A few of my favorite things

I introduced Mom to my blog. She liked it. :D She's my mother. She has to like it.
Mom is always giving me feedback, which I usually appreciate and try to incorporate into my life. She's a smart woman, so I don't hesitate to follow her advice. Well, most of the time anyway.
Her feedback on my blog was, "You should make a list of things you love." Great minds think alike. I had already decided to do that, but there are so many things I love, it will take a while to shorten the list to proper blogging length.
Instead, I have put together a list of a few of my favorite things. I've included pictures (some people have a difficult time with just "words" in a blog ... huh?) to liven the list up a bit. Ten bucks says some of the things on my list will be your favorite things, too.

My favorite lotion:


My favorite morning snack:

Along with:


My favorite "accessories":

(Mainly because it's pink and girly) and this bad boy:

Even though I don't talk on it much, I sure enjoy it. The apps rock!!!

My favorite shampoo and conditioner:

I like buying it in ginormous quantities at Sam's or Costco.

Since I loathe washclothes (gross!), these are my favorite substitute:


My favorite "treats" are:

and


My favorite flowers:

But they have to be orange to be my favorite.

My favorite bands:

Guster. I love them. I'm addicted to them. I can't stop listening to them.


Coldplay


Keane


My favorite ride:


My new favorite interest (I'd really like to see him in concert this summer):

Ben Folds (he will be in concert at the Deer Valley Music Festival on July 17th with the Utah Symphony). I would LOVE to get tickets!!!

My favorite thing to wish for:

Maybe one day ....

My favorite thing to eat until I'm sick:

along with


My favorite "morning" items include:

because it doesn't leave my teeth feeling gritty, and

because NOBODY wants to smell my stench.

And my favorite thing to come home to every night:

There's not a cuter face. No, there's really not a cuter face anywhere in the world.

And those are a few of my favorite things.

Random Thoughts

This post is going to make no sense whatsoever. You were forewarned.

Sometimes my prayers are like fast food drive-thru orders. I tell the Lord what I want, drive to the window, and pay for whatever goods get handed to me. Sometimes I order something really good, but it doesn't taste that great. Sometimes I order something I've never tried and end up loving it. And sometimes my order comes out entirely wrong, which is not always entirely bad. Either way, I didn't put much thought into what I ordered, but I'm counting on the other end to deliver, even during the lunch rush.

Sometimes "what if" questions make my head hurt. For instance, what if the reason I'm not married is because the Lord knows what a terrible wife and mother I will be? And if that's the case, why doesn't He just tell me that? I could deal with it. Really. Maybe it's because I'm talking to Him in fast food order form. What if somewhere in the past I took a completely wrong turn and I'm now playing left field instead of center or shortstop? What if I was meant to do something great in life, but don't ever get around to doing it? What if I was unintentionally mean to someone and it ruined their life? Great. Now my head is hurting.

Sometimes I live in fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of life. Fear of death. Fear of rejection. Fear of love. Fear of age. Fear of change. Fear is the opposite of faith. Does that mean I'm not faithful? I sure hope a lot, and I'm very obedient, but those are different than faith. How do you know if you're faithful? And if you're not faithful, how do you become faithful?

Sometimes I wish technology didn't exist. But then I get an email or a text from someone I really, really like and I realize, "Hey, technology is fabulous!" And it is nice to have indoor flushing toilets and lights that work when it's dark outside. And I do really like having a car to drive and a computer to use for school.

Sometimes I feel like I'm standing still and the world is whirling out of control around me. Today is one of those days, and it's very confusing. It's like standing on the outside looking in, but you can't control anything that happens. All you can do is watch the horror unfold. It's like watching a film in slow motion. You know what's coming, but you can't stop it, so you let the movie continue to play even though you know there's potential wreckage in the next slow motion scene.

Sometimes my brain won't shut off and I have completely random thoughts. Sometimes my brain has spillage and those random thoughts end up in a blog post that is time-sucking and completely worthless. If you read this post, I'm sorry I can't give you back the last few minutes of your life. If it's any consolation, I lost more than a few minutes posting this blog.

Whore Socks

My nephew, Alex, was over last night. For his homework assignment he had to ask questions about the '50s. Mom was a teenager then (oops - just revealed age there) and had a lot of things to share with him, including some '50s candy. Well, it wasn't candy from the actual '50s, but it was candy made now that they ate then.
One of Alex's questions had to do with fashion. Mom talked about Jantzen sweaters, poodle skirts with sugar-starched petticoats, and men wearing their pants below the waist (the horror!). At one point, she said all the rage for girls was colored stockings. Nude or flesh had apparently been the only color up until then. She asked her mother if she could get a black pair of stockings, and her mother nearly died! No way would her daughter where whore socks!!! Who knew wearing black stockings made you a whore?
Mom also went back east to visit her mom's sister, Nadine. She showed up in a black dress, looking very nice, I'm sure. However, men kept looking at her and hitting on her. Mom didn't know why - until she realized that all the prostitutes wore black. That was their trademark color. Yep. She not only wanted whore socks, she was dressing like a whore, too. You really have to watch those girls from small towns ....
In honor of you, Mom, today I wore off-black nylons and a black skirt. (Gasp!) Later, I will be outside standing on a street corner. It might just be to cross the street.
There's nothing quite like having and wearing whore socks. Heck, Mom ought to be proud of me for wearing socks that match my outfit. And for NOT wearing fishnet tights or some other hideous display of so-called "fashion" that seems to be the rage today.
Yep, I'm for whore socks all the way!

It's Not A Competition, Folks

In the last week, I have received several wedding invitations. It's that time of year, I guess.
Wedding invitations annoy me. Why you might (not) ask?
Because weddings have become nothing more than a competition - to see who can have the fanciest reception, the prettiest dress, the largest ring, the tastiest cake, the most bridesmaids or groomsmen, the dreamiest location, the best photographer, the perfect flowers, the [insert whatever else here].
Why does that annoy me? Because in all of that "stuff" we lose the best part of getting married. The marriage! The union of two wonderful people who have chosen to make a lifelong commitment to each other. It's all about the things anymore instead of what it should be about - celebrating the two people that found love and companionship and, hopefully, their best friend. We muck it all up by turning it into a competition.
I propose that we make things more simple. Starting now.
For example, a girl doesn't need a big ring. She's going to trade that diamond in later for a simple band when kids come along anyway. She should go with something more simple to begin with, like this ring. It's simple, elegant, and doesn't cost the mortgage on a first home.
Now, I know most girls would say the dress is probably one of the most important things about their day. Guess what? You're never going to wear that dress again. You'll have kids, get fat, and that dress won't fit you in five years. Why shell out money you could save? Or use to splurge a little on the honeymoon locale? Go with something more like this dress.
Invitations. Come on! I don't need to see a thousand pictures of you plastered on my invite. One will suffice. If it takes me longer than three seconds to decipher the when and where of your wedding, I won't be coming. Give me something more fridge appropriate, like this invitation and include ONE nice photo if you choose to.
If you're going to have centerpieces, please go simple. I really don't want to look through a huge vase of something I can't name (or spell) while I try to talk to the other guests. A little flower goes a long way in making the place beautiful.
Please, please, please serve your wedding cake! What is the point of seeing a simple, beautiful cake (minus the flowers, in my opinion) go to waste by sitting on a table at the back of the room? Sure, you and your spouse will get a few bites of it, but then what? Unless you're planning to donate it to a food bank at the end of the reception, serve the cake! You can take as many pictures as you'd like to remember exactly how it looked.
My last complaint is that too many brides think of it as "my day", when in reality, there is another person just as involved as you. (That would be the groom!) This is HIS day, too, so do something extra special for him. Like a groom's cake that has something to do with his favorite hobby, talent, or interest. Serve this cake, too, but let the groom and his buddies devour all they want of it first. My bet is he will remember how special you made him feel on your joint big day and he'll spend the rest of his life working hard to make you feel as special as he did when he saw the cake you so thoughtfully chose for him.
Another thing. This isn't a complaint. It's my personal opinion that the reception is NOT for the bride and groom. The reception is for the family and friends that will come to support the happy couple in their new life together. Make it fun! Avoid long, boring wedding lines. Keep things light. Choosing a "color palette" really doesn't matter. Guests aren't paying attention to that. They came to see the new couple and the parents of the bride and groom.
Last, serve plenty of food! It really bugs me when a reception is held at 6 p.m. and you show up to find a plate of non-wedding sheet cake and a glass of watered down punch placed in front of you. State on the invitations that "light refreshments" will be served if you're not going to spend money to serve good food. Otherwise, make the food your big expenditure. I can almost guarantee your guests will talk about your reception LONG after it's over if they leave feeling like you actually cared that they came in the first place.
It's not a competition. It's your wedding day. Make it memorable for ALL involved. If you're going to be Bridezilla, don't send me an invitation. Just let me know when it's over so I can send you an email congratulations.
And don't even get me started on bridal showers!

The Itchy Fever

Does anyone else get an itchy fever to run away?
Sometimes I feel smothered. Like everyone and everything is sitting on my chest until it's so heavy I can't breathe anymore. Or like a smothered burrito where you're wrapped up really tight in a shell and then drippy sauce is poured over the top of you and it's all sealed with melted cheese. There ain't no getting out of THAT kind of smothering.

Lately, I've had the urge to run. To escape. To avoid reality at all costs.
It has been so bad the past few weeks that I've actually looked at jobs and apartments in another state just to see how feasible the running away would be if I decided to do it. Is that normal? If not, should I be medicated?

The thing is, it's hard to give up the "comfortable" things in life - like family, a stable job, friends, etc. But sometimes I want to have other "comfortable" things - like personal space, time to do things I like, and making new friends. No offense to Utah because I love my home state, but there isn't much to do here in the 30-year-old single realm. Actually, it's not even the single realm. It's the Utah realm. The "bubble" that seems to pervade the state. Don't misunderstand. I love living close to church headquarters and associating with members of my own faith every day. However, it would be nice to have some missionary opportunities. And to show that I'm living the gospel because it's part of my inner core rather than because it's what is expected of me because of where I live.

The other thing is that running away doesn't solve anything. You can run away from problems, but you only run towards another set, and that other set of problems may actually be worse than the first set you're running from. So it's probably not a healthy thing. Perhaps it has to do with the "fight or flight" response. I'm better at flight than fight. Unless, of course, it's something very important or meaningful to me. At which point you can bet I would fight with every fiber of my being. Maybe I should start looking for something to fight for, huh? Would that rid of me of the flight feelings that consume almost every thought?

Until then, nobody will mind if I surf the net for jobs and apartments out of state, right?

Things That Gross Me Out

Today, my main man, Alex, and I went to the dump to get rid of a bunch of junk.
The smell there was hideous. And it reminded me of all the things that gross me out.
They are listed below, in no particular order. And I'm not numbering them because, truthfully, they all gross me out equally the same. I'm throwing up in my mouth a little bit just thinking about this list. Sorry if this post makes you sick when you read it.

The list of things that gross me out:
Blobs of toothpaste in the sink
Hair in the shower drain
The smell at the dump (especially in the summer - HOOOOO--ey!)
Children who should be potty-trained, but aren't
Mealy apples
Expired milk products of any kind (this means even one day past the expiration date)
Spills in the fridge
Snot-nosed kids (also on the "Things I Hate" list)
Moldy cheese
Butt cracks hanging out of pants - it's just SO wrong
Seeing a girl's bra or straps out of her shirt - who really likes that?
Canned dog food - not just the smell, but the sound it makes coming out of the can
Other people's vomit
Bratwurst, but only because my cousin puked one up in Germany
Sushi - raw WHAT? I don't think so ....
Body odor (also on the list of "Things I Hate")
Unbrushed and unflossed teeth (I'm talking about my own here)
Stuff stuck in my teeth - just tell me, okay?
The smell of cow manure, especially on the morning drive to work
Worms
Dead things
The smell of the water when flowers have wilted and died
Slimy lunch meat
Miracle Whip - the "Tangy Zip" doesn't help
Greasy hair
Wet, dirty laundry
Flies in the garbage
Port-O-Potties
Camping (because I MUST have a real toilet and shower)
Cleaning the toilet - thank heavens for Clorox tabs!
Loogies or gum on the sidewalk or pavement
People who constantly suck their snot instead of blowing their frickin nose
The look of Spam (it's something about the square "can" it's in)
The sound of potato salad being mixed and other weird food noises

That's enough for now. I don't feel well. This post has taken a lot out of me, and I think I need to lie down for a bit. And brush my teeth so I can get that little bit of throw up taste out of my mouth. Let's hope no blobs of toothpaste fall in the sink while brushing. I also feel the need to shower for an excessively long time. Alex thinks we might have collected some Hepatitis while we were at the dump. If you don't see me at church tomorrow, call the paramedics. Let them know I was exposed. Thanks!

I'm not like most other girls

I think I figured out what's wrong with me.
I'm not like most other girls.

Here are some reasons why:
1. I don't like to talk on the phone
2. Gossip sucks
3. Being vindictive serves no purpose, no matter what a guy has done
4. Sarcasm is funny
5. Shopping is actually pretty boring
6. I don't mind hair in the sink
7. Clutter doesn't bother me
8. I don't mind doing all the laundry
9. Dinner parties and entertaining shouldn't be hard work
10. Girl bands/groups are ridiculous
11. A "good" date doesn't cost much - Del Taco Tuesday is great!
12. Mud sports are fun
13. Sexy pajamas and/or lingerie are a waste of money
14. Men's clothes are comfy
15. Jeans, a tee, and a five o'clock shadow are totally hot
16. Video games are great fun
17. I'm capable of changing windshield wipers and filling my tank with gas
18. Wanting a man for money is entirely selfish and will not make you happy
19. Asking for directions is not easy
20. Belching is cool, especially when you can say some of the alphabet

There are plenty of other reasons I'm not like most other girls. Don't get me wrong. I love my girlfriends, and couldn't ask for better. They are fun to talk to, laugh with, hang with, and giggle with. But I don't care about a lot of the stuff they seem to care about.
Tell you what. They can be the princesses: the Rapunzels, Sleeping Beauties, and Cinderellas. I'll be the Fairy Godmother that grants their wish and then rolls her eyes as they ride away in the carriage that will turn to squash at midnight.
Personally, I'll think of myself as Belle. She was a bookworm, hung out with her dad, and was annoyed with the stupid jocks who think they're God's gift to womankind. I like to read, my parents are cool, and smart men are where it's at. Yep. That's me.
I'm still not like most other girls.

Well, heck! I just realized ...

Two posts in one day?! I know. Insane. Check my temp.
I just realized that today is the 18 month anniversary of the day my life changed forever. For the better. In indescribable ways.
It was 18 months ago today that I had gastric bypass surgery. Now, 230 pounds lighter, my life is completely different.
Sure, there's still 30 pounds to lose ...
But, all in all, a success. Of (g)astronomic proportions. And if you're thinking it's the easy way out, you're smoking stuff. Let's see you go without pasta, bread, rice, and potatoes for the rest of your life. Let's see you never eat chocolate or sweets again. Let's see you go without fruit for a year. Let's see you watch your diet and exercise every day for the rest of your life to maintain what you've lost. Okay. That last one is something we should all be doing anyway. I am here to testify that following every instruction given by surgeons, no shortcuts whatsoever, leads to a happy life.

A happy life includes:
*Walking into any store and finding something in your size
*Walking a flight (or two or three) of stairs without gasping for air
*No longer worrying about a chair collapsing under you
*People approaching you in a store - sometimes just to ask for your opinion!
*No more sleep apnea, swollen ankles, or joint pain
*New friends
*Old friends you'd forgotten existed because you were busy being a hermit
*Buying a swimming suit for the first time in 20 years - and having it fit
*A nephew that loves to pick you up, just because he can
*Getting a hug from someone whose arms actually go all the way around you
*Being able to get in your car when the idiot next to you parks too close
*Realizing you can have kids when the time comes
*A (few) new wardrobes, shoes, and accessories
*Not remembering what soda tastes like
*Thinking ice cream looks nasty
*Foregoing dessert because you crave a bowl of fruit instead
*Walking as far and as long as you want without sore feet or legs
*Having healthy teeth and gums
*Dating (although this has yet to happen, I do think it's part of a happy life!)
*Going back to school because you're well enough physically and mentally to handle it
*Introducing yourself to people because nobody recognizes you (still kinda strange)
*People making eye contact and smiling at you
*Feeling good from the moment you wake up until your head hits the pillow again
*Thinking that TV is boring and wondering why you ever liked it so much
*Learning to love cooking again, but doing it to be healthy
*Eating to live, not living to eat
*Sitting cross-legged on the couch
*Pulling your knees up to your chest
*Wearing knee-length skirts and not feeling self-conscious
*Being hopeful about life and all it has to offer
*Knowing you can succeed at whatever you try
*Taking a chance on love

So thanks to Dr. Smith who made it all possible. And to my parents for encouraging me to be my best. And to my family for supporting me. And to my friends for not judging me. And to my co-workers for filling in for me. And to the two people who gave it all to me - my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am blessed.

Things I Hate

1. Liars. Come on. If you can't be honest just be quiet. It's better for everyone that way.
2. Seeing orange construction barrels on the way to work
3. Body odor
4. Having my neck rubbed or touched
5. Having my feet rubbed or touched
6. The smell of rain. That is not a typo. I hate the smell of rain.
7. Bad breath
8. Chapped lips
9. Movies with no plot
10. Math! The following makes me want to vomit:
Simplify (x³ + 5x² – 2x) + (x³ + 3x – 6) + (–2x² + x – 2)
11. Mean people. It's so much easier to be nice. Really.
12. Snot-nosed kids. Seriously parents. Use some Kleenex.
13. Leftovers. Not a fan of re-heated food.
14. Cleaning the bathroom
15. Dusting
16. Unexplained missing socks or other laundry items
17. People who don't understand the meaning of "personal space." I need it. Don't get in it.
18. Cynicism and bitterness. There are people (like me) that actually enjoy doing nice things for no reason whatsoever.
19. Goodbyes
20. Know-it-alls. Nobody can know it all. It's not possible.


There are more things I hate. Twenty will suffice for now.

Back on the Wagon

It is a well-known fact (see the timeline of my last blog) that I do not like to blog. I don't even like to write in a journal. I dislike taking notes of any kind. And I especially don't like recording important things because, well, I just don't. Perhaps it is because I don't feel like much that I have to say will be profound or smart or clever or witty - like other blogs that I enjoy reading. It's almost like a blogging competition, of sorts, to be the best, say it the best, etc. Don't get me wrong - I'm all for friendly competition. It's just that the kind of competition I like has more to do with creaming someone while playing a sport.
I've realized, however, that it is important to have recorded (somewhere) bits and pieces of your life because somebody somewhere (really?) is going to be interested in what you have done. It is this realization that brings me to a decision: I will try (and I repeat try) to update my blog more regularly. And I will also try to write something of worth (not that anyone reads the dang thing, but just so I feel better about my efforts).
That said, I'm back on the wagon.
And I would like to write about something that dawned on me last night and I haven't been able to get out of my mind.
It's Adam and Eve. Yep. The first eternal couple.
See, Adam and Eve were sent out into the lonely world to till it and do something with it. In modern day, a temple marriage could symbolize this exact same thing. Two people enter into a covenant with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and then they get sent out in the lonely world to till it and do something with it.
To my dismay, I think more brides focus on that one day of their marriage - the wedding and the reception, etc. They give little thought to what comes AFTER that. Adam and Eve definitely had problems. Look at what their kids did to each other! If that isn't the definition of a dysfunctional family, I don't know what is. Yet, Adam loved Eve so much that he left the Garden of Eden to be with her. He knew the plan. He didn't have to eat the fruit. But he did. And I think it was in part because he loved Eve and he wanted to be with her, even if they would have to toil and sweat and have sorrow to be together.
Now THAT is romantic!
Not that I know a lick about relationships, but wouldn't it be nice if all the Eves who want that kind of romance could find all the Adams that are willing to give it? I mean, really. Would there even BE divorce? If you loved someone so much that you gave up all of your comforts to be with her, knowing full well that comfort was the last thing you'd ever have again, doesn't that prove how much you want to be with her? Yeah. Pretty much.
I'm not sure why those thoughts occurred to me. Maybe because I'm so scared of getting divorced that I sometimes worry it's what keeps me from finding someone to marry. Or maybe it's because I'm selfish and being comfortable is the "easy" way of doing things, even though long-term it's not really easy - it's just a different kind of difficult. Maybe it's because I get bored with people easily. But, come on, that's just an excuse. Because I've lived with parents and family and I've been bored of them plenty of times and never asked for a divorce or left them hanging. Some credit is due there, right?
Anyway, I'm sure more thoughts will come later. But I reserve the right to be on a learning curve right now until I figure things out. And don't worry about giving advice. Unless I ask for it, of course. I won't listen to it anyway.
Should I get off the wagon now?

Loving the Leisure

On July 12th, we crammed our last suitcase in Mom's van and headed out for some much-needed leisure time. Bear, of course, tagged along. The first day we drove to Pendleton, Oregon. This was one of Bear's favorite seats on the way to Pendleton:



Bear's other favorite seat was on the front passenger's lap looking out the window. Or sleeping on Mom's shoulder, like this:




On the drive to Pendleton, we stopped at a rest stop and met another Shih Tzu named Benji. He was an Imperial Shih Tzu, so he was smaller than Bear, and had the black and white coloring. Bear and Benji really hit it off. They were sad when we had to leave the rest stop and continue on our trip. We waved as we passed Benji and headed for the hotel. Right after we checked in to the hotel, Benji's car pulled up! His owners were staying at the same hotel AND they were staying in the room next door. Bear and Benji had a fun time visiting, as did we with Benji's owners. The next morning when Benji's owners got on the road, Benji stood outside the door and he and Bear barked their goodbyes. I really wish I would have gotten a picture of them together. So, if Benji's owners ever happen upon this blog, we hope that Benji is doing well!
On our way into Portland we drove through the Cascades. It was beautiful country. We noticed that there were tree farms on the other side of the road. We remembered how fascinating they were and got these pictures on the way back:





It might be hard to tell in the photos, but these trees were lined up perfectly. They went on for miles and miles. I hope people didn't have to individually plant those!
We didn't know it at the time, but apparently Portland is the pet city of the world! You can take your pets basically anywhere. Our first day we visited the Chinese flower gardens. I don't know where Uncle Jim ended up, but here is (from left to right) Dad, Mom, and Anita in the middle of a HUGE rose garden:



These are some photos of the actual flowers that I got:







Let me just put a plug in for my digital camera here. I used to have a Kodak camera. It was nice, don't get me wrong, but it had one of those "docks", so in order to charge the camera, I had to cart that "dock" everywhere I went. I decided I didn't want to drag that around this trip, so I invested in a Nikon Coolpix L16. Can I say what a great investment that little camera was?! I have really enjoyed it. It takes great pictures, and I didn't even have to change batteries during the trip. Amazing!
We kind of took it easy in Portland because Dad wasn't feeling well, and we were really there to visit Jim and Anita, which was great fun. So, we didn't feel too bad about not seeing many more sights. However, Mom and I did take a day to see Powell's bookstore, which is the largest bookstore on earth! For us bookworms, it was heaven on earth. We only saw two levels of the store, and almost spent our entire vacation wad of money! If given the chance, we probably could have spent two years in that place and still not seen it all. It was the most amazing bookstore I've ever seen. We also stopped at their little "cafe" and had an Italian soda and shared a couple of pastries that were absolutely delicious. We had a great time!
After our visit with Jim and Anita, we headed towards Sea-Tac to see the sights in Seattle. Dad fell ill again with a stomach bug of some kind, so our first trip in we just got our bearings. The following morning, we took off for the big city to see the famous Pike's Market. Here are some photos I caught there:







Part of the reason Pike's Market Place is so famous is because they bring fresh fish in right off the boats and sell them fresh on ice. The place was incredible! There were flower shops, jewelry shops, gift shops, toys, bags, pastries, other food shops, and many, many other things I can't even remember to list. We were fascinated and thoroughly enjoyed our time at Pike's. In fact, I personally thought it was the highlight of the trip (besides time spent with family). The hustle and bustle of that place was like being in a small city. We even went in one store that sold Russian ceramics. Talk about pricey! But the dinnerware and other items were beautiful. We aren't sure how much of Pike's we really saw because at one point we had to go to the restroom and we ended up on the other end and a different level of the market. One of these days, I'm going back because I don't think we even caught 1/4 of what there was to see.
These are some pictures I got of the fresh fish at the market:







There was one fish there, a monk fish, that I wasn't too sure about. The thing was moving. I wasn't sure if it was alive, or if the characters who run the fish market had set it up to scare people. Two little boys stood up there by the monk fish and had their pictures taken by their mom. Right after they moved, that monk fish jumped (I did, too; just a little though). So, I had to get a picture of that fish. Here it is in all its glory:



Pretty ugly, huh? Well, luckily it wasn't the last thing we saw. We drove back home the way we drove in, so we were determined this time to stop at Multnomah Falls in Oregon before we left the state. We attempted to stop on the way in, but there were too many people there and no place to park, even with Dad's handicapped sticker! We must have needed to see the falls because this time we drove right in and got a parking place. I first saw these falls on a high school A Capella tour when we actually hiked up to the bridge. These are amazing falls because they literally come right out of the mountain. Here are some photos I got:







Those pictures don't do the place justice! If you're ever planning a trip to Oregon, plan to visit Multnomah Falls, and, if you can, take the hike that leads up to the bridge. It's beautiful country! There's no doubt there's a God, because no human could have created something like this.
On our way back from getting pictures of the falls, Bear found a couple of friends. One was a little girl. She hugged Bear and kissed him and petted him until his hair was almost flat. She told her mom she wanted to take Bear home. When her mom said no, she started to cry. Bear went right up to her and licked her face. The little girl's mom said she might have to look into getting a dog. I hope she didn't make a promise she couldn't keep!
The other friend Bear met was a professional photographer who had just returned from shooting exotic birds in Argentina (or something like that). He and his wife were visiting the falls and then returning home to pack for another photo shoot at another exotic location. The photographer said Bear was the cutest dog he'd ever seen and asked if he could get a few photos. Mom agreed, so Bear had a little photo shoot. The photographer asked for our address so he could send a photo of Bear. Mom gave it to him highly doubting that we'd ever see the photo. Several weeks after we arrived home, a box arrived in the mail, and sure enough it was Bear's professional photo! Needless to say, it was a lot better than these photos that I was able to get after a LOT of coaxing:







As you can tell, Bear is not spoiled even a little!
The trip was absolute fun! But, it was so nice to be home and spend July 24th with the family. Perhaps the best part of vacation is coming home to find everything still in its place.
Dad had a terrible fall down some stairs shortly after we returned home and his life was in question for a time. Mom has taken the roll as caregiver very seriously and does a fabulous job taking care of Dad. We are blessed that Dad has made some improvements since that fall, and hope he will continue to maintain or improve his health. We were so glad to have the opportunity to take this trip because it will probably be Dad's last. We will always have pictures and memories of the fun time we had together.

Posting Paranoia

People need to stop harassing me. I post what I want, when I want. And nobody can stop me!
Actually, it's nice to be reminded (even if it's to the point of annoying) that people would like to read something new on my blog. So, I figured I'd give in just a little and post today. Here's the thing. There's really nothing to post!
I went on a trip to the Pacific Northwest with my parents. The pictures are still on my home computer. They have not been posted, even though everyone has heard about the trip. I'll get around to it someday. Promise.
In the meantime, Linda got me hooked on Yearbook Yourself and we've laughed hysterically over several people's pictures. Some of which were mine. (Check out Linda's blog to view her and her hubbies pics.) I've laughed so hard over some that my face now has new wrinkles and my sides hurt to the point that I can't raise my arms any more to put deodorant on. (Sorry about the smell.)
So, here is my picture. There is one from 1950 and one from 1952.





This is the one that should make my mommy proud. See, she had a cut like this at one time. (I've seen the photos Mom, so don't try to deny it.) I thought it was pretty cool that I could create a photo of myself that looked just like her. It made me happy! I hope it makes her happy, too. Of course, looks aren't everything, but I still think she's hot! And smart, and kind, and good, and compassionate, and lots of other good things that I should probably tell her more often. Here is the picture of me (aka Maureen) from 1958.



As I said before, people need to stop harassing me!