Category Archives: B

B – the Birthday Interview

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It wasn’t a big birthday, so we didn’t make it a big deal.  I cooked a meal, baked a cake, hung some balloons, bought some socks and a belt and called it good.  Oh yeah and promised to organize a few things. He claims it’s a perfect birthday.   I’ve come up with “the interview” for my birthday blogs this year and I am excited to share the answers with you all. His employees took good care of him too.

He loves all the "hooplah"

He loves all the “hooplah”

Always wiling to carry someone on his shoulders when they need it.

Always wiling to carry someone on his shoulders when they need it.

  • What do you like to dream about?    When I’m asleep flying.  When I’m awake my cabin plans.
  • What is your best memory from last year? Sitting in the little town square in Austria, getting a drink and hanging out with the old folks. Or watching any of my kids in their respective sports
  • Who is your hero? Why?  Kristin because she works so hard to be a good person and improve herself.  (I don’t like writing in 3rd person, but assume this is B talking in 1st person)
  • How would you describe your family? Kristin and I and our kids are very close, happy, content and secure.
  • If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be? Some things in my past, especially being fed skim milk as a baby.  I would definitely change that I was a well fed baby.
  • What are you most proud of yourself for? Success in my family and my businesses.
  • Who is the kindest person you know? It’s a tie between my brother Jeff and my sister Michelle.  I am amazed by their kindness.
  • Who is your best friend and what do you like the most about them? Kristin; her character
  • What is one thing you would like to learn to do well? Search Engine Optimization and, sometimes, play the piano
  • If you were an animal what one would you be and why? Lab dog, because I was wild when I was young, I’m intensely loyal and love to spend time anywhere with my loved ones.
  • What is the scariest thing that happened this year?  Our TazWorks server crashed and we had to deploy our disaster recovery plan taking us offline for about an hour.
  • If you could keep only one thing, out of everything you have, what would it be? My home.  (he first said family, but I made him differentiate between people and things)
  • Who do you think is really successful? What do you think is his/her secret?  My next door neighbor, David, he is a living example of a great leader in the book “Good To Great”.  Now you have to read the book to understand.  Hint. He attributes his success to good luck and everyone around him. 
  • What three words best describe you? Hard-working, Passionate (sometimes obsessed), Principled.
  • What’s something that makes you angry? People who want something for nothing and feel entitled, socialism.
  • What’s the best compliment you ever received? One of my clients, Karen  who I have known since my printing days 24 years ago told me I was a truly successful business man because I foresaw the need to transition and then followed through successfully all the transitions I’ve made from printing to credit reporting to back ground screening and on to software development. REPLACE THAT! My new best compliment comes from my son Master D on the next post I am his hero!

No need to ask: Yes, I do realize every day just how truly blessed and “lucky” I am to be married to my B.

Thanksgiving Weekend Playtime

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The gang - minus Michelle & Aub at home 'slaving' away..

The gang at Brighton on a beautiful day – minus Michelle & Aub at home ‘slaving’ away..  (Wyatt and Lelu in the helmets)

It’s a problem when you wait almost 2 months  to write about stuff.  I will most likely forget something.  This year for Thanksgiving, we were lucky enough to have Michelle & Maruan, Aub, Jeff, Christina and their boys.  The day before, however, on Wednesday didn’t quite go as well as I usually like it too.  I ruined the first set of rolls that I made, then the next batch just didn’t quite raise, so the rolls were pretty much a bust for our meal and then Aub’s flight was VERY delayed and a nightmare of traffic at the airport.

Thursday morning shined anew and we had plenty to be grateful for:

1. The turkey got put in bright and early

2. We went skiing.  Christina skied for the first time in eight years and didn’t fall down once – neither did I.  That’s a big deal.  We rocked it!!

3. Michelle and Aub prepared all the veggies and peeled the potatoes while we were gone.

The adult table.

The adult table with an Ari photo bomb

The table of kiddos…poor Landon & Lelu.  They are almost adults

 

The table of kiddos...poor Landon & Lelu

4. The food was awesome – except the rolls…. yet no one complained that the rolls sucked.

I think this is Lelu's plate so not all food groups are represented, but you get the idea..

I think this is Lelu’s plate so not all food groups are represented, but you get the idea..

5. i dragged everyone to see “The Book Thief”, which I absolutely loved (in my top ten favorite books) and no one else did because it’s kind of a downer story — even though the main character triumphs in the end.  I’m grateful they humored me.

6. On Friday, it was fairly nice weather and we all walked to the park. We played baseball & soccer.  Aside from B pulling some kind of toe/foot muscle, it was a ton of fun!

a little soccer..

a little soccer..

An electronic game at the park, that would be Michelle diving for the button

An electronic game at the park, that would be Michelle diving for the button, And the little kids just hanging around..

a friendly baseball game, with little to no bad sportsmanship from unnamed players..

a friendly baseball game, with little to no bad sportsmanship from unnamed players..

Lucky little Ari got a 'massage' from uncle Maruan

Lucky little Ari got a ‘massage’ from uncle Maruan

 

The brothers Taylor settle in for a hold your tummy long winters nap.

The brothers Taylor settle in for a hold-your-tummy-long-winters-nap.

7. This is the last Thanksgiving without Master D.  He had 3 meals that day.  So much gratitude for the people of New York!

8. I have a nearly perfect life….just the right amount of imperfection.. for me… and it’s enough. For that I am pretty dang happy!

 

 

Strange Coincidences?

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I try to be politically correct most of the time.  I do not like jokes in bad taste…normally.  But this is my borderline inappropriate blog:

I have a professor that I am having a very difficult time figuring out how to get an A from him.  So far I am a solid B to B+ and it’s not for lack of hours put in.  I will not, however, divulge his name or even what the class is called for fear of……repercussion? A guy in my class sent me this photo of my professor and his twin:

I am not a Simpsons fan so I have no idea what this characters name is but look at the VERY strong resemblance!

I am not a Simpsons fan so I have no idea what this characters name is but look at the VERY strong resemblance!

Another strange coincidence that we’ve noticed in our lives lately is the race of our coaches this year.  Now I know this would not be strange if we lived anywhere other than Draper UT – but I am pretty sure we’re working with the few:

So far their team is winning again. Fourth year of TT playing and fourth set of new coaches. He seems to land on winning teams. TT is getting a lot more play time in this year. He's 1st string offense, defense and special teams.

So far their team is winning again. Fourth year of TT playing and fourth set of new coaches. He seems to land on winning teams. TT is getting a lot more play time in this year. He’s 1st string offense, defense and special teams.

 

This is B's trainer he's been working out with the last few months. He seems to be working miracles in B's arms. I didn't think his arms could ever get as big as they are right now. I will have to snap a photo to show you. Mike came out to watch TT's game last week but sadly left just before TT made a great interception. I will have to replace this photo at some point because B does not like it.

This is B’s trainer he’s been working out with the last few months. He seems to be working miracles in B’s arms. I didn’t think his arms could ever get as big as they are right now. I will have to snap a photo to show you. Mike came out to watch TT’s game last week but sadly left just before TT made a great interception. I will have to replace this photo at some point because B does not like it.

 

Ari's coach and his daughter photo bombing...I was going to try and crop her out but I think it's one of the funniest I've seen.

Ari’s coach and his daughter photo bombing…I was going to try and crop her out but I think it’s one of the funniest photo bombs I’ve seen.

I thought this post would be the appropriate place to end with a joke I heard this week:

A guy died and went to heaven and went through the pearly gates.  There was a massive wall of clocks behind St. Peter.  The guy asks what the clocks are for. St. Peter says everyone has a clock and it only moves if you tell a lie.  There was a clock that had never moved, so the guy asked whose clock is that?  Oh that’s Mother Theresa’s.  Another clock had only moved twice and he asked whose clock that was? Oh that’s Abraham Lincoln’s.  So the guy asks “where’s Obama’s clock?” And St. Peter said “Jesus hung it in his office as a ceiling fan.”

 

 

 

 

 

Only One More Short Austria Post

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I bought the twins a dirndl and leiderhosen and I LOVE THEM wearing them. My time to dress them up is probably coming to an end soon so I will make as much of it as I can. Think I can talk them into wearing these for halloween?

I bought the twins a dirndl and leiderhosen and I LOVE THEM wearing them. My time to dress them up is probably coming to an end soon so I will make as much of it as I can. Think I can talk them into wearing these for halloween?

B found a great place to drown himself - what's up with the Mr. Incredible angle?

B found a great place to drown himself – what’s up with the Mr. Incredible angle?

The whole Austrian adventure loving bikers.

The whole Austrian adventure loving bikers. from the Left Saxtons, Seacrests, Sullivans, Saxtons (they aren’t related), US Zimmermans, Grangers and Lakes.  Our guides in the front row Dennis, Ron and Mirjam

Day 3 & 4- We Now Bike

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I can’t help but compare everything to our Italy trip.  I forgot so much about Italy after I got home, that I’ve never finished my photo book.  This is why I must blog about this trip daily because my memory is not good enough to wait.  I am being reminded constantly by the other couples on this trip about Italy though.  Not every couple from last year is here this year.  It’s only five out of the ten from last year and three new couples.  I think the others expected the trip to be just as hard as last year. So far, It’s not even close!  It is so totally different that I trained totally wrong.  Last year, I trained on a hybrid bike (road/mountain bike) and only on Porter Rockwell trail a couple rides per week.  And then we were on road bikes only on roads up hills in the heat for 6 hours a day.  We earned our calories.  So this year I trained on only a road bike for long distances up and down hills.  Well….we are not on road bikes.   Continue reading →

Day 2 – Church and Bavaria

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We invited our guide and his wife to go to church. It was really really cool. I'll be honest and say, I didn't really want to spend the time going - but I can also be honest enough to say I am so glad we did. Singing hymns I know in English while listening to the german, hearing an exchange student from CA speak, the missionary from UT speak and the other one translating for us the whole time. I am proud of Master D being out in the world, knowing he's helping other people and having to step out of his comfort zone. What an amazing bunch of young men!

We invited our guide and his wife (Ron and Alfreida) to go to church. It was really really cool. I’ll be honest and say, I didn’t really want to spend the time going, I wanted to see as much of Europe as I could – but I can also be honest enough to say I am so glad we did, because this was a really great part of Europe to see. Singing hymns I know in English while listening to the german, hearing an exchange student from CA speak, the missionary from UT speak and the other one translating for us the whole time, was priceless. I am proud of Master D being out in the world, knowing he’s helping other people and having to step out of his comfort zone. What an amazing bunch of young men!

Continue reading →

Quick – Cast May/June 2013

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If I posted separately about everything we were up to the last month, I’d have at least five more posts and probably bore most people to death.  So in the same manner as my previous quickcast – Here’s our top news stories:

Ari had her spring dance recital - which I missed again. Boy, that makes me seem like I get 'bad mom of the year' award. We were flying home that night. I am sad I missed it though!

05/23/13 Ari had her spring dance recital – which I missed again. Boy, that makes me seem like I get ‘bad mom of the year’ award. We were flying home that night. Once again, trip planned before the recital was planned…

05/31/13 I went to visit Aub in Portland for two days and failed again to take any photos. Continue reading →

Hang Ten Diehards!

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Lelu only spent one day surfing - the wet suit doesn't allow for getting a tan or checking out the multiple young attractive boys playing volleyball

Lelu only spent one day surfing – the wet suit doesn’t allow for getting a tan or checking out the multiple young attractive boys playing volleyball

 

This could be a postcard - Lelu and Landon loving the sunset. I can't help but think God loves us every time I look at something this amazing!

This could be a postcard – Lelu and Landon loving the sunset. I can’t help but think “God loves us!!” every time I look at something this amazing!

The tandem bike is a great idea in theory for kids to have fun....not so much in practice. Note to self -Next time I will not be talked into it.

The tandem bike is a great idea IN THEORY for kids to have fun….not so much in practice. Note to self -Next time I will not be talked into it.

We ate at a nice restaurant one night. As B and I were enjoying our salads, the manager came over and said "Did you order any food for the children?" I said "no they'll get McDonald's later" What kind of parents did we look like?

We ate at a nice restaurant one night. As B and I were enjoying our salads, the manager came over and said “Did you not get food for the children?” I said “no they ate yesterday” What kind of parents do we look like?

You know I almost named him Noah, I thought Noah and Ariel would be cute together....not knowing they'd be such ocean loving, surfing loving die hards. They were out there for a minimum of three hours for three days.

You know I almost named him Noah, I thought Noah and Ariel would be cute together….not even knowing they’d be such ocean loving, surfing loving die hards. They were out there for a minimum of three hours for three days.

This is the only photo of me, you know the mom behind the camera predicament. This is how I spent a bit of the time they were surfing. I happened upon a seal playing in the surf and wished I took my phone with me, so I sat and watched it soaking in the moment of joy.

This is the only photo of me, you know ‘the mom behind the camera predicament’. This is how I spent a bit of the time they were surfing. Walking up and down the beach. As it seems it’s one of my all time favorite activities.  I happened upon a seal playing in the surf and wished I took my phone with me to snap a photo, so I sat and watched it long enough to soak in the coolness of the moment and burning the image into my brain.

 

Did you know this CA boy had never surfed before? I didn't. But now he has and it was gnarly!

Did you know this CA boy had never surfed before? I didn’t. But now he has and he was gnarly! Is that even a surfing word?  One of these years I’ll get out there too.  I took up running at 40, B took up surfing at 50 – so 45 sounds about right? Next year…

We hired the same instructor as last year and he remembered us. Ari was very well named - water and the surfboard just seems a part of her.

We hired the same instructor as last year and he remembered us. Ari was very well named – water and the surfboard just seems a part of her.  She hasn’t stopped campaigning to move down there.

We attempted to play volleyball - Me, Christina, Landon, Wyatt, Lelu, TT and Ari. Let me just say it was very evenly matched in a 'none of us knew how to actually play'. And it was fun until I got nailed in the face!

We attempted to play volleyball – Me, Christina, Landon, Wyatt, Lelu, TT and Ari. Let me just say it was very evenly matched in a ‘none of us knew how to actually play’. And it was fun until I got nailed in the face with the ball!

We actually came home on Easter Sunday, so this year the Easter Bunny just happened to see us on the street the night before and had no baskets for anyone. It was a little sad, but since we had just spent five days at the beach - the Easter bunny did not feel very much guilt.

We actually came home on Easter Sunday, so this year the Easter Bunny just happened to see us on the street the night before and had no baskets for anyone. It was a little sad, but since we had just spent five days at the beach – the Easter bunny did not feel very much guilt.  What’s up with the boys and their hoodies?  I just noticed that.  

 

Huntington Beach is officially one of our favorite places to go – especially for Spring Break.  We played all day, the kids were wiped out fairly early and B and I got out our laptops – isn’t the tech age amazing?  Homework and work didn’t have to be totally neglected while the kids thoroughly enjoyed their spring break.  I love those win-wins!  We got to hang out with Christina and the boys a couple days, and Jeff, Christina and the boys for a day.  Jeff was inspired to try to surf too since B did.  I just didn’t catch any photo ops for him. Wyatt showed us all how it’s done and Landon toughed it out without a rash guard – suffering some wicked surfboard rash.

Our January Exodus

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There comes a time every winter that I must escape, lest I lose my mind and will to continue. Must be my AZ brain muscle memory.  2013 has by far been THE WORST January I can remember.  I believe every single day was freezing, snowing and/or the worst air quality in the world (truly).  I am so glad I planned a trip for the middle of January! Continue reading →