there is still snow but it won't last

Anybody need a bargain priced, not-too-far-but-far-enough vacation? The answer for me is always yes, and on the hunch that some of you might feel the same, we've got a good suggestion...
We own a vacation-rental condo up on Jordanelle Reservoir, in the very near vicinity of Park City, and also very close to Heber. It's our off season (hence, not steadily rented), so for anyone who is interested, we're offering it up for $50/night, as long as you agree to clean it when you're done, and leave it lookin' good for the next people. If you'd rather not clean it, we have a great lady who will clean it for you for $80.
It was mostly decorated by my sister in law Jane, so you know it's pretty classy. There is a hot tub not far and the condo sleeps up to 8 people between a king sized bed, a bunk bed with trundle, and a hideaway bed.

First come, first served. If you know us, email us if you're interested. If you are here by chance and you don't know us, leave us a comment with your email and we'll email you!

Here's the link with photos of the place and more info: http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p165719

Holy moly meet little Joanie

We added a new little one to our little family today!  Joanie Grace Jackson was born today at 4:12 PM.  (sounds like the beginning of an obituary but I couldn't think of how else to start it.)  So she surprised us by being a little bigger than expected.  Wombat and the Hurricane both weighed in at 6.14 and 6.7 respectively and  but little sister was 8.14.  We have already moved her up a weight class for her future wrestling classes. 

Marie and Joanie are both feeling great and doing well.  Joanie has so far shown her disposition to be calm.  She has hardly made a peep, she eats her dinner without complaining, and seems so far to be the infant version of Mary Poppins.  Practically perfect in every way. 

 

Baby's got back

Hello friends and family and blog stalkers,

Immediate tangent before I start the post - I'm thinking of getting more blog stalkers and making money from them through my blogging.  I hear people do it all the time.  I also hear those people don't have real jobs and only have cats instead of children but I still think it is possible for me, even though I hate cats.  If you want to help me prove it is possible, please send me money.  That will show those people who say it not possible. 

Anyway - we are kind of back on topic now.  Money.  Your money, really, because that is the point of this post.  I'm writing to invite you to part with some of your money for a good cause.  (maybe a better cause than sending it to me but not 100% sure of that.)

My mom has organized a 5k fun run/walk in March and I'm trying to help recruit support. My mom is an endoscopy nurse and very involved in colon cancer screenings. Do you know what an endoscopy nurse is?  I didn't until my mom became one.  Lets put it this way, imagine you need a scope to enter your body through an existing opening.  An endoscopy nurse is the one that sticks that scope into that existing opening.  Nuff said? 

 

So back to the run, sort of.   Endoscopy nurses are a strange breed with an odd sense of humor so you never know what you will find on a run like this.  Already I think it is a bit strange.  The run is called the Buns Up 5k Run.  Buns up?  I know.  I don't really know what to think of that either.  Here are some of my concerns about a race called buns up.....

 

1.  I'm afraid that the swag bag that normally has things like hammer gel and coupons for REI will have stuff in it like that drink that gives you diarrhea before you have your colonoscopy.  If there are coupons, what will they be for?  I don't even want to speculate to be honest.  More realistic (and things that encoscopy nurses will think are funny or cute) are little Christmas tree ornaments or stuffed toys that look like Eneman...... I will just let that sink in for a minute......you read that right.   There is a character named Eneman. (follow him on facebook here.)  He is a young and budding superhero.  He looks like a home use enema, only more colorful.  One of the first signs that I knew my mom had really succumbed to the world of endoscopy nurses was when I found a small enema man ornament on our Christmas tree.  I asked her to take it down and she said she thought it was cute.  Several weeks later she was cruising around in crocs decorated with Eneman.  Maybe they will throw in a copy of the Fleet calendar. (WOW)   Scary.  And weird. 

2.  Registration waiver.  I have already signed up but I think I should have read this more carefully.  Do I have to run bum exposed?  That would be in the waiver right?  I'm going to get a t-shirt and not a hospital gown, right?  oh man I hope so. 

3.  After race perks.  A lot of big races out there have nice things at the end.  You might be able to get a quick massage or maybe a back adjustment from a local chiropractor.  I'm worried about what could be at the end of this race.   Under a tent, behind the curtain, what could they offer?  Hip coffee colonics maybe?  I hear they are all the rage. 

Okay - so all (or most) joking aside.  This is a great event to support a great cause.  The proceeds from the event will go towards a program to pay for colonoscopies in order to help with the early detection of cancer for those that may not be able to afford the procedure.  The race will be held up at the Olympus Hills mall, over to Millcreek, and back.  The real goal is to get sponsors but you can't get sponsors without runners!

I've signed up.  I hope you will sign up.  Come run with me.  (Unless I'm at the hospital because we are having a baby sometime really close to this date.) 

Really.  It will be a fun - SCOPE FREE - day.  Here are links for more information and to register...

Buns Up Colon Cancer 5K run

Date & Time: Saturday, March 26, 2011 9:00AM

Location: Olympus Hills Shopping Center

Cost: Entry Fee $25, after March 19th, $30.

http://www.active.com/running/slc-ut/buns-up-colon-cancer-5k-run-2011

http://www.mwsgna.com/?page_id=10

http://www.sports-am.com/events/index1523.htm

don't speak

Dear Walgreen's Management, Trainers, and Staff.

I have had a concern for many many many months now that I'm finally able to address in this letter to you.  Now that we know we are having another wonderful little girl (in three months!) and now that my wife is large enough that everyone else knows it as well I would like to make some very direct and specific suggestions for future training meetings with your store employees. 

I'm not sure if you are aware of this or not but your store touts itself as a pharmacy and a lot of really personal things happen at a pharmacy.  I am willing to guess that most people don't like to talk about any of these things.  Just to give you an idea of what I mean, no one is hoping or expecting you to ask them why they are buying hemorrhoid cream.  That would be awkward, don't you think?  It wouldn't really be appropriate to say something like, "hmm, Prozac, huh?  You been feelin' depressed?"  There are a whole variety of items that you sell in your stores that require no comment whatsoever.  (It could be argued that store clerks should really not comment on anything but sometimes I expect they just can't help but comment on anything that says "as seen on TV" on it and I really can't blame them for that.)

Just to be 100% certain we are communicating properly, here are just a few suggestions of things they should not comment on:


(these are children.  don't ask me about it)

 condoms
pregnancy tests
tampons
adult diapers
Enema kits
Anything fungus related
and finally the one most relevant to me and my life experience (that I will admit)......Ovulation kits. 

You see, we have been hoping to have a baby for a few years now and despite understanding the process quite well, had previously been unsuccessful.  In order to aid us in this process we needed a few ovulation kits.  I know you don't need to understand all the background here but please understand that while there are many things in this world that could be considered "turn offs,"  peeing on stick every day is one of them.  The only thing that could make that experience any worse is to have to talk to the cashier at our local store about the ovulation kit every time you buy one.  Because we have been trying for some time now, we have had to purchase quite a few of these kits and so far we have found no room for comments like, "you are going to have another one, huh?"  or  "I see you have two, how many more are you hoping for?" or "what are you going to do tonight?"  (PS- answer is pee on a stick and then be angry about it, thank you very much.)

I would suggest that in the future you could possibly train your clerks that the polite thing to do is NOT make small talk.  I know they are bored and need someone to talk to and the items being purchased could make good conversation pieces if they are snuggies or light sabers or cadbury chocolate but when the items consist of pretty much anything used in the bathroom please refrain from talking at all.  Actually, if you could train them to avoid eye contact in these situations that would be even better. 

Sincerely etc. etc.