#2809 feeling pretty dang good right about now

First of all…GO UTES! Utah football just flat-out opened up a can of whoop-ass on the USC Trojans in the PAC-12 Championship game. The Utes won, 47 - 24. USC was ranked number four in the country, and was all set to go into the College Football Championship Series with a win over 11th ranked Utah. This week I heard on sports radio about how great the USC quarterback, Caleb Williams, is and how he will win the Heisman trophy this year. Williams did look good in the first quarter, all cocky and slinging the ball around with his F*CK UTAH fingernails. A few sacks and some wild scrambling later, he was limping around and looking pretty defeated. USC won’t be competing for the National Championship this year. Neither will Utah, but they already knew that. USC lost twice this season, and both losses were to Utah. I don’t know why, but the victory felt especially sweet. And now I know what I’ll be doing on New Year’s Day: watching the Utes play in the Rose Bowl game! 

Today was kind of weird. We had a big snowstorm last night and got four to six inches of the white stuff here at my house. Yesterday was warm, with temps in the low 50s, but a chilly south wind blowing. The storm came in and it got cold, and then even colder when the snow stopped. The roads were messy this morning, so I started my work day at home until the snow plows had a chance to do their job. I got to the office around 10:00, and worked until 1:30 when I had to leave to give T a ride to work. I cleared it with my boss to finish my work day at home. I had a lot to do, and I appreciated not having to drive back so I could get everything done and finish my day at a reasonable time - around 5:00. It was a long day, and a long week. 

I am participating in a photo-a-day challenge on Instagram called #Decemberreflection2022. Susannah Conway sends out a list of prompts for each day of the challenge, and then I post a photo. I’ve been doing it for a few years, and I think it’s fun. Today’s prompt was Favorite Mug. Here’s mine:

I got it in Chania at a little souvenir shop we visited on our last day in town. I like the owl. There’s also a little red heart with the word “Crete” in it. Cute! It’s fun to see what other folks post, too. I saw a Roy Kent mug that I really liked. LOL

Do I have any plans for the weekend? I’ll probably do a little art - because I like it! - and I’ll clean the house up some - because it needs it. I’d like to put the Christmas tree(s) up and put out some decorations. Maybe I’ll watch a movie on my big TV while I sit right here on my comfy couch. I’ve also been yearning to bake something. It’s a seasonal thing. A pan of Mississippi mud brownies maybe…

My aunt Mary used to make this decadent dessert. I haven’t made them in years, but some gooey, chocolate-y goodness sounds nice. 

Whatever your plans are, be safe out there! Keep washing your hands. 

#2790 Saturday with Sandy

This morning started out with pancakes. MT and I have both been wanting some. He wanted to go out, and  I wanted to stay home, so I made some delicious pancakes right in my kitchen. It had been awhile, and boy, did those pancakes hit the spot!

MT had big plans to do some remodeling/fix up in his bathroom today, so he went to Lowes to buy some stuff. While he was gone, I did some art. Jill the Artist sent out a prompt in her recent newsletter to create a fall wreath. I set a timer for about 50 minutes, put on some music, and lost myself for a little while. Here’s what I came up with:

I know wreaths typically don’t have stuff in the center, but I just kept on sketching. I guess that kind of makes the wreath more of a frame. Can you spot the wee hedgehog? I like the owl, too.

After all that drawing and painting, I felt like cleaning the floors and surfaces downstairs. I’m sure I’ve mentioned how much hair and dust gathers in the house because of my sweet doggos. MT actually swept a lot of hair up while I was making pancakes. I used a swiffer and got a lot more hair and dust with that tool. I also dusted and vacuumed the kitchen rug. It was truly amazing how much dust and hair was sucked up by the Dyson. 

With the downstairs looking about 73% better than it had, I was ready for lunch and TV time. I watched an episode of the limited series From Scratch on Netflix. I read the book when it came out a couple of years ago. The show is a little different, but the author of the memoir by the same name is a co-creator, along with her sister, so it’s okay. The first episode takes place in Florence, so I really loved it. I’ll watch the rest of the series, hopefully in the next week. 

This evening, MT and I went to the cinema to see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It was long and had kind of a slow start - not counting the opening sequence which made me sob. I even made noises. It’s not a spoiler to say that the opening sequence is a funeral scene for King T’Chala, who was, of course, played by the late Chadwick Boseman. 

I was absolutely crushed when Chadwick Boseman died. I remember sitting out in the parking lot of Petsmart and sobbing. His death came at a time in my own life when I was going through some crap, and I think his death was something that just released all the grief and sorrow I was feeling at the time. The opening credits of this movie were all photos of Boseman, and it triggered the memory of sobbing in the car, and I was weeping, tear-y mess.

Now I am home watching the Utah/Stanford football game. The Utes are up 34-7 with a minute left in the third quarter. Utah is a good football team. I’ve done a lot of watching today!

Good night!

#2783 Saturday with Sandy

I started the day off very, very slowly. I didn’t get out of bed until after 8:00. It was surprising that the dogs weren’t all amped up about getting their breakfast a whole lot earlier, but they were snoozing hard. MT has a cold and slept in the guest room, so the dogs and I had the whole bed to ourselves, and we used all the space. Plus, it was overcast and chilly, so snuggles were required.

A shower, coffee, breakfast, and reading are Saturday morning rituals that cannot be messed with. Usually on Saturday I will read until it’s time for the book club meeting at 1:00, making sure I get all the pages read. However, this week, I knew I wouldn’t finish the pages because I just started the book on Thursday and the club was wrapping up the book discussion this week. I didn’t join in the discussion, but I really like the book! (Daisy Darker by Alice Ferney, in case you were wondering. It’s a superb book for Halloween, since it all takes place on Halloween!)

My goal today was not to leave the house, but I had to go to the store from pure necessity. I was out of coffee. I have K-cups, but I wanted some beans so I could brew a nice pot. I don’t buy coffee from my regular grocery store. Instead, I go to a somewhat bougey grocery store called Harmons. They have fancier items than my regular Smiths, like a very nice bakery, a superb selection of cheeses, and a beans from a local roaster, Cafe Ibis. (Actually, the roasting company is up in Logan, in northern Utah, but they have good beans!) I bought their Highlander Grogg beans that have tasting notes of vanilla, hazelnut, and aged scotch whiskey. It smells so good! I will make a pot tomorrow and report back. 

Harmons also has a groovy salad and soup bar, so I made myself a big ol’ salad. I’ve been craving salads this week, probably to balance out all the grilled meat I ate the past couple of weeks. After the big salad, I needed a nap, so the doggos and I sacked out for an hour. Glorious rest!

Now I am practicing the fine art of hygge. I’ve got a candle burning. I’m settled into a corner of the couch with pillows and blankets and the aforementioned Daisy Darker. Utah football is on the big TV. It’s raining outside. The dogs are snoozing in their comfy spaces. MT is upstairs, reading. T is at work, so I am enjoying some quiet time. I’m going to do a little sketching and some more writing. I’ll probably make myself a cup of coffee.

Oh! Check out my new favorite mug:

That little red spot on the left is a heart with the word CRETE in it. Owls are a THING in Greece. I’ll probably talk about that factoid in an upcoming post. 

I just remembered the World Series is on tonight! I will be flipping back and forth between football and baseball now.

Hygge out, friends!

#2780 weekend wrap-up

Oh man, last night was (as the kids say) LIT! You know I love October for sports. 

Last night, I was flipping back and forth between the baseball playoffs and Utah football. Utah was playing USC here in Salt Lake. USC was ranked sixth in the nation, and Utah beat them by one beautiful, consequential point, 43 - 42. So freaking cool! GO UTES! 

Then, in the Major League Baseball playoffs, the San Diego Padres were playing the Los Angeles Dodgers in San Diego. The Pads were up in the series, two games to one, and just needed to win last night to advance to the National League Championship Series. The Dodgers led most of the game, then the Padres erupted for five runs, and went on to win the series! OMG - I was yelling and jumping around. Harley just about lost her dog mind over my antics. She got hyped. Mac was outside and started barking to be let in the house so she could celebrate, too. I think T just thought I was nuts. It's just so awesome, though!! It's actually double awesomeness because 1) I'm a Padres fan and 2) I don't like the Dodgers. hahahahaha

The Padres will play the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS for the pennant and a chance to go to the World Series. LFGSD!!

Ahhh...I went to bed very happy in my fandom.

Most of yesterday and today is all about trip prep. The adventure begins, for me, tomorrow, with the first of the travel days. Yesterday I got my vacation pedicure, very important, I know. I also organized all the paperwork, created accounts on the airline apps I'll be using. I got some packing done. Today I have finished paying all the bills, so I won't be thinking about that kind of stuff. I'm getting ready to figure out what clothes are making the final cut to go in my suitcase. Those are the two most important things I am doing today. There are a couple of other miscellaneous things I'd like to accomplish, too, so we'll see how that goes. 

Wow! It's finally here - time to go on this creativity retreat to Crete! I see this trip in three unique parts: Athens, Chania, and Munich. I'm ready for all of it! It has been a dream of mine to take two vacations in a single calendar year, and this is the year for it. I'm incredibly thankful and yeah, I guess proud of myself that I could do it financially, and to have the vacation time available to do it, too. 

I won't be writing here while I'm gone, so this is my last post this month. I'm looking forward to telling stories and sharing photos here in November. 

Peace!

#2776 Saturday with Sandy

First things first…SLC is  having the nicest weather right now! Cool in the morning and evening, just warm enough - in the 70s - in the afternoon. It’s the magical time when neither the AC nor the heater is on. The windows are open, letting in the cool, clean air. At night, I actually need a light blanket and snuggling with the dogs is more fun. I love early October weather here.

The most interesting and unusual thing I did today was attend a Zoom meeting with fellow Chania travelers. The artist, Jill, hosted the meeting and our tour operator, Carlo, was on the call as well. Carlo answered logistics questions, then Jill led us through a couple of art things, including the making of zines. Do you know what zines are? I had heard of them, but didn’t know much about them, much less how to make them or what to do with them. Now I’m kinda psyched about them and am thinking they might be fun little souvenirs that I create for myself. 

Here’s a cute little video about how to make a zine, if you are interested.

After the call, I got some take-out, finished scanning my book, and participated in book club. I say scan the book because I read this book last year. Although I enjoyed the book, I don’t really want to read it word-for-word again. I remember it well enough to know what happens, so I’m just scanning it to review so I can participate somewhat knowledgeably in the book club. 

Another thing I did today was watch the Utah/UCLA football game. I took a nap in the third quarter. What can I say? Football relaxes me and I was full of food and had the Saturday sleepies. Utah lost the game. 

I decided to go to Old Navy this evening to see if there were any clothes I wanted to purchase for the vacation. I did buy a couple of things. I think I’ve got everything I want now. I’ll wash the new stuff and lay it all out in the extra bedroom to make sure all the stuff works together. Packing light is a fun, challenging game, isn’t it?

Now I am in my bedroom, watching the Padres get hammered by the Mets. I liked last night’s game, when the Padres hammered the Mets, a whole lot more. 

That about covers it. Kind of a quiet day, which was pretty great after the long, long work week. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

#2774 weekend wrap-up

On Friday, I had an appointment with my regular doctor for my yearly check-up. While I was there, he gave me a flu shot (ouch!) and the latest bi-valent Covid booster. I had both shots in my left arm, and that night, the arm was pretty tender, like uncomfortable to lay on. 

Saturday the arm was sore, but usable. I went to Red Butte first thing in the morning and looked at blooms. It didn't take very long, as many of the blooms are fading. It definitely felt like fall. The temperature was nice and cool, and the light soft and mellow. I took this photo of the area I call Crabapple Cove, known to the curation staff as CG14 to CG17. I think my name is much cuter.

Doesn't it look like a little garden fairy or a friendly gnome might wave at you here? I quite like how this photo turned out.

When I was done recording blooms, I took a quick walk around the Garden, then came home to watch the Utah football game. The game started at noon. RBG is on the Utah campus, and there was a lot of traffic up there as people were heading to tailgates and getting to the game early. It was interesting to see all the fans in their game-day gear. 

At home, I ate a late breakfast, then sat on the couch to watch the game. I slept through the second quarter. I was just so tired. After the game, which Utah won handily, I went up to my room and took a long nap - like two hours. I'm guessing the vaccinations has something to do with my fatigue. 

Today has been pretty mellow. MT mowed the lawn - maybe for the last time this year? - and I swept and dusted - certainly NOT for the last time this year. This afternoon, the two of us went to Lehi to the outlets at Traverse Mountain. We did some shopping at Eddie Bauer and at Famous Footwear, then had lunch at Straptank Brewery. It was a nice afternoon.

When we got home, I finished the book I was reading and returned it to the library. It was due on Friday, so I probably owe the library a dime or two. It was worth it. 

Let's see...what's coming up this week? Well, it is the first week of the month which means month-end close at work. I'll have to be in the office Tuesday - Friday this week. Some folks from the corporate office are coming to visit, so all hands in the office on Wednesday (I usually work from home on Wednesday). I don't think there has been a switch for us Wednesday WFH peeps. Oh well.

Tuesday night, MT and I are going to see Gary Clark Jr in concert. The show is at a venue I haven't been to, a general admission place, so no seats I think. I don't know how we will like that, but we really like Gary. On Friday, I have to go back to the doctor's office to give some blood. I need to be fasting for my bloodwork. My appointment on Friday was at 4pm. There's NO WAY I could fast until 4:00. Heck, my tummy was grumbling when I was in waiting room. 4:00 is snack time. 

Another good thing happening this week: my local Starbucks is re-opening after being closed for a month for a major remodel. I know it's dumb, but I have really, really missed my neighborhood Starbucks. I might have to stop in on Wednesday as a treat for having to go to the office that day. 

I've got a couple of fun things planned for the weekend. On Saturday, Lizzie and I will be on a Zoom call with Jill the Artist about our trip to Chania. On Sunday, Lizzie and I will participate in a 5K walk. I think we are planning to do at the same time, even though we'll be in different states. 

That's all I've got for today. Happy October! 

 

#2762 Saturday with Sandy

My day started in one of my favorite ways: I took the time to sit out on the deck before the sun was fully up, sip some coffee, read, and watch the dogs run around the yard. Being able to spend a few minutes outside sets my mind at ease and gives me a wonderful slow start to the day that I cherish. Once the sun comes up over the trees, my east-facing deck gets too bright, and in the summer, too hot, to enjoy. When that happened this morning, I came inside, made some breakfast, and kept reading for awhile.

I got my hair trimmed a bit later in the morning. Is there anything that feels better than a fresh cut, even if it’s a fairly minor trim? I felt invigorated!

Feeling cute, kind of, except for my sort of crazy eyes.

The next stop was Barnes & Noble. I was looking for a guide book about Greece, but glancing through the meager selection, I decided against purchasing anything. I’m going to be in Athens for three nights (two days). Both of the days are fairly full with tours that we have already booked, so we don’t have much time on our own, and I think with the ideas I have from browsing Pinterest, we will be fine exploring on our own. In Chania, we are with a group, so our time is booked there, as well. Just because I didn’t find the specific type of book I was looking for, doesn’t mean I didn’t find books. I am a total sucker for B&N’s sales. Today there was buy one, get one half price. I found four books that I want to read. Three are on my library queue, and one I hadn’t heard of, but was intrigued by the description. I had all four books in my hands, but stopped myself from going to the check out line. I put the books back and decided to go walk around Old Navy for a few minutes and get a grip on myself.

I wasn’t excited by what I saw at Old Navy. I really wanted to buy a new shirt. It is the time of year that I’m kind of bored with the clothes I have been wearing all summer, and I was looking for something new to get me through. Nothing really caught my eye, though, so that left me back in front of Barnes & Noble. I needed help. I needed someone to tell me what to do, so I called Lizzie. We had a brief conversation that went something like this:

Me: Barnes & Noble is having a buy one get one half price sale. There are four books I want. Do I buy the books or walk away?

Lizzie: Walk away.

Me: Okay, I’m walking away. Thanks.

I hung up and got in my car and came home. I know this was the right answer because I currently have four and half books (I’m reading one) in the TBR pile that are new this year, and I have my doubts that I will read all of them before the end of the year, to be honest. I want to read them, but there are so many books I’d like to read. If I had doubled my TBR pile with today’s purchase, I would have not only felt buyer’s remorse, I would have felt guilt at not immediately reading the damn things.  Thanks, Lizzie, for giving actual voice to my inner voice, if that makes sense.

It was book club time when I got home. We finished up What Happened to the Bennetts. I thought it was very good, and I enjoyed our discussion. I don’t know what Ekpe will send out next. After book club,  I was feeling hungry, but I was also feeling tired. The need to nap won out over the need to feed. I slept for about 45 minutes or so, then took T to work, and stopped at a Mexican take-out place for a quesadilla.

College football season started today. I watched the Utah Utes play the Florida Gators at The Swamp in Tallahassee, FL. The Utes lost in a close game. They nearly won, but a touchdown pass to win the game was picked off in the end zone. Bummer. It was good to see the guys back out on the field though. I had some quality couch time, and it was nice. 

Now it’s time to go pick T up from work, and then I’ll probably go right to bed. Not doing much all day is tiring! LOL

Enjoy the rest of this glorious three-day weekend!

#2649 Saturday with Sandy

I’ve been kind of a lazy-bones today. This week was kind of hard. It went by fairly quickly, I guess, but every day was full of stuff. I worked a long shift on Wednesday, which in retrospect probably didn’t actually need to happen. There are ways I could have accounted for what I was doing, but then I would have had to do the work anyway, so rather than kind of do it twice, I just did it on Wednesday. (I know that’s a cryptic explanation, but it’s just work stuff that wouldn’t make much sense to many people.)

Anyway, like I said, I was a lazy-bones and didn’t do much. I did go to a Zumba class, which was good. The rest of the day was spent reading and dozing. Tonight I watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire for about the 100th time. I wanted to watch a holiday movie, like Love, Actually, but it is not streaming for free on Netflix or On Demand and I was too lazy to look at Prime or go get my DVD. Harry Potter was on, and it’s familiar and there is a Yule Ball scene which is during Christmas, so it felt sort of holiday-ish. 

Did I do anything worthwhile? While I was watching Harry Potter, I planned our meals for the week and made a shopping list, and I feel that activity is worthwhile. It’s easy to do that when you’re watching a movie you’ve already seen 99 times. 

Follow up on a couple of things…

Utah football won the PAC-12 Championship yesterday! They crushed the Oregon Ducks again and it was awesome. Next stop: the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. I know it’s dumb, but I got a little teary-eyed when the Utes won. I couldn’t help it. I love to see greatness.

The other thing I wanted to tell you is that I did get tickets to the Foo Fighters concert! YAY! 2022 is shaping up to be a good year for entertainment. I have tickets for Hamilton in January, Chris Stapleton in concert in June, and the Foo Fighters in August. Plus there will be live music at Red Butte Garden, unless things go really wrong with The Virus again. Another thing to look forward to in 2022: MT and I are going on that European vacation! (That is, of course, unless things go really wrong with The Virus.) I’m keeping my fingers crossed that all will be well. 

That reminds me that I need to get that booster shot! I’ll schedule it this week. 

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

#2648 three things: shoulder, Foo Fighters, football

 

There were three thoughts in my head a minute ago. Now there are only two. I’ll start writing and see if Thought 3 pops back in.

1. Shoulder doctor update. I had an appointment scheduled with the shoulder specialist this morning. Spoiler alert - the appointment was rescheduled for Tuesday. The reason is that the doctor’s assistant called me yesterday to make sure I had the MRI image that I could bring with me. I didn’t have the image, and I didn’t have time yesterday to go to the hospital to get it. I have it now, though! I went to the hospital and easy-as-you-please, I was able to get a compact disc with the image on it. I haven’t looked at it. I don’t know that I would see a tear or not. I’ll look at it on Tuesday with the doctor, I guess, unless I can’t stand the suspense and pop it in the computer this weekend.

2. The Foo Fighters are coming! Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the Foo Fighters concert as USANA Amphitheater, scheduled for Aug 8. MT and I saw the band in December 2017, and we really enjoyed the show. Here’s hoping I can get a pair of tickets!

(I remembered the third thing!)

3. Utah football. The Utes are playing in the PAC-12 championship game tomorrow night! They will be playing the Oregon Ducks. The Utes beat up on the Ducks a couple of weeks ago in a nationally televised game when Oregon was the third-ranked team in the country. I feel pretty strongly that the Ducks are coming into the championship game with a chip on their shoulder and ass-kicking on their mind. I just hope Utah remembers who they are and how they win and brings the championship home to Salt Lake City. Go Utes!

 

#2643 it’s Friday, right?

This morning MT and I took the doggos to the dog park, which is something we usually do on Sunday morning. They had fun running all around and making friends with other dogs. There was a handsome golden doodle who had a crush on Mac, but his advances were unwelcome. Mac just wanted to run around and play, so he barked at her and ran after her all over the park. Harley gets weird and anxious when she hears other dogs barking, so she wrestled Mac to the ground, which is her regular response when other dogs pay attention to Mac. They have such a weird and interesting dynamic.

The rest of the day, the dogs and I have been hanging out at home. MT went over to one of the properties

to do some work. Harley has mostly been sleeping. She was cold, so I put one of my old t-shirts on her
and she seemed happier. Mac’s winter coat has come in, and she was happy to run around outside most of the day. When she came inside, she panted.

I watched the final regular season Utah football game. They beat Colorado today. It was strange to watch a college football game on a Friday afternoon. I think that is what has my mind messed up with the day. I almost forgot to call my mom tonight for our regular Friday chat! 

Since I got back from the dog park this morning, I haven’t left the house. Yesterday I didn’t leave the house at all. It doesn’t hurt my feelings at all. I do have plans to go out tomorrow to do some shopping for the person I drew for Secret Santa. Truthfully, I really don’t mind staying home. 

Did you hear there is a new corona virus variant? Omicron. 

#2637 Saturday with Sandy

We went to bed kind of late last night after drinking some bubbly wine and eating the desserts that Mom and Lizzie brought home from the birthday dinner. I crawled into bed and felt a little chilly, so I picked out another quilt, snuggled in, and slept really soundly until about 6:45. I wanted to sleep longer, but it just didn't work out for me.

The morning was hazy and overcast, but not especially cold.  Lizzie and I walked to Starbucks, where we got some breakfast. We sat outside and chatted while we ate, then we walked back home. It felt good to take a walk. There are some Christmas decorations around the neighborhoods. 

It is officially the holiday season to me. I decided this a couple of days ago, on Thursday. That day at work,  we had breakfast burritos from the small tools department, we drew for Secret Santa, then we had a team-building event at Top Golf. I didn't work on Friday; I took a sick day because MT had an endoscopy to stretch his esophagus. He has a lot of scar tissue buildup at the bottom of his esophagus from acid reflux, and the esophagus tends to swell and close up, making it difficult for him to swallow. This was the second time he's had the esophagus stretched. Of course, he has to be put under for the endoscopy. When he wakes up, he is loopy, so he needs supervision :) I felt a little bad about leaving him last night to come to California, but he is fine and we are good.

Today was book club day, so I participated there. We finished our fifteenth book of the year. I'm hopeful we will do one or maybe two more before the end of the year. 

For lunch, we picked up food from Reventaco. Their fish tacos are really good! 

Mom and Lizzie indulged my need to watch Utah football. The Utes beat up on the third-ranked Oregon Ducks. It was a fun game to watch, as a Utah fan! PAC-12 South Champs, baby!

I'm feeling pretty tired now. Lizzie and I have a full day planned for tomorrow, so I think I'll hit the hay. Today has been a nice day of lounging and being with my women-folk. It was just what I needed. 

#2605 Saturday with Sandy

Today has been packed full of stuff. 

I started the day by walking the dogs at the park. MT stayed home this morning, so I took the girls out by myself. Usually it takes us about 28 minutes to walk a mile because there is lots of stopping for sniffing. Today we moved right along and we did a mile in 24 minutes. Harley only pulled hard for about the first seven minutes, then she settled into regular pulling. By the time we were near the car, she was pretty much walking right beside me. Mac pulls, too, but not as hard. What’s annoying about Mac is that she darts. What I mean by that is that she will see something and start toward it. I tell her no, and she walks with me for a step or two, then darts back to what she was looking at. The darting really messes with that left shoulder since I usually hold Mac’s leash in the left hand. She doesn’t dart all the time, like Harley pulls all the time, and that’s why I hold Mac on the left. 

Anyway…

MT and I went to pick T up this morning from residential treatment. The doggos were really excited to see T when we got home, and he was equally delighted to see them. T will spend tonight at home, and tomorrow he moves into the sober living place.  He is spending time with some friends this evening. I don’t really pray, but I am offering up all my thoughts that he is taking care of himself. I think he is. I hope he is.

This afternoon, MT and I went to a movie. MT wanted to see a documentary called The Alpinist.  Many scenes in this movie - like ALL the climbing scenes - sparked my anxiety. The anxiety took many forms today: throat-constricting, eye-watering, sweaty palms, breath-holding, covering the eyes, feeling the extreme need to stop watching and leave the room. Sometimes I just had to close my eyes and breathe through it. The subject of the film, Marc-Andre Leclerc, climbs giant mountain walls without a rope. Not only that, he typically climbs mixed surface faces, meaning the wall might be partially covered with ice and snow. My main question during the movie was “How does he get back down?” They don’t really address that issue very much, until the end of the movie. Overall, I didn’t really like the film, mostly because it made me so uncomfortable. The popcorn was excellent, though.

Right now I am watching the Utah - BYU football game. It’s crazy to know that this is the 101st time these two teams have played each other. It is a tremendous rivalry. It is half-time and BYU is up 16 - 7. Might be BYU’s year, but I hope not. Go Utes!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!