It's hard to believe that it has been a year since my mom died. I still don't feel like it is real. I thought that by now I would have come to terms with it, but I guess I'm just not quite ready yet. It was so weird to have Thanksgiving and Christmas without her. She loved the holidays so much. She loved that the family came together for the celebration, buying gifts for her kids and grand kids, and making candy for hours every day. They were definitely her favorite months of the year, and it is hard to know that they are going to continue on, and she won't be able to enjoy them ever again. It breaks my heart.
My family didn't even have a Christmas party this year.
Things just aren't the same without her around.
December 31, 2009
December 25, 2009
December 19, 2009
Why can't all teachers be good ones?
I understand that college is supposed to be more difficult than high school, but I think that some teachers take it way too far. Brett's art history teacher is one of them.
He had his final for the class this morning, and to prepare for it, he has been studying his ass off. Yesterday alone, the two of us spent around eight hours cramming to try and make sense of it all. I think that she enjoys torturing her students. It's not like she gives them a review with an idea of what is going to be on the test and tells them to study it. No, instead she gives them a study guide a million miles long, and then only puts a fraction of it on the exam. So instead of being able to know that you are walking into the classroom ready, and confident in knowing what is coming your way, he ends up walking into the classroom having memorized as much as he possibly can about all of the items in the study guide, and doesn't have a clue until grades are posted whether he did good or not.
I think that my main problem with this particular style of teaching, is that he hasn't actually learned anything about any of the art that they have been going over. Instead, he memorizes as many small, useless details as possible, just to hold him over until the next test where he has to do it all again.
Aren't you supposed to come out of a class feeling like you have learned something on the subject?
It's pointless.
Update: Brett ended up with a B for his final grade in this class. Hallelujah!
He had his final for the class this morning, and to prepare for it, he has been studying his ass off. Yesterday alone, the two of us spent around eight hours cramming to try and make sense of it all. I think that she enjoys torturing her students. It's not like she gives them a review with an idea of what is going to be on the test and tells them to study it. No, instead she gives them a study guide a million miles long, and then only puts a fraction of it on the exam. So instead of being able to know that you are walking into the classroom ready, and confident in knowing what is coming your way, he ends up walking into the classroom having memorized as much as he possibly can about all of the items in the study guide, and doesn't have a clue until grades are posted whether he did good or not.
I think that my main problem with this particular style of teaching, is that he hasn't actually learned anything about any of the art that they have been going over. Instead, he memorizes as many small, useless details as possible, just to hold him over until the next test where he has to do it all again.
Aren't you supposed to come out of a class feeling like you have learned something on the subject?
It's pointless.
Update: Brett ended up with a B for his final grade in this class. Hallelujah!
December 10, 2009
December 7, 2009
I've missed you
I don't know why, but I just don't feel like I have anything to write about lately. Maybe it's because all I have been doing for the last three weeks is trying to find a job. I don't think that you guys would be interested in hearing about how many jobs I am applying for on a daily basis. Trust me, it's not interesting.
I do have something that I'm excited to talk about though. I have decided that while I am looking for a job, and I have some extra time in my day, I am going to devote a good chunk of my time to working on my book. I think that I'd like to look at being laid off as a new opportunity, rather than seeing it as a tragedy.
Feeling sorry for myself won't help the situation at all, and when I did have a job it didn't seem like I could ever find time to sit down and write. Today, that's all going to change!
Here's to new opportunities. Wish me luck!!
I do have something that I'm excited to talk about though. I have decided that while I am looking for a job, and I have some extra time in my day, I am going to devote a good chunk of my time to working on my book. I think that I'd like to look at being laid off as a new opportunity, rather than seeing it as a tragedy.
Feeling sorry for myself won't help the situation at all, and when I did have a job it didn't seem like I could ever find time to sit down and write. Today, that's all going to change!
Here's to new opportunities. Wish me luck!!
November 17, 2009
Wherein one of my fears is justified
As I stood there that morning looking into my closet, trying to determine what I should wear, I was sure that it was going to be just another ordinary day. I had no reason to think that it wouldn't be. For just over three years now my weekly routine has been the same, and Friday was always the day of the week that I looked forward to most. It was, after all, the gateway to the weekend.
Then on the drive to work I realized that it was yet another Friday the 13th. The third one this year. I have been pretty open about the fact that a lot of things scare the shit out of me, and Friday the 13th just happens to be one of them. Until last week, I never had a reason to associate Friday the 13th with anything negative.
Friday I was laid off.
My routine is totally different now, and it's weird. I liked my old routine. I liked my job, though I could have done without the shitty commute for three years, and I am really going to miss it. I enjoyed working with most of the people there, and the atmosphere of the office was always fun. It was a great job, and I can only hope that my next job is half as good.
Then on the drive to work I realized that it was yet another Friday the 13th. The third one this year. I have been pretty open about the fact that a lot of things scare the shit out of me, and Friday the 13th just happens to be one of them. Until last week, I never had a reason to associate Friday the 13th with anything negative.
Friday I was laid off.
My routine is totally different now, and it's weird. I liked my old routine. I liked my job, though I could have done without the shitty commute for three years, and I am really going to miss it. I enjoyed working with most of the people there, and the atmosphere of the office was always fun. It was a great job, and I can only hope that my next job is half as good.
November 13, 2009
Didn't see this one coming
I never really expected anything to come of it, but I did it anyway. That's the kind of person I have become, I guess. Just try it out. If it works, great! If not, move on. I was driving in the car on my way to work one morning when I heard the DJ of the local morning show that I listen to call out to the listeners. "If you've got an idea for a topic we can use on the show, send us an email."
So I did. I sent him an email that told a brief version of this story. I was pretty sure that once the DJ read the email it would be passed over, and quickly forgotten. Surely there were more interesting topics out there. But at least I gave it a shot.
Turns out that wasn't the case at all. Yesterday I was driving to work and I heard that same DJ bring up my topic on the air. I hadn't emailed him back yet, and he was going to read the email on the air in five minutes or so. Two quick phone calls later, and there I was live on the radio talking about one of the most monumental things to ever happen in my life.
I was so nervous. I could fell my hands shaking as I tried to hold the phone steady to my ear. But I kept it together and answered all of the questions that were fired in my direction.
After the phone call was over, I couldn't believe it. I think that having the conversation live on the radio, and putting my story out there for everyone to hear helped make it so much more real for me. I couldn't help but wonder, what if he listens to their show, and he just heard everything that I said. What if he recognized my name, and now he's trying to figure out how to contact me? What if this was the step that leads to me actually finding him?
I think that this was a step in the right direction.
So I did. I sent him an email that told a brief version of this story. I was pretty sure that once the DJ read the email it would be passed over, and quickly forgotten. Surely there were more interesting topics out there. But at least I gave it a shot.
Turns out that wasn't the case at all. Yesterday I was driving to work and I heard that same DJ bring up my topic on the air. I hadn't emailed him back yet, and he was going to read the email on the air in five minutes or so. Two quick phone calls later, and there I was live on the radio talking about one of the most monumental things to ever happen in my life.
I was so nervous. I could fell my hands shaking as I tried to hold the phone steady to my ear. But I kept it together and answered all of the questions that were fired in my direction.
After the phone call was over, I couldn't believe it. I think that having the conversation live on the radio, and putting my story out there for everyone to hear helped make it so much more real for me. I couldn't help but wonder, what if he listens to their show, and he just heard everything that I said. What if he recognized my name, and now he's trying to figure out how to contact me? What if this was the step that leads to me actually finding him?
I think that this was a step in the right direction.
November 10, 2009
Creepy
Last week Brett and I rented the movie Orphan from our local redbox. I had really been anxious to see it for a while. We had seen the preview for it in the theater, and on T.V. a lot over the last few months, and it looked good. I am one to love a good scary movie, so naturally I was intrigued by how creepy the previews made this movie look.
A few days before Halloween I noticed that it was being advertised at the redbox, and stopped to grab a copy. After scrolling through the titles, and realizing that it wasn't in stock I informed Brett that we had to keep our eyes peeled! I was dying to see it.
About four days later Brett sent me a text saying that he had finally snagged it! Success.
Later that night we cuddled up on the couch to start watching it, and almost instantly you could tell it was going to be as scary as the previews made it look.
Without ruining anything for you, just in case you plan to see it, the main plot of the story is about a couple with two young children who recently had a pregnancy that resulted in a stillbirth. After a little while they decide that they are ready to have another child, but in fear of what happened to their last baby, they decide to adopt. They find a nine year old girl living in an orphanage, and decide to bring her home. Shortly after they get her home, funny things begin to happen. The mother knows that there is just something about Esther that isn't right, but no one believes her.
Let me just say this first, I am not normally bothered too badly by scary movies. Sometimes they make me jump or flinch a little, but after the movie is over I am fine. The spook doesn't normally linger. With this movie though, I was so disturbed that I didn't want to go to bed. It was that scary. Not in the traditional blood and gore kind of way, but more in the how could someone be that messed up? kind of way.
It was twisted. So twisted that I didn't see the ending coming. I was completely shocked by the way the story played out.
I can tell you one thing, I have no desire to ever adopt a child after seeing that movie.
A few days before Halloween I noticed that it was being advertised at the redbox, and stopped to grab a copy. After scrolling through the titles, and realizing that it wasn't in stock I informed Brett that we had to keep our eyes peeled! I was dying to see it.
About four days later Brett sent me a text saying that he had finally snagged it! Success.
Later that night we cuddled up on the couch to start watching it, and almost instantly you could tell it was going to be as scary as the previews made it look.
Without ruining anything for you, just in case you plan to see it, the main plot of the story is about a couple with two young children who recently had a pregnancy that resulted in a stillbirth. After a little while they decide that they are ready to have another child, but in fear of what happened to their last baby, they decide to adopt. They find a nine year old girl living in an orphanage, and decide to bring her home. Shortly after they get her home, funny things begin to happen. The mother knows that there is just something about Esther that isn't right, but no one believes her.
Let me just say this first, I am not normally bothered too badly by scary movies. Sometimes they make me jump or flinch a little, but after the movie is over I am fine. The spook doesn't normally linger. With this movie though, I was so disturbed that I didn't want to go to bed. It was that scary. Not in the traditional blood and gore kind of way, but more in the how could someone be that messed up? kind of way.
It was twisted. So twisted that I didn't see the ending coming. I was completely shocked by the way the story played out.
I can tell you one thing, I have no desire to ever adopt a child after seeing that movie.
November 7, 2009
You could save 15% or more on car insurace
One of the reasons that Brett is my hero is because he is always thinking of other people, and putting their needs before his own. Since our Halloween party this year was actually the day before Halloween he offered to work on Halloween night so that other employees that had kids could have the night off to spend the holiday with their families, and take their kids trick or treating.
Since he was going to be working on Halloween he decided that he wanted to dress up to go to work, but he didn't want to wear his Sweeney Todd costume again because it takes a while to pull it all together, and he just didn't want to deal with it. So we spent some time online looking at all of the hilarious costumes that are available, and finally settled on this:
Since he was going to be working on Halloween he decided that he wanted to dress up to go to work, but he didn't want to wear his Sweeney Todd costume again because it takes a while to pull it all together, and he just didn't want to deal with it. So we spent some time online looking at all of the hilarious costumes that are available, and finally settled on this:
November 6, 2009
Two Hundred
When I first started this blog I had no idea that it would end up being such a big part of my life. I just figured that it would be a good way to keep family and friends that didn't see us very often updated from time to time on what we were up to. Now I find myself compiling posts in my head during the commute home, or when I'm grocery shopping. I am always thinking about what stories I want to tell next, and trying to find the best words to express how I'm feeling at the moment. I have fallen in love with having a place to come and share my words.
Not only have I been able to reconnect with some old friends, but I have found some really great new friends through blogging. I feel like most of you {the ones that I know of anyway} are people that I would get along with well in real life, too.
I never would have thought that I would still be here 200 posts later, but I sure am glad it turned out that way.
Not only have I been able to reconnect with some old friends, but I have found some really great new friends through blogging. I feel like most of you {the ones that I know of anyway} are people that I would get along with well in real life, too.
I never would have thought that I would still be here 200 posts later, but I sure am glad it turned out that way.
November 4, 2009
Not the Radio Flyer you had when you were a kid
In an effort to try and get myself healthier I have decided to give up carbonation and alcohol for thirty days. I know, I KNOW! Trust me, I know. It’s insane.
I will be the first person to admit that this isn’t going to be an easy task. I love a cold Mountain Dew just as much, if not more than anyone else out there, and I don’t know how I am going to fight the temptation every time I go to a restaurant or walk past the soda aisle in the grocery store. I am what you would call a weakling. I do not have much will power at all!
After a long work week there is nothing like a glass of wine, or shot of Vodka to help unwind from the stress that the previous five days has inflicted upon my brain. Not having that for four Friday's in a row is going to be a challenge. I think that it will be worth it in the end though. I am totally out of shape, and if I don't do something about it now things will only get worse.
Brett is going to take my little booze-less journey with me, but for him it won't be as much of a struggle. He has a lot more will power than I do, and he doesn't really drink that much carbonation anyway. He just doesn't like it as much as I do. It will be good to have someone stick by me though, and help me remember the goal that I am trying to accomplish in my moments of weakness.
As of now, I am officially on the wagon. Wish me luck.
I will be the first person to admit that this isn’t going to be an easy task. I love a cold Mountain Dew just as much, if not more than anyone else out there, and I don’t know how I am going to fight the temptation every time I go to a restaurant or walk past the soda aisle in the grocery store. I am what you would call a weakling. I do not have much will power at all!
After a long work week there is nothing like a glass of wine, or shot of Vodka to help unwind from the stress that the previous five days has inflicted upon my brain. Not having that for four Friday's in a row is going to be a challenge. I think that it will be worth it in the end though. I am totally out of shape, and if I don't do something about it now things will only get worse.
Brett is going to take my little booze-less journey with me, but for him it won't be as much of a struggle. He has a lot more will power than I do, and he doesn't really drink that much carbonation anyway. He just doesn't like it as much as I do. It will be good to have someone stick by me though, and help me remember the goal that I am trying to accomplish in my moments of weakness.
As of now, I am officially on the wagon. Wish me luck.
November 3, 2009
Older, but maybe not wiser
{On the beach in Carmel, CA 2007}Today is the first day of Brett's 27th year. There have been many times that I worried about not having him around to celebrate him turning another year older. He's a bit of a thrill seeker, you know. Luckily though, that is not the case, and I can't wait to celebrate many more birthday's with him!!
He truly is my best friend, and my life would be incomplete without him in it. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have a great guy like him as my other half.
Happy Birthday Love!!!
November 2, 2009
Best. Party. Ever.
I don't think that work could have dragged on any longer than it did on Friday. I was so anxious to get the hell out of there so that we could head up to the Schlange's house, that it seriously made time move slower than a sloth walking through a tar pit.
Once the clock finally struck five though, we were on our way. Until we hit traffic.
Why is it that when you are in a hurry to get somewhere there is always a shit storm of traffic? You get held up forever just to finally approach the accident that has been holding everyone at a crawling pace for the last forty five minutes to find out that it was just a small fender bender, and the only reason you were held up at all is because the dick heads in front of you just had to slow down and stare. Then on the days when you have nowhere to go, and you aren't in a hurry at all, you know, the days that it wouldn't really matter too bad if you were stuck behind a bunch of retarded slow assholes, there are never any hold ups. Murphy's law, I guess.
We finally got there with just enough time to get ourselves into costume. Shay, who is a complete fucking rockstar with a makeup brush, did the makeup for just about everyone who was in attendance before she even got herself ready. I want to give her a special thanks for making us look as dead as humanly possible without actually slitting our throats.
All of the hard work and waiting finally paid off! The Dead Man's Party was a HUGE success!
The invitation said that the party was to begin at eight o'clock, so naturally everyone showed up at about nine. It was well worth the wait though, because there were some really great costumes! My personal favorites were Chaz and Shay as Tim Burton's Alice and Mad Hatter, Del and Jana as Jesus and Mary Magdalene, Zach as Betelgeuse, and of course Brett and I as Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett. There were a few people who were total party poopers {ahem TRACI!!} and didn't come as someone dead, or even dress up at all, but what can you do? Not everyone knows how to party like the Scothern's and the Schlange's.
I really don't know how to put into words the mass amount of fun that was had. Seriously, when else are you going to see Jesus and Sweeney Todd break dancing together? Chaz made an awesome beer pong table, there was plenty of dancing going on, and Midori sours and beer margarita's were enjoyed by all. I really don't think that I've ever danced so hard in my life. My calf muscles were sore all weekend because Shay and I were jumping around so much!
At one point there was some Chinese foreign exchange student walking around with a bottle of some hellish Chinese liquor trying to get everyone to take shots. I was a little worried at first but Brett and I eventually ended up giving into temptation. I don't even think that anyone there knew the kid's name, but he had a hell of a time. Did you know that in China kids start drinking booze at the age of ten? Weird.
Chaz beat me out for the award of best costume, but he totally deserved it! Shay did such a great job on his costume, and she even rolled his hair in sponge rollers to make it stand out crazy like the movie character. It was awesome!! I guess I can live with second place, considering the fact that I beat Jesus.
I ended up taking about three hundred pictures that night, but I picked a handful of my favorites to share:
I don't know how we are going to top the Dead Man's Party next year, but I can guarantee you we are going to try!
Once the clock finally struck five though, we were on our way. Until we hit traffic.
Why is it that when you are in a hurry to get somewhere there is always a shit storm of traffic? You get held up forever just to finally approach the accident that has been holding everyone at a crawling pace for the last forty five minutes to find out that it was just a small fender bender, and the only reason you were held up at all is because the dick heads in front of you just had to slow down and stare. Then on the days when you have nowhere to go, and you aren't in a hurry at all, you know, the days that it wouldn't really matter too bad if you were stuck behind a bunch of retarded slow assholes, there are never any hold ups. Murphy's law, I guess.
We finally got there with just enough time to get ourselves into costume. Shay, who is a complete fucking rockstar with a makeup brush, did the makeup for just about everyone who was in attendance before she even got herself ready. I want to give her a special thanks for making us look as dead as humanly possible without actually slitting our throats.
All of the hard work and waiting finally paid off! The Dead Man's Party was a HUGE success!
The invitation said that the party was to begin at eight o'clock, so naturally everyone showed up at about nine. It was well worth the wait though, because there were some really great costumes! My personal favorites were Chaz and Shay as Tim Burton's Alice and Mad Hatter, Del and Jana as Jesus and Mary Magdalene, Zach as Betelgeuse, and of course Brett and I as Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett. There were a few people who were total party poopers {ahem TRACI!!} and didn't come as someone dead, or even dress up at all, but what can you do? Not everyone knows how to party like the Scothern's and the Schlange's.
I really don't know how to put into words the mass amount of fun that was had. Seriously, when else are you going to see Jesus and Sweeney Todd break dancing together? Chaz made an awesome beer pong table, there was plenty of dancing going on, and Midori sours and beer margarita's were enjoyed by all. I really don't think that I've ever danced so hard in my life. My calf muscles were sore all weekend because Shay and I were jumping around so much!
At one point there was some Chinese foreign exchange student walking around with a bottle of some hellish Chinese liquor trying to get everyone to take shots. I was a little worried at first but Brett and I eventually ended up giving into temptation. I don't even think that anyone there knew the kid's name, but he had a hell of a time. Did you know that in China kids start drinking booze at the age of ten? Weird.
Chaz beat me out for the award of best costume, but he totally deserved it! Shay did such a great job on his costume, and she even rolled his hair in sponge rollers to make it stand out crazy like the movie character. It was awesome!! I guess I can live with second place, considering the fact that I beat Jesus.
I ended up taking about three hundred pictures that night, but I picked a handful of my favorites to share:
I don't know how we are going to top the Dead Man's Party next year, but I can guarantee you we are going to try!
October 30, 2009
At last
Between making costumes, building coffins, creating playlists, shellacking boxes, photoshopping pictures, and trying to shop for all of those last minute finishing touches we have been so busy this month that it seems as though our lives are completely consumed with Halloween preparation. Hence the sparse posting that has taken place here.
I am really excited about how our costumes turned out, but damn! Next year I am going to pick costumes that will be a lot less complicated to construct. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed making them, I just wish it would've taken about two weeks less than it actually did. I even ended up breaking down and buying Brett's costume, and just making a few minor adjustments to it. I bit off way more than I could chew with mine, and to make them both completely from scratch would've been impossible in the time frame that I gave myself. I should've started sewing in February.
The hard work will all pay off tonight though, because tonight is the night we have been working so hard to perfect. Tonight is the dead man's party!
What are your Halloween plans this year?
I am really excited about how our costumes turned out, but damn! Next year I am going to pick costumes that will be a lot less complicated to construct. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed making them, I just wish it would've taken about two weeks less than it actually did. I even ended up breaking down and buying Brett's costume, and just making a few minor adjustments to it. I bit off way more than I could chew with mine, and to make them both completely from scratch would've been impossible in the time frame that I gave myself. I should've started sewing in February.
The hard work will all pay off tonight though, because tonight is the night we have been working so hard to perfect. Tonight is the dead man's party!
What are your Halloween plans this year?
October 26, 2009
Dear Shaymus,
Happy birthday!
I am so sad that I have to wait until Friday to give you your birthday present. {I think you are going to love it!} I hope that your day today is fantastic, and hopefully everyone that lives closer will shower you with lots of love and gifts. You deserve it!!
I don't know if you are aware of this or not, but it has been a month since the last time we saw each other.
One. Whole. Month.
I know that it's been really hard because both of our schedules are crazy as of late, and we are both working insanely hard to prepare for Halloween, not to mention the fact that you were in Disneyland last week, but I really miss you!
I miss talking to you. I miss having you make me laugh. I miss making fun of each other, and calling you names. I know that we have been doing these same things over the phone and through text messages, but it's just not the same!
I hope you know that you are the most amazing friend in the world, and I love you like you were my own sister. I can't wait until Friday when we can resume our shenanigans!
XoXo,
Kaylyn
I am so sad that I have to wait until Friday to give you your birthday present. {I think you are going to love it!} I hope that your day today is fantastic, and hopefully everyone that lives closer will shower you with lots of love and gifts. You deserve it!!
I don't know if you are aware of this or not, but it has been a month since the last time we saw each other.
One. Whole. Month.
I know that it's been really hard because both of our schedules are crazy as of late, and we are both working insanely hard to prepare for Halloween, not to mention the fact that you were in Disneyland last week, but I really miss you!
I miss talking to you. I miss having you make me laugh. I miss making fun of each other, and calling you names. I know that we have been doing these same things over the phone and through text messages, but it's just not the same!
I hope you know that you are the most amazing friend in the world, and I love you like you were my own sister. I can't wait until Friday when we can resume our shenanigans!
XoXo,
Kaylyn
October 21, 2009
So glad I'm not that desperate
Out of all of the holidays that come and go Halloween always manages to keep me the most busy. It seems like I have been back and forth between the fabric store and the Halloween store about a hundred thousand times in the last two months. You know how it goes when you are working on a project and suddenly you realize that you forgot to buy something and are forced to run back to the store, AGAIN! Oh, that never happens to you? Guess I'm just unprepared.
On Monday night I dragged Kristi and Joeli with me all over Utah county trying to find all of the last minute things I still needed, like oh I don't know, MY HUSBAND'S WHOLE ENTIRE COSTUME!!! Yeah, I'm that far behind. Halloween is only ten days away, and I still haven't been able to find it.
We started at one Halloween store, then the fabric store, then a craft store, and then went to another Halloween store. No luck. So we decided to try Savers. Remind me never to do that again please. I'm not saying that all savers' are bad, but the one by my house is. I don't know if you have ever been in a savers before, but if not, just picture a really dumpy version of DI. They don't organize things very well, the smell when you walk in is enough to make you want to vomit, there are four hundred thousand people crammed into one store at any given moment, the employees are all extremely hostile, and did I mention the smell? It's bad.
We had probably only been there for about five minutes when Kristi leans in and whispers just loud enough for Joeli and I to hear her, that she is disgusted that they sell used bed sheets and comforters in a store like this, I mean come on! That can't be very sanitary. To which I reply that as long as they don't sell used panties, I'm alright. They don't do they?
After our brief exchange about the sheets I browse for maybe another five minutes, and find a jacket that I think might work. I'm standing in line at the register to give one of the aforementioned hostile employees my six dollars so that I can get the hell out of there, when Kristi leans in with another whisper and proclaims, that the answer to my question is yes.
At first I was somewhat puzzled, because I didn't remember asking her a question. Then she gets this really disgusted look on her face and goes; you know, about the panties! I just saw some over there by the bra's.
Forget the smell, because that was the point when I damn near lost my dinner.
On Monday night I dragged Kristi and Joeli with me all over Utah county trying to find all of the last minute things I still needed, like oh I don't know, MY HUSBAND'S WHOLE ENTIRE COSTUME!!! Yeah, I'm that far behind. Halloween is only ten days away, and I still haven't been able to find it.
We started at one Halloween store, then the fabric store, then a craft store, and then went to another Halloween store. No luck. So we decided to try Savers. Remind me never to do that again please. I'm not saying that all savers' are bad, but the one by my house is. I don't know if you have ever been in a savers before, but if not, just picture a really dumpy version of DI. They don't organize things very well, the smell when you walk in is enough to make you want to vomit, there are four hundred thousand people crammed into one store at any given moment, the employees are all extremely hostile, and did I mention the smell? It's bad.
We had probably only been there for about five minutes when Kristi leans in and whispers just loud enough for Joeli and I to hear her, that she is disgusted that they sell used bed sheets and comforters in a store like this, I mean come on! That can't be very sanitary. To which I reply that as long as they don't sell used panties, I'm alright. They don't do they?
After our brief exchange about the sheets I browse for maybe another five minutes, and find a jacket that I think might work. I'm standing in line at the register to give one of the aforementioned hostile employees my six dollars so that I can get the hell out of there, when Kristi leans in with another whisper and proclaims, that the answer to my question is yes.
At first I was somewhat puzzled, because I didn't remember asking her a question. Then she gets this really disgusted look on her face and goes; you know, about the panties! I just saw some over there by the bra's.
Forget the smell, because that was the point when I damn near lost my dinner.
October 14, 2009
Something to ponder....
Let's say that in some alternate universe you cannot be yourself anymore, and you have to choose a new identity. It has to be someone who is currently living, but other than that it can be anyone you want.
If you couldn't be you anymore, who would you want to be?
If you couldn't be you anymore, who would you want to be?
October 12, 2009
Sweet revenge
Brett and I love a good movie, but that's probably obvious given the fact that I post about movies frequently. One of our favorite aspects of a movie is a plot for revenge. Specifically when the character in the movie is seeking revenge over the death of a loved one that has been killed. It just gives the movie such an awesome sense of emotion, anticipation, and excitement.
In our opinion, Braveheart is the greatest revenge movie of all time. You wanna fight about it?
That is why we are so excited to see the new movie Law Abiding Citizen. It looks incredible, Gerard Butler is the star, and the plot is about a man who is seeking revenge for the murders of his wife and daughter. What more could a movie need? Just watching the trailer gives me chills! If this movie is done as well as it has the potential to be done, it will surely join Braveheart at the top of our list. I can't wait!
In our opinion, Braveheart is the greatest revenge movie of all time. You wanna fight about it?
That is why we are so excited to see the new movie Law Abiding Citizen. It looks incredible, Gerard Butler is the star, and the plot is about a man who is seeking revenge for the murders of his wife and daughter. What more could a movie need? Just watching the trailer gives me chills! If this movie is done as well as it has the potential to be done, it will surely join Braveheart at the top of our list. I can't wait!
Some of our other favorite revenge movies include:
- Kill Bill 1 & 2
What is your favorite revenge movie?
**Update: This movie rocks!! Definitely on my list of top ten revenge movies.
October 6, 2009
Disgusting
The sickness invading the basement apartment we call home over the last week is completely destroying my will to participate in the daily activities that normally occupy my life. I don't even feel like breathing anymore because it has become so labored.
I don't think that either of us have been this sick in the nine years that we have known each other. But hey, at least we are going through this hell together.
Here's what I don't understand about being sick: Why does it seem to eternally linger? Between the two of us we have gone through two bottles of DayQuil and three bottles of NyQuil in roughly a week. That can't be good for anyone.
So friends, if you have any wonderful remedies up your sleeve that you would be generous enough to share with us I would be forever grateful.
Please help us.
I don't think that either of us have been this sick in the nine years that we have known each other. But hey, at least we are going through this hell together.
Here's what I don't understand about being sick: Why does it seem to eternally linger? Between the two of us we have gone through two bottles of DayQuil and three bottles of NyQuil in roughly a week. That can't be good for anyone.
So friends, if you have any wonderful remedies up your sleeve that you would be generous enough to share with us I would be forever grateful.
Please help us.
September 30, 2009
The reality of the fact that it is going to be winter soon hit me hard today. I am not looking forward to winter. I really never do, mostly because I hate the snow, but this year just seems so much harder than the years before it. Usually I can find at least a few positive things to focus on in the gloom of the winter months approaching. Winter means holidays, family parties, treats, gifts, good food, happy memories, and fun. This year though, I can't seem to find the spark of excitement that I usually have.
I can't help but dwell on the fact that this year winter means that I will have to experience my first Thanksgiving and Christmas without my mom here, and the hardest part of all; facing the day that marks one year since she's been gone, and reliving all of the awful memories that day brought. New Year’s Eve will never be the same to me.
I really miss her today.
I can't help but dwell on the fact that this year winter means that I will have to experience my first Thanksgiving and Christmas without my mom here, and the hardest part of all; facing the day that marks one year since she's been gone, and reliving all of the awful memories that day brought. New Year’s Eve will never be the same to me.
I really miss her today.
September 28, 2009
Xterra Utah 2009
Brett finished 119th out of 252 racers!
overall: 2:23:50
swim: 18:26
bike: 1:39:21
run: 26:03
Curtis finished 112th out of 252 racers!
overall: 2:22:13
swim: 22:43
bike: 1:34:30
run: 25:00
It was such an awesome race to watch! The swim was my favorite part because right when the gun went off for the race to begin all of the racers just rushed into the water at the same time! It was crazy. It looked like the water was full of sharks in a feeding frenzy. I can't imagine how intense it was to be down in the water at that moment. Brett and Curtis both said that they kept running into the other swimmers, and either kicking other people or being kicked themselves.
Brett came out of the water about 3 minutes and 20 seconds ahead of Curtis, but he ended up making up for the lost time during the bike ride. Since Brett was the first one out of the water I was expecting to see him come around the corner off the bike trail first, but Curtis was ahead at that point, and we almost missed him. I think that having each other out there on the trails definitely had to be a good motivator to keep going, and not give up. That's got to be why they finished the race within 45 seconds of each other!
I would have to say that the worst part of watching the triathlon is the anticipation. Watching as each racer passes you and moves onto the next leg of the race, waiting to see when Brett and Curtis were going to come around the corner. I am so glad that they both did so well!
The race was challenging for both of them in different ways, and now they each know what they need to work on for next time. Yes, I said next time. They are obviously crazy because they are planning on putting themselves through the pain again in Lake Tahoe's Xterra next year!
Congratulations Brett and Curtis!! You both did great!
September 24, 2009
Round two
{Click map to enlarge}
This coming Saturday Brett and his brother-in-law, Curtis, will both be participating in the Utah XTERRA triathlon!!
This race will be quite a bit different than the last one though. Last time he swam in a pool and then rode his bike and ran on pavement. This time it's going to be a lot more difficult because they will be swimming in open water and riding their bikes and running on uphill trails. {see map above}
This race will consist of a 750 meter swim in the Pineview Reservoir followed by almost 12 miles on a mountain bike, and finishing up with a 3 mile trail run at Snow Basin. It's going to be AWESOME!
If you are going to be in the Ogden area Saturday, and you've got some time to kill, I think you should come and cheer them on!
When: Saturday, September 26, 2009 - 9:20AM start
Where: Port Ramp Marina, Pineview Reservoir
If you need more information feel free to call or text me and I'll make sure that you know where you are going, and what time to be there.
Hope to see you there!!
September 22, 2009
Thoughtful gifts {by Jasmine}
{Jasmine & Levi} The best gift I have ever received was from Levi for my birthday this year. He's an amazing artist, and I have absolutely fallen in love with so many of his paintings. The problem is that every painting I've ever fallen in love with always ends up getting sold. So for my birthday this year, Levi made a painting just for me, never ever to be sold. He designed it so that it would match our living room perfectly and is even making a frame for it by hand! It's so special to me because it's something he made with his own two hands with me in mind. I've never owned a real, original painting or piece of art before, and now, not only do I own one, but it was created just for me. I don't think anyone will ever be able to beat that gift....well,Levi might beat it eventually. He's always one-upping himself. :)
xo
Jasmine
Thanks to Jasmine at An Experiment in Poverty for contributing to our thoughtful gifts segment!! If you'd like to share your story send us an email: scothernsblog@aol.com
September 21, 2009
Thoughtful gifts {by Erica}
When we were dating, my husband, Zach, and I went on a weekend trip with several of our friends to a cabin in the woods. It was one of those trips that you never forget and you can never recapture. We had so much fun. One of the days we went on a little nature walk and Zach picked some wildflowers for me. When we got back to the cabin I was going to throw them away. I know, not very sentimental of me; but I am a practical girl. My friend Malia, who has been known to save a plastic cup (for years, mind you) that a high school crush once used to drink a sip of water out of, was to say the least; appalled that I was about to throw away flowers from Zach. She took them from me and I forgot all about them.
Three years later on my wedding day, I was getting ready in the bridal room surrounded by my family and bridesmaids; ready to walk down the aisle and marry, Zach, the absolute love of my life. One of those bridesmaids was of course Malia, and she told me she had a gift for me. What I opened was a pressed yellow flower mounted in a beautiful black framed shadow box. I was flooded with emotion. I can't think of a more perfect and more thoughtful wedding gift than a forgotten flower from my soon to be husband. To me that flower represents my relationship with Zach and the little things he does that I sometimes forget to appreciate, as well as my friend Malia - She is full of thoughtfulness and sentimentality that I can definitely learn from.
Thanks to Erica over at Tartraz for participating in our thoughtful gifts segment, and being our first official guest blogger! If you'd like to share your story, send us an email: scothernsblog@aol.com
September 19, 2009
A brew and a movie
Last night was our first experience at a theater downtown called Brewvies, and I have to tell you, we were very impressed. You see, there aren't any other theaters in Utah {that I know of, anyway} where you can order a pitcher of beer and a pizza or burger to enjoy while you are watching your movie. I think that the concept is brilliant.
The Schlange's came with us, and we saw The Hangover. It was literally the funniest movie that we have seen in a long time, and I'm really sad that we didn't go see it sooner. There was a constant eruption of laughter throughout the whole theater during almost every scene. It was hilarious.
I may or may not have dropped a full glass of beer on the floor, but that's not important.
We will definitely be going back soon. The food was good, the movie was great, the atmosphere was just awesome, and the prices are very reasonable. I wish that there were more businesses in Utah like this. We had a blast.
The Schlange's came with us, and we saw The Hangover. It was literally the funniest movie that we have seen in a long time, and I'm really sad that we didn't go see it sooner. There was a constant eruption of laughter throughout the whole theater during almost every scene. It was hilarious.
I may or may not have dropped a full glass of beer on the floor, but that's not important.
We will definitely be going back soon. The food was good, the movie was great, the atmosphere was just awesome, and the prices are very reasonable. I wish that there were more businesses in Utah like this. We had a blast.
September 18, 2009
Friday frustrations
I'm just going to throw it out there: I really hate stupid drivers.
I have a serious road rage problem, and the idiots that inhabit I-15 on a daily basis aren't helping.
I can't stand it when traffic is at a standstill for an hour, and then just out of the blue it picks up for no reason. No accidents, no debris, no construction, no explanation. It's ridiculous.
I also really hate it when you can clearly see that the road is being reduced ahead, and the people in the lane next to you need to merge into your lane, but they choose not to. Instead they decide to wait until the last second to cut you off and slow everyone else behind you down to a crawl. Don't people realize that if they would merge into your lane earlier, when the sign says they should, then everything would continue moving along quickly? Obviously not!
I could seriously go on about it forever because it is one of my biggest pet peeves, but I'll just leave it at that.
What's your biggest traffic annoyance?
I have a serious road rage problem, and the idiots that inhabit I-15 on a daily basis aren't helping.
I can't stand it when traffic is at a standstill for an hour, and then just out of the blue it picks up for no reason. No accidents, no debris, no construction, no explanation. It's ridiculous.
I also really hate it when you can clearly see that the road is being reduced ahead, and the people in the lane next to you need to merge into your lane, but they choose not to. Instead they decide to wait until the last second to cut you off and slow everyone else behind you down to a crawl. Don't people realize that if they would merge into your lane earlier, when the sign says they should, then everything would continue moving along quickly? Obviously not!
I could seriously go on about it forever because it is one of my biggest pet peeves, but I'll just leave it at that.
What's your biggest traffic annoyance?
September 16, 2009
Thoughtful gifts
You all know that Shay is truly my best friend in the whole world. She is always there for me when I need her, and better yet she is there for me even if I don't ask her to be. A few weeks ago I was having an exceptionally shitty week. I had casually mentioned it to her in a text message one day when she had asked me how things were going. As usual she offered to be there if I needed to talk, and it was left at that.
Shay and I share a common love for a comedian named Nick Swardson. He is hilarious, and we both laugh so hard we cry when we are listening to his stand up. There is this one skit that he does about dying, where he goes into detail about how he is going to plan ahead and make his funeral fun and entertaining for the people that are mourning him. He talks about this great idea he has to send some money to a random celebrity before he dies in exchange for them agreeing to show up at his funeral. They don't have to stay long, just make an appearance. He chooses John Stamos. He thinks it will be funny when his friends are standing around at his funeral talking, and they will all be shocked when they see John Stamos walk in. Then someone will say: "dude...did Nick know John Stamos?". This is my favorite part of the skit, and Shay and I quote it all the time.
A few days after I had told Shay that I was having a horrible week a delivery guy shows up at my office with this giant bouquet of fruit. I assumed that it was for this other girl in my office, because her boyfriend had sent her flowers two weeks in a row, so I was really shocked when I saw my name on the envelope instead of hers. I opened the envelope and just about died laughing when I read the card! It said:
Shay and I share a common love for a comedian named Nick Swardson. He is hilarious, and we both laugh so hard we cry when we are listening to his stand up. There is this one skit that he does about dying, where he goes into detail about how he is going to plan ahead and make his funeral fun and entertaining for the people that are mourning him. He talks about this great idea he has to send some money to a random celebrity before he dies in exchange for them agreeing to show up at his funeral. They don't have to stay long, just make an appearance. He chooses John Stamos. He thinks it will be funny when his friends are standing around at his funeral talking, and they will all be shocked when they see John Stamos walk in. Then someone will say: "dude...did Nick know John Stamos?". This is my favorite part of the skit, and Shay and I quote it all the time.
A few days after I had told Shay that I was having a horrible week a delivery guy shows up at my office with this giant bouquet of fruit. I assumed that it was for this other girl in my office, because her boyfriend had sent her flowers two weeks in a row, so I was really shocked when I saw my name on the envelope instead of hers. I opened the envelope and just about died laughing when I read the card! It said:
Hey Kaylyn!
Did Nick know John Stamos?
Hope you are having a better week!
It didn't say who they were from, but I knew right away that it was my good buddy Shaymus. She always knows how to make me laugh. I love having her as a friend because she is so thoughtful, and always knows just what I need without needing me to tell her.
It didn't say who they were from, but I knew right away that it was my good buddy Shaymus. She always knows how to make me laugh. I love having her as a friend because she is so thoughtful, and always knows just what I need without needing me to tell her.
I am going to start posting thoughtful gifts from our guest bloggers next week, so if you have received a thoughtful gift, and you want to share the story with everyone send me an email with the story, and a picture of the gift if you have it to: Scothernsblog@aol.com
When the moon hits your eye
Last Friday when I came home from work Brett informed me that he had a date planned. I was instantly excited because Brett always plans the best dates. He is such a thinker, and is always coming up with fun things to do. This particular date was no exception. He had gone to the store and purchased all of the necessary fixins for us to make homemade pizza's!
I love pizza! I could eat it every day of the week, and never get sick of it. We each made two pizza's. I made Brett's, and he made mine. Here is a picture of Brett-the-master-dough-spinner-Scothern working his magic. I swear he should have been a chef!
And here is the finished product, don't they look fantastic? Oh, well that's because they were.
The pizza's all turned out great, and we had so much fun making them that we decided to do the same thing for dinner on Saturday. Cheers to homemade pizza filled weekends!
September 14, 2009
Thoughtful gifts
I’m pretty sure that it is no secret that aside from my husband, books are my favorite thing in the world. I could spend hours and hours just walking around a bookstore, and never even buy anything. Just looking at the books makes me happy. I hope to someday have a collection so monumental that it will fill an entire room full of shelves.
One of the thoughtful gift givers in my life shares my passion. That would be Brett’s sister Kristi. She is also a book lover, and I think that is a big part of why we get along so well.
For a few weeks before Christmas last year she kept on telling me that she had found the perfect gift to give me. She just knew that it was going to knock my socks off. Despite many attempts to get her to spill the beans, and tell me what my gift was early, she held strong and made me wait until Christmas. It was agony. I am not a good secret keeper at all when it comes to gifts, I just hate the anticipation. I usually tell Brett what he is getting for his Birthday or Christmas a week or two prior to the day that I actually give him the gift. It is something that drives him crazy.
However, on Christmas day when Kristi finally let me open my gift it did not disappoint. She was right, once I saw what it was, my socks were no longer on my feet. It was a copy of my favorite book in the whole world, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Not just any copy though, a special copy. Why? It was a hard back, first edition, and it was signed by the author. I KNOW! Isn’t she great?
September 11, 2009
Friday frustrations
Some shit hit the fan this week because of a post that I wrote a little while ago. Someone read the post, and didn't like what I had to say. This person is someone that does not know me, but still chose to make some very rude and uncalled for comments about the post, and me personally.
This is my blog. If you don't like it, don't fucking read it.
The whole reason that I started this blog is so that I could tell stories about the things that my husband and I do, and to keep in touch with family and friends. I am not here to make anyone happy but myself. I write because I enjoy it. If you don't like the content that you find when you come to my blog that's fine, don't come back. I could care less. But don't leave me some dickhead comment about why I'm stupid, or why I'm wrong, and then tell me about all of the horrible things that you wish would happen to me. I'm not interested in hearing it. I don't believe that I should have to justify what I write about here. Again, this is my blog, not yours. So you don't have any say in what I do or do not write about.
I don't mind hearing your opinion on something that I write, and I can always handle constructive criticism. Just don't personally attack me, or anything that I write about unless you know the whole story. This is where I am drawing the line. From now on you will no longer see comments like this published here. I won't even read them, so you might as well not waste your time.
This is my blog. If you don't like it, don't fucking read it.
The whole reason that I started this blog is so that I could tell stories about the things that my husband and I do, and to keep in touch with family and friends. I am not here to make anyone happy but myself. I write because I enjoy it. If you don't like the content that you find when you come to my blog that's fine, don't come back. I could care less. But don't leave me some dickhead comment about why I'm stupid, or why I'm wrong, and then tell me about all of the horrible things that you wish would happen to me. I'm not interested in hearing it. I don't believe that I should have to justify what I write about here. Again, this is my blog, not yours. So you don't have any say in what I do or do not write about.
I don't mind hearing your opinion on something that I write, and I can always handle constructive criticism. Just don't personally attack me, or anything that I write about unless you know the whole story. This is where I am drawing the line. From now on you will no longer see comments like this published here. I won't even read them, so you might as well not waste your time.
September 10, 2009
Thoughtful gifts {new segment}
I am a fan of thoughtful gifts. I like it when people take their time to try and think of something that the recipient of the gift is going to absolutely love as opposed to just buying them any old thing. I try really hard when I am thinking of what I am going to buy or make for a particular person for their birthday, or any other holiday for that matter. I don’t always succeed, and those failures drive me insane until the next year when I will have another shot at it.
There are a few people in my life who are thoughtful gift givers, and they try to think of something that I would never think to buy for myself. I have received some really awesome thoughtful gifts in my life, and thinking of this gave me an idea for a new blog segment. What is the most thoughtful gift you have ever received? This is going to be a temporary segment here at PFOB, and I am recruiting some of my favorite bloggers to help me out with this. The first few posts in the segment will be highlights of thoughtful gifts that I have received myself, and then I will post the thoughtful gifts of other bloggers that have decided to play along!
One of the thoughtful gift givers in my life happens to be my husband. He is always thinking of ways to outdo himself, even if he doesn’t have a whole lot of money to work with. With him in school, and not working until recently, he was really stressed out last Christmas about what he could do for my gift. He kept on telling me that he wasn’t going to be able to get me anything great, and I could tell it was bothering him. I assured him that I didn’t have the money to buy him anything nice either, and he shouldn’t worry about it. Christmas is not about gifts anyway, it’s about spending time with the people who mean the most to you. Right?
On Christmas morning Brett surprised me with something that I never would’ve expected. It was by far the most thoughtful, and awesome gift he had ever given me. It was beautiful! Just looking at it, I couldn't believe that he had made it specially for me. My very own handmade, custom designed long board! I absolutely love love love it! Isn't it great? This is just one of the reasons that he is my favorite!
There are a few people in my life who are thoughtful gift givers, and they try to think of something that I would never think to buy for myself. I have received some really awesome thoughtful gifts in my life, and thinking of this gave me an idea for a new blog segment. What is the most thoughtful gift you have ever received? This is going to be a temporary segment here at PFOB, and I am recruiting some of my favorite bloggers to help me out with this. The first few posts in the segment will be highlights of thoughtful gifts that I have received myself, and then I will post the thoughtful gifts of other bloggers that have decided to play along!
One of the thoughtful gift givers in my life happens to be my husband. He is always thinking of ways to outdo himself, even if he doesn’t have a whole lot of money to work with. With him in school, and not working until recently, he was really stressed out last Christmas about what he could do for my gift. He kept on telling me that he wasn’t going to be able to get me anything great, and I could tell it was bothering him. I assured him that I didn’t have the money to buy him anything nice either, and he shouldn’t worry about it. Christmas is not about gifts anyway, it’s about spending time with the people who mean the most to you. Right?
On Christmas morning Brett surprised me with something that I never would’ve expected. It was by far the most thoughtful, and awesome gift he had ever given me. It was beautiful! Just looking at it, I couldn't believe that he had made it specially for me. My very own handmade, custom designed long board! I absolutely love love love it! Isn't it great? This is just one of the reasons that he is my favorite!
If you want to play along and submit your favorite thoughtful gift to be posted, send us an email!scothernsblog@aol.com
September 9, 2009
9 random facts about 9
- Tim Burton's new movie 9 was released in theaters today. {I can't wait to see it!!}
- Nine ball is the standard professional pocket billiards variant played in the United States.
- Nine is considered a good number in Chinese culture because it sounds the same as the word "long lasting".
- A human pregnancy normally lasts nine months.
- Bart Simpson's hair has nine spikes.
- Nine justices sit on the United States Supreme Court.
- A full moon is nine times brighter than a half moon.
- Important Buddhist rituals usually involve nine monks.
- A polygon with nine angles and nine sides is called a nonagon.
September 4, 2009
Friday frustrations
This is going to be my new Friday segment, I'm going to call it Friday frustrations because it is going to be nothing other than me bitching about things that frustrate me or get on my nerves. If you don't like it when people complain about things that bother them, this is one segment you will want to skip over in the future. Sometimes I just need to vent, so I thought that making my rants into stories for you readers {all five of you} would be a good way to get it all out.
On January 31, 2008 I was driving to work when my allergies flared up, and I started sneezing uncontrollably. This is not an uncommon occurrence for me, in fact I probably sneeze an average of 20 times a day, and this is not an exaggeration. You can ask Brett, he'll clarify it for you.
So anyway, I'm driving along, and the traffic had been the standard morning 'stop and go' that I encounter during nearly every commute, for the last 30 minutes. This is where the sneezing starts. I can't make it stop, and as a result my eyes are closed for a good 10 seconds. When the sneezes finally subside, and I can open my eyes again, the traffic in front of me is at a dead stand still. Shit! I didn't have the time to stop my car, and rear ended the woman in front of me. At this point I am hysterical. Crying, I call Brett to let him know that I had just wrecked my car, and ask him to come to my rescue. I get out of my car, and approach the vehicle in front of me to find a morbidly obese woman on the phone with the police. She gives them the location of the accident, and hangs up the phone. I am still crying and ask her if she is okay, and apologize profusely for the accident that has just occurred. She tells me that she is fine, and nothing is wrong with her, so I am a little relieved.
The police officer shows up, and follows the standard procedure for dealing with this situation. We move the cars off of the freeway to a safer location, and fill out our statements. By this time Brett has arrived, and is trying to calm me down. After we fill out our statements, we trade information and the officer leaves. After he gave me a ticket, that is. Brett and I are standing at this woman's vehicle talking to her to make sure she is, in fact, alright. She reassures us that she is fine, and proceeds to tell us that the last time there was damage to her car, it was hail damage if I remember correctly, she didn't even use the insurance money to fix it. Instead she spent the money on something else. She apparently didn't care about the damage that I had caused, which was a very minimal crack to her rear bumper, because she didn't get out of her vehicle once to inspect the damage. Not once.
Our insurance allows one accident every five years or so without raising our premiums, so after a few weeks, once my car was fixed, I had pretty much forgotten about the whole situation.
Fast forward a year and a half to this past May. Brett's dad {who's insurance policy we are on} gets a letter from the insurance company saying that the woman who's car I hit sued our insurance. SHE SUED OUR INSURANCE FOR $78,000!!! Can you believe it? $78,000 for being 'just fine' when the accident occurred. Her car isn't worth $5,000 and she told us that she didn't have any injuries. She was suing for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and the value of her vehicle. The worst part of this whole thing is, our insurance settled with her instead of fighting her in court, and wrote the bitch a check for $25,000.
I hate liars! It pisses me off so bad when people do shit like this, and get away with it. There was no reason in the world for her to sue. My car is the one that took all of the damage, and she had no injuries when it happened. She was totally dishonest, and now she has a fat check in her pocket, that she's not even going to use to fix her car. I wish I could send her a letter and tell her how rotten she is.
Karma is a bitch though, and I know that she'll get what's coming to her.
On January 31, 2008 I was driving to work when my allergies flared up, and I started sneezing uncontrollably. This is not an uncommon occurrence for me, in fact I probably sneeze an average of 20 times a day, and this is not an exaggeration. You can ask Brett, he'll clarify it for you.
So anyway, I'm driving along, and the traffic had been the standard morning 'stop and go' that I encounter during nearly every commute, for the last 30 minutes. This is where the sneezing starts. I can't make it stop, and as a result my eyes are closed for a good 10 seconds. When the sneezes finally subside, and I can open my eyes again, the traffic in front of me is at a dead stand still. Shit! I didn't have the time to stop my car, and rear ended the woman in front of me. At this point I am hysterical. Crying, I call Brett to let him know that I had just wrecked my car, and ask him to come to my rescue. I get out of my car, and approach the vehicle in front of me to find a morbidly obese woman on the phone with the police. She gives them the location of the accident, and hangs up the phone. I am still crying and ask her if she is okay, and apologize profusely for the accident that has just occurred. She tells me that she is fine, and nothing is wrong with her, so I am a little relieved.
The police officer shows up, and follows the standard procedure for dealing with this situation. We move the cars off of the freeway to a safer location, and fill out our statements. By this time Brett has arrived, and is trying to calm me down. After we fill out our statements, we trade information and the officer leaves. After he gave me a ticket, that is. Brett and I are standing at this woman's vehicle talking to her to make sure she is, in fact, alright. She reassures us that she is fine, and proceeds to tell us that the last time there was damage to her car, it was hail damage if I remember correctly, she didn't even use the insurance money to fix it. Instead she spent the money on something else. She apparently didn't care about the damage that I had caused, which was a very minimal crack to her rear bumper, because she didn't get out of her vehicle once to inspect the damage. Not once.
Our insurance allows one accident every five years or so without raising our premiums, so after a few weeks, once my car was fixed, I had pretty much forgotten about the whole situation.
Fast forward a year and a half to this past May. Brett's dad {who's insurance policy we are on} gets a letter from the insurance company saying that the woman who's car I hit sued our insurance. SHE SUED OUR INSURANCE FOR $78,000!!! Can you believe it? $78,000 for being 'just fine' when the accident occurred. Her car isn't worth $5,000 and she told us that she didn't have any injuries. She was suing for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and the value of her vehicle. The worst part of this whole thing is, our insurance settled with her instead of fighting her in court, and wrote the bitch a check for $25,000.
I hate liars! It pisses me off so bad when people do shit like this, and get away with it. There was no reason in the world for her to sue. My car is the one that took all of the damage, and she had no injuries when it happened. She was totally dishonest, and now she has a fat check in her pocket, that she's not even going to use to fix her car. I wish I could send her a letter and tell her how rotten she is.
Karma is a bitch though, and I know that she'll get what's coming to her.
Guess what?
Today is Brett's first day working at Home Depot! He has been trying to find a job for a few months now, but with the economy in the shitter like it has been, no one has been hiring. He had an interview about a week and a half ago, and they hired him on the spot. Today he went in to start his training. Isn't this news wonderful? I am so happy for him!
Congratulations babe!
Congratulations babe!
September 3, 2009
My favorite kind of art
{Photo found HERE}
There is one exception to this fear: Tattoos.
I am incredibly intrigued by tattoos. I have one, and plan to have many more someday. I love watching people get tattoos, and if I had any artistic ability at all, I probably would've been a tattoo artist.
What do you think about tattoos?
I have a ridiculous fear of needles. Every time I have to get my blood drawn I cry at the thought of a needle penetrating my flesh. I'm not kidding, before the nurse even gets the needle out. All she has to do is tell me that she is going to draw my blood, and I cry. Every time. To be honest with you, it's really quite embarrassing. I am so terrified of needles that when we are watching a movie or TV show, and someone is getting an IV put in, having their blood drawn, or shooting up I can't watch. I turn my head and cringe. Every time.
There is one exception to this fear: Tattoos.
I am incredibly intrigued by tattoos. I have one, and plan to have many more someday. I love watching people get tattoos, and if I had any artistic ability at all, I probably would've been a tattoo artist.
What do you think about tattoos?
August 31, 2009
The one where my head explodes
About two months ago I entered a giveaway on a blog I had never read before. It was a giveaway hosted by a woman in the Salt Lake area who is trying to get her photography website up and running, and she was giving away 15 photo sessions. With how expensive professional photography is, we have never been able to afford to have our pictures taken. We didn't even have the money to hire a professional photographer for our wedding. Instead, we recruited one of Brett's sisters to do pictures, and another one of his sisters to do video.
I'm not a particularly lucky person, and I've only ever won a few things in my life, so naturally I was ecstatic when I received an email a few days later informing me that I was, in fact, one of the winners. This kind of thing never happens to me.
After going back and forth with her for a few weeks to try and decide on a location and time that would work for both of us we finally had an appointment set, and the perfect spot in mind. I wanted to do something a little bit out of the ordinary, and thought that it would be fun to go somewhere with a lot of graffiti. There is an old abandoned building out by Saltair on I-80 that is covered in graffiti, and there is an old train car out there too. It seemed like a great spot, and she agreed that she would meet us out there. I was getting so excited! I am a really impatient person, so waiting another five weeks was the hardest part.
We are not usually the type of people who go all out for this kind of thing, but we decided that since we were going to have our pictures done professionally we should get new clothes. We had been looking for something to wear for weeks, stopping at any store we passed, and didn't have much luck. We finally found an awesome shirt for Brett, but now I needed something that matched, and it didn't seem to exist. Saturday morning we went to the mall, which Brett hates, to keep searching. After a few hours we finally found something that I loved. We ended up spending more than we wanted to on the clothes, but after the pictures were done it would all be worth it. At least that's what I kept telling myself.
After we had the clothes picked out it was time to get ready. I had my hair styled professionally so that it would look perfect, and I even went crazy and decided that I was going to wear heels. I never wear heels. This was obviously a big deal.
The time came on Saturday for us to go, and I could barely contain my excitement. We had waited a long time, and the day was finally here! We were going to have our pictures taken by a real live professional.
We got out to Saltair about fifteen minutes early, and got out to walk around. As we were waiting, a few car loads of people showed up sporadically for photo shoots of their own. Apparently we had picked a great location, and we determined that it must be a hot spot for photographers to bring their clients.
Fifteen minutes go by, and our photographer is still not there. I was starting to get annoyed, but I figured she must probably just be running a little late. We continued waiting, and watching the other people that had shown up after us as they got their pictures taken. I was getting anxious. Where the hell could she be? After another fifteen minutes goes by Brett can tell that I am really bothered by how late she is, and suggests that I call her to see what's going on. I had this bad feeling in the pit of my stomach that she wasn't going to show, but I kept trying to convince myself that I was just being paranoid. I had sent her an email to confirm the appointment a week ago, there's no way she is going to blow us off.
This is the part where my head exploded.
I got her on the phone, explained that we were waiting for her, and that our appointment was supposed to be twenty minutes ago. She then proceeds to tell me that she completely forgot about our appointment. COMPLETELY FORGOT!! Are you kidding me? Then she has the balls to say "do you still want to try to do it tonight?". NO, I don't. I don't want to wait here for another hour until you can get around to showing up to take our pictures. You've already wasted my entire day, and now I would like to at least salvage what is left of my evening. Jerk.
After everything that we went through to prepare for this photo shoot, we got stood up. Now I don't know how long it will be before we'll be able to get our pictures done professionally. I can tell you one thing though, when it happens again, I will make sure to go with someone that has been recommended to me by a friend. I want to do anything I can to avoid a mess like this in the future.
Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed in the whole situation. I don't see how she will ever be able to build up her client base operating her business this way. If anything, I hope to help other people avoid having a bad experience like mine. I would highly recommend that you DO NOT have your pictures done by Rebecca Terry Photography.
August 28, 2009
The plot thickens
I have really been going back and forth in my mind about whether or not I wanted to do a post about this, and the little devil on my shoulder has finally convinced me that I Should just go for it.
If you know me personally, then you are aware that I have never met my biological father. If not, then this is news to you. He left when I was just a baby, and I have never seen or heard from him since. I can’t explain it, but I have never really had a desire to know why. I had seen his picture, heard stories about him from family, and had a pretty good idea of what kind of person he was. I guess I just figured that I was better off without him. He didn’t seem to care at all about me, so why should I care about him? I asked my mom about him occasionally throughout my life, but she always responded with the same answer. Now was not the time to talk about it.
To me it has never really mattered who you are related to by blood. Your family can be anyone you want it to be. I have blood relations that I haven’t spoken to in years, and don’t really consider to be family at all. I consider my family to be the people around me who love me, and are always there for me, no matter what the circumstance may be. They are the people that I can always count on. So it never really bothered me that I didn’t know him.
About five months ago my brother, my sister, and I were going through some of my mom’s things and I found something that has, since then, completely rocked my world. It was a sealed white envelope that had my name written on the front in her handwriting. Naturally after discovering said envelope, I opened it up to see what was inside. Wouldn’t you? The contents of the envelope seemed to be nothing at first, just a few pieces of paper. The first page was my birth certificate, which I had seen many times before, so it didn’t seem too out of the ordinary. The second page is what I found to be interesting. It was a letter. Nothing too wordy or long, just a short paragraph, followed by a signature, and a Notary.
The letter was from my biological father.
I know that this discovery may seem unremarkable, but I can assure you it is not. Let me explain. The man who wrote the letter that I was holding in my hands is not the man that I have believed to be my biological father my whole life. It is someone entirely different, and someone that I do not know. I had never even heard his name before I read that letter.
Instantly after reading the letter I assumed that it wasn’t true, but then I spoke with my mom’s best friend and she confirmed it.
At the age of 24 I discovered that my biological father is not who I thought it was.
At first I didn’t really react. I didn’t have any intention of running out and finding him, and I just figured that it wouldn’t really affect my life at all. I already didn’t know the man I thought to be my biological father, so what difference did it make? Now it was just a different name than before.
Since I found the letter five months ago I have been struck by curiosity. With the other name I had at least seen pictures, and heard stories. Even though I had never met him, I still knew what he was like. The pages of my story, though tattered and torn, were complete. Now there is a hole in that same story. The question is: do I try to fill it in?
If you know me personally, then you are aware that I have never met my biological father. If not, then this is news to you. He left when I was just a baby, and I have never seen or heard from him since. I can’t explain it, but I have never really had a desire to know why. I had seen his picture, heard stories about him from family, and had a pretty good idea of what kind of person he was. I guess I just figured that I was better off without him. He didn’t seem to care at all about me, so why should I care about him? I asked my mom about him occasionally throughout my life, but she always responded with the same answer. Now was not the time to talk about it.
To me it has never really mattered who you are related to by blood. Your family can be anyone you want it to be. I have blood relations that I haven’t spoken to in years, and don’t really consider to be family at all. I consider my family to be the people around me who love me, and are always there for me, no matter what the circumstance may be. They are the people that I can always count on. So it never really bothered me that I didn’t know him.
About five months ago my brother, my sister, and I were going through some of my mom’s things and I found something that has, since then, completely rocked my world. It was a sealed white envelope that had my name written on the front in her handwriting. Naturally after discovering said envelope, I opened it up to see what was inside. Wouldn’t you? The contents of the envelope seemed to be nothing at first, just a few pieces of paper. The first page was my birth certificate, which I had seen many times before, so it didn’t seem too out of the ordinary. The second page is what I found to be interesting. It was a letter. Nothing too wordy or long, just a short paragraph, followed by a signature, and a Notary.
The letter was from my biological father.
I know that this discovery may seem unremarkable, but I can assure you it is not. Let me explain. The man who wrote the letter that I was holding in my hands is not the man that I have believed to be my biological father my whole life. It is someone entirely different, and someone that I do not know. I had never even heard his name before I read that letter.
Instantly after reading the letter I assumed that it wasn’t true, but then I spoke with my mom’s best friend and she confirmed it.
At the age of 24 I discovered that my biological father is not who I thought it was.
At first I didn’t really react. I didn’t have any intention of running out and finding him, and I just figured that it wouldn’t really affect my life at all. I already didn’t know the man I thought to be my biological father, so what difference did it make? Now it was just a different name than before.
Since I found the letter five months ago I have been struck by curiosity. With the other name I had at least seen pictures, and heard stories. Even though I had never met him, I still knew what he was like. The pages of my story, though tattered and torn, were complete. Now there is a hole in that same story. The question is: do I try to fill it in?
August 26, 2009
The day we've all been waiting for
There is a new blogger in town folks, and it is something that I am so happy to announce! Why? Because this particular blogger happens to be my best friend. I have been telling her for months that she needed to start a blog, and until now she hasn't shown any interest. In fact, she has frequently made fun of me for blogging. I can forgive her now though, because she has seen the light.
I can assure you that her blog will keep you entertained. How do I know this? She is the most hilarious person I know. It doesn't matter what day it is, or what is keeping me down, this girl can always put a smile on my face.
{here she is just before 80's day at work}
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, may I present to you Shay's blog:
What are you waiting for? Head on over and show her some love!
August 20, 2009
Movie quotes - take two!
Do you remember that game we played a few months ago? You know, the one with the movie quotes. I think we should play again! I've come up with 20 more movies that I love, and listed a quote from each one below. If you don't remember the rules, or didn't get to play last time, here's a refresher:
I have picked 20 movies that I love, and listed a quote from each movie below. Read through the quotes, and try to guess which movie's they are from. Leave a comment with your guess and include: the quote number, movie title, and your name. When someone guesses correctly I will strikeout the quote, put the name of the person who made the correct guess, and the name of the movie next to it. Sounds fun, right? Here's the tricky part: You aren't allowed to use any search engines, IMDB, wikipedia, etc. You just have to know them. You wouldn't cheat would you? Good!
Let's get started, shall we?
1- "She doesn't like it in the barn. The horses keep her up at night." The Ring
2-"THEY DO NOT! At the feed store do I say, "Oh, now Wally, give me a bag of that F-in' pig feed, and a pound of that bitchly cow corn"? At the bank do I say, "Oh, Mrs. Malenger, here is one big bastard of a check, now give me some of your Christ-ing money!" THERE, LOOK THERE, NOW SEE WHAT YOU MADE ME DO!" Misery {Anonymous}
3- "I had a mother lined up for him, but she's bangin' the Pepperidge Farm guy and the kid won't stop peeing and throwing up, he's like a cocker spaniel." Big Daddy
4-"You're missing the grand design here! If I don't go, I'm dead! Yeah. And it's a little hard to carry on a relationship when I'm stuffed with straw and formaldehyde." The Mexican {Anonymous}
5-"Sometimes, the only way to catch an uncatchable woman is to offer her a wedding ring." Big Fish {Shaymus}
6-"This is my ninth sick day this semester. It's pretty tough coming up with new illnesses. If I go for ten, I'm probably going to have to barf up a lung, so I better make this one count." Ferris Bueller's Day Off {Brooke}
7- "Don't look at me. I'll stay here and suck on my thumb, while you guys go play Pirates of the Caribbean." Into the Blue
8-"You know, I was just thinking why would I ever leave before New Year's Eve? That makes no sense at all. I mean, you didn't exactly ask me out... but you did say you loved me... so I'm thinking I've got a date. If you'll have me." The Holiday {Brooke}
9-"All right... That's confiscated. All of it. And I want you on the next transport off this rock or I'm gonna shoot you where it don't grow back." Men In Black {Jessica}
10-"This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes." The Matrix {Shaymus}
11-"I got robbed by a sweet old lady on a motorized cart. I didn't even see it coming." Dumb and Dumber {Jessica}
12-"Oh man. Well, we all gotta die right? I'm the guy who gets to do it saving the world." Armageddon {Jessica}
13-"Your temper is the one thing you can't get rid of, by losing it." Anger Management {Shaymus}
14-"My problem is that it's 2 A.M. My problem is I'm asleep. I'm on a tour bus with eight stinkin' men. Rule number one: Don't propose to a girl on a bus, you got that? Rule number two: Don't tell her it's because you had a bad dream." Walk the Line {Brooke}
15-"Well, let's think about this...we go to the movies, that's 15 bucks. We get popcorn, that's 53. And she'll want raisonettes, alright? So, we're looking at 75 bucks." 10 Things I Hate About You {Brooke}
16-"I saw the way your friend Mauricio looked at me; I thought he was going to shoot me with a tranquilizer gun and tag my ear." Shallow Hal {Shaymus}
17- "That's my friend, Irishman. And the answer to your question is "yes". You fight for me, you get to kill the English." Braveheart
18- "First thing it's two minutes, then four, then six, then the next thing you know, we're the U.S. mail." Cast Away
19-"Brenda, I don't want to lie to you anymore. All right? I'm not a doctor. I never went to medical school. I'm not a lawyer, or a Harvard graduate, or a Lutheran. Brenda, I ran away from home a year and a half ago when I was 16." Catch Me If You Can {Brooke}
20-"Yeah, but you know what? This one, this one right here. This was my dream, my wish. And it didn't come true. So I'm taking it back. I'm taking them all back." The Goonies {Brooke}
I have picked 20 movies that I love, and listed a quote from each movie below. Read through the quotes, and try to guess which movie's they are from. Leave a comment with your guess and include: the quote number, movie title, and your name. When someone guesses correctly I will strikeout the quote, put the name of the person who made the correct guess, and the name of the movie next to it. Sounds fun, right? Here's the tricky part: You aren't allowed to use any search engines, IMDB, wikipedia, etc. You just have to know them. You wouldn't cheat would you? Good!
Let's get started, shall we?
1- "She doesn't like it in the barn. The horses keep her up at night." The Ring
2-
3- "I had a mother lined up for him, but she's bangin' the Pepperidge Farm guy and the kid won't stop peeing and throwing up, he's like a cocker spaniel." Big Daddy
4-
5-
6-
7- "Don't look at me. I'll stay here and suck on my thumb, while you guys go play Pirates of the Caribbean." Into the Blue
8-
9-
10-
11-
12-
13-
14-
15-
16-
17- "That's my friend, Irishman. And the answer to your question is "yes". You fight for me, you get to kill the English." Braveheart
18- "First thing it's two minutes, then four, then six, then the next thing you know, we're the U.S. mail." Cast Away
19-
20-
August 18, 2009
Goin' to a party where no one's still alive...
I know that today is only the 18th of August, but I can't tell you how excited I am getting for Halloween. I know, I know! It's still over two months away, but to me two months doesn't really seem that long. I mean, we are really only talking about 73 more days.
Whatever, maybe I am jumping the gun a little bit. The problem I am having is that I have got to come up with an idea for our costumes, and it has to be fantastic. Last year we didn't come up with a great costume idea until the last minute, I'm talking two weeks before Halloween. Then once we had decided what we wanted to be, I really had to crank it and get our costumes made. It was pretty tedious. I had never made Halloween costumes before, and I definitely bit off more than I could chew. It all ended up working out in the end, and the costumes turned out great. I'm just sayin' it would be nice to get a little head start this year, if at all possible.
Right after the party we went to last year I started brainstorming on how to make the party for this year better. One of the first things I decided was that it definitely needed to have a theme. I called Shay to tell her my idea, and she thought it was great. This is part of why I love her so much. She is just like me, and loves to plan great parties. We decided that the theme should be 'dead man's party' based on the 1985 Oingo Boingo hit. It's always been one of my faves!
What this means for our costumes is that we have to come dressed up as someone or something that is dead. We would prefer to have two costume ideas that go together, but if we find separate costumes that would be better, we'll do that too.
We already have a few great ideas, but I'd love to hear what your suggestions are! Who do you think we should dress up as for Halloween this year?
Whatever, maybe I am jumping the gun a little bit. The problem I am having is that I have got to come up with an idea for our costumes, and it has to be fantastic. Last year we didn't come up with a great costume idea until the last minute, I'm talking two weeks before Halloween. Then once we had decided what we wanted to be, I really had to crank it and get our costumes made. It was pretty tedious. I had never made Halloween costumes before, and I definitely bit off more than I could chew. It all ended up working out in the end, and the costumes turned out great. I'm just sayin' it would be nice to get a little head start this year, if at all possible.
Right after the party we went to last year I started brainstorming on how to make the party for this year better. One of the first things I decided was that it definitely needed to have a theme. I called Shay to tell her my idea, and she thought it was great. This is part of why I love her so much. She is just like me, and loves to plan great parties. We decided that the theme should be 'dead man's party' based on the 1985 Oingo Boingo hit. It's always been one of my faves!
What this means for our costumes is that we have to come dressed up as someone or something that is dead. We would prefer to have two costume ideas that go together, but if we find separate costumes that would be better, we'll do that too.
We already have a few great ideas, but I'd love to hear what your suggestions are! Who do you think we should dress up as for Halloween this year?
August 13, 2009
The first of many without her
Today should be a happy day. It should be a day filled with smiles and celebration. There should be a party to attend, with a guest of honor who is being showered with gifts. We should be eating dinner at her favorite restaurant, and preparing for the birthday weekend tradition that we started for her last year. There should be candles on a cake, and wishes being made. She should be surrounded by family and friends, enjoying the first day of the next year of her life.
Today would have been my mom’s 62nd birthday. If you ask me, 61 birthdays aren’t enough. She should still be here. She should be able to do all of the things that she loved: Watching her grandchildren grow, taking cruises, visiting new cities, shopping on QVC, making chocolates, sewing blankets, taking pictures, finishing the book she was reading, adding to her many collections, drinking Pepsi, watching new movies, picking wildflowers, listening to Chris LeDoux, going to yard sales, eating pretzels, spending time with her children, visiting her dad, playing with her dogs, going to lunch with her best friend.
Today my heart is heavy.
Happy Birthday mom! I love you, and miss you everyday.
Today would have been my mom’s 62nd birthday. If you ask me, 61 birthdays aren’t enough. She should still be here. She should be able to do all of the things that she loved: Watching her grandchildren grow, taking cruises, visiting new cities, shopping on QVC, making chocolates, sewing blankets, taking pictures, finishing the book she was reading, adding to her many collections, drinking Pepsi, watching new movies, picking wildflowers, listening to Chris LeDoux, going to yard sales, eating pretzels, spending time with her children, visiting her dad, playing with her dogs, going to lunch with her best friend.
Today my heart is heavy.
Happy Birthday mom! I love you, and miss you everyday.
August 7, 2009
Jackson {part 5}
One of the things that we had to buy before we went on our trip to Jackson was a pair of sunglasses that Brett could wear down the river. He has a nice pair of sunglasses that he didn't want to take on the river for fear of losing them. So we had gone to Target a few days before the trip to grab a few other things that we needed, and he found a pair there for $20. Mission accomplished!
The first day down the river we were at the one slow stretch where you can get out of the boat and swim around, and Brett had taken his hat and sunglasses off, and handed them to me to hold for him. The sunglasses must not have been very good quality, what do you expect for $20? When he was pulling them off of his face they broke right at the bridge between the two lenses. Though they were still technically in one piece, they were useless. So after we were done rafting for the day we drove the 15 minutes to the nearest town, and found another pair at a local gas station. They looked similar to the other pair, just plain old black sunglasses, but they were five dollars cheaper. Bonus!
With new glasses in hand the following morning we set off on another rafting adventure. The glasses survived. We got back to camp, had some lunch, and loaded everyone into the truck to make the second run of the day. There is a spot after the two biggest rapids where you can stop to cliff jump, and Brett couldn't resist. So again, he hands me his hat and pulls his sunglasses off. Once again, they broke. He was having the worst possible luck with those damn sunglasses. At least it wasn't his nice pair, for that I was grateful. So once again we ventured into town for a new pair. There really weren't that many to choose from in the first place, but by now there are only like eight pairs left, most of which have reflective lenses, Yuck. We realized that he was going to have to settle for something a little less normal, and venture out of his bubble a little bit. That's when we laid our eyes on these babies:
They looked like they had been shipped in straight from Jamaica. We all had our little jokes about them, and most of us sang the theme from Cool Runnings to him on a daily basis. But, the funniest part is those $10 sunglasses, fit for a Jamaican king, lasted the rest of the trip. So for the next five days, everyone at camp had a good laugh at Brett's expense everytime he wore them, but at least we didn't have to buy anymore sunglasses.
The first day down the river we were at the one slow stretch where you can get out of the boat and swim around, and Brett had taken his hat and sunglasses off, and handed them to me to hold for him. The sunglasses must not have been very good quality, what do you expect for $20? When he was pulling them off of his face they broke right at the bridge between the two lenses. Though they were still technically in one piece, they were useless. So after we were done rafting for the day we drove the 15 minutes to the nearest town, and found another pair at a local gas station. They looked similar to the other pair, just plain old black sunglasses, but they were five dollars cheaper. Bonus!
With new glasses in hand the following morning we set off on another rafting adventure. The glasses survived. We got back to camp, had some lunch, and loaded everyone into the truck to make the second run of the day. There is a spot after the two biggest rapids where you can stop to cliff jump, and Brett couldn't resist. So again, he hands me his hat and pulls his sunglasses off. Once again, they broke. He was having the worst possible luck with those damn sunglasses. At least it wasn't his nice pair, for that I was grateful. So once again we ventured into town for a new pair. There really weren't that many to choose from in the first place, but by now there are only like eight pairs left, most of which have reflective lenses, Yuck. We realized that he was going to have to settle for something a little less normal, and venture out of his bubble a little bit. That's when we laid our eyes on these babies:
They looked like they had been shipped in straight from Jamaica. We all had our little jokes about them, and most of us sang the theme from Cool Runnings to him on a daily basis. But, the funniest part is those $10 sunglasses, fit for a Jamaican king, lasted the rest of the trip. So for the next five days, everyone at camp had a good laugh at Brett's expense everytime he wore them, but at least we didn't have to buy anymore sunglasses.
August 4, 2009
Jackson {part 4}
During the times when we weren't on the river we had a lot of fun at camp. Playing games, making smore's, pulling funny faces, talking, cooking, laughing, telling jokes, and just hanging out. Chaz's family are some of the most funny people we know. The whole week really was just awesome. When we first got there everyone kept telling us how much it usually rains, but we didn't see any for the first five days. It was absolutely beautiful. They kept cracking jokes about how the rain follows Toni {chaz's mom} everywhere she goes, and maybe it wasn't raining because she wasn't there yet. Sure enough, Friday morning as soon as Toni shows up. Rain. It was pretty funny.
Two different nights Chaz cooked in the Dutch Ovens for everyone. I must say, I have never had better ribs or chicken. Ever. It was so delicious!
One of my favorite parts about the trip was when we burned the copper pipe. Have you ever done this before? If not I would strongly recommend it the next time you go camping. I had never heard of this before, and so when they were telling me about it I was a little sceptical, but it works. You take a foot long section of copper pipe with a bunch of small holes drilled all over it, and put a piece of rubber hose in the middle. Then you stick it in the middle of your camp fire, and voila! Your campfire becomes colorful. Ours was green, blue, purple, and pink. It was so fun to watch.
We want to say a special thank you to the Schlange family for letting us tag along on this awesome camping trip! We have never had so much fun in our lives, and we really do appreciate everything you did for us. Hopefully they will invite us back next year!
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