A Girl's Best Friend

I went to California last weekend and don't have all the pictures yet, so the chronology of my blog is off, but I had to tell those who care about my weekend.

My friend Lisa had a birthday this Friday, so a bunch of us went to Las Vegas for dinner and then most of the group went to a concert. Laura and I didn't want to spend the money on the concert, so we drove down for dinner and then did little shopping at the Forum at Ceasars Palace. Laura wanted to go into Tiffany's to look at the diamonds...I,on the other hand, have always been afraid of the large men standing guard in the doorways of these jewlrey stores with a radio in their ears. I also feel like I would walk through the door and they would be able to tell that I didn't belong there and would ask me to leave. But I went in with Laura in spite of my overactive imagination, and we were surprised that we didn't see ANY diamonds...we did a quick lap and walked out. Of course, as we walked out we notice the set of stairs and sign indicating that at the top we would find "fine jewelry". We turned back and went upstairs. After a few moments, a salesman approached us and we got to talking. Turns out he is from Chicago originally and I mention I'm from Green Bay...yada yada yada. His dad owned a summer home in Williams Bay, WI (where Laura went to grad school), so we had lots to talk about. About a half hour later as Laura and I begin our goodbyes, he asks us if we want to try anything on. She points out a monstrosity of a diamond, and she convinces me to pick one too. I see a style I absolutely love and I choose the medium sized diamond - mostly because expensive jewelry makes me sweat and the slightly smaller one makes me sweat slightly less. Will tells us, though, that we have to try them on in the "other" room. He leads us to the back room where we sit down and try them on. Another half hour of entertaining chatting goes by, and though he is a salesman I think he is enjoying us too. Finally we leave and I wonder out loud how much the rings cost - I never looked. Laura did. Laura tells me. The ring I tried on was a little over $47,000. gulp. The ring she tried on...drum roll please....$90,000. Insert me screaming in the car right about now. I wish I could say I had a hot date this weekend, but if you can't have a date, why not a diamond! Did I mention that I had almost $140,000 worth of diamonds on this weekend? Yikes!

Hardcore? Why yes, I am!

A little over a month ago I went hiking at Zion National Park. My friends and I did the Overlook hike. The pictures look like it was a much harder hike than it was. I am pleased to say, though, that I have finally hiked Angels Landing. This was about three weeks ago. And honestly, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! Ok, so maybe I was hiking with a 20 month old, a woman in her 50's and another who was 7 months pregnant, so the pace was slowed considerably. But I'll take it any way I can get it, and I felt GOOOOOD! The weather turned very quickly on us as we reached the top, and we narrowly avoided getting caught hiking in a storm (we drove home in it instead), but it was fun. Honestly though, I liked the overlook better and it was a fraction of the time and energy.

Here you can see Megan carrying her son Daylor. I kid you not, this is the first time he needed to be carried, and it was only after an ultimatum because he didn't want to hold anyone's hand and it was so steep...this 20 month old hiked the WHOLE WAY! You can see how high we are, and if you have hike A.L., you know how steep the trail is!
Here I am coming down the switchbacks, known as Walter's Wiggles.
At the top (didn't go to the very edge of the rock becuase it was thundering quite a bit and already drizzling and there was a line of people climbing along the chain...)

Meg's Music Monday Challenge Part 2

I forgot to give an explanation to the songs I chose- part two of the assignment!

1. I can't remember a trip in my life where my dad wasn't constantly taking pictures. My siblings and I, to some extent, have followed his lead. I guess that's why scrapbooking was natural for me - I am the person with all the pictures that others are always getting pictures from because others enjoy the scenery while I try to capture it. Even as a child, I was always taking pictures not only of the people I was with, but also any scenic point along the way. I don't have a fancy camera like my dad did, but it is a habit inherited from him.

2. My mother (and father) joined the Air Force out of high school. My mother did it because she new it would be the only way she could see the world. I have always thought she was so brave for doing it. She is shy, but she traveled around the world by herself. Then she married my father and moved to Wisconsin and never moved back home. I always think about her when I hear this song because I can just picture my mom being sad seeing all her kids move away, but also knowing that she had to do the same thing for herself.

3. Shotgun Serenade I would like to dedicate to two people who both taught me to stand up for myself. They were the ones I needed to stand up to and probably didn't appreciate it at the time, but I am a stronger person now because they were such jerks and drove me to change.

4. I dedicate this song to my students. They have a hard time understanding that I have bad days too. That I have a personal life and am not a slave to grading their late work. That all jokes are not funny, especially when not timed right. That I need personal space. That they don't have the right to sit at my desk, go through my desk, read my emails behind my desk...they want me to be fun and play ALL the time. Beauty and the mess.

5. I chose the final song because - even though I don't do it much anymore - I love making tapes for people...well, cd's I guess. I love getting the best songs in the best order.

Meg's Music Monday Challenge

The assignment: Create a personality CD of 5 songs consisting of
1. A song about a trait you inherited from your father
2. A song about a trait you inherited from your mother
3. A song you about a trait you learned from someone else
4. A song about how other's see you
5. A song about a trait that is unique to you

Here are mine (I just spent the last hour and a half doing this becuase it is so much more fun than proofreading Sterling Scholar portfolios):

1. 3 x 5 - John Mayer
2. Wide Open Spaces - The Dixie Chicks
3. Shotgun Serenade - Juliana Theory
4. Beauty and the Mess - Nickel Creek OR Dig - Incubus (how do you ever REALLY know what others think of you?)
5. The Mixed Tape - Jack's Mannequin

And Meg, you still have me beat - these are the bands you introduced me to, and this just off the top of my head!
Travis
Juliana Theory
Get Up Kids
Sara Harmer
Iron and Wine
The Format
Saves the Day
Patti Griffin
The Promise Ring
Old 97's
Pete Yorn
Rhett Miller
And do I dare mention the those two amazing years in college where Good Charlotte, MXPX and New Found Glory were our soundtracks in Provo and driving through Vegas with the windows rolled down and the music turned way up?

Things I learned from my nephew

Do you ever feel like your life is dragging?
that things are falling all around you?
or that you are stuck in a rut?
Just completely exposed and vulnerable?
Take heart do two simple things. Don't be afraid to take someone's hand to ask for help
and to hug someone you love.
Just appreciating the simple things in life will bring joy to you and those around you.