¡Feliz año nuevo! Adiós 2013.

Another year passed, another year older...ugh! lol

This has been a busy year for me. When I look back over my calendar I realize that I've done a LOT of traveling this year. Most of it was work related, but I did manage to have some personal travel time. I spent a week in London for vacation in March. Then in April I went to Boston (twice) for meetings. The two trips were just before and after the Boston bombing. In May I went to Idaho (the DUH part) to watch my niece graduate from high school. Then in July I spent ten days in Japan as a part of a program for school administrators. Later in July I drove down to LA for a family reunion. In October I went up to San Francisco for my brother's wedding. I spent two weeks in Orlando for a conference (and vacation) in November, and at the beginning of December spent two days in Beijing for another work conference. My last trip was to Utah for Christmas. Flying-wise I racked up more than 50,000 miles. I now have Gold Status on Delta!! Bring on the upgrades!!!

2013 was also a sad year for me. I lost my first born dog, Parley. I didn't know he was sick until early February when I took him in for a routine teeth cleaning. Because he was over 10 years old, they recommended extra blood work, and they found that he was having problems with his kidneys. Basically they were operating at less than 30%. It was very surprising because Parley never acted sick. He just seemed like the normal dog that he always was. They kept him at the clinic for a few days and rehydrated him, but the vet warned that it would help him in the short term, but that he could go downhill quickly. He got sick again in late May and this time I was sure it was the end. He spent an entire week at the vet, this time he was acting sick. He had thrown up a few times and wouldn't eat for days. Crazy enough, he pulled through and got better. He ended up passing away the day before I came home from my trip to Japan. I was devastated. It's so funny how I still expect him to be around. When I get up from the couch I check to make sure he isn't underfoot. Now that I've moved homes I keep having this recurring dream where he is lost and can't find me because he only knows where our old house was. :(

I did get a new puppy to replace Parley. Hinckley, another cocker spaniel, joined my family in September. He's quite a little monster, but he's tons of fun too. He is about to turn six months old next week, and he has really started turning into the cuddler. My other cocker, Hunter, is warming up to him and they play together now. (And yes, you might have noticed my dog names...Parley, Hunter, and Hinckley. When I was right out of high school my family got a cocker spaniel, we named him Kimball. When I decided to get my own dog I jokingly said I'd give him a church name. My sister and I went back and forth with some names (Mahonri, Teancum, etc.), but when we came to Parley, I loved it! Then when I got my other two dogs I just kept it up.

I sold my house in September. It's the first house I ever bought and I lived in it for ten years. That's the longest I've ever lived in one place in my entire life. I moved into my new house the day before my China trip in early December. I just unpacked the last box the other day, so I guess I'm officially moved in. I still need to hang up pictures and buy some furniture, but that's going to wait a few weeks. I'm kicking around the idea of doing some painting and replacing the interior doors.

Overall it was a good year. I had some down times, but who doesn't? I'm still single...anyone? anyone?

NEWS FLASH: Pigs Fly, There are people Ice Skating in Hell, Gay are Getting Married in Utah!

Well, this has been an interesting week with all of the gay marriage stuff going on in Utah. I have a few friends who got married. One couple that I worked with years ago, have been together for 15 years. It is great that they are now a legal family. They adopted a little girl back in 2002. I'm so happy for them. Another former co-worker of mine married her partner the day after they had their first baby. How's that for a busy week? Then just this morning on Facebook one of my friends from my BYU days announced that he was getting married today to his partner...one of the first guys I dated. (Not as awkward as it may seem.) They've been together for at least 12 years.

I'm sure that there are other people I know who have recently gotten married, but I just haven't heard about it yet. How exciting! It was amazing seeing the pictures of the long lines of couples waiting to get married. I just want to ask those people who think it's "all about sex" what the lines are for. I mean if these people just want to have sex, why are they waiting in line? If it isn't about love, why are they doing it? I think we all know you don't need to be gay married to have gay sex. (Can I get an amen?) Anyhow, I know that there are people who are so upset about the whole thing. I'm one who really truly tries to see the other person's side in a dispute. If I can understand where they're coming from, it makes it easier for me to deal with them. I just can't figure out how these people think that their marriages are somehow diminished, harmed, etc. just because gays are getting married. I can only think that they have decided that God is against it so they are too.

I've enjoyed reading other people's comments and postings about what has been going on. Some of the best that I've read are below:

• A Gay Biologist: 
• http://agaybiologist.blogspot.com/2013/12/whoa-utah.html
• Inside My Life as a Gay Mormon: 
• http://insidegaymormon.blogspot.com/2013/12/full-heart-but-troubled-mind-utahs-gay.html
• Mormons Building Bridges:  
• http://www.facebook.com/groups/mormonsbuildingbridges/permalink/444735888960611/

It's been very interesting. I went home to my parents' house in Kaysville (Utah) for Christmas, and the gay marriage thing NEVER came up. I don't think it was on purpose, but I could be wrong. I think it's just reached a point in my family that it is a non-issue. When I say non-issue I mean they just aren't making a deal out of anything gay. It is what it is. Maybe I should have brought it up to see what people would have said. (I will admit to being a shit stirrer from time to time.)

I'm going to end this here. I have a few points I want to make, but my sleeping pills are kicking in and I am having to correct too many typing errors. :)

Holy Long Time, No See Batman!

Wow, it's been MONTHS since I last posted anything! I'm sitting here at work bored to death...not because I don't have anything to do, I just don't have anything that I want to do. I'm excited about my new house. I signed all of the paperwork yesterday, and I'm just waiting from my Realtor to call me so that I can get my keys.

I must say that I've been very lucky with this purchase. I have lived in my old house for over ten years...the longest I've EVER lived in any house. Earlier this year homes in my neighborhood were selling for $60-70 thousand, so I was upside-down on my loan. I checked prices out again in August and noticed that they had doubled, so I decided to try selling. I found an excellent Realtor, she came over, took pictures, put the house up on the MLS listing and the very next day I had an offer for the full asking price! I couldn't believe it.

It took several weeks to find my new house, but I'm very pleased. It's an older home...built in 1976, but the previous owners have done all of the expensive remodel work: custom cabinets, granite counter tops, real wood flooring, tiled shower, etc. I love it! It's about 500 sq. ft. larger than my old house, but still three bedrooms. There are a few things that I'll eventually change in the house, like repaint the yellow family room, but there really isn't anything that sticks out as needing immediate attention. The best part of this house is the fact that I actually have a back yard! If you know the Las Vegas area, you understand what I mean. Land is a premium here, and in many cases, your back yard is more like a tiny square of land with dirt or rocks. This yard actually has grass! My dogs will be so happy.

I'm moving in tomorrow, and then on Thursday I'm off to China for a few days for work. Am I crazy? Yes...