Photo Booth Fun

In honor of fair time, I thought I'd upload a fun (mostly likely) fair picture. That extra head in the frames, that's my Aunt Cricket. She's my dad's sister, and she lives in Hawaii. The same Hawaii that I will be visiting in October.

Wonder what was going on in that booth? It must have gone a little like this...
Those booths, they were always fun. I used to take pictures in them all the time while I was showing. What else do you do with your free time when you're not sweeping the pig barn...?

Hummm.... Wonder what happened to all those pictures...

You know, I haven't done one of those photo booth things in a long time... Maybe that's something I need to do again soon.

Once a Princess, Always a Princess

Who's a pretty, pretty princess? Yep, I am! My mom actually made this dress. You see, at 6 years old, I was a junior bride in a wedding. My "wedding dress" then became my Halloween costume. My mom was no dumby, she knew that I'd grow out of that dress fairly quickly. But my grandma had a fit that my mom was letting me wear it as a costume.

1986

You see though, although I may not be extremely high maintenance (yes, I am just a little bit I admit it) , I still am a princess. And I should be treated like on.

But mostly, I'd like a knight in shining armor come rescue me.

That's all this princess is wishing for.

Knees Together

Here I am. Many of you may think the spot where I'm sitting looks familiar. Because it is really.
You see, this picture was taken at my grandparent's house. Which is now my parent's house. I'm sitting on the steps that lead to the patio.

What's changed? Well, the carpet for one. Look how dated and 1970's that stuff is. And you'll notice that the dining room behind me is also carpeted, in shag carpet. Yea Baby!

I'm thinking that maybe this was around Christmas time. The dress leads me to believe that. But I really don't know. I'm going to leave the answer to that up to my anonymous commenter, aka my mom.

Mom, enlighten me, do you remember what the details of this picture are?

Quote of the Day

"Every great mistake has a halfway moment, a split second when it can be recalled and perhaps remedied."
— Pearl S. Buck

Yes, but you can't necessarily go back that that split second and change it.

Where Did My Heart Go Missing...

Wednesday of the Merced County Fair the group Rooney played. Chris is a HUGE fan, as is Colleen and their friend Clinton, so we all piled in Colleen's car and drove down for a free concert. We love free concerts.

Katy, Colleen's sister also joined us. In fact, this Seasame Street wannabe kept following us, so we made her take a picture with him just so he'd leave us alone.

The concert. They were great! And we had good seats, 4th row from the front.
Katy, Chris, Colleen, and Clinton.

Hello Honey! Meet my current fiance, Michael from the Princess Dairies... Wait no, he just played Michael. Really he's Robert Schwartzman. Courtney Schwartzman, it has a ring to it! Robert is big into eye contact. When he signed his autography, his eyes met mine, and he knew it was all over from there... And you can't see it, but his arm is around my waist...

Remember the Footsie Wootsies. We did them again. Chris and I were the only ones that knew what they were. So we introduced Clinton, Collee, and Katy to them.

Clinton fell in love. Look at that face. You'd think there was something else going on, wouldn't you?

And so ended our evening at the fair.

I've go start planning Robert and my wedding.

And I've really gotta find me a Footsie Wootsie!



PS: I tried to upload a video clip of one of their sets, but it failed... sorry...

Possum Sighting

Over the course of the last 7 days, I've seen 5 or 6 too many possums. Now, I know that it's really only the same 2 animals just moving along the fence 5 minutes apart every night. But it's still too much possum for me. Well, last week I heard the dog sirens start to sound. So I took my time, grabbed my flip flops, flashlight, and camera. This is what I found...

Get ready for it...

Orini
Possum as I approached it with my camera.
A little closer...
BAM! Hello nasty possum. Would you like to meet my 22?
I really don't have a 22. But my dad does. I keep asking him to polish it up for me.

Riley pacing the fence. She's hoping it comes back and falls off the fence. That actually is cleaner than a 22. But then I have to worry about disease and all that nasty stuff that they carry.
See that little pile of bricks and fence board in the corner. That's where the first possum came out of to play. Riley didn't play so nice with it though.
Stinkin' vermin. Better watch out. We're waiting for you...

Random Fact

A cat’s jaw cannot move sideways.

New York Men

This guy, who married my best friend. He's fro New York.
The guy I am currently interested in. He's from New York.

Coincidence? Or fate?

Alright Already!

I'm sorry folks! I didn't give you an update on the going ons and the interaction between Jacob and I. I'm missed a day. I'm sorry alright.

But really, there was nothing to report for yesterday. The most I saw of him was his head while he was driving to park and I was walking towards my office. I had no one to eat up front with, and I wasn't going to eat alone... So I ate at my desk.

I know. I'm a loser.

I was asked by Bernard if I had gotten my hiking boots yet. I told him that as of right now I don't have a reason to run out and buy some. No one has asked me to go hiking.

I was advised by numerous people to lay low over this next week. See if he comes to me. So, I'm laying low and seeing. It's hard this laying low business.

BUT! Currently, as I type, he is 25 feet away in a conference room for a meeting. This is a test... Will he come down the way to my desk? Say hello to me? Or to Bernard?

I'll keep you posted.

And currently, as of right now, there are no plans for Friday. I must consult my consultants to find out if it would be a good idea for me to try to set something up.

I'm open to all advise, ideas, suggestions, requests.

HELP! I'm clueless when it comes to this kind of stuff!

SIGNS YOU’RE GETTING OLDER

• Everything hurts and what doesn’t hurt doesn’t work.
• The gleam in your eyes is from the sun hitting your bifocals.
• You keep repeating yourself.
• You feel like the morning after and you haven’t been anywhere.
• Your little black book contains only names that end in M.D.
• Your children begin to look middle aged.
• You finally reach the top of the ladder and find it leaning against the wrong wall.
• Your mind makes contracts your body can’t meet.
• You look forward to a dull evening.
• Your favorite part of the newspaper is “20 Years Ago Today”.
• You turn out the lights for economic rather than romantic reasons.
• You sit in a rocking chair and can’t get it going.
• Your knees buckle, and your belt won’t.
• You’re 17 around the neck, 42 around the waist, and 95 around the golf course.
• Your back goes out more than you do.
• You sink your teeth into a steak, and they stay there.
• You have too much room in the house and not enough in the medicine cabinet.
• You know all the answers, but nobody asks you the questions.
• You keep repeating yourself.
• You’re asleep, but others worry that you’re dead.
• You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.
• You buy a compass for the dash of your car.
• You are proud of your lawn mower.
• Your best friend is dating someone half their age…and isn’t breaking any laws.
• Your arms are almost too short to read the newspaper.
• You sing along with the elevator music.
• You would rather go to work than stay home sick.
• You enjoy hearing about other people’s operations.
• You make an appointment to see the dentist.
• You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
• People call at 9pm and ask, “Did I wake you?”
• You have a dream about prunes.
• You answer a question with, “Because I said so.”
• You send money to PBS.
• The end of your tie doesn’t come anywhere near the top of your pants.
• You take a metal detector to the beach.
• You wear black socks with sandals.
• You can’t remember the last time you laid on the floor to watch TV.
• Your ears and nose are hairier than your head.
• You get into a heated argument about pension plans.
• You got cable for the Weather Channel (sometimes referred to as “Old Folks MTV”).
• You have a party and the neighbors don’t even realize it.
• If a young girl looks at you, you check to make sure you remembered to put on your pants.
• You keep repeating yourself.
• You discover bifocals are stylish.
• When you do the “Hokey Pokey” you put your left hip out...and it stays out.
• Most women you know under 40 put you in the “Friend of my Father” class.
• Relatives smile benignly rather than interrupt you as you retell the same story for the zillionth time…
• You run out of breath walking DOWN a flight of stairs.
• Conversations with people your own age often turn into “dueling ailments.”
• People don’t harass you any more when you take an afternoon nap.
• Your social security number only has three digits.

It's Official!

After himming and hawwing for months now, I've done it!

I've ordered myself a new super fancy Nikon D60 DSLR digital camera.

I'm such a camera whore.

Burrr...Cold...

Mom and me.

Dad and I.

October 1980, 5 months

This was my first trip to the snow. Who knows what I thought of it...

I'm thinking that Mom was the first one with the picture taken. I look happy. Then they made me touch the snow, or they put me face first in it or something. I don't look nearly as happy with Dad.

Or maybe I just needed a diaper change.

Bad Hair Day. Take 3.

By the looks of this picture, if I didn't know me, I'd say that this poor girl is about4 months past the needed dye job. Look how much darker my roots are than the rest of my wavy frizzy hair. What a mess!

I shoot myself for ever going in public wearing that shirt...

Dork!

Mommy and Me

October 1982 (Mom 27 1/2, Me 2 1/2 McDermont State Beach Fort Bragg)

Mommy and me. Awwww....how cute! Looks like a nice fall day on the beach. But up in the Fort Bragg area, I think just about everyday looks like that.

What's with the lady all hunched over in the background? I have this picture framed, and I remember when I was younger that every time I would look at the picture I thought that lady was some freak of nature or something. I don't know, she kinda looks like a mushroom in that position.

Notice the cowlick in the middle of my bangs? I still have it. Hence why I never have bangs. Sometimes I get a wild hair up my butt and I decide that I need bangs. And then after 2 days I remember why I always talk myself out of them.

I have moments of weakness sometimes.

Kiss Me Mint

Colgate has a new flavor toothpaste. And being the name of it, I thought I should try it. Maybe it'll encourage kisses...
How would encourage kisses? I don't know. Maybe I'd exude the scent of "Kiss Me Mint". Which, by the way, tastes of mint with a hint of strawberry. That's right...strawberry.

I was expecting it to be cinnamon flavor and was taken by surprise to find that was not the flavor. The strawberry throws you off, but it's not all that bad really.

I'll keep you posted on if with consistant use of "Kiss Me Mint" I end up getting kissed...

Here's to tryin'!

The Greats

This would be me and my maternal great grandparent's . My Grammy's mom and dad.

Grampy Al and Grammy Ann. And of course this little squirmy thing is me.They lived in Minnesota. So I really didn't get to see them all that often. And of course they passed away during my early years.

Grampy Al stuck around a little longer than Grammy Ann, so I have a memory or two more of him. Like, he called me "Cookie". Don't know why, but he did, and I loved it. He also did the "Trot trot to Boston" bit on his knee. That's a fairly vivid memory that I've held on to.

And now I do the "Trot trot to Boston" bit to kids sometimes when I'm around them.

Maybe someday I'll have great grandkids to do it too, just as my Grampy Al did it to me.

Round and Round

Doesn't that just make you nauseous just looking at this? Remember when the spinny round and round rides were the best?


Well, last time I went on on my tummy did more spinny round and rounds than my body did.

Ahhh...the joys of being young...and old...

Happy Sunday!

Quote of the Day

"The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself."
— Henry Miller

Random Fact

The only domestic animal not mentioned in the Bible is the cat.

Further evidence that the cat is from the devil.

4 Generations

4 Generations of Women... And me the goof ball that wouldn't sit still for the camera.Here we have Mom and I, Great Grammy Ann, and Grammy.

I did the math when I found this picture. The next time there will be 4 generations on this side of the family and including me, will be when my kids have kids.

Right now I'm feeling really behind on my procreating.

Excuse me while I go see what I can do about that...

(And for those of you who have been to my parent's house, the couch that we're sitting on resides by the pool table. I actually quite like that couch, it's very bouncy.)

Wet 'n Wild

The best part about going to the lake...

October 1981

Friends with houseboats!

Of course, that houseboat has gone through a remodel or 2 since this picture was taken.

Houston, we have contact!

Guess what.........!

He made it to drinks after work today. Finally! I got to Wellington's about 5:10, after leaving work early so I could go home and "freshen up" and change. Jacob was already there when I got there, I actually parked right next to him. Yes, I know what he drives. Does that make me a stalker? He said he had just gotten there himself. And it was just the two of us for about 20-30 minutes. I was extremely nervous for first 15 minutes or so. Like so nervous that I sipped out of my drink from the table because I was afraid that I'd spill it all over my from shaking so much.

Eventually I got over it.

And it was going well. Quite well I thought. We talked about random stuff. He's from New York, I visited that same area he grew up in last December. He went to Cornell for his undergrad, I visited the campus last December. He got lost hiking in Yosemite alone, I haven't been to Yosemite in about 3 or 4 years. We talked about work and what exactly he does vs. what exactly I do. Both of us work in a "feast or famine" environment.

Slowly people started showing up...drat... And just when I was thinking it was going to be just the two of us. Robert got there. By now I'm on to water because I just had two gin and tonics (heavy on the lime). Then Adlena and Beth showed up. More water for me. Tamara finally got her butt there. We ordered dinner. We all talked more. We tried to bring Jacob into the conversations. Things were going good. Jacob thought up a project for me to help him with and a reason for me to travel to Dalhart.

I'm gonna work on making that happen.

I decided that I needed to get his picture into my phone. So I went around the table and took everyone's picture then got their number. Pretty sly, I know. I actually got two pictures of him. The second one he wanted to wave, then he did the double point thing. I didn't get that though, only the wave part. So, yes, in case you're wondering, I have his number.

Hai (my boss's boss) showed us about 9:30 and ordered us a round. And being that Wellington's finally got Tuaca, I had to order a Tuaca Bomb... the best! But I didn't bomb shoot it, I mixed it and sipped it.

About 6 sips. That's all there was.

Then another round from Hai, another G&T for me, heavy on the limes. We moved to the couch/loungey area. Hung there for a little bit, then people started to split. I still had to close out my tab, and Jacob beelined it to the door. So I hollered a good bye, see you Monday.

Now! I have a dilemma! So I have his number. Do I, or don't I, text him tomorrow and just tell him that I had fun and that I hope he did too. Do I say something about call me if he wants to hang out? Or do I just leave it until Monday and send him an e-mail from work?

I will say this. Today he had a meeting with Rylen at her desk, which is the cubicle next to mine. I was at my desk when he got there for their meeting, but I was in my boss's office with the door closed when their meeting was over. Apparently when he stepped out and saw that I was gone he did a quick look around like, "where did she go?" All according to Rylen.

Please help! How should I proceed?

Bad Hair Day. Take 2.

I don't know what possessed me to do it. Spur of the moment? Lapse of judgement. Stupidity? Yep, that's it!

From the beginning, the day after I got it cut, I just couldn't do it. And I think the main problem was that I got it cut so short in the winter. Then the rainy season hit. And the fog. And any kind of moisture that could be in the air, was. And what does my hair react to? Moisture.

So how you see my hair in these pictures... That's how it was for months. In fact, it was like that for so long, that by the time it wasn't my hair was longer. Duh, right?

As you can tell, I'm thrilled in this picture. Because I knew that the time I spent on my hair was wasted on the beautiful, misty March morning. Then it was a frizzy, wavy, un-corporating mess the rest of the day.

Quote of the Day

None who have always been free can understand the terrible fascinating power of the hope of freedom to those who are not free.

— Pearl S. Buck

Googled

Have you ever googled your name? What did you find?

Well, in my "I'm bored out of my mind state" I googled myself. Why not?

So this is what I found...

• There is someone with my name on Facebook, from New Zealand.
• My Facebook counterpart also is a backpacker with an account on Changents.
• WOW. She also has an account on Volunteer Journals. Where she journaled her Mount Everest climb!
• She is also the executive director of the GNV Foundation where she raised over $100k.
• And the list goes on and on...
  

Ok, so I'm done with the global trotting, world peace seeking, mountain climbing Courtney Montague. Off to find a different version...

• HAHA! Finally found myself here. Scroll down to the bottom under the 2002 heading, last paragraph.
• Here I am again...for the same reason. Go to page 3.
• Finally, another Courtney Montague in the United States. In Colorado to be exact.

Ok, I googled myself all the way to page 20. Me, myself, and I need to get our name out on the web a little more. Not sure how really. I'll work on that.

Watch out Tiger...

The next female pro golfer, Courtney Montague, is on the move to the PGA tour.

Today I went golfing with a gal from work. Please keep in mind, I don't consider myself in any way, shape or form. In fact, the last time I golfed (regular not mini) was probably a good 2 or 3 years ago.

And I wasn't very good. Bless my Father and his patience.

But today, I seemed to be pretty decent. At least with the first hit, getting the ball on the (or bounced off of) the green about 66% of the time. Now putting, that's where I need the practice.

Maybe I should go mini golfing for practice.

I told Tamara time and time again, "I'm no good", "I hardly ever go golfing", "Prepare to laugh!" She was quite surprised, as was I, at my blossoming skill...at getting the ball of the tee. And everytime I had a good hit, she'd remind me that "You suck!" Suck in a good way, not a bad way.

(Don't go there with the suck comments...)

So we're going to start golfing on a regular basis. And as people get back from vacations there will be more of us out there.

Please be on the look-out for my name on the golf station. I know you watch it often, to take a nap to, just listen for my name.

I probably shouldn't have had the Diet Rock Star while honing my golf game. It's 11:40 at night and I'm wound up.

Riley - The Early Years

Riley Bean is my first, mine all mine, dog. I went to the breeder's house, paid for her, picked her up, taken care of her, etc.



She as a fiesty little smoothe haired thing. So small and petite. As you can tell, she had a lot of toys too.



Then, slowly, long hairs started to bink, bink, bink all over. You can tell that her "facial" hair was starting to get a little longer.

She is no longer the smoothe haired dog that I once thought I'd have. And she is no longer petite.

Doggy Dictionary

LEASE: A strap which attaches to your collar, enabling you to lead your person where you want him/her to go.

DOG BED: Any soft, clean surface, such as the white bedspread in the guest room or the newly upholstered couch in the living room.

DROOL: What to do when you persons have food and you don't. To do this properly you must sit as close as you can and look sad and let the drool fall to the floor or, better yet, on their laps.

SNIFF: A social custom to use when you greet other dogs. Place your nose as close as you can to the other dog's rear end and inhale deeply. Repeat several times, or until your person makes you stop.

GARBAGE CAN: A container which your neighbors put out once a week to test your ingenuity. You must stand on your hind legs and try to push the lid off with your nose. If you do it right you are rewarded with margarine wrappers to shred, beef bones to consume and moldy crusts of bread.

BICYCLES: Two-wheeled exercise machines, invents for dogs to control body fat. To get maximum aerobic benefit, you must hide behind a bush and dash out, bark loudly and run alongside for a few yards; the person then swerves and falls into the bushes, and you prance away.

DEAFNESS: A malady which affects a dog when its person wants it in and the dog wants to stay out. Symptoms include staring blankly at the person, then running in the opposite direction, or lying down.

THUNDER: A signal that the world is coming to an end. Humans remain amazingly calm during the thunderstorms, so it is necessary to warn them of the danger by trembling uncontrollably, panting, rolling your eyes wildly, and following at their heels.

WASTEBASKET: A dog toy filled with paper, envelopes, and old candy wrappers. When you get bored, turn over the basket and strew the papers all over the house until your person comes home.

SOFAS: Are to dogs like napkins are to people. After eating it is polite to run up and down the front of the sofa and wipe your whiskers clean.

BATH: A process by which the humans drench the floor, walls, and themselves. You can help by shaking vigorously and frequently.

LEAN: Every good dog's response to the command "sit!" - especially if your person is dressed for an evening out. Incredibly effective before black-tie events.

BUMP: The best way to get your human's attention when they are drinking a fresh cup of coffee or tea.

GOOSE BUMP: A last-resort maneuver used when the Regular Bump doesn't get the attention you require. Especially effective when combined with the Sniff (see above).

LOVE: A feeling of intense affection, given freely and without restriction. To show your love, wag your tail and gaze adoringly. If you're lucky, a human will love you in return.

Remembering the Past

Wow oh wow! All I can say is this. I've got a ton of drafted and scheduled blogs to happen of the course of the next month. And when I say the course of the next month I mean be prepared to go back in time with me just about everyday.

Scanning and studying pictures from my past has been a good exercise for me. You see, I have a hard time remembering things from my younger years. I remember bits and pieces or what people tell me. But not a whole ton on my own. But all of these pictures have been sparking memory after memory and bringing everything back to the surface. And I'm lovin' it!

So, I hope you're enjoying my past as much as I am remembering and reliving it.

And well, if you aren't...I'm sorry, but there is a ton more to come. I'll blog what's going on right now too. But there will be multiple blogs in a day.

So sit down and enjoy the ride down memory lane.

I'm gonna go find some ginkgo baloba now.

Random Fact

The longest place name still in use is:
Taumatawhakatangihangaoauauotameteaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu - a hill in New Zealand.

Friday Night Happenings. Take 2.

Alright folks. We're going to try this again.

This Friday a group of people from work are going to gather for drinks, maybe dinner, and conversation. It'll basically be the same group from last Friday, minus one who will be traveling to Wisconsin. And, once again, Jacob said he'd be there. So, unless some work thing comes up again, he'll be there.

And if he's not I'm going to march out to his office on Monday and kick his butt. Then I'm going to get his number so I can bug him all the time about how bad I kicked his butt. Then maybe he'll be totally intimidated by me and agree to hang out.

So, hopefully he just shows up, has a drink or two, and loosens up. He's a shy guy, shy guys need liquid loosener upper serum. Then hopefully he'll fall madly in love with me and whisk me away and we'll live happily ever after. The End.

Then I won't have to kick his butt. I don't want him to be intimidated by me. It's just not in my nature to be an intimidater.

MO-NT-AG-UE

I had (key word, had) an aunt. She was very artsy, crafty and made just about every gift she ever gave. At least that I can remember. These sweatshirts, well, as I'm sure you've guessed, they were a set of gifts. Clever, eh?

Paige and I, our letters made sense...somewhat. I was MO. That could be someone's nickname. Paige as AG, again, not bad. Chris and Kaitlin thought, what does NT or UE mean? How would you even pronounce them?

Well, you're not, you see, when you put them all together they spell MONTAGUE. Perfect how that worked out. Eight letters divided by 4 children equals 2 letters each. Yes, I did pass math in college, just too me 2 tries... Not kidding either...

I believe we were on the beach when this picture was taken. Probably Sunset Beach. One of our favorite places to camp. I think this picture even turned into a Christmas card.

We're we a bunch of cuties!

Wonder what happened to us...

Footsie Wootsie

Pay no attention to the people in this picture. They are old co-workers. People that I used to work with at my fresh out of college job, at the Merced County Fair.
The fair which occured last week, that I attended last Wednesday to go to a concert (more on that and my future husband later). You know what's great about working at fairs, you know people. You know people that are excited to see you and give you a corn dog and water (Thanks Tracee!)

The most wonderful part of working at the fair during the fair were those machine. Those things they call "Footsie Wootsie". Or as I like to call them "25 Cents of Heaven." They were wonderful. I think throughout the 6 day fair I spend $10 on them.

What happens is you drop your coin in the slot, and then this "feet mold" where your...feet are... starts to shake and vibrate and hum. Oh...it's wonderful. Wow, writing that out it actually sounds kinda dirty. But honest to pete it's for your feet. (I'm a poet and didn't even know it.)

And last week, I spend 25 cents of someone else's money for my own pure enjoyment.

And honestly, I've googled those machines. And I can't find them anywhere. And if I could, you know what, I'd buy one! And I'd have it in my living room for my guests to enjoy. Cause what good is having something if you can't share it. And maybe, if my guests are lucky, I'll have a dish of quarters for them to use on the machine.

Or maybe I'll just charge them. I haven't decided yet.

But you know what, the Stanislaus County Fair starts this Friday and they get those machines too. And boy howdy, I'm showin' up prepared to have my feet massaged.

Quote of the Day

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.

— Mother Teresa

The Original King of the World

Bet you didn't know that I was the one that originated the "I'm the king of the world" pose from Titanic. Well, as you can see below. I am...was...I did. Whatever.

And you know what. In January, I'll be doing that from the bow of the boat. That's right, I know boat terms.

At the end of January I will on a Carnival boat headed to Cabo San Lucas with 3 other lovely ladies celebrating the birthday of one said Stacey. I won't disclose what her age will be, but it's a new decade of years before you turn 40 after you turn 20.

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

20 years ago, Kaitlin went to camp.
But during this trip she road on my mom's shoulders while I unpacked and settled in for the week.

So, you've seen it here folks. The first time Kaitlin went to Frontier Ranch at Mission Springs.
Frontier Ranch that is...

And yesterday Kaitlin went back to camp. "Huh?", you say. Yea, you heard me right. Kaitlin tried to pull a fast one on me and come home and let everyone know but me. To surprise me. I figured it out though, I just didn't let on to my mom that I had. Love you mom!

None the less, I was uber thrilled that she came home. Even if it was because she needed to get her car smogged and fill out paperwork for APU. We still made cookies for her to take back, and maybe share with others. And we watched Camp Rock that I had TIVOed when it came out. Ok, I lied. Mom and Kaitlin watched Camp Rock while I fell asleep on the couch.

A note to Kaitlin:
Don't wreck mom's car. And they found out about the dent that someone put on your bumper. Hope those cookies are lasting. If not, you know how to make them, or where to find the recipe. I love you! Thanks for the "surprise". It was great seeing you. And I'll try to get over there before the next 5 weeks are done. MUAH!

I am a runner.

Believe it or not, I've run a in a couple event. The first being the Pumpkin something something run in Atwater. I was 4.

Can't you tell from the picture that I'm a natural runner? Yea, I know, the pictures isn't of me actually running, but can't you just tell.Ever since then, I just known that I was destined to run.

And I did, in high school I was on the Cross Country team my sophomore year. I hated it. Maybe it because we ran along a canal bank, past a dairy and corn fields. And in the fall there are a lot of mosquitoes and bugs. Yea, that's why I hated it.

Even though I'm destined to be a great runner, do I run? Um, no. Takes too much time. Get too sweaty. My legs jiggle too much (ha, maybe from the lack of running). But everyday I think to myself, "Self, today you're going to go running after work." Then after work comes, and I think to myself, "Self, it's 179 degrees outside. You can't run, you'll over heat and die." So I haven't run.

Then I have friends that go off and run in a marathon. And I think to myself, "Self, you could never run in a marathon. Your legs are too short. But you could run a 5k or 7k." But I have yet to sign up for one. I must condition first, right.

And I think to myself that I could be that skinny hot thing running with her dogs all effortlessly like it's a piece of cake to run for miles and miles looking fantastic with 2 great dogs. Then I remember that my dogs would be running me, not me running them. I'd the the one out there with her arm being pulled off because her dogs run so hard.

And then. And then I look at this picture.
And I remember that my mom carried me through most of the race.

Guess I really need to start running. Or attempting to run. Or thinking more about running.

How about I just start jogging?

Does jogging with the Wii Fit count?

30 Fun Things to do While Driving

1. Vary your vehicle's speed inversely with the speed limit.
2. Roll down your windows and blast talk radio. Attempt to headbang.
3. At stop lights, eye the person in the next car suspiciously. With a look of fear, lock your doors.
4. Two words: Chicken suit.
5. Write the words "Help me" on your back window in red paint. The more it looks like blood, the better.
6. Have conversation, looking periodically at the passenger seat, when driving alone.
7. Laugh a lot. A whole lot.
8. Stop at the green lights.
9. Go on the red ones.
10. Occasionally wave a stuffed animal/troll doll/Barbie out your window or sunroof. Feel free to make it dance.
11. Eat food that requires silverware.
12. Pass cars, then drive very slowly.
13. Sing without having the radio on.
14. Honk frequently without motivation.
15. Wave at people often. If they wave back, offer and angry look and an obscene gesture.
16. Ask people for Grey Poupon.
17. Let pedestrians know who's boss.
18. Look behind you frequently, with a very paranoid look.
19. Restart your car at every stop light.
20. Hang numerous car-freshers on the rear-view mirror. Talk to them, stroking them lovingly.
21. Lob burning things in the windows of smokers who throw their butts out the window.
22. While stopped at a light, spit out the window/sunroof onto other cars.
23. Paint your car with occult symbols.
24. Keep at least five cats in the car.
25. Have some passengers in the back who are having wild, noisy sex.
26. Root (cheer, not snuffle in the mud) for fire trucks.
27. Stop and collect roadkill.
28. Stop and pray to roadkill.
29. Throw Spam.
30. Get in the fast lane and gradually...slow...down...to a stop. Then get out and watch the cars. Throw Spam at them.

I Love Rock 'n Roll

This is me. Sitting between the driver seat and the passenger seat of our old motorhome. It's actually not our motorhome anymore. In fact, it's probably not anyone's motorhome anymore, it's very old.

Like the gigantic headphones? Looks like I should be a DJ at some ritzy fancy club, huh?

What do you think I was rockin' out to? Let's see, I'm guessing that it was 1984/85ish.

I'll tell you something that was rockin'. When that motorhome would over heat or have problems, that middle part that I was sitting on had to come off to make the repairs to the engine. That was never fun. The whole inside of the motorhome would warm up real quick.

We took many a trips in that big house on wheels. Mainly they involved a sail boat and a lake or the Monterey Bay. This may even be the motorhome that lost it's brakes on the way down a hill from Yosemite. Or maybe it was Huntington Lake. Fact of the matter is/was, we were speeding down a mountain without brake power. I'm not even kidding, we were rubbing against the side of the hill trying to slow down.

Why were we going down hill without breaks you ask? Because Paige, bless her little accident prone heart, at 9/10 months old was walking and followed my mom out the motorhome while she was delivering lunch to my dad. Well, Paige's poor forehead came in contact with a piece of metal and needed stitches, badly. Hospital A was 45 minutes away, Hospital B was 10 minutes downhill away. Guess which way Dad chose.

So Mom, Dad, Chris, Paige, 2 babysitters, and myself were on our knees (not Mom and Paige, Mom was putting pressure on the boo-boo), we were on our knees praying

But I had fun. At least what I remember of that era of my life I had fun.

GodSpeaks Devotional

Want to talk?
-God

I will answer him because I am merciful.
-Exodus 22:27

Many people see God as a stern judge, just waiting to pounce on those who break His laws. Others see Him as the supreme power of the universe, distant and remote, uninvolved in their lives. But there are also those who enjoy a loving, open relationship with their heavenly Father.

How we perceive God has a direct impact on how we pray. If we see God as a stern judge, we may not be brave enough to speak to Him at all. If we see Him as distant and remote, we may dismiss Him from our lives completely. However, if we see God as our loving, generous, heavenly Father, we are likely to talk to Him about everything.

How do you see God? The Bible says that He is filled with compassion toward us and is ready to hear us when we call out to Him for help. Yes, one day He will be the great judge of all the earth. But you have been invited to know Him first as Father and friend.

God has made an eternal commitment to love and nuture you. At great personal cost, He has opened the lines of communication so that you can speak to Him without fear. He has promised to hear every word. What are you waiting for?

(Copyright (c) GodSpeaks, (TM) Inc. 1999
All Rights Reserved)

Friday Night Happened

And not a Jacob to be found.

He was a no show. I guess he's super, uber shy. Thing is, he's not from around these parts of the country and doesn't have many friends or a social life.

It's not like I didn't have fun. I had a great time!

I'll find out more Monday from Bernard. Bernard is buddies with Jacob and was the one that told him to join us last night.

In the meantime I need advice: How do you get a shy guy to do things with (or without) a group of people? I've gotta step my (lack of) boldness up a notch or two and try to make small talk when I see him at work.

Mercy pray for me that I may step out of my comfort zone.

Random Fact

The house fly hums in the middle octave key of F.

Just Another Day at the Beach

Mom, Chris and I at a beach in Monterey.
This was probably during one of the sailing regatta that my parents participated in in Monterey Bay. We went to the tide pools. Mom was showing us so sea creature.

Chris looks thrilled doesn't he?

I'm a Little Butterfly

This is Vienna. (Get it, vienna like the sausage!)

We "inherited" Vienna. One of my high school classmates happened upon her from a church member that was dying and just wanted to find homes for her dog. They already had 2 or 3 dogs, so we took her. Her original name was something stupid, like "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" or something gay like that. So we renamed her. Vienna.

And she was a little sausage. Around the time that we got her the movie "A Bug's Life" came out. And oh my, did Vienna remind us of Heimlich the caterpillar. We would quote, "I'm a little butterfly" all the time.

One Halloween I found a plastic green dog outfit. I went to the local Michael's and got some fake butterfly wings, and I hot glued them to the outfit. Vienna was Heimlich.

Her life wasn't very long with us, just a couple years. See, due to her obesity, she started having back problems, which then caused her to lose the ability to use her back legs. After a couple weeks of living in that state she left us. I would say, "She went to be with the Lord" but I don't think that dogs go to heaven (despite the movie). So, "She went to be with the Dog God."

She was a fun little weiner dog. A blessing to have.

And everytime I see or think about that movie I think of Vienna.

Quote of the Day

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.

— Henry David Thoreau

Tonight, I Break the Ice.

Tonight, scratch that.

This afternoon, a group of folks from work are getting together at our local Applebee's for adult beverages. And to just hang out really.

Well, after much, um, plotting, scheming, planning, the mystery guy from work that everyone wants to set me up with will be there. At least he told someone that he would go, and he apparently sounded excited about it.

So, I'll report back tomorrow or Sunday about how it goes. If there is any spark. Any potential. Plans made for a future date.

Maybe I'll even try to snap a picture...

Wish me luck!

(PS: I cancelled eharmony.com. It was a crock of poop!)

Make the Best of a Bad Hair Day

Talk about a frizz-ball!
Look at me. Yes, I have frizzy hair and I have a problem. I think this picture was taken the morning after I attended a wedding. My hair was done up in a bunch of little twists or braids or something. I apparently thought it would be fun to take it all down... and then brush it all out. Bad idea!

But look, I was smiling. Or hamming it up for the camera.

Note: never ever, ever brush your hair after it has been in little braids or twisties.

Lesson learned.

Random Fact

The volume of the earth's moon is the same as the volume of the Pacific Ocean.

10 Years and Goin' Strong

3 weeks ago was my High School 10 Year Reunion. I admit, I wasn't really looking all that forward to it. Yeah, let's see people that I never hung out with in high school. Woo hoo! I was curious who looked like what though. And the curiosity got the best of me, so I attended.

Here I am ready to go!


One of my high school buddies was SUPER excited about going. Until it came time for me to pick her up. "Are you sure you're on your way over?" "It's ok if you take the long way to get there." Nope, we're going in with confidence and poise. Proud of who we are 10 years later and the accomplishments we've made. At least I was going in with that attitude.

Do I look like I went in with confidence and poise? That's Treva with me (and my glass of wine). Treva and I grew up together from Middle School on, with church activities, Bible Study, etc.


My buddy James. He's living in Arizona with his wife and their little girl. I see James maybe once every couple years.


Treva, Janell, Danae, and myself. We're just missing Alisha (who was in Holland during the reunion) and we would have had our HS group.


Time for our first round of shots! Toscana's has Tuaca! I was SO excited about that. So a round Tuaca Bombs on me!


Sarah and I. We were the safari queens... Me in zebra... Sarah in giraffe... Get it...?


Nate (my HS crush) and his wife, Mirla. They seem very happy together. She took shots with us... So, she's cool in my book. FYI, Nate wasn't hairy like that in high school. And he has a kid. And he's not the kind of guy I would have wanted to end up with. Phew, that could have ended badly.


Op! Time for round 2! This time, Mirla treated. See, I told you she was cool! So good. I love Tuaca Bombs! I highly recommend them. I'll treat sometime! Hold me to it!


That was the end of the decent pictures. I know, it's a lot of the same people in all the pictures, like me. But no one else was worth photographing.

All in all, with enough alcohol..., it was a much better time that I had expected. Catching up with people from "back in the day".