Have I mentioned how much I love plumbing?

I still remember back in the day when I was fascinated by plumbing. Hanging around with mom getting the toilet adjusted just right so that it didn't run. Following my handy plumber around in La Grande as he replaced probably 90% of our plumbing from whatever they used back in 1900 (actually I don't thing the house HAD plumbing then...was probably retrofitted in the 30's. Nonetheless) to brand spankin new stuff. LOVED. IT. The flow. The simplicity. Everything working seemlessly together. I didn't redo the pipes but I was always quick to change out old faucets or toilets. You know, satisfying get-your-hands-dirty kind of work.

Then our upstairs toilet overflowed. Into our REALLY old bathroom downstairs so insurance payed for most of the remodel. Still okay with plumbing!

Then came 2019. Really. Year of the PIG. What do pigs have to do with water!! Do they leak regularly? Do those cute corkscrew tails bear the essence of the water slides of my youth? Maybe there is some link to another year of the pig, 2007, when my home was built. I may never know.

What I do know is that I just want the water to stop flowing with such poetic ease. It began with the sprinklers, popping their pretty little heads not once, not twice but 5 times this season. Then it was the girls tub, damaging 2 floors of the house. Then our waterfall began popping leaks under, around and through (everywhere but INTO) the big whole at the bottom. Next was water from the master sink making it's way to the laundry room. And for good measure, if you want to count last year as well with it's mischievous chinese dog, you can add the freezer ice dispenser and leaking dishwasher to the list.

What is left to leak you may ask? (or maybe you are just ready for me to get to the point). But I'm not done yet. The washing machine!! No, don't even say it. That's the one appliance that is still intact! (although it's neighbor mister dryer did give out this year as well).

I got a call from Sean as I drove out of the North Middle School parking lot today. 'Mom! There is water running down the sides of the water heater! (in the basement) I directed him to the water turn off valve over the phone which he said was stuck and he couldn't move. But then he indicated water was on TOP of the water heater and he thought maybe it was dripping from above. As this was 30 minutes after torrential downpours w/ flash flood and tornado warnings that kept Thomas stranded at school for an hour after release, I thought it was conceivable that some water had gotten in. Sean dutifully followed all of my directions to feel for water on beams and pipes running above. He went into the crawl space with a flashlight highlighting more that a few cobwebs to continue the inspection. Some false alarms but no water. We then went to the dishwasher, an earlier culprit, which he pulled out completely and reinstalled. Looked under every sink on every floor (b/c as I have learned, water travels!). We finally went back to the water heater. 'No wait. the water I feel is warm! I can see now! It is definitely from the water heater.' So out came the plumbers wrench and with a mighty heave he told me the water supply was off, and the flow was lessening. This was 30 min later, just as I turned at the final traffic light prior to my home coming into view. My hero.

So I went into the house, inspected to make sure that the water was all going down the drain as it was supposed to, turned the gas line off and sat down for a home show with slice of pizza and an apple. Trying not to think about the cold shower that was in store for me in the morning...

FYI: My fascination with plumbing has come to a close. thanks to all those that have dedicated their lives to the art of directing water while practicing contortionist moves. You have my respect. And my money.

Feeling blessed

I feel very guided in life. Often very unprepared, inadequate and unstable. But guided none the less. It did take me a few months do decide on the path to take for my career after moving to Aurora. But once I started on the path, after I made a decision, I feel like it just happened. Opportunities presented themselves, people were placed in my path and my often muddled mind seemed to get clarity when I needed it. I've dealt with a fair amount of intermittent depression and relationship/parenting struggles through the last few years, but through it all I still felt regular reaffirming confirmations that I was going in the direction I needed to. I can't imagine not having those to bring peace to my life and mind. I have to regularly thank the Lord for that.

I've finished my senior immersion at Rangeview High School. I've turned in my last assignment of nursing school. I've interviewed for and accepted a position as school nurse at North Middle School in Aurora Public Schools for the 2019-20 school year. Now I just have to pass my state licensing exam, set up my school clinic, and start to see my self as an actual nurse. The last being the hardest part.  I guess it's time!

I feel overwhelmed and scared and I feel happy, which is really all I've ever wanted. (of course I'm crying as I write this- right on cue)

A few more wrinkles and grey hairs than I remember being there. But look! a smile!

Just throwing this in cause we had to get our house repainted this spring and I think it turned out so pretty! I even got my orange-y front door.

TJ Cunningham

I'm usually a little more distanced from violence in my blessed life. But yesterday, as I was sitting in sacrament meeting, there was a man being shot and killed across the street on the grounds of my kids High School.  It was a neighbor dispute about where they were parking their cars. Such a crazy stupid waste of life. I guess any murder is.

This guy played a season with the Seattle Seahawks in the 90s, has a family, and is (was) an assistant principal at one of Brandon's District's High Schools. I know that this happens a lot, everywhere. But it is just a lot for my brain to digest.  It's so rare for anger to boil up inside of me to the point that I do something rash. Rare enough that I can count them on one hand. I spanked a kid once I was babysitting out of frustration. I yelled really loud at one of my teens and slammed my door as I escaped the scene.  I was furious at Brandon a couple years ago due to his reply in a conversation we were having and filled several pages of my journal with scathing words. (which later sounded pathetic--I should probably burn those).

Not proud of any of those moments, but even in the midst of those feelings, there was never a moment when I could even a *twinge* imagine wishing them anything close to dead or even the seconds after not regreting that I had hurt someone's feelings.  I've never felt anger for an extended period of time where I could imagine deliberately taking a gun with me somewhere 'in case I might need it'.  I see some pretty bad situations at the hospital and at the free clinic I volunteer at. I've felt connections with people, despite them having done some pretty terrible things. I still can find their experiences and feelings, although not familiar, relatable. 

But not this. Not that kind of anger. That complete lack of perspective. I just don't get it.

Chinese New Year

Brandon always thought he was the year of the solid Ox. Until not long ago when he realized that the new year starts after his January 13th birthday so he is actually a Rat. Well, you win some you lose some.

Milla is Tiger, Sean and I share the (coolest) dragon, my Monkey came third, and Thomas takes the Dog; which is fitting with his sweet snuggles and sleepy eyes.

So, not even remembering it was Chinese New Year week, we chose to go to our favorite little neighborhood Chinese place, the Honey Bee Bistro, for date night. We had just gotten our bill when a giant drum got pushed through the front door...

And then we noticed some strange creatures gathering outside our window...

So either we were under attack or in for a happy surprise. We decided to wait it out. 

And then this happened...

The little guys did try to snag our leftover bag but we managed to wrangle it from their grasps.

 Hee hee. Lots of fun.

Steak Cake

Steak and Cake. Two great things in the world. Why not together?

This was Brandon's 46th birthday request, and so I thought, 'Why not?'

Below is the video of Brandon testing the steaks doneness... it was one of those 'hold your breath' moments. Like when Bob Cratchit was tasting Mrs. Cratchit's Plum Pudding in A Christmas Carol.

Happy (late) Birthday to my sweetheart!

San Fran Clan

Brandon was a sweetheart and got me a trip to San Fran for Christmas. He went all out to ensure I was well entertained. We fit in some cat snuggling (really! I think Curie likes me. Except when I went in for the belly rub...), dance classes, house hunting, games and a lot of eating. Cor was even awesome and shared her bed with me. I love my sisters. And Jona is pretty great too. :)

Back in Denver. I can't resist an aerial shot. 

Colorado Beauty

I love having 3 reservoirs so close to home (5-20 min drive). Lately I've been hanging out at the beautiful Aurora Reservoir. Above is a pic taken in December when the WHOLE FAMILY agreed to go on a walk with me. WHAT!!!  It was a beautiful day and coats were shed before we got too far in. Of course the only picture that I got was when we were almost back to our car.... So you only get the far west finger of it.  Abundant wildlife. It seems I can't go to the reservoir without crossing path with a coyote. And also the ever present rabbits, prairie dogs, hawks, flickers, ducks, geese, etc.

Have passed this sign many times, but this is the first time that I really took a good look at it. Nice to see our city employees are enjoying their jobs enough to inject a little humor.

I took my bike back to circle the entire lake last week, which I had never done before. It's a little over an 8 mile loop which only took about an hour including all my stops.  Just minor hills, ups and downs, all the way around. A really pleasant ride.  It was a little chillier this time. If you look at the picture above you can see a man ice fishing. His sled of supplies are to the left. I am not that brave, even if the ice DOES seem solid!

Had to get a selfie!

If you ever wondered what goose heaven is like, this is it.  And it is LOUD! We've lived here for 6 1/2 yrs and I still am awed by the skies. Almost every day. I can't stop looking up. So breathtaking.

The Gorge

 A couple of days after Christmas, Brandon and I went on his Christmas present- a winter ride down in the Royal Gorge in Canon City (west of Colorado Springs). No snow but there was some cool ice sheets to look at. What looks like water froth on the edges of the river in the pic of Brandon to the right, is actually ice. In some areas the ice sheets were stuck to plants and the water had dropped a full foot below it. Which was cool.

 Here was the narrowest part of the gorge- only 30 feet wide at the bottom where there was no ledge for tracks. Consequently this 'hanging bridge' was installed to suspend the tracks. This was the only time that we ventured out to the open car. It was freezing!

Above you can see the suspension bridge that crosses the canyon at the top. The is some sort of small amusement park on one side of it and you have to pay even to walk on the bridge. We thought this was a better view, so we didn't shell out the cash. 

Nice little 2 hour winter jaunt.