Swamp Boat

We are planning on selling our home soon. We have a few projects around the house to do in preparation for the sale. We will touch up the chipped paint, replace a door knob and take down some tortured and abused window hangings. We have even considered finishing the basement to increase the sale value.

Relatively speaking, the home is pretty nice. There are double paned windows throughout, a double car garage and the front yard is looking top notch.

While living in the home I've considered the location a disadvantage. For the sale, however, we have the advantage of being near Kearns. Kearns is known for its white trash life style, hence white trash housing. Our home is a lot nicer than most homes in the area. We don't have any fist holes punched through our walls or doors. That is a definite bonus!

We may run into some trouble while selling the home due to our neighbors choice of yard paraphernalia. The front yard of a house across the street has a basketball stand with out a basketball hoop, four or five bicycles scattered on the lawn at any given time, a banana chair, three orange parking cones, a half blue/half white garage door and garbage cans left curb-side constantly. While standing on our back deck, we have the lovely view of a trailer and a motor boat intended for use in a swamp. A swamp boat in our next door neighbor's front yard? What nerve! Perhaps they are not aware the UTAH IS A DESERT! They are anxiously awating the return of Lake Bonneville, in which case they will be the only ones prepared for life on water.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today is Markie's first birthday. Even though it doesn't seem like a full year has past, all of Markie's accomplishments will prove it.

He began his journey as a mobile baby at about five months of age. He was a little steam-roller. He could go anywhere rolling would take him. Now he has moved on to a very advanced sort of army crawl. With his entire body on the ground, he pulls his weight with his arms, leaving a trail of clean floors behind him.

He has mastered the art of fine pinching and self feeding (finger foods). He can even drink through a sippy cup.

Markie, we are so happy that you are here with us. Your first year has left us all with a feeling of love and happiness. Who knows what joy you will bring in years to come. We can't wait to find out.

We love you.

A Breath of Fresh Air

After working at Dr. Smith's office for nine years he fired me on Thursday evening.

On Monday morning of this week I walked into the office and noticed that he had hired a new girl. If I had been more intuitive, I may have figured out that she was my replacement. He called me into his office before I could even set my purse down. "Taylor, I want everyone in this office to become cross-trained. Start teaching Brenda (the new girl) to do your job" he said.

I can understand the need for cross-trained employees. "OK" I said, and began teaching Brenda the in's and out's of dental insurance. I spent all week showing her what I do, and correcting mistakes that she was making while trying to do it herself.

The problem is that she doesn't know how to read x-rays or create narratives to submit with claims. Every claim that she has submitted thus far will be denied for those reasons. I was stressing over the mess she was creating, but now I am just laughing. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT ONE DR. SMITH!

When Dr. Smith called me into his office at the end of the day, I then knew what was about to happen. How could I have been so blind? I suppose I trusted him to be loyal to a hard working, dedicated employee of nine years. My bad!

It felt as though he was breaking up with me. He said things like "you have a great personality" and "you have been here so long, you feel like family" followed by "things just aren't working out".

Seriously? I have been working for him for nine years. In that time I have become his only cross-trained employee, doing every job he offers in the office. I have worked with his hygienists, I have done chair-side with him, I have done finances for patients, worked on recall and have been the insurance coordinator. I don't understand, what part of that wasn't working out. My personal opinion is that he doesn't like my wardrobe.
Yes, he is that shallow to fire someone over petty things like wardrobe. He, of course, would never admit to that.

At the initial onset of this news, I was very upset. I couldn't even defend myself because he had turned me into a blithering idiot. I wish I had thought of something shocking and witty to say like "I have been accepted to hygiene school and was planning on leaving soon anyway". Perhaps some things are better left unmentioned.

Come to find out, I was the last to know that I was on the chopping block. Word travels fast between the employees at Dr. Smith's office. Yesterday I was told that everybody knew that Brenda was hired as my replacement. Learning about that is more insulting than being fired. People who I have considered friends looked at me as a dead man walking and didn't bother to give me a heads-up.

Now that I have had a couple of days to let this settle in, I am feeling alright about it. I no longer have to deal with the catty behavior of coworkers or worry about pleasing the impossibly pleasable Dr. Smith. I can take time this summer to take a few classes at the college to prepare for this fall when I begin the hygiene program. I will have time to enjoy my summer with Munchkin and this extra time will help with our near future move. All in all, I think this might be the best thing that could have happened.

Columbine

It was seven years ago today that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold went on a killing rampage at their high school in Columbine, Colorado. As each year passes, memories of this tragic event become more faint in our minds. The victims, however, will never forget the day that forever changed their lives.

As a parent to a child who will someday go to public school, I wonder what the future holds. There have been multiple reports of kids attempting to duplicate the Columbine massacre. Since 1999 parents and class mates have been aware of this growing problem and have tried to allert officials to possible future attacks. Some successful, some not.

Kids who have had social problems, or family issues may plot an attack hoping to be discovered as a way of saying "I need help". Others are serious about their plan and actually take guns to school. Fortunately, there haven't been other attacks to match the disaster at Columbine. A tragedy, however, doesn't have to be as large as Columbine (where 15 people died) to destroy a family or crush the heart of a mother.

Easter Bliss

Munchkin celebrated his first Easter today. He woke up this morning to a giant, plush bunny that he seemed to enjoy. Later, we went to an easter-egg hunt at Aunt Robin and Uncle Bryan's home. Munchkin was completely happy playing with brightly colored noise makers he found in the lawn. Each plastic egg had been loaded with candy and coins, sure to please any child looking for instant satisfaction. He shook each egg creating his own sort of musical instrument. We then went to Grandma and Grandpa's home for lunch. Grandma had also prepared an easter-egg hunt in her back yard. She woke up early this morning and dyed hard-boiled eggs, then hid them on her garden knomes and between daffodils. Munchkin was delighted to find colorful treasures that he could add to his easter-basket.

Yoda

As Daddy was about to unveil his newest addition to the Star Wars collection, he felt it appropriate to dress Munchkin as Yoda.

True Love

Today my Mom and I noticed Munchkin doing big jobs. Yes, he was infact soiling his drawers. He gets a look on his face that announces to the world that the mother-ship has landed, or is in the process of landing. His face turns bright red, his nose wrinkles, his eyes squint and he gives a hint of a strained smile while furrowing his brow.
We both knew what had to be done. Of course Munchkin needed his poopy butt wiped and a clean diaper put on. I would have jumped right on it, but I was just finishing my lunch. I had every intention of ridding my baby of the horrid stench he had just unleashed when my Dad entered the room.
"Grandpa, Munchkin has a messy diaper" my Mom said. At once my Dad whisked Munchkin away to clean the mess that he had worked so hard making.
My mom looked at me and said "He is the only man I have ever known that would just as soon change a messy diaper as he would a wet one".
Thanks Dad!

Check it Out

Let me tell you about a new blog where you can view pictures of my niece and nephew. Way to go Amanda! http://bug-n-bear.blogspot.com/