Too Much Information

Going private. If I dont have your email you can get me at mairann@live.com Thanks all!

Thanks Friends!

Alright friends. Here I am again. Another week has gone by. I still have 2 more days of work this week...sigh...At least I have some time off work the first part of Aug. Dont know what I am doing for this time off. That remains a mystery. Good thing I like mysteries.

Well I am doing great. I have not felt this good emotionally and physically for several months. I have an appointment with a urologist next week. I think I will be scheduled later for a bladder scope....now that will be fun!! At least I am getting closer to finding out what is wrong with me.

So today I worked my 8 hours-we start at 6:30 finish at 2:30 and am home getting laundry done for the week and all the cleaning....dang my bathroom is a disaster-gross Mair Hair!! Then Dan will be home and hopefully we will do something fun! At least that is my plan. Life is good this week! Honestly. I am happy down to my metatarsals! I think some of my happiness is from your support! I appreciate all you guys have done for me. Thanks for being the great friends you are!

Thank YOU

I want to thank each one of you for your advice. Each of you knows me from a different part of my life and each of you gave me great advice. I am deeply grateful for all the advice. Thank you for being blunt and for telling me exactly what you feel and think.

Thank you again for all your advice and support.

Enlighten Me Please

Friends, I need some enlightenment. As you know last year I purchased a new Toyota Tundra truck. It was a very selfish thing to do. I had been drooling over it for several months. I knew my life was going to change. In January 2008 I had the distinct prompting that I had better get my selfishness out because life was going to change and I would not be able to. I was impressed that I would be married. I scoffed at the idea and wrote in my journal that I was going to have to take care of my parents. Anyway the months went on and several things reminded me of that Divine communication. So I bought the truck. One of the first things Dan said about the truck was that he hated high vehicle payments. Of course my new truck has a high payment but I was single making decent money and had no rent due to great landlords who graciously used me as a baby sitter in trade. Dan has wanted me to sell my truck. I have had it on Craigslist but have not sold it. I do not want to part with it. It is me. It is the last thing I have of my life in Utah. Of my life as a single woman. Of my life as Mary Ann JONES. I have been able to make enough money to be able to afford my truck. Dan has let up on it for now.

The question I have is....What does it mean if I sell it? Many friends have asked if I still have my truck. It is one of the top 3 questions asked. It is even asked before 'Are you pregnant'. So I am wondering. If I sell my truck is it because I have let Dan control me? Does it say I have no identity? Does it say I am giving up my identity? Am I selling out? Why is keeping my truck so important to everyone? Is it because everyone knows I have given up a lot for Dan and this one thing is just too much? (Dan does not think I have sacrificed anything for our marriage since I have not sold a possession)

I need you to be frank and candid. I need the bluntness. I am struggling with being married. I was single for a LONG time. I do not have the proper perspective. Please give me advice and tell me what I am missing. The more honest you are the better. I will still love you and value your opinion!

Sand and Sun in Portland

Hello from Bart. He was created at the Sand in the City sand castle contest. Teams competed in this contest and then donations are taken at the door to raise money for a children's charity 'Kids on the Block'. Anyway, I love the Simpsons!

Gotta scrub the dog! Check out the bubbles. I am amazed at the detail of the sand.

Where the wild things are....I might be burned at the steak but I am not the biggest fan of the book and not sure about the movie. But I did love this sand sculpture.

Last but not least, is Smurfette. There was more to this but I did not get the picture. There was a river and another smurf floating down the river and Papa Smurf by a house. I love this pic the most because it reminds me of my mom. I miss my mom very much. I am tearing up now....One Christmas my mom had purchased her own gift and wrapped it and everything. It was a pair of sweat pants and shirt. They were both blue. Smurf blue. Later that morning she came out of her room looking so cute in her blue and we nicknamed her Mama Smurf. Due to our ridicule she changed her clothes immediately. We felt bad but the nickname has become a term of endearment. I love my mom.

Sad sad sad days

I have a cavity. I am so bummed, dissappointed, embarrassed and frustrated.

That is about all that has happened this week. Other than the highs this week being in the high 70's to low 80's. It has been so pleasant here in Portland! I love it!

Eagle Creek at 5 am.

Happy 4th of July! I hope you had a great one.

I did not succumb to the ice cream/potato chip option for the weekend. Dan was trying to appease me and set up a tent in the back yard. I wanted to sleep out there without a tent but I guess I am in a city...

We went to bed around midnight and at 4 am Dan gets up. He takes his pillow and leaves me alone. I was so enjoying the cool night air and being cozy in the tent. I asked if he was coming back, he said no.

So I decided if I was going to be alone today I could be lonely in the mountain. So I got up, showered, and headed out to hike Eagle Creek. I got there just before 5:30 am. So this is me standing in the creek at the butt crack of dawn with no make-up.

This is called Punch Bowl Falls. It was quite lovely. The picture does not do it justice. Maybe you have to hear it and see the water swirling before it falls into the bowl to get the full effect.

This last picture is of me (looking like it is 6 am) at Tish Creek. It was a great hike. I was all alone on the hike until about 8 am. Then I started passing people on my way back.

So far it has been an ok day. I got home after 9 am and Dan was just getting into the shower. So I laid down for a min and then we ran errands for a while. We got a new tent since our last one was a little dysfunctional. It is set up in the back yard for tonight. I am pretty excited for round 2.

So the lawn is not mowed and the dishes are not done but I am relaxing pretty well while Dan is helping all the out-of-town-car-broken-down people.