Ode to THE MAN

I wanted to write this blog (and my sister kinda beat me to it! But I am still going to!) :)


My dad is AMAZING. He has been a pharmacist for 35 years. Each day full of service and love. This is his last week of work- since it is now retirement time. His work threw him a huge party-even though I was so sad and couldn't be there, I was so happy for him and all the people that turned out to show him support and thank him. It really shows how much of an impact you make on people that they will make an extra trip in just to say thank you!


I had the best opportunity to work with my dad for awhile before and after my mission. Talk about a wonderful experience. In our house and at church I knew that my dad was so caring and patient. I was amazed to see that he didn't change at work. He loved to just sit and talk with people all day. Some people get tired of hearing other people complaining or could get easily frustrated when people are rude or seem a little "buggy". But not my dad. In all honestly he treated EACH person with the same amount of care and positive attitude.

There were times when I wanted to say to mean people- knock it off!!! We're busy- give us a break! However, my dad would just smile, tell them he would work on it and that was the last I'd hear of it. No grumbling, gossiping or hard feelings. Incredible! That short time I had to work with him was a fabulous learning experience for me. Priceless.



I learned that everyone deserves sincere care

I learned that while at work you give it your all

I learned that a smile goes a long way

I learned that sometimes you just need to sit and listen

I learned that even when you are overwhelmed and its busy, there is no need to get snappy or upset

I learned what it truly means to mourn with those who mourn

I learned the value of patience

I learned the importance of being consistent with who you are

I learned that laughter can be the best medicine

I learned that you can have spiritual discussions at work

I learned that my dad is the most loveable dad EVER!!!!


I love you dad! Thank you for all that you taught me and for all that you did for millions of people! You are definitely irreplaceable at the pharmacy but I know you will be able to continue to bless so many people's lives each and every day! You may be gone from your job but you are certainly not out!!! :) --I'm sure you'll be continuing to get all the calls at the house still! :)

I hope that one day I will be as Christlike as you!

2 things

So as many of you know or maybe dont know- I've been attending a family ward since our singles ward was disintegrated! (Fun huh!) Well, I was put into the younger nursery class about a month into going to the ward. After about 3 weeks, I was finally making great headway with some of the little kiddos who were having a hard time leaving their parents. Then they asked me to go to the 2-3 yr old class. Yesterday was my 3rd week there and again was finally understanding who the kids were and really working well with one little boys who was so sad when his mom left. Well, I guess with me there is going to be a 3 week change over because then they called me to teach the 7 yr old class in primary! (Which I am excited about- mostly!) At this rate, I'll be going through the YW, RS, the Stake and then what? Maybe I'll be speaking at the next General Conference perhaps?! :)

Also- through a few of my family blogs, I've been seeing them do a little tag. 4th folder, 4th picture. I was curious so I looked to see what mine was and it made me laugh- so I thought I'd join in.

So what is this you ask? Well, this would be some of my very important paperwork from my child life internship with tire tracks on it!

Yep, I was in a huge hurry that morning as I ran out to my car with my intern binder under my arm. I set in on the roof of my car in order to check something in my trunk. As I got to the hospital and went to retrieve the binder, I couldn't find it anywhere. "Surly I took it off the roof! I wouldn't be that stupid right?!" Wrong.

I called my roommate to see if she saw it. Fortunately she did. Unfortunately she happened to see it in the snowy, puddley parking lot. Some how the most important papers were basically un touched, but the rest- had the ride of their lives! Here are some other photos of what I saw when I came home. My amazing roommate had taken all the papers and laid them out to help them dry. I've never laughed so hard! Honestly Tiffy- I can never thank you enough!!! My poor binder was smashed! But it kinda looked cool! Hmm.. good memories. And good lessons learned. I no longer put things on the roof of my car even though I'm SURE that I will remember to take them off!! :)

I'm sure you've all done stuff like that! Right?!

Tender Mercies

They exist- that is for sure! Some days are just hard. And then something like this happens and makes everything better:

I was walking down the hall at work today and peeked into a 5 year old patients room. Our conversation went like this

Me: Good Morning Bud!
Him:Smiles and then says- "Jill..."
Me: Yes?
Him: I love you!

So sweet!

Zuckerman's Famous Pig

So this week we decided to go on an outing. And an outing it was! We went to the State Fair!!! (With our photo IDs in our pockets so that if something happened to us- they'd know who we were! :) )

It really is an exciting place to be with so many interesting things to see and do!

State Fairs to me are like Rodeos- it is a 'people watcher's' paradise! You can get caught up on the latest stylesof hair and clothes. While walking, our eyes were immediately pulled downward by flashes of color...

We were able to get a few close up shots. I thought about how popular I'd be in the hospital if I had these shoes! However, they may clash slightly with my scrubs! (I wonder what he was thinking while my roommate was taking these pictures! Maybe it was similar to how Ronald Mcdonald feels when he makes a public appearance?!)

After a quick glance of the Roller Derby we moved onto the most exciting part of the fair---the Wheezer concert. Now, I didn't really know too much about them, therefore I was shocked that I actually knew a few of their songs. They put on a really funny show and who knew that the main singer held a strong resemblance to Jeff Foxworthy!

I also enjoyed watching many people there as well. I wouldnt be surprised if the majority of the fans left with major headaches since their head was in a constant banging motion for the entire hour and a half! I wanted to warn them of what their future life would be like on a Neuro floor of the hospital, but they probably wouldn't have listened! However, they sure seemed to be enjoying themselves...to each their own.

By the end of the show, we were the newest fans of Wheezer! We even joined the rest of the people in doing their sign as they sang. (Hmm...Kinda sounds a little secret combination-ish. Maybe not so good!) (The second picture makes me laugh! I barely made it in on time. I love how my head is just popping out to the side! HAHA!!)

So the state fair wouldn't be a state fair without trying some crazy food. After some deep consideration of what to purchase- I decided it was worth forking out my entire life savings in order to experience some "fair food". (How can they get away with those prices?!) So what did I decide on???

To the untrained eye, this picture perhaps looks like a corn dog.

Well, unfortunately I would have to say to those of you who say it is, you're wrong!

Common sense should tell you that it is a Deep Fried Snickers Bar! Or as we nick named it "Heart attack on a stick!"

I was a little hesitantt with the first bite?!

However, I was pleasantly surprised with the taste. (It actually tasted like a dessert crepe- snickers flavored of course!)

This is the "Ohhh thats good!" Face. Thankfully my roommates helped me eat it so that the flavorful fat didn't ALL go into my body!

So yeah, my first ever state fair was fabu! I am so glad that my roommates pulled me off my bed and made me go! Maybe next year we'll try the deep fried garlic mashed potato's on a stick- or perhaps really go crazy and get the the mac and cheese-- deep fried of course! Yumm!!!

Are you proud?

So I think that I am a doctor sometimes. I have been self diagnosing my stomach issues lately. (Those of you who don't know about this- I guess now you do! My stomach has been on strike and hasn't wanted to feel well in quite some time!) I refuse to believe that I have a wheat allergy! :) Therefore-I am trying out everything else- just to prove the critics wrong! Granted, it really could just be stress- because there seems to be an overabundance of that in life! However, this past week I really thought that I had found a solution. I thought- maybe it's a milk allergy! (Which it still could be- I haven't quite discounted it!) I really had thought that I found the solution since the little lactade pill seemed to do the trick. However, there are still times that the pain is still there!

So yesterday, I did something that I have been putting off for so long. I have known in my heart of hearts that I had to do it, but what it all boiled down to was simple...I didn't want to! However, I finally bit the bullet and really...I thought that it could actually help my stomach (Don't know why I thought it would help my stomach, but it sounded logical at the time!) So I got up the courage...and I did it! I joined a gym!!! Yep- thats right. Granted, there are many other positives that come from this action as well- so we shall see how I feel. I am ready to have a happier stomach real soon! (Not to mention the grand effects it should have on the rest of my body as well! And there better be grand effects! :)

Yea! So now that it's out there for everyone to know- keep checking on me! Its going to be hard to stop my habit of collapsing on my bed after work. Usually closing my eyes and sleeping sounds more appealing than running, sweating, achy muscles at those moments! So I guess I will make as my motto as I lift my heavy body off my bed- "Do it for the stomach!"

It's all in who you ask!

So today while at work- I was explaining my latest adventure with the Arizona wild life- to my co-worker. I told her "Then out of no where I see this thing! It was like a pig, or a hog or a..." and then she cuts in "A Javelina?! You got to see a Javelina?!" Which she said with a huge smile and little kid voice. Of course my reply was "A Jave what?!" Then we googled it and sure enough that what they were. Apparently they are very common wild life here, but are not usually seen in subdivisions. They are usually only seen by hunters! Here are some pictures that were on google! (Posted for your viewing pleasure, since the one from my cell phone wasn't so great!)

Kinda odd looking creatures with scary eyes! huh!

Strange Happenings

Today was funny. I just find myself chuckling about a few of the events that happened.


Really- my day at work was great. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. Then I headed off to get my emissions tested for my car. Now as many of you know, I have had pretty embarrassing things happen at car places. My most famous Jiffy Lube experience was something that I didn't want to repeat today.

I took a deep breath and drove up. I watched very carefully as each person went before me. I figured- Just do what they do Jill and you'll be fine. It seemed simple. Roll down your window, get our of your car, wait in a little blue booth and then drive away! Got it. There was really no place for something embarrassing to happen. However, I must have forgotten who I am or else I wouldnt have had that thought!

I was sitting there, I noticed that my passenger seat had some crumbs on it. So, I started brushing it off. I turned my attention back to what was happening in front of me. A few minutes later, I felt pain in my finger. I looked down and it was bleeding!!! I had no idea why. I wondered if I had actually brushed shards of glass off the seat instead of crumbs! Of course it was right then that I got the "wave" from the emissions guy! It was my turn.


I rolled down the window as I was trying to stop the blood flow(which didnt work too well!) I had a flash back to my experience at Walmart a year ago- when the guy with the bloody hand tried to help me. I now feel bad for having judged him! (Maybe he had no idea he had cut it so badly!) As I handed the man my ticket, I sheepishly said "I'm sorry! I just cut my finger!" trying to assure him that I dont normally have blood dripping from my body. I looked around for something...anything and all I could come up with was a gum wrapper! Here's a word to the wise- gum wrappers dont stop blood! Who knew?


I kinda laughed to myself as I got out and waited in the blue booth. I thought that I had had it all under control. The blood seemed to have stopped. When he came in to get me, he told me how much it was. Since they dont take credit cards- I started writing my check. I then realized that my finger was again bleeding profusely! (You would have thought that I had hacked it with a chainsaw! I mean it was a tiny little opening! Give me a break) So- my brain started thinking "MUST STOP BLEEDING" and my ears stopped listening to the man- so I didn't hear what he said. So I had to ask again. Then the bleeding started again and I forgot! It was as if I could only think about 1 thing at a time! Yeah, sadly enough, I had to ask the poor man about 3 times. How much and to whom! I finally finished and headed to my car...I'm sure by that time,he was ready for the bloody blond to leave!



Then tonight as I waited at the gate to leave the community where I live, I noticed some activity in the bushes. Um, yeah then I saw it was. Actually, I'm still not fully sure what they were. I believe they were wild hogs roaming around. At first I thought they were boars! But thats silly- wild boars live in the jungle! Not in my neighborhood! But they were something of that sort! I stopped my car and just stared at them! Really- it was so bizarre to me. They both just stood there staring me down. I thought they were going to charge me. I looked up and saw a 10 yr ol on a bike. He too had stopped and was watching them. I'm sure he was just as curious as I! By the time I realized that I wasn't imagining them (which, I doubt I would be doing anyway! Who wants to imagines wild hogs?!) I grabbed my phone to take a picture. Of course it didnt turn out too well, but you can kinda see one of them! I guess we really do live in the boonies! This just 2 weeks after I saw a coyote inside our gated community! I called my roommate and told her- "See- I told you that you shouldn't run outside especially at night. Because if the coyote that we saw last week wont get you, now the wild boars will!"