From our Man in Utah

Well, woman actually. This is from my neighbor, a pretty & spry Southern California girl, who has recently moved her family to Park City for the ski season:

to my husband:

honey, i am so sorry that for the past 12 years (ok, 39 years) i have failed to realize my full potential. utah adventure: 2008 has revealed many more of my innate capabilities than i ever imagined.

since last night, i have moved a mountain. twice.

ok, so it was the same mountain, but i think it still counts. i was told the growing mass of snow on the rooftop outside our 3rd floor bedroom window had to go in order to avoid future water damage. the snow mass at first was lovely, and later amusing, but when it completely eclipsed all view of the street, even i agreed it had to go. i mean, how would i tell if the plows had come overnight to free our car from the driveway?

hours into the job, having successfully gotten some - not most - of the snow over the edge of the roof, my pride of accomplishment was obliterated at light speed as i discovered the mountain from the roof now resided on the driveway. i could only hope the nice snow plow men would see it on their morning routes and move it for me. nope! i shoveled the same mountain from the roof off the driveway so i could liberate the car. did i mention the driveway scene began at 750am?

i must also apologize for not knowing i could lift four 40-pound bags of salt pellets and arrange them strategically over my car's wheel wells to help prevent sliding, drive through blinding white outs without crashing (so far), single-handedly manage to get 2 small and largely unskilled children down a blizzard-laden ski run, 2 gondolas and across a busy snowy parking lot and live to tell, and make what i consider to be quite a tasty meal with a crockpot and a dash of every single spice in our ill-equipped spice cabinet.

and please forgive me, honey, for never taking out the trash, rarely pumping my own gas, and being wholly unfamiliar with the interior of a grocery store.

i should mention that these newfound skills come at a cost. my toes are suffering from lack of regular pedicures, my lashes have seen mascara a scant 4 times since relocating to utah, and the skinny jeans have bowed to my warmest sweats (which share prime time with 2 layers of leggings).

i wouldn't dream of wrapping this apology without sharing the latest utah news. i told you before that the LDS president/prophet died earlier this week, meriting wall to wall news coverage ("the passing of a prophet"). well, to maintain order at his service this weekend, utahans (proper name) must obtain tickets for entry. of course there is a limited number available, but luckily the "family ticket" accommodates two parents and 6 - SIX- children.

only in utah.

am i forgiven?
xo