Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Life is simple


Ok this is one must of us have heard before but I like it!


Life is simple.

We HUMANS make it difficult.

THIS IS SOME GOOD ADVICE!

If a dog was the teacher, you would learn stuff like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.

Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout...

run right back and make friends.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

Stop when you have had enough.
Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day,

be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

Working for the summer



Rick finally got to finding out why we've been having problems with the starter on the boat. He finally figured it out. It started with replacing the battery. One possibility ruled out... then the fuel pump... next option ruled out. Then he found a 3 inch piece of wire that had shorted and burned out. Problem solved... which took hours to find.... of course! After he put it all together it started like a champ but kept dieing out like it was starving for fuel... not possible with the new fuel pump. So he started tinkering with stuff and found that when he put it all back together the fuel line had got a kink in it... finally the problem really solved! So now we can enjoy taking the boat out and go fishing and zooming around the lake!
























While Rick was sweating it out in the boat I took the opportunity to get some flowers planted and Zac took the opportunity to call some friends and try to find someone to come play. Summer is right around the corner...even sooner for us than others. My sis-in-law has a last day of school timer on her blog but guess what? Fri. is our last day! Woo Hoo! Now I have to find a job for summer. Being a substitute has it's downside. I don't get payed year round like the contract drivers. So as of Fri. I'm unemployed again.
So what fun plans do you have for summer?

















Tag... your it!

I was tagged by a friend by email and thought I would respond via my blog........
SO!


Two names you go by:
1. Annie
2. Grandma

Two things you are wearing now.
1. Necklace
2. rings, Rick always says I'm easy to shop for

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. work with my dogs
2. be with my husband (and best friend)

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. My own yard & house (I'm way tired of renting)
2. Summer (but not too hot)

Two favorite pets you have had/have
1. Wizzer the wonder dog who introduced us to dogs again
2. Red my heart/velcro dog RIP

Two people who will fill this out:
1. Suzy
2. Christina, if she can get online

Two things you did last night:
1. Sat on the couch, trying to get rid of my headache
2. Had prayers with Zac which is always interesting

Two things you ate/drank today:
1. Choc. muffin
2. that's it :)

Two people you've talked to today (other than the people that live in your home):
1. no-one yet
2. no-one yet

Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. getting up in the AM
2. getting up in the AM

Longest Car Rides you've been on:
1. R.I. to SLC
2. SLC to R.I.

Favorite holidays:
1. Memorial Day (the official beginning of summer)
2. Labor day (the official end of summer )
just kidding, I love all the holidays and have a hard time picking one

two favorite Beverages:
1. strawberry lemonaide if it's really good!
2. tropicana lots of pulp OJ... you have to be able to chew your OJ!

Ok, Suzy, Christina, Mellisa you've been officialy tagged.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Beauty of the Desert




Sometimes I get sad looking at the landscape here in Elko county. I miss the beauty of the trees and flowers of Utah. The majestic landscape of the Mountains. We have mountains here, which helps but the greenery of Utah is missing. When people talk about the barren desert I can now fully appreciate what they say.
Who knew that sage brush flowered? These pretty little yellow flowers were showing their all. And even the dead wood was beautiful in it's own way.
This rock formation is probably why they call it Fossil Hill. The School District takes the kids there to go?..........Fossil hunting. The rock looks like lava flow... so the rocks hold lots of fossils of stuff caught in the lava. I took 2 groups there. One from Sage Elem. and then Tues. I went to Wendover and got the 4th graders and took them also.
These red rocks were in the same area. I found that interesting and not being a geologist I couldn't tell you why they are there together. Both days turned out to be warm and sunny which made the trip very pleasant. Tues. trip was a long day for me. I left Elko at 4:30 AM heading to Wendover to pick up the kids and bring them back to Elko. Kind og back and forth and back and forth.

Monday, May 19, 2008

House cleaning

After working 12 hour days for 4 weeks straight Rick finally is done with the 'shut down'. That is what they call it when they shut down the Mill at the mine and do all the stuff that can't be done when the Mill is running. Now why would any person in their right mind work these kind of hours? He wants a motorcycle. 4 years ago Rick sold his motorcycle so we could put hard wood floors in our house (of course 2 yrs. later we sold it, but that's another story for another day.) It was a sacrifice he was happy to make but ever since then he's wanted a motorcycle. Here in Elko every June they have the Motorcycle Rally. It's a huge 3 day event with Bikers coming from all over the nation. The first year we were here in Elko we weren't able to go. I guess John & Ashleigh's wedding was more important, you think? Last year we had a great time wandering the booths and Rick drooled over the many bikes on display. The Joan Jett concert on the last night was awesome! Ever since then Rick has been planning on buying a bike and now is the time! He's been looking on KSL.com and he thinks he's found one. So we'll keep you updated! Oh ya the title of this post..... so after Rick working all those crazy hours and the trips and so forth I've been taking our home has been sorely neglected so today (and part of the weekend) was spent cleaning! Yeah! I finally feel like the house is clean.... that's what makes me happy today. How about you?

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Nice quiet saturday










These are the Sage Elem. second graders searching for fossils. I took them to a fossil hunting place up Mountain City Highway... you turn off about 3 turns up the canyon. The kids had a ball and the day was just beautiful for it. After we took them to the Elko city park for a picnic lunch.

And now it's sat. and Rick and I are both not working! It's the first time in weeks that we are both home.... we slept in and kind of lazed around. Rick worked on the boat and we ran a few errands. It's been a nice day.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Home Movies

Well folks I've found a new way to torture those I love with home movies!

You Tube!

Isn't modern inventions great? OK so now you all have to watch and then rate this one. Rick this this one is better than the 'It's clay and it's weird'. I think they're both great but I want you the audience to tell us!

Tagged

OK, Suzy tagged me so I guess I'll have to step up!

3 Joys

My kids, they're growing up into neat adults
My grandkids, they're giving their parents a run for their money already
Chance making great progress in obedience class

3 Fears....... hmmmmm

Not accomplishing the things I want to in life
There's not much I'm afraid of anymore...
Not succeeding in my endeavours which is about the same as #1

3 Goals

Finding a job for summer
Getting back to tole painting
Getting Chance to be an obedient dog and quit running off!

3 Current obsessions/collections

I don't have room to collect much right now so NOT collecting would be a obsession
Looking nicer (watch "what not to wear')
Keeping our home cleaner

3 Random facts about me.........

I've been a school bus driver for 19 years now (good grief!)
I've resided in 7 different states during my life
I've always wanted to be a dog trainer

How's that Suzy?

Monday, May 12, 2008

An extra day

Well more of my travel log. At least that's what it seems like some times. I don't mean it to be that but that's where our lives are.... oh well. Hopefully you don't get bored of field trip adventures. I took Carlin softball to their divisional playoffs Thurs. They were playing in (at?) Smith Valley. I've never been to Smith Valley, where the heck is it? No one I talked to could seem to tell me where it was. I figured that the coaches must know where we were going so I didn't worry too much. Our person who assigns the trips mentioned in passing that if the team won the game they were going to stay and if not they were coming home. Hmmm... they're not leaving Carlin till 1:00 PM, must be a very late game.... I thought to myself. So as the song goes... my bags are packed, I'm ready to go..... picked up the team; they're a fun group to take. We stopped in Winnemucca for an afternoon potty, snack break and I got to chatting with the Coach and she tells me that if they win their game Fri. they stay till Sat. for the finals! I had only packed enough clothes etc. for an overnighter, sigh... And the Carlin Railroaders are the top of their division, every game I've taken them to previously they won, so I figures they are staying till sat. and on top of that I don't have a babysitter lined up for sat. Oh joyous day! So after it was all over and done with I arranged for Zac to stay with the Bradbury's again and the Railroaders won the division championship and we got home at 8:00 PM sat. night. Oh and Smith Valley is about an hour south of Carson City. We stayed in Gardenerville which is a quaint little town just far enough from the hustle and bustle of the city and nestled against the Sierra-Nevada mountain range. Actually it's also about half an hour form Lake Tahoe also, very picturesque area with mountains and trees and all manner of green things growing. Not like our barren desert environment of Elko County!
Poor Zac missed Mom so much that Thurs. night he crawled in bed with Dad at about 4:00 AM and Sat. morning about 3:30 AM! He was so happy when I got home! And I was so happy to get home. I miss my guys terribly when I'm gone! Rick keeps telling me that I act like I'm going on vacation when I go on these trips. Let me tell you, it is not a vacation. Friday was a 15 hr. day, taking the team to the game and then to Yerington for lunch in between the games and then dinner after. When we're close enough I go to the hotel and relax or nap or whatever while the group is doing their thing but this trip we were 40 min. from the hotel.... no relaxing for the weary. It was 9:00 PM by time we got back to the hotel. Luckily they didn't have the early game sat. so I could sleep in and getting back at 8:00 PM was early compared to other trips! Now have I rambled on long enough?
How was your weekend?

Thursday, May 8, 2008

You Tube video........

OK! This is a test! I took Suzy's instructions and I'm giving it a try. Here is a claymation video that John & Courtney made about 10 yrs. ago. I have such creative kids! I can't imagine the patience it took to make these. It's actualy a take off of some movies my brothers made with dad's super-8 camera any, many, many years aog. They did stop-acation races. If I can find that video I'm going to put it here also. That may take soem time however. We'll see what happens. So enjoy!

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Wednesday, hump day


Well the week is half way over.... is the glass half empty or half full?

Chance and I are 2 weeks (this makes 3) into obedience class. Now for anyone who's gone to doggy classes before you will know that the one who learns to be obedient is really the owner not the dog. I love watching 'Dog Whisperer' on National Geographic channel. It really can help in training your dog. We've had dogs as part of our family for about 14 yrs. now and if I'd known then what I know now (I love cliches')....... anyway Chance and I are learning to be obedient. I keep saying that once he gets to be a dog he'll be a very nice dog..... now if we can just get through puppyhood! Australian Shepherds are very smart dogs, they were bred to be herding dogs but also make very nice companion and pet dogs. I've thought about showing him but getting into the show ring click can be very tough. People aren't always as welcoming as you would think they are, I showed Katie (our 9 yr. old) limitedly when she was about 2 yrs. old Unfortunately the show season conflicts with fishing season and at that time of our life it was just too much. Rick however is encouraging me to show Chance as he is a very nice example of the breed. His breeder is in the top 20 Aussie kennels in the nation and he was one of 2 pups not spoken for in the litter. We were so tickled to get him, after loosing Red last year we were heartbroken. I didn't want to rush into adding another dog to the family but when the opportunity came to acquire Chance we went on a marathon road trip to Reno. It was quite fun and 'Megabucks Chance of a Lifetime' became a Clarke. So now it's time to learn to be obedient and he's doing very well so far. It's an 8 week course through the kennel in Elko. The owner of the kennel who also happens to be the trainer is an Aussie breeder and she thinks Chance is a very nice dog... not only in looks but temperament and personality. I've actually thought of doing obedience with Chance. He's very smart (all Aussie's are smart) and I think might have the temperament for it, we'll see. So I'm off to learn to be obedient!

Do you have pets? Do you like dogs? Are you obedient?

Monday, May 5, 2008

Playing Catch Up

I spent the better part of today playing catch up. With mine and Rick's schedule of late our home has been seriously neglected. For someone who used to be such a neat freak (my home was ALWAYS clean) it has looked like a tornado hit our house these past few weeks. In fact Rick used to tell me that the only thing that scared him about being with me was how clean I kept my house. Living in Nevada has presented some unique challenges in housekeeping, not only has our schedules provided hindrances but the Nevada winds provide endless dust! In fact last year when I was driving for KT I had one of the young woman from the ward come once a week and clean the bathrooms and dust for me. I'm seriously considering going that road again. But today I spent a few hours making our home look fit to live in again! Yea! My husband will be so happy when he comes home tonight. Working these long hours has made him something of a grump so anything I can do to help him feel less stressed when he comes home is a big step in the right direction. So how do you feel about housework? DO you ever get so behind you don't think you'll ever catch up?

I survived.......

Well I survived another 19 hour trip to Yerington! The Spring Creek Track team left Saturday morning at 2:30 AM, which means I had to be at the bus yard at 1:45 AM to pre trip and get to the school, which means I had to be up at 12:30 AM to get ready to go. Up at 12:30 AM you ask? Yes up at 12:30 AM. I went to bed at 8:30 PM, you do the math. We arrived at 8:00 AM but that wasn't the end of my responsibilities... the team unloaded and I had to fuel both the buses..... the coach had driven one so I fueled both so that our relief drivers wouldn't have to later when we met them. So by 10:00 AM I was done fueling....$250.00 for 70 gallons of diesel! Glad it wasn't on my credit card! Then I could take my nap.... it was more being unconscious than napping. 4 hours later I woke up. Boy was I glad that I got that nap. And low and behold the track meet got over early.... miracles will never cease. So instead of the relief drivers meeting us there in Yerington we drove to Fernley and met them. I had a chauffeur to drive me home which was a good thing. After telling Sonia (the chauffeur) that I really didn't feel tired I proceeded to fall asleep, not waking up till we got to Winnemucca. Can you believe that? Potty break and back on the road. I still dozed some of the rest of the way home, I must have been really tired!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Crazy, busy!

Elko County School District has been busy this past while, which in turn means I've been busy! Good for the paycheck, bad for sleep and time to do things around the house. I wish I could hire someone to come in and clean for me! I've subbed here in Spring Creek and taken a trip to Eureka with the Carlin softball team. It was like driving in a wind tunnel all day long. And the girls had to play ball in it! They won both games.... walked all over the other team! When it was time to go home the sun was just setting and a misty fog was rolling in. It made driving home like driving on an airport landing strip, it was dark... there were no landmarks because of the fog-mist and the only thing to tell me where the road was were the reflective markers on the side of the highway. I've only driven a team that way once before so with the hurricane force winds and all the rest it was a long ride home. But we made it and I was very happy that I wasn't called the next morning to drive! Rick also started the shutdown at the mine last week. This is the time of year when the miners work 12 hour, 7 day weeks. They shutdown various equipment and do maintenance projects to keep things working top notch, or close to it. Rick's goal at the end of the 4 or 5 weeks of hell is to save enough to buy a motorcycle. He's missed having a bike to ride for the last 4 years, ever since he sold his to pay for the wood floors we put in the living room of our house in West Jordan. It looks like May is shaping up to be a busy month for the Clarke home. It's the last month of school meaning it is going to get really crazy for field trips.... oh joy! What do you look forward to in May?