Utah

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I love the fact that I am sitting in my own home. I do love all of my travels, and it’s nice to stay in hotels (not having to make a bed), but I will never underestimate the comfort of my own bed! IMG_7318And just between you and I, I rarely make my bed at home. I don’t understand the point… I’m just going to mess it up anyway. Sadly I’m only in my own bed for two nights. On Friday morning I’ll wake up extremely early to head into Salt Lake City and join my work trip that will already be in progress. That’s the plan.

Usually, when I get home from working a bunch of trips in a row, I like to take most of the first day off and get some relaxation. You’d be surprised how your body just needs to shut down for awhile. I rarely feel what I would consider jet lag because of my work, but it still sometimes runs me into the ground. Normally, I’ll keep my phone off, at least for the first half of the day and just do light chores around the house- maybe even pop in a movie or something. Since I only have one full day off, however, this may be an interesting combination of trying my best to be lazy whilst simultaneously getting a whole lot done. We’ll see which part prevails in the end. I think I already know the answer.

Before I fall asleep, I want to discuss two more things on my bucket list. Number 22 is to attend 50 different state fairs. This is awesome. I remember growing up in southern Arizona- I would so look forward to attending the Graham County fair each year. This was even before my dear friend LaDawn introduced me to guinea pig night. Let me tell you- this changes everything! This is the first night of the fair, which was always a Thursday. You’d get to pay one fee and ride as many rides as you wanted. The other nights, however, you were required to buy tickets. The rider operators would take anywhere from one to four tickets, depending on how cool the ride was. But not tonight- tonight we are guinea pigs- but back to what I was talking about: this summer, I hope I’m able to attend a bunch of county fairs. I started to do the research a couple years ago, and most of the counties in Utah are involved in this.

Coming in at number 93 is to attend 10 different state fairs. Picture county fairs, but add way more rides and way more people. The entertainment is much, much better too. I remember once when I was in high school, a bunch of friends and myself road tripped three hours to Phoenix to attend that Arizona State Fair. This was so that we could go to a Vince Gill concert (Vince just so happens to be one of my mom’s country music singer crushes). There is just something wonderful about large gatherings of trashy people- I live for it.

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fullsizeoutput_36f9Today I’ve continued the long process of scanning all the loose sheet music that I’ve collected over the years. I started this process a few years ago, got busy doing other things, and am just now getting started again. The fact that that hard drive is now dead doesn’t help the situation, either. I was reminded about this when my cousin, Cindy Lynn asked everyone on facebook how they stored their sheet music.

This reminder was perfect timing since I’m not traveling for work at the moment. I managed to get so much done today, including about 15 songs scanned in, and I even got a decent cardio workout to boot! That’s two days in a row! This is getting close to a record for me.

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fullsizeoutput_26f5So- here’s to my next adventures: I just sent over all my information I just signed up to become an Uber driver. No, I’m not going to quit the flight attendant gig- I love it way too much! I’m thinking that maybe this will allow me to spend an extra night or two in my own bed. It’s not that I don’t enjoy spending most nights of my adult life in a hotel bed (literally), but there’s no place like home.

Do you use Uber? I have used it many times, in many different cities, and even once in Edinburgh, Scotland. For the most part, it’s been a good experience. If this works out, perhaps I’ll drive for Lyft too.

Need a ride somewhere?

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Tonight has been a great evening! One of my friends sent me a link to a song on YouTube and told me that I just had to listen to it. The one he showed me was good, but not as powerful for me, as it had been for him. The next thing I know, I’ve been sucked into the internet, looking for meaningful music videos. I love a live performance where the artist sounds every bit as good as he/she sounds in the studio. This has been going on for about an hour and a half now.

Tonight I’m thankful for the gift of beautiful music. I have no idea where or what I’d be without good music in my life. Actually, when I think about it, I know exactly what I’d be without music, and let’s just say that it not good. Music has saved me more times than I know. I’m thankful that my mom putting me in piano lessons at such a young age.

I thought I’d post a performance that touched me. On Kelly Clarkson’s album, her song Piece by Piece is much more produced- sometimes I pay more attention to a song when it’s stripped down to a simple, beautiful accompaniment, and a pure lyric. A full orchestra or studio production isn’t needed. Hope you enjoy!

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I’ve been making backups of my old pictures, and I came across this priceless image. This was about 3 months after becoming a flight attendant back in 2005.  I knew it needed saving (and sharing)!

It reads:

BEHOLD THE BARF BAG

Hey everyone!

I thought I’d do my entry on this barf bag.

I thought I’d do my entry on this barf bag. You see, your barf bag is not only good for barfing in – people love to get messages on them! Nothing says “I love you” like a barf bag message.

So- you can propose to someone by writing “Will you marry me” on the bag and placing the ring inside! Or- you remember the little puppets that you made out of a brown sack in pre-school?

A barf bag is excellent to breathe into if you start to hyper-ventilate [si]. You can craft yourself a little hat… like a birthday hat if you so desire.

My point- barf bags are wonderful!!! And not just for barf!

ENJOY!!!

I once had this brilliant idea: I wanted to have celebrities that I meet on the plane sign the barf bag and then I wanted to take their picture holding the bag. Then I would auction it off for charity. I think I wanted to call it Barf Bags of Love. Classy, huh? I seriously think this could be a great thing, especially if I can get friends and coworkers to help. I may have to revisit this idea in the future.

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joey-rory-dvd-1482274298“In March of 2016, we laid Joey to rest in the cemetery behind our farmhouse. Though this isn’t the path that we would’ve chosen to walk down, it is the path that’s been laid before us. So we put our faith in God and our hope in a future that we can’t see. We believe that God will give us a great story.” – Rory Feek

Tonight I watched the movie To Joey, With Love. This is the true story of the last few years of Joey Feek’s life. If you’re not familiar with her, she was half of the country music couple- Joey + Rory. A few years before her passing, Rory, her husband, decided to start recording video that he put on a blog. He said he felt that this was important to do. Little did he know that she would soon be pregnant with their daughter Indiana, and soon thereafter be diagnosed with cervical cancer.

I was so inspired by watching this movie! There was no doubt that I had to add it to my collection. Even with a sad ending, I rejoice when I see people who try their best to put the things of God first in their life. This is something that I need to remember to do in my own life.

Here is one of my favorite Joey + Rory song: Enjoy!

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I’m new to the world of WordPress– this is the service that I’m now using to post to DavsAddiction.com. I just discovered that someone gives you what is called a “Daily Prompt” (The Daily Post). This is supposed to make you think or be inspired to write. I noticed today’s word is “Hesitate”. This is the perfect word for me to think about since I am the self-proclaimed world’s worst procrastinator. I am, but then I’m not.

 

This brings to mind a conversation that I recently had with my dad. He was telling me about one of my ancestors and how he was trying to get this man’s life story down. He expressed his frustration that so many members of our family aren’t as interested in knowing the stories in their family history. He said that when he dies, most of these stories will die with him. My response to him was, “People always make time for what is most important to them.”

 

I know there’s certain drives and passions that I was born with. I also know that so many of these passions I’ve been able to develop over time. For instance- for as long as I can remember, I have loved to travel. It just so happens that I’ve chosen a vocation that allows me to feed this passion. So- how much of this passion is nature and how much of it is nurture? Was this seed planted due to the fact that my parents’ would load all of us kids into the car and drive from Arizona to South Carolina every summer? Or does it stem from something earlier?

Here’s where I will try to tie this all together. I never hesitate or procrastinate the things the matter the most to me at that particular moment. These priorities do change often, I’m not sure if it’s my undiagnosed attention deficit disorder or if it’s something else. I don’t know how my brain works. I listen to the world around me and it can be frustrating when someone tells me my priorities should be different than what they are. Do I “go through the motions” even though my passion may be pulling me a different way?

-Dav

via Daily Prompt: Hesitate

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I decided that I’m going to actually use my health benefits this year. I overheard a conversation on the plane the other day. One girl was telling her friend next to her that “2017 is going to be all about me!”. That’s my thought as well, only I don’t want to sound as conceited as she did. So instead this is the year where I’m going to start to use the benefits that I’ve been paying for. This started yesterday with a visit to the dentist.

photo-on-2-18-17-at-10-10-amWhen I called to set up my appointment, I realized that I hadn’t been to a dentist in about 14 years. I remember I was still living in Logan, Utah because a former bishop of mine happened to be my dentist. He managed to do a crown or a bridge (I don’t even know the difference) out of porcelain. Yes, that particular tooth is made out of toilet seat.

Yesterday was my check-up and cleaning. Sadly, the years (and lack-of-flossing) have taken their toll on these pearly-whites. My new dentist, whom I was referred to by my coworker Matthew, was able to find 9 cavities! This is by far a personal record, and while I don’t wish to brag, I don’t think that’s as bad as it could have been. A lesson has been learned. I’m going to start flossing daily.

I shared this on facebook, and I LOVE the conversation that ensued: Here is the screenshots-

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Don’t I have the most awesome friends?!

Along the same lines, this is (probably) the year where I will get to experience a colonoscopy. Doctors usually advise men to start having this done at the age of 50, but since my dad had prostate cancer (which he beat), my brother Matt and I are at an even at a higher risk than the average male. Have you had a colonoscopy? Could you please describe your experience in the comment section below?

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Since 2006, I’ve been driving a 2002 Ford F-150 truck, whom I have lovingly named ‘Gus’. This has been a great truck, and I haven’t had very many problems with it. If I recall, it had only been in the shop two or three times in the last 11 years. I couldn’t be happier with Gus! Even so, I have a feeling that I’m overdue for some major vehicle problems. That tends to happen when trucks reach Gus’ age.

Over the last several months, I have been thinking that it’s time to get rid of my truck and get a vehicle that has better gas mileage. When my Ford was brand new, the internet tells me that it only got about 17 miles to the gallon. I don’t know exactly how much it gets now, but I do know it’s less than that.

Three nights ago, I was doing some research on the web, looking at different cars that I might be interested in purchasing. I decided to check out some Kias. I really like the look of their hatchbacks as I’d seen quite a few of them on the road. I thought maybe I can find one that isn’t going to be a total gas-guzzler. I filled out some of my information and submitted it, expecting to be contacted in a day or tow.

Ten minutes later, a Kia salesman from Layton called me. I told him what I was looking for and he said he had a model on the lot from that was one year old, and it only had 2000 miles on it. I set up an appointment to come and take a look at it. I told him that I wasn’t quite ready to buy, as I was waiting to receive my federal tax refund. Still, he said I needed to see this car and if I was interested, at least he’d know what to look out for.

When I got to the dealership, I asked to speak with the guy who I had talked with, and the receptionist told me that today was his day off. I found it odd that he would set up an appointment with me on a day where he wasn’t even coming to work. Another salesman overheard me talking and quickly offered to help.

This salesman didn’t know about the car that the first salesman had told me about on the phone, but he told me we could walk around the lot and if there was anything I’d like to take a look at, he’d show it to me. The very first car that caught my eye was a beautiful blue Niro. This is the first year for the Niros, and since I’d been taught to never buy a brand new car off the lot, I made the comment, “I’ll have that one in about two years!”. The salesman told me he’d be right back, and returned with the key.

He showed me the car, and it was pretty much my dream vehicle. I’m not a car person, but this thing had everything you could ask for. I told him I wasn’t interested in anything with the number ‘2017’ in the name. He then handed me the key and suggested we take it for a drive. I knew where this was going- and I did not want to be pressured into buying this car!

The test drive was wonderful! I have never driven anything so smooth- maybe this is because I’ve been driving a V-8, half-ton pickup for too many years. At any rate, I wish I could to report that I stood my ground and left the dealership with nothing more than a brochure or two. In a moment of weakness, the evil salesman ran my credit and crunched some numbers.

Meet my new baby. He doesn’t have a name yet.

Update: February 11, 2017

I have been trying to think of a suitable name for the last two days. This morning I decided that since I have such a love for Scotland, I’d give this car a Scottish name. I pulled up an online list of Scottish names and decided that this vehicle will now be called Calum.