October 20, 2008

Dear Diary,
I met Herb at the bank to have his signature notarized on the back of the title. Next stop, the DMV. I pulled into the parking lot amazed that it was nearly empty! It was too good to be true. There was a sign on the door that said the DMV had moved across the street. No wonder. THAT parking lot was almost full.

I was given a number and sat watching for it to come up. Yeah! It was called in less than 30 minutes! Uh oh, I would have to take a document, have Bob sign it, and bring it back. I acquired the necessary signature and stood in line the second time to get a number (this one would be expedited, I was told).

Not long after my number was called I was told that I had to have an emission test FIRST. I left to have that done. I returned before 12:30 PM (as I was told) so that I didn't have to take another number.

There was a problem. Apparently the computer said that I did not have the latest title. Another title for this vehicle was issued in Wisconsin the year after the title I had, was issued in Arizona. I
would have to call Wisconsin.

I stepped outside and called Wisconsin on my cell phone. The woman I spoke to told me that their records only went back 5 years so she could not access the records necessary to address this problem. I persisted. OK, she told me that the title request from 2001 was not completed.
She couldn't determine why. Also she told me that according to the VIN number I gave her, Herb's name was not the name on the title. What?! In that moment I wondered if we had been scammed. Herb was on his way to Mexico with thousands of dollars in cash and I had no way to reach him. No telling when he would be back ... if he would be back.

I was advised to speak to the DMV in Arizona. I asked if she would hold the line and speak to someone inside (as I started to walk toward the door). No, she said that was all she could do for me.

I stood in line for the third time to get a number. When it was called I asked for a manager or supervisor. I calmly told my story and stated this was my fourth trip into this building today.
The supervisor listened very intently. She put in a call to Wisconsin. I don't know what transpired in her office, but eventually I had my new title, registration and license plate.

Movie Recommendation

Make a date with your spouse. Go see "Fireproof" while it's still showing in theaters. You won't be disappointed. Your marriage may be impacted for the better. Mine was.

Redskin

In case you're wondering about "Quachi"-- pronounced [kwah -chee]-- it's the shortened version of my father's original last name. It's much longer than "Q-u-a-c-h-i"and it has several consonants in a row. My family just says Quachi. My father's father is full blood Hopi. When my grandfather went to school the teacher could not pronounce his last name so he was given a new name. His last name was changed to Gilbert. (I need to verify this, but I think Gilbert was his middle name and the teacher exchanged them).

My paternal grandmother is part White Mountain Apache. My maternal grandfather is Cherokee. And my maternal grandmother is Chickasaw. Although I have these four tribes in my DNA I can only be a tribal member of one. When you become a tribal member you must relinquish your right to be a tribal member of any other tribes.

Not all Native Americans receive payouts from their tribes. As a Chickasaw tribal member I do not receive any money from the tribe. My father is a member of the White Mountain Apache tribe. His tribe does not distribute money to each of their members either.

All In The Family

I have to give kuddos to my family. Today we celebrated my husband's birthday with a costume party. They went all out and showed up in the most imaginative outfits. Let's see there was: June Cleaver, Tigger, Cher, a surgeon, a surfer dude (in need of a haircut), a bullriding cowboy, a clown, a rock star (I forgot his name) and his girlfriend, Steve Nash, "Deb" from Napolean Dynamite, a construction guy, Robin, Superman, Superman, Superman (yes, there were three),Sleeping Beauty, a renaissance princess, Mrs. White (from the game Clue), Johnny Appleseed and Carlos (he came as "himself").

They willingly gathered in my front yard, the girls on one one team and the guys on the other. Each team was given a large gift bag, three spoons, 2 disposable gloves, 2 baggies, 3 hand wipes, a pencil and a list of items to find in a scavenger hunt at the park.

Off they went, still in costume, and having a great time. I was laughing so much I could barely take pictures. We created quite a stir as those who came out to enjoy the park watched in amazment as these costumed characters ran around collecting things off the ground.

Back at the house we played our traditional trivia game with questions about the birthday person. It's become one of our favorites as we learn trivial facts about one another. Fortunately, I won this round. Good thing, since my husband was the one having the birthday!

Another part of this action packed evening was when we gathered round to open up the wrapped white elephant/yard sale worthy items that each person had brought from home. There was stealing allowed, which doesn't please all the participants. But this was MY party (at least the running of it) so we played by my rules.

After hugs, kisses and repeated good-byes, came the last bit of clean-up. I couldn't help but smile as I thought about how pleased I was that everyone was willing to do all the "silly" things I asked them to do.

Families may not always get along. There may be one or two (sometimes more) members who have tension with each other. There have been some really hard times in our family and times where we've needed some distance, but today it was so good to be together! Today we laughed and joked and ate.

Thanks again Quachi clan for showing up with your "ready to have some fun" attiudes on!

I Always Wanted a Red Car

My hubby decided it was time for me to have a new (new to me) vehicle. I just love it! It's candy apple red and has all the bells and whistles. We found it in Sun City and it was meticuously cared for by it's original owner.

It has a keyless entry and dig this! The driver's seat has memory so when I use my clicker the seat automatically moves to my settings and when my hubby uses his it moves the seat (oh! And the mirrors!) to his settings. Isn't that just too cool?

I was also excited to discover that it has a cassette player and CD player! I had wanted to put a cassette player in my "old" van but we couldn't find a stereo that had both. We were told that if we COULD find one, it would probably be expensive because they just don't make them anymore. AND NOW I HAVE ONE !!

I feel so blessed.

Politics

I have to take a minute and ask a question ....

Are you trying to tell us that out of the 6 MILLION e-mail questions that came in and the 80 questions from the audience there weren't ANY questions about Obama's past/current connections? Come on! Ask the questions we WANT to have answered.

Did anyone else fall asleep during the debate? I tried not to.

Lizology

I'd appreciate your prayers as I try to keep an indepth daily journal. One of my doctors suggested that I try to track my sleeping pattern, my moods and thoughts. We want to see if my moods are affected by my sleep pattern or not.

I'm already struggling as I try to record not only what I am eating everyday but also how I felt before and after I ate; which I am doing for the "Lose it for Life" program. By the way, I would highly recommend this for anyone who is ready to get to the core of WHY you eat the way you do.

It is exciting though, this indepth study of myself. I'm already learning things that I didn't know before.

Good News

I'm sleeping at night again! Thanks be to God!

My sweetheart was injured on the job yesterday. The scaffold he was standing on folded up on him and he was pinned between a plank and the metal frame. He said it felt like he was hit with a baseball bat in the back. Fortunately someone was nearby and helped to get him out.

Our chiropractor said that it's a blessing that the bar slammed into the side of his back and not the middle. If he had been hit in the middle of his back he could have been paralyzed.

His back is very sore and he will probably have some deep bruising. With this we are thankful and we rejoice in the Lord's protection!

Yes!

I'm unashamedly in favor of Prop 102.
Yes, for preserving the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman in the state of Arizona.

Is it Hot in Here? Or is it Just Me?

If I am indeed "going through the change of life" it is just that. A change. I'm not the same passive agreeable people pleasing person I used to be. My moods can and often do change several times in a single day.

I am thankful for my loving and committed husband. He is taking this journey with me. I am thankful that he has a co-worker in the same stage of his marriage too. This man has been a mentor for Bob.

I am thankful for my dear friends who are farther along this path than I am. They tell me that there is an end. They assure me that the "craziness inside" will level out and I will feel much better on "the other side" (of peri-menopause).

Every time my doctor says to me "you know, you can still get pregnant" I chuckle. Just another perk in this "time of adventure."

Where I Am Tonight

My husband has lost over 30 pounds and is delighted to be back in his 34 waisted jeans. He's not too far from what he weighed when we got married. Yippee for him!

I am maintaining the loss I had. Not gaining is something to cheer about! Seriously.

I am not walking or riding the exercise bike.
I am not keeping up my food diary.
I haven't been doing my homework for the "Lose it for Life" class.

I'm not sleeping at night (that's just the way it is for now and I'm accepting it). I sleep when I can (when I'm sleepy that is).

I think I'm in a funk.

One of my dear friends, in a very hard time of her life, said she'd like to take a little vacation from life in a mental hospital and walk around all day in her bathrobe. I've been pondering that lately. Think about it, you don't even have to comb your hair if you don't want to. And you can sit all day watching TV .... on second thought if I did that I really would lose my mind!!
Either that or I'd go broke buying everything I saw on infomercials. Doesn't matter what they are selling. If you sit and watch them over and over again, you'll be convinced that you've got to have one (or four) of them!!