Where's the Good Samaritans???

Okay, so I thought that I would wait a few days after this incident to cool down to be able to blog about it. Last week on Thursday (Jan. 17th) I had two home visits scheduled in the evening. One of them was in Spanish Fork at 4 o'clock for a new case I got. I then had a home visit in Birdseye (up Spanish Fork canyon) at 6 o'clock. The visits went well and then the drama began. So I left Birdseye around 7 o'clock that night. As I was driving along Highway 89 towards Highway 6 I was following a car through the winding canyon. I all of the sudden heard something hit the car underneath. I didn't see anything in front of me as I was driving and didn't see the car in front of me hit anything either. I turned off the music and listened as I drove for a few minutes. Everything seemed fine. Then a few turns down the road later I felt that I didn't have much control of the car and that something didn't seem right. I pulled onto the shoulder of the road and got out and looked at the tires on the drivers side (since that was the area that the noise seemed to come from when I hit something). Everything looked good, but then I had the feeling to check the other side. Low and behold there was a flat tire on the back passenger side. I sat there debating on limping the car up the hill to the junction of the two highways where I knew that there would be a streetlight. Then I thought about how you are not suppose to drive on the rims of the tires because it ruins them.

So I got the spare and jack out from the trunk and then the cursing began. There was no flashlight or anything of the sort in the state car. Oh, there was a car seat in the trunk...but what good would that do me?! It was dark, there was no cell reception, and I was on a road that isn't traveled too much. As I fumbled in the dark feeling along the bottom of the car to figure out where the jack was, I was glad that I was no longer in my skirt from the court that I had that morning, but I was frustrated because the flashlight that I usually have in my purse was in my drawer in my desk because it sets off the metal detectors at court. I eventually got the car up high enough to take off the tire and flung it into the trunk not caring. During this entire event there were a couple of cars that passed without slowing. There were some that slowed, but then kept on going. I thought to myself, "Where are all the Good Samaritans?" I was in the process of tightening the lug nuts on the spare when someone finally stopped and asked if I needed help. I told them I was almost done, but they pulled behind me and provided light (which would have much much more helpful in the beginning). Then the guy got out and helped me by finishing tightening and then lowering the car back down. By the time I got back into the car I was freezing, my knees were wet from kneeling in the snow/gravel, and my hands were filthy. I figured that it took me about a half an hour to change the tire only because I was doing it all by touch without any light.

I then drove to my parents house (a few miles outside of the canyon) to use the restroom, clean up, and get something to eat. I didn't get back to Salt Lake until 9:30 that night (only an hour and a half later than I had planned). When I got back to the office I sent an email to the appropriate people explaining my evening and stating that a flashlight and emergency car kit would be helpful for the state cars. They replied back saying that I should have called the roadside assistance for help. Um...hello...I would have done that if I had any sort of cell reception...duh!!! So, hopefully for future trips the state cars will be better equip. But I am now a firm believer in stopping to help or even ask if someone needs help who is alongside the road. Be a Good Samaritan!

Road Trip

Last week (on Jan. 9th) I did a road trip to and from St. George in one day with a coworker. I was transferring two of my kids from my caseload to her and had to take her to meet the lovely boys. The reason I was transferring them was because of taking on two other cases that needed to stay on our team (and she is on a different team). Anyway, so I was told by my husband and supervisor not to go if it was snowy. Well...it sure snowed! Me being the stubborn person that I am at times chose to forge the storm in hopes that it would clear up the further south we got. Through Utah county we were going about 20 - 30 mph and then the roads started getting better around Payson. Then when we got to Nephi it was snowy and the roads basically were not plowed at all. I have to admit that it was when I was driving south of Nephi there were a few times that I didn't feel that I was in control of the car. So I went slow and let the semis pass me. Needless to say, it did finally clear up and the roads were good and then it was blue skies and dry roads from Fillmore on.

Coming back the roads were clear and it wasn't snowing at all. But on our way back we passed a semi that had us laughing. I wished that I had my camera at the time. But then we stopped and got gas and had a little potty break. Once we got back on the road we came up again to the same semi. So we got out our camera phones and took pictures. I hope you can tell what it is. Basically this 18-wheeler had an empty bed except for a little pink plastic trike strapped down near the end of the bed. We thought that it was hilarious and that it was probably his "ride" when he got to his destination.

Here's the view of the entire bed with the bike at the back.

Here is a close up of the bike as we were passing.

Technical Difficulties

Here is a picture of the gingerbread house that we made for Christmas.












Here is the product so far of the motivation from the Christmas gifts that we got. I'm just hoping it will get done before spring. (Notice the little spots in the pictures...they made tons of dust and the flash kept picking it up.)



















When it comes to computers I'm not as smart as some of my other family members. A few months ago we had to change from Windows ME to Windows XP on our computer to be able to connect our IPod to the computer. Well, in doing so we've been having to change all the programs over. I've been trying for the last week to get our camera program up and working so I could add the pictures that I've said that I would put up. Also, after Christmas we gave our computer to my brother-in-law to install our new DVD burner that "Santa" gave us. So I was without our computer for about a week. So, with all that explanation of some of the technical difficulties, here are some pictures of what we have been doing lately.

It worked...at least one thing did!

So the motivation that I was hoping that my husband would get from receiving the electrical items for Christmas for our basement worked! On Saturday he worked on it for most of the day with his father and brother. They were able to frame up about 3/4 of the family room (which is the only half of our basement). I'm just hoping that Mike will keep the motivation going until it is finished!!! I took pictures of the process and planned on posting them, but last night I realized that we didn't put our camera software on the new version of windows that we just put on. So, maybe tomorrow I will get around to doing it and then be able to post the pictures.

As for my other task that I was going to conquer on Saturday of making bread...well...all I have to say is DUMB DUMB bread!!! Since I got up early because of all the pounding in the basement, I started making the bread early. It looked, tasted, and felt how bread dough should. But the dumb thing just wouldn't rise!!! I mean, not even one little bit after trying all day...I'm serious...I tried for 8 hours to get it to rise! I even tried the "trick" that my mother had told me of putting a bowl of water in the oven and heating the oven to 200 and then turning it off when it got to that temperature and then putting the bowl with the dough in the oven (keeping the bowl of water inside as well). Now I know that it was nice and warm inside the oven because I felt it and occasionally I reheated it back up to 200. But nothing! Part of me wonders if I doomed to be a bread buyer for life. See...it's times and experiences like this that makes me not want to cook! My husband thinks that it is the yeast that I buy and that I need to get the expensive kind. So, since I got his permission to purchase it I will have to go get some and try yet again!

It's over???

Is Christmas really over??? It feels like just yesterday that Thanksgiving ended and thoughts turned towards Christmas. We had a really good Christmas. It was nice to be able to spend time with family. On Christmas Eve we spent a few hours at my parent's house. Well, I had good intentions of taking pictures of our gathering and game playing, but I didn't take any pictures. And that's not all...I LEFT our camera at my parents. So I wasn't even able to take any pictures on Christmas! Oh, and I wished that I had my camera last night when we were opening up gifts at Mike's family. My little nephew (who will be one in a month) was having a rough day and was standing next to a box that came to his armpits. He all of the sudden then folded his arms and put his head down on the box and started crying. The poor little guy! We found out a little while later that his first tooth broke through. But it was such a Kodak moment and I didn't even have my camera.

This may sound silly, but the gifts that were the best were the electrical outlets and wiring that we got so we could start working on finishing our basement. For the last year I've heard my husband say that he was going to start at least doing the family room downstairs while it was winter. It has yet to formulate into actual action. But I'm hoping that it is the right amount of motivation for my hubby. We've also planned out that the money we received from various family members is also going towards building supplies for the downstairs.

Another gift I just LOVED is the KitchenAid that my parents gave us. I've always wanted one, but they've been too expensive to ask for. My parents also gave me a mixing bowl set with measuring cups and spoons. They are great gifts...but are my parents trying to tell me something??? I mean, my mother has always known that I don't like cooking. I have fond memories of my mother trying to persuade me to cook dinner for our family so I could have the practice and know how to cook for when I get married. So I guess cooking macaroni and cheese and Top Ramen doesn't count as cooking. I will admit that since being married I've cooked more and more of a variety as well, but that doesn't mean that I like cooking. I love making desserts, but that's a different story. My cooking frustration is that all while I was in college I was able to make bread. But since I've been married I've struggled and can never get my dough to rise. I cannot figure out why, but part of me thinks that it is because of how cold our house is. But then again one year in my basement apartment in college we didn't turn on the heat above the set limit because we didn't want to pay more and my bread still rose. Who knows?! So, it is my goal that this Saturday I'm going to use my new KitchenAid and attempt (yet again) to make bread!

There is worse!

Well, I guess there are things that are worse than packing before your move. That is, getting to the new office, and it's not ready for you. They were still painting and finishing the wiring when the movers got there yesterday. So, instead of moving into my office, I went shopping! I ended up finishing my Christmas shopping, a little birthday shopping for my husband, and some baby gifts for a nephew and a niece not due until April and May. When we got to the office on Wednesday there were guys still working on it. Then on Thursday there were still some guys working in the building, but not as many. And it wasn't even until Friday that we got our office phones up and working. My poor supervisor leaned up against a wall on Wednesday that the painters had just touched up (and didn't leave any sign of warning) and got paint all over her pants and jacket. I think she ended up going to court or a meeting with a shoe size white paint spot. On Wednesday all I felt that I did was arrange and rearrange my office. It is frustrating trying to figure out where I want my desk and my computer desk (if I even want that). I'm kind of picky because I don't like people seeing what I'm doing on my computer (not like I'm doing anything wrong though), and I don't like having my back to the door so people can scare me, and I don't like feeling like I'm boxed in. So, as for now my office is kind of how it was in my previous office and we will see how I like it.

Anywho, Merry Christmas to all and to all...take the day off!!!

Office Moving Day

Okay, can I just say how much I hate packing and moving! It is annoying how you just get everything into boxes and then you have to unpack it all a while later. So, for those that don't know, I am having to change office buildings. My entire team has to move into a new building with the DCFS Transition to Adult Living teams. Needless to say, I'm not too excited about the move because it is farther from my home and I have to get on the freeway and the new office is in the "spaghetti bowl" area of the freeway so traffic is going to be horrible! I'm also not excited because my new office doesn't have a window. I've been spoiled for the last 3 years and have had a HUGE window in my office where I can look out and see the weather. It is also very stupid that we have to move during the busiest time of the year. It is frustrating to have Sub-for-Santa gifts being dropped off at the office and try to get them out before the BIG move so we don't have to pack them in boxes or personally move them.

But trying to look at the positive of moving, I am hoping that the new building will have better heating so my fingers aren't purple while working and I don't have to plan my outfits according to office temperature instead of outside temperature. Another positive, I guess, is that we just have to put our stuff in boxes and label it with our new office number and the movers will do the rest.

So they told us that since the movers will be moving all of our stuff tomorrow that it would be a good day for us to go out and do home visits with our kids. Um...hello!...our kids are still in school this week and won't be home. So, I'm planning on using that time to finish up my Christmas shopping and get gifts wrapped. Then I will go into my new office tomorrow afternoon and try to sort everything out and get at least my computer up and running. Anywho, I guess I should get back to finishing packing...joy of all joys!