Next!!!

Baby Ali Now

2009-12-27T11:40:00.003-07:00

Yay! Everyone is well and happy and wrapping up 2009 in the Trevor & Sarah Cross family! We had quite to scare with Baby Alli last month. Life flight from MacKay Dee to Primary Children's Hospital, a week in the hospital and 21 days of PICC line antibiotics. Fun. Bills keep coming in. Over $8000 for the life flight ride. This could be devastating financially. However, Alli is 12 1/2 pounds now and doing well! Here she is with mommy and daddy and sister Mia 6 and brother Aidan 2. Mommy gave all the kids nicknames recently. Mia is Weasel, Aidan is Crash and Alli is Squirt. I'm thinking we may need to ammend Alli's nickname as she gets older and expresses herself. But for now the other 2's names fit them perfectly. Mia is plotting how to rule the world soon and Aidan has chipped everyone of his upper front teeth. As you can imagine, he climbs on everything and thinks everything with wheels is a skateboard. Of course we are leaving out the other things he has broken! So we look forward to a new year with less scary surprises!

Thanks Alex!

2009-12-02T20:53:00.000-07:00

http://www.advancedbrain.com/soundheath/music-to-de-stress.html Right off I know this should be a blog post, but I'll start it here! We have been through trauma, drama and crisis as a family since very early Thanksgiving morning this year as a family. Our baby Ali, 8 weeks old was failing and was saved by the quick actions of her father and mother, Trevor and Sarah Cross and all kinds of other people, family, friends, trained professionals at MacKay Dee & Primary Childrens' Hospital and the Life Flight Crew. We have been through a lot with this little girl and finally got to take her home today, nearly a week later.
We put Ali in her car seat in my uber-clean Tundra and all the other things from the hospital and then her mother had to get a prescription filled at the hospital pharmacy. I drove around the parking garage which generally soothes my kids but only aggravated Ali. By the time her mom returned, she was caterwauling. (My southern mothers term for crying fit!) Sarah calmed her by nursing her and then we left the hospital area.
Part way through downtown Salt Lake City, Sarah realized we had forgotten to get the bottles of breast milk she had pumped and I told her you really don't want to lose that. Gave her lots of scenarios as I am want to do. We turned around and headed back.
Remembering how this little munchkin had been stressed without her mother while I drove around the last time, I looked through my CD's to find calming music. I thought Enya would be nice but didn't recall which CD's were handy in my case.
Sarah MacLachlan? She is mellow, but kind of depressing and we don't need that. Allison Krausse? Love a few of her songs but not most. Then I found a CD my massage therapist had given me and calmed me, Suzanne Cezani. Cool! That will work. I plugged it in. Ali was sleeping.
Sarah left to recover her milk and that just sounds funny and Ali started to fuss. Crap. I grabbed my CD case to see what else was in there and damn! There was my De-Stressed CD from my friend, Alex Doman! I switched them quickly as Ali's volume was increasing.
Slow, gentle melodic music started and Ali was not impressed. She was crying in the back like she had the last time. I continued to circle the aisles in the parking garage at PCH and turned the volume up a bit on the viola or cello that was playing. Waves from the sea crashed through the speakers and Ali, lowered her pitch. More sweet, calming music played and she lessened her efforts to squawk. I drove more slowly and turned in less rigorous curves and turned the volume up just a tad more.
Baby Ali stopped fussing and calmed herself in the back seat. I couldn't see her or touch her as I would have at home, but the music did. By the time Sarah returned Ali, fussed just a bit and calmed.
I give Alex Doman and his wonderful people at Advanced Brain the credit. A very experienced grandma can only do so much under some circumstances and that is when real talent and gifts come into play! thank you Alex and www.advancedbrain.com. You made our day today!

Why I am a Mother 9 times and more...

2009-11-28T13:48:00.002-07:00

Thinking about what I am thankful for this time of year, I always think about motherhood. Coming from a big family and having one, I have heard everything rude you can imagine about having kids, including the perennial, 'Don't you know what causes that?' Discusting ignorance from idoit clowns. I've also been told I am a saint. I like that one. It tends to come from Catholics.

Believe me, I gave it great thought as a kid myself. I was a psuedo-parent my whole life. Gave up my childhood to feed, change diapers, bathe, dress and play with kids I did not bring into the world myself. My few belongings tended to get ruined or taken. My time was very rarely my own. And I didn't have much because at that time it was shared by many... what there was to share. I was Mom's assistant when taking care of kids I also cooked for the whole bunch and represented us working in the snack shops for Little League Baseball for my brothers where I invented and perfected the 'Suicide' soda drink. That was so we could afford to put the boys in ball. A parent had to volunteer. That was me. Also pitched in subbing as a Primary teacher as soon as I graduated from Primary, for Mom and then for her other teachers and worked in Primary until they changed to the block schedule. Then there was the food co-op. Some of my sibs helped too. But so Mom didn't have to go I did. So after giving the bulk of what free time I might have had growing up, to the care of other people's children, why did I have my own and so many of them?

I decided when I was 13, 2 things. I decided to remain a virgin til marriage and to have a large family of children and kept those 2 goals til fruition. About the large family, no matter how hard Mom worked, I saw her face when her children excelled and did wonderful things and how impressed she was by them. She would throw her head back, wide-eyed and put her hand over her mouth in exclamation. If you saw her do it once, you know she did it consistently when impressed. Dad even caught it in a picture once when Derek came into the room Christmas morning in a new suit about 1973 I think. It was a memory burned in my mind for good. It embodied all that was surprising and good in parenthood.

As a parent you can work hard, unappreciated for long periods of time, even with agressively ungrateful kids and keep doing your best, because they are your children. You brought them into the world and are committed to being the best parent you can. You are committed to keeping them safe, even from themselves. You teach them the fun things like walking and doing stairs and all the new words and phrases they will pick up. You guide them from their natural selfishness to how to be social, share and even watch out for others. Some are better at learning adopting an unselfish attitude than others, but you still work with them and patiently wait for them to get it. All along the way, you can choose to learn and improve as a parent for your kids.

When you have more than just one child, you hope they will appreciate the blessing of brothers and/or sisters. You hope they will understand the gift friendship, with someone from you family can be. They may have a different perspective on your family and even you, but the support from understanding, can be tremendous help. You hope when one is in trouble, the others will rush in with compassion, looking for ways to help, then do so. You hope that when one accomplishes something, the others will celebrate with them in various, non-illegal ways. You hope if one has an advantage, that will help another, it will be offered and used, without hesitation. You hope when mistakes are made, they are forgiven by the victim and not repeated, but amended, by the offender and forgotten and not brought up thereafter, by anyone else. You hope, that each will include one or more sibling in opportunities to spend time together and be thoughtful with each other. (Almost like how we treat the planet, gently.)

Atleast, that is how I feel as a parent. I gave birth to one son and committed to be his mother for the rest of his life. Then I did the same thing, 8 more times. I meant to have a large family. I believe that no matter what happens to each of us, we all have each other for love, support, understanding and to have fun with. As all my children have gotten older, I see interpersonal relationships developing, in all directions and it is fascinating and fun to watch. How fulfilling for me though, to be in the middle of all the goings on. To see the lives unfold and be part of the humor and successes. To help when needed, listening, dispensing percieved wisdom of experience, strategizing and recieving help when I need it too.

All in all, I have never regretted having one single kid, not ever, not even a little bit. The decision I made 41 years ago, still stands, no matter what. And as long as I am on this planet, in this lifetime, it will continue to stand. And, I might add, as my children draw others into this circle, named Team Cross a couple of years ago, the Cross Clan, as I think of it, I can be mom to them too, if they want. It doesn't detract from how I feel about my own kids, it adds to it.

Mother love is not a pie cut into so many pieces for each person. It is infinite and grows as needed, as much or more so than needed. There is plenty for all.

With all that has gone on this holiday with Ali's crisis, I've been thinking about how I feel about my children and kids in general and maybe this will give you a bit of an idea, why, at Thanksgiving and all through every year, I am so grateful for the honor of being a mother and doubt I will ever do anything, in my entire life, as noble, as being a mother to Jason, Trevor, David, Stephan, Alex, Tegan, Josh, Adam, Danica and their entourages and others who choose it too. And my greatest gift to each of my children since birth is the gift of each other.

Well I can tell a story...

2009-11-27T11:13:00.004-07:00

Sparing no details in this story, I'll make this a bit shorter. My intent in sharing, is that other parents and caregivers can learn. We still aren't sure the reason Ali got so sick so fast other than that's what happens with infants get sick. They don't take days like adults. An adult might feel a little off one day, get a cough or runny nose the next and maybe a fever or diarrhea after that, kind of thing. A baby will be a bit off and in hours turn BLUE! I left a baby who had just had 1/3 of a bottle and was a bit perkier and in hours she was blue and rushing to MacKay Dee Hospital.

When I got to the hospital, (if you don't want this mental picture don't read til the ink color changes.) there were 10 people hovering around Ali, her little head was tipped back and dark and bright blue and purple and her lips were black. She was leaving the planet and I knew it.

A nurse was holding a sobbing Sarah and another one told me, "we are trying to keep her." Meaning Ali. She was critical and without medical assistance would clearly not be with us today.

When you bring an infant into an emergency room with a life threatening crisis with no idea what caused it, they will throw everything they have at it. They sedated Ali with morphine, hooked her up to IV's in her head and wrist to give her sugar water and antibiotics. Monitors and a breathing tube so they could keep her breathing when she stopped doing it herself. They made it clear, that's where she was headed, as if we couldn't see that ourselves. I called to get Danica watching Mia and Aidan so Trevor could be there as he needed to be part of the decisions and a couple should be together through things like this. (Another story from personal experience, for later.)

By the time we got Trevor there, the helicopter was warmed up to transport Ali to Primary Children's Hospital (PCH) and the staff was working hard to get her as ready as possible for that move. They said they don't have pediatric intensive care at MacKay Dee like they do at PCH, although we are very impressed with them. The Life Flight crew got the helicopter ready and off baby Ali went, with her life in a completely precarious place. I drove Trevor and Sarah to PCH.

Monitors for heart, oxygen and breathing may have been on her at MacKay Dee, but definitely were in Primary Children's Hospital. When we got there, she already looked better... pale but not how she had looked. They tested blood, urine, stool and even did a spinal tap hopefully to rule out menengitis. Scary stuff. Her caregivers are amazingly talents and serious professionals. It is 2 days later and we still don't know what is wrong.

Baby Ali is better. Still on an IV with antibiotics and fluids, but Sarah, who has not left the hospital in 3 days, is nursing her again. This details of the story are plenty, but the main thing I want to share is how illness can happen in an infant.

You see, when adults get sick, they may feel off a day, then have a scratchy throat or runny nose or something annoying the next day and maybe day three gives them a fever, diahhrea or something.

Babies may act a little off and in a couple of hours, turn blue-ish with their eyes rolling back in their heads. Gastro enteritis or the stomach flu is not a big deal generally in adults, but... It is the number 1 killer of babies in the world! I had no idea! It hits fast and putting off getting medical care makes the difference in life and death and I am not exaggerating. It doesn't end badly in America as often due to fast response of emergency room personnel, but babies have to get there fast enough. Believe me, I attribute the fabulous health of my children to not vaccinating them, feeding them healthy food and filtered water, sunshine and outdoor exercise and old, old fashioned good sense. We use vitamins and supplements. I make tinctures and salves and grow fresh herbs and the list goes on and on of natural good things we do to maintain good health.

But today, again, I am grateful for sharp medical professionals who do their jobs well and quickly. I know without Sarah, intuitively knowing something was 'off' with her baby and getting to a hospital, Ali would not be here today.

Being a parent is the toughest job ever. Period. And being a good one takes all you have and more. I know this one. When caring for children, stay aware and on top of things. That's how we keep them here! I am happy to be one of those you call when you aren't sure what to do! I have sure had my share of injuries and occasionally, the odd illness with kids!

What I'm Thankful for this Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T08:29:00.003-07:00

Baby Ali has been a titch congested for a few days and her mom, Sarah has given her vitamin C and things and watched over her hoping she would get better. Twice in the night she's called me stressed, so I hung out in the wee hours holding her baby, spelling Sarah to shower the spit up off and stretch achy 'holding the baby all day and night' muscles. My #2 son Trevor, has been right there all along, concerned, helping and supportive of his little wife and baby. One of those calls was Thanksgiving morning 4:32. "She's losing weight, Mom." And I could see she had thinned a bit from her 'gettin' a bit chubby' body!

Holding Ali, I sent Sarah off to shower and used all my copious baby experience, to calm this little one. I wrapped her snuggly, in a bright pink blankie, with rosebud embroidery. I put her over my shoulder and gently bounced her, laid her tummy down across my knees, releasing a nice burb and thought now we're getting somewhere! That had to feel better for the little girl. Sarah came back with damp hair, a titch rejuvenated. She had been nursing and trying to nurse Ali since 1am that morning and all Ali did wa spit it all back up. As much as I hated to do it, I said, 'Maybe we should try a little formula and give you a break for a moment.' My distrust of formula companies did not outweigh my wondering if all the stress of a fussy baby was curdling her milk! Hey, they did wake me in the middle of the night, for this!

Looking over her selection of free formula samples I mentioned Alimentum which had helped my baby girl, Danica thrive. (Another story) Andrew, who was a houseguest, offered to run to Wal-mart to get some. "It's pretty expensive. Do you want some money?" "No. I'm good," he said. And the little girl drank 1/3 of a small bottle and I thought, much better little girl, and went home! I ran some things for Thanksgiving to Tegan's house and had just laid down for a few minutes when Trevor called to say Andrew ran Sarah and the baby to MacKay Dee Hospital because her coloring was off and she didn't look good. Would I run up there to help.

Let me define 'help.' We are a natural health family. We read, research, pay attention and are responsible for our own health and each others. We share experience and suppliments and whatever is needed. We do NOT vaccinate ever. (Another story) We have a very clear understanding of the terms 'nosocimial' and iatrogenic''. Even if I don't know how to spell them. they are respectively 'hospital induced illness' and 'doctor induced disease.' We don't believe the medical community has a clue what 'health care' is but do know, when things get bad, they are great at saving people. And that's what Ali needed. Was to be saved...

Am I on Track Business-wise?

2009-11-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

Green means good to go—congratulations! Overall, your answers fall well within the realm of successful entrepreneurial attitudes. You’ve got a great appetite and want to take a big bite out of bootstrapping. You are ready to take your strengths and make something of them. Also, you recognize your weaknesses and are able to compensate. This is a recipe for startup success. We encourage your efforts and look forward to hearing about your triumps! http://bootstrapbusiness.org/thank_you.php

Today's Mama Holiday Contest!

2009-11-16T08:12:00.003-07:00

I found this in my email today and thought I'd enter and share:

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Giveaway
The holiday season is wonderful. Full of joy, wonder...and work. Especially if you have a handmade holiday in mind. We want to make the season a bit easier on you by giving away a sleighful of gifts that only a mother could love. Our “sleigh” is a Madsen Bike filled with gifts and goodies from Provo Craft to help you create those handmade projects including a Yudu screen-printing machine, a Cuttlebug, a Cricut Expression Machine, a Your Story thermal book binder, and a Knifty Knitter loom set. That’s not all - we’ve got treasures galore - a Dyson Blueprint, an Easy Walker Sky stroller from MamaBargains.com, two Sidekick baby carrier bags from Kemby and an Amber Alert GPS unit and a full year of service.That’s over $3,800 in gifts!

Entering this contest is easy and fun. Just answer and post the meme below on your blog and send us the link. (Don’t have a blog, no problem! You can post this as a note in Facebook and send us the link too.)To participate you must include all of the text, including the links, in bold below:Mama’s Holiday Wish List MemeTodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year? My family, (read kids) gathered, Lots of yummy homemade food, A gathering of girlfriends so I can share the gifts I've made for them, A fresh tree from Idaho again this year and A full body massage for me!

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received? A marionette donkey when I was in the 5th grade. Named him Pembroke and played with him for years!

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? Working on embroidering the top of a duvet cover. Started last year! Still working on it!

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child? A new bike when I was 8!

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year? Clothes, clothes and more clothes and a season pass to Brighton for Adam!

6. What is your favorite holiday food? Candied yams... yum!

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays? Everything! I grew herbs and dried them, made savory oil, crocheted a rug and am working on other projects. Wish I had a sewing machine.

8. What is your favorite holiday movie? Actually might be Home Alone!

9. Favorite holiday song? Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

10. Favorite holiday pastime? Gathering family and/or friends together

Click here to see an example.Send us a link to your post via email with “Wish List Meme” in the subject line. You can even tag a few friends to participate in the meme. (Spread that holiday cheer!) Thanks to all of our generous sponsors that helped make Mama’s Holiday Wishlist possible!

2009-11-10T09:23:00.002-07:00

Thoughts become reality. If you think it, it will happen. Worry is negative prayer. You draw to yourself, that that consumes your thoughts.
A friend asked me about Chapter 11 in Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich thinking it is New Agey and he's not sure about all that stuff.

More than new agey it is quantum mechanics/physics and works. the challenge is finding all the programs running deep within you that have nothing to do with conscious thought. I'll let you think about that. But here are the clues: If your child says, 'I need braces,' what are the first thoughts that race through your head? If your partner says, 'We should move to a nicer house,' what thoughts are the first to hit you? If a pal asks to borrow $25,000 but they aren't sure when/if they can pay you back, what goes through your mind?
Not things like, 'Hell no,' 'You must be out of your mind,' or 'Don't be ridiculous!' More like, 'Money doesn't grow on trees,' 'Do you think I'm made of money?' 'How hard would I have to work to earn that much money?'
You may really be surprised at what surfaces. Once you have a bit of a list, there are ways to dispel them.
I went through extensive training and am a certified theta therapist! Try finding info on that, that makes any sense! It is simply a process of going into theta brain waves, on purpose, to affect immediate or fast change, even on a cellular level. It was costly and time-consuming training and I have taught many people how to do it themselves to be empowered with their own health and well-being at a mere fraction of the cost.

Are you familiar with kinesiology? It is a method of testing your body as the body does not lie, fabricate or qualify truth. You can find out about your health and base beliefs through muscle testing and it is quite fascinating actually.
Now you may think this is of the devil, but I assure you it is science and it works and very simply, too! And I work on people remotely as we are all connected and do not need to be in the same room.
Not New Age, not religious, not voodoo, but science. Just science.
Aren't you glad he asked?!!!

#10 on NH's list is 'Truth is truth, regardless of a closed mind, ignorance or a refusal to believe!'

Live our lives out loud!

2009-11-09T08:27:00.002-07:00

http://www.robthomasmusic.com/videos/featured/someday-5 I keep thinking about the line in this video about someday living our lives out loud. With billions of people on this planet, we can celebrate our differences, not expect everyone else to believe and be just like us. Just like me.

How dull would that be if everyone had 9 kids? If everyone were divorced? If everyone had lived with wealth and poverty? If everyone kept a cheerful disposition who would I cheer up? Who could I help with my experience if you all had the same experiences? Who could I congratulate on their marriage, anniversary if you were all divorced like me? Or if we were all the same age? How could I learn what is ahead for me to prepare and who would need me to help them through a trying time? And if we all believed the same ideologies and philosophies?

This might be interesting if we were all peacemakers but what if we were absolutely not? We would be at odds til the last man standing, as has been done over and over throughout history. Well perhaps, if we were all to be alike, we could choose to be peacemakers, celebrate our diversity and share. Co-exist and live together. Then we could live out loud. Be who we truly are living transparent lives in a gentler, friendly community planet.

I'm taking a moment to envision that for us all today. I picture us living together in peace and harmony. All of us. My friend Tawn has a bumper sticker on her car that says, 'God bless us, everyone, no exceptions.' I may not feel comfortable around those who wish I didn't exist because of my color, gender, or choices but I can wish blessings on them for softer hearts, kindness and peace

Can you picture it too? If we all live out lives out loud and picture peace we can draw it to us.

Thanks for a Great 2009 Planting Season!

2009-10-18T04:32:00.001-06:00

Wow this season has been a crazy one with rain and bugs and mushrooms like they get every year in Seattle! Thanks for working with us! If you like, I will collect, clean and store your baskets at no charge, just let me know when you are ready!

In preparation for the 2010 growing season, you have choices.

1-Choose colors, plants now and pre-pay before Nov 15th for the deepest discounts and to hold the 2009 pricing. Just ask me and I'll put an estimate together for you!

2- Give me an idea of what you would like to do next year and give me a deposit to hold the 2009 rates. We can finalize later and pricing will depend on how far in advance we plan.

3- We can just figure it all out next year!

Keep this schedule in mind: I pre-order premium plants mid-November to cut costs I pass on. I pre-order again in December/January for a nice discount! I start some of my own plants in February and grow them in a greenhouse for 4 months before delivery. Beginning in March, I design and plant baskets and planters for Mothers' Day week delivery in most areas, June in Park City/Eden/Parley's Summit.

You're best pricing is now through November 15th and I will let you know when that will change.

I would love feedback on what you loved and what you would like to do differently. Every season has some things that work better than others. Wave Petunias didn't do as well as Cascades, so that is the main reason I am ordering earlier. They are premium plants. Bacopa was stellar this year as were the osteospermums and many varieties of the food plants, including the Heirloom Tomatoes.

We are also working on growing food for the homeless in Ogden and may have a facility to continue this effort through the winter months. This will also allow us to have your baskets filling out by delivery! Yay!

So what would you like to do for next year and would you like me to care for your baskets at no charge? Do let me know so I can schedule pick-ups the next couple of weeks.

Thanks again for a great 2009 season! Roxy, Tegan, Josh, Ian, Jennifer and the crew!

Venting on Poverty Here...

2009-10-17T18:25:00.003-06:00

Unemployment seems to be the one thing growing like crazy in the country. My unemployment benefits ended last March. This and that odd job have kept food on the table, but much of what was my lifestyle is quite gone. The big house in Sandy where family and friends gathered at 3pm every Sabbath for Potluck BBQ's. Never knew who would show up with what yummy thing to eat or drink or how many of them would be there. Once we had people from 2 months to 72 years old, several races represented and more than heterosexuals in the sexual preference category! What fun! Live music on the deck and on 2 levels in my house... Good times... But...

Then a year ago last September, Hell-lllo Ogden! Sweet little 2 bedroom bungalow on 3/4 of an acre with 62 trees, quite bucolic and miles from ALL my friends and kids, except Randy and my daughters. Argh! That was tough for months! I never thought I would fit in in Ogden because I don't have a mullet. Crazy spiky hair like I gave birth to a gaggle of snowboarders, which I did!

A year later, it's okay that I live here, mostly. I have made friends, with hearts of gold, have beautiful flower baskets all over town and have a favorite spot or 2 to frequent. Tegan and her son, Matthew and Trevor's family moved up here to be by Mom! I do miss craploads of events I would attend if I weren't 50 miles away and I don't see a couple of my sons very often, Stephan and David. And I'm afraid if I stay here much longer my truck will need low profile tires! But back to poverty...

Seriously folks! 18 months of insanity! I have been around long enough to have been down most roads to the first bend. Generally people have hired me away from where I was! Til May 2, 2008! Bupkiss! I got too high on the totem pole and now people think I won't take jobs for 1/3 to 1/2 of what I was making and they are quite wrong. I even asked about an internship and they thought I was joking! I still have children to raise!!! 2 weeks ago someone on Twitter said he thought I was independently wealthy! Others think I have a rich husband who supports me! Ah the curses of having class!!!!

Why I'm Passionate About Social Media

2009-10-15T11:48:00.004-06:00

My passion for Social Media has more to do with its multiple applications.

We know the basics, connect with somebody, anywhere using technology, but all the things you can accomplish are what is impressive! Companies can grab interest, engage in conversations, solve problems earlier on, tease something new then announce it.

Marketers, like me, can blow other people's horns like nothing else can do. We can reach more people in specific demographics and immediately. We can fine-tune our messages with immediate feedback.

Good causes can get to the very people who really care to bring awareness, trouble shoot issues, and thank donors and sponsors.

People who have lost touch can find each other and catch up. Those with a question, answer or other tidbit can find like-minded people.

Those on Social Media police their own. Bad behavior becomes obvious and mentioned and mentioned again. It provides a learning environment for growth, metemorphisis and change. Its options increase daily; to join in is easy.

Social Media used as a tool is the handiest, most versatile one, overall in your toolbox! It is dramatic and commanding and subtle and friendly. It moves things right now and later and even more later. Once something is started using social media it has a life of its own and will reach wherever there is interest and beyond.

Social Media is connecting people all over the planet, creating neighborhoods and communities of some of the nicest people in the world. It is quietly morphing us into creatures eager to learn, to help and to share. It literally is changing the planet into a more correct place to live, in peace, harmony and transparent truth.

Moms

2009-08-07T17:03:00.001-06:00

I can share with you that even after your mom is gone, her influence is still viable. Both my parents are gone, but fairly often Mom’s words come to mind. And not just the don’t wear white shoes after Labor Day type rule! When life feels tough I see her face in my mind full of compassion and I know there was someone who knew my struggles and wanted the best for me. I see the pride in her face at my accomplishments, giving me the strength to go on with current endeavors. I know the challenges I have had as a mother, were similar to the ones she had. I have 9 kids, she had 11. She was very busy with her church and volunteer efforts. I’m busy working and raising kids and grandkids. She had to take care of Dad’s needs, I handle things myself and work to make up for my kids like of a father figure. She held up a luxurious but stiff life while I struggled to balance kids, house, job, school and whatever else seemed to be important at the time!

Not the same lives, but still difficult and gratifying.

And then there is the example I have of her in my mind, reminding me to sit up straighter, carry myself with dignity I may not feel at the moment and that a woman can handle anything with grace and aplomb.

Crazy Planting Season

2009-08-03T22:05:00.004-06:00

This crazy planting season took over my life! It's already August and I've had 4 days off since April! We took a lucrative hobby and turned it into a business, roxycross designs llc. You should check out the videos on our youtube.com/roxycrossdesigns channel. I'm uploading them so fast I haven't edited the last few! You'll just have to turn the sound up and listen. Enjoy!

May 17 baskets

2009-05-18T10:07:00.002-06:00

Had a blast at a planting party in the shadows of U of U neighborhood yesterday! Met Cheryl Forester, of Cherella's friends and neighbors and have tons of baskets to do now.

And now Gov Herbert

2009-05-16T22:58:00.003-06:00

So, in March 2000 I filed to run for public office. I was the first person to file for one of two county commission seats in Uintah County. Big deal you think. Yep, it was a big deal! It was such a big deal that 3 men who saw which seat I was running for, filed for the opposite seat! Whether they thought I was the better man or they thought I might beat them, didn't matter. The fact is 3 of them ran for the other seat.

Uintah County is traditionally a republican county. In years, there had never been a county commissioner who was not: male, married, republican, LDS and from the area. I, a divorced, Chicago native, registered democratic woman, with no discernable religious preference, filed and ran. What an adventure of a race! I could share all kinds of stories! The people I met, the issues I learned about, the impact of those who listened...

I used my campaign to educate people on the importance of maintaining public access to public lands. I spoke of the importance of everyone using public lands to be a site steward, to protect and actively appreciate said access. So many, even those who made their living on public lands had no idea all the complications and impacts they made. When a county is nearly 80% public lands, it can only be impacted greatly by them.

So I ran my campaign and no matter the naysayers, did not compromise my beliefs, ethics or integrity and on the day we voted felt very good about whichever way it went. Either the residents of Uintah County would hire me to represent them for the following 4 years or not. My children, friends and I waited for the count at Niki's Restaurant over looking Ashley Valley, the home of Vernal Utah. Vote tallies came in from the Ute Tribal areas strongly in my favor. Then Vernal City and Naples and pockets here and there. Then my town of Maeser voted for my opponent, a male, LDS, married republican from the area who had also been on the Vernal City Council for years. And in the end he won the Uintah County Commission seat and I got 43% of the vote and scared them a bit.

I had lost my job over the decision to run. I don't know, what would you think if after filing to run, your republican boss of 5 years, you had made over half a million dollars for, in $5 increments, called you in and the first thing he said was, "I'm not firing you because you are a democrat..." What would you think?!

Eventually I left Vernal UT, the little town I cared so much about, where I had raised my children, volunteered in schools and for the county and community and where my youngest child had been born. I had been on people's televisions, in their newspapers and on the radio for years. I had served as a trustee for the county library for years, then on the county public lands committee for over 6 years. They wouldn't even take me off the committee until I'd been in SLC for over a year because they hoped I would come back! Anyway, what does all this have to do with our soon to be Gov. Herbert? A little story.

After moving to Salt Lake City, my oldest sister, Val Ziegler asked me to help her. She was the president of the oldest women's republican club in the nation, right in SLC UT. She invited be continually and encouraged me to register as a republican. I paid dues and attended the Salt Lake City Women's Republican Club meetings with my sis and listened and gave them money for my lunches and then Val needed me. She said, "Come help me take money at the door of a candidates BBQ in Sandy and don't tell anyone you are a registered democrat. So I didn't. Of course, at the door I got to greet everyone who came!

It was the 2002 state election and all kinds of offices were up and energy was high! I met a man running for a representative seat who had run the same time I did 2 years earlier. He greeted me and said, "It is so good to see you again!" and introduced his wife. I figured he thought I was my sister and introduced myself. He said, "I know who you are! We spoke at the same venues 2 years ago and I like what you said!" Huh! Imaging that. A reasonable woman is a reasonable woman. Think I heard something like that recently...

Then another man came up to me wanting to meet me. I figured he thought I was my sister, again and introduced myself. He said, "I'm Gary Herbert and I know who you are. I served on the Utah County Commission for 14 years and we watched your race and wanted you to win!" Well then. I know he is from Utah County and they have their own culture and it feels very restrictive to many of us who are a bit freer in our thinking, but I know what I campaigned on and I know who I ultimately ran against. If I was being watched on this side of the mountains and key people liked what I had to say, then I pay attention to them too.

I spoke the truth to the best of my knowledge of those truths. I was supported by democrats and republicans, green people and those in industry, those working for the county and those who thought county decisions were whacko, young and old, LDS and non. It's like what I was told when asked to serve on the Uintah Public Lands Committee and help write the county's land management plan for the first of 2 times while I served... then Commissionor Herb Snyder said, "We know you have the best interests of the county at heart. We want you on that committee." And future gov, Gary Herbert paid attention and made a point to meet me when he had nothing to gain.

Well maybe he did have something to gain. I voted for the Huntsman/Herbert ticket and would again. I am obviously publicly blogging my support. If we have to lose Gov Huntmen, then I say, let's give his choice of lt. gov. a chance to show us what he is made of and support Gov Gary Herbert, too.

Huntsman to Herbert

2009-05-16T22:38:00.003-06:00

So Gov Huntsman is going to China to represent the US for Pres Obama. Very cool for the Huntsmans, but not so cool for us, in UT. Gov Huntsman has consistantly saved us money, prepared for the future and made excellent business decisions as if UT were his own company or country. He has proven over and over that he cares about the state and people he represents.

As inconvenient as the 4 day work week may have been initially been, it has saved the state 13% over the old 5 day work week. Significant. He has brought and kept businesses in our state and helped us to weather the economic storm better than most of the US. So, I for one am quite sorry to see him go. I thought when he did go, it would be to pilot a bigger ship, like the United States of America. And I thought it wouldn't be yet. Bummer.

Haiku and the Brain

2009-03-24T11:53:00.007-06:00

Realized since I met Alex Doman a week ago, my life has changed. Alex is the CEO and founder of Advanced Brain in Ogden UT, a family of companies using science, technology and music to retrain brains. www.advancedbrain.com I picked up a couple of ABT's CD's, appropriately suggested by Alex, "Maximum Focus" & "De-Stressed."

Since then, I've listend to both cd's repeatedly, watched a show on MENSA, played with a brain puzzle and had a run-in with Haiku, the Japanese poetry form of 5-7-5 syllables/line, generally with a nature theme.

First my son, Josh, known as TheJoshCross at Westminster College where he is a freshman, sent me this in a text:

Haikus are easy.
But sometimes they don't make any sense.
Refrigerator.

Which I forwarded to a select group of MENSA qualified friends and family. Then my cell phone went crazy with responses, from, "Ok, then" to "That was random" to "Your crazy (sic)"! (The above quoted quips were obviously from those on the cusp of MENSA.)

Then I got some good ones like this response from Z:

They lay in water.
Just their ears and eyes above.
Hippoptamus. (Another word with 5 syllables!)

And this one:

Wand-ring friendship road.
Celestial sphere stood she there.
Mingling with the sky.

At this point he placed blame squarely on my shoulders:

"You fed me haiku after dark!"

Sarah Buhr tweeted the 'Refridgerator' haiku on twitter.com and is still giggling! She and all those who 'get' this post, should join MENSA and hang with the top 2% of the intelligent populace! They will 'get' your jokes.

Scene out my window, Not

2009-02-23T10:47:00.002-07:00

So this is lovely. Can you smell the ocean and feel the breeze on your face and frosty glass in your hand? Mmmmmmmmmmm, I can't! I'm looking out my window in Ogden at a foot of snow with drifts! Bleak trees, muddy spots on the property. Yuck. A beach in Cuba looks much more appealing today. I've been looking on-line at company openings to see if there is anything intriguing in SLC or Ogden that gets my attention. There may be a doozy of a recession going on, but some company somewhere needs me and can compensate me for said efforts. Somewhere there is a company with a stellar culture, integrity and high ethics that would like me to help them grow. I grow companies so well. Intending to do so , for a real nice company next time! Wonder who that will be...

Josh's Story

2009-01-09T15:10:00.004-07:00

Josh is number 7 out of 9 children and the first to "A" graduate from high school and "B" go straight to college. This is huge for our family. Eventually I'll tell the whole story, but for now, in a nutshell, Josh graduated from Jordan High School in 2007 as an honor student, while taking AP and college classes, working 20-30 hour weeks at Jordan Commons for Larry H and taking state, with his Quizbowl team in DECA. Then he went to the national/international competition in Atlanta and took the planet! Very exciting! Then Westminster College, rated the best college west of the Mississippi by Princeton, threw open their doors, saying, "Come to me my beamish boy!" Or something like that!

This is an incredible opportunity for Josh and for our whole family. We are all watching him and know he is setting the best example for his siblings and nieces and nephews. He got a 4 year scholarship from Westminster, grants, loans, is working to cover expenses. But he is $8000 short for this school year. Mom thought she could make up the difference, but she lost her job in May and has been unemployed since, (see previous post!) As mom is quite the socially connected media maven, friends suggested we post the story on our web connections and document how effective the social media community is on spreading the word and getting results. Hence our creation of Josh & Mom Go to College! Thanks and pass it on!

Josh & Mom Go to College!

2009-01-09T15:03:00.002-07:00

Friends suggested Josh and I try social media to raise money for tuition for the both of us. We will share the story as it is so far and as it unfolds and give thanks to all who contribute money and good wishes! We thank you in advance! Mom's story is one of doing 2 years of college right out of high school like a good girl, to meet a husband. Decades later when she no longer had said husband, she went back and did another 2 years towards her degree. She lost credits tranfering to USU and due to the length of time between. Now another 10 years has gone by. She has been unemployed for over 8 months, and hears the dread, "You don't have a degree," when she applies for jobs. Still raising children and needing to support them, she is sacrificing now, for the long run and going back to college.

Now Josh...

Thanks for the help!

2009-01-09T15:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-25T23:41:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox photobook

2008-12-20T18:25:00.003-07:00

Energy continues to shift in the planet. Those clinging to the ways of tradition will be pained by the shifting. Those in tune with the shifting will move through the pain, to come out the other side, with clarity of vision. They will know why they are here, really. Some are here to heal, some to share, some to bring peace and all to live in love.

Who are you? What is your earliest memory that tells you who you are? In the quiet moments of slumber and waking, what messages are there for you?

Sending you an angel of peace this season.

2008-11-03T08:56:00.001-07:00

Sarah Buhr knows her stuff. In a utpulse.com article, http://www.utahpulse.com/featured_article/diy-pr-a-web-20-world , Oct. 03, 2008, which I received via subscribed email, she wrote of the PR impact of on-line methods over traditional print, television and radio. With a hefty background in those aforementioned traditional media, I have noticed a decline in effectiveness over the past few years. Think about where you get your news and information in business! Is it newspaper, television, radio, print or on-line? Take your own survey! Ask around? You will find, no doubt, that the majority of us are grabbing news here and there through our computers, Blackberry’s and electronic devises.
Use Sarah’s advice! Go on-line for you PR, and add my advice! Go on-line for your marketing too. There are many reasons to do so. Adding up the factors is a very long list, which Sarah covered well, but the bottom line is, in this overly competitive marketplace, companies will go a long way to garnering market share by having a user-friendly website and using effective on-line marketing tools. I am watching this site, as it is the most professional, comprehensive and sharp business site in Utah.

Cash Flow

2008-11-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

From a utpulse.com blog 10/14/08, we are reminded cash flow is a really good idea in business. http://www.utahpulse.com/blog_entry/individual/business-tip-protect-your-cash-flow There are companies adapting to the changing economy and adopting tried and true property management methods of ensuring cash flow.
Tangible Express, in Spanish Fork, UT, not only has top of the line equipment, highly trained staff and a cutting edge business model for creating prototypes for companies, the way they get paid is unusual in industry. Well, not in the travel industry, where travelers buy a portion of property or time on that property through timeshares, which is a great idea. People have been taking advantage of that clever concept for quite some time. Several people can purchase the same room in a resort, or a portion of time good at many resorts, to enjoy a nicer vacation easier than purchasing an entire piece of property.
Taking that concept to industry and implementing it, is what Tangible Express has done. Companies can ‘purchase’ a portion of time on high tech prototype equipment for a small portion of what purchasing said equipment would run. Brilliant. Next step… using this timeshare concept for manufacturing. Ah, now think of the possibilities. Much easier to keep jobs local for total control of production, close to home. Innovative ideas are plentiful on the silicon slopes!
On-line companies are abandoning the ‘net 30 days’ billing cycle by taking a real estate property rental practice as their own company policy. By charging customers first and last month payments up-front and billing 60 days out, on-line companies ensure advertisers will pay, before ads have run. As their advertisers receive bills and pay generally in a 2 week cycle, on-line companies make sure their sold inventory is indeed sold before running ads.
I didn’t invent the saying, ‘When times get tough the tough get going.’ It is very applicable now and I wish I had thought it up. In these unsettling times, ‘same ole, same old’ could be the death of companies. On roll here, I’ll just keep peppering this blog with clever sayings! Good old Yankee ingenuity and savvy innovation will help other companies not only survive but thrive. And I’m sure they appreciate doing business with those prepared clients who make sure they, in turn, have cash flow to continue to do business in ways supporting innovation.

Tessa Marie States

2008-10-17T00:09:00.002-06:00

Tessa Marie States is the cute girl on the right who happens Her birthday is coming up on the 5th of November and we will have a bit of a party for the girl. Jammer Lammer, her sister in the picture lives in Vernal still. She had the opportunity to live here but she opted to stay with her mom and brothers to help them. Tessa deserves a break. She's been on her own since she was 12. Huh. Living with me is a big break for her! She thinks her life here is chill and she should! At 14/15 you should be playing and having fun with friends. Enjoy! A whole paragraph and I haven't really told you anything important about who she really is. You see, i know that Tessa Marie States is here for a reason. She is a natural healer and a Crystal Child. She is here to instill peace in the planet. For babies, children and all of us. It is an honor to know her.

Global Entrepreneurship Week Event

2008-10-15T13:11:00.003-06:00

Nov. 17-23 the state of Utah joins more than 100 countries and organizations representing millions of entrepreneurs to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week. With "Unleashing Ideas" as the big-picture theme, those who recognize entrepreneurs as change agents for our economy join together to inspire, connect, mentor and engage as we collectively roll up our sleeves to develop the next-generation of high-growth entrepreneurs.The statewide celebration includes campus and Chamber of Commerce dialogues as well as other activities, with the culmination being the all-day Unleashing Ideas: Igniting High-Growth Entrepreneurism in Utah, concurrent entrepreneur and angel investment conference, followed by an evening “Business Ignitor” social.THURSDAY, NOV. 20 join the best and brightest business minds in the state to share implementable business practices, as well as opportunities for mentoring and exchange between investors and entrepreneurs—both master entrepreneurs and newer entrepreneurs alike. The conference lineup is both state-inclusive in breadth and world-class in quality, echoing the truly global nature of the week.

Passion & Courage

2008-10-10T22:09:00.002-06:00

It has lessons for the timid and the fearful but the really good ones, it reserves for the brave. Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not knows no release From little things; Knows not the livid loneliness of fear, Nor mountain heights where bitter joy can hear The sound of wings. (Amelia Earhart) Every important journey is scary, and the big ones, you usually take alone, but if you got faith, you gonna find your bags packed with enough courage to get you where you need to go. (Anne O. Faulk) (Or maybeyou won’t go alone…)

Passion lies at the bottom of all of us, down the slippery anchor chain to the base of who we are, the real, the shameful, the furious. It’s born in the screaming, moaning, frenzied core of us. Most people learn early that it’s a dangerous thing, best kept in check. By the end of adolescence, certainly by the end of early adulthood, they’ve successfully eradicated passion… unless you hold out!

HOLD OUT!

I'm gonna win this bag!

2008-10-04T23:10:00.003-06:00

I have already signed up and the bags are so beautiful! This is the one I picked out! You can pick the one you love! To celebrate their October 15, 2008 launch, they are giving away a free handbag every hour for 24 hours on the day of the launch. They have gorgeous high fashion & trendy handbags by popular designer brands. The handbags are priced between $30 and $80. Thank you for supporting such a great project for women! Please let me know what you think of this offer and how they have gone about theirmarketing it! Love your comments! Please click this link below and sign yourself up to receive your bag! http://www.handbagplanet.com/
Tags: designer, fashion, free, handbags, support, women

Posting at roxcross.blogger.com now

2008-08-26T21:59:00.003-06:00

Taking the craziness to roxcross.blogger.com. So Tegie and her mommy and all the boyz and girlz in our lives will be there, too! Or maybe I'll just use them for different purposes. Hmmm... what to do? For now I'll just say, so long and thanks for all the fish!

The Gathering of the Clan

2008-01-06T19:02:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving '07 was the first gathering of the clan in nearly 6 years! I did not give birth to all of the people in this photo, so perhaps I should introduce you. Left to right: Alex 22, his friend Jon, Adam 14, Danica 12, Josh 17, granddaughter Alyssa 11, her mother Raygen, grandson Quentin, David 26, Tegan 19, Yummy Boy Randy, Me, Stephan 24, Mia 4, Trevor 28, Sarah holding Aidan 3 months and Jason 31. There ya go. Yowza!

I'm back!

2008-01-06T18:00:00.000-07:00

Uhh... did you miss me? Forgive me reader for it has been 6 and a half months since I've blogged. Let's bring you up to speed then I'll drop a spiffy 'nuther blog with current photo of the gathering of the clan... the first in 6 years.

So anywho... back to catching up the last several months: After consistently losing energy over the course of several months I crashed and burned big time in June. I won't get into the gory and I mean gory details but will just say that I ended up in the hospital. The lovely nurses gave me knock out drugs and proceeded to put 2 units of blood and one of water in me over several hours. I didn't mind. I had nowhere pressing to be.

It's amazing how long it can take to walk across a parking lot when you have no energy. It's amazing how high stairs are and how heavy purses are and how daunting little things like grocery shopping and filling gas tanks are. I worked from home for weeks when I could and life came to a screeching halt.

Well, mostly a screeching halt. The non-screeching part was meeting a yummy boy, hereafter to be called 'Yummy Boy'. Now I don't know what you think of when you think of a yummy boy, but what I used to think of as yummy is not what I think of now. If you have seen me on stage chatting of why I don't date older men, you will be surprised when you see pix of Yummy Boy.

On stage I speak of the gruesomeness of men as they age. Getting beer bellies, not taking care of hygene... hair thinning on top, sprouting out of unexpected places like noses, ears and shirt collars. Unattractive. And the solution seems to be to grow the thinning hair long and sport a scullet.

Yeah well, you'll have to check out Yummy Boy cuz, uh, hmph, well, he has long curly silver hair and I do mean long. Wierd. I know. I like him anywho.

It's his cheesy grin that got my attention in the first place and he took his sweet time emailing, texting and talking via cel phone, seriously months, before we met in person. By then it was too late for me to be picky about hair and what beer does to bellies, cuz I like him alot and meeting him didn't stop that, as it generally had previously in my dating unacceptable men nightmare. Actually, the previous dating singleness seems so long ago. This man has changed my life. Yeah. More later.

Oh, and we're still working on getting back to prime health. Thanks to Tawn Lee, my acupuncturist who gave me the wake up call. When I was so ill I couldn't leave my house, she came to me to work on me. After checking me, she looked me in the eyes and said, 'You have to have energy for acupuncture to work and you have none. You need to see a medical doctor.'

The next day I saw Dr Heather Sojourner and highly recommend her. She jumped right on things, blood tests, prescriptions the hospital visit, sent me to Dr. Jane Bowman, OBGYN. Between them they saved my life, quite literally. The point of the story is, as much as I have researched health, nutrition and the best ways of getting and staying healthy outside of the medical field, I had no idea how quickly the endocrine system can fail. I had no idea how quickly hormones can get out of whack, causing a domino effect of destruction. A blood test can tell you where you stand. And in case you think it just happens to women, my doctors said this is happening to men and women all over the valley due to stress. Pass the word. This wasn't and isn't fun. But I'm still here.

Heeeeyoink

2007-06-25T23:13:00.000-06:00

Friends whom I loveth. I am blatantly stealing this entire blog from Heidikens cuz I can and she summed up how I feel right now. I'm wondering how long before I'm busted... clocks atickin!

Hello dear world,One of the hardest things for me to do is to say goodbye to a friend. It's actually almost impossible for me to do. Thank heavens for the internet and nation-wide long distance. I feel that even when people move on or move away I can still keep in contact with them. I tend to collect friends like I collect shoes or books - constantly accumulating and rearranging, but never discarding. And through all the shuffle that complicated lives bring, I try and somehow stay connected, stay updated. I know that people's lives change, their relationships change; we grow up and move away, we get "real" jobs and meet new people, get married and have children, lose parents and siblings and lovers and life goes on. However, regardless of distance or time, I will always keep a piece of you in my heart. No matter what happens, I want you to be happy. And regardless of how much we change, you will always be a part of my life.So, that being said, dear blog friends. You are stuck with me for good. :) You can't run and you can't hide. I will stalk your site until you (or I) go into a blog-induced coma and even then, you will probably receive random comments from me.

You see, I started reading Mastery of Love again last night and before I fell asleep I read the acknowledgements. Hey that's all I read cuz I was tired. Anywayzzzzzzzzzz, the author, Don Miguel Ruiz mentioned his 'Human Family' probably wife and kids, dunno. The important thing is he talked about his 'Spiritual Family', the one consisting of the friends he has chosen and those who chose him. Did I think of lots and lots of people in my life. I love you and appreciate everything about you, know the very best life has to offer is yours and think you are cute. There ya go.

Where to go

2007-06-03T09:54:00.000-06:00

So many places to see in this world... where to go? Where to go? Lots of beaches and sunshine, scents and scenes, historical and timeless... And who might I meet? I still remember a trip to Acapulco in '85 where I kept getting the same waiter at the hotel. I think he liked serving someone who was gracious and appreciative of his efforts. Mmmmmmmm watching the fishermen catch my dinner in the bay while I absorbed the sun on my 7th floor balcony. And the cute little brown boys following me every time I left the hotel... "Hey Pretty Lady, bracelettes!" I bought lots of them!

I would still like to see the ruins in Mexico. I've been fascinated by the Mayans and Ancas since elementary school. Not as fascinated as Tawn, who knows all and is my favorite acupuncturist...

Crete, Malta, Greece, Italy, Gibralter, Ireland, Jackson Hole, Vancouver, Monet's garden outside Paris, Machu Pichu... just some of the places I would like to see. I'll start with Park city next weekend! How's that! Any suggestions? Where have you loved being?

I'm going home...

2007-05-30T22:33:00.000-06:00

Instead of writing s'more about Chicago and my impending trip back home, I'll just swipe what Heidikins had to say about her trip about a year ago. I will so go to the Art Institute!

http://heidikins.blogspot.com/2006/08/windy-city-trip-to-chicago.html

Bet I get a comment outta her!

And by the way, Heidi is one of the bravest people I know.

Home away from home!

2007-05-27T23:07:00.001-06:00

Well, here it is! My new home away from home! Not in the market for a new home, but managed a vacation home!!! Not the whole thing, but a sweet piece and I just got back from my first weekend there! Westgates in Park City. Pretty sure I sunburned my eyeballs in the high altitude! Lovely spas and indoor/outdoor pool for a girls day out today! Thanks Girls!

So I already live where other people vacation, SLC America, but what a slice of heaven! Clean air, crisp evenings, delicious food, great service, so relaxed and happy right now! Life's good! Start suckin' up if ya wanna come!

2007-05-15T23:56:00.000-06:00

Yeah Jenna! Less than 5 months til you quit smoking!!! Right here for you! Anna, your puppy dream is right in front of your face. Jodie M, you have worked so long in your industry helping so many people to see the light. Jodie A, what don't you do for everyone who touches your life. Tressa with shoulders broad enough to help carry the burdens of all in your life. Jenn boldly blazing one trail after another. Lysa sharing the sweet things of life with all of us. Heidi setting such an example of balance in wisdom and doing! Linda knowing when enough is enough and moving on. Rashmi with her bright eyes seeing far beyond borders. Tawn such a feminine, beautiful example of womenhood and healing. Laurice the little sister you love who drives you nuts. Marie living with the expectation we will all do the right thing. Jamie getting things done without a ripple in her pond! Heather the ass kicker teaching others how to kick asses. Tegan gutsy enough to go against all odds and family to find her path. Danica, sweetly showing us how to live our lives creatively. Sarah living a life of unconditional love. Lisa/Raygen reinventing herself every 6 to 10 days. Roxy/Deb surmounting harsh setbacks with grace and aplomb... More to come...

2007-05-15T23:32:00.001-06:00

So Mom's been gone over 10 years now. Pretty much sucks. But something I've noticed the last few years is how so many of us have shifted from the mother/daughter tight relationships to the sisters at my side relationships. It is women supporting women, buying from and doing business with women, comforting each other and understanding life's bumps, knowing what it feels like and helping others through it, loving each others children and celebrating in our successes together. It isn't in the media much, but it is a strong undercurrent in our society now. It is in my life and I love the women in my life from Mia at 5 to my ubercool stepmom at however old she is! Thank you all and my kids thank you too!

Clarification

2007-05-02T21:27:00.000-06:00

In the last blog there was reference to smoking Cubans. Photographic proof of just what Cubans they were.

Then Jenn thought I would make a perfect business card holder and sent this photo to her father.

I never heard what he thought.

Deb, Jodie and Jenn

2007-04-22T17:42:00.000-06:00

Jodie and Jenn patently refuse to call me by Heidi's nickname for me, Roxy! Jodie said, 'I fell in love with you as Deb and I'm keeping it!!!' Sorry Heidi! In case, that has not been explained herein... Heidi decided last year, Deb is not exciting enough for my personality and after much deliberation changed my moniker to Roxy. I responded that I should also take her last name of Doxey and be her fun aunt Roxy Doxey! Now if you search through this blog you will find Heidi's photo and her comments peppered throughout and a bit about a Q&A she made me answer!

But back to Jodie and Jenn... I met Jodie and her now husband Ralph at Bad Ass Coffee Shop when I first moved to SLC in 2005. The first thing they invited me to was a BBQ in Park City. Jodie said bring anyone you want so I invited a date. That was not what she had in mind and had invited 5 single male friends of hers! I was the only unattached chick person! Ah communication... she meant for me to bring single girlfriends.

Jenn, I met through Jodie and the stories of the 3 of us are colorful and heartwarming, generally involving wine, Italian, cheesecake and even a couple of Cubans. When Jenn picked up the check once at Buca de Bepo she said she enjoyed my company so much if she had to buy my friendship, she would!

Jodie once told me she didn't understand why I was single as I was a bundle of excellence! With friends like I have, I can get through any difficulities and have such amazing people to spend the great times of my life with!

Friends...

2007-04-22T17:24:00.000-06:00

So, the blonde on the left is Miss Anna. Gorgeous and can kick your ass! She is engaged to David, yummy boy. They met on match.com and very quickly committed to each other enough for David to move to SLC from CA! What Anna has not done in her life is a much shorter list than what she has done! She got her marine biology degree at the University of Hawaii although being from half way around the world in Florida. She ran a barrage of tanning salons in Idaho and boxed professionally for awhile. She is 6 foot tall and 25 years old. Her passion besides being my friend and engaged to David is puppies. She is an amazing trainer and certified canine nutritionalist. Check out her website: http://puppenschnoodles.com/index.html

Now Miss Tressa in the middle of this shot is 34, from Kansas City, yes she does know they have a football team and is devoted to her friends, family and fabulous job. We were concerned for her dad this last year but he is doing great and her mom has been a rock. While visiting SLC last January Mom came to my not so suprising surprise birthday party this year! Tressa deserves every bit of happiness and would probably like a yummy boy in her life who thought she was freakin' hot in her gorgeous shoe collection.

So, that's me on the right and the hot chick missing from this circle of friends is Lysa Scarano, originally from NY, but has lived all over. Lysa is the 'F' word old as of March... (forty) Don't say it too loud! Seh celebrated in a big way by gathering friends in the Big Apple for shoe shopping, favorite restaurant, Little Italy and all kinds of fun. Don't ask about her cats misbehavior while mommy was away... Lysa, a vibrant redhead with the prettiest face not on this blog is a rabid workoutaholic at Bally's on Fort Union! The sounds she makes while working out pretty much make one think of things better left behind closed bedroom doors!!! Sexy wench!

The thing we all love about this circle of friends is it hits 4 decades. At ages 25, 34, 40 and me at 52, we are gorgeous women in 4D. And for some of us there is extra emphasis on the DDDDDDDDD'S!!! Can't wait for David's birthday party the 29th at the Bayou! Stop by to say Hey, if you are out and about that night!!!

Sarah Marie Felton

2007-04-19T21:41:00.000-06:00

This is my mom, born Sarah Marie Felton. She was raised on a farm in central Missouri with 2 older brothers. A fish out of water, mom dreamed of becoming a great fashion designer like Edith Head, who did costumes for famous movies. Her dad died when she was a senior in high school and there was no money for college. A man in her little town of Rogersville, paid for her college expenses to go to Southern Missouri State and then to fulfill her dream as a college student at Ray Vogue Art School in Chicago. She was a prolific designer and was remembered by a man she introduced me to when years later she took me downtown in Chicago to buy wedding dress fabric. He remembered her over 2 decades later. She also modeled a lot and I remember seeing many pictures of mom in various outfits and poses including the Jackie O pose... one foot slightly ahead of the other and very proper, erect posture. I also remember poses of her holding a cigarette or doing the pin-up poses or even ones when she was pregnant with me. She loved the feel of fine fabrics and passed that gene on to me!

Mom

2007-04-17T19:18:00.000-06:00

My mom and my grandma Pearl are 2 of the greatest women I have ever had the pleasure to know. Grandma Pearl was a widow at 45 and never remarried. She worked most of her life as a nurses aid, living in a studio apartment within walking distance of the hospital where she worked. She sat at her kitchen table to visit company and to watch her favorite tv shows, mostly game shows. When she passed away after about 8 heart attacks, she left each of her 2 sons and my mom $10,000 each she had saved. The only things that were important to her, were her kids and grandkids. Her pleasures in life were getting her hair done on Saturdays, which she never touched cuz it was lacquered and talking to my mom on the phone. She lived her whole life in Rogersville and then Springfield MO, while we lived in Chicago and it's burbs. I remember her coming to visit when I was in the 4th grade and taking us kids to see "Mary Poppins" in the theater. She came again when I was in the 7th grade. We went to MO to visit her when I was 19 and that was the last time I saw her. I called her once when I was 29 to see if I could bring my young family to visit and she said no cuz she didn't think her heart could take the excitement. I told her I would continue to write and see her in the next life. I'm coming up on the 9th year since I lost my mom and it makes me think about her and her relationship with her mom. Right now both my daughters live with me and my daughter-in-law is visiting. I remember mom talking about how much she enjoyed going to lunch with my little sisters. Wish I could take her to lunch now. Wish she had lived to see my kids grow up and that I am on my own and much happier now. I miss you Mom.

Chaosssssssssssssssss

2007-04-16T19:52:00.000-06:00

There are 11 people staying at my house right now and I'm about ready to run away! You will appreciate this but the other night, I stood in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room, looked at all the people and thought, 'What have I done?'

At the time I gave birth to so many people, so long ago, it never occurred to me the sheer impact of those decisions! What a collection of personalities!!! Then combine them all and stir them up in Mom's 'fun' house and all I have to say is argh!!! All day at work I kept dreaming whistfully of my hottub... the only thing I miss from my last marriage. I have to qualify that as my 'last' marriage, back to the whole point of this diatribe. I don't miss anything from my first marriage... they are mostly all here!!!

Well, I do miss David and Stephan, a lot, everyday. Wish you were here...

Passion & Courage

2007-04-11T23:18:00.000-06:00

To art and music, to chemistry and electricity, to beauty and laughter, to passion and to courage. Why courage? Because life loves us so much, it’s always presenting us with wonderful presents: love affairs and interesting work; clove cigarettes andsunlight through clouds; whispering aspens and thescent of rain. It gives us all these terrific things, but by far it’s greatest gifts are the things it teaches us. I think those lessons are kisses from life, and I really believe that the best ones are reserved for the courageous. It has lessons for the timid and the fearful but the really good ones, it reserves for the brave. Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not knows no release From little things; Knows not the livid loneliness of fear, Nor mountain heights where bitter joy can hear the sound of wings. (Amelia Earhart) Every important journey is scary, and the big ones, you usually take alone, but if you got faith, you gonna find your bags packed with enough courage to get you where you need to go. (Anne O. Faulk) (Or maybe you won’t go alone…) Passion lies at the bottom of all of us, down the slippery anchor chain to the base of who we are, the real, the shameful, the furious. It’s born in the screaming, moaning, frenzied core of us. Most people learn early that it’s a dangerous thing, best kept in check. By the end of adolescence, certainly by the end of early adulthood, they’ve successfully eradicated passion… unless you hold out! HOLD OUT!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-03-28T23:39:00.000-06:00

I would seriously like to meet the women who designed this men's room. I love them!

Dum dumda dum...

2007-03-28T23:36:00.000-06:00

Found the perfect cake topper for Tegan's wedding. Hahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaa!

Tegi & Andrew sittin' in a tree...

2007-03-27T22:24:00.000-06:00

Yep, the baby girl, Gapooska, is getting married this weekend to Andrew the Smitten! I really feel for the guy cuz my daughter, Tegan Elizabeth Cross, ne Mrs. Bean, is a handful... not unlike her mama! But the clan is gathering and pix will be forthcoming. Donations for the event will be accepted!

Then you'll have to stay tuned for the after party, early June when they move to SLC to be near the favorite mom! Oh won't that be fun! Just think, with all the adults around my housienda at that point... I could LEAVE!!! Adult time! Wahoo! Who wants to play this summer?!!! Nice!

Who is Amazing?

2007-02-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

Joshua Yamamoto, that's who! Seriously have you seen Utah Business magazine BJ? That's Before Josh? HUGE difference. I pretty much can't imagine life at UBm without him. He's the only person in the office I can see from my office. I'll just pout and mope. My cheeks, ears and shoulders will droop when he leaves...

Since I started in May, we've lost Rhonda, Spencer, Heeyun, Heidi, JD and Heather. We almost lost 2 people last week. They're just dropping like flies. And here's something wierd... 2 days from the close of the next issue and I'm ahead of both Linda and Laurice. I say that now, but watch... tomorrow they will both kick my ass and I'll be the next one to go. Or not!

Cuz I would rather stay and work with Joshua Yamamoto...

One, tow... six, I guess

2007-02-24T13:54:00.000-07:00

Apparently, I'm It. The other day Heidi tagged me and I get to list six random or strange things that you do not know about me. Lucky you! But beware, I will be tagging six of you to do the same thing. Proceed with caution. ;D

One: I have never eaten a Twinkie. I find highly processed 'food' repulsive. Any chocolate and Madam X Stout from Hoppers are not in the same category!

Two: I don't like people with minivans, as a general rule. They drive slow, hog lanes and have no manners whatsoever. I think everyone with a minivan has had a lobotomy. They should drop the kids off at school and drive straight into a brick wall.

Three: Every time I was pregnant, I thought I was gonna to have a girl. I was right twice and wrong SEVEN times!!!

Four: I don't know that I am afraid of anything to the point of terror. Although my son Jason said the only things he is afraid of live in the ocean. He also, on the subject of snakes said it is totally unnatural to move that fast without legs. Pretty much at this point in life I have balls the size of Montana and take life as it comes. Of course that may also explain why I am still single. I'm not helpless!

Five: As I seriously hate being cold, I have never been skiing or snowboarding. I have lived in the Rocky Mountains my entire life, but have never been snow skiing. At this point in life will probably never take it up. Something too, about my chiropractor saying we are not putting your knee on boards and shoving you down a slippery slope! I will be all about the hot tub after others have a day on the slopes!!! Or laying on a sandy beach, soaking up the rays with cute boys bringing me frosty beverages!

Six: I love driving fast with my tunes blaring. Oh wait, this is supposed to be something nobody knows about me... I love having intelligent, sexy, sassy women in my life. But then, I'm not a man!

Ok - that's it. I hope that you have found this post educational and/or baffling. I am tagging Anna, Miss Danica, Heather, Tegan, Dave & Jenna. Participate if you feel so inclined, not required to be in my "favorites from the blogosphere" club or anything. I'm such a copy catter! ;o)

Unity

2007-02-20T07:03:00.000-07:00

How beautiful is a circle of friends?
Those you choose and who choose you back!

2007-02-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

The reason I don't mind being busty is because I can't see my biggest figure flaw, my chubby belly. It's kindof like why you can't see Jackson Hole from Idaho cuz the Grand Tetons are in the way.

Fly my little heart

2007-02-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

Fly my little heart,
Leave him not alone,
Smile from toes to eyes
Shining through his face.

Fly my little heart,
Warm him front to back
Through and through
No doubt within.

Fly my little heart,
Let him know
Without him I'm adrift
With him I am whole.

Fly my little heart,
Til I'm there, too.
I am his and he is mine
From now til forever...

Where you are understood, you are home.

Love is All Around!

2007-02-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

Love is all around! Love is all around! Baby girl, Tegan, and Andrew are engaged! David moved here from California to be with Anna Bettina... engaged, beautiful ring, planning the wedding! And Heidi and Berkley... he's moving here in June so they can be together. Love is all around and we love you all and thank you for letting us be part of your happiness!!! ;D

Love, love, love...

2007-02-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine sent this to me. I loved it so much I thought I'd share. Spank you berry mucho, Heidikins. ~roxycross

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.” C.S. Lewis

2007-02-05T20:04:00.000-07:00

If you have never done sales, don't. If you have and are actually still stuck in a life of always being a bastard, I feel your pain! If there were a picture to go with this diatribe, it would be me slitting my wrists. No, I don't need more pain in my life, I'm already in sales. So maybe it would be me doing something heroic like rounding up all the bosses of sales people and exacting some justice. In fact when the revolution comes, they will be the first ones up against the wall. Well, bosses and pawnbrokers. Uh, maybe bosses, pawnbrokers and traffic cops. And lawyers. And mean teachers. Mean people in general. And people who drive minivans and go slow in the passing lanes. Anybody who goes slow. And, well, who do you think?

2007-01-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of my friend Dave Davis from Rich East High School with Debbie, his girlfriend at the time. And here he is with Violet, his long-term girlfriend. I am sooooooooo looking forward to seeing them when I visit ASAP! Thanks for getting in touch with me after all these years and have a blast running the river this year. I love running the river!

2007-01-25T22:30:00.000-07:00

Chicago... my hometown... sooooooooooo homesick for the place and the people. Heidi went there all by herself last year. Without me. Well, we didn't know each other and I was tied up at the time. Well, I'm not tied up now and I'm goin! Haven't figured out when exactly, but this is the year! Wanna see Navy Pier and the Art Institute and my old neighborhoods... I'm a little afraid of the cold cuz you know how much I hate it!!! But the people... the best in the world. You'd never have a news story like this in the Chicago Trib, but it was in the SLC Trib: Why Rednecks Can't Be Paramedics

A couple of rednecks are out in the woods hunting when one of them
suddenly grabs his chest and falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be
breathing; his eyes are rolled back in his head.

The other redneck whips out his cell phone and calls 911. He gasps to
the operator, "I think Bubba is dead! What should do?"

The operator, in a calm soothing voice says, "Just take it easy and
follow my instructions. First, let's make sure he's dead."

There is a silence..........then a shot is heard.

The redneck's voice comes back on the line, "Okay, now what ?"

The Kidz I went to School With!

2007-01-17T19:03:00.000-07:00

And yes, I do know that was a dangling participle! Ha! I've still got it! Very funny and very cool, looking up friends I had as a kid. So funny that I still think of them as 17 years old! That's my friend, Jane Beeson in the black dress. The order in the picture is: Mike Mandarino, Jon Warren, Greg Pember, Ira Kharasch, Jane, Craig Wood, Karen Wilson and Eric Rosenbery. After over 3 decades another friend, Jeannie Rosen remembers me the same way my friends describe me now.

She wrote, "Hi Debbie, I was a little confused by the name, Cross, but when I saw Deborah States it clicked. How are you! It's been sooo long. What I can remember about you is that you were fun to be around. You always seemed to be smiling and had something good to say. Jeannie

Don't worry. I didn't hurt her for calling me Debbie. No one who knows me calls me that now! Be Heidi loves reading this!!!

Mommikins, Mumsy, Mutti

2007-01-12T14:17:00.000-07:00

So here's a picture of me and my mom when I was months old... quite awhile ago! Like a different century actually. Moms and their daughters... it's a theme this month-ish! Have I mentioned how much I miss my mom, still? Sheesh! She should still be here. We should be hanging out and doing things. She should have been here when my marrige dissolved and when my kids got married and when here other grandkids were born and just to hang out with.

So that is not possible. The next best thing, me making time to be there when my kids lives seem to be in shambles, or when they are completely excited about things or just to hang out.

Gotta start writing about the funny things they do and say so you can have a clear picture of the life of Roxy and clan! Like when 5 of us are all talking over and around each other at once and responding to each other and some poor girlfriend, say, Kami, is stuck in the middle trying to figure out how we can do that! Poor thing, doesn't have ADHD up the wazoo like the rest of us. Wonder what it's like to be normal?

2006-12-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

I have 3 younger sisters, way younger sisters. I remember my mom telling me how much it meant to her to go to lunch with my 3 way younger sisters. How fun it was and how much she appreciated the time together and wished that she and I would have had more itme together. Well Mom's gone now and I miss her very much. I do feel gypped that she's gone. But I look at my own kids all over the planet and how hard it is to stay in touch and be an intregral part of all their lives. They may not even know how much I think about them and wish the best in life for them. All that being said, I'm thinking about my own daughters today. I have half as many as Mom did but mine are a handful! Tegan, the drama diva, excellent at all she does, whether we like it or not! I save the messages in my cel from her when she calls me, "Mommy" or "Mommikins" or some other ridiculous name! I think about her and her young life full of promise, living far away in Phoenix, and want her to be happy with who she is and spread the love. Then there is her sister, Danica. She deserves her own blog, cuz at 11 her life is quite full! I'll have to tell you what Tegan said about her little sister today! Next!

Holy jeans!

2006-12-05T20:37:00.000-07:00

So how cool would it be to dress like this everyday at work? Comfy and well worn and not carin' a fig? (Look it up, it's old) No high heels, cute but evil. No stockings, confining. No conformist look...

You belong to me...

2006-12-02T17:23:00.000-07:00

See the pyrimids around the Nile,
Watch the sun set from a tropic isle,
Just remember Darlin’ all the while
You belong to me…

See the marketplace in old Algiers,
Send me photographs and souveniers,
Just remember when a dream appears
You belong to me.

And I’ll be so alone without you
Maybe you’ll be lonesome too…

Fly the ocean in a silver plane,
See the jungle when it’s wet with rain,
Just remember til you’re home again
You belong to me.

And I’ll be so alone without you
Maybe you’ll be lonesome too…

Fly the ocean in a silver plane,
See the jungle when it’s wet with rain,
Just remember til you’re home again
You belong to me.

2006-12-02T17:14:00.000-07:00

I love it when others do the same mindless things I do! Like when you close your wallet/purse before the checker gives you your change, or close your email when you didn't do what you went in there for in the first place! Cleaning out your text messages and instead of hitting delete you hit resend to confuse your friends and fill up your inbox with even more stupid, inane text messages. There's a stand-up comedy piece in here somewhere! Or delete voicemail messages when you didn’t write down the call back number yet! How ‘bout when you double click 'send' so nothing goes to the recipient! I’m onto something here. Feel free to tell me to quit!

Gratitude is the Attitude!

2006-11-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

I'm very grateful to the universe for the lessons in life, and the intelligence and heart to keep learning.

Again with another gorgeous day!!!

2006-11-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

When life crowds around causing the thought, what the bleep!!! It is so nice to be able to find that quiet, peaceful place within, where everything is sweet!

It's always a choice, how we go through life! Cuz life throws the most bizarre things our way and yet, it doesn't have to destroy or even bend us, from who we are! Thoughts do become tangible and mine are doing a better job everyday of bringing me what I want. Plus, as my intro says, the journey is to be enjoyed as the destination may not exist!

What is that, you may ask, that gives me peace? It is to feel very good about who I am and to know I make a difference everyday in the lives of those I touch. Not perfect by any means, but definitely at peace and very, very, did I say very grateful to those in my life who care and for the nature to care back and for fabulous sunshine and yummy chocolate and the rare clove cigarette! And to hear the excitement in the voice of someone I call, finding out, it's me! And my list goes on and on and on!

Kindof

2006-11-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

Kindof hard to know what to do sometimes! Being pulled in several directions at once! Claim I'd like a simple life and yet I include so many people in my life that is impossible! And the challenge is, I love them all! To be available to one I may miss another.

Kindof like the internal conflict of my 13 year-old son, Adam. He wants me to be a stay-at-home mom, BUT he doesn't want a step-dad! We just chatted about it and he knows it doesn't add up! Nor does he have a solution! Just a fantasy I guess.

Kindof like mine of having a dreamy, sweet man in my life who really will mean what he says when he says he loves me and wants to make my life incredible! Seems to truly be a fantasy as it does not materialize.

Kindof think I should assume that is the status quo and enjoy the journey! Might never be a destination after all!

Kindof like the REM song, 'It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!'

Funniest Mom in America!

2006-11-15T22:54:00.000-07:00

I did it! I entered the Nick at Night Funniest Mom in America competition at Wiseguys Comedy Club! What fun that was!!! And so many friends came! You guys Rock!!! The show was video taped for the Nick people to judge in the comfort of their Floridian jammies. They will contact those going to the next level of competition in Chicago, LA, Atlanta or NY. If I get the call, I'll be looking for donations for a flight, cuz it'll be on me! If I get chosen from there, they pick up the tab for a trip to NY. They will also come to SLC and video tape me with family and work and friends in my house, so I'll be looking for a house to borrow since I have no furniture!!! I also have to say that the other Mom's tonight were freakin' funny and one had 8 kids another one had 9, like me and another one had 13 kids. I'm a slacker!!! But thanks kids for the comedic material! I might be a contender!

Myspace.com

2006-10-28T18:53:00.000-06:00

Whah Tah Fab Ulous Day!!!

2006-10-28T18:05:00.000-06:00

Just doesn't get more perfect than this day. Gorgeous sun over head! Hanging with people I love, getting texts and calls from other intriguing people... nice! Having Moroccan (I did check the spelling! Shuppa!) Food later with Bob the Banker. I'll let ya know what I think of that later! In the meantime, gonna get out in the last bit of sun and enjoy! You, too! Ciao, ;D