Up, down, in, out, high, low

We have been very busy as of late. We have taken big steps forward in our plans and goals of becoming Foster Parents. We had a lady come to our house and talk to us for an hour, at the end she said that she saw no reason why we shouldn't be able to, gave us all the applications and information of training that we will need. The next training in St George wasn't until Nov. and we didn't want to wait that long, so we got signed up for the next one in September which will be up in Manti over the course of two weekends. I'm swinging it with work to be able to have the needed days off. So far so good.

*Girl has been awesome, working ever so diligently getting everything ready. She has researched everything so we know what to expect, what the process is going to be like, what to do to help move things along, and so forth. She has taken on some huge projects inside the house preparing each room making it child friendly and a place that any kid would enjoy to be in and could have safe happy feelings there. She has done a perfect job.

So that is all very exciting, we are devoting everything we have to this, and it's great.

On Thursday I'm going to take the Postal Battery Exam, if I do well I could get an entry level position in the Postal Service, which would be amazing. So best of luck there.

And that's about it, we've been keeping busy with all of that.

Thats my life story

I was going to do a play by play of what it's like at my job. But then I realized it was just too much for me to want to do right now. So here goes for the low fat version.

I get there. Pick up my family, take them to their dorm where for 30 mins they work at assignments, and I usuallay talk to them about their day, things that happen, and pass on some of my "wisdom"... or call them names.

Next is recreation. We take them out side, have them strech, and do calisthinics for about 15 mins. They complain just about the entire time. So we have them do extra until they stop whinning. By now it is 6pm.

They play a sport of some kind. Usually basketball, or football. Every now and then it is soccer. Someone usually gets mad at someone else at this points and throws a little baby fit. Which others make fun of, and soon nothing turns into a problem. Thats when I yell out "all of you just grown up! You, play basketball and dont talk to him. You, quit crying, he didn't mean to do that on purpose.... No, no, I promise you he didn't.... I'm telling you, he didn't!... Quit arguing with me, he didn't and that's final.... go bother someone else!"

By now it's time to go back to the dorm, get them changed and over for dinner. This happens without much problem. When we get over to the dinning hall, the old boys campus is usually still in there, 10 mins over on their time, so we have to sit outside waiting. We kill the time by going over rules, what's expected of them, what the schedule for the night is, etc.

Dinner. Everyone eats, then complains that their parents are paying some much money and they get so little food. I hear the word "shafted" about a billion times. "He shafted me!" "This is a shaft" "You little shafter" "It's like all this place does is shaft us" etc. I then pull my ears off to make it stop.

After dinner is chores. Depending on the chore it takes anywhere from 20 mins to 1 1/2 hours. Also depends on their laziness and complainingness.

Get back to the dorm, there is a short time to do more assignments, write a journal, and then at 8:15 starts their free time/shower time. Each student gets 7 mins to get in and get out of the shower. They push it to the last second.

At nine everyone is on their bed, going to sleep. At 9:30 the lights go off. At 10:30 I go to bed. At 6 am I wake up. At 6:30 am I wake them up. They start to do hyigene and morning dorm chores. By 7:15 chores are to be done. More time to do assignments. At 7:40 we go to breakfast, and at 8 am I get off work. I'm usually home by 9 am, and then at 2:50 I leave to go back.

Now, there are a lot more little things going on in there, and a lot of cites for the kids. But thats just the basics of it all.

Returning to my roots

140 As a 1930s husband, I am Very Superior Take the test!

Now, is that a good thing or a bad thing? I'm confused.

La-de-da-de-da La-de-da-de-o-day

July has gone by fast. Seems like it was just the 4th a few days ago.

I got into another argument at work with a student. This time it was over Krispy Kream donuts vs. Dunkin' Donuts. The kid would not agree that K.K. is way better then D.D. What are our young people coming to? Is this really the future? Sometimes I... I just dont know.

The other day my old lady and I watched a film called "Soylent Green". Had Charleston Heston in it. Very good movie. Apparently it's some sort of classic that everyone, but me, knew about. So HA to all of you people out there making S.G. references around me thinking that I wouldn't understand, because I DO NOW! Yeah, lets try to see you crazy cult fans pull a fast one on me. I know what it's made of.

I finally convinced *Girl to let me have a pair of shorts to wear. She was for the idea, just gave me one rule. I can't wear them when we go out. Fair enough I thought. I just wanted them for work. So Sunday was my first day to wear them to work. And of course I get sent out to help with Homeless all day long. And of course too much sun on extra white legs tuns them red. Because you know... I'm boycotting the sunblock companies? Yes, they have gotten to be too powerful... I mean, can they honestly grantee 75 SPF??? Thats just too much.

That will do it then. I have to research more ways to win at Battle Ship. Games with strategy I can do... but the ones based off of luck and "skill" I fail hard core.

Garden Woes

The summer is having a blast killing off my garden. My attempts to water the dying weeds are even failing. Who knew life in the desert could be so brutal? Well... everyone I suppose.


Okay okay, so my garden isn't that dead yet. And watering two times a day does seem to keep them green. So I really shouldn't worry.

In other news, I came home saturday from work, after being there since thursday afternoon. I was talking to my lovely sister when this man came out of no where from what looked like my back yard with a dog, I hanged up the phone while talking to him (sorry about that Al) and quickly remembered him as my next door neighbor. Who had a dog and didn't know whos it was. And was asking if it was mine. We then chatted. And I ended up taking a bunch of carrots, squash, the promise of tomatoes from his garden. Nice people live next door to us. The dog was not mine... if you were wondering.

I had a great weekend, no work, relaxing and having fun.

Vegas and Varzea and Valley... all the same

I find that between work and spending time with my wife, nothing else really sounds entertaining. Actually, to tell you the truth, work doesn't sound all that entertaining as well, but it is what we call a must evil that some people say is good for your health. Some people dont work with trouble teens.

The kids at work have a sort of running joke that I live out there with them. One, who we'll call him "My Biggest Fan" says all of the time that I should get a raise just so I wouldn't have to be there so much. Last night as my supervisior was making his last rounds of the night "My Biggest Fan" said "Oh course everything is alright in here, we got Daniel Holloway here... he should be the employee of the month by the way". It's nice to know that some people there like me.

My best friend and companion from my mission went home on Tuesday. I tried to call him, but the number I had didn't work. I'm stuck to hoping his email works.

This weekend is going to be fun. I'm working tonight until saturday morning, then saturday we are taking off for Vegas and not coming back until Sunday. I get two days off in a row! I'm excited.

That is all from Dixie.

The rules:

Using fd’s Flickr Toys,

A. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

B. Using only the first page, pick an image.

C. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

(Note: I cheated and used my wife's Flickr account. And yet, I prosper.)

What/who is your:

1. first name? Daniel

2. favorite food? Ice Cream

3. hs alma mater? Gunter

4. favorite color? Green

5. celebrity crush? Taylor Swift

6. favorite drink? Root Beer

7. dream vacation? Skywalker Ranch

8. favorite dessert? Cheesecake

9. dream job? Couch Potato

10. greatest love in life? YouTube

11. one word self-description? Slow

12. Flickr name? Nothing

Now you try!