tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71919247284476246082012-01-25T13:12:14.192-08:00Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.comBlogger1111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-74519122163865474792012-01-25T12:08:00.000-08:002012-01-25T12:08:05.830-08:00

This was the email Ray sent out right after Levin was born.  I'm cleaning out my email inbox today, and sometimes a blog is a good place to store things.  Pretty soon I'll be scanning my receipts and storing them here as well. Hi all- Cali and I wanted to send out a quick picture of our new son! We are still deliberating on names. He was born at Tues 1:40pm at 8lbs 11oz and 21 in long. Cali

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-84660041308915282862012-01-23T16:36:00.000-08:002012-01-23T16:36:40.803-08:00

Levin got himself a package in the mail today. I'll let his gift do the talking (it's on his head). Levin spent the rest of the afternoon going on, and on, and ON about how dapper he looks. It's going straight to his head. My cousin Maddie made them.  Being thirteen keeps her busy.  I bet she'd take orders, though.

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-25336516541405836002012-01-20T13:34:00.000-08:002012-01-20T13:34:36.575-08:00

Seattle got snow this week.  I was pretty excited at the prospect of being shut indoors for the week until I heard that people were losing power.  Shut indoors with no internet and no reading in the evening and no movie watching... guess I wouldn't have been a good pioneer after all. The Sound Sometimes, Levin waking up from his naps reminds me of those people that say, "Don't talk to me

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-72954073350868293912012-01-13T12:13:00.000-08:002012-01-13T12:13:57.754-08:00

Well, you have to break radio silence somehow...Wouldn't want to set the bar too high...What I was thinking..."Sometimes when I don't want to practice the piano, I go watch a video like this and I find it in me to go down and practice; promising myself that someday I will actually make music."So then I go downstairs and practice Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater or the horrid

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-8149752549279964382011-11-10T23:11:00.000-08:002011-11-10T23:05:55.933-08:00

One of the best parts about having Ray take care of Levin (without me there) is the surprises I find from it. Ray was taking care of Levin on Sunday evening while I had a group of people over from church for an organizational meeting.  Here are the two best surprises I found on Monday morning: 1.  These pictures Ray took of Levin. I think he looks like Maggie Simpson here One of the

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-17659967082159489012011-11-06T00:58:00.000-07:002011-11-06T14:32:35.317-08:00

This picture says nothing but bad things.  It says: 1.  Once again I've put off folding the clothes until 10:30pm and since Levin is already asleep, I have to pile them by his door.  I can't even technically mark "laundry" off my To Do list because his clothes aren't put away.  The funny thing is that I don't even hate folding laundry.  I like it.  I put it off because I always save my fun

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-29661706032462046652011-10-31T23:46:00.000-07:002011-10-31T23:46:24.561-07:00

Is it too late to post Halloween pictures?  What about if they are of my decorations? Oh well, I'm going to put them up anyway.  This is THE FIRST TIME I've decorated my house for a holiday.  Not even Christmas' past have been decorated.  One year we had a tree, but that was because Ray went and got it and put it up and put all three of our ornaments on it.  I'm turning over a new leaf, though.

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-15398041341662486892011-10-29T00:18:00.000-07:002011-10-29T00:18:42.586-07:00

We are back in business... kind of. Our new computer is an Apple and the learning curve for using it is STEEEEEEP!  I feel like a 97 year-old grandma trying to figure it out.  Luckily there is youtube and youtube has tutorials for everything.  The trick is finding a tutorial that is dumbed-down enough so I can follow it.  I read that Steve Jobs once suggested Bill Gates should have done more LSD

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-10284993540836347602011-09-27T23:11:00.000-07:002011-09-27T23:12:58.230-07:00

I just realized I wore my pants backwards ALL day today; from 7:30am to 11:00pm. Ray wants to know if this can be attributed to the awesome stretchyness of the pants or the lack of butt on my body (Levin stole my butt when he was in utero and has yet to give it back). I had piano lessons in those pants today and ran errands in them. I feel like I had pepper in my theeth and no one told me. Oh

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-37391553348772098562011-09-21T23:35:00.000-07:002011-09-21T23:35:26.910-07:00

I was working on a blog post for you with lots of Levin pictures. But I think it wasn't meant to be, because my lap top crashed right in the middle of it. I'm not too sad about it because he was 7 years old which is like 109 in human years. He had a good life and the only thing he is taking with him to his grave is a few recipes. I'd backed everything else up a few months ago when I sensed he

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-90241153352043450442011-09-13T23:37:00.000-07:002011-09-13T23:42:30.448-07:00

Levin was born at 1:40pm.  Upon making his entrance and laying on my chest, I immediately noticed a smile with a dimple.  I thought, "Hmmmmm, where did that come from?  Ray and I don't have dimples."  As he lay there, I waited.  I waited some more.  I started to panic because it wasn't there.  I didn't feel overwhelmed with motherly love towards him.  I loved him, but I had a hard time feeling

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-17711703644432717692011-09-08T22:58:00.000-07:002011-09-08T22:58:06.226-07:00

It was time to feed Venus the fly trap.  It was a bona fide rodeo in that bathroom this afternoon. It involved me: ~locking a fly in the bathroom ~chasing the fly around the bathroom for about 8 minutes (I don't exaggerate... this fly was not prepared to meet it's maker) ~never actually hitting the fly but at least stunning it with the hurricane-strength wind my flyswatter generated ~picking

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-11319281853774891162011-08-31T23:36:00.000-07:002011-08-31T23:43:44.606-07:00

Yesterday was a weird day.  It felt like someone kept playing tricks on me. It all started in the morning when I looked outside to see if it was going to be cold or warm.  It looked cold.  The sky was gray and there was fog on the water.  However Seattle has tricked me before; looks cold in the morning and ends up being sunny and warm.  I pulled up the weather forecast on the internet and was

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-2239464662525588422011-08-30T23:08:00.000-07:002011-08-30T23:08:46.437-07:00

I've been thinking about cousins this past week, and I think they are really, REALLY important. When I found out I was pregnant last fall, Ty and Michelle were newly engaged.  I would remind them that my coming baby was going to be that awkward oldest cousin that doesn't have anyone near their age (and doesn't have anyone to play with at family gatherings) UNLESS, they did something about it.  

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-3786862845530914542011-08-28T22:57:00.000-07:002011-08-29T03:26:26.293-07:00

He may never be known for his brilliance or his athletic ability or even for his chili cooking skills, but he will forever go down in the books as an expert swaddle breaker. It's kind of a vicious cycle anyway... he doesn't sleep well when he isn't swaddled because he flings his hands around, hitting his head and waking himself up.  However, there isn't a swaddle he hasn't escaped. How do you

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-59457991099374005002011-08-26T00:45:00.000-07:002011-08-26T00:45:16.812-07:00

Some of the best parts of my week have included: "All Star" indeed 1.  I remembered I took this picture of Levin a few days ago for his Grandma Payne.  She LOVES it when he puts his fingers just so.  He does it almost daily for her and I try to make sure I capture each one.  Sometimes he only does it for a second and my trigger finger isn't fast enough. 2.  This week I started running

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-88795975232225263752011-08-22T23:45:00.000-07:002011-08-22T23:46:14.565-07:00

I've been noticing a trend in these last few posts... they are plastered with pictures of babies and are all about Levin.  I'm worried this blog has lost its balance.  I'm worried that when I finally have enough posts to actually print it as a book, it will merely be Levin's baby book. This post is not about Levin. This post is about what I've been working on lately.  Well... a few of the

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-61123932719508455322011-08-21T22:10:00.000-07:002011-08-21T22:10:22.177-07:00

I'm working on a post now that is titled, "Things I Wish I'd Done Differently."  As you can imagine it's going to be a long one. Levin is lying on the bed with Ray and me right now and sleeping.  I don't think he'll be sleeping long though, because Ray found a single thread from somewhere and is using it to tickle Levin's ear and leg.  Now I know why Ray and my dad get along so well... I'm

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-11190114195616609772011-08-21T00:04:00.000-07:002011-08-21T00:25:41.152-07:00

Today Ray and I started a tradition and hopefully it's a tradition that lasts. We never had date nights before Levin was born, because pretty much every night Ray was home was date night.  Every night isn't a date night any more. Bless the man's heart that offered to take our picture. He tried really hard, but forgot to tell me I had some serious hair tweakers. I planned this weekend's

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-11732753035124005272011-07-06T20:08:00.000-07:002011-07-06T20:11:30.090-07:00

Well, almost speechless . . . look what else we've been growing

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-36071968272472187992011-07-06T18:33:00.000-07:002011-07-06T20:42:39.656-07:00

It was swift. It was intense. It hurt like hell. The minute it was over I told that doctor, "next time I'm getting the epidural."

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-26559496084437263122011-06-30T23:23:00.000-07:002011-06-30T23:26:20.751-07:00

We made it home and could not be more excited about our new life. Levin Buchanan Follett June 28, 2011 8 pounds 11 ounces 21 inches I'm still not sure how that baby boy came out of me, but come out he did. Ray's still not sure how I didn't know that all baby boys BEST go home in camouflage. A better update tomorrow.

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-69250252320195249792011-04-18T23:47:00.000-07:002011-04-18T23:47:19.478-07:00

When Ray and I bought our house, I told him I wanted us to have all the remodeling done within 2 years.  I wanted to be able to enjoy our house... not always be working on it.  Fortunately our baby is due exactly on the 2 year anniversary of when we signed on the house, making the desire to meet the goal even more... desirable. We've only got the basement left with the first item on the agenda

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-31289476179694813692011-01-17T14:48:00.000-08:002011-01-17T18:22:32.966-08:00

Last week Ray and I were talking about the difficulty of having "tough conversations" with each other, coworkers, family, basically everyone.  This conversation actually started months earlier when he and coworkers were asked to read a book called Fierce Conversations for a work-education project.  After Ray read it, he suggested it be one of the books I read this year so we could discuss it.  I

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-25150846892905689582011-01-12T11:21:00.000-08:002011-01-12T18:18:14.962-08:00

Yesterday was a great day, especially for Ray.  He ate up every single 1 and 11 of the day... and has the documentation to prove it. Ray's gas-mileage odometer also rolled over 111.1 miles yesterday.  A good sign indeed. Ray and eleven have been SPECIAL friends since he was a teenager.  I think the bond is only getting stronger.  Some of my favorite memories of Ray, eleven and I: I.  One

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-33806743088857814142011-01-07T20:49:00.000-08:002011-01-07T21:30:03.359-08:00

Just in case you were wondering what I spent my last 48 hours doing. A 5 year supply of contact solution Our 5 year supply of contact solution arrived.  Ray's health insurance has a flex-spending account... which we had to use up before the year ended or else the money in it would be dissolved.  We had $90 to try and spend.  So at 11:45pm on December 31st, Ray and I were frantically searching

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-27389709358475331882010-11-29T10:12:00.000-08:002010-11-29T10:16:18.482-08:00

Last week, before Thanksgiving, it snowed here in Seattle and I found myself wishing I had someone here at home to enjoy it with me. Ray went in to work.  After he got there, I asked him how many other people were in the office with him.  He said one other person showed up.  By one o'clock he was the only one there.  He still didn't come home and enjoy the snow with me. It kind of made me feel

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-37951355111338556592010-11-19T16:48:00.000-08:002010-11-19T17:48:44.297-08:00

Did you know we went to Belize last May?  We did. I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't even know where Belize was until May.  I was especially too embarrassed to admit it to Ray.  When he started suggesting it as the destination for our vacation, I'd nod and say that was a great idea, then think, "I need to find a map.  I have no idea what continent Belize is on."  At first I was thinking it

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-9966275093177415402010-10-11T07:49:00.000-07:002010-10-11T07:55:40.378-07:00

As I've gotten older, I have found myself hoping to find more and more of my mom in me.  Sometimes that scares me just a little too. Today I made a jar of caramel to go with apple slices for a family in our church.  They just had a new baby, and I was taking them dinner.  I'm still kind of new at this "being responsible enough to take another person's family a whole dinner."  Anyway, I only had

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-73043439790214798382010-09-27T20:15:00.000-07:002010-09-27T20:18:07.419-07:00

I guess it should say, "I Didn't Get It." Today I had a stranger come up to me in Target.  She was young, pretty, and she very politely ask if I've ever been offered a free Mary Kay makeover?  I grinned from ear-to-ear, because I was sure she had just payed me the BIGGEST compliment.  I said, "Yup, myyyyy... sister-in-law sells Mary Kay."  It was a bold faced lie, but I didn't want to hurt her

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-10777520468000285452010-09-13T20:48:00.000-07:002010-09-13T20:57:49.279-07:00

Well, she's doing juuuust fine. She has now officially lasted 7 months longer than my first turtle did.  Here are my 7 (one for each additional month she's survived) most favorite memories of her from this summer. In no particular order: 3.  Losing her in the flower bed.  This spring, I thought I'd take her outside to weed with me.  I thought it would help us bond.  I lost her for about 20

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-16811800914370751892010-09-12T19:48:00.000-07:002010-09-13T21:05:32.929-07:00

Dear Jane & Calvin, Last week you reminded me of a funny detail, that I called you Jane and Calvin, rather than mom and dad, until I was almost three.  You said it was because I mimicked you, and that's what you called each other. I have missed you today.  A similar feeling as when I used to head off to college; very lonely wondering who would take care of you... and who would take care of me.

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-13114836335144644112010-06-19T21:13:00.000-07:002010-06-19T21:14:43.267-07:00

Fatherhood is leadership, the most important kind of leadership. It has always been so; it always will be so.                                                                       ~ L. Tom Perry Raymond, happy day of fatherhood.

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-23552732525857902852010-06-09T09:59:00.000-07:002010-06-09T09:59:27.154-07:00

We're home from Belize. It always feels sooo good to come home.  ALWAYS. I think our house was glad we came home too.  It knew I liked it to be clean; it stayed clean.  It knew I liked flowers; it made flowers.  Waiting for me was a loaded bush of Calla Lilies and 3 loaded bushes of Peonies.  I didn't even have to do a thing.  I just went away for a while and they were there when I got home.

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-74001946542395878922010-05-04T15:17:00.000-07:002010-05-04T15:17:43.196-07:00

For Ray's birthday, we drank white grape juice in the West Point Graduation goblets we got with Abe.  If you're going to toast to health and happiness, it feels lame clinking your plastic cups. I took a look at the pictures just now and thought, "where'd the chardonnay come from?" Even tricked myself. Since we're on the topic of chardonnay, though.  Maybe I can tell you about the only time I

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-51192541423741218662010-05-02T16:12:00.000-07:002010-05-02T16:22:54.885-07:00

I'm not very good with birthdays. I NEVER tell anyone when it is mine... that's too embarrassing. I sometimes forget other's birthdays.  That is also embarrassing. I am pathetic with figuring out gifts.  I try to think of creative, fun gifts, but most of my ideas end up being more practical than exciting (I can blame my paternal genes for that, though.  One year my dad got my mom a bag of

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-19398812011693177482010-04-30T20:51:00.000-07:002010-04-30T21:11:03.921-07:00

It turns out the April Massacre on my flower bed wasn't as devastating as I'd first assumed.  SOME of the weeds had the nerve to continue growing even after I took the shovel to them over and over again.  However, I think I can outlast them in persistence.  They're soon to meet our (more like Ray and my dad's) secret weapon; Round-Up with Kryptonite.   Actually, I don't know what it's made of

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-20843538531839197642010-04-24T14:48:00.000-07:002010-04-24T14:57:14.917-07:00

I've checked Google Reader 18 times today.  Will someone PLEASE write a blog. This is all I've got: My Thoughts on Eggs & Chickens: When I was growing up, we never bought eggs.  We collected them.  My mom had chickens and Abe, Ty, Ande, and I hated them.  We hated them because we were the ones that took care of them.  We watered them, fed them, and collected their eggs. The bane of caring for

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-42443757745502091092010-04-19T22:33:00.000-07:002010-04-19T22:38:49.705-07:00

Today, I did something that's taken me 16 months to do.  I got my new passport photos.  I filled out the passport paperwork in January of 2009, right after Ray and I got married.  I've had the paperwork sitting in my "TO DO" pile ever since.  Sometimes, it's been the only thing in my "TO DO" pile. The reason I put it off... I didn't want a bad passport photo AGAIN, and I didn't want to pay $15.

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-31943460385486072472010-04-17T23:05:00.000-07:002010-04-17T23:05:59.227-07:00

YESTERDAY: I cleaned out our flower beds.  I cleaned them out from 8:00am to 9:30pm.  I could see the pity in the faces of all my neighbors as they walked by.  A few of them even commented, "still going at it huh?" The flower beds were a big, horrible, mossy, grassy, weedy mess.  AND, all of the before mentioned were ALIVE and WELL.  That meant a hand trowel was useless... even the shovel was

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-30850997132522860612010-04-14T08:34:00.000-07:002010-04-14T08:34:16.753-07:00

Ande, You'd better hurry back over here to visit us.  Ray noticed you left your game of Banana-grams behind.  He really wants a game of Banana-grams.  He said you have until Friday evening to reclaim your game.  If you don't make it by his designated time... I won't tell you what he has in store for your game.  I'll only say that it involves a black permanent marker and the letters

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-87361071307402785062010-04-12T16:49:00.000-07:002010-04-12T16:52:29.375-07:00

My neighbor (well actually he isn't my neighbor, but he lives within 2 miles of me, which in the country, where I was raised, makes him a neighbor) is giving some of his "stuff" away for free. It must have been some pretty good "stuff" because when I went back the next day to take this picture, there were only those white things, lying next to the sign, left for someone to claim. I'm not sure

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-68931306507657094892010-04-09T07:46:00.000-07:002010-04-09T07:46:35.904-07:00

I just thought you'd all like to know... The PEEPs are officially on the counter... hardening. They won't be done until maybe June or July. By then, I'm expecting them to be as hard as Lucky Charm marshmallows. I'll need to hide them though, because as you can see there's only one row of pink PEEPs left. In 2005 I had the best crop of hardened PEEPs. I hid them so well that I didn't find them

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-61786906550386286052010-04-08T09:16:00.000-07:002010-04-08T09:18:31.767-07:00

Dear Abe, I thought about you more than usual yesterday.  The thoughts were simple.  They started coming around 2:00pm my time.  I think that was early morning for you.  I hoped you were sleeping well and that you would wake up feeling ready for the day. I thought of you again later when I imagined you were already dressed, but not quite "working."  I hoped you felt some excitement for the work

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-45314772984271169732010-04-07T09:34:00.000-07:002010-04-07T09:36:18.168-07:00

Today I had to D-U-S-T the guest bathroom.  I had to dust it last week too.  I've had to DUST it for the past 5 weeks.  Dusting means I shake the rug and sweep up the dust bunnies.  Dusting means I turn on the water just to wash the rust out of the pipes.  I do this so that IF someone were actually to use the bathroom, they wouldn't be disgusted with the orange water coming out.  Dusting

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-14677606237397657572010-03-31T07:30:00.000-07:002010-04-09T09:49:31.258-07:00

You know how sometimes you think you look really awesome?  You feel it, therefore you must look it. In January I decided to try putting my hair in braids.  I looked in the mirror and thought, "Hey, these look amazing."  And, I believed it all day long.  It wasn't until I got home that night and used the mirror to look at the back of my head, then I realized. I realized I hadn't looked awesome

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-38939105493898354952010-03-30T21:22:00.000-07:002010-04-09T09:49:05.008-07:00

Sometimes fears are silly. Sometimes they're not. I used to be afraid of getting lost. I worried I'd lose my parents, and they'd lose me. I'm not really afraid of that anymore. I used to be afraid of swimming pool drains... the big drain at the bottom of pools that's covered by a grate. I worried there was a water snake or an alligator or a hairball down there and they would get me or touch me

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-75093594105049577382010-03-29T23:16:00.000-07:002010-03-29T23:24:00.463-07:00

Dear Blogity Blog, I lost my iPOD last week.  I left it on the plane.  NO ONE turned it in to lost and found and I know because I've called more than once.  I think that cleaning person decided to turn it in to his/her pocket instead.  I've been bummed about it all week until today.  Today Ray gave me his iPOD (his is nicer and newer).  He said he gave it to me because he "rarely" uses it.  He

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-30306871490765232362010-02-19T14:30:00.000-08:002010-02-20T09:40:29.966-08:00

Did I ever tell you about the time I caught an Olympic dove? The History: My senior year at BYU-Hawaii, I got the opportunity to go to the island of Saipan. The BYU-Hawaii biology department was going to perform some marine and bird research. I didn’t know much about either research topic, but when they asked if I wanted to go, I interrupted them by saying, “Yes!” It just plain sounded exciting

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-15300995184789102422009-12-28T18:22:00.000-08:002009-12-29T12:53:52.736-08:00

I don't want anyone to ever say of me that I couldn't commit... because "commit" I have. Ray and I have officially quit accumulating pets. We are quitting because of necessity. We are finding we have a propensity to collect pets with LOOOONG life spans and LOOOOTS of commitment. Even though our final count will end at only two. We're making an official statement: "two pets and no more." Ray

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-76145689247034555162009-10-17T09:33:00.001-07:002009-10-17T09:40:01.295-07:00

... an encore!Just kidding. I didn't get an encore. I just found this "Happiness is..." post I'd written back in May on my desktop. I'm cleaning off my desktop. Without further ado: Happiness is… having a permanent travel partner.When I used to fly to Hawaii each fall for school, I would start getting sad a few days before I even left. The ride over to the Seattle airport was where all the sad

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-56616250024072121602009-10-01T12:55:00.000-07:002009-10-03T16:01:04.383-07:00

And on a much lighter note:There's a seagull out there without a head.(Compliments of a walk with Neighbor Jane Payne)Only keep scrolling down if you want to see a close-up, including the dried out eye sockets.

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-82662001353682901092009-09-28T08:25:00.001-07:002009-09-28T09:16:18.782-07:00

Sometimes, when you don't do something for a while (or a really long time), you have a hard time doing it again. An example: the last pan of the meal, that doesn't fit in the dishwasher, that soaks in the sink for 2 days. On that note: it took me 45 minutes of stalling (even checking the sports section of the yahoo homepage) before I decided it was time to open up blog-ography.blogspot.com. When

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-30852537923694493472009-07-28T23:05:00.000-07:002009-08-02T21:09:33.958-07:00

Mom,Remember that pillow I got in college that had embroidered upon it the phrase:Mirror, Mirror on the WallI am my Mother After AllWell, I've known for a while that I was progressing in that direction (proudly), but today I hit an all-time low. I began finding similarities between me and my roaster pan. The minute this coherent thought skitted across my brain, I realized (in horror) I was

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-60976238123694712102009-05-25T20:58:00.000-07:002009-06-02T15:50:34.227-07:00

… having an experienced, cool-calm-collect chauffeur. This week Ray was in charge of driving us all over New York, and he did it with grace. I never, not even once, saw him get stressed. Not when we missed multiple exits because we were so busy talking about our future plans (it was a blow to his ego though, because he never misses turns). And missing an exit in NYC is a big deal. It takes at

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-71966136518358769692009-05-12T17:29:00.000-07:002009-05-26T20:04:46.840-07:00

… a DO NOT WALK sign. (thank you gettyimages)I started running regularly again about a month ago. It’s been brutal. How can a person get SO out of shape in SO little time? The only thing saving me from a spectacular syncopal episode right there on the sidewalk is the 2 busy streets I have to cross (or more accurately their crosswalks). When you’re running, there’s nothing more glorious than

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-80690156141194121992009-05-10T16:51:00.000-07:002009-05-26T20:01:11.665-07:00

... enjoying another's generosity. (chaos)(more chaos)One of the most humbling experiences of my life was coming back from my honeymoon and seeing a room filled with gifts; seeing love and generosity in a tangible form. It made me cry because I didn’t know how to adequately thank everyone for being so kind (and because I’d recently started birth-control and I was on an Estrogen/Progesterone tidal

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-5914557053301131852009-05-09T20:45:00.000-07:002009-05-11T22:06:47.620-07:00

... being wished "Many Happy Returns."Actually he didn't say that.Instead he made me a treasure hunt while I was in the shower, instructed Rob to bake a cake, and made sure the present didn't escape. We don't call her Houdini for nothing. And now we spend hours watching her hide in her shell in the middle of the floor. Then we turn away for a 11 seconds and spend more hours searching for her.

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-14385980072404609892009-05-04T22:25:00.000-07:002009-05-11T23:19:33.573-07:00

... having perfectly watered plants.Ray and I got these Aqua Globes for our wedding from my friends Katy and Kendra.Katy, Kendra and I served together in church when I lived in Tri Cities. When we had our monthly organizational meetings, we would often get distracted talking about the National Whistler's Convention documentary we had just received from Netflix; or the Dairy Queen's Blizzard of

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-11976590422103214392009-05-03T17:00:00.000-07:002009-05-05T12:20:39.060-07:00

… not needing words to explain (but giving them anyway).LILACS(pronounced "lī-lək" or "LIE-LUCK")Trust me.I could have just put the picture and everyone would have known what happiness is.BUT...Since I was born in May, I used to be sure they were “created” for me. I always promised myself I’d get married in May so that I could have them at my wedding. Some good things don’t wait.I’ve been ______

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-40125461888024949412009-05-02T17:00:00.000-07:002009-05-05T13:29:40.638-07:00

... being gently humbled.I didn't want to go to work last night.I hoped someone would sympathize with me.It's hard to get sympathy when you only work 3 days a week.However, I REALLY didn't want to go to work.Right before I walked out the door, I prayed, "I don't want to be a nurse tonight. Please help me be a good nurse none-the-less. Help me take good care of them."I spent the entire night with

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-9362411164528684132009-05-01T18:00:00.000-07:002009-05-01T18:13:31.931-07:00

... having company.Dear Rob,I'm not sure you know how excited we are for you to come visit us. Here are 5 points to prove that your arrival is being eagerly anticipated:I opened a box of Froot Loops yesterday, and right on top there was the prize. I didn't even know they still did prizes in cereal boxes. My first thought was, "Yea! I'll give this to Rob as his 'Welcome' gift." I'm having a hard

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-62208535495505283412009-05-01T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-01T06:00:06.172-07:00

... knowing how to be happy.Mrs. Roberts, my mom's 3rd grade teacher, gave each of her students the book “Happiness is a Warm Puppy” by Charles Schultz for Christmas. That book still sits back on our bookshelf. But, it used to never be on the bookshelf. It was under someone's pillow, in someone's back pack, or at the very least in the book box where the favorite, frequently read books were

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-57434354879443461302009-04-29T16:04:00.000-07:002009-04-29T19:08:02.322-07:00

... to the turtle post:I finally got my turtle rearing books from the library.When I first told Ray they were waiting for me at the library, I asked him if he was ready for this BIG commitment (meaning the responsibility of keeping a living-thing living). He said, "I don't know Cali, are you ready for the commitment? I mean you have to return them on time and if you don't they fine you. Checking

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-68595227824117243802009-04-29T09:26:00.000-07:002009-04-29T15:45:09.018-07:00

That title is for you mom. In honor of ALL the times you read me The Mailman of Bayberry Lane.(Believe it or not, this man is sporting a Tulip Festival pamphlet in his back pocket) This past week we went up to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival & Air Show. Ray wanted to see the flowers. I wanted to see the air planes. We both saw a lot of tulips and planes.The highlights of the trip were: Eating at

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-85279395689282457602009-04-15T14:00:00.000-07:002009-04-15T14:55:57.154-07:00

This weekend we went home to Moses Lake. We played dominoes. We shot black powder guns (had a shoot-off, which my dad won). We talked politics. As with all political talk… we had ALL the answers.Our comments on those pirates:Cali (to anyone who mentioned Somali Pirates): I'm just glad they're back to calling them pirates instead of just plain old terrorists. I think it makes this whole business

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-71748314236701865542009-03-24T10:41:00.000-07:002009-03-24T13:33:14.452-07:00

I've been thinking about turtles a lot lately. I'm mildly entertained how an obsession starts. Something sparks a thought, then like a Bon Jovi song, it gets stuck in your head. These turtle thoughts have been so prevalent that this morning I decided to not just think it, but to analyze it. "Why the heck do you keep thinking about turtles?"It started 3 weeks ago when Abe sent all of us this funny

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-56696511400235373662009-03-16T15:55:00.000-07:002009-03-16T17:18:43.818-07:00

Yesterday was the Ides of March, and we were sure to celebrated it.Ray recited a moving line from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, "Et tu, Brute?" (And you, Brutus?). That's what Caesar says once he's been stabbed by his senators and realizes that even Brutus was involved. It was so moving in fact, that instead of a standing ovation, I kissed him good and long, then accented it with a little bit

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-70254235760373970462009-03-03T22:08:00.000-08:002009-03-03T23:10:59.807-08:00

Ray's head is shaved... or actually buzzed without any attachments on the clippers... so basically shaved. We're now "discussing" his next BIG body image adjustment. Currently its the Idaho Falls Airport mustache that's sweeping out all competing options. There's a good chance he'll lose credibility at work if he attempts it. Good thing is, even if he loses his job he'll still have one awesome

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-82926121544740305142009-02-27T14:52:00.000-08:002009-02-27T15:46:14.780-08:00

Dear DB,I thought you got your name from your fluffy/furry appearance. Turns out you get it from your ability to exponentially multiply.I thought you made life easier... matter naturally congregating. Turns out you're only meeting to conspire... against me.I thought it was handy you clung to the bottom of my "gathering tool," as if you wanted to be gathered. Turns out you cling so tight I have to

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-80349853396289578312009-02-25T13:41:00.000-08:002009-02-25T14:05:55.634-08:00

(my walk-by hip-shot)As seen at the grocery store parking lot last night. The back seat was piled with "nesting stuff" up to the window level. The yapper dog ran back and forth across it barking at me. Hopefully you can see the passenger seat.Note: "Nesting stuff" included trash, things, junk and more things.

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-29882095708998641072009-02-20T09:00:00.000-08:002009-02-20T09:18:17.848-08:00

In elementary school I remember being introduced monthly to a new endangered animal. Since 6th grade graduation, no one's been keeping me up to date.How are manatees doing? I remember being shown a series of pictures in Ranger Rick that depicted manatees with gashes and scars all over their body. The caption under the pictures suggested that Florida boaters were cutting the gentle sea cows up

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-54580603806665681232009-02-18T20:08:00.000-08:002009-02-18T21:33:45.519-08:00

Note to the Reader: If you're tired of blogs, articles, advertisements about Valentines Day. Skip the sentences with "love" and just read "Funny Story." Scenario:Ray was gone for business last week, to fly home on the afternoon of Feb 14th.I was gone to Moses Lake trying to get my name legally changed (Side Note: I got to the DMV right as it opened, I was 3rd in line, still sat there for 54

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-16676031978723754102009-02-17T20:57:00.000-08:002009-02-18T00:25:00.315-08:00

For a few months, when I was 15, my mom tried to make me cook dinner one night a week for the family. It worked for a few weeks, but then I wore her resolve down. I hated being forced to cook. I was willing to work in the garden, yard, field or do ANYTHING outside in exchange for doing kitchen "stuff."It was a conscious decision to end the meal-a-week deal. The conversation ended with my mom

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-2708082390043222582009-02-12T13:42:00.000-08:002009-11-20T10:20:13.968-08:00

Today is Charles Darwin and Abe Lincoln's 200th Birthday. I wonder if the earth sighed that day in 1809... to have two world-changing additions, and all in one day.I'm perplexed by google's icon choice though. Not even a hint of Abe on the icon. Maybe they alternate years, Lincoln gets one then Darwin gets one. I'm also surprised the image they chose for Darwin didn't have a monkey, even if it

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-23660683561772799132009-01-29T20:01:00.000-08:002009-01-29T22:15:15.897-08:00

I always wondered what it would be like.I had no idea the experience's brilliance would hinge upon place and time.I had no idea I could feel so beautiful... that another person would be the instigator of that feeling.I had no idea a commitment, a covenant, a "yes" could impel my love for this man to grow exponentially.I had no idea.

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-55550583261998365722008-12-01T07:44:00.000-08:002008-12-01T13:10:00.237-08:00

I should have seen it coming. He likes surprises. (not posed... didn't even know anyone was watching)Reflections on a Surprise:August '07: Blind date... he's 6'6" and we both drive identical 4Runners9/2007: Talk occasionally on phone... find out we both have type A+ Blood... significant right?Oct '07: Hiking through soggy marsh in mountains... he accidentally punches me in the faceNovember 2007:

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-16955081196404725342008-11-13T16:50:00.000-08:002008-11-13T17:43:18.481-08:00

Some-times, as in pretty close to all-the-times, I am embarrassed of my interests. Dilemma: Interested in something popular, they’ll think I’m a copy-cat; interested in something not popular, look like weirdo/dork. I don’t want to be a dork. I’ve let a few of my not-populars slip out, namely the infatuation with the insect documentary.Well, here’s to becoming more comfortable with me. Not only do

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-88373480370736644532008-11-11T22:47:00.000-08:002008-11-12T16:18:44.271-08:00

Good Morning SeattleYou've made running fun again. I think it's because you've given me something new to see. I can easily block out the pain of sucking-air lungs and double-timing heart when I have something worth while to stare at. Although the following tribute is only a tenth of what you've presented for me to observe, it's the tenth I was able to catch on camera.My neighbor's house. I saw my

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-18466551561496697082008-11-11T21:09:00.000-08:002008-11-11T23:53:27.965-08:00

Abe looking out, over the Hudson, at West Point.The rest of us were walking back to the car, I turned around and saw Abe still looking. The view he sawDear Soldier,Thank you. That "thank you" should not be mistaken for a "thanks." No, it means so much more than that. In fact, it means far more than even "thank you" can articulate. I don't think there is even such a word. It's more a feeling;

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-53364291924285735472008-10-02T13:10:00.000-07:002008-10-02T13:35:07.782-07:00

I've had thousands of people ask me where I get my blog headers. I'll give you ALL a little clue.If I had Windows XP instead of Vista, they would look like this:If I had Windows 2000, they would look like this:If I had Windows 97, they would look like this: If I had Windows 95, they would look like this:That's the only clue I'm giving you.

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-49480440899963607382008-10-02T12:11:00.001-07:002008-10-02T13:10:47.440-07:00

October 2, 2008I now know what I would "wish," should Make A Wish Foundation only ask.I saw these balloons all landing when I was passing through Sunny Side on my way to Seattle. I risked my life 4 times as I pulled off the freeway to wonder at them. I know the pictures don't do justice to the feeling of seeing 50 hot air balloons coming in for the landing all at once. It was enchanting. It was

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-44610768914659513012008-09-04T22:11:00.000-07:002008-09-05T09:27:09.718-07:00

76. I want to ride on a train. The only trains I’ve ever been on are the Disneyland Park Tour and the bullet train I took from Tokyo to Yonezawa, Japan. Every summer I say I’m going to take the Amtrak from Washington to Glacier National Park, or from Seattle down to Northern California. Maybe next year.77. I love to wear dresses or skirts. I secretly wish nurses still wore them78. My favorite

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-66722620326574085852008-08-30T07:38:00.000-07:002008-08-30T07:39:40.464-07:00

There was and will be a small intermission between 75 and 100 things about me. I'll be RIGHT back. I promise.Cali

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-8139529795469352862008-08-27T20:49:00.000-07:002008-08-27T22:19:49.106-07:00

Note: this blog is full of random pictures. I couldn't find any pictures that were applicable, and what's a blog without pictures? Too many words.51. I think there are certain, specific objects that tell volumes about a person. These objects can give you a deep insight to their thoughts, beliefs, and interests. Books, cars, food and shoes are some of these objects. However, more than any of the

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-45910120602444015342008-08-26T19:54:00.000-07:002008-10-02T11:44:52.127-07:00

26. I used to have a turtle named Sanora. She was named after the heroine of “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken;” the best movie on Earth with regards to diving horses during the great depression. Sanora died one winter because I forgot to change her heat lamp light-bulb. She died because I let her freeze to death. I’ve been thinking about getting another one. I feel responsible enough to keep it alive

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-69863131317533116002008-08-25T21:34:00.000-07:002008-08-26T11:19:50.494-07:00

A snake my dad caught for me... in an attempt to cure me of a fearPreface: So my thinking is that if you “all” only read 5 things a day, this post will last until my next one. Just kidding! I’ve been testing you, and any of you that are still checking this blog… well, you are both kind and forgiving. Bless you all. 1. Ninety percent of the days I’m home in Moses Lake, my mom and I go on a walk.

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-20130292076655229392008-07-10T18:29:00.000-07:002008-07-10T20:31:41.191-07:00

Dear Old Header,I like to start my letters to you as if we are old friends. I miss you already. Here is what I miss most:1. You were green. Not just green, but GREEN (my favorite color).2. I swear I can see a squirrel in the dark patch on the lower right side (my right, not yours)3. The tracks running through you are not mud pits as they first appear. They are just plants that got squished and

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-71229968439488704142008-07-10T16:13:00.000-07:002008-07-11T07:43:56.313-07:00

me and the .44 magnum Someone sent me the following newspaper article:Woman Shoots Self While Trying to Kill MiceASSOCIATED PRESS9:03 a.m. July 8, 2008POTTER VALLEY – A Mendocino County woman who was trying to kill mice in her trailer with a gun ended up shooting herself and another person.Sheriff's officials say the 43-year-old woman pulled out her .44-caliber Magnum revolver after she saw the

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-50170359895596295542008-07-02T13:20:00.000-07:002008-07-02T14:16:40.003-07:00

I've been thinking it was time I started taking the glass-half-empty-half-full perception seriously. So, I did some soul searching. Unfortunately I came to the conclusion I was a borderliner who leaned to the half-empty side. That initiated another round of soul searching... nobody likes a pessimist.However things are looking up, because last week I had a break through. I walked outside the back

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-43535332098160858262008-06-10T10:30:00.000-07:002008-06-14T21:23:38.140-07:00

Hope chest, according to my butler Jeeves, is defined as, “a chest used by a young woman for clothing and household goods, such as linens and silver, in anticipation of marriage.” Last week I was digging through my hope chest (which contains NO clothing, linen or silver and should more appropriately be named Toy Box) and found this:I don’t think many of you know what this is. It’s a mini-disc

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-63423056105567771682008-06-08T12:09:00.000-07:002008-06-10T07:14:22.177-07:00

June 8, 2008When I was 9 years old, I spent a week with my Aunt Marcia and cousin, Haley, in Nevada. During that trip, my Aunt Marcia took Haley and me fishing on some docks. As we sat there trying everything we could think of to make the fish bite, I suddenly got an idea. There's a Sesame Street episode where Bert and Ernie are fishing. Ernie teaches Bert that if you want to get some fish, all

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-6089580913757099722008-04-28T14:52:00.000-07:002008-04-28T15:49:53.594-07:00

(Ashli with her hand on our neighbor boy's back)I have to fight the urge to start all posts out like Randy Jackson.“So listen up, dogg. Here’s the thing.”Ashli, after I read your pun laced blog entitled “Rook On, Chess Gang,” I remembered that you’re the pun master. I also remembered that puns are infectious. Once you start thinking about them, you can’t stop thinking about them. Pretty soon you

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-39351822225960370342008-04-21T15:31:00.000-07:002008-04-22T07:03:22.825-07:00

Deep Thoughts: So, how about the footage of that man that got stuck in the elevator for 41 hours in 1999? When I saw the portion of the clip where he is lying on the floor with his hands behind his head I wondered what he was thinking about... what I would have thought about. I wasted 2 minutes thinking about that; guess that means that should the stuck elevator opportunity present, finding 41

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-44907742329125060692008-04-14T08:44:00.001-07:002008-06-10T12:14:51.633-07:00

The 3 best parts about watching Becoming Jane last night:1. Not being able to see the hero as “the Hero,” but instead seeing Mr. Tumnus. With great concentration the goat legs and horns eventually melted away.2. Good, hard advice like, “Affection is desirable. Money is absolutely indispensible!” and, “Nothing destroys spirit like poverty.” Funny, lately I’ve been mentally arguing the opposite.

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-2291094722006755212008-04-03T19:46:00.000-07:002008-04-12T22:11:47.302-07:00

Abe & Ty & Ande,At last, Volume 6. I hope you’ve anticipated it as much as Zelda and Return of the King. 21. Our parents are REALLY funny. Like a proud mother, I could post regularly all the entertaining things they say, but I’ll just post my two favorites for the year.Dad’s happened this past year when he was helping me replace my dented bumper. He had to saw through a little cable with the

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-72636668698826581182008-04-03T14:31:00.000-07:002008-04-03T15:52:23.086-07:00

Only twice in a whole month? I swear I have better morals and ambitions than that. As proof, if you look back on my “To Do” list for each day in the month of March, you’ll see an unmarred “Blog.” Hopes were high. Here are the items that did get scratched off: Make major life decisions that involve where you’re going and what you’re doing, or at least think REAL hard about them. (Check)Gas up car.

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-39051228471127214932008-03-17T16:46:00.000-07:002008-03-17T18:25:19.317-07:00

Abe & Ande & Ty,As preface, this list of 4 is all about my job, since I’ve spent the most time actively learning about it this year.17. Twelve hour shifts mess with the mind. Suddenly, it believes that cafeteria food is delicious. Working 5 days a week is one step above indentured servitude and two steps above slavery (madness to only have 2 days off). Down-time is as illusive as mermaids,

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-69360964349045562392008-03-10T09:37:00.000-07:002008-03-10T15:12:35.194-07:00

Mrs. Lambert, my piano teacher in 8th and 9th grade, subscribed to two magazines… the Reader’s Digest and Highlight. In 8th grade (sitting there waiting for Abe to finish with his piano lesson) I was strictly a Highlight reader. More accurately, I never read anything; I just turned to the “can you find these objects hidden in the picture” section. However, once I started 9th grade, I decided it

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191924728447624608.post-49665827119330948612008-02-22T14:29:00.000-08:002008-06-10T13:53:43.980-07:00

13. When I worked at Country Insurance in high school, I learned about the full-moon phenomenon. When there was a full moon, we would get the craziest claims reported. Claims like one hay bale sliding out from the middle of the stack and landing on a car, or multiple rats getting pulled up inside a swather and resulting in motor damage. This last year I learned the full-moon phenomenon is

Calihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09948675971157619730noreply@blogger.com8