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.

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?