The ONE Thing I Hate About St. George

Cockroaches in my bathroom, cockroaches in my kitchen...

COCKROACHES IN MY BED!!!!!

Ranchin' it on the Arizona Strip

This morning at 6am we headed out to the Ranch on the Arizona Strip for Round-Up. Yeah, it's fun...

I really didn't take very many pictures since most of them would be gruesome photos of animals:)

I did take a couple of our nephew Tanner who can always be counted on for entertainment.

These are especially for Debbie, who is missing her first Round-Up in around twenty years. I really didn't do as well this year without her to tell me stories and keep me distracted. Melanie did an awesome job "tending" me though and was super sweet to me even when I was a big baby.

This is Tanner in all of "Grandma's Gear".

Tanner pretending he is a calf about to get branded/chopped/vaccinated/castrated.

This is everyone getting ready for the festivities...I was the counter of cows again...the easy job...until I got freaked out and nearly killed and decided to nap in the retro-chic trailer.

And this is my near-death experience. Yeah, silly me, wanting a drink of water, went to get some out of the cooler. I could only see about four inches of it's extremely fat tummy and it startled me. I didn't scream right away, but as soon as I turned to run it started to rattle and I got freaked and ran screaming to Logan. Ron killed it (THANKS RON!) and all was well, except for me, who never really recovered and was too scared to even pee anywhere.

I think I have had too many reptile experiences lately:)

Too Much Excitement

We went up to Elsinore to help my Mom decorate graves since it is a huge affair up there in Sevier and Piute Counties. It was nice to see Mom and to get a chance to help her out. It was also the first time Logan has been to the clay hill cemetary in Junction and he got a good taste of what it is like to rake/dig/pull weeds off from old graves that are my ancestors. It's always an interesting activity.

Anyway, we left around four o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, since we were in a hurry to get home since we did round-up today. I was kind of grumpy so I slept till we were almost to Beaver when Logan woke me up to ask me if my battery light was on all the time. I told him that I didn't know. While we were having this conversation, we heard the belt snap and had to pull over.

We hadn't even been pulled off the freeway for a minute when a mini-van stopped to help us. Since there was really nothing they could do, they left. Meanwhile, the engine cooled some and we drove around another mile. this is when Logan had the idea to use one of my shoelaces instead of a belt. While we were doing this, a highway patol officer stopped to help. Again, there was nothing he could do so he left.

We were lucky enough to coast into Beaver on the next try and got to Eagle's Landing where the "mechanic" told us he only does tires. So we go to the Anytime and it's $87.00/hr labor. We finally went to the Napa and bought a belt literally seconds before they closed.

While Logan was trying to figure out how to install it (my car doesn't have a manuel) I decided to try to find internet access and get a diagram. While I was wandering around downtown Beaver, I was approached by a Highway Patrolman who asked, "Are you okay ma'am?" I said, "No, I'm not. Do you know how to change a serpintine belt?" So he gave me a ride back to the car and tried to help. He escorted us to another "mechanic" who "couldn't" fix it and wouldn't even let Logan borrow a tool. So they finally track down an actual mechanic and we had to wait for 30 minutes for him to get there.

Come to find out, I don't actually drive a Saturn SL-1, but a Saturn SL-2. Apparently the lady I bought it from is crazy. The belt didn't fit, he didn't have one and they had to have Napa open up again just for us. Three hours later we were back on the road.

We did find something humorous while stranded at the Chevron/Dairy Queen. Look closely at the picture below...

Oh Man, I Love D.I.!

75 Cents

Folliculitis

As many of you may know, I have had a rash on my legs off and on for around two years. Yes, two YEARS! Well, today I finally had it and went to the doctor. It turns out that I have Folliculitis. It is an infection of the hair follicles. It is caused by Staph infection which I have had very severely twice before. I am so excited to finally know what is wrong. I just popped my first antibiotic pill and hopefully it will be clearing up permanently in the next few days. Hooray!

Surprised by a Lizard

Tonight, we were on our way to drive by some houses my brother is thinking about buying when I noticed this:

It was on the window just outside our front door, and behind our shrubery. When we got back, it was still there so I decided to try to get a better picture of it, but it freaked out and jumped down and scared me to death! I went running through our parking lot thinking that it was going to attack me. Logan just laughed and had to talk me into walking past the shrub to get into our house. This lizard was seriously HUGE! Everyone from St.George will probably laugh at me because you are all used to them, but it really freaked me out!!!

Halo: The Song Re-Written

This song was co-written by Logan and myself. It is to Beyonce's "Halo".

Halo
Remember those plans we made?
Remember we’re going out?
Would you please shut off that annoying game?
Cuz I can’t stand that shooting sound.
You found a way to sneak one in,
and now I’m really starting to doubt
That you’ll ever stop playing Halo
You can’t stop playing now.

Bridge:
I’m tired of bein’ awakened
by the sound of armor drainin’
All this crap that I been takin’
Are you ever gonna cut it out?
Everywhere I’m looking now
all I see is Master Chief’s face
Baby all you do is play Halo
and I need some saving grace
You’re everything I need and more
but it’s written all over your face
You’ll never stop playin’ Halo
I pray you will someday

Chorus:
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo

Laying on the couch again
You’re playin’ it through the night
You’re the only thing that I want
but you’re addicted to the fight
I hear “I hate this map” again
You swear this one will be your last game
But you will soon forget
So I lay here on the couch again

Bridge:
I’m tired of bein’ awakened
by the sound of armor drainin’
All this crap that I been takin’
Are you ever gonna cut it out?
Everywhere I’m looking now
all I see is Master Chief’s face
Baby all you do is play Halo
and I need some saving grace
You’re everything I need and more
but it’s written all over your face
You’ll never stop playin’ Halo
I pray you will someday

Chorus:
You’re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
Halooooo ouuuu Halooooo ouuuu
Halooooo ouuuu Ouuuuu ouuuuu ouuuuu

Bridge/Chorus Ending:
Everywhere I’m looking now
all I see is Master Chief’s face
Baby all you do is play Halo
and I need some saving grace
You’re everything I need and more
but it’s written all over your face
You’ll never stop playin’ Halo
I pray you will someday
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo
You’ re still playing Halo Halo Halo

A Loss in the Family

We now only have three gold fish.

Rest in peace little un-named fishy.

The Jam Adventure

Today I have the day off, so what did I do with all my spare time? Did I craft, sew, or scrapbook? Guess again....

Every once in a while I decide that being domestic can't be that hard afterall...and I try again.

Today I decided to make my Grandma Gene's famous homemade rolls and strawberry jam. I started the rolls around 10 am. I waited 'til they were rising in the bowl the second time and started to cut up the strawberries. At this point I was feeling pretty good about myself. I've successfully made the rolls before and I've seen the jam made about a million times, so I'm good, right? Think again.

Everything went smoothly until I was stirring my boiling jam in the pan and I see floating black chunks...yep, you're right...my spoon melted. So while I was feverishly trying to fish out the black chunks, it's time to start the timed boil.

I finally decide that we and whoever, if anyone, that we share this with will just have to look out for the chunks.

At last my poor little burnt fingers have the last ring screwed on, and I notice something...what did I notice? THIS IS WHAT I NOTICE:

I have never seen, let alone made a mess this big...

There is jam in all the usual places like stove, counter, etc...but there is also jam in many unexpected places like floor, fridge (splatter) and me. Not a pretty sight.

So this is my final product. Eight itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny half-pints of strawberry jam, complete with melted spoon chunks.

Was it worth it? I don't know, I haven't tasted it. Will it even set up? Only time will tell. Will I make this again? Ask me next week.

Meanwhile...the rolls are going great. Wouldn't Grandma be proud?

I went to Disneyland

And it was the most exhausting day of my life. We left St. George at midnight Friday and got there at 7 Saturday morning. We stayed at the park till midnight and I got home at 8 this morning.

Practicum Kids and Dixie Fun

On Tuesday I went with my Practicum first grade class to Snow Canyon. I was really excited about it since it was my last day with them and we got to have fun on a field trip. It was fun, sort of. Imagine me, I am only given 5 little boys to be in charge of, and I've still got my hands full. The lady ranger's first words are "I am a Naturalist." So we go on a hike. These little kids are not allowed to make noise (they might frighten the wildlife) and they can't step off the trail. I totally get that, but they are seven year old boys. This was my biggest problem. They wanted to kick plants and pull leaves off, they wanted to stomp on snake holes and frighten the lizards before anyone else in the group could see. I ended up with a big headache. This is the only "legal" picture I can show you since no faces can be seen (the blue shirts are my little charges).When we were getting back to the school and off the bus one of the teachers fell and had to go home. This meant that me and my "dyad" Moenika took over Mrs. W's class while she took the injured teacher's class. It was fun, and it would have been better if we weren't worn out already. There were only 11 kids there that day so it wasn't bad at all. We read them some stories and then did a writer's workshop about the field trip in which the students wrote about their favorite part.

I forgot the best story of all about the hike. The children were very, very thirsty. The school had provided a water bottle for each child, but they couldn't have it till they got back to the ranger station. We are hiking with seven year olds in 94 degree weather. Not cool. The students were complaining and the teachers told them that if they kept complaining they wouldn't get any water even when we got back. So what did I do? Picture my water bottle being passed up and down the line of kids. I decided I would be the one to die of thirst because :

a) I am older and can handle it, and

b) There was no way in heck I was going to drink after them.

Fun stuff.

This is the fun part. These are my table buddies at school. Sorry the pic is a little blurry. These are the coolest girls I have ever met! We spend 6 hours a day, two days a week sitting together and you get to know a person pretty well that way. The one in the green stripes is my dyad Moe. The others are Kim, Jessica, Whitney, and Nicole. We have the best time and everyone is jealous that we're the cool table...jk...but we have so much fun together all the time!

Crocs-How bad are they?

So I'm going to Disneyland with some college buddies on April 25. We are taking a bus from Dixie that leaves at Midnight Friday and we will get there around 7 or 8 on Saturday. We will be left at Disneyland till Midnight and then get home around 7 or 8 on Sunday. Under those circumstances, would it be permissable to wear crocs in public? I used to wear them all the time, until people told me they were tacky, BUT they are the most comfortable shoes in the whole wide world! Can I get away with wearing them to Disneyland?

Weight Loss Guru

Leftover pizza and a Slimfast...yeah...that'll work.

Does this sound legit?

This is word-for-word from the Manual of Logan's car. It is to deactivate the dinging noise for when you don't have your seatbelt on. (FYI-We always wear our seatbelts, but on the occasion that someone doesn't, the dinging is a particularly annoying ding). Anyway, I couldn't believe how weird and voodoo-ey this seemed. But it did work.

Read Steps 1 - 4 thoroughly before proceeding with the
deactivation/activation programming procedure.
The driver and front passenger BeltMinder_ features can be
deactivated/activated by performing the following procedure:
Before following the procedure, make sure that:
• The parking brake is set
• The gearshift is in P (Park)
• The ignition switch is in the OFF position
• The driver and front passenger safety belts are unbuckled
To reduce the risk of injury, do not deactivate/activate the Belt
Minder feature while driving the vehicle.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN (or ON) position. (DO NOT
START THE ENGINE)
2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off. (Approximately 1
minute)
• Step 3 must be completed within 50 seconds after the safety belt
warning light turns off.
3. For the seating position being disabled, buckle then unbuckle the safety
belt 9 times, ending in the unbuckled state. (Step 3 must be completed
within 50 seconds after the safety belt warning light turns off.
• After Step 3, the restraint system warning light (airbag light) will be
turned on for three seconds.
4. Within 10 seconds of the light turning on, buckle then unbuckle the
safety belt.
• This will disable the BeltMinder_ feature for that seating position if it
is currently enabled. As confirmation, the restraint system warning
light will flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds.
• This will enable the BeltMinder_ feature for that seating position if it
is currently disabled. As confirmation, the restraint system warning
light will flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds, followed by 3
seconds with the light off, then followed by the restraint system
warning light flashing 4 times per second for 3 seconds again.
• After receiving confirmation, the deactivation/activation procedure is
complete.

Logan and Tanner

Quality time with his nephew?

I guess any excuse will do, as long as it supports the addiction.