Todays Gripe...Tip Jars

okay, here is something that drives me crazy!! Tip jars...it seems like everyone has them today. I scooped some ice cream for you ~ give me a tip. I made your coffee drink wrong ~ give me a tip. I put your to go lunch order in the computer ~ give me a tip. Ugh!!! Should I put one on my desk? I collected your insurance premium ~ give me a tip. Should I put one at the house? I cleaned up your messes ~ give me a tip??? (Well I guess I sort of have one by the laundry :) because I always make a little extra with money falling out of pockets.) And then how many of you feel guilted about it and give the people a tip even though they didn't do anything above & beyond, they just did their job??? Oh and another thing is now when you pay with a debit/credit card they have a tip place like on every receipt everywhere. I swear last week I didn't put a tip on the slip when I was just ordering my lunch and when I got my lunch it was ice cold ~ coincidence or no? You decide

It's Fun to Play Soccer at the YMCA ~ sing along with me

Last Sunday YMCA Fall Soccer started. This season we have all three playing ~ UGH!! That is alot of time at the Fort on Sunday afternoon. For instance this Sunday we would have had two games at noon, one at one and one at two BUT Emily stayed home sick so we got out of her double header. Benjamin's game was first at noon. Last spring was Benjamin's first time playing and he loved it. He has waited his whole life to be part of a team ~ commradarie, high fives, practice, the parent tunnel at the end of the game and of course the snacks! This week he scored atleast 3 goals he changed his story after Hannah scored 3 at her game. See whoever scores the most goals gets to pick where we go to lunch. Hannah had a great game too and scored atleast 3 but I think it ended up being 4 by the end. It was so flippin' cold out there this Sunday that we just were waiting for it all to end.

How Do You Make The Call??

Sebastian, mine and Dan's first baby, is getting closer and closer to the end. But, how do you make the call???? Sebastian, "Old Man" as we nicknamed him a few years back is atleast 15-16 years old. He has lived a great life. Has lived through 3 babies, a cat and a big chocolate lab puppy. He has been cranky for a couple of years now, thus the "Old Man" nickname. His eyes are almost all the way glassed over, he can't hear and Dan thinks he is peeing downstairs now. If that is the case the call will have to be made soon, we can't have that going on. But he has been our best friend for so many years now, a part of our life. How do we just make the call to say goodbye?? God could help us out by just taking him, but would that be easier? Most likely it would happen when Dan is gone and I wouldn't know what to do. Every night when he falls asleep on Hannah's bed I wonder, "will he wake up tomorrow morning?". Our vet won't even help us out and give us a shove in that direction. He wants us to make the call. Ugh! What a hard day that will be, but when will it be?? How do you say goodbye to a friend??

Homecoming

This weekend is a BIG weekend here in Missoula. University of Montana Homecoming. The GRIZ were playing UC-Davis and won 29-25. It was a scary last few minutes but we won. Also, we hit a record attendance at the game with 25,209 fans. There is nothing like Washington Grizzly stadium on a Saturday game day!

We always have to hit the parade before the game. This year Emily was marching in the parade with Red Wave - the middle school band. They do not have oboes in marching bands so she had to play the bells. Benjamin and Hannah decorated their candy bags and were ready to get some candy. Benny the Bull came through with Monte (UM mascot) and Benjamin was gone, hiding behind Daddy's legs. We sure thought after he became friends with Ollie this summer that things would be different with Monte, but he still scares him. Benny the Bull (mascot from the Chicago Bulls), for all you outside of our state, is the old Monte so it is always awesome when he comes home!!! Benjamin thought Benny was crazy! He just kept saying it. He was driving the motorcycle like a wild man. This morning I explained to Benjamin that Monte and Benny are just guys in a costume. He just looked at me. "Really Mom. Just guys dressed up?"

A Mommy Skip Day

Today I was supposed to be at a school board training day, but that got cancelled (awhile back)so instead of going to work today I had a Mommy Skip Day. My friend Tana and Darlene and I did the Hiawatha Bike Trail on the Montana/Idaho border. It was something I had on my New Years Resolutions for 2007 and it didn't get accomplished, BUT in 2008 IT DID!!! I did it today baby! We rode 7 miles down and 7miles back. Yep, 14 miles. The shuttle does not run during the week but today was the best time to go since there wasn't many people. It only has a 2% grade but boy was coming back hard. It also has trestles you ride over where you are hundreds, hundreds, of feet off the ground.(see pics) And then there are tunnels you ride through. One is almost 2 miles long and nope,folks, there is no light!!!! Wow. What a day! I am so glad I can say I finally did it and I can't wait to get Dan there next year!

Three Sympathy Cards in One Day??

I just mailed out three cards - all sympathy cards and all people died here in Missoula, our little town and I knew of them all in a personal way. And then yesterday I went to a funeral for a man I only met once or twice in passing. I didn't know him, I know his wife. She is a friend. But it is always so hard for me to go to a funeral of a practical stranger and hear everyone talk about how much they impacted their lives or the great things they did. It always makes me sad that I didn't know that person while they were alive. Why didn't I take the time? I know that is how services are supposed to be; that you don't speak ill of the dead ~ but I know these people were everything that people are standing up in the church and claiming. You can tell in the peoples testimonies that these people were extraordinary, they made a difference in our world. So why Lord did you take them so young, so early? With so much life and love to give? Today the Missoulian obituaries were packed with people of all ages. What is going on here?? Dan says that now that we are older we will know more people that die. The circle of life? Is that true?? How depressing...I just want to take a moment again and tell you all to make the most of every day. And get to know people...take time to talk to strangers,neighbors, friends, coworkers...they can be extraordinary, amazing people and can't we all use a little of that in this world? And think about what you want people to say about you at your memorial service???

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