Thank You

Dear Dad,

Thank you for teaching me how to repair my car (after I wrecked it).

Thank you for teaching me to never steal.

Thank you for having the courage to leave Lockheed Aircraft and move from California to Utah to start your own bookstore. You gave me the best place to grow up in the world.

Thank you for the bike you got me in 6th grade.

Thank you for the swing-set you put together as a surprise for me.

Thank you for always taking me to 2,3,4. And for seafood enchiladas on Thursday's.

Thank you for not killing me when I saw you at the school walking down the hall with the principal because I had cut class.

Thank you for teasing my boyfriends. And crocus dudes.

Thank you for telling me stories of when you were young. I like the one about the deer, and the ones about you cruising in your car.

Thank you for giving me your sense of humor. It has served me well through my life.

Thank you for that one time you DIDN'T hang up on Michelle.

Thank you for getting me my OWN phone line so you didn't need to hang up on my friends anymore.

Thank you for teaching me how to tell time, tie my shoes, and pump my own gas.

Thank you for teaching me to be an independent person who isn't afraid. (mostly)

Thank you for the way you are with my daughter. Watching you interact with her reminds me of growing up.

But most of all, Thank you for being my Dad!

Love,

Soup

Raising the Bar my derriere

Raising the Bar on Safety!

Yet again, Seven Peaks is safer than ever in 2009! To meet nationally accepted security standards Seven Peaks will no longer be allowing the following items in the park: *  Outside Food *  Coolers *  Glass *  Knives *  Alcohol, Tobacco, or any other Drugs or Drug Paraphernalia ONE SEALED 24oz WATER BOTTLE WILL BE ALLOWED PER GUEST. While we are not allowing any coolersinside the park, it doesn’t mean you can’t bring them to the park, because you can!We have built a picnic area for our guests conveniently located just north of the front entrance. All guests are allowed to leave and reenter the park as often as they would like.  Exceptions include formula and small snacks for babies and toddlers, as well as snacks required by special health conditions such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, or celiacs.  If you have any questions about this new change please contact us directly atcustomerservice@sevenpeaks.com.

After seeing this posted on the Seven Peaks Water Park website, I wrote the following letter to Seven Peaks protesting their new policy of not letting any food or drinks into the park this year.  

To whom it may concern:

I just want to express my disappointment that you will not be allowing food
or drinks into the park this year.  You claim it is for health purposes, but
I highly doubt that.  How many years have you been open, and just NOW it's a
health concern?
I am afraid that many of my friends with children will no longer be making
Seven Peaks their summer tradition.  There is absolutely no way that a
mother with small children will be able to walk out of the park, go to her
car, get their cooler and go to the "designated" area just to give her child
a fruit snack.

I will be sharing this disappointing news with everyone I know.  

-suedonym 

Their response (which I got within the hour)

To suedonym,

Thanks for your email. Thank you for being such a loyal customer making this
a summer tradition. I can totally see where you are coming from and know how
frustrating and disappointing it is. I agree that is hard to understand why
we would make this decision. 

In past years it has been so nice and convenient to bring your cooler inside
with you while your family enjoys the park. You are not alone in your
concerns and we want to do everything we can to help make this an easy
transition.

Seven Peaks is a family orientated place and we strive day in and day out to
make sure that it stays this way. This is an extreme measure that we are
taking as a company, but we are doing it with the best intentions in mind.
Events have taken place in recent years that have led management to this
change and we want to ensure that you, your family and friends all have the
safest possible experience while you enjoy your summers here. 

While we are not allowing any coolers in unless you have a small infant
and/or are diabetic, it doesn't mean you can't bring your cooler to the
park, because you can! We do have a picnic area for your family conveniently
located just north of the front entrance. All guests are allowed to leave
and re-enter the park as often as they would like. As you said that would be
really annoying to go in and out with small children. You can bring in a 24
oz water bottle per person and any small snacks or formula for babies. We
understand that small children need snacks and we want an enjoyable day for
them as well. We don't feel like small snacks such as fruit snacks or gold
fish are a threat to the safety of any guest and these WILL be allowed. We
want to work with you and keep you on our team! 

We agree that this new policy is inconvenient and acknowledge that it was
not communicated to you at the time you purchased your season passes.  We're
sorry for this delay.  This has been a difficult change for sure.  As such,
we totally understand your frustration and want to make it right.  If we are
unable to do so, we are willing to offer a refund, but would prefer to keep
you with us.

I am including an attachment of the official statement we have on the food
changes this year, it contains complete information on this subject and
hopefully will help answer some additional questions you might have. However
please feel free to call me directly if you have any other concerns.
Hopefully we'll see you this summer! Have a good day. 

Sharlene Witt
Public Relations Manager
Seven Peaks Water Park
O: (801) 373-8777 x110
customerservice@sevenpeaks.com

The enclosure

Dear Seven Peaks Water Park Patrons: 

RE: Seven Peaks 2009 Policy Change 

Seven Peaks Water Park is committed to setting the bar for excellence in safety, security and cleanliness with regards to our facility.  We, as a management team, value our patrons and employees and are doing everything within our power to make sure they have an enjoyable experience while working or visiting our park. With this goal in mind, we feel it necessary to make a few changes regarding the water park’s food policy.   

Over the last couple of years, there have been an increasing number of incidents where people have brought in glass, knives, alcohol and other substances that could be harmful to both patrons and employees.  Therefore beginning this 2009 summer season, Seven Peaks Water Park will no longer allow outside food or beverages to enter the park facility with the exception of one sealed water bottle (24 oz. per patron maximum).  Exceptions will be made for people with health issues such as diabetes and those with infant food or formula. 

As we explored the options to combat the issues we are facing, our research revealed that Seven Peaks has been one of only 2% of water parks across the nation that still allowed outside food into the facility.  This statistic, along with several others, was the determining factors that have lead to this change.  We hope our loyal pass holders and new visitors understand that we have their best interests at heart and want nothing more than to provide the safest most enjoyable experience possible. 

As a result of this policy change Seven Peaks has invested over $250,000 in on-site food service upgrades to provide patrons with more food variety and freshness.  We have also created a picnic area located just outside the main gates to the north, where patrons can enjoy food they wish to bring with them and leave in their cars. 

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we implement this new policy.  

For questions or concerns, please contact Seven Peaks Public Relations at (801) 373.8777 x 110 or email at prelations@sevenpeaks.com. 

Sincerely, 

Seven Peaks Water Park Management Team 

Thoughts?

That's my girl

I walked into the Princess' room the other day and saw this written on her mirror:

It was her class schedule.  "Oh good", I thought.  She is really committed to her school work.

Until I looked at the other mirror and saw this:

"Best periods to text me."

*Best Service

# Best Time

With codes for each of the classes.

And here I thought she was kidding the other day when I overheard this conversation with her dad:

"I really like my math class"

007 - "Really?  That is great!"

"Yeah, I get the best service in there".

Is it summer yet?

Please come if you live in Utah!

"Because I am a Queen"

A friend posted this photo on Facebook of the bunch of us at lunch celebrating Lucky coming to Utah.  When I first saw this photo I thought "Wow, that is such a good picture of everyone!"  And I posted something like that on Facebook.  

Here is what I know.  When each of the women in the picture (we are women now right?) saw this photo, the first thing we all did was to find ourselves and critique how we looked.  Then we looked at the other girls and thought how beautiful everyone else looked.  It's what women do. 

I hate that.  I want to look at myself the way that others do.  The people who love me for me.  I want to see in myself the same thing I see when I look at these beautiful women.  Strength, beauty, joy, class, and style.

I want each one of us to see the beauty in us that God created.  I get terribly sad when my daughter critiques some part of her body.  "Hey", I think.  "I created that! Don't knock it".  I'll bet OUR Creator feels the same way when we focus on our perceived "flaws".  Don't you?

Here is a song that makes me feel so much better every time I hear it.  Whenever I'm feeling down about myself, I play this.

Enjoy.

(It won't let me embed it, so link to it. It's worth it)

Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes i don't
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes i won't 
Depend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes 
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul 

I'm not the average girl from your video 
And I ain't built like a supermodel 
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally 
Because I am a queen 
I'm not the average girl from your video 
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what i'm wearing i will always be India. Arie

When I look in the mirror the only one there is me 
Every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be
And I know our creator didn't make no mistakes on me 
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes; Im lovin' what I see

I'm not the average girl from your video 
And I ain't built like a supermodel 
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally 
Because I am a queen 
I'm not the average girl from your video 
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what Im wearing I will always be India. Arie 

Am I less of a lady if I don't wear pantyhose? 
My mama said a lady ain't what she wears but what she knows 
But Ive drawn a conclusion, it's all an illusion, confusion's the name of the Game
A misconception, a vast deception 
Something's gotta change 
Don't be offended this is all my opinion 
Ain't nothing that Im sayin law 
This is a true confession of a life learned lesson I was sent here to share with you all 
So get in where you fit in go on and shine 
Free your mind, now's the time 
Put your salt on the shelf 
Go on and love yourself
'cuz everything's gonna be all right 

I'm not the average girl from your video 
And I ain't built like a supermodel 
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally 
Because I am a queen 
I'm not the average girl from your video 
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what Im wearing I will always be India. Arie

Keep your fancy drinks and your expensive minks 
I don't need that to have a good time 
Keep your expensive car and your caviar 
All I need is my guitar 
Keep your crisp style and your pistol 
I'd rather have a pretty piece of crystal 
Don't need your silicon I prefer my own 
What god gave me is just fine 

I'm not the average girl from your video 
And I ain't built like a supermodel 
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally 
Because I am a queen 
I'm not the average girl from your video 
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what Im wearing I will always be India. Arie

Gang fight breaks out at Provo mall, police say

When I saw this headline, it made me think back to The Princess' birthday party this year, and how 007 got busted by the mall cops.

TP wanted to have a big party this year, turning 13 and all, so we came up with the idea to have a scavenger hunt at the local mall.  Thereby killing several stones with one. ie: I don't have to buy a bunch of party crap, no teenagers running around my house (not that I don't love when she has friends over, I really do - just not 20 of them), and I can supervise, so no trouble. OR SO I THOUGHT!

All was going well, the kids all showed up (two couldn't come so I asked the Princess if we should just stop by their houses to get the gifts, but she thought that would be crass - whatever).  I organized the 18 kids into 4 different groups and sent them on their way to gather exciting items like blue thread and business cards with the name "Mark" on them.  That should keep 'em busy, I thought.

TP wanted an ice cream cake so I asked 007 to bring it to the mall at the end of the party so it wouldn't melt while they were scavenging.  Good man that he is, he brought it right on time.  I knew it would be hard and frozen so I had brought a sharp knife wrapped up in foil (so as not to cut myself when I reached in my purse).

007 cut the cake, which turned out to be pretty messy, chocolate ice cream and all.  He went to the bathroom to rinse off his dripping hands and TOOK THE KNIFE.  I saw him waving it along his side as he walked back to the table. That doesn't look good, I thought.  

Next thing I know, the kids are saying, "Look!  Someone is getting BUSTED by the bathroom!" I looked and "Hey!  That's no someone, that's my husband".  Just what we need, eighteen 13 year old's telling everyone how The Princess' dad got busted at her party.  And I was worried about the teenagers.  Silly me.

I guess what happened is two different people saw him walking into the bathroom with a knife and called 911.  One of them even reported him having a "bloody knife".  3 mall cops surrounded him in the bathroom, Paul Blart style and questioned him. When they asked where the knife was, he was brave and said "Oh, in my wife's purse".  Thanks babe.

Well the kids all thought it was coolest thing ever.  The Princess wanted to DIE, like OMG Dad.  I laughed my head off, and 007 felt crim for a day.  

And now back to our regularly scheduled program

Inquiring minds want to know:

If you exercise, how often do you do it?

Do you work out at home, or in a gym?

If at home, what do you do, and for how long?

If at a gym, how many days a week do you go?

If you DO NOT exercise, why not?  (you may answer anonymously for this one - one time only)

Now before you get defensive, know this.  I never regularly exercised when I was working full time (or for most of my life, really).  I love to ride my bike down the river trail, but that was about it.

But this whole turning 40 thing has thrown me for a loop.  My body is changing, and it scares me.  This year I started going to the gym, mainly out of fear I was gong to be bedridden and immobile by the time I was 60.  

And guess what?  I LOVE IT.  I love how I feel after I'm done, and I love that instead of spending my ENTIRE day thinking about the fact that I'm not exercising, I can get it over with and not have to think about it again the rest of the day.  

P.S.  Even though I love how I feel after, I still have to talk myself into going.  Every time.  

So tell me...