LETTERS FROM STEVO: Working Class Hero Vol. III...The Iceman Cometh!

It's been a while since I've worked on my "Working Class Hero" series, so here is Volume III. Not long after 4 years of sloughing thru high school (I have an awesome ACT score to validate this) I acquired a job working for Dewey at the Ice Plant. We manufactured and delivered bags of ice to various grocery stores, gas stations, trading posts and other strategic locations. This job will go down in my personal memoirs as one of my favorite gigs ever!

This was a seasonal job that peaked during the summer months. We would work 60-70 hours a week. A typical day entailed coming in at 7am, working until about 6-7pm, then having to go back in at 10pm to bag ice for an hour (lest the ice bin overflow). During the weekend 10pm shifts, we occasionally were blessed by the presence of some of the ladies we had been hanging out with that night! They were typically just curious about an "ice plant".

Working Saturdays was a requirement and though Dewey tried to avoid it, sometimes Sundays needed to be worked as well. You were notified of your schedule at the end of your shift...Dewey would say, "10 tonight, 7 in the morning". We would have to chip the floor in the cold room because ice would build up from the belt above...at times the ice build up would get close to a foot thick. We would use crowbars to crack it then shovel it out. We would have to deliver ice all over the region, including various trading posts on the Navajo Reservation. Once, on a route on the Res, the hood on my truck wasn't closed properly and flew up shattering the windshield as I was driving! Luckily it didn't knock the glass onto me...the window remained intact but cracked into thousands of pieces. I had to drive an hour back to Farm Town on a freeway, looking out the drivers side window because I couldn't see through the windshield!

We became known at the various drop off locations due to our unique product. Often times, upon seeing us arrive with our bags of ice, customers would comment that, "the iceman cometh". We hated this! We developed an "under our breath" response to this greeting, but unfortunetaly I can't repeat it in this forum. We would also get to know the other vendors such as "Rainbow" John...a known drug dealer and driver for Rainbow bread. There was also the Cheetos guy who once wiped out in front of us. This accident triggered the obvious joke from my esteemed colleague with the nice mullett..."It's not easy being cheesy!"

There are many other events and funny stories that transpired during this gig, but I unfortunately cannot recount them on this record. For behold, I have written them on mine other record. Oh yeah, one last thing...I once went to work with the stomach flu and while driving my route, would stop off the side of the road to hurl! Nice!

Quickie With Stevo: Amy had a good time too!

We found this sign and Amy found herself "curiously" attracted to it...Apparently it's some sort of rum native to the island. Amy also forgot to mention that we made out with the stingray. We definitely had a good time and wouldn't trade the experience for anything!

A Letter TO Stevo....Happy Birthday and Anniversary....Off to the Grand Cayman!

Every year, as spring rolls around Steffan and I celebrate our wedding anniversary on April 28th and his birthday on May 2. This year was our 9 year anniversary, and Steffan's 33rd Bday. We celebrated by going to the Grand Cayman. We really have not been on a vacation that did not include kids or sleeping on some one's air mattress -Not that I do not love spending time with the kids, or family and friends that let us stay with them - I love that too. But this time we BIG! We researched the most relaxing beach location and then found the best possible resort. So, we ended up at the Ritz Carlton on the Grand Cayman (http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/GrandCayman/Default.htm). Need I say more? Probably not, but I will...
We spent 5 relaxing days and nights, mostly sitting on the beach and eating incredible food. I read 3 books, and 3 magazines, snorkeled several times, and swam with the sting rays. We tried to do a little shopping and sight seeing, but quickly decided we would avoid all tourist traps and just enjoy our time on the beach. Who needs to shop in town when there is a Tiffany's right inside the hotel anyway? :)
It was an amazing week, and provided many new topics/stories for my memoirs, entitled "Livin' with Stevo"...I will share a couple.
Steffan thought he would get a great tan on this vacation, so he started out a week ahead of time to prepare himself for the sun. He jumped into the tanning booth and disregarded the advise of the 17 year old working at the Tanning Salon, and went twice as long as he should have. Of course he came out burnt as can be. He repeated this task a couple more times before our departure, never quite learning....but building that base, right?? Oh no....day 1 on the beach, Steffan neglected to sunscreen his legs and feet. We sat on the beach, reading and swimming, for literally 7-8 hours. Nearing the end of the day, a lady sitting near by said to him, "Oh my, did you get that sun burnt just today". Steffan's reply, "Oh no, I tan red". And red he was, the rest of the week he had a hard time even walking. And since our return he has been peeling like crazy. Some people never learn...
On day 3 we decided to head to Sting Ray City and also a couple of Snorkeling stops. We used Captain Marvin's Tours and ended up on a boat with about 10 other vacationers. Instead of a quiet, relaxing, and beautiful trip out into the ocean snuggled next to his beautiful wife, enjoying the fresh sea air, Steffan introduced himself to all the men on the boat, and proceeded to discuss hours and hours of football. 5 hours later, after 2 snorkel stops, visiting the sting rays, and stopping to see some starfish, Steffan had barely touched the surface on his knowledge of the NFL and College sports - past, present, and future. As we left the boat, one guy even asked him if he worked in the football industry. He wishes!
Steffan had a great birthday, if I do say so myself. He was spoiled as usual, which is really my specialty. I love for everyone in my life to have the best birthdays, after all it is their special day! (I am still waiting for the return favor from him. However, thoughtfulness and gift purchasing have never been his forte. I have learned to get over it...most of the time. But this year was my big 3-0. Still, nothing. But I did not take it out on him this year, I still went all out.) We spent the night before we left going out for Wings and Bday cake with the family, so the kids could wish him a happy birthday. He got Guitar Hero Metallica, and the Complete Guitar Hero Band. He also got a minirefridgerator for the basement, so he will not have to walk up the stairs for soda. Since this purchase and set up, which he took great care in doing, I honestly never see him. He has retired to the man cave in our basement to watch and play for hours and hours. Luckily he includes the kids on the fun and he has Mya sing her heart out and Peyton rock out on the drums. It is pretty dang cute to see them all playing together and rocking out to Metallica. Peyton has to be the guy with the mohawk and Mya loves the rocker chicks. I haven't decided whether this purchase was good or bad...I now have the main TV to myself, and all the time I want to myself at night...however, Steffan has no concept of time down there. I think he would play all night. And he is getting more and more deaf each day. And he is learning more and more useless information by the minute. Who knew he could learn more about rock than he knows about football?! Once we were in the Cayman the celebration continued, I took him out for the fanciest dinner we have ever had. It was a 5 star restaurant, which included a 7course meal. He was in heaven! Unfortunately for me it was seafood, but it was still incredible!
We have been back at home for just over a week, going through the hell I call "vacation punishment". Work has been crazy, the kids have been clingy, and our house was pretty messy until we got through all the laundry. But it was completely worth it! I am happy to confirm after another year of "Livin' with Stevo" that I did in fact marry the man of my dreams - not prince charming, or a knight in shining armor - I do not need that in my life. He is there to make me laugh, challenge my thinking, love me completely, make me feel beautiful and special, and make up my other half. We are a complete compliment to each other and truly enjoy each other's company. Confirming that for another year is truly priceless! (Hopefully my parent's agree and volunteer to watch the kids again next year!)

Quickie With Stevo: My Apologies

UPDATE!!! After calling her out in a LETTER FROM STEVO, My Lady of the water finally decided to get in the damn pool and swim with her children. I'm finding this technique of calling her out via LETTER FROM STEVO quite effective. We were in the Grand Cayman the first week of May and I'm going to blog about it, but I'm waiting on Amy to download some pictures onto the computer so I can post them with the blog. So, I apologize for taking so long to blog...you can blame my better half. Meanwhile, Ma Busch is in town to party and Peyton is running around yelling, "beg for mercy!" and "I'm going to eat you for breakfast!" I swear on my Dodge Charger I didn't teach him this. I'll be back with the update on Grand Cayman...

LETTERS FROM STEVO: Working Class Hero Vol. II- Eye of the Tiger!

For my next entry into the "Working Class Hero" series I will discuss my first official job. Now that I had the wise, sage like teachings of Ol' Ern under my belt, my parents and I...ok, mainly my parents thought I needed to get a job. It was the summer between my junior and senior year of high school and the perfect opportunity for entry level work materialized.

My parents liked to rent movies from a small, locally owned video store called Tiger Video. I can't remember the name of the dude that owned the store, but I remember he was a man large in stature (mainly around the waist) with a well kept pornstache and complimentary receding hair line...Sharp! We'll just refer to him as Mr. Pornstache at this point. I don't recall being interviewed by Pornstache following the submission of my application, but I was soon hired for the job!

I'm not sure what my job title was or what my job description entailed or what was even expected of me, but the following Monday I was thrown into the fire to learn the intricacies of the video rental business! Well, to keep a short story short, I just wasn't "getting it". Apparently, some of my inherent weaknesses are that I'm not a "good listener", and I'm not what you'd call "detail oriented". The first of many jobs to teach me that I basically suck at these skills, or I should say, I don't possess these skills. At one point, Pornstache had me sweeping the parking lot...in a dusty desert town!

On Friday, Pornstache came in and said he was going to Kentucky Fried Chicken. He came back a few hours later and informed me that he would call me when they were busy. Apparently, they never got busy again as he still hasn't called me!

LETTERS FROM STEVO: My Lady of the Water

Let me just start by saying that I'm singing in a choir...and I actually enjoy it. I never thought I would EVER say that! I've never sung in public and Ma Busch can tell you some stories. I sing with Amy and Craig "He-Who-Has-Some-Pipes" Thornton among others. Amy sings 2nd soprano, Craig sings tenor and I'm droppin' the bass lines like I'm gettin' paid to do it! We're like the singing Von Tramps!

Now for the main topic. We've developed a new ritual of taking the kids to the gym swimming pool every Friday night for about an hour or so. We pack our swim trunks and goggles in a nifty bright pink bag which I love carrying around in public. We go to the family locker room and change into our swim trunks, then proceed to the pool. The pool at this gym is large, cold and kid friendly. There is also a lap pool, sauna and jacuzzi's in the general vicinity. The kids jump right in and I follow. I carry Peyton on my back and throw Mya around like a rag doll...she loves it!

Now I have to say, the greatest sight is seeing Amy in this situation. She's always decked out in a bathing suit and looking something like a graceful, almost mermaidish lady of the water who was born to grace the waters with her every stroke as she so elegantly...sits at the side of the FREAKING pool and doesn't even so much as get her toes wet!!! What the???? I'm dumbfounded by this! Can Amy even swim? Maybe I should find this out? Who do I need to talk to? There's another mom who does this with Amy...they sit and gossip the whole time...I won't mention any names but the Nat knows who she is! Amy if you don't know how to swim I will teach you...just like the time I taught you Bulgarian folk dancing and how to make red jello with cool whip on top. Amy, if anything do it for the children...and by children I don't mean our kids but the disease ridden, orphaned 3rd world country kids you see on the infomercials...for just pennies a day...

Seriously, I do hereby forthwith challenge Amy to get in the FREAKING pool and start swimming with her kids...immediately, this next Friday immediately! Get your bathing suit wet for once!

Trying a little harder....

Such a simple goal...yet it seems an impossible task. Today was just one of those days where I really felt inspired to try a little harder. At what you ask?? Well, just about everything. It is so easy to get on survival mode, just making it through each day. I have been in this mode for far too long....Just getting through each morning routine, getting through each meeting, each workout, each meal, each activity...just getting through life.
I am taking a stand TODAY! That is just not good enough. I want to try a little harder. I want to be a better mom. I want to take care of myself better. I want to work harder. I want to be a better wife, a better friend, a better person, a better employee. In fact, I want to be a better blogger and picture taker as well. I have not taken one photo in all of 2009. How sad is that?! It is time to try a little harder to be a little better.

So, as a quick update on all other happenings...life has been busy!
* We had Traci's incredible wedding in March (then she sadly went back to Utah)
* Jen got engaged to Dustin (YAY! June 13 - Denver Temple)
* My mom and I had another great enrichment (we were truly inspired by the incredible women in our ward!)
* My kids got to finally play in the snow and build a snowman (Mya even went sledding down Grandma Shirley's big hill)
* Steffan and I have been working our butts off at work (sadly we spend many late nights on our laptops, instead of snuggled up enjoying each other's company)
* Steffan went to Canada again
* I survived another "quarter end"
* Steffan and I worked our butts off at the gym as well (Steffan is down 20 lbs, and I am down 10 lbs)
* Our kids continue to make us smile and love life everyday
* Peyton had his very first Primary talk as a Sunbeam (he talked about our family and then sang "I am a Child of God" to the entire Primary of 100 kids)
* I also had to give a talk on Obedience (HA! I wish I could let myself say no, but it was actually a really good learning experience - I still have much to learn on this topic!)
* We enjoyed an incredible day as a family today - watching General Conference, playing games, playing with the kids, even folding laundry was fun, since Peyton had to help fold and put everything away. Then we went to my Mom and Dad's house for dinner (we are so lucky to have so much family so close by!)
* Today I was truly inspired, so hopefully there will be a better me to come!

Love,
Long Lost Amy