Random Fact

Michael Jordan makes more money from NIKE annually than all of the Nike factory workers in Malaysia combined.

My New Baby

I have a new toy! And look, it came in a plain, unmarked brown box... Wonder what it could be...
NO! Gosh! Get your head out of the gutter! Although, that would be quite the supply by the size of that box...

It's my new camera! Look at what's in that box...

And the pile of loot that came out of the box.
It's been a lot of fun playing and learning how to use the new camera. I've got a Nikon D60. It's pretty cool, and fancy, and kinda complicated.

The one thing I don't have a picture of... the actual camera. Guess I'm too busy playing with it.

Let me know if you notice a change in the quality of photos that you'll be seeing on my blog.

And well, actually I've had the camera now for almost a month. I'm so far behind!

Run out of Material

Oh my word. I have noticed that I've run out of pre-programed posts.

So, I guess I need to come back and do a little maintenance. Come up with some new material. Fill you in on what's going on in my life. Etc.

I'll get to work. I've got pictures to post. Trips to report on. Family to give updates on. Things that are new.

Alright. Check back soon. Check back often.

Random Fact

The "dot" over the letter "i" is called a tittle.

Quote of the Day

We become what we think about all day long.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

I've become Friday? I've become half of a couple? Hummm.... better think harder...

Random Fact

Nutmeg is extremely poisonous if injected intravenously.

A.A.A.D.D.

This is the story of my life. If you know me, then you know I that I suffer from is disorder...

Thank goodness there's a name for this disorder. Somehow I feel better, even though I have it!!

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. - Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden.

As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.

As I start toward the garage, I notice mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mail box earlier.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first.

But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my check book off the table, and see that there is only one check left.

My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke I'd been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.

The Coke is getting warm, and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye - they need water.

I put the Coke on the counter and discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.

I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote.

Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.

I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor.

So, I set the remote back on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day: the car isn't washed, the bills aren't paid there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter, the flowers don't have enough water, there is still only 1 check in my check book, I can't find the remote, I can't find my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day, and I'm really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail....

Pretty Bird

Once upon a time, a bird found me. That's right, I didn't find a bird, a bird found me. After walking in the back gate after work one day, I walked under a tree and heard, "Hello." Ok, who's playing a trick on me, or saying hello from an upstairs window? No one. Wow, that's a bright colored bird in that there tree. Not a typical finch that I normally see. "Hello." Oh crap, it's the bird talking to me.
After calling my brother and telling him there's a parrot looking bird in our tree, I stood watch. Chris rushed home, and we figured how to get the bird out of the tree.

Pablo, as we named him, became one of the family. We found a cage on e-bay. We bought him toys, and food, and treats. He was one of us. But the dogs didn't like him much.

He even learned things from us. One day, he nipped at my finger and I called him a "mean son of a bitch". He then mimicked me for a couple minutes, "son of a bitch, son of a bitch." Oh, it was good fun.

He was a fairly good bird. And we miss him. Due to lack of... responsibility... Pablo got loose and bad things happened. I won't go into details.

And that was a fun chapter in my life.

Quote of the Day

In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, for in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.

— Kahlil Gibran

Random Fact

The giant red star Betelgeuse has a diameter larger than that of the Earth’s orbit around the sun.

Random Fact

Los Angeles's full name is: "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Poriuncula" and can be abbreviated to 3.63% of it's size, "LA."

2008 Goals: Update #3

Oh my gosh! We're half way through August already, the year is over half way gone! Can you believe it?!? Here's my most recent update...

• Lose 10 pounds...by May. - completed!
  Then another 10 by the end of the year.
  addition: And 5 pounds by the end of June (aka 10 year HS reunion).
  As of this morning, according to my scale, I'm down 10 pounds. As of the wedding on the 10th, I was down 10 pounds. Part 1 of this goal met! Now to reach the rest of it.
  I'm still only at 10 pounds gone for the year. I'm moving my HS reunion goal to be completed, plus an extra 5 pounds, by the end of October.
  


• Get a tattoo.
  Image is picked out. Just waiting for the end of the summer. Apparently there is some chlorine rule. Not that I've been in the pool much this summer, but I don't want to risk it. So, probably sometime in September.
  
  


• Move out. - completed!
  


• Go to Hawaii.
  Tickets are booked! I'm going at the end of October! Aloha!
  


• Look into Grad School.
  No progress.


• Take and pass the GMAT.
  No progress.


• Weekend wine tasting trip with friends.
  No progress, but I have people interested. That's the first step of going with friends.


• Make it to at least one concert. - completed!
  Taylor Swift/Rascal Flatts. Josh Turner/Carrie Underwood. Rooney. So far 3 for the year!


• Reread all of the Harry Potter books.
  Yea, I'm still working on Wicked. And there are a few more books in line after that before I re-read the HP books.
  


• Attend church more often. - failed for the summer!
  It's like I have this mental problem that since I don't get a break from work for the summer that I'll take it from church. Wrong answer! I need to find a church with a Saturday evening service to go to.
  


• Get my passport. - completed!!!
  


• Make a real quilt, for myself by myself. - completed!!!
  


• Take a fun class at a local college or adult school.
  Fall semester starting soon. Stan State Extended Ed has a bunch of great classes available online! I'm thinking of taking one or 2.
  


• Visit my siblings at where they are living more often. - 1/2 completed...!
  Gotta work on that. I was going to visit Paige a couple weeks ago but plans fell through. I'm going down with my parents to drop Kait off at APU in 2 weeks. I'll fit Chris in at some point.
  


• Let people know how much I truely appreciate them.
  Working on verbalizing it more. Showing how truly appreciative I am of people.


• Take more day trips. - completed-ish...!
  Let's see. I've gone to Santa Cruz for a bachelorette. I've gone to San Juan Baptista, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo/Santa Margarita for a wedding (yes, one wedding), I've gone to IKEA in Sacramento. So, yea, I guess I've done that.
  I went to Yosemite this past Saturday and hiked between 8-10 miles. That definitely counts!
  


• Date more.
  I cancelled eharmony when that came up for renewal. I've gone on some "non date" group dates. Ok fine, people hanging out. One guy just happened to be who I'm interested in. What about seriously talking to a guy online that lives in Alaska? Does that count? Ok fine, I've never meet the guy in person and we haven't gone on a date.
  


• Focus more on God and spending more time with Him.
  A daily struggle I continue to work on.

Quote of the Day

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.

— Cicero

Beach Blanket

Nope, not the kind of blanket you lay on while at the beach. Beach Blanket Babylon. Like the performance in San Francisco.(I'm the goon in the middle.)

I've been once. Years ago. But I'm going back. Sometime. Soon I hope!

Ever seen a 5 foot wide 3 feet tall hat? Of the New York skyline? Well, maybe you should look into going with me.

You game?

Random Fact

According to Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, it is possible to go slower than light and faster than light, but it is impossible to go the speed of light. Also, there is a particle called tackyon which is supposed to go faster than light. This means if you fire a tackyon beam, it travels before you fire it.

Laughter

Why do we laugh you ask. I don't know. I don't remember. But it must have been funny!
You see, Rylen and I have a unique friendship. It comes and goes. No, not like we like each other then we don't.

But we can go awhile without really talking or hanging out and when we get back together we pick up right where we left off. Rylen is one that I can trust with any secret and know it's safe; go to for advice and know that she'll give me good advice, not just what I want to hear. You see, she's real. And real friends are hard to come by.

She's married now. And it's been an adjustment for me. Now I have to compete with her husband for time. And, rightfully so, 8 times out of 10 he wins.

That's ok though. That's how it should be really.

I do get jealous sometimes though.

Ok, I get jealous most of the time.

But then I remember that someday, God willing, I'll be in the same situation and my husband will come first above friends.

And then Rylen and I will get together and laugh about all of our adventures along the way.

Self Me!

Taken with the new camera.

That's right.

Ohhhh...... Awwwwww.....

This is me after golfing. Gosh, that was almost 2 weeks ago.

Quote of the Day

He who wishes to secure the good of others has already secured his own.

— Confucius

Candy Feens

Chris, Bugs Bunny Pez, and me... We're just chillin'. We're like... wuz up?

What! Am I wearing anything...?! Oh, maybe I see a swim suit on. But I look kinda naked don't I?

Oh well...

August Quiz Answers

And here are the answers...

1. 116 years, from 1337 to 1453.
2. Ecuador.
3. From sheep and horses.
4. November. The Russian calendar was 13 days behind ours.
5. Squirrel fur.
6. The Latin name was Insularia Canaria - Island of the Dogs.
7. Albert. When he came to the throne in 1936 he respected the wish of Queen Victoria that no future king should ever be called Albert.
8. Distinctively crimson.
9. New Zealand.
10. Thirty years, or course. From 1618 to 1648.

So... How'd you do?

Random Fact

Honey is the only natural food that is made without destroying any kind of life. What about milk you say? A cow has to eat grass to produce milk and grass is living.

Pooped!

That's how I'm feeling right now.

After hiking 8-10 miles on paths of dirt and rocks and pavement, while bugs buzzed around my ears at Yosemite.

Scenery was beautiful though.

Pictures to follow later.

But first... I must shower. Rub my aching legs. And go to bed.

Night night.

August Quiz

Take a few minutes to answer the following questions. They are legitimate quiz questions. I'll post the answers tomorrow...

1. How long did the Hundred Year War last?
2. Which country makes Panama hats?
3. From which animal do we get catgut?
4. In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
5. What is a camel's hair brush made of?
6. The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?
7. What was King George VI's first name?
8. What color is a purple finch?
9. Where are Chinese gooseberries from?
10. How long did the Thirty Years War last?

Answers will be posted tomorrow. Let me know how you did!

That One Season

Remember I told you I used to run cross country in high school. For one season. Well, here's proof.
Not quite the stereotypical look of a runner, am I? No. That's why it only lasted one season. We just weren't meant to be...

How to Know Whether or Not You Are Ready for Parenthood

• MESS TEST - Smear peanut butter on the sofa and curtains. Now rub your hands in the wet flowerbed and rub on the walls. Cover the stains with crayons. Place a fish stick behind the couch and leave it there all summer.
• TOY TEST - Obtain a 55-gallon box of Legos. (If Legos are not available, you may substitute roofing tacks or broken bottles.) Have a friend spread them all over the house. Put on a blindfold. Try to walk to the bathroom or kitchen. Do not scream (this could wake a child at night).
• GROCERY STORE TEST - Borrow one or two small animals (goats are best) and take them with you as you shop at the grocery store. Always keep them in sight and pay for anything they eat or damage.
• DRESSING TEST - Obtain one large, unhappy, live octopus. Stuff into a small net bag making sure that all arms stay inside.
• FEEDING TEST - Obtain a large plastic milk jug. Fill halfway with water. Suspend from the ceiling with a stout cord. Start the jug swinging. Try to insert spoonfuls of soggy cereal (such as Fruit Loops or Cheerios) into the mouth of the jug while pretending to be an airplane. Now dump the contents of the jug on the floor.
• NIGHT TEST - Prepare by obtaining a small cloth bag and fill it with 8 to 12 pounds of sand. Soak it thoroughly in water. At 8:00 pm begin to waltz and hum with the bag until 9:00 pm. Lay down your bag and set your alarm for 10:00 pm. Get up, pick up your bag, and sing every song you have ever heard. Make up about a dozen more and sing these too until 4:00 am. Set alarm for 5:00 am. Get up and make breakfast. Keep this up for 5 years. Look cheerful.
• PHYSICAL TEST (WOMEN) - Obtain a large beanbag chair and attach it to the front of your clothes. Leave it there for 9 months. Now remove 10% of the beans.
• PHYSICAL TEST (MEN) - Go to the nearest drug store. Set your wallet on the counter. Ask the clerk to help himself. Now proceed to the nearest food store. Go to the head office and arrange for your paycheck to be directly deposited to the store. Purchase a newspaper. Go home and read it quickly for the last time.
• FINAL ASSIGNMENT - Find a couple who already have a small child. Lecture them on how they can improve their discipline, patience, tolerance, toilet training, and child's table manners. Suggest many ways they can improve. Emphasize to them that they should never allow their children to run riot. Enjoy this experience. It will be the last time you will have all the answers.
  

What was I thinking...?

Oktober 1985

Is the sun in my eyes? Am I pissed off? What's going on with me here?I mean, come on. Look at that face. Squinty eyes and a puckered mouth. That's never a good look.
Inscription on back of picture - For Courtney: Do you remember the German "Schultute"?

Time to go visit google.com for that. BRB....
....
....
Hummm....

"When children in Germany set off for their first day in school upon entering first grade, their parents and/or grandparents present them with a big cardboard cone, prettily decorated and filled with toys, chocolate, candies, school supplies, and various other goodies. It is given to children to make this anxiously awaited first day of school a little bit sweeter..."

German: die Schultüte

English: cone for first day of school

So, I'm guessing it was my first day of school. And that megaphone cone thing is my "schultute."

I'm a genius! Obviously I passed Kindergarten.

But doesn't my hair just look so cute? Nice little side pony with a curl. I was adorable!

Quote of the Day

"The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. "
— Allan K. Chalmers

Random Fact

The slogan on New Hampshire license plates is “Live Free or Die.” These license plates are manufactured by prisoners in the state prison in Concord.

The Whole Enchilada

Who out there is Cyberland reading my blog right now is wondering what's going on in the progression of J and I? Well, let me update you.

Last Thursday I found out some difficult news... There is another girl at HCC pursuing him. WHAT?!? I know! After finding out that they actually went on a date, I decided that at that moment I just wanted to go home, cry and sleep. The fact that I was about to have a visitor didn't help the emotions either though. So, after many suggestions, recommendations, advice of just play cool and continue to do what you're doing, I attempted to do just that. So, I sent an e-mail out basically asking if anyone had plans for the weekend or if anyone wanted to do something.

Nothing. No response. Friday morning I sent another e-mail out. One response. But not from the right person. So, whatever. Play cool. I saw J at a meeting in the morning. The other girl was at one of two meetings that we both attend. Devon assured me after the meetings that I am much better looking. And if she were a guy, she'd do me. I felt so much better. After work there were plays for a group to go to Applebee's for my boss's birthday. J was invited, but I never heard if he was going or not. So, whatever. Come the end of the day, I was ready for a drink.

Fast forward to about 5:30 at Applebee's. There was a group of use sitting around a table waiting for more to show. And low and behold, I could have sworn someone said, "There's Jacob!"

Huh?

Sure enough. So while I was waiting for my drink, he ordered one. Then Robert showed up. They both went to a table next to one that was about to clear out. The plan was to put the tables together. So I got my drink, then went and joined them. They were talking about camping. Good thing I know a thing or two about that activity!

Play it cool right? "So, anyone have any big plans for this weekend?" I was basically fishing. This was the response I got. "No, no big plans. Nothing planned. What's going on this weekend, are we doing anything?" Say wha? My response, "Well, I hadn't heard from anyone but R, so I figure that you hated me and didn't want to hang out."

So, plans were made from there. Go me! We decided that I would make dinner and we'd just hang out at my house. Don't worry, I volunteered. Conversation carried on, the evening continued, and shortly before 8pm J left. I think it's because he really did have plans with the other girl.

Oh shoot! I'm having company over! I left shortly after that because I realized that I had a house to clean! So I was up until about 12:30 working on the house. Hanging curtains and rods that I hadn't yet (only to find out that one rod was too short...oops). I went to bed, got up, and cleaned some more. Showered, went to the grocery store, started to prep dinner. Things were running smoothly!

What was for dinner you ask? Enchiladas, beans, rice, and salad. With Congo Bars for dessert.

Devon and J carpooled since they're from the same complex. We enjoyed chips and salsa and Cowboy Margaritas (recipe coming soon!). R showed up and we ate. But then, oh man I feel so bad. J ate something that caused an allergic reaction. He doesn't know what exactly it was. Apparently it happens all the time. He became really flushed, and was sweating like crazy. I told him to go sit in the other room where it's much cooler. He assured us that give it 10-20 minutes and he'd be fine.

So we finished dinner, then went to the living room side and played Wii. Wii bowing, Mario Kart, and Rayman Raving Rabbid. Slowly J started perking up. I still feel horrible. Everyone left around midnight.

All I know is this, of the weekend, I saw J twice! And hang out with him in the evening.

So take that other girl! Back off!

Watch Out Cowboys...

You better keep your eye out, there's a new cowgirl in town!

April/May 1982

She may not be riding a real horse, only a pony, but boy does she mean business. I mean, come on, look at those pink shorts and the pig tails... Boy howdy!

Quote of the Day

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. "
— Abraham Lincoln

Sugary Air

Cotton Candy.

Apparently I used to like it. I really don't anymore.

And that's a lot coming from a sugaraholic.

Random Fact

Hummingbirds are the only animal that can fly backwards.

Ahola!

It's official!

I'm goin' to Hawaii!

So, come the end of October, I'll be absent for a week.

But don't worry, I'll think of you while I sip Mai Tais from the beach.

Electrical Parade

When I was 5 my parents made a deal with me, "Quit sucking your thumb and we'll take you to Disneyland." Sounded pretty good to me, so I did just that. Little did I know, they were probably going to take me regardless.

You see, the Cal Poly Band Alumni were having a reunion of sorts at Disneyland. How cool is that? And this is back when the Electrical Parade was still going on.

So, Grammy babysat Chris, the only sibling at the time, while Mom, Dad, and I trekked down to Anaheim.

What I remember about Disneyland from my first trip

• A mess of Cal Poly Band people, I think somewhere near New Orleans Quarters.
• Someone smoking brushed their cigarette against my arm while walking out of the castle.
• The Electrical Parade and the electrical music that went along with it.
• It's a Small World (the next 3 times I went it was closed for repairs).

That's about all I remember. I have a horrible memory.

I do remember that I had fun. Just like every other time I've gone.

Thanks Mom and Dad for giving me the experience of enjoying Disneyland at an age that I could enjoy it and remember it.

And thank you for making me quit sucking my thumb to go. Who knows what my teeth would look like now if I hadn't quit.

(Check out my super short dress... And see, I can get a real tan. You know I wasn't fakin' bakin' back then.)

Quote of the Day

"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence."
— George Washington

One Hot Mama!

Look at my Mom! Isn't she pretty! Don't know the details of this picture, I do know that it was at some point while my parents were dating.
Or maybe newly married. I don't know.

But the boat in the background... Very fitting.

Random Fact

An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.

Another Round

It's Thursday night. Tomorrow is Friday. And I'm ready for another round of being out and about!

(The dining room set behind me is the same that is currently in my house. Yea for hammy-downs!)

Walnut Creek

During my childhood, up until mid high school, my paternal grandparents lived in Walnut Creek. That is where my dad grew up most of his life. And a handful of times out of the year, we'd drive over and visit.
This is Chris (the chubby baby he was) and I with Nana. This would be the same Nana that passed away just this past fall.

The Golden Ticket

Easter, 1986

I don't remember very many of my childhood holidays, but this one I remember quite vividly. Every year I would hunt easter eggs at the Turlock Country Club, where my Bompy was a member. And every year the Club would hide a golden egg. The one that found it got a special prize.

Well, my grandpa over a year or two caught on. The "golden egg hider" wouldn't put it out until all the kids were already scrambling to find eggs. Bompy didn't think this was very fair. So he followed the guy, and then he stood right above where it was hidden. When I got close enough to see him, he flagged me over, stepped away, and viola! I "found" the golden egg.

And then I got the prize!
Again, notice the bangs! Geez!

1 Year Anniversary

One year ago today I changed jobs and officially began my new one. One year ago today my life improved for the better. In many ways actually.

And tomorrow, my bosses are going to take me out to sushi to celebrate. Because they forgot today.

I think I'll let it slide. Because today some of my co-workers and I went to lunch. Where we talked nothing of work and all of current drama situation as well as numerous other non-work things, like world peace and our plans to go golfing tomorrow.

But more about our plans to go golfing than world peace.

Why me?

Why is that once you start to truly become interested in a guy, all the sudden a totally different one becomes interested in you? And why is it always the guy that there isn't a snowball's chance in hell that you'd ever date? And why can't I just know if the guy I'm interested in is interested in me, so then I would know how to proceed?

I don't like drama.

And all the sudden I'm in the middle of it.

Grrrrr......

Although, I am a little flattered.

Quote of the Day

"Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it."
— David Starr Jordan

Random Fact

Hydrogen gas is the least dense substance in the world, at 0.08988g/cc. Hydrogen solid is the most dense substance in the world, at 70.6g/cc.

Mountain Climbing

Not sure exactly where this was taken. I want to say Yosemite. But it could be somewhere near Huntington Lake. Who knows.

Notice the bangs. Again with the cowlick.

Phew! I'm exhausted!

Let me give you a little recap on how my weekend went...

Friday:
Bowling. Carpooling from Turlock consisted of Jacob, Devon, and myself. I drove. And I now officially know where Jacob lives, at least what complex. And he officially has my number being as I had to call him to find out where he was when I got to his place.

Bowling was fun. Robert meet us up there since he lives in Modesto. I won the first game with a 184, my new all time high school and also the new achievement of getting a turkey. Go me! And then I pretty much sucked the rest of the night. Conversation was flowing nicely for the most part. Jacob bought the beer, such a gentleman. We bowled 3 games then moved to Vieria's just after Stacey showed up at the bowling alley. Had another couple drinks (no me, I was driving) then around 12am-ish decided it was time to get going. Some of us had to be up early for rafting the next morning. All in all, I think it went well. (sorry, no pictures to follow. kinda awkward to take pictures of 3 people bowling. next time I'll see what I can do.)

So I drove Devon and Jacob home, dropped them off, then met Stacey at the grocery store where we picked up lunch supplies for the next (current) day. Stayed up way to late prepping and chatting. Took a 3 hour "nap".

Saturday:
Rafting. Up early so we could pick up Devon and meet the rest of the group by 7:30am. Much too early for a Saturday morning. Got to Knight's Ferry just a little before 9am and we were in the boats about 20 minutes later. 56 degree water that early is just ungodly! Had good fun paddling the boat down the "rapids".

Enjoy the company, the scenary, the slow pace of the river, and even at one point the briskness of the water. (pictures to follow).

The fair was going to happen in the evening after rafting, but a 2 hour nap did instead.

Sunday:
Golfing. Chris and I decided that it would be fun to do some brother/sister bonding. So we did just that. At the golf course. We hit some little white balls around for about an hour and a half, not keeping score. It was warm. It was fun. I need practice. (pictures to follow)

And now, from either the rafting or the golfing, I have a sunburn on my scalp where my hair was parted. (pictures to follow).

And that was my very busy, very active weekend.

Is it Friday yet...?

To Market

Chilling by the hog barns. That's what we're doing here. I'm probably standing on someone's showbox. My Grammy wasn't a tall lady, but at 3 I know I wasn't the same height as her.
I'm guessing that this was either during the livestock auction or the Sunday morning of the May Day Fair. You see, we picked up a large number of livestock that would spend the last of their days at Arnold Meat Company.

I always enjoyed going with my dad super early in the morning to pick up the animals. Something about it fun. Maybe it was the spending time with dad even though we were working. Maybe it was the fact that he'd give me money and I'd go get cinnamon rolls. I don't know.

I do know this though. County fairs will always hold a special place in my heart. From grandparents serving on the board of directors, to participating in 4-H and showing swine, to actually holding a job and learning the ins and outs of what makes a fair run.

When going to a fair, I look at it all with different eyes than the regular fair goers.

Quote of the Day

"I finally know what distinguishes man from the other beasts: financial worries."
— Jules Renard

Things That Irritate a Sane Person…

• You have to try on a pair on sunglasses with that stupid plastic tag in the middle of them.
• The person behind you in the supermarket runs his cart into the back of your ankle.
• The elevator stops on every floor and nobody gets on.
• There’s always a car riding your tail when you’re slowing down to find an address.
• You open a can of soup and the lid falls in.
• It’s bad enough that you step in dog poop, but you don’t realize it till you walk around your living room rug.
• The tiny red string on the Band-Aid wrapper never works for you.
• There’s a dog in the neighborhood that barks at EVERYTHING.
• You can never put anything back in a box the way it came.
• Three hours and three minutes after lunch you look in the mirror and discover a piece of parsley stuck in your front tooth.
• You drink from a soda can into which someone has extinguished a cigarette.
• You slice your tongue licking an envelope.
• Your tire gauge lets out half the air while you’re trying to get a reading.
• A station comes in brilliantly when you’re standing near the radio but buzzes, drifts and spits every time you move away.
• There are always one or two ice cubes that won’t pop out of the tray.
• You wash a garment with a tissue in the pocket and your entire laundry comes out covered in lint.
• The car behind you blasts its horn because you let a pedestrian finish crossing.
• A piece of foil candy wrapper makes electrical contact with your filling.
• You set the alarm on your digital clock for 7pm instead of 7am.
• The radio station doesn’t tell you who sang that song.
• You rub on hand cream and can’t turn the bathroom doorknob to get out.
• People behind you in a supermarket line dash ahead of you to a counter just opening up.
• Your glasses slide off your ears when you perspire.
• You can’t look up the correct spelling of a word in the dictionary because you don’t know how to spell it.
• You have to inform five different sales people in the same store that you’re just browsing.

Puppy Love

I was a dog lover from day one. Can you tell?

December 1981
Now if only I can find the picture where I was hold the puppy upside down...

Sittin' Pretty

(March 1981, 9 months)

Don't I look like a happy baby? Well, I probably was. Or maybe I feared that I'd hit my head on the brick wall. See how I'm holding it? This picture was taken at our old house in Winton, the only other permenate residence I've had.

Many a good times were spent in that front yard...

Random Fact

Chinese Crested dogs can get acne.

Monday will start the recovery process from the weekend

I can tell you right now. I'm going to need a weekend to recover from my weekend. And it's only Friday.
Tonight - bowling
Tomorrow - rafting and fair
The next day - golfing
Right now - sleep sounds good.

I'll fill you in on how the weekend goes. But probably not until later Sunday or Monday.

In the meantime, enjoy what is scheduled to post.

Quote of the Day

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."

— Plato

Maybe that should be changed from light to Light. God=Light.

Monty the Boat Dog

Fourth of July this year was spent at the lake with Mom, Dad, Chris, Colleen, and Monty.

Monty is a very good boat dog. Although he made me nervous a time or two the way he walks around on the (slow) moving boat.

Relaxed dog.
Relaxed dog.

Relaxed dog.Relaxed dog.
Worried dog.
Freaked out dog.

Monty really wasn't a fan of the fireworks. This is where he hid the entire show.

I've come to a conclusion, the fuzzy dogs (Riley and Monty) are afraid of fireworks and loud exploding noises. The smooth coat dogs (Skippy and Izzie) are not phased one bit by the fireworks and loud exploding noises.

Note to self for next year: Leave Riley and/or Monty at home. Only bring Skippy and/or Izzie to the lake.

The end.