I had a Gee Whiz moment Friday while watching my grandniece, Eli.  She grew tired of the set of toys she played with all day and I went to through the diaper bag to find another toy to entertain her.  I saw this cute little corn cob toy and I took it by the handle and proceeded across the room to give it to my young charge.  I grabbed the corn cob end to give it to Eli and as soon as I squeezed a bit, the corn cob vibrated!  Gee whiz - a corn cob that vibrates!  It's the John Deere Massaging Corn Teether.

It didn't occur to me how funny this was until I was telling Vickie about it Friday night.  We laughed and laughed over the fact that I had my Auntie Karen and Photographer hat on and didn't realize how funny it really was. 

Dang... I need to get me one of these!!  No, not for that...  It's a great little massager for stress relief... oh crap... never mind...  LOL

Gee whiz, it vibrates!Miss Eli and I had a great day together.  We played with toys, she ate lunch of sweet potatoes, we went for a walk around the apartment complex where there is lovely streams and ponds.  The ducks waddled and swam while we enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine.  Her daddy told me that taking her for a walk was a great way to get her to sleep, however, she did not fall asleep.  Rats.  She did take a short nap but she wanted to play more than anything.

It's amazing how much she changes in a week or two.  She is sitting up better and she is a lot more active; she really keeps me on my toes. 

While I tend Eli, I also get the pleasure of spoiling Bella, the Wonder Cat, and two dogs.  I'm allergic to dogs so I can't spoil them as much as I'd like but sometimes they don't care.  If Bella gets attention, they get attention!  Bella is usually a calm kitty but Friday, she was on crack!  Actually, she finally showed me her true personality and she is a hoot!  

Just My Size!She kept jumping up the wall to attack something that wasn't there, sliding and skitting around on the bathroom and kitchen floors, and sneaking up to the dogs and batting them on the heads a few times then running away.  She doesn't have claws so it was more irritating to them than anything and it made me laugh.  She tried to wear my Crocs on her paws and her head (I didn't get a shot of her head in the Croc - darn it!) and then flipping them around the floor.  She really got my attention when she kept trying to climb up my body (tough to do without claws!) until I finally sat down so she could share my lap with Eli. 

Eli was on my left and Bella was on my right and the two of them played a bit, Bella kissed Eli and she tugged on Bella's fur.  Bella buried her face between Eli's arm and body and nuzzled her a bit then she decided to climb my chest, which forced me to lay back in the chair.  She climbed over Eli and nuzzled my neck, then the next thing I knew, she flipped out my first earring hoop and had my second earring (a half carrot diamond!) in her mouth! 

I managed to get the diamond out of her mouth before she swallowed it and I thought she swallowed the other earring until I found it on the floor while looking for the back of the diamond earring.  I have no idea why she did it or how she could see my earrings because my hair covered them. Needless to say, I was a bit freaked but while Eli napped, she cuddled with me and kissed me all over my face so she's forgiven.  What a cat...

When Sara got home, I asked her if Bella was hitting the Nip.  She laughed and said it was normal for her to be hyper.  Bella never gets the Nip because she clearly does not need it!  ;-) 

I was outside for a bit over the weekend and took some photos of the latest blooms in my yard.  There are three daffodil blooms and about ten Forget-Me-Nots out so far.  The blue of the Forget-Me-Nots is so vibrant and I've waited a long time to get a good, clean shot of these.  Thanks to my lovely macro lens, I finally did it! 

Photos are copyrighted and can only be used with the expressed written permission by KJR.  

What a slacker I've been in not writing my Gee Whiz posts!  Gee whiz, what's wrong with me?  LOL

1.  It's been an interesting week for the news in Utah.  This first story is about some pranksters who went into a 7-11 with a bag of feces and put it in the microwave, set it for 10 minutes, and walked out.  Needless to say, the shit hit the fan - or should I say, it exploded!  It not only ruined the microwave but it caused $3500 in damage.  The police ask help in finding the pranksters... good luck to them!  We had a lot of laughs about it at work yesterday when we heard about it.  Not even I would go that far but it's funny!  Gee whiz, what a shitty thing to do! 

2.  An ESPN Analyst, Ric Bucher called out the Utah Jazz fans.  He said that Utahans are Mormon and there's nothing to do here and they have to be happy and smiling all the time so the only time they can be vicious is at a Utah Jazz game.  He also said that there is more off-color language than anywhere else.  Click on his name in blue on the link and you can listen to the mp3 file.  Gee whiz, what an ass.

3.  The inner prankster inside me escaped this morning.  A coworker and buddy, Kent, had both his knees replaced last week.  He's doing great and we all miss him because he's a fun guy and likes to joke around.  

We call Kent every day to see how he's doing and to see what he's up to.  He told a couple of guys about an experience he had in the hospital last week.  A woman nurse named Arianna gave Kent a sponge bath and it turns out that Arianna was once a man.  Nothing against her but Kent had everyone cracking up at his reaction (no - not that type of reaction LOL) to her and how embarrassed he was.  A little light went off in my mind this morning as one of the guys was retelling the story. 

I wrote a letter, posing as Arianna, to offer Kent her special sponge bathing services.   The letter looked professional wiht a logo and address.  The address is bogus but the phone number is another coworker's number *snortle*  Below is the letter.

************ 

Arianna’s Magic Fingers
1269 Rubadubdub Cir
Roy, UT 84067
801-XXX-XXXX

Dear Mr. B*,

Greetings!  How are you, my friend?  I hope you remember me; I was your nurse last week at LDS Hospital.  I am known state-wide for my special sponge baths that you enjoyed during your hospital stay. 

Besides working at the hospital, I am available for house calls for a variety of services:

•    Specialty Sponge Baths, includes pure Rocky Mountain spring water, authentic sponge, and gentle aromatic cleansing gel
•    All-over-body massages (I am a licensed masseuse)
•    A variety of personal services, as requested (charges may vary) for your enjoyment
•    High tech methodology and the latest devices for your every desire
•    Portable playground equipment provided for an additional charge and is available for month-to-month rental
•    No job is too big or too small, I love them all!

Health care premiums may cover the majority of the costs of services rendered and my assistant bills insurances at no additional charge.  I look forward to serving you!

Sincerely,

Arianna

************ 

The "playground equipment" is what Kent calls "bedroom furniture."  He will know it's from one of us - or all of us - and that's OK.  We were all laughing and imagining Kent's reaction.  I bought a stamp from the office and mailed it in a plain envelope yesterday.  One of the guys is taking Kent lunch today and we hope the letter will get there so he can see the look on his face.  Oh, to be a fly on the wall...with a video camera to capture his reaction!   

Gee whiz... sometimes I really crack myself up. 

Top O' the Mornin' to ye!  The one day of the year that it's OK to be green and show some of my Irish blood. I'm a melting pot of English, Irish, Scottish, German, and Danish blood. 

I am teaching a workshop this mornin' (and Wednesday) and it's an interesting group.  I'm going to bribe them with chocolate to keep them focused on the workshop instead of green beer... well, it's worth a try anyway.

Chocolate is appropriate since we begin with a short film about Milton S. Hershey's life and the history of his company.  He was an amazing man and never let his dreams of success die.  

I've been waiting for the appropriate time to share my experience, the first day of teaching The Leadership Challenge... which is where the a day of red comes in to play.

I was teaching the Inspire a Shared Vision portion of the workshop and the subsection of breathing life into a vision.  The students are required to share their inspired vision speeches on the second day of the workshop and I was conveying the fact that they needed to use picture-type words. 

Picture it - the class is filled with 23 men and one woman (the brave soul that she is!). 

I used the example of Paris and asked what came to mind.  I had several responses; Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, romance, city of love, wine, the River Seine, and so on.  Then I asked how many students have actually been to Paris and four men raised their hands.  Then I asked how the others knew what was in Paris, from their answers.  They responded, pictures, history, stories, movies, etc.  

Then, I asked the class, "When I say 'Tuva,' what do you think of?"  Most responded, "Never heard of it."  Then one very outspoken man said, "Isn't it a part of the female anatomy."  I face, neck, and chest turned HOT in an instant and I know my face was the color of a beet.  I cleared my throat, bit my lip to stifle a giggle and said, "No, I'm afraid not... it's a place in southern Russia/Siberia, near the border of Mongolia and they're known for a unique form of throat singing." 

Needless to say, I quickly finished the section and called for a 10-minute break.  My co-instructor said that I recovered well and that his face even turned red.   

Interestingly enough, on a workshop evaluation/critique, someone answered, "more info on Tuva," to the question, "What would have made this workshop better."  Gee whiz, I can guess who that was!

Here is a website if you're interested in Tuva.  Here is a website of a group that travels the world.  Interesting...

Warning: This video is not child nor work safe... no porno just hard laughs. *snicker*



P.S. Thanks, Dawn! and Phhhht to Photobucket! ;-)

Yesterday, we woke up to a foot of snow! While my mom, brother, nephew, and I were out clearing off the driveway, sidewalks, etc., another four inches fell in about an hour. We had fun and a lot of laughs, thanks to Adam throwing snow off my carport and onto his dad.






Mom is 5'4" and the snowbank is almost as tall as she is.


A little bit of my brother's truck from the other side of the snowbank.
This was before we cleared the front sidewalk... lots of snow!


We got a foot of snow over night and another four inches in the hour we were out there... and it snowed all day and some of the night with more snow coming today and every-other day this week. I know spring will come eventually! I'm still not complaining about the snow... I'm still loving it but my body thinks otherwise ;-)

Thank you all for the birthday wishes - I had a really nice birthday weekend!

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September to May, you live in Utah.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Utah.

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Utah

 If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Utah.

If 'vacation' means going anywhere south of Salt Lake City for the weekend, you live in Utah.

If you measure distance in hours, you live in Utah.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Utah.

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' and back again in the same day, you live in Utah.

If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both unlocked, you live in Utah.

 If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Utah.

 If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Utah.

If the speed limit on the highway is 75 mph -- you're going 80, and everyone is still passing you, you live in Utah.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in Utah.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Utah.

If you find 10 degrees 'a little chilly' you live in Utah.

If you actually understand these jokes and forward them to all your friends, you live in Utah.

Last weekend, my friend Linda and I went to the movie, P.S. I Love You, and while I was waiting for her in the lobby, I noticed this display and couldn't help but giggle about the phallic sillouette.  *snicker*  I snapped a photo (click to EMBIGGEN *snortle*) while getting weird looks from the movie theatre staff... then Linda came out of the restroom and I showed her and we both giggled as we walked to the theatre where our movie was playing.  We are so easily entertained and it's clear what is on our minds. 

We also had some laughs over my new scarf that my aunt got me for Christmas; it is a polyester fluffy scarf that is SO wonderful and silky.  Linda had to feel it (the scarf) and when she did, she said, "Ohhh my... that IS sexy."  Then she went on about moisture... I didn't really follow that.  *snicker* 

P.S.  the movie was wonderful; quite a tear jerker but I loved it.   

Now, there is actually something else the title of this post represents, besides the above two paragraphs.  North Ogden, where I live, got well over 21 inches of snow yesterday.  We got the brunt of the all day storm when Ogden, a short distance away) only got 6 inches.  However, I don't believe that because I had to drive through a good ten inches to run an errand for my parents and a doctor appointment.  No one was going over 25mph... well, that is, no one who stayed on the road!  

This morning was a mess getting to work - the photo to the left is right after I got to work and trudged through the snow to the front door.   There was about six inches but the condition of the road, I thought there was a lot more.  There was an inch+ sheet of ice under the snow.  The drivers that stayed on the road didn't go over 40 mph and at times, no more than 20mph on the freeway.  I was thankful to get to work! 

I left work an hour before my Remicade treatment was scheduled, which is usually a 15 minute drive from work.  Most the traffic lights were covered in snow.  I had to go to one doc's office to get some meds for Dad, which was fun, I almost got stuck in the parking lot.  I did good though, Dad taught me well; I rocked back and forth and got out.  After that, I had 20 minutes to get to my Remicade appointment... I pulled into the hospital parking lot five minutes late but I got a really good parking place.  I tell you - Someone was watching out for me today.  As dangerous as it was out today, it was so beautiful.  See why I love the snow? 

The roads were decent after my doctor appointment - except when I got to North Ogden then it was fun, fun, fun.  I was chatting with Vickie on my phone (using my hands-free!) when I said, "Holy shit.  I gotta gun it because I'm going through two feet of snow," when I turned on the road before my street.  I couldn't go more than 5mph through the twists and turns and she got all the commentary!  I waved to a guy who I thought was a family friend but it wasn't him... but he was cute.  LOL  He must have thought he knew me because he had a big grin on his face. I'm such a dork.

I turned on my street and it was a lot better than the last and I backed in my driveway with no issues... unless you count scraping the pile of snow with my car.  It looked just like someone cut the snow with a knife.  Ah well.  I took my things into the house and went back out with my camera to get some shots of the huge piles of snow around the house.  It was amazing - it's been years since I've seen that much snow at one time.  Now this is a Utah winter.   

The little black thing in the photo on the left is my across-street neighbor's mail box.  The pile of snow in the front is my mailbox. The puffs surrounding the gray siding is a bit of my house's roof. 

After I finished having fun taking photos in the front of the house, I went to the back yard.  I noticed Mom's flowering plums were bent all the way down to the snow level; they're at least 7 feet tall.  Since I still had my boots and coat on, I went out back to rescue the flowering plums.  That sounds simple, huh?  You should know by now that with me, nothing is simple.  More about that in a minute.  On my way out to rescue the plums, I took more photos.  There are descriptions under the photos. 

Snow on the railing of the deck 
Antique plow in garden, 3 feet tall

Cool ice cycles on fitzer
Snow on a garden hoseI made my way down the stairs of the deck, despite the 4 inches of snow on them since my very generous brother cleaned them earlier.  At the bottom of the deck, there was about a foot-wide strip where there was very little snow before I began trudging in the snow so high, it was above my knees.  OK, didn't plan on this, but I had cozy socks on and I figured my legs would be OK for a couple of minutes while setting the flowering plums free from their snow traps.  Uh huh. 

I got about two feet when one foot slid under my other when I hit the pocket of icey snow under the fresh stuff and I had myself a seat made from snow.  As I sat there squatting and unable to find a stable enough place to put my hands so I could get up, my ass and my legs became reallllllly cold and realllllly wet.  I sat there and giggled at my prediciment; only I could get myself into such a position.  Mom was in the kitchen fixing dinner for Dad when I decided to call for help. 

She asked if I left my camera in the house so she could take a photo.  Yeah, that would have been reallllly funny.  ;-)  Luckily, the camera was in my coat pocket, safe and dry.  She pointed out the fact that the barbeque grill was back and to my left a bit then proceeded to tell me, "Why don't you clean off the show from that with the broom in your hand and use that to push yourself up with?"  

Where I fell and trompedMighty fine idea, especially because my knees have been killing me lately and I wasn't about to do a face-first dive if I were to roll over.  Voila.  It worked.  Mom is brilliant.  After that, I made my way to the flowering plums and freed them - minus a few branches.  I only stumbled one more time but luckily the broom broke my fall.  As I made my way back to the deck and back to a warm house where I could get out of my cold and wet jeans and panties to have a nice, HOT shower, I looked back at where I'd been and could only laugh and thought, gee whiz...  now that was fun!

I come to you live as I am sitting atop my throne of cleansing for my yearly colonoscopy ritual.  The colonoscopy is tomorrow - so ... Merry Christmas to me!  The past five years, I have sat upon this very throne of cleansing but without any creature comforts.  This year is different; I have my laptop atop a television tray, two bottles of water, which I must drink in the three hours to come (which will be repeated once more), and my portable DVD player with “Christmas Vacation” to watch.  The only things missing are my blanket and pillow, and cheap thrills like I get when I sit atop Hula’s throne.  ;-)  The goal of tonight's cleansing is to be cleaner than a whistle... and I'm almost there...

Anyone afraid to get a colonoscopy shouldn’t worry about the procedure itself but the cleansing part.  I have lost my tolerance for lime, lemon, orange, and now peach Jello (part of the clear liquid diet prior to the cleansing).  The Fleet Phospho-soda is nasty and makes me ill; the lemon-ginger flavor is one I will never forget – ever.  It would be better if it were unflavored.  I swear each year that I’m going to write the Fleet company and tell them to give us a choice, perhaps this year, I will.  There are pills available now but my doc wants me to stick to the nasty elixir.  Talk about torture!  Then there’s the drawback of my lower limbs falling asleep while sitting on my throne so long.  Me thinks I should get a cushioned seat for said throne… one of these days.

Mom came downstairs to check on me while I was curled up on my bed – during a cleansing break – and I heard her laugh.  She saw my little setup in my bathroom and cracked up.  I’m happy to be a source of entertainment for someone else besides myself.  ;-)

Gee whiz, that’s enough about this crappy subject.  

The Christmas preparations are underway and almost complete.  I have one more gift to wrap after my sister brings over a gift card for the second part of my niece’s gift.  I have two nieces left who are under the age of 18 – the nieces and nephews over 18 do not get formal gifts from us any longer.  The next things on my to-do list are to make fudge and spicy Chex Mix.  I usually make 10-12 batches of the Chex Mix for family and close neighbors and have my production slim-lined; I use the microwave instead of the oven then use the garage for my quick cooling system.  By the time I’m on my fourth batch, I’m ready to bag the first batch.  The fudge isn’t too difficult and I’m only making two flavors: peanut butter fudge and white chocolate fudge with cranberries, nuts, and orange zest.  Yum.  I’m giving most of it away, which is a good thing for me; less temptation.  

I’m cooking for Christmas Eve; spiral cut ham, baked beans, and sour cream augratin potatoes.  Mom is making her yummy rolls and that is where I’ve cut her off.  She’s really tired lately (since Dad has had more problems) and she’s going to take it easy.  My sisters, Susie and Kathy, niece Elyssa, Mom, Dad, and possibly my brother, Bob and his daughters, Morgan and Heather are having dinner.  Then we’re all going to my brother J Dee’s house for Santa, where we’ll see the rest of my family and the kids and women get to sit on Santa’s lap and the men get to sit on Mrs. Claus’ lap.  It’s always fun but it’s a shame that Santa and Mrs. Claus have to leave so early due to the busy night.  

Christmas morning after breakfast and the festivities, I plan on a nice, long nap.  Unless, of course, if I get an invitation to have some fun under the mistletoe. *wink, wink* I haven’t heard from him yet but I’m guessing no bad news is a good sign and his sister made it through another surgery.  Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers for them.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!  May your lives be filled with love, laughter, and celebration.

Update:  Susan mentioned her niece Kayla in her comment on this post.  Please go over and read about Kayla's next battle.  She is a true inspiration to me and although I think I'm a fighter, I don't think I would fight as hard as she fights.  She's an extraordinary young woman and she reaches for her stars. 

I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger.....and then it hit me.

Police were called to a day care where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.

Did you hear about the guy whose entire left side was cut off?  Well!!! He's all right now.

The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference.

The butcher backed up into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.

To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

When fish are in schools they sometimes take debate.

The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.

A thief fell into wet cement. He became a hardened criminal.

Thieves who steal corn from a garden could be charged with stalking.

We'll never run out of math teachers because they always multiply.

When the smog lifts in Los Angeles , U.C.L.A.

The math professor went crazy with the blackboard. He did a number on it.

The geology professor discovered that her theory of earthquakes was on shaky ground.

The dead batteries were given out free of charge.

If you take a laptop computer for a run you could jog your memory.

A dentist and a manicurist fought tooth and nail.

A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.

A will is a dead giveaway.

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

A backward poet writes in verse.

In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your Count that votes.

A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.

If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.

With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.

When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.

The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine is now fully recovered.

A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France , resulted in Linoleum Blownapart.

You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

Local Area Network in Australia : The LAN down under.

He broke into song because he couldn't find the key.

A calendar's days are numbered.

A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.

A boiled egg is hard to beat.

He had a photographic memory which was never developed.

A plateau is a high form of flattery.

Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.

When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.

If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine.

When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.

Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.

Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.

Acupuncture: a jab well done.

One of the many joys around Christmas is regifting those questionable gifts received last year.  My worst gift last year is this little fella here.  I'm not saying that I did not appreciate the gift because I know it is the thought that counts.  However, this year, I'm looking forward to spreading the joy this gave me.  The main feeling I had was laughter, which did warm my heart... ;-) 

I've got a special person this is going to... Barb, who has spared no thoughts to give me dusty/dirty/broken and glued gifts over the past 13 years.  The last two years, my friend Sheri and I stopped spending our hard-earned money on gifts that Barb doesn't seem to appreciate and started giving her regifted items that she loves!  Go figure... I guess we should have figured this out a long time ago. 

I'm not being petty... really.  It's so funny to see Barb's eyes light up when she gets these silly gifts.  Sheri cannot wait to see this, as I've been saving it all year long. 

Christmas is really coming.  It's hard to believe, isn't it?!  Twenty-two days and counting.  

Over the weekend, I decorated for Christmas and my living room are all cheery now.  While I was going through my boxes of decorations, I found a box full of ornaments that I used to hang in my cubicle at work.  With last week's pickle post, I found something that goes right along with that... a pickle ornament!!  

I found this pickle ornament a few years ago in a store... yes, I was a perv back then too ... and I had to buy it.  It was such a surprise to find it.  I was playing with different settings to place this prize pickle ornament for the photo.  I got a winner when I set it on top of Mr. Snowman's piano.

Hmmm... do you think Mr. Snowman is jealous since he only has a carrot nose?  

Yeah... I had to ask.    

There is a legend behind said pickle ornament in Germany - an old one, but still, a tradition.  See HERE and read about the game of hiding the pickle... sounds like a fun game to me...

Wait... I've been playing it all my life... but haven't found it yet... but perhaps... soon.  *snicker*

Gee whiz, it's been a while since I've written my gee whizzes and you all have Dave to thank for it because of his post yesterday regarding Christmas and him knowing, G-Wiz, what I want for Christmas this year.   I don't know what's so different about this year from others.... oh, gee whiz, yes I do.  *snicker*  OK,  'nuf said.

Last week, for Thanksgiving, my responsibilities for dinner were a veggie tray and a pickle/relish tray.  Okee dokee.  Who knew it would be a self-entertainment job?  You know, with the cucumbers, carrots, and pickles...and tomatoes.  My family loves a certain type of pickle that my mom makes, it's called the sour pickle.  It's a really easy recipe, cucumbers (it's got me drooling already), canning salt, and cider vinegar.  As I was cutting the sour pickles, there was one that looked interesting enough for me to pause. 

I saw a big eye and... well... it all went downhill from that.  After I was done with the veggies and pickles, I decided to make the cream pies since Mom was running ragged.  See what a good daughter I am?  LOL  I have to admit, they were some of the best cream pies I've made.  The family flipped over the key lime, coconut cream, banana cream, and chocolate cream that I made.  Gee whiz, however, this pickle does not go well with the cream pies, taste-wise... *snicker*

The work week has gone OK; it's good to be back in a lot of ways but boy, I'm tired.  I'm SO happy today is my "Friday."  I've had a lot to do but at least it makes the day go fast.  There was one snag yesterday afternoon - an issue had to be cleared up between a coworker and myself.  The problem started at the end of October and it got worse because of time constraints and me not being at work, the feelings festered (at least on my end).  We had a mediator and it's a good thing because it would have gotten ugly.  Despite feeling as if I was put on trial, we kept working at it and it turned out well.  We used the tools that we've learned (and teach).  Gee whiz, I was really drained emotionally last night but it needed to be done and I'm glad that things are cleared now.  We have made a promise that if there's ever a question or a miscommunication, we will not be afraid to confront the other and discuss the problem right away.  I believe that it's better to be honest and timely in resolving issues instead of putting someone else through waiting and through undue stress and pain. 

Gee whiz, I'm looking forward to Friday because I get to return to the pool to work out!  YAY!!  The physical therapists have several exercises for my calves as well as the other exercises I've done before.  I never would have believed that exercises in water could make my joints hurt less if I hadn't witnessed it myself.  Gee whiz, I love it and I'm also looking forward to visiting with the ladies there - they are all so wonderful and fun. 

That's all the gee whizzes I can think of for this week... hopefully next week will be more exciting!  

Have a wonderful weekend!! 

Nikki-Ann tagged me... since I usually frown on being tagged, you know she must be a good friend for me to follow through ;-)  The meme rules: pick up the book you are reading, turn to page 161, and divulge the contents of the sixth sentence on that page.

 

I'm reading three books at the moment, 302 Advanced Techniques for Driving a Man Wild in Bed by Olivia St. Claire, The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner (for work), and The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby.  Now, the question is, which book do I choose; shall I be naughty or nice?  I think I'll be nice and naughty since it's hard for me to behave.

 

Let's face it - I've been reading the 302 book for along time because I can only take so much *snicker* torture at one time.  I'll flip a coin - naughty is tails *snicker* and nice is heads... or wait, should it be the other way around?  So tough to choose. 

 

I read the 302 book and the sentence is something about the right rear corner of a desk which sounds more interesting as is than what the actual sentence is.  The Leadership Challenge sentence is about a manager taking a group out to lunch... perhaps a nooner but I doubt it.  So, that leaves the Photography book.  "Also, if you can get either age group to pose for you, make sure you spend some time talking with them before you start shooting - it can go along way toward loosening them up, which will give you more natural looking poses and expressions (plus, they'll probably let you shot longer after you've built a little rapport).  Sounds a little kinky...

Yesterday, between the pain pills and benadryl I took, I was quite loopy... more than usual.  Until I can get my leg/incision wet, I have to use my parent's shower because Dad has a shower bench and a hand-held-shower-head.   Wednesday, the shower went very smooth but yesterday was another story. 

Call me Karen... Karen, the Dork.  I turned on the water with the water coming through the bathtub spout to warm it up.  I had everything off except my boot, which comes off last. I got the shower-head down and placed it in the tub.  OK, I thought I was ready to go but alas... not.  As soon as I pulled the knob for the water to come through the shower-head, I got a face full of water, water ran down my leg, getting my boot wet, and then the water sprayed all over the bathroom. 

I found myself taking my fist and wrapping on my forehead, *knock, knock* and asking myself if anyone was home.  I giggled and called myself a dork.  Yep, I'm a dork. I got through the rest of the shower without further issues but I could not reach the water on the ceiling and walls due to my lovely boot. 

As I stepped gingerly out of the bathroom in search for Mom to tell her the bad news, despite me still giggling.  As I broke the news, I was braced to hear her call me by my full name and ask me what I was thinking.  Clearly, she knows what a dork I am and replied, "It's OK, it's just water."  True enough but I asked her to repeat it because I thought I was hallucinating her answer.  She said it was really OK since it was her cleaning day and it gave her an excuse to clean the ceiling and walls.  All righty then! 

We'll see how today goes but I will be careful and follow the proper order of turning the shower on.  I will be able to use my shower tomorrow, which does not have a hand-held shower-head and that's probably a good thing.  But you know, I'm liking the hand-held; it's right up there with Hula's toilet for the cheap thrills. I'm thinking one is going on my wishlist *snicker*

I'm no longer itching and scratching as much and stopped taking the Benadryl, so perhaps I won't be much of a dork today.  It's not all bad, being a dork, it's a constant source of entertainment for me.  ;-)

Have a great weekend!! 

Update: the Dork lives.  I had another fun experience in the shower this morning despite turning on the hand-held in the correct order.  The shower head is slippery in soapy hands and tends to spray what it wants to... namely the shower curtain and my leg, which is supposed to be kept dry.  The shower-head had a mind of its own.  Once I got done rinsing myself off, I dried my leg and stood up.  There was a big puddle of water all around the tub on the tile.  Oops. 

Mom drove me to the doc to have my dressings changed and my incision looked at.  As soon as the doc said I could now shower normally and get the incsion wet, I commented on how happy that would make Mom since I've made some water messes in her shower.  Then she said, "Your dad will be happy too since you got his toilet seat wet this morning."  We all busted out laughing.  Mom didn't tell me about the toilet but we both thought it was sweet revenge because of all the times Dad got our toilet seats wet... but at least it was water that I left on the seat!  ;-)   

Welcome to the Gee Whiz Itchy and Scratchy edition.  What is this, you may ask?  I've got the itchies and scratchies due to a reaction to either the anesthetic or the pain medication.  I'm banking on the anesthesia but the surgical center nurse thinks otherwise because I didn't have the reaction directly after surgery.  She seems to think she knows my body better than I do.  If there's anything that is different from the norm, it's me.  With a lot of my allergies, the initial reactions are delayed 12 to 24 hours.  I asked what anesthetic they have me and it was the same as October and I'm sure I've had it before that for other minor procedures.  I tried to find the meds online but nothing came up on Biprovan and Seva.

I'm taking Benadryl and as of this morning, am finally getting some relief.  Between the Benadryl and the pain meds, I'm really out of it.  I am able to write somewhat coherently (or so I think I am!) now because I haven't taken my meds yet.  ;-)

Gee whiz, yesterday was quite a trip.  Have you ever gone potty when you are sleepy and fallen asleep on the toilet for a few minutes?  I have!  And five times between yesterday morning and last night at midnight.  I felt like such a dork but I had some giggles over it - and so did Mom.  She caught me three of the five times when she came down to check on me and she kept asking if I had a tummy ache.  Ummm...  no... I just took a short nap because my toilet is so comfy.  I'm not getting any cheap thrills as I've gotten at Hula's house on her toilet and its cooling system.  If this keeps up, I may have to hook up my own toilet cheap thrill system again! 

Which leads me to another problem.  My kidneys are very overactive and so I have to go potty... a lot.  It gives a whole new meaning to gee WHIZ!   There's not much chance of blood clots forming in my legs with as much as I have to get up.  Fun, fun, and more fun... there's never a dull moment around me. 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Note: Before I begin my last day of adventure, I want to know if anyone has had issues commenting besides Cal and Dawn. Squarespace has a problem with spamming issues lately and it's trickled down to comments. It's supposed to be fixed with the next release but if you've had problems, let me know and I'll have the IPs taken out. Thanks!

Day four was so peaceful with the rain hitting the roof, making it a perfect PJ day. We didn't plan to go anywhere because we wanted to stay in the cabin. When I woke up, I heard the makings of breakfast and decided to make a video - since I cooked breakfast every other morning and dinner the night before, so I deserved a break.



I slept in longer than everyone else - I was tired after that bat kill the night before. I decided to shoot a video of the cabin and inside. I mention in the video that I was going to go outside when the rain calmed down to shoot a video out there but the rain didn't slow enough to do it.

I was a bum most of the day; I think I over did it the past three days and it caught up with me. Aahh, the only thing better than a PJ day is one at the cabin.

Lou Jean cooked a pot roast and my Aunt Linda, Uncle Dale, cousin Dana, and her husband Brian drove up from Idaho Falls to have dinner with us.

Linda, Dale, Dana, Brian, and me were nuts enough to go feed the fish after a hail storm blew through. It was just sprinkling but by the time we started to feed the fish, rain down poured on us, however, it didn't dampen our spirits!

We looked like drowned rats by the time we returned to the cabin and everyone was jealous because I put my cozy PJs back on. It was so fun having them come up and spend the afternoon and evening with us. My dad was especially happy to have two other males around. We had another relaxing night and watched a movie before heading to bed. The rain on the roof lulled us all to sleep - pure heaven.



We woke up to a skiff of snow but within an hour, the snow melted off our cars and we saw some blue sky as we loaded our cars. As we left, I took one last photo of Mount Sawtell, covered with snow. It is always a quiet ride home, mostly because we're all sad to leave. I wish I could have stayed up another week but it would have been just as hard to come home. Not that home is bad... it's just not the cabin with all the magical feelings and fun.

The entire set of photos is HERE on my Flickr.

P.S. Happy birthday to Kirsi and Susan!

The ride we took went over the bridge where we fed the fish earlier that morning (Big Springs, Idaho) and we parked in the parking lot where our cabin was built and have a look around. Here are some photos looking down at the river, where we once had a view and a dock.

I used to sit on that log in the river as a kid

Then we drove about a mile down the river to the old railroad bridge and boat landing. Everything to the west of the boat landing (up river) is protected area. No boats, fishing, or people are allowed in the river. Which is why we cannot have a dock where the cabin is now and one of the reasons we had to move the cabin 22 years ago.

Lou Jean stayed in her car in the parking lot of the landing which was a short walk to the landing. Lou Jean was going to be on the lookout for bears and moose and if she saw any, she was supposed to honk the horn.

Mom and I walked down a boarded sidewalk, through some brush to get there. We heard some rustling but were pretty sure it was a small animal or a bird, but it gave us the creeps. We made it to the boat landing and the bridge safely and had a great time.

I found myself obsessed with photographing the railroad bridge. I got some great angles and it seemed as if I was looking at it for the first time in my life.

This is a view from under the bridge

This is looking down river.

As I was taking photos of the trees around the boat landing, all of the sudden, I heard Lou Jean start her car. I looked past the brush and saw her lights were on. I started to freak a bit and told Mom that Lou Jean started her car. Mom just looked at me with the deer in the headlights type of look. I'm used to freaking out but not Mom! Animals usually don't bother her... but this year was different; probably because there have been grizzly sightings.

We stood still and listened but couldn't hear any rustling. Then we started talking really loud and then Mom said she heard Lou Jean honk her horn. "Oh shit," I thought, the only way out was through the brush or around the brush next to the forest. We started yelling to Lou Jean and waving our arms to tell us to come get us! She finally got the message and drove down.

We climbed into her car so quickly, in a panic, and we asked her, "What did you see? Where is it?!" She did not know what we were talking about. She started her car because she needed to charge her cell phone while talking to her daughter and she never did honk. Thanks, Mom! We laughed and laughed about that. I got out of the car and took a few more photos but I had the creeps still so I decided I had enough.

I wanted to stop at the springs again to get some photos at sunset and that is when we encountered the big bull moose in the river. Lou Jean pulled off the side of the road and I snapped the photos.

I used my telephoto lens and was about 100 feet away, unlike the idiots who were standing on the side of the road with children (babies and toddlers) when their cars were way up in the parking lot - a heck of a run! Luckily it wasn't bothered by them.

It was such a gorgeous night but was too dark to go anywhere else so we decided to settle in at the cabin and watch a movie. Another early night... but it was a fun-filled day! The biggest adventure will be posted tomorrow, so stand by! :-)

There's nothing like the feeling I get when waking up at the cabin. Sleeping well and soundly (despite Dad's little trick with the flashlight in the middle of the night!) and hungry for a big breakfast. The altitude and the fresh air casts a spell over an appetite in the morning. My Aunt Lou Jean just woke up and I joined her in the kitchen to make breakfast. She built a nice fire in the stove and I got the bacon going in a frying pan. The morning was chilly but not too bad, just right. The sun was shining and it was going to be a beautiful day.

After stuffing our faces with bacon, eggs, pancakes, and orange juice, we showered and dressed for the day. We made extra pancakes to feed the BIG rainbow trout fishies at the Big Springs Bridge (right by the springs of the Snake River). While I was putting on my make up in the bathroom, Mom yelled, "Karen, grab your camera! There's a moose!" (Click on photos to EMBIGGEN)

It was right outside the side window and to the side of the deck in a grove of trees. It was a small bull moose, perhaps about half grown. He was a gentle moose and didn't mind that I was out on the deck snapping photos. He stood a while then finally laid down in the trees.

He didn't budge when we got in my car and drove off to feed the fishies and then head to West Yellowstone.

The sun lit up the springs and river so beautifully - it's one of the prettiest mornings I can remember. There was a little breeze but it felt wonderful to me. We parked in the parking lot and walked to the bridge. Mom, Dad, and Lou Jean left me behind to lallygag and take photos.

I met up with them on a bridge where they fed the fish. I grabbed a couple of pancakes and joined in the fun. I took a video of feeding the fish:


> Mom happened to run into a lady she knows from home - go figure - so that is who Mom was taking to in the video. The lady is the one who dropped all the cheerios into the water.

I took more photos and then we headed for West Yellowstone, which is about a 30 minute drive from the cabin.

One of my favorite mountains is Mount Sawtell, which is a profile of an Indian Chief laying down. I didn't get a shot of the whole range because there was no safe place to pull off the highway. The mountains are arranged to show his headdress to the south, then the north shows his hands folded across his middle, then all the way down to his feet.

We had fun in West Yellowstone, going through all the shops, old and new. I got some great deals in a couple of stores but not all the stores had things on sale. There were more people than there have been in the past years, after Labor Day, but it wasn't overly crowded. Dad spent most of the time in the car and on benches and by the time we were done shopping, he was a real bear. I can't blame him for being bored but he said he wanted to go with us instead of staying at the cabin.

I bought a pizza for dinner, which cheered him up somewhat, but he was happy to be back at the cabin. I wanted to go for a walk to take some photos but since we were tired, Lou Jean decided that we'd drive to a few places instead of walk. It was also getting close to sundown, when moose and bears are more likely to be out so it was safer to drive. Dad stayed at the cabin because he didn't want to be around us gallivanting women any longer LOL

More tomorrow!

1.  Yesterday, the lovely Hula called me to see how I was after my "trip."  I explained that I was probably being punished for making fun and dreading seeing the choir on Sunday.  We laughed then she said, "That was definitely a 'Come to Jesus Meeting' that brought you to your knees!"  How true it is!  Gee whiz, Hula cracks me up every time... thanks for checking on me! 

2.  This past weekend, my dad has done some weird things during the night.  One night, he got up to go to the bathroom, which is next to their bedroom.  Mom noticed he didn't come back to bed right away and didn't remember hearing the toilet flush.  The bathroom light wasn't on so she began looking for him.  There he sat, in his recliner in the spare bedroom/his TV room holding Mom's Bra, poking and stretching it.  She left her bra on the inside doorknob of their bedroom door that night.  When she asked what he was doing, he replied, "Going potty."  She pointed out he wasn't in the bathroom then they had a good laugh and he did his business in the bathroom then went back to bed.  Mom hung her bra back on the doorknob and went back to bed too.  Later the same night, Dad did the same thing so they were really laughing about it the next morning.  He doesn't have a clue what he was doing with her bra... perhaps practicing how to unhook it?!  Or perhaps slingshot practice?  As I told Vickie this story, she said, "Maybe he was thinking back on the good old days."  Gee whiz... I cracked up.

3.  Dad did something else odd and Mom or I can't figure out why or how.  Mom went to use her disposable razor to shave the back of her neck a bit (she's got short hair) and there was something hard and pink between the blades.  The she realized it was denture adhesive.  She asked him about it but he has no clue.  He's always had wild dreams but since he got Parkinson's, his dreams are whacked!  Gee whiz, they're a good source of entertainment though!

4.  The outpour of caring and concern you all give me always makes me feel so good - thank you again.  My knee is much the same - looking sexier and sexier and more purple, which is part of the process.  I saw my internist on Tuesday and all is good (no blood clots in the veins - just in the tissues).  He gave me extra instructions and I'm behaving... well, as much as I can possibly behave.  Gee whiz, I'm such a source of entertainment for my doc; he gave me a couple of zingers as I was leaving.  But then he had to admit, he fell on his bike last week so I'm not the only klutz. I went to work yesterday and did OK - I had my heating pad and icepack and kept my leg propped up. 

5.  Monica's daughter is back home but please keep them in your thoughts and prayers, it's been a rough 10 days. 

6.  I am taking Sept 20 - 24th and running away to one of my favorite places - my aunt's cabin.  Gee whiz, I can hardly wait!   

7.  I will have two weeks (possibly three) off of work in October but the first few days won't be fun, I'm having some surgery then six weeks later, I'm having the second surgery.  No worries, I'll be fine.  My finals are hopefully on Oct 8 which will be great, then I'll have more time to study for my finals than I would have if I was working.  I'll probably be high on pain meds so I won't be stressing!  Gee whiz, sounds like a great plan to me!  

I think I'm out of gee whizzes for this week... have a wonderful weekend!  I know I will... homework, homework, and hopefully a PJ Day.  

This little girl, the Doodlebug, as I call her (my niece E), has me by the heart strings, actually, all my niece and nephews do but I must admit I haven't been tortured and horrified by anything like this before. 

When my nephew Travis was little, I used to take him to all the He-Man movies, watch the cartoons, watch Rainbow Bright, and other shows.  With my nephew Adam, it was Winnie the Pooh (he claims it was I that I watched it more than he did, which may have some truth to it) and he remembers that we used to watch the movie, Dirty Dancing, and Adam would pretend to be Johnny and dance on the tree log.  Ah, good times. 

Now, here is the contrast and shows how much I love her... and perhaps how nuts I am.  I've been DVRing Barney & Friends for her every day and then taping the eps on a videotape so she can watch one episode after another.  I'm wondering why on earth I don't just go out and buy some DVDs of Barney so I won't be tormented so.  For two straight hours while I was reading my textbooks for school this past weekend, I was subjected to Barney.  I found myself reading ahead to the listening music exercises just so I could tune out Barney.

There is one song that caught my attention and I agree with it, Everybody Needs a Nap, and I wonder why nap times aren't set aside for adults too.  It's pure discrimination... perhaps I'll start a petition because it needs to be a law that everyone gets a nap every day. 

Tomorrow my sister Susie is having knee surgery and I will take care of her and stay with her until Wednesday.  I'm taking my laptop with me for work but unfortunately, there is no internet connections so I'll be cut off from the world.  I intend to take some good DVDs with me to keep us well entertained.

I spent the majority of the weekend doing homework but at least I'm not so stressed as I was (I cannot stand being behind!). I enjoyed a total PJ day yesterday, rested my knee, and pottered around getting some things done.  I watched my DVD of Wild Hogs and snorted and giggled just as much as I did in the theatres. 

No news on the kitty yet, I am pissed the animal officer never came back with a trap and the kitty is still here.  I cannot stand to see her waste away so I'm still feeding her.  My dad said he would call this morning and take care of it for me because he knows how hard it is for me.  I want this kitty to find a good home with someone that can help her behavioral issues or if she is lost, that her owners find her again. 

A dear lady and friend, Merle, gave me the Inspirational Blogger Award last week and I'm completely honored to be among all those who are inspirational.  Now, it's my turn to give the award to five deserving people. There are more than five who inspire me so this was difficult to narrow the awards down.

The first award is to the Sweet and Sassy, Vickie.  She inspires me in many ways each and every day.  She fights MS (Missy) with such strength, even when she does not feel that she as the strength to fight.  She is always there for me no matter how she feels and makes me laugh and feel better about what I'm going through.  She listens to me ramble on and on; never complaining.  She is a true and dear friend and sister of my heart.  I am blessed to have her in my life and I do not know what I'd do without her.  She's one of the few that really understands when I say I'm "tired," which is more than being tired at the end of the day; it's bone tired and exhaustion.  I'm sorry that she understands because she goes through the same thing.  If I had one wish for her, it would be that she could tell Missy where to go and be rid of her. 

The second award goes to the incredible Raggedy.  She inspires me because she deals with so much pain but doesn't let anything get her down.  She's a wonderful friend and has a wonderful sense of humor.  She cares deeply for others and I feel her presence wherever she is. I wish strength for Raggedy and keep her in my prayers so she can rise above all she deals with. 

The third award goes to Monica, who calls herself "The Good One," but I really know what that means.  ;-)  Monica has a strong driving force to fight for any injustice.  She is a talented writer and has an incredible way of expressing herself.  She puts others before herself, especially those she loves.  She gets through rough times on faith and will.  She too is a good friend to me and is a sister of my heart.  I wish happiness for Monica; peace, health, and love.  She's fought long and hard for others and now someone special wants to fight for her. 

The fourth award goes to Eve, who struggles with health issues too but regardless of what she goes through, she's always worried about me.  She's a special lady who has so much love within her and I pray that life will go her way and she won't have to fight such adversity on a regular basis.  She is also a sister of my heart and she deserves to be happy, healthy, and live in harmony. 

The fifth award goes to my dear friend and a sister of my heart, Emma.  She was my first true friend who I met through the internet, over eight years ago.  Emma and her husband Pete encouraged me to begin blogging over six years ago and I am grateful to them.  Emma is a wonderful writer, she has such a special heart, and I love her dearly.  She understands me without me having to explain; which is the kind of connection we have always had.  Although she has tough times, she's always concerned about me and she inspires me to keep going just as she does.  She's got a brilliant sense of humor and is a talented gardner.  I enjoy listening to her Alternative Kitchen Garden podcast as well as the Emma & Pete Show. Pete is an inspiration to me as well; he's a man of many talents and isn't afraid to try new ventures.  My wish for them is to have the world appreciate them as much as I do and for them to be successes in their personal businesses and truly love what they do. 

I want to mention two more ladies who are an inspiration to me.  The first is someone who used to have a blog and I feel she deserves this award as well.  My sweet friend, Dawn (also a sister of my heart) also deals with health problems and it seems as if it's one thing after another but she doesn't let it get her down for too long.  She writes me daily to see how I'm doing and she is always there for me whether I need a giggle or to vent.  She has such a giving heart and thinks of others and hates to see anyone in misery.  My wish for Dawn is for good health for her and her husband so they can enjoy life together.

Lastly, but certainly not least, is Ellen.  A kind, loving, incredible woman who fought valiantly against cancer.  She passed away last Thursday.  She inspired me to fight no matter the odds just as she did.  Her husband Curtis never left her side and their love will never die.  Thank you, Ellen, for enriching my life and I pray you are at peace.  I will keep Curtis and your family and friends in my prayers that they will be comforted. 

  
 

1.  My inner stress monkey has been around quite a bit this week but it hasn't defeated me yet.  I'm NERVOUS about my Geology final on Monday and freaking out a bit about all the work I need to do to study and be prepared.  I am my own worst enemy when it comes to stressing out but I'm doing my best to avoid a melt down.  I wouldn't look very good all gooey, although in the heat, it would not be difficult to really melt.  Gee whiz, *ommmm*,  *ommmmm*

2. Tuesday morning, I opened my office blinds to admire the lovely thunderstorm clouds we had and much to my surprise, I see some feathers stuck to the window and upon closer scrutiny, I notice there are marks of where a bird flew into my window!  Being the sick twisted photo-happy person I am, I shot this photo with my cell phone camera.  I then called the receptionist and asked her if we could get the window washers to come clean it.  I told her there was no blood but there were tell-tell signs that the poop was scared out of the bird.  *snortle*  Click the photo to embiggen if you're curious.  The receptionist also told me to close the blinds and to not to take a photo of it (she knows me well) but I told her it was too late on the photo part because I did that before I called her.  Gee whiz, it's kinda like looking at a car accident as you're driving by, you cannot help but look for that rolling head on the freeway. 

3.  Last Friday while enjoying my aquatic physical therapy, I was chatting with one of the ladies, D, in the pool about photography.  Earlier in the month, she invited me to join the photography club in Salt Lake and I am pretty sure I'll join.  Anyway... D, asked me what my favorite setting on my camera is and it's the "P," setting, what it does escapes me at the moment, but I've found that I get better photos than with the "auto."  The she asked me if I shot in raw. 

Gee whiz, how was I supposed to respond to a question like that?!  I'm a perv but not that much of a perv!  

I replied, "No, I shoot with my clothes on," being completely clueless about what she was asking and what RAW is.  She looked at my as if I lost my mind then she busted out laughing.  I'm no stranger to people laughing at me so I joined in.  Then she explained that RAW is a setting for taking photos that gives the photographer more freedom with editing the photo.  All righy then - learn something new every day!  I also learned I need Photoshop and to learn A LOT about photography! 

4.  I  went on a field trip on Tuesday to the largest man-made outside mine in the world.  Bingham Canyon Copper Mine is 2.5 miles around and almost 3/4 a mile deep.  What looked like Tonka Trucks (tm) were trucks with six-12.5 foot tires and two stories off the ground (about 32 feet).  Gee whiz, it was amazing.  I won't bore you with more gee whiz facts but if you want to see my paper, let me know LOL  Here is a document I found online with all the specifics.  Again, click on the photos to embiggen. 

 

 

 

5.  Tuesday night, my two brothers J Dee and Bob came over to give Mom and Dad Bob's old dryer because theirs is going out.  The dryer has been in storage for a year (since he married Kori) and he was happy to give it to my parents.  They took the bad dryer out and brought the other in without any problems but when Bob showed Mom how to operate it, he opened the door to the dryer and there was a load of whites in there.  At that point, Bob started laughing because he has looked for his favorite white shirt and several pair of socks and underwear since he moved.  Gee whiz, isn't that hilarious?!!  He's not going to live that one down.  

6. Last night I finished my Geology field trip report and uploaded it.  YAY.  Then in class, I turned in my Study of Family term paper (WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO), my short paper on a movie we watched last week, This Boy's Life.   I gave my teacher - the coolest guy ever - and he said, "Is this everything?  You've turned in all your assignments?"  YES, and YES.   Then he told me that I am done with class!  W00T W00T W00T W00T W00T W00T W00T!  No classes next week!!  The only thing left to do (besides jump up and down) my Geology final (refer to gee whiz #1)  Gee whiz, can I callapse into a big heap now?

7.  When I got home from class last night, Mom told me about what an ordeal she had.  My parent's main car, the Buick, isn't running right so they took it over to a good friend of theirs who does all the maintenence on it but after taking 24 hours to "look at it," they told Mom that it may