More of my worktrip in Utah

I was sooooo crazy busy last week supporting the location in Salt Lake I actually could not find the time to make a post last week and I had been doing so good.  Oh well, maybe I can make it up somewhere.   I absolutely love it when I am so busy that time flies by and its already lunch time then you're running around and before you know it its almost time to leave.  The fast pace is what I enjoy! Yet, its also nice to be back at my desk  to breathe and get caught up on emails.
So last Saturday I ended up working from 7am to 2pm.  Todd had flown in to work as well in Salt Lake and so he hung out in the hotel and he worked a little, had breakfast at Ihop that was across the parking lot from hotel and then he met me at my location to see the Harley shop.
Once I got off work, we drove up to Park City to show Todd around. I had been there before years ago but I wanted him to see it. Its the coolest little ski town where also Olympics have taken place there.  It was a nice drive and we listened to some live bands performing off the main street. We got a frozen coffee drink and just walked up and down the town.  We also had to stop at the Walmart on the way out of Park City to buy a new pillow because the hotel pillows were awful!
When we arrived back in Salt Lake, we drove downtown and saw the Mormon Temple and all the buildings associated with Latter Day Saints.  Last time I was there , I also visited inside the Tabernacle Choir building and visitor center. It was very interesting.  Todd didn't want to get out of the car because of parking, etc so we just drove around.  We stopped to eat at a very very popular place called the Red Iguana.  They are 2 locations within just a few blocks of each other and it was a 45 minute wait for both locations.  I ordered a combo platter and when I got to my enchilada, I cut it open to eat the insides ( lol - I was full and just wanted to taste the meat inside) , and there was a small hair with food cooked on each end.  Honestly yall, I used to be a restaurant manager so I know it can easily be done. I cant think of anyone that would purposefully add a hair to food.  The heat will kill any germs so it doesn't gross me out.  I just calmly told the waiter and I told him that I didn't need to be comped for it. They did anyway but it wasn't necessary because I ate everything else on my plate.  
So speaking of food- Salt Lake has a local chain called Crown Burger that is a must! It started by a Greek family and they have a large variety of things to choose from.  The burger comes topped with a piece of pastrami and it was so yummy!  I subscribe to Cowboys and Indians magazine and there's actually an article specifically mentioning the Crown Burger.  Very Cool!!
What was really nice is that a work friend was also in Salt Lake supporting our larger location in Salt Lake. She lives in California and I got to know her very well many years ago when I did the Cali Conversion. We met up for dinner on Thursday in downtown Salt lake at Squatters Brewery before she headed to airport to fly home.
I flew home last Friday and I was so happy to be with my dogs and my bed and my husband.  No place like home! 

Park City bench

Mormon Temple

My crew I worked with last week in SLC

My work friend Genelle

Fly away sweet Queen Bee

Saturday was an emotional day. It was the same day we had Daddy's funeral a year ago. My stepmom Deb wanted to host a Celebration of Life party for Dad.  I was dreading it but it ended up better than anticipated.  I was going to fill you in on the party today but that post has to wait. When we got home that evening and was settling on the couch, i went on Facebook on my phone. One of the first posts i saw was someone saying goodbye to one of my friends Brittany. I couldnt believe it. I said out-loud to Todd " Oh No ! Little Brittany is gone".   Earlier that morning, i had posted a Happy Birthday post on her page.  I later read that she had gone into the hospital late Friday night and passed away early Saturday morning on her birthday.
I met Brittany around 5 years ago through blogging.  Her blog was BeeLittleQueen and then changed the name to Sunny Tales and Happy Mail.  Pretty much very soon after i started blogging. She was one of my first blogging friends where we always commented on each others posts.  We eventually became friends on Facebook and Instagram which was great. I never got to meet her face to face in person because she lived in Arizona. Brittany was in a wheelchair and lived on a ventilator since she was 23.  She had Spinal Muscular Dystrophy and had to start on wheelchair when she was 11 years old. She had to live in a special home for those who needed 24 care with her ventilator, etc.
We would text each other periodically and we always sent little packages to each other.  We even switched maxi skirts one summer.  She loved fashion and makeup and we would talk about her favorite brands, etc.
The last few years , Brittany struggled with her health more and more. She went into the hospital a few time due to infection around her trach, air leaking, etc.  From there it was domino effect with other parts of her body.  She didnt post the whole year of 2016 on her blog. Luckily she would post on IG or FB so i could see some activity from her.
A few years ago, she started going to the Church of Latter Day Saints and met some new friends. Brittany eventually got baptized and joined the church. She loved it and i was happy for her to have a new community of friends to hang out with and look after her.  She came from a hispanic Catholic family and had posted that she knew many of her family didnt agree with the Mormon church but they also encouraged her to make her own decisions.
Brittany was always the most positive person i ever knew. She had the most beautiful outlook of life and the sweetest biggest smile.  She so badly wanted to have a boyfriend and to marry one day.  Brittany wanted what all young women want. She was no different .
I will miss my sweet little friend but she is soaring high with the angels. Had i known just a few hours earlier, i would have dedicated a balloon just for her.  In fact, i actually grabbed 2 balloons to release for Dad which was funny.
I normally dont pick a word for my year like so many do.  I've tried once or twice and never carried through.  I am choosing Brittany's word Mindful .  I feel the need and it came to me last night while i was wide awake until 2am to carry on her word this year. The word is a good one and it applies to me as well.  I want to have a mindful year of what i am grateful for and pull my head out of the dark grieving hole i've been in.

Definition from dictionary (online) mind·ful

ˈmīn(d)fəl/

adjective

adjective: mindful

1. conscious or aware of something.

   "we can be more mindful of the energy we use to heat our homes"