It's the "tranny/pedi"

Our move to Salt Lake has been great, overall! Of course change takes some time and adjusting. My mom has been so good to call and check on me almost every day! She called one day to let me know that I had all four stressors of disaster. What? She was reading somewhere that the four major "stressors" that cause depression/suicide/anxiety/loss of testimony/whatever else my mom was concerned about:) were:

1. Moving. 2. A job change. 3. Poor health. 4. Death or loss.

Well, I don't mean to be Debbie Downer, but I will be Fanny Factual: 1. We moved--quickly and interestingly. 2. I'm not working, Scott graduated, quit his job of 5 years and started a completely new job (which has turned out awesome!). 3. I have had some poor health to say the least, and been hanging out with doctors at least two or three times a week, who all assure me that I am handling this just fine! I have worried that I'm not Pollyanna enough, but I have been reassured by MANY professionals that I have a lot of sh*t going on (I promise, I haven't even scratched the surface when it comes to sharing the details yowza!) and they are impressed with my positive attitude and sense of humor! I had one doctor tell me that actually ANYONE else in my situation would just NOT be handling this! (I needed that validation!) So if you're out there thinking I have a bad attitude or I'm not positive enough or if you were worried about my post with the unexplained titles, don't be! I'm surviving well! And as JK told Melinda, surviving is success! 4. My grandma Tueller is slowly dying (I can't believe I just typed that!) and having moved closer to her, I have been witnessing her decline (feeding her and changing her) and helping my sweet grandpa Jack while his heart is breaking as he loses his sweetheart of 69 years!

SOOO, with that brought to my attention (thanks mom--no really, I thought I was just losing my mind!) I realized, that it was OK to be having some ups and downs. It has been tough, I won't go into detail because I don't like to share my personal problems, however, SLIGHT DIVERSION: This past weekend was incredible for me. The 181st General Conference of the LDS church was this past Saturday and Sunday and wow did it buoy me up! It was, to me, direct words from God. I firmly believe that and know that He communicated with me this past weekend through Latter-Day prophets. I have been praying and begging for direction and help and I KNOW that someone-my Heavenly Father-who loves me (and all of us), sent me personal messages and feelings. I needed this desperately! I have prayed for help tons of times before, most times it has been stick it out and wait, be strong, keep reading your scriptures, etc., but this time it came from General Conference and from a visit to the temple when we were asked to do sealings performed by Brother Kinikini. I need to document this so I can look back on it. I wrote the details down somewhere special, but the overall event was one that I think I will look back on and realize that it was one of my roads that diverged in a yellow wood.

OK, so anyway back to the topic at hand, the move to SLC and the job change has overall been a positive, much needed change of pace, scenery, and PEOPLE...which leads me to share the story of the tranny/pedi.

Scott went skiing on a buy one get one kind of a thing, so I got to splurge on a pedicure. I found this little place up here in Sugar House that was having a special that a manicure came with the pedicure. That's what us girls call a mani/pedi. Saweeet! I walked in and was told to pick out my color and then climb into one of those heavenly chairs that rubs your back. I did what I was told and got comfy when I heard, "Hello, what's your name?" I look to my right and the person sitting next to me immediately becomes my new best friend because they are so different. Man or woman? Man or woman? I'm not sure. I can't stop starring. His/her make up was awesome (I probably should have asked for some tips!) Eyebrows that were painted on like rainbows. Lips that looked like they were applied with a Sharpie pen. His/her hair was about 1/2 inch long but with extensions attached at the ends that were long about half way down his/her back. I'm gonna go with HER. Her name was Terri (well great, that didn't help decide gender at all). Her voice...could have been male or female. So, all in all, I guess it's not important what was, but what is. So for all intents and purposes we're just a couple of girls getting our toes done. We talked and talked and it was seriously awesome! She was so, so nice and when she found out I was new to Salt Lake, she started giving me all these little tips about good restaurants and shops and local joints. I like people that are different and confident enough in themselves that I'm sure they are not judging me and my insecurities. (ya, I'm one of those that worries what people think of me--I'm working on it!) We talked about people and friends and family. We parted as new BFFs, exchanging information and it was so nice and different and got me thinking of something other than my own "shtuff!" It was really refreshing and far from the "norm!" I really like the diversity up here in SLC. It's been like moving to an entirely different state. It was funny because my sister and I were just talking about the differences in Utah and Salt Lake Valleys. So the minute I sat down to this difference, I text Melinda and asked her when the last time was she had a pedicure in Utah Valley seated next to a possible transvestite/cross dresser?

I text Scott and let him know what my afternoon was like. When I came home he asked me,

...WAIT FOR IT...

"How was your tranny/pedi?"

(Get it? mani/pedi?)

My husband is a funny dude!