Adding

I have added to my life already this year!

After the long-awaited vaca was over a few weeks ago, I set my mind to the next item on my agenda. Dog acquisition. I visited the county pound and picked a beautiful girl out to join my little family. Australian cattle dog, sweet as can be, and full of ENERGY!! Wow can she go! I am considering buying a used bike to run her in the morning. I can run, but not that fast.

I have also added a new pair of hiking boots, as of this very afternoon. I know that it seems trivial, but I do spend alot of time in hiking boots and I have been fairly dissatisfied with last year's pair. The last pair were KEEN's and comfy, but almost from the beginning were falling apart. Somehow they made it a full year and I finally decided to replace them with a more sturdy pair. Thus, Timberland Eurohikers have come into my life. They feel a little rigid but sturdy. I'll let you know how they work with a more detailed review later.

Now, if I could just add "job in Colorado" to this post, that would be awesome!

Grand Creepies

I went to the Grand Canyon North Rim last weekend. It was so beautiful and relaxing, just me camping.

I did have a creepy experience that I hope was just one of those things that means nothing. I went to take a shower. The campgroud showers there are a little wierd and (if you have ever taken a shower in a campground you can probably relate) lacking privacy. They pretend to provide a bit of privacy by putting stall doors up, but everyone knows you can see through the gaps on the sides as if there were no door. So, I went into the first available shower, which happened to be the FIRST shower that is right next to the LAST toilet stall. There was a huge gap between the shower and the wall to the toilet stall and I accidentally saw someone in a rather (ehem) vulnerable state. I quickly averted my eyes and devised a plan to minimize my exposure as I undressed for my shower. I would step into the shower, disrobe, and thus not be seen . . . or so I thought. Upon stepping into the shower, I realized that it was quite strange and, alas, completely exposed. The shower floor was about a foot higher than the dressing area and surrounding bathroom floor. It was like stepping on stage. I could look out over the waiting area in front of the showers! I was on display. Well, what can you do. Nothing. I began to unpack my soap and shampoo and was placing said items on the soap dish in the shower for easy access and, again, less exposure because I wouldn't have to open the curtain and retrieve them naked and ON STAGE. As I placed my sample size shampoo on the soap dish I felt eyes on me. I glanced out, well over the stall door to the dressing area and saw a woman. It didn't seem strange to me at first that someone would glance through the gap to see if the stall was occupied and then see that it was and immediately look away, but then I looked at her again. She was stilll looking in. We made eye contact. She continued to look. I made a point of staring right back. I wasn't going to let this woman intimidate me in my own shower stall! It was mine!

I am trying to give her the benefit of all my doubts. She probably thought I was finished in the shower because I was standing there with all my clothes on. But my hair wasn't wet, and yes she looked long enough that she could have come to that conclusion. Anyway, she backed down and moved on to creep out the person in the next stall as I mumbled under my breath about not needing an audience. Go figure some people. You gotta laugh at the crazies out there (me included).

My trip was really fun and relaxing. I just found that blip to be somewhat amusing.

WTF, Haters?!

Hate. I've never had much use for it. It is not in my nature. That's not to say I haven't strongly disliked people, but, hate, I have not. That being said, I don't understand hate crimes.

Today, I had a disappointing day at work and was feeling sorry for myself as I pulled out of the parking lot. As I wallowed in my pity party, a huge white truck, directly in front of me at the red light, began to pull into the center lane around a little red truck. Surprise cleared the fog from my self-absorbed mind when the white truck pulled around and next to the red truck, so close that they were almost touching, and the white truck occupant threw his cigarette through the red truck's open window. The white truck pulled up behind the other cars in his new lane while I hesitated to pull up behind the red truck. I thought for sure I was going to witness a murder to follow up on the cig. throwing incident. I had a few seconds to think about what I had just seen as we all waited at the light.

What had this man in the red truck done? Nothing that I had seen. The only explanation that I was able to come up with was that he was Hispanic. This was quite obvious due to the spanish language bumper stickers on his tailgate. There wasn't anything offensive about the stickers that I could tell. Just radio stations and the like.

Some part of me wanted the man in the red truck to attack! How dare anyone disrespect a fellow human being that way!! But he just reached over, picked up the cigarette and brought it to his mouth for a smoke. WOW! He just drove down the road smoking that cigarette and waved at white-truck-man as he passed him. WOW!! I would have tried like hell to rip white-truck-man's soul out and cook it up with my veggies for dinner.

White-truck-man, you suck.
Red-truck-man, I salute you.

I'm baaaack!

The vaca planning is done! I'll be cruising with friends to the Bahamas in Jan! Can't wait!

In other news:

I am downsizing my financial obligations. I have canceled Netflix and cable. That's right, in the area of entertainment I have 3 reliable tv channels (not including the spanish channel, which seems to have reception no matter what), and the internet. Oh well, tv is in kind of a drought for me anyway. LOST isn't on 'til Jan, and I'm losing interest in The Biggest Loser (the only two show I watch regularly). Luckily for me . . . the public library is free! I am reading again! I enjoyed reading during my youth. I stopped reading recreationally in high school because I was required to read for school. Blah.
Books read so far:
The Shipping News - I had an unusual reaction to this one. I think the movie is better :( I know,
I know . . . that's not right. Well, I wasn't very impressed with Annie
Proulx's descriptions. She won the Pulitzer for it for this novel and I really
liked the fragmented writing style because that is how humans think. It
just left something to be desired. I'm giving her another chance. I am
about to start reading Close Range Wyoming Stories. I'll letcha know what
I think.
Cry, The Beloved Country - I LOVED IT!!! I highly recommend everyone read this novel. It is
a look at South Africa in the time preceeding Aparthied. The first chapter
(a mere four paragraphs) was a moving description of the land. I almost
cried. Read it.


A bit of sad news: My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last month and has already had surgery. I got to spend last week at home with her. The good side is that she is doing suprisingly well. I thought she would be hold up in bed, begging for drugs, but she isn't. It doesn't appear to be genetic since no one else in our family has had breast cancer, but still . . . something to watch out for.

On a lighter note: I am going to be volunteering at the Phoenix filming of Antique's Roadshow! I am super excited but now I need something to take along to be appraised. I'll let y'all know if I will be on tv. I hope I get to keep the t-shirt!

The Year

In 10 months I'll be 30. I have decided that I will begin planning a vacation for my 30th B-day. Any suggestions?

I have also decided to do something every month of my 29th year that will be a growing experience or something meaningful to me and others.

Jan. - I decided to get serious about losing weight. I know everyone does this, but I am committed.

Feb. - I began volunteering. This is going to benefit me and other people, so its good all around.

March - I'm going to the Grand Canyon and will hike 1/2 way down. I know this doesn't seem too great but it will be a significant accomplishment for me.

As an aside, March is also a big time of acomplishment for my parents. They will be visiting me for the first time. Ever. Yea!!

More great things to come this year!

Spring

Ok, I know it isn't really Spring yet, but it sure feels like it here. The weather has been so beautiful.

I went for a hike this morning and talked with friends. The sun was shining and a cool breeze was blowing. Everything was the muted green of the desert and there were actually a few early wildflowers. I was totally inspired. I went directly to Home Depot on the way home and bought lots of flowers and too little potting soil. My porch is full of flowery happiness.

I hope things are just as beautiful wherever you are, no matter what the weather is like. :)

The Meaning of Life . . .

well, my life anyway. I have been wondering why I am so unmotivated these days. I used to have hobbies and interests. Now I'm just existing. I had an epiphany 2 days ago. I'm feeling lazy and useless because I am not passionate about anything.

Tomorrow begins a new phase in my life. I am now actively looking for my purpose. I am going to an orientation meeting for some volunteer work in the morning, then I may go hiking. I will make an effort to engage life again.

Southwestern holiday . . . a mockery of all that is good in the world.

Now that the glow of the Christmas season is behind us, I feel compelled to share my thoughts on Christmas in AZ.

I am seriously about to be dramatic. You can't say I didn't warn you.

As a general rule I don't like Southwestern motif. Why do middle class white people feel lead to decorate their homes and businesses with cacti, boots, and the ever-present Kokopelli. (I just gaged a little) I don't mean a tastefully decorated adobe home. I mean disgusting displays of tourist crap . . . FILLING AN ENTIRE HOUSE.

That being said, I knew that moving to Phoenix would be a challenge in this area, especially at Christmastime.

Picture this . . . There I was driving down the road. It was dark, mid November. I was enjoying the Christmas decor on all the fancy buildings in Scottsdale when suddenly . . . NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!! It was the most horrible of my Southwestern Christmas nightmares: a saguaro covered completely in twinkle lights. NOOOOOO!!! It was gross.

A few days later: I pushed my orange/red Target cart through the store in the direction of nirvana. Yes, that's right, the Christmas decoration section. I just love to walk down the aisles amongst the sparkles and evergreens. I had just completed the stocking aisle and turned my cart toward the obnoxious yard ornaments, when I lost controll of my faculties. I began to scream and wretch and flail in agony. There on the top shelf sandwiched between the Frosty and the mechanized light up reindeer was a light up saguaro. It had a jaunty Santa hat on top and I'm willing to bet the two arms moved to an age old Christmas carol. I had to avert my eyes and drag my body to a safe distance while dry heaving on the gum splattered Target tile.

Once I recovered from this horrible incident, I made a call to my mom so she could sympathize with me and try to convince me to move home to TX. I finished my rant after a few minutes and the first words out of her blessed mouth were, "I want one!!!"

29

Today is my 29th birthday. I am not going out.

Most of my birthday experiences have been unremarkable. (Don't worry, I'm not feeling sorry for myself or asking for pity.) Some of them have been downright pathetic. So this year I am spending the evening at my apartment. I made a beautiful dinner with colorful veggies and stuffed chicken breast. It was very yummy and I get to eat the leftovers tomorrow. This plan almost certainly guarantees that I will not be arrested or killed by a drunk driver, so over all I am content.

I hope all of you out there are safe and well this New Year's Eve.

Please indulge me as I play the glad game again for my b-day:
I am glad that . . .
I have a job that is beginning to become a career
I have reconnected with old friends this year
My parents told me I could do whatever I wanted and I believed them
The sun came out today
I am not ashamed to have a good cry

Something to think about

Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart -- Confucius

I like this. I'm going to work on it.

Life and Death on the Reservation

The last two days have been the most bizzare of my life.

Let me start at the beginning: Tuesday morning at 3am I was awakened by my cell phone alarm. I hit the snooze til 3:30 and then decided I needed to get up and pack for work or I would have to work on the drill site naked. I packed my things and loaded the truck. After stopping at the office for some equipment, I drove 2 hours South to the Reservation where my company is drilling water wells. The work day began normal enough. Reaming out the hole that had been sitting for 4 days. No biggie. The only incident of the morning was noticing two illegals walking on the dirt road past the sight. I say incident, but that isn't very unusual for this area. Hordes of illegals pass through this particular region every year. We noticed them and I watched them for a while to make sure they were moving on. Again, no biggie.

In the afternoon, we were constructing the well. We had just finished adding several sacks of Colorado Silica Sand and were about to tag the depth when the driller pointed toward the road. I looked up in time to see the water truck from our other site go by in a cloud of dust. The driller's flew to action. The three of them jumped into their truck and raced off after the culprit. I was left standing there with an overflowing pump that was turning my site into a mud pit. I made some calls and finally decided to call the Border Patrol. Then my supervisor told me to go look for the drillers. I ended up back at the site after receiving a call from the driller. The ultimate result: The illegal ditched the truck in the desert and ran. My drill crew gave chase on foot. (what were they thinking) He got away. The Border Patrol didn't even try to find him.

In case that isn't enough excitement for you, I have a story that totally trumps that one.

Today (Wednesday): We finished up at the site in the story above and moved to the next site. As the crew was setting up to drill the surface casing I decided to walk around. I walked over to the cemetary that is adjacent to the site. I find cemetaries interesting and wanted to check it out. I walked around the cemetary and wandered back to the site. On the South side of the site, there is a berm and then a wash with trees in it. I realized that I could see what was around us more easliy from on top of the berm. I began walking along the berm, just checking it out. I was scanning the desert for anything interesting when I looked out in front of me about 30feet. I saw something strange. It was legs. One was out straight and the other bent and sticking up. My first thought was that some one was lying there and I should run because what if this person is dangerous and trys to grab me. Then as I moved forward another step I saw the head. Skull is a better description. I won't go into too much detail but it was obviously not a living persons head. My next thought was that this could not possibly be real. It had to be a halloween decoration . . . right? It was like in the movies where the camera zooms in frame by frame with Psycho music in the background. In the next split second I realized that what I was seeing was a real dead body. OMG!!!! My heart stopped for what felt like an eternity. I was intensly scared. I turned away and made a beeline back to the rig. While I walked my brain tried to convince me that I could not have seen a body. I was wrong somehow. I approached the rig and said, "Guys? I think I just found a body." They did not really believe me. I didn't believe me. I took them over to see for themselves. As we got closer, they could see something. Bobby asked me, "Do you mean that pile of garbage? Its just trash, Patrice." I told them just to go look a little closer. Then the two guys had the same moment of realization that I had. After the initial shock, Bobby turned to me and said, "You need to get on the phone!"

What followed was a little exhilarating and a little frustrating. I called my supervisor and told him that I had found a body and was going to call the police. He suggested driving to the villiage and getting the police and escorting them to the site. That sounded great to me. I took off. There were no officers in the villiage when I arrived there. One showed up, but when I tried to flag him down, he saw me waving and trying to catch him, but turned on his lights and DROVE AWAY. I was infuriated. Standing in the middle of the villiage with my mouth hanging open. UGH!! I wanted to scream, "THERE'S A BODY ON MY DRILL SITE!!!"

I had to get the police phone number from the Border Patrol station. The rest is a blur of phone calls. Everyone was very concerned about my mental and emotional state. To tell the truth I barely had time to think about it. I was fairly calm. I think it was because I had to solve this problem. I had to alert the authorities and make sure they found the site and I had to keep my bosses updated. I think I talked to everyone I know today and alot of people I didn't know until today. I teared up once while I was waiting for the police, but then the phone calls started again. I'm sure I will have an emotional moment. Right now I just can't believe this happened. I can't believe it. Just can't.

Hopefully tomorrow will be uneventful.

Wyle E.

This little guy visited our rig every night to eat bugs and hope we would feed him.

Rocks In My Head

I like rocks.
Rocks like me.

I should just stick to rocks. I hurt a coworkers feelings. I kinda freaked out on him because I didn't know how to do the work I was expected to do on the night shift. It is really hard to be tolerant and to understand what people are telling you when you show up on site at 10pm. Sleeping during the day is against nature and the brain does not respond well. I'm making excuses. Maybe I'm just mean. Maybe, lol.

???

Well, I haven't written in a while. I have felt completely unmotivated. I'm sitting in a hotel room in Casa Grande, AZ dreading the time I have to leave for work.

This particular job has been very stressful and I have 4 more shifts left before I go home. After it is over, I will be much more confident, but for now everything feels unknown. I don't handle "unknown" very well. At the slightest hint of stress, I go to sleep and hope things will be better when I wake up. (by the way, that never works) Speaking of sleep, I am not getting enough. Working nights sucks. The only upside I can see right now is that it isn't hot. It was kind of cold last night.

Other stuff . . . I don't know. I hike when I'm in town. I try not to spend too much money. I need to go to the dentist and the eye doctor. This is probably the most uninteresting blog ever. Eh.

Oopsie!

I am finishing up week one of an Atkins diet redo. Once upon a time I lost 80 lbs on Atkins. I have put on some weight since moving to AZ and would like to undo that damage and more. The hardest part of Atkins for me is giving up bread. I love it. I love bread sooooo much. Today I was searching low carb stuff online and ran across a recipe for a bread substitute. It is called an oopsie. It is awesome! I can have a sandwich!! Woohoo!! With a little cinnamon and Splenda, it tastes like french toast.

Work is picking up and I will be super busy into the New Year. I have however requested vaca days Oct. 25-28. So Marcy and Bobbie I hope y'all can pull it off too. If no one else can go I may be forced to camp by myself.

Ok, I need to pack. I'm leaving town tomorrow morning early. Ugh.

Hail Storm, Happy Hour, and . . .

Last night The Valley of the Sun was darkened by a crazy big storm. It woke me up at 11pm when hail started coming in horizontally and hitting my bedroom window. There was a huge crack of thunder that almost made me cry out. This morning there were power outages and trees down in the central Phoenix area. It reminded me of home. I have remarked before that I missed the big thunder storms of springtime in TX. Sorry Phoenix, in the future I'll be more careful of what I put out into the universe.

I have been incredibly active this week. I have worked out every morning and been hiking every evening except last night. I had to bond with coworkers over happy hour.

I have a good weekend planned. I am going camping tonight. I will be going to Flagstaff to hike with my hiking group Sat. and some of us are camping at the trailhead the night before. It is supposed to be 50 something degrees at night!! I haven't felt that in a whiiiiile.

Y'all have a great Labor Day Weekend! Smooches!

The Glad Game

I am glad that:

I don't have cankles
I can walk up the North Mountain trail without stopping
I like veggies
I have good friends who care about me
I have a home to call my own
It is raining
I started knitting again
I have a job
I can lose my self in a book
I have three rock hammers (all for different purposes)
I have a big light up turkey

:)

Per Bobbie's request, here is photographic proof of the turkey.
(for scale that is a key chain flip flop)

Fantastic People I Love!

I hope you enjoy this journey through my past. Don't be scared by the hair and puff painted shirts.

Lovely ladies: Valerie, Bonnie, and Patrice.

Aren't we gorgeous! I loved that hair clip mum, and I'm not sure but it looks like my hair could be crimped. Ah, the carefree days of youth.

My Granny (left) is fabulous. Nuff said. The other lady is her little sister, Mary. This was taken on a trip to FL, where they grew up and Mary still lives.

Bonnie and Mom look so much alike.

My sisters and my cutie pie niece, Lilly. I am the one reflected in the window taking the pic :)

My Dad is the greatest. Skiing is one of the things we all like to do as a family. I call him The Bullet. Yay Dad!!

Mi Familia ~1990

This is one of my favorite pics because it has all of us with Daddy Paul and Grandmother. They look so small in this picture but that is not how I remember them. An aside: I am now in possession of the nativity set in the foreground. Check out the mustache on my dad.

zzzzzz

I have had a bad attitude toward life lately. I'm sure you've noticed. I felt so much better today. I wondered why. My circumstances have not changed, and, as far as I know, the Earth is still rotating in the same direction (let me know if superman shows up). The only thing that I can think of is that I finally got a good nights sleep. I went to sleep around nine thirty (yes I'm old) and when my alarm sounded I was actually awake. I didn't feel the need to hit the snooze. It was awesome.

The drillers always tell me that sleep is overrated or that I can sleep when I'm dead. I disagree.

Here's to you, Sleep! May we have a long and satisfying relationship in the bedroom.

Olympics, Cosmo Radio, and Confessions of a Former Friend

There are a few things going on with me so if you lack courage, go no further!

The Olympics. How wonderful! I'm lovin' it. However, I don't remember the games being broadcast so late at night. They go on 'til midnight!! At least! I get up really early in the morning and the Olympic Games have totally thrown off my sleeping schedule. It is fortunate that they only last two weeks. I wouldn't be able to go any longer on almost no sleep. On a positive note, I have been inspired to workout. And this is kind of random. Michael Phelps is pretty awesome, but I think it is kind of sad too. Everyone else can only hope for silver. I just want to say, "Let the other kids have a turn."

My friend from work, Lauren, told me about a satellite radio show that she likes to listen to in the mornings called Cosmo Radio. Yes, Cosmo as in Cosmopolitan Magazine. It is so funny. They are pretty silly and they talk about shopping and Sex in the City, but I love it. If I had money I would subscribe to Serius just for that channel. Serius 111. I get to listen to it this week because the rent truck I'm driving has satellite radio. Whoohoo! No really, I love it.

Ok y'all, I don't really know what the point of this section of today's blog it but I feel like I should set some things straight. Even if the message only spirals around in the universe, at least I put it out there. I'll begin with a confession. I have two former friends who I parted with badly. I sometimes (more often than is healthy) google their names. Shut up, you know you do it too. This has mostly to do with the first former friend. I won't name names because this person has a reputation to protect. I have found her blog and I read it periodically. There were a lot of things leading up to the demise of our friendship, so lets just say we are both to blame. This could get complicated. People who have known me almost my entire life believe that I am a horribly mean person because of her. This is part of the reason I harbor such a strong dislike. I took all the blame for the break up of our friendship. She is perfect by the way. Too perfect. I would like everyone, the sun, the moon, and the stars to know that her life is perfect. Far more perfect than mine. I didn't ruin her life. I didn't ruin her life. I don't think either of us is better for having known each other. I want to let it go. Therefore, I will work on letting those bad feelings go out of my life.

Sorry, I think all this is coming out because my 10 year high school reunion is this year.

Merry Aquifimas!