2007 October | Monica Buckles

Monthly Archives: October 2007

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Halloween fun

October 31, 2007 – 12:23 pm

Halloween is in full swing at our house, and I’m feeling baa-humbug about the whole thing. It’s not that I don’t love Halloween, or any other holiday for that matter, but I hate the busyness of it. Of course since procrastination is my middle name I waited until last night to buy candy, and find a costume.

Every year my kids ask me what I’m going to be, and I tell them “a grumpy old mommy”. They don’t think that’s very funny, so this year I did go out and get a costume, well sort of. I’ll post pictures later. Since I’m joining in the Halloween ~~crap~~ fun I thought Ash should to, so I made him go out last night and get himself a costume to.

Halloween just isn’t fair to us Weight Watchers girls. I am totally over my candy addiction except when Halloween rolls around. Wish me luck tonight.

Posted in Crazy Life, Family, Hubby, Kids, Weight Loss | Comments (1)

The day a Meth head tried to steal my puppy

October 29, 2007 – 4:13 pm

I often tease my hubby when he talks about growing up here in happy valley, and the drug problem at his school. He would tell me about kids stealing prescription pills from their parents, or even one kid who would throwÂ himself down the stairs to get pain meds.

This was incredibly funny to me because were I grew up (in the ghetto) we had a crack man that set up shop on the sidewalk in front of our school, armed security guards, metal detectors, and weed might as well have been sold in the vending machines. It was really that accessible.

A few months ago while taking a trip to ~~hell~~ Walmart with my new puppy, I was approached by a girl who was interested in asking questions about Bailey. There was nothing in particular about her that was alarming, but every bell and whistle in my head went off. I knew she wanted to take Bailey. When she got closer I could see signs that I was right and she probably was a meth head. Meth isn’t a drug that I’m really familiar with. It wasn’t as readily available in our area, but I saw how twitchy and jumpy she was and just knew. Then she asked if she could hold her, and the red flags really went off. I told her no, and made an abruptÂ exit into the store.

As soon as I got into Walmart the ~~annoying~~ nice greeter told me that Bailey would have to wait in the car. I turned around and marched right back to the car.Â When I got out front I sawÂ two guysÂ chasing down the same girl for trying to steal a bike from the bike rack out front. She was yelling “I’m sorry I’m sorry” and running off. They chased her away, and returned the bike.

I knew it, I wasn’t crazy that lady wanted to steal my dog to sell for drugs. (Bailey ain’t cheap, she would have been in meth heaven for awhile) I have always prided myself on being street smart and on that day it paid off. When I got home I told Ash all about it, but he didn’t seem as surprised as I was. I guess there really is a drug problem in happy valley. I need to do more to warn my kids.

Posted in Crazy Life, Hubby, The Puppy, Utah | Comments (0)

Does being a blogger automatically mean your a geek?

October 29, 2007 – 7:44 am

Yesterday my little sis was over, (watching our kids while we went to Park City for the night) and we got into a discussion about how geeky I am becoming because I blog and enjoy reading blogs. Does blogging automatically equal geek?

Her evidence to prove what a geek I am was that within 3 hours of cutting my hair I had posted a pic of the new do. To my defense though Ash was out of town and I posted that picture totally for his benefit. I know excuses excuses.

On a more exciting topic (at least for us anyway) today is the big move in day for LDS hospital. This means Ben along with about a hundred others will be shipped over to their new rooms via 85 ambulances. I can’t imagine the undertaking in moving that many sick and injured patience. The new place is great, and he will have a gorgeous mountain view along with a huge flat screen TV and pull out sleeper sofa. Yeah!Â I watched a bit of the move on the news this morning, and all was going well. We can’t wait to visit him in his new place.

Even more good news, my theory about ignoring my symptoms worked and I’m feeling much better.

On a more sad and pathetic note, Ash fractured a bone in his foot. How you ask? He has no idea, he just woke up that way. He’s the only person I know who can get hurt doing nothing. He swears I must beat him in his sleep. I say he needs to at least come up with a good storyÂ like he hurt himself while skydiving or something.Â I hope he gets better soon, I hate seeing him hurt so much.

Here is a few of my favorite posts for the week.

Johnny Suede Slept Here by Hola Isabel
Old People Central by Azucar
Lois Gets Dragged Kicking and Screaming into the 21st Century by Lois

And I think Adria looks adorable in this.

Posted in Family, Hubby, Random Thoughts | Comments (1)

Odds and Ends

October 26, 2007 – 7:49 pm

Just a bunch of random thoughts for the day:

You know you are getting old when you are offered a 5 star room in Park City for the night, and it sounds like to much work.
I finally got a page rank, after about 8 months of blogging. Now that a page rank doesn’t mean much.
Working out the details for a weekend trip with Ash to Vegas. He decided to go to a geek conference over his birthday (how else would a geek celebrate his birthday), so I’m going to fly down for the weekend to see him.
Still waiting to find out a final total, but it looks like we raised about $2,500 at the benefit for Ben. Yeah for us!
and last but not least, I’m trying hard not to admit that I’m probably getting sick. I figure if I ignore the pounding headache, and sore muscles maybe they will just go away.

My spelling must be improving (I suck at spelling, always have) because I out smarted spell check for the first time.

Posted in Random Thoughts | Comments (2)

Addicted to Blogging

October 24, 2007 – 5:34 pm

Blogging is such a funny thing. I’ve been blogging for work for about 2 years now. I sometimes struggle with writing this blog because I’m so used to blogging for my job, and there is just something you can’t say when working. It’s strange to me that I can write about whatever I’m thinking, and total strangers could be reading it. (I convince myself that they are not, it makes me feel better;0)

I flip flop between not wanting to share stuff for fear of being embarrassed, to saying everything that pops in to my head (and probably offending someone).

I’ve been reading others blogs for a few years now, and it seems like I know more about these people, and their lives than I do about very good friends. I read about their children, families, hobbies, and experience. I listen and grieve with them through hard times and get excited for them in good times. Many of these people I will never meet, and probably don’t even know I’m following along. Which brings me to another point; I love seeing so many people comment on others blogs, but I worry about intruding if I do. I know its not intruding if they put it out there for the world to see, but still it feels like voyeurism at its best.

Lately a few of the blogs that I have read on a regular basis have been shut off, and I feel like I’ve lost a friend, how weird is that. When people go a long time without posting I feel some kind of with drawl. (I know sounds obsessive) It’s just like missing a friend.

I know that some of the Utah bloggers get together from time to time, maybe I just need to get up enough courage to introduce myself and make some more friends online. The few times I have met people from online it has been great (not scary at all). When I got brave enough to post a comment on Isabel’s blog she realized that her and I had a connection from Seattle that we hadn’t know before. Like she said “we are practically related.”

Those who know me will be surprised at how shy I really am (I can be quit a loud mouth in person). Blogging is great, I might be an addict, but I don’t watch to much TVÂ so everyone has to have one obsession. This just happens to be mine. Thanks to all the great witty bloggers out their that make the Internet a fun place to hang out.

My assignment for the week: introduce myself to 2 new bloggers, and leave comments on their blog. (I’m starting small)

What are your goals for the week?

Posted in Friends, My Work, Utah | Comments (1)

Donate to Ben

October 23, 2007 – 11:53 am

We have got a lot of phone calls, and emails from people asking where they can donate money if they can’t make it tonight. Ash has set up an account to take donations, just go to www.ashbuckles.com, and click on the donate button.

Thank you to everyone for your support, we really do have the greatest friends!!! Hope to see a bunch of you their tonight.

Posted in Family, Friends, Hubby, Utah | Comments (0)

Benefit Dinner

October 21, 2007 – 4:05 pm

OK I’m finally able to let everyone know about the benefit dinner for Ben and his wife Megan. On Tuesday the 23rd (sorry about the late notice) at Biaggi’s Restaurant in Salt Lake city we will be having a benefit dinner. It will be from 4 until 10 o’clock, and the cost is only $10 a person. All proceeds will be going to Ben and his family to help cover medical expenses. If any of you have been to Biaggi’s before you know it is a fabulous restaurant and this price is a real steal. They will be serving Spaghetti Pomodoro, and a salad. Biaggi’s is located at the south east corner of the Gateway mall, and the address is 194 South 400 West.

We really appreciate every ones support, and hope so see a lot of people Tuesday night. Children are welcome, and this would be a great family night out or a date night for a worthy cause.

PS we just got a phone call from a friend who won’t be able to make it but wanted to know how to send money. That is incredibly sweet. We have the most loving and generous friends around!

Posted in Family, Friends, Utah | Comments (0)

Not for the squeamish

October 17, 2007 – 8:23 am

OK so we just got back from St. George, and we had a great time all except the first night their. Now comes the disclaimer. If you have a weak stomach click away now.

Really

I mean it!

OK anybody still with me?

So my youngest son woke me up at 4 o’clock in the morning our first night in St George telling me that I needed to change his shirt. In my dazed stupor I asked him why what happened and then I smelt it, and didn’t need to wait for the answer. I staggered out of bed, and ushered him into the bathroom where I flipped on the light to discover that my fear was correct. My son was covered from his chin to his toes (no exaggerating) in POO! Not puke like you might have guessed POO. Really. and he’s almost 5! All I can guess is that he was REALLY REALLY asleep. Don’t worry, this is one thing I didn’t take pictures of.

It took me an hour and a half to get him, the bathroom, and his bed cleaned up, and then two more days to completely get rid of the smell. By the way, sorry to the owner of the condo who probably would never rent to us again if he finds out what happened. I’m sure I cleaned and bleached away all the evidence.

So what is the sickest thing your kids have ever done?

Posted in Family, Kids, Utah | Comments (0)

“Faith precedes the miracle”

October 16, 2007 – 5:42 pm

With recent tragedy hitting so close to home, and spending a considerable amount of time at LDS hospital, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking and reflecting on life. Looking at what really matters, and how your reality can be changed in an instant. As time goes by we realized more and more how this event is going to impact not only Ben’s life, but the people around him. I can’t begin to wrap my head around the heart ache he must feel, knowing he will never walk again. We take so much for granted. He doesn’t have much use of his hands, so he can’t even feed himself.

I’ve been thinking a lot about faith, and I came across this blog at Segullah that I really enjoyed. I have never had a problem with faith, I have never struggled to know that the church is true, and for this I am very grateful. I have struggled withÂ obedience. Although I have never doubted the church I have had a hard time from time to time doing what I knew was right.

Last week I watched Ben ask for a blessing while he struggled with pneumonia. (He is not a member of the church, but knows that we are) He honestly thought at one point that he wasn’t going to make it. We were able to get him a blessing, by tracking down someone in the hospital who was able to assist. The next day when I came to see him the pneumonia was all but gone. I pointed out to him that the blessing worked, and then someone pointed out to me that Ben’s faith was what made the blessings a success. For some reason that hit me hard. It wasn’t anything that I didn’t already know, but being born and raised in the church I forget that we don’t have exclusive rights to faith, and that others not of our faith can and are blessed by Heavenly Fathers priesthood based on there faith.

I’m grateful he had the faith to be healed, and that I was taught a lesson in the process. Right now I’m finding a lot to be grateful for.

Stay tuned for an announcement about a benefit that will hopefully be happening soon for Ben and his family. If it is pulled off as planned it should be a fun night for a worthy cause.

Posted in Churchy stuff, Family, Friends | Comments (0)

UEA Vacation

October 12, 2007 – 8:23 am

We are off on a much needed vaca to St George. Hope everyone has a great weekend. I’ll post pics when we get back.

Posted in Family, Hubby, Kids, Utah | Comments (0)

New Do

October 9, 2007 – 12:10 pm

So I went and got my haircut and I thought I would post a picture. I tried to take a picture through the mirror and I thought “Wow that mirror is really dirty, how did that happen?” Oh well I’m not going to clean it now, so then I remembered Adria’s post about her new hair cut and decided to try the reverse camera photo. What do you think?

So Ash has a crush on Reese Witherspoon, and fell in love with her haircut on the cover of ELLE magazine. So this is my attempt at her haircut.

Posted in Hubby | Comments (6)

Conference and Car wrecks

October 8, 2007 – 3:19 pm

Wow the wild ride that is my life just doesn’t slow down. We had a wonderfully blissful time watching conference. Believe it or not all my kids behaved themselves for all 4 sessions of conference. Of course due to the wonderful conference bingo game. I love that game and the creative person who came up with it.

On Sunday we went over to my in-laws house for breakfast and conference, and stayed for both sessions. I really needed this conference. I don’t know that I heard anything earth shattering, I just needed the grounding that it gave me. I just needed something to bring me back to center. Life has been crazy for so many months now it was great to do nothing but listen to the apostles teach at conference.

At grandma’s house we cheated a little, and let Cole play blocks quietly during the morning session.

This morning we got up early to get Ash ready to leave for the airport. At about 7:00 I got a phone call that I recognized as being from Iraq. When I answered the phone my brother-in law was asking me what happened to Ben. Ben is his best friend, he’s know him since they were kids. Ben is a very important part of the family, he is just like family. I’ve know the kid since he was 8. I told him I didn’t know, but I would find out. After a little hunting, and a little lying (I had to pretend I was immediate family) I was able to find out that he had been in a car wreck and was at LDS hospital in the ICU. So I took Ash to the airport and ran over to the hospital to see if they would let me in. They did let me in, but I wasn’t ready for what I found. Ben broke his neck and will never walk again. I couldn’t believe it, he is only 25, has 2 step kids and a baby on the way in December, and he will never walk again.

I then had to make the phone call to Iraq and let Corey know what I found. He took it pretty hard, and is on his way home in the next few days. Ben is pretty upbeat about the whole thing, and his sweet wife Megan is holding everything together for now. His mom and sister came to town. (Ben lost his dad a few months ago, so this is just another major blow). It is good to have them here. His mom is handling a lot so Megan can focus on Ben.

I spent the morning at the hospital, and then came home to get my kids from school. I’m going to go back up their as soon as my sister gets here to watch my kids. Oh funny side note, my little sister went in to see Ben and promptly passed out TWICE. What a wimp.

Anyway does anyone have any ideas of how I can be useful? I have often heard stories of service that people have given, and thought “I wish I would have thought of that.” I just don’t know how I can help.

Posted in Crazy Life, Friends, Hubby | Comments (2)

The sweetest husband in the world

October 5, 2007 – 7:02 pm

13 bouquets of flowers for our 13th anniversary. He tried to get 13 dozen roses, but they didn’t have that many.
I was so shocked I didn’t know what to say, so I took pictures ;0)