Friday, June 30, 2006
the curse continues
so as my camry lay quietly in the service center at toyota, the van died on Tom at pye lane. great. my vacuum broke, again, and we still don't have a tv or a weed wacker. dad could not leave work, so Tom got a ride from a stranger home. the van is still at pye lane, and dad just went over there with Tom to check it out. poor dad.
My drunk driving experience
Alright, I guess now that I have a little time, I will blog about my "drunk driving story" as mom likes to call it.
After graduation, there were many parties going on. I probably had about 9 or 10 that I was invited to. People are crazy I think for making their party the same day as graduation if they expect their friends to come but thats beside the point. Anyways after I stopped at 2 parties I went to my friend Kaitlins for hers. This one had a lot of people and was alot of fun. Well naturally, due to the ways of nonmembers, alot of people were drinking, including some of my friends. Which I have to say isnt that big of a deal to me anymore since basically every highschool student does it. Again, anyways it was around 2 in the morning when I left to go home but I first had to drive Craig and Sean home, being that they had acouple drinks and needed a ride. Well I am on my way home when suddenly I saw lights flashing behind me. Of course it was a cop and of course I was pretty nervous. I didnt know why he was pulling me over either because I wasnt speeding.
Well I pulled over and he walked to the car and asked me for my license and stuff and then asked if I was drinking. I immediately said no, probably too fast because it sounded as if a mother had asked her 2 year old if they took the cookies from the cookie jar and they respond in a hundredth of a second with a no. He looked at me with unsure eyes and then asked why he smelt alcohol. I stared at him not knowing what to say because I wasnt sure if he would get my friends in trouble or not. But it was only a couple seconds before Sean, who was sitting in the front seat, told the cop that he had been drinking and thats where the smell came from. The cop then asked if I knew why I was being pulled over. I said no and he told me I was going over the white line. I knew this wasnt true but I just told him I didnt notice and I was sorry. He wasnt mean but still asked me to step out of the car to test if I really hadnt been drinking. I was kind of excited to what they would make me do especially since I knew that I would prove to them that I wasnt lying so fast.
We walked behind my car and he pulled out a pen. He held the pen out and then asked me to put my index finger on top of it. Well I thought that your index finger was what I now know as the ring finger, so I confidently put my ring finger on the pen, with the attitude of, you have got to be kidding, I wasnt drinking, what a stupid thing to have me do. Well my miss know it all attitude was immediately shot down when he looked at me and said, Lady, that is not your index finger. I looked at him as if he was crazy and began to argue. "Yes it is I," said but he shook his head. I was so confused and then asked him which one the index finger was then. He pointed to his "pointer" finger and being the moron that I am, kind of raised my voice and said NO, thats your pointer finger. He then said it was both and I figured I was probably wrong like usual and i wanted to go home since it was late so I said that I was sorry and I really had no idea.
Then he said okay, Im going to move the pen back and forth or up and down, follow it with your eyes and your eyes only. So again, inside Im like this is going to be cake. Well I was proved wrong again. As soon as he moved the pen to the left, my entire head turned left to watch the pen. And immediately out loud I said, "Shoot!, I didnt mean to do that!" He laughed and I swear he must of thought I was insane. Well eventually he let me try again and I passed his test and he told me I could go home and that it was nice of me to drive my friends home.
And I have to say I felt pretty lame after that until we later asked Jacob if he knew which finger his index finger was. He immeditely said it was the "ring" finger as well =). Anyways it was some experience and made me remember how much of a loser I really am.
After graduation, there were many parties going on. I probably had about 9 or 10 that I was invited to. People are crazy I think for making their party the same day as graduation if they expect their friends to come but thats beside the point. Anyways after I stopped at 2 parties I went to my friend Kaitlins for hers. This one had a lot of people and was alot of fun. Well naturally, due to the ways of nonmembers, alot of people were drinking, including some of my friends. Which I have to say isnt that big of a deal to me anymore since basically every highschool student does it. Again, anyways it was around 2 in the morning when I left to go home but I first had to drive Craig and Sean home, being that they had acouple drinks and needed a ride. Well I am on my way home when suddenly I saw lights flashing behind me. Of course it was a cop and of course I was pretty nervous. I didnt know why he was pulling me over either because I wasnt speeding.
Well I pulled over and he walked to the car and asked me for my license and stuff and then asked if I was drinking. I immediately said no, probably too fast because it sounded as if a mother had asked her 2 year old if they took the cookies from the cookie jar and they respond in a hundredth of a second with a no. He looked at me with unsure eyes and then asked why he smelt alcohol. I stared at him not knowing what to say because I wasnt sure if he would get my friends in trouble or not. But it was only a couple seconds before Sean, who was sitting in the front seat, told the cop that he had been drinking and thats where the smell came from. The cop then asked if I knew why I was being pulled over. I said no and he told me I was going over the white line. I knew this wasnt true but I just told him I didnt notice and I was sorry. He wasnt mean but still asked me to step out of the car to test if I really hadnt been drinking. I was kind of excited to what they would make me do especially since I knew that I would prove to them that I wasnt lying so fast.
We walked behind my car and he pulled out a pen. He held the pen out and then asked me to put my index finger on top of it. Well I thought that your index finger was what I now know as the ring finger, so I confidently put my ring finger on the pen, with the attitude of, you have got to be kidding, I wasnt drinking, what a stupid thing to have me do. Well my miss know it all attitude was immediately shot down when he looked at me and said, Lady, that is not your index finger. I looked at him as if he was crazy and began to argue. "Yes it is I," said but he shook his head. I was so confused and then asked him which one the index finger was then. He pointed to his "pointer" finger and being the moron that I am, kind of raised my voice and said NO, thats your pointer finger. He then said it was both and I figured I was probably wrong like usual and i wanted to go home since it was late so I said that I was sorry and I really had no idea.
Then he said okay, Im going to move the pen back and forth or up and down, follow it with your eyes and your eyes only. So again, inside Im like this is going to be cake. Well I was proved wrong again. As soon as he moved the pen to the left, my entire head turned left to watch the pen. And immediately out loud I said, "Shoot!, I didnt mean to do that!" He laughed and I swear he must of thought I was insane. Well eventually he let me try again and I passed his test and he told me I could go home and that it was nice of me to drive my friends home.
And I have to say I felt pretty lame after that until we later asked Jacob if he knew which finger his index finger was. He immeditely said it was the "ring" finger as well =). Anyways it was some experience and made me remember how much of a loser I really am.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Americans have no friends
I found this article (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060626/od_nm/life_friends_dc_1 ) the other day and found it intriguing. This is something that Tevia and I have talked about a lot over the past few years, and I would unfortunately have to admit that we fall into these sad stats. In the article it talks about how Americans have very few "close" friends, especially compared to just 20 years ago. It talks about how nearly 25% of people admitted they have no close friends, and over 50% said they had less than two and their close friends were mainly comprised of spouses and family members.
After I read this article I happened to speak to a couple of people (Jacob Wall and Risa) and was surprised to hear that they found this to be true as well. It seems we as a society have lost the ability to make/keep close friends. I look at my own life and see that I rarely over the past few years have had a close friend. I could probably name one or two, but for the most part my close friends would be family members (wife, parents, sibling, in-laws). I don't think this is because I am a loser (though I'm sure some might argue this point), but certainly between work, church, and moving around this makes finding close friends much more difficult. We are constantly on the go and don't even get a chance to know our neighbors unless we are in a neighborhood for years. People at work are friends, but you typically don't hang out a lot with coworkers, especially if you are in management as this tends to give bad signals (I recently experienced this as we invited a few people from my team over for a get-together and other members of my team felt ostracized even though the reason we invited them was because they had invited us over in the first place).
The article talks about the dangers of not having close friends. If we don't have them, to whom do we turn? During events like Hurricane Katrina, who do you turn to ask if you can live with them? People are isolated and are fragile when stressful situations arise.
I am not sure how to resolve this issue which I certainly agree is happening in our society, but I am grateful for the strength of our family. I consider each of you a close friend and know I could depend on you if necessary. I hope you know the same is true of you. Thank you for being my friend. With all of the Church's emphasis on the family, it seems most appropriate given the trend signaled with the findings of this article. I guess a virtual friend will never be quite the same as a real one.
After I read this article I happened to speak to a couple of people (Jacob Wall and Risa) and was surprised to hear that they found this to be true as well. It seems we as a society have lost the ability to make/keep close friends. I look at my own life and see that I rarely over the past few years have had a close friend. I could probably name one or two, but for the most part my close friends would be family members (wife, parents, sibling, in-laws). I don't think this is because I am a loser (though I'm sure some might argue this point), but certainly between work, church, and moving around this makes finding close friends much more difficult. We are constantly on the go and don't even get a chance to know our neighbors unless we are in a neighborhood for years. People at work are friends, but you typically don't hang out a lot with coworkers, especially if you are in management as this tends to give bad signals (I recently experienced this as we invited a few people from my team over for a get-together and other members of my team felt ostracized even though the reason we invited them was because they had invited us over in the first place).
The article talks about the dangers of not having close friends. If we don't have them, to whom do we turn? During events like Hurricane Katrina, who do you turn to ask if you can live with them? People are isolated and are fragile when stressful situations arise.
I am not sure how to resolve this issue which I certainly agree is happening in our society, but I am grateful for the strength of our family. I consider each of you a close friend and know I could depend on you if necessary. I hope you know the same is true of you. Thank you for being my friend. With all of the Church's emphasis on the family, it seems most appropriate given the trend signaled with the findings of this article. I guess a virtual friend will never be quite the same as a real one.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Havasupai June 2006
The scoutmaster had told all of us to be at the church by 9 PM on Tuesday June 20. I arrived 10 minutes early as I usually do and most of the scouts arrived shortly thereafter. We were supposed to leave the church parking lot by 9:30 but the scoutmaster didn't arrive until 9:45.
I had spent the last few days packing for the trip. My last trip I packed about 35 pounds down and was pretty sore, so I was going for 25 this trip. I switched from a standard tent to a "hammock tent" which really is just a hammock with some netting on it and a rainfly if you need it. It weighs about 1 pound (I borrowed this from one of my coworkers). I stuck with all basic and light food (freeze-dried, etc.). I only brought one change of clothes (we would be there for 4 or 5 days). In the end I was a little scared of being too cold, which sounds funny, so I added a blanket and pillow at the last minute which probably added a couple of pounds. In the end I think the pack (which I borrowed from Tevia's dad) along with my camelback weighed around 25 pounds. Right on target.
We had 12 boys and 6 adults. We drove up in 4 cars and left about 10 PM. I rode up with our ex-bishop and some boys and we listened to some church talk on the way up (I don't think the kids were too happy with this selection - nor was I as I thought some music might keep us awake). We arrived in Flagstaff a couple of hours later and stopped for bathroom breaks and snacks. We finally arrived at the top of Havasupai trail at just before 4 AM on Wednesday June 21. We put on our bags and began the 10 mile descent to the campground. I had a headlamp to hike in the dark as did most of the boys. This was a last minute decision that I was extremely happy about as holding a flashlight for hours while hiking can get tiring (according to those with flashlights).
Like most troops we were not very organized. A few of the boys started running down the switchbacks (make up the first mile or so of the hike) and I tried to stay close to keep an adult around. We ended up being so quick that by the time I got to the bottom I was out of range of the adults/scouts behind us. But it all worked out fine. The sun began to show its light around 5 and showed the beauty of the canyon. This was definitely a disadvantage of hiking in the dark as many missed the beauty of the top of the canyon. But in the end I think it was a good idea.
My last trip I believe it took us over 4 hours to get to the village (Supai) where you register. The campground is an additional 2 miles from there. I was able to get to the village in under 3 hours on the way down and was the first adult down. I was amazed at this and attribute it to the fact that by not being in the heat of the day (when the sun is up) made a huge difference in energy levels. The village was out of electricity as their transformer had broke the week before so their restaurant and hotel were closed. But the local store had a backup generator so I bought a "cool" cherry limeade soda I had never seen before. We then registered our group and I went down with a few to get the campsite while the others filtered in. By 9 AM I was in camp and set up. The last group of boys/adults strolled in around 11 or so - meaning it took them 7 hours to get down. Not counting the hour I waited in the village, it took me four. I wasn't nearly as sore as my last trip. Moslty my calves hurt, but my shoulders and feet were in great shape. And considering I hadn't slept since 6 AM the previous day, I was quite happy with myself.
Most of the scouts and adults were pretty sore - but some of us went up to the Havasupai Falls which you pass on the way down. These falls are spectacular. I remember seeing them the first time down with Tevia and seeing them was literally breathtaking. They did not disappoint this time, either. The clear, blue-tinged water was refreshingly cool and did wonders to sore muscles and sweat-stained skin. I took a few boys to swim behind the waterfall and jump in through the waterfall. The rest of the day we spent relaxing and by 6 PM most of the boys and adults were asleep. I finally went to bed around 9 in my hammock tent. It was great.
The beauty of the area is hard to explain. Imagine a desert surrounding with blue, blue water running in the middle of it. The water gives way to lush greenery in a canyon with walls hundreds of feet high. It is unlike anything you can imagine. If it were not so difficult to get to, I think it would be one of the most-visited campgrounds in the USA. The temperature during the day can get up to 105, but near the river (where all of the campsites are) it probably stays near 85 with a cool breeze and some nice humidity.
It was packed with people. They say they only allow 100 people down at a time, but there were well over 200 people there this week. At least 3 times as many as last time I went down. This was a little disappointing, but it actually isn't that bad since the sound of the waterfalls and stream and wind drown out a lot of the sound. At night you wouldn't even know people were around.
Thursday we woke up and headed down to Mooney Falls. These falls are higher (maybe 300 feet?) and the trail to get to them is fun - dotted with caves to crawl through and some areas that were scarey to people not accustomed to rock climbing or "scrambling." For someone like me it is fun and I love it. I was wearing my Teva sandals (which I wore last time I was there) which are good because they fit tight and can be used in the water. The bottom of the river is filled with jagged rocks, so going barefoot can be hard. Half way down the caves and rock walls I realized the soles to my sandals were falling off. By the time I got to the bottom both soles were gone and all that was left was the insole strapped to my feet. At the bottom the mist from the waterfall just sprays out and the falls are beautiful against the red rock. By this time I felt almost 100% we spent a lot of time swimming in the cold water. At these falls I took some boys out and, though you couldn't go behind, you could get close and then climb up about 15 feet and jump off. To get close to the falls you have to really fight the current. It is pretty amazing as you are being pushed back by the current and above you are being pushed back by wind and spray that literally hurts it is coming so fast. It was a lot of fun.
We hiked back for lunch and after lunch went back to Havasupai Falls. Since my sandals were really not much good any more, I went in bare feet. I figured I would just walk around and sit in the pools, etc. But when I saw some guys climbing up a section of the cliff near/behind the falls, I was tempted to join them. When I saw one guy doing it with no shoes, I couldn't resist. I swam out and attempted the climb up about 20 feet to jump in off the cliff. The climb was tough without shoes. In fact, I fell twice (not from very high) when my feet just didn't have the grip on the moss-covered rock. One of the scouts also fell from a little higher and hit his face on the way down. But he was okay and so was I. Nothing more than bruises and cuts. I eventually made it up and jumped in. My feet now hurt quite a bit, so I was worried about climbing back out of the canyon, but I knew I didn't have to worry about that for some time.
My food was all great. Each meal was basic and delicious. Most of the boys lived off of ramen or easy mac. We had a devotional that night and talked about what we would have done different now that we were down in the canyon. Most boys said they would have brought hammocks and different food.
There was also something new this time in the canyon. Some of the native americans sold some basic food down by the camp. I don't know if this is common now, but it was tempting to buy a hot dog or some fry bread or navajo tacos (though they called them "Indian Tacos" as they are not of the Navajo tribe). I didn't buy anything since I am cheap - but many of the others did and they said it was great.
Friday morning we decided to hike down to Beaver Falls. Our YM president said it was only a couple of miles from camp. Unfortunately it was more like 5 miles each way through some pretty tough climbing and trails. There were large sections which were amazing like going through a mile field of grape vines. Seeing a valley full of lush grape vines in a desert canyon was amazing. The trail was continually getting grown over so your legs would get torn up by the vines. We eventually made it and the boys did some cliff jumping (which I avoided at Tevia's request). Because it was further than expected, not all of us were prepared. On the hike out the boys I was with ran out of water and most were hiking in water socks. By the time I got back to camp I was sore again. I felt even more sore knowing that we were now going to leave that night back to the car. That would mean I hiked 10 miles that day and by the next morning I would have hiked another 10 miles. I admit I wasn't looking forward to it.
We decided to split into three groups for the hike out. A few had to leave at 6 PM on Friday night as one boy had to be back in town Saturday morning. We then had a slow group which was to leave at midnight and the fast group would leave at 2 AM. I didn't sleep much that night so I decided to go with the slow group as I was worried about them. I'm glad I did as I think without my motivation they would have taken over 10 hours to get out. By 6 AM we arrived at the switchbacks. So it took us 6 hours to go about 8 or 9 miles. A few of the boys with me were out of water (so I gave them mine) and the adult with me looked about dead. By this time the fast group caught up to us. Having gone with the slow group I realized how going slow is much worse. Sure, going fast might give you muscle aches or something, but you are only having a pack on for a few hours. Hiking in sand and rock for 6 hours with a pack is merciless. So though I am glad I went with the slow group for motivation, I definitely would rather have gone with the fast group.
With just over a mile left and two thousand feet to ascend and having the other group caught up to us, I abandoned the slow group and dashed to the top. I had promised any boy that could beat me to the top that I would take them to Dairy Queen. This was meant to motivate the slow boys, but it motivated the wrong group. At this point my knee was killing me. I have never had knee problems in my life, but each step felt painful. Hopefully it isn't bad. But I didn't care and began the ascent without looking up to avoid that awful feeling of "impossible." I made it up in less than 30 minutes and was the first to the top of our two groups. The sun, though having been providing light for hours now, was still not "up" over the canyon. This was a great thing as you do not want to have to ascend the switchbacks in sun. It was now just before 7 AM, so it had taken me almost 7 hours to get out (compared to 4 in). I was exhausted and in pain, but very happy. A few boys filtered in and those of us at the top clapped and congratulated each boy. A few lagged behind and some had to go down and get their packs and come back up. There were some great acts of service. But by 8 AM all of us had made it out - the last ones taking over 8 hours to get out. I found out later that the group that left at 6 PM the previous day took over 10 hours to get out. We were only a few hours behind them even though they left so much earlier.
It was a wonderful trip with great memories and fantastic scenery. I love it down there. As I now decide whether to plan a trip down in August with family and friends, I hope this gives them a good idea on what to be expecting. It was probably the most dirty I have been in years; the most sore I have been in years; and some of the most beautiful scenery I have seen. Saturday night I was feeling good. All that hurts now is my knee, and it has improved dramatically. Definitely I wasn't as sore as last time. I attribute this to training (more hikes to get ready this time), a lighter pack and hiking at night.
Tomorrow I go back to reality - but in fact reality was Havasupai. We are so blessed with technology and money that life has evolved away from the simplicity which it once was. Trips like this help me to remember that there is so much more to life than work and money. Indeed, they matter so little.
I had spent the last few days packing for the trip. My last trip I packed about 35 pounds down and was pretty sore, so I was going for 25 this trip. I switched from a standard tent to a "hammock tent" which really is just a hammock with some netting on it and a rainfly if you need it. It weighs about 1 pound (I borrowed this from one of my coworkers). I stuck with all basic and light food (freeze-dried, etc.). I only brought one change of clothes (we would be there for 4 or 5 days). In the end I was a little scared of being too cold, which sounds funny, so I added a blanket and pillow at the last minute which probably added a couple of pounds. In the end I think the pack (which I borrowed from Tevia's dad) along with my camelback weighed around 25 pounds. Right on target.
We had 12 boys and 6 adults. We drove up in 4 cars and left about 10 PM. I rode up with our ex-bishop and some boys and we listened to some church talk on the way up (I don't think the kids were too happy with this selection - nor was I as I thought some music might keep us awake). We arrived in Flagstaff a couple of hours later and stopped for bathroom breaks and snacks. We finally arrived at the top of Havasupai trail at just before 4 AM on Wednesday June 21. We put on our bags and began the 10 mile descent to the campground. I had a headlamp to hike in the dark as did most of the boys. This was a last minute decision that I was extremely happy about as holding a flashlight for hours while hiking can get tiring (according to those with flashlights).
Like most troops we were not very organized. A few of the boys started running down the switchbacks (make up the first mile or so of the hike) and I tried to stay close to keep an adult around. We ended up being so quick that by the time I got to the bottom I was out of range of the adults/scouts behind us. But it all worked out fine. The sun began to show its light around 5 and showed the beauty of the canyon. This was definitely a disadvantage of hiking in the dark as many missed the beauty of the top of the canyon. But in the end I think it was a good idea.
My last trip I believe it took us over 4 hours to get to the village (Supai) where you register. The campground is an additional 2 miles from there. I was able to get to the village in under 3 hours on the way down and was the first adult down. I was amazed at this and attribute it to the fact that by not being in the heat of the day (when the sun is up) made a huge difference in energy levels. The village was out of electricity as their transformer had broke the week before so their restaurant and hotel were closed. But the local store had a backup generator so I bought a "cool" cherry limeade soda I had never seen before. We then registered our group and I went down with a few to get the campsite while the others filtered in. By 9 AM I was in camp and set up. The last group of boys/adults strolled in around 11 or so - meaning it took them 7 hours to get down. Not counting the hour I waited in the village, it took me four. I wasn't nearly as sore as my last trip. Moslty my calves hurt, but my shoulders and feet were in great shape. And considering I hadn't slept since 6 AM the previous day, I was quite happy with myself.
Most of the scouts and adults were pretty sore - but some of us went up to the Havasupai Falls which you pass on the way down. These falls are spectacular. I remember seeing them the first time down with Tevia and seeing them was literally breathtaking. They did not disappoint this time, either. The clear, blue-tinged water was refreshingly cool and did wonders to sore muscles and sweat-stained skin. I took a few boys to swim behind the waterfall and jump in through the waterfall. The rest of the day we spent relaxing and by 6 PM most of the boys and adults were asleep. I finally went to bed around 9 in my hammock tent. It was great.
The beauty of the area is hard to explain. Imagine a desert surrounding with blue, blue water running in the middle of it. The water gives way to lush greenery in a canyon with walls hundreds of feet high. It is unlike anything you can imagine. If it were not so difficult to get to, I think it would be one of the most-visited campgrounds in the USA. The temperature during the day can get up to 105, but near the river (where all of the campsites are) it probably stays near 85 with a cool breeze and some nice humidity.
It was packed with people. They say they only allow 100 people down at a time, but there were well over 200 people there this week. At least 3 times as many as last time I went down. This was a little disappointing, but it actually isn't that bad since the sound of the waterfalls and stream and wind drown out a lot of the sound. At night you wouldn't even know people were around.
Thursday we woke up and headed down to Mooney Falls. These falls are higher (maybe 300 feet?) and the trail to get to them is fun - dotted with caves to crawl through and some areas that were scarey to people not accustomed to rock climbing or "scrambling." For someone like me it is fun and I love it. I was wearing my Teva sandals (which I wore last time I was there) which are good because they fit tight and can be used in the water. The bottom of the river is filled with jagged rocks, so going barefoot can be hard. Half way down the caves and rock walls I realized the soles to my sandals were falling off. By the time I got to the bottom both soles were gone and all that was left was the insole strapped to my feet. At the bottom the mist from the waterfall just sprays out and the falls are beautiful against the red rock. By this time I felt almost 100% we spent a lot of time swimming in the cold water. At these falls I took some boys out and, though you couldn't go behind, you could get close and then climb up about 15 feet and jump off. To get close to the falls you have to really fight the current. It is pretty amazing as you are being pushed back by the current and above you are being pushed back by wind and spray that literally hurts it is coming so fast. It was a lot of fun.
We hiked back for lunch and after lunch went back to Havasupai Falls. Since my sandals were really not much good any more, I went in bare feet. I figured I would just walk around and sit in the pools, etc. But when I saw some guys climbing up a section of the cliff near/behind the falls, I was tempted to join them. When I saw one guy doing it with no shoes, I couldn't resist. I swam out and attempted the climb up about 20 feet to jump in off the cliff. The climb was tough without shoes. In fact, I fell twice (not from very high) when my feet just didn't have the grip on the moss-covered rock. One of the scouts also fell from a little higher and hit his face on the way down. But he was okay and so was I. Nothing more than bruises and cuts. I eventually made it up and jumped in. My feet now hurt quite a bit, so I was worried about climbing back out of the canyon, but I knew I didn't have to worry about that for some time.
My food was all great. Each meal was basic and delicious. Most of the boys lived off of ramen or easy mac. We had a devotional that night and talked about what we would have done different now that we were down in the canyon. Most boys said they would have brought hammocks and different food.
There was also something new this time in the canyon. Some of the native americans sold some basic food down by the camp. I don't know if this is common now, but it was tempting to buy a hot dog or some fry bread or navajo tacos (though they called them "Indian Tacos" as they are not of the Navajo tribe). I didn't buy anything since I am cheap - but many of the others did and they said it was great.
Friday morning we decided to hike down to Beaver Falls. Our YM president said it was only a couple of miles from camp. Unfortunately it was more like 5 miles each way through some pretty tough climbing and trails. There were large sections which were amazing like going through a mile field of grape vines. Seeing a valley full of lush grape vines in a desert canyon was amazing. The trail was continually getting grown over so your legs would get torn up by the vines. We eventually made it and the boys did some cliff jumping (which I avoided at Tevia's request). Because it was further than expected, not all of us were prepared. On the hike out the boys I was with ran out of water and most were hiking in water socks. By the time I got back to camp I was sore again. I felt even more sore knowing that we were now going to leave that night back to the car. That would mean I hiked 10 miles that day and by the next morning I would have hiked another 10 miles. I admit I wasn't looking forward to it.
We decided to split into three groups for the hike out. A few had to leave at 6 PM on Friday night as one boy had to be back in town Saturday morning. We then had a slow group which was to leave at midnight and the fast group would leave at 2 AM. I didn't sleep much that night so I decided to go with the slow group as I was worried about them. I'm glad I did as I think without my motivation they would have taken over 10 hours to get out. By 6 AM we arrived at the switchbacks. So it took us 6 hours to go about 8 or 9 miles. A few of the boys with me were out of water (so I gave them mine) and the adult with me looked about dead. By this time the fast group caught up to us. Having gone with the slow group I realized how going slow is much worse. Sure, going fast might give you muscle aches or something, but you are only having a pack on for a few hours. Hiking in sand and rock for 6 hours with a pack is merciless. So though I am glad I went with the slow group for motivation, I definitely would rather have gone with the fast group.
With just over a mile left and two thousand feet to ascend and having the other group caught up to us, I abandoned the slow group and dashed to the top. I had promised any boy that could beat me to the top that I would take them to Dairy Queen. This was meant to motivate the slow boys, but it motivated the wrong group. At this point my knee was killing me. I have never had knee problems in my life, but each step felt painful. Hopefully it isn't bad. But I didn't care and began the ascent without looking up to avoid that awful feeling of "impossible." I made it up in less than 30 minutes and was the first to the top of our two groups. The sun, though having been providing light for hours now, was still not "up" over the canyon. This was a great thing as you do not want to have to ascend the switchbacks in sun. It was now just before 7 AM, so it had taken me almost 7 hours to get out (compared to 4 in). I was exhausted and in pain, but very happy. A few boys filtered in and those of us at the top clapped and congratulated each boy. A few lagged behind and some had to go down and get their packs and come back up. There were some great acts of service. But by 8 AM all of us had made it out - the last ones taking over 8 hours to get out. I found out later that the group that left at 6 PM the previous day took over 10 hours to get out. We were only a few hours behind them even though they left so much earlier.
It was a wonderful trip with great memories and fantastic scenery. I love it down there. As I now decide whether to plan a trip down in August with family and friends, I hope this gives them a good idea on what to be expecting. It was probably the most dirty I have been in years; the most sore I have been in years; and some of the most beautiful scenery I have seen. Saturday night I was feeling good. All that hurts now is my knee, and it has improved dramatically. Definitely I wasn't as sore as last time. I attribute this to training (more hikes to get ready this time), a lighter pack and hiking at night.
Tomorrow I go back to reality - but in fact reality was Havasupai. We are so blessed with technology and money that life has evolved away from the simplicity which it once was. Trips like this help me to remember that there is so much more to life than work and money. Indeed, they matter so little.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
nature's blessings
I don't believe in luck, but the way I see it, nature has been good to us this year. I have already seen 2 hummingbirds in my front garden, and my lily is not even open yet. we have a new bunny that comes every day now in the back, so the new houses must have scared the foxes away. I saw a double rainbow last week. our bluebirds nested twice this year! I had a robin feeding its baby incident. I had lots of stawberries, and will have tons of raspberries. The tiny daisy plant Kathy gave me as a beehive 4 years ago in a little cup is now 2 ft high and in full bloom. I have a lavendar plant and as I walk by, oh, the smell is breathtaking! it has rained and rained, but on the day of Kathy's party, it was the only day in weeks with no chance of rain at all! It was supposed to pour all night during the Mets game, and again in the city last nigth when we went to the temple, 90% chance of severe thunderstorms all evening. we had a tiny sprinkling both evenings. so, although all kinds of man-made things have broken in the last few weeks, nature certainly has been on my side!
Friday, June 23, 2006
Noses and Noodles
So, we were eating dinner tonight, spaghetti, and all of a sudden Jarek's eyes start watering and he says his nose itches. So I tell him to go and get a tissue and blow it. He does, but still complains about it feeling funny. He keeps trying to blow it and I keep asking him what happened. Well, the next thing we know, he closes up one nostril and blows really hard and out comes a long strand of spaghetti. We were all laughing so hard. I guess he must have somehow sucked it up through his mouth on accident. Jarek promptly put the offending noodle in the garbage and said he couldn't wait to tell dad about the cool spaghetti incident.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
so proud!
Tom made All League in tennis, and has his pic on the wall in Ketcham. cool! Kathy rec'd an award last night at the awards banquet from the Congress of Teachers for leadership and citizenship. cool! they gave her $250.!
Hiking
So, yesterday I took the boys hiking to a place called Tonto Natural Bridge. It is about ten miles outside of Payson. My sister went with us, which I was very glad for, for many reasons. We were supposed to meet up with my aunt Tammy and her two children, my mom and her friend. Well we were about ten miles outside of Payson and they called and said they were still 15 miles outside of Payson, in a long, long line. There had been a massive accident and they would have to be waiting in that line possibly for two to three hours. Risa and I decided that we would just hang out at the McDonald's play land for a little while (since my kids never get to go there) then head up to the state park. We figured that by the time we got there, made our sandwiches, got things all ready and started hiking down, they would catch up with us.
Well, we had a fantastic time. There were a lot of different trails to choose from, and so we first went down this one trail called the Waterfall trail. It was a steep descent with a lot of stairs. Jarek did such a fantastic job and went ahead with Risa while I struggled to help Malik down. It was ultimately worth it since at the end there was a small trickling waterfall that was surrounded by lush greenery. So we hiked back up, both boys doing a good job, Malik needing far more help than Jarek, and still they hadn't come. So we decided to go to the main trail to start the hike to the Natural Bridge. Well, we started down, and it was tough going for Malik. We took breaks every few minutes so he could rest. About a quarter of the way down both boys wanted to turn back and go out of the canyon. We told them no and that we were going to keep on going. So we went down another few yards and both boys wanted to eat. So we found a shady bench and ate our lunch while people passed us going up and down.
While we were eating, this squirrel kept trying to get our food. It was a very brave squirrel and probably used to people. I had to keep shooing it away because it kept trying to get into the backpack. The boys were laughing so much at it.
So we finished our lunch and kept heading down the canyon. We rested a few more times and then made it to the almost end of the trail where the creek was. The boys took off their shoes and waded in. As we were wading, my mom and Hannah and Donny and my mom's friend came down the trail. My aunt Tammy had to go back up because she had hurt her knee really bad. (actually they ended up having to take her to the hospital on their way home. Still haven't heard if she blew it out or not) Well, since my mom was there, I left the boys with her, and Risa and I finished the rest of the hike up under the bridge. It was so beautiful!!! I wish we could have swam in some of the pools under there, but it was FORBIDDEN!!! So we just hiked around the rocks and took some pictures.
We stayed down there and let the boys get wet and dirty for about 45 min. Then we had to make the journey back up. Jarek was such a trooper and did a fantastic job all by himself. Malik had a little more trouble and Risa and I ended up "swinging" him up, as he would call it, past all the stairs. Risa was on one side of him, I on the other, and we would basically lift him up a bunch of stairs, rest, then do it again. He loved it.
All in all I was so proud of both kids that they didn't give up. It was slow going, and hard for Malik at times, but they did so good. I was proud of myself for not getting irritated and stressed about how slow they had to go. I wanted them to have an enjoyable time and not have to hear me complain about their slow little legs. I think they loved it and I think they will do fine at the Catwalks over the 4th of July weekend. It will also be a little easier for me since my dad and brothers will be there to help!
Again, I am glad Risa went with me, and I am so glad we went. It was a fun experience that we will all remember for a long, long time.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Saturday, June 17, 2006
the curse?
ok, so we had a wonderful party, and I was able to stay happy and calm all day and evening, despite what we figure, the curse someone put on us: the oven didn't seem to be working again, and the brownies with reese cups in them that usually take 15 minutes tops took an hour to make 2 batches, but they came out good. as Kathy vacuumed the stairs, the belt broke, leaving the basement with that lovely smell of burnt rubber, after I just had fabreezed the whole basement. then she went out to vacuum the pool and the triangle head piece broke off the pole, and we noticed it was being held together by green wire, meaning dad had already fixed it. so she had to finish vacuuming the pool with her foot holding down the vacuum head, literally vacuuming by foot! and the water was freezing, I may add. then Tom went to cut the lawn and he came in and said it wasn't picking up well and grass was coming out the back. He and Don wanted the yard to look specially nice for the party. well, I told him just do his best. He came back in soon and said now the lawnmore wouldn't turn at all to one side. great. so he had to leave the lawn half cut, leaving us open to lots of fun jokes as people came. ie: Br. DeMoura, "now this is a job that looks like Dinyo did it, half done." etc. hmmm. Then he bravely tried to weed-wack, but it ran out of string half way thru, and he didn't know how to replace it. so I went to buy the 2 helium balloons at the dollar store to put on the mailbox, and after all the years of telling my kids to hold on to them tightly, I somehow managed to let them go up to the beautiful clouds..... I went humbly back in and bought 2 more. lucky it was only $2. :) after that, and dad being grouchy when he got home and saw the front yard looking crumby and he tried to get Tom to finish weed-wacking as guests were arriving, the rest of the party was fun. I never sat down, never got to eat more than snacking on m&ms and twizzlers, but it was worth it. everyone loved the food. oh, and the cops came at 11 saying we were too loud! what a day.
if anyone is keeping track, we have quite a long list of broken things here at the Wall house. poor poor daddy. it should keep him busy till the fall.
if anyone is keeping track, we have quite a long list of broken things here at the Wall house. poor poor daddy. it should keep him busy till the fall.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Four small boys and Cars
Okay, so I was up to the neck in boys yesterday. I had Kipp's two kids for the day as I had volunteered to have them sleep over Wednesday night so Kipp could go play bball with Bret. (longer story involved here, but I will leave it at that).
So I planned a busy day for Thursday and we really had an enjoyable time. I decided to brave the theater with the four kids (which was in a way like having two sets of twins since the two older kids are the same age and the two younger kids are the same age) and take them to see Cars, since they seemed to already know all the characters in the movie thanks to the movie advertising experts. Well, one might think I am a little touched in the head to attempt such a feat, but in all honesty, these kids were so well behaved. Jarek was so helpful and responsible. He made sure that everybody had a hand held while walking in the parking lots, and sat on the opposite end from me to help corral the other kids in. He is such a fantastic helper and seems to be so mature for his age.
The movie was very good and I enjoyed it much more than Over the Hedge. Even Jarek, on the way out of the theater grabbed my hand and told me that the movie made him cry a little because it was so touching. He said he liked it better than Over the Hedge too. I had to laugh a little inside and appreciate him that much more because I myself was wiping tears from my eyes close to the end of the film due to a very touching scene. Could it be the pregnancy hormones? Perhaps, but I have to say that if my 6 year old son could sense and understand the significance of kindness, compassion and selflessness of one car, I can not just chalk up my emotions to the hormones.
All in all, it was a good day. The boys played nice together and made me grateful once again that we are adding another boy to our family.
So I planned a busy day for Thursday and we really had an enjoyable time. I decided to brave the theater with the four kids (which was in a way like having two sets of twins since the two older kids are the same age and the two younger kids are the same age) and take them to see Cars, since they seemed to already know all the characters in the movie thanks to the movie advertising experts. Well, one might think I am a little touched in the head to attempt such a feat, but in all honesty, these kids were so well behaved. Jarek was so helpful and responsible. He made sure that everybody had a hand held while walking in the parking lots, and sat on the opposite end from me to help corral the other kids in. He is such a fantastic helper and seems to be so mature for his age.
The movie was very good and I enjoyed it much more than Over the Hedge. Even Jarek, on the way out of the theater grabbed my hand and told me that the movie made him cry a little because it was so touching. He said he liked it better than Over the Hedge too. I had to laugh a little inside and appreciate him that much more because I myself was wiping tears from my eyes close to the end of the film due to a very touching scene. Could it be the pregnancy hormones? Perhaps, but I have to say that if my 6 year old son could sense and understand the significance of kindness, compassion and selflessness of one car, I can not just chalk up my emotions to the hormones.
All in all, it was a good day. The boys played nice together and made me grateful once again that we are adding another boy to our family.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
World Cup and the Diamondbacks
This week has been somewhat of a crazy week. I am very glad tomorrow is Friday - and look forward to going to Havasupai next week for 4 days. Wednesday of this week, however, was filled with some wonderful highlights.
Wednesday was the debut of Brazil during World Cup 2006 and I was looking forward to trying to catch the game as the USA debut was AWFUL! My idea was to go to the Brazilian restaurant down the street and watch it there. It is a bit pricey due to the fact that it is a rodizio-style place, but it sounded fun. AND IT WAS! I went with two of my employees (David Kennedy who served with me in Brazil and Carlos Aragon who grew up in Mozambique and hence also speaks Portuguese). The place was full (lotado they would say in Brazil) of Brazilians. They had some big screen TVs with a feed from Brazil so the game was in Portuguese. Yellow and Green were everywhere and there was rarely an English word to be heard. The local Univision was there filming the spectacle. So I was able to watch Brazil win their first game while enjoying a truly Brazilian atmosphere and eating Brazilian food. It was great. It was during lunch - so I was able to get away from work. ;-)
Upon returning from work we got ready to head downtown to Chase Field to watch the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the San Francisco Giants. A family in our ward had given us the tickets which turned out to be awesome tickets. We were in the lower section along the left side of the field only 9 rows from the field. This was close enough where literally Barry Bonds could hear me booing him. Tevia was apalled as many of the fans were booing Barry. I was able to get her to understand as I asked her if she wouldn't boo Kobe if we were at a Lakers game. She conceded she would. The Diamondbacks even won. We didn't get to catch any foul balls, but if the boys were more agressive they could have easilly gotten some balls from the players. It was a great family evening.
Wednesday was the debut of Brazil during World Cup 2006 and I was looking forward to trying to catch the game as the USA debut was AWFUL! My idea was to go to the Brazilian restaurant down the street and watch it there. It is a bit pricey due to the fact that it is a rodizio-style place, but it sounded fun. AND IT WAS! I went with two of my employees (David Kennedy who served with me in Brazil and Carlos Aragon who grew up in Mozambique and hence also speaks Portuguese). The place was full (lotado they would say in Brazil) of Brazilians. They had some big screen TVs with a feed from Brazil so the game was in Portuguese. Yellow and Green were everywhere and there was rarely an English word to be heard. The local Univision was there filming the spectacle. So I was able to watch Brazil win their first game while enjoying a truly Brazilian atmosphere and eating Brazilian food. It was great. It was during lunch - so I was able to get away from work. ;-)
Upon returning from work we got ready to head downtown to Chase Field to watch the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the San Francisco Giants. A family in our ward had given us the tickets which turned out to be awesome tickets. We were in the lower section along the left side of the field only 9 rows from the field. This was close enough where literally Barry Bonds could hear me booing him. Tevia was apalled as many of the fans were booing Barry. I was able to get her to understand as I asked her if she wouldn't boo Kobe if we were at a Lakers game. She conceded she would. The Diamondbacks even won. We didn't get to catch any foul balls, but if the boys were more agressive they could have easilly gotten some balls from the players. It was a great family evening.
lovely menopause, let's party
OK, that sounds boring and dumb, but I am celebrating today because I am officially in menopause and can go off birth control! on the down size, for information for Bret and those of you who work with women my age, I cried after my meeting last night. Crying is a normal sign of it, and there is nothing anyone can do. well, I can try hormone treatment, but I would rather cry often than get cancer. I want to try it the natural way. So be patient with us old ladies, cause someday it will be your wife crying at the drop of a hat, hot all the time, and having nightmares. yes, my doc today said this is also a sign. He said that menopause is like PMS, but it is ongoing, off and on with no timing, rather than monthly. Just GREAT! I always had a nightmare my PMS week, and thus....
for the good news, tomorrow is the BIG party for Kathy- she invited tons of people! Tom already cut the back lawn really nice. we will have the pool ready and volleyball and badminton and a new net for ping-pong and 2 -6'long subs, 2 cakes, brownies, ziti, and all the snacks and soda you can eat. wish you could all come and join us. hopefully her friends won't drink like Bret's did at his party!
for the good news, tomorrow is the BIG party for Kathy- she invited tons of people! Tom already cut the back lawn really nice. we will have the pool ready and volleyball and badminton and a new net for ping-pong and 2 -6'long subs, 2 cakes, brownies, ziti, and all the snacks and soda you can eat. wish you could all come and join us. hopefully her friends won't drink like Bret's did at his party!
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
A very short story
Okay, so I am writing a little again. I got a prompt from the literary group I am in (and have been neglecting) and thought I would share with you what I wrote. I wrote this this morning while Bret was on a conference call. Please remember that I am a little rusty as my creative side of the brain has not been used in quite sometime. It felt good to write again and I hope you enjoy this little piece. Oh, we were given random words we had to use in our writing. They are: crepe, jump, sage, next-door, subspecies and force.
Nature's Remedy
She awoke every morning just before the sun peeked over the edge of the horizon. Rubbing the night's sleep from her eyes she pushed back the cobweb of dreams that lingered just within her memory. Another restless night like that and she would be forced to make an appointment with her doctor.
She tied her robe around her waist, deciding to jump in the shower later in the morning. Outside in the back, bird song beckoned her with every chirp and twitter. She grabbed a cup of coffee, loaded it up with sugar and inhaled the rich, deep aroma. Oh how she longed for David's culinary expertise in the mornings. He always made the best strawberry-peach crepes. She never could eat just one. They would have been perfect with her steaming coffee and just the right start to a new day. There was no point in wishing for either now. David was gone. She brushed the memory and a small tear quickly away.
The creaking hinges on the screen door silenced the birds momentarily. She shuffled quietly to her white wicker rocking chair and mentally reminded herself to oil the hinges later that evening. Next door, a light turned on in the kitchen and she could hear Mrs. Jaemson hollering for her teenagers to get up. She remembered the days when her mother had to force her out of bed early in the morning. She chuckled to herself thinking how most of her friend's parens felt their teenagers were little more than subspecies of themselves. She was quite a bear in the morning back then, but now, every hour counted and she loved the peace and joy of an early start.
A warm splash of sun had crept over the horizon and rested gently on her cheek. She rocked quietly back and forth resting her soft, wrinkled hand in the pool of warmth. A slight breeze stirred the air, perfumed with mint, sage and lilac. She needed to trim and feed her herb garden again soon. David would be so proud of how well she was keeping it up in his absence. She sighed. The deep ache in her heart still lingered, but as she did each morning, she let the bird song wash over her and through her to carry a small fraction of her sorrow away. Each day would be easier; each day would bring her closer to him.
Nature's Remedy
She awoke every morning just before the sun peeked over the edge of the horizon. Rubbing the night's sleep from her eyes she pushed back the cobweb of dreams that lingered just within her memory. Another restless night like that and she would be forced to make an appointment with her doctor.
She tied her robe around her waist, deciding to jump in the shower later in the morning. Outside in the back, bird song beckoned her with every chirp and twitter. She grabbed a cup of coffee, loaded it up with sugar and inhaled the rich, deep aroma. Oh how she longed for David's culinary expertise in the mornings. He always made the best strawberry-peach crepes. She never could eat just one. They would have been perfect with her steaming coffee and just the right start to a new day. There was no point in wishing for either now. David was gone. She brushed the memory and a small tear quickly away.
The creaking hinges on the screen door silenced the birds momentarily. She shuffled quietly to her white wicker rocking chair and mentally reminded herself to oil the hinges later that evening. Next door, a light turned on in the kitchen and she could hear Mrs. Jaemson hollering for her teenagers to get up. She remembered the days when her mother had to force her out of bed early in the morning. She chuckled to herself thinking how most of her friend's parens felt their teenagers were little more than subspecies of themselves. She was quite a bear in the morning back then, but now, every hour counted and she loved the peace and joy of an early start.
A warm splash of sun had crept over the horizon and rested gently on her cheek. She rocked quietly back and forth resting her soft, wrinkled hand in the pool of warmth. A slight breeze stirred the air, perfumed with mint, sage and lilac. She needed to trim and feed her herb garden again soon. David would be so proud of how well she was keeping it up in his absence. She sighed. The deep ache in her heart still lingered, but as she did each morning, she let the bird song wash over her and through her to carry a small fraction of her sorrow away. Each day would be easier; each day would bring her closer to him.
Monday, June 12, 2006
nightmares vs happy dreams
I don't know why, but I am having a lot of nightmares, like 2 a week. weird. bees and gorillas and armies bombing my city and all kinds of stuff. my mom, on the other hand, told me that she hasn't had a nightmare in years. she only has happy dreams. and she dreams all the time. why am I having so many nightmares? any ideas? am I stressed? I don't feel stressed anymore. maybe I am way deep inside. oh well, tis interesting. the dreams are really real and cool and fun to remember and figure out. Jacob, one was I was using that can of bee spray that you and dad always tell me not to bother buying. I was spraying a nest( like a bird nest, but it had 3 black big bumble bees in it) and the mother came chasing me and it was as big as a robin, and as it came closer I kept right on spraying at it in the air, but the spray was doing no good and I woke up screaming at my mom's house and she and Milan heard me. weird.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
week with Grandma
I was glad to be able to serve my mother for the week. It is a very special and endearing experience. I was busy from morning to night, wheeling her around in her wheel chair. she made great progress during the week. When I first got there on Sunday, she barely got out of bed. by Friday, she was wheeling herself all around the house. we had great talks, laughs, and cries. she told me lots more about herself, my dad, and Johnny. I hope I can write these down sometime. she will be stuck at home for 4 more weeks, then she sees the orthopedic surgeon again. she is totally non-weight bearing till then. it is much harder for a 78 year old lady to lift herself up with one leg and stand. she can not use crutches at all. please keep her in your prayers, call her, and write her. she is bored and lonely. 440-845-1349. also, she would love a picture from Jarek. thanks so much.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
HAPPPPPY BIRTHDAY!!
heyyy this blog is for the birthday boy =). Bret im not sure of your email, i know tev's, maybe theyre the same but i didnt want to take a chance. So i figure if i blog, im safe. I just want to wish you a happy happy birthday and let you know that i love you. You are such an example to me and are everything that i want in someone i marry. Thank you for being such an amazing older brother. I am so glad that i am your sister. Have an awesome day!!
love your lil sis, kathy
love your lil sis, kathy
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
I love Google
It is not often that I attach myself so much to a brand. In fact, in most cases I can't stand the concept of "brand" and try to avoid any appearance of brand. I do not wear clothes with brand symbols on them (i.e. I will NEVER wear a Polo shirt with a horse on it or a Tommy Hilfiger shirt with the symbol, etc.). But once in a while a brand comes around that I just relate to. One was Mossimo back in high school that I thought was a great brand that I related to (not so much now, but once in a while I buy a Mossimo article of clothing).
But the last few years Google has proven to be such a brand. I love it - and love almost everything Google. In fact, it seems everything they come out with makes in impact on my life. This blog, for example, was only started since I found it in Google Labs. It has had a huge impact on my life and, presumably, my family. Google Talk has gotten me back into IMing. Googles corportate policies and philosophy have made me drool and it has become the number one place I would like to work as they focus more on flexibility and the understanding that free time is necessary in order to invent and be creative. Sitting at email all day does the opposite. Their semi-sponsored music player (Rhapsody) fits my needs as it plays all media types: mp3, apple, and .wmv. Their calendar tool has helped organize my own life - something that I use at work that I never was able to take advantage at home. Now I can have reminders sent to me and have events listed at home. Plus I can create a Young Men's Calendar that we as a presidency can use to list all events for the next 12 months with reminders, invites, etc.
Today they released a spreadsheet website that enables users to create/import/manipulate spreadsheets online. No need to purchase MS Office or MS Excel (which costs hundreds of dollars by the way!). Now we can have the basics for free. Does the first counselor not have Excel but you track everything in Excel? No problem now. Upload it into your Google Spreadsheet and you can then share it with other users and even allow them to edit it if you like. No software to buy or even download. And no need to back it up in case your brother crashes your harddrive, Google will store it for you and you can access it from any computer in the world. And at the same time, they are sticking it to Microsoft and Bill Gates. I love Google.
But the last few years Google has proven to be such a brand. I love it - and love almost everything Google. In fact, it seems everything they come out with makes in impact on my life. This blog, for example, was only started since I found it in Google Labs. It has had a huge impact on my life and, presumably, my family. Google Talk has gotten me back into IMing. Googles corportate policies and philosophy have made me drool and it has become the number one place I would like to work as they focus more on flexibility and the understanding that free time is necessary in order to invent and be creative. Sitting at email all day does the opposite. Their semi-sponsored music player (Rhapsody) fits my needs as it plays all media types: mp3, apple, and .wmv. Their calendar tool has helped organize my own life - something that I use at work that I never was able to take advantage at home. Now I can have reminders sent to me and have events listed at home. Plus I can create a Young Men's Calendar that we as a presidency can use to list all events for the next 12 months with reminders, invites, etc.
Today they released a spreadsheet website that enables users to create/import/manipulate spreadsheets online. No need to purchase MS Office or MS Excel (which costs hundreds of dollars by the way!). Now we can have the basics for free. Does the first counselor not have Excel but you track everything in Excel? No problem now. Upload it into your Google Spreadsheet and you can then share it with other users and even allow them to edit it if you like. No software to buy or even download. And no need to back it up in case your brother crashes your harddrive, Google will store it for you and you can access it from any computer in the world. And at the same time, they are sticking it to Microsoft and Bill Gates. I love Google.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Another Friday Night Alone
Well...not exactly. Tevia is out with Risa seeing X3 (yes, I'm jealous). I hope she has fun. I just put the boys to bed. Jarek lost his second tooth tonight. He was excited to have the tooth fairy come again tonight. Last night she brought a dollar for his first tooth. She must be doing well these days.
So I 'm listening to Shakira (Hips Don't Lie) which I think is what I was listening to last week when I blogged. I am a big fan of hers. This was a busy week. I've had two new clients starting the last two weeks. It is a lot of work to transition a new account. I was supposed to have to travel to Grand Rapids again next week. Luckilly the meeting got delayed so I don't have to go. I didn't feel like travelling again.
I think Tevia and Risa are home. Not much going on besides work. Tomorrow we are planning on going kayaking on the lake with some people from my team. Should be fun in the 110 degree heat! I'm going to go spend time with my sweetheart. I really like her.
So I 'm listening to Shakira (Hips Don't Lie) which I think is what I was listening to last week when I blogged. I am a big fan of hers. This was a busy week. I've had two new clients starting the last two weeks. It is a lot of work to transition a new account. I was supposed to have to travel to Grand Rapids again next week. Luckilly the meeting got delayed so I don't have to go. I didn't feel like travelling again.
I think Tevia and Risa are home. Not much going on besides work. Tomorrow we are planning on going kayaking on the lake with some people from my team. Should be fun in the 110 degree heat! I'm going to go spend time with my sweetheart. I really like her.
fledglings
We had baby blue birds, and we watched every single day, and one day, they were just gone. we didn't get to see them 'fledge'. but, today, I was just sitting on the couch trying not to be upset about the $400. car problem on my Camry, and talking to dad about it, when low and behold a baby robin just flies over and sits on my back upper deck railing. it was smaller than a robin, but bigger than I exppected. it had no tail feathers, and just sat there with its mouth open. and... right while I was watching, it's mother flew over and put something in its mouth! just right in front of me. it happened twice, and then I went to get my camera, snapped a pic of the baby, and waited to see the mom come again, but the baby flew off into the nearest tree. there again, the mother fed it. so I did after all get to see a baby bird fledge. oh, how the Lord loves me. it was adorable, and so what about the car. all cars cost money. some censor on the ABS brakes went out. but it is getting all fixed up with an oil change and inspection so I can drive it to Cleveland and feel safe about it.
work space pics
Bret, dad and I were curious as to whose pics you have in your office or cube? and is it an office or cube? I have to admit, I don't even know what it looks like. describe please. sorry you are so busy lately.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
What's this kid missing???
Can you find what is missing on this child????Today was a fun milestone for Jarek and I am sure we will celebrate accordingly. :)
almost new favorite book
Not the whole book, but parts of this book, The Great Divorce by CS Lewis, are incredible. the only reason the rest isn't incredible to me is that I don't really understand some of the chapters. It is really deep, and I am amazed after reading these two books together and seeing Narnia what an amazing thinker he was. and how much he understood about God and religion. I am going to look up more about him for our book club tonight. there are some chapters in the Great Divorce that can almost be scripture! He sends beautiful thoughts to my mind about Heaven, and a whole new outlook on what a person's real hell may be. a tough read, but interesting. well, probably not to Jacob Wall. hee hee
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