M. I. A.

This morning I remembered a dream! I don't remember my dreams like I use to and like Tevia does, but this one I remembered, maybe because it was so nostalgic.
I was in the cultural hall in our old church building. I really loved that building, had a lot of good memories. (more on that later). Well I must have been about 15 or 16 years old and we were having a dance. Side note: Back in the day YW was called M. I. A. ( mutual improvement association), not sure why the church changes the name of organizations, probably to make the members feel like we're keeping up with the times but not really. Back to my dream, there was this guy that I had a crush on and he had asked me to dance the first dance and of course I said yes, which by the way never happened in real life except if you lived in the early nineteenth century where you were asked in advance. I had on this long dress cuz back then that was the fashion and this other guy came up and pulled on my tie in the back and lured me away from the group. We started playing that "trust" game where you fall back and someone catches you. It felt really cool to fall back and be caught like that, over and over again. My hair was really long and I could feel it drop back as I fell backwards. I started to worry about the other guy cuz the music was starting but I just kept wanting to spend time with this guy. That was the end, weird huh?
Back to the old church building. That was the coolest place ever. It had a basement and a room under the stage, lots of grass and yard and bushes and trees. Every 5th Wednesday for MIA we could have a dance and even the scouts and beehives were invited to practice for the stake dance which I thought was a good idea and don't understand why they don't do that anymore. We also could roller skate in the cultural hall to records, my favorite song was "hitchin' a ride", or if the weather was nice we would go outside and play group games, like flying dutchman or steal the flag or two deep. All the youth would play from the laurels and priests to the scouts and beehives. My favorite was flying dutchman. We had a lot of non-members come on Wednesday nights to participate, it was kind of the place to be.
I remember this one guy named Mark (can't remember his last name) he would hide in the bushes and jump out at me and try to kiss me almost every Wednesday. He never did accomplish that , WHAT! WHAT! What was I thinking? I think because he was shorter than me and couldn't quite reach, but that didn't stop Lawrence Pacheco. Hmmmm Mark was blond and short and Lawrence was dark and short. That's funny now that I think of that.
I sometimes feel sorry for the youth now a days because they don't seem to have that same type of experience I had and the church has quit doing some of the activities that brought us all together a little more....or so I think. Maybe with name changes come other changes. The youth now are a lot stronger and more noble than I think we were, so that could be it. Anyway just a jaunt down memory lane, that dream triggered a lot of food for thought. Good Times!

My Dad Incarnate

So.....as most of you know, Quentin and Yesenia are expecting twins. I am so very excited about this even though I know I will need to work my booty off cuz I told her I would help her, even if I have to spend the night the first few months. Not important right now...about my dad.
Quentin is so much like my dad. His attitude, his body shape, his opinions etc.....everything except Q has a stronger testimony than my dad and sincerely tries to live the gospel to the best of his ability, better than my dad.
Since they are expecting twins they have to double their efforts and stuff, pun intended, so Quentin and his little family stopped by last night and I could tell by Q's face something big happened. He finally spilled and said look outside. He just bought a new van (2008)! Originally they were gonna go down to the valley and look for one but just like my dad Q couldn't wait and got ants in his pants and just did it. ( Yesenia said you know how he is) The thing is, he got such a smoking deal on this vehicle just like my dad always did. He researched all the small vans like my dad would do, and decided on the one he got. It's a dodge, which he made fun of me for getting my Durango (he apologized later for making fun of me) but he said this particular van for what he was looking for had the best rating for the price range he was looking at. Can't remember what type of van it is. Anyways it has the seats that swivel and a table you can put up and two dvd players, a screen for backing up so you can see what's behind you and storage in the floor in front of the seats. He really made out like a bandit! I told him how glad I was for them and he comes by it honestly, getting good deals like my dad did. I won't tell how much he paid for it but he got a smoking deal on the trade in of his car, waaaaay more than he thought he would be given. Also Yesenia is a wheeler, dealer, she started to walk out a few times and said we're gonna go to Phx and look for a better deal. Quentin was so proud and beaming for his wife.
Jhade was so funny cuz she didn't want to get out of the car when we went out to look at it. Usually she cries to not want to go home but last night she was crying to get back in the van and go driving. She's such a funny little girl.
Side note: My grandpa was the same way so my dad came by it honestly. I guess it skipped me or maybe it's just a guy thing.

Dance movies and exercise

Weeelllll.......I love watching dance movies. They are generally very cheesy and have a love story in them etc... but I like them non the less. This last year for Christmas Tevia and Risa went in together and bought us a Roku and a year subscription to netflix. So I've been surfing it and requested some movies that have to do with dancing. Now my all time favorite dance movie still is 'Strictly Ballroom' very, very cheesy but fun! I just watched one called 'Marilyn Hotchkiss's Ballroom dancing and charm school'. It was a little melancholy but a good story, Thad even liked it. The movie did a lot of moving back and forth between different time frames, kind of like the movie 'The Hours' but better, cuz it has dancing in it.
I now even down loaded a dance exercise video and it's so much fun to do. I'm really uncoordinated but slowly I've been able to pick up on the steps. I've just told myself to be patient because I remember that I used to pick up on dance steps fairly quickly when I was younger and once I start practicing I should be able to do it again. I chose an easy hip-hop type routine....weird huh? but it looked really fun and I thought if I could catch on to that, then I could catch on to all the other stuff that I use to do. Just so you all know I probably won't ever perform for any of you, not a pretty sight and maybe too comical for my fragile ego. hehe (I've also been know to eat many of my words, *gag, choke cough, cough*)
Anyways just felt like blithering about that. Thanks again Tevia and Risa for the gift of dance through video. TTFN

marathon quilter extraordinaire!

Mom has had quite the quilting bug recently, and i should have taken a shot of the beaut she made for Jarek before he took it home a few days ago, but maybe i'll remember to do that when we visit at month's end.
Here is a view of the completed work of art that took a full day to complete, start to finish, sun-up to way after sundown. I consider myself a truly fortunate bloke to be recipient of such a symbol. Not often does one recieve a gift of such beauty, practicality and meaning. Just this last week i was thinking that i would soon need to find a blankie to take to work, thanks to all those hot-blooded firefighters i labor with who like to sleep in meat locker environs. Now all I will have to worry about is that someone might entertain thoughts of annexing it in my absence. Fortunately, this is truly a one-of-a-kind item so it will be easy to identify and reclaim.
It's been rather fun watching mom all busily engaged in her domestic pursuits these last few weeks. Aprons and hot pads and quilts...OH MY!
She has also expressed a desire to re-enter the world of tole painting. If only she had a decent place to store all the supplies and produce the projects. Hmmm, maybe i should be doing that instead of sitting here. Good idea! Anyway, just thought i'd share this and give a public thanks for the lady of my life. Thanks!

Now it's my turn.....I've been in this crazy quilt making phase. As Thad said I made a quilt for Jarek, a rather late happy you were born quilt. Weird that I didn't make him one since he's my first grandchild but better late than never. The look and smile on his face made it all worth waiting this long. So now I shall get busy and get the quilt I told Risa I would make for her birthay.
I had been wanting to make a quilt with fire fighter designs for quite some time and so yesterday I decided to sew this one for Thad for our anniversary. I was determined to finish it on that day and so I did, much to Scruffy's dismay. Too bad I was too pooped to take it to Thad that night at the station but I surprised him when he came home.
Well I better get busy and start cutting and sewing. Tootles!

Girls Weekend 'Out'

This last weekend my girls, Tiffany and I all went to Disneyland and then to the San Diego temple. What a blast! I was so excited to go and do this. We had been planning on doing something together for a couple of years and finally we got to do it. I'm hoping next time we do something for a 'girls' outing Millie, Yesenia and Naomi can some how come too. That would be waaaaay fun.

We stayed at the Disneyland hotel and for some reason we were upgraded to a suite on the very top floor. That was pretty cool. I guess since there's some construction going on and lots of noise DL decided to be more accommodating. Anywho.......we started the day as early as possible and went and got breakfast in Disney Town and got our tickets for the World of Color show for that evening, which was totally Aaaaaasome! I didn't take pictures and amazing Tevia didn't take very many pictures either, probably having way too much fun to be bothered. The lines weren't too bad, longest wait was about 30 minutes. We ate at the Blue Bayou Cafe, a little pricey for my taste but it did taste good! Probably one of the funnest moments was splash mountain, not one of my favorite rides but.......this time it was pretty funny. Tevia rode in front cuz she likes the 'thrill' better than the rest of us and what do you know she got soaking wet! The rest of us only got the whole right side of us wet. It was pretty funny! This blog would get way too long if I told everything but long story short we had a great great time. Would like to do it again.

The next day, on Saturday, we went to the San Diego temple. What a beautiful temple! It looks like a fairy tale castle, but as beautiful as it was I still really like our little temple here better. The Snowflake temple feels like a warm hug. I guess I've just gotten used to how small it is and and it has a lot of cherry wood, one of my favorite types of wood, which gives it a warmer feeling. Hmmmm maybe since the air conditioning was on so high at the San Diego temple it maybe the reason for the not so 'huggy' feeling. Brrrrrr!

After we got back Tevia drove me back home to the mountain and her and the boys spent a few days here. We canned her peaches, then went and took pictures of the fall leaves. Malik had the best day ever by getting to hold a little snake Tevia caught. We went and celebrated Tenney's birthday and took the 'peach yummy' to Thad at the fire station and then the next day ate at La Casita for lunch. Jarek and Thad made some new wooden swords and Malik was invited to a friend's house that he knows up here and Enok just played trains of course.

Nice finish to a great weekend and good beginning for the week.

What a great time to be alive and enjoy the fruits of my labor....and delivery! Haha!

Puppy whipped

Well as most of you know we were blessed with a new addition to our family. Our nest is no longer empty. We are the proud "parents" of a little puppy, a Yorkshire terrier to be exact. We have really fallen in love with this little canine. His personality is much, much bigger than he is. Tevia realized after two weeks that she, after an honest effort, could not deal with a puppy and a three year old who both needed a lot of attention. As I was chatting with her on the computer she was lamenting about what to do, what to do about 'the dog'. I don't even think the thought crossed my mind before I blurted/typed "you want me to take him?" oops! did I type that out loud? Yikes!! She jumped on that like stink of poo! white on rice! however anyone wants to say that. I was commited....
We met at my mom's in Claypool and wow I didn't know Heavenly Father made puppies that small! How does one take care of such a tiny thing? Tevia gave me the low down on his "schedule" but once we got home most of that went out the window because Thad and I have become big push overs...... HENCE the purpose of this post.
Today Thad was getting ready to leave to go cut some trees. Scruffy (the name of our little blessing) knew Thad was leaving some where. OMG! He was yipping and whining and barking and was NOT gonna be left behind with boring old me. It was so dang cute how he went back and forth begging to me please, please make him take me! and then over to Thad please, please take me, I don't care where we go I just want to go! (Yes I can speak puppy dog, I've been walking with them for 18 years with Paula so I've picked it up). We were laughing so hard at him and finally Thad picked him and took him and said I'll go get some gas for the saw etc... and then I'll call John and find out what his schedule is and then bring Scruffy back. (I'm not real sure but I think having grandkids has broken us down to give in so easily).
I think I want to say Thank you Tev for giving him to us, some days not so much but mostly yes...thank you! Scruffy has been such a positive, happy, influence in our lives. He has brought us closer together....weird, but true. I'm not sure how that works but it has. Everything happens for a reason and not neccessarily always for the good but......in this case it was. I have been trying really hard to find the good in EVERYTHING that happens but alas I have to admit that lately I have not been very good at it. I shall strive to do better. Aaaaaand I shall strive to do better about posting....ya, ya, I know I've said that before but hey, you have to admit you have a problem. Hi my name is Monica and I have a 'not posting' problem. TTFN!

The Circle of Life.....a moment of reflection

Well, I thought I better write this while I'm in the mood for writing. Seems like this is the time of year for reflection of the past year and looking to the new year and what it may bring.
Today granny had a doctor's appointment in Claypool so we took her down last night and then this morning she went for her check up. This morning she had to have her cumidin checked and then this afternoon at two she had a check up with her primary care physician. Now to my point.....Thad and I decided to stay behind when she went for the morning thing cuz it wasn't a crucial exam. Thad stayed outside doing various yard work, trimming the trees, raking leaves, stacking wood etc....I stayed inside and cleaned. It made me realize how hard it's been for my mom to keep up with everyday housework (stuff I loathed and detested while growing up and avoided at all cost) but while I was doing those house chores.....dishes, sweeping and mopping, bathrooms, vacuuming etc... I had this feeling of contentment and joy in doing those things for my mom. I felt so happy just cleaning and organizing, washing sheets and towels hanging them out to dry like I used to when I was young at home. I guess I was feeling that I am some how paying my mom back for all she did for me and tried to teach me to do, which was a chore for her I'm sure. I was quite the tomboy and would rather play baseball, hop in and out of the various ponds and catch waterdogs and snakes and frogs, climb trees and all that is wonderful and glorious about the stuff boys get to do.
I kind of thought through the years that my dad would live as long as his parents.....95 and 93 respectively but alas he passed away at the young age of 61 and my mom has been a widow all these years. She's always been in pretty good health until the end of 2008 and had several heart attacks. It's been an up and down thing figuratively and literally with her health. Now... I had always planned to keep her if the time came but it came a little sooner than I had prepared myself for and it's been a joy and a bit of a trial. ( I LOVE my space and alone time) Argh it's not easy overcoming those selfish tendencies but I'm am endeavoring. It is now my turn to take care of her and make sure she has everything she needs and wants so that the rest of her life may be a bit easier and enjoyable. We are trying to make it possible for her to stay in Claypool as long as she can safely, which she loves dearly. Right now she can stay on her own during the spring and summer.
I want to thank Thad for always being so willing and kind and helpful and generous when it comes to taking care of my mom because his parents are struggling with health problems far worse than my mom's but he never complains and does what he can.
I guess I can't believe time has gone by so fast that I'm at this point in my life that I need to look after my mom. I had it in my mind that my mom and dad would still be living together and caring for each other and all of us kids would just check up on them like we did with my grandparents. Such is the circle of life and we get to choose how well we will rise to the occasion when these events are presented to us. I hope some day to hear the words well done thou good and faithful servant, or daughter....going both ways.....daughter of Heavenly Father and of my own earthly parents.

ladder 209 ...live

A few weeks ago we had a structure fire in our district that both neighboring fire departments (Pinetop and ShowLow ) were summoned to assist us. I was not on duty at the time but since it was toned out as the balance of a first alarm and a working fire on a two story structure, protocol required that I respond to the station.
( a little background here) It was before 8:00 in the morning, there was about half a foot of snow on the ground, and Quentin was returning to his home after a shift of firefighter duty in
whiteriver. Since he is a reserve for Lakeside Fire, he went straight to station 210 and was able to leave with the first out engine.
I went to Lakeside Station Two to fire up engine 221 and drive it to station 210 in order to pick up the five guys who had showed up there to assist. By the time we arrived at the scene, Pinetop and ShowLow had several pieces of fire apparatus engaged in suppression activities, as well as our first due engine and rescue. There was a narrow snow covered driveway some 150 foot long leading to the involved structure. Smoke and flames were coming from the upper west end and a little smoke also showed from the gable at the east end.
Activities on a fire or EMS scene are dictated by training. Everyone seems to go on auto-pilot as soon as it becomes evident that action is needed. A horizontal standpipe was laid up the driveway and to that 3 inch supply line was connected a wye with two 2 3/4 inch attack lines. Quentin and Nik took the interior attack line up the outside stairs, made entry and in perfect textbook fashion fogged the flames from inside the structure toward the entry point. Very little water was used, thereby limiting damage to the contents that were not burning. Salvage and overhaul operations proceeded as practiced by all departments and in short order we were cleaning up and draining hoses to get everyone back in service.
The Chief officers had all personnel meet for an evaluation discussion. We stood in a circle and each officer reported their respective responsibilities and how each assignment was carried out. The purpose of these meetings is to not only to reinforce good decisions and behavior but also to learn from mistakes and to assure that all have a chance to input observations. As we were thus gathered and I was looking at my fire fighting family, I became very emotional...more so than i can remember for a long time. In the past months we have had several incidents that naturally would have been cause for deep emotion. There was a fatality of a citizen in a house fire shortly before christmas. Several firefighters have had various family situations that have been difficult, and one has had to take a leave of absence. The holidays always bring opportunities to serve the community, with our thanksgiving and Christmas dinner programs and our Gifts for Christmas tradition that is so appreciated by the public. But this was something different for me.
You all know how art, music and the movies are created to evoke certain feelings. A really good performance by a really good actor can bring a tear to many an eye. As I looked into the faces of those brothers and sisters in that circle who have pledged to put their lives in danger to preserve the lives and property of their neighbors, tears welled up when I came to the face of my very own flesh and blood son, who probably didn't even notice that I was there. I must admit that I cry easily at a good movie, but this was no production, we were no actors, and the tears were very real. I'm grateful for all those who have gone before us to make this such a noble profession. I'm glad there are yet many who feel the call of adreneline and answer with eagarness. And I very aware of the things my family had to do without during all those years as a volunteer firefighter. And every day I give thanks for the job I currently have that allows me to be counted among some of the area's finest. But above all I am thankful for my family. Monica, our children and grandchildren are what give meaning and value to each day. So a big fat thanks to you all. Yes, that means you who are not in Lakeside, also. I love you all.

Happy day after infamy

Wowzers!!! What a night! T'was the ghost of winters past all night long. It started yesterday with a nice little snow storm that produced some huge fluffy flakes. There was sufficient moisture in the air to make for perfect snowball and snowfort construction material. Since the temperature didn't drop much below freezing, the snow remained very heavy and stuck tenaciously to everything it touched. Therefore, the emergency calls started coming in fast and flurrier. The electricity went out a few times here in Webbville, and we heard of two pretty big outages in ShowLow on the FD radio. Cars were running off the road and all sorts of medical calls were coming in for Pinetop, Lakeside and ShowLow. Then we got a call from Quentin asking if our lights were out. At that time we had electricity here. Then Q explained that the lines had fallen on his car and his whole neighborhood was dark. We invited him to come over but he thought he could tough it out. Which he did till just a little before 6 o'clock. Then we heard Jhade's little squeaky cry and knew that Christmas had arrived early...Poor Yesenia needed to sleep and it was just too cold in ShowLow with no furnace. So mom took care of Jhade and Q and Y got a nap and got to eat some yummy biscuits and gravy upon arising. I shoveled some paths to the woodpile and to Gramp and Gram Webb's place then shoveled some snow off the roof. Brought back some good memories. Lead on, global warming!

if we do this often enough, it just may stick. Here's another pic