Yes it's a survey but hey, it's the end of the year so....

1.) Where did you bring in 2006?
With Jeremy at the Coolest Family Ever's house. (doing it again this year)

2.) What was your status by Valentine's Day?
Still Engaged

3) Were you in school (anytime this year)?
Almost, then I got into a car accident two days before classes and there went my semester.

4.) How did you earn your keep?
Started at Phone Directories Company, finished with a much better job at Continental Airlines!

5.) Did you ever have to go to the hospital?
to see my mom...she's ok

6.) Have you ever encountered the police?
Only when I see them going in and out of our apartment complex.

7.) Where did you go on vacation?
Honeymoon to S. Utah and Las Vegas, Boston for a day, Colorado, and Disneyland. (it's easier to travel when you have flight perks.)

8.) What did you purchase that was over $500?
Does Rent Count? Other than that nothing that I can think of.

9.) Did you know anybody who got married?
Jeremy and I, and a lot of friends.

10.) Did you know anybody who passed away?
yes and the three I think of most often are Mama Johnson, Grandpa Gordon, and Linda Archer.

11.) Have you run into anybody you graduated high school with?
Ha ha, yes. It happens often.

12.) Did you move anywhere?
Yes, up to Salt Lake County.

13.) What sporting events did you go to?
Hockey, LOTS of Water Polo, and Soccer.

14.) What concerts did you go to?
Uh, none this year. :-P

15.) Are you registered to vote?
Yes

16.) If so, did you do your patriotic duty on Nov. 7?
No, I had to work a double that day. :-(

17.) Where do you live now?
Midvale

18.) Describe your birthday?
It was all the way back in Feb., and right before the wedding. I can't even remember. I am sure I spent it with family and with Jeremy.

19.) What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2006?
Flew First Class for the first time.... but not the last!

20.) What is one thing you regretted this year?
Life's too short.

21.) What's something you learned about yourself?
Learned to live once again with someone else. Learned how selfish I can be, and learned how it is to love someone and have them unconditionally return your love.

22.) Any new additions to your family?
Jeremy's Brother's Wife had a baby: Tyler
My Sister Had a boy: Braxton Todd
My Brother and his wife had a baby: Brighton

23.) What was your best month?
March, without a doubt. Nothing like being sealed to your loved one, and best friend for time and all eternity!

24.) What from pop culture will you remember 2006 by?
Uh, no clue. I stopped caring in 1998.

25.) How would you rate this year with a scale from 1 (bombed) to 10 (the bomb)
9

Today was my last day working in the office. I have training for two days, then two days off, and then... TADA... I will be working from home. I am excited, but at the same time a little scared. To think I'll be working at home is full of perks and frights. Lets ponder:


Perks

*Jeremy gets to sell his car, saving us $300 a month!
*Gas gets cut in half
*No money (or calories) wasted at the vending machines.
*No usage of public restrooms. ha ha
*Traffic what?
*I can wear slippers.
*Home lunches everyday
*I control the heat and the a/c
*I don't have to worry about the person next to me being loud, and or stupid.


Frights

*I will not have a car at home.
*I will have to exercise, seeing as how I will be moving less often.
*home lunches everyday. (ha ha)
*No social life at work
*A small pay cut
*My small apartment 24/7

So... this should be fun.

Peace, Love, and Slippers!

I would write this blog on the 7th, but I will be out of town... so it's coming early.

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked... Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God. ”

-Franklin D. Roosevelt

December 7th, 65 years ago, the day Pearl Harbor was attacked. Every year around this time I get very sentimental. I sit and watch old movies, read old books and think about an era that ended a long time ago. When I was a Freshman in College I had an amazing American History class. In this class, for our final project we had to write a lengthy paper. I ended up getting the topic of the events leading up to WWII, mainly Pearl Harbor.

I knew about Pearl Harbor. I knew my grandfather served in WWII on a Medical Ship in the South Pacific. I have always had a great respect for our flag, our freedoms, and the men and woman who have always stood up for our country.... but this paper made the respect grow so much deeper than I could imagine.

I left the paper till much later than I should have. In a rush to try and gather information the week before it was due I started to scramble. I watched Tora Tora Tora! I read a few books and then I started to do searches on line After a while I found a web site by the grandson of a man that not only survived Pearl Harbor but also survived the Bataan "Death March". After searching for a quote or two I decided to e-mail the grandson thanking him for such a wonderful site dedicated to his grandfather, who I assumed was no longer living. Two days later I was checking my e-mail and came across an address I didn't know. “ww2” was part of the address so I decided to read it. I was shocked and in awe when I realized that the e-mail was from the veteran I wish to this day I had printed it out... but many of the things he said in the e-mails we exchanged, would change the way I remember these great men.

He started by thanking me "a youngin" for the gratitude to his grandson. How he was amazed that a young girl would take the time to read all the information and also e-mail. He apologized for any typing errors, since he was just getting used to this "contraption". He then went on to say that he was a normal boy, there was nothing heroic about him or the things he did. That it was what had to be done and he hoped my generation does not forget the past. He would often end his e-mails with that caution.... don't forget the past. We e-mailed for a few weeks and then it tapered off. I tried e-mailing him a few years ago and never got a response... I can only imagine he has passed on by now, but he touched me. His e-mails were not always flowery, sometimes a bit rough around the edges, but he was so kind and seemed so thankful to have someone to write to.

He reminded me of my own grandfather. Grandpa passed away this year but I still remember when I asked him why he would swear when he was younger. Every once in a while he'd let out a Damn, or a Hell and my grandmother would always scold him. (it was cute to me) Well after I asked his eyes twinkled a little and he said "Sailors swear Bob." I had never known before that point that he was a WWII Vet. He never talked about it to us, I heard him mention the ship a few times. Grandma says he would talk about it every once in a while with her, but that most things he tried to forget some of the things he had seen. He lost his brother in the war, and his mother passed away while he was serving. I think about that and wonder. Could I do that? I have not been asked to, yet if I was could I? Could I see my husband off, and support him unknowing if I would see him again in this life? Deep down I know I could, but I pray I won't have to.

I know this is a lot of rambling, more for my own good than yours.... but I want to take this time to thank those men. They each touched my life and instilled in me a desire to keep the amazing things they did alive. I will never forget them, my children will know, and hopefully their children as well.

9/11/01 is a day many of us will never remember. I hold 12/7/41 next to my heart with 9/11. To me they are both days that altered our lives, and continue to ripple through out minds. May we remember to learn from them. May we learn from the atrocities of WWII, may we learn from the Civil War, Vietnam, may we learn from the pain this country and it's families through generations have been through. I pray we can support those that need our support, love those that need our love, and pray often for our troupes, and remember always why we are free. May we see the stars and stripes each time with a thankful thought in our hearts, for under that rippling banner many have laid their lives for us.

Peace, Love, and Prayers.