7 of 30: Long day, long flight, short conversation

Eric (my brother seated next to my mother (which I love) on the airplane): "Mom look at the lights down below us...."

Mom (Deaf as a doornail): "Why are there mice down there?"

Eric (wondering if it's too late to order a $20.00 drink from the flight attendant - too late - we're descending into the valley): "Yep - there certainly are a lot of mice down there mom." (Looks over at me (who was smart to sit in the farthest seat from deaf mommy) with the look of death and reminds me that mom is staying with me until Sunday Night - the later the better)

*Make note to reread the novel, "Of Mice and Deaf Mommies" again to see if I missed a chapter. More details on 'Ode to 3 funerals (we're up to 3 this week) on later postings.....and there you go.

6 of 30: Cover it all in less words

I was reading a motivational idea book – trying to find something to say at this funeral today (that I’m flying off to and trying to get my #6 blog post in fast…..) I thought I would pass on these tender suggestions.

Live in the Moment

1. Take notice of the world around you - be grateful.
2. Focus on whatever you are doing at the time.
3. Smile when you wake up
4. Commit random, spontaneous acts of kindness
5. Minimize activities that dull your awareness of the moment
6. Recognize a higher being responsible for giving you the moment

My daily list that I think covers it all in 4 rather than the way too many ideas listed above (I won’t even number them because it will take too much time)

Laugh until you cry
Cry once a day
Pray
Multi task: Pray that the laughing and the crying will not make you pee.

Think it will work at a funeral? Wish me luck!
...and there you go

5 of 30: Got Time?

So if you are NOT an active blogger you MAY post a comment indicating that I must have PLENTY of time because I am on a quest to post 30 blogposts in 30 days. But the radical person I am would probably delete your comment because I have now stood at the podium and said "I HAVE ALL THE POWER!" But enough about my post from yesterday........ (I didn't see bullet proof glass all around McCain did you?) (Crap- we're going to get stuck with Hairplugs aren't we?) FOCUS!!! I have been noticing that I have a dysfunctional widget! I wanted to have on my blogsite a place where I could keep track of what absolute little time I have left with my son before he leaves to go on his mission. But I noticed that it is ADDING time instead of taking it away. BRILLIANT! I'm all for that!! So on a day like today when I really NEED TO SLEEP I would like to add several extra hours to do just that! Tomorrow we head to Colorado for the second funeral of the week. I'm leaving Del home as he was so OUTRAGEOUS at the last one! I reminded my brother that if he left my mom's hearing aids and/or batteries home he would BE SITTING BY HER ON THE FLIGHT! My brother is speaking at the next funeral - it's a tough one to speak at because we have such a love and respect for our Aunt D. Time, it passes too quickly. Then I visited my dad - and Time, well in his case, seems to take it's own time. My son is going through the Salt Lake Temple on Saturday - it will be the first time on this earth that all of my children and my husband and I will be in the temple at the same TIME. Ya - I had that same feeling you just had - where has the time gone? What will YOU do with your TIME today? Spend it with someone you love.....and there you go.

4 of 30: I vote for Lincoln

I voted early this year - I feel it's my right to vote, my privilege to vote, and an honor to vote. This time I just have a hard time with both candidates. I know that tomorrow I'll probably be choking out the words President-elect Obama by the looks of the stats tonight. But I really don't like McCain either. I felt bad that Palin was railroaded, and I gag at the sight of slippery Biden (hairplugs and all those teeth). My favorite President was Abraham Lincoln - and I'm old enough to remember voting for him - I think - wait - I didn't have a vote then. BUT - at least he was honest. So Oslama will be President - and he's been screaming out 'CHANGE' - and so he had better be honest about what he said he'll change. (He'll need to give me proof of his birth certificate someday) By the way - he isn't going to be the first black President, he will be the 8th according to Wikipidia - the first 7 didn't count because of the color of their skin. I'm all for history being made - but make it in fulfilling promises to this country for the first time in a LONG time as a President. May I do a THANK YOU shout out to all of the beautiful people defending our country - who will be dished by Pres-e-O. May I do a shout out to those with dreams that reach far beyond space - who will have their programs cut. May I give a shout out to those unborn children who Pres O said do not exist until they breath air. I'm going to be busy putting my hand over my heart and crying as I say the Pledge of Allegiance and readjusting the American Flag pin on my lapel. I'll be busy LIVING that I'm proud of being an American instead of 'just deciding that I'm finally proud." On our coins it says - "In God We Trust" - believe me - he's the only one I do....and there you go.

3 of 30: Gotta love my hubby...

Last night Del drove me to Cache Valley for my cousins viewing. (first of all - Lennis - I loved ya cuz!) My husband drove me because I have to work all of my weekly hours in 31/2 days in order to go to the Colorado funeral for my Aunt. Makes for a long day eh? He knew I needed help when he asked me who died... to which I replied Uncle Jay. Ok - he passed away last February - who just recently passed away.... to which I laughed and said, "Oh, duh, Uncle Delores!" Ya - he decided I was not safe on I-15. Then when we arrived he started in on his extreme tasteless movie one liners - all of which were inappropriate for a mortuary, but none the less cracked me up because of my fatigue. "Dead man walking", "Part of the Casket Part of the Ship", "I'll have what he's having" and so on. Needless to say - he looked really hot last night - and it was funny to see is really sick/sad/dry humor come out at a viewing of all places, and I was reminded that I have a crush on him. As we left, I noticed that they had overbooked the mortuary, yep! There was a sweet old lady that everyone had to walk by to go and see Lennis - and nobody was stopping to see her! I thought of getting those airplane landing flashers and directing people. "Ok - you - over there - and you - you need to go around this way before you can move on...." Please - Please - Please - when I die - bury me with a tan, a coke with ice, comfortable royal blue Lycra pants, a sweatshirt, chips and salsa from Chillis, and a funny chick flick to watch on my ride home.....and there you go.

2 of 30: Geeze it took me long enough to figure out...

With the passing of my cousin Lennis and my Aunt D this past few days, I've been thinking about where I fit in with my cousins age wise. I have 15 first cousins. My mom was the last of the Hill children to marry and it took 8 years before mom and dad could have a child. (Another blog for another day) So Eric, my brother and I are the youngest boy and youngest girl grandchildren of Elizabeth and Ray Hill. HOLY COW THAT MAKES ME SPECIAL!!!! (Eric is also special - but mostly just sort of mentally touched special...) My cousin LaDaun said to me tonight at the viewing of Lennis, "No Kent is the youngest", I'm all - HE'S FREAKIN' OLD! (and deaf!) SO - I am, I am, I am the youngest!!!! )And it only took me until now to figure that out! (so blond) Oh and I also inherited both of these noses put together.... I heard this quote today, "The best way to have a piece of heaven in your home is to have someone you love in heaven" I never met my Grandma Elizabeth, she passed before I was born, but I knew my Grandpa Ray. He called my brother and I Pinky and Red, because he thought our names were Norwegian and he couldn't pronounce them! To each of you - heaven is in my home because I carry both of you in my 'youngest grandchild' heart. .....and there you go.

1of 30 A matter of Perspective...

Today I stood in line at a Christmas (yes) doorbuster. I wasn't in the mood for Christmas - and heaven knows I'm a nonviolent person thus never would you find me busting a door but.... I was with my daughters and that made it a BARNBUSTER - so fun! My blog today - starting on my 30 in 30 days blogging streak - is about a sign I noticed at the 'doorbuster'. It was a big snowflake and it said "Flakes Live Here". Now I don't know about you - but that seemed like a pretty good indication that there are a few problems within that household - wouldn't you think? Gotta go - need to figure out what I would REALLY put on MY snowflake.... and there you go.