The Good Ones

V-day Via Facebook Pics

I took 241 pictures of our one day trip to Yellowstone.  I have about 2.41 good pictures of our trip to Yellowstone.  Mostly I just take pictures to pass the time in the car and to remember things I saw.  I never really have good pictures, just blurry memory joggers.  I took a few pics of the STP and I.  This one I took to pass the time in the car.  The STP is blurry and not looking at the camera because he was actually, you know, driving at the time.

This one I took so I could remember that the soap was shaped like a little bear.  We had to stand on our tippy toes so the little bear soap was in the picture with us.  Pictures of ourselves in the mirror--how facebook are we?

This one was so we could remember that we went to Yellowstone in the winter.  And it snowed.  We have to try most of these shots of ourselves at least twice before we are both in the picture.  I delete the bad ones.  I made the Goob see all 241 pictures when we got home.  Just so he would remember how thankful he was that he wasn't along.

This is us in the hottub.  It was dark and snowing.  I'm not sure why I took this one.  Time was flying and I think this was one of the unforgettable moments. 

Finally someone else offered to take a picture of us.  Because it was Valentine's Day and obviously we were meant to be together.  I guess they didn't know how good we were at facebooking ourselves.

V-Day Plans

The STP and I are headed to Yellowstone Park to celebrate Valentine's Day.  We have a dinner and room reservations at Mammoth Hot Springs.  We will be touring about in a snow coach.   Because we are that sickening still in love.

 And this year I am way ahead on a Valentine's gift.  I mean this is so good you are probably going to want to pin it on your "Sickening Sweet Things" Pinterest board.






First, I compiled a list of over 100 things I love about the STP.

Then I gathered my supplies.  Chocolate.  Scrapbook paper.  Ribbon.  Tape.

And then I individually wrapped each chocolate and put them in a jar with a manly ribbon. 

I think I have a winner here.

Bring Your Antlers to Church Day

The second annual.  Just in case you've been wondering what we've been up to.  Sad that the STP had to stand next to the guy with the gigunda antler.  And the girl.  Remember, don't judge a man by the size of his antlers.

And because I was neglectful in keeping you updated on the STP's hunting season here are a few pics from the archive.

The elk.  (This hunting story from Novemeber was too gruesome for me to share.  When the up a hill and down a hill was followed by shooting an elk and when it included tracking 'her' up a hill and down a hill, additional shots, and pools of blood, I couldn't bear to listen.  So I will likewise spare you the details.)  I will not hunt until it is shoot and release.

The butcher.  The Goob with a cleaver.  Cross one more life skill off the list of things he has to know before I launch him.  So the season ended with a freezer full of deer and elk.  Let's call that success.

Thanks For The Comments

When I use the wi-fi at the hotel, I open myself up for unsolicited comments.  And I do love comments.  I love when you tell me you appreciate the effort and time I put into my thought provoking posts.  When you tell me to keep up the quality work.  When you tell me that you are bookmarking my most excellent blog.  But I start to wonder about you when you think I might need transcription services or a rice importer.  And I have to question your sincerity when all I said was "I ate Pizza." 

Pizza Pie

Today I ate pizza, but I still miss being home.

On the Road Again

Spending the week in Greeley, CO researching blood bank computer applications.  And shopping.  And eating out.  My MapQuest directions said that if I had reached the Red Lobster I had gone a little too far.  I.  Don't.  Think.  So.  Wandered around in Michael's this evening.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  Mostly resisted the urge to buy more craft supplies until I finish some projects I have already started.  But it was delightful just to see the possibilities.  And touch the yarn. 
I am done watching people shop for houses on HGTV.  Really.  I raised 4 kids and none of them starved to death even though I never had granite countertops.  The STP and I have remained married despite the fact we share a bathroom sink.  And if I don't like the paint color on the walls, I just repaint it.  Really.  Done.

Random Thoughts

Extraordinary things happen to extraordinary people.  (Spoken by a large mouse to a dragon in Narnia.)

Last night I dreamed about snakes.  I might like my drowning in my car dreams better.

The STP made supper tonight.  Steak salads with seasoned fries.  I love that man.

I ran with the dog this week and now she has renewed hope that it will happen again.  I avoid making eye contact with her.

Trying to figure out how I can get to a color run this year.

I ate too much today.  And yesterday.

I start work at 6:00am tomorrow. 

Bedtime.

Day At Home

I was just going to tell you how I spent my first day at home in over two weeks.  But I accidently typed 'Day At Home' into my Google search bar instead of my 'Post Title' bar.  And then suddenly I was on Wikipedia, where I learned this:

 

The "At Home" day was a social custom in Victorian Britain, where women of gentle status would receive visitors on a specific day of the week. The woman would print calling cards indicating she would be "At Home" e.g. on "Fridays in April".^[1] Those of her acquaintances who had received the card could then call on her that day. It was considered impolite to visit unannounced on any other day, or to visit without having received a card.^[2] Guests should visit between three or four and six in the afternoon, and stay for a period from a quarter of an hour to an hour, depending on the level of intimacy with the hostess.

Evidently the custom continued in the colonies up until the time of the telephone.  
And then I clicked on Martha Stewart's blog post on what she did on her last day at home (which was sometime last July).  She worked out with her trainer, organized her tool shed (which one commentator remarked was roughly the size of Rhode Island--because, yes, if we are properly sidetracked we read the comments as well), printed labels, and ran a few errands in town.  Focus, focus.  And now on with this post...

1.  worked out with my trainer  Went to Zumba
2.  Organized my paper stack  Browsed Pinterest for a gluten free chocolate brownie cookie recipe
3.  Printed the recipe
4.  Ran a few errands  Took a nap
5.  Colored my hair

Clearly I am better at time management than Martha.  And just so you know, I will be having another day at home tomorrow.  And I plan to really bake those cookies in the am.  And I don't know where my cell phone is.  And I don't have any calling cards printed.  So feel free to stop in anytime (except from 3-4 in the afternoon--because I just may have to have another nap).

Wiki-Research Report

AA recurring piece of public statuary stands in twelve locations from Maryland to California, tracing a historic travel route from "covered wagon days." The statue is the Madonna of the Trail, an 18-ft. tall tribute to the pioneer mothers who traveled west with their crazy husbands (emphasis mine).

If this doesn't have Ms Brenda written all over it I don't know what does.  A tribute to the faith and love of strong brave women.  Plus they weigh 5 tons each.  Oh I am going to see all twelve of these identical women with rattlesnakes at their feet, a rifle in one hand, and a baby in the other.  (Funded and dedicated by my new friend Harry Truman.) 
Roadside America suggests:
To properly honor the pioneer spirit, one should retrace the entire trail, and photograph all twelve cookie cutter statues. Or, with less honor, take twelve photos of one and say you saw 'em all...


1.Bethesda, Maryland
2.Beallsville, Pennsylvania
3.Wheeling, West Virginia
4.Springfield, Ohio
5.Richmond, Indiana
6.Vandalia, Illinois
7.Lexington, Missouri
8.Council Grove, Kansas
9.Lamar, Colorado
10.Albuquerque, New Mexico
11.Springerville, Arizona
12.Upland, California

Oddly enough, my vacation is already scheduled in the Beallsville vicinity.  I love it when a plan comes together.

Ms Brenda's Excellent Adventure

And Reasonable Resolution #3

One of last year's reasonable resolutions was to read one book a month.   Which quickly became two books a month.  Because reasonable resolutions are just that easy to keep. 
For Christmas this year the STP got me a Kindle.  With a great green case.  And before I left for my trip I downloaded Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure  (based on Amazon's recommendation, the fact that my favorite brother is currently reading his way through presidential biographies, and the fact that it was less than three dollars.)  While I traveled East I read the first part of the book in which Harry and Bess also travel East.  And on the way home I finished the book--dropping Harry and Bess off as close to Independence, Missouri as I could from my Boeing. 
A quote for you: 

Truman didn't think much of memorials to the living.  "You can never tell what foolishness they may get into before the get into a pine box and then the memorial sometimes has to be torn down." 

Also, I would like to take a road trip with the STP and stop at bizarre little diners.  And write down everything we eat, and save all the gas receipts in the glove compartment.  I am adding this to my bucket list right after 'Visit Paris'. 

And I am going to do some research on Madonnas of the Trail statues.  Because I think these must be a cross between Muffler Men and the Mother of All Mother statues. 

For the record, I also finished Henry Blackaby's book on Leadership this month.  It is called:

Spiritual Leadership: Movin...                  Henry T. Black...

I am pretty sure there is more to the title than that, but that is all that fits on my Kindle screen.  I like my Kindle but I have not mastered it.  I can highlight and take notes, but I'm not sure how to access them.  And I have no idea how 'big' the book is.  I know how far along I am.  37%...52%...86%   Which is one step better than holding your book closed with your finger marking your place and guessing how far along you are.  But there is no sense of how thick the book is.  Like is it a little paperback, or a big honking thick book?   For some reason this is important information for me.  I will have to judge my kindle books by how long they take to read.  A bubble bath book.  A two day I am not getting off the couch book.  A month long book.  An I'll never finish this I need the space on my Kindle I might as well delete this book. 

Reasonable Resolution #3--Read two books a month in 2012.