In Search of Eagles

We took a four hour drive searching for eagles this weekend. Our friends found a nesting pair on the west side of Utah Lake so we went out to see them ourselves. In all, we drove about 150 miles around the west desert through Vernon and into Saratoga Springs. We saw one eagle soaring through the skies just before entering the small town of Eureka. Sadly we didn't find the nesting pair, but we did find their nest in the tree our friends sent us coordinates to. It was a clear day and the mountains were beautiful in the distance. While we didn't get any pictures of eagles, we did snag a photo of large hawk on a power pole. The hawk didn't like us. He kept flying down the road from pole to pole and he'd fly away just when we were about to snap photos. I took this photo from a long distance- an entire power pole away from where we had last stopped. I zoomed in the best I could, but I wasn't able to get the picture as clear as I would have liked.

 Hawk On A Pole

 The Power & The Sun

 View from the West Side of Utah Lake

 Utah Lake View

 Utah Lake View

Eagle Nest

A Ghost Town Kind of Day

We headed to the west desert in search of bald eagles on Saturday (2/5/2017) and decided to check out this little town in Tooele County called Ophir.  It's a little ghost town about 54 miles west of Salt Lake City. The town is nestled in a canyon. Not much there, really. While it looked to have some full-time residents (only three homes looked to be shoveled after the last snow storm), the only road through this little town was noticeably empty. In fact, we tried making our way up the canyon road, but they stopped plowing the road after a stretch making it difficult to continue in the slushy snow. While some of the buildings have been torn down and replaced with new homes, it looked like some of the older buildings were being restored. And I believe you can schedule tours at a mining museum, too, during the spring and summer. Something I would like to do another weekend.

Ophir is pretty. And quiet. Perhaps a little creepy. But I would love it if they turned some of the older little one room shacks into rentals where people could spend the weekend ghost hunting. That would be pretty cool.

Sadly we didn't see any bald eagles. 

 Ophir, Utah - Population 40 as of 2013

 View on our way down the canyon

 The cemetery sits on a steep hill on your way into town

This was taken at the edge of the cemetery overlooking a cliff

2013

Our highlights included Bob going hiking in the mountains with his former family.

Bob getting 9 teeth pulled due to severe periodontal disease. Poor little guy only wanted to sit on the cool green grass when he got home.

 Bob figuring out how to open the pantry door.  Notice only the lid to the food bucket is left?

Sadly, we were forced to put a lock on it  ... 

something I promised I'd never do to my kids.

And when the pantry wasn't available to him,  Bob managed to ignite the gas stove *sigh* more than once while trying to get food from the counter. 

So now we have this...

Dora was healthy and happy this year... she's a cutie. She loves to snuggle and 

take naps wrapped in her blanket.

So, 2013 was the year of the Beagle in our house. And a marvelous year at that. We can only hope your year was just as wonderful. Happy New Year to all of you. May much love and happiness come your way in 2014!

It Was Time

As many of you know, we took Copper in to be put down last week. A difficult decision. A difficult time. But we both have no doubt that it was time.  We had both promised Copper that we'd keep him around until his quality of life was diminished... not a moment before then. He had a really bad night... one that made us both think we'd lose him by morning. But then he woke up and seemed back to his old self.  A couple weeks later he was starting to show more and more signs of slowing down and by last weekend, he pretty much only wanted to sleep. By Monday, well, as much as he wanted to stick around just a little longer, he seemed ready to go... and we knew it was time.

They let Copper rest his head on my lap as he passed. It was so fast... and painless. In fact, when it was over his eyes seemed a little brighter and the coloring in his hair had a glorious shine. He was beautiful. And he was at peace... probably already running in the green fields with his beautiful sister, Macy.

Copper came to us from the Wyoming countryside. Richard found him while working in Jackson Hole on the Four Seasons Resort. He was a perfect match for our family and we're better people and beagle parents for having had him in our lives. He loved long walks, treats at 7PM, wrestling with his sisters, playing with toys, and barking at the door when he'd see Papa come home from work.  Our home is noticeably quieter at treat time...

We miss his bark. We miss the way he'd wiggle his bum and talk to us when he'd greet us at the door.  We miss his love for meal time. We miss his snoring. We miss him.

 Copper with his sister Macy

 Copper at the Vet

Copper sleeping with his baby sister Dora

Thanksgiving Day 2012

Copper loved being in the front yard

Many thanks to Dr. Carpenter and the wonderful staff at Cottonwood Animal Hospital.  They've worked with Copper for many years and we're so thankful for all of their love and support these last few weeks. 

I Will Wait

 

I Will Wait by Mumford & Sons

I heard this song on the radio the other day and I fell in love with it.  Honestly, I'm not sure how this group has managed to stay off my radar for so long. They're pretty amazing and they happened to come along at just the right time for me. Funny how music can take on a different meaning to you depending on where you are at or what you are doing in your life.   

 

Well, as soon as it started to play my thoughts immediately turned to my father.  He's a good man... and I love him. But more recently I've started to sing it to Copper these last couple days as is health has diminished and the cancer throughout his body has started to take over... *heavy sigh*  He's still hanging on, though... and being torn between letting him die on his own terms or taking him to the vet to be put down, this song seems to bring me comfort for some reason. Maybe it brings him peace, too. At least he doesn't seem to mind my off-key melody and often made up words when I forget the lyrics. That's a dog for you... always forgiving.

Regardless, give it a listen. 

And I came home
Like a stone
And I fell heavy into your arms
These days of darkness
Which we've known
Will blow away with this new sun

And I'll kneel down
Wait for now
And I'll kneel down
Know my ground

And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you

So break my step
And relent
You forgave and I won't forget
Know what we've seen
And him with less
Now in some way
Shake the excess

But I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you

So I'll be bold
As well as strong
And use my head alongside my heart
So tame my flesh
And fix my eyes
That tethered mind free from the lies

But I'll kneel down
Wait for now
I'll kneel down
Know my ground

Raise my hands
Paint my spirit gold
And bow my head
Keep my heart slow

Cause I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you

Much love... Sabrina.

I Didn't Get the Memo

I've been having some medical problems the last couple weeks and after multiple tests and hundreds of dollars in medical costs I chose to skip the final procedure they were requesting and decided to let my Lupus specialist handle the issue since I had my regular Lupus appointment scheduled for today, anyway. Seemed simple at the time. *rolls eyes*

I arrived at my appointment at the scheduled time and was immediately told that I had a balance that had been sent to collections. My first response was panic. I mean, I'm a girl that's all about credit perfection... just ask my twitter friends how damaged I was when I found out I had missed a scheduled payment to a credit card when I misjudge the arrival time on my credit union's automatic payment plan.

It. Was. Awful.

I'd never had a late payment before. Well, I had a few once... in 2000 when my sister died. I sent all the payments on time (long before the online payment thing was ever around), but I sent them through the mail without a stamp. GASP!  But it was back in the day when companies actually had compassion on the menu for success.  Back in the day when you could call up a service representative and actually speak to a person, and without getting into an argument, you could explain the situation calmly and have your late fee reversed. REVERSED!

Anyway... where was I?

Oh yeah... I went to my scheduled appointment and was told I had an outstanding balance that was sent to collections. The offending amount?  $1.44.  *shakes head*

I've never received a bill for $1.44. I've never been notified by a billing agency or a collection agency about an outstanding debt. But today? Today I have a bill for $1.44 in collections... Or so they thought?

I went to pay the offending amount at the time I paid my copayment for the appointment, but... they wouldn't take the money. I was told the payment had to be made with the collection company, which happened to be in the basement of the hospital. So, after my appointment I went to the billing department that they told me about and... they didn't have an outstanding bill for me.  What? This led me back to the doctor's office where I again inquired about the outstanding debt and offered once again to pay it. But, again... I was told that I didn't have an outstanding debt in collection. Instead... I had a credit???

Such confusion.  A supervisor was called and I was given the number of a billing agency to call wherein I was told...

"You do have an outstanding bill of $1.44, but our office policy prohibits us from sending a statement for anything under $5.00.  While you had an outstanding debt at the time of check-in your copayment wiped out the debt, and now you have a credit of $33.56. However, once the bill is processed, the $1.44 debt will come back because you've met your deductible for the year. So, until we have another bill to attach the small amount to, you'll always have a debt of $1.44."

They did tell me that it isn't with collections. It will never go to collections. It'll just sit in the loop until I have a bill that they can attach it to. That will happen when my insurance starts over on April 1, 2013.

That probably doesn't sound like a big deal, right? I mean, really, what's the harm of having an outstanding debt forever stuck in the system for a lousy $1.44?  Well, for starters, new office policy prohibits the office receptionists from making appointments with physicians if the patient has an outstanding debt.

I have an outstanding debt.

At the time I left my appointment I didn't have an outstanding debt, though. This allowed me to schedule a 6 month Lupus appointment for July. My problem will be when my knee swells with fluid and I have to go in to see my doctor before July and I won't be able to get an appointment because I have an outstanding debt of $1.44 that no one will let me pay... and this problem will force me to go to the ER the next time I have a knee issue, costing me more money... requiring more tests because I have LUPUS and they'll want to make sure the knee swelling isn't being caused by a more serious problem.  *sigh*

Tomorrow I start my petition to allow me to pay my $1.44 debt. It will be my goal to have it paid by the end of next week.  Heads will roll, people. Heads. Will Roll.

But that wasn't my only problem at the doctor's office today.  My appointment was for a Lupus check-up... and I had the audacity to want the doctor to follow-up with all the medical things from the last two weeks since the other doctors were never able to find the cause of my chest pains.  For this... I was told I would be billed for two office visits. Two? Why?

For the love of all things HOLY... I'm angry.  Turns out my problem that wasn't originally a part of my visit ended up being Lupus related, but depending on how the doctor marks the form I may be paying for two visits thanks to this new asinine policy created to suck every last cent from us unsuspecting, medically needy citizens. For me, my deductible is paid for the year, so at the most I'm only stuck with a bill for $35.00 IF they bill for two office visits. Or, $36.44, since they'll have another bill to attach that outstanding debt to. Hmmmmm... maybe this is just a way to collect all the loose change they have stuck in collections.  Regardless... it sucks and should be illegal.

I don't know how anyone with common sense can read that sign and not become angry at the blatant abuse of power within the medical community. Next time the doctor asks if there's anything else you want to discuss... think twice.  Heaven forbid the doctor actually treat more than one ailment in one office visit for the price of ONE office visit.

This Year...

My friend Kelli Whipple shared this with us today at church.

"This year... mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express you gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak you love and then speak it again."
   
A quote from Howard W. Hunter

Ringing in the New Year with Bob

As many of you know already, our beloved beagle Copper was diagnosed with cancer in November. He hasn't died... still hanging around, playing with his sister and his new little brother, and barking nightly at 7PM for his bone.  But, over this past weekend we stumbled upon the Utah Beagle Rescue website and found a beagle named Bob that was in need of a home. We sent an email to his family letting them know that we had room in our home, and in our hearts, for another beagle, and they responded the next afternoon with a phone call. We showed up to meet Bob and his family on Saturday night, bringing the pooches with us so they could all get to know each other. A few sniffs later and Bob was on his way home with us.

Bob is five years old and loves to sleep under the covers. He knows how to sit, lay, shake hands with both paws, and roll over. He mastered the doggie door in one day, but still has yet to give me a kiss. I guess we'll take the beagle kisses one day at a time.

Our home has been full of playing dogs, lots of beagle snuggles, and most importantly,  our home is full of love.

You can follow the activities of our little beagle family at A Beagle's Bark: The Tails of Copper, Dora and Bob.

Thankful to be Alive

Thirteen years ago I was hit by a drunk driver on my way to work.

I've tried to write this post a dozen times, but I can't find the right words to describe the moments from that day or all that I endured and continue to struggle with. All I know is it changed me... for the better in many ways. But it also took some very important things away from me. 

I spent three years in physical therapy learning how to walk. I've endured two facial reconstructions to repair damage to my jaw, and I'm looking at a third in the near future. I took several years to regain lapses in my memory, and I still struggle with short term memory problems regularly (I'm under the impression that this comes with age, but damn if I'm gonna admit that I'm old).  

I guess what I'm trying to say is... I'm thankful to be alive.

Did you know that MADD serves a victim or a survivor of a drunk driver every nine minutes?


Did you know that one in every three people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime?


Did you know that every minute one person is injured in an alcohol-related crash...


And that, this year, 10,839 people are expected to die in drunk-driving crashes - one every 50 minutes?


Back in 1998, 1,402,800 people were arrested nationally for drunk driving / DUI and 14,899 total deaths occurred at the hands of a drunk driver.


Yeah, I'm pretty thankful to be alive.

Four Score and Seven Years Ago…

I was shaving my legs and repeating the words to The Gettysburg Address when I was reminded of the Halloween costume I hated wearing when I was a little girl

I remember when I was seven years old and all I wanted to be was Cinderella for Halloween. The costumes back in the day were cheap, and nothing like the costumes you can buy today.  They were meant for one-time wearing; disposable. They’re useless after a class party, a neighborhood get-together, and roaming the streets for hours begging for candy on Halloween night.

I’d been bugging my stepmother, Freda, for weeks about “my” Cinderella costume.  I was a week away from my first trick-or-treating of the season and being Cinderella was all I could think about.

“They have them for sale on the corner by the little market for $2.00. Please? Please let me be Cinderella for Halloween,” I begged.  “And don’t forget to buy it before Trick-or-Treating with the Brownies next week, okay? Okay?”

Yeah, I was a demanding thing back in the day. But you have to understand… Freda was the wicked stepmother from Hell. She’s the woman that made me eat her icky stew every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner when I refused to eat any the first night she cooked it. This went on for days. Days, I tell you.  -Yeah, I’m stubborn, too. I get that from my father - So I might have been demanding in my quest to be Cinderella, but I deserved to be Cinderella.  Honestly, I don’t know why I deserved to be Cinderella, but to make the story seem more dramatic I’m going to say I deserved to be Cinderella so you can all gasp in horror when you read what Freda made me wear for Halloween that year.

A full day had passed, and then two… still, no costume.

Friday came and went… still, no costume.

The weekend ended and the following Tuesday I was off to school in my Brownie uniform with no costume for the afternoon activity. I still had no idea if Freda was going to buy me the Cinderella costume that I’d been begging her for. And I began to worry that people were going to laugh at me if I didn’t have a costume for the activity.

Lunch came and went… still, no costume.

After classes ended I took the school bus with my Brownie troop to Betty’s house… and still, no costume.

Seriously disappointed and on the verge of tears, Betty’s mom made a phone call to Freda. When she put me on the phone I told her once again about the Cinderella costume. I rambled through the particulars… where she could find it, how much it would cost, and before we hung up she promised she’d be right over.

We waited and waited, and waited some more. Then finally, Freda arrived.

I bolted out of the house and headed for the car, tripping on the gravel and skinning my knee.  But I didn’t give the injury much concern. All I cared about was that damn costume.  I’d been waiting weeks for this moment and I wasn’t about to whimper over some torn flesh and a little blood.

I skidded to a stop in front of the driver side window and eagerly waited for Freda to hand me the paper sack containing my costume. I couldn’t wait to get inside and put on my Cinderella dress.  Seriously, I was almost as excited as the day we attended a new church and I found out we could eat donuts and drink chocolate milk when the services were over. Hey, don’t laugh… I love donuts, and I was giddy with happiness; practically drooling from excitement.  That’s the same excitement I had as I stood outside the car waiting for Freda to hand me that paper sack.

But Freda didn’t have a paper sack to give me. Nope. Freda had a costume sitting on the front passenger seat of the car. And it wasn’t a Cinderella outfit. 

Listening to the motor of the electric window wind down, I stood in horror as I watched Freda pick up an item from the front passenger seat and prepare to hand it to me.  I remember the smile fading from my face and the color draining at a rapid rate… my lower lip began to quiver.  I had beads of sweat forming on my forehead and I took a step back from the car in an attempt to prevent this next moment from happening. 

“No. No. No. No. No. No. No,” I said, as Freda handed me a black top hat that had been made from black poster board. The middle tube section had been closed together with scotch tape, and the rim of the hat had been secured with Elmer’s Glue that looked to be still drying. 

But that wasn’t all she had for me.  After making me place this… thing… on my head she shoved something in my hand. It was… a beard.  It was a beard made from black yarn that had been cut into two inch long pieces and tied to another piece of string.

Did you read that?

IT WAS A BEARD MADE FROM BLACK YARN THAT HAD BEEN CUT INTO TWO INCH LONG PIECES AND TIED TO ANOTHER PIECE OF STRING.

I was doomed…

I was… Abraham Lincoln.

Like any normal child would, I protested this costume nightmare, but Freda seemed insulted at my lack of appreciation.  She left.  I cried. Then my knee started to hurt and I mumbled something about Lincoln having a cane. Betsy’s mother picked a pebble out of my knee and then helped me get prepared for the neighborhood trick-or-treating. Which was awful. A little old lady opened the door to give us a candy and when it was my turn to step forward she let out an audible gasp and said, “Oh, you poor thing.”   

Yeah, her pity might have scored me some extra candy, but I have a scar from that day. I have two scars from that day! One emotional scar the size of Texas, and another scar on my knee from running to the car for a Cinderella outfit that would never be found. Every time I shave my legs I’m haunted by the memory of that day. And every time I shave my legs I find myself repeating the words of The Gettysburg Address.

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

Unless you want to be Cinderella for Halloween like all of your friends and you have a wicked stepmother with dreams of ruining your life. 

Well, four score and seven years ago I had a dream to be Cinderella.  And... 


I'm still dreaming.

A Day at Bear Lake

This summer we had the opportunity to spend an evening at Bear Lake with some of the Ogden's.  Richard took a swim, and I sat on the shore and let the wind blow through my hair while watching the dogs play and try to capture a kite.  Then we had some dinner and called it a night. We're hoping that we can get a big group of us together for a little sleep-over next  summer.  I think that would be totally fun.

And for kicks and giggles you can check out this video of Rue playing with the kite.

Lots of stuff has happened since my last post. I'm not even sure I know where to begin.

Let's see... Uhhhhhh...

I wrote a short story for the online magazine, Pure Slush. Something a little silly that has received a little bit of attention from my online friends. You can read it HERE!

I'm also editing for Shotgun Honey along with my friends, Kent Gowran and Ron Earl Phillips.

I went to San Antonio for Girl's Weekend. Each year I get together with my girlfriends from Las Vegas and Arizona and we kick it over Labor Day Weekend. We walked the ruins of Alamo, took a river water ride, ate lots of yummy ice cream, walked the river walk and shopped and shopped and shopped and laughed and laughed and laughed. Then we ate some more food and I took a ton of photos.  I also passed the Sash of Authority to Lisa...which means she's in charge of next years destination. Oh, and I learned a lot of about Mickey Mouse.

 Tina, me, Teri

 I wanna be a cowgirl, baby

 Ooooh, pretty wall

 hand carved figurines

The Alamo

 Lisa with her the Authority Sash... just so you know, in order to pass the sash to another you are required to stand and do a dance number (or a jig made up on the spot) in front of whatever restaurant guests are in the room. I impressed them all because I AM AWESOME! I wish I was quick enough to have someone snag some video of it. Memories 101, man!

 Me and Lisa

On the Trolley

I also attended this awesome murder mystery convention called Bouchercon in St. Louis. While there I was able to meet some of my favorite authors... some have become great friends since our time together on twitter. I'm hoping this becomes a yearly event for me to attend. Lots of books, lots of authors, lots of friends, and lots and lots of fun.

 Me with Russel McLean

 Author Josh Stallings

 Author Andrew Grant

Joelle Charbonneau

 Chris F. Holm, Katrina Holm, Neliza Drew, Brad Parks, Joelle and Me

Author Holly West

 Author Daniel B. O'Shea

 Author Thomas Pluck

 The lovely Hilary Davidson

 Author Peter Farris

Me and Neliza Drew

After, Richard flew into town and we spent the week visiting St. Louis, Kansas City, Liberty, and Nauvoo, Illinois. We watched the Cardinals play the Mets one night and then drove to Kansas City to watch the Royals play Detroit the next. From there we toured church history sites and just enjoyed our time together.

 walking the streets of St. Louis

Busch Stadium from the announcers booth

 the road we followed

 on a walk to a landmark

 power lines for Nick Ogden

 at the top of the Arch

 The Arch

 view from the stadium

at the game

 in Liberty

 taking a tour at the Royals Stadium

at the Royals game

 in Nauvoo

 Nauvoo Temple

 Nauvoo Temple

Nauvoo Temple

Now, I'm just catching up on reading, writing reviews, and working on a couple of short stories for submission to a couple of places.  We've also completed a couple of home improvement projects, but I'll save those for another day. Love to all.