For everyone who's ever had a bad day...

I'll admit I've had some really bad days. Days so bad in fact I think I can't wait to go back to bed and try again the next day. But seriously, if I had a day as bad as what I'm about to describe, I'd probably move, change my identity, and live out my days in solitude.

So are you ready to hear about this bad day?

I'll preface by saying it wasn't my bad day, but it did add a jolt to my morning. After all, it's not every day you see a naked woman crossing the street.

And this was not just any street. This was 3900 South and Highland Drive in Salt Lake City during the morning commute...four lanes of traffic plus turn lanes going all directions...and somehow we all made it through the intersection, including the naked woman, without having an accident ourselves.

Actually, I was stopped at the opposite intersection at the time. The woman who was the object of all this attention was crossing in front of me. At first I thought, "That is one tight shirt...and it's skin color..."

Then I realized what I was seeing and had to just stare to make sure I was really seeing what I thought I was seeing, then had to look around at cars around me to make sure everyone else was seeing what I was seeing.

Sure enough, everyone was just as stunned as I was, and this woman just continued on her way, completely oblivious to the fact that she didn't have a stitch of clothing on... Ok, I exaggerate. She was wearing a red thong, but that was it...and carrying a purse in her hand like she was going somewhere.

She seriously didn't know she wasn't wearing clothes. She wasn't trying to draw attention--just walking along...I'm guessing as high as a kite, middle-aged woman, long stringy hair...kind of a big lady...I've probably said enough.

Lessons learned from this story, if there are any to be learned...

1. Whatever she took, I don't want any.

2. If you sleep walk, wear clothes to bed.

3. If you have that dream you're naked in front of people, wake up.

4. Make a habit of checking yourself in the mirror before walking out the door.

5. There isn't really a purse for every outfit.

And after that, what else is there to say? I'm kind of at a loss for words. So how's your day going?

Axadint (by Joie)

Today is the day I got in the axadint.
Joie

Random Acts of Kindness

Last night we were driving home from Logan and while the rest of the family was snoozing away the miles, I found myself thinking about today--August 18, 2008. I felt the feelings of loneliness and weight of memories of this difficult anniversary start to sink in. If I've learned anything in a year, it's knowing I can no more push those feelings away than I could stop the sun from rising. My next thought was about what it takes to sometimes move on from those really difficult feelings. This year when things are tuff, I've relied on the old adage of doing something nice for someone else. It reminds me that life goes on and reminds me that our world is filled with opportunities to live. With that thought, I remembered Ruth and Nick and what their lives stood for. They personified service. Nick and Ruth would drop what they were doing to run to the side of friends, family and neighbors in need. Then I thought of the hundreds and hundreds of acts of kindness we and other family members have received this year. Friends and complete strangers have reached out to Joie, to us, and to extended familiy members in an effort to support us through tuff times. This thought grew into an idea--a challenge for myself and others that would help us today and act as a memorial for the family members we lost. I found myself making a commitment to myself that no matter what else happens today, I will do something kind for someone else, in memory of Ruth Nick and Audrey. We, the Jarmans, challenge all of you to do something nice today for someone else. Listen to a friend, make your sister's bed, leave a note, send a card, bake some cookies. make a phone call...whatever you want to do...in memory of Ruth, Nick and Audrey. Reply back if you do this--we'd love to hear what people were able to do!

2 and a half more weeks tell school!? (by Megan)

i wish i had no school but than i won't be able

to learn!

what should i pick?

SCHOOL or NO SCHOOL?

PICK ONE?!

50 Cents

No, I'm not into rap music. Since Dollar was the name of our first turtle, Nate likes the name 50 cents for our new turtle (who actually is about half the size of our first turtle) ...Wait, wait...I feel another turtle story coming on!

So, we decided last weekend to buy a new turtle. After all, we had $200.00 worth of turtle equipment, and no turtle. Turtles were a whopping $15.00 at the pet store, so we made the commitment to turtle #2...and aside from picking a name, it didn't appear this would really turn into a story.

With his tank filled (50 gallon with about 50 extra pounds of rocks inside), 50 cents (or whatever his/her name will be) was enjoying his new, albeit artificial environment when his ever so attentive 12 year old owner discovered the tank was sitting on top of the cord to the all important UVA/UVB artificial full-spectrum lighting. Our solution (after not being able to move the tank) was to let the turtle live without the all important artificial lighting until Tim got home to help move the tank. Forget emptying the tank...that would have been too much work. So Tim got home, grabbed the fully loaded tank and pulled. The tank didn't move, but the glass down the back of the tank broke from top to bottom. Instantly there was water leaking out the back of the tank and the next few minutes were a blur of towels, shop vac suctioning water (which also got too full and flooded) and more towels. The poor turtle spent the day in the sink while we debated returning him because he no longer had a home, or buying another tank. But being the devoted parents we are, we replaced the tank (we're now a whopping $321.00 into turtle supplies and have only ever spent $15.00 on a turtle...but who's counting?)

We're still trying to name the turtle...suggestions are 50 Cents, Peso, Penny (since based on internet pictures "it" looks female), and I think Yen, Euro, and Pound were also thrown out as suggestions. Please don't ask why we're naming our turtles after money...Dollar was a name that stuck so we seem to just have a theme going on here. Feel free to cast your vote!

Dollar

Dollar is a turtle. Dollar used to be named Turtlini and belonged to a co-worker. Turtlini didn't get along with Mrs. Turtlini so they went their seperate ways, and Turtlini came to live with us and became Dribble (named after the turtle in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing), then became Dollar...and Dollar is the name that stuck.

Next we spent about $200.00 on an appropriate home for our free pet...tank, filter, lights, basking log, food, water treatments...we got it all. And Dollar has been a very happy turtle. He swims; he eats; he basks; he eats; he sleeps; he eats...you get the picture. We've also heard that turtles like outdoor habitats, so we've taken him outdoors a few times to enjoy the real sun rather than the artificial UVA and UVB spectrum lights provided in his aquarium. He's done ok out there--no different really...just basks. Such is the life of a turtle.

A few weeks ago we decided to take him to our cabin with us rather than finding a neighbor to come in daily to care for him. After all, what turtle in his right mind wouldn't prefer a real outdoor habitat to artificial UVA and UVB spectrum lighting, artificial plant pellets, and and artificially heated tank? At the cabin we carefully prepared the blue vinyl wading pool (it was outdoors, so technically the pool was the only artificial part of his environment), filled it with water, added real logs and rocks, and put him in. He swam, then basked. He tried to climb out, but the vinyl was too slippery and seemed to keep him inside ok. He looked so happy basking on that log.

We spent the next little while going about our business of relaxing at the cabin. About 30 minutes later, Jeran yelled, "Dollar's missing!" We went outside and sure enough the call of the wild proved to be too great for little Dollar to ignore...and apparently the artificial vinyl wading pool wasn't enough of a natural habitat to satisfy his craving for a walk on the wild side. The good news is the cabin is in an area where there is a high water table and is surrounded by a lot of marshy swamp land. The bad news is we lost Dollar. We looked for him the whole time we were up there, and didn't find him. We kept thinking he had to come out to bask sometime, but apparently he was basking in a really good hiding spot because we didn't find him. When we originally researched how to take care of him we read about people who keep their turtles outside and in cold climates they supposedly burrow for the winter. Hope he's good at burrowing because Midway, Utah can get cold in the winter (sigh).

Already the boys have cleaned out the tank so we can go get a new turtle. Joie wants a bunny instead. Problem is Champ and Angel (the dogs) probably would also really, really like a bunny, but for different reasons.

THE WINNER!!!!!!!!

who ever did not know the winner. the winner is...

Stan/Grandpa/Dad!!!!!

(And it was Tawny who is pregnant.)

You're invited! (by Megan & Joie)

This is Joie and Megan. We are throwing a baby shower for Rynli Ruth (the baby's name). All of you get to guess the proud parents... (They called Joie to ask if they could use her mommy's name for the baby so she gets to make the announcement.) If you are the first one to call us with the right answer, you win a prize!!! Think carefully before dialing because you only get one guess per family. Save the date! The baby shower will be November 1st. Our phone number is: