Salt Lake City, Utah - Downtown Rising

My older brother Terry stopped into work yesterday to check on me and "just to chat".  I love it when he and any part of my family does this.  It makes my whole day!!!  Terry is very important around Salt Lake City these days - he is the safety inspector of the huge project Downtown Rising which is in full swing.
 

Salt Lake City, Utah

In the heart of the city there are cranes, people in hard hats, hammering, cement trucks, etc., and somewhere among all of this is my brother Terry, checking on compliance, progress and making sure all is well.  I am so impressed with all he does and I don't even know the half of it.  But what I do know for sure is I will visit "the city" often to see the progress.  If you would like to check into the activity of our beautiful city go to http://www.downtownrising.com/ ; it is beautiful!

Presidents Day

What did you find yourself doing with a day off because of Presidents Day? 

We all know that these two great men celebrate birthday's in February with George Washington on the 22nd and Abraham Lincoln on the 12th.  Did you know that Lincoln just celebrated the 200th year anniversary of his birth on the 12th!  Sometimes I think President's day gets tossed to the corner of our calendar and we forget to reflect on all the great things these men did or have done for our United States of America!  And while these two men have birthdays this month - we are really honoring all those who have held this great office!  We may not always agree with the man who holds the office but in my opinion - we should all honor the position and greatness this office entails. 

I actually used the day to have my taxes prepared and filed.  That's very American don't you think?  I have been earning a paycheck since 1973.  During my senior year of High School I had work release and drove to my Uncle Edwards business called NCE - Nuclear Controls and Electronics.  I started as an box assembler - I put together cardboard boxes which would ship the hand held calculator being assembled in the plant.  I did such a great job putting together the boxes that they decided I was ready to advance to being an assembler of the actual product.

I learned where all the capacitors and diodes needed to go and I was given a soldering iron and went to work.  It was a wonderful job and I am so grateful for the experience.  I have been working ever since - thus paying taxes and filing a tax return.  It's very interesting each year when I get my statement from Social Security to see the history of my earnings.

Pizza and a Movie

Last night I was invited over to Ruth and Konny's home for Pizza and a Movie.  Oh what fun we had!  It is always fun to be with them and just hang out - but last night we had yummy pizza from Papa Johns - better ingredients - better pizza!  And whenever I eat pizza (which isn't very often) I must dip it in ranch dressing.  The good old standby - ranch dressing!  It was really good.  Maybe it was the company and the fun night we had planned!

Then we put in the movie Secretariat.  It was so good!  One of those movies you can watch over and over because it pulls you into the story.  During one of the races I found myself inching to the edge of the couch and wanted to stand right up and cheer the horse and rider on to victory!

If you haven't seen this movie I highly recommend it!  Thanks Ruth and Konny for such a fun evening!

Valentine's Day

 I am a single girl and Valentine's Day isn't my favorite celebration - however, I'm always excited when I get cute cards or conversation hearts from my family and grand kids.  I actually call the day "Single Awareness Day" and I have been known to stop by the flower shop and buy myself a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  And I never begrudge those who are in relationships and enjoy the day of L.O.V.E.!

This year I received a beautiful card from my parents!  Mom always sends cards to her children and grandchildren and expresses love to each one - not just on Valentine's Day.  My daughter Amanda gave me a gift certificate to one of my favorite restaurants - Ruth's Diner

And in the mail I received a package from Idaho from my adorable nephews Ryan, Ty and Kyson.  Ryan sent me a heart in my favorite color - lavender with a note of love and a heart sucker.  Ty must know how much Aunt Janet loves hand lotion because he cut out the shape of his hands, wrapped them around a bottle of hand lotion and included a note of love and Kyson sent me a pencil wrapped with a pipe cleaner and a love heart.  I loved each one and I love these sweet boys.  Thank you Ryan, Ty and Kyson for being my Valentines this 2011.

I decided to call a few very important people in my life and treat them to my very own version of the song "You are my Sunshine".  Thank goodness all but one were out celebrating so I could leave the song on voicemail.  I changed the words for this Valentine's Day and it goes like this:

You are my Valentine

My only Valentine

You make me happy

When skies are grey.

You'll never know dear,

How much I love you.

Please Be My Valentine Today!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine Celebration!

Blue Lemon

A new Restaurant in town!

I went on a client lunch the other day and we decided to go to this new restaurant in the heart of Salt Lake City.  It is called Blue Lemon.  It is quaint, vegetarian friendly and has the best food!  I love hummus so I had the hummus plate which comes with pita bread triangles.  I can't wait until my cousin Karen visits so I can take her there with me.  If you want to take a peek - check this out.  bluemoon.com