Not much Excitement Going on Here.. Just an update...

So not much has been going on with us lately. As you have noticed I have not posted in 6 weeks. Just been working on a few projects outside to get ready for the predicted rainy season that we will be experiencing. Can't Wait!! We haven't had a good rainy season in years. Still a few more projects to go. I cleaned up the dog run on the side of the house and next is laying sod in the back of the house and gutters. YeeHa.. Oh what fun it is....

We have been seeing this little creature walking on top of our fence the last few weeks, only to find that it has been living under our deck. Emily almost got into a confrontation with it last week. Funny thing is, I remember seeing this little tyke almost a year ago milling around the fence, so it has most likely been living there for a while. It was trying to scurry back under the deck in the morning after a long nights work, so I placed bricks at the openings and brushed it out of the yard, so it could find a new home in the canyon where it belongs. How it climbs up the fence, I will never know.

We bought a new dishwasher as the Calcium had built up so bad after using those stupid Gelpacks for so long. I think those who make dishwashers had a coup going on with the detergent companies, so they could sell more dishwashers if you ask me.

On a really happy note.. It is amazing how God works in our lives. I was hesitant to leave my old company and work for myself, but something told me it was finally time to let go, and go for it. I left McMillin Realty on June 26th, and by the end of this month, I will have made as much money working for myself in 3 months as I did with that piece of crap company in a whole year. Trust me, they weren't paying me very well at all, but what a score and good decision this was. This month has been crazy though. I have had (10) two week escrows. (They are usually 30 days) and it is crazy trying to get all this paperwork back and forth and signed by all parties in two weeks.

When I signed up on Facebook I started a group called, "Utah Figure Skating Club 1979-1985" and thru people joining the group and searching their friends, I have so far found about 10 of my old figure skating buddies.. I just love the site. I can't believe how many people I have found and those that have found me. I am amazed that there are people out there who even think about me after all these years. Its kind of a rush.

And once again this site, I can't figure out how to make the paragraphs seperate.. So darn frustrating!!!

Doing Cartwheels of Joy

So things are going good so far with the home biz. I was so afraid, but it turns out that it was perfect timing. I closed 7 deals this month making 50% more then I was at that corporate BS.. and for August, if everything goes right, I will be making almost three times as much. I couldn't have even tried to do all this while pretending that I was working fully on my own from a corporate office. Cool thing is that I only have to close 5 deals a month to equal what I was making at the corporate crap. And there I was working 40 - 50 deals.. Jerks!!! They always say.. you don't make the big bucks working for someone else. Of course, I have to convince Matt to quit spending all of it. Which is the whole reason that we can't afford to go anywhere.

God works in mysterious ways.... Amazing that when you believe he will always take care of you.. it just happens!!!

Scary thing is, that most people buy homes in the summer, so that they don't have to relocate their kids during the school year. Home buying really drops off after September thru April, so I am kind of worried. Any ideas on how to get more business other then advertising to Realtor's on Craigslist, Facebook and referral would be so much appreciated. I can't let this feeling of Liberation end!! LOL.

I know its wrong, but I am not officially making any money, as all is going under Matt's name, so I have an unemployment interview on Monday.. and I am freaked out. (heck, I have paid into it for 30 years now, I deserve it) Heck, if these illegal immigrants can get all the benefits who paid nothing into it.. I know I deserve it!!!

The company did ask me to quit voluntarily and didn't deny me the benefit, so I am going to work it.. Voluntary resignation qualifies. I just hope that I can convince the Unemployment Department.

I am sad to say this, but I haven't been this happy with life since I was 9 or 10 and didn't know any better.

So, I wanted to post a pic of a visitor that we had in our home office the other day, but it wouldn't download.. A carrier pigeon with a string decided to fly in and of course took his little poopie on the floor. Luckily, Emily was upstairs or she would have caught it and ripped it too shreds. It was a sweet gift of the unexpected.

Wish that I had more interesting things to post about, but the life these days in a little boring and to normal..

Love and miss you all!!!!

I Just Can't Take It Anymore.. I Am Done With It All!!!!

So as most of you know, Matt and I Incorporated about a year ago and started our own home business, providing the service that we have been doing for Corporate America.

Last Thursday, I called and left a voice message that I just couldn't do it anymore and that I was done. I basically took the plunge and quit my job. The good news is that I have been a valuable employee, so my Vice President told me that even though I quit my job with no notice, they would not deny me unemployment benefits. I just need to tell EDD that I left via Voluntary Resignation. Which after the message I left that night, was my only choice.. They were basically asking me to leave. She also was kind enough to let me know that we are all leaving on good terms and would not hesitate to give me a good referral if I did decided to get a Part Time or another full time job.. GOOD NEWS!!!

In the office that I was working at Downtown before they closed it down, I was my own person. Then I was moved to an office that I hated and was made to Assist to too many others [5 to be exact] I just couldn't take it anymore. Not to mention that the boss at my main office was very disrespectful of me and we both couldn't stand each other to begin with.

So I called, quit and I am now working from home full time. Of course, I am a bit worried, but yesterday, two brokers/owners of real estate companies called me out of the blue to give me two new files. One was a referral from another agent and the other found us off of our website. At $395 a file, I will be making way much more then at the stupid corporate BS. Hell.. Just 5 files a month pays me the same as at that corporate crap.. And the kicker is, that at corporate I was working on 40-60 files at the two offices.. Now how messed up is that... Who was making the money here!!!!!???????????

Its true what they say.. You don't make money working for others. I know that I will provide a valuable service to these brokers, and from there, hopefully the referrals will just keep a coming...

It is so liberating to be able to wake up at 8:30ish.. take the dog for a walk.. be able to take her for car rides, to deliver files or just run errands. She has been very depressed since Bryce passed away in December. It is just nice to run your own life finally.. My ultimate goal is to have 15 files a month.

Matt decided, now that I am home working on files from home full time, that he would slowly give me his files as well, so that he can focus on selling homes full time. He now has two sales in escrow and one Listing of his own.. Things are looking so bright that I don't know how to act!!! I have deserved to have this for so long.

Before I left the corporate life, I would work on files at night after work and be working until 9 or 10pm at night. Now I don't have to do that unless I choose to.. and even then, I know that it doesn't matter. I don't have to get up early to slum my butt to a job I can't stand.... I can get up when I want and still get the job done.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... sigh of relief... God will see to it that we are taken care of.

Sunday CrawFish Boil

One of the agents who uses us for the home biz, bought us tickets to a Crawfish Boil last Sunday. I was so dreading it. Knowing where those little buggers come from. Thank goodness they had other food there. Or Matt, I & the agent who invited us would have starved to death. We ate Hot Dogs. How sad.. They were pretty good though. The free beer until 2pm was alright as well

One of the guys even took the meat out for to taste it. I just couldn't get over how disgusting they are. I really had to force it down. Yuck!!


I was so dreading going. It was such a good time in the end. Here are pictures before and after. They dumped 50 Lbs of crawfish on each table for everyone to devour. So disgusting.


I have never been to New Orleans, but that was the style it was, as it was a fundraiser for LSU alumni. (Louisiana State) Total rocking music. People dressed up in feathers and beads. Beads hanging from the 300 canopies of all the attendees. (2500+ people) It was awesome. Like a huge BBQ party. People and their kids playing football, frisbee, just having a good time.

I went to the restroom, and when I came back, some kid had a live crawfish in a bowl of water that he had found alive of all things.. How crazy is that!

We decided to hang one or two crawfish from the beads as if they were trapeze artists.. As you can see from the pictures and the old women in feathers, there were many interesting people there

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Another shout out to Jessica who celebrated her Birthday Today!!!

I am so lame, that I have nothing to post but Birthday Wishes!!! All I do, is work from 8am until 9pm every night, so nothing exciting going on. I am now becoming the new post Biggest Loser

Happy Birthday

Just had to give a shout out for Angela's and Kaylan's Birthday...

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y !!!

The Walk

So it was a very bright & beautful day for a walk. So bright that I couldn't see what pictures I was taking.

These don't even do justice to how many people were there. Hundreds of walkers and every year it just gets bigger and bigger.

So the top three team came in with totals of $14,400, $12,200 & $9810
Amazing!! They did have totals ranging from 30 - 50 people on their teams though.

I ended up with $440 of our teams $1615 total.. not bad...

Is anyone else annoyed that they can't get the pictures and text to be placed where you want them?

Parkinson's Walk on Saturday

So my goal was to reach $500 in contributions this year. Yes, I know you are all tired of hearing about it. So far, thanks to Mom, Sheryl, Jo, Cyndi, Julie and those that will be walking with us, or have just donated, I have raised $345. Already twice my donations from last year.. Thats good right?

I would love to raise $10,000 but that's most likely not in my realm of reality. Maybe next year. So I have added a link at the top right portion of my blog, if anyone else feels so inclined and have forgotten.. I know times are tough, trust me. That measly $25 was hard for me, but its just the right thing to do..

I am trying to tug at your hearts here. Its on behalf of your Dad, Grandfather so that others don't have to suffer or see their relatives deal with this crap. Whether you donate or not, I do understand and this will be my last effort to annoy the heck out of you all. Its just in my heart to try and try again..

Love you all...

An Excuse To Post Something

So our lives have been boring lately, & I needed to make an excuse to post. Since Sheryl & Rick visited Asheville, North Carolina, I am posting pics from our trip a few years back to visit a friend who lives there..

I could so live there. In fact, I am entering a sweepstakes to win a house there. What a surprise!!! I enter a 20 - 40 sweepstakes a day.

Anyhow, this is us in front of the Biltmore. After all, I don't want to be the most boring and weakest link..JOLYN!!! 2 months since a post?

Get a life girlfriend!!!

We also hiked up the lower and upper falls of the Asheville Mountains.

This is us at the lower falls..




This is my fat and old ugly self as we were heading up the mountain near another fall.


This is Matt at the upper falls, who by the way has lost 80-100 lbs to date...

Very proud of him and quite the feat to accomplish.





We also stopped in Myrtle Beach and stayed at a hotel on the 12th floor for really cheap. The room had the capability to room 10 people. We stopped here on our way back to Matt's mom's house in West Virginia.

We started there and worked our way down to Asheville, down to Savannah and to Myrtle Beach on the way back.

And this is a picture at Savannah, Georgia.. The moss hanging from the trees was crazy.. I have never seen such a thing. Savannah is chock full of history and old houses, brickways and down by the river is chock full of places to drink and have fun.. Gotta live life while you are here right?

San Diego Parkinson's Walk 2009

I just signed up to do my fourth walk for Parkinson's taking place on Satuday, April 18th.

I heard a report the other day that due to stem cell research they may be really close to finding a cure. So once again, I am asking for donations.. Isn't everyone..

But this touches us right where it hurts. I know the economy stinks, so if you don't donate, I won't be hurt and totally understand. It was hard enough to donate the measly amount that I did.

If you do decide to donate, Visit my personal site http://www.parkinsonswalksd.com/*/jwassom and show me the love. Pass the word on and help me surpass my goal of $500 in donations.

Dad/Grandpa Update

So I talked to Joyce, and of course Dad tonite. Joyce took time to talk to me about Dad for awhile before she handed off the phone to him and told me the following:
Most of the time Dad thinks he is either in the Farmington house with mom, with his sister Mary, or at the Re-Habilitation Center. He has know idea that he is ever at home. 99% of the time he doesn't even know who Joyce is. She is a very strong person and I don't know how she deals with that.

He is still under the impression that the neighbors are out to get him. To kill him by shooting or by hanging him, via the notes that the neighbors leave on the door or their personal threats to him. He searches the floor for snakes, he chases Elks out of the house (which he forgets he is at home) and he, quite frankly just wishes that this would all be done and over with so that he can go home and be with his parents (who by the way, died over 40 years ago) brothers, etc...

Dad is so done and just wants to be at rest. (Which Joyce and Dad told me tonite). Personally, can you blame him? I would rather be at rest. This test of life quite frankly stinks!! I feel guilty because I promised him, when I visited for Thanksgiving that I would call him every other week; and this is the first time that I had the heart to finally call. It is just too hard to hear him go in and out of reality, that I just can't bear it. It makes me cry so hard.

I know that I need to come out again to see him.. most likely this summer. I just hope that, that's not too late. (and I will need a place to stay, that we can bring my Emily, without being around another dog. Can't leave her alone, she is already too sad being alone.) I beg you all, to visit him more often, enjoy him and his crazy stories before it's too late. As Joyce said, all you can do is laugh. That is the only way to be able to deal with it. I can honestly tell you, that if I was at home in Utah, I wouldn't let this precious time go by. As hard as it is.

It is moments like these that I wish I had stayed home and never moved so far away. Time with family is just too precious. As some of you know with Craig's passing. We all get so involved with the craziness or our lives that we forget! I so have missed seeing you all grow up, getting to know your kids, etc... thats why I am so thankful for this blog thing. Even though I am so far away, its nice to know whats going on in everyone's lives. It makes me feel as though I am not so far away.

For those of you so close or able to visit Dad/Grandpa.. please do so for me. All the moments that he does realize reality, who he is talking to him, who he is with, are precious to him. It does make him very happy. I hear it in his voice!!! Maybe I hear it more because I am not able to be there as often. Don't let this personal time pass away until its too late..

I love you so much Dad.! In some sort or wierd way, I hate to see Dad this way. As much as I don't want Dad to go, he is ready and I know it would be better for him. None of us want anyone in our family to suffer, go crazy, or be in pain. As much as it hurts. He lost his parents over 40 years ago. I know that Dad is so much wanting to be with them again.

I wish that I could be there to see that joyful reunion!! Hell!!! I can't wait until we are all re-unionized.. Is that the right word?

I still have the train that his father gave me. (Picture of it to the left) I barely remember Grandpa and Grandma, but that train engine means the world to me. Why? Because it is a part of my fathers life.. The colors of the train is way more toned down. Green in color. It is pretty cool considering that it is over 50 years old. The train rolls across the floor with train sounds, wheels turn simultaneoulsy, it blows steam, and the lights all light up. Pretty impressive as far as toys back then. And it still works!!!!

I begged my Dad to find that train. I never forgot that it existed and that it was given to me by his father; Leslie Wassom (born in 1883 by the way, his mother.. Loenza in 1895). I was roughly 5 years old, and his parents were already, 82 and 76 years old. My grandfather on my Dad's side was born 127 years ago!!!.. How crazy is that? Is that for real? I am so realizing a lot of things right now!!

Dad claimed the train was lost. I was so sad and a little PO'd. Then out of the blue a couple of Xmas' ago Dad sent me the train, including all my Webelos, Cub Scout Badges and my 3rd place Pinewood Derby car and trophy that we built together all at one time. That was the best gift. Same year mom sent me a scrapbook of pictures of myself. Best XMas presents I ever received. Funny thing it was the same XMas.. It was meant to be.

Please don't let this time skip away.. be with him, he mostly remembers all the old times.. Farmington, the grandchildren, Garland, Tremonton, the mud slide.. all the good things when we were all together. Let him live that all over again, while he is still here to enjoy it...!!!!

Happy Birthday Alyssa

So on the 23rd you'll be the big 19.. Hard to believe. How time flies. I am sure you will make it a fun and nutty kind of day.. Click below for a Toast to Alyssa's Birthday...

http://www.americangreetings.com/ecards/view.pd?i=485720733&m=3607&source=ag992

Happy Birthday Denise

You big old DORK.. Click on each one to get a very special message for your Birthday.. (let it download for a few seconds before you click)

http://www.americangreetings.com/ecards/view.pd?i=484701165&m=3607&source=ag992

To Keep From Being the Weakest.... JOLYN!!!!

To keep from being the recluse of the family (Jo!!! ) It has been three weeks, by the way, since you have updated us. We all share boring lives.. but there has to be some THING going on. Is there nothing going on, that you can't update your favorite Uncle?

By the way.. we do have a guest room and Ya'll need to come visit....

So that I wouldn't be the weakest family member, I felt that I needed to post something..HAIL to the members to keep me from having the most boring life of us all. (JO) love you.

So, if you remember my blog a few weeks back. Share to Care. http://shareyoucare.blogspot.com.

I finally ordered the cards (preview of the card here) http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/ns/my_account/doc_view.aspx?doc_id=697076614

I can't wait to receive the cards, pass them out and see what happens.

Will those who recieved the card visit the site?, post their story?, pass the cards to others? It could be an interesting project, if you ask me. Add the blog to your site... keep track of it.. If it fails, it fails. If it takes off.. YEE HA!!!

Life is all about making others feel worth isn't it? Share that you care. Visit the site once more before I officially launch it... Brainstorm, give me ideas to make it better. How about I send you all some cards and get it going full force, all around the country.

I am, by the way, on a mission, to be the leader of the free world, to save those from tyranny (was that right) I failed english..

"We are the World... We are the Children" LOL.. Most likely if you don't remember January 28th, 1985 then you won't remember the coming together of the whole world to raise money and make AFRICA a better place.... . Whatever... Yea, I know.. I am blabbing on and on.. talking crazy.. But, I am going to be the leader of the free world you know.

FACEBOOK.COM

So I am really ecstatic that I joined facebook about a month ago. So many friends from my past have found me or I have found them.

It is amazing how your friends join, add you as a friend. Then you check out their friends, and find another friend you have thought about or tried to find. It is just crazy what a small world this is.

I also like the fact that I can talk to my friends who are online at the same time I am. Even though its only sending messages back and forth, it gives me a sense of talking on the phone with them. You all know, how I just love talking on the phone... NOT!!!

100 Things...

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower (I even saw a satellite move across the sky in the desert)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a Solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (would have, but the darn thing was closed when I was in New York for a few hours)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (been told I am a good singer, but never had the guts)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been on television
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (no, but I enjoy buying and eating them)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (Gay people are not allowed in CA to give blood)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (Try three of them)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone's blog to your own

Share That You Care

So I got this idea from a book that Julie gave me last year. "The Message" by Lance Richardson. He gave his family this great idea of handing out business size cards to people who looked like they could use a dose of pick me up.



They would hand people these cards to those that looked like they could use a dose of careing that would say on the front, "Sometimes it's just nice to know somebody cares. Have a great Day!" People were truly touched.

So, I decided to take it a step further. I am creating a website at SHAREYOUCARE.BLOGSPOT.COM. I am going to print up some business cards that are numerically numbered 1 - 100. Hand them to people who could use a dose and hope that those who received the cards will go onto the site, pick the numbered card they received and tell their story of what was going on, what happened when they received the card, etc.. etc...

On the back of the card, I will place a phrase that they should share you care by passing the card onto someone else who could also use a dose and will also visit the site and tell their story... Thus stories going on and on for each numbered card. Spreading the caring over and over again. Of course on the front of the card will be the website. Tracking the cards and seeing where it goes..

I might just pay the $10 a year to host the site so that it has a web address of www.shareyoucare.com so I don't have to have the blogspot address on there.

I got this idea from a website I visited years back, where some guy wrote a web address on dollar bills. People who received the bill would go onto the site and register what city & state they received the bill. Thus tracking the dollar bill across the country. It was pretty cool.

Tell me what you think, visit the site and give me some ideas.. Not even sure that any businesses can print cards numerically without costing me an arm and a leg, so I might have to print up my own.

The site was a quick draft last night, so I need to improve my wording, etc... I need ideas.. I think it could be a lot of fun and very rewarding. I am just afraid that if I hand out 100 cards that the right side of the blog might get to annoying or too long. As of now I only have Care Cards #1 - 15. So if I add 100 cards or more...well you will see what I mean by that when you visit the site.

This is a dream of mine and I don't have a lot of time or cash to get this up and running as I would like to so it may take a few months to get this going.. but, eventually it will happen if you think its a good thing.

Bryce Is Home Again

Sorry I keep posting about Bryce. This will be the last time, I promise. This has been harder on me then I thought it would and I need to get it out. Sorry, that you all have to bear it with me.

I had a really hard time deciding on Cremation and now that I see how my big handsome boy was reduced to the size of a small box, I wonder if I made the right decision. Don't know why it's such a struggle for me. I know that God is all powerful and that everything reduced to dust will be miraculously spun around and placed back to its original state.

I do know that I didn't want to bury him because if I ever had to move away from California, he would be left all alone. Also, this way he can be with me all the time. And when my time comes he can be buried with me. Sounds crazy right?

I was going to buy him a different Urn, one more fitting to how we feel about his life but now that I have him back, I don't want to disturb him, by placing him in a new one. I would rather he stay in peace without being disturbed. Besides, I am not sure that I could bare to actually see the ashes. I think it would be demeaning to him to actually see him that way. The good thing about this company is that they handle individual cremations. Meaning that they insure that all the remains given to you are your pet only. That they are not mixed with the few small remains of another pet.

This is a picture of his resting place and it came with a pawprint as well. (It's not an actual picture of his, but one off of the website). I worried that as we didn't have him back until two weeks later that he was just laying there alone for too long. As it turns out, he was cremated on Christmas Eve.

As you may have read earlier, I truly believe that Bryce visited me the night of his last day. I was hoping he would come back to visit again but he hasn't. Maybe now that he's back home, he will visit me one more time tonite.

I feel truly blessed to have had him in my life. Because of the "Dalmatians" movies, I can't tell you how joyful it was, every time we took him somewhere, that everyone was just in awe of him and just wanted to be near him. Not to mention that he was one of the most handsomest/beautiful Dal's I had ever seen. Every time I see a Dalmatian my heart just jumps for joy. They are my favorite pups of all time.

Listen to your dad Bryce and be a good boy Okay?!!!