Moab: Mostly Ostracized And Boredom

Well there are so many thoughts I am not sure where I should begin. Well we are in Moab officially. I was here for almost a whole week before I was back in Vegas. Josh went there with his boss to race his truck. So I am feeling like I haven't really adjusted yet. All of our stuff is mostly in boxes and we still have all the furniture on the trailer. I was really upset last weekend when I thought I would have to stay in Vegas all week with them when I found out it was snowing here. Imagine that what I was worrying about happened. Stuff got wet. Not only did it get wet, but it happened to be a tote (that for some reason had no lid on it) with all my dumb things I have collected over the years, but have sentimental meaning to me, got soaked.
I have spent all week cleaning and painting this place. They came and put new carpet in our bedroom today. I painted the living room first so I could put up the Christmas tree. I think the carpet guys were making fun of me for having no furniture and boxes everywhere but the tree was up and decorated. LOL Oh well! It makes me happy. So I am stuck in this stupid place and know no one. Hopefully things will look up for my birthday. It is frustrating that I left Vegas so we could be together and not even a whole week I am here and get left alone. So far this move blows!!!
Plus it is in the minus degrees here. I left warmer winters in Vegas why??? I hate the stupid snow!

PURPLE

Shaken babies

Education program is welcome

Tribune Editorial

Updated: 11/03/2009 08:50:46 PM MST

Shaken baby syndrome. The seemingly innocuous term doesn't begin to describe the horrible damage that can be inflicted by simply shaking an infant so that the baby's head flops back and forth, even a few times.

But the truth is that when an infant is shaken, the brain bangs against the inside of the skull, scrambling tissue, causing bleeding and swelling and possibly crushing the spinal cord. The baby's oversize head, undeveloped muscles and fragile, newly formed brain and blood vessels all combine to make possible damage more extreme than most people can imagine.

Sometimes babies are shaken by abusive caregivers, but more often the shaking happens when a parent or sitter becomes frustrated with a period of constant crying -- something that's normal for infants -- and reacts without thinking or without knowing what harm it can cause.

Tragically, shaken baby syndrome is on the increase, from 16 cases in 2005 to 48 in 2008. The recession is putting more stress on low-income and unemployed parents, so that number is likely to rise even higher. A third of shaken babies die and 80 percent of those who survive have permanent brain damage resulting in retardation, paralysis, blindness, deafness or some combination of those effects. At least 14 shaken babies have died in Utah since 2003.

That's why a new educational campaign launched by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome in Ogden is so welcome. The campaign is called Period of PURPLE

Crying and is modeled after the successful national effort called Back to Sleep that educates parents about ways to prevent sudden infant death syndrome. That nationwide campaign is credited with helping cut deaths from SIDS by 50 percent since it began in 1994.

Utah, with the highest birth rate in the nation, is the first to introduce PURPLE Crying in all its birthing hospitals, 39 across the state. Now, funded by a private grant, the program is also reaching out to pediatricians, health departments, home nurses, adoption and foster-care agencies and the public. When a baby is born at one of the participating hospitals, the parents receive an 11-page booklet and 10-minute DVD that explain the danger of shaking and offer tips on caring for a crying infant.

The need for this campaign can't be overstated. Helpless infants and overstressed parents are vulnerable and need all the help they can get.

Ahhhh Freedom

So I am a free woman now. No more working with the immature little bitch! SWEET! Friday she wasn't at work so it made the day like good ol times and those are the days I am so going to miss about work. I love being around everyone else there.
So now I am just finishing up some last minute things and just chillin waiting until I leave to go to Tooele. It will be Thursday before I know it.
I am so looking forward to being back with my Joshy. I am not looking forward to the whole moving to Utah thing, but I am just going to have to make the best of it. We are renting a house there so it will be the first time since I moved out of Ma and Pa's that I won't be living in an apartment. I even get to have a garden. Lame I know, but I am super excited about that.
Once I get there it is off to find out about getting signed up for spring semester.

Life In General

So things have really been weird around here. My living situation is not exactly the way I pictured us as newly weds. I have only spent a few days with my hubby in the past month and a half. I am missing him so much! I know that this is all for the best.
This week is my last week of work. Work is totally crazy right now and all I can say is I am so glad to moving on from there. Last week when I put in my two week notice so did my boss! Then when I was gone from work on Friday an other lady from our department gave her two week notice as well. So now they are stuck with few people and one totally crazy girl who was no idea how to do her job. Well not my problem any more. She should just be thankful I don't knock her out before I leave.
I am going to hang around here until the 19th then Stacie and I are driving up to Utah. We are going to take Austin to Thrice in SLC for his birthday. I am going to be with my family through Thanksgiving. Josh is going to drive up from Moab and join us! Then finally my hubby and I can be together again!
I will be returning to Moab with Josh after the holiday. Once I get there I will have lots of cleaning to do in the house we are renting, but at least I will be living in a house instead of an apartment for the first time since I have left home! I am planning on signing up for some classes for the spring semester. We have worked things out so that if I want to work only part time I can.
Our plan was to stay in Moab for the next two years. Then we are going to move to South Dakota where I can finish my degree at the School of Mines and Technology. We have made plans that once I get settled in in my new home that we are going to plan on a family. I am so tired of everyone giving me their own reasons and excuses of why they think I should not start my own family. Yeah well I am ready and so is Josh and to me that is all that matters. Plus Sabine needs a cousin on our side of the family! ;)
So you may be hearing from me more while I am on my leave from work.

Autumn Time

Well autumn is here. I haven't taken time to sit down and write in quite some time. Everyone has great things to talk about these days and well frankly I don't. I am moving to Moab in a month or so. I don't really want to be back in Utah, but that is where I find myself having to go. The time line agreement is only to be there for two years tops. Rapid City is where I want to end up or Custer. Right now Josh is already living there and I am still in Las Vegas. I am bunking up with Stacie for now. I hate having all my stuff in storage and a missing hubby, but at least it is really good company. I am just hoping all works out with this new job of his. There really is not much in the line of a job for me in Moab. I wish I could say that I would be more sad to leave my job, but it is nothing but a headache everyday now. I will miss everyone else there that I have come to love as friends.

Wedding Pics

So some time soon I am going to set up all of our wedding pics on flickr.com.
I'll let you know soon as they are up!

Congrats Mike and Nicole!!!!!!

So things are getting ready to change around the Drain household. We have made the bold move that we are leaving Las Vegas. Our ultimate goal is to end up in South Dakota. We are both applying for jobs there and in Utah. We might make a stop back there for awhile.

We had tons of fun hanging out for Mike and Nicole's wedding last weekend. This is my new cowboy husband...lol. We brought along "2nd wife" Stacie with us. I am going to miss her much when we leave. I am still trying to convince her to move with us. Hehe.

Go Back To Mexico Then!!!!

I recieved this email and thought I would share.
http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/mexicoflag.asp
I guess they already finished their English homework!!! Montebello High School in California You will not see this heart-stopping photo on the front page of the NY Times, nor on the lead story of the major news networks. The protestors at Montebello High School took the American flag off the school's flag pole and hung it upside down while putting up the Mexican flag over it. (*See pictures below*)

I predict this stunt will be the nail in the coffin of any guest-worker/amnesty plan on the table in Washington .. The image of the American flag subsumed to another and turned upside down on American soil is already spreading on Internet forums and via e-mail.Pass this along to every American citizen in your address books and to every representative in the state and federal government... If you choose to remain uninvolved, do not be amazed when you no longer have a nation to call your own nor anything you have worked for left since it will be 'redistributed' to the activists while you are so peacefully staying out of the 'fray'. Check history, it is full of nations/empires that disappeared when its citizens no longer held their core beliefs and values. One person CAN make a difference.One plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one........ ..The battle for our secure borders and immigration laws that actually mean something, however, hasn't even begun. If this ticks YOU off...PASS IT ON!IF IT DOESN'T IT SHOULD!

Officially Mrs. Drain

Well we are back from the adventure called a wedding. It was full of drama, suspense, laughs and cries. It all came and went to fast. The weather on Friday was horrible. We went to Crazy Horse and it poured on us. It did clear just long enough for the rehearsal by the lake. We had a very scrumptious dinner at the lodge after. I'm sure you guessed there was plenty of drama just in that night. We spent the time before and after the rehearsal making the center pieces. I thought they turned out wonderful.

Saturday I woke up and it was the most beautiful day! I went to Rapid City and had my hair and makeup done. Then we went back to put some finishing touches on the auditorium. Four o'clock came around it was show time. There were so many people out at the lake that day. I was so nervous.

Everything was just wonderful. I don't think I could have asked for anything better.

A Moment Needed.....To Vent!

So I thought I would take a moment just to sit and write. Mostly to vent. This is my last full week at work before I leave to get married. It has been the week from hell. The girl that was just hired to work with me is just not working out. I have had to deal with so much "high school" drama in just the past two days. She talks a big talk but sure as hell can't walk the walk. I want nothing more for a wedding present then to come back to work and she is gone!!!
Next tuesday I leave here for my drive to South Dakota. I will be stopping in Tooele on tuesday. I having been looking forward to meeting Hayley's new babies!!! So I have my things to look forward to that have been keeping me saine this week. For crying out loud it is only Wednesday!
Things are falling into place with the wedding. They are going so well that it almost scares me. I guess if I let some things really bother me then that would be a different story. Like the fact that I don't even know who out of our wedding party is really even going to be there or not. If they are not there that is their own problem not mine. I am still going to marry the man I love reguardless if they are there to see it or not.
(I still think you should come Hayley. Even with a baby hanging from each boob!!! LOL Love Ya!)

Goodbye Forever Common Sense

Subject: An Obituary printed in the London Times - not a joke and makes you think ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was,since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children,are in charge).His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses;and criminals received better treatment than their victims.Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights I Want It Now Someone Else Is To Blame I'm A Victim Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Jello Penis And Some Wedding Plans.

So I have been super busy, and then when I wasn't I didn't have access to a computer. So here goes a little of what has been going on. Saturday the 2nd I had my bridal shower and bachelorette party. We had a suite at the South Point hotel. It was really nice! I had a really good time. I will post more pics when I get them.
On Monday the 4th I left with my mom to South Dakota. We went to finalize some wedding details. I got my cake, flowers, and went to the lodge to meet with our wedding coordinator. I am so excited! This is all coming together so nice! It is going to be beautiful.



This is the auditorium that we will be having our wedding reception at. The inside is so pretty.

This is what you will see for our ceremony.

They made me suck it. lol.

This is our giant jello shot. It was yummy peach!

The Picture Explains It All

This picture my friends explains how I feel about my life right now. Hanging on for dear life!!

Walking In The Sky

So this weekend we embarked on the adventure of going to the Skywalk at the west rim of the Grand Canyon. My stomach wasn't feeling the best so the washboard road for 50 miles there sucked. Once we got there we totally got an ass raping. That's right we bent right over and they stuck it in without the lube. Let me explain. We did some research before we went and it said it would cost you 29.95 a person just to walk on the Skywalk. We knew you had to take a shuttle there because no private vehicles are allowed. I figured like 10 maybe 15 dollars. Nope you have to take the Legacy Tour or whatever it was called. That brought the total up to $75 a person to go out on the Skywalk. I almost wanted to say screw it, but the whole reason we went out there was so Mike could propose to Nicole.
We got to the Skywalk and you can't take anything with you on the bridge. You have to leave everything in a locker. They make you walk through a metal detector just to make sure you aren't smuggling your camera. At first I though you know some asshole had to come up here drop the fancy camera and tried to get the place to reimburse them or something. Then as we were there of course they have "professional" photographers to take your picture for you. Guess how much freaking money we spent there? Well to get all of the proposal pics we had to buy the package and it was $107!!!
That my friend is an ass raping. After I forgot about the pain we had a good time. It was a beautiful thing to see. The Skywalk was super cool. I don't know why but it's like it never really hit me we were actually hanging over the edge.

Random Boring Thoughts

So here I go with a post of nothing of real importance. I just have so much going on in my head right now I thought this would be best to do. So this crappy ass situation with the economy has made me go through my life goals and totally think things over again. Josh may not have his job for long and right now he is making hardly any money at work. That leaves us with the worry of how are we going to pay for this wedding now? Most little things are taken care of, but that is about it. At the end of the summer our lease is up in our apartment. We were hoping to be buying a house. The houses are actually affordable in Vegas now. I'm not taking on a house payment with the unknown of Josh's job situation.
At the end of this year I will be a ripe ol' age of 27. Here lies the problem. I wanted to start having children by the time I hit 30. I first want a house and Josh to have a steady job making pretty good money so I can stay home. I absolutely will not leave my child(ren) with ANYONE! So there maybe goes that timeline.
I tried last weekend to hit the MegaBucks, but no luck. Darn It! lol It's up over 31 million now.
Josh thinks I'm a total nut because I have been listening to this podcast Pregtastic. I know I'm not preggo and won't be for awhile, but I have learned so much stuff I had no idea about! There is so much out there now to know about being preggo and about childbirth. Holy Crap!
So other than worrying about things I can't really control right now, this wedding, and working overtime at work my mind is a mess. Sorry if it doesn't make much sense. Boring I know, but it helped get some things off my mind!

Crazy Times!

So life has been on-the-go crazy! I am working overtime this month while we are finding someone new to help me. So when I'm not at work it is housework, sleeping or somehow finding time to get out and do things. A couple weekends ago we went back out to Logandale and took the bike and went camping. One of the guys Josh works with brought out his sandrail. OMG! I am giving up my first born to have one like that. Not that we have money to have that or a kid. There are rumors that they are going to close the dealership he works at by the end of the month. I really hope things start looking up. Pretty soon I am going to be the only one in the family with a job. Well enough of that shit back to things we are doing that we probably should not be spending money on.
This last weekend we drove to Ely Saturday night. We went to visit for Fletcher's birthday. We of course did the normal thing and sat around Hil and Cal's and chit-chatted and had some drinks. The topic for most of the night of course is this up coming wedding. I could very well loose my mind. I should have listened when they told me "Just go elope". Yep they were sssoooo right. We spent the night as usual at the Hotel Nevada. No ghosts in our room. (The whole night everyone was talking about how the place is haunted.) We spent the better part of the morning at Hil and Cal's playing with their new puppy. I had fun with the dogs and cats. They are so darn cute! Then we all packed up and went to Garnet Hill. We spent the afternoon looking for garnets. Josh and I spent more time up there then the others. I am a huge rock hound. I love me some rocks!! We had a most delicious dinner and then we were on our way home.
So this weekend I am planning on working a full day on Saturday, and Sunday I am laying on the couch all day!!! Plus it is the season finale of Big Love so I totally can't miss it. We spend way too much time watching TV. Well that is about all us po' folk can afford, and maybe not even the cable for long.
I think the last weekend of the month we are going to have visitors here. So an other busy weekend. There is just way too much going on for the next almost 4 months! I am going to leave you with some random pics from our outings.

Timmy! I love this cat. He is the most mellow of them all.

You can't really tell, but there is the dutch oven where I cooked up some really awesome chicken and rice!!!


My creative moment.

Hey I was camping just remember that! And maybe there were a few beers involved.

Pitch and his new friend Roxy! She is so stinking cute!

I LOVE the desert!!

Josh and I took the bike out on sunday and went to Logandale. It was a beautiful day!! The trails are right on the very top of Valley of Fire State Park. Beautiful!!

Here is your daily dose of STUPID stamp!

These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts, and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.
ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?
WITNESS: He said, "Where am I, Cathy ?"
ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?
WITNESS: My name is Susan!
____________ _________ _________ _________ _____
ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
____________ _________ _________ _________
ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
____________ _________ _________ _________ ____
ATTORNEY: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo?
WITNESS: We both do.
ATTORNEY: Voodoo?
WITNESS: We do.
ATTORNEY: You do?
WITNESS: Yes, voodoo.
________ ____________ _________ _________ ______
ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep,he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
____________ _________ _________ ______
ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year- old, how old is he?
WITNESS: He's twenty, much like your IQ.
____________ _________ _________ _________ ____
ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Are you s*!*&ing me?
____________ _________ _________ _________ __
ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Getting laid
____________ _________ _________ _________ _____
ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?____________ _________ _________ _________ _____
ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death.
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Take a guess.
____________ _________ _________ _________ _____
ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I'm going with male.
____________ _________ _________ _______
ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition noticewhich I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
____________ _________ _________ ________
ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?WITNESS: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight.
____________ _________ _________ _________ __
ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral.
____________ _________ _________ _________ __
ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: If not, he was by the time I finished.
____________ _________ _________ _______ _______
ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
____________ _________ _________ ________
And the best for last:ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began theautopsy?WITNESS: No .
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law

My New Job!!

Check out my new job!!!
www.pepperminthippo.com
I'm the new cover girl!!!

Invitations

So here we go I am finally done with my invitations and I don't want to seem like I am tooting my own horn, but they came out awesome. So if anyone reading this needs invitations made let me know!

This is part of putting my talents to work for me.

The ABCs of ME.

A- Attached or Single? Attached
B- Best Friend? Hayley and Josh. I couldn't live without them.
C- Cake or Pie? Cake. I love cake! Any cake.
D- Day of Choice? Sunday. It is the day that Josh and I get to spend together.
E- Essential item? I know it is bad but I must have Diet Coke.
F- Favorite color? Purple.
G- Gummy bears or worms? Bears. I bite off their head first.
H- Home Town? Tooele, UT.
I - Indulgence? Anything sweet.
J- January or July? July. It will be really special this year.
K- Kids? Nada.
L- Life isn't complete without? Love and Diet Coke.
M- Married? Almost.
N- Number of Brothers and Sisters? 1 brother
O- Oranges or Apples? Apples. I used to hate them but I really like them now.
P- Phobias? Open water.
Q- Quote? Love is the irrestistable desire to be irrestistably desired.
R-Reasons to smile? My family.
S- Season of Choice? Autumn
T- Tag 5 people? Marcoooo! Polo!!!!!! Oh sorry wrong game. Tag you're it!
U- Unknown fact about me? I have OCD.
V- Vegetable? Potato. So bad for you but so good.
W- Worst habit? Over snacking and over eating.
X- X-ray or Ultrasound? Ultrasound. An X-ray would mean I broke something again.
Y- Your favorite food? Italian
Z- Zodiac sign? Sag

I Want One!

The first documented hybridization in North America between the Asian leopard cat and a domestic cat was in the 1970's. However, it was the mid-1980's in which there was a concerted effort to produce a breed of cat mimicking the appearance of the Asian leopard with a domestic personality. This cat is called a Bengal.

Just because I know you are curious Hayley...

We had such a blast!!

This is called skills. Drinking and dancing at the same time. LOL.

We were listening to the song Kitty by The Presidents Of The USA. Josh is like what the heck?

Stress. Isn't it great?

So I have been having these crazy dreams lately. They all have to do with the wedding. The one before was that I had become pregnant and could not fit into my dress anymore. Plus it had this hideous purple lace thing that was I'm guessing suppose to be a jacket?? I know where that idea came from. Silly me and my immodest dress.
Well then last night I have a dream that my wedding is in this awful church. It had black carpet, yes black carpet. Then I was in my dress and mad about my hair because they had done it up in some funky beehive type hairdo. Picture Marge Simpson minus the blue. I was running late and my make up still had to be put on. Well who ever was doing my make up put a dark purple eye shadow on me and it was everywhere! As my lovely shade of purple is being applied I am on the phone with my mom and she is telling me she won't make it!!
What the crap! Sometimes I really hate dreams. I swear I stress about things way too much.

Fire and Ice

So over the weekend of Jan 17th we went to Ely to go to the Fire and Ice event at Cave Lake. It was chilly, but tonz of fun. We always have a good time with Hil, Cal, and the chillins. Of course there were a few beers involved. Trust me you don't want to see the rest of the pics from the night. LOL.