Storage / "Post office" cleanup

Ever since my husband's deployment to Iraq in 2004, I have started acquiring shipping materials: boxes, tapes, customs forms, address labels and what not. Now, after three deployments, I feel like I have a one person run mini post office from my spare bedroom closet.

Since, he is coming home within the month (cross my fingers), I thought I would go through what I have collected and get rid of some of it (hopefully, his next deployment isn't any time too soon). I have boxes galore - need to get rid of some of it - perhaps, I will take them back to the post office tomorrow.

Since I have some space in the closet now, I will need to figure out how to put everything back in there and some more stuff.

Now that I have all the contents of the closet out, it seems like I had way too much stuff collected. So, as I take a break, I look at all I collected in four years time. Good thing the post office came up with these flat rate boxes and the internet age - that I can order all my shipping supplies online and poor mailguy can bring it up to my third floor walkup. well, most of it anyways!
Seems like I know every employee at our little post office. They are friendly bunch and know me by sight and know what I am sending and where I am sending it too. But, I am sure they are hopeful that they won't see me with one to six boxes weekly for foreseeable future. :-)

Change

This is one of those posts I am sending out to cyberspace as just thoughts in my head that wouldn't leave. So, here it goes.

Most of us aspire to do great things and have a better life and overall to be a better person. That, of course, does require a change - change of habits, personalities, and change of goals and life itself.

But, sometimes we seem to loose what was good along the way. Seem to loose what was important and loose the bigger picture as we concentrate on the little things.

I am guilty of that as well. But, I can't help to wonder when I am given a chance to change and feel to afraid to change!!! I know fear is unavoidable but I lack the courage it seems.

Then, there is a change you wish to embrace but at the expense of loosing ties and friendships. It is hard but people do make them - but how do we mend the relationships lost, how do we explain it to those we love.

Of course, at times, I do lack the courage to accept it when others do change even if it is for the better, but I still find myself clinging to the things that I felt important and close to me.

Hmm, as I see my thoughts on black and white and try to comprehend it - needless to say I am still a bit confused! Thoughts anyone?

XXIX Summer Olympics

I am not an athlete by any means - not in a competitive level anyways. But, I do love watching people who do such an amazing job that they make it effortless in doing the toughest stuff.

I watched this summer Olympics cheering for Michael Phelps as so many around the world undoubtedly have. And, yes, he didn't disappoint his fans - he got EIGHT gold medals - record in and of itself besides breaking a few world records and Olympics records in the categories he swam.

Another very pleasant news was that Mongolia got its first ever gold medal from the Summer Olympics - actually TWO golds. First Tuvshinbayar Naidan in Judo and then Badar-Uugan Enkhbat in Boxing. Of course, two athletes got silver medals: Gundegmaa Otryad in Shooting and Serdamba Purevdorj in Judo.

All the video clippings of the matches and the medal ceremonies are at http://medeelel.com.

Congrats to all the athletes who did their best and came out a winner - medal or not. And best wishes to all for 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Good to be home

It is good to be home. Why, you ask. Isn't it obvious?

I got see many people and visit so many little towns and see some interesting stuff. I also got to rent a pretty comfy car and drive at 75 mph on a straight road (nothing goes straight in Hawaii - not for very long anyways - and of course, the speed limit is only 55). Just love that!!!

I didn't take pictures with Nicole, Heidi, Holly or Carissa. Oh well, next time - or you guys can come to Hawaii and we will take some pics taken!!! I was glad to see everyone and get to know how my friends are doing.

I am one of those travelers that like to meet everyone I know and see everything that I can - so I don't like to sit somewhere and just relax and enjoy a nap or a quiet moment (well, unless the vacation was meant to be a hideaway).

So, I usually seem to need a vacation from my vacation. I haven't done that yet - still, I took leisurely shower, did laundry, ironed my clothes, and finally plugged up all the stuff I unplugged and moved and piled up in the closet to make a room for a guest bed (I had a guest up till the day of my flight to Utah). Finally when I went to bed, it was 02:30 a.m. (06:30 in Utah time) and slept for about 4 hours. So, I definitely need that today!

I love to travel - don't get me wrong. I just get so tired after a travel - I could sleep days, if I could face the huge consequence of a killer headache.

Another reason I shouldn't travel - well especially this time was: I left Hawaii when the thermometer needle was pointing at 85F. I got to utah at 10:00 a.m. and it was at 95F. In Nevada, it was already 105F at 11:30 a.m. Makes you wonder what in the world I was doing in Utah, especially in Nevada, huh?

So, everybody should visit me and not the other way around - I guess, that means I won't get to see most of my friends - practically ever. Oh well. I guess, I will just have to still enjoy my travels and enjoy getting tired and too hot or too cold.

I am now all fueled up and ready to start planning another trip - this time to Ft. Riley, Kansas - to see my husband when he comes back from Afghanistan. Not sure when exactly he will be back and how long he might be there or if he would even be allowed to leave the base to visit with me. That makes it a tad bit hard to plan - but I am up for it and wish me luck!

Redneck Stonehenge

I have been quiet for some time - and realized I do have people who read my blogs and would like to comment or send me an email privately. Thank you for those who comment and email and those who miss me. :-)

I have been out to Utah and Nevada. One of the interesting things I have seen was the redneck Stonehenge. Not sure if anyone heard it on CNN Headline News - but this farmer Rhett in Utah decided to build a fence out of cars - of course, not just for kicks - in defense of his farm and because the neighbors who had moved in next to his farm complained about the smell, the flies and what not and wanted a fence... (not sure any fence would block the smell though)...

This is sign at his front fence... Clearly visible from the road even though it took us a while to find it - we asked a few people and finally found a lady who was able to point us to the right direction.

When we got there to see it, he had eight cars...

He still has the back hoe, so never know when he will add some more cars...

What size am I?

I wonder who came up with the clothing and shoe size numbering and measurements. it is so confusing to me - I never know what size I am. If I just look at all clothes in my closet, I will find at least 4 different sizes - but all seem to fit me reasonably.

Then, today I tried to find some children's clothes and shoes. Well, the clothes were somewhat okay since it has the "12 months" or "18 months" on it - as if to say baby size for dummies. But, I was literally dumbstruck when it came to shoes. The smallest I saw was 4 as far as the shoes but the number had no relevance to anything, it seemed like. I picked up 1 on the box, hoping that would be the smallest. Nope, it was bigger than the 4. I couldn't find 3 - so I settled with 4. But, then I wear 6 myself - so who in the world was so smart here to number them all with no rhyme or reason (well, I am sure there is one somewhere - I just need to find it with a flashlight and a map). Growing up it was simple (well, it wasn't in the States). So, less the number smaller the size. I wear 23 now, but if it is 6 or something then it is for tiny kid.

I wonder if anyone ever though of this and wondered if it could be changed or have those explanation booklets by the shoe department. There is a booklet when you buy a ink cartridge. Wouldn't shoes for children be equally as important if not more as the ink cartridge for your printer? Just my thoughts!

Hike at Laie Falls

Early risers got to go hiking today! We started at 0600 and walked from BYUH campus. The air was clear with gentle and cool breeze.

Coming to the HRI property entrance.

1/3 of the way up the trail and getting that much closer to the waterfall and our lunch.

Waterfall was just a drizzle - must have been dry for a while. So, no swimming for us. Oh well - after some exercise and big lunch, we all agree that it was FUN!!!

Got some beautiful scenery and flower pictures - see on the right column!!