The Day the Earth Did Not Stand Still

Visited the Temple of Venus at LeDew topiary garden.

I handed my beloved iphone to CM to take a picture of her brother and me.  

Unlike her GB, 6yo CM is not iphone challenged.

She not only knew exactly how to use the iphone camera,

but she managed to reel off about 20 pictures before I was able to wrestle my beloved iphone from her hands.

(Because GB doesn't run so fast.)

Of course it would have been easier to run if the earth weren't so crooked just then.

Addendum:

CM is also pretty good at photobombing.

Where do you think she learned that?

This One Time

I won a round of Just Dance. Just saying.

Mostly Cloudy

Enough sun today to get a little burn. A walk on the beach. Wave jumping. A beach book under a beach umbrella. Shell collecting. A dip in the pool. A game of yard Yatzee. Beef kabobs on the grill. Yeah, I could live like this.

Blogging on my phone

I am blogging this morning from my beloved iPhone.  It took me half an hour to log onto my blog. I had to e.    No time to explain.   Going to the beach

I Do Not Like the Cone of Shame

The SLD is even sillier if she is on pain meds and wearing the cone of shame.  (And running into things.)  In addition, she evokes greater sympathy and has convinced me she can not navigate the stairs while wearing the cone of shame.  Hopefully, the week in the cone and her third eyelid will be the ticket to healing her right eye.  Poor thing.

Seriously?

Somehow,my selective memory allows me to think

 that I was a better mom than to dress my girls alike

 All the way through middle and high school

despite recently discovered photographic evidence to the contrary.

Their Mothers' Daughters

Sarah and Megan beside Denise and Bernie's garage?  

OR 

Nancyann and Mary Kay beside Speecie's garage?  

Can't wait to see my sisters next week!!!

Recent Developments

In the process of cleaning, the STP happened across 2 rolls of undeveloped 35mm film.  Throw them away, I said.   They have to be at least 10 years old.  And we have lived without knowing what is on them.  But the STP decided he could not live any longer without knowing what was on those rolls of film.  So he had them developed.
And it was worth what he paid.  Every penny.  If only to be reminded of what picture taking was like before the arrival of digital photography.  Of the eleven pictures that were not completely light faded on each roll, we have pictures of VBS, Mahaffey camp, vacation, family reunion, and a youth group trip.
Wanna guess the year?** 
 A year of cookies and a hug for Cookie Monster.

 A year of friend hugs at Mahaffey Camp.

 A year of cousin hugs at the family reunion.

A year of puppy hugs  (we can't figure out where).

There was also a picture of the Washington Monument.  A picture in Uncle Ronnie's driveway before the addition to the house.  And this shot of the STP and I and an unidentified child peeing behind a dumpster.

Because this is the stuff memories are made of.

**A few clues:  Alex was born in 1996.  We moved to Mars in 1998.  Staci graduated from HS in 2001. I haven't pee'd behind a dumpster in this century.

Pedal Power

30.  Ride my bike 100 miles
My 'Map My Run App' says 99.06 miles to date, but I am sure I did not enter at least one day, so I am declaring this goal accomplished.

Also, for the record, I recorded over 800,000 steps on my pedometer this summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  Which is over 400 miles and worth a smoothie with my walking buddies.

I'm Not an Owl

Finished re-reading the Harry Potter series.  (One thing that that I've been wanting to do for several years and only accomplished this year because it made 'the list'.)  Enjoyed reading straight through, but the problem with reading the series more than 5 years after everyone else is that no one else is referencing the books.  I was immersed in Hogwarts affairs, defense against the dark arts, and love potions, while everyone else was going about their merry business--oblivious to my references to house-elves.  And why I shout 'Expelliarmus' if I want the Goob to drop whatever he has just picked up.  When I can't remember where my keys are, my first thought is that I might be under a confundus charm.  And yet...
just as I was finishing book seven, one of the Goob's friends responded to my complaint at carrying messages back and forth with this phrase, "I'm not an owl, Ronald."  I was so thankful for the HP reference that I carried one more message.
I still have the last two movies that I want to watch, but let's cross #35 off the list, shall we?
Obliterate!

Stepping Out

Leaving the house in my tutu

Joining my tutu friends for a little 5k walk run.

Celebrating our successful completion of the 5k.

The 'after picture'

Walked the 5k with my tutu clad friend next to me here in the 'after' picture.  Some of our interesting conversation along the way:

Just before the starting gun sounds:  How much is 5k?

200 yards into the race:  I have exercise induced asthma.  Really?  Well, sometimes.  Like when you exercise?

Two miles down, one to go:  What do you think your hubby would say if he could see you now?  Way to go?  He might say, remember that blood clot in your leg.   You're killing me.

Senior Moments

Yesterday we talked about goals for the year.
Maybe this should be the 'year of application'--where you really apply yourself and fill out college and scholarship applications.
Maybe this should be the 'year of the social experiment'  where you get involved and attend school events.  Eat a school lunch.  (at this point the Goob had to go for a walk)
Finally settle on being more outgoing, making new friends, hanging out with different people.

This am before first day of senior year:
Me:  You know your goal to hang out with different people?  Just don't become an obnoxious jock.
Goob(with a slight grin):  OK
Me:  Or a drug head.
Goob(turning to actually look at me):  OK
Me:  And don't get involved with a girl who will distract you from your school work and ruin your chances of getting into college and having a productive life.
Goob:  No response. ( because I didn't really say that out loud. )
Don't know who will be more uncomfortable if the Goob really becomes social this year, him or me.

Sent him out the door with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a  prayer for a good year.

The Vet's Diagnosis

The SLD and I are the same age.  She came as a pup to live with us in the Fall of 2005.  So if you figure her age in dog years and mine just straight time, we are both approaching our mid fifties.  Last week the STP took the SLD to the veterinarian because she has an irritated eye.  I thought maybe it was infected,  the Goob thought it might have something in it, and the STP thought she might be faking it for attention.  The vet offered some ointment, some eye drops, and some pills and requested to see her back in a week. As an aside she also suggested that we should switch the SLD to a 'senior diet'.
 I wished the STP hadn't telled me that.
Senior diet?  Are you calling my dog OLD?!?!?!
Me to the STP:  Did you tell her to shut her mouth?
I still thought of the SLD as a pup.  She still loves to run and play.  She still learns new tricks.  But this week I noticed more white hair around her muzzle.  She moves slower.  She spends her evenings stretched out on the couch. (Okay, I had a few sad moments contemplating life without the SLD.)
And then this week I noticed the same things were true about me.  I got my haircut and someone told me how good it looks in the back.  Because of the...(I thought they were going to say 'curls')...silver.
I fall asleep earlier in the movie.  My butt gets glued to the couch if I sit down after supper.  And because my eyes are irritated by the Idaho smoke, I look sadly old when I look in the mirror.
The SLD goes back to the vet tomorrow.
Hopefully I will not need a rabies shot.

Super Uncle

The STP makes a good tour guide and and great uncle.

You know, if you are interested in where he hunts.

Or if you want to go out on a ledge.

Like way out on a ledge.

Or if you want to learn to walk like a dinosaur.

He will be happy to take you for a ride.

And may even let you drive.  (He just might not be as happy about that.)

He'll share his binoculars with you so you can see things up close.

And he will turn around twice and drive real slow so you can see things you really want to see.  

Like a wolf.  

Cause he's good like that.

Is That A Flying Pig?

There is this Specialty Coffee Shop in the Big Town. You know how I feel about specialty coffee shops, your addiction to $4 drinks, and starving children.  But I happened in to the specialty coffee shop and I ordered a mango smoothie just to be sociable, and I had a sip of the STP's iced raspberry chai. And then I tried to figure out how to get back there.  And I made my visitors leave the house at 6 am to travel to Yellowstone so we had time to stop at the Specialty Coffee Shop.  So I could get another mango smoothie they could be well nourished and hydrated for the trip.  And I not only got a mango smoothie, I also got a blueberry scone.  And the only regret I have is that I didn't get my own raspberry chai (with whipped cream).  

So now I can't decide if I should lift my judgment on your specialty coffee addiction, or do penance.
If you're planning a trip to the Big Town, maybe I could ride along and we could discuss this over a warm beverage.  I know this great little Specialty Coffee Shop...

Why I Don't Have Time to Blog

Spending the week with three of my favorite Easterners.

Showing them the sights and sounds and wide open spaces of the Forever West state of Wyoming.

But my favorite thing is just being close to them. 

Glad to be part of their great adventure.

Eight

8.  Paint the little dresser.

I bought this little drawer pull as a souvenir from my trip to Jackson with my maid of honor.

I planned to use it on the little dresser that the STP garage saled  last summer.

It was pretty rough.  But the STP has a stash of wood and mad carpentry skills

And I had a quart of Emerald Cut paint.  

 And a pinterest account.

   I keep rearranging the drawers because I wasn't happy with the original plan.  Pretty much this is how it's going to stay.  I have also tried it on in the bedroom and the living room.  In various places in each room.  Pretty much I think it has found a home holding the phone in the dining room.
Anyway, #8 off the non resolution list.  
(And I have 55% of 30 done.  Just for the record.)

National Vacation (Slightly Lampooned)

A few vacation tips for the First Family:

Stay in a fancy place that costs a fortune.  Might I suggest a National Park?

Not quite $7.6 million.  Just $20 a night.

And for that $20 you can pitch an additional tent close by for your staff.

Why will you need staff nearby?

To bring you tea in the morning.  You know, fancy tea.  Vacation tea.  In the wild.

I addition to your secret service to protect you from bears, you will also need staff to prepare your meals.

Fancy meals like hot dogs and fruit salad.

With fancy desserts like marshed mallows.

Pack carefully.  Don't forget the matches, because there may not be any available at the camp store.  (Can you say sequester?)    And you will want to have a good selection of vacation clothes.  (Remember the Michelle shorts scandal early in your first term?  Those were the days, huh?)  There is always the possibility of paparazzi behind every tree, snapping pictures.  Thousands of pictures.  Of you and the kids.

 And if they don't get the shots you want, you can always take your own picture, a la Facebook.

Because, trust me, these are the moments you'll want to remember.








**The real story here is that the STP went camping and slept in a tent.  Oh, the power of the grandchild.