tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091920923744186202024-02-19T20:41:02.937-06:00Root Beer LoveAnnemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.comBlogger253125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-28477409001731509242011-01-10T03:53:00.000-06:002011-01-10T03:53:00.536-06:00Harriet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-xDcXWpC93tEIxlytRogUaIOyDkn642M0oUbIoGq_HiWIv8b_TIn_npuCgWnTQBuL6O6EbDG12HeIjCIlwpgmsqhDgZD-ZHRda-rDgXH5Ed-rdet33PjtnY4Com7DzA4utxOhxNTcnM/s1600/pup5.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnnL8UKKY6ABecqyih3HcnE5kGD1GbSxXRcXYwSu_rmnvnPSH8gffIqdEkW46hgdwTpwar6N4Id4Wl8j54TYm5eZ3ZEEqkx77W731B0hyfIMr7z7Mx4ru2kSFoaATl3nY5Siudoo_glk/s1600/pup4.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 362px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnnL8UKKY6ABecqyih3HcnE5kGD1GbSxXRcXYwSu_rmnvnPSH8gffIqdEkW46hgdwTpwar6N4Id4Wl8j54TYm5eZ3ZEEqkx77W731B0hyfIMr7z7Mx4ru2kSFoaATl3nY5Siudoo_glk/s400/pup4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559573316680504322" border="0" /></a>Maybe I'll use the new puppy as my excuse for being gone for a year. Just ignore the fact that we got her this April, and it will be fine.....<br /><br />Jason and I had been talking about a puppy for a long time. We had decided on a basset hound! Jason loves the droop. What does that say about me?????<br /><br />We found a rescue, and were waiting to see a puppy pop up available for adoption. Why a puppy, you ask? We have 2 wonderful cats, and seeing as how this dog was going to weigh more than bot of them combined, we thought we should give them an advantage at the start. Ha. So, my industrious husband was also searching petfinder every day. One day, a basset mix came up. It say he was a basset/ ST BERNARD. I'll wait while we are all wondering how that happens....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-xDcXWpC93tEIxlytRogUaIOyDkn642M0oUbIoGq_HiWIv8b_TIn_npuCgWnTQBuL6O6EbDG12HeIjCIlwpgmsqhDgZD-ZHRda-rDgXH5Ed-rdet33PjtnY4Com7DzA4utxOhxNTcnM/s1600/pup5.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-xDcXWpC93tEIxlytRogUaIOyDkn642M0oUbIoGq_HiWIv8b_TIn_npuCgWnTQBuL6O6EbDG12HeIjCIlwpgmsqhDgZD-ZHRda-rDgXH5Ed-rdet33PjtnY4Com7DzA4utxOhxNTcnM/s400/pup5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559573320275488898" border="0" /></a><br />We went, and he was very cute, but as an adult dog, we were worried about cat prejudice. So, they brought in a cat, and that dog lost. his. mind. He needed to get that cat more than anything else in the world. That was not going to work for us. We prepared to leave, dogless, but not too disappointed, we'd just keep waiting for the right rescue. However, when we were walking though the kennels we had seen a large pile of cute, and had seen something about a basset mix litter that was at the shelter as well. The shelter worker suggested one of the 11 puppies from that litter. There were some with short legs, and some with long. She brought a little girl with stubby legs, a big puppy belly, and green eyes. It was over.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqa4ksce9O6FwU4W_YWHzkH81pgLpNFgLWiSZHNgbBB5wYm-FK9zcfpsk9qfbQUd37Osjsui4e2s3aGXtSp0zEkOiRAfqm-i05lC3fiBeDos6CWCNTuitzVi2I8VLd7H1RmpzYK-znfc/s1600/pup3.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 392px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqa4ksce9O6FwU4W_YWHzkH81pgLpNFgLWiSZHNgbBB5wYm-FK9zcfpsk9qfbQUd37Osjsui4e2s3aGXtSp0zEkOiRAfqm-i05lC3fiBeDos6CWCNTuitzVi2I8VLd7H1RmpzYK-znfc/s400/pup3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559573312840317170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />She ran right up and climbed into my lap. I'd thought we were getting the dog for Jason. After all, dogs LOVE Jason, they look at him differently than other people. I'm more of a cat person, I feel like I identify with them more. But at that moment, I fell in love.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZBC00rVPCJx75mnLqH_iTAYx1dzsAkt3Qt-8vo6kSTNSiebo768h91sfqeV9WSxzRZfzGvniV85J2-CGwMy7XxZHIffsmsjGGFwfTZFKDg1BMWu8PgqvTRuC_TzStgnsYuge3P7o6Yo/s1600/pup1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZBC00rVPCJx75mnLqH_iTAYx1dzsAkt3Qt-8vo6kSTNSiebo768h91sfqeV9WSxzRZfzGvniV85J2-CGwMy7XxZHIffsmsjGGFwfTZFKDg1BMWu8PgqvTRuC_TzStgnsYuge3P7o6Yo/s400/pup1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559573307307896466" border="0" /></a><br />We named her Harriet. We've decided now that she's a basset/austrailian shepherd mix. Plus whatever else. We know her mother was a basset, and she certainly has the basset body type, short legs and a long back. The color, especially they eyes, led us to the aussie conclusion. We hadn't even thought of that until one morning at puppy class, a new aussie puppy sat down next to her. Their eyes were identical, and they were the same red color.<br /><br />I'll stop now, but I could talk about her for hours. We've joked that she's our practice baby. I had no idea that a puppy could be such a whirlwind in your life. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWPNWoXKPoaoeuDfdxIHUrt1wvUxLHlbayyVzY4qlAy9e4t84gFveLtBpmMQ6D61hOkylaKgWThcwjzgA_r732Aye1M-hj0yh-gzH-d6my8iKccsY-U8T16wA5WnHoKrabG2kz-muFMA/s1600/pup2.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWPNWoXKPoaoeuDfdxIHUrt1wvUxLHlbayyVzY4qlAy9e4t84gFveLtBpmMQ6D61hOkylaKgWThcwjzgA_r732Aye1M-hj0yh-gzH-d6my8iKccsY-U8T16wA5WnHoKrabG2kz-muFMA/s400/pup2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559573307292722594" border="0" /></a>Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-77884218363525771902010-07-20T15:16:00.003-05:002011-01-07T15:43:25.154-06:00My temporary internet death, and brief thoughts.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LtdQxjt1oXWQ1wH-E2BVPOsxsRglbFP32sbVKOiwkKR8nVAA6yKRJXPpgwJV6GbI_YdYlUVZeB-9YcbH8pfnYw9bthBAo-iMvYEkQlv3QH1X-VPke_9AKMELmlAKoUGIowFqYCJh45k/s1600/ball.JPG"><br /></a><br />Not about briefs, I promise, but now I can't stop thinking of underwear.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Holycrap</span>, it's been more than a year since I posted anything here. I'm just going to say that I'm back from the dead.<br /><br />This past year, I have:<br /><br />Moved!<br /><br />Had every single appliance in the new house break, including the furnace. I'm sure I could tell some colorful stories there.<br /><br />Painted the whole house. My hands still hurt.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LtdQxjt1oXWQ1wH-E2BVPOsxsRglbFP32sbVKOiwkKR8nVAA6yKRJXPpgwJV6GbI_YdYlUVZeB-9YcbH8pfnYw9bthBAo-iMvYEkQlv3QH1X-VPke_9AKMELmlAKoUGIowFqYCJh45k/s1600/ball.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 349px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LtdQxjt1oXWQ1wH-E2BVPOsxsRglbFP32sbVKOiwkKR8nVAA6yKRJXPpgwJV6GbI_YdYlUVZeB-9YcbH8pfnYw9bthBAo-iMvYEkQlv3QH1X-VPke_9AKMELmlAKoUGIowFqYCJh45k/s400/ball.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559562737335266866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Got a puppy. Wow. I hadn't had a puppy since 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> grade. I had forgotten (or never known, thanks to hard working parents) how much work a puppy was. She's adorable, but wow, I'm ready any time now for her to quit getting up in the middle of the night to go play cat.<br /><br />I'm sure I've forgotten something else new that I've done, but I bet Jason will remind me!!!Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-65351668279895443572009-11-02T12:56:00.005-06:002009-11-09T18:52:19.182-06:00Cedar PointIt seems that there is a continuum of how much I like roller coasters. Here is a handy illustration.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7NnQu7Vd_3K-BC8TVHiiL5KMBODVE0_qIxZCxEDt1lblGh7d_7sydeGHWuJiPMbr7cPymj8ST5Ev9gGScmFWttC-zn5lky3Yt0kB8gmjwxYOKNIARnUd9beQNLF8IGZZl6JGMNrUxKo/s1600-h/graph.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 503px; height: 386px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7NnQu7Vd_3K-BC8TVHiiL5KMBODVE0_qIxZCxEDt1lblGh7d_7sydeGHWuJiPMbr7cPymj8ST5Ev9gGScmFWttC-zn5lky3Yt0kB8gmjwxYOKNIARnUd9beQNLF8IGZZl6JGMNrUxKo/s400/graph.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399587278474718642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />By using this graph, you can see how much I would have WANTED to go to Cedar Point. I'm not a roller coaster newbie, and I'd never been. Jason assured me that it would be tons of fun. And, once I got past that first hill, it totally was.<br /><br />We went during the last week of August. It was really really the perfect time to go. It was cool enough that we were comfortable, but it was still warm enough to enjoy the water rides (at least for a minute). We didn't wait in a line longer than 15 minutes, except once.<br /><br />The best roller coaster, in my opinion, was , well, I was going to pick one before I got to this point in the sentence, but I really can't! Millenium Force was huge, and awesome and I have to innterrupt this blog post to tell one of the funniest things EVER.<br /><br />When Jason is scared on a roller coaster, he doesn't scream, he doesn't close his eyes, he doesn't barf (thank God). Instead, he talks smack to the roller coaster. After the first hill on millenium force, I heard him yelling things like "is that all you got?" and "fun times! fun times!". I amlaughing out loud about it right now. When I heard him it was immediately added to the list of reasons I love him Reason 6,234,452,354: He yells at roller coasters. <br /><br />I on the other hand, try to scream, and I fail. A long time ago, my cousin pointed out that on the first hill (if you refer to the graph above, a high fright level place) I open my mouth wide to try to scream, and nothing comes out. Yeah. After that I yell and I'm having fun. But I turn into a silent movie star when on that first hill.<br /><br />We now return you to the sceduled blog post. Maverick was also awesome. When we read that the first hill was a 95% drop, we didn't believe it. As we were going over we both yelled I BELIEVE IT. It kinda knocked my head around, but was awesome.<br /><br />Another aside, this is a video of the first roller coaster I ever went on. Thanks Dad, for riding with me, and singing "Get a Job" while we were cranked up the first hill.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PYSSNglxweg&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PYSSNglxweg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />Raptor. I love the raptor. It doesn't really scare me as much as others, maybe because I start high up in the air. We offended a ride operator by revealing this lack of fear. He responded that "the raptor is the 7th most intense coaster in the world" Sorry dude. <br /><br />Thought Mantis was going to be my favorite since Jason doesn't like it. I loved it, but I really can't pick a favorite. <br /><br />Ah, Magnum. Old. Hilly. DEATH. We didn't snap the lap bar down far enough and felt like we were going to fly out the entire time. <br /><br />I noticed just now that I didn't talk about any wooden roller coasters in a positive fashion. I like wooden roller coasters, but they make me feel OLD. I don't remember Judge Roy Scream or the Texas Giant hurting that much. <br /><br />So, I can't pick a favorite other than Cedar Point in general. It was great. Can't wait to go back next year. I leave you with this video of the Maverick.<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LJim1vTJsjQ&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LJim1vTJsjQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-54900140969309668632009-11-02T12:43:00.002-06:002009-11-02T12:56:05.791-06:00SporadicThat's the nicest word I could come up with for my blog schedule. I wish I could pinpoint one reason that I don't update regularly. But, alas, it's not lack of inspiration, (I think oh, I should blog about that all the time), time, or desire. I think I'm just lazy. Yup. I'm feeling all squidgy today, because we're deciding whether or not to move. It would cost us more a month, but it would be a whole house, a lot more space, and most of all for me, a real kitchen. I think I'd enjoy that. There's a second bedroom for Jason to have a racing room (seriously his idea, I'm not about shoving all of his stuff where you can't see it) and a mud room for all of his fishing accouterments. (oooo good word). The house needs some work, but we're up to it, and we can make it our own. What would you do? <br /><br />Hopefully I'll be back soon with some more thoughts on other things. But now that I've said that, it's a jinx.Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-38997737838329673552009-09-28T10:36:00.002-05:002009-09-28T10:36:00.400-05:00Texas! Part 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ4vAvlTa6p2QzCTK7mj8gNc4RC2z9KvkrfqSxlXcrYbN5fb6EBfBy7rrORMBi9MVx4ZTgkBPJptYaevs7H1v8ACXlsIFucRozH1YruZTEpx84t49z_1eMT23g9Puf2JFJuEYKhG6L_k/s1600-h/canyon2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ4vAvlTa6p2QzCTK7mj8gNc4RC2z9KvkrfqSxlXcrYbN5fb6EBfBy7rrORMBi9MVx4ZTgkBPJptYaevs7H1v8ACXlsIFucRozH1YruZTEpx84t49z_1eMT23g9Puf2JFJuEYKhG6L_k/s400/canyon2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075521680631858" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We spent the next day with the fam, and I was really glad to. I like Indiana and all, but my family (extended and otherwise) is awesome, and having them live so many states away (and in other states as well) really stinks.<br /><br />Jason has some things in common with my Uncle, and I'd never even thought of it before.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuAi8I1z511Lme-C0_mTs4pLK8EEoNs2nfTULqXflPdfw_Z5-9gW0xKxIwBlfIGZYbyv1FDVky7UGII7uzEVKxtyuMDI1tva-4SxloEvGiqUCvFrtSMPvtTGfouDP9RDlYaRbvE_HQEg/s1600-h/smoker1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuAi8I1z511Lme-C0_mTs4pLK8EEoNs2nfTULqXflPdfw_Z5-9gW0xKxIwBlfIGZYbyv1FDVky7UGII7uzEVKxtyuMDI1tva-4SxloEvGiqUCvFrtSMPvtTGfouDP9RDlYaRbvE_HQEg/s400/smoker1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075872128236114" border="0" /></a><br />We visited Papa's house an got a nice tour of his studio. I don't know why he won't smile.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPT-FLZbkI47Uw3ARJhqqxBSSicP7nbNdzWu5QBrZqk7RMYcVCL0qLJmG8TXtYpH3AYy5Pv2YCxy0t4V7L_UV2sZ98YMw8rV-oXcc2agRUkdgMdx8tkhzjBbW03uTsivLHOrlH7wDJ1g/s1600-h/papapainting.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPT-FLZbkI47Uw3ARJhqqxBSSicP7nbNdzWu5QBrZqk7RMYcVCL0qLJmG8TXtYpH3AYy5Pv2YCxy0t4V7L_UV2sZ98YMw8rV-oXcc2agRUkdgMdx8tkhzjBbW03uTsivLHOrlH7wDJ1g/s400/papapainting.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075853649955922" border="0" /></a><br />Papa said there was an armadillo living in one of his bushes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nadwddmdDnBe6nlUKYp9GNHTpjpLw0r_YtLPA24kU-WNmxaTxEM5Ca4XfnT3yjIpiG7pivHfKMa8uvIEohC4JUPyXzOQ0FO5vQaAv7i7yXLGEraxbAJls1buWLuWUtdNj6cbrSaqy8A/s1600-h/what's+that.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nadwddmdDnBe6nlUKYp9GNHTpjpLw0r_YtLPA24kU-WNmxaTxEM5Ca4XfnT3yjIpiG7pivHfKMa8uvIEohC4JUPyXzOQ0FO5vQaAv7i7yXLGEraxbAJls1buWLuWUtdNj6cbrSaqy8A/s400/what's+that.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385076170350422354" border="0" /></a><br />I looked at about 10 different pictures of all of us together, and there's not even on where we're all smiling, or even looking at the camera.<br /><br />The next day we were on our way to Palo Duro canyon. We stopped at one of the nicest rest stops ever, with the most frightening signs, EVERYWHERE.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzExdqcL-jAyrJrGIVllKY3L5r5hpiKw5_BQvm2XXc9grn-x7SR0CybvjpwL1si_9neyr2ANDKpgXJ8Juo3jRlIb7huvq14YDAy2pzUiW5dvV7PNww7GtYViYf55MEWs0UXmXw70kbJY/s1600-h/reststop1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzExdqcL-jAyrJrGIVllKY3L5r5hpiKw5_BQvm2XXc9grn-x7SR0CybvjpwL1si_9neyr2ANDKpgXJ8Juo3jRlIb7huvq14YDAy2pzUiW5dvV7PNww7GtYViYf55MEWs0UXmXw70kbJY/s400/reststop1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075858844669458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFQV72h-CJX_N027E3R0HtZAk87B4Q7XYkjOU_QJDAGLabH3dvsPXH1WcnPqQkLatpyj-mejx94AH91CpuZusU6ctlohz5K0TU49FB-9UuZzfAvGkvAJynI2x7-z7Ws0jvgJ33FGg_ho/s1600-h/reststop2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFQV72h-CJX_N027E3R0HtZAk87B4Q7XYkjOU_QJDAGLabH3dvsPXH1WcnPqQkLatpyj-mejx94AH91CpuZusU6ctlohz5K0TU49FB-9UuZzfAvGkvAJynI2x7-z7Ws0jvgJ33FGg_ho/s400/reststop2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075869146844978" border="0" /></a><br />We drove all day again, and saw an actual cattle drive. We also saw about a million wind farms. It was a long, fast drive. Mom had a great theory. The reason the speed limit is so high in Texas is that if you're going to get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time, you'd better go fast.<br /><br />W arrived in Canyon that night and were duly impressed. It was really amazing, the 2nd biggest canyon in the US. We stopped for pictures, then made our way down to have some dinner, and see a show.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVaL7YgjRIIoIb8NdjzgS-TRLYrT706q3g7uSngzcMbPk-RON_JyQx-8Y2Z7vE6Vkeg5GXUGdjdgOV57jNT1Z_UW-IcCUaw2ONage2gwXWeTc4tCR-CDLVc0sbK0rKkkg_AXxOZl4kPY/s1600-h/canyon4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVaL7YgjRIIoIb8NdjzgS-TRLYrT706q3g7uSngzcMbPk-RON_JyQx-8Y2Z7vE6Vkeg5GXUGdjdgOV57jNT1Z_UW-IcCUaw2ONage2gwXWeTc4tCR-CDLVc0sbK0rKkkg_AXxOZl4kPY/s400/canyon4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075534834253746" border="0" /></a><br />The show was Texas, and it had been performed for 40 years at the stage in the canyon. You'd think that in that time, they could have made it awesome. Instead it was rather amateurish. My eyes didn't bleed, but it wasn't awesome either.<br /><br />The real show was above us. Both in the amphitheater and on our way back to the hotel, I coudn't keep my eyes off the stars. It was truly amazing. If I've not said it before, I'll say it again, the sky really is bigger in Texas.<br /><br />The next morning we took a jeep tour. The owners thought we were brave since, for them, they'd had a lot of rain the night before. To us, it was nothing, a few inches, and I remember 2 years ago 12 inches in12 hours, but they promised that if anything looked unsafe to pass, we would turn back.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCOwNxle_SVF81M7nWnk_ugk4yW3zV4wuXbAoe8Z3WIiLMfUOzVz6F8Rh2K6P4P91a5zi3lMIpFckNcSY94VcF13-vAWxGjU61h1vrgGa-d1gCIwrXtVDMNZ7GkzSUKO1wURVxJmpaI8/s1600-h/canyon9.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCOwNxle_SVF81M7nWnk_ugk4yW3zV4wuXbAoe8Z3WIiLMfUOzVz6F8Rh2K6P4P91a5zi3lMIpFckNcSY94VcF13-vAWxGjU61h1vrgGa-d1gCIwrXtVDMNZ7GkzSUKO1wURVxJmpaI8/s400/canyon9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075661138529378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdQ4cVWzH-lJNxKRlNDapPq2XvqctduZBiITxuj8OK9oWigLUaZ7Y7YQzlR0m30n9GtNB-VioAiP-Q1NUyAMz7v-wN2sV79yH_lko-4fMh31B1j3AUqTBEtGuMcf2MGd6Em4OzKS3rcY/s1600-h/canyon8.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdQ4cVWzH-lJNxKRlNDapPq2XvqctduZBiITxuj8OK9oWigLUaZ7Y7YQzlR0m30n9GtNB-VioAiP-Q1NUyAMz7v-wN2sV79yH_lko-4fMh31B1j3AUqTBEtGuMcf2MGd6Em4OzKS3rcY/s400/canyon8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075654914065490" border="0" /></a><br />The tour was really great. The guide was informative, and entertaining. The ranch he works for owns half of the canyon, and they use it. It's a working cattle ranch, even thought we only saw one cow. He looked kinda lonely. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodqibf30E0a9yPHiyQKWT1UfA5Y16firvMdbmEQg2HgymN4wc0_MQFDci25bG5NiYv-etzJ0HS30YN7CI07kB5ETl3iungtVdvp3ZhX3s_p0c4Vvfk0A6XBfY59sEzOxSlyiMkHJ4RHs/s1600-h/cow.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodqibf30E0a9yPHiyQKWT1UfA5Y16firvMdbmEQg2HgymN4wc0_MQFDci25bG5NiYv-etzJ0HS30YN7CI07kB5ETl3iungtVdvp3ZhX3s_p0c4Vvfk0A6XBfY59sEzOxSlyiMkHJ4RHs/s400/cow.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075677213721410" border="0" /></a>We got to get out of the jeep and walk around a little on interesting rock formations. There were lots of cacti. We saw a roadrunner, but failed to get an actual picture, he ran off. We looked over the edge.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qCBPDB6Izqx-jutjf7zkc1QwoKA_8ACGQmnxFcCphaJ-ZurSldeBJfrZhWnHQr3TsbvRJd9eldKYRzkdAluks2bjj5KSr3viR-v3YLECBaxw5AJe22Eb9ZG4KC-4GGNAAvtTzjSgyS4/s1600-h/canyon10.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qCBPDB6Izqx-jutjf7zkc1QwoKA_8ACGQmnxFcCphaJ-ZurSldeBJfrZhWnHQr3TsbvRJd9eldKYRzkdAluks2bjj5KSr3viR-v3YLECBaxw5AJe22Eb9ZG4KC-4GGNAAvtTzjSgyS4/s400/canyon10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075670681059154" border="0" /></a> Jason wanted me to stay in the jeep.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonan9sHtPw__7k5us0CzK0XsvUWqC-fGkQtuHCNLXfJOeze4qZjON9eu0djcfPscpNiukFsUFrd9kapOvhtHWEeqTek4uk6czCDUIu4_4GNKE7sT9I4BNC9YVK1B-VauyHtoyr260qgE/s1600-h/canyon7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonan9sHtPw__7k5us0CzK0XsvUWqC-fGkQtuHCNLXfJOeze4qZjON9eu0djcfPscpNiukFsUFrd9kapOvhtHWEeqTek4uk6czCDUIu4_4GNKE7sT9I4BNC9YVK1B-VauyHtoyr260qgE/s400/canyon7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075647523208450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNFIEqnVX37hlWke7KY-KvLqpgiyC2THf6dC1lgRWmTp4EOxpGWRPCgwF0jd4djxCVTrVlwlTxojNaZuEEn-GPmYrAQCFtyoPSneDQo0VVJoyIxgdgNd8fXbXyKh_cOg3f_M1ieLiwRM/s1600-h/canyon6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNFIEqnVX37hlWke7KY-KvLqpgiyC2THf6dC1lgRWmTp4EOxpGWRPCgwF0jd4djxCVTrVlwlTxojNaZuEEn-GPmYrAQCFtyoPSneDQo0VVJoyIxgdgNd8fXbXyKh_cOg3f_M1ieLiwRM/s400/canyon6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075536427573618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGZd0IQRPWo7h2HJIZNtU2O6gIukrWpTJNgu6mj9o1qPXgtkshCdftpaWNsu2lDDHfDB2D7qlmAuIdji-VLB5upnFZ_ZvQILOAAMkuefP5pPVv2LTuAAdF0f0q4VKuy2ddGi8PgZdDbQ/s1600-h/canyon3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGZd0IQRPWo7h2HJIZNtU2O6gIukrWpTJNgu6mj9o1qPXgtkshCdftpaWNsu2lDDHfDB2D7qlmAuIdji-VLB5upnFZ_ZvQILOAAMkuefP5pPVv2LTuAAdF0f0q4VKuy2ddGi8PgZdDbQ/s400/canyon3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075524082246354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-F64mRoXuaCfpLedRh1ncHUr1NuR1qiTV2mP0CzTYDeVzNztlUe4POAUY-1VYeC36v7ozPW_uI1GvGox8Eq9zPzB8SYjc7MtwdPU50hboxuAd8LEErfaFJsyRGyp3a6ouLxAw0hchnk/s1600-h/canyon1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-F64mRoXuaCfpLedRh1ncHUr1NuR1qiTV2mP0CzTYDeVzNztlUe4POAUY-1VYeC36v7ozPW_uI1GvGox8Eq9zPzB8SYjc7MtwdPU50hboxuAd8LEErfaFJsyRGyp3a6ouLxAw0hchnk/s400/canyon1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075514513858370" border="0" /></a><br />After the tour we hiked just a little bit. Jason and I would really like to go back and camp overnight in the canyon. We saw deer, and more cacti. We drove back out of the canyon, and then we were headed home, but the long way. On the way to Indiana we stopped at a cheese place in Missouri that apparently no longer exists (we keep finding disconnected numbers) and we saw a tumbleweed. Jason says that it was just a weed, since it was stuck on a fence. :P<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVSkER7UTF5PE_E2oRRIN3KD8vaaDfDMnJSNYM6-maJbOZ-IAidJTkzVrOEpcA6TvY_g4aSckm7dwSS5KpInmgZp5Hel9dT3eOr20eFNBQ2Q8QDJEkdBlDMS_6SZGA-g4MomvWl7cJMA/s1600-h/dirtyvan.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVSkER7UTF5PE_E2oRRIN3KD8vaaDfDMnJSNYM6-maJbOZ-IAidJTkzVrOEpcA6TvY_g4aSckm7dwSS5KpInmgZp5Hel9dT3eOr20eFNBQ2Q8QDJEkdBlDMS_6SZGA-g4MomvWl7cJMA/s400/dirtyvan.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075849103262210" border="0" /></a>Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-40830214156094536062009-09-25T08:00:00.001-05:002009-09-25T08:42:52.437-05:00Texas! Part one<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeyZKmNvhNUQISdnJz3C7XRLd3KA40MHXAX9cZcb6U5AlzRnBX-3wRojtz-Hd7OmHojRKTFLoNqava-iBzrU6XXljk2k5f8bjQlRCq2us3qMHS4md0vTSP2l02CxUisj-XF6lhMN872w/s1600-h/clinton1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeyZKmNvhNUQISdnJz3C7XRLd3KA40MHXAX9cZcb6U5AlzRnBX-3wRojtz-Hd7OmHojRKTFLoNqava-iBzrU6XXljk2k5f8bjQlRCq2us3qMHS4md0vTSP2l02CxUisj-XF6lhMN872w/s400/clinton1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385054659626013570" border="0" /></a><br />Jason, just to let you know, it's hard to type when you have to make an x with your hands.<br /><br /><br />Only a week after we came back from Florida with Jason's family, we were off to Texas with mine! My family is from Texas, and I spent many a summer there when I was younger. We all piled into the van it was me my brother my ma oh my pop and my little sister all jumped in the car. We headed downtown to the gallery mall.<br /><br />WAIT. That's not even a meme. At this point it's just an old Will Smith Song. Extra points if you remember it too.<br /><br />In real life, it was Jason and I, my parents, my bother and this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNFxaXkfm6i_WPKg-QlYgF5F5qbcxRdRBvNggRXkuZLp55PU-fBeCT_U4O4rALwTkFZs4GaORUSbv1KKAvx4IW-abn3fV0Tws43do4P4JBAzUDZ9HQXBEMUrH0q9JQ9JoblZFHkFzP2M/s1600-h/penny.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNFxaXkfm6i_WPKg-QlYgF5F5qbcxRdRBvNggRXkuZLp55PU-fBeCT_U4O4rALwTkFZs4GaORUSbv1KKAvx4IW-abn3fV0Tws43do4P4JBAzUDZ9HQXBEMUrH0q9JQ9JoblZFHkFzP2M/s400/penny.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385054675134130738" border="0" /></a><br />My parents' new puppy, Penelope. She's a schnoodle. It took me 4 times to type that. She's half poodle, half Schnauzer and all teeth. But she's cute!!!!<br /><br />We started our trip in Arkansas. I know that's not really Texas, but Mom's goal after retirement is to see all of the presidential libraries. Little Rock was just enough on our way to really qualify.<br /><br />Penny, although cute was not allowed in the library, so we took shifts.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GUBnQB-QuhPinalXpTdfcwxSf6rVpcjHm185D3Vbgv10MXaSrMnIQtRmcwwQaI1e1kZ4ZwUxg97cLLmfW0uMD17CIQMuTzbdT1vCtSWOX8TGP5VW4GwlhN0-zhsZcECIq63nysNLJBs/s1600-h/one+small.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GUBnQB-QuhPinalXpTdfcwxSf6rVpcjHm185D3Vbgv10MXaSrMnIQtRmcwwQaI1e1kZ4ZwUxg97cLLmfW0uMD17CIQMuTzbdT1vCtSWOX8TGP5VW4GwlhN0-zhsZcECIq63nysNLJBs/s400/one+small.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385054662462695858" border="0" /></a><br />I has excited to see that there was a space exhibit there. I really do love all things space. If given the chance, I would 100% go into space. I wanted so much to go to space camp when I was a kid. Jason makes fun of me now because I saw a preview of the new show "Defying Gravity" and I said "OMG It's a show in space! It's a show in space!"<br /><br />Anyway (I'm feeling awfully stream of consciousness today) in this exhibit there was part of Mir. As in the space station. It was a cool exhibit but something about the inside of that pod made you dizzy. Instantly. I went in around 4 times, and it never went away!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWqn4VWHRvhPg7C2GNrRxO8g865CzfBtHwvG7_SokCw3lxn4I-xcoWU85BhNyiPLTDAZpW_1GLSctirua6LMEQ7CZcmA9YKfwdNvGIsa-oPSxpL2nANHwr1gFKSA56BaKozY9J-G7qcs/s1600-h/space1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWqn4VWHRvhPg7C2GNrRxO8g865CzfBtHwvG7_SokCw3lxn4I-xcoWU85BhNyiPLTDAZpW_1GLSctirua6LMEQ7CZcmA9YKfwdNvGIsa-oPSxpL2nANHwr1gFKSA56BaKozY9J-G7qcs/s400/space1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385054783297897922" border="0" /></a><br />The rest of the Clinton library was kind of uneventful. There was a replica oval office, but we couldn't go in! I don't see the point of having the replica to see if we have to stand outside. Also, they knew I was coming, so they got out the Chihuly. For whatever reason, the docent that heard me say "look, a Chihuly" was really really impressed that I knew what it was. From Little Rock we were off to Whitesboro!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rdbfYjPeyH_emRF0isAzf1IWeZ3XYiGkmFILk6LnZv_nYfKfsBbnDCYPNNDUzqGs1uEhuk6Agu_A35gBt0HZZO9f2uRGTavpEwgIIlYW5BAsSnGuTrDhiCOWY3ApdZWtpX_Sxq-y0-Q/s1600-h/oval.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rdbfYjPeyH_emRF0isAzf1IWeZ3XYiGkmFILk6LnZv_nYfKfsBbnDCYPNNDUzqGs1uEhuk6Agu_A35gBt0HZZO9f2uRGTavpEwgIIlYW5BAsSnGuTrDhiCOWY3ApdZWtpX_Sxq-y0-Q/s400/oval.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385054674599654482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJp32C8D4QYgBonflJfJeXDaiA6KVvgja1cFTIbm58EH4ga15VNmiXalgg3JbwRKzvm5fTyHoPGVmNyWQxC_2R_L7b_-705soP-YdHX3Kyx80nmtL1ZTBJ2-A6l6W4Cl52Vkz4hxHbdmA/s1600-h/chihuly.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJp32C8D4QYgBonflJfJeXDaiA6KVvgja1cFTIbm58EH4ga15VNmiXalgg3JbwRKzvm5fTyHoPGVmNyWQxC_2R_L7b_-705soP-YdHX3Kyx80nmtL1ZTBJ2-A6l6W4Cl52Vkz4hxHbdmA/s400/chihuly.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385054656562644962" border="0" /></a><br />We drove and drove and drove (insert some more "droves" in there). And arrived at the hotel in the early evening. We checked in and invited my Aunt Dawn and Papa over.<br /><br />Papa really is awesome. He's in his 90's and is completely independent. Not just independent, but a witty, sharp, extremely talented artist. He spends his days painting lovely things, and gave Jason and I a second painting while we were down there. It's really beautiful, of a beach in Cozumel (we didn't know that's where it was when we picked it, but more on that later) then we went to bed. Crash.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR25Plx748PW_z6AlWNWKiuZ3qc62HHRygCLtKU7sCwm-RInyltDlz5Vhb_ySaT6SagIXai9TjBTOT5FROh536l4vXXV55C3RlmYfBYlYvAL1e5d6-kY9_bLB7XIxLzZ7NhBv2LJuTpn8/s1600-h/penny2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR25Plx748PW_z6AlWNWKiuZ3qc62HHRygCLtKU7sCwm-RInyltDlz5Vhb_ySaT6SagIXai9TjBTOT5FROh536l4vXXV55C3RlmYfBYlYvAL1e5d6-kY9_bLB7XIxLzZ7NhBv2LJuTpn8/s400/penny2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385054781769033314" border="0" /></a>Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-54919703575628353622009-09-24T10:27:00.003-05:002009-09-24T10:35:02.143-05:00Don't Shoot!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCZ6lOrSwSxP-pwZ0BLEdcNbKj6FYwkrtlkQCL5VbrYc3859U0mwUoLG5u-jqBxszzFiDlMwc9nbEtIZvj29BwJfktCfr_qQD28CZlxbunGcWisovzt6MjDPtkudhbp6F5UgKnPrARUM/s1600-h/don't+shoot%21.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCZ6lOrSwSxP-pwZ0BLEdcNbKj6FYwkrtlkQCL5VbrYc3859U0mwUoLG5u-jqBxszzFiDlMwc9nbEtIZvj29BwJfktCfr_qQD28CZlxbunGcWisovzt6MjDPtkudhbp6F5UgKnPrARUM/s400/don't+shoot%21.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385057863304547666" border="0" /></a><br />I'm not very consistent, but I am contrite. Sorry I haven't updated. I don't have ANY good reason. A certain awesome blogger emailed me, and it was like the wall of procrastination between me and the blog seemed short enough to climb.<br /><br />I'm going to update again, soon. I promise. (okay, I already set something to come up tomorrow, ha!)<br /><br />p.s. I love this picture, we went to see the King Tut exhibit at the children's museum, and it turned out to be Star Wars Saturday. I was admiring the R2 (love) and there were storm troopers everwhere. I asked for a picture. When it was taken, one of them had just told me "look scared". It's hard to look scared when things are so awesome.Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-91164004470111408052009-08-27T18:16:00.000-05:002009-08-27T15:49:58.708-05:00Florida!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcSfmgGtj8Vl7j54DMSL24ydVKgB-YzhgouBcQnYHVa-yb9ZcBo1O-zPT5ZvASEZESYDpa4C-HgDxBRqqWG5IFMxCQ9DT08eoTCduca5KW780CxvMTByDvxINhws_yYlgCmgrrhI2nfs/s1600-h/everyonesunset.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 1px; height: 1px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcSfmgGtj8Vl7j54DMSL24ydVKgB-YzhgouBcQnYHVa-yb9ZcBo1O-zPT5ZvASEZESYDpa4C-HgDxBRqqWG5IFMxCQ9DT08eoTCduca5KW780CxvMTByDvxINhws_yYlgCmgrrhI2nfs/s400/everyonesunset.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374746384943944018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWMSpp9x48D3ZchDi4-5E9kMQTK49V8I_2Ly1YaOCmWj1psoRummAHrg0u6NDeWfK0MxarbwaxB3U0LRYUkqnZEIT31dvKa76-STQuoNULp6vsoxReUWcbZRaOhfJIIripRVJ8DmKvlo/s1600-h/hurricane.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWMSpp9x48D3ZchDi4-5E9kMQTK49V8I_2Ly1YaOCmWj1psoRummAHrg0u6NDeWfK0MxarbwaxB3U0LRYUkqnZEIT31dvKa76-STQuoNULp6vsoxReUWcbZRaOhfJIIripRVJ8DmKvlo/s400/hurricane.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374746146855444130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWlWrExNJy3iAANF44-jAEHk2t35D6Au6D7c2J9CfmtSd3ZBCOATLqFMm9MRsjGT9-cZM1FmP3sREkkV0WlugQ3BanuPMID2gmD3JBVFZTgPST2H0JgCsub-eh0DWp1Iuj9ciBHVKQOQ/s1600-h/ftdesoto.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 1px; height: 1px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWlWrExNJy3iAANF44-jAEHk2t35D6Au6D7c2J9CfmtSd3ZBCOATLqFMm9MRsjGT9-cZM1FmP3sREkkV0WlugQ3BanuPMID2gmD3JBVFZTgPST2H0JgCsub-eh0DWp1Iuj9ciBHVKQOQ/s400/ftdesoto.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374746134357557346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX_qOpH1ohbMwp2KVJHQ5NVvutFlmprWXUqLP0ZYV0uL8Qgb6pgVx9Ig-VVoaJf0COn2ljPHjQRgavARqqZeyCmiamkG8gaHnAgmL5B-QY8IUa9ThWXmQy24RhQ4rLqAAB7dRKzT_-ck/s1600-h/everyonesunset.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 1px; height: 1px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX_qOpH1ohbMwp2KVJHQ5NVvutFlmprWXUqLP0ZYV0uL8Qgb6pgVx9Ig-VVoaJf0COn2ljPHjQRgavARqqZeyCmiamkG8gaHnAgmL5B-QY8IUa9ThWXmQy24RhQ4rLqAAB7dRKzT_-ck/s400/everyonesunset.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374746127569808082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />It's been a busy summer. We had looong ago planned to go to Florida with Jason's family. We were going to drive down, and stay a week. Then gas prices went waaaaaaay up. So we thought we would fly. Then Jason took a pay cut. We just didn't see how we could afford it so we told everyone that we probably wouldn't make it. Then, as a last minute thing, Jason took a look online at flights, and lo and behold, we could get down there, and back, for about 300 total! So we called his family back and started to pack!<br /><br />We were headed for Treasure Island Florida. I know that sounds very mysterious and islandy, but it's a town, on the gulf coast, so an island so much. It's a really neat little town that still has a lot of historic charm.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOr1gNIgfkU_fb4EwL4LPReG5yyM3FG7ffyulLsgMwhqYGaa0mAC8mC1VCQKV0YaEKDrzhYfNbx1icuhLQfX_86ZOZwqrOzKaolkEIk-MmR14YKn2rLleJYwtROOBcC_X5C61woTqdSv0/s1600-h/doncesar2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOr1gNIgfkU_fb4EwL4LPReG5yyM3FG7ffyulLsgMwhqYGaa0mAC8mC1VCQKV0YaEKDrzhYfNbx1icuhLQfX_86ZOZwqrOzKaolkEIk-MmR14YKn2rLleJYwtROOBcC_X5C61woTqdSv0/s400/doncesar2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374746121670440386" border="0" /></a><br />The only way we could afford to go down was to make it just a weekend, but the airlines were surprisingly helpful on that front. We could fly in really early on friday, and then leave late on Sun.<br /><br />So, I coerced my wonderful parents to get us to the airport at 4:30 Friday morning. We arrived in Florida around 8:30 or so, and went to breakfast. We left our luggage at the hotel, and went on kind of a tour of the area. We stopped at the Don Cesar hotel, which was really cool. It reminded Jason and I a lot of West Baden in style. It was also very pink.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1Po52mdvzt39goqDn259VZu7YU7dWhLOOL8XD1QTn2lb2d7-mYdrX5ipI82LsmMs4Htm34EAdZLCcWjVOYn6DT9xTc24DBtJCADiVeLcegmBXlkMb3fAN-RxgVwQ5aJoCIfXMKp0svQ/s1600-h/doncesar.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1Po52mdvzt39goqDn259VZu7YU7dWhLOOL8XD1QTn2lb2d7-mYdrX5ipI82LsmMs4Htm34EAdZLCcWjVOYn6DT9xTc24DBtJCADiVeLcegmBXlkMb3fAN-RxgVwQ5aJoCIfXMKp0svQ/s400/doncesar.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374746111268537202" border="0" /></a><br />We then went to Fort DeSoto beach and played around at the pier. We saw rays and lots of little fish in the water. There were plenty of people fishing, but nobody catching. It was a realy beautiful day.<br /><br />When we got back to the hotel, our room was ready. There had been some talk of an upgrade, but not really to us, just overheard between the staff. When we walked in, we realized it had come to fruition. The room was HUGE! It had a full kitchen, a living room, and the requisite bed/bath combo.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDU2gGmUWnqe4IPV-CRjVkqIwwWL6txcxMBSTPn6_8U8StF3lDko2XNDKAzFeCffnRZDtvgEv2dbK9IHuk0zgc0D0DwMB4yNvaFreXrh5SD5i0z09Idn68i77KEoyMGsP3FhWnqJhDIg/s1600-h/seagull.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDU2gGmUWnqe4IPV-CRjVkqIwwWL6txcxMBSTPn6_8U8StF3lDko2XNDKAzFeCffnRZDtvgEv2dbK9IHuk0zgc0D0DwMB4yNvaFreXrh5SD5i0z09Idn68i77KEoyMGsP3FhWnqJhDIg/s400/seagull.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374746671048010386" border="0" /></a><br />You know what? I'm just realizing that almost every hotel room we stay in ends up having one thing odd, or broken in it. Just this past weekend, we were in one that half of the light switches didn't seem to do anything in. Hmmmm. Well, in this room there were 2 oddnesses. One was the only clothing rack was only waist high (I'd brought 2 maxi dresses) and in the dresser, one of the drawers opened on it's own. Eventually I shut it hard and the handle fell off. Ooops. Lucky I know how to work a screw.<br /><br />ANYWAY we got into the room and we changed into our swimsuits for a trip to the beach. We hung out at the beach for a while, and both Jason and I got beat up by the ocean. The water was rough that day. I managed not to get sunburnt! YAY!<br /><br />I remember laying out as an activity. My skin wasn't always so sensitive. I used to bake in the sun all summer, but now I wear spf 70 when I go out and pray for shade. I guess it's better for me anyway.<br /><br />That night we had dinner at my sister in law's husband's parents' house. How's that for a mouthful. I'm never sure what I'm supposed to call those relatives by marriage. We had some great chicken and rice and yummies out on the lawn which ended at the backwater. There was a dock and Jason fished. He wasn't having too much luck, but a hungry heron sure hoped he would.<br /><br />He'd been fishing before we ate, and he put his pole down to come to dinner. We didn't want the heron to get hooked, so he left the hook (with a tiny bit of chewed over bait) in the water. As we finished eating, we all noticed that the end of his pole was curving quite a bit. While we ate, Jason had caught a catfish!<br /><br />We all went down to sunset beach for guess what? A sunset.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXWXZPf_wgAyXFcFR8qZK9eDOxxe1Q7zivORNMRTeBVp9-tV52_l1yVfCdQ-Z7fbXbR5UbBG6THxsdlRg99fMU_2EUuzRhZAkzqceBgGWCxwcRwGz4qHIZ_V1iTptvW3WUW8d4N9cst0/s1600-h/smileparachute.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXWXZPf_wgAyXFcFR8qZK9eDOxxe1Q7zivORNMRTeBVp9-tV52_l1yVfCdQ-Z7fbXbR5UbBG6THxsdlRg99fMU_2EUuzRhZAkzqceBgGWCxwcRwGz4qHIZ_V1iTptvW3WUW8d4N9cst0/s400/smileparachute.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374746675795740306" border="0" /></a><br />The next morning we had a mission. Months earlier, Jason had suggested we go parasailing. I said very nicely that I would wave to him from the boat and that I hoped he had a good time. He tried and tried, and I was considering swallowing my fear, when several friends told me that it was fun, and I should definately go. So, here I was, Saturday morning, in my bathing suit, on a boat with a parachute that looked like a smiley face.<br /><br />My fears were not so much allayed when the workers on the boat had marijuana leaf tattoos, and had what I feared was an ironic sticker about employee drug testing. Then, they turned on the stereo. Sublime. Nothing but Sublime. Hmmmm. (actually it was the perfect music for that morning)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-7VVx3Y8UdI06mtCbo2JhY3Arxyubmq335v8TOXjfNi7xyvWw5MudLxxWQ9_D3rjka1h1Kr1eBRz0BQiJ-T-OPSC-JklEA9S5Dd2sAkb00OebrwseWleRWI2jLe5qUYV3LUYrZUKW78/s1600-h/parasailguys.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-7VVx3Y8UdI06mtCbo2JhY3Arxyubmq335v8TOXjfNi7xyvWw5MudLxxWQ9_D3rjka1h1Kr1eBRz0BQiJ-T-OPSC-JklEA9S5Dd2sAkb00OebrwseWleRWI2jLe5qUYV3LUYrZUKW78/s400/parasailguys.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374746660062929186" border="0" /></a><br />Jason had convinced his sister and her husband to go parasailing too, and we had parents in the boat as well. They were going to take our pictures. The boat took off into a beautifully clear morning. I was really nervous, we were up first.<br /><br />They gave us some very quick very simple instructions, and then asked Jason and I to come to the back of the boat with our harnesses on. Did I mention I was nervous? They hooked us on to the parachute and told us we wold take off sitting, and land standing up. I was, at this point, slightly more scared than a snowman in the sahara. The boat sped up, and I was instantly, incredibly, completely, at ease.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNJ5O_3bfKgwUiPYbjLbN3j5fFe21j7-He9aekLgzRsjmuSR5ZzIePIpnYSKW-vHZ6_4Sr6HLmuVISUBJ-dfVGwbjHBbWmjEh1_hyoqF8FxyWv9JjXJRWHHN3UWI_aZcETuI6ZbzibZo/s1600-h/intheair.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNJ5O_3bfKgwUiPYbjLbN3j5fFe21j7-He9aekLgzRsjmuSR5ZzIePIpnYSKW-vHZ6_4Sr6HLmuVISUBJ-dfVGwbjHBbWmjEh1_hyoqF8FxyWv9JjXJRWHHN3UWI_aZcETuI6ZbzibZo/s400/intheair.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374746658122836450" border="0" /></a><br />It was like floating. There was no sense of falling, it was as easy as falling off a log. Which we didn't. We went up the full 1200 feet and stayed there for 15 minutes, which was NOT long enough. Landing was just as easy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzI21sxSBndw4g_EetAGEWqUE3xvAA7wHnfWBW29USOWhkwTPfdEh1uAd5GPaBia9AJJe3yZO5Hmg98zx4pdZR6JCmQHS93X7Q2iyLfEo-EdMd6VqIFI-ydIzpZjJdFItARs5QWMvpXUM/s1600-h/uswaving.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzI21sxSBndw4g_EetAGEWqUE3xvAA7wHnfWBW29USOWhkwTPfdEh1uAd5GPaBia9AJJe3yZO5Hmg98zx4pdZR6JCmQHS93X7Q2iyLfEo-EdMd6VqIFI-ydIzpZjJdFItARs5QWMvpXUM/s400/uswaving.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374747793618208098" border="0" /></a><br />After everyone who was planning to had gone, we managed to get Jason's dad and Carolyn to go too! They said they had a great time!<br /><br />When we had all changed into some dry clothes, we headed off to Tarpon Springs to go to the sponge docks. We'd had fun there on our honeymoon and were just too close to not go again. Turns out that it was Christmas in June...<br /><br />That night, Jason and I dressed up to go out to dinner which turned out be okay food at a bar. It was my choice. I should have let Jason choose.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ59A-X8McNlrI_aUdYRxu9kN4gNrAN75B2ycqVa6bpTOGWlXNxi1sXq2k7M9ulKBLUxztVv4UBd2ApDRe-OFTM3r7aw2lcLcaqags2uqc_20qRLfYOwU5FRkTR41Xh2-IZMGGxl7iSK0/s1600-h/wrapperwall1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ59A-X8McNlrI_aUdYRxu9kN4gNrAN75B2ycqVa6bpTOGWlXNxi1sXq2k7M9ulKBLUxztVv4UBd2ApDRe-OFTM3r7aw2lcLcaqags2uqc_20qRLfYOwU5FRkTR41Xh2-IZMGGxl7iSK0/s400/wrapperwall1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374747797351019666" border="0" /></a><br />The next day we got in some good beach time, cuban sandwiches, and shopping. We had ice cream at a really delightful place with writing on the ceiling and candy wrappers for wallpaper. We tried to see the shuttle launch, but it got postponed due to weather.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXVts8q2xPvMoqH0PiRpvljwJwQD9U8GDKduw_C0zq9mdPflYMUqaXomX8ds8xzNIThgTqLw99d63t_Bg2adt4ZqUbvdbyHzyg7ro6TH_9-ziHN-KDdiAf1LYnqWgV6hcHyzeQCFSU0Y/s1600-h/wrqapperceiling.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXVts8q2xPvMoqH0PiRpvljwJwQD9U8GDKduw_C0zq9mdPflYMUqaXomX8ds8xzNIThgTqLw99d63t_Bg2adt4ZqUbvdbyHzyg7ro6TH_9-ziHN-KDdiAf1LYnqWgV6hcHyzeQCFSU0Y/s400/wrqapperceiling.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374747862288324354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_aiMeL7vRTmXatSM1GTv1UuKmqgHAVNjEM8r3nGKs65mdKEN5IhYAfVatE93xElS7BvCWOxfzonxf2g7P_cFMTp_OYt8BodS0SE5gGi8BHognI8XnQ-lSHr11HATK2XWIXPkoZOdXHY/s1600-h/wrapperwall2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_aiMeL7vRTmXatSM1GTv1UuKmqgHAVNjEM8r3nGKs65mdKEN5IhYAfVatE93xElS7BvCWOxfzonxf2g7P_cFMTp_OYt8BodS0SE5gGi8BHognI8XnQ-lSHr11HATK2XWIXPkoZOdXHY/s400/wrapperwall2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374747807143304690" border="0" /></a><br />Our trip home was interesting, filled with delayed flights and running, but we made our flights, and so did the luggage. You go AirTranica.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qerykS_Wr4a9yXHtNrrLbkzNh7FTGArbneS3c3I2pyq0yKGC23cmu4o27LANzqFVBp0Evf8bv1JxppW18rJnWqxOhaAiUQTuMk-RiAmDk9uNCCMNKYG8NeZZ_Ut_mw_j4IaQ8kjo10w/s1600-h/adtoyourself.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qerykS_Wr4a9yXHtNrrLbkzNh7FTGArbneS3c3I2pyq0yKGC23cmu4o27LANzqFVBp0Evf8bv1JxppW18rJnWqxOhaAiUQTuMk-RiAmDk9uNCCMNKYG8NeZZ_Ut_mw_j4IaQ8kjo10w/s400/adtoyourself.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374747776449980690" border="0" /></a>Why are the advertising to people who are already at their mercy?<br /><br />Our next adventure would be longer, but less beachy. Until next time, Make Mine Marvel.<br /><br /><br /><br />that was kinda odd, wasn't it?Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-90312532937662122052009-08-12T18:33:00.000-05:002009-08-12T18:33:00.864-05:00More Failbread.I can't seem to bake. On your way home from Texas (maybe I should post about the trip), we stopped at an outlet store and we got this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUa_87is5kYiJNzQWhZaynnB57Niw0pAzZtv05kTXbND_Yr0Jns7kRPEsI1hc9O1sCq703v1jFubATYTBhxEZkxn4bvSIMzldExIsw-0NAjbTzfqSSYJJh1AUJCSrh0i31goJNEc407U/s1600-h/fish1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUa_87is5kYiJNzQWhZaynnB57Niw0pAzZtv05kTXbND_Yr0Jns7kRPEsI1hc9O1sCq703v1jFubATYTBhxEZkxn4bvSIMzldExIsw-0NAjbTzfqSSYJJh1AUJCSrh0i31goJNEc407U/s400/fish1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368485083628613154" border="0" /></a><br />It's a cast iron pan with little holes in the shape of fish! We were going to play Lost and make us some fish biscuits. Jason asked me to make jalapeno cornbread, and being the ever bookish librarian, I found this recipe on the internet:<br /><table width="99%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td id="title" style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 206); border-left: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 206); border-right: 2px solid rgb(221, 221, 157); color: rgb(140, 170, 158); padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px;" align="LEFT" bgcolor="#ffffcc" nowrap="nowrap">JALAPENO CORN BREAD</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 206);"> </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 206); border-right: 2px solid rgb(221, 221, 157); border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(221, 221, 157); padding: 20px;" colspan="2" bgcolor="#ffffcc"><!----><!--JALAPENO CORN BREAD--><div style="padding-left: 20px; color: BLACK;">2 c. canned cream-style corn<br />2/3 c. vegetable oil<br />2 c. dairy sour cream<br />1 1/2 to 2 c. grated Cheddar cheese<br />1 (4 oz.) can jalapenos or green chilies, seeded and chopped<br />2 c. corn bread mix<br />4 eggs, beaten<br />1 c. chopped onion</div><div style="color: rgb(119, 34, 34);">Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9x2 inch pan. Combine corn, corn bread mix, oil, eggs, sour cream, cheese, onion and jalapenos. Pour into pan. Bake about 1 hour at 350 degrees. Recipe can easily be halved.</div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I halved it, poured into the fish pan and the corn pan we already had (one is pre-cleanup, the other is post, can you guess which?) and put it in the oven. For an hour. Oh, BTW, because I learn lessons from the past, I greased both pans excessively, with butter.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZfetHRNx-UpK88eEDkOWKBtQ59FY1tmcfCXMyfBhV1av6et_QA-lFDj444vh8gS9IvIXc7EZALpROAxcUa-QtKCzZU6-i5o0Cn13T4E10NwmSqXVkzDCv0FC2Pxa5LH9IxHuKhARMPg/s1600-h/cornyuk.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZfetHRNx-UpK88eEDkOWKBtQ59FY1tmcfCXMyfBhV1av6et_QA-lFDj444vh8gS9IvIXc7EZALpROAxcUa-QtKCzZU6-i5o0Cn13T4E10NwmSqXVkzDCv0FC2Pxa5LH9IxHuKhARMPg/s400/cornyuk.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368485194231291314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmE0dRczjdMw6bVI8utnFTAY0rAR2xH-yXJj4Rf4b1fYmh9NKINEE_3vxjjjQnbALRvUKuI8tFUWu3seFs6eJmXX24qC5-tTlmI6o1BFHpIADJ0aNlSFM5TXPIuqs5pqw1TMZVFdOVF4I/s1600-h/fish2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmE0dRczjdMw6bVI8utnFTAY0rAR2xH-yXJj4Rf4b1fYmh9NKINEE_3vxjjjQnbALRvUKuI8tFUWu3seFs6eJmXX24qC5-tTlmI6o1BFHpIADJ0aNlSFM5TXPIuqs5pqw1TMZVFdOVF4I/s400/fish2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368485189781272354" border="0" /></a><br />After an hour, I took them out, and they still felt squishy. I put them in for another 5 min, and then another and then another, so on and so forth until I felt we were past the point no return. The fish were really brown. The corn was crispy.<br /><br />I managed to get them out of the pans with a knife and some creative avoidance of had burning (this time). However, they never became anything I would call cornbread, or any type of bread. They weren't even bread-like.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCapW-vXbRQb99YM7-NHgHHlVSGffzyCGRGcDL1rsLK0m4TPUbWn7Xh_fy7ef1Z8DQRjaidsij282iK5boWUXfEDpVNsHzIGucMZZWvlpJVpQE4smB2IuBq7c649vWSAVz5VMwhztRtc/s1600-h/fishcorn.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCapW-vXbRQb99YM7-NHgHHlVSGffzyCGRGcDL1rsLK0m4TPUbWn7Xh_fy7ef1Z8DQRjaidsij282iK5boWUXfEDpVNsHzIGucMZZWvlpJVpQE4smB2IuBq7c649vWSAVz5VMwhztRtc/s400/fishcorn.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368485374968518418" border="0" /></a><br />I think something must be off in that recipe. While I was making it, I kept thinking that it was too much liquid, and I think that was my fatal flaw. So, while they look okay, it was more like a quiche or souffle than cornbread, the egg was the only thing holding stuff together. Not that tasty.<br /><br />Jason says we should try a recipe form the Stubbs book next time. Hmmmm, Genius.<br /><br />On the upside, I also made lemon bars that I stuck to each other, and some pretty good hush puppies. We didn't take pictures of them!!!Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-9612114552773291672009-08-10T18:47:00.004-05:002009-08-10T18:57:05.849-05:00Zucchini CakesI grow GIANT zucchini. I was unaware that you were supposed to pick them when they were young for best flavor and least seeds until a few days after I picked these specimens.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESN9FmbLEYD_WmLtILG9-oui1FHP1MOhoeZZOzb92Ydax-ZWD289QbfwA0afbhtRZWVOtQAZZwn2ZEoTSkQjeqR_BUNdobUG3TEAy2Rl8k3WZZqqDEbYe0SQvlnOVk5hfRTBk4VRJpvg/s1600-h/bigasmyarm.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESN9FmbLEYD_WmLtILG9-oui1FHP1MOhoeZZOzb92Ydax-ZWD289QbfwA0afbhtRZWVOtQAZZwn2ZEoTSkQjeqR_BUNdobUG3TEAy2Rl8k3WZZqqDEbYe0SQvlnOVk5hfRTBk4VRJpvg/s400/bigasmyarm.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368488110194181874" border="0" /></a><br />I know there's not that much for scale in there, but it's about as long as my forearm (minus hand) (I mean, I still have hands, just the zucchini isn't that big) (of course you know I still have hands, how would I be typing this otherwise?) (well I guess I could have a Stephen Hawking thing and have it talk for me without using all of my hands) (or I could dictate)(but then every post would be about kangaroos)<br /><br />ANYWAY I had 2 big ones. I decided to make another Pastor Ryan recipe, zucchini cakes. I shredded one up, and I had to add 3 eggs, and another quarter cup of bread crumbs.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XtCCxLwplJDaoIFn4PXDCI6l2WrW6voD9FSRmkwwvF6JqE0yc-iIu90VrZnsAf4ReF4enMCtGiDWbpsxgih9XulAAp1jclN235DPEj082NrAP6y9sMHq4jUUGZkm3O7aRRck-ANvtUk/s1600-h/inthebowl.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XtCCxLwplJDaoIFn4PXDCI6l2WrW6voD9FSRmkwwvF6JqE0yc-iIu90VrZnsAf4ReF4enMCtGiDWbpsxgih9XulAAp1jclN235DPEj082NrAP6y9sMHq4jUUGZkm3O7aRRck-ANvtUk/s400/inthebowl.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368488117003484130" border="0" /></a><br />I fried them in the cast iron skillet, and kept the finished ones warm in the oven. Starring in that picture is my other new friend, a lodge cast iron enamel baking dish. It's blue. It was on clearance at Bass Pro Shops. AWESOME!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutrO_YMg48GlA5GAO4M4ycoqtyh5H7WzNzvLCr8wIUxb8v3XX348WHaNiIiixYkX_E9d3xP3z9dheStAjZ_v_xsv0N_izAYwpe-E9URNjgNX3pro-yKOTEqZsO1XlV3RAVXBq7fnLXs8/s1600-h/cooked.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutrO_YMg48GlA5GAO4M4ycoqtyh5H7WzNzvLCr8wIUxb8v3XX348WHaNiIiixYkX_E9d3xP3z9dheStAjZ_v_xsv0N_izAYwpe-E9URNjgNX3pro-yKOTEqZsO1XlV3RAVXBq7fnLXs8/s400/cooked.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368488122411658482" border="0" /></a><br />We had them with pasta and vodka sauce. I thought the vodka sauce went great with the zucchini, better than ranch!<br /><br />These were definately yummy, and I'll make them again!<br />next up, stuffed zucchini. I've also got more cucumbers than I can handle. Anyone know some good recipes for those???Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-42304218226671819612009-08-08T14:21:00.003-05:002009-08-10T18:33:15.538-05:00Pot ChristeningI've decided that I'm going to attempt to make Pastor Ryan's (via PW) Chicken tikka masala in my new apple pot. I know, I know, it's not really anything that requires a dutch oven, but that's what I want. It's my favorite Indian dish. Except, it's not really Indian, it's English. I'm not going to make it until after we get back from Cedar Point next week, but I'll post pictures then! Thanks so much for all of the suggestions...Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-70533087048069174302009-08-05T08:56:00.000-05:002009-08-05T17:57:36.469-05:00New Toy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4FlWoFzLteQGpcciWtzZyDd5RWeqGz9HSOT-oLKxa8A3OljLfseER8oFRkGLJpNrVUMMVntlEdoSE2AC6yfQFuHsr80aHZXezyRe10Fo4Np8FcTYrIWZzbFLYiZVmIisCeSoZSAtrCA/s1600-h/apple2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4FlWoFzLteQGpcciWtzZyDd5RWeqGz9HSOT-oLKxa8A3OljLfseER8oFRkGLJpNrVUMMVntlEdoSE2AC6yfQFuHsr80aHZXezyRe10Fo4Np8FcTYrIWZzbFLYiZVmIisCeSoZSAtrCA/s400/apple2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343100380401958482" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I love kitchen toys. I saw this months ago, and just recently, I got an Amazon gift card for my birthday. My wonderful husband knew just what we should get. Yup. He's a genius. This is what I got for my birthday (via amazon)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDy3rYLUNvBrPHc8huZUVfHuj_DsH6SpD29O1xCP7pAVMkekLHfO3UaTjAV-6cCm5e44ORzxbhu_dCULdMAp4A6W7-C194i8hxpMq2etsXWDFkv_0gA3YK6O_7588Hll_5BnD83bRIuY/s1600-h/apple+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDy3rYLUNvBrPHc8huZUVfHuj_DsH6SpD29O1xCP7pAVMkekLHfO3UaTjAV-6cCm5e44ORzxbhu_dCULdMAp4A6W7-C194i8hxpMq2etsXWDFkv_0gA3YK6O_7588Hll_5BnD83bRIuY/s400/apple+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343100377002355410" border="0" /></a>It's a 3 quart cast iron enamel pot. I couldn't get over how cute it was, all apple like, and green. It's HEAVY, but it's a piece of cookware that I hope will be a really nice kitchen addition.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LXJkTYhKwTp3Q3JnVm-G7O6LhBu_JR9Jw6C3u_ODO9ndufAkF-TQim2JPKcR1rxWF-lCpl_8mLKxY0hozG1aD7cJ33VFCO8_Ho8qefS7-7BeMjRcoXdMZ-2WQN3wWJlDAIx3rVFj8Rw/s1600-h/apple3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LXJkTYhKwTp3Q3JnVm-G7O6LhBu_JR9Jw6C3u_ODO9ndufAkF-TQim2JPKcR1rxWF-lCpl_8mLKxY0hozG1aD7cJ33VFCO8_Ho8qefS7-7BeMjRcoXdMZ-2WQN3wWJlDAIx3rVFj8Rw/s400/apple3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343100385662856722" border="0" /></a>Here's my dillema.<br /><br />I love this, I went through 2 to get one without chips (the chipped one pictured above was replaced with ease by lodge) and it has a great place in the kitchen. but....<br /><br />I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO COOK IN IT!!!!<br /><br />It seems like it would be great for all kinds of things, but I don't want to make canned soup in it first time out, or something that boring.<br /><br />If there's anyone still out there, what suggestions do you have? What can I make in the apple?Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-11070175251183993702009-08-03T13:31:00.003-05:002009-08-03T13:31:51.610-05:00SO LAZY2 months. I swear I have things to say, but when I think to say them, I just feel like I'm out of steam. Real stuff coming soon...Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-82257698542110403612009-06-04T08:21:00.004-05:002009-06-04T08:31:46.772-05:00BIG WORDS<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> 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mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">If you read here, you have to know, I use a lot of big words.<span style=""> </span>I really love big words, and I always have.<span style=""> </span>Someone stupid once told me that in order to ever find a husband (or boyfriend at that point) that I would have to stop using big words and talk down to them.<span style=""> </span>Wasn’t that terrible advice?<span style=""> </span>Well, this misguided evil person wouldn’t have felt the need to ask me to talk down is she’s ever built her own vocabulary with a site like <span style="">vocaboly<b>.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Vocaboly is a great <a href="http://www.vocaboly.com">vocabulary builder</a> for SAT prep, English class, or if you just want to be cool like me.<span style=""> </span>I was playing a game last week, and knew the definition of hirsute.<span style=""> </span>I think that’s an easy word, but my opponent did not.<span style=""> </span>I let her know that you don’t get the 3<sup>rd</sup> grade nickname “The vocabulary teacher” for nothing.<span style=""> <br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I was asked to take a look at this product, and in all honesty, I can recommend this style of learning for anyone, and I think it's great for kids.<br /><span style=""><span style=""></span></span></p>Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-14269865403412470762009-05-29T14:40:00.003-05:002009-05-29T15:45:53.187-05:00I mean, how old am I?I hope someone understands why I've titled the last two posts the way I did.<br /><br />So we go to see Star Trek. We had planned on seeing it in the IMAX, but it was sold out! I guess there were other awesome mothers out there after all. We sit down and get ready.<br /><br />At this point I'm not sure at all what to think. I'm back to being torn. I want to see new Star Trek Things, but this? It looks like a "summer blockbuster" that just happens to have the name Star Trek plastered on it. The rest of this review will be delivered in "real time"<br /><br />Ooooh it's getting dark in here<br /><br />Ugh ads. Why do I have to look at these. I'm not going to buy a Jaguar.<br /><br />Previews, I like previews<br /><br />Okay, star trek.<br /><br />Wow, I didn't really realize how much I was used to the Next Generation theme. This is really nice tho.<br /><br />Who are these people???<br /><br />OH<br /><br />The CGI really does a whole lot for this. There's really interesting aliens, and they look good, but no green girls.<br /><br />That kid can drive a stick waaaay better than me.<br /><br />Cool<br /><br />Wow<br /><br />Nevermind about the green girls.<br /><br />Oh no.<br /><br />Oh no<br /><br />OH YEAH<br /><br />YEAH<br /><br />YEAH<br /><br />THAT'S AWESOME!!!<br /><br /><br />The end<br /><br />So, I thought that they got the characters just right. Everyone had their little pieces of the original characters, but they really did well and didn't seem constrained by the enormous amount of history. I'm really trying not to spoil too much. I think that there was a magic bullet included in the play. This magic bullet, in my opinion, excuses the filmmakers to ignore all complaints of continuity or history. I laughed a lot, and I almost jumped out of my seat several times. My favorite re-vamped character was probably Uhura. She was just as smart and frankly, sexy as she was in the original.<br /><br />Go see it. I loved it. When the last movie came out, I was begging people to go see it so that they'd make another, better, one. Well, here we have it.<br /><br />I give the movie 10 out of 10 phaser blasts. On kill.Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-81393622055297182692009-05-28T13:58:00.005-05:002009-05-28T14:32:56.220-05:00I should get a life.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiyW07hH-zw1XzyRXgRut5dEKKuM24e-aQpvCdE7T0_TbI2maugGwqxttJ0uPgLtv3-vgkcw0E1WUWJgHE940NhXBBng4_d78jhMpTRWr_H1WiVVXGs6-iy7rsPU99T9MVsNAsrULbie4/s1600-h/StarTrekWallpaper3800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiyW07hH-zw1XzyRXgRut5dEKKuM24e-aQpvCdE7T0_TbI2maugGwqxttJ0uPgLtv3-vgkcw0E1WUWJgHE940NhXBBng4_d78jhMpTRWr_H1WiVVXGs6-iy7rsPU99T9MVsNAsrULbie4/s400/StarTrekWallpaper3800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340960061404724722" border="0" /></a><br />Even though I've written so infrequently on here lately, if you've read some of the things I've written in the past, you may have realized that I'm just <span style="font-style: italic;">slightly</span> off of the norm. I've always identified myself as somewhat of a geek, if you will, a dork. I've applied the following labels to myself over the years:<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Questie</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Moonie</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Browncoat</span><br />okay, so right here I realized that I can't find a special name for someone who likes the following (if you know it, tell me):<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Farscape</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Battlestar</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Galactica</span><br />Star Wars<br /><br />I think the first name I could apply (if I go by how much I loved a thing at an early age) would be Trekkie. I don't think I should be called a trekker, or any other name that some people fight for. I don't think there's anything shameful about being a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">fangirl</span>, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">trekkie</span>. Two <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">of you</span> asked me to write a movie review, and Rachel, as hard as I thought about the bombs I've seen lately, there was one movie that stood out that I just had to talk about.<br /><br />Star Trek<br /><br />Now, I've said above that I'm a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">trekkie</span>. Maybe not quite as hard core as some others. For instance, I've never had a burning passion for the original series. No doubt, I know the characters, really liked the movies, and still laugh like crazy when I think "<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Don't</span> call me tiny", but Next Generation and the following series were/are really my thing. I have my own names for several of the episodes (the gross one, or the cake one, or you know that one?), and I have an odd <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Pavlovian</span> response to the theme.<br /><br />All that strangeness being said, I had mixed feelings when I heard about the new movie. New Star Trek movie? AWESOME! Directed by another person who doesn't know much about ST? Yuck. Oh, that person is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">JJ</span> Abrams? Cool! It's not Next Gen, but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">TOS</span>?? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">GRRRRR</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Sylar</span> as Spock? ODD. Speaking of odd, there's the whole odd/even good/bad thing.<br /><br />I was upset more than anything about it not being another next generation movie. I was one of those who didn't <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">receive</span> nemesis well. Yeah, it was not as good as it should have been, but MAN! I want to see those characters some more. I still think that it is almost unfair that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">TOS</span> got 6 1/4 movies and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">NG</span> only got 3 3/4 so far. (I had to split generations).<br /><br />But I got over it. I decided that since we were going to see it, I was going to do some review. The site <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">listentoamovie</span>.com is awesome. I embarked on a mission to listen to each one of the previous movies before seeing the new one.<br /><br />I knew I wanted to see it. With each new preview, I knew that I wanted to see it more. I knew I cold probably drag Jason along with me to see it, but did anyone else want to go? I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">should</span> have known better. I have the most awesome Mom, and she wanted to go see it on Mother's day.<br /><br />I'll be back soon to post the actual review, but I'll leave you with a re-tweet of myself. The problem with listening to the movies online is that I don't speak <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Klingon</span>.<br /><br /><br />p.s. Blogger insisted I capitalize Klingon.Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-34863860274061112402009-05-19T09:18:00.002-05:002009-05-19T09:19:34.852-05:00Where have I been?I don't really know. I just haven't felt the need to blog for a while, and I don't have much to write about, I guess. Not that what I wrote before was breaking news... Any suggestions?Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-16583525346509055152009-04-23T16:13:00.002-05:002009-04-23T16:14:55.845-05:00Random Photo Plus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IycttQfJW2WmybfL1UOa1gBs5J2a72kl6pH2hCEJRs6AGaHGT-rFr5fFY3VXCnsxiseWtlyjEtTfGFrkh9nfV4JqU23wcMU-oThY4TyXeKFfAwPs68awjvw053dI9_SQJjOJ5vVOaEM/s1600-h/3heads.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 399px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IycttQfJW2WmybfL1UOa1gBs5J2a72kl6pH2hCEJRs6AGaHGT-rFr5fFY3VXCnsxiseWtlyjEtTfGFrkh9nfV4JqU23wcMU-oThY4TyXeKFfAwPs68awjvw053dI9_SQJjOJ5vVOaEM/s400/3heads.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327998227680343858" border="0" /></a>Here's the plus. I'm turning 30 tomorrow. This is not easy.Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-9817959269167479762009-04-22T11:43:00.003-05:002009-04-22T11:51:07.378-05:00Spy PhotosIn our backyard, right now...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_t_zJwb81gsBvRPQg8LKd5WueUWiasVYlJM9BI348ZWFBn1xnmiVMbYZvk_ZwUPxnP-VIMZhg4pPncusUiHdDDEIxRg6ygF_hSHVagZ1LRyAsXzlTEmy12fi5UPqfhDWT5dFx9eYMjNs/s1600-h/recon1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 386px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_t_zJwb81gsBvRPQg8LKd5WueUWiasVYlJM9BI348ZWFBn1xnmiVMbYZvk_ZwUPxnP-VIMZhg4pPncusUiHdDDEIxRg6ygF_hSHVagZ1LRyAsXzlTEmy12fi5UPqfhDWT5dFx9eYMjNs/s400/recon1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327558825419765922" border="0" /> </a><br />It has been rainy and cold here for the last few days<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_niHeZAfroFCLW0M9weG4aAEg2tKQ_G70DvtSquQh6JFH9QV_lxFofNOA0Bu0UEGxUDphxz4bIC8rGP8Er54E2pi8INfQ1bbGTtn7YyZcNdY0-lcHY9t79EWTi868ruph_SeN7NNJiiI/s1600-h/recon2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 385px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_niHeZAfroFCLW0M9weG4aAEg2tKQ_G70DvtSquQh6JFH9QV_lxFofNOA0Bu0UEGxUDphxz4bIC8rGP8Er54E2pi8INfQ1bbGTtn7YyZcNdY0-lcHY9t79EWTi868ruph_SeN7NNJiiI/s400/recon2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327558830151096114" border="0" /></a><br />She must feel like the smartest bird on the block, her nest is nice and dry.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCPqwGUKENusc8bK7lykOAR3Cscz2Pelm-RkVXgVSST4VYqAgeR6B2bZlINvAdL6wS4JoZmFhmMI0lPzD-qj2i6xLkoq0W9V9HTLILgGDOBvLnvC1Mp2VuLkteIlmM-Ws__Bwaia9ikY/s1600-h/recon3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 362px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCPqwGUKENusc8bK7lykOAR3Cscz2Pelm-RkVXgVSST4VYqAgeR6B2bZlINvAdL6wS4JoZmFhmMI0lPzD-qj2i6xLkoq0W9V9HTLILgGDOBvLnvC1Mp2VuLkteIlmM-Ws__Bwaia9ikY/s400/recon3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327558833854751778" border="0" /></a>Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-45423249413359700802009-04-15T08:27:00.002-05:002009-04-15T08:31:30.680-05:00I didn't dieI promise. I just haven't felt the inspiration lately. The seeds are still growing, it's yucky and rainy here ALL THE TIME, and I just haven't felt bloggy. I'll be back soon, but today, here is my rant: <br /><br />Dear Japan,<br /><br />Stop it<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Annemarie who just finished Battlestar Galactica.<br /><br />cryptic enough?Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-71644524628010319132009-04-02T08:18:00.001-05:002009-04-02T08:20:22.659-05:00Today, a random VIDEO!<object width="425" height="344">And the one at the sound board kinda LOOKS like the little guy from Rammstein. <br /><br />WARNING: Probably German cursing....<param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uuL_XOGi-LM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uuL_XOGi-LM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-63955264140506997842009-03-26T08:47:00.000-05:002009-03-26T08:47:01.035-05:00R?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcQanexdG_8DbieOSvBmkUuNGgCZ2xzd0c81LokhSqojI_eMuRKWj78R2uQ9A7P37DrtDFuaC-u1xGMAod6M_y21VCxR1Fq4ZaXgWfLU-gWOOiD4LL7cSj3aTvU0ntLnPck_UpQ0ueO4/s1600-h/mail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 384px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcQanexdG_8DbieOSvBmkUuNGgCZ2xzd0c81LokhSqojI_eMuRKWj78R2uQ9A7P37DrtDFuaC-u1xGMAod6M_y21VCxR1Fq4ZaXgWfLU-gWOOiD4LL7cSj3aTvU0ntLnPck_UpQ0ueO4/s400/mail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317121780241744866" border="0" /></a>Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-52543602410287626312009-03-25T07:51:00.001-05:002009-03-25T08:36:45.279-05:00Jungle Jim's!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YXNHEyUF3q31emMufsmjBWTRtSgXI-j0zD0cprlZtnaXNKC8fGKiSGcuV7lryYsBssJwW-2sBS4eCEgAiF2axIgV77fH03dFDo1xrGjKsi6KkLyRiZjEV2haCqycR3OKaSqr5db3OBQ/s1600-h/bove.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YXNHEyUF3q31emMufsmjBWTRtSgXI-j0zD0cprlZtnaXNKC8fGKiSGcuV7lryYsBssJwW-2sBS4eCEgAiF2axIgV77fH03dFDo1xrGjKsi6KkLyRiZjEV2haCqycR3OKaSqr5db3OBQ/s400/bove.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317118633812589906" border="0" /></a><br />This weekend we made a trip to Cincinnati. There were two places we wanted to go. One, Bass Pro Shops. As you have seen before, this is quite often a destination. Second, we were out of Bove's Vodka Sauce. This is not an ad, or paid for in any way by Bove's, but hey, if you want to, you can pay me in free vodka sauce. It is seriously, the best pasta sauce ever. If you've never had vodka sauce before, don't judge it until you try Bove's. If you've had it before but didn't like it? It's because it was a different brand. Seriously, this stuff is awesome. Just the right amount of tomato and cream, with a great spiciness. Wow, I'm almost drooling thinking of it. Maybe we should have ravioli this week.<br /><br />ANYWAY, we were out of Bove's. It used to be that you could get it just about anywhere. Then it disappeared. Now, it's back, but $6 a bottle at kroger. At Jungle Jim's in Cincinatti, it's $4 a bottle. Yumy savings. So, this and the desire for food insanity took us an hour and a half east. You'll have to pardon the great lack of good pictures throughout this post, as there is a sign on the front door of Jungle Jim's prohibiting photography.<br /><br />Jungle Jims is like no store you have ever seen. It's like they took all of the grocery stores in a state and smushed them all together. Then gave the unholy creation some steroids. Then set me loose inside the beast. When you walk in, you see a drug store type area, as big as some whole dugstores. As you pass that you are engulfed in the cheese. There is everything. Saturday was sample day, so we tried some goat cheese, and some that was coated in cocoa. I almost bought some baked mozzarella. It looked delicious. Then you can get lost in a liquour store and a half's worth of alcohol, but we went to the bakery. To get there I had to pass every kind of gum ever made. There's a huge meat section, ginormous produce, and then you get to the fish. Some of them are still alive. Swimming about in tanks. Can you get any fresher?<br /><br />There's a firetruck lording over a house of hot sauce. We got a grenade filled with almost pure capsacin. Then there's the international section. This section is as big as an entire Kroger itself. If you want authentic food from another country, look here. It's really amazing.<br /><br />Possibly the strangest thing about this place is that after all of that, it's also just a normal grocery store. You can get your hamburger helper, or peanut butter, or milk there too. It's really fun, check out the pictures on their site: <a href="http://www.junglejims.com/">http://www.junglejims.com/</a><br /><br />There's a ton I've missed. There's too much to write about, so I'll just leave you with one last thing. The first time we went was on a Sunday evening. It was just right. There were so many people there on Saturday, that it was really hard to make your way through. So, think of crowds...Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-56284295420367474252009-03-24T18:47:00.001-05:002009-03-24T18:50:38.721-05:00Argh!I promise I'll be back soon, insanely busy. Nothing huge, just a billion little things...<br /><br /><br /><br />For now...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FtX8nswnUKU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FtX8nswnUKU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509192092374418620.post-45892213735585482522009-03-21T08:12:00.000-05:002009-03-21T08:12:00.713-05:00Would You Rather Weekend!Walk through a cemetery alone at night?<br /><br />or<br /><br /><br />Swim in a large pond that has snapping turtles in it?<br /><br /><br />Hmmmmmm...Annemariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838300506083398565noreply@blogger.com5