lost, but strengthened.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
selfish on my own, but God always wins out
Well, it's happened enough times that if I would just realize that whenever I'd rather be selfish and NOT attend something I've committed to for the Alpha ministry, that I am in for a great blessing and make sure I'm there... I have been a small group leader for over the past 5 years and there occasionally comes a Thursday night (or two) or a Saturdays all day Alpha retreat where where I'd prefer to curl up on my couch in my pj's or spend a day relaxing or doing something with Greg instead..
This past Saturday was one of those all day Alpha retreats. Leading up to it the last couple of months has been constant activity, lots of heavy yard work, gardening, early mornings for work, late nights not adjusting my bedtime to well for those early mornings which had me rather worn out and not so excited about attending.. I had only one person from my group who said they were coming. I'll call her "R" and had spoken to her at Thursday nights Alpha and on the phone with some subtle hints that I'd totally understand if something came up, plenty of chances to let me know she was going to back out. But no, she was coming, even called me that morning as I stepped out of the shower (running kind of late) asking if I could pick her up to get there on time.. oops, sorry... I was committed, she was on her way (walking, short distance of a long block from her place to the church) while I quickly finished getting ready.. When I arrived at the church not only was she there from my group, but also a young woman I will refer to as "S", who had said on Thursday there wasn't any way she could make it because of her 6 yr old daughters swim meet, but she felt she needed to be here... (at this point I'm swallowing hard, guilt creeping into my throat that I had wanted to back out).
I drove a carpool group together to the location, a beautiful home in the Fullerton hills owned by a couple from our church whom hospitality is their gift. Now let me give you a little background on these two beautiful women from my group.. They have had some rough bumps in their life that are way above average, and some of it isn't very easy for many to hear and than know how to react in a way that isn't one of astonished surprise with stumbling words in response. "R" being abandoned young often by her parents, raised mostly by a strict grandmother who loved her well. "R" is the mom of 4 kids w/ 3 dads ages 24, 10, 7, 2, did 16 mo in prison for possession w/ intent to sell of narcotics after her third child, shoplifting charges in her youth, past addictions. "S" was a straight laced young girl through her teens, out of shear respect for her moms hard work to support them. She watched her single mom with severe arthritis who was left by a man because he felt she wasn't able to be a "wife" anymore and he needed a woman.. "S" loves her mom who worked extremely hard, long hours to provide minimally the basics of very little to eat, little for clothes and they lived in rough places. The bitterness continues toward her estranged dad carried into every part of her life, I think this was news to her that it was still wreaking havoc.. "S" had a child at 19 to raise on her own with only her moms help, "S" had two abortions after this and has such remorse for this.. "S" had attended week 1 of Alpha and than hadn't returned until Week 5, which is the theme night of evil... I speak on this night, and following the large group session she was pretty tearful, I saw her go into the bathroom as we went for dessert before going into our small groups, but then she had left without a word.. So this had me really surprised that she showed up for the Saturday retreat. But they are at Alpha because they know they can no longer figure out life on their own and it's there journey..
Alpha does alot around food, and so that's how we start the morning with a table buffet of a breakfast spread as we sit and mingle around the beautifully large backyard of swimming pool, numerous seating areas all around the deck, fire pit, grassy shade area overlooking the golf course down the hill or in the house with the open wall of windows between the indoors and the great outdoors.. and the conversations between the large group that has come together to share a day, some laughs, etc.. good time..
The Alpha retreat days theme is learning about the Holy Spirit. In the morning Bill White teaches on "who the Holy is" and in the afternoon he teaches a session on "what the Holy Spirit does".. and we have some small group time following each of these. Lunch comes in the middle of the time here and it's a great spread of variety and good food, and than the table is transformed into a snack haven for munching.... This day is really where the rubber meets the road in my opinion because, well, it really comes down to deciding one way or the other if your not sure whether God is real or relevant as to if you believe or are just somewhat amused with the information. Bill hit a homerun this day as he usually does, but he changed up a couple of things, threw in a scripture verse that he hadn't used before. That afternoon session touched me in a fresh way maybe more so than others. Well, it was touching my two ladies also.. God is so good.
After the morning session in our small group... I probed "S" on some stuff she was telling us about her life, asked her what was the obstacle in her understanding about God and Jesus, what had she heard in the morning session that she wanted to talk about......... her answers were very honest and than one question, then the tears just began to flow as she let out some anger, frustration etc, which surprised her... whew, that can feel so good. I didn't know what to say to make it better, you can't... but I was just glad she expressed it and allowed herself the freedom to have the ability to be honest, no more covering it up as if she'd be just okay with it stuffed down deep.. My encouragement for her was that our Heavenly Fathers desire for each of us no matter what kind of earthly father we have had or didn't have, is that HE alone is enough for us and that he be enough for us.
"R" has attended all of the Thursday night Alpha sessions and she was basically admitting that she was standing right at the edge of accepting Christ, but wasn't sure what was her obstacle..my instinct was that it would require a HUGE change in her lifestyle she wasn't comfortable knowing it could happen..
This was the key verse that I heard today, first time ever and it.... just made such sense to me as WHY our sinful nature can and does return.. evil is powerful
Matthew12: 43-45,
43 When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 then it says, "I will return to the house I left." When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.
What does this mean: When we chase out the evil but don't fill our entire lives up with the Holy Spirit who guides us in Christ, we leave the door wide open for the evil spirits to return and to be worse than it was before. And this is absolutely true, we want the initial change and do all we can to keep it going, until we become complacent with the nurturing our spirituality and sins temptations become stronger, alluring. This is a very compelling verse for us to be highly motivated to fight the daily lure of sin and the damage that can be done
As the afternoon session ended and the day was winding down, there was a time given for each to just reflect on what had been heard on this day, and than to have prayer over them by their leader.. after a short amount of time, my ladies came out and over to the fire pit where we had been meeting. "R" & "S" sit down and "R" just starts to say that she is ready to give her life over to Christ that she can no longer go on with her life as she has and wants to tell her kids about Jesus... God is good.. so I tell her that I am going to pray with her and will give her a few sentences of some kind and ask her to just repeat them after me. (I know it's not a contract, so I'll be winging the sorry, thank you, please prayer). "S" is sitting there just holding hands with us and we all hug afterwards.. And than "S" tells us that she is too ready to accept that Jesus is what she needs in her life, to teach her daughter of him.. So I do a similar prayer with "S" and just sit there taking it all in.. I introduce my new sisters in Christ as we leave that day and they receive hugs and encouragement.. All glory to God our father..
I am so blessed that God allows me to be a part of this...
This past Saturday was one of those all day Alpha retreats. Leading up to it the last couple of months has been constant activity, lots of heavy yard work, gardening, early mornings for work, late nights not adjusting my bedtime to well for those early mornings which had me rather worn out and not so excited about attending.. I had only one person from my group who said they were coming. I'll call her "R" and had spoken to her at Thursday nights Alpha and on the phone with some subtle hints that I'd totally understand if something came up, plenty of chances to let me know she was going to back out. But no, she was coming, even called me that morning as I stepped out of the shower (running kind of late) asking if I could pick her up to get there on time.. oops, sorry... I was committed, she was on her way (walking, short distance of a long block from her place to the church) while I quickly finished getting ready.. When I arrived at the church not only was she there from my group, but also a young woman I will refer to as "S", who had said on Thursday there wasn't any way she could make it because of her 6 yr old daughters swim meet, but she felt she needed to be here... (at this point I'm swallowing hard, guilt creeping into my throat that I had wanted to back out).
I drove a carpool group together to the location, a beautiful home in the Fullerton hills owned by a couple from our church whom hospitality is their gift. Now let me give you a little background on these two beautiful women from my group.. They have had some rough bumps in their life that are way above average, and some of it isn't very easy for many to hear and than know how to react in a way that isn't one of astonished surprise with stumbling words in response. "R" being abandoned young often by her parents, raised mostly by a strict grandmother who loved her well. "R" is the mom of 4 kids w/ 3 dads ages 24, 10, 7, 2, did 16 mo in prison for possession w/ intent to sell of narcotics after her third child, shoplifting charges in her youth, past addictions. "S" was a straight laced young girl through her teens, out of shear respect for her moms hard work to support them. She watched her single mom with severe arthritis who was left by a man because he felt she wasn't able to be a "wife" anymore and he needed a woman.. "S" loves her mom who worked extremely hard, long hours to provide minimally the basics of very little to eat, little for clothes and they lived in rough places. The bitterness continues toward her estranged dad carried into every part of her life, I think this was news to her that it was still wreaking havoc.. "S" had a child at 19 to raise on her own with only her moms help, "S" had two abortions after this and has such remorse for this.. "S" had attended week 1 of Alpha and than hadn't returned until Week 5, which is the theme night of evil... I speak on this night, and following the large group session she was pretty tearful, I saw her go into the bathroom as we went for dessert before going into our small groups, but then she had left without a word.. So this had me really surprised that she showed up for the Saturday retreat. But they are at Alpha because they know they can no longer figure out life on their own and it's there journey..
Alpha does alot around food, and so that's how we start the morning with a table buffet of a breakfast spread as we sit and mingle around the beautifully large backyard of swimming pool, numerous seating areas all around the deck, fire pit, grassy shade area overlooking the golf course down the hill or in the house with the open wall of windows between the indoors and the great outdoors.. and the conversations between the large group that has come together to share a day, some laughs, etc.. good time..
The Alpha retreat days theme is learning about the Holy Spirit. In the morning Bill White teaches on "who the Holy is" and in the afternoon he teaches a session on "what the Holy Spirit does".. and we have some small group time following each of these. Lunch comes in the middle of the time here and it's a great spread of variety and good food, and than the table is transformed into a snack haven for munching.... This day is really where the rubber meets the road in my opinion because, well, it really comes down to deciding one way or the other if your not sure whether God is real or relevant as to if you believe or are just somewhat amused with the information. Bill hit a homerun this day as he usually does, but he changed up a couple of things, threw in a scripture verse that he hadn't used before. That afternoon session touched me in a fresh way maybe more so than others. Well, it was touching my two ladies also.. God is so good.
After the morning session in our small group... I probed "S" on some stuff she was telling us about her life, asked her what was the obstacle in her understanding about God and Jesus, what had she heard in the morning session that she wanted to talk about......... her answers were very honest and than one question, then the tears just began to flow as she let out some anger, frustration etc, which surprised her... whew, that can feel so good. I didn't know what to say to make it better, you can't... but I was just glad she expressed it and allowed herself the freedom to have the ability to be honest, no more covering it up as if she'd be just okay with it stuffed down deep.. My encouragement for her was that our Heavenly Fathers desire for each of us no matter what kind of earthly father we have had or didn't have, is that HE alone is enough for us and that he be enough for us.
"R" has attended all of the Thursday night Alpha sessions and she was basically admitting that she was standing right at the edge of accepting Christ, but wasn't sure what was her obstacle..my instinct was that it would require a HUGE change in her lifestyle she wasn't comfortable knowing it could happen..
This was the key verse that I heard today, first time ever and it.... just made such sense to me as WHY our sinful nature can and does return.. evil is powerful
Matthew12: 43-45,
43 When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 then it says, "I will return to the house I left." When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.
What does this mean: When we chase out the evil but don't fill our entire lives up with the Holy Spirit who guides us in Christ, we leave the door wide open for the evil spirits to return and to be worse than it was before. And this is absolutely true, we want the initial change and do all we can to keep it going, until we become complacent with the nurturing our spirituality and sins temptations become stronger, alluring. This is a very compelling verse for us to be highly motivated to fight the daily lure of sin and the damage that can be done
As the afternoon session ended and the day was winding down, there was a time given for each to just reflect on what had been heard on this day, and than to have prayer over them by their leader.. after a short amount of time, my ladies came out and over to the fire pit where we had been meeting. "R" & "S" sit down and "R" just starts to say that she is ready to give her life over to Christ that she can no longer go on with her life as she has and wants to tell her kids about Jesus... God is good.. so I tell her that I am going to pray with her and will give her a few sentences of some kind and ask her to just repeat them after me. (I know it's not a contract, so I'll be winging the sorry, thank you, please prayer). "S" is sitting there just holding hands with us and we all hug afterwards.. And than "S" tells us that she is too ready to accept that Jesus is what she needs in her life, to teach her daughter of him.. So I do a similar prayer with "S" and just sit there taking it all in.. I introduce my new sisters in Christ as we leave that day and they receive hugs and encouragement.. All glory to God our father..
I am so blessed that God allows me to be a part of this...
Friday, March 25, 2011
What a Friday, so much acomplished
Today is Friday, and sooo glad that it is.. It's the end of the week & looking so forward to a quiet weekend, & its also the end of the 1st UPS quarter. At the office today, I believe that I managed to complete tackling the 40 vendor invoces that have been taunting me as they rolled in for the last three weeks. I got them all cost control coded, charge to locations figured out, 2 signatures for approval, and on Monday I will finish sending off the last few original invoices to the Finance dept for payment. Who ever knew what the heck it took to get a vendors invoice paid before.. next big accomplishment for Monday will be logging each of these invoices into the March PO log that is used for forecasting expenditure plans.
Today I on a whim decided that a few of the supplies that had been ordered on March 10 & 14 should have been delivered or we should have received some kind of notice... So I started digging, no idea what I was doing but started with calling the Unisource supplier. They tell me that because of the price changes that occurred on the 11th, that the order was cancelled by UPS's online middle man we order through of Ariba. WHAT THE H:!!? And so they give me a number of the finance dept for UPS to contact.. Needless to say after 4 back and forth phone calls, a few questions, as it was not my fault but we are out of can liners, and numerous cleanser items.. BUT they were willing to ship them by next Thursday.. Uh, no YESTERDAY since they are already two weeks late..... And I look inept to the porters who keep asking "when" are they coming in.... They tell me I need to get from finance dept an emergency PO# and contact them.. Now Bob has been over hearing the conversations and he asks if I need any help, so I put it on speaker phone and he than says in his less than tactful way.. "I DONT CARE WHAT IT TAKES ~ GET US THE SUPPLIES WE ORDERED"..
Dealing with finance dept website, they email you and than you email back, than they send you an email confirming that they got your email... Geez 15 of these and I FINALLY get an email that THEY placed the order of what I had requested, all arrives NDA Monday. hahahahahahaaa what a relief that I thought to call on it, or I'd still be waiting...
Next week will be moving into more new things coming my way off of the supervisors who've been covering some items while I acclimate to ready take them on..
Just as a side note.. Greg added up the number of hours of sleep I lose with this position and it's 12.5 hours a week. Not to mention the amount of not so good sleep that is mixed in
there with what I am getting which is god.. I love my sleep, and so it takes a lot of getting used to how it's changed some things..
Today I on a whim decided that a few of the supplies that had been ordered on March 10 & 14 should have been delivered or we should have received some kind of notice... So I started digging, no idea what I was doing but started with calling the Unisource supplier. They tell me that because of the price changes that occurred on the 11th, that the order was cancelled by UPS's online middle man we order through of Ariba. WHAT THE H:!!? And so they give me a number of the finance dept for UPS to contact.. Needless to say after 4 back and forth phone calls, a few questions, as it was not my fault but we are out of can liners, and numerous cleanser items.. BUT they were willing to ship them by next Thursday.. Uh, no YESTERDAY since they are already two weeks late..... And I look inept to the porters who keep asking "when" are they coming in.... They tell me I need to get from finance dept an emergency PO# and contact them.. Now Bob has been over hearing the conversations and he asks if I need any help, so I put it on speaker phone and he than says in his less than tactful way.. "I DONT CARE WHAT IT TAKES ~ GET US THE SUPPLIES WE ORDERED"..
Dealing with finance dept website, they email you and than you email back, than they send you an email confirming that they got your email... Geez 15 of these and I FINALLY get an email that THEY placed the order of what I had requested, all arrives NDA Monday. hahahahahahaaa what a relief that I thought to call on it, or I'd still be waiting...
Next week will be moving into more new things coming my way off of the supervisors who've been covering some items while I acclimate to ready take them on..
Just as a side note.. Greg added up the number of hours of sleep I lose with this position and it's 12.5 hours a week. Not to mention the amount of not so good sleep that is mixed in
there with what I am getting which is god.. I love my sleep, and so it takes a lot of getting used to how it's changed some things..
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
New job working out... Whew~!
Three weeks ago, I was at a cross roads of a sudden change in whether I still had a job or choose to end the 29 years at UPS by refusing the opportunity they were offering. It was nerve wracking few days as it unfolded. But now I couldnt be happier that it has occurred and am thankful. I moved from the sweet facility of Cerritos to the ghetto of Vernon never imagining that it would be a blessing.
2.5 weeks ago on March 7th, I started my new commute at 5:15am to the Vernon industrial area outside of Los Angeles for the position as Admin Assistant in the Grande Vista Plant Engineering dept. Now you might be asking what is Plant Engineering actually? Well, "plant" means anything relating to the facilities mechanical maintenance & housekeeping & the employees it takes to fulfill this. So my responsibilities are completely different than when I worked for 29 years in the Industrial Engineering dept in the moving of physical packages based on zipcodes, time in transit, truck volume, and training all the Hub employees.
Now I oversee 27 employees payroll & benefits, keeping them paid correctly, days off and vacation scheduling, and in uniforms. I order every supply that is required for people (like toilet paper, hand soap, etc),supplies for the porters to clean, bag trash, etc..amazing what all goes into that process. And I order everything mechanics need to repair or upkeep the machinery, from wire, iron, rivets, batteries, etc most of it comes out of three suppliers and I am learning who provides what and/or the fastest. I create the PO#'s prior to a vendor providing a service like plumbing or electrical, bringing us iron or steel, or compacting our trash. And then I process the invoices when they come in to us by snail mail, email or fax, get the approval signatures (2), and than send to the finance dept in Sandy Ut for payment to each vendor. Last step is 3 weeks later I verify payments have actually been made. (cuz we want them to keep providing the services for us) Other duties are processing Haz Mat Manifests for the Federal and State requirements after they are picked up by a company from Missouri every couple of months. What a process separating all of this material is and how it is handled, and the paperwork required to avoid hefty fines from the government.
Yesterday I went through the certification training for Hazardous Material Manifesting which is a complicated and confusing process. With my supervisor Bob, he explained it first in conversation and then we went through the slide show, verbal test aced with a 100%.. Whew...
Later that day he was on the phone with the PE Division Manager and they were discussing how I was doing......... And Bobs comment to him was that I was catching on quickly and doing much better than he anticipated, that I had just taken the HWM test and aced it first time through.. he told him that he feels that "we were very lucky to get this smart gal and she will work out very well". First let me say that just his using the word gal, made me feel younger.. Ha ha
It's been nerve wracking in taking this job saving position as to who and how you will get along with the new management, but I have two supervisors and a manager that are easy going individuals to share an office with. bob is the main supervisor I work under, Randy is less seniority and new to his job also. Bob is a salty individual, very conversational, outgoing, fair minded and devoted to his work. his personal life is rocky as he's in the middle of 2nd divorce. The salty part is that he has the use of profanity down to a worn out consistency.. The damns and shits I haven't much of a problem with, but it's the persistent taking of the Lords name in vain that has me cringing. He uses JC and G-dammit often and not in anger, just bad habit I think is how it came as his habit.
It has been a relief to be so pleased with this job, and since I have 3-5 more years left before retirement occurs it won't be a counting of the days till then just yet. Now let me share a funny story that happened on day six.
Two of the women porters have a history of cat fighting with each other, one is Chinese and the other Hispanic. So they come into the office or are calling Bobs cell phone griping and complaining about the other, what one did in the others area to dirty it up or what they said.. He repeatedly tells them to settle it and knock it off.. The Chinese woman comes ini to the office for Bob to request a last minute day off for the next day and he's giving her a line of questions as to why of late notice. She then walks over to the corner where my desk is and begins to start in what would appear to be a conversation with me that I didn't take notice of right away. But she begins with "I wasn't here when Bob introduced you last week but when you told the women that you don't speak Spanish, they all hate you and" at this point I have turned towards her and have held up both hands and in a stern voice to snap her to attention said "whoa, whoa, please, do not EVER feel that you EVER have to come into this office to tattle ANYTHING that ANYONE should tell you about me, because two things 1) I DONT CARE and 2) I don't do that kind of high school thing in my personal life and won't be doing it here on the job, so let's get this clear between us, and you can go back to work." It had my heart racing, but Bob agreed it's what she needed to hear, as they are all like high schoolers even though they are in their 40's & 60's...
So while I am more inclined to be a night owl rather than a early morning riser, I now rise at 4am and am generally in bed by 9pm hoping the 5mg of melatonin will knock me out into lala land pretty much when I hit the pillow.if I want to feel good for a full day.. I enjoy getting off at noon and my lawn/flowerbeds looks great with all the time attention they get. Love that.. God is good...
2.5 weeks ago on March 7th, I started my new commute at 5:15am to the Vernon industrial area outside of Los Angeles for the position as Admin Assistant in the Grande Vista Plant Engineering dept. Now you might be asking what is Plant Engineering actually? Well, "plant" means anything relating to the facilities mechanical maintenance & housekeeping & the employees it takes to fulfill this. So my responsibilities are completely different than when I worked for 29 years in the Industrial Engineering dept in the moving of physical packages based on zipcodes, time in transit, truck volume, and training all the Hub employees.
Now I oversee 27 employees payroll & benefits, keeping them paid correctly, days off and vacation scheduling, and in uniforms. I order every supply that is required for people (like toilet paper, hand soap, etc),supplies for the porters to clean, bag trash, etc..amazing what all goes into that process. And I order everything mechanics need to repair or upkeep the machinery, from wire, iron, rivets, batteries, etc most of it comes out of three suppliers and I am learning who provides what and/or the fastest. I create the PO#'s prior to a vendor providing a service like plumbing or electrical, bringing us iron or steel, or compacting our trash. And then I process the invoices when they come in to us by snail mail, email or fax, get the approval signatures (2), and than send to the finance dept in Sandy Ut for payment to each vendor. Last step is 3 weeks later I verify payments have actually been made. (cuz we want them to keep providing the services for us) Other duties are processing Haz Mat Manifests for the Federal and State requirements after they are picked up by a company from Missouri every couple of months. What a process separating all of this material is and how it is handled, and the paperwork required to avoid hefty fines from the government.
Yesterday I went through the certification training for Hazardous Material Manifesting which is a complicated and confusing process. With my supervisor Bob, he explained it first in conversation and then we went through the slide show, verbal test aced with a 100%.. Whew...
Later that day he was on the phone with the PE Division Manager and they were discussing how I was doing......... And Bobs comment to him was that I was catching on quickly and doing much better than he anticipated, that I had just taken the HWM test and aced it first time through.. he told him that he feels that "we were very lucky to get this smart gal and she will work out very well". First let me say that just his using the word gal, made me feel younger.. Ha ha
It's been nerve wracking in taking this job saving position as to who and how you will get along with the new management, but I have two supervisors and a manager that are easy going individuals to share an office with. bob is the main supervisor I work under, Randy is less seniority and new to his job also. Bob is a salty individual, very conversational, outgoing, fair minded and devoted to his work. his personal life is rocky as he's in the middle of 2nd divorce. The salty part is that he has the use of profanity down to a worn out consistency.. The damns and shits I haven't much of a problem with, but it's the persistent taking of the Lords name in vain that has me cringing. He uses JC and G-dammit often and not in anger, just bad habit I think is how it came as his habit.
It has been a relief to be so pleased with this job, and since I have 3-5 more years left before retirement occurs it won't be a counting of the days till then just yet. Now let me share a funny story that happened on day six.
Two of the women porters have a history of cat fighting with each other, one is Chinese and the other Hispanic. So they come into the office or are calling Bobs cell phone griping and complaining about the other, what one did in the others area to dirty it up or what they said.. He repeatedly tells them to settle it and knock it off.. The Chinese woman comes ini to the office for Bob to request a last minute day off for the next day and he's giving her a line of questions as to why of late notice. She then walks over to the corner where my desk is and begins to start in what would appear to be a conversation with me that I didn't take notice of right away. But she begins with "I wasn't here when Bob introduced you last week but when you told the women that you don't speak Spanish, they all hate you and" at this point I have turned towards her and have held up both hands and in a stern voice to snap her to attention said "whoa, whoa, please, do not EVER feel that you EVER have to come into this office to tattle ANYTHING that ANYONE should tell you about me, because two things 1) I DONT CARE and 2) I don't do that kind of high school thing in my personal life and won't be doing it here on the job, so let's get this clear between us, and you can go back to work." It had my heart racing, but Bob agreed it's what she needed to hear, as they are all like high schoolers even though they are in their 40's & 60's...
So while I am more inclined to be a night owl rather than a early morning riser, I now rise at 4am and am generally in bed by 9pm hoping the 5mg of melatonin will knock me out into lala land pretty much when I hit the pillow.if I want to feel good for a full day.. I enjoy getting off at noon and my lawn/flowerbeds looks great with all the time attention they get. Love that.. God is good...
Monday, March 21, 2011
Blessed Assurance of eternity ~ does matter
My best friend in life Bonnie, her father has been for over 9 months diagnosed with brain cancer and fighting it with all that medicine can throw at it.. It was also discovered in his lung as he was being treated. the first 6wk round of chemotherapy he sailed pretty much right through, although it should have made him sick but for Lou it didn't.. in spite of them recommending that he limit his diet to subtle and really bland foods, he prefers Mexican and so that is what he continued to indulge in..So the way Lou handled life, his way. By the end of treatments, what shouldn't have made him sick, did. The tumors disappeared in the brain and he functioned pretty normal in his routine, driving himself to the treatments, meeting Bonnie there each time where she would sit with him through the hours it took and them just talking. She eventually had to pick him up as the treatments started to be more difficult on his body and weakness set in.
Bonnie's father Lou is the best kind of dads in that he has loved her well, she was his princess (after her mother) and he loved her 3 brothers Scott, Patrick, Michael. As a man he was generous, compassionate, caring, giving, community servant to the city of Paramount. He supported his family in whatever they wanted to pursue for their life, defended them in their choices, whether they worked out for success or they had to learn from a failure in what they pursued. He shot straight, told you what he was thinking in his southern drawl of West Virginian. He imparted a ethic of hard work, fear of nothing, contributing to family, society and being of the highest integrity. Lou is the oldest of 15 kids in his family having the responsibility of helping to raise many of them from a young age financially and emotionally. He went into the Air Force immediately after graduating from High School, where at nineteen he was fighting in Korea as a communication specialist, & became a POW for 34 months at the mercy of the Koreans.. When he returned to the states, he courted and married the love of his life, Norie. The unpleasant memories of war led him to become a substantial drinker, functional, yet medicating the memories, but it slowed him down in no way from performing his life very well in all aspects.. Lou took care of his family, providing, being a great baseball coach, and his home was opened to those who stopped by at dinner time or needed a place to get back on their feet with a roof over their head. While he's been sober a lot of years now, Lou was never a religious man, but he made sure his family was always "brought" to church although he wasn't much for attending himself. He might have had some religious instruction in his youth before the war, but he was struggling with how a God of love could allow the war to linger on and he enduring what he went through.
While he's had decades of heart problems, etc, yet, while in this cancer fight which had a no cure prognosis, only lengthening his life from months to a couple of years. The urgency of knowing whether he is saved has been of many thoughts, prayers and attempted conversations...... But the conversations were not long as he didn't want to talk about it.. Many people have Lou's thinking that I've been as good as I can be and hopefully the Lord will take that into account against the bad when life is done.. And so that makes the uncertainty of whether eternity is that persons or not, a pain in a loved ones heart that leaves you hoping that you will be assured that they do believe in Jesus Christ before they have breathed their last. Many prayers for assurance were prayed to this end.. and God is good...
Well, that assurance did come, praise Jesus. Lou's youngest sister Emily and her husband Charles visited Lou about 3 weeks prior to his death. And while he had previously in life been stand offish at anyone speaking to him about Jesus, Charles made the bold conversation of talking about God, others who had died in the family, and how the assurance of eternity is through Jesus Christ only. Lou acknowledged his belief, and that he had made things right with the Lord in these last weeks. Those who were there that day prayed together, and cried tears of joy and relief. As Hospice came in to take care of him, he had a christian nurse, and the hospice has a priest who came to see Lou, and he told Lou he was their for conversation and to pray with him would he be okay with that. Lou was very open to having the priest pray with him now, offering his hand out to him. When the priest was leaving, he asked Lou if he could come by and visit him in 2 weeks, and Lou answered in a very Lou kind of way with "well yes, if I'm still around then".. unfortunately, Lou was not. After numerous weeks of being lovingly cared for by his children and hospice, he quietly in his sleep passed from this life into the arms of Jesus for eternity.
Lou Adkins June 18, 1931 - March 13, 2011.. He leaves behind a wife, 1 daughter, 3 sons, 10 grand kids and a slew of family and friends who will miss him greatly. He was honored on Friday March 18th with a military service at Riverside National Cemetery where our nation does an awesome tribute to servicemen. Lou had earned many medals, but the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service are highly regarded. Saturday a memorial service and dinner of his favorite foods Tri Tip /mashed potatoes / steamed vegetables / a variety of desserts. His children each spoke tremendously honoring words and shared stories of who their dad was to them, their children, and how he impacted their lives. Many of his friends also shared some good stories, laughs, and a group of four men shared collectively how he "was their father" when they had none, and how they were mentored, encouraged and instructed how to be men.
I've known for a long time that my friend Bonnie's strength, her emotional & spiritual gifts came from who her dad raised her to believe she was. I was truly impacted by how the depth of who he was at the end of his life. I knew him for a short time, but it was an absolute privilege to love him for who he was..
Bonnie's father Lou is the best kind of dads in that he has loved her well, she was his princess (after her mother) and he loved her 3 brothers Scott, Patrick, Michael. As a man he was generous, compassionate, caring, giving, community servant to the city of Paramount. He supported his family in whatever they wanted to pursue for their life, defended them in their choices, whether they worked out for success or they had to learn from a failure in what they pursued. He shot straight, told you what he was thinking in his southern drawl of West Virginian. He imparted a ethic of hard work, fear of nothing, contributing to family, society and being of the highest integrity. Lou is the oldest of 15 kids in his family having the responsibility of helping to raise many of them from a young age financially and emotionally. He went into the Air Force immediately after graduating from High School, where at nineteen he was fighting in Korea as a communication specialist, & became a POW for 34 months at the mercy of the Koreans.. When he returned to the states, he courted and married the love of his life, Norie. The unpleasant memories of war led him to become a substantial drinker, functional, yet medicating the memories, but it slowed him down in no way from performing his life very well in all aspects.. Lou took care of his family, providing, being a great baseball coach, and his home was opened to those who stopped by at dinner time or needed a place to get back on their feet with a roof over their head. While he's been sober a lot of years now, Lou was never a religious man, but he made sure his family was always "brought" to church although he wasn't much for attending himself. He might have had some religious instruction in his youth before the war, but he was struggling with how a God of love could allow the war to linger on and he enduring what he went through.
While he's had decades of heart problems, etc, yet, while in this cancer fight which had a no cure prognosis, only lengthening his life from months to a couple of years. The urgency of knowing whether he is saved has been of many thoughts, prayers and attempted conversations...... But the conversations were not long as he didn't want to talk about it.. Many people have Lou's thinking that I've been as good as I can be and hopefully the Lord will take that into account against the bad when life is done.. And so that makes the uncertainty of whether eternity is that persons or not, a pain in a loved ones heart that leaves you hoping that you will be assured that they do believe in Jesus Christ before they have breathed their last. Many prayers for assurance were prayed to this end.. and God is good...
Well, that assurance did come, praise Jesus. Lou's youngest sister Emily and her husband Charles visited Lou about 3 weeks prior to his death. And while he had previously in life been stand offish at anyone speaking to him about Jesus, Charles made the bold conversation of talking about God, others who had died in the family, and how the assurance of eternity is through Jesus Christ only. Lou acknowledged his belief, and that he had made things right with the Lord in these last weeks. Those who were there that day prayed together, and cried tears of joy and relief. As Hospice came in to take care of him, he had a christian nurse, and the hospice has a priest who came to see Lou, and he told Lou he was their for conversation and to pray with him would he be okay with that. Lou was very open to having the priest pray with him now, offering his hand out to him. When the priest was leaving, he asked Lou if he could come by and visit him in 2 weeks, and Lou answered in a very Lou kind of way with "well yes, if I'm still around then".. unfortunately, Lou was not. After numerous weeks of being lovingly cared for by his children and hospice, he quietly in his sleep passed from this life into the arms of Jesus for eternity.
Lou Adkins June 18, 1931 - March 13, 2011.. He leaves behind a wife, 1 daughter, 3 sons, 10 grand kids and a slew of family and friends who will miss him greatly. He was honored on Friday March 18th with a military service at Riverside National Cemetery where our nation does an awesome tribute to servicemen. Lou had earned many medals, but the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service are highly regarded. Saturday a memorial service and dinner of his favorite foods Tri Tip /mashed potatoes / steamed vegetables / a variety of desserts. His children each spoke tremendously honoring words and shared stories of who their dad was to them, their children, and how he impacted their lives. Many of his friends also shared some good stories, laughs, and a group of four men shared collectively how he "was their father" when they had none, and how they were mentored, encouraged and instructed how to be men.
I've known for a long time that my friend Bonnie's strength, her emotional & spiritual gifts came from who her dad raised her to believe she was. I was truly impacted by how the depth of who he was at the end of his life. I knew him for a short time, but it was an absolute privilege to love him for who he was..
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Peculiar week to end comfort zone
Last week we were in Maui, returning to work on Monday. A couple of hours after arriving at work I get a phone call from my manager (Louis the terrible) with whom I don't have a very good respect for. He's a mumbled, ever so meek, and not a shred of inter personal skills... So what he softly utters is that he heard of a job opportunity that might allow me to pick up some hours, although he didn't have any info about the job being mentioned. The HR person Debbie I was to contact was someone that I knew from decades of working in Cerritos.
I than send an email to Debbie expressing "some" interest in the job if I didn't lose pay.. Because at this point I though I had a yes or no option.. She phoned me back and said she would find out about the position as the person doing the job now, was moving to Ohio etc.. The next morning I open an email from Debbie that explain while nothing is final, I am the only one being offered the job BECAUSE my job is being "displaced" as of Friday... UH! WHAT THE HECK are you talking about is what I'm thinking, how come my manager the day before didn't tel, me this???????? I'm in shock at what I'm reading.... The only option is to take the job or quit! My hours were cut back from 6.5-7 to 4 about a month ago by the same individual.
The new job being offered is a detailed and fresh amount of NEW to instill ones curiosity for sure. But nonetheless, the way it has been handled is not professional, courteous, or following protocol for being as they put it displaced which is another way to be "eliminated outright"
So while it only doubles the miles in my commute, the direction it heads in the morning is one of nasty roads for traffic if or when you are on them. So the start time of 6am will have me on the road early until I find the appropriate safe time to arrive ahead of the start time.. Now I am NOT much of a early morning person beyond throwing on walking clothes and a hat at 6am but not for being dressed professionally and commuting to arrive at 5:40am.. That has me most nervous not so much the job (will wait till I have a reason on that note)
So pray that I manage to learn to like being a morning person till at least the 11:15 hour when I'm off the clock..
I than send an email to Debbie expressing "some" interest in the job if I didn't lose pay.. Because at this point I though I had a yes or no option.. She phoned me back and said she would find out about the position as the person doing the job now, was moving to Ohio etc.. The next morning I open an email from Debbie that explain while nothing is final, I am the only one being offered the job BECAUSE my job is being "displaced" as of Friday... UH! WHAT THE HECK are you talking about is what I'm thinking, how come my manager the day before didn't tel, me this???????? I'm in shock at what I'm reading.... The only option is to take the job or quit! My hours were cut back from 6.5-7 to 4 about a month ago by the same individual.
The new job being offered is a detailed and fresh amount of NEW to instill ones curiosity for sure. But nonetheless, the way it has been handled is not professional, courteous, or following protocol for being as they put it displaced which is another way to be "eliminated outright"
So while it only doubles the miles in my commute, the direction it heads in the morning is one of nasty roads for traffic if or when you are on them. So the start time of 6am will have me on the road early until I find the appropriate safe time to arrive ahead of the start time.. Now I am NOT much of a early morning person beyond throwing on walking clothes and a hat at 6am but not for being dressed professionally and commuting to arrive at 5:40am.. That has me most nervous not so much the job (will wait till I have a reason on that note)
So pray that I manage to learn to like being a morning person till at least the 11:15 hour when I'm off the clock..
Sunday, January 9, 2011
the first week of the New Year...
Our New Years eve was a simple event of not much of any kind of a celebration... We stayed at home, had who knows what for dinner after watching football most of the afternoon. After football ended, a couple some movies with NO intention of staying up to usher in the new year. Somehow we did anyway and yet it was hardly noticed as the western movie just continued on til about 1am.
Monday comes around ever so quickly each week and has us sitting at the office desk way to soon. Fortunately they are quickly followed by all the other "days" in the family which is how we end up at Saturday & Sunday for the much needed break. I always say that if my work week was only 4 days, I'd work much harder... maybe!
more later
Monday comes around ever so quickly each week and has us sitting at the office desk way to soon. Fortunately they are quickly followed by all the other "days" in the family which is how we end up at Saturday & Sunday for the much needed break. I always say that if my work week was only 4 days, I'd work much harder... maybe!
more later
Monday, December 27, 2010
my take on Christmas....
Another Christmas is now behind us.. as I look back on it, honestly "the season" commercially is great for UPS business but it is a total pain in the butt for the employee of said company who work feverishly & tirelessly 6-7 days a week to get boxes from point A to point B efficiently & expeditiously as is possible.. I've worked their 28 Christmas's and for me peak season starts in October and stops next week.. I share this thought with anyone who works in a service based commodity where "tension of the season" adds to a personal stress level. I hear the exhaustion in the conversations with others, I read it in the facebook posts of friends who are stressed with rehearsals for productions of choir/drama, decorating, shopping, wrapping, entertaining, traveling, being with family, being without family, cleaning up, putting it away. whew!
I too got wrapped up in this while our kids grew up in our home, the expectations to "show" my Christmas spirit, while "losing" it in the process. Add the work stress of deadlines with constant changes, plans that have to be altered, and than I go home.... oh so exhausted & stressed... to just what everyone else goes through... LIFE.. but...
Now that our kids are grown, here's where I've made a change that I can control and I WISH I'D done it many years ago.. I'm absolutely NOT into the commercial side of Christmas what-so-ever. Instead I've tried to spread the love towards family/friends out over the course of the year, mainly with visits more often, gifts while shopping when I see them for someone in particular who comes to mind. Nothing heroic but it is absolutely stress free, enjoyable, and I survive the holiday season based totally on the commercial demands of society ~ unscathed. There do end up to be a few things under the tree, or lovingly placed into an envelope for them to enjoy in whatever delights their hearts given with love.
““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28 Isn't that great... all other "religions" promises ONLY that if "you do something for it, than you will receive something in return if its granted to you".. How did Christmas becomes so out of control, we let it get that way by choice.
And the trade off is; that the actual "reason for the season" the celebration of the birth of Jesus can be the focus of December 25th. Jesus who was given as a gift to humanity whose sinful nature separates us from eternity in Heaven with God upon our for sure deaths. He lived a short life, but came with the intention to spread the Gospel of the Lord, to be the example of love, grace, mercy & to teach the disciples how to disciple this and he lived sinless amongst mankind while being a human. And than he died a horrible dreadful death on the cross to atone for our sins and to bridge "our" gap that separates us.. What do we have to do to gain eternal life.. simply to believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and make him the Lord of our life.. that's it..
But there is more... because we are left to live here on earth.. to just accept Christ for eternity sake and than to go back to our sinning life without following his example given with reading & learning the bible for the truth of the Christian faith. Without scripture, fellowship of believers, leaves us empty & missing out on the abundant life. Because the abundant life HERE ON EARTH is a promise written in scripture for you and for me..
I too got wrapped up in this while our kids grew up in our home, the expectations to "show" my Christmas spirit, while "losing" it in the process. Add the work stress of deadlines with constant changes, plans that have to be altered, and than I go home.... oh so exhausted & stressed... to just what everyone else goes through... LIFE.. but...
Now that our kids are grown, here's where I've made a change that I can control and I WISH I'D done it many years ago.. I'm absolutely NOT into the commercial side of Christmas what-so-ever. Instead I've tried to spread the love towards family/friends out over the course of the year, mainly with visits more often, gifts while shopping when I see them for someone in particular who comes to mind. Nothing heroic but it is absolutely stress free, enjoyable, and I survive the holiday season based totally on the commercial demands of society ~ unscathed. There do end up to be a few things under the tree, or lovingly placed into an envelope for them to enjoy in whatever delights their hearts given with love.
““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28 Isn't that great... all other "religions" promises ONLY that if "you do something for it, than you will receive something in return if its granted to you".. How did Christmas becomes so out of control, we let it get that way by choice.
And the trade off is; that the actual "reason for the season" the celebration of the birth of Jesus can be the focus of December 25th. Jesus who was given as a gift to humanity whose sinful nature separates us from eternity in Heaven with God upon our for sure deaths. He lived a short life, but came with the intention to spread the Gospel of the Lord, to be the example of love, grace, mercy & to teach the disciples how to disciple this and he lived sinless amongst mankind while being a human. And than he died a horrible dreadful death on the cross to atone for our sins and to bridge "our" gap that separates us.. What do we have to do to gain eternal life.. simply to believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and make him the Lord of our life.. that's it..
But there is more... because we are left to live here on earth.. to just accept Christ for eternity sake and than to go back to our sinning life without following his example given with reading & learning the bible for the truth of the Christian faith. Without scripture, fellowship of believers, leaves us empty & missing out on the abundant life. Because the abundant life HERE ON EARTH is a promise written in scripture for you and for me..
- 2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. - 1 Timothy 1:14
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Hiking in Utah adventure in October ~
I recently celebrated a birthday that is just a number of no significance, BUT it comes 13 months afte the second surgery required to allow my spine to heal from the fracture the first surgery two months prior caused... So this birthdays significance is that "I can and want to, therefore I am" now that I can walk/run And have been working hard to get into shape.
On Friday, October 8th, we eventually headed out at 2:30pm for a 6 day trip. A little behind schedule from the 7am planned departure due to a last minute meeting Greg had to pull off but into Friday Vegas bound highways we head.. destination Bryce Canyon National Park outside of quaint little Panguitch, UT and than back to Zion National Park in Springdale, UT. We got to Las Vegas after some minor traffic delays and found a room at Holiday Inn Express at 8pm.
In the morning we realize HOW CLOSE we are to Nellis AFB.. Literally at the end of the runway is what we figured as we were rocked from our sleep at 7am by a wave of jets taking off for about 10 minutes! Wow! Since we're now awake, on the road we go. Stopping in St George, UT at our usual Big 5 off the 15 Freeway for something we are needing and they are always there to provide in the past..(i.e. Jackets, viewing scope, tennis shoes) This time it's sunglasses for me that aren't scratched. and than away we go..
We arrive in Zion National Park which you need to drive through in order to get to highway 89 to head north to Bryce. They had road construction which slowed us down and we enjoyed the view of this magnificent park.. We arrived at our little Country Color Motel in Panguitch Ut around 4:00 where an envelope with our name on it with the old style room key was taped to the glass door. Now it was an 1950's style motel with basics plus a few cable stations. Unloaded our stuff and head the 14 miles out to Bryce and we see all the observation points. Many shadows casting over the hoo doo's in the late afternoon for which the changing atmosphere of light is changing the look of the horizon, coloring, depth. It really just captures your (well ours anyway) attention and imagination. And I'm telling you late afternoon in October in Bryce at the elevation of approx 8500 ft was.... Chilly.... But the next day is the FIRST time we will venture down below the rim... So 100 pics and we head back towards heated places..
Sunday morning we have checked our map for a vague idea of where were starting the trek and that's about it.. we park and walk to the trailhead for Sunrise Point and at 10am down the trail we go, toting enuff water for an overnight stay or a sudden heat wave, two cameras, snacks and excitement to what we will see (and hopeful we make it out) cuz it is a way down. It was almost overwhelming as we started down the beginning of the trail as to what you are seeing as you slowly sink down below the rim of Bryce Canyon. What you see in one direction, completely changes as you shift a small distance and look at it again. (hence almost a 1000 pictures taken) and also that it was a good reason to "stop" and rest as you make a few ups and downs in the traversing! about 2 hours into the day, Greg agrees to "shoot away" he needed a breather~!
Our Bryce hike started at roughly 10am and we came out the other end of our day at approx 3pm... a hike of approx 8-10 miles with all the trails we took and the distance we went down in the valley.. beautiful.
Monday we slept late, had breakfast, packed up our things in the motel and headed out. One last drive through the park seeing some of the sights in the full sunlight (rather than afternoon shadows) from above the rim. And then we headed east of Bryce a few miles and did a short hike to Mossy Cave, and a short waterfall of a river that runs with light silty soil from sediment off the rocks. We then took off and headed back to Zion National Park for a couple of days. As we rolled back into Zion and stopped at the visitor center for a talk with a ranger as to the height of the river in the Narrows... So I called the hotels in Springdale (town of Zion) and found an available room at Quality Inn and took it. After settling stuff into our room, we headed downtown had a good dinner in a bar/grill, and than walked a few shops and galleries.. calling it a night early and to head back and watch Monday night football Vikings vs Jets which was having a rain/lightning delay earlier..
Tuesday we got up had our continental breakfast, met the really nice guy who works this hotel each morning seven days a week, Gabriel. He was happy to make our waffles which were great.. and he chatted with us quite a bit. We appreciate his attention to each person that walked in and getting them familiar with what was available and offering to help them by making waffles if they so wanted. Before we headed out to the park, we extended our stay for another night. You ride the shuttle from town picking us up in front of our hotel, to the visitor center, and than from the visitor center into the park and all points within.. Great system for the amount of visitors. We stopped at the main lodge and walked across the road to the trail up to the Emerald Pools, loving the2.5 mile hike but really the .3 mile one that went to the Upper pool the best.. Traversing a rocky sandy path that was nice and steep and challenging... loved it. This was a 3.0 trail all the way around, and than we took the Grotto trail alongside the mountain 1 mile and down to the bus shuttle to keep advancing deeper into the park. Last stop was the Virgin River Narrows 1 mile walk out to the end at the river, walked a short distance only after this as we didn't have waterproof pants/shoes (rental possibility back in town) and than we walked the mile back to the shuttle.. This is where Greg declared he was "done tired" (he actually said this before the Narrows, but I sort of just kind of "didn't encourage" this idea) heehee he cried Uncle before I did woo hoo.... made my week! So by the time we made the shuttle ride back to the visitor center to catch the different shuttle back to town which stopped right in front of our hotel, it was late in the afternoon. It would have been easy to just stay put and take a shower and hit the sack.. but we pulled it together.
We showered, and than walked across the street to a restaurant who's name indicated what we thought was going to be a more casual burger place, but the name was deceiving and it was a Italian restaurant big prices small servings! We sat out on the balcony with the view, food was good, and who brings us our water... our breakfast server Gabriel.. we talked to him a minute and than he introduces us to his brother chiachi who got him this job a few nights a week.. and Chiachi is a waiter. Gabriel is a hard worker that is for sure.. assured him we'd see him at breakfast in the morning. We headed back to our hotel, walked through the campground, down to the river and along it for a short walk up to a water drop off. Then back to our room for a relaxing night. I quickly packed up all of our stuff so that in the morning we didn't have to hassle with it.
Wednesday we really slept in, had our last breakfast with our new friend Gabriel (who I think was going to miss our smiling faces and the interest we took in him and his family, where they lived and that he was from the Harbor City area near us) And than off towards home we head!
I've included a few random hike pictures here and will include the link to my flickr account where I post all pictures (and need to do a little catch up of the past year)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/symens
On Friday, October 8th, we eventually headed out at 2:30pm for a 6 day trip. A little behind schedule from the 7am planned departure due to a last minute meeting Greg had to pull off but into Friday Vegas bound highways we head.. destination Bryce Canyon National Park outside of quaint little Panguitch, UT and than back to Zion National Park in Springdale, UT. We got to Las Vegas after some minor traffic delays and found a room at Holiday Inn Express at 8pm.
In the morning we realize HOW CLOSE we are to Nellis AFB.. Literally at the end of the runway is what we figured as we were rocked from our sleep at 7am by a wave of jets taking off for about 10 minutes! Wow! Since we're now awake, on the road we go. Stopping in St George, UT at our usual Big 5 off the 15 Freeway for something we are needing and they are always there to provide in the past..(i.e. Jackets, viewing scope, tennis shoes) This time it's sunglasses for me that aren't scratched. and than away we go..
We arrive in Zion National Park which you need to drive through in order to get to highway 89 to head north to Bryce. They had road construction which slowed us down and we enjoyed the view of this magnificent park.. We arrived at our little Country Color Motel in Panguitch Ut around 4:00 where an envelope with our name on it with the old style room key was taped to the glass door. Now it was an 1950's style motel with basics plus a few cable stations. Unloaded our stuff and head the 14 miles out to Bryce and we see all the observation points. Many shadows casting over the hoo doo's in the late afternoon for which the changing atmosphere of light is changing the look of the horizon, coloring, depth. It really just captures your (well ours anyway) attention and imagination. And I'm telling you late afternoon in October in Bryce at the elevation of approx 8500 ft was.... Chilly.... But the next day is the FIRST time we will venture down below the rim... So 100 pics and we head back towards heated places..
Sunday morning we have checked our map for a vague idea of where were starting the trek and that's about it.. we park and walk to the trailhead for Sunrise Point and at 10am down the trail we go, toting enuff water for an overnight stay or a sudden heat wave, two cameras, snacks and excitement to what we will see (and hopeful we make it out) cuz it is a way down. It was almost overwhelming as we started down the beginning of the trail as to what you are seeing as you slowly sink down below the rim of Bryce Canyon. What you see in one direction, completely changes as you shift a small distance and look at it again. (hence almost a 1000 pictures taken) and also that it was a good reason to "stop" and rest as you make a few ups and downs in the traversing! about 2 hours into the day, Greg agrees to "shoot away" he needed a breather~!
Our Bryce hike started at roughly 10am and we came out the other end of our day at approx 3pm... a hike of approx 8-10 miles with all the trails we took and the distance we went down in the valley.. beautiful.
Monday we slept late, had breakfast, packed up our things in the motel and headed out. One last drive through the park seeing some of the sights in the full sunlight (rather than afternoon shadows) from above the rim. And then we headed east of Bryce a few miles and did a short hike to Mossy Cave, and a short waterfall of a river that runs with light silty soil from sediment off the rocks. We then took off and headed back to Zion National Park for a couple of days. As we rolled back into Zion and stopped at the visitor center for a talk with a ranger as to the height of the river in the Narrows... So I called the hotels in Springdale (town of Zion) and found an available room at Quality Inn and took it. After settling stuff into our room, we headed downtown had a good dinner in a bar/grill, and than walked a few shops and galleries.. calling it a night early and to head back and watch Monday night football Vikings vs Jets which was having a rain/lightning delay earlier..
Tuesday we got up had our continental breakfast, met the really nice guy who works this hotel each morning seven days a week, Gabriel. He was happy to make our waffles which were great.. and he chatted with us quite a bit. We appreciate his attention to each person that walked in and getting them familiar with what was available and offering to help them by making waffles if they so wanted. Before we headed out to the park, we extended our stay for another night. You ride the shuttle from town picking us up in front of our hotel, to the visitor center, and than from the visitor center into the park and all points within.. Great system for the amount of visitors. We stopped at the main lodge and walked across the road to the trail up to the Emerald Pools, loving the2.5 mile hike but really the .3 mile one that went to the Upper pool the best.. Traversing a rocky sandy path that was nice and steep and challenging... loved it. This was a 3.0 trail all the way around, and than we took the Grotto trail alongside the mountain 1 mile and down to the bus shuttle to keep advancing deeper into the park. Last stop was the Virgin River Narrows 1 mile walk out to the end at the river, walked a short distance only after this as we didn't have waterproof pants/shoes (rental possibility back in town) and than we walked the mile back to the shuttle.. This is where Greg declared he was "done tired" (he actually said this before the Narrows, but I sort of just kind of "didn't encourage" this idea) heehee he cried Uncle before I did woo hoo.... made my week! So by the time we made the shuttle ride back to the visitor center to catch the different shuttle back to town which stopped right in front of our hotel, it was late in the afternoon. It would have been easy to just stay put and take a shower and hit the sack.. but we pulled it together.
The lower Emerald Pool area in the next four pictures
The view off the edge of the trail up to the Pools
The "up" trail to the Upper Emerald Pool, he was on his way down
This is the look up from the Upper Emerald Pool
The weeping rocks are what feeds into the pools
The sign at the bottom of the Upper Emerald Pool, took this after both directions... smiling!
The middle Emerald Pool trailing over the cliff
our trail to the Grotto trail... much more interesting than the flat paths
The look across the valley back at the cliffs of the Emerald Pools from The Grotto trail
From the Grotto trail looking south into the Canyon
people did not phase this little critter, he was comfortable with the passerby's... just kept chewing
A peaceful soothing sound of river rushing over the rocks
This older man had hiked the overnight 16 miles of the Narrows, he was over wrought by his heavy pack
The Virgin River Narrows
notice the moon is above this mountain top at about 4pm
We showered, and than walked across the street to a restaurant who's name indicated what we thought was going to be a more casual burger place, but the name was deceiving and it was a Italian restaurant big prices small servings! We sat out on the balcony with the view, food was good, and who brings us our water... our breakfast server Gabriel.. we talked to him a minute and than he introduces us to his brother chiachi who got him this job a few nights a week.. and Chiachi is a waiter. Gabriel is a hard worker that is for sure.. assured him we'd see him at breakfast in the morning. We headed back to our hotel, walked through the campground, down to the river and along it for a short walk up to a water drop off. Then back to our room for a relaxing night. I quickly packed up all of our stuff so that in the morning we didn't have to hassle with it.
Wednesday we really slept in, had our last breakfast with our new friend Gabriel (who I think was going to miss our smiling faces and the interest we took in him and his family, where they lived and that he was from the Harbor City area near us) And than off towards home we head!
I've included a few random hike pictures here and will include the link to my flickr account where I post all pictures (and need to do a little catch up of the past year)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/symens
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