The Best Christmases

Yes, there is a Santa Claus, but he doesn't live at the North Pole or wear a red suit. One Christmas Eve when I was six or seven, the furnace in our house quit working. I am sure my mom alerted the furnace people, but being a semi-holiday or a busy day, help did not arrive that day. Mom took all five and half of us children into town; not exactly a good idea on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. My dad was probably at work at the sugar factory in Paul or sleeping because he sometimes worked the graveyard shift. My mom was solo as she kept track of five children from the ages of five to twelve. When we got home, Mom may have fed us a meal, but she did put us to bed early that night, because the house was so cold. I remember waking up later and hearing noises in the kitchen. My older sister told me it was Santa and not to peek. When we woke up the next morning to open our presents, the house was nice and warm. I learned later that it wasn't Santa in a red suit, but it was Santa in worker’s uniform who fixed the furnace late on Christmas Eve.

*******

It wasn't Christmas, but at another time of year when a Secret Santa knocked on our doors. The sun had gone down and we were still up, so it wasn't summer. Most of us, who were still living at home, were in the kitchen when we heard a knock on the door. One of my brothers answered the door and no one was there except a box of groceries. My brother didn't see anyone and I’m not sure if a car or truck went by our place before or after the knock. We were so busy talking with each other, that none of heard any noise before the knock. I can’t remember if we were in dire straits or not, because my parents didn't complain about their circumstances. But a neighbor was kind enough to think of our family and make an effort to ease our burdens. It is just the way the people of Paul, Idaho are – always looking out for each other and following our Savior’s example. I don’t think we ever found out who did this kind deed and I am kind of glad I still don’t know who it was. Someone was kind enough to be a Secret Santa when it wasn't the season to be and that is all that matters.

*******

Every morning my first duty of the day was to open the mail. Mostly it was premium checks, because businesses wanted their employees to be covered if they went to the doctor for anything and everything or needed their drugs. One December morning, I came across a letter addressed to Santa. (There was a man named Santa Claus who had a similar PO Box as Blue Cross.) I read it and for some odd reason was touched by it. The 10 year girl didn't want much, just some clothes and a Barbie. I put the letter aside until Ms. Garcia came back to check on me. I showed her the letter, she laughed and then she showed it to Terri, our boss. Eventually, Peggy got a hold of it and like me she was touched by the letter and showed it to her husband, who was the mail room supervisor. He was inspired to contact the young girl’s family. And it was a good thing, because the girl had siblings. While I don’t remember what the family’s circumstances; it wasn't good. Before I knew it, the whole company was involved. Well, those who worked on Parley’s Way. Just before Christmas a big package was sent to Sacramento California. This Sub for Santa even got mentioned by Rolly and Wells in Salt Lake Tribune. (I don’t know how they found out, but someone ratted on us.) So glad that Peggy got a hold of that letter, because it ended being of one of my better Christmases.

*******

My niece loves her Aunties and her Uncles. And her Mom too. I don’t know how we found out how my niece was a recipient of a Sub for Santa project or who took charges. My sister’s youngest granddaughter was still a baby when we decided to do a Sub for Santa, but we all picked a family member of my niece’s. I picked her oldest daughter because I had a dear friend the same age. My dear friend shopped with me at WalMart and even online to find the perfect outfit and shoes for my niece’s daughter. My younger sister picked the middle daughter, because she babysat her grand niece quite a bit. Someone got my niece’s husband and my brother in California got the baby daughter. I’m not even sure who shopped for my niece. But it was probably the best Christmas my siblings and I had in a long time. Instead of drawing names for each other, we drew the names of my niece’s family. Somehow, it made the Christmas season brighter for us. And hopefully, for our niece too.

Letting It Go

As I put away the coat I wore this winter, I remembered the pains I associated with it. I received the coat in January 2002 in preparation of participating as a volunteer in the Salt Lake Winter Olympics. During the next month, I wore the coat faithfully as I served in the games, which was only when I was volunteering. (And going to and from the venue that I volunteered at.) After the games were over I was free to wear it whenever and wherever I wanted. To church, shopping, to the library, traveling, to work.

But I never really wore it work, unless it was a Saturday. I took it home once to Idaho, so I could wash it, but the coat mostly hung in my closet in my closet for the next 12 years. I didn't feel worthy to wear it. I associated my Olympic coat with being a team player, something I was told by a boss that I wasn't, because I had problems getting along with some co-workers. Because I had been one of the longest working employees in my department I was suppose to set an example. It didn't matter if my co-workers were older than me or had more work experience than me. I had to be a flawlessly perfect team player, giving it more than a 110% effort.
After I left employment in that company, I still felt uncomfortable wearing it. I did wear it a time or two at my present job, but because waistline of the coat falls somewhere in my hips, I didn't like wearing while riding the bus. Getting my bus pass out of my pocket that was buried by the coat was awkward. During the past summer I started wearing my bus pass/employee ID on a lanyard around my neck. It was nice not having to reach into my pocket to get my bus pass. When it got cold I pulled out the Olympic coat instead my Eddie Bauer coat that I got at a clearance sale more than a decade ago. I was tired of having a cold breeze go up my back when I got off the bus, even though the coat came to my waist and allowed me use my pants pocket freely. After a week of wearing the Olympic coat, the old feelings of unworthiness came back to haunt me. No, I am still not 110% plus perfect team player in the office. I still have problems getting along with some co-workers. As I walking to the bus after work one day, I told myself that I had earned the right to wear the coat. I had worked three weeks at 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics as a volunteer and the coat was part of my reward. It was past time to let go of guilt.
And so I wore it my Olympic coat the rest of the winter. Unless the thermometer was reading 30 degrees. Then I wore my red University of Utah hoodie. After all, I am a team player.
(I did not wear my Olympic coat during the Sochi Olympics. It was hoodie weather the whole time. Even in Seattle when I wore my LL Bean fleece jacket.)

Reflections on Facebook's Birthday

Facebook is 10 years old. I'm not even sure that I knew the term "social media" in 2004. Sure I emailed and surf the internet and I maybe heard of MySpace. As I reflect back on 10 years since Facebook was around, I realize the changes that I have made.
In 2004, I was already going thru a big change. The division I worked for at Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Utah was down-sizing and I was apart of the down-sizing. It was year from hell, but when I think of 2004, what I remember the most is a Jackson family reunion. I traveled to southern Colorado with my brothers for a family reunion with some of my cousins, which was actually a Jackson brothers reunion. I saw kindness. Tyler, Emmalee's son was hung out with my nephews, Spencer and Brennan, who were younger than him. Coach Jackson got quite a few to run in the Manassa 5k. Pioneer Day was being celebrated in Manassa, almost like it was in Utah. William took us on Jackson Family history tour. I got to see the places my great grandparents and grandparents lived and worked. That Saturday night, we watched the Manassa fireworks from my aunt's backyard. And before I left that weekend, I discovered that my dad wasn't all English-American. Like his siblings, he passed on a French heritage and I found out why my Grandpa Jackson was Lafayette. Although Lafayette's mother was born in England, she was still proud of her French heritage. And I am too.
Since 2004, I have experienced joys and sorrows. Shortly after the new year (2005) started, I walked out of Blue Cross one final time as an employee. Just before April's Fools day, I entered full time employment at the University of Utah. I had worked as an usher at the football games since 2002. I felt as if I come full circle. Not because I had been a student, but because thru the University of Utah's career center, I found my job at Blue Cross in 1985. And because Blue Cross asked for volunteers for the Utes' Fan Fest, I was invited by Ray, a usher for the football games to come work at University of Utah as a seasonal employee. Funny how things work out.
I joined Facebook in 2008, thanks to an invite from my Janette, a former co-worker of mine at Blue Cross. My nephew, Brian was among my first four Facebook friends. Another was my co-worker, Penny. Soon I found myself connecting to roommates from college and my young adult days. Former and current co-workers became Facebook friends. I rediscovered high school classmates. And even found more cousins on Facebook. Mostly Jackson's, but some Boices too. And when my Mom passed away in 2012, I found support from my Facebook friends. Your kind words got me thru a difficult time. And I can't forget the prayers that my Facebook friends said in my behalf during the years. We really do need each other.
As I watched the "Look back" videos on Facebook, I was touched. I posted "I look at the Facebook movies that were made by my friends. I see the joys, the sorrows. And I realize how much we have all been blessed." Friends got married, had children, shared their struggles, got jobs, went and came home on LDS missions and posted pictures. Some made me laugh, some made me cried, some just made me smile. And I realized, I've been blessed and my friends too. Thank you, Facebook for being there 10 years.

Kodak Moment with The Pie

On Friday of this week, the office called in an order to The Pie Pizzeria, more commonly known as The Pie.  When our delivery arrived, someone commented how big the box was. We ordered the giant size combo pizza. The comment reminded of my last year at Blue Cross.

The division I worked in at that time was training our replacements who were from Portland, Oregon. While they were in Salt Lake, they would ask for recommendations of good restaurants. I told them about The Pie, which had a new location in Midvale, which was not far from workplace. I had enjoyed pizza from The Pie when I was a student at the University of Utah. One day to show their appreciation, they ordered pizza from The Pie to be delivered to the office. When we walked into the conference room, our eyes popped wide open. Those giant size pizzas were huge! One of women from Portland commented that she wished she had a camera because it was a Kodak moment.

And so when I saw the giant box from The Pie, I had to take a picture. It was a Kodak moment I didn’t want to pass up.

My Friday Morning Commute

Now that the day is almost over, I'm going to tell my story of my snowy commute to work. I walked out of my unit, I saw it was snowing; not heavy, but not light either. The parking lot had been plowed, but the sidewalk in front had not been shoveled. I saw a large guy walking in the street because the of the sidewalk. But I decided to play it safe and trudge thru knee deep snow. When I got to the corner I crossed the street which had been plowed. The man had turned the corner and was waiting in the street for his bus. Instead of heading down the other side of the street like I usually do, I decided to catch the bus in front of the gas station. I had to detour thru the gas pump area because the gas station seldom shovels their sidewalks. I made a little clearing with my shoes. I think that is the only shoveling that sidewalk got today. 
I got on the bus about 6:40. After the bus made another turn, I heard a guy (who had just got on) call his wife to tell her not to send the children to school today. His knee deep snowy walk occurred in the middle of the street. About 3300 South I texted Penny "On the dang bus. Even TB is. That means the work place isn't closed down." (TB is a VP's secretary.) All hope for a university closure was lost. At 7:18, I texted Penny again "Bus is on Foothill Parking Lot. Maybe it (will) make it to Sunnyside before long. Are we having fun yet?" 
An hour after boarding the bus, I got off. As I was walking toward the business building, I touched my glasses and one of the lens fell out. (I have a loose screw.) I couldn't see the lens in the snow, so I bent down and with the help of little light that the dawn was provided I found my lens. I stuck in my coat pocket and pressed forward. But I decided I didn't want to be loopy, so I took my glasses off and stuck them in my bag. When I got to the business building I secured the glasses a little further in the bag and proceeded across campus half blind. 
When I got to my building, I took my coat off and my socks.  After my feet dried out, I put on some dry socks. It felt so good and warm. I also put on my spare glasses, an old prescription. Then I fixed my other glass and put them in my purse. I wasn't going to wear screw loose glasses on a snowy campus. Then I got down to business; I attempted to work on a snowy Friday morning.
(Classes were canceled at 1p.m. TB's boss gave us the approval to leave campus.)

The Hippie Bus

I notice the Hippie Bus last spring, but it could have been there from the semester before. It was a old small yellow school bus that looked lived in. Turf (from the stadium?) covered the body except for the windows and the hood of the van. There were curtains in the windows. As I walked most days to my spot at the Trax station,  I noticed at times there were things hanging from the front where the head lights would be. Most days it was there always facing south, but that was because it was parked on a one way street (or alley). When Spring semester ended, I thought the Hippie Bus would go away. But after a week it came back, close or in the same spot as before. The last time I saw the Hippie Bus, a young man was driving it toward 500 South. He didn't look like a hippie, but a regular student. Fall semester is well under way and the Hippie Bus is gone. As I wait for the train to come take me away, I look at the spot where it was parked and I miss the Hippie Bus.

An Adventure With a Silly Sticker

But my attitude plummeted early Monday morning when I found out I had to wear sticker in a respectable part of my clothing. It read "May I Help U". No one was to crazy about wearing that sticker for the next three days. Someone higher up in another division had decided it would be a good idea for those who work in Student Services to wear it. The students are not hesitant to ask for help if they need it. The skinny coed was hungry and she approached me I wasn't wearing the annoying sticker.  Not everyone in our department wore a sticker; just most of us in the tuition/student loans wore it. The cashiers who work directly with students didn't wear their stickers. One person was tempted to wear it Fonzi (Happy Days) style. When I went to lunch, I was tempted to post to one of wide cement poles that hold up the building, but I knew it wouldn't stick. I almost removed it and stuck it on a toilet paper roll dispenser, but I thought my boss, Lisa would find it.

But after lunch, I grew weary of wearing it and stuck it on (not in) my trashcan under my desk. Lisa was so busy putting out fires in tuition that she never noticed it. I don't think she was wearing a sticker, but Pat did. I wonder if he was still wearing it when he left work at three to pick up a train wreck. (don't ask, long story)

 The next day I waited until after 8am. I was not thrilled to wear this sticker again, not even a fresh one. (I was given the three.) But after my the sticker police, my boss, Pat, went thru the office. I put it on. Not everyone did. Arnold (name was changed to protect the innocent) refuse to wear it. One day was enough. No one really forward to another day of a dumb idea. When I went on break, I stuck it to my monitor so I'd remember to wear the silly thing when I got back. After break I got creative with my camera in my cellphone. If I had to wear that sticker I could at least get some entertainment out of it.

After joking about it being a final resting place, I could not resist.

 I may not be wearing it, but I am still asking "May I Help U"

My sentiments exactly - not a bright idea

On the third day I got to work and I did not want to wear that sticker not even a fresh one. So I left the 3rd sticker untouched.

But after break I put on. I decided I needed some more adventures. I noticed that Arnold posted one of the stickers by the front desk, where students could see it. 

But I have to admit wearing that sticker is beneath me.

And no, I'm not pledging alligence to the flag, I'm covering up the sticker.

And at the end of the day, I just want to wash my hands of any silly sticker wearing.

1st Day of School

I wasn't in an episode of Lost On Campus like I was last year. As I walking across campus after I got off the bus, only one person asked me for directions. The skinny coed wanted to know where some food was at 7:30am. I pointed her toward the Union. It wasn't as crowded as last year. I didn't anyone looking at the maps located through out campus or anyone ask another person for directions. It was like the lost freshman were at another campus or still on the freeway. But when the day was over and I was riding home on Trax, I realized that for a Monday and the 1st day of school; it wasn't a half bad day. Even wearing a stupid sticker didn't make that much of a dent. And there was no confused mother from an episode of Lost On Campus.

The Great Utah Shakeout or The Largest Earthquake Drill The State of Utah Has Experienced

Weeks before last Tuesday, I was informed that there would be an earthquake drill. Every building on campus had the maps posted at all their exits.  A few days before the drill, the bookstore put up notice that they would be closed between the hours of 10:15 am to 11:30am on April 17^th.  My boss, Lisa conducted meetings with those in office the day before. We saw a depressing video that left me with no hope of surviving the real thing. It said thousands would die and life as we knew it would be over. Highways and such would be in chaos and buildings would all be leveled.  Lisa did show some other videos, one which was the earthquake that my Steven experienced. It was more informative than the death wish video that someone in Utah put together. I enjoyed the video of the fireman who demonstrated how to get under a table and hold on.  The narrator had to tell him to get completely under the table.  Oops.  Penny, who was raised in Southern California, told us that the longest quake she was in only lasted 42 seconds or less than a minute.

Tuesday morning arrived and so did the talk.  A few joked about a real earthquake happening just before or at the time of the drill. The nervous chit chat increased as the time grew shorter. I got out my iPad and earplugs so I wouldn’t have to listen to their ramblings during the drill; I did not care to listen to that again.  I was in an earthquake drill at Blue Cross and one woman could not quit yakking.  Granted we were under our desks for 15 minutes.  I decided right then that if an earthquake happen, I wouldn’t get under my desk; I just get myself out of her misery.

At 10:15, a text arrived to cell phone, informing me to get under my desk. So under I went, but I sat instead of rolling up like a ball.  I am too tall to sit under my desk; I would have to take out a few ribs or my neck to fit under there.  I did turn on my iPod on my iPad and listened to some song. I could hear people leaving, so I texted Karie in St. George and told her two individuals didn’t shut up the entire time. I put my iPad in my bag and put on my jacket, then I wore my cross pack. I was quite surprised that my neck wasn’t sore, but if I had been under my desk like I had in the first drill, my neck would have been sore.  Next time, I am not taking the time to wear earphones; I will do my best to ignore the loudmouths or laugh at their nervous chitchat. Maybe I will get lucky and they will be put out of their misery.

I was the last one out of the office. Pat and Lisa walked me out.  I had to text Karie and that is why I was last. Next time, not gonna happen.  We met up at the appointed spot on the lawn on the corner of 2^nd & University or the lawn in front of Big Ed’s. When I got there, I noticed that not all of the office was there, so I went looking for them.  While I was searching, I ran into Jen, who used to work in our office and I picked up a 1^st aid kit from the tent that was set up.  In my 1^st aid kit (or was it a 72 hour kit?) were band-aids, ointment, toothbrush, toothpaste, a bottle of water and a granola bar in a Campus Store plastic bag. I stuffed it in my bag and forgot to take it out, so it went home with me.  I brought it back the next day and added an overnight pad for young women.  Hey, I’ve been told those things belong in a 1^st aid kit. The next day after I decided it would be a take home ER kit, I added deodorant, small package of tissues, and lotion.  Since I had gum in my desk drawer, I threw that in the kit too. My ER kit or “Hoofin’ like a New Yorker” kit is now hanging on a coat hook by the trash basket under my desk. I still have to walk on glass to get to my purse and bag. If my lunch is in the frig, I will probably forget to grab it, but then maybe not.  It could be on the way out to the evacuation spot by Big Ed’s.  That is if the frig isn’t blocking the exit.

Oh, by the way, I texted my out of state contact (my oldest sister) that we had an earthquake drill and I was fine.  I didn’t know that living apart that from my family would provide me with so many contacts out of state. That prep was probably the easiest prep of the whole drill.

Good Friday Weather

4/6/12
6:20 am Penny -Well its snowing at my place. Glad Im letting UTA do the driving...Ithink! haha
7:04 am Susan - Hard to be it is Easter weekend.
7:04 am Penny - I know
7:16 am Penny - Sorens headed up 4th south. 2 trucks and paramedics
7:27 am Susan - There were slideoffs just before Foothill. Cop & ER mobile in Research Park. Heard a siren when I got off at the business loop. What a Good Friday.
9:13 am Susan to Darren, Crystal, Jared & Mark - So did you have fun driving in that **** this morning?
9:15 am Jared - I just hated cleaning my car off
9:18 am Susan to Jared - So it is better weather in Happy Valley (Utah Valley)?glad my nephews are okay.
9:19 am Jared - I don't know... i haven't seen salt lake
9:23 am Susan to Jared - Oh no! happy valley got dumped on too?
9:30 am Susan to Isaac - Is BYU under snow too?the school to the north got dumped on.
9:31 am Isaac - Yep, lots of snow
9:35 am Mark - Beautiful snow covering the ground! Beautiful day! how could i not enjoy it!
9:35 am Susan to Mark - Haha
12:08 pm Darren - I didn't actually ha
12:11 pm Susan to Darren - Ja! You probably laughed at all the poor suckers on the road. At least I hope you did. Lol

Hot Caramel!

At the University of Utah, I am a loan collector; I collect on student loans and emergency tuition loans. After helping one student with her emergency loan, she brought in some gourmet caramels from a local store. She told me that the salted caramels were the best. So I ate one and it was good. Then I decided to share the rest with the office, since I felt uneasy accepting this student's gift. There were a variety of flavors. My boss, Pat was on his lunch hour so I left a chili caramel on his desk. I thought Pat would look at the wrapper and then try to pawn it off some unsuspecting employee or Lisa, the director of the department. I soon left for lunch and when I came back I found he got quite the surprise when he popped his caramel in his mouth. Apparently he didn't look at the wrapper before he ate it. I am surprised that I wasn't put on academic probation. But then I think Pat is use to the office jokers. After all he joins in on the teasing too, especially if it involves Lisa.

the lunchbox

I ride Trax every week night; that now I recognize the regulars and where they get on. Monday, I was buying a card for my sister at the campus store. One of the regulars spotted me and joked with me about who they let shop there. On Wednesday, he was at his usual seat and I was sitting accross from him. When we came to the stop before mine, he got off suddenly. As he left, his lunchbox fell to the floor, but he didn't noticed it. So I picked it up; I knew where he worked and I figured I could get it to him sooner than if he went to UTA's lost and found. A passenger and a UTA employee both told me to leave it on the train and the driver would do a search and take the lunchbox to UTA's lost and found the next day. From previous experience, I knew it wouldn't get to the lost and found until a day or two later. The driver probably drops any lost items at the bus warehouse somewhere in the middle of Salt Lake County. Then a runner or whoever brings it to the lost and found downtown.
So I took the lunchbox home, being mindful of it on my way home. I really didn't want to complicate things worse by leaving it on a UTA bus. So Thursday morning, I packed in a shopping bag with my book and whatever junk I may need for the day. As soon as the campus store opened, I took the lunchbox over. I delivered it thier information desk (or whatever it is called) by the in store post office. I gave to it a long time employee that I recognized. I told her the guy worked in the back, but I didn't know his name. Gave her a not so good description of him and she said she would put in the back.
When I got on Trax tonight, the guy came up behind and said thanks for returning it. He didn't miss it until morning and thought he had left it in his truck. It was a nice surprise to find it at his station when he arrived to work this morning. I was so grateful he got his lunchbox back. And I was glad I knew where he worked. Who knows what adventures that lunchbox would have had.

Back to School

I saw this picture as I was going to bed last night. It is my older siblings on their first day of school. Every year my mom would take our picture while we waited for the bus to pick us up and take us back to school. When I looked at my oldest brother, Mike; I had to laugh. He does not look thrilled at all. John doesn’t look too happy either, but Mary is smiling; barely. Mike reminds me how I felt two weeks ago. Now that I work on campus, the first day of school no longer brings excitement; it just means a chaotic day on campus. It’s a mother of all Snoopy Mondays. In the past two weeks, school has started at most schools and colleges, Granite (the school district I live in) and Canyons (the school district Crystal attends) both started Monday, August 22nd. The University of Utah also started that same day. When I got off the bus, I noticed the campus was alive again. As I was heading toward the library, I noticed a freshman with a map asking another student questions. I even saw a parent, who after looking at one of the maps posted throughout the campus; ask me directions to the bookstore. That was where she had parked her car. She then commented that the maps were wrong. Granted it is easy to get turn around on the University campus, but all maps have north at the top and south at the bottom. When I got to the office where I work, I told my co-workers that an episode of Lost could have been filmed on campus (and probably others) this morning.

BYU (when my nephews and niece attend) and UVU (where Jared attends) started this past Monday,, August 29th. Both Brian and Jared were returning to campus after a two year absence from their campuses.

My niece’s daughters started this Thursday, September 1st in their new schools in the State of Washington. Vanessa was starting her senior year, while Isabella started first grade. If Vanessa pointed any sophomore or freshman in the wrong direction, it wasn’t intentional. She was probably as lost as they were and having a Snoopy Monday on a Thursday.

Cinco de Mayo

Today at work, we had our Cinco de Mayo lunch. My boss, Pat was aching for an excuse to celebrate something or maybe he wanted Brenda's frog-eye salad (which he didn't get, but life goes on.) Everyone bought something, I brought cheese and Pat made his debut taco hamburger. (Someone else brought the taco shells and tortillas.) I have to admit this brought back memories from high school.

Although I grew up knowing people with Mexican heritage, I never knew about Cinco de Mayo until I reached high school. Rupert would always put on a big 4th of July celebration and I knew that other nations celebrated their days of independence. In my junior or senior year, the city of Rupert decided to celebrate Mexico's Independence Day. One of my classmates, Sylvia was crowned the first Cinco de Mayo queen. Sad to say, I didn't make much of May 5th when I left for college. It wasn't until I finished college at the University of Utah that I started to take note of Cinco de Mayo again. Probably because Midvale's celebration caught the attention of the Salt Lake Tribune. I also remember once attending a Cinco de Mayo celebration at the Pugh's ward in Midvale.

I am glad I have chance to celebrate Mexico's independence and as well as America's independence. It's good to know about different cultures. So when does Canada celebrate its independence? That is something I need to learn.

Correction---May 6, 2011 ---I discovered late last night that Mexico's independence day is September 16th. That left me with the question, what is Cinco de Mayo? So I googled and found out that in 1860's, France attacked Mexico over some pact that Mexico made with debtors. England and Spain honored the pact, but France did not. Cinco de Mayo celebrates a victory over France.

Six years ago

My niece, Isabella, had her 6th birthday last week. It was then that I realized, I've been working full-time at the University of Utah for six years. Isabella was born a week before I started work. When I experienced writer's block yesterday, I was reading some old letters. When I saw what I wrote Darren six years ago, I decided to include his letter for this post. It pretty much captures how I felt. The picture below is one of the two pictures I included in his letter. March 25, 2005 Dear Elder Pugh, You thought I was seeing RED before, now I really am seeing RED. Starting Wednesday, March 30th, I will be working at the University of Utah. It will be hard that first day. Instead of taking a nap after walking the mall, I will head off to work. My two months off are coming to an end. But I have to admit going to work is better than looking for a job. Your favorite pest, Susan March 28, 2005 Dear Elder Pugh I thought I had better finish this letter. I am working on Race For The Cure fund raising efforts and I thought while I was printing off letters, I may as well finish this letter. My niece, Tracina had another daughter a week ago. Her other daughter, Vanessa is eleven, so she has baby sitter already. And like Crystal, Vanessa likes babies. (and shoes, too.) Vanessa has wanted another baby for a very long time. When she was three or four, Vanessa was telling people that she was getting another baby. Tracina had quite a bit of explaining to do. Well, this is it. Time to put this letter in the mail. Once again, Susan

Note: My neice, Vanessa is about 6 months older than Darren's sister, Crystal.

A Timely Dream That Saved the Morning

I was having writer's block, so I went thru a few letters that I written my missionaries. Since what I wrote about happen 3 years this month, I thought I would share this letter.

March 11, 2008

Congratulations, Elder Mark Pugh,

(I enclosed this letter with some fudge that I had made and I decided to congratulate Elder Pugh on his recent soon-be- gone possession of chocolate.)

I will end my letter with a thought from President Eyring’s conference talk. I saw the hand of God reaching out to touch me and my brother when the power went out in the middle of night. I was having this dream and I could not make out what the clock was telling me. It was skipping from 5:30 to 6:30 am and I knew I had to get up. My mom told me it was two am. What was my mom doing up at 2am? So I woke up for real and turned my head to look at the radio clock. I didn’t see any display on the clock radio. I realized the power was out. So I fished the cell phone (that has alarm) from my purse. I quickly turn it on and set the alarm for an unearthly hour. And I told Jay the power was out. I was so glad I had that dream because it prompted me to wake and look at my clock. I was still able to get up on time and get to work on time. The power did come on at five am, half hour after I noticed the power outage. But still, I would have woke up to a flashing display of the wrong time had I not had the dream. I probably would had missed the bus and been late to work.

Your interesting family friend, Susan

St. Patrick’s Day & Clover Club

The week before St. Patrick’s Day, a sign-up sheet went around the office for the St. Patrick’s Potluck Lunch. I chose to bring chips, hoping that Smith’s would have Clover Club potato chips. So when Jay went grocery shopping that Friday night, I went along. As I scanned the chip isle, I saw Lay’s Sour Cream & Onion potato chips, but I continue down to the end where as luck would have it, Clover Club potato chips were there in different flavors. On each package was a four leaf clover, just like the bags in my childhood days. I thought it was perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. I remember eating Clover Club chips as child. I don’t think I had Lay’s potato chips until I went to LDS Business College or maybe high school. Clover Club chips weren’t the only potato chips that my mom brought home. She bought some store brand chips a time of two. Once I moved back to Utah, I seldom saw Clover Club chips. Lay’s seems to dominate the chip isle. And that is bit odd, because Clover Club plant is in Kaysville, Utah. For a few years, I don’t remember seeing Clover Club on the shelves. Clover Club may have been bought out by another company, but the bags I bought that Friday night claimed to be made in Kaysville, Utah. I was buying local at grocery store that had Utah roots.
And on Thursday, I made it a point to wear green, a first in many years. I usually don’t get into wearing green on St. Patrick’s, probably thanks to Fred from Paul Elementary, who would pinch anyone who did not wear enough green. The boy was so big on St. Patrick’s, that I grew wary of the holiday. But the University Campus Store had a promo for St. Patrick’s. Instead of the usual red or white Utah t-shirt, it was green. They sold three varieties. I bought large women’s t-shirt, but after I bought I realized it was too small, so I went back the next day and I bought a medium t-shirt. It fit so much better and I wore that one. I sent the large t-shirt to Crystal. I hope it fit her. She’s like me, not into tight.
When I got to work, three others were wearing the same t-shirt I gave Crystal. I was the only wearing a different green t-shirt. Some didn’t wear green, although Jen wore green Mardi-Gras beads with her blue polo shirt. Pat is New York Irish, so he had no need to wear green. We had our pot luck lunch. Some one brought corn beef for the subs we ate. Someone even made green frog eyed salad. My chips weren’t much of hit because I came home with a bag and half of Clover Club potato chips. I doubt people even noticed the four leaf clover on the bag. They probably thought the chips Lay’s. Hod and Clover Sanders, your posterity needs to educate the State of Utah.

Me & IRS

A few weeks ago, I asked for time off during Spring Break, which starts on Monday for the University of Utah. Since I couldn't take a Wednesday (my boss Pat's usual day off) or the following Friday (Hazen beat me to it.), I opted for the Friday before and the Monday that would follow. Since I had procrastinated the day of reckoning with the IRS, I decided that yesterday, I would start my taxes. Just after I got started I texted my friend, Penny "Doing my taxes. got a six pack & bottle of aspirin?" I could feel a headache coming on. Spent quite some time with the deductions, especially on the item where I donated my car. When I got finished printing & saving 1040 & all its backup and TC40 (or whatever the state tax form is), I walked to Top It frozen yogurt. (It's only 2 or 3 block from my condo.) My brain was so wasted, I could not remember what the dome type thing that goes on the cup when the yogurt is take-out was called. Thankfully, the cashier had not been doing her taxes and said "Do you want a lid?" I said yes, grabbed a blue spoon (Hey, I just finished my taxes, I was blue.) and napkin; paid for the yogurt and left. When I got home, I much enjoyed the well earned treat of samoa cookie, cake batter and dulce de leche low-fat yogurt topped with chopped almonds, kiwi, strawberries, marshmallow creme and carmel sauce. It was well deserved after the temporary loss of my brain. Love ya, IRS! ha-ha.

2002 Winter Olympics

After such sad postings for most of the month, I decided I wanted to end February with a more upbeat posting. The first thing I thought of was the 2002 Winter Olympics that ended 9 years ago on the last Sunday of the month. I was at the Little America hotel during the closing ceremony volunteering as an event host. Little America during the Olympics was known as Olympic Family Hotel. It wasn’t listed on the Olympic event map because of security reasons, but the place was fenced in like Fort Knox, so it was hard to miss as Trax went down Main Street. During break that night, I went to the lobby and watched a bit of the closing ceremony on a closed circuit TV. No NBC (or was CBS) or commercial breaks. I can’t remember what I saw on TV, but I stepped outside to see the fireworks burst over Rice Eccles Stadium, which was 13 blocks to the east of the hotel. Even from that distance it was quite impressive.
Some of the paid employees got the night off to see the closing ceremonies and of course, most of IOC and the NOC’s were at the ceremonies. So it was a rather quiet evening at the Olympic Family Hotel. I was working in the security tent where we checked credentials as guests of the Olympic Family Hotel entered the grounds. There wasn’t much to do, but I do remember the Russian NOC being noticeably chipper after the ceremonies were over. Usually the Russians were a somber bunch of people. The Canadians were celebrating as their men’s (and women’s) hockey team finally won the gold. And everyone seemed more relaxed as they came back to Olympic Family Hotel for the final time. Another show was over and it was time to return home.