Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor

Our dog was returned today by an animal control worker. Apparently Sokrateez was found hiding behind a nearby gas station.

Yay!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stolen from our fenced in backyard between 2:45pm and 4:45pm

“SOKRATEEZ”
Last seen May 3rd
7800 South 1300 West, West Jordan, Utah
REWARD
801-502-8556

We hiked in Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Mountains, east of Salt Lake City, along the Little Cottonwood Trail.

We found morel and oyster mushrooms.

We also saw some pretty scenery and wildlife.

As I write this, I am cooking all the mushrooms (first I had to wash them and slice them), afterwhich we will make a very yummy mushroom stroganoff!

I am a Co-Coordinator of the Green Party of Utah. for nearly a year there has been much divisiveness over the presidential candidate selection at the national GPUS convention. The majority of Utah Greens wanted David Cobb as its choice of candidates but a small group of a few were instrumental in hijacking the process and prevented our party from having its choice. Details can be obtained at GPUT FAQs.

Due to the strife of the split in the party and subsequent actions by former members (who were suspended for a period of time), the GPUT found it necessary to protect its assets by incorporating and obtaining a trademark with the state of Utah.

While any group has the right to gather signatures for a petition to gain recognized status as a political party, no one except the GPUT at http://www.gput.org has the right to use the name “Green Party of Utah” under state commerce law.

If you find yourself being approached to sign a GPUT ballot access petition, please be sure it has the official GPUT mailing address (Layton, UT) and “Tom King” listed as the filing officer. This is the only petition that has authorization to use the name “Green Party of Utah”.

Registration of Incorporation with the state of Utah:

Certificate of Trademark with the state of Utah:

Both items’ status are listed on the Dept. of Commerce website at:
https://secure.utah.gov/bes/action/searchresults

I’ve been having a pretty rough month with hormonal issues. My last three periods have come every two weeks. I’ve had hot flashes so intense I’ve been sick, accompanied by dizziness, headaches and heart palpitations. I almost had to go home from work on Thursday but I stuck it out.

Still, I”ve been diligent about walking, bike riding, and hiking, which always makes me feel better.

I keep telling myself that this is natural…..

One of the most rewarding things in my life, besides raising my children, has been my career as a teacher. Despite 23 years experience, I still find joy and excitement in helping students discover the world around them. I have mostly taught adolescents, but my experience ranges from pre-school to senior citizens. I mostly have taught music (and still do), but have also taught technology and special ed math and language arts and study skills.

There are many, many experiences I could share, but I’ll share one humorous one for now. Several years ago when I was teaching special ed language arts, a few of my students presented me with a giant card they had made on the last day of school.

On the outside it read: “Ms. Taylor……”

and on the inside it read (with great color and flare I might add):

“…..You’re the Beast!”

I haven’t stopped laughing over that since. It was cute.

I have always had really, really bad self-esteem. Since I was a child, various events and experiences as I was growing contributed to this.

I have never viewed myself as “smart” for a variety of reasons, inclusive of being embarassed and called names regarding my “smartness”. If you have ever watched the movie “Forrest Gump”, recall the scene where he says to Jenny, “I am not a smart man,” where you know that Forrest realizes his capabilites. I had a bonding moment with Forrest the first time I heard that line. I feel like that a lot. It’s frustrating at times, because you know what your limitations are for understanding things. Yet one learns to develop coping mechanisms for this.

Aside from the intellect issue, I have all my life struggled with weight problems. Up and down, all my life. In first grade I weighed 80 pounds! I remember my doctor putting me on a diet and chastising my mother for allowing me to get that big. The funny things was that I truly and honestly believed I was the fastest runner in the entire world. (sad) I lost weight that summer and was really thin by second grade. I have lived a roller coaster weight game throughout the years. When I lost 70 pounds about 10 years ago, I managed to keep it off, although with the advent of all the hormonal issues, I have gained weight again. I don’t eat much and I exercise ( I eat the right things, though). It seems harder and harder to keep it off. Almost every minute of every day is filled with thoughts of being fat and it sometimes impairs my functioning. But I manage. I try to keep my mind on other things so I don’t think about my body so much.

I just wish I could accept things the way they are and not worry so much.

At least once per year we like to go camp in the Utah West Desert in the Thomas Range, where the famous Topaz Mountain is. We camp in a remote spot and hike for about two hours to a fairly remote spot to gather crystals.

We also like to collect obsidian rock, or “Apache Tears” in the vicinity.

Here is the legend of the Apache Tears:

“One day a party of Apache Indians was ambushed by an enemy tribe. The Apaches fought bravely but were greatly outnumbered and were driven to the top of a very high mountain. Their arrows were gone, and they could fight no longer. Refusing to be taken captive, they leaped, as one, from the cliffs to the rocks below.

“The Apache women, grief-stricken over the death of their brave warriors, shed torrents of tears. The tears became petrified and turned to stone.”1

Apache tears are actually small pieces of obsidian or volcanic glass. When held in the palm of your hand, the stone appears to be black. When held to the light, you are able to see through the stone.

Today Tom and I bought a car for our son, Brian, as a graduation gift. He is so excited. He just obtained his drivers license last Friday. Here’s a photo:

Yes, that’s right, “Hormone Hell”. My mother hit menopause at age 45. I don’t mean the “pre-menopause”, I mean THE menopause. She stopped menstruating at that point. I am age 45. I first began having symptoms at age 30, then I became pregnant with my third child.

For the past several years (since winter of 2001), I have had significant symptoms. Sometimes the symptoms impair my daily functioning. I am choosing to “go through” this time naturally, as did my mother. When my heart races and I experience anxiety, I sometimes wonder if I could have some relief through medicinal means, but then it passes and I feel good that I have developed other methods of dealing with the symptoms – without medicine.

Sometimes I cannot wait to be officially declared “menopausal” (one year after your last period). But then again……

The most important thing for me to remember is that this is a natural and normal part of life. Ever since the death of my grandmother I think a lot more about our mortality and I try to cram in as many things as I can, knowing how little time I have, yet at the same time I attempt to balance that with savoring the many pleasures of life on this planet. I try to keep the mindset that each day is a new adventure with new things to learn and do. Enjoyment and happiness are at the top of my agenda. If I cannot have those, I cannot be an effective contributor to the global community.

And so I try to look at these bodily changes as another adventure with a new set of challenges, enjoyments, and wonders.

Attitude is everything.

Here are some useful sites on Menopause:
Minnie Pauz
Menopause and Beyond
Land O’Links – Menopause Online Resources
Early Menopause Symptoms
Menopause Links

This is available as a button and magnet from
Minnie Pauz

People for Peace and Justice of Utah (PPJ) is a peace advocacy group that formed after September 11, 2001. Since October 2001 PPJ has held a weekly vigil in front of the Federal Building in Salt Lake City each Thursday from 5-7pm. This vigil is in its 4th year.

The vigils have been held in all weather, have had as few as one person and as many as 60, depending on the political climate.

These vigils will continue until there is worldwide peace and justice.