I know this is going to sound a little odd, but I freaking love spending time working on The Farm.

Seriously.

Of course by “The Farm,” I mean the farm ED grew up on and that by default I get invited to. I’d like to say it’s because of my sparkling personality, which is probably taken into account, but it is also because of my willingness to help out.

Which I totally do.

Except this time I forgot my work jeans. ED informed me that I should always, always, ALWAYS plan on having work jeans with me each time I go down there (that’s what she said… heheheh).

Step One

Use scary machine #1: The Swather

Cut the alfalfa with the super scary machine's razor sharp teeth.

Let the freshly cut windrows of alfalfa dry. For how long? Until it's ready. True farm folk can tell just by looking at it.

Step two

Use scary machine # 2: The Baler. Let said scary baler eat the perfectly dried hay.

It then chews it up, binds it and craps it out the back.

Step three

Pick up the bales of hay with the intimidating giant bale wagon that sorts and stacks them for you.

Carefully back up and unload the giant bale wagon thingy. Cover your eyes if you get nervous.

Actually, better yet, let it unload itself.

Pray it all doesn't tip over. Reassure the bunny hatch and the chickens that it won't.

That?

Well, that’s pretty much it.

The night after baling hay, eat lots of carbs, drink whiskey, play cards and sleep soundly. After all, you freaking deserve it.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

PS – more pictures of the farm/baling adventure can be seen HERE.

Lessons Learned

The other night I went to visit my dear father. Due to recent knee replacement surgery, he was heavily medicated. When he was able to get audible sentences out, he was hilarious!

My adorable niece was also there and wanted to be a part of the action. However, her patience with grown-up conversations started to dwindle. She tried to get attention using every four-year-old trick in the handbook. We would appease her for a minute and then go back to our conversation. Soon she gave up…  or so we thought.

She disappeared into the other room, and when she returned she was wearing this:

When she walked out in her finest gown with smeared, red lipstick on her face, I had to laugh. It’s no wonder women get all dolled up before they leave the house. We learn at a very young age that it gets us attention. Even my Dad, in his drugged up state, took the time to tell her how cute she looked.

I’m not saying this is good or bad, just that it finally makes sense to me. I get ready before I leave the house because I like to feel pretty. I don’t need anyone to validate me or give me attention like my adorable niece does — I do that for myself. My outfits are typically a notch or two more low key than hers was, but I do feel better about myself when I look made up and yes, sometimes my confidence comes from an extra coat of mascara and a little lipstick.

It’s my fail proof pick-me-up.

Well that, or having my Dad tell me I look nice.

OK, so maybe I haven’t grown up so much after all.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Lessons Learned, Uncategorized

Step 1. Find a time and location that works for both of you where there will be minimal distractions.

Step 2. Make sure there is plenty of wine and/or vodka.

Step 3. Upon seeing each other for the first time in over a week, hug until you can not breath.

Step 4. Cry.

Step 5. Pour two glasses of wine to the brim and make sandwiches.

Step 6. Put children to bed, pour second glasses of wine and sit on couches holding pillows.

Step 7. Have “the talk”. Apologize, accept responsibility, come up with a plan to never fight again and promise to prioritize your friendship.

Step 8. Cry some more. Hug some more. Top off wine glasses.

Step 9. Watch three episodes of Weeds. Compare the characters to people you actually know.

Step 10. Pause weeds. Microwave home waxing kit. Wax each others eyebrows and peach fuzz. Laugh at how ridiculous you both look in the mirror.

Step 11. Text boyfriend to let him know you got your best friend back but you are missing an eyebrow. Laugh hysterically when he believes you.

Step 12. Realize the time. Hug again, say goodbye and I love you. Text when arriving home safely. Finally sleep through the night.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

K to the R stories, Lessons Learned

Recently I read an essay about whether college students—the ones who are straight out of high school—are considered adults or children.

I think they are neither.

In the essay (“Campus Climate Control” in case you are curious), the author mainly debates the needs for a balance between no adult supervision and an overly dominate presence on campus. I’m not particularly interested in that part and I can’t speak to what campus life is like. What I can share are my own feelings of going through that child-not-yet-adult stage.

I remember very clearly the strange transition from being under my parent’s ever present watch and guidance to being on my own to make my own decisions. All of a sudden I was working a full time job. I had credit cards and a lease on an apartment. I was completely dumbfounded by the amount of responsibility that was seemingly handed to me overnight. I kept thinking ‘when are these people going to realize I have no idea what I am doing?’

I was still a teenager but I had utility bills and a car lease in my name! Soon it became almost a  game of sorts to see just how many people would extend credit to me. After a while I had credit cards (and bills) for every major department and retail store in town. I had no one to tell me to be careful or to watch what I was doing, so I took the feeling of freedom and the high I got from buying whatever I wanted and I ran with it!

Before I knew it my monthly bills were leaving me with no discretionary income. I was grocery shopping in my parents kitchen (something I still do from time to time) and using my credit card (that wasn’t at its limit) to buy gas for my car.

Outside of bills, I had no one to remind me how important it was to wake up and go to class because education actually is important, so I dropped out—a mistake I would realize ten years later.

At the time I would tell you that I had everything under control and I knew what I was doing, but truth be told I was scared out of my mind! I kept waiting to feel like an adult, but most of the time I felt like a kid dressing up in her moms clothes.

It was a weird scary place to be that’s for sure, one that I am so glad I do not live in anymore. Not that this next stage of NOT being asked for ID when you go to the liquor store is so great or anything. I’m just saying it’s nice to finally know what I am doing.  It’s nice to not be in the “neither” stage. It’s nice to be… an adult?

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Just me, Lessons Learned, Story Time

Sometimes dating a man who does professional fitness for a living is a real pain. He goes around using “technical terms” and “facts” and completely ignores a little thing I like to call logic.

Me: “So I ate 6 cookies before coming to the gym tonight.”

ED: “Six cookies! Why?”

Me: “Because I needed a snack and I knew that our work out tonight would cancel them out. That’s how it works. I’m surprised you didn’t know that. Plus I had milk, which is healthy, so, you know, that helps too.”

ED: “Sweetheart, that is not exactly how it works.”

Me: “Um, yeah it is.”

***

Yesterday my amazing friends Sarah and Susan responded to my plea for relief from the bondage of homework. We met up at the Utah Arts Festival and even though they chose not to share the dress code with me (bitches) it was exactly the break I needed.

And wouldn’t you know, they share the same brilliant logic as me!

We figured the calories from the wine, beer, pizza, hot dogs, ice cream and fries we collectively consumed all didn’t count. You see, when you are at an outdoor festival or event nothing counts because they are so few and far between that it’s practically a crime NOT to take full advantage. Plus we were out in the hot sun sweating out any pesky calories that may have gotten into our food. Also, should there have been any calories, we were totally covered because we all pretty much skipped breakfast but still managed to do individual morning workouts.

So, yeah, a day of no calorie guilt with my girls! How sweet is that?

Oh and the best part is, as an added bonus for me, Sarah and Susan both agreed that the fact I worked out on a Saturday night counts as double calorie canceling points. So in reality, I’m like way ahead in this whole calorie canceling game and can eat 6 more cookies today!

Psshh! Fitness coach my ass. I should write a book on this stuff.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Lessons Learned, sometimes I get on a soap box

Did you know that holding stress inside for prolonged periods of time can make you physically ill? True story. In fact, it can make you so sick that you have to give up the things you love in order to get better – doctors orders!

I had written a post over the weekend (that I chose not to post) titled “Some Stories Are Not Meant To Be Told”. It was basically about holding painful memories back and how it is probably the “right” thing to do.

Apparently… I was wrong.

I am now on a “bland” food diet until I get my “stress/gut symptoms” back under control. That means no spicy food, no acidic food, no greasy food, no chocolate, no alcohol, oh and no coffee or soda! Yeah, so basically what I am telling you is that holding stress inside has ruined my life… at least for the next week or so.

I highly recommend you find ways to communicate your stress, maybe see a counselor or hit a punching bag, that you will not end up like me – sober and eating oatmeal.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Bag full of complaints, Lessons Learned

I was tired (and by tired I mean too busy trying to catch up on my DVR shows) last night and didn’t get a new post written. I decided to bring my laptop with me to work so that I could write on my lunch break. So, since it’s lunch time and since I am sitting in a Russian owned coffee shop plus I have these adorable pictures I have not shared… here you go!

My darling BFF, Karina the Russian, often joins me for lunch and brings along her (our) 2 beautiful Russian children. On this particular beautiful spring day last week, we decided that lunch should consist of pizza at the park. The kids couldn’t have been happier with this idea.

We soaked up as much sun and grease as we could. Karina commented on how it was so beautiful that you don’t even need to close your eyes to “create a moment”. Creating a moment is something we often do. You simply take a bite of food, shut your eyes and focus on simply being in that moment closing out all other thoughts. We even do this with the kids so when Dimitri heard his mom say this he promptly spoke up, “nut-uh! Mom you have to close your eyes to create a moment. That’s how you do it!”

Not to be out done, little Pasha decided to teach us a lesson as well. Although she is better at letting us figure it out for ourselves rather than telling us. So what did we learn? Do not, under any circumstances, share a drink with a 2 year old child – especially one who is eating pizza!

Blogfully yours,

Summer

K to the R stories, Lessons Learned, Loved One(s)

Summer

Emotions get the best of me, Just me, Lessons Learned

Did you know that according to a book that I did not read but my friend Heidi told me about, that more old relationships are ended in January and new ones formed? I’m serious, there is some sort of study that somebody did that shows that right after New Years a lot of people break up. Something to do with New Years resolutions and finding true happiness… plus no one wants to be the asshole who breaks up right before the holidays so it is perfect timing. Then on the flip side those who are smart and stay single for the holidays are also looking to start out the New Years with love and if they get moving right away they can actually form the beginning of a meaningful relationship by Valentines Day. True story.

Now that you have been updated with this news, I must warn you that there is an epidemic that has been sweeping the country. It has been going on too long, it’s time somebody brought it to light. The epidemic of which I speak is Environmental Dating.

Do not be fooled by it’s eco-friendly name. When Jack Johnson sang his plea to “Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.” he was NOT referring to dating. Reduce your consumption, reuse your clothing, recycle your cans – not your men. I know, I know, I am one of the biggest offenders of Environmental Dating and I am sure it comes as no surprise that Karina the Russian was the one to point it out to me. She has adopted the policy of once it is over, it is over. You don’t piss off a Russian, and there certainly are no second chances. If it didn’t work out the first time there was a reason and time will not change that! Unfortunately, I am not so tuff. I tend to have an all too forgiving heart that lands me back in the arms of previous loves. BUT the first rule of marketing, well maybe not the first or really any rule at all, is that if you put a name to something it becomes scary!

Beware of Environmental Dating!

See? Doesn’t that sound scary? Like something you really want to find out about and avoid? I thought so. You can thank me later. I’m just doing my duty as a single citizen.

Blogfully yours,
Summer

Lessons Learned, sometimes I get on a soap box

Last night I met up for a drink with an old friend that I hadn’t seen or heard from in 2 1/2 years. I think he moved to another planet or something. It was funny because even though so much time had passed, we still remembered how good of friends we used to be. The part that wasn’t funny, in fact quite the opposite, was recounting what has gone on in my life over the past 2 1/2 years.

At first I had no intention of sharing any part of my sob story with my long lost friend, but warm kind eyes and an attentive caring listening ear allowed me to let my guard down enough to talk about things that only my closest friends and family know. I shook a little telling parts of my story, I hope he didn’t notice, but at the end of it all when I knew no more details were required, my friend looked me in the eyes and said, “I am so sorry. I wish I could have been there for you.”

Without hesitation I responded, “I don’t. You wouldn’t have even recognized me back then, I was a shell of who I am today. You couldn’t have been there for me – I wouldn’t have let you in. You couldn’t have saved me – I had to save myself. I am the strong healthy happy independent woman that I am today because I learned how to be alone. Accepting that I am OK on my own, making myself happy, those were challenges that I had to overcome on my own. I’m grateful that we are becoming friends again today because I am better now than I have ever been.”

2008 has been a fabulous year for me. I traveled a lot with friends and even made it outside of the country for the first time. I started back to school after a 10 year hiatus and have generally remained busy happy and productive. In fact, I even paid off my car this year! That’s right, I OWN my car for the first time in my life! All things considered, my life is pretty damn good.

Here’s to an even better 2009!

Blogfully yours,
Summer

Emotions get the best of me, Just me, Lessons Learned