"The Event", Santa and Sunday.......

"The Event" (as Walmart was calling the big 5 hour sale instead of "Blitz") was truly a spectacle. When I pulled up to the light at the intersection you could see a line of traffic down the freeway waiting to turn in to the store. When I pulled into the parking lot I could not find a parking spot in the whole lot. People were starting to park along the freeway and in any available adjacent parking lot to the store. I ended up pulling into the yellow zone (I wasn't the only one) and told Bob when I walked in that if my car got towed he was paying for it.

The office associates (Jade, Jan, Connie and myself) were given the job to carry around a bag of candy and orange juice and pass them out to customers that looked like they needed it. The last 2 years we have had the same lady (who is diabetic) pass out in the store and we've had to call the ambulance. Bob did not want that happening again this year. It didn't, I'm not sure it was because of us though. We didn't even know what the lady looked like.

It was a fun job. I just got to walk around handing out candy and making nice to the customers. I got to see a lot of my friends and I could stop and talk to them with out being in trouble.

Saturday was the official arrival of Santa to Brigham. Usually it is in the evening but this year they had it at 11 in the morning. I think it was better because it wasn't as cold, but the wind did blow and make it colder than it should have been.

Leslie and the kids couldn't come in this year because Paul's Grandma was having her Christmas party at noon. Jamie and the boys did come up.

Trevon, Jamie and Jax ......
They had a children's group singing Christmas songs to entertain us while we waited..

Trevon and Jax drinking hot chocolate to keep warm.........

Here he comes (he is at the very back on the ladder)

Trevon with Santa.....

Jax with Santa, or as he put it "the man in the costume". He is getting older and I think he is questioning his belief in Santa.

After they saw Santa we went and had lunch at Wingers (Jax's choice). Then we ran to Walmart (I know, I broke my own rule) so Jamie could look at the Christmas trees we had and Jax and Trevon could show me some of the things they wanted for Christmas so I would have some ideas of what to get them.

Leslie and Paul went to dinner that evening so Cambria, Braxton and Gunner came over. Gunner had his Christmas stocking that Grandma Moore had given him (she gives one to each grandchild every year). He had to show me everything that was in it. He is 2 now so he is going to be so much fun this year.

Today I had to play a musical number for Sacrament meeting. This made it so that every Sunday this month I have been a part of the musical number. Edris called me Monday to see if I could do it. Then I was at Angel's for a couple of days and then with work and Santa and everything I really didn't have a lot of time to practice.

I picked out a piece that was Thanksgivingy (is that a word?) and was practicing it Saturday. This morning when I sat down to practice it and I decided to check our music list (as organist we get a list that has the songs that are being sung each Sunday and it usually covers 3 months). Well they had us singing Christmas songs today. That's okay with me but I felt like I should change my number. So I quickly looked through my music and found Sally Deford's arrangement of "The First Noel" I practiced it for about half an hour and that was it. Once again the angels were with me and it turned out great.

It was my Sunday to teach the lesson in Primary. You could tell it was a holiday, the kids were all wound up. After church was over we of course had choir practice. We are doing 3 songs for Christmas and they are all going pretty good. We had a huge turn out for practice, we usually do for December, everyone like to sing Christmas songs. I wish we could get these kind of turnouts all the time.

I've just been lazy all afternoon. I even took a nap. Jackie came over for a visit this evening. It is always so much fun to talk to her.

Well that's my weekend. It's now almost my bedtime, have to be to work tomorrow as usual.

The rest of my adventure........

Wednesday I woke up to Puddi sniffing and licking my ear....not something I'm used to.

Angel made her famous cinnamon burst french toast for breakfast...very yummy. Then we just hung out and watched TV and played on our computers until it was time to get ready for the concert. She gave me the rest of my Christmas present...the box set of TSO (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) Christmas Trilogy with DVD and their newest double CD set "Night Castle".

My next adventure was taking Trax to the arena. Riding public transportation is a feast for people watching. It was great though because it dropped us off right at the arena.

Trax.........

The Concert was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They played for almost three hours. Just them, no one opening band. They put on a great show. Very high energy. Classical and Rock, two of my favorite genres put together, what more could you ask for?

This is the picture Angel took with her phone.

There was a little boy around Jax's age sitting next to me and he was loving the concert as much as I was. It was so cute to watch him.

It was very interesting... I have listened to TSO Cd's but I have never seen them before. They have several vocalists both male and female. We noticed to be one of the female vocalist in the band that you had to have long blonde hair, which they all had. I pointed out to Angel that there was one brunette, she said that she was the token brunette. Their hair had to be long because it wouldn't have had the same effect when they flipped their heads while singing and dancing (and they flipped their hair A LOT).

They have 2 extremely talented violinist, one male and one female. Of course the female had...you guessed it....long blonde hair! I sat there and tried to figure out how when she flipped her hair it didn't get all tangled up in her violin and bow while she played. They used a local string ensemble that played with them.

The men in the group were...your typical rock band types. Tall, long hair and using the classic rock "triangle" stance (as Angel called it). I did have to remind her it WAS a rock band. One of the singers I wanted to take home with me.

I could go on but I have more to write about. After the concert was over Angel and I got in the line to look at the TSO stuff. She was going to buy me a t-shirt but then she saw in the other case that they had PIANO BOOKS!!!! She turned to me and asked "do you want a T-shirt or a piano book?" DUHHHHHHHHH...I want a piano book!

The worst part about that was she doesn't have a piano and I had to wait until I got home Thursday night to play out of it. That was shear torture. Whenever I get new music I beeline straight home and immerse myself in it.

Then we went to Joy Luck for Chinese/Thai (no Sushi this time). It was good, I had the Thai Pad Noodles.

Then we went to Target because I told her I wouldn't go into Walmart on my days off. It's a rule I have always lived by working in retail. We picked up some munchies and some things for Thanksgiving to take to Jamie's. I was getting tired and when that happens I start to giggle.

On Thanksgiving Angel made croissant,egg and cheese sandwiches for breakfast (she is pretty handy in the kitchen). Then we watched "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" which is Angels tradition. She is a huge Peanuts fan.

I had been telling her that we should put up her Christmas while I was here. She kept telling me no that she didn't put it up until Dec. 1st. Well the next thing I knew she had brought up all her Christmas decorations.

So I got busy and put up her tree and decorated it while she and Puddi just sat on the couch and watched me. Then I delved into the box of other decorations. I was giddy! There were things she had that she had never even opened. She told me that she didn't have room for any of it. I proved her wrong. I got it all out but a couple of things.

My family knows how much I love Christmas and the things that go with it. I had so much fun and her condo looks very festive now. I tried to talk her into getting a wreath for her door. But she refused. (spoiled sport)

We headed to Jamie's that afternoon for dinner. Jax was with his dad and Patrick was sick so it was just Jamie, Trevon, Angel and I. That just meant more food for us! Jamie is a good cook and puts out quite the spread.

We had Thanksgiving with a southern flair (Pat is from the south). Ham, deviled eggs, scalloped potatoes, macaroni and cheese (the good kind that comes out of the oven not the box), hot wings, olives, green salad, little wieners in BBQ sauce, and shrimp.

After that Angel drove me home since the Front Runner didn't run on the holiday. So that was my adventure. I had so much fun and did lots of things for the first time. Oh yea, the minute Angel left I pulled out my new piano book and sat down and played before I even unpacked.

The Front Runner........

I couldn't wait for my work day to be over. I have the next 2 days off! I haven't had a Thanksgiving day off since 1977, SERIOUSLY!

After work Leslie and the kids stopped by so I could give them their Christmas ornaments and see them before I left.

Carol picked me up and we dropped my turkey off to the family that needed it. Then is was off to Ogden. I had my camera but forgot to get a picture of the station.

I got on the train and the adventure began. Sitting across the aisle from me was a very old man in his Jazzy (motorized chair). He had a t-shirt with the sleeves cut off (and it was cold outside) a portable CD player in a case hanging around his neck and great big headphones (not the little ear buds) on.

I quietly sat down and pulled out my phone and started to update my FB minding my own business when he suddenly started to talk to me. He told me about how he rode the train all the time and he did seem to be a regular. The train workers all seemed to know him. Then he told me about all the places that he likes to go to sing karaoke (oh my...). Then he told me about how he needed some kind of surgery (heart I think).

Through the whole conversation I just kept playing on my phone and nodding my head and smiling. I don't think I ever uttered a word to the man. But that seemed to be okay with him and he just kept talking. He was a little hard to understand sometime, he had that old man slur to his speech.

I just thought this is all part of the mass transit experience.

The train makes 5 stops between Ogden and SLC. It only stops for maybe 2 0r 3 minutes at each stop. Woods Cross was the last stop before the SLC station. So I got to watch people get off and on at each station.

The one worker that kept going through our car and a police woman (who when she got on checked all of us for tickets) sat behind me and we all chatted about various things for a little bit.

I couldn't see much of the ride because it was dark when I got on the train. I could see car lights from the freeway and at each railroad crossing. I could also see the houses that had their Christmas lights on. For some reason the song "Over the River and Through the Woods" kept running through my mind.

It was a very nice ride and was quit enjoyable. I brought my book along but never even opened it. It was just too interesting and I didn't want to miss a thing on my first train ride.

We arrived at Woods Cross in record time. Left Ogden at 6:20 and pulled into Woods Cross at 6:54.

Debbie was there to meet me. Yes I would do it again and probably will.

The Front Runner.....................

After Debbie picked me up we went to their house and picked up Charles. Then we went to Mimi's Cafe where we met up with Angel.

Mimi's is a nice place. I had their chicken pot pie. Yummy! We sat and talked like brothers and sisters do.

Angel has gotten a new phone and it is like mine in the applications it uses. She was asking me how I saved picture from Text messages to my phone. So I showed her which application to download and then I showed her how to use it. Charles stated that it was the first time he had seen ME teaching Angel how to use something high tech. Angel always calls all of us the Technology Handicapped.

When we got back to Angel's she worked on my computer and cleaned up the mess it was in. Then we just watched TV.

I will not be sleeping alone tonight........Puddi (her dog) will be sleeping with me.

And the adventure continues........

The Adventure.....

For Christmas Angel bought me a ticket to go with her to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert this Wednesday. I am soooooooooooo excited. I've wanted to see them for years.

The adventure starts tomorrow evening. Any one that knows me knows that I HATE to drive the freeway to SLC (Salt Lake City). Solution.....the Front Runner. Originally I was taking the Front Runner to the SLC station and then jumping on Trax to the station closest to Angel's condo. Now I am taking the Front Runner to Woods Cross and Debbie will pick me up. Then Charles, Debbie and I will meet Angel for dinner in Salt Lake. After which I will go home with her.

My friend Carol H. is going to drive me to the Ogden station. Since my Thanksgiving plans were cancelled I have a 19 pound fresh turkey in my frig. I got with Carol, who is the Relief Society pres, and asked her if there was a family that could use it. She got with the bishop and he has someone that needs it. So we will drop it off on the way to Ogden tomorrow.

Angel and I are going to the 4pm show on Wednesday afterwards I think Angel is going to take me for Sushi since I have never had it and am already having an adventure. So sure, why not try raw fish?

Then I will stay over one more night and spend Thanksgiving with Angel and I think we will be going to Jamie's for dinner. Then Angel will take me home Thursday evening since the Front Runner isn't running on Thanksgiving. Just in time to go to bed so I can be to work at 4am Friday.

So for the next couple of days I should be able to have something interesting to post about. Maybe even a few pictures of my adventures.

November 21st........................

I'm sorry that I haven't been able to write anything for a few days. I have honestly tried but would always just sit and stare at the computer trying to will myself to say something interesting or share something about my day.

Things have been happening but it is nothing that I want to share because it is between myself and my girls.

I have spent my entire life trying to make everyone happy even when it meant sacrificing my happiness to do that. More than anything in life I have always wanted a close family.

I have tried my hardest to be the perfect daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother but I am not a perfect person and have never proclaimed to be one. No one know my faults and insecurities more than I do.

I did my best with what I had. I could never live up to any ones expectations of me, not my families, not Kelly's, not even my girls, not even mine sometimes no matter how hard I have tried.

Once again in trying to do what I thought was a good thing it has caused heartache and plans being canceled. I could not take having a Thanksgiving celebration and not have both of my daughters present. They are all I have.

I've been fighting tears for the past couple of days. Even the "happy" pills are not helping. I'd probably be a mess without them though.

I've been accused of changing into someone unrecognizable . In truth everyone changes as their life progresses. Change is a part of life . But in reality I am still the same person that has always wanted to be loved and needed and to make everyone happy.

I apologize to you all if I have done anything to hurt you and hope that you will forgive me. I am trying to do my best.

I want ALL my family to know how much I love them and need them in my life.

November is half over.........

The snow we received over the weekend has been melting today. It's was also leaking into the store in a couple of places. That kept the managers busy.

I bought my turkey today. We will have our Thanksgiving dinner this coming Sunday afternoon.

I did a little Internet shopping yesterday and now I am finished with Gunners and Braxton's Christmas presents. Two down three to go.

I also spent some time on the UTA site trying to figure out the Front Runner schedule for next week. I am going to Angel's on Tuesday evening and coming home on Thanksgiving afternoon/evening. I am going to give mass transit a try, especially since my car is not trustworthy any more. I will just have to drive to Ogden to the train station. It will be an adventure, that's for sure.

There is also a Front Runner station a couple a blocks away from Jamie's apartment that would mean I could go visit her more often with less wear and tear on my car and my nerves. This could be the start of a beautiful relationship......

This morning I went to church as usual. The choir sang and it went well. It amazes me every time that we struggle to get people to come to practice and then people come up when we sing that have never been to a practice yet it ALWAYS sounds perfect. I tell you the Angels sing with us.

It was my week to teach our class. The kids were a little hyper today but I think it was because it was our class' turn to do sharing time in Senior Primary. So I shortened the lesson so we could practice what we were going to do. We planned it last week and the kids really came up with most of the ideas.

In class we timed it out to be the perfect 15 minutes but when it was time to actually give the sharing time they got done in 10. Oh well.... it just gave us more time for singing.

We were practicing Christmas songs for the ward Christmas party and for the Sunday before Christmas program. We were learning the sign language to the last verse of Silent Night. It will be really pretty when the kids sing it at the party.

We had choir after the meetings. We have so much fun. We talked about how the kids were learning sign language to the songs and that if we did it as a choir then no one would be off key and they wouldn't have to learn their parts. But there would always be that one person who would be a beat behind with their hands.