Tragedy in the Laundry Room

Last night I threw a load of laundry in to get the suitcase emptied from my trip to Independence, Missouri.

The load included my nice work shirts ("official" and un-official), several of my favorite t-shirts, my black cardigan, jeans, nice work pants (though I only get to wear them when I'm traveling for work) etc, etc.

Threw the batch in the dryer then I sat down to watch "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" (I'd only give it 2 stars and probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone, there are other much better Holocaust movies out there -- I didn't even manage a good cry out of it, which if you know me at all is saying A LOT). The dryer was terribly noisy, like something was thunking around in there...I just figured it was the buttons on my jeans or something.

Upon unloading the dryer I discover the source of the noise...I forgot to double-check the pockets of my best jeans and missed the Burt's Bees Pomegranate lip balm in the pocket! (Please note: I pride myself on my laundry skills -- this is the first mishap I can think of!)

So now, not only do my clothes have melted lip balm all over them, I'm out a Burt's Bees lip balm. Really I'm not sure what's more tragic.

*Does any one know how to get melted lip balm out of your clothes? Or perhaps the location of an abandoned gold mine where I could get the funds to buy new clothes???

And in other news...

I'm training a couple of "missionaries" for the digital project here in Independence. This morning one of the sisters asks if I'm related to my mom and I said yes, turns out she's Jimmy Christensen's (yes, Cousin Jimmy's) sister-in-law, Bonnie. How weird is that?

This One's for Mom

Yesterday I came across an obituary for the elusive Patrick McDermott -- yes, that Patrick McDermott. It reads as follows from the Galesburg, Illinois Republican-Register:

McDermott, Mr. Patrick died in his home Rio, Tuesday morning after a long illness of several weeks of dropsy. Has been resident of Rio many years. He raised a large family, not one of whom was with him during his last illness. Rio, Nov. 20, 1886

I can't help but wonder where the rest of his family was -- and think of Mrs. Mears (from Thoroughly Modern Millie) who would say, "Sad to be all alone in the world." Poor guy.

But perhaps not, turns out there may be some kind of probate record for him. I'll have to wait 'til I get back to SLC to check the film at the Library.

Here I go again on my own...

Years ago when I bought my first real car ( a light blue 1985 Honda Civic - affectionately know as Clark) I decided it was my adventure-mobile. I dubbed myself "Adventure Girl" and I even had a faithful sidekick called "Tadpole" we went on what we thought were adventures but never really travelled too far from home...I honestly can't remember traveling farther than Lagoon, but nevertheless we had a good-time.

Now as a grown up I find myself on more adventurous adventures. I've even crossed the wide Atlantic Ocean. But I not longer have a sidekick. Tadpole has long since been married and is usually off on adventures of her own. Last night as the panic set in (which it always does before a trip) I found myself wishing and hoping I had a travel buddy. But alas, Marge is working, Mr. Right is nowhere to be found and let's face it, Gus the cat would not make the best travel buddy, he meows pathetically on the 3 minute drive to the vet.

So, Here I am, in Independence, Missouri on my own. Though I've got to say there's something to be said about going on one's own adventures. Today I boarded a plane, acquired a rental car and drove to my hotel all on my own (almost). I did have to call Marge to get directions to my hotel. I'd made one wrong turn at the end of my journey and got all off course. But now, after venturing out to find some groceries and some much needed lotion I'm back in my suite for the night watching "August Rush" and eating Ramen Noodles with Velveeta cheese.

I can do hard things, I just wish I didn't always have to do them alone.