"AN'DIERAN, DIERAN SO FAR AWAY"

My baby boy

2009-10-09T17:00:00.002-06:00

My sweet Sebastian (my cat), that I have had for four years is no longer with us. I know it's been a long time since I posted and this is terrible news. But I thought this was the easiest way to let peopele know. He had been missing for a week and a half. I put up fliers and sent an email out to my ward members in order to try and find him. I got an email this morning from a member of my ward who said they found a cat fitting Sebastian's description on Saturday night on Center Street. He had just been hit by a car moments earlier and was dead. They moved his body off the road so he wouldn't get run over again. I am so sad right now and don't know how I am going to get through the day. But I guess it is better to know then to wonder for the rest of my life. At least I didn't have to see him die. Anyway, thought you would want to know.

I am still Fun.....

2009-06-29T19:46:00.002-06:00

Well, Michelle has been gone a couple of weeks now. It has been very quiet around my house, so I had my nieces Shayla and Olivia come spend the night the other night. On our way to the house Shayla said, "Aunt Diane, you are still fun even though Michelle is gone". I felt an overwhelming amount of joy that she recognizes that I am not a fuddy-duddy, without Michelle around. (giggle, giggle). I was hoping that I hadn't sent all of my charm home with my little Asian daughter. Though I am sure some of it is already gone, as a result of my ever increasing age. Good thing I have them to keep me young, and ever on my toes.

:-(

2009-06-15T17:38:00.003-06:00

Big Frownie face.

Michelle is now gone. I can't believe how quickly the ten months went. It was really a trial getting her on the plane. Not only did it take us 15 hours to get home from Disneyland, but the car broke down on the way to the airport and she missed her flight. She decided it happened because Utah does not want her to leave. I agreed, it must be a conspiracy. She called last night to say "hi" but was upset when she found out we ate her corn for dinner. Her corn that was a Christmas present from my mom. I asked her why she hadn't eaten it all herself before leaving. She got really quiet and said, "Because I don't know how to use the can opener." She has already been making plans, unbeknown st to her parents, to come back here next summer and take Aunt Amy and Kadance to Disneyland and to see the Grand Canyon. She also says she wants to come back and go to BYU. It would be cool if she did. She is such a cutie!

I have lost all responsibilities as a parent...what next....I need suggestions people. Let's hear what you have to say. . .(if any of you say "Get Married"-I am disowning you)

2009-05-18T17:36:00.004-06:00

What I've done
I took this from Karen's blog...I've got a few more things to do on this list. (About 32, but I can see about 5 that I will likely not do, because I chose not to, can you guess which five?)
**I've done the items in bold**
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor Shower
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. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on a train21. 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
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. Learned another language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Mt Rushmore
41. Sung karaoke
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. Visited Ground zero
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
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check - oops!
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Visited 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 law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

"Exaggerate much"

2009-04-20T20:38:00.003-06:00

This weekend I talked on the phone to some old friends and I got the age old question, "What's new in your life?" I, of course, due to the many uneventful events in my life responded, "Not much" or " Same old, same old". I decided I am tired of these bland answers and decided I am going to resort to eleborate falsehoods when responding, just to make things more exciting. So, now if you ask me "What's new?" I may respond with a whopper like, "Well, I just won a grammy for my first released single and I will be soon leaving on a worldwide tour with "No Doubt". or "I am being sent to an undisclosed location with Witness Protection, because I single-handled stopped a rash of break-ins at all of the local Panda Expresses that were being committed by the Springville Mob." Who knows what fun things I can come up with, you'll just have to wait and see....

The green monster

2009-04-06T17:46:00.002-06:00

Michelle got asked to Prom today. Green monster, anyone? She's only 15. I never got asked to my Prom at any age. I am excited for her though. Prom is on May 2nd which is the day after we go to see the Green Witch!! I can't wait for girls night out. Ladies plan on dressing up and enjoying a night on the town!!!

Mission reunion

2009-03-30T17:46:00.004-06:00

This weekend is my mission reunion and I gotta say, I am nervous. I am not sure why but I feel a little reluctant to go. I always loved it in the past. We are meeting at an Indian restaurant before hand and I am worried that I won't see anyone I know. I hope at least one of my companions come, otherwise it might be like eating dinner with a bunch of strangers....Awkward?!?!

Vacation Season

2009-03-30T17:42:00.002-06:00

I am still feeling a pull to get out of Dodge. Every time I look on the Internet for a trip deal, I get excited and then reality strikes. "I can't go". Michelle went back east for a few days at the beginning of the month. I just took a few days off of work but it did not satisfy the urge....the urge to travel. Anyone want to plan a trip with me? I miss all of my multitude of irresponsible (single) friends that could just drop and go at a moments notice. What happened to us in our old age?

The bug is getting me

2009-03-02T18:29:00.000-07:00

I have recently been attacked by the travel bug. I am feeling antsy to go somewhere and I don't know where. I have been reminiscing about old friends and trips and feeling some nostalgia for my former freedoms and travels. I know--woe to me...the world travel is not able to go...but in my defense traveling is the thing that keeps me going. Loneliness is my constant companion but when I am jet setting to some fun location, the loneliness is no longer in the fore front of my mind. Michelle is leaving on Saturday to go to New York and DC. It really would have been the perfect time to go, but I didn't plan ahead. "Auch well" as the Scottish say--"I'll just have to be gutted."

I think I am allergic to dating.

2009-02-23T18:07:00.000-07:00

Not that I feel it is the fault of "the date" himself. But, it must be some inadvertent reaction to the pressures of dating. I think this may especially be the case with first dates and blind dates compound it even more. Am I saying this so that you will stop sending me your hungry, your poor, your single, your available male friends.....NO? Because I need all the practice I can get. Why am I saying this, you ask? Well, I had a date last weekend, not two. The other one ended up being this weekend. I went on the dates, enjoyed a nice dinner and good conversation. Afterwards I went home and felt fine, then I woke up the next morning on both occasions feeling congested and unable to breath, with the effects of a massive headache. I can only assume it was some allergic reaction. Needless to say, dating is difficult, on my immune system. But, it is a necessary evil to the next important thing. The actual Dating part--I mean the familiar, love hanging out with each other part, the part where you are comfortable with each other and you don't have to force conversation. The part where you understand and accept each other--good and bad. I can't wait for that part to come. In the mean time I will continue to go on the allergy releasing first dates and I will enjoy them and be grateful for them..as few and far between as they usually are. Because somewhere, sometime, somehow...it won't be so hard anymore. I welcome that day and that date.

When it Rains it Pores!

2009-02-09T19:46:00.000-07:00

No dates for....well, let's just say a LONG time.....and now 2 in the same weekend. Valentines weekend to boot. What a crazy life.

Long time no see!

2009-02-09T19:28:00.001-07:00

Well, I haven't checked in for awhile. I have little to report since last time I checked in. I do however want to report that all the puppies have good homes. Especially Fiero, he still lives with us. He is quite the character. He spends all day trying to figure out how to get onto the kitchen counter. If he is not doing that he's chewing on his mom's ear, my slippers, the Entertainment Center, the garbage, whatever he can sink his little teeth into. It is kind of frustrating but adorable at the same time. I have had to rearrange my living room and it isn't very symmetrical which you all know bothers me, but to know avail, he still figures it out. I also have to constantly remind Michelle to shut her bedroom door and pick-up after herself to prevent puppy destruction. KIDS!
Michelle went to her first school dance. Everyone had dates and Michelle tagged along with her friend Amy and her date. She had fun but said, "It was complicated. Next time I will have my own date." She is very funny. We have had one or two little incidents but for the most part we get along great. She used an inappropriate word the other day and we had to have "A talk". She was embarrassed and wanted to cry because she got in trouble. I don't think I was that hard on her. I'm trying not to be a mean mom, but I am still learning.

Jennie I miss you!

2008-11-17T19:59:00.001-07:00

Sigh (of relief)

2008-11-17T19:44:00.000-07:00

Things are finally quieting down after a hectic month. After my last post I had three of the puppies get deathly ill. It was a traumatic experience. I feel very fortunate and blessed that after many prayers, the puppies are all okay now. Nessa spent a week at the Vet and they thought they were going to lose her. After she had been there for almost five days Fiero got sick while I was in St. George. Debbie took him to the emergency vet and he tested positive for Parvo. What a scarey experience. I had heard horror stories about Parvo so of course I was paniced. Later that night Sweet Ashley got sick too. I can only assume that all three puppies had the same thing. My dear friend Shawna came over to help me nurse Ashley through most of the evening and even Karen came and stayed the night. Ashley needed fluids given by syringe every hour. After about a week and a half of worry they finally started getting better. I got little sleep those few days. But, I am happy to say that all of the puppies have good homes. Two of them are even in my neighborhood. I found a home for Ashley in the same way Lucy was found for me. I feel very grateful to Heavenly Father for taking care of their sweet little spirits, all the while taking care of me too. Fiero lives with us and he and Lucy have a great time playing. She still mothers him alot though. When I am trying to get him to go outside to potty, he often doesn't because it seems he doesn't like the outside. When I am encouraging him to go out, Lucy will grab him by the collar and drag him outside to pee. She is the best!!!!

Michelle-isms and puppy love

2008-10-06T18:22:00.000-06:00

It is so fun having Michelle live with me. She is so adorable and always comes up with the funniest things. The other day we went to Park City for Karen's birthday. We were playing cards and eating tons of junk food and Michelle grabbed a box of "Dots". She popped one in her mouth and then said, handing the box to me, "I don't like this. Handle it!" It was hilarious.
I feel so lucky to have her living with me because she is sweet, social, and fun. I know of other people who have not had as great of an experience as I am having. It's so much fun and I highly recommend it.

I have now sold 3 puppies; Bubbles = Juno, Spot = Shasta, and Elfie =Elfie (I think). Although it is hard I am happy to report thay are all going to good homes. I feel bad though because they have been sick. I cuddled with one of them for most of the day yesterday because she just wanted to sleep. They are TOOO CUTE for words!!

My new family

2008-09-29T18:10:00.000-06:00

In addition to my new puppies. I also have a wonderful exchange student living with me. She is great. Her name is Michelle, she is from Taiwan. She says the cutest things. The other day we went to Wendy's and she ordered a value meal. I ordered a sandwich and a frosty. When we left she asked me what my drink was and I told her it was ice cream. She said, "You're a genius!" I think that is the first time I have ever been called that in my life. She is a lot of fun to have around and we are having a great time. We went to the "Harvest Moon Festival" in Spanish Fork. She rode a horse for the first time and she secretly loved it though she said she was too old. We went with my friend Jennie and her family. These are her adorable daughters with my brand new daughter, though I feel more like an older sister than a mother (even though I am old enough-barely).

2008-09-23T21:10:00.000-06:00

Buy Beautiful Bouncing Baby Beagles!

2008-09-23T21:00:00.000-06:00

The puppies are coming, the puppies are coming...

2008-07-31T18:35:00.000-06:00

My sweet puppy Lucy is going to soon have puppies of her own. I can't wait. She has been miserable for weeks, but it'll be worth it. I'll post pictures when they come.

Biggest Losers

2008-03-19T15:13:00.000-06:00

Hey you big losers out there. This is Dieran. How did you do with your weight loss this week? The results are in.