If the virus doesn’t kill me, working the clinics will

I think working H1N1 flu shot clinics is more draining than putting together a 5K. Most aging services (which is the division I work for) is separate from local heath departments. Lucky for me, mine is combined (which actually really is lucky for me because I wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for the combo of the two). For those of you that may live in a shell, H1N1 flu shot clinics are the big HOO HAA these days, and I get to work every one of them until we’re finished giving the entire population of the county which I work their shots. I get to answer the same questions thousands of times a day, get yelled at and talked to way to close for comfort from many, many random strangers.


To make it better, I've decided to blog about some of the great people that live in our neighborhoods and their very dumb comments/convos.

First convo:

Me: Hi, can I check your paperwork?
Older Mom: Oh yeah sure.
*checking paper, I notice that her kids which are the ages of 15 and 12 have signed for themselves*
Me: Are you their guardian?
Older Mom: Yes (puzzled look on her face)
Me: Oh, well since your kids are under the age of 18 they cannot sign for themselves...can you sign this for them?
Older Mom: (confused) Oh I thought that when they learned how to write their name in cursive that meant they were old enough to sign for themselves.
*I didn't know what to say*
Me: No, when they turn 18 they are considered adults and that's when they can sign for themselves.
Older Mom: Oh, well thank you so much for clarifying that for me. I had no idea.
*really?!*

Second convo:

Nurse: Are your children allergic to eggs?
Mom with puzzled look on her face saying nothing
Nurse's aide realizing she doesn't understand the questions tries to dumb it down for her by saying: Have your children ever had a really bad reaction after they have eaten eggs?
Mom: Wait, do my kids have to eat an egg?
*again, really?!*


Gotta love working with the community.

It’s becoming one of my favorite holidays

Maybe it’s because this year a dream came true for one 23 year old…

Gordon got to dress up like his childhood hero, Indiana Jones. And I was able to dress up like his side kick, Short Round aka Shorty.

We got to wear our costumes three different times. Our first time was for the Fraga family Halloween party. The Fraga side really gets all in to Halloween. We have the best decorations and fun games to play. Almost everyone dresses up...it's a great time.

My cousin Damien as Raggedy Ann

My Dad & step mom (Brenda) as a bottle opener and beer bottle

(I guess we can say it's creative...or trashy, I'll admit that)

Our next dress up time was our ward Halloween party. It was our first time being in charge of a ward activity since we were given our new calling. Sorry no pics from that night. It was pretty fun though. Yummy food, a Halloween runway & costume contest, and games. Good job us!

Of course we had to dress up on Halloween. Our good friends, the Purser's, had their annual Halloween party at the mortuary. Spooky! A tour of the mausoleum was the scariest part of the evening. Additions were made, although not necessary because it's scary without any additions, such as scary music which sounded just like people moaning to get out of their caskets, and no lights! My mind got the best of me and I thought I saw people where there weren't any.

We played pictionary, had a donut eating contest, and of course we played 4 men on a couch (a Purser original).

Marc really got into the donut eating contest

Go Indie, oh I mean, go Gordon!

Guests at the party

Shelli (pirate), me (Shorty), Katherine (Raid), Jovie (bug/bumble bee)

Love their costumes...Katherine (Raid, as in the bug killer), Marc (giant purple fly swatter, bug killer), Jovie (bug/bumble bee)...are they trying to tell us something?

Us again

Oh and I got a little creative this Halloween, with the help of good ol' Martha Stewart, and painted and bowed these pumpkins. They served two purposes: table decoration and porch decoration. Genius Martha!

And Just Like That, It's Gone

About once a month I want to chop all my hair off, usually because it’s giving me grief and not going the way I want it to. This month I had a hair stylist appointment that fell just on the day my hair was bothering me…

And this is me 8 inches later (and lighter).

I’m already growing it back out.

Cruiser Fall Foliage Adventure

Fall is my favorite time of year…colorful leaves, warm cardigans, boots, dresses with leggings, soups, hot beverages, warm scents, pumpkin cookies, brown, rusty orange, mustard yellow (all my favorite colors)…I love fall! Since the weather was so nice this weekend we took advantage of having an adventure vehicle and went on an adventure where we were set to surround ourselves with the changing colors that fall brings.

We finally used the built in beer opener...

by opening our Stewart's sodas.

I forgot how much fun having a “toy” can be. And getting to spend the day with my best friend, and his best friend (the cruiser) made it one of the best. Saturdays. ever.

Wanna Go For A Ride?

My Dad has talked about getting a Harley for many years. My Dad talks about a lot of things. He’s usually just all talk. Lately, he’s changed that.

He and my step-mom have been on biking trips all spring/summer/fall long. They cannot get enough of their bike. I guess that’s why they bought another one about two weeks ago…the trike. Completely hilarious to look at, but luxurious to ride.



My Dad and Brenda will be riding long into their retirement (whenever they retire). That got me thinking…Gordon and I will probably be cruising in our retirement…cruising and camping. Wait, I’m pretty sure I imagine my retirement sipping fancy drinks on a beach…

Elk Mating Calls and Big Boob Mountains…Only In Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Every year we go on an annual family vacation with Gordon’s extended family to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. One of the main reasons they go is not to spend time together (although that is another main reason they go) but to hear the elk bugle (aka the elk’s mating call). We do not go there to watch them mate, but to hear their mating call…very different. A co-worker of mine looked at me awfully funny when I told her that we go to Jackson to hear the elks mating call…she quickly replied “So you watch the elk mate?” No. Again, very different. We see no action. Wait, I take that back. We see some action…when two male elk battle it out for a female. But no mating action. This year we didn’t even see a battle. A little disappointing, but seeing four bears (we saw the same set of bears twice), two moose, lots of elk (one very close up), a deer, and a couple of bald eagles made up for that.

The weather was superb. The fall colors in full bloom. It was absolutely beautiful up there.

We did the usual activities: wake up at 6:00am to hear the elk bugle, then have a big family breakfast, split off into individual families to do our day activities which this year consisted of a fall harvest market in town and hike at Jenny Lake (special side note: Matt proposed to Jenny on this hike…she said yes!), then meet back with the extended family for dinner and family time, then on Sunday we go to church (which is still new to me…church while on vacation…I don’t know).

We had a very nice trip. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Hardcastle for putting this together for us and fronting the condo bill. And thanks Kim and LeeAnn for supplying us with food and great company. We’re so grateful to be apart of such a wonderful family.

All You Fashionitas Out There!!

Enter to win some cute boots from this blog:

http://www.headoverheelsutah.blogspot.com/


Oh I love Fall!!