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I have had trouble coming up with a title for this post, and ultimately decided titles aren't always important in a personal blog that is visited by only a handful of people who are predominantly members of my family so instead of spending time on the title, I am spending time writing out this lengthy explanation of why my title is lacking.

Many years ago, after having moved to AZ and while early on in my Career, I met a wonderful Woman.  We dated a bit and developed a good friendship but the relationship didn't progress beyond the date stage and ultimately we went our separate ways.  I bring her up now because she shared with me once a bit about myself that is probably not much of a surprise to anyone who knows me but at the time made me think.  She was talking about "languages of love", ways that different people will communicate their feelings of love and affection.  Not everyone writes poems, not everyone remembers to send cards on each and every special event.  Truth be told I am probably very bad at most of the languages of love she mentioned, but one in particular has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and that is the giving of gifts. 

I have always found a joy in giving to others.  I don't need gifts myself, often times I would rather not receive them.  But I give them and enjoy giving them.  I will sacrifice my own needs so that I can give gifts to others.  For me it has never been about status, or trying to be "better" than someone else.  It is simply one of the ways I express my love for others.  So it was that, while attending the funeral for my Grandfather Loveridge I had an idea pop into my head of a way I could quietly express my love for my grieving Grandmother even though I live far away.  A couple phone calls, some sharing of information and instructions, and my plan was put into place and the first of my weekly gifts arrived.  It was my intention for this to remain anonymous, I didn't want anyone to know what I was doing as some acts of Love don't need to be publicized and so on each card accompanying my small gifts was the signature A Nony Mouse (play on anonymous and mouse given Grandpa's love of Disney World). 

Week after week my gifts would arrive, and each week my Grandma would ask who was sending them but the delivery company followed my instructions and politely declined sharing this information.  I even lied to my Mom when she asked me if I was the one sending them (I did discuss my dishonesty with my Bishop already and have since repented of it).  My subterfuge came to an end a few weeks ago when a new delivery person failed to keep my information secret and suddenly I got a phone call from my Grandma expressing her gratitude for what I had been doing and insisting I don't (and shouldn't) need to keep doing it.

I have since had the thought pop into my head that others may want to share in my gift giving.  I may be wrong in this, after all I know of several other acts of love that have been regularly carried out by different members of my great family, but if anyone would like to take over a week from me from time to time I will not be upset or offended or anything like that.  I have a standing order with Haw's Floral in Lehi, Utah.  You can call them at (801) 768-8306, let them know you want to pay for the delivery in place of me (Daniel Loveridge) for that particular week and make any changes to the order you want.  Just be sure she knows who sent them, apparently my a nony mouse signature had her a little worried about who it might be. 

And what better way to end a post than with a picture.

Thanks Mom for sending this beautiful picture to me

Quick Catch Up

So the last several weeks have gone by very quickly for me and while my life is generally rather dull and uneventful as I take a brief moment to think back on it there was a bit that did happen outside of my normal wake up, go to work, go home and to bed routine.  So... here is a quick recap of the last 3 weeks... or was it 4 or 5, I am not quite sure... you see I turned 40 on August 24th and ever since then things have been crazy busy!

In the past 4 weeks I have had my boss visit my hotel 3 different times.  I have had a visit from the President of the company purchasing my hotel.  I have had a visit from the current owner's of my hotel.  I have had a visit from a Senior VP over focused service sales as well.  During all of these visits I have been scrambling to prepare my hotel for a Quality Assurance inspection (Q.A. for short) that will happen any day now, I have also switched leased labor companies (not the employees, just the company, boss said to do it so I said OK).  I have survived yet another head cold, survived my first 2 cub scout meetings, a pack meeting, and a roundtable meeting.  I have taught 2 times in Primary (love that calling!) and even survived my own cooking!

I have also had visits from 2 friends:  Eve, my friend who currently lives in Texas stopped by and did a bit of decorating in my apartment.  I even left some of what she did alone (some of it got rearranged the day she flew out).  Jason Libberton, a friend from my Elementary School days stopped by for a week with one of his daughters to visit the Chicago area.  I was busy with work so didn't get to spend a ton of time with them, but it was nice to have someone to talk to at night and play the occasional game with. 

This week the craziness continued with another visit from my boss (I seriously thought he was joking when he said he was coming back out).  After the craziness of the previous visits he decided this time we should do something fun and so we all went to a Cubs game on Wednesday night.  I even took some pictures! They aren't of the highest quality, but since my posts so rarely have pictures I will post them anyway.  And that will wrap up my catch up.

Wrigley Stadium on our way to the game

Great Seats, and better yet... they didn't cost me anything!



Chicago Dog, had to have one while there. They are messy, but soooo tasty!  I still prefer Fenway Franks though.