A Campbell and a Casper

Yes, I'm back!

2010-09-04T17:21:00.000-07:00

Hello, is anyone out there anymore? I have neglected to write for over a year, but I vow to start again, if anyone out there is interested. Please advise.

Happy Wedding Day to Stewart and Lindsey

2009-06-16T20:27:00.000-07:00

This is my youngest brother, Stewart, and his bride Lindsey. They were married last Saturday the 13th. Lindsey works for a photographer so she had a sweet deal to get lots of different kinds of pictures. They had a Scottish wedding since our family is Scottish and none of the others had done it. I thought they both looked smashing and I'm very happy for the two of them that they have each other.

Stew is very special to me. He was born in 1982. I was 14 years old. During my junior high school years I would babysit a lot for my mother while she worked in the afternoons. I used to change his diapers (he'll be mad at me for saying this). I used to babysit and care for him and make him dinner and give him baths. I was kind of like a second mom to my younger siblings. Stew is the caboose of a very long train 10 cars deep. He's the last of 10 kids. He is one of the most talented guys too. He's played the piano since he was about 5 years old. He sings beautifully, and he's funny and so smart. He put himself through college with all of his scholarships because he was a smart student. I'm just proud of him for is achievements and that he has someone now to share his life with other than an apartment of guys (ooooh stinky).

I sure love you Stew and I'm thankful that we are family. Lindsey, I am glad that you are part of our family now and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.

Sunday in South Carolina

2009-05-03T13:18:00.000-07:00

And this is what I like about the South!! Warm weather, lazy kitties and a forest behind the house. Senga and I have been watching this robin that just goes nuts when we are anywhere on the side of our house. Charlie likes to go out the side gate (on his leash, of course) and this robin just starts going to town. It flys to the fence, then to the top of the roof on the house next door. So... it finally dawn's on me that perhaps there is a nest somewhere close. And yes, there is. It's in the covering on top of our gate. I was surprised a bird would build a nest that low. Anyway, so we have been watching the nest and keeping Charlie and Willie away from it. This afternoon, I was cleaning out the garage and took some pool stuff back to the pool house and I saw a robin egg on the sidewalk. I also noticed that mother robin has not been around today. Senga gets the ladder and we look in the next and there are two other eggs in the nest, but the damn lizards must have gotten to the nest because they have broken into the eggs and the baby birds are half in and half out of the egg. Poor little things. I guess because the cats like to go over to that part of the yard, the mother robin must have left once to often.

Big Love

2009-03-12T06:10:00.000-07:00

So, I find it interesting that everyone is up in arms about HBO's Big Love, series that apparently this week will reveal some temple ordinance on the show. IT'S A SHOW, people. Don't watch it, it's that simple.

The LDS church came out with a statement talking about not responding, and not calling for a boycott from the church. And the more they make a big deal of it, the more people will tune in to watch it Sunday night and see what they do reveal, thus spiking the viewership and the ratings, which equates to money to HBO and Time Warner. They've already confirmed that Big Love has already been given a fourth season because of the popularity of the show, so all the attention just brings ratings their way. When did the church stop, not responding to such things? That would have been better and little attention would have been made.

I have actually watched Big Love since it's start 3 years ago. They can be mildly irreverant with things but it is very entertaining to watch. They always say they're FLDS, not to be confused with LDS.

My other thing about this is that the entire temple ordinance stuff has been on the internet, both video and audio for years and years. So if anyone wanted to know what's in the temple ceremony they could just search the worldwide web. Where's the church to stop these various websites from posting this? You can't just go after a TV show and their parent company.

Blessed by March 1st.

2009-02-28T19:45:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

Not sure if anyone reads our blog anymore since we've been pretty dang lazy but I couldn't let this day go by and not mention a big milestone of tomorrow, March 1st.

Tomorrow marks 20 years that Joni and I have known each other and I thank God for her every day and that I met her. 20 years ago tomorrow is my original hire date at WordPerfect Corporation where Joni was already an employee and we met on my first day there. Little did I know at the time that she would be my life's partner, after a tumultuous 15 years of both of us reconciling how we felt and with our religion and sifting through a marriage and other relationships that weren't right for us. We've been through divorce, separation, deaths, and all the wonderful loving joys as well and we've come out on top.

I feel blessed every day that she is my partner. She is the one that loves me no matter what and encourages me to be the best I can be. I am the luckiest girl on the planet for the relationship she and I have today.

Joni, I love you so much and you are the one I want to grow old with, laugh with, and love the rest of my life. Thank you for always sticking by me and accepting me despite my short-comings. Happy 20th Anniversary tomorrow too. I look forward to the rest of our lives together.

A little time away from work and time with Kelly

2009-02-10T19:20:00.000-08:00

Senga and I spent the last 10 days in Key West. It was time to take a break from all our hardwork and just relax. We had a fabulous time, even though the weather wasn't that warm. We have so many highlights from our trip, new friends, great memories and we met Kelly McGillis. In fact, we had Brunch with her one morning. She is a very lovely person, so down to earth and so open. We spent about two hours with her and we learned a great deal about her. She also wanted to know about us. She was curious about the "mormons" and shared some of her thoughts on spirituality with us. It was a great way to end our vacation.

Home Sweet Home

2009-01-22T10:51:00.001-08:00

1. I'm looking forward to going home today. I miss everything about being home with the person I love the most. I wonder why I allow someone else to direct my time away from what is most important to me.
2. Utah is home. While SC will always be our second home, Utah is where our hearts belong.
3. I can't wait for S to do what she loves most in the snow.
4. Now, it's on to Cincinnati and then home.

If it's too good to be true, it probably is...

2009-01-21T20:58:00.000-08:00

Lifestyle Lift, have you ever heard of it? While I'm sitting here in the hotel room, there is a program advertising face lifts. They are showing before and after pictures. I'm impressed. Most of these folks looked like they were 70 and how they look like they are 40.

S and I are going to the Florida Keys for vacation in about a week. We are taking 10 days and getting away from everything. We're staying at Pearl's, which we hear is the place stay. We can't wait.

I've been in Utah for a few days and went looking at some places in the Sugar House area today. I think S and I are going to consider this area, it had a good feel.

Clients, planes, automobiles

2009-01-07T07:39:00.000-08:00

1. I'm sitting in the Milwaukee airport waiting on my flight. I was suppose to be here until Friday, but as luck would have it, my meetings ended early and I'm taking the first flight out. It's been snowing since I got here and is so cold. So it makes me wonder why Senga and I want to move back to Utah where there is snow, cold and more snow and cold. South Carolina has been so warm and wonderful, today it's suppose to be in the high 60's, low 70's, that sure beats the 12 degrees here. When we first moved to the South, I was hot all the time. Now I'm cold all the time, clearly I have readjusted to the warmer weather.

So, sitting here in the airport, the nicest man has been chatting with me. He is a former navy pilot and tells me that he hates to fly when they de-ice the planes. I look out the window and see that my plane is being de-iced. He says he would rather land on an aircraft carrier in pitch dark than to take off with ice conditions. If he wasn't such a nice old guy, I'd tell him to please leave and take those negative thoughts with him. I continue to put out the positive thoughts that I will be getting home safely and on time today. So far, so good.

2. I've decided to give up my diet coke and drink more water. It's been three days and I have the headache from hell. The pain killers I'm taking don't even phase the headache. I decided it's not the lack of caffine, but I must be coming down with something. I guess it could be stress...

3. Our Open House is the 19th, I'm certain we will have an offer on the house very shortly thereafter. Then we'll be headed to Utah and find a place to live. We want to live in the SLC area, cause I still need to travel quite often and need to be closer to the airport, but also because we miss the bigger city life. SC has been great, but we are looking forward to being back in a big city where there are lots of things to do and places to explore. Senga wants to live in the Sugar House area, which I hear is rather a nice place to live.

4. This little lady just walked up to the counter to ask if the plane would really be taking off if it's snowing. I need to move seats...

J

New Years brings New Year's Resolutions

2009-01-05T15:15:00.000-08:00

I can honestly say that I never would make resolutions at the beginning of the new year. I'll admit that part of that was sheer laziness, but part was the realization that I would likely hiccup, with what I resolved to do, but I was always taught from 12 years on that I should have goals in life in personal, professional, spiritual, and other areas. So should that ever stop? I don't think so.

So a week or so ago I watch Oprah's opening show for the new year. It's about new year's resolutions and she has her trainer, Bob Greene, on so I'm thinking, "Oh great another show about now it's time to lose weight for the next year." So I watch and so many things she said rang true for me and I'm pretty sure would ring true for you so here goes with what I learned on Oprah today.

When a lot of us know that we over indulged this year, we look in the mirror and say, "Oh my gosh, this is my body? It's so different than when I went to high school or when I got married or was 30, etc." Well the overweight self is not really craving food is it? No, my friends and family, it is craving LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!! Think about it and be honest with yourself- the overuse of food is the "drug of choice" and the lack of activity we extend (not exercising) in our life is the very indication that we lack and even crave love. This is what we're really hungry for. The gift we did not give ourselves this year, (if this applies to you) is the gift of love, receiving, extending, all forms and you know what I'm talking about. We have to make ourselves "the priority." We're all so busy doing for others, our families, church, our jobs, and extending ourselves in so many directions that we've become unconscious about it all and maybe you're just trying to get through the day, but we eat and eat, and don't exercise, and don't communicate important stuff to pretty important people and it will all boil over one day when we're so imbalanced that we're emotionally withdrawn, physically overweight, and spiritually deficient that the weight just pours on and the regular visits to the doctor for pills is our answer.

Since this is my blog, I speak for myself only but I think a lot of this rings true for many of you too. So what do we do about it?

Something!
Anything!
Walking!
Talking!
Loving!
Doing!

Any other verb for action is appropriate too. Insert your own for your situation and you'll know what I mean.

For me, this last year was extremely hard. I'm already away from all of my family and dearest friends living in South Carolina. Joni's job is such that she has had to travel a lot, leaving me alone with a bunch of cats, who I love, but it's not the same. Food has been my choice of "comfort" and it's silly and stupid but it is what it is. So here I am. Change can only be made once you are aware and can admit it. So here I sit, 40 lbs heavier than my college basketball days. Heaviest I've been, people, so it's time for some changes.

So getting back to Oprah, the #1 thing they suggest is to plan for your life and meals so that you keep in check what you're taking into your body. Lots of recipe's on her site and others. If you don't plan your meals you get hungry and you eat fast food or other unwise quick choices and it all adds up.

Cardio (running/jogging/moving) is essential to losing/then maintaining your weight, so 30 minutes/day should be spent.

#2 Resistance training. The older we get the more muscle you lose and need to try and maintain. So even though weight may not drop as fast for this area, after awhile your shape changes and your clothes fit differently-more comfortable and loose.

Carnie Wilson, who had battled an extremely public view of her weight ups and downs, had gastric bypass surgery, then ballooned back to 220 this year. Carnie says, "You need to love yourself." You have to take care of yourself. What do you really want in life? Food? What's the real craving? She wanted to be healthy and that's her focus. She's lost 50 lbs in the last 6 months. "Put yourself back on your list." Exercise is the best way to start.

So look at "falling off the wagon" as not a weight issue but a love issue and make some changes today. I say all of this for myself most of all but I know a few of you need a kick in the pants also. "How much love can you give youself in 2009?" Make it the year. Let's not make excuses or whatever, "Do it!"

Jacky at the Whitehouse/Massage stories

2008-12-29T10:35:00.000-08:00

1. This is my cousin Jacky, who I've blogged about before. She's a Senior Intelligence Officer working in Washington D.C. and she posted these pictures recently on her Facebook page when she and her peers got to go the White house a week or so ago.

2. Yes, this is Barney Bush, who Jacky says is the only Bush she would greet kindly. I'm sure Barney could tell she was a dog owner Mommy. She never said but I figured if Barney is there President Bush or the First lady must have been also. I want that picture though. I'll ping her on that one.

3. Jacky and her peers in front of the Oval office. Can you imagine getting to stand there? I told her I would love to volunteer to be her personal assistant next time she needs to visit the White house. Wouldn't that be cool?

4. Massage stories- Sometimes things happen in my profession that are either very funny or I just have to tell you about. And I know there is a lot of you out there who will read this and wonder, "Does she tell stories about me to others?" If I have, I NEVER use names so no one would know. Anyway here's the first one-

So there is a girl who comes into the spa once a month and gets a massage. She takes medication for schizophrenia and when I first massaged her I was warned that she says and does things during her massage that you normally wouldn't experience with others. One of the things she does is when she's lying on her stomach her arms are out front of her and she constantly rubs her hands as if she's putting lotion on. She also has a breathing pattern that you could mistaken for sobbing at times, yet when I've asked her is she's ok she snaps out of it and answers, "yes." Once she turns over, instead of keeping her eyes closed, she stares at you. She'll also talk to herself after I've turned her over and you'd think you were looking at someone who was in the middle of a disturbing dream and her mouth moves like she's talking to someone very troubled. So all of this kind of freaks most of the therapists out and we take turns working on her because it's just to disburbing sometimes. So that is the background of this client. So a week ago, my therapist friend, Michelle was working on her in the room next to me. Often we can hear things even through the walls but I was aware that Michelle had already left the room. So, just another piece of information- sometimes the door locks leaving the client to either knock so we can hear they're stuck or they call our front desk from their cell phones.
So back to Michelle's client- I can hear her struggling with opening the door. Pulling and pulling and I thought, she is going to really FREAK if she can't get out. So there are very few things that make me excuse myself from a massage with a client but I thought I had better go next door and try to help her out so she didn't have this nervous breakdown. And just as I get there, she finally got the door opened and her face was all red and her blonde hair was really tousled. So anyway, she got out just in time but we were very nervous what her reaction would have been had she not gotten the door open.

5. There are some health situations that a therapist must know about since some diagnoses do NOT advise any massage therapy while they are being cared for. So my client was a 70 year old woman who was a return client. If someone is a new client they have them fill out a health questionaire form so the therapist can determind if they are in good enough health for massage. But this woman had already been there. So we have a quick conversation about what areas she needs massage and I leave the room for her to dress down and get on the table. So when I come back in, she has this bandage kind of thing wrapped around her breast area all around her back. And I said, have you hurt yourself or what's going on? She then volunteered that she had a biopsy done earlier in the week. So I pressed further. "So what is your diagnosis because I need to know." She says, "I have Breast CANCER."

Now, friends/family you are NEVER supposed to get massage when you have cancer unless you have a written note from your doctor saying that you can. So I then asked, "Do you have your doctor's permission to be getting a massage?" And she tells me that she didn't even think about that. So I explain the situation and tell her that we really shouldn't be doing a massage but she chooses to proceed anyway and so I told her that we would NOT be doing anything deep but rather just a relaxing kind of massage. So basically I just rubbed her down lightly with lotion. So never get massage if you have cancer, k.

Happy New Year

2008-12-27T09:58:00.000-08:00

So many people I've talked to lately are looking forward to the new year (including me - 2008 has been one of the most difficult years) with such excitement and merriment, but it dawned on me this afternoon; that the new year itself will not be anything special. As we enter into another year; things will be the same; people will continue upon their ways and courses. Companies will continue to use and abuse their employees; we will all get up; go to work; come home and start over again the next day. Citizens of the world will continue to war with each other; trying to gain control and dominion over the other and another year will come and go. Sounds depressing, huh?

But, what if... what if we all wake up on January 1, 2009 and say I want to be happier, more peaceful and more loving to my fellow kind (and animals)? What if we all get up that morning and put a little more effort into being kinder to each other; being a little more patient in the traffic on our way to work; slow down and allow someone who just realized their exit is coming up and allow them to merge in at the last minute? What if we take a few minutes to acknowledge those younger than us trying to make their way in the world and we offer them the advise and wisdom that only comes from experiences; experiences of seeing our world in economic strife; leaders making bad decisions; our elderly parents trying to figure out what went wrong with their savings; etc.? What if we all stopped and just showed one act of kindness to someone? I read on a friends blog recently that she was rushing around a few days before Christmas and stopped at a Taco Time to buy a bean burrito and when she went to pay; the clerk told her that the car in front of her had already paid for her burrito. I can assure you; this friend most likely needs no one to pay for her bean burrito; but what a kind act? That might have been the last few dollars that person had before heading home with their Christmas treasures, but it brought joy to my heart to know that there are kind people in our world who are trying their best to be kind; loving; peaceful folks. Pay it forward, that's what I take from this. Let's all pay it forward.

S and I have been talking recently about new years resolutions and being better people; not only to ourselves and each other; to our family, friends and strangers. We have talked about how blessed we are, the joy and love we feel for each other, our families and our friends and those who we come in contact with us on a daily basis. We've talked about our experiences, both good and bad. We've talked about what we have learned and how we need to approach the new year more holistically and with more openness and farsightedness. If we want our home; and the world to be a better place; then we need to be better individuals - better partners - better friends - better family members and better citizens. We need to love more and hate less. We need to be more tolerant - more patient - more willing to give of our abundance; our time; and make our small corner of the world a better place.

I've seen someone who has been there for me, who has given time, patience, love, forgiveness and understanding and all they wanted in return was for me to be a better person. What if... we all took a few minutes to think about who has been there for us in our lives? Who has forgiven us when we have made minor/major mistakes? Who has asked nothing more from us than to be the best that we be - and then give something back to those who need it most?

If we are going to have a better world; one filled with peace; joy; happiness;... then we need to do our part. It could be big, it could be small. But every little or big thing we do that helps another is one step forward into a better world for those who come after us. Give when you can... take time when you can... stop and help when you can... Those who can; do... those who cannot; need a little help.

Don't wait for a calender to tell you that it's time to change> Take every moment of everyday to think beyond yourselves and ask "what can I do"? It may be small, but to the person who bought my friend a bean burrito at Taco Time; I say; no small thing goes unnoticed by the world. All acts of kindness; whether small; medium or big means more than the person giving will ever know. That's the beauty. Give with no expectation of receiving.

We are looking forward to selling our home in the South and moving back to where our hearts find the most meaning. We look forward to reuniting with friends and family, but mostly we look forward to being better people, better partners, better daughters, better friends, and citizens of the world.

Happy New Year,

J

Lost Visitors/A New Era/The Cat/The Blower/Friends

2008-12-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

1. It seems that we have lost a lot of our visitors lately here on the blog. I'm sure it's due to the lack of exciting posts lately, which I admit has fallen to the last of the priority list. It's hard to keep up on everything. I'm always unsure of new topics to blog about too because half the crowd likes political stuff, half just want to read something pleasant, and sometimes I have to make a statement for myself, that's why it's our blog. Anyway we'll try to spruce it up again and gain your attendance once again.

2. So I just turned 40 and entered another era, a new tax bracket, and everything. Funny though, 40 feels like 35 or 30, or even 25. Except the body is breaking more and more everyday. A lot of you out there know that I have had lots of injuries in my lifetime, mostly due to playing sports. I mostly struggle with low-back pain on a regular basis and have taken every measure imaginable out there from massage therapy to getting adjustments from a chiropractor, and even acupuncture, which worked really good. I'm now doing some physical therapy and have discovered through the PT that my pain is coming from weak hip and glute muscles along with my stomach muscles- the core. So I've been doing crunches and leg extension lifts and it's actually working, people. I quit working at the airport too, which helps now that I'm not lifting up to 50 lbs x 50 times a day and standing all the time. So hopefully this gets me back on the road to just enjoying life again without the pain. So here's to 40, as I sip my drink. :-)

3. So Joni and I are going to be gone for part of the week coming and we've decided to take Mr. Nose to the humane society where they can check him out and try to find another home for him. He sure is a cute guy but the way he waddles, makes me think he's older too. It's sad to have to say goodbye to a sweet little animal but we have no room in the inn. 3 is already enough for the next 20 years.

4. One of our favorite garden tools is the blower. Here in South Carolina, we live among a thousand trees and when the wind blows they all like to land in our pool or everywhere else. So a few weeks ago we had been using it and the next time I went to go get it, I couldn't find it. We searched high and low and it was no where to be found. There's a home being built two houses down from us and we just thought that maybe we had left the garage door up and one of the transient workers there happen to see it and snatched it. So we tell all of our friends that our blower has been stolen and we go buy a new one. Fast forward to about 6 weeks later- Joni informs me that she's cleaning out the pool house and found it under a pile of stuff that happen to fall down on top of it. So now we have two blowers and we feel bad for blaming the immigrant workers of two doors down but now we have a blower for both of us to blow at the same time. Somehow this doesn't sound very good does it? :-)

4. Friends- One of the hardest things about moving is that you won't be near your friends. Joni and I have made the best friends here, Tonya Walters and Lisa Coggins. We love these friends like our own families and it will be so hard to leave because of the friendship we have. We've committed them to at least one yearly visit to the great state of Utah and maybe two so they can be here during winter time to see our spectacular snow. Tonya and Lisa are avid South Carolina Gamecock football fans and they have season tickets to the games. They took us recently to the South Carolina vs. Arkansas game recently and we had a blast. They've won both times I've gone now. I keep telling them I'm the lucky link so they must take me more often.

5. This is my latest picture of Joni that I took last week. Isn't she a cutie? She'll be embarrassed I posted this but this is her blog afterall too. Maybe I can talk her into writing another entry soon.

Help! I'm a softie what can I say?

2008-12-02T16:42:00.000-08:00

This is "Mr. Nose." That's my name for him since he's a stray and has lots of scars on his nose. He's been hanging out at our house for a few days now. He heard that there's three cool cats here. I'm a softie and gave him some food the other day, and this is where my problem comes in. I can't withhold food from a baby. But now he comes by every night. I probably shouldn't have fed him but there you go. Last night the temperatures dropped pretty low and I put out an old Cat bed with a blanket that wasn't being used. He used it in a heartbeat. Joni, who loves our babies, is not very happy with this new "friend." She thinks that we are not doing him a favor since we will be moving soon anyway.
I know we are getting a little attached but I have also observed that he has been someone's cat before. He has a collar on with no info and he's really friendly so someone has had him before. Any suggestions out there? I'm counting on my good friend, Kelli, to have a few suggestions. Do I stop cold turkey? Do I take him to the Humane society? Do I take him all around the neighborhood to find out his home?

I don't want to abandon him but now he's dependent on us but he cannot come to Utah with us. I'm going to print his picture and post it at the grocery store nearby. Maybe someone will recognize him.

Any ideas?

With Thanks!

2008-11-27T12:13:00.000-08:00

We just want to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for each one of you and the roles you play in our lives. We love you and can't wait to move back to be among you all again. Turns out that thanksgiving day in the south is a pretty nice one. Upper 60's and the sun is a shining.

Take care all and thank you for being our friends.

Love,
Senga & Joni

If These Walls Could Talk 2 - part 5 of 5

2008-11-11T18:33:00.000-08:00

If These Walls Could Talk 2 - part 4 of 5

2008-11-11T18:25:00.000-08:00

If These Walls Could Talk 2 - part 3 of 5

2008-11-11T18:17:00.000-08:00

If These Walls Could Talk 2 - part 2 of 5

2008-11-11T18:12:00.001-08:00

If These Walls Could Talk 2 - part 1 of 5

2008-11-11T18:10:00.001-08:00

It's about LOVE!!!!!!

2008-11-11T15:01:00.000-08:00

New Obama Election Cartoons

2008-11-10T17:59:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my friend, Janet, in D.C. for introducing me to these two cartoons. They both sum up the latest elections. You can click on them both to enlarge.

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

2008-11-02T12:25:00.000-08:00

It's a beautiful fall afternoon in SC. The kitty cats have been sitting out on the screened in porch and loving it. On Halloween (Friday night), we had a little visitor that thought it would make home here. It's a beautiful little kitty cat that; as we know; belongs up the street a few houses. Our babies didn't appreciate the neighbor visiting and were very upset when it arrived and decided to "park" itself on our lawn furniture outback by the pool.

Politics/5Browns/Mentalist/Food/Turning 40

2008-10-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

1. I guess most of you, like me, are sick to death of the political crap. Since Januray of 2007 it’s been non-stop with candidates on every talk show, dancing with Ellen, doing cameo's on SNL, and taking turns being on liberal NBC/CNN stations as well as right wing stations such as Fox- to answer tough questions. I just can’t wait for Tuesday when we can put the last 8 years behind us and find out who our new President will be. And more importantly-get back to watching normal television, with normal commercials (which I mute anyway). It will also be nice to get back to actual “news” going on in the world. I’m sick of seeing John McCain and Sarah Palin and every other local politician from North Carolina to South Carolina. I'm even sick of, hearing Obama and what he'd do. I just want him to get to it now and do what he says. And if I never hear, "Joe, the plumber" again, it will still be too soon. :-)

2. Speaking of Television- have any of you seen the new show “Mentalist” with Simon Baker. He's a mentalist turned private investigator and uses his skills to help the police. It is pretty good and I don't normally like cop shows.

3. This is the 5 Browns. They have been my new favorite group to listen to. If you haven’t heard of them, they are 5 siblings, who are all gifted beyond measure musically and they all went and graduated from Julliard music school and they now perform all over the world. Watch this video on youtube of a very familiar tune. Oh, and they just happen to be Mormon too, which is not the most important part, but just another trivia tidbit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K__aSYGCvqQ

4.Joni and I have decided that going to the store to get things to make dinner is more expensive than if we just went out to eat. Sure you can use spices numerous times but if you have to buy truffle oil, capers, or red curry paste, you won't live long enough to use it all. These are the times I'm thankful for Martha Stewart's website where you can look up recipe's by ingredient so that you make something else with the large jar you bought.

5. I will end this blog with patting myself on the back about an achievement, and I'll tell you why.
So I turn 40 this year (next month) and while it is kind of exciting to turn another corner in life, every woman knows that when you turn 40 you begin the annual physical/papsmear/mammogram tests. UGGGGGHHHHHH!!!! So Joni made me promise her that I would do this. So yesterday I called to make the dreaded appointment thinking, "They're probably busy so it may be January before I can get in." Oh no! The only appointment she had was the very next day (today) so I had to take it. At least I didn't have to stew about the unpleasantries for weeks on end.So I just want my mom and every other sister and friend out there to be proud of me for doing this. But I did it. Part of my dignity is gone now, but I survived and so can you. The Mamm is yet to come, although I had one two years ago so I know what to expect with that.
The best present we can give ourselves is to do these annual physical checkups, however unpleasant they are, so that we have the peace of mind that our bodies are ok and our happy lives can continue. So if any of you out there have not scheduled yours yet, do it! If I can, anyone can. It's just a moment of uncomfortableness, at worst, and your doctor has seen more ho-ho's than they can mention so yours is not anything new.

Memorial/Washington D.C.

2008-10-23T18:53:00.000-07:00

Hello friends/family. We're back after a long week of emotional stuff. Joni recently lost her birth brother, Steve. They buried him next to his parents and remembered his life. Joni's doing great and appreciates all the emails and notes. We were able to have fun also though, while there. This is Lynn, Donna, Senga, Joni, Cindy at a Renaissance festival. The one below this is Joni with siblings, Cindy, Donna, John, and Ronnie.

So we went to a Renaissance festival in Annapolis, MD. Which is something I would have never seen myself going to but I was actually really entertained and we had a great time together with Joni's sister's Donna and Cindy, plus Lynn and I. Lots of people enjoy dressing up like Shakespearean people and the renaissance years, so I admit I'm not part of that crowd but it was fun to see. We found a group of Scottish folks all dressed up so we asked to take a picture of them.

My old high school friend, Janet, who lives in Washington D.C., took us to the 9/11 memorial that just opened last month outside the Pentagon. There's a bench for every person who died that either was on the plane or in the Pentagon when the plane hit. She taught us that if the bench points inward, that person was on the plane and if the bench points out then they were inside the Pentagon when the plane hit. It's an amazing design starting with the youngest person who died and it goes outward to the very oldest person. Very sobering to see. Each bench has the person's name engraved on it and has water running underneath it and every night the workers gather up all the things that people left on the benches and they catalog and warehouse it. We went in the evening time and it was really reverent hearing all the water from underneath it. I suggest you all see it sometime.
This is my cousin Jacky with Glynis and Joni and I. I hadn't seen Jacky in probably 30 years. It was a great reunion and we enjoyed a great steak dinner at Smith & Wollensky's. Thanks for the visit Jacky and I look forward to many more times together with you.

Places in Utah we've missed

2008-10-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

I try to convey to our friends out here in the south what I miss about Utah and how beautiful our mountains are. So I thought I'd post a few pictures worth a thousand words. Isn't Mount Timpanogos beautiful? This is in my old house's backyard practically. Robert Redford's Sundance Ski resort is up there. Park City, right behind the mountain. Utah is a beautiful state of various different kinds of mountain ranges from high rocky mountain peaks to national parks of red clay in the south.

This is Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon, on your way to Sundance or Park City. You can view this from the road or walk up to it and hike the beautiful surrounding trails and under the falls. It's just a hop, skip, and a jump from our old house too.

This is Delicate Arch in Moab. Probably the most famous arch of Utah. It's a wonderful 45 minute hike up to see this majestic piece of art. It has an energy all of it's own too. You walk around the corner where the arch reveals itself and it is just breathtaking.

This is the "Narrows" in Zions National Park. Another spectacular view and hike for all you outdoor folks to enjoy when you come out to Utah to visit us.

I miss skiing at Alta and Sundance so much too. Utah has the best snow on earth by far!

And we have a great capital city- Salt Lake City with all kinds of nightlife and restaurants, museums, theaters, and history.

Home is home, what can I say? We can't wait to be back and hopefully soon.

Now this would be a Bailout

2008-10-13T12:18:00.001-07:00

So yesterday at the airport I overheard a passenger with one of my co-workers ranting about this $700 billion, or rather now $850 billion bailout. He was mentioning a scenario where if the government hadn't bailed out the institutions that got us in this mess and rather had given that money to the taxpayers, we all would have ended up with about $500,000/ a piece. I haven't checked his math, nor do I fully understand the logic how he came up with this number, but it is interesting to think about. If they gave this money to the American people, who could then buy there homes outright and pay off their bills, including all those ugly bad loans, pay off their cars, get back what they had lost in the stock market and with their retirement 401k's, and then some would surely buy back into companies stocks, and we then might be just fine. There's a lot of scenarios that come to mind about this whole concept and even though it wasn't an option, I've thought a lot about it.

And yes, you know that not everyone would use the money wisely. There's a lot of dumbshits (excuse the appropriate phrase) out there who, upon receiving $500,000 would likely blow it, instead of paying off or buying what they'd really need. But as they would do this, they'd still be putting the money back into the economy boosting it from almost every industry. And yet how would it work, if they had selected this option- should they just send money to every head of household or every tax payer? Would it depend on your tax bracket status to begin with? If you are a couple, both working, that's $1,000,000, again according to the unknown math of the passenger. But just think of it. That would relieve a lot of financial pressure, everyone would have the opportunity to buy their home outright and live the american dream in a million different ways. No one would care about the price of gas either. I guess it would open the flood gates of immigrants to become citizens even more, but if this was a one time payout, then it would be done and we'd all pledge allegiance to the flag, and sing cumbiyah (sp?), and EVERYONE would love George Bush, (for once) and congress and we'd accomplish very quickly bi-partisanism that they always talk about having.

And then, yes, at the end of the calendar year we all would enter a completely different tax bracket, which brings up all sorts of further questions and scenarios that are too countless to mention. But isn't it an interesting thought?

Alright, now- WAKE UP BACK TO REALITY. Instead, No one thought of the average American citizen (that's you and me) this way. No one wanted to invest in America this way, Uncle Sam still wants to make money again after all of this is said and done, (even though we owe China in umpteen billions for everything). So I guess we're back to just working hard and paying a lot of taxes for that American dream and maybe the chance to retire before we're physically incapable of working, and pretending that we're bi-partisan again as a united country. I just don't believe that in this outcome that we all stood "United" with passing this bill under duress and now affecting the rest of the world's markets too. Maybe we'll all wake up from this nightmare and Bill Clinton will still be president. If not, we need another Boston Tea party. :-)

Iron Jawed Angels

2008-10-13T06:28:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite movie and is the reason I will vote in three weeks and the rest of my life. No one should take their right to vote for granted. Every woman needs to see this movie too.

And one more great scene-

Please don't say this!

2008-10-10T06:53:00.001-07:00

Happy birthday Family!

2008-10-07T18:32:00.000-07:00

October is a huge birthday month in my family and I just want to do a post on my family members celebrating this month.

1. Lily May is the 8th child in our family. She was born on October 4, 1979. I always remember this day because it is one of my best friend’s birthday too and it’s our sister-in-law’s (Brooke) and my cousin in Scotland (Lisa Blair’s) birthday. I was 11 years old when Lily was born, I took care of her a lot. She and I have become very close because I took care of her so much when she was young. She now has a great husband, Shawn and 4 dang cute kids- Gavin, Dallin, Maile, and Brooks. I love you, Lily. Lily is named after my mother, Lilias, and her grandmother Lilias Bellingham, and a few other generations long. Lily wasn't too excited as a child to be her mother's namesake. I remember when that changed. When Me and my sister, Yvonne, went to Scotland in 1993 to again see our grandmother and mom's siblings, I came back and told Lily all about her grandma and how funny and wonderful she was and how lucky Lily was to be given that name. She seemed to catch on after that. You are the best Lily, or as Don likes to refer to you lovingly, Slog. :-)

2. This is my Mom, Lilias, today (Oct. 7th) is her birthday. She is a very young 63 today. My Mom and Dad came to South Carolina recently to be with me and Joni and we had a great time. I was thinking that I don’t ever remember a time where I had both my Mom and Dad without any of the other family around. I mean, I love my family, but it was just a special circumstance where I got to have them all to myself and I love them both so much. My mother is a Scottish lassie from Falkirk, Scotland. She used to dance the highland fling and catch every man’s eye in town. She is a very good Mom and the older I get the more I respect her unique set of challenges to be where she is today. My dad caught her eye and her altogether, and they’ve been married now for 44 years.

3. This is Yvonne (#2 in our family). Her birthday is October 10th. She is two years older than me and is someone truly special to me. When you’re close in age, you may not always be close but Yvonne and I have always had a pretty good relationship. Sure, we fought at times growing up- but who doesn’t? The older I got, the more I wanted to stay close to her. She was the first person in my family who I trusted and “came out” to and she loved and accepted me anyway. She and I have a lot in common. One is that we’re both very musical both vocally and having played in the high school Symphonic band and Orchestra at Mountain View. She really hates to be talked about but she is one of the smartest people in our whole family by far. She got a music scholarship to Weber State University and later graduated with her Bachelors in Respiratory Therapy and then later her MBA from University of Phoenix. She is an excellent mother of two to Malin, and A.J. and is one of my best friends on earth. Love you, Yvonne and happy birthday on the 10th.

4.Don is 4 years younger than I am. He, along with my brother Ben and I, used to pal around the neighborhood playing anything and everything we could find. We used to play this thing where I was Jim (don’t laugh), Ben was Joe, and Don was Bobby and we were three brothers who did everything from hunting to going to restaurants together and whatever else popped into our brains (the imagination of youth). Don is married to Rae and they have a daughter, Belle, who is so cute. Sure love ya, Don and happy birthday on the 11th.

The House is on the Market!

2008-10-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, We have our house up for sale now. Of course with the market and economy we'll see how quickly this happens but we believe it will happen sooner rather than later with the pool and hot tub and all. Surely some retirees with cash will want it. Plus it's in a very coveted area because of the school district. The high school in this area is the #1 ranked boys high school football in the country. They are Byrnes high school. So hopefully, if we keep your fingers crossed we will sell quickly so we can get back home to Utah in time to enjoy the ski season in the Wasatch mountains. I gotta hit those slopes you know. :-)
If anyone knows of anyone in the Spartanburg area looking for a home to buy, let 'em know.

Naturally 7

2008-10-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

Joni and I went to Michael Buble' concert last night, which was amazing. The video here is an a ccapella group who opened for Michael Buble'. They sing every part of the music and all instruments and were just totally amazing. This was the best song and Youtube just happened to have the video of them demonstrating this. These guys are from New York. Enjoy

Can Sarah Palin do it tonight?

2008-10-02T06:44:00.001-07:00

I don’t know about this debate that’s supposed to happen to night between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden. I’m scared for Sarah Palin, blubbering on the national stage and although I wouldn’t vote for her anyway, I still just feel bad for her because she is a likable person, but for the office which she aspires, she’s too stupid to risk having her run the country should McCain actually get in office and die thereafter. Sarah Palin had a grand entrance at the convention and became wildly popular but her face time in front of the few media outlets that she’s been allowed, has been utterly disastrous. I hate that a woman is on this ticket, who will likely fail. I also don’t like how the media and everyone is really socking it to her, seems a little sexist and extreme compared to others of past. I do, however, love the Tina Fey impersonation on SNL and everytime I see Palin, I think of Tina Fey “…and I can see Russia from my house.” 

I found this article on Bloomberg.com that was pretty good that I thought I’d post.

Palin May Find the Bubba Vote Isn't Enough:
Oct. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Just as every Super Bowl is going to be the game of the century, tonight's face-off between Governor Sarah Palin and Senator Joe Biden is touted as settling once and for all, well, nothing. History tells us that no one but family members cast votes for vice president.
This one should matter, given that the next president may be a 72-year-old, four-time cancer survivor who lately is behaving more like a cocky fighter pilot than captain of the ship of state. Palin could be president on Day Two, Three or Four, before she had time to learn on the job, if such learning is possible.
Palin with a prepared text on a large stage does fine. Without a script, not so fine. Expectations for her at the debate in St. Louis are at about curb level because of some rocky interviews. The press complains that John McCain's handlers have kept Palin in a cocoon when actually she's been spending every waking minute with Katie Couric, an inexplicable decision whose proponent may be looking for other work now.
No matter what Palin does tonight it may not erase the impression left by Tina Fey and You Tube clips of Couric patiently asking, ``Can you be specific?'' without success. Many of Palin's answers floated a familiar noun (experience, reform, terrorists, maverick) untethered to an object or verb, let alone a principle or a policy.
Just a routine question about what Supreme Court rulings she disagrees with other than Roe v. Wade set Palin off on a winding highway. ``There's, of course, in the great history of American rulings, there have been rulings, that's never going to be absolute consensus by every American. And there are those issues, again, like Roe v Wade, where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So you know going through the history of America, there would be others.'' And that's just the half of it.

Sizing Up Russia
Surely, Palin knows that proximity to Russia as a basis for foreign-policy experience is laughable. Yet here is her explanation: ``As Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States... it's from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there next to our state.''
The performances have been so poor that several conservative pundits have said she isn't prepared for the job. Columnist Kathleen Parker suggested she step aside and cite the need to spend more time with her family, a claim that would ring truer for Palin than for most politicians who've used it.
Palin isn't likely to perform similarly in tonight's highly structured format. She's shown she can deliver zingers at earlier debates in Alaska. Even if the setting by a creek in Arizona seems low-key, the coaching has been intense by McCain's team. Their stated goal is to let Sarah be Sarah, to get her off ill- fitting talking points and on to even greater generalities like freedom, strength, prosperity, fairness.
Play the Refs
In case she bombs, the campaign has an excuse ready. Although the campaign signed off on PBS's Gwen Ifill well after it was known she has a book on race and the '08 campaign coming out in January, aides now contend that renders her a poor choice to moderate.
And let's not forget that Palin is personable, especially to Wal-Mart Moms. I'm more a Target Mom but I'd like to go shopping with her. In a Marist poll, 65 percent found her more likeable than Biden.
She described her constituency in an interview with radio host conservative talk-show host Hugh Hewitt: ``It's time that normal Joe Six-Pack American is finally represented in the position of vice presidency.''
No disrespect for Joe -- my family's full of them -- but were Palin asked to spell ``cat'' and miss by two letters, the ``base'' would likely love her more.
Winning Bubba's Heart
But Palin isn't just winning the Bubba vote. She's won Bubba himself, Bill Clinton.
Part of the explanation is that a two-term Barack Obama administration makes a Clinton restoration almost impossible. Women age in dog years, and Hillary Clinton will be 69 times seven in 2016. The other is that Bill likes Palin's type. He's spoken excitedly of her (``I come from Arkansas, I get why she's hot out there''), but in a barely audible monotone regarding Obama.
Perhaps the endless two-ways with Couric weren't a mistake. They deflected attention from McCain's sputtering: The economy is sound. No it isn't. The only way to save the country is to ``suspend'' his campaign, except for a few interviews and a New York photo-op before arriving 22 hours later at the White House to save the plan he was too busy to read.
Debate? Not without getting a bailout deal. No Deal? OK, just kidding. Back to Washington from Ole Miss because it's not right to ``phone it in.'' Arrive and spend the weekend phoning it in from his Arlington, Virginia, headquarters. To top it off, take credit for getting emergency legislation passed just before it didn't.
Tending to the Elite
Yesterday McCain said he's pleased Palin doesn't appeal to the ``Georgetown cocktail party person who calls themselves conservative,'' that her not going to Harvard ``is a plus.'' George W. Bush proved this can be a winning tactic.
Bush quietly made the elite more so by tending to their economic interests while playing up his love for Nascar Dads and barbecue. As long as you drop your g's, you can be way wealthier than Wal-Mart patrons (the Palins earn more than $200,000 a year) as long as you aspire to the same cultural class.
Obama's problem isn't only that he's black, it's that he speaks like the detached, analytic law professor he was.
With people's jobs, houses and retirement at stake, the elitist strategy might not work this time. After eight years of Bush, we may want to vote for the smart one this time, no matter where he shops.

Funny but sweetest video of baby Chimp and Momma

2008-09-25T11:39:00.001-07:00

This video is so cool to me. First it's funny as heck with the other younger chimp pushing the younger chimp in the water but watch the amazing human-like chimp mother step in and rescue her baby. Amazing!

My Uncle Boy- Thomas Patterson Bellingham

2008-09-24T07:31:00.000-07:00

This is my mom with her older brother Thomas Bellingham. They always called him boy since he was named after their father. This past weekend he died leaving a big hole in my mother's heart. My mom has 15 other siblings and they were all raised in Falkirk, Scotland. Some of the 15 siblings had died as infants and she has since lost two other sisters in recent years. I have met my Uncle Boy back in 1993 when I first went to Scotland. He was a very quiet scotsman. He lost his wife in the early 80's to cancer and he has a couple of grown children and grandchildren.

I'm sorry for your loss, Mom, especially when you're so far away and can't be there. Much love to you and the rest of the Bellingham/Campbell family who mourns this loss.

Jacky and Shannon- my new found cousins

2008-09-24T05:55:00.000-07:00

Recently on the social network, Facebook, a few of my cousins have recently joined up and we've all been chatting and getting to know each other all over again. Shannon and Jacky, who's mother (Neita) is my dad's sister. Well they lived and grew up in Vernal, UT (about 3 hours away) so we didn't see one another very often and didn't get to know each other as well as our other closer cousins.

So Jacky and I started talking and you will never believe this.
1. She works in Washington D.C. as Senior Intelligence Officer, for the Joint Intelligence Task Force for the Department of Defense, combating terrorism. Wow!
2. She graduated from Harvard University with her masters degree and is by far the smartest person in our whole family.

3. She's "family" in every respect too! :-) Her partner, Glynis, is from Maryland also like my Joni.

4. Jacky and I are Boston Red Sox fans, Glynis and Joni are Baltimore Oriole fans.

This is Shannon. She is 6 or 7 years older than me and she along with Jacky lost a brother, Danny, in the late 70's when he was like 18 to a terrible industrial accident. She is a mother of 3 kids and lives in Western Colorado with her husband, Doug. Jacky and Shannon and I have had some amazing discussions about our family, our lives, and I'm so glad that we have crossed paths again and can get to know each other and our families again better. I have always wanted to know my family better. It's what took me and my sister, Yvonne, to Scotland for the first time so we could meet and get to know our mother's mother, brothers and sisters and cousins too. To this day I am pretty close to most of them and have returned to Scotland two more times to visit again. A few years ago, My Aunt Margaret (mother's sister), during her last visit to America- brought with her my Grandmother's wedding ring that she was given when Grandma passed away and at the end of her trip, she and her two other sisters Elgin and Janet gave me that special gold band and I will treasure it forever.

The Campbell side of our family was pretty much in Utah County, Vernal, and Western Colorado (Grand Junction). I pretty much grew up with most of my cousins in Utah Valley and we all knew each other pretty well even to this day but as far as Jacky/Shannon and their siblings- not as much since there was such a geographic gap and we weren't very good about having regular family reunions (shame on the parents and aunts and uncles). I've always talked about writing a book on families and I even know the name of the book, "Do You Know Your Family?" Not sure it would be a New York Times bestseller but there's so much about my family that I want to know more of. When everyone in our lives comes and goes, the one thing you should be able to count on is family.

So welcome Jacky/ Shannon back to the family, not that you were ever gone but it's so great getting to know you both again and we need to stay in touch always.

Charleston Trip with my Parents

2008-09-15T14:40:00.000-07:00

Hi bloggers. We've been gone for a little while due to the fact that my parents, Aaron and Lilias Campbell came into town last Wednesday for a short visit. We took them down to Charleston, SC and to the beach and had a great time. I had not seen my parents for over a year and so I was very excited and glad to see them again and spend some quality time with them showing them the south. Thanks Mom and Dad for your efforts to come out here and see Joni and me and our life here in South Carolina. We had a great time and will never forget your visit and the laughs.

Words of Wisdom/Reunion memory

2008-09-03T20:53:00.000-07:00

I heard a great quote yesterday and I loved it so much, I saved it to share here. I was thinking about last summer when I went home to Utah to my 20 year high school reunion and I had an encounter with one of my former teammates and classmates that really bugged me. She is one of the girls sitting in this picture with me. She and I never really got along that well back in the day, no reason really- we just never gelled so anyway, she married another guy from our class and when they got to the school that evening, I had just arrived and was sitting in my parked car watching others walk in. So Kristy (not her real name) and husband come driving in the parking lot in their big ass black suburban and they drive through the whole parking lot and drove right past me just at the time that Kristy saw me and I saw her point at me as if she was saying, "There's Senga." So they park a couple of rows over and they get out of the car and Kristy doesn't even look over or wave or anything. And I was thinking, "Brother! We still haven't grown up in 20 years!" And then once I walked in the door and saw her she raised her eyebrows as if she's so surpised to see me. "What a fake bitch, I thought." But then I saw this quote and realized she never mattered to me so I'm over it now.

"There comes a point in your life when you realize
who matters
who never did
who won't anymore...
and who always will

So, don't worry about people from your past,
there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Always Smile, It Does The Heart Good!

So be kind and wave to your old classmate, old boyfriend/girlfriend, roommate or whoever even if you didn't really get along all those years ago. If you don't the universe will bite you in the butt down the road. Peace out!

Blogging, Busy, News!

2008-09-02T06:37:00.000-07:00

Hi there bloggers. We have really sucked lately when it comes to blogging. Between J and I, we just haven't been able to find the time. J has been traveling lots- last week in Chicago, this week in California so it's been next to impossible for her to blog. I have been working everyday also either at the airport, or spa and during any down time I have had, I have also been painting a room and now starting on a second room. And if any of you out there have painted before, it is no easy task! It takes a lot out of you physically. So since all my jobs are so physical and then with the painting, any other down time has been resting the hands and chillin' on ice. I'm pushing 40 this year too!
I think I'll go back to a desk job next go around. ;-)

So we have some news- Some of you know already but J and I have decided that we want to move back home to Utah. We've been in the south for 3 years now and we've enjoyed it a ton and made great friends here. Four of our friends live on our same street and with us having a pool, we have had lots of parties and get-togethers. But with Joni's traveling that she'll continue to have to do, her job is not tied down to being in any one location, plus when she's gone, I admit it- I'm a big baby and don't like being alone (even though I have 3 cats to talk to, who don't talk back). Usually when J is here, the cats come into the bedroom and sleep and hang out but last week when she was gone, the cats were no where to be found. The third night last week, I yelled at them for abandoning me and not wanting to be with me. That's when you know you've had enough. If we were home in Utah, I could run over to my sisters houses or any of you and come visit, but here- it's just not the same.

So I don't know how soon this will all happen. We have a home to sell and having a pool will entice some while others with families with kids won't like it because there really is no yard for them to play in but we believe we will sell it faster than the norm. The selling time right now is about 4-6 months. So if all of you out there could put out some of that positive energy for us that it will sell quick, we would be very appreciative. It's time to come home to Utah. So with a little luck, hopefully we're back and settled by next summer, at the latest. Much to ya'all (do I sound southern?)

How To Stay Young

2008-08-19T17:38:00.001-07:00

I've been having writer's block lately but came across this from Kyla and thought I'd share it here with you all too. Good advice for us all. Stay young!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

Congratulations Lesley & Jason

2008-08-15T14:47:00.000-07:00

This is my oldest niece and newly married today, Lesley Braithwaite Cox. She and Jason just got married today down in St. George and I just want to shout out to her congratulations since I couldn't be there for all the wedding fun with the family.

I'm so happy for you Les that you've found someone you want to be with for the rest of your life. I wish you a lifetime of joy and happiness with your new husband.

Jason, welcome to the Campbell/Braithwaite family.

Lesley, I still remember the day you were born because I was about to graduate from high school. I was so happy to have a niece and you were always such a sweet little girl. I loved to babysit you and bounce you on my knee. You've seen lots of diversity in your family and I know you've been a huge support to your mom.

I hope you enjoy your wedding day and that you'll always be happy and fulfilled in your life together. Love you, Senga and Joni

John Edwards-LATEST SCUMBAG on the planet!

2008-08-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

It's not very often I blog twice in one day but I was watching "Entertainment Tonight" about John Edwards and I am so fuming mad at the level of deception of this man who talked of his values with his family and for the country. Have any of you followed this latest sex-scandal-by-a-politician story about John Edwards? I could never really figure out why I didn't connect with his message when others did around me. He always seemed well versed with his quick well thought responses and some of his views seemed to coincide with mine but there was always that "something" that I just saw that was too smooth/car salesman-like to be real. Now I know what I was seeing. So excuse me for a minute while I drag him through the sludge, that he rightfully deserves.

So, after a month or so speculation, he's now finally confessed to an adulterous affair with a woman from his campaign staff back in 2006, and there's talk that her child that was born could be his child. Give me a freaking break, John Edwards! Did you really do this to yourself, your wife, your family and supporters???

What kind of a man runs for the office of the president, with his wife of nearly 30 years battling breast cancer all the while, and then gets mixed up in a sex scandal like this? I'll tell you what kind- the filthiest scumbags cheaters on the planet kind who can't keep it in their pants. He along with Elliot Spitzer, Bill Clinton, and James McGreevey, are the lowest slimes on earth to do this to their wives and themselves, most of all. And they all deny it in the beginning hoping that the speculation will go away but the truth always comes out thanks to the aggressive persistent media and the paparazzi.

While watching "Entertainment Tonight", they showed parts of his ABC interview admitting to the affair with Dr. Lillian Glass, expert in body language, watching on. These are her comments:

1. She says that there is too much eye blinking and shaking the head, No, when he's saying things in the affirmative=Lying.
2. She says we still see a lot of deception with the raising of the eyebrows, when he touches his nose, and when he does shoulder shrugs=Lying.
3. When Edwards is asked about how long the relationship lasted, he stutters saying "it's been over-over for a long time"=Lying.
4. To Edwards one credit when he expresses his admiration for his wife she suggests his body language shows that it is genuine.
5. When asked about the question of paternity to the child, he says twice, "untrue, untrue" "Repeating things is a form of deception," she says. Then he blamed the influence of supermarket tabloids as the reason why the interviewer is asking the question=Lying.
6. Dr. Glass also noted that when he says, "It's not true" he's shaking his head instead. "The body doesn't lie. It leaks information and you can see it in his interview."=Lying

What is is about MEN and their sexual deviances outside their marriages? Especially when they are in powerful positions? This is a childish, thoughtless act that will likely ruin any possibility of further political ambitions he may have had not to mention his marriage. Hope there's a job back at the textile mills.

I'm so glad that at least he didn't drag his poor wife, Elizabeth Edwards out to sit next to him and smile as if she were happy about it during this embarrassing, humiliating confession. He actually took it like a man, albeit it was just a one-on-one interview. Hopefully Mrs. Edwards is packing her bags and calling her lawyer to get out of that unfortunate meaningless marriage.

Professor Randy Pausch, in his "Last Lecture" book said that if he only had three words to impart it would be, "Tell the Truth" if he could add three more it would be, "all the time."
Mr. Edwards you screwed up big time for lying to your wife, family, campaign staff, and your political supporters about the kind of character and values you said you possess. So I guess his ass is in the toilet now and so be it. Every action has a consequence. So when are these stupid men going to get it? Please tell me Obama and McCain are true to their wives?

Stay tuned, there's more questions about his confession that he didn't answer including how much he knew about thousands of dollars paid to her after she became pregnant last year and the media are on top of it and they'll keep exposing it as it comes out.

The old man, old friends, and the giant beetle

2008-08-11T05:47:00.001-07:00

I posted a story briefly last week that I then decided to delete for a few reasons but am now reposting.
1. The Old Man and his cars- There's an old single man who lives across the street from us. When he first moved in about 6 months ago, he knocked on our door to ask if he could use the phone since his hadn't been turned on yet. So after running in for the cordless for him to use outside, we struck up a conversation. He told me that he was recently divorced and showed me pictures of his two grown daughters. He was a nice guy but I noticed that he moved in with three vehicles. One is a big Cadillac, one is a little red pontiac firebird, and the other is a truck with a shell on it. Periodically I see him driving down the road and he's always in different cars. So I've wondered what his thought process is when he goes out for the day and decides what car to take. I think he drives his Cadillac to his family events and general running around town errands. Old people are supposed to drive Cadillac's you know. I think he drives his little red sports cars when he wants to drive around town picking up women. And the truck, well that is just a man's necessity incase you need to haul things or help people move. But who knows maybe he drives the little red sport car to the golf course to show it off to his buddies there and maybe he picks up redneck chicks in his truck. Next time I see him, I'm going to ask him how he chooses his day's vehicle. I mean, who has three cars to choose from? I'm jealous mostly. :-)

2. Old friends- I have recently gotten back in touch with two of my dear high school friends from high school who happened to find me on the website facebook.com
What a joy to reconnect with your old buddies. Barb and Diana, as I'll call them, were very important friends back then and we shared a lot of fun at the yearly girl's camp outing along with school things too. Barb was 3 years older than me, Di was 2 years older and they took me under their wings at school and they came to my high school basketball games. I'd go over and swim in their community pool with them too. There's just something about the old friends and people you knew so long ago that now help you feel young and alive again. There is just something special about the connection with people who knew you when you both were figuring out those complex years of your adolescent life. And it's just been great. We've only just begun to even "catch up" on life but it feels like we've never missed a day and have picked back up where we left off.

Thank you Barb and Diana for the influence and love and friendship you always extended to me. You are awesome and I look forward to hearing all the stories of your lives and families.

So if any of you out there are thinking of a special friend of long ago, go find them and reconnect. It will do your heart and soul a world of good. Friends are the family that you pick.

3.The giant Beetle- I work in a spa with a bunch of girly girls who like most girls can't stand bugs. Last Thursday I was there for a few appointments and by the sink was a big black giant beetle that someone had captured with a shot glass on top of it. I was disgusted at the sight but immediately felt compassion for the poor little beetle dying a slow death. I used to kill everything if I saw it in my house and I've realized that there's not need to kill. Just move them out. So during my whole massage appointment I was trying to think of how I could possible free this beetle without letting him get away. I wondered if the beetle was even still alive. So after the massage I walked into the back room and slightly moved the shot glass that was over him to see if he moved. He moved alright. So my plan was to get a plastic cup that I could have underneath the shot glass and I would move him over to the corner of the sink and he's just fall into the plastic cup and I could take him outside. But the plan in your head sometimes seems easier than it was. Oh my gosh! Part of the problem was that I really had the heeby-jeebies even attempting to do this but I could not let him die there. So I move it slowly toward the corner and he fell out but he missed the cup and landed in the stainless steel sink and was fighting it's hardest to get out now that he'd been freed. So I had to get a plastic knife to help him into the cup and the first few times I missed and he fell down in drain area but was so big he didn't fall in. So I'd try again and after the third or fourth time I finally got him in a plastic cup and put a towel over the top and quickly walked outside avoiding any clients to see that I was removing this gigantic bug. I walked to the side of the building and tossed him out into the bushes. I did it, I saved him from death. But as I walked away I thought, he probably died from the fall from the cup into the bushes. :-)

2008-08-07T15:49:00.000-07:00

What a great July 4th (5th) party it was. We have been so blessed since moving to South Carolina for many reasons; great friend and family is close (within driving distance). We had a wonderful pool party on July 5th and invited family (from Maryland) and wonderful friends from SC and other parts of the US.

We had a wonderful day full of GREAT food (by the Catering Connection) and family and friends. Here are a few pictures of the sun and fun...

The Cat Days of Summer in South Carolina

2008-08-07T15:30:00.000-07:00

Our poor little furry babies have been suffering the last few weeks. It has been so hot and humid that they can't be outside for much more than 15 minutes, even though little Lucy thinks she can be outside all day...

They were all outside a few days ago and this is how they were enjoying the screened-in porch... Lucy on the other hand thinks that she can handle this hot humid heat, but she can't!!!

Even we can't handle this hot humid heat; even with the pool. The water temp is higher than most people take a bath in... we have looked for ice houses, but they are long gone. We just received notice that we can't water our lawn; our plants (flowers) or even our pool. The lack of water here is even worse than Utah a few years ago.

My Space

2008-08-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

I love the concept of the words "My space." I love the words together most of all. The beauty of blogs or spaces is that it is our own little place that we can share our thoughts, feelings, or whatever is on our mind. It's much like journaling, of which I was always good at in my younger years. It's also like having a home with walls to keep everyone else out (mostly). I've seen or read a few times out there where our spaces are NOT respected and that disturbs me that people are not very kind about it. The bottom line is that it [should] be respected by all visitors or otherwise just ignored if you don't like what is said. That means that if anyone has anything negative or contrary to say about anything written or said, you can certainly voice your opinion either way but in the end it is still my space that I own and I signed up for. And because I own it, no one else has to. So if there is anyone out there that doesn't like what me or anyone else says, you don't have to, but you can respect the space, "my space" or you just shouldn't visit, it's as simple as that.

Some months ago my extended family had a website. We had it for years and we all were able to write anything and post pictures and calendar events and all kinds of things imaginable. But with a simple decisive ignorant attack by one family member to another, the family administrator just decided to quickly shut it down for good. Maybe it was good to end it there, but I don't believe so. Our family hasn't communicated quite the same since and that is so sad to me. I personally don't believe in censorship, unless it is cruel or otherwise causing harm to another. I own what I say and every consequence that would follow. It's part of being an adult with a brain, which I have. Sorry, but something happened today that reminded me of my right to voice my feelings here without censorship of anyone on this planet.

And now back to your regularly scheduled blog reading.... :-)

So I'll revert back to my entry of a few weeks ago quoting the John Mayer song, "Say what you need to say." If I say it, I must need to say it or I wouldn't have said what I said. Got it!

My favorite music- Janet, Heart, Journey, Madonna, Sugarland

2008-08-04T06:34:00.000-07:00

I had a pillow that a friend's mom cross-stitched for me back in the early 80's that says, "Music Makes Me Happy." All of you who know me know this is true. Nothing brightens me more than to hear my favorite tunes. So I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorites and why so you can go listen to them also.

1. Janet Jackson- I love this girl. The first song that comes up on my playlist here on the blog is one of my favorite Janet Jackson songs, Rock with U. This is one of those songs that just gives me instant energy for anything. Like when you need to be cleaning the house or some other mundane chore, this is the song to see you through it. The full sound comes together about 1:15 seconds into the song. Take a listen. She's playing here in October in Atlanta and I want to go so bad. I'm very tempted to bite the bullet and go see her. Can you just imagine? My better half doesn't like the music scene as much as I do so she would be happy as a lark if any of you would want to go with me. I know the Jackson's are kind of strange, mostly Michael, but I would see him in a heartbeat too. They are the most talented musical icons of America and they know how to make great music and Janet, well she's just simply beautiful to look at.

2. Heart- I learned last Saturday that Heart, along with Journey were performing in Charlotte, about an hour from us and that my co-worker had to "get rid of her tickets" but it wasn't with me. I had no idea they were going to be close to South Carolina. I LOVE Heart! Ann and Nancy Wilson rock the world with their unique sound. Listen to "Alone" or "Crazy on You." Back in 2000, buddy Laura and I went to Las Vegas to hear them on the beach of Mandalay Bay and they were truly incredible. Legendary women icons of rock music. Take a listen.

3. Journey- Who's heartstrings were not tugged at by this band in the 80's? Steve Perry left the band and they found this amazing singer from the Philippines to take his place and he is absolutely fantastic and so close to the original singer, Steve. Listen to "Faithfully" and "Don't Stop Believin'" from the now infamous final episode of The Sopranos. This group totally takes me back and there is a story for every song.
4. Madonna- she's always been a favorite since the early 80's. Love her, hate her, I don't care what she's doing with or without ARod, but I do love her music. She's another music genius who knows how to put out the best sounds that you can dance, exercise, or move to. Listen to "4 Minutes" or "Beat Goes On" and all the early hits, "Vogue, Holiday, Borderline."
J and I are going to her concert in Atlanta in November for my birthday and we cannot wait. We now have to take out a second mortgage to pay for the tickets. :-) We have to take advantage of these cause you won't see them in a lot of smaller areas like South Carolina or even Salt Lake.

5. Sugarland- I couldn't finish this entry without mentioning my favorite country band. Sugarland, is a due of Jennifer Nettles and Christian Bush. They used to have a third member, a lesbian singer/songwriter who did perform with them the first year and helped create hits like "Baby Girl" and "Gotta Be Something More". She left the group to continue pursuing songwriting. Today they are the biggest thing to hit Nashville in years and they keep pounding out the hits with "Stay" and "Everyday America" (which is my ringtone on my cellphone when any of ya'll call.) and "All I Want To Do." Jennifer Nettles is also know for singing with Jon Bon Jovi on the hit song, "Who Says You Can't Go Home." She's a huge chick magnet out here in the south. Last year, J and I went to her concert and you should have seen all the lesbians there. :-) They are amazing.

And that's my review of great music and artists of today according to me. What's your favorites?

Fat Guy in a Little Coat

2008-07-31T13:12:00.000-07:00

This video cracks me up everytime I see it. I have always loved the "Saturday Night Live" humor. So whenever I need a smile, I watch this video of Chris Farley (RIP) doing his Fat guy in a little coat song and it turns me around. It makes me laugh so hard, guys, you don't even know. So if you enjoy this kind of humor also-- Enjoy! The blog entries can't be so serious all of the time. :-)

Video of "Last Lecture" Randy Pausch

2008-07-30T17:48:00.001-07:00

The Last Lecture

2008-07-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

I don't know if any of you have followed the remarkable story of Randy Pausch, Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last September with 10 tumors and was given 3-6 months to live. His story has captivated me for the last 10 months. I have followed his progess on his own website that he posted on a regular basis of how he felt and he's always give certain stats about his health. About a week and half ago I commented to J that there hadn't been any update for him and I was worried that he'd taken a turn for the worst. I have been so impressed by his courage to face his biggest challenge and I have also been moved by his "The Last Lecture", which he gave one month after he had been diagnosed. His message is simple and inspiring about achieving your childhood dreams and how to lead your life. In the face of forthcoming death, he was so positive and encouraged others to be also. I recommend his message, posted on youtube to anyone who feels sort of blue or depressed and I promise you at the end of his remarks, you will feel uplifted and blessed for all that you have in your life.

Randy's battle with cancer ended last Friday, July 25th, almost six months later than what the doctors said he'd survive. He left a beautiful wife, Jai and three children, Logan, Dylan, and Chloe all under the age of 6. I believe in the power of prayer- always have, and I ask all of you that believe also to pray for this widow and her children as they face the future without this great man and father in their lives. This is the stuff that life is all about not your work or travels or pressures or anything else, but family.

Life is too short...

I love you all, by the way, and you know who you are.

A Campbell and occassionally a Casper

2008-07-27T10:52:00.001-07:00

Senga told me that if I didn't post something, she was going to change the name of our blog... can't let that happen, now can I?

I've been traveling a lot lately and this past week I was in California. It's always a 3:30AM wake up to catch a 6:00AM flight, then travel 7.5 hours to arrive at 10:30AM. Meetings with the client, then dinner with some of our executive staff that were in town and its 10:30PM, but my body clock thinks it's 1:30AM the next day. As I was trying to sleep (left that morning without my toiletries bag and thus no sleeping aide) that first night, I couldn't help but wonder what I was doing in this cold and lonely hotel room, not able to sleep, but most importantly, why was I doing this in the first place? Is there a benefit to me and my family in all of this? Besides the paycheck every week, I'm pressed to figure out much more. So as I lie there counting the hours that I spend in a plane sitting next to total strangers it has become crystal clear that I spend far too much time in a tube jetting across this planet and not enough time doing what matters most to me. Then when I do get home, I'm exhausting from a lack of sleep that I all I want to do is go to bed and sleep. It's just crazy.

I guess I need to focus my energy on what I want and where I want to be…maybe then travel will become a matter of jumping from spot to spot and being home in time for dinner and sleeping in my own bed every night. Captain Kirk could do that 40 years ago, you would think that we should be able to figure out how he did that.

WNBA Brawl

2008-07-24T18:28:00.000-07:00

Did any of you hear about this shocking brawl that took place Tuesday night between the Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Sparks WNBA game?

Les than 5 seconds before the end of the game one of Detroit's players, Plenette Pierson got tangled up with Candace Parker after a free throw and they both went down and the other player jumped up and ran toward Parker all cocky and neck bouncing forward and all and stepped right over Parker, who then pulled her down and the big old brawl emerged emptying both benches. I guess I'd be mad too if my parents named me Plenette.

The league announced today that 11 suspensions were given out including one to Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn, who apparently shoved Lisa Leslie (which I actually don't mind because I don't like her) in the middle of it.

Is this what the WNBA has come to? What a crying shame that they all acted this way. and Cheryl Ford, of the Shock (A.K.A. Karl Malone's daughter) got the worst of it while she was trying to restrain teammate Plenette Pierson during the confrontation, is out for the season because of an anterior cruciate ligament tear in her right knee.

So it gets worse because today (24th) the Shock announced that 50-year-old Nancy Lieberman would be added to the roster on a seven-day contract to fill in.
Lieberman, who was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996, served as the Shock's general manager and head coach for three seasons starting in 1998. She previously held the distinction as the WNBA's oldest player while playing with the Phoenix Mercury at the age of 39 during the league's inaugural season in 1997.

Are you telling me that 50 year old Nancy is the next best player they could sign? What an insult to these top notch younger athletes looking for an opportunity. I almost hope Nancy gets schooled during these seven days. What the hell is Detroit and the WNBA thinking with this choice. Give me a break! Maybe they'll get more attention and attendance will go up now as a result, who knows.

It's a Rat! It's a Husky!

2008-07-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

My entries have been rather heavy and such so I decided to upload a photo that brings me great joy and always makes me smile. This is mostly an inside joke with one of my dearest friends and she knows who she is. We would be watching UConn play and occasionally it shows the mascot. And so we always used to make fun of the mascot because it's supposed to be a Husky, but we'd say, "It's a Rat!" And the other would say, "It's a Husky!" So whenever I see this character as I did last April at the final four, that is the first thing that pops into my head is this little twisted chant we used to say back and forth. So what do you think it looks like? I think the designer forgot the "Husky" part myself.

My Poor Abby!

2008-07-17T19:49:00.000-07:00

Bad news for the U.S. women's soccer team. They will have to try to defend its Olympic title without leading scorer Abby Wambach (my girl). The star forward had surgery to insert a titanium rod in her left leg Thursday. Wambach, 28, broke the tibia and fibula in the first half of a 1-0 exhibition win over Brazil after a collision with a defender Wednesday night in San Diego. The Americans were playing their final tune-up match for the Olympics. The U.S. begins defense of its gold medal Aug. 6 against Norway. Wambach will be on crutches for about two weeks and then is expected to face 12 weeks of rehabilitation.

"I want to thank all the fans, the doctors, the players on the team and Tasha Kai for scoring the winning goal," Wambach said from the emergency room Wednesday night. "Obviously, it's devastating, but above everything else, I'm only one player, and you can never win a championship with just one player."

Sad ending to this player's career. Will she be back for 2012?

Cat and Dog

2008-07-17T09:15:00.001-07:00

Nothing is worth it!

2008-07-14T11:33:00.000-07:00

Being from such a large family, as I am, there are a few perks. You have so many stories to tell everyone and you can do it on your blog and I'm not outing them to anyone because no one knows who of the other 9 I'm talking about. Well sometimes the stories are very funny but sometimes they're sad and hard.

This last week our family had quite the ordeal when we learned that one of our siblings chose to try and end it all and took 25 ambien at one time. Fortunately, my sibling had the smart sense to tell someone (right after) that they had taken the pills so they had immediate attention and all is well. I don't judge my sibling, in fact I love him/her very much. We have had many good times in our youth growing up and is pretty much the smartest most intelligent person in our family. He/She started reading at the age of two and is very bright and funny. Somewhere along the way their world started to shift and things started going bad in their relationships and family. Divorce happened and the pain was just too much to bare. I just want (name) to know that many times I've felt that same way in my life and when you're hurting so much it's very hard to find any positive things to latch on to and build up from. But there is always a turning point and a realization that no matter how bad things get, nothing is worth dying over. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem, someone wise once said.

So (name), I don't know if you'll read this but if you do I just hope you know how much I love you and want for your happiness and life to continue on. Our family wouldn't be the same without you and we need you. If I can ever do anything for you, please let me know. And remember, "no man is a failure who has friends (and family.)"

Say What You Need to Say

2008-07-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

My newest favorite song (playing right here) of John Mayer holds a great message. Say what you need to say. Don't hold back- say it. To many times I think we hold back because of not wanting to hurt people's feelings or "rock the boat" or thinking it's not our place but as the lyric says, "It's better to say too much, than never to say what you need to say again." Especially if the thought you want to say is positive and uplifting and could lend encouragement or support. SAY IT!

To many people let their loved ones go to the grave without telling them important things and feelings. Let's not have any regrets with our relationships because when people are gone, they are really gone. So this blog is for all of you, who need to speak up to someone in your life. Maybe some need to come out of the closet or some need to tell hard things that have happened to them, or maybe some need to just express deep feelings of "I love you," but I hope you can all find the courage to just say it. And I don't mean drunk dialing either. :-) We all need a kick in the pants sometimes to get motivated to say more, even to the ones you love. So tell them you love them, that you're disappointed, or tell them you forgive them or don't agree with their life or whatever- SAY SOMETHING!!!!! Saying=caring to me and so many days go by and you don't hear from people and they don't hear from you and you just exist on the same planet but one day you won't have the chance anymore so do it, people. :-) How's that for reality? It sucks but do it. Much love, Senga

"Take all of your wasted honor.
Every little past frustration.
Take all of your so called problems,
Better put 'em in quotations.

Say what you need to say (x8)

Walkin' like a one man army,
Fightin' with the shadows in your head.
Livin' up the same old moment
Knowin' you'd be better off instead

If you could only...Say what you need to say (x8)

Have no fear for givin' in.
Have no fear for giving over.
You better know that in the end
It's better to say too much, than never to say what you need to say again.

Even if your hands are shaking,
And your faith is broken.
Even as the eyes are closin',
Do it with a heart wide open.

Say what you need to say (x7)

Say what you need to, Say what you need to...

Say what you need to say."

Tribute to Utah

2008-07-03T05:39:00.000-07:00

What's your best feature?

2008-06-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

So just for a little fun and maybe some self-awareness... I would just like to know what your best physical feature is. What part of your body do you love the most? Maybe there is more than one? I had someone ask me this once and what I was told was surprising but now I agree with them. I was told that my best physical feature is my broad shoulders. Being 5'10 and a Scottish heritage background I have always been broad shouldered. I never realized that it was my best feature though til I started working out, (I mean, working) at the airport constantly lifting up to 50 lbs. x 50 times a day. So there you have it, my best feature. What's your's and why? Do tell.

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-06-30T08:35:00.001-07:00

End of an Error

2008-06-30T07:37:00.000-07:00

My friend, LisaK told me of an awesome bumper sticker she saw-
"1/20/09- An end of an Error"

Sometimes you gotta test!

2008-06-29T14:47:00.001-07:00

testing

Random Thoughts

2008-06-26T07:18:00.000-07:00

Part of the reason it takes us so long to post new things is that there isn't any one topic that we particular ly want to write about without boring the majority of you so today's post is about random thoughts.

1. I've been trying to figure out just what the big deal is about why everyone is up in arms toward Obama about his decision to use private funds and going against his word (apparently) to not use public funds for his campaign. I've heard what he says that he believes the program is broken but yet I can't get my arms around this topic of why MCCain calls it so "troubling" and all of that. It does seem odd to me that there isn't just a set policy that says, whoever the Democrat and Republican candidate is- they must use public financing money to fund the rest of their campaigns. Period! That way they have the exact same amount to decide how to spend it toward campaigning. So I know there are a lot of you smarter political people out there and if any of you can enlighten me and J on this we'd appreciate it.

2. And why the big deal about drilling now for oil? I know, gas is over $4/gallon and that seems logical to now want to drill, when other countries are doing it also. So why does Obama think drilling now wouldn't lessen the price down the road?

3. Changing subjects to massage therapy. Here in Spartanburg's mall they have a kiosk type area where two chinese guys are set up with their seated massage chairs, so being a massage therapist and needing the work very badly, I stop one afternoon to get one. Now I just want to preface that I like a deep massage, always have, but this day when I went in I have never been so man handled in all my life!!! First of all they have you leaning so far over and your sternum and face are already pressed so hard against the cushions but this guy proceeded to massage through my hair digging his fingertips into my skull and nearly taking my head off. So I say, "That's a little rough" and he lessens for about 30 seconds and then starts going at it again. Then he starts rubbing my ears in a downward motion and he's so hard that my earing and it's back fell out. Luckily we found it and I put it in my pocket. So then he continues on the back and again he is pushing so hard that my sternum actually started to hurt. Anyway, I made it through the massage but when I left, I was wondering, "Who peed in his wheaties this morning?" So I think I'll be avoiding this type of service in the future.

4. Acupuncture- Recently I had my first acupuncture session and it was totally amazing.
For years now I have struggled with chronic low back pain due to lots of sports injuries and other accidents where I thew the back out. I have had lots of massages and lots of chiropractic work over the years to help me out. So the other day I decided to try acupunture for my back pain. I was a little nervous at first because afterall, they do use needles. But the woman acupuncturist immediately made me feel at ease. Now from all of my massage therapy and chinese medicine exposure, it only works if you are open minded to it. You can't go in there and say, "This probably won't work" because then it won't. So anyway they use the needles along, what the chinese call, meridians. All the meridians are named after your organs like Heart, Lungs, Small Intestine, etc. So the acupunturist started to insert a needle in my foot and I didn't notice it at first and then she was twisting it around and I did then feel the sensation. I wouldn't say it hurt but I felt the sensation and it was fine. So she proceeds to put in two on each foot one on the inside of both of my ankles and two in each hand. After they insert the needles, you rest in that state for about 15 minutes. The Chinese believe that the needles draw the "Chi" or your spirit to these locations and the locations are very specific, but the combination of those locations work toward your symptom, in my case my low back pain. So the whole time I'm visualizing the "Chi" traveling through my body to those locations to help my back. So then she takes them out, massages a little and has me turn over. She then inserted about 6 more needles in my low back and on both sides of my shoulder blades. So I'm here to tell you that when this session was over, I got off that table and I felt an immediate relief of my low back pain. It is absolutely amazing!!! I haven't been to the chiropractor since this session and I was going about once every two weeks. It's been over a month now and I get kind of sore and tired from all my physical work but the sharp pain that I always had is gone. I'm going to go back again next week and follow up with another session. So if any of you are dealing with any kind of symptom or pain or anything like that, and nothing has worked, I suggest trying acupuncture because I'm now a believer.

Charlie Aaron

2008-06-23T06:21:00.001-07:00

Charlie Aaron doesn't like it when we bring out a suitcase to go somewhere although he loves to sit on top of it and inside of it. He's our big boy too. Always the alpha cat hissing at the other two if he doesn't get his way. He gets very jealous if they get to go outside and he doesn't. But he jumps over the fence so much and gets burrs in his coat that sometimes he's grounded. He's such a sweet boy though jumping up in our laps for pets and he loves to get brushed.

South Carolina Willie and his butterfly bush

2008-06-23T06:15:00.000-07:00

Our little 18 pounder, Willie, who loves his three story kitty castle. He's so big he has to hang out of it. He has come out of his shell since we moved to SC. He loves to go outside and watch the butterflies at his butterfly bush; get pets at night from his mommy; and his treats. He usually tries to take Lucy's treats if we don't watch him.

South Carolina Kitties

2008-06-23T05:56:00.001-07:00

This is Lucy yesterday. She loves this fern bush out on the back porch. She stayed out almost all day. It was a rather mild day, mostly overcast. She usually has to fight Charlie for the fern, but yesterday he decided to cool himself on the cement floor instead. Lucy's favorite place is to snuggle in bed under the covers.

Baby Fox

2008-06-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was busy working on a project when I heard scratching at my window. This cute little baby fox was trying to get my attention. He reminded me of our little Lucy girl - wanting attention and not stopping until he got it. I know I'm not suppose to feed wild animals, but he was hungry so I threw some nuts out to him. He gobbled them up and went on his way. My building at work has these large floor to ceiling windows and he just continued around the building visiting every office on his way.

South Carolina is beautiful and full of wildlife just outside the door. There is a big wooded area behind our building as well and I have had a 6' black snake visit (was very happy when he continued on his way); two beautiful peacocks who built a next and started a family; and a variety of other little critters.

The Truth about Barack Obama

2008-06-16T06:24:00.000-07:00

You know, I don't get very caught upin voicing political sides
very often because it's usually a bad idea because everyone
has their own opinion and views but the other day I got an
email forwarded to me saying some reallybad stuff circulating
via email,an alleged quote from Barack Obamaexplaining why he
doesn't wear a flag pin or salute the flag during the national
anthem. So I was interested and decided to google the subject
to be enlightened further. I've learned, as maybe you all have
too that you can't believe everything you hear especially when
it comes to politics but I believe that you can still find the
truth and the internet is the best source at my fingertips to
start searching on. So what I found out was that the original
email completely misquoted what Barach Obama actually said as
confirmed by Urbanlegends.about.com

http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/barackobama/a/obama_anthem.htm

So Barack Obama did not say these things, in the context as it
was presented. The words were put in his mouth by conservative
satirist John Semmens (see his October 27, 2007 column, "Semi-
News, on the Arizona Conservative website).

Semmens was poking fun at two of the candidate's actions
during the presidential campaign that werewidely perceived as
insufficiently patriotic: his decision to stop wearing a U.S.
flag pin, and his failure to place his hand over his heart
during a rendition of the national anthem at a public event in
2007.

Of the first, his actual explanation went as follows:

"You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin.
Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about
the Iraq War, that became a substitute for I think true
patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of
importance to our national security, I decided I won't wear that
pin on my chest. Instead, I'm going to try to tell the American
people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully
that will be a testimony to my patriotism."
(ABC News, Oct. 4, 2007)

As to the second point, the implication that Obama has taken an
ideological position against following protocol during the
national anthem is misleading. He was caught on film once singing
along with the anthem instead of putting his hand over his heart,
but on other occasions before and since, he was photographed doing
the latter. An Obama aide offered this explanation:

"Sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't [put his
hand on his heart]. In no way was he making any sort
of statement, and any suggestion to the contrary is
ridiculous." (Inside Edition, October 23, 2007)

So, that is just an excerpt of the full article which you can
also read on the attached link for what Obama actually said, as
confirmed by urbanlegends.about.com

http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/barackobama/a/obama_anthem.htm

And while you're there read all the other misquoted incorrect
things about him, heck go read them about John McCain, Hillary,
and even Mitt Romney too, there's tons of crap out there that
people spew then quote as truth but they are frequently wrong.

There is too much at stake with the upcoming election and it's
too important to just believe everything that comes our way.
With the internet today, you can quickly find accurate info
about what was actually said and not just believe forwarded
emails like this claiming to be "the truth."

The bottom line is that come November, we have to vote on the
best candidate to get us out of this terrible mess that George
Bush has gotten us into.

Search, ponder, and pray if you must but by all means don't
get so caught up in right-wing, left-wing allegiance to miss
the truth. Now that's all I've got to say about it so thanks
for listening. What do you guys think about this?

The ABC's of Joni

2008-05-02T17:43:00.000-07:00

A- ATTACHED OR SINGLE: Very Attached!

B- BEST FRIEND: Senga is my best friend, by far.

C- CAKE OR PIE: Neither. C is for Coins, I have collected my whole life.

D- DAY OF CHOICE: Saturday. I love to work in the yard and for the most part, I don't have to do any business work or think very hard.

E- EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITY- Golf. We have beautiful courses here in the South and really need to take advantage of them.

F- FAVORITE COLOR: Blue. I have always loved the color of the ocean. It calms me and makes me feel so good.

G- GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Finding the love of my life.

H- HOMETOWN: Hagerstown, MD

I- INDULGENCES: Watching Antiques Road Show.

J- June, my favorite month!

K- kitty cats - Charlie, Willie and Lucy.

L- Live life to the fullest, love all and laugh often - it keeps you young.

M- Mountains - I miss the Wasatch Mountains.

N- Nothing is more important than spending time with those you love.

O- ORANGES OR APPLES: Apples - one a day keeps the doctor away.

P- PHOBIAS OR FEARS: Neither. The energy is what you put out there, make it positive and you that's what you'll get.

Q- QUOTES: The only constant is CHANGE

R- REASONS TO SMILE: For everything I have been blessed with - but mostly family and friends.

S- SEASON: Summer with lots of sun. It gives me energy.

T- I have to go with the Tennessee Lady Vols - they are awesome.

U- UNKNOWN FACT ABOUT ME: I was born with blonde hair that was almost white.

V- VERY FAVORITE STORE: ? do you know me - I don't like to shop!!!

W- Winning

X- X-RAY OR ULTRASOUND: ??

Y- YOUR FAVORITE FOOD: Pizza

Z- ZODIAC: Gemini - and yes, I have two different sides to me :-).

ABC's of Senga- (Joni's will follow)

2008-04-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

It's been a long while since we've updated this blog and I decided to go with a similar theme of my sister-in-law and brother's blog entry. It's called the ABC's of Me. So here it goes,

A- ATTACHED OR SINGLE: Very Attached! On March 1, 2008 Joni and I recognized that we had known each other for now 19 years! Wow. I am very lucky to have her in my life and we love all of our family DEARLY!

B- BEST FRIEND: Joni is my best friend, by far.

C- CAKE OR PIE: Both! When you grow up in a big family, you love it ALL. Pie reminds me of Thanksgiving, which is a dear memory of all our family get together's.

D- DAY OF CHOICE: It's always been Friday, since it's the beginning of the weekend and you can sleep in the next day.

E- EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITY- Golf. We love golf, although we haven't yet played this year. We live less than a mile from a great course and we vow to play more this year.

F- FAVORITE COLOR: I am really into the color- green, lately. Color of money or something. I just love this color.

G- GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: I have so many! First, although being injured with an ACL tear in my right knee during my senior year in high school, I managed to get a basketball scholarship and I graduated with my Associate of Science degree from UVSC. It' was pretty cool to have gotten to sing with the Osmond brothers back in 1990 for a WordPerfect business/concert. (I have it on video if any of you want to see). It was like American Idol for me!

H- HOMETOWN: Orem, Utah- The home of Mountain View High School!

I- INDULGENCES: Steak, Chips & Salsa, and ice cream

J- is for the "Utah Jazz." I will always love the Jazz no matter how they do during the regular season. We were pretty lucky to have greats like John Stockton and Karl Malone. Wow!

K- KIDS: My kids are our cats, Charlie Aaron, Willie Dean, and Lucille Nicole. Animals are children of our heavenly father too and we are supposed to take care of them and love them, and we do so much.

L- LIFE IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT: Family. I love you all and want you part of my life every day.

M- Memories: Too many to mention. Mostly about family and parents and high school. The memory starts to go in early 30's though, so watch out all you youngins.

N- NUMBER OF SIBLINGS: I think I'm up to 20's also with the in-laws and all. So good to have you all in my life and I love you all, really.

O- ORANGES OR APPLES: O.J. always makes me happy in the mornings.

P- PHOBIAS OR FEARS: Lots of both. Joni and try to focus on the positive though and "The Secret" concepts for thinking positive to change outcomes, which often work.

Q- QUOTES: "Live, Laugh, Love" "And maybe you were thinking that you thought you knew me well, but no one ever knows the heart of anyone else."

R- REASONS TO SMILE: For all the joy and love I have in my life.

S- SEASON: Summer- sun and fun outdoors. Fall-cooler and very beautiful.

T- Tennessee women's basketball- You all know I played basketball in high school and have loved the sport of basketball even longer. Thanks to my friend, Kelli, I have learned to love Tennesee and since living in the south, I've gotten to see Tennessee women's team play a few times and it is amazing. Their coach is Pat Summitt, who is the NCAA's winningest coach, male or female. She is truly amazing. She signed a basketball to Joni and I this last year and she even looked up at me in January coming out of a corner portal when her team ran out on the court and said, "Well hi." Go Tennessee Volunteers!

U- UNKNOWN FACT ABOUT ME: Since my schooling days in Massage therapy, I have learned to tap into my intuition. I am highly intuitive about the people and family in my life and I see a lot of what they don't know I see. It's like 6th sense for me.

V- VERY FAVORITE STORE: First thing that come's to mind is Scott's store in Orem. Our little grocery store about a mile from our home growing up in Orem. The man who ran it was a great person. I don't know how many times I went to that store in my life. It was on the way to school, on the way back, the closest place for when you needed something quick, and it's where I was first mistaken as a BOY! :-)

W- WORST HABIT: Singing a song for everything people say that reminds me of some lyric in some song. NERDY.

X- X-RAY OR ULTRASOUND: Neither- no more injuries or hospitals for me.

Y- YOUR FAVORITE FOOD: I love it all. When you grow up in a large family, you have two choices for dinner- 1. Take it OR 2. Leave it. I love Mexican and Italian food though above it all and Steak!

Z- ZODIAC: Scorpio- Yes, I'm the most emotional sign there is and proud of it.

Want some Hot Chocolate?

2008-04-01T15:30:00.000-07:00

The below message is one I ran across lately, and has some very valid points that I thought would be a good post. I''ll let you all ponder on it. It is very interesting.

"A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups
- porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're dr inking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it
is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have.

Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
And enjoy your hot chocolate!

It's been said that, "Men are- that they might have joy!" So enjoy life and make the best of everthing!

Reality Check

2008-03-25T17:29:00.000-07:00

Hi Family- This will be a more serious post today than I have posted for a while. Yesterday I had a reality check of sorts. I had the privlage to attend a funeral of my spa manager's husband who passed away last week after a long illness. They were Baptist, and very good people. Joe and his wife, Fonda Kimbrell owned Kimbrell's salon and were both cosmetologists. Joe had Bipolar disease among other health issues that led to his death. Joe was a good husband, father, church member, and youth advocate. Me, having never attended anything other than a mormon funeral service found the service very interesting but very much a spiritual experience as well. The service really was very good! I had never met Joe. He was sick long before I ever came to work at the spa, but hearing about his life made me want to know him. After the many reflections and spiritual music sung, and the final talk by the pastor, I realized that I want my life to be celebrated like this, one day too... It's a long way off and I don't mean to reflect on this as much except to say, that I hope we'll all strive harder to live our lives such so that one day our brothers and sisters, family, and friends of those who love us will gladly laugh and celebrate, and give thanks for knowing us too. Life is too short to be stuck in a rut or stay apart because of hurt feelings, belief differences, pride or whatever it is that keeps you apart... We have to work at our relationships and it's all worth it because we are just a small part of a larger eternal family.

Just to share- here's a few of my favorite family quotes:
At the end of the day, a loving family should find everything forgivable.
-- Mark V. Olsen and Will Sheffer

I think people that have a brother or sister don't realize how lucky they are. Sure, they fight a lot, but to know that there's always somebody there, somebody that's family.
-- Trey Parker

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.
-- Anthony Brandt

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.
-- Thomas Jefferson

Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden. Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and growing.
-- Jim Rohn

If you needed this reality check then I'm glad I could remind you as I was reminded. We have to keep everything in perspective and act each day as if it were our LAST.

Much love,
Senga

David Archuleta is AMAZING!! I LOVE HIM!

2008-03-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tYj7KT_7vow&feature=related

The Secret

2008-03-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Life is wonderful here in warm South Carolina. I've been traveling quite a bit lately and Senga has been home taking care of the children in fur coats. My travels have yielded great success for my company, as I just signed a $180 million three year contract with a major software developer out of the San Francisco area. This was a huge win for my company, and I am now the favorite "golden child". :-) I've been working on this deal for the last six months and had a meeting with the client on February 14, where they handed me the award!!! What a great gift.

I'll be traveling a lot more in the coming months, and hope to drop into Utah for a few days to see family and friends.

Senga and I are headed to Florida in a few weeks to meet my sister. We have tickets to the Final 4 and can't wait to see Tennessee and Pat Summit take home the championship.

Blue Man Group- groupies

2008-03-06T07:16:00.000-08:00

Joni and I saw the Blue Man Group on Tuesday night with our other friends here in Greenville. They are so awesome. This was the second time we got to see them. Joni gets free tickets to various events that are going on from her work so we got to go to this one. You should do a youtube search on them and see all the cool things they do with PVC pipes and stuff, it's amazing. We had a great time. Last year we got to see Sugarland in concert, plus Rascal Flatts, and the amazing Elton John. Fun stuff.

Puccini's Ghost- SENGA

2008-02-27T16:35:00.000-08:00

I just learned today from a friend in Canada that there is a novel written by Morag Joss, called "Puccini's Ghost" and there is a character named Senga in it. Interesting huh? You don't hear my name very often. Although one girl, who I met through massage therapy, and who also was scottish heritage told me that her sister's name was Senga too. Anyway, thought I'd share that with you all. I have NO idea what that book is about or anything, hopefully uplifting and positive, if not, you never heard about it from me. :-)

Our cute little Lucy girl

2008-02-26T10:34:00.001-08:00

I took this picture of Lucy today on my cell phone camera and I thought, "I need to share this one on our blog, because she's so darn cute. Lucy frequently lays like this-to get our attention. Funny how she lays in the fetal position and all. Way cute.

Tennessee Lady Volunteers Basketball

2008-02-14T19:31:00.000-08:00

This video is a short clip of a single play made by Tennessee women's basketball player, Candice Parker. She is 6'5 and a junior and is one of a only a few women in college basketball who has DUNKED a basketball during a game. This game was a few weeks ago against South Carolina gamecocks, who is in the same conference as them. Tennessee won very easily but it's so awesome to see a great team with the best coach in the NCAA men or womens teams. And it's just so cool for me to see, having played high school and junior college ball. Wish I could still play but it's fun to see teams like this. Love this sport!

Tribute to Karen Carpenter- 25 years later

2008-02-06T19:40:00.000-08:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=f9n6hnxklp0

What a voice! I loved Karen Carpenter then and still love her now- 25 years ago (February 4th) after she's passed away. She was one in a billion voices to me. RIP Karen.

Joni and I Snowshoeing in Colorado

2008-02-05T10:41:00.000-08:00

Snowshoeing in Colorado. We loved every minute of it.

Maile's night with Aunt Senga

2008-02-05T10:23:00.000-08:00

This is my niece, Maile, she was inconsolable when I was in Utah babysitting her last month when her Mom and Dad desperately needed a night out on the town. She had a little separation anxiety and was never so sure about me while I was there. I think it's funny though and I will love showing her one day (when she's older) how much she missed her mom. It's just those terrible two's, especially if they haven't seen you very much. I sure love her though.

Look who Joni and I met in Denver this week?

2008-02-01T10:19:00.001-08:00

That's right- Charles Barkley, who played in the NBA around the same time as Karl Malone. He played for Philadelphia 76ers and was on the same dream team of the olympic basketball team as Malone and Stockton.

Joni and I and her co-worker were checking in our luggage at curbide checkin when a limo pulled up and out came Charles and a woman. I didn't see him first, I just heard his voice. He has a distinct voice. So anyway, I looked at him and noticed him right away and whispered to Joni who it was. When we were done checking our bags, I walked right up to him, extended my hand and said, "Hello Charles." He shook my hand and Joni's and was very sweet and cordial. I was star struck to see him but it was fun to run into him. He was awesome in the NBA during that time.

2008-01-26T08:37:00.000-08:00

My beautiful Mommy and Daddy. This is such a great picture of them. Don't know when it was taken but it sure is good.

Maile Loves her baby brother

2008-01-26T07:21:00.000-08:00

2008-01-26T07:14:00.000-08:00

This was taken by Stewart and his long arm when I was in Utah visiting and helping Lily. Lily was really pale in this picture and I don't think she was feeling all that great. Thanks Stew, for coming over and visiting with me and her. It sure is good to see you and I'm very excited to hear about your master's degree prospects some more. Sure love you and Lily and all of you for that matter. I couldn't believe how snowy it was while I was there. I was actually afraid to drive in it. "-)

Hello to All!

2007-09-10T18:52:00.000-07:00

Hey Bloggers! If you're here, you know me and my possy-we're formerly from Utah now living in South Carolina- whooooooo!. A big shout out to all of you Utah friends, (you know who you are). I thought it was time to start a "BLOG" as a means not only of communication to you and family, but also for individual thought process and "therapy," if you will. This will be a great discussion and prove very insightful. Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you regularly. Much love, Campbellite!