I am the first to admit that I have many fears and phobias. For instance, I am a hypochondriac. If I hear of someone with an ailment, I'm constantly evaluating the symptoms to see if I might have this same ailment. I recently watched 3 back to back episodes of Mystery Diagnosis and I'm pretty darn sure that I have all 3 of those rare diseases. So what if I'm not a black man in my 50's with recent travels to Zimbabway. I could still have what he has!

I am scared senseless of mice. There is a little hole in the fence between my garden and the neighbors garden that often times in the spring plays home to a tiny little mouse. I brace myself every time and tell myself not to be afraid, but when I hear it's little feet scratching my heart stops, my feet become cement and my mind cannot make coherent thoughts, except oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh...well you get the picture.

I am VERY afraid of the dark...especially being outside in it alone. I am getting better, but there are still times, ok- every day, that I will run to the house from my car just in case someone is out there lurking in the carport.

But by far my biggest fear is of nakedness. Yes, you read that correctly...NAKEDNESS. You might think this is ridiculous, but this is a lesser known phobia and even has a name...Gymnaphobia. And no, I did not get that from Mystery Diagnosis. My whole life I have been uncomfortable with nakedness. It may have something to do with the fact that I grew up in Nakedville with the Nakedsons. My family LOVES to be naked. Except me. I don't even like to walk around naked in my own home, when I am all alone. And I'm pretty sure my dogs are judging me on the rare occassion that I do risk running from the bathroom to my bedroom after a shower.

I am currently house/dog sitting for my friend Carrie in Park City, UT. She has a nice big house that I have all to myself complete with a steam shower and a hot tub. I had not really taken advantage of either because I also do not like water on my face, especially hot water. Alene and Amber at work were making fun of me for not using the hot tub (did I mention it's outside...in the dark??) and they both said that they go in their hot tubs almost every day....NAKED. WHAT? Are they C-R-A-Z-Y? I laughed at them and told them they were weird.

But then I went home that night and was sitting around with nothing to do, because this house does not have TiVO or a DVR (how do these people LIVE here??!!) and decided it was time. I would use the hot tub. So I locked all the doors, put the dogs in the laundry room (I didn't want them judging me too), turned out all the lights, and went in the hot tub. Naked. In the dark. With hot water on my face. IT WAS LIBERATING!!! I felt alive and slightly brave. Until that is I heard some scratching, which I'm pretty sure was a mouse, so I ran back in the house and went to bed.

Happy Fake Spring!

Today was a great day! Last night my sister and a couple of our girlfriends came over to where I am housesitting and we stayed up til 2:30 in the morning laughing and talking (inappropriately at times I must admit). Jen and Kristi headed home at 1:00 a.m., and Peggy and Shana spent the night, along with little Makayla who made it to 10pm before falling apart...she was so excited to sit in the tub with LoLo (that would be in the hot tub with me).

We woke up at 7 and made pancakes and the girls headed home around 9:15. As I let Sid and Snickers, the dogs that I am watching this week, outside for trip #1 to the potty, I realized that today was the first day of "Fake Spring"! For those of you that do not live in Utah, Fake Spring comes around every year around this time. It's a beautiful sun shiny, bird chirping, warm breeze blowing, dog barking kind of day. I walked outside on the large wrap around porch and surveyed my sunny kingdom...or at least my borrowed kingdom for the week. The dogs and I played tug of war with a nasty dog rope and then fetch with some icycles that were melting off the porch. Then we all went inside and took the first nap of the day.

As I headed back down in to the valley, I had my windows partially rolled down, my sun roof open and a good song on the radio. Man I love fake spring! I pulled in to my neighborhood and was instantly reminded of a down side to fake spring. The smell of poo...everywhere. Horse poo and Cow poo...ah! The joys of living in farm country. Except that I don't live in farm country. I live in a suburb of Salt Lake City. In West Valley. The hood. Oh well. Determined not to have this day tarnished, I visited with my sis and my own dogs, then settled in for nap #2. Glorious. Then off to dinner at some friends house, the church for dessert and games, and then back up to Park City where I am writing my blog with 2 sweet dogs laying at my feet. Yep, it was a good day.

Oh, and the reason I call today Fake Spring? We are expected to get 2-4 inches of snow on Tuesday.

I love to make lists. (My favorite one is the grocery list, and then without fail I leave it at home when I go to the grocery store). Consequently my blog often tends to be of a "listy" nature. Today's list is on how I know I'm old.

1. I have recently begun sprouting blond hair on my chin.
2. My favorite place to shop is Wal-Mart
3. While I was shopping at Wal-Mart last night, I passed the electronics section and I actually said the words "Does that music HAVE to be SO LOUD"?!!
4. I can no longer watch the Real World/Road Rules challenge...I can't stand all of the fighting and the drunken escapades.
5. My friends at work were talking the other day about how they remembered the internet coming out in jr. high! I, on the other hand, did not get my first email account until I was 22.
6. I am lost when it comes to new technology. I often have to ask my co-workers to help me with facebook/my blog/iTunes radio, etc.
7. Some times I drive home and realize about 15 minutes in to the ride that I do not have the radio on. Other times I put the radio on the KSL news channel to hear the traffic and then I realize 20 minutes later that I am still listening to the news. And enjoying it!
8. I actively search for ways to incorporate more fiber in to my diet.
9. I do not understand the appeal of boys wearing girls jeans and belting them around their knees with their entire boxer shorted rear ends hanging out.
10. I had to call my friend the other day to ask how long to allow a baby to cry in his crib before I went and picked him back up.
11. I have no idea who the new young celebrities are on the red carpet and in the magazines.
12. I remember when Brad Pitt was hot.

I have many many more things that could go on this list, but I've worn myself out typing and now must go take a nap. Ooooh...that leads me to #13!

13. I have recently begun taking naps on the floor in my office in order to make it through the day.

A letter to...

Dear M&Ms,

Why oh why are you SO delicious?? I planned on being good today and brought lots of healthy snacks.

But then you appeared in all of your candy covered chocolatey goodness. I was forced to eat several (and by several I mean about a hundred) handfuls of you. You are the best M&Ms that I have ever had.

And now I have a canker sore on my tongue. I blame you, M&Ms. But I still love you and will continue to have you in my life.

Thank you for all the joy you have brought to me over the years.

Love,
Stacy