Whiter, I Think

Remember a few years ago when I used a Groupon to get my teeth whitened and it was the most agonizing torture I've ever had to endure (birthing four babies with no meds notwithstanding)?

Teeth whitening memory post (2011!)

I tried again. My hair stylist who I LOVE (as a stylist and as a friend) got certified, along with her daughter, and do whitening in their home studio. So I was intrigued. She reassured me they haven't had anyone complain of pain. So I was tempted. And I have a front tooth that's darker than the other and it really really bothers me. So I scheduled an appointment.

I only had a little bit of zinging at the end of four 20 minute treatments. I took a nap through one of them. Felt great the rest of the day, until bedtime I had to take four Advil. But that was it. It went really, really great!

And my teeth are whiter. I think.

Dishwasher Grime

Have you ever cleaned your dishwasher filter? If not, you should, they get soooo gross. I think I keep on top of it pretty well (once a year, maybe?) but over the last couple days, I noticed our dishwasher racks had pink mildew appearing all over them. 

Like what is happening? Shouldn't running a daily cycle clean and sanitize not only the dishes in the racks, but the racks themselves? 

I'm not quite sure how it got so bad, but I couldn't ignore the pink slime any longer. The job required rags, a toothbrush, white vinegar, lots of elbow grease, removing the racks and cleaning around every prong, getting the edges and corners, scrubbing the tub (it was bad!!) and the right personality to see it through to the end and not stop at "good enough."

Now I've made a list of summer chores for myself. One a day? One a week? Feels so good to clean up the grime and junk.

Trilobite Hunting!

5th grade bucket list dream happened today!

Kristin and I went digging for Trilobites in western Utah -- 

52 miles west of Delta, the last 20 on a dirt road, 

three and a half hours from Salt Lake, in the middle of nowhere now, 

but the edge of the Pangea 500 million years ago.

And the time flew by. Felt\ like only minutes since we had so much to talk about.

(And Kristin drove!)

Kristin became my willing participant because of her family connections in Delta, Utah and her love for that area. Thanks to her, she made "some day" happen by actually making plans for our adventure. With their imminent move back to Tempe, it would have been easy to say too bad we never got around to it.

BUT, no! Isn't she a wonderful sister-in-law?

I'd learned there was a U-Dig trilobite location near there and had always wanted to go trilobite hunting. Like since 5th grade when Mr. Fornelius rewarded us for good test scores with trilobites and other fossils or minerals. (It's because he made geology so much fun that I took it as an elective at BYU, and well, that's where I met Dan.)

I wasn't sure what to expect or if we'd actually find anything. 

But wow! Trilobites in every third rock you cracked open. 

Trilobites in rocks you just picked up off the ground. 

We spent two hours sitting on the ground, orange buckets by our sides, 

splitting shale with claw-side of our hammers.

It was super addicting and so satisfying, especially in late spring with cooler temps. 

I will totally go back any time anyone wants! It was super fun. And so rewarding.

Sorting through our haul, picking and choosing what to leave and what to take.

Fav TV Series in 22/23

Dan and Nick are in Pagosa today and tomorrow.

I loved my Sunday alone: 

Morning church --I haven't been in our home ward for several weeks and I'm always happy when I go back and feel so much love for our church community,

 Mormon Tab, Peace in Christ, and other inspirational music in the background all day lifts and settles my spirit. I love it. And then by the evening I'm usually ready to turn it off.

I started (binged) a new show, The Maid, on Courtney's recommendation, and was hooked.

Made me think of some other TV series favorites in 2022 and 2023:

Bad Sisters, Only Murders in the Building, Anxious People, Ted Lasso, 

The Chosen, Wednesday, Shrinking, 

A Million Little Things, Grace & Frankie, Severance, Abbott Elementary, Home Economics

Not sure if I'm forgetting something good, but think I'll keep adding to this list as I remember.

Courtney flew over Manhattan on her way to Indiana last night.

Isn't this the coolest perspective? 

She even found the Belnord!

Celebrating

We had fun celebrating Ryan and Molly's wedding tonight with the Shaeffers.

I hijacked a couple of pics from Jo's Instagram so I can remember

how beautiful the evening and the couple were.

Guests were invited to be casual (yes!) for the lovely backyard venue,

a taco truck, churros that were muy delicioso,

sitting around a big table laughing and catching up with Jo, & Kelly, EC, Kory & Amy, darling Xochi,

Duncan & Kristin, Chris & Nick, Adam & Curt, and Claire & Colin.

Lots of family and friends to celebrate the couple, light-up toys and dancing.

A great evening, beginning with this rainbow on the drive to Farmington.

Forward Thinking

Hailed this morning while I was in the sunroom!

I still don't mind this spring weather -- warm but not hot, daily storms mixed with sun.

While I was running errands yesterday I realized because I was out of town for Mother's Day,

I never planted tomatoes, peppers or zucchini! 

I only planted the seeded things like lettuce, spinach, beets, radishes (for Michael!), beans and carrots.

Not all of them are coming up, cilantro has taken over,

and I have a few random lettuce bunches that self-seeded at the far end of the garden.

Are we even going to be here enough to keep up with zucchini and tomatoes?

Should I even bother?

But then again, what's summer or fall without garden tomatoes and zucchini noodles.

So I bought them. I'll plant them. Tomorrow maybe.

Just Be Outside

A bike ride with friends was a great way (only way?) to get me outside

on a long ride on a gorgeous morning.

Every afternoon it clouds over and storms.

I love it.

Time Flies

 I've been very busy planning for the Adair Pagosa reunion:

food, activities, swag, bedding, itinerary, games and lots of purchasing as a result.

The food for 44 people is insane! 

For one morning meal of breakfast burritos I estimate:

65 tortillas, 120 eggs, 7 lb sausage, 3 lb diced potatoes

2 lb sour cream, 2 lg jars of salsa, and 24 oranges -- plan on a whole box.

Times by eight meals!

(We're catering dinners, thankfully.)

I'm a little unsure if we'll have space to store it all!

(I'm looking for a place to change exclamation points to periods, in what I've just written, but, nope. 

Every sentence deserves that much Wow!)

Also planning for the Relief Society Summer Social.

Of which I'll be out of town for. 

But I'm on the Relief Society Activities Committee 

so I printed, cut and bought envelopes for the invites.

Also organized the routes for the four of us delivering.

(LOVE the organizational aspect!)

A new mom made the invitations and flyers and they turned out so cute.

I'm so glad I didn't have to -- I could have made them cute, but it would have taken me FOREVER

and standards are so much higher now than they were when that was my main talent for all the activities and birthday parties when the kids were in elementary school.

Also, I knew how to type fast, manage an excel spreadsheet, and merge in Word to make address labels.

That talent served me well for years. Still does.

Remember when in 2001 when I was the Primary President, on the fundraising committee at Carlthorp and Crestwood, the newsletter editor at Crestwood and creating birth announcements for Chris, party invites for Courtney and Marty and for every other organizations activities and

Rachel said, "Buy an industrial paper cutter already!"

Whew! I don't think I've used any other device as much.

Nick and I mailed his grad announcements tonight.

I addressed while he cleaned the kitchen and then licked the envelopes.

It was a GREAT trade-off.

Remember a few days ago when we kept saying, 

"Everything is so green!"

Now I find myself constantly thinking,

"It wasn't that long ago that they were all little!"

River Runoff Report

Runoff Report:

This bank across from us was my guide in the 200 and 300's.

Now it's completely covered.

A couple weeks ago 300's covered and hid the gabion basket below.

Now at 500's we're halfway up the top one!

May 7-14 report when over 300 was CRAZY!

Now we're over 500!

One prediction expected 800 by the end of next week,

but that's been reduced to 650.

Reclaiming

I've missed mornings in my sunroom, praying and reading scriptures.

One of the Come Follow Me chapters was JST Matthew 24.

And would you believe I searched everywhere in the scriptures and couldn't find it? 

I felt like some missionaries who reported that when they were first in the MTC they searched the Bible for the book of Nephi and couldn't find it anywhere.

Finally, I read the Come Follow Me intro which directed me to look in The Pearl of Great Price.

I'm 52. How do I not know this?

In reality, I love that we're forever learning new things--in life, 

in the Gospel, setting new goals, in work, parenting, and on and on.

It keeps life interesting.

This tree never ceases to amaze year after year.

We sat outside and kept commenting how green everything was.

And the beautiful blooms on this tree.

And how remarkable it is that just a few weeks ago everything was brown and dry and cold and now we're surrounded by green and lush and leaves. And look how everything is so green!

We must have said it a million times between, me, Dan, Chris and Nick.

I worked on tidying today. I call it reclaiming.

The boys obviously survive just fine without me home.

But, these flowers were almost dead before I left two weeks ago.

How much longer would they have decorated the middle of the table if I didn't throw them away?

Am I the only one disgusted by the smelly brown water?

Seminary Graduation - Fly Now

Congrats Nick, for graduating from seminary!

Our Stake President spoke about Rocky and how in the end he doesn't beat Apollo Creed, 

but he achieves his goal of going the distance -- making it all 15 rounds -- which is a win.

So of course we came home and watched the movie. 

Shout out to Philly, where I just was two days ago.

Is there another movie that does as good a job of pumping you up? 

I've still got the entire soundtrack memorized. I think we had the record when we were kids!

It Was Worth It

Yes. 

Yes I did.

Last day in New York:

Slept in. Caught up on blogging. laundry, cleaning.

Debriefed with Courtney and Michael and their detailed spreadsheet for apartment choosing.

Was very impressed with their system for choosing.

Sushi for lunch (although I forgot to order rolls, now that I think of it).

Courtney made an apartment decision!

Parted ways so she could fill out the application so no one snatched it before she did.

At home I ate a bit of leftover graduation cake.

Tried to steam the toxic gasses from the bed.

More blogging.

Ice cream with Courtney and Michael and Ash. 

(Aren't they nice to invite me to come?)

Home to pack and blog and finish cleaning up.

I feel so fortunate to get to spend so much time with Courtney and Michael

in spite of them leaving across the country!

Meanwhile Marty, Lizzie and Emi have left for Japan! (Honeymoon three years later!)

Chris has moved home and Dan said all the high school friends were over grilling,

playing spikeball and one was peeing in the backyard. 

(Boys: "It's the outdoors!" Dan: "It's our backyard.")

Nick and  Dan practiced at the race track.

Dan is feeling MUCH better about his driving,

and Kate came to watch, then she and Nick went to the lantern festival.

I'm coming home.

Apartment Success!

Happy faces of a successful apartment hunting trip!

We found several great contenders by the end of the day.

Aaaaaannd we caught a train back to New York today instead of tomorrow.

We saw 12 more buildings today and at least 20 different units.

They are definitely blending together, 

but there are lots of great ones to choose from.

Here's to Eric (actually Teddy our tour guide of the slum lord 5), 

The Drake and their undying commitment to filling out forms before scheduling meetings,

Marty (who showed us The Chatham -- how's that for coincidence?) "How are things."

Justin whose professionalism gave us hope and squeezed us in. (Did we just walk-in?)

Destiny -- a breath of fresh air but TMI:

"This floor rotted through and we discovered the structural was weak last month
so now its the sturdiest in the building!"

AND, "In my three months here I haven't had any management issues."

Amber who squeezed us in first thing in the morning and was delightful,

Vince who didn't say more than two sentences,

Michelle, who wins for salesmanship, "Welcome Home,"

Jennifer who wasn't phased by the smelly hallways,

"they probably just took out the trash."

Phil, who was in love with the view on the 21st floor. (It was pretty great)

and was keen to know who we liked it,

and finally, Rich, in the flourescently carpeted office space that made the best of it with Dum-Dums.

We traipsed another eight miles today, albeit with a lot more elevators than stairs.

Thank you one and all for the memories!

Apartment Hunting Be Like...

We met in the courtyard at 7:30.

Took the 1 train (subway) to Penn Station.

Then the Amtrak to Philadelphia.

Got off at 30th Street, about a ten minute walk to Courtney's new job.

Michael timed it at 2 hours 10 minutes door-to-door.

Rittenhouse Square is a shady park surrounded by charming brownstones, 

high rises, trendy shopping, but also Target and CVS and lots of restaurants.

We started out with five apartments with the one at the top of these stairs being the best:

It literally had a Harry Potter hidey-hole closet door 

which opened to a treacherous staircase down to a creepy basement laundry.

We went up and down hundreds of steps and walked over seven miles.

Courtney and I inadvertently matched and here's the closest pic we got:

We couldn't check-in to our AirBnB until the afternoon, 

so we hoisted our backpacks with our overnight gear with us all day.

(Dang my laptop got heavy!)

A common questions was, "will these windows be washed before moving in?"

We ate lunch at Reading Terminal Market -- 

shared a Reuben from Hershels and sausage and pork sandwich from Dinic's.

Pretzels for dessert. Soooooo yummy!

We were looking forward to debriefing over lunch, but unfortunately we hadn't seen anything that was doable yet. So we worked on broadening the search and making more calls.

Happy to see this sign and the building was fantastic too.

Finally, something promising.

Most of the apartments today weren't great.

But we had fun together. It was fun to commiserate about the good and the bad.

Evaluate the property managers and think about who would be a good fit for

Cottonwood and who was probably too honest.

We loved Rittenhouse Park even if we were picky about what bench to sit on.

So much good food to look forward to in the area.

Back at the Air BnB we were happy to put our feet up,

the three of us squish on the two-person couch and watch an episode of Silo.

We visited ten buildings today and even more units.

Time for a good night's sleep -- we've got a lot more work ahead of us tomorrow!