Support Natural Habitats

So call me crazy. Or not. But figure this one out: after a hike in Zion over President's Day weekend my friends and I walked down the road to an elk and buffalo farm (for lack of a better word). Here is the sign "inviting" people to donate money to support this natural environment for these magnificent animals - or at least help us feed them by buying a $2 bag of food that you could then feed them with yourself. You'll notice that the sign asks for money to support this "natural" environment. The only thing "natural" about it are the mountains in the background, as noted by exhibit A - the truck on blocks behind the sign. In exhibit B (below) you will see me with the beforementioned $2 bag of food, feeding one of the more pathetic looking elk with its horns shorn off in the back lot.The fences enclose muddy yards. You'll notice that behind the elk is a large object. The object, in this "natural" setting, just happens to be an early 90's edition of a speedboat. This may be a new definition of a natural environment, or you could just call me crazy...

President's Day Weekend Continued!

So how many of you out there thought the fun ended in Park City? You were wrong...suckah. On Monday my friends and I made the trek to Zion National Park for some hiking. Now, before you all begin to think that I truly am hardcore, let me remind you of my wimpiness. No, they were not tough hikes, but the views were breathtaking and the weather was perfect.

Park City with Dobi

My cousin David and his wife Ivana were in Park City over President's Day weekend. They were skiing with friends, so I went up to visit.You'll notice that I dressed to be cute, not for warmth. I was the most ridiculous looking person in all of Park City, and every skier knew it. I guess I didn't understand the instructions.


I was told we were meeting David and his friends for lunch on Sunday afternoon. I wasn't told that we would be meeting them almost 1500 vertical feet up a mountain at the Canyon's resort. Did I mention that I didn't have socks on with my newbuck leather flats?

My Valentine

So I didn't get a date this Valentine's Day. What I did get, though, was a blister in the shape of a heart on Valentine's Day after shoveling the driveway. I hope you were all luckier than I was ; )

Gone but not forgotten...

Well, the pro football season didn't end the way I thought it would. By the way my students treated me when we got back to school on the Tuesday after Brett Favre announced his retirement from the Green Bay Packers, you would have thought someone had died: "Are you OK?" or "It'll be alright, Ms. H" etc (I was perfectly all right). Today one of my students brought me this egg his family had made and I am so honored to receive it. Now I have two constant reminders on my desk at work, to me and to all who might doubt, where my allegiance lies in the world of the NFL. The season is over, but man was it fun! And who knew high school freshmen girls knew so much about football - I have talked more football these last two weeks than I ever have in my life, and mostly with 14 and 15 year olds!

Season's Beatings!

So did any of you hear about the torrential rains in California? I bet many of you did - it was all over the news. Well how many of you heard about the torrential snowfall it became when it hit Utah? Yup. That's what I thought - none of you but the ones who live here. I got back into town Friday night to 45 degrees and rain (absolutely no snow). Saturday was drizzle most of the day, on and off, but still in the 40's. Sunday it suddenly decided (after a light rain about 4 pm to get the ground nice and wet) to turn to snow. And man, was there a lot of it beating down on us! Luckily, I have some great friends to help me dig out and enjoy the the white stuff (after veiled bribes of making a snowman - not as easy as we thought though - and hot chocolate) . Oh, and when I said beatings (plural), it's because some people think it's funny to tackle you and push your face in the snow. Publicly, let me declare that IT IS NOT FUNNY!

What She's Jealous About...

My sister blogged about me getting to go the the Packer game while she had to fly home and get in a car accident. Well, here's the reality of game day: yes, it was cold; yes, I saw a man with a cheese bra on; yes, I think someone spilled beer on me...but I saw Brett Favre play in Lambeau Field. Priceless. No, really. I didn't spend any money - totally free!

Entering Lambeu Field was awesome. I was in awe. The people, the excitement...nothing like it!


A glorious pass by the man himself...
The myth...the legend...the 2007 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year...Brett Favre!

Just a little man we'll call "Saint Vince."
Can you find the man in the cheese bra (WARNING: NOT for the faint of heart)?

Season's Greetings!

Greetings to all reading this! I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Years celebration. Any time spent with my family is a good time for me, translating into a wonderful holiday. I hope you were all so lucky as I was!




Guess who stole the show!


Work it, hot stuff!

He's taking notes from Uncle Mark...

Find the pickle and you'll win a prize, but only if you beat Erin's eyes!

Claudia and I (before I won the pickle game)

The Cutest Baby EVER (by a completely unbiased outside party that has absolutely no connection to the mentioned subject)

My nephew is precious. He is the sunshine in a dark world. He is peace amid the chaos. The harmony to the discord. He is the smartest baby ever to live. And I am his favorite person besides his parents to play with. So what does that make me? Only the coolest aunt ever!

Trail to Oregon

If you follow Claudia's blog you have already seen her commentary on my Thanksgiving holiday to Oregon. But as it was my first time there (and now that I am ready to pack up and move to Portland) I thought I would just include a few of my own pictures.

Heeey youu guuuys! Cannon Beach


The old growth forests are breathtaking! This one is at Cape Meares State Forest.

I am so lucky to have someone I have so much fun with!


Um, Little People, Big World...love the show, saw the farm from a distance, good times!
Downtown Portland is fantastically hip and cozy at the same time...my kind of city.
A true Mini. Think they'd fit?

I Love Nickel Creek

You would have to know me pretty well to understand the depth of my love affair with the band Nickel Creek. I even bought a mandolin and have tried - quite unsuccessfully - to teach myself to play in the hopes that one day, when I have 5 minutes alone with Chris Thile, I can impress him with how much of a psycho stalker I am...wait, that came out wrong. Not only is this one of the most talented group of musicians I have ever seen (I smiled the whole time at the concert, by the way), but they are talented even while being silly! I love it. I love them. Unfortunately, they are breaking up to pursue other projects. But they will forever be my favorite band, and I their #1 fan!

Regrets

I finally got my car back. It was a much bigger ordeal than expected, and I had the rental car(s) for a week longer than originally planned (a way longer and more boring story than you might think). The thing is, now that I have my car back, I miss the "thing" I was driving before. I liked the satlite radio. And the seats that were more like real chairs than bananna seats. I got used to the tiny windows and didn't get in an accident like I thought (I was just joking about the "shaving my head and calling me Sally" bit). And then when I had to get a second rental (through no fault of my own - this is where that long boring story comes in) it was a small SUV and I was again sitting in a normal sized chair-like seat. My car is nice and has an engine that has some guts, but man, I wasn't kidding about eaiting a meal off my knee...I thought I was when I wrote about it the last time, but that is actually a true statement!! I know Adam, Claudia, and my father can all relate to this, but cars are just not made for people over 6 feet tall!

The Ramblings of an Unorganized Mind

I decided it was about time I updated this thing so that frightning holloween image that stares back at me when I pull up my blog wasn't haunting me anymore. Lots of little things have been going on along the way but I haven't said much about them, so permit me to hodgepodge my way through this update. First, Cedar City has participated in a National Endowment for the Arts program called The Big Read for the last two years. Basically, the community agrees on a book to study and there are community activities to participat in based on the plot or themes in the book. Just about every book on the NEA's list are books taught at Cedar High (we're soooo cool). One thing the community did this year to promote reading was to make "Read" posters - usually highlighting celebreties with their favorite books - showcasing community member and students with their favorite picks. Your's truly graces one of these posters, now hanging in the Cedar City Library.

Homecoming was a month ago, but it was a blast. Cedar High is steeped in tradition, one of which is to decorate every inch of the main level. I helped/chaperoned again this year (now one of my traditions).

Last weekend Beth, Mike, Mikie and I went to San Diego to visit with Mark and Mike's brother Clayton and his wife Hailey. It was fun to visit with Mark again before he leaves for San Antonio, TX for additional training with the Navy.


Mikie is growing up so much, and he loves playing with his Uncle Mark and Uncle Clayton.

Happy Haolloween!

Hope you had a fun one too!

What...is..it?

I was in a minor car accident this past week. It was some 19 year old kid's fault when he decided to make a U-turn to meet me but kissed my car instead.This is what $2600 worth of damage looks like.

The most interesting part of the whole predicament is the rental car. It's a Dodge Callibur. I'm not sure what it is though. Car? SUV? SUV-wannabe? And the visability stinks. I am stuck with this thing for another week and a half and if I make it without hitting someone else, then you can shave my head and call me Sally. I get scared to change lanes in it, so I get stuck behind melting icicles in January all becuase I can's see in my blind spot becuase the windows are too small. And the dash is so deep that I feel like I am driving a truck. But it is comfortable to sit in - one of the first vehicles I have ever been in where I couldn't eat a burger off my knee. But what IS it?