A Dutchover in the News
"LAS VEGAS, Nevada (CNN) -- A paper license tag, a salad and stories that didn't make sense pricked the suspicions of a state trooper who stopped the car of a wanted fugitive polygamist in Las Vegas.
But it was the pumping carotid artery in the neck of Warren Steed Jeffs that convinced Nevada Highway Patrolman Eddie Dutchover that he had cornered someone big."
The rest of the story is here, including a link to a video that includes an interview with trooper Dutchover.
Wednesday
One of the things I've grown to like about Texas
is also, paradoxically, one of the things that used to drive me crazy. I remember flying back to Texas for a funeral, and standing at the car rental counter at the airport where the clerk insisted on making friendly small talk to me and my puffy, teary eyes. He just kept talking and talking and asking me questions (picture that guy in the beer commercial, "Well, how are ewe? I'm fine. My brother in law picked me up from the airport ..."), seemingly oblivious to the fact that I was about to burst into tears at any moment. All I could think was: Just give me the damn car keys! But then he asked, "What are you here for?" And I said, "A funeral," and he was blessedly quiet ... for a few seconds.
All that friendly chatter used to drive me a little batty. Now I find it endearing. There's another thing I now find sweet (seriously, I just said "sweet") that used to bug me. A lot of people use these friendly endearments. For instance, last night at a local pub the bartender said, "Can I get you another one, darlin'?" (And not in a creepy way.) Today at lunch I was paying for a sandwich with a credit card, and I asked the cashier if she needed me to sign the slip. "Oh no, baby," she said and touched my hand like I was doing her a huge favor by asking. So ... there you go. I've come full circle. What used to bug me, now makes me smile. I wonder what's next ...
Thursday
Funny Animals
Last night I felt like taking a bath. My legs have been sore from running and despite the 100-plus heat outside, a warm bath seemed like the thing to do. And I wanted to relax while I finished reading The Hummingbird's Daughter (which I enjoyed a ton). An explanatory note: Nate and I each have an office in our house. The two bedrooms are connected by a bathroom, which is called a Jack and Jill set-up, I believe. I left both bathroom doors open because it is hot, I was taking a very hot bath, and I was sweating and wanted a bit of a breeze from the ceiling fans in the two bedrooms. As I read, I had the distinct feeling someone was staring at me. I looked up and saw that both Roscoe (our cat) and Walker (our husky/shepherd) had positioned themselves in such a way that they were comfortably sprawled on the floor in Nate's office. Both of them were staring at me. They didn't come over for petting or anything. They were content to relax and keep an eye on me. And I thought: of course it's the boys who are staring. Our other dog, Sophie, was sprawled in the hallway, content to give me privacy.
Last night I felt like taking a bath. My legs have been sore from running and despite the 100-plus heat outside, a warm bath seemed like the thing to do. And I wanted to relax while I finished reading The Hummingbird's Daughter (which I enjoyed a ton). An explanatory note: Nate and I each have an office in our house. The two bedrooms are connected by a bathroom, which is called a Jack and Jill set-up, I believe. I left both bathroom doors open because it is hot, I was taking a very hot bath, and I was sweating and wanted a bit of a breeze from the ceiling fans in the two bedrooms. As I read, I had the distinct feeling someone was staring at me. I looked up and saw that both Roscoe (our cat) and Walker (our husky/shepherd) had positioned themselves in such a way that they were comfortably sprawled on the floor in Nate's office. Both of them were staring at me. They didn't come over for petting or anything. They were content to relax and keep an eye on me. And I thought: of course it's the boys who are staring. Our other dog, Sophie, was sprawled in the hallway, content to give me privacy.
Tuesday
A few random things
Last February, I realized I had reached my highest weight ever, 32.5 pounds heavier than what I consider my ideal weight. Since then, I’ve lost about 17 pounds. I’m not eating very well, which I hope to improve, but I’m running a fair amount. (And by not eating well I mean burgers, pizza, beer, and fast-food breakfast sandwiches.) This week, yoga starts again at work (a free program for staff) and I’m thinking of adding some weight training to the mix, mainly because I think I need to be stronger. If I didn’t lose any more weight, I’d be OK with that, but I’d like to feel stronger and more fit and maybe throw some veggies and fruits into my mix of junk food.
A side effect of my training is that my wedding and engagement rings have started feeling really loose. Yesterday morning, I sat down at my desk at work and noticed that my wedding ring was gone. I panicked. I reached for my cell phone to ask Nate to look for it at home, hoping that maybe I had taken it off at the sink and just forgotten, and as I grabbed my purse to look for my car keys, I saw my ring sitting at the bottom of my purse. I think that when I parked my car that morning and threw my keys into my bag, my ring slipped off and I didn’t even notice. I was very lucky. It’s just a material thing, but I really do love my wedding ring. So now I’m wondering if I should get the rings resized or possibly get one of those rubber thingamaboabs that you can put on the inside of a ring to make it a smaller size. The really weird thing is, I think I was about five pounds lighter than I currently am now when we bought the ring, so I’m not sure why it’s so loose. Maybe it’s all the running making my fingers skinny? Just my luck that my belly is stubborn but my fingers long to be slim.
My hubby is gone for a few days for work. That means I’ll be very busy at home with the three pets and various household chores. I’m also hoping to get a lot of work done on the book. I’m almost done with another draft (goal is to finish by the time Nate gets home). As I’ve been working on this latest draft, I’ve found myself really struggling. I’m so tired of reading this damn book. I think that might be a sign I’m close to finished. Especially because I’ve noticed I’m putting things back in that I’ve taken out in earlier drafts.
In anticipation that I might be done soon, I ordered a little treat for myself. A
Lamy AL Star Fountain Pen. So I feel I’m almost done, but how do you know these things for sure? One of my friends, a short story writer, has finished reading it. She’s in Montreal right now and we plan on chatting Thursday. I guess we’ll see if she has any really big questions or critiques that need resolving. Then maybe I’ll have a better sense of how close I am to the finish line.
In vacation news, I think we’ve decided on starting in Zacatecas, then traveling to Guanajuato, and ending the trip in Real de Catorce. Should be fun, but we have to find some dog and house sitters.
Last February, I realized I had reached my highest weight ever, 32.5 pounds heavier than what I consider my ideal weight. Since then, I’ve lost about 17 pounds. I’m not eating very well, which I hope to improve, but I’m running a fair amount. (And by not eating well I mean burgers, pizza, beer, and fast-food breakfast sandwiches.) This week, yoga starts again at work (a free program for staff) and I’m thinking of adding some weight training to the mix, mainly because I think I need to be stronger. If I didn’t lose any more weight, I’d be OK with that, but I’d like to feel stronger and more fit and maybe throw some veggies and fruits into my mix of junk food.
A side effect of my training is that my wedding and engagement rings have started feeling really loose. Yesterday morning, I sat down at my desk at work and noticed that my wedding ring was gone. I panicked. I reached for my cell phone to ask Nate to look for it at home, hoping that maybe I had taken it off at the sink and just forgotten, and as I grabbed my purse to look for my car keys, I saw my ring sitting at the bottom of my purse. I think that when I parked my car that morning and threw my keys into my bag, my ring slipped off and I didn’t even notice. I was very lucky. It’s just a material thing, but I really do love my wedding ring. So now I’m wondering if I should get the rings resized or possibly get one of those rubber thingamaboabs that you can put on the inside of a ring to make it a smaller size. The really weird thing is, I think I was about five pounds lighter than I currently am now when we bought the ring, so I’m not sure why it’s so loose. Maybe it’s all the running making my fingers skinny? Just my luck that my belly is stubborn but my fingers long to be slim.
My hubby is gone for a few days for work. That means I’ll be very busy at home with the three pets and various household chores. I’m also hoping to get a lot of work done on the book. I’m almost done with another draft (goal is to finish by the time Nate gets home). As I’ve been working on this latest draft, I’ve found myself really struggling. I’m so tired of reading this damn book. I think that might be a sign I’m close to finished. Especially because I’ve noticed I’m putting things back in that I’ve taken out in earlier drafts.
In anticipation that I might be done soon, I ordered a little treat for myself. A
Lamy AL Star Fountain Pen. So I feel I’m almost done, but how do you know these things for sure? One of my friends, a short story writer, has finished reading it. She’s in Montreal right now and we plan on chatting Thursday. I guess we’ll see if she has any really big questions or critiques that need resolving. Then maybe I’ll have a better sense of how close I am to the finish line.
In vacation news, I think we’ve decided on starting in Zacatecas, then traveling to Guanajuato, and ending the trip in Real de Catorce. Should be fun, but we have to find some dog and house sitters.
Friday
Research
Now that Nate and I have seemingly decided on Mexico for our vacation, I have been doing some research. I've found all sorts of great blogs and forums with useful info (none of this existed ten years ago when I went to school in Mexico, back in the dark ages when you downloaded your email onto a floppy). I ran across the Mex Files blog somehow or other and found this very funny story:
"I was given permission by 'rich,' who posts regularly on the Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree Mexico Message Board to reprint this true -- and perhaps cautionary -- tale.
...many years ago in Mazatlan when I was just starting to learn the language (I was)walking from the bus station to where I was staying (a couple of miles) and having not eaten on the bus trip, I decided to enter a little corner shop and buy a snack.
In front of me at the cash register was an older guy speaking English with a strong Canadian accent buying a few items which he dropped on the counter and roughly ask 'How much is this stuff?' The Mexican running the store shrugged his shoulders and replied No entiendo. to which the customer using gringo logic responded by speaking louder and slower 'How much is it?' Again the Mexican responded No se, no entiendo.
This continued a bit more an finally the Canadian grabbed a bunch of Pesos out of his pocket and slammed them down on the counter half yelling 'Okay!' The Mexican looked at the money and said Okay. The guy grabbed his stuff and left.
At this point I was a bit worried but with what at that time was a very rudimentary and poorly pronounced Spanish I put my stuff down and asked ¿Cuanto cuesta esto? The Mexican looked at my stuff, looked at me and in better English than I can speak responded 'Don't worry about it, that guy paid for it.' indicating the customer who had just left."
Now that Nate and I have seemingly decided on Mexico for our vacation, I have been doing some research. I've found all sorts of great blogs and forums with useful info (none of this existed ten years ago when I went to school in Mexico, back in the dark ages when you downloaded your email onto a floppy). I ran across the Mex Files blog somehow or other and found this very funny story:
"I was given permission by 'rich,' who posts regularly on the Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree Mexico Message Board to reprint this true -- and perhaps cautionary -- tale.
...many years ago in Mazatlan when I was just starting to learn the language (I was)walking from the bus station to where I was staying (a couple of miles) and having not eaten on the bus trip, I decided to enter a little corner shop and buy a snack.
In front of me at the cash register was an older guy speaking English with a strong Canadian accent buying a few items which he dropped on the counter and roughly ask 'How much is this stuff?' The Mexican running the store shrugged his shoulders and replied No entiendo. to which the customer using gringo logic responded by speaking louder and slower 'How much is it?' Again the Mexican responded No se, no entiendo.
This continued a bit more an finally the Canadian grabbed a bunch of Pesos out of his pocket and slammed them down on the counter half yelling 'Okay!' The Mexican looked at the money and said Okay. The guy grabbed his stuff and left.
At this point I was a bit worried but with what at that time was a very rudimentary and poorly pronounced Spanish I put my stuff down and asked ¿Cuanto cuesta esto? The Mexican looked at my stuff, looked at me and in better English than I can speak responded 'Don't worry about it, that guy paid for it.' indicating the customer who had just left."
Tuesday
I have a new goal
I'm working on being less certain about things. Where does certainty get you, really?
What do I mean by this? I am all over the place lately. Some recent fantasies have included: opening a bookstore, opening a neighborhood taqueria/restaurant, opening a coffee shop, traveling to Washington State, the East Coast, or Mexico. I'm also daydreaming about starting an informal, monthly reading series (never mind that I know very few writers in the DFW). My mind is going in a million different directions at once, and if it's tiring for me, I can only imagine what it must be like for Nate.
But, but. I have a feeling my racing mind will calm down soon.
In other news:
We're up to five miles in the marathon training. This weekend I need to run 5.5 at some point.
I finally visited the Velvet Hookah this past weekend.
A friend is reading my tarot cards on Thursday over tacos and wine.
And earlier today, I asked a co-worker something work-related. She gave me an answer and I meant to IM, "thanks, your ladyship." Only I accidentally typed "thanks, your ladyshit" and hit send. Uh, yeah. Hopefully my week will get better.
I'm working on being less certain about things. Where does certainty get you, really?
What do I mean by this? I am all over the place lately. Some recent fantasies have included: opening a bookstore, opening a neighborhood taqueria/restaurant, opening a coffee shop, traveling to Washington State, the East Coast, or Mexico. I'm also daydreaming about starting an informal, monthly reading series (never mind that I know very few writers in the DFW). My mind is going in a million different directions at once, and if it's tiring for me, I can only imagine what it must be like for Nate.
But, but. I have a feeling my racing mind will calm down soon.
In other news:
We're up to five miles in the marathon training. This weekend I need to run 5.5 at some point.
I finally visited the Velvet Hookah this past weekend.
A friend is reading my tarot cards on Thursday over tacos and wine.
And earlier today, I asked a co-worker something work-related. She gave me an answer and I meant to IM, "thanks, your ladyship." Only I accidentally typed "thanks, your ladyshit" and hit send. Uh, yeah. Hopefully my week will get better.
Monday
Viva Mexico
Nate and I have been trying to coordinate a vacation this summer. We had initially planned to go to New York but the family we were going to stay with had their own plans change. There was a cross-country move, a wedding, and a trip to Texas to factor in. And some typical life stuff thrown in for good measure. But ... I'm entering that point of really wanting to get out of town. My brain feels a little mushy and I can't focus.
As usual, I'm all over the place and suggested 20 different places where Nate and I could go. I think we've decided on Mexico. Back in '96, I studied at the University of Guanajuato. I think we might stop by there but also possibly visit a few other cities. It would be really fun to see my old house mother, so hopefully this trip will work out. We're coordinating details now.
Lord knows I'm all over the place these days. Maybe a break would do me some good and Nate will get a break from my 100-miles-a-minute ideas.
Nate and I have been trying to coordinate a vacation this summer. We had initially planned to go to New York but the family we were going to stay with had their own plans change. There was a cross-country move, a wedding, and a trip to Texas to factor in. And some typical life stuff thrown in for good measure. But ... I'm entering that point of really wanting to get out of town. My brain feels a little mushy and I can't focus.
As usual, I'm all over the place and suggested 20 different places where Nate and I could go. I think we've decided on Mexico. Back in '96, I studied at the University of Guanajuato. I think we might stop by there but also possibly visit a few other cities. It would be really fun to see my old house mother, so hopefully this trip will work out. We're coordinating details now.
Lord knows I'm all over the place these days. Maybe a break would do me some good and Nate will get a break from my 100-miles-a-minute ideas.
Thursday
Three years
Nate and I have been together five-and-a-half years and today, married for three. The time has passed so quickly. We've lived in two states and five apartments/houses (not counting the places we lived before we moved in together). I can't tell you how many jobs (too many to count while I was part-timing here and there during grad school).
When I think about marriages, I know ours is a good one. We don't argue often, we agree on the big things, and we have fun. But it's still hard. Marriage is trying to join two lives together. Sometimes this happens effortlessly. Sometimes there's more stopping and starting, not because anyone is "wrong" or "right," but because there are two individuals with different ideas about life or the situation at hand.
Sometimes I see people getting married and it's obvious they have very idealized ideas about marriage. They think (even if they don't admit it) that their problems are solved, that life will be easier, that they'll never be lonely again. Sometimes these things are true ... and sometimes they aren't.
I guess what I'm thinking (and this probably doesn't sound very romantic) is that three years doesn't sound like a very long time to be married (my parents have been married for 34, for example; our neighbor across the street recently lost his wife before their 60th anniversary), but those three years have been good. And they've been well-earned.
Nate and I have been together five-and-a-half years and today, married for three. The time has passed so quickly. We've lived in two states and five apartments/houses (not counting the places we lived before we moved in together). I can't tell you how many jobs (too many to count while I was part-timing here and there during grad school).
When I think about marriages, I know ours is a good one. We don't argue often, we agree on the big things, and we have fun. But it's still hard. Marriage is trying to join two lives together. Sometimes this happens effortlessly. Sometimes there's more stopping and starting, not because anyone is "wrong" or "right," but because there are two individuals with different ideas about life or the situation at hand.
Sometimes I see people getting married and it's obvious they have very idealized ideas about marriage. They think (even if they don't admit it) that their problems are solved, that life will be easier, that they'll never be lonely again. Sometimes these things are true ... and sometimes they aren't.
I guess what I'm thinking (and this probably doesn't sound very romantic) is that three years doesn't sound like a very long time to be married (my parents have been married for 34, for example; our neighbor across the street recently lost his wife before their 60th anniversary), but those three years have been good. And they've been well-earned.