tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49420798987773464352024-03-18T21:51:24.341-07:00moldy pumpkinTwisted little mongrels!Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-32456095983062473602011-03-03T15:39:00.000-08:002011-03-03T15:52:15.295-08:00Farewell<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_T5EHpY3kWQ9yzDtXLveXqEEp68GUFFKb4Lg2byEQzSYOeIyxOevndNnSIx9ja7DqMNp4Qku2r2O1i4KEE7mPLe_qJpzPvo95223KlD_jRfG1Q-vvAupj5w1J7SOSuNN3Zg8uMQIrkIA/s1600/Black+Bear.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_T5EHpY3kWQ9yzDtXLveXqEEp68GUFFKb4Lg2byEQzSYOeIyxOevndNnSIx9ja7DqMNp4Qku2r2O1i4KEE7mPLe_qJpzPvo95223KlD_jRfG1Q-vvAupj5w1J7SOSuNN3Zg8uMQIrkIA/s400/Black+Bear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580004163043088738" border="0" /></a>Beautiful Black Bear<br /></div><br />It is time to not only say farewell to this blog, but also to yet another beloved pet.<br /><br />Black Bear, our wonderful resident communist, passed away on December 3rd. He appeared to have had a stroke and fell asleep in my arms in the afternoon sun. He never woke up, and while his passing wasn't entirely peaceful, he left this world like a gentleman. He is with his sister Junior now.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv240Qqr-eRjlTWeVkOJyS01ucPyPdPRdepkPJHoDN1gDwsYNm-5I1W6YwmHFmCzdWNNwJ7yd3V5bykXinR13Gs9K4D9bAo2SgmlfpJsAz4Sg2TMBxqcwH-fwWPx_aZ0ZoTFAnwOrdt4LN/s1600/Black+Bear+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv240Qqr-eRjlTWeVkOJyS01ucPyPdPRdepkPJHoDN1gDwsYNm-5I1W6YwmHFmCzdWNNwJ7yd3V5bykXinR13Gs9K4D9bAo2SgmlfpJsAz4Sg2TMBxqcwH-fwWPx_aZ0ZoTFAnwOrdt4LN/s400/Black+Bear+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580004157428260130" border="0" /></a>We miss our Commie :(<br /></div><br />As if losing four members of our animal family in 8 months wasn't enough, Teyla, our four-year-old Aussie was suddenly paralyzed. One minute she was playing fetch and the next, she couldn't move her back legs and could hardly move her front right. We're 99% sure it was an FCE, which is a stroke-like event in the spine. She has been doing her best to recover, and we're doing all we can to help her, but the chances of her coming back 100% are slim. If any dog can beat the odds, though, it's our warrior Toot!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQzW002sLNxzqPHhh-6Pq7D73g3C7eC64S7JdofSisQyadcyOc4PmG-yfMQfBhp4I4oiWRm1gUeLo4naId4M6NALV44_7pnTUkquhvy7D1VHyHCIBGXVoS-20AZyD62d0fkMpTVUdbCp2/s1600/IMG_0115.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQzW002sLNxzqPHhh-6Pq7D73g3C7eC64S7JdofSisQyadcyOc4PmG-yfMQfBhp4I4oiWRm1gUeLo4naId4M6NALV44_7pnTUkquhvy7D1VHyHCIBGXVoS-20AZyD62d0fkMpTVUdbCp2/s400/IMG_0115.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580004165342036562" border="0" /></a>Teyla peeking while camping in the Sierras<br /></div><br />I'm starting a new blog over at Wordpress for anyone who cares to join me. I began this one as a place where "fans" could receive news about our fan films, but since we haven't made many of those lately, I decided it was time to move on to a place with a bit more of a streamlined format.<br /><br />Here is the link to my new blog: <a href="http://moldypumpkin.wordpress.com/">http://moldypumpkin.wordpress.com/</a><br /><br />I hope you are all well!Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-50841082352757307752010-09-09T12:03:00.000-07:002010-09-09T16:06:09.680-07:00American IRA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7ZDy7bWbCnEhczr0XUZPmwSfPHY36bQfL0NyiaItcU8yVhtP20uQfe07HFe7UN3hWTEhoaKRInMxxj0brLK4lvi8Vsep3CbGwgGwsrHb0ty-bsJaadlVtxcCs8IuKen3XLA0B1Sei10b/s1600/Special+Friends.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhV3cXkcIkoPDRLGQMZ-36VXX6RkRll59qO0BwzS_6nY0IGam4A2a6bGay0sJbW9TCwVNwCxcSOYjfY-HF-QE5-YmHISrBXCe-b4pkb69VKclX61VBkxips6TROSxGaYZ-LBIVUBiXORFF/s1600/IMG_0019.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhV3cXkcIkoPDRLGQMZ-36VXX6RkRll59qO0BwzS_6nY0IGam4A2a6bGay0sJbW9TCwVNwCxcSOYjfY-HF-QE5-YmHISrBXCe-b4pkb69VKclX61VBkxips6TROSxGaYZ-LBIVUBiXORFF/s400/IMG_0019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514996633977802082" border="0" /></a>The palm trees look like brachiasaurus necks!<br /></div><br />I spent Friday through Tuesday of Labor Day Weekend in LA, shooting a short that I wrote titled "American IRA." The story is about an Irish immigrant who has recently become an American citizen. On his way to the park, he encounters several English immigrants, one of which refuses to sell him a donut when he realizes he's from Dublin. Convinced that he's the victim of racism and that the English are covertly retaking the colonies by infiltrating the population, our "hero" Steven decides to stop them by forming the American branch of the IRA, with the catch that he's the only member.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGlqCiIXiMvt3dcAjFMnVmQus0wog3JVXXhwaP58jo8ByWz0JqEze8dnhSTVzwNrq5xLbhr-BtQdsC6Haf3HVqT3toPsTG3C1QYl5oC7Y8Eub9tFLqh1TMODSCMvZVpihWxBH9KfclsPF/s1600/IMG_0045.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGlqCiIXiMvt3dcAjFMnVmQus0wog3JVXXhwaP58jo8ByWz0JqEze8dnhSTVzwNrq5xLbhr-BtQdsC6Haf3HVqT3toPsTG3C1QYl5oC7Y8Eub9tFLqh1TMODSCMvZVpihWxBH9KfclsPF/s400/IMG_0045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514998070695485586" border="0" /></a>"Steven" and his Anarchist friend, "Philbert"<br /></div><br />This film is a dark comedy, and so was production! Overall, the experience was great and I am happy that I flew out to help in any way that I could. However, the tension on the set was high because our producer/director is Dutch and had communication problems. Next to nothing is ever solved by losing one's temper, yet that's a lesson many young men don't learn until later in life than their twenties. As it was, there was frustration, shouting, substance abuse, and yes, a fistfight on set. Our team reached a pivotal breaking point, yet those of us less "involved" with the disagreements were able to keep the ball rolling and prove to our director that we could finish this.<br /><br />So I'm happy to say that "American IRA" was completed and is in the can! Despite how uncomfortable I felt around the tension on set before and after the fight, I think the fact that we were all able to work together and pull ourselves up from rock bottom to finish the film to the best of our ability shows true strength of determination, character, and teamwork. None of us were being paid so sticking to the task at hand showed true grit. It also helped that by the end of the tense night and the following day, the fight and tension had become a joke that we could all laugh about. We all wish the camera had been rolling the whole time, for the behind the scenes would've made a better movie than the one we were shooting!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyfuUhEO0n1D3LvdSqWAtPn_4abYCLD-05FwkLTY5phsfiYQP6ae7hCgpF1aPFlgksUFZb-ySpC_pITU3chkVC1DecgRVPEco5TMt4aRpi36bBz5MAQS-PBSIJeLJzMmlnFEHeHvBsO4d/s1600/IMG_0022.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyfuUhEO0n1D3LvdSqWAtPn_4abYCLD-05FwkLTY5phsfiYQP6ae7hCgpF1aPFlgksUFZb-ySpC_pITU3chkVC1DecgRVPEco5TMt4aRpi36bBz5MAQS-PBSIJeLJzMmlnFEHeHvBsO4d/s400/IMG_0022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515000538652742946" border="0" /></a>We're all just a little stressed<br /></div><br />But with every bit of bad, there is also good, and we had plenty of wonderful moments full of laughter and success, and taken as a whole, the journey was a positive one. Aside from filming and watching my story come to life, I made some wonderful friendships, including the young lady I stayed with who I had never met until I arrived! She is wonderful and beautiful and I am so glad to call her a friend. Te quiero, Kiana!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7ZDy7bWbCnEhczr0XUZPmwSfPHY36bQfL0NyiaItcU8yVhtP20uQfe07HFe7UN3hWTEhoaKRInMxxj0brLK4lvi8Vsep3CbGwgGwsrHb0ty-bsJaadlVtxcCs8IuKen3XLA0B1Sei10b/s1600/Special+Friends.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 376px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7ZDy7bWbCnEhczr0XUZPmwSfPHY36bQfL0NyiaItcU8yVhtP20uQfe07HFe7UN3hWTEhoaKRInMxxj0brLK4lvi8Vsep3CbGwgGwsrHb0ty-bsJaadlVtxcCs8IuKen3XLA0B1Sei10b/s400/Special+Friends.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515000566462821906" border="0" /></a>Kiana and I are going nuts<br /></div><br />I got to spend time in LA, Santa Monica, and Malibu, and while having breakfast at a cafe, I watched Cheryl Hines (who plays Larry David's wife in <span style="font-style: italic;">Curb Your Enthusiasm</span>) dine with her daughter. Seeing celebrities going about their daily lives is strange, not because they are "normal," but because you are filled with a sense of recognition with no emotional connection, for you know the face and voice but have no compulsion to say hello because it isn't really someone you know. I find the situation fascinating.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWCUKVw4g9t2aJJdZG3wTEXjlnLyuNGID2T7HhXiDc0eHEUOUsqHFziNirLpHTzGLhzCkb9oleCzwknJlqDgsJLYpHYBpt5HFPzSYgmZvpABEKAiIkf589J9sMlLehRZ-cxzfUBRfVEbp/s1600/IMG_0033.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWCUKVw4g9t2aJJdZG3wTEXjlnLyuNGID2T7HhXiDc0eHEUOUsqHFziNirLpHTzGLhzCkb9oleCzwknJlqDgsJLYpHYBpt5HFPzSYgmZvpABEKAiIkf589J9sMlLehRZ-cxzfUBRfVEbp/s400/IMG_0033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515000548667792114" border="0" /></a>Do these signs actually work?<br /></div><br />Anyway, enough babble. On with the pictures and clips!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBF5fVDM-S6VAl3BG18x3SJ0FfLGO5MPRajG8ZV-QkK1rbp-uB85N3-FwmGu54b5S-OcsurWYIZujy4a8ln3fK2pBioKRw8MPp-y45umOQN0CYpReLGU63UkLZP4W0F2GsfcvUO7wqK2c/s1600/IMG_0009.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBF5fVDM-S6VAl3BG18x3SJ0FfLGO5MPRajG8ZV-QkK1rbp-uB85N3-FwmGu54b5S-OcsurWYIZujy4a8ln3fK2pBioKRw8MPp-y45umOQN0CYpReLGU63UkLZP4W0F2GsfcvUO7wqK2c/s400/IMG_0009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515000050567023058" border="0" /></a>Downtown<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6A6Klg_xmkQKgFuewwRHkuyh_saXcoWxs9c4EOaxDZLvKCf8F0xl462sZ3BB1fTNWA4s7QldUIGd3T9o9Sov1yi3ONw6psvuLMSUOa2A7Kx3a0uJUY7Uz-THSRPB1AME4tvZ9ymO1ugs/s1600/IMG_0068.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6A6Klg_xmkQKgFuewwRHkuyh_saXcoWxs9c4EOaxDZLvKCf8F0xl462sZ3BB1fTNWA4s7QldUIGd3T9o9Sov1yi3ONw6psvuLMSUOa2A7Kx3a0uJUY7Uz-THSRPB1AME4tvZ9ymO1ugs/s400/IMG_0068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514998089484998146" border="0" /></a>Sunset in Santa Monica<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBH5T7YLHOeJhsv-ThF9Pcwfdl_O5oW6t9zUtpZh97JeYljmNAAcdPx0ROM0w06WGmRjVoQ2fsxKGV-clPuEZIuJRDVGP9hs5uymArsecZJVl1AjknhJMdZUNU63-LblT1KbR2DpHZxmI/s1600/IMG_0020.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBH5T7YLHOeJhsv-ThF9Pcwfdl_O5oW6t9zUtpZh97JeYljmNAAcdPx0ROM0w06WGmRjVoQ2fsxKGV-clPuEZIuJRDVGP9hs5uymArsecZJVl1AjknhJMdZUNU63-LblT1KbR2DpHZxmI/s400/IMG_0020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514996645176520786" border="0" /></a>Fog in Santa Monica<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nLprgP-FAIJiw-dBw5yKcJ5u9b5H37W8-2-COKf02qgtzAo-HaDgvc9IUJqoxVzj6xwaaSl0g6Yr4NZ9LCYJWRFEpSNn8K2CoQmeaTVCgXXICP3608-zjo-PXzkgR1JsF2VZvkutlW-P/s1600/IMG_0021.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nLprgP-FAIJiw-dBw5yKcJ5u9b5H37W8-2-COKf02qgtzAo-HaDgvc9IUJqoxVzj6xwaaSl0g6Yr4NZ9LCYJWRFEpSNn8K2CoQmeaTVCgXXICP3608-zjo-PXzkgR1JsF2VZvkutlW-P/s400/IMG_0021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514996649938183058" border="0" /></a>Playground set<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfUP2p-1FK5FdnpCDwdDcg__78WUCgdHc6ZpI2EOYPwKLdxiQNIUqc0FagH0owQ46484LXaGrHXZuKkgpNKTr6jEzZplffyFRhBqMDPlviTpIPZxsWv0bjIJWb7YSKB3LaAglizDpduAt/s1600/IMG_0023.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfUP2p-1FK5FdnpCDwdDcg__78WUCgdHc6ZpI2EOYPwKLdxiQNIUqc0FagH0owQ46484LXaGrHXZuKkgpNKTr6jEzZplffyFRhBqMDPlviTpIPZxsWv0bjIJWb7YSKB3LaAglizDpduAt/s400/IMG_0023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514996657581859218" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkPUUWdtorrSgQ9FfWcHp5hCgRsAsGs7Upadok6SHugxHIe2Ydiaax3RO_Cgv2qBxD8i0edAPhNbVaXlr7Gz14nqYE60iabSBhSwGJQuUvsLsMdhBBk_uT4EegjgRJwiZ4oJof9_j_dgg/s1600/IMG_0032.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkPUUWdtorrSgQ9FfWcHp5hCgRsAsGs7Upadok6SHugxHIe2Ydiaax3RO_Cgv2qBxD8i0edAPhNbVaXlr7Gz14nqYE60iabSBhSwGJQuUvsLsMdhBBk_uT4EegjgRJwiZ4oJof9_j_dgg/s400/IMG_0032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514996667861989170" border="0" /></a>Napoleon the Amazing as "Horrible Teeth" (English stereotype). This man is destined for greatness. You can catch him currently on Disney's "The Suite Life on Deck"<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJgKqY1G0jLQAfdpdu8SaEUsKsKBDBHanqQngef-O110SWi9Sf6HvH69xTcEuMFfTQYUqSHDr42Ge8O9R1Vvs5LjHa6dXbLAsnrWw4PIrVOzvtutyEekec51Ai_5MUSEW06qMhVN8YJvn/s1600/IMG_0041.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJgKqY1G0jLQAfdpdu8SaEUsKsKBDBHanqQngef-O110SWi9Sf6HvH69xTcEuMFfTQYUqSHDr42Ge8O9R1Vvs5LjHa6dXbLAsnrWw4PIrVOzvtutyEekec51Ai_5MUSEW06qMhVN8YJvn/s400/IMG_0041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514998061708622530" border="0" /></a>Kiana steals a moment for fun<br /><br />Napoleon's amazing, nefarious laugh = genius<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxAUsNkFqL6BC0G4F6yuBvgDVdegXGHoUdPEBzXEXn8rFT2yBQYCmxmQy4gamxO4qfapqAnErD8jzdSXN2zhw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPhjv6_D6Q1n3qiEsOYz4Au9IiOCa20U2RE4pGsEnoFZlfH4DMNZgJMH57OYSZN_ppDw33vp-m3kUtXMnhiXF3Aj79v_YltmoC-F1KjBkeCr9VmyXEg3pCNM9Y7QZkTjJiDs0algO2dVS/s1600/IMG_0066.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPhjv6_D6Q1n3qiEsOYz4Au9IiOCa20U2RE4pGsEnoFZlfH4DMNZgJMH57OYSZN_ppDw33vp-m3kUtXMnhiXF3Aj79v_YltmoC-F1KjBkeCr9VmyXEg3pCNM9Y7QZkTjJiDs0algO2dVS/s400/IMG_0066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514998076927215314" border="0" /></a>Malibu<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1r7viF5aVPNB4BvcqK4HdY0XdLzVGk-N7J7tZECkpM_lZEUC7TWAUtRwT_hy9og2km3KDR5fjuvUL5ijbMjES_DKXbL93VwSfgN36SyaaHJ4w4L5v38nqfNi0ClKOjMy4jfmWVRV7EG2M/s1600/IMG_0079.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1r7viF5aVPNB4BvcqK4HdY0XdLzVGk-N7J7tZECkpM_lZEUC7TWAUtRwT_hy9og2km3KDR5fjuvUL5ijbMjES_DKXbL93VwSfgN36SyaaHJ4w4L5v38nqfNi0ClKOjMy4jfmWVRV7EG2M/s400/IMG_0079.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514998096689592898" border="0" /></a>Santa Monica Pier<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrwoHC3xgQVRKV0vFEXpgnzK4IxMQWI93s0FZ5LAVS4r04pXLHeGVQgbhs8gdi6wBRn1jdlDJOLvK51QdLhQFF-4-ZzqsJ9HEQsjc68kqtYSdE0arlCwopSR4PkyHcykfxQJ-hvW9HVGc/s1600/IMG_0081.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrwoHC3xgQVRKV0vFEXpgnzK4IxMQWI93s0FZ5LAVS4r04pXLHeGVQgbhs8gdi6wBRn1jdlDJOLvK51QdLhQFF-4-ZzqsJ9HEQsjc68kqtYSdE0arlCwopSR4PkyHcykfxQJ-hvW9HVGc/s400/IMG_0081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514998672645207570" border="0" /></a>Before riding the roller coaster on the pier with Kiana and her friend Alexis<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NfROt1-VkyUBGXR77tZqIQbLB5wipNtoO5BmfMtFpNPC4HXhh9LHwgEDdBeXoePtOLwoBYtoqd7_V6FghT2Sx-Yo-t3hA51HwK1VOseKhspnGCqUtU_Re3VvphKp5Ge4V5bosVEmJ12S/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NfROt1-VkyUBGXR77tZqIQbLB5wipNtoO5BmfMtFpNPC4HXhh9LHwgEDdBeXoePtOLwoBYtoqd7_V6FghT2Sx-Yo-t3hA51HwK1VOseKhspnGCqUtU_Re3VvphKp5Ge4V5bosVEmJ12S/s400/IMG_0001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514998679725242098" border="0" /></a>Yum at Cafe Dana<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6rj1Ak_QAi1R8mPMMfqGEGWKVMLYco3c59t6pZLhULkoE1TG8hhSoGKtg0dP0PtXyKGFQOtlUUofVqXLriM1OaCn-nb170z-LW7JvYutResK5djVpTevGUfRDE6S6xhxfkGC-PwvDkKp/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6rj1Ak_QAi1R8mPMMfqGEGWKVMLYco3c59t6pZLhULkoE1TG8hhSoGKtg0dP0PtXyKGFQOtlUUofVqXLriM1OaCn-nb170z-LW7JvYutResK5djVpTevGUfRDE6S6xhxfkGC-PwvDkKp/s400/IMG_0003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514998689938382850" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClvoHA0pEW5-rKEPXxXF32MlUj-POwl_-npSx5TSnS0oCv27Z4HoRwa4jhHFhEN2Tz_hvirINtlBbMbO10CkuQzbCwaEA8KwZ9hc8ninmjAC4l2-d64TGb7egUNgj6wZdc96cYr3BloiN/s1600/IMG_0004.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClvoHA0pEW5-rKEPXxXF32MlUj-POwl_-npSx5TSnS0oCv27Z4HoRwa4jhHFhEN2Tz_hvirINtlBbMbO10CkuQzbCwaEA8KwZ9hc8ninmjAC4l2-d64TGb7egUNgj6wZdc96cYr3BloiN/s400/IMG_0004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514998691628700914" border="0" /></a>So beautiful and quaint. I like Santa Monica.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmWVgAh3wdvMwgVZTOm1x40gyvx6w-uyqvD9WLm-7xFCC0SVfjo9VxxM6iZract63nvT1hNkU_BwAsocaZpGBkZiBJ1JcOjRdHAuwHD1qY7itqAGkMbbpuQt1YwfDaeDMDS2gLqBjL11U/s1600/IMG_0006.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmWVgAh3wdvMwgVZTOm1x40gyvx6w-uyqvD9WLm-7xFCC0SVfjo9VxxM6iZract63nvT1hNkU_BwAsocaZpGBkZiBJ1JcOjRdHAuwHD1qY7itqAGkMbbpuQt1YwfDaeDMDS2gLqBjL11U/s400/IMG_0006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514998703002637970" border="0" /></a>Breakfast!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCMjuXh1vfMDyajpTjOTNAeI8nwXsPTEIv7mY_GBq1Jur5TSrbUZC_Gaq1Xa1mSanRt9WqgNtIstTyBfivZY5X0PlsK-d-HdPCvMUN7_JWN2ypjf9K5r9yyK4BVuL16D_udhK6T4jMOoT/s1600/IMG_0007.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCMjuXh1vfMDyajpTjOTNAeI8nwXsPTEIv7mY_GBq1Jur5TSrbUZC_Gaq1Xa1mSanRt9WqgNtIstTyBfivZY5X0PlsK-d-HdPCvMUN7_JWN2ypjf9K5r9yyK4BVuL16D_udhK6T4jMOoT/s400/IMG_0007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515000042650501602" border="0" /></a>Apartment set<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnmkDojcS2GvQxkd2BfYTdyoTkQEtdYf0sKxqcnkMgXN7p4ae3csvTosHDHmf1UD33y9-ZamOHc4elNlkWTEj06MPXqPUZWcTp2aW59voldif2lpvRWlPgB_fudJon0S30voOlzCzdvMN/s1600/IMG_0008.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnmkDojcS2GvQxkd2BfYTdyoTkQEtdYf0sKxqcnkMgXN7p4ae3csvTosHDHmf1UD33y9-ZamOHc4elNlkWTEj06MPXqPUZWcTp2aW59voldif2lpvRWlPgB_fudJon0S30voOlzCzdvMN/s400/IMG_0008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515003462806873570" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabPoYPiszPkPieBKU8Kxrq4IWtDkTuwtdgm4Z5l0t1nYDGvtEZfkJAtucICHRFopjkbFOMzg_aL-ZrD42in6ZAUgvpGF4PP9_beknyfSJari-nYwcmo8S9fpcdWCFYq6gLzWe6k4QO-in/s1600/IMG_0012.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabPoYPiszPkPieBKU8Kxrq4IWtDkTuwtdgm4Z5l0t1nYDGvtEZfkJAtucICHRFopjkbFOMzg_aL-ZrD42in6ZAUgvpGF4PP9_beknyfSJari-nYwcmo8S9fpcdWCFYq6gLzWe6k4QO-in/s400/IMG_0012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515000065368696834" border="0" /></a>Donut shop set<br /><br />Napoleon's Amazing Walk<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwu2myVbbkvsTz7bXy-w8hyOvloY5PY7DwKx69EMGGOzPe6KsyF52o-LzLz35kghiCMT0Ew1uBsdVpjTKUiFg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxz-4zGEeytNwis2IwsmI-Q4E3kDij_RQj7t0IQKxIj2goFEmpkIkeLDO4uL4r2Af3na3lNG8TzXfnIGqT3-7DLw99KFY7byOETM8FX_AY-SB0fchcW4VKILFCQSDscVNki52ZjzsEViy2/s1600/IMG_0010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxz-4zGEeytNwis2IwsmI-Q4E3kDij_RQj7t0IQKxIj2goFEmpkIkeLDO4uL4r2Af3na3lNG8TzXfnIGqT3-7DLw99KFY7byOETM8FX_AY-SB0fchcW4VKILFCQSDscVNki52ZjzsEViy2/s400/IMG_0010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515000059496657330" border="0" /></a>Prepping to shoot the first donut shop scene<br /><br />A take of the scene in which our scummy hero, Steven, is refused a donut<br />(Warning: contains foul language)<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwe8KIsDxO1hzYz7L5bYcnjRfFP9WQACsvHF47AHHomBT6IVkgmY2S48LO4r0Ain92iJQYrKyqAus0PnZIGOg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CUH6MpRA3ihrYBiy1xgOGyJMDwie2gH0OdIaNO0B5R6IImNVragWj1kh0NWI8gdAGDUSlOV8E3fnnRz62boVuHWgtVgSIURq5rl5lCNZGiRC0sel-cyM-Cxbiea4N29HxtM1D7fLPM7e/s1600/K&K.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CUH6MpRA3ihrYBiy1xgOGyJMDwie2gH0OdIaNO0B5R6IImNVragWj1kh0NWI8gdAGDUSlOV8E3fnnRz62boVuHWgtVgSIURq5rl5lCNZGiRC0sel-cyM-Cxbiea4N29HxtM1D7fLPM7e/s400/K&K.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515038602998243058" border="0" /></a>K&K<br /></div><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZRyphRhL5Wg4zBRaysgNxJ5GCYP1dju0QYBHImvuUw0rYjvMhjemdqL7cg3ldnjSxftKH7uCqwY7dEeVW5qiWJpSnQ0nfeoUb-d0mHXt3ui3VDMf4qgjLOFnbOYXI3nGnmM-z3l_sudB/s1600/IMG_0041.jpg"><br /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tracie --</span> Will do, that would be awesome!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">the other Amanda --</span> Yes, she is an adorable savage. ;)Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-290528111062251572010-08-30T14:32:00.000-07:002010-08-30T14:46:11.964-07:00Toot!My older brother doesn't live with us anymore, but whenever he shows up for a visit, Teyla is beside herself with joy. Have a look for yourself at her excitement after he parked his truck and headed up the driveway.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx7lAsDkXlmthEO6SuqIMZpHDQZGEjU4Z84t1Knw_PJ8MxaOURmpXtz3hLTqc43r7iSiCKe8qpwbdhDjJmvJA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I've written a short script that is being filmed in LA next weekend, so I'll be flying down soon to help with the production. It's definitely exciting! I'll borrow my sister's camera so that I can take some pictures while I'm there and will share my adventures upon my return. :) Our hope is for the film to make the rounds in the film festivals and gain some attention.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tracie --</span> That's a long time to be in the navy, wow. That must have been really rough to have to work while being that sea sick. Nausea affects everything. You are one tough cookie!<br /></div></div>Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-44703550461275454902010-08-21T18:09:00.000-07:002010-08-23T12:39:34.783-07:00Hawaiian Chieftain<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaZSNdYFFfke8sCI27wULyAw9ZguyAzu66QcfcDUEhwrD6IzHpD99oC7iFz3rjcPF_WmqtaDN7UqsoGErZFP_z2V9ATTCpdzyvF3KxEZ54747L6N7SKEU4xGgcBMd7rMAbb_ttXfYN9WI/s1600/IMG_2027.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaZSNdYFFfke8sCI27wULyAw9ZguyAzu66QcfcDUEhwrD6IzHpD99oC7iFz3rjcPF_WmqtaDN7UqsoGErZFP_z2V9ATTCpdzyvF3KxEZ54747L6N7SKEU4xGgcBMd7rMAbb_ttXfYN9WI/s400/IMG_2027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508036526200185090" border="0" /></a><br />Ages ago, I claimed I'd blog about Alex and my "nautical adventure," then kept forgetting. So finally, I present to you pictures from the <span style="font-style: italic;">Hawaiian Chieftain</span>, a tall ship that came to port over Christmas! As part of Alex's Christmas present, I bought her and I tickets to sail on the ship the day after Christmas. The afternoon was threatening rain but our spirits were high and we had taken precautions against getting seasick by taking Dramamine and wearing pressure point bracelets.<br /><br />Look at the beautiful ship!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFwIhnCND1FdGw-DeJCM87OXgZmL594GDrvvTrXpBdHCVUdOolB_vQlqgvPaCFg1Gs1oBwYzactibKXbJofp4H6YIKRUuaBOQKkjZ1Wc6BIOZhZ8w-pMVNe8e8EAGTa23uQxlCpVrRCqN/s1600/IMG_2026.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFwIhnCND1FdGw-DeJCM87OXgZmL594GDrvvTrXpBdHCVUdOolB_vQlqgvPaCFg1Gs1oBwYzactibKXbJofp4H6YIKRUuaBOQKkjZ1Wc6BIOZhZ8w-pMVNe8e8EAGTa23uQxlCpVrRCqN/s400/IMG_2026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508036514408408498" border="0" /></a>Sails and rigging<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6N2QHE5iDFvKWhDHqRPFdeZTGbECyfy1nocsioVBTq_NsuYB87M8-HJ64oNJt1jJQjyVKKAaY4dlOkAn3N9r9ZcHKGOogEDnfnA8hs-Y9__Wj4zEdNbT_YJAVwecW3tmZFkctF5yKtmd/s1600/IMG_2025.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6N2QHE5iDFvKWhDHqRPFdeZTGbECyfy1nocsioVBTq_NsuYB87M8-HJ64oNJt1jJQjyVKKAaY4dlOkAn3N9r9ZcHKGOogEDnfnA8hs-Y9__Wj4zEdNbT_YJAVwecW3tmZFkctF5yKtmd/s400/IMG_2025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508036501014729458" border="0" /></a>Alex watching the sea<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiw_uEeXhr8nol0hstXLwi1bZL4w9XBUizL9IWa_WFkGFVvLFoh6-18I17UbTk386R4V791nfS2DZNy_GL_l24hPbvGofXyjaLDTltgvhjNEbMJEWI9oZB225tomOuiJjggPoZ14j1kvpH/s1600/IMG_2024.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiw_uEeXhr8nol0hstXLwi1bZL4w9XBUizL9IWa_WFkGFVvLFoh6-18I17UbTk386R4V791nfS2DZNy_GL_l24hPbvGofXyjaLDTltgvhjNEbMJEWI9oZB225tomOuiJjggPoZ14j1kvpH/s400/IMG_2024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508036487686998226" border="0" /></a>Mainmast<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiO5jbndKKua3EelBvKoWEvZqO7vqJjvVyzyoMen-snFCdzGp_fKcWACd5vf379Ikvq6PlpoxYsJ6GDZWDLGTUfafO1DIaEnzTgYiqYacC-reVJ1cN9OZfsz_ueSDfChfT_Zm0faUziLv/s1600/IMG_2023.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiO5jbndKKua3EelBvKoWEvZqO7vqJjvVyzyoMen-snFCdzGp_fKcWACd5vf379Ikvq6PlpoxYsJ6GDZWDLGTUfafO1DIaEnzTgYiqYacC-reVJ1cN9OZfsz_ueSDfChfT_Zm0faUziLv/s400/IMG_2023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508036480148498018" border="0" /></a>We had fun imagining that we were Isabel and Devon -- the two main characters from my book.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5bTnZjeO2jRk3eODkllaV6Zi7uihjYBi0wRXBpwTPylA7dJ5iruZXYqfiP96h2Lqj9LHSH-G9f-tv_iNg2EcU8FjumtexCkI_ffAHtdhxLd09O16RYp-UKiMc9Cc3Pm0G06wHR-g0baa/s1600/IMG_2022.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5bTnZjeO2jRk3eODkllaV6Zi7uihjYBi0wRXBpwTPylA7dJ5iruZXYqfiP96h2Lqj9LHSH-G9f-tv_iNg2EcU8FjumtexCkI_ffAHtdhxLd09O16RYp-UKiMc9Cc3Pm0G06wHR-g0baa/s400/IMG_2022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508035939194944738" border="0" /></a>Jib sail<br /><br />Heading out on the Pacific<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyUotWy8lK-0t62SrUg_X--m9_F_X9vN5MbuDzN1L5RETH8EuqlZISmdn3m541gnmocbB5crPHml9rka64ClQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLP3cvnTxENPeV8t1pWbekkOkbgFFmushy7rqcTYlb1S2ZWNHInEH_bCGYFHSo34DpqqhPvgMC_BZQ5yd3-HDOKXg-V_N_O6Ot1sTuo5IQ30S9j6j_8JDa8tubyN11HWMFxs-2wwnAU9y/s1600/IMG_2020.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLP3cvnTxENPeV8t1pWbekkOkbgFFmushy7rqcTYlb1S2ZWNHInEH_bCGYFHSo34DpqqhPvgMC_BZQ5yd3-HDOKXg-V_N_O6Ot1sTuo5IQ30S9j6j_8JDa8tubyN11HWMFxs-2wwnAU9y/s400/IMG_2020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508035930439046098" border="0" /></a>Bow<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzF5J5XfXYMIJlGANHQevtpswUrmfpAsj9GEXhbKcXoV-GTpu8WwHLIb41s75hlZRECXmUSEitgIZBqRnqMPA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fz9_NaDfbyrEBUW3NM4pDq4KmWN4RCW94isHF_q1YKFPIQ48kMd5uBDrGJfReStwjr5b_Y9_yrXdR5eQ-hLqOusiPhgABDQJwIev-OusSh9_fx_p13CF98f0iobTb9bHwTtcDNqnQa_I/s1600/IMG_2019.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fz9_NaDfbyrEBUW3NM4pDq4KmWN4RCW94isHF_q1YKFPIQ48kMd5uBDrGJfReStwjr5b_Y9_yrXdR5eQ-hLqOusiPhgABDQJwIev-OusSh9_fx_p13CF98f0iobTb9bHwTtcDNqnQa_I/s400/IMG_2019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508035916467083154" border="0" /></a>The crashing sea!<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwoHoYgBXdwc42bLZjHXosUPCLT9KEsVyZLYiYjLAuUGAq_7wvRKKToRlmwqE4yBXEY4LW6dHaoWAgciH3hSA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOoPeyDycL1G2YmuFTed2552I2qOoMR0ZCsbkFf5cW7aN7BnmpG5gyHBy2xtaAraexArrn7SU0dj47T3hMcYljwjlG5aYBO2PGhzjqC9vnw7dQjHOEmYcCJP7hbh7f-PQRLaZV6U25MyK/s1600/IMG_2016.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOoPeyDycL1G2YmuFTed2552I2qOoMR0ZCsbkFf5cW7aN7BnmpG5gyHBy2xtaAraexArrn7SU0dj47T3hMcYljwjlG5aYBO2PGhzjqC9vnw7dQjHOEmYcCJP7hbh7f-PQRLaZV6U25MyK/s400/IMG_2016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508035904622088306" border="0" /></a>Lowering the sails!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMBZB6gR-LrB6wfOWgJBWIqa0yFf1h1Jt2nAxPJUGj90EnJYHyPIkwNoiLAfx8v-8dhwkOJsitQ30ScnHi_JliQhvxnvB4t7u_zYHgjCYImANtquESzWDeaS1lsiFc_avWbheesiFuRU2/s1600/IMG_2014.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMBZB6gR-LrB6wfOWgJBWIqa0yFf1h1Jt2nAxPJUGj90EnJYHyPIkwNoiLAfx8v-8dhwkOJsitQ30ScnHi_JliQhvxnvB4t7u_zYHgjCYImANtquESzWDeaS1lsiFc_avWbheesiFuRU2/s400/IMG_2014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508035894008447058" border="0" /></a>Freedom<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxs-3Odp91a_a1TCdIohGz2HyhqElul3rTzwsMouhAhaA-COWUxBRWyH1FDJw5W3vXSE-EcngSVLuXdew02nw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />As you can see in the video, there was much work to be done, and we were all invited to participate. Alex and I helped hoist a sail, making the mistake of turning our backs to the sea. That's when the seasickness kicked in. Despite bravely pretending I didn't feel nauseous, I soon had to sit down. Alex began to feel sick, too, and as it started to mist and then rain, we huddled under our raincoats and stared at the flat horizon, trying to keep our stomachs from churning. Alex was nobly able to keep her fish food down, but I wasn't. I puked five times, and on one occasion while hanging over the gunwale, I saw a cool dead jellyfish. It didn't help that the kids sitting across from us were having a booger war. As in wiping boogers on each other.<br /><br />Here are some pictures my mom took of the ship as it came back to the harbor four hours later.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPltfVGcljyMoC3FhtiwjS-5Gkz43P4yS4cDPXE6289VHgXfab0zv-zGSDjloMRj7quwt5Sha4RU87Dd_ua1SZSITjYXEekmaEbxslpn3jHZG1wSld1W5dYtdzxgAXS_1J1WA7tYyhbb30/s1600/IMG_1410.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPltfVGcljyMoC3FhtiwjS-5Gkz43P4yS4cDPXE6289VHgXfab0zv-zGSDjloMRj7quwt5Sha4RU87Dd_ua1SZSITjYXEekmaEbxslpn3jHZG1wSld1W5dYtdzxgAXS_1J1WA7tYyhbb30/s400/IMG_1410.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508037073437099810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrtVgOFKpbBRaHb3DqrX2F1yFDXmzIWUlA7fgHKpmq95U_raLaAOyAIomPvQ90G8OKJUA7506wUOLqx7XIodysCLtwexQ8Q6NrDWdJ1nz5U_syiBSffFN1Y24_a-SFS449cRrAPs3Pt6d/s1600/IMG_1414.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrtVgOFKpbBRaHb3DqrX2F1yFDXmzIWUlA7fgHKpmq95U_raLaAOyAIomPvQ90G8OKJUA7506wUOLqx7XIodysCLtwexQ8Q6NrDWdJ1nz5U_syiBSffFN1Y24_a-SFS449cRrAPs3Pt6d/s400/IMG_1414.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508037088912966594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlO83OGZPSAATxMoLjnlsGpWyeA_ms62Q9f6jz_SMLpiQgk9Yd5KrFtVhhKcxBRF9dSpBEgVZ6zzzxJM0wYksafVCQ2JFlq9JlYIn-btQtHCVfj1SkPQXIjZdGcHIJx3fPesE7xJtq4gAb/s1600/IMG_1415.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlO83OGZPSAATxMoLjnlsGpWyeA_ms62Q9f6jz_SMLpiQgk9Yd5KrFtVhhKcxBRF9dSpBEgVZ6zzzxJM0wYksafVCQ2JFlq9JlYIn-btQtHCVfj1SkPQXIjZdGcHIJx3fPesE7xJtq4gAb/s400/IMG_1415.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508037095045086322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWzNPblDCQd2Odekji8ccqYDDdzOlHRpyy7JS0XN2ZPEzf-rNfjT2kMD8Aw_8RBjcLb4ioTG2TSBfgoVRgTx3ita21Kv-jidqQNjoxnsZFyr3FNBHD1seTTUQgAeuJdkmsPlbXxlUFSe4/s1600/IMG_1417.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWzNPblDCQd2Odekji8ccqYDDdzOlHRpyy7JS0XN2ZPEzf-rNfjT2kMD8Aw_8RBjcLb4ioTG2TSBfgoVRgTx3ita21Kv-jidqQNjoxnsZFyr3FNBHD1seTTUQgAeuJdkmsPlbXxlUFSe4/s400/IMG_1417.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508037103305641826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAzcegGB6ujdSG-IxSgjsLgykVmGLAFqjKQVz9oJJJ2IWnrOqbOup_tGW9cEO6p8Ey42wCgbYNH64h8ISf5_ePYYjq2PIz4jJedSz4sIG85z2_U0mrquliWYmeHNeXkMjMkrlo6I3W1ri/s1600/IMG_1418.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAzcegGB6ujdSG-IxSgjsLgykVmGLAFqjKQVz9oJJJ2IWnrOqbOup_tGW9cEO6p8Ey42wCgbYNH64h8ISf5_ePYYjq2PIz4jJedSz4sIG85z2_U0mrquliWYmeHNeXkMjMkrlo6I3W1ri/s400/IMG_1418.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508037118540046146" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nFTHQnUikuqMkZ5jPnJPfaoRcAPwccCkJ5r7ygKzdxCPsTh_xeRGAv2WZef3QKgDMxWcAfkWMHCHlwM4VvglUSXtcDcIKNjTdEn970d-FM2ZJ_lCkfLSod4Hle7oLdiXQCMgI_5Mh4iR/s1600/IMG_1420.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nFTHQnUikuqMkZ5jPnJPfaoRcAPwccCkJ5r7ygKzdxCPsTh_xeRGAv2WZef3QKgDMxWcAfkWMHCHlwM4VvglUSXtcDcIKNjTdEn970d-FM2ZJ_lCkfLSod4Hle7oLdiXQCMgI_5Mh4iR/s400/IMG_1420.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508039840945741314" border="0" /></a><br />After spending about 3 1/2 of the four hours puking while being doused with rain in the growing cold, it's frightening just how quickly our bodies weaken. The shivering was uncontrollable. Both of our teeth were chattering, we couldn't feel our feet, and my jeans kept trying to fall off because they were heavy with water and I couldn't work my fingers enough to hike them back up. I have rarely been so miserable (except for the other time I sailed on the <span style="font-style: italic;">Hawaiian Chieftain </span>and had the same thing happen) but I would do it again any day. Yes, being in the first stages of hypothermia sucks, but it's worth it to me if it means I get to be out on the open water. I must have been a privateer in a past life!<br /><br />This was our view for about 3 hours.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxnKM4_4ES0xOMzz9aDjh6818WzxX5RqM55q_stHdy9cC2fjEBLdHR2GTTXYcoVw1ME1PqXzbpimbFakJZoyw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hBRYHL3T5Cgat2JTVUc7k-5y0xjWP96nt40TqnyJVao9cjM6Tm0Dj5oa7CxYQrPkeTVK1wCdKTcV1AWB1wpRYDWvMqsM7ImV21l9ufUojnz387FuhiRL5rMo6gLj_vTesEk9qGRCOFGr/s1600/IMG_1421.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hBRYHL3T5Cgat2JTVUc7k-5y0xjWP96nt40TqnyJVao9cjM6Tm0Dj5oa7CxYQrPkeTVK1wCdKTcV1AWB1wpRYDWvMqsM7ImV21l9ufUojnz387FuhiRL5rMo6gLj_vTesEk9qGRCOFGr/s400/IMG_1421.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508039850441704018" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUVV8_ZthDDA-VCK4-CDE2MyK2IROfeVKPwRsEa3Oe38DD5ucp4H8tNhes80xLqC264FDiz11oCeRzozw-MiYzKKa2N_X8Y8Nf4Une1olvI0NYIEYxm4jcTQKTzDkJFyF-Z22_apCma3Z/s1600/IMG_1425.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUVV8_ZthDDA-VCK4-CDE2MyK2IROfeVKPwRsEa3Oe38DD5ucp4H8tNhes80xLqC264FDiz11oCeRzozw-MiYzKKa2N_X8Y8Nf4Une1olvI0NYIEYxm4jcTQKTzDkJFyF-Z22_apCma3Z/s400/IMG_1425.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508039856390480482" border="0" /></a>Drowned rats<br /></div><br />This picture is hilarious for many reasons, one of which being Alex's "I'm already dead" expression. Another is how well it shows one of the differences in our personalities. As much as we're similar, my sister has a tendency to show her emotions as she feels them while I am more reserved and put on a face for others. Like right then when I was actually about to collapse.Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-35906145984744315452010-08-10T13:08:00.000-07:002010-08-10T14:20:10.405-07:00Camping Highlights<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_sClYkkBgmhvDc3CKlsi5vkIAEKWZQB8QiBXqBCwAnSvqhPNgOfsMoVxfBB0xeEnlIFErZILLks5WfAPowB4TZ4NTnHtEzLjx54LyCELu2-4fiU40BaPMefcRNw4t2JHXj3Qn897dkY0/s1600/IMG_0062.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_sClYkkBgmhvDc3CKlsi5vkIAEKWZQB8QiBXqBCwAnSvqhPNgOfsMoVxfBB0xeEnlIFErZILLks5WfAPowB4TZ4NTnHtEzLjx54LyCELu2-4fiU40BaPMefcRNw4t2JHXj3Qn897dkY0/s400/IMG_0062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503882286479870130" border="0" /></a>Scott's Flatt Lake<br /></div><br />Here are some photographic highlights from our trip to the Sierra Nevadas in July.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTDISefCiw03OsrID_44n_Ls7ETnBqflAll1zPagWXDAY-vPlCm76-zDYs-Em61xYFa1OQw5Y6eSMDz7c5Kdsr4UlmGORgnPcTcWz_50qCyK4n9-ZzKCqM_DPsl8jhJHgObrwov6OBtti/s1600/IMG_0068.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTDISefCiw03OsrID_44n_Ls7ETnBqflAll1zPagWXDAY-vPlCm76-zDYs-Em61xYFa1OQw5Y6eSMDz7c5Kdsr4UlmGORgnPcTcWz_50qCyK4n9-ZzKCqM_DPsl8jhJHgObrwov6OBtti/s400/IMG_0068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503882277002468674" border="0" /></a>Chee Chee finally decided that he likes his new bed.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogduv2HKDLTb629PgoDUHYxXV8mD5c7uHItVRj1FiEk2Z74e9opSrTywPo68B4KFAMKXHwIAbSEbIerE-b3vnTLrsZR4E03WG_E6wC96nwyzaw-vJEESSres7SrbF1v5tnc-7dMF35_PB/s1600/IMG_0056.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogduv2HKDLTb629PgoDUHYxXV8mD5c7uHItVRj1FiEk2Z74e9opSrTywPo68B4KFAMKXHwIAbSEbIerE-b3vnTLrsZR4E03WG_E6wC96nwyzaw-vJEESSres7SrbF1v5tnc-7dMF35_PB/s400/IMG_0056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503882275218766498" border="0" /></a>A meadow<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhqJxdKObKGqq9XsjWsvCVlhMnZln0jMwarHgliW7wcIowEPyiS6QH3rEXUbyXzq3QJGpBw-GRjTuKwyUvKy3mFUX1l55a6YFhLuRdkQQVLUrqv75TJy1zeXxoiFGBY2ZQZJObMV6Ym_z/s1600/IMG_0052.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhqJxdKObKGqq9XsjWsvCVlhMnZln0jMwarHgliW7wcIowEPyiS6QH3rEXUbyXzq3QJGpBw-GRjTuKwyUvKy3mFUX1l55a6YFhLuRdkQQVLUrqv75TJy1zeXxoiFGBY2ZQZJObMV6Ym_z/s400/IMG_0052.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503881544043104562" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifX0sOYWBkuw2XRneoWlNp41zi2gQZmeV_NK634_gDjdMU2R4FC4bdhQsKLzjkHRkYVDMn6Ik4ZWOnx1LxoSHkV-25yNaJNq-y8V8LomfJ6sWsXDQUUVWOGRwNUYqxU5dQvGX2AF7mMKQv/s1600/IMG_0051.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifX0sOYWBkuw2XRneoWlNp41zi2gQZmeV_NK634_gDjdMU2R4FC4bdhQsKLzjkHRkYVDMn6Ik4ZWOnx1LxoSHkV-25yNaJNq-y8V8LomfJ6sWsXDQUUVWOGRwNUYqxU5dQvGX2AF7mMKQv/s400/IMG_0051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503881529965889794" border="0" /></a>Swimming after a bike ride<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXisiVXL7AqQV_43IhYLnwyWXw76cCGRZLEri6fMOwnLwvuQ4AbxfQzWmSGzQjROh-8UCIQjlChMoPLUAnNUMi4guZJFQ5MjgYg85ean5NVMTZoMN4BaBlbJSiE0CNxgBSCOENj2NES7y/s1600/IMG_0050.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXisiVXL7AqQV_43IhYLnwyWXw76cCGRZLEri6fMOwnLwvuQ4AbxfQzWmSGzQjROh-8UCIQjlChMoPLUAnNUMi4guZJFQ5MjgYg85ean5NVMTZoMN4BaBlbJSiE0CNxgBSCOENj2NES7y/s400/IMG_0050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503881521619568754" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SmDiIVPvnvTF6lpBP6Z3189mxixxTmVO1ExHmNme7Z5cxZPr1BxeacmmYNiwIs94u_TkRub38VtToz6ZsdDs4xuEIMxWQi6QdVL2lwHJr-v3YBpgtgOCweLl44iS1zHXU-hDvzXJnhaF/s1600/IMG_0026.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SmDiIVPvnvTF6lpBP6Z3189mxixxTmVO1ExHmNme7Z5cxZPr1BxeacmmYNiwIs94u_TkRub38VtToz6ZsdDs4xuEIMxWQi6QdVL2lwHJr-v3YBpgtgOCweLl44iS1zHXU-hDvzXJnhaF/s400/IMG_0026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503881517813872018" border="0" /></a>Hydroelectric plant<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0glj-eI7HmsuLvQcJfWngUFBwTXiLkuD1MpGPh5AWCyeY6lAlKf9FF3SNG672B9xwP1zXfu6Ev7-cTGezIAjELquYnErQ9hqJNo10HcgV9s03LydBEFnDksq8Gn2AcD1eKUg6c_RNQLXh/s1600/IMG_0025.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0glj-eI7HmsuLvQcJfWngUFBwTXiLkuD1MpGPh5AWCyeY6lAlKf9FF3SNG672B9xwP1zXfu6Ev7-cTGezIAjELquYnErQ9hqJNo10HcgV9s03LydBEFnDksq8Gn2AcD1eKUg6c_RNQLXh/s400/IMG_0025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503881510219884658" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbqM10o4GCKzEWKG4wwFWtr_ffZW_1IgNqNG0afYx6eXg-LSI5RpyyVcfWsAcKccnF5AhnD3dvPC3cz5m0cheohorYouWyVrIub8rtSRxnZKYlF5dxO9sYRrUo8WDdczNWCdMTTZYx5Gp/s1600/IMG_0021.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbqM10o4GCKzEWKG4wwFWtr_ffZW_1IgNqNG0afYx6eXg-LSI5RpyyVcfWsAcKccnF5AhnD3dvPC3cz5m0cheohorYouWyVrIub8rtSRxnZKYlF5dxO9sYRrUo8WDdczNWCdMTTZYx5Gp/s400/IMG_0021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503880379939633490" border="0" /></a>We rode our bikes to the bottom of the dam, then were dumb enough to hike up the side of it with them. Imagine climbing up that with a 20 pound bike. At least none of us fell.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvbKDK6K-7RzsMFkwqvXoltXleGJiiIzSpAX4sw8e1JY97AYVm2TYgQcJde1mkhdpkjho5OPvBFLMsbNyM-586Qyz-3XYEp1X_UmcbQnAzX-HMJKuXEoTW6t-i-T3jVEvb57JCi2lwnWf/s1600/IMG_0017.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvbKDK6K-7RzsMFkwqvXoltXleGJiiIzSpAX4sw8e1JY97AYVm2TYgQcJde1mkhdpkjho5OPvBFLMsbNyM-586Qyz-3XYEp1X_UmcbQnAzX-HMJKuXEoTW6t-i-T3jVEvb57JCi2lwnWf/s400/IMG_0017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503880369851447986" border="0" /></a>Tigerlilies at the river's edge<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkI5ICMcE6fHMb9_rUi8ZgctBxRsi7jYCVPSORdvTKHuVXqIFisZsHxWWz5dqcBaXfueIOzyNvU0hThTtqPdIAMOOqyrRYixD0QHZar6Ok77Sa1VNrtQfwax2DdeELlxANHBs6MZx4pAM/s1600/IMG_0015.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkI5ICMcE6fHMb9_rUi8ZgctBxRsi7jYCVPSORdvTKHuVXqIFisZsHxWWz5dqcBaXfueIOzyNvU0hThTtqPdIAMOOqyrRYixD0QHZar6Ok77Sa1VNrtQfwax2DdeELlxANHBs6MZx4pAM/s400/IMG_0015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503880364377302146" border="0" /></a>Siblings<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrNSLX5pcrFAgqr54iXGtT2m4if_F58cQJdFcdyE2MuPtzlqPPFcD7rg8UWpy99qC8bfIKmJTfZFmuplV6SAnAYAPF_FnO-g9Lc-_U_DhZ1tJIdwmDdVt-SH29LtPoVSaAsGEWQxN7cku/s1600/IMG_0012.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrNSLX5pcrFAgqr54iXGtT2m4if_F58cQJdFcdyE2MuPtzlqPPFcD7rg8UWpy99qC8bfIKmJTfZFmuplV6SAnAYAPF_FnO-g9Lc-_U_DhZ1tJIdwmDdVt-SH29LtPoVSaAsGEWQxN7cku/s400/IMG_0012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503880355913780290" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQJlWC-Ox7jNjpfiyX16I3VyNB9uuYp2JUIqu_kDvcmxIoU0EQbcvznh4um8YzhBSuRPCksOpLmZEbAjiPHXv9hWpx5MONnFHHHRX1N6Xmadp6Fc0AsnfirZ9baOStz8I0-kxDk2KtjW1/s1600/IMG_5554.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQJlWC-Ox7jNjpfiyX16I3VyNB9uuYp2JUIqu_kDvcmxIoU0EQbcvznh4um8YzhBSuRPCksOpLmZEbAjiPHXv9hWpx5MONnFHHHRX1N6Xmadp6Fc0AsnfirZ9baOStz8I0-kxDk2KtjW1/s400/IMG_5554.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503879409222635970" border="0" /></a>Beautiful boy<br /><br />And remember this adorable picture of Toot from last year?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNucNHF_3HQZfw3xL3QuC-x-iZn1C9lO2htVKecBRGpW0KTQz16q6g8S581XYRogP7NFfSXUYjIP89L5-WGlxPT64AwIC8f23KfwCa116OqJsf57TdZxcHGpDxBzsmnAG-7DlPIloJ0aVX/s1600/IMG_0115.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNucNHF_3HQZfw3xL3QuC-x-iZn1C9lO2htVKecBRGpW0KTQz16q6g8S581XYRogP7NFfSXUYjIP89L5-WGlxPT64AwIC8f23KfwCa116OqJsf57TdZxcHGpDxBzsmnAG-7DlPIloJ0aVX/s400/IMG_0115.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503885309631759426" border="0" /></a>This year... not so much. The poor pup looks traumatized.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLsyiFSAyVlbR-SqM_JxVKDVvGB8bU7efOhDZvf5sZlCFt0S__7JmXA7S2KBdHT-ztnHz_1jwwivCfu_FhxsvU-4NYnB5j2R3scXDQ2KoJJEZCe4PDOXAqpNMi6zF3T91bLroQgoc0fc8/s1600/IMG_5582.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLsyiFSAyVlbR-SqM_JxVKDVvGB8bU7efOhDZvf5sZlCFt0S__7JmXA7S2KBdHT-ztnHz_1jwwivCfu_FhxsvU-4NYnB5j2R3scXDQ2KoJJEZCe4PDOXAqpNMi6zF3T91bLroQgoc0fc8/s400/IMG_5582.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503882296181321586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShCf_za0gnd_rTaNZPLwepA7w9BvmZW5d9ZL6fBTJJKJOVmqgHOJ8KKsqip1lYz5HSFzfg5Pw6X6cL933xN0mTH6OXF0hBQ94aiTtwW5lTxpKxxr6sUBbxlVjZXit9PKSlO9LRUcR5OpC/s1600/IMG_5581.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShCf_za0gnd_rTaNZPLwepA7w9BvmZW5d9ZL6fBTJJKJOVmqgHOJ8KKsqip1lYz5HSFzfg5Pw6X6cL933xN0mTH6OXF0hBQ94aiTtwW5lTxpKxxr6sUBbxlVjZXit9PKSlO9LRUcR5OpC/s400/IMG_5581.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503882291333665842" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9NbR5CIeu84eTWN6ggo55n8yXg4C9st6VtpmcIE8VJgSWTIe1fNkJBXCI7MYXnAceZiGzdTtb8GfrS-dj0cZm3MCtL258TYSvQr8sDgFtTO4I2LanPdsOAfbEgsEP45GoRpbt_jDYsEX/s1600/IMG_5515.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9NbR5CIeu84eTWN6ggo55n8yXg4C9st6VtpmcIE8VJgSWTIe1fNkJBXCI7MYXnAceZiGzdTtb8GfrS-dj0cZm3MCtL258TYSvQr8sDgFtTO4I2LanPdsOAfbEgsEP45GoRpbt_jDYsEX/s400/IMG_5515.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503879402026211794" border="0" /></a>Mist on the river<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMW6hFuEgoMpOFAPalq8cQxORbsgYs0eyVSaO_F1Kko2orU-kTgdofmzqvgmcwLRGhnAW97CO20EvwvTCH1PbVevLVAzsCfnk4V2DY9Rdn9BDDDVC2WUnu45KQQUhqtKGIYSNsTxUsKATx/s1600/IMG_5503.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMW6hFuEgoMpOFAPalq8cQxORbsgYs0eyVSaO_F1Kko2orU-kTgdofmzqvgmcwLRGhnAW97CO20EvwvTCH1PbVevLVAzsCfnk4V2DY9Rdn9BDDDVC2WUnu45KQQUhqtKGIYSNsTxUsKATx/s400/IMG_5503.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503879395417169170" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLirZIUnreKEM6JH-azyyQkK7qH_7gZljpwx5xwtwEXYh0fDY_Kilye0UpwtPvCII_gml7iPVC9AeGbZuNhm3i-Wk0WR0s9Em1Eyou71dNDUOQjizs0iTlvNvO6zrws1vSAaBJReP0E2l/s1600/IMG_5484.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLirZIUnreKEM6JH-azyyQkK7qH_7gZljpwx5xwtwEXYh0fDY_Kilye0UpwtPvCII_gml7iPVC9AeGbZuNhm3i-Wk0WR0s9Em1Eyou71dNDUOQjizs0iTlvNvO6zrws1vSAaBJReP0E2l/s400/IMG_5484.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503879387423156994" border="0" /></a>In the mist<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwakm88OLKzQJKhq_m3oeDmgIHUQMCUmi5AerfcDsmg7OrP782O6y2xF-wFGgtCaALTfPjlIbhA9HkqvkUDug' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhX38uB7XtzDgGIXN0HQnVAbn_lKMR-2UrV1B7LxzqSFs6kOJy0r5PHF2Gazdk2D4_TTPFwjTY1HxRB4_K88hQfYehtmuIb-kdVL6btJKyLZDF-FnXWCtY2sd4u1uSftIJ876P7KTSuewU/s1600/IMG_5482.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhX38uB7XtzDgGIXN0HQnVAbn_lKMR-2UrV1B7LxzqSFs6kOJy0r5PHF2Gazdk2D4_TTPFwjTY1HxRB4_K88hQfYehtmuIb-kdVL6btJKyLZDF-FnXWCtY2sd4u1uSftIJ876P7KTSuewU/s400/IMG_5482.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503879384639861090" border="0" /></a>Approaching the mist<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxu_T-NmsbmdX68H1JjSsZ5ztQWzYm4FvGkW9I0Bbd2EBhMzWApTLvo7OTcVbghvZW1HtTceX5kxG8wZEMrYQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_JyX2tq8ivB6suyzTSlR5pLuvZYrnNdXQNp4yxoQG50g7zqqanNGp-s-H7bvHP85YRRw57SNGlzbFCzRhc-M4bf-nztzlNz505TUw8mYL9rwXtNIKt_Pm1BK43-7njB_foQoj4VNFM3w/s1600/IMG_5474.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_JyX2tq8ivB6suyzTSlR5pLuvZYrnNdXQNp4yxoQG50g7zqqanNGp-s-H7bvHP85YRRw57SNGlzbFCzRhc-M4bf-nztzlNz505TUw8mYL9rwXtNIKt_Pm1BK43-7njB_foQoj4VNFM3w/s400/IMG_5474.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503878501471663234" border="0" /></a>Sunrise<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxB_Swt1PhEE3ynWPc5wrRLjaWFRU8rgpD2y14wnzw50C-zVRozNP4DbSot481fReP5YGSvUdmtyIZ-6EPm3kX-DpbdS6PBM7uWtUgFInN78rKX0xLL2PJl4ZAhGrtdL4tGuZFloSGhMqI/s1600/IMG_5470.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxB_Swt1PhEE3ynWPc5wrRLjaWFRU8rgpD2y14wnzw50C-zVRozNP4DbSot481fReP5YGSvUdmtyIZ-6EPm3kX-DpbdS6PBM7uWtUgFInN78rKX0xLL2PJl4ZAhGrtdL4tGuZFloSGhMqI/s400/IMG_5470.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503878498744288066" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KUOpcYBB3mrDVTXVWFqFqEBd1R-DqO3BSieThz_AnWpVNH-kmaNaAYEtkzruZWkfM3dRng2ysTNL2neTexHrFcPyhcNiqfmcGSIWW2FeHQjKUNtqI8jE_Iol7hqQgwyia_zVamMtMHQV/s1600/IMG_5460.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KUOpcYBB3mrDVTXVWFqFqEBd1R-DqO3BSieThz_AnWpVNH-kmaNaAYEtkzruZWkfM3dRng2ysTNL2neTexHrFcPyhcNiqfmcGSIWW2FeHQjKUNtqI8jE_Iol7hqQgwyia_zVamMtMHQV/s400/IMG_5460.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503878489094224818" border="0" /></a>Toot ate some spaghetti<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyAfryVPAs4X6brlO8yzo0yMUx8yaj8pKxyUzL-nBDTDQ9elIC1I7GZmIiFcAI9fk92aqNFLUCOnZVgRSUda7-ITHYdOirIGmUJYgI0ViLFKrQALSNvrOfsySKaewPbNYnTYenWdoH3-v/s1600/IMG_5423.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyAfryVPAs4X6brlO8yzo0yMUx8yaj8pKxyUzL-nBDTDQ9elIC1I7GZmIiFcAI9fk92aqNFLUCOnZVgRSUda7-ITHYdOirIGmUJYgI0ViLFKrQALSNvrOfsySKaewPbNYnTYenWdoH3-v/s400/IMG_5423.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503878484592459602" border="0" /></a>Wet boy curled up<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeu6URrRiPo-1_Co2pjd5GfebvtM7LfgUgChve2H5BK8SEZlWGrZsZGElLJbdK9zy6bBJId5VEeAAAfKcYqcXdOM5vQp4dzCFt5Lz0EfaUWZ4jbCk-d7jGNPPa12A4J3w2E88_Le4WtEb/s1600/IMG_5420.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeu6URrRiPo-1_Co2pjd5GfebvtM7LfgUgChve2H5BK8SEZlWGrZsZGElLJbdK9zy6bBJId5VEeAAAfKcYqcXdOM5vQp4dzCFt5Lz0EfaUWZ4jbCk-d7jGNPPa12A4J3w2E88_Le4WtEb/s400/IMG_5420.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503878476416921314" border="0" /></a>One of those awesome flying tubes<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwcUzdtSQ3eEYSGEK0FZx3Nt5l4RBOS2nbSqXrSfRiVgJMN7FMV4_NwJK08S8ki-AR9CZwe5KWGBfvonEm0yZ1RhkrMRouV_ABqTSGwq1GTS3_wIZ55FRlzjjhdU0hwVgGJXCtUTXaTw0/s1600/IMG_5429.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwcUzdtSQ3eEYSGEK0FZx3Nt5l4RBOS2nbSqXrSfRiVgJMN7FMV4_NwJK08S8ki-AR9CZwe5KWGBfvonEm0yZ1RhkrMRouV_ABqTSGwq1GTS3_wIZ55FRlzjjhdU0hwVgGJXCtUTXaTw0/s400/IMG_5429.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503877628770746018" border="0" /></a>Wet Chee Chee toes<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaW-PRWUYC_QeQZHh8v_xPL8ujsxUfurQ5HS8mKsX1Cqs_iJahcUFVgV0209QMUIAzfotFsoLfqunfp5hxKEzjBl0ylDKlvPmiiH3dVkM_5mtwCr6sox08u3VVLKlND-dGd6bRf1wURFoo/s1600/IMG_5377.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaW-PRWUYC_QeQZHh8v_xPL8ujsxUfurQ5HS8mKsX1Cqs_iJahcUFVgV0209QMUIAzfotFsoLfqunfp5hxKEzjBl0ylDKlvPmiiH3dVkM_5mtwCr6sox08u3VVLKlND-dGd6bRf1wURFoo/s400/IMG_5377.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503877613847297954" border="0" /></a>I have no idea who these people are<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcm8B0KeZJNu-sfd7R2ENJa3dXp8qr0Ln_IkeinP05S_Ec7QuWBlt6w2kigoeYOmF_nnDpjUrR9-TYDJ9dSfuUbiHJ_nKjH3dKauSB74OksHAte0biP599r4ssOtUOpM_tVT5v41W4Kko/s1600/IMG_5346.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcm8B0KeZJNu-sfd7R2ENJa3dXp8qr0Ln_IkeinP05S_Ec7QuWBlt6w2kigoeYOmF_nnDpjUrR9-TYDJ9dSfuUbiHJ_nKjH3dKauSB74OksHAte0biP599r4ssOtUOpM_tVT5v41W4Kko/s400/IMG_5346.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503877610049936930" border="0" /></a>Geese!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2soqCSudEfDjYXnRdFZRzPEySPKuJrQO5MvXDPlL-eYlo2R8tNKduYCXE8v4Zm0WrewoEGnEjCm2bQ7AoiOAOQt3FMNzqbGz26KrZ1iYB1Lp3NgiJyhs50EoULvqmcDJkxWNbhXivah1i/s1600/IMG_5322.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2soqCSudEfDjYXnRdFZRzPEySPKuJrQO5MvXDPlL-eYlo2R8tNKduYCXE8v4Zm0WrewoEGnEjCm2bQ7AoiOAOQt3FMNzqbGz26KrZ1iYB1Lp3NgiJyhs50EoULvqmcDJkxWNbhXivah1i/s400/IMG_5322.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503877607194627330" border="0" /></a>Lots of fun bike rides<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CAoj_8VkmtbDQzcTDZOiQNn8wMZ8Lq2FKRlMwqi1IvAmf6kliuBhSGD-zA5FPThGfU3fNV2snHUCtDeu4g4h8BclnjscA-WigyOV8O_68lbZ7K_8mMabsZuWs4G1Pj9Vhqvgqfk-Pz83/s1600/IMG_5290.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CAoj_8VkmtbDQzcTDZOiQNn8wMZ8Lq2FKRlMwqi1IvAmf6kliuBhSGD-zA5FPThGfU3fNV2snHUCtDeu4g4h8BclnjscA-WigyOV8O_68lbZ7K_8mMabsZuWs4G1Pj9Vhqvgqfk-Pz83/s400/IMG_5290.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503876540926513426" border="0" /></a>Lake<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIc-C-uPlzXNRGXqNjcX0w2mS2DNGRAkk5s4G8as3lDz8CBzAab76VvIqqS1eFyDR1QCcGx9DCswvZ8LOLNDfBSiE0mDdiSG4nPmhsNXiI7e65yAySEu-O5URdbvZ4u8Pr0ZP9n20PpHZ_/s1600/IMG_5279.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIc-C-uPlzXNRGXqNjcX0w2mS2DNGRAkk5s4G8as3lDz8CBzAab76VvIqqS1eFyDR1QCcGx9DCswvZ8LOLNDfBSiE0mDdiSG4nPmhsNXiI7e65yAySEu-O5URdbvZ4u8Pr0ZP9n20PpHZ_/s400/IMG_5279.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503876534419810034" border="0" /></a>More Cheech on his bed<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJRi9LYwo2Xvg8wXhP8gtnjywPUjlNcz8_K2IERE76RXJUANOaDoze8lhSo5QIrQ8yRaZ3sTCOFj0kTIaAbbqB0CbugN6e-lgZm1uTSmrjIk2NslddUozL7o5bFin_W4p-_3fXdjs_JM4/s1600/IMG_5276.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJRi9LYwo2Xvg8wXhP8gtnjywPUjlNcz8_K2IERE76RXJUANOaDoze8lhSo5QIrQ8yRaZ3sTCOFj0kTIaAbbqB0CbugN6e-lgZm1uTSmrjIk2NslddUozL7o5bFin_W4p-_3fXdjs_JM4/s400/IMG_5276.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503876528896965346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnP14iicfBX42iM-TNrCZaNJP4HkC7P1o2jHc5rBuwU0wDj0ayqxH4RBRMjXQXaqH89dzvjtJrHxTrZ_7qkmkLG_wXBbJqzFXyDSzLHDdNTmrLlgAE8rh-_WIgg8A68ZX8UrbeB3Hap7J/s1600/IMG_5273.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnP14iicfBX42iM-TNrCZaNJP4HkC7P1o2jHc5rBuwU0wDj0ayqxH4RBRMjXQXaqH89dzvjtJrHxTrZ_7qkmkLG_wXBbJqzFXyDSzLHDdNTmrLlgAE8rh-_WIgg8A68ZX8UrbeB3Hap7J/s400/IMG_5273.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503876521639781442" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdzgAgbdovgZxbygLYgScPdWXIcNDPJWLSLgAeZTq_ZmaOaANETa3tBQBCAYZMiN0gL2ehhCivGMelzx6c1j8p6JSo0CiXvIHWu96Q3zEyiW9IPYvySPSndqeXVTRzdZDPwQoUK9iXU5W/s1600/IMG_5272.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdzgAgbdovgZxbygLYgScPdWXIcNDPJWLSLgAeZTq_ZmaOaANETa3tBQBCAYZMiN0gL2ehhCivGMelzx6c1j8p6JSo0CiXvIHWu96Q3zEyiW9IPYvySPSndqeXVTRzdZDPwQoUK9iXU5W/s400/IMG_5272.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503876520687869410" border="0" /></a>Beautiful little one<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Teyla and Comanche were frustrated over not being able to play (since they always had to be on leashes) but as you can tell in this adorable video, Cheech put his bed to good use as a toy.<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzjNnapA3VhQIPXLcMXK8dHvNTH5hLttm1zp8DFj1ZqcCT2tYs-LKMMl-5jyv3f5UvcGMOkIQI5uezMayBuCA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />Thank you for your kind wishes for Alex's recovery. Her ankle is a grade 3 sprain, which means she tore the ligament. She has had it in a brace for two weeks so hopefully she'll continue to heal swiftly.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tracie -- </span>Yes, I did say "sweet little Commie" because he is one. ;)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hammy -- </span>Thank you for your well-wishes! :)Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-7312406188465934192010-07-26T19:30:00.001-07:002010-07-26T20:44:41.274-07:00HD Pictures<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6klAkufm0bqR3T1HrHZP3fkos6WSMT_W98xgbIvjzJ4yy57ueIu9qIHH418iqV7NZSrQxOTRO9iKGCZEPPOfk4hCKM4AYZqtmgyjCd417ge1bqtrOaemVYImHCuX2-Id11qih1v9C3aCQ/s1600/IMG_0189.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6klAkufm0bqR3T1HrHZP3fkos6WSMT_W98xgbIvjzJ4yy57ueIu9qIHH418iqV7NZSrQxOTRO9iKGCZEPPOfk4hCKM4AYZqtmgyjCd417ge1bqtrOaemVYImHCuX2-Id11qih1v9C3aCQ/s400/IMG_0189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498424662704546210" border="0" /></a><br />It's 7:30 pm and I'm sitting in my room smelling spaghetti, my favorite food, and am very hungry after a three mile run, but it's not time to eat yet. My sister and I were feeding the horses when she hopped about two feet off a hay bail. There was a loud pop and an agonized scream before she fell to the ground. She has "sprained" her ankles many times before, and we're hoping that's all this is, too, but that pop was terrible, and her foot has swollen up so much that it's purple and her toes are curling. Spaghetti is also her favorite food, so we're waiting until she gets back from the doctor before we eat! I hope she gets better ASAP and finally gets some physical therapy that will work to help prevent this from happening again.<br /><br />And before I forget -- I apologize if the blog has been taking a while to load lately. I think it was the background picture that I had up of a sunset at sea. Now that I've deleted that, things seem to be loading faster... I think.<br /><br />While I wait, I thought I'd share some pretty pictures. One of my graduation gifts was a Canon HD video camera, which was super cool. However, after playing around with it a bit, I discovered that it makes an annoying sound, like a hard drive writing information (except that it has no hard drive) and that the sound was in every video. It was especially noticeable in the quieter videos (like a documentary about the Commie). Thank goodness Costco allows returns! We were able to take it back without a problem. So I'm now searching for a good HD camera with minimal negatives at an affordable price. That means that, hopefully soon, our videos will be in HD!<br /><br />I kept the pictures I took, so here they are! Oh, and here's one of my favorite Loreena McKennitt songs to listen to while you look. It always reminds me of summer sunsets.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KLOPtVUWGY8&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KLOPtVUWGY8&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDldAHguCJ0XPRNDpwJW8xPlsvu1wy2GXD46J3q2nh04QnJCpYdoD8Jy3pmElactBond7ZaVyuWDnokEs8Sb4u_CzTrPZDqg49oKKvSb4kGGGt7X1XPzgGn4mOJRh-QE6GPnfYv_TPCDjU/s1600/IMG_0188.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDldAHguCJ0XPRNDpwJW8xPlsvu1wy2GXD46J3q2nh04QnJCpYdoD8Jy3pmElactBond7ZaVyuWDnokEs8Sb4u_CzTrPZDqg49oKKvSb4kGGGt7X1XPzgGn4mOJRh-QE6GPnfYv_TPCDjU/s400/IMG_0188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498424659600778338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRCTCgC71TNgSMKKqJSLFg9XwNTdYYxzFHICBmyIhvRH2-PYpJEBVXLfuDJsAMsJGIuLkmiU2g5E0eYM2fKnLkQK9qJ-JfVf376t_gm2iPQVv2L7r7k7aXoXWknKl_tni2dj7OkTbwn_b/s1600/IMG_0187.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRCTCgC71TNgSMKKqJSLFg9XwNTdYYxzFHICBmyIhvRH2-PYpJEBVXLfuDJsAMsJGIuLkmiU2g5E0eYM2fKnLkQK9qJ-JfVf376t_gm2iPQVv2L7r7k7aXoXWknKl_tni2dj7OkTbwn_b/s400/IMG_0187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498424647696741058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMoFKfoQiJ_lbRwn_t3zESnV7CWhMyJnlIypKVReSpeTlTwwNoXzlXWhUhcbBsEhgupoMHVLBGzy1qX8Chm4vJpy7HtiXiGuMqdigcGIlSZuxDJ6dJixhbV_ekl4POZ3a1cW1v6VH1Lod/s1600/IMG_0185.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMoFKfoQiJ_lbRwn_t3zESnV7CWhMyJnlIypKVReSpeTlTwwNoXzlXWhUhcbBsEhgupoMHVLBGzy1qX8Chm4vJpy7HtiXiGuMqdigcGIlSZuxDJ6dJixhbV_ekl4POZ3a1cW1v6VH1Lod/s400/IMG_0185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498424066727837762" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJwjoHlesbGapqE585oUKrhvrApxhwvYlod3rhDTLrxGN-Rvukg-faDttx47PLXglbxSr0R7J5V0DeGgwCqnt1QzKK283HrxZwbi9HVIqu3ud2o8F2m2wvmkQR8T89dlBtSkrHPn5qEY2/s1600/IMG_0178.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJwjoHlesbGapqE585oUKrhvrApxhwvYlod3rhDTLrxGN-Rvukg-faDttx47PLXglbxSr0R7J5V0DeGgwCqnt1QzKK283HrxZwbi9HVIqu3ud2o8F2m2wvmkQR8T89dlBtSkrHPn5qEY2/s400/IMG_0178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498424063447716322" border="0" /></a>Red, white and blue!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqOnPFiwM_qboSj4jWLt9qcl2QawPWAL9gBBKqb5ToeFHxKxKCxnEQZzyQItoRJeiPHsu-wpOhS8JkBu97Vz1tgsgEMKMmGxVt54ae_IAYM9CxH-WXO06CIWHsypkuIQ4Z48N9sCpViOJ/s1600/IMG_0175.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqOnPFiwM_qboSj4jWLt9qcl2QawPWAL9gBBKqb5ToeFHxKxKCxnEQZzyQItoRJeiPHsu-wpOhS8JkBu97Vz1tgsgEMKMmGxVt54ae_IAYM9CxH-WXO06CIWHsypkuIQ4Z48N9sCpViOJ/s400/IMG_0175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498424048239142290" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJ0UeBF3I4RflYA4Hl6CkhWVgLM4rsyxqrTruz7DyFlDvMRWvOwijcI1jjUe8OyZ4BY4XVsjctUo9NrZSgIsaHjZQe7W4OGWn7MLJmBXvROLrKPZKldPjYaT3mR6xmIczSQxtw2v7HrJ9/s1600/IMG_0174.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJ0UeBF3I4RflYA4Hl6CkhWVgLM4rsyxqrTruz7DyFlDvMRWvOwijcI1jjUe8OyZ4BY4XVsjctUo9NrZSgIsaHjZQe7W4OGWn7MLJmBXvROLrKPZKldPjYaT3mR6xmIczSQxtw2v7HrJ9/s400/IMG_0174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498424038702761394" border="0" /></a>Sweet little Commie<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ8xgNOQtez14NhgGenc2Z0AQwKNG0Inm0l_OULdh-Gfrlde5IvT9ClbtbMH5z9VIDQoKBZUE3ZtAXBJqKjh-L7wdyWuU6Wy2xNTwZHxOsK3Kn2HkjTQdNSD3hfR0mse-QHESWgabPb6O/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ8xgNOQtez14NhgGenc2Z0AQwKNG0Inm0l_OULdh-Gfrlde5IvT9ClbtbMH5z9VIDQoKBZUE3ZtAXBJqKjh-L7wdyWuU6Wy2xNTwZHxOsK3Kn2HkjTQdNSD3hfR0mse-QHESWgabPb6O/s400/IMG_0169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498424035232962082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3yx2uaQdXm8EjJ4q5z1uhrslizpgz1oO1SGZrMbnp5nbwFj7WxC8DkjPQxy39hjN3O843Yh5uLGN2h5PJB7EhlZWmVgdceHbfFrs4sbceHHe7QoWKFw47Y20hyq57N_w3Lxx84phq8rF/s1600/IMG_0168.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3yx2uaQdXm8EjJ4q5z1uhrslizpgz1oO1SGZrMbnp5nbwFj7WxC8DkjPQxy39hjN3O843Yh5uLGN2h5PJB7EhlZWmVgdceHbfFrs4sbceHHe7QoWKFw47Y20hyq57N_w3Lxx84phq8rF/s400/IMG_0168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498423475380835906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5yPZWAsP7yMm7aQr0bJ8gbvjLZmsKwZz_0IvpklVqYV5jKm-HO7zoK_MUIPxFDjsGWWZyasLRR9aKez07LFzoG7ZJDIJreXbsAsLLmCcaVimJOgGzie_JLdRrT_59AUcQZwEmFJt2ELO/s1600/IMG_0165.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5yPZWAsP7yMm7aQr0bJ8gbvjLZmsKwZz_0IvpklVqYV5jKm-HO7zoK_MUIPxFDjsGWWZyasLRR9aKez07LFzoG7ZJDIJreXbsAsLLmCcaVimJOgGzie_JLdRrT_59AUcQZwEmFJt2ELO/s400/IMG_0165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498423464120837442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13olmowJj6lkkmbxLSsoz-GcJBGm75yCIGealzHsjtSW-bsxY934MiOjSqIH2cdYpM5ezu6brvN4b6J9zdgUVpqJgD3cfOiw0UqSC62XMVVv5_hwETQfZSEd0EJjqE2p4afMiVik73JNR/s1600/IMG_0163.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13olmowJj6lkkmbxLSsoz-GcJBGm75yCIGealzHsjtSW-bsxY934MiOjSqIH2cdYpM5ezu6brvN4b6J9zdgUVpqJgD3cfOiw0UqSC62XMVVv5_hwETQfZSEd0EJjqE2p4afMiVik73JNR/s400/IMG_0163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498423460265043426" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQV6Z7af7vmPrT8dCc7npucZBBG0CtxpTdJYLJ-kygExHGFgpdlwUjPR5xP52tHgBddWvV6sGzLDbGVkSOGQFhApTi3lTPHKY8BMSHvuP92JFMmYspECpwhQzgIXPVlVEkilASMQAARAw/s1600/IMG_0161.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQV6Z7af7vmPrT8dCc7npucZBBG0CtxpTdJYLJ-kygExHGFgpdlwUjPR5xP52tHgBddWvV6sGzLDbGVkSOGQFhApTi3lTPHKY8BMSHvuP92JFMmYspECpwhQzgIXPVlVEkilASMQAARAw/s400/IMG_0161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498423450537478338" border="0" /></a>More red, white and blue!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZitJKb3JIiYkp_G8GyPp87R0lL0XQAWzqvsjXoPfeuxCoDFjZ_f8PgLfiwHiQdn_MWs57QnjgE6CkY5YiRzM2a31ISUs6irJAYi7tE-s2eXf9j9mpS0MA1FBwCIbnhxnYW2z5NdBu9cA/s1600/IMG_0160.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZitJKb3JIiYkp_G8GyPp87R0lL0XQAWzqvsjXoPfeuxCoDFjZ_f8PgLfiwHiQdn_MWs57QnjgE6CkY5YiRzM2a31ISUs6irJAYi7tE-s2eXf9j9mpS0MA1FBwCIbnhxnYW2z5NdBu9cA/s400/IMG_0160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498423442971415490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZrdASjBWJ6n_dzTHYq039J7X1e2_iqveh3K2gGqqW3HhvaV0MfF2PM82Gxjas1oZKHwqJW-xAakZC6HeNSk3xbujT6nI0PKmlHWDbj2l_tE2aahZlzAw5rFpEv2SzIznsKvmtRGkKULt/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZrdASjBWJ6n_dzTHYq039J7X1e2_iqveh3K2gGqqW3HhvaV0MfF2PM82Gxjas1oZKHwqJW-xAakZC6HeNSk3xbujT6nI0PKmlHWDbj2l_tE2aahZlzAw5rFpEv2SzIznsKvmtRGkKULt/s400/IMG_0149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498422996218311970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEEpillM2UJ30ZSjCP3Rgz_5TiBEfCnnQd5hyD5xXfWZVDWBNKhuJM5CY-lYOsBpj4adBtkz_g8SLzpq86jFA0_5E5I0XWKQStT54gbxPfNealauZt0wTBwsSCDwZ8uDKVxU1zAZHE6Wn/s1600/IMG_0157.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEEpillM2UJ30ZSjCP3Rgz_5TiBEfCnnQd5hyD5xXfWZVDWBNKhuJM5CY-lYOsBpj4adBtkz_g8SLzpq86jFA0_5E5I0XWKQStT54gbxPfNealauZt0wTBwsSCDwZ8uDKVxU1zAZHE6Wn/s400/IMG_0157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498422987457950626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA87BEGgCm-cQ1UIHUPm4RGlGqQ6I587cZeTllC5EKb3K1G0j1tkSyiHNQTwuDb3i8lyKyZCbx7h6u_f0AMrqPUelTWLraPz5fzJH2VvHBQuxDELKj6EgLXO63LIWdFmO1RVvR_Ij8HRbv/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA87BEGgCm-cQ1UIHUPm4RGlGqQ6I587cZeTllC5EKb3K1G0j1tkSyiHNQTwuDb3i8lyKyZCbx7h6u_f0AMrqPUelTWLraPz5fzJH2VvHBQuxDELKj6EgLXO63LIWdFmO1RVvR_Ij8HRbv/s400/IMG_0154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498422983145067794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsVsVeF6cYHK3p8KWh-16DfEwuTPlZn4lypBBniJXznkWrqTR2SAvFjXTD7GXT8RmATZRoRKJJ3GdX0CIVY8Ww9S2PHAnvF9nnT7hg2YGIsg_vP59gvLYDm9VrcMtJKGgHJHHUjxa1fOZ/s1600/IMG_0151.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsVsVeF6cYHK3p8KWh-16DfEwuTPlZn4lypBBniJXznkWrqTR2SAvFjXTD7GXT8RmATZRoRKJJ3GdX0CIVY8Ww9S2PHAnvF9nnT7hg2YGIsg_vP59gvLYDm9VrcMtJKGgHJHHUjxa1fOZ/s400/IMG_0151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498422971108391602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXVkjRW3gYr3xapN8mB0yFIP_Ls2z8fZ3kMnLh_4efFnlqRh_u68QOTujl6BYkAG5LRxqg4iBKMaUHPcTde6i73LaKaowC46IAsxXyVokkTbGQQVx4ZirgzONNgXdXM7GjhM-h8yO0xgT/s1600/IMG_0150.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXVkjRW3gYr3xapN8mB0yFIP_Ls2z8fZ3kMnLh_4efFnlqRh_u68QOTujl6BYkAG5LRxqg4iBKMaUHPcTde6i73LaKaowC46IAsxXyVokkTbGQQVx4ZirgzONNgXdXM7GjhM-h8yO0xgT/s400/IMG_0150.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498422962903381090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gnIB5sIXPpAH0JBK1ouCjNoDj9_9dq1qsxzgm7nyUeyl2WTZJoc5SiKbWHL3te-GrAs8cScSHqj_VZ7bwvm4wB2ASOM3qeRAbzwqkRBsz2RZvDR99Z3ynKDxDPG1SP6F_Y9ZU_B19mwR/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gnIB5sIXPpAH0JBK1ouCjNoDj9_9dq1qsxzgm7nyUeyl2WTZJoc5SiKbWHL3te-GrAs8cScSHqj_VZ7bwvm4wB2ASOM3qeRAbzwqkRBsz2RZvDR99Z3ynKDxDPG1SP6F_Y9ZU_B19mwR/s400/IMG_0148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498422582195876130" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmdhOktddYbiL5gtzRaeef7gsi7Xhr49D13lAOxgnk2LY-5qJDBwOF4S_IO3spU8TZIFEiGOTOaluI3QXwNc9t1ru_TRZ1qLoaX1gi7B4GSox02fnfolPp_wmZNZbr0mKDTzyzKySjM64/s1600/IMG_0147.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmdhOktddYbiL5gtzRaeef7gsi7Xhr49D13lAOxgnk2LY-5qJDBwOF4S_IO3spU8TZIFEiGOTOaluI3QXwNc9t1ru_TRZ1qLoaX1gi7B4GSox02fnfolPp_wmZNZbr0mKDTzyzKySjM64/s400/IMG_0147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498422577707731730" border="0" /></a>She just got a drink... I think. Okay, maybe she was drooling. But she's the cutest little drooling princess ever.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAFPIjJDZdZc0k6rS7jTLlRyPwWowifG3RBmL3Pwjhh4b_3Syjkq2k5oN9_JcucaXJXB3TExCvPoENDrS1sztUggMnCmzeEyn_NK_UGllEhUdiXvixZCtpFhW7ZmGY70aoFvwoN2icgl7/s1600/IMG_0145.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAFPIjJDZdZc0k6rS7jTLlRyPwWowifG3RBmL3Pwjhh4b_3Syjkq2k5oN9_JcucaXJXB3TExCvPoENDrS1sztUggMnCmzeEyn_NK_UGllEhUdiXvixZCtpFhW7ZmGY70aoFvwoN2icgl7/s400/IMG_0145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498422573203474114" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpOo5KzsOAKqtyFSKWvz45RZUznLpa-17nGAtMhnqbccbhWGG_7qsK9KWs8C0QyiWMoDlsFAFKPgvKvFgjq1AGlB2ew4RRYPzsc8B6SgbG_29mSncj1pIP8OmlFfIcX6cd5NVcl2DsjYi/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpOo5KzsOAKqtyFSKWvz45RZUznLpa-17nGAtMhnqbccbhWGG_7qsK9KWs8C0QyiWMoDlsFAFKPgvKvFgjq1AGlB2ew4RRYPzsc8B6SgbG_29mSncj1pIP8OmlFfIcX6cd5NVcl2DsjYi/s400/IMG_0138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498422563980053218" border="0" /></a>Froggy, her Royal Highness. She's Black the Commie's mother.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXJ_aUf2OiaEIybKwtxeFLFOIpXrSjP4cizDS6rsE_Ca4HU7YqWnFS02Yl94UlzMWl5Fn8XM_UeiDc0jwpBNGerQ-kR2b89HIYY0NcaSeOQPAC_QumulFEPVTh5d-7Z4l0F_yyCH_iy4I/s1600/IMG_0136.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXJ_aUf2OiaEIybKwtxeFLFOIpXrSjP4cizDS6rsE_Ca4HU7YqWnFS02Yl94UlzMWl5Fn8XM_UeiDc0jwpBNGerQ-kR2b89HIYY0NcaSeOQPAC_QumulFEPVTh5d-7Z4l0F_yyCH_iy4I/s400/IMG_0136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498422556207477970" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnf6rQ_U9HMJWOaK2Ks2IPos9X1mg_PrmUSvrQA9Pntt4MSwGhI8ienvEl7DZxgPsUnL-f1Iie-5QwO00s8Th-Z8dWU9M6u-v1Tn-VDXIuUbau3Yw4ZNitMcjd3_w1iO5XpGV-bSSOAWZZ/s1600/IMG_0133.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnf6rQ_U9HMJWOaK2Ks2IPos9X1mg_PrmUSvrQA9Pntt4MSwGhI8ienvEl7DZxgPsUnL-f1Iie-5QwO00s8Th-Z8dWU9M6u-v1Tn-VDXIuUbau3Yw4ZNitMcjd3_w1iO5XpGV-bSSOAWZZ/s400/IMG_0133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498422160983301922" border="0" /></a>Mother and son<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFO0BkMR-yT1_G6twt3IcuJilKlkiltieKBfRScfam6h0FtRWNP6a3rPgL1khQJMW_01tSdZUOs9pY8vvoV2HVvLh0zXxacqhLGWtslvmdBKCXzQ8ivZMYBugwNgoCRIa4q7Ztqw7dg3st/s1600/IMG_0131.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFO0BkMR-yT1_G6twt3IcuJilKlkiltieKBfRScfam6h0FtRWNP6a3rPgL1khQJMW_01tSdZUOs9pY8vvoV2HVvLh0zXxacqhLGWtslvmdBKCXzQ8ivZMYBugwNgoCRIa4q7Ztqw7dg3st/s400/IMG_0131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498422156815216514" border="0" /></a>King Commie!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWFpiPJWsFj-JVL5uLrCScxof7CZWqybviQf6kzz70y4Keixx_qPnjrcUVG3RzIQJk0b6TynOOWBbvnYJkv4Hb1xQKED8V-c8ZTLRajY0Z1CblMwY-Bp5dA67WLtHbwaUP_ORskjpwLll/s1600/IMG_0129.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWFpiPJWsFj-JVL5uLrCScxof7CZWqybviQf6kzz70y4Keixx_qPnjrcUVG3RzIQJk0b6TynOOWBbvnYJkv4Hb1xQKED8V-c8ZTLRajY0Z1CblMwY-Bp5dA67WLtHbwaUP_ORskjpwLll/s400/IMG_0129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498422145757143410" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5chvWk6BD7ST6uEKLnXbSlAHlMEevtxRyhlJcZlfCx38Zei87XJ4NmvF11ETzvsUBqu6-PRig0Jj5kgapISGTgQCM6m8Ka37EHjeU4sRqX5O1xXEDRsseeCDwyq36Ms0OwcRFh3-C-I0K/s1600/IMG_0125.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5chvWk6BD7ST6uEKLnXbSlAHlMEevtxRyhlJcZlfCx38Zei87XJ4NmvF11ETzvsUBqu6-PRig0Jj5kgapISGTgQCM6m8Ka37EHjeU4sRqX5O1xXEDRsseeCDwyq36Ms0OwcRFh3-C-I0K/s400/IMG_0125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498422131773825986" border="0" /></a>Communist toes<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9cbAX7uC90fCv0tud0B37NxkjV-UfgdQ-ZjR01mfXKMz7JKX07tE-CzeDNtKLIvWzvLR4frijzNxy_ZE-l0ql_AC07rW5VUmeAVypTo4FHD4EcibEhO6vDFI7FFqb9w_Tn7WzyA8QUuy/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9cbAX7uC90fCv0tud0B37NxkjV-UfgdQ-ZjR01mfXKMz7JKX07tE-CzeDNtKLIvWzvLR4frijzNxy_ZE-l0ql_AC07rW5VUmeAVypTo4FHD4EcibEhO6vDFI7FFqb9w_Tn7WzyA8QUuy/s400/IMG_0123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498422130204023490" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdTyaA2CEJnIZaTF30zb8nhj7UMDQes3L6IRzfSAj8oJ8uhlaIqMbFakBeYF72-fbCOQFAl_RCXwNWvYsFILsALScdDW8NTE34nTZ0IJ_EQosAVfKkTWqTJHFUfuRE_vxpMkaLp2bOiBG/s1600/IMG_0117.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdTyaA2CEJnIZaTF30zb8nhj7UMDQes3L6IRzfSAj8oJ8uhlaIqMbFakBeYF72-fbCOQFAl_RCXwNWvYsFILsALScdDW8NTE34nTZ0IJ_EQosAVfKkTWqTJHFUfuRE_vxpMkaLp2bOiBG/s400/IMG_0117.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498421556143052994" border="0" /></a>Peeks<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RR7yOaBvcMxH6BgJfYEcQLPVCUA9vWF5Q0nyOopAa-UsfCSLoGPp7_d39v3LVKV9IVhWXzC-MDFzkfrMrNnU3SQsm8oZlZmXJjbU9-qX_i4voqNQm8lozgwFwoGfJs6-m5G-8A47SQi5/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RR7yOaBvcMxH6BgJfYEcQLPVCUA9vWF5Q0nyOopAa-UsfCSLoGPp7_d39v3LVKV9IVhWXzC-MDFzkfrMrNnU3SQsm8oZlZmXJjbU9-qX_i4voqNQm8lozgwFwoGfJs6-m5G-8A47SQi5/s400/IMG_0116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498421547255959298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLv9lEVmDqht-P1tFZibL5m0CjZd4T1shyrVWgf3zy04zQLUP9F47242zNPNANdkY_LgVZGdt8c7DQGrGVE8rrR4-eHTSf_gnLPehc4NXu-lWFFC4TauMGPZqRdiYhf5TrT6TjrMkxKKu/s1600/IMG_0109.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLv9lEVmDqht-P1tFZibL5m0CjZd4T1shyrVWgf3zy04zQLUP9F47242zNPNANdkY_LgVZGdt8c7DQGrGVE8rrR4-eHTSf_gnLPehc4NXu-lWFFC4TauMGPZqRdiYhf5TrT6TjrMkxKKu/s400/IMG_0109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498421532379727026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhkVD30i3RrHBn52pALR86mvXin545PN1Vyhyf90hg5P-0cAPx-My5P8N3_WqwAlPjrQCrhfmSJEc_Q-kVNxW2WPg-0OYeZpmqM_bFI6eVp0giN3qcKDmNcOzSAED9zgxhsSjviLT0Qzt/s1600/IMG_0105.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhkVD30i3RrHBn52pALR86mvXin545PN1Vyhyf90hg5P-0cAPx-My5P8N3_WqwAlPjrQCrhfmSJEc_Q-kVNxW2WPg-0OYeZpmqM_bFI6eVp0giN3qcKDmNcOzSAED9zgxhsSjviLT0Qzt/s400/IMG_0105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498421523464204034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4kCNhDzP1acHzMwYqPMJusj5Gi4JbUuVesI_d6FhBYYCet2uESuZV4rueG_a-Fvfig_9zUK89A2DezavPkicJ56LkU_63DHiDkKuSRIUpZPH2utYOEB1rhBS_pUCxfrlacrkqLw-t_Zq/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4kCNhDzP1acHzMwYqPMJusj5Gi4JbUuVesI_d6FhBYYCet2uESuZV4rueG_a-Fvfig_9zUK89A2DezavPkicJ56LkU_63DHiDkKuSRIUpZPH2utYOEB1rhBS_pUCxfrlacrkqLw-t_Zq/s400/IMG_0101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498421515515410178" border="0" /></a>Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-62585220889842798992010-07-22T11:12:00.000-07:002010-07-22T15:44:12.115-07:00Independence Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6EosQEZJk7RlRFBs3fYE2vMpxXag2MY36bYgXXxzvKwvNgXSI4aSfiCUHXeeqIHF-0xc1LTUZg4KLUgaJ1IWRx2nkD4b8Dp3XHcUybNaXXSbpz0FmLX4IM8WlTeUW0A4YJFv2WdwxvEY/s1600/IMG_5140.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6EosQEZJk7RlRFBs3fYE2vMpxXag2MY36bYgXXxzvKwvNgXSI4aSfiCUHXeeqIHF-0xc1LTUZg4KLUgaJ1IWRx2nkD4b8Dp3XHcUybNaXXSbpz0FmLX4IM8WlTeUW0A4YJFv2WdwxvEY/s400/IMG_5140.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496795989138337010" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Happy </span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102); font-weight: bold;">Independence </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Day!</span></span><br /></div><br />I know that was really late, but time for blogging has slipped away over the past few weeks, due to exciting career developments, new projects, and camping in the Sierra Nevada mountains. But our Fourth of July was wonderful, so I thought I'd share the proof. I hope you all had a great one, too!<br /><br />Since I still don't have a camera, all these wonderful pictures were taken by Alex. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSrTs35eyDpEnEZOgbl7SoQd7kLc75rFZOhO8C-nQjtkhBUY5aKorkTQ241kKbewtlzW5_W-mLJA-_vYuTrxLqhn3tUf8ySci_CG91O6kuNTxcaq8ukqkbHRWQE1k6PORaaNsoG1NmUWj/s1600/IMG_5144.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSrTs35eyDpEnEZOgbl7SoQd7kLc75rFZOhO8C-nQjtkhBUY5aKorkTQ241kKbewtlzW5_W-mLJA-_vYuTrxLqhn3tUf8ySci_CG91O6kuNTxcaq8ukqkbHRWQE1k6PORaaNsoG1NmUWj/s400/IMG_5144.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496795998545287378" border="0" /></a>The cupcakes I made<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fZSAEY6ff-Wt_3KQGVblGpCUdNaFewFiSvy6XnlfpRuxL9gnA8-3YwNvIaUTOcv1onGkQNNSmbcArz3pOzoamcWFnM3m4wF2AuZRUGLGyIehyphenhyphenQC6_ThtSE4KNblPeuy6Z3tzonhnV-B6/s1600/IMG_5145.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fZSAEY6ff-Wt_3KQGVblGpCUdNaFewFiSvy6XnlfpRuxL9gnA8-3YwNvIaUTOcv1onGkQNNSmbcArz3pOzoamcWFnM3m4wF2AuZRUGLGyIehyphenhyphenQC6_ThtSE4KNblPeuy6Z3tzonhnV-B6/s400/IMG_5145.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496796004712976290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUhlvD4l4JOYH5hxNnyEVYWqY1i0eQ2w9zT-pYY32F1sPH6fInywbTZCGJc0ECQORrhcBgUpTaq17AGOEE7yXk3gPk2Yk0kNWWJH8IDCQJvzt0CCHLEN3c8LskGskeC4WK6rB0cmRoEq5/s1600/IMG_5146.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUhlvD4l4JOYH5hxNnyEVYWqY1i0eQ2w9zT-pYY32F1sPH6fInywbTZCGJc0ECQORrhcBgUpTaq17AGOEE7yXk3gPk2Yk0kNWWJH8IDCQJvzt0CCHLEN3c8LskGskeC4WK6rB0cmRoEq5/s400/IMG_5146.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496796016731582226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebxQ3hkw-pwRDqcXRRT33yb7U39rnAwjOeslsE-XnUGzv46QttmvW4CIFSohmOHE0FzpWGksX078W4q6J2w_Lj0-ahtLv-pKYbxqb_9_prWMZF_t2krP2P3LgTULS0j6-IuUYJRQhG_fg/s1600/IMG_5149.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebxQ3hkw-pwRDqcXRRT33yb7U39rnAwjOeslsE-XnUGzv46QttmvW4CIFSohmOHE0FzpWGksX078W4q6J2w_Lj0-ahtLv-pKYbxqb_9_prWMZF_t2krP2P3LgTULS0j6-IuUYJRQhG_fg/s400/IMG_5149.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496796022444720562" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmn3Jyk2J3FRN5XG6IY8evAo3YXoGI6wkz6vBsMTimLopN9hkO22l-1FcTcAgiXJCOr96I0JphyphenhyphenGYeH-yzLz_LNz5u7s1atqCX7S9k7AgkU8jjWHE8lrUUgEHmg4_4PhbQZvPnDgV3vUXS/s1600/IMG_5161.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmn3Jyk2J3FRN5XG6IY8evAo3YXoGI6wkz6vBsMTimLopN9hkO22l-1FcTcAgiXJCOr96I0JphyphenhyphenGYeH-yzLz_LNz5u7s1atqCX7S9k7AgkU8jjWHE8lrUUgEHmg4_4PhbQZvPnDgV3vUXS/s400/IMG_5161.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496796444263847762" border="0" /></a>Thriving sunflowers...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHboRL2j6sISPmqJGEhdOOLW-Q5KWvVLrwJDEgl7qtNab4HI5JDTkfNs2N_iWSAAD-hogIkv-pBW0lMrqdLhLv4S1AJ-Ap6no8O4c5v1M7JR9tYvoo1kKKZ4_yZALzw9kLbJZOZB16FZ_/s1600/IMG_5171.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHboRL2j6sISPmqJGEhdOOLW-Q5KWvVLrwJDEgl7qtNab4HI5JDTkfNs2N_iWSAAD-hogIkv-pBW0lMrqdLhLv4S1AJ-Ap6no8O4c5v1M7JR9tYvoo1kKKZ4_yZALzw9kLbJZOZB16FZ_/s400/IMG_5171.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496796448980617298" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYCG5m3AVjwHZaydcon-2XjyzfacYc5TvH9a87lHT_MECbbK8O2ztUsXMGsLDHgmwmMHtigACV0kRRGXMmIoTzAVdMrTr2N9fAxPqvf3Wrtkd6oi8fx11_1VZ5DTVKfBO3xmsTQlPw6PZ/s1600/IMG_5182.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYCG5m3AVjwHZaydcon-2XjyzfacYc5TvH9a87lHT_MECbbK8O2ztUsXMGsLDHgmwmMHtigACV0kRRGXMmIoTzAVdMrTr2N9fAxPqvf3Wrtkd6oi8fx11_1VZ5DTVKfBO3xmsTQlPw6PZ/s400/IMG_5182.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496796460062437218" border="0" /></a>...in our thriving garden!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Events of the day included assembling and flying patriotic gliders, patriotic necklaces, eating cupcakes, and watching the <span style="font-style: italic;">America: The Story of Us</span> episode on the Revolutionary War (an amazing series that I highly recommend). While waiting for evening to fall so that we could attend the local firework display, we decided to play Revolutionary War. Having watched <span style="font-style: italic;">The Patriot</span> the night before, we assumed the roles of Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson's American character -- me) and Colonel Tavington (Jason Isaacs British soldier -- Alex). As you can tell, the war didn't exactly go to plan. And it took me a while to realize that one of the toy guns my sister had grabbed to play with was actually real.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Revolutionary War</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sEWI6LnmdD0&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sEWI6LnmdD0&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /></div><br />The fireworks are held in a field the next town over, and it's a big to do. You pay an admission price and can wander stalls of food, jumpy houses, games, live music, and then fireworks. At least that's what I hear. I've never actually been inside. One of the downsides of being part of a large family is that there are so many of us that admission and travel are expensive. As I explained to my neighbor the other day (as he told me what happened inside the fence), "I was always one of the poor kids on the outside of the fence."<br /><br />And why not? You get almost as good of a show and don't have to pay admission. I perfectly understand why we did it that way for so many years. This year, however, the security ignored the fence once it got dark and the fireworks started, so for the first time in my life, I got to see the fireworks in all their glory. My mom, sister and I made a mad dash across the fence and field in the darkness between fireworks. It was so beautiful.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwLO37RCMSMrvbJK6gSOaveS7HVt6HOfLTmpRMJVnx9KkwQjqPnF07qolYvs7bu6R4vPlBbC1YDtZbIqWRafg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />For several minutes, I was overwhelmed with emotion at the beautiful display as I thought of what we were celebrating, and just how much our ancestors sacrificed, dreamed, and fought for. Our national anthem is glorious. Our Declaration of Independence is an inspiration. We have a beautiful inheritance and should always strive to maintain the legacy of the ideals of our forefathers.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxxriRzxWT7V-8Zt9nXuiugLYAFWCFPndgN8fEpv1CiQJcbEoLhKFbLZtxd0QlyaAhp_UUQ3imFzK8ag7YV8A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxK8eyv89mv5-k7yTU8A-LfDg5LBPMxCErT5kjNwOKZkaNJdrx6fPzA1dqiKbEjLIztawwyKa_6i8FI93gcjQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /></div>After the show, however, I was reminded of how far we've come from our original audacity. We parked about a mile away from the fireworks and began to walk back to the car with a group of about 30 people who were leaving the show on foot. A cop was at the intersection before us, directing the traffic and letting the cars that had been stopped for long minutes go. We hadn't been waiting 5 minutes before a fat, impatient blond woman shouted, "Hey, can we go yet?" which incited another fat, impatient man to shout, "Who taught you to direct traffic?!"<br /><br />I shared an incredulous look with my sister and we both had to bite our tongues to keep from shouting at them to have some patience because, you know, they weren't the only people in the world. But apparently that was asking too much, and the fat man continued with a "C'mon, we've got children here!" Um, he had like, a teenager with him who looked more content to wait than he did. Another woman turned to him and said, "They come last in this country, get real."<br /><br />So I assume she's upset about education budgets getting slashed, I get it. My university was so affected by the furloughs and budget cuts that it felt like a different place, so I get it, too. But for heaven's sake, our kids have it better than those of almost every other nation in the world. I mean (and I know I'm obsessing over this, but I have a point) every person who shouted something was overweight. In our country, we have the <span style="font-style: italic;">luxury </span>of being overweight. I get so sick of complacent Americans and their entitlement issues. "<span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> don't want to have to wait so <span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> will start shouting at a cop because <span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> know <span style="font-style: italic;">sooooo </span>much more than he does about directing traffic because <span style="font-style: italic;">I </span>am <span style="font-style: italic;">sooo </span>special." That attitude is a plague in this country, and it needs to be wiped out.<br /><br />I'm obsessing over the fact that these people were overweight because I've realized that I'm a fattist. Yet it's not the appearance of the obese that irks me -- it's the attitudes shown by people who happen to be obese. No, wait, they don't "happen to be" because they became that way due to their attitude: "I want what I want, and I want it now." Fat, therefore, is not an accurate description of this type of person. <span style="font-style: italic;">Wasichu </span>is. <span style="font-style: italic;">Wasichu </span>is a Lakota (Sioux) word, commonly used for "white people," however the literal translation is "takes the fat." These peoples bodies and minds are reflective of the ugliest of American traits -- greed and selfishness. I know everyone on the planet suffers from these attributes, but think about it. We enslaved blacks out of economic greed, we committed genocide against a continent of people out of lust for land, we oppressed women for centuries out of the selfishness of wanting all the power to lie with one gender. Hell, even football, our most celebrated sport, is a clash over gaining scraps of land.<br /><br />If more <span style="font-style: italic;">wasichus </span>stopped to reflect on just how much they have, and just how very lucky they are, some of their entitlement would fade, and they could, hopefully, continue to pursue the ideals of our forefathers and foremothers.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxzymUl8iGCxm8WNxke2fWknpT88hYIJX-NoKtubbu_CjtETCpIn4DYyvh-jk7KoUXNaNznp3SOq6-20V4LEQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_XE4Mi0OpeqtrwztZDBxZ8dSpjUml5dexPJ-g-Sh9HkEdA2u9MSdJMTRqTc6pkcWfPkkvVNxlqLN-JWkA4TcxHsq9vEV7mVF0Qrk3OpO3oikgKERiMeMfEa2_ofEKJSXPFKBRWdCJIEp/s1600/IMG_5205.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_XE4Mi0OpeqtrwztZDBxZ8dSpjUml5dexPJ-g-Sh9HkEdA2u9MSdJMTRqTc6pkcWfPkkvVNxlqLN-JWkA4TcxHsq9vEV7mVF0Qrk3OpO3oikgKERiMeMfEa2_ofEKJSXPFKBRWdCJIEp/s400/IMG_5205.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496797343873840898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuFkUK59fSvvQ57xPXgaLMmvmJa6hMQkIYLgRPvRoPtHxjzeLYlmhaS3z4C-xHxZ2u_tGfRxsH19uGNZOhqYlr9FtjBNoKPV_ZiKOxVP0OdmGUmW1n5YbD6lKrQtgHcpCHyLwQgpmvfSk/s1600/IMG_5206.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuFkUK59fSvvQ57xPXgaLMmvmJa6hMQkIYLgRPvRoPtHxjzeLYlmhaS3z4C-xHxZ2u_tGfRxsH19uGNZOhqYlr9FtjBNoKPV_ZiKOxVP0OdmGUmW1n5YbD6lKrQtgHcpCHyLwQgpmvfSk/s400/IMG_5206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496796467655099218" border="0" /></a>When we got home, we ate some of our yum dessert that my mom made. Isn't it gorgeous? It tasted amazing, too. The crust was like shortbread, the fluff in the middle like a sugar frosting with a soft hint of cream cheese, and the strawberries, well, they're always delicious.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3YmbIx7e4YGchfX1t5fSDd7GADofv1tsikNCePdcpohcQVJflzBSdCGdHrrwMi99ulvAJgOXi8kIE_1kFmsLcxNPsDiCo57yIfP_9KR1QUyx5hc61L0ul1BsEYiAMJe_HaL8Bq8TYtFz/s1600/IMG_5229.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3YmbIx7e4YGchfX1t5fSDd7GADofv1tsikNCePdcpohcQVJflzBSdCGdHrrwMi99ulvAJgOXi8kIE_1kFmsLcxNPsDiCo57yIfP_9KR1QUyx5hc61L0ul1BsEYiAMJe_HaL8Bq8TYtFz/s400/IMG_5229.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496797346179252338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Tracie --</span> Thanks for the link! That section about horses and nomadic cultures was really interesting. And yes, the dogs at all of the corn on the cob! It was pretty funny.Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-1201854741485105372010-07-07T16:12:00.000-07:002010-07-07T16:44:35.120-07:00Food!Lately, Alex and I have been trying out new dishes and using our family as guinea pigs. Check out our concoctions! My menu consisted of toasted pita shrimp salad, brushetta, and lemon linguine.<br /><br />Sit back, listen to "Mambo Gelato," and get inspired to try some of these dishes!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E0unWJN6zn4&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E0unWJN6zn4&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftcclPnYHx5xtLFgGh6QZpaXmEaV8UotIfCIlysgewfHW2WOe6GWF58jqQHsEzRFKzISfr-MmhAKKauHXOI0FM5jm6w6amfskQQjqK2F3BD8xGox2JkmmywA6gNkORP-cfSIrPCzmTwuk/s1600/IMG_4965.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftcclPnYHx5xtLFgGh6QZpaXmEaV8UotIfCIlysgewfHW2WOe6GWF58jqQHsEzRFKzISfr-MmhAKKauHXOI0FM5jm6w6amfskQQjqK2F3BD8xGox2JkmmywA6gNkORP-cfSIrPCzmTwuk/s400/IMG_4965.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491306931010871874" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWB9hdNGknmH0L89eqQDpyIT71FQFaWAR-CXa0X1R1EsGnK4bOjXkvkc-AmQRIj0qEmXBEWdOozoi7dYzIqs3JhMEb8tarbuLBy_CxYZ8UI0HgcurleVNAC5SJG6ugvJBRKviVAijop4w/s1600/IMG_4966.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWB9hdNGknmH0L89eqQDpyIT71FQFaWAR-CXa0X1R1EsGnK4bOjXkvkc-AmQRIj0qEmXBEWdOozoi7dYzIqs3JhMEb8tarbuLBy_CxYZ8UI0HgcurleVNAC5SJG6ugvJBRKviVAijop4w/s400/IMG_4966.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491306943004402498" border="0" /></a>Brushetta<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlI-2035gP_yAcbmZaU6u0EoqTsFlyCFaMCMt0ZWYsCUIIDYX8DTnG7EYq08fmGEZpbPPVHsjJ9Q-5pJKZmR3yZphLjsOcAzFXGMqLPzrQ0Fycd_73yB69tJKEhdIo9RbAYHTc0LJ7rHq1/s1600/IMG_4967.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlI-2035gP_yAcbmZaU6u0EoqTsFlyCFaMCMt0ZWYsCUIIDYX8DTnG7EYq08fmGEZpbPPVHsjJ9Q-5pJKZmR3yZphLjsOcAzFXGMqLPzrQ0Fycd_73yB69tJKEhdIo9RbAYHTc0LJ7rHq1/s400/IMG_4967.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491306954921924386" border="0" /></a>Lemon linguine with arugula and fresh basil<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6hI3yX0eGocVLtl8j2T3hwvVvcTy06Ns4KFxEPm-9Qfbqja3jqEJfCvaTc3M7QODo8H0-cEoTSv8MEviSeaOW47vZIu7G6Thom-J-k6b6gjVYrOAshaHHIMrkUVlDnTD5cBD9tO_2Vlu/s1600/IMG_4968.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6hI3yX0eGocVLtl8j2T3hwvVvcTy06Ns4KFxEPm-9Qfbqja3jqEJfCvaTc3M7QODo8H0-cEoTSv8MEviSeaOW47vZIu7G6Thom-J-k6b6gjVYrOAshaHHIMrkUVlDnTD5cBD9tO_2Vlu/s400/IMG_4968.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491306958343019602" border="0" /></a>Broiled and ready for the buscetta sauce!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1eemqVupDa-7LK_OZk9WDn6tgLLpQFHCB84fqP5G7iw_oKRFNsiT_bTa_D2tIBVP37c_FV9-KfhaFss08_f9IJD-YnVpJ01-PDUar5gBx12EyjRDRnSafmZjdUo_J4vGoVLxKYnMQaEu/s1600/IMG_4971.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1eemqVupDa-7LK_OZk9WDn6tgLLpQFHCB84fqP5G7iw_oKRFNsiT_bTa_D2tIBVP37c_FV9-KfhaFss08_f9IJD-YnVpJ01-PDUar5gBx12EyjRDRnSafmZjdUo_J4vGoVLxKYnMQaEu/s400/IMG_4971.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491306966706061666" border="0" /></a>The final result!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgS38FOurLIE6D9ZM5mtstU_j2_HacNW_u4VH-Z8tiMu8O77_lZAEmwt4oYiBthXVg-iBQPd16ON9h1k5eYmXgZASQn8v2Hqj1iujKQoddT_1Yz2jTVUFo6iQ-wvnLqdDk30J6P8t13D5g/s1600/IMG_4972.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgS38FOurLIE6D9ZM5mtstU_j2_HacNW_u4VH-Z8tiMu8O77_lZAEmwt4oYiBthXVg-iBQPd16ON9h1k5eYmXgZASQn8v2Hqj1iujKQoddT_1Yz2jTVUFo6iQ-wvnLqdDk30J6P8t13D5g/s400/IMG_4972.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491307484207723186" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoG8SlPGGtUtD4S7WdXUR6-whG0oUSC_DghSq446SVbUEff87XSVz9Lccg6CzLVTOlbqP2rp_UEzfzN8X_IELRntcGtyVKzHndN0Rq7K5wnQ25hiNwtxVkTtIrEeq8rjXTkM7hjoCDkin8/s1600/IMG_4975.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoG8SlPGGtUtD4S7WdXUR6-whG0oUSC_DghSq446SVbUEff87XSVz9Lccg6CzLVTOlbqP2rp_UEzfzN8X_IELRntcGtyVKzHndN0Rq7K5wnQ25hiNwtxVkTtIrEeq8rjXTkM7hjoCDkin8/s400/IMG_4975.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491307501019600578" border="0" /></a>Yum!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi655vJshG8YYdCpSMs7-afOd3SLwtOWhRcRuTkpdtjFoiIlGO-9G48sobqUqdJ3X_0vI-9ZueHUd_kwl7RXT_q2NuZJVkFP04h5iH40B3LGaTt5BloOqO2aU8wMQyMGolHeIT50-Jl6Fcf/s1600/IMG_5020.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi655vJshG8YYdCpSMs7-afOd3SLwtOWhRcRuTkpdtjFoiIlGO-9G48sobqUqdJ3X_0vI-9ZueHUd_kwl7RXT_q2NuZJVkFP04h5iH40B3LGaTt5BloOqO2aU8wMQyMGolHeIT50-Jl6Fcf/s400/IMG_5020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491307504503759874" border="0" /></a>When not cooking, we went to the beach, made these retarded sand castles, dubbed them the Ghana World Cup team, and stomped on them.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then it was Alex's turn to cook! She really challenged herself by first making a very complicated dessert that we've never had before: tiramisu.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEEMIWnkj25XYJgFn6mp3_UwO5mPh2WCGdyQ0PnQnC5PFM1q4YNtn7Oc6rYgBX81CMYXddqFVTeYbGd7QqMi5sWH85CrnwNojMZnJGiX931ed26jUt9EgJdCCALFyx2jMMvM4lh4N9H4H/s1600/IMG_5052.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEEMIWnkj25XYJgFn6mp3_UwO5mPh2WCGdyQ0PnQnC5PFM1q4YNtn7Oc6rYgBX81CMYXddqFVTeYbGd7QqMi5sWH85CrnwNojMZnJGiX931ed26jUt9EgJdCCALFyx2jMMvM4lh4N9H4H/s400/IMG_5052.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491307511618963938" border="0" /></a>Making the chocolate sponge cake<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95R4mkNJ7K_a-UQ4RZepJ8MkTKUOqP-F_NkAZxTRdiaOTE_NsXYXR9hvsG0sRegbLaHp4SLKdyGq7bSlIJFbqzu2fyG0RCvhMADnhQDlnrWQrPelCxIwh4eo8UXzjfcx_WlHg6MBwhYWR/s1600/IMG_5056.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95R4mkNJ7K_a-UQ4RZepJ8MkTKUOqP-F_NkAZxTRdiaOTE_NsXYXR9hvsG0sRegbLaHp4SLKdyGq7bSlIJFbqzu2fyG0RCvhMADnhQDlnrWQrPelCxIwh4eo8UXzjfcx_WlHg6MBwhYWR/s400/IMG_5056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491307523504745154" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoChUxkPsczjG0FQ_EV-gYmpOBsWHbNa29TY92N7AsNmyO7gqYSzctfmiMMI8UV44OV75uXaXucGVOvpONZT0JG3ual0YM2FpsAcnSemHkw7ul2wlyPtfLkmuXZ8ZdSGZunM3HIrZRvFF/s1600/IMG_5058.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoChUxkPsczjG0FQ_EV-gYmpOBsWHbNa29TY92N7AsNmyO7gqYSzctfmiMMI8UV44OV75uXaXucGVOvpONZT0JG3ual0YM2FpsAcnSemHkw7ul2wlyPtfLkmuXZ8ZdSGZunM3HIrZRvFF/s400/IMG_5058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491307888600329810" border="0" /></a>Making the dark chocolate layer<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfuCksCcqUGSqE_7r2UiUhL_XSEST8x8qd5lageZWDE81NLKbYHgApby8VXnEw3o7OPXCKEbde8WNtS_F5dbCpD89VXs81JfqyRNYZI-UG4lcTfdzupPzvUGxzMXCiPqrshyphenhyphennN9EnOB_D/s1600/IMG_5065.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfuCksCcqUGSqE_7r2UiUhL_XSEST8x8qd5lageZWDE81NLKbYHgApby8VXnEw3o7OPXCKEbde8WNtS_F5dbCpD89VXs81JfqyRNYZI-UG4lcTfdzupPzvUGxzMXCiPqrshyphenhyphennN9EnOB_D/s400/IMG_5065.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491307900085094978" border="0" /></a>Lining the bowl with the sponge cake<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixD6f8zY6aWdgv-eAvfq83TkHmpikmmxLViHd4Q1tqXUaefys3CoxYM4bjYJTLWhaH2_m0O2CCaiqMTEwh1h-QU-B-hAzEP4mfUQsU3zbEaQeuapgsWyiZee5-pvg7GW_U4y18EjKWe3bn/s1600/IMG_5066.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixD6f8zY6aWdgv-eAvfq83TkHmpikmmxLViHd4Q1tqXUaefys3CoxYM4bjYJTLWhaH2_m0O2CCaiqMTEwh1h-QU-B-hAzEP4mfUQsU3zbEaQeuapgsWyiZee5-pvg7GW_U4y18EjKWe3bn/s400/IMG_5066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491307909450488018" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz88XONp9TsjJ02W7hwCuPUsGZYSBQRxV3YcnH8xjAcbrr6bZ75C5g8n-urJiqVDSRoBO7xdSvbsxxXnE1aee4dXKMc80htesllhVOFCEjbB8C8p0ymhKtOluCorGECZ_KfRl_FZUWKzx9/s1600/IMG_5068.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz88XONp9TsjJ02W7hwCuPUsGZYSBQRxV3YcnH8xjAcbrr6bZ75C5g8n-urJiqVDSRoBO7xdSvbsxxXnE1aee4dXKMc80htesllhVOFCEjbB8C8p0ymhKtOluCorGECZ_KfRl_FZUWKzx9/s400/IMG_5068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491307914480395858" border="0" /></a>Coated!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBHfS0Hfh1iC_6QVZFcsAjOcjvScpYfikUL3WNSQBRqYHPpC2fOHgPk2zLi-hpf3uhB-sj6QoYfSQiVXjQPjC7zt2s-Y2GA5kdWmVkPZKJNO5_HPcfplVtaTWOi-La4vbcAEcS28sZEuW/s1600/IMG_5069.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBHfS0Hfh1iC_6QVZFcsAjOcjvScpYfikUL3WNSQBRqYHPpC2fOHgPk2zLi-hpf3uhB-sj6QoYfSQiVXjQPjC7zt2s-Y2GA5kdWmVkPZKJNO5_HPcfplVtaTWOi-La4vbcAEcS28sZEuW/s400/IMG_5069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491307926995172946" border="0" /></a>Next was the layer of mascarpone cheese, dark chocolate shavings, and orange zest<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qWKkda3_Zab02cxswLTUMBjVrm98Y14xVr2HJeBZy0V5RMpJXABEuQtghP2GxsnnufOP-kNnBTAFqUXfPSxpufWgf-Qg8bN7UEwD_ClxEwsrQEAd6GBHd9XlablS-gnfMZk2Qh3p_PO3/s1600/IMG_5070.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qWKkda3_Zab02cxswLTUMBjVrm98Y14xVr2HJeBZy0V5RMpJXABEuQtghP2GxsnnufOP-kNnBTAFqUXfPSxpufWgf-Qg8bN7UEwD_ClxEwsrQEAd6GBHd9XlablS-gnfMZk2Qh3p_PO3/s400/IMG_5070.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491308253360314562" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotfyNOsGK8D1w-QuWmAXhZ0URGZmeufntupFla0NmQ4xFivzsBImFoTJ5OueqOn0SO73Jz043rnF1FaJmJsoSQzR-n5h8KqNsr1MSs43isLsJOoGDlbJOvaN7orL0cTNLinJnxj1qkNdi/s1600/IMG_5075.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotfyNOsGK8D1w-QuWmAXhZ0URGZmeufntupFla0NmQ4xFivzsBImFoTJ5OueqOn0SO73Jz043rnF1FaJmJsoSQzR-n5h8KqNsr1MSs43isLsJOoGDlbJOvaN7orL0cTNLinJnxj1qkNdi/s400/IMG_5075.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491308261901100850" border="0" /></a>It made a small mess...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-yYBelWo6l-CZI3CCu3SYxiZqM_SrjDDICM-3CiHcQ5SWLaK0p_OHhTYYieFg-czyWzzefZOotpzjdNczkdJ6LGxq0n_nYikVOSo31tvty2JlHjckEwuWIvn5Es6Hog0OawcF3d1nuet/s1600/IMG_5080.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-yYBelWo6l-CZI3CCu3SYxiZqM_SrjDDICM-3CiHcQ5SWLaK0p_OHhTYYieFg-czyWzzefZOotpzjdNczkdJ6LGxq0n_nYikVOSo31tvty2JlHjckEwuWIvn5Es6Hog0OawcF3d1nuet/s400/IMG_5080.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491308265686500994" border="0" /></a>Fresh basil from the garden makes all the difference!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Next, she made individual pizzas the traditional Italian method of frying the dough.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zhySm_EaXShlaQf7zChcxDLcRGqIlOgF9S6OIQCMBFI-eSCpvHckKHc97uFqRyz5bA6-oVxfftb-DriyJREUvsd3PAtRhyVc9a7dJHYDsPT_9tTnzMKuLsx-QcuIL21JLXbxvLbeMufG/s1600/IMG_5081.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zhySm_EaXShlaQf7zChcxDLcRGqIlOgF9S6OIQCMBFI-eSCpvHckKHc97uFqRyz5bA6-oVxfftb-DriyJREUvsd3PAtRhyVc9a7dJHYDsPT_9tTnzMKuLsx-QcuIL21JLXbxvLbeMufG/s400/IMG_5081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491308271171783490" border="0" /></a>The dough<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eyCLHkCtuwbYKuLDCKIjDgXIVQVrcgNwilIo62RQ88DPf0gc4aWNHzsnubqOF3FHkSadgVu18L8_BwyOb6Ejr58xMP7VolLS_gyR5tW9T60hVqqIfi5845s5h_62HDLF5pBaSF8wyLBO/s1600/IMG_5084.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eyCLHkCtuwbYKuLDCKIjDgXIVQVrcgNwilIo62RQ88DPf0gc4aWNHzsnubqOF3FHkSadgVu18L8_BwyOb6Ejr58xMP7VolLS_gyR5tW9T60hVqqIfi5845s5h_62HDLF5pBaSF8wyLBO/s400/IMG_5084.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491308279550156626" border="0" /></a>Frying the dough and preparing the sauce<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhFvxtYSyLRZVif8_DkhUV_A61H2PEPX3QxW6X_wHl7E42ra3UXIQKxu0vild3e_IX-c5D1GrO8ODUPLCwgxsl9D1kBpBd2LvBeHTJv9DcETucbNXZXtDW8EFXCRETko6qJV4oq0uq8Q0/s1600/IMG_5086.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhFvxtYSyLRZVif8_DkhUV_A61H2PEPX3QxW6X_wHl7E42ra3UXIQKxu0vild3e_IX-c5D1GrO8ODUPLCwgxsl9D1kBpBd2LvBeHTJv9DcETucbNXZXtDW8EFXCRETko6qJV4oq0uq8Q0/s400/IMG_5086.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491308618968337474" border="0" /></a>Ready to bake!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZR7s7vzoGpw2jlCcYsDRNVHyK9pndzFP6ID2POiAwoMn2lWSavDcVH_BWb4RcFAEBsJLe0Bwy4d61o08enk9AHdPwzdodD_bH_NKwfP9NDzAhHWs0vxIRJEn0M1UJ7Te5onF4OlOVV_U/s1600/IMG_5089.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZR7s7vzoGpw2jlCcYsDRNVHyK9pndzFP6ID2POiAwoMn2lWSavDcVH_BWb4RcFAEBsJLe0Bwy4d61o08enk9AHdPwzdodD_bH_NKwfP9NDzAhHWs0vxIRJEn0M1UJ7Te5onF4OlOVV_U/s400/IMG_5089.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491308630748087090" border="0" /></a>Delicious!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFkJFLOOlNJ3TjzMHYnipaEPj9rApCZEgXcHv9LowiyUQvTU_hzLGi_T13VNQpYZlpbQP3Yt-7Zlmh94TEUsTJK9SCWp_jXahQsGqdidY7YJvMpM_XQuAN-4utMpGORl8O-klfDCh2i08/s1600/IMG_5096.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFkJFLOOlNJ3TjzMHYnipaEPj9rApCZEgXcHv9LowiyUQvTU_hzLGi_T13VNQpYZlpbQP3Yt-7Zlmh94TEUsTJK9SCWp_jXahQsGqdidY7YJvMpM_XQuAN-4utMpGORl8O-klfDCh2i08/s400/IMG_5096.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491308635096435586" border="0" /></a>Topped off with a slice of tiramisu!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Both recipes that Alex used were from Jaimie Oliver and were delicious and nutritious. We've been following his lead and weaning out the little processed food that has lingered in our diet. And speaking of food, check out what we discovered about the dogs. They like cooked corn on the cob, especially when we hold it for them.<br /></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWw8IqD3B9EMQrHpEUKJp2Fg1WMQGoIvmcS6CP_-DYbZkYwBFEj5-Z7dKfkBcntrl8fAhhVlEpfS9WwzB5UC4A7arbn8qjFtCeIQos5aRUEkBV_1ivI-ZSwv_tI6tKZUYCJGYHv8JtKsBF/s1600/IMG_5072.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWw8IqD3B9EMQrHpEUKJp2Fg1WMQGoIvmcS6CP_-DYbZkYwBFEj5-Z7dKfkBcntrl8fAhhVlEpfS9WwzB5UC4A7arbn8qjFtCeIQos5aRUEkBV_1ivI-ZSwv_tI6tKZUYCJGYHv8JtKsBF/s400/IMG_5072.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491308646817652034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7QZAmg2XSCiVapw0_wdl33oNtntznogMLttxzXYHHjrWn_Uoq3EYdvoisqbSV1IfFR-pq3lHA9KUxE0T7qRSDLbTQcbphMcIe7R3qELMTBh_JYI9LK1GVQiSr6ifpHCTU1gx0BSi3g6j/s1600/IMG_5073.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7QZAmg2XSCiVapw0_wdl33oNtntznogMLttxzXYHHjrWn_Uoq3EYdvoisqbSV1IfFR-pq3lHA9KUxE0T7qRSDLbTQcbphMcIe7R3qELMTBh_JYI9LK1GVQiSr6ifpHCTU1gx0BSi3g6j/s400/IMG_5073.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491308651374688354" border="0" /></a><br />Hopefully we'll have more delicious food pictures to post soon. In the meantime, I've realized that if writing doesn't work out, at least we could open a restaurant!Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-15943656289990964462010-07-06T12:40:00.000-07:002010-07-06T13:24:05.441-07:00Peeks the Goat Herding PeacockI am happy to report that our peacock, Peeks, is secretly a genius. Maybe it hasn't been a secret, but we've been too stupid to notice until a few weeks ago. He has always tried to fight with the goats by antagonizing them through the fence, and at times he has flown around chasing them -- both behaviors which piss us off since he's acting like a bully. However, we recently observed that when the goats and Sheepy are out and about, Peeks doesn't just randomly chase them... he <span style="font-style: italic;">herds </span>them.<br /><br />That's right, our peacock is like the piglet in <span style="font-style: italic;">Babe</span>. I first recognized the behavior when I realized that Peeks was bunching the goats together then chasing them away from the chicken hens. I don't know if he thinks he's protecting his harem (yes, he's always trying to woo the chickens by shaking his fanned out tail feathers), his territory, or is helping us, but there is certainly a method to his madness.<br /><br />While we don't have an exact video of him rounding up and moving out with the goats, here's a glimpse of how he works:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxOCa8niTSx9GUnU6OehbfcOh-Cs0osN8kH_4Ys7MrPJMEApk-PzQj8-JRocZG1SbwiPqovprrvti8gUsr-xQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />And here's Tumnus coming to say hi!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kiYBrBowbhh1j3w-0ZW7FxoW0GrpWU3A_cyHVZb65bupqxF8kuilLM6-S7te9sKMwhzcihKvjDlqJ5LxfN0sVC4ciY_xewiGPkiekrTbXxh7hCKKc-q0nkfNARwOW4rTsspIoo2fd5GP/s1600/IMG_4424.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kiYBrBowbhh1j3w-0ZW7FxoW0GrpWU3A_cyHVZb65bupqxF8kuilLM6-S7te9sKMwhzcihKvjDlqJ5LxfN0sVC4ciY_xewiGPkiekrTbXxh7hCKKc-q0nkfNARwOW4rTsspIoo2fd5GP/s400/IMG_4424.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490886319522175650" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbH2p4Gz_8OFcmpHho9W7Lh-gYjjgXla_-JoRxXrDYtBk3S6-RsLjs6gYs-MfctE6tCohj0Sphjt7NufWSEfWDvM82cDTJW8x9vgeYl6CO2IfEoUQ4F9HUU3mqO_WsQPBARXpDQkq08Ll/s1600/IMG_4425.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbH2p4Gz_8OFcmpHho9W7Lh-gYjjgXla_-JoRxXrDYtBk3S6-RsLjs6gYs-MfctE6tCohj0Sphjt7NufWSEfWDvM82cDTJW8x9vgeYl6CO2IfEoUQ4F9HUU3mqO_WsQPBARXpDQkq08Ll/s400/IMG_4425.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490886331399672594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpphCC41FKWYU8RJPmYwQHqMm6ZVOrPL5RLzRhW60-ANF9eMXf20T1hDjrQD9RVIuYfABXLqQpqD6qb17CpK4_HxG8E1EKESghGceTlzDQJOBEir1QU60vKYW6YToI13e3grxBi-cZcT_/s1600/IMG_4426.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpphCC41FKWYU8RJPmYwQHqMm6ZVOrPL5RLzRhW60-ANF9eMXf20T1hDjrQD9RVIuYfABXLqQpqD6qb17CpK4_HxG8E1EKESghGceTlzDQJOBEir1QU60vKYW6YToI13e3grxBi-cZcT_/s400/IMG_4426.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490886338936169474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbY2x69qH7z_puK5lzSi3tLZD2NZeEwtfF9h8UckoKHRVG2Ym_9gwWZoowdm9zz8b6JQs9OZZXpXhsUSlCTUygv0ijoBk3ktk6Xl2gdr0y1Z_I6HHi8IfZsAqnE7XksM2d-n7d53K37Snh/s1600/IMG_4427.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbY2x69qH7z_puK5lzSi3tLZD2NZeEwtfF9h8UckoKHRVG2Ym_9gwWZoowdm9zz8b6JQs9OZZXpXhsUSlCTUygv0ijoBk3ktk6Xl2gdr0y1Z_I6HHi8IfZsAqnE7XksM2d-n7d53K37Snh/s400/IMG_4427.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490886349226620578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAxU0vYd-PGvQeSJGl_ZtRwV3VlwbqjT-kapxdmm2LaqwV32yFiQlQ44pDMvuhE-7ccUPCyZ1Sd1v2ME_IIxpc5OKoKmxhEP1xTEPtOXIQFibu3VE7SSYfIGurT8iTXoRCmFJLdSXj8cV/s1600/IMG_4428.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAxU0vYd-PGvQeSJGl_ZtRwV3VlwbqjT-kapxdmm2LaqwV32yFiQlQ44pDMvuhE-7ccUPCyZ1Sd1v2ME_IIxpc5OKoKmxhEP1xTEPtOXIQFibu3VE7SSYfIGurT8iTXoRCmFJLdSXj8cV/s400/IMG_4428.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490886535436986370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXShbGCFgbW2loAFofEt6VXZou06olXUFtJCkO41uI9Q1XPpxqVZ_IXqKPcJYsE0tQ-T9wiT8QR_qweLt1bOA51-YEi9s4aDRKFs3Q5J479I7Mbrr-LmR6OmYeO-rDweoj8K3-kq9dTyg/s1600/IMG_4428.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGMbzE3GPl6o5Qa7LHsIpxFZBWmtPmiA_GxWcH1KpL_FmBYSJ1eos8y6E6MQXWZPi1MQDyHuwctrsoSUVBhO3K7M5I8ZyF9zlPDdpct0d-w-v_WrxwhIIZCpvANwn5aHU66St5OgSPedV/s1600/IMG_4429.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGMbzE3GPl6o5Qa7LHsIpxFZBWmtPmiA_GxWcH1KpL_FmBYSJ1eos8y6E6MQXWZPi1MQDyHuwctrsoSUVBhO3K7M5I8ZyF9zlPDdpct0d-w-v_WrxwhIIZCpvANwn5aHU66St5OgSPedV/s400/IMG_4429.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490886542908642354" border="0" /></a>Hi Tum Tum!<br /></div>And here is Sparrow's eye.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdq4exk0OjTqfwivJfMWkOarjV5_krTT3_TsUa-mOO0q96hmkHUPzRUKZnBrGLYlprhXVgqfzfkC39VEwZp6HwZPztlNWjtpM5U_iuNNtU-k_Fq2lezfz5buNw0jVwiMAUGARtPkuT4IYG/s1600/IMG_4444.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdq4exk0OjTqfwivJfMWkOarjV5_krTT3_TsUa-mOO0q96hmkHUPzRUKZnBrGLYlprhXVgqfzfkC39VEwZp6HwZPztlNWjtpM5U_iuNNtU-k_Fq2lezfz5buNw0jVwiMAUGARtPkuT4IYG/s400/IMG_4444.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490885904617899458" border="0" /></a>And here is Sparrow decorated for the Memorial Day Parade.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BwN_IjxuIWP1r_imSoZN-rgVxLQSoJXH7TDsdwi8oq9c1zZY3qM68kD5457UDGb70n6gz_sSEnyOvjbWi2RVn2P9_bM9OUBe5acmS5bXADojjmatqz4-wOYu56SBJmwjGgCrpPib1cMF/s1600/IMG_4522.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BwN_IjxuIWP1r_imSoZN-rgVxLQSoJXH7TDsdwi8oq9c1zZY3qM68kD5457UDGb70n6gz_sSEnyOvjbWi2RVn2P9_bM9OUBe5acmS5bXADojjmatqz4-wOYu56SBJmwjGgCrpPib1cMF/s400/IMG_4522.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490885897784145426" border="0" /></a>And here are two marvelous dogs I met at the festival following the parade.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTne78kMqe7pCJ4RuUAoUzlhLkoyB_yz-I_hms8wD6xO_jChDYsFg_CK3okJdpfwzKlp0AedbceV49RnqgLzR0orKi6GLyNfjeO9RQJ2LAGmVtjvl2l5c4ZinLQyYEV68h-UByiIe_77u/s1600/IMG_4513.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTne78kMqe7pCJ4RuUAoUzlhLkoyB_yz-I_hms8wD6xO_jChDYsFg_CK3okJdpfwzKlp0AedbceV49RnqgLzR0orKi6GLyNfjeO9RQJ2LAGmVtjvl2l5c4ZinLQyYEV68h-UByiIe_77u/s400/IMG_4513.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490885888435775170" border="0" /></a><br />I'm glad Michelle Obama is promoting the idea of growing your own produce in a little backyard garden. If everyone did that, not only would America be healthier, but people would be saving money. Here's just a glimpse of our chard harvest from a few weeks back. It made a delicious side dish and is full of blood-building goodness.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHn4b2mWra_sjrDq-d3SQ2ijsDjbv0wzGX3tyMwuoyEuzjpgqWbQ-hEKU1pzi2sDnZ9t1JaM3ZXwbfX1r0QeAtCCKSHC7-cMUQBAzsGHHjjaJqpDNhj-2G2rS63NK3eQoS0nlsSxPErX5u/s1600/IMG_4527.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHn4b2mWra_sjrDq-d3SQ2ijsDjbv0wzGX3tyMwuoyEuzjpgqWbQ-hEKU1pzi2sDnZ9t1JaM3ZXwbfX1r0QeAtCCKSHC7-cMUQBAzsGHHjjaJqpDNhj-2G2rS63NK3eQoS0nlsSxPErX5u/s400/IMG_4527.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490885877936799282" border="0" /></a><br />And here is a very strange video. While sitting out on the deck, petting Comanche and Black, Black became very... friendly with Cheech. See for yourself.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyHsPL4WMwjTpMQoapoR5e9T69Wx9zQiKPGQclim8MrgfCo5VFo_w70ybIOq-bmQvHF4_dN1Z6-YgpFViwyfQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Black has been losing weight and slowing down for nearly a decade now, but this past week or so he's been less annoying than usual and has been spending a lot of his time curled up and napping. I know that he's 16 and has lived a long, good life, but I really hope that he isn't preparing to leave us yet. Life without that black communist would be terrible.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mackenzie's Momma --</span> Poor Chee Chee! I love the dejected groan he emits at the end of the clip. And I totally understand not wanting to get rid of a special blanket. Years ago, I tried to stuff mine in a ziplock then put it in the garage, but felt guilty and pulled it out, so now I have a dusty old rag of a baby blanket hidden away in my room. I don't know what I'll ever do with it, but for now it can stick around!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">the other amanda --</span> Let me know when you get the chance to watch it! I know you'll enjoy Keller's scenes. ;)<br /></div></div>Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-43794959417407135732010-06-28T12:02:00.000-07:002010-06-28T13:15:53.308-07:00New Layout, Stuffy Farewells and the World Cup<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1r_myGVVrEHqtL-wOQl5W-xjquf-zC0rXV6j0kSEmcFdrGKZr9obtp-cKFf8Q1GPOYWry_fsSexYVfXSKJNZETczvXMC1LPa5dJoYnH0XA1PQrf4oLk1sCu9XrumMBA3pZdJkENA-Mf0/s1600/IMG_4741.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1r_myGVVrEHqtL-wOQl5W-xjquf-zC0rXV6j0kSEmcFdrGKZr9obtp-cKFf8Q1GPOYWry_fsSexYVfXSKJNZETczvXMC1LPa5dJoYnH0XA1PQrf4oLk1sCu9XrumMBA3pZdJkENA-Mf0/s400/IMG_4741.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487905071500440386" border="0" /></a>Toot checks out the new scheme of things<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpG0IQo3p6vBinjb0uifXAkvhl1jzyLJkzd9qhuq6Xr-Mwv1mS7HceP1AiJnBXdUF8g7OT2coekunx2v-AXeX9BDEMHJ2LfktlYcTf0jjpTiTYILh2rTnCq14i4I40qi2inOeVlKzdbGz/s1600/IMG_4740.jpg"><br /></a>Blogger now has more options for layouts... what do you think of this one? Let me know if you like it or prefer the old one. What I like about this one is that the sidebar on the right doesn't take over half the blog and cut the YouTube video embeds off.<br /><br />I've been a lazy blogger again and haven't posted about the recent goings on. Alex rode Sparrow in our local Memorial Day parade on Memorial Day weekend and and... um, I guess a lot of other stuff happened but I forget. It's part of being old.<br /><br />Our big graduation bash was really cool. My aunt borrowed a chocolate fountain and a soda fountain so we got to pig out on chocolate fondue with strawberries, angel food cake, bananas, etc. Here's a shot from the party. Since I don't have a camera anymore, I don't have pictures of the chocolate fountain in action, but my sister does, so if I ever stop being lazy, I could always get those from her.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7auNctHj4-8MCrBtQuRIyIf-OX_n3bZJGxWdpW3vGxe3f0OaVMPrmP5izs1T9MbTRxig4JTrLQHNkzyaP1cR3KoQPwcLTRlr_VARiMWgqQYjxBt4mMWmTYh7YLUPx0hrOATNi4gLbzjs/s1600/IMG_4576.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7auNctHj4-8MCrBtQuRIyIf-OX_n3bZJGxWdpW3vGxe3f0OaVMPrmP5izs1T9MbTRxig4JTrLQHNkzyaP1cR3KoQPwcLTRlr_VARiMWgqQYjxBt4mMWmTYh7YLUPx0hrOATNi4gLbzjs/s400/IMG_4576.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487904223996230962" border="0" /></a>The graduates. I was going insane at this point, though I don't know why.<br /></div><br />This clip is kind of old, but I keep forgetting to post it. Comanche and Teyla sleep in the garage together (Cheech in his bed, Toot in her crate), and Comanche comes inside to eat dinner (around 9pm or so) and stays in the rest of the night for two reasons: 1) he will bark his head off and annoy everyone every time he hears a deer and, 2) there have been plenty of local mountain lion confrontations lately, and in one, the cat waited under a deck until the owners let their little dog out to go potty then nabbed the dog. The cougar had observed this at the same time every night and calculated it. It was pre-meditated murder! So we don't want our dogs out late or anywhere in danger of being eaten or attacked.<br /><br />Yet these precautions still don't protect Comanche from cats <span style="font-style: italic;">inside </span>the garage. Look at what happened one night when the Commie decided to try out Chee Chee's bed for himself. The poor dog was traumatized.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxy24HnQ1OsnwxzLSRpBfOlrgEmEccDMGpis0KAGCQaMdcvtUbBZoxl8zybcZXspUIjIJuI20WxLLcBR5aqcw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here he is with Teyla on Father's Day, waiting for the mail. The mail is the highlight of their day in many respects. They hear the squeaky breaks, bolt down the driveway barking, then the mailman makes them sit before he gives them each a big dog bone. They then trot off to eat their respective treats in privacy while the mailman sticks the mail in the mailbox. Unfortunately, the dogs don't understand that there's no mail on Sundays, so they waited anyway.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1h-cAaU2KsP8Rgg8KanNm4ILkoOjAiETtmvzPlM5V78c6Eoy6A0BUISc73HRLxHlUINC3-yXRwGs5Ut4vXEKlvfE8Cydnc_9ktugEX_tGx9WRl7p520Zw5OQl-j94OWP57GBqRoBuiNYF/s1600/IMG_4737.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1h-cAaU2KsP8Rgg8KanNm4ILkoOjAiETtmvzPlM5V78c6Eoy6A0BUISc73HRLxHlUINC3-yXRwGs5Ut4vXEKlvfE8Cydnc_9ktugEX_tGx9WRl7p520Zw5OQl-j94OWP57GBqRoBuiNYF/s400/IMG_4737.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487905047180835714" border="0" /></a>Hope springs eternal<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpG0IQo3p6vBinjb0uifXAkvhl1jzyLJkzd9qhuq6Xr-Mwv1mS7HceP1AiJnBXdUF8g7OT2coekunx2v-AXeX9BDEMHJ2LfktlYcTf0jjpTiTYILh2rTnCq14i4I40qi2inOeVlKzdbGz/s1600/IMG_4740.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpG0IQo3p6vBinjb0uifXAkvhl1jzyLJkzd9qhuq6Xr-Mwv1mS7HceP1AiJnBXdUF8g7OT2coekunx2v-AXeX9BDEMHJ2LfktlYcTf0jjpTiTYILh2rTnCq14i4I40qi2inOeVlKzdbGz/s400/IMG_4740.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487905062767267570" border="0" /></a><br />Teyla is allowed in the kitchen, and since she is sometimes inside in the afternoon, she misses the mail. On those occasions, we try to reenact the mail delivery by running around the coffee table making car sounds, stopping by the kitchen, and throwing her a little treat.<br /><br />Recently I decided to go through my stuffed animals and weed out the ones that I don't have a strong emotional attachment to. I have so many stuffies in my closet that my dresses can't properly hang. I've been putting off going through my stuffies for about 10 years now, so it was time. Among those I said goodbye to were two of my oldest friends who have literally begun to fall apart with age.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjBSzHKPy5GsQDnZl3uaXfYvq35TwMP5yQPZUHldJsp9IKQao8KMbJoL3tRGvAflzHVkySvuqmf_aI5X3UhAYn_pGD6tnTn8Uf9rvng_AzlK2hggtV7i_rKBc3FIu5rtbmYjFOMIdGbuS/s1600/IMG_4713.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjBSzHKPy5GsQDnZl3uaXfYvq35TwMP5yQPZUHldJsp9IKQao8KMbJoL3tRGvAflzHVkySvuqmf_aI5X3UhAYn_pGD6tnTn8Uf9rvng_AzlK2hggtV7i_rKBc3FIu5rtbmYjFOMIdGbuS/s400/IMG_4713.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487905034997641362" border="0" /></a>Goodbye, Elephant Helephant. I used to hug your cool body on summer nights.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcgk9_6suQGT9ycrcpPH671ue08RkZXmVUuLdWx_EigfRWiab8b35UM4dySKLodriQ5RVf5haOFs94Zu9TgiEi0mZ0fkgqwnBbUk3OSadSXwfwIUOlo2csm3T9yaHDqqYnJ78sR7tEy4Z/s1600/IMG_4717.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcgk9_6suQGT9ycrcpPH671ue08RkZXmVUuLdWx_EigfRWiab8b35UM4dySKLodriQ5RVf5haOFs94Zu9TgiEi0mZ0fkgqwnBbUk3OSadSXwfwIUOlo2csm3T9yaHDqqYnJ78sR7tEy4Z/s400/IMG_4717.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487905037838914274" border="0" /></a>Bye, tub ducky. I still remember chewing on your beak when I was a baby.<br /></div><br />In the end, I kept far more than I intended, but at least it's a start. I got in touch with a friend who has two little girls and she said she'd allow her girls to keep one or two stuffies each, which made me feel better about getting rid of them because I knew they'd go to a good home. It's silly to personify fabric and stuffing and plastic eyes, but I do it all the time and don't think I'll stop any time soon. I still share my bed with a bear named Ben!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQhZX5pOxB5m1iXkcojCCxtCiWmdcHAx15flB1cg-nWKj4w7Nes1Dzm_qxp5BLI-LzwqYs1RfjtK698O13-slrYbmfmLk4CJ-JX7hUh8M781Jee5gtmRyPRZrIrV1c3z_W5o0TkyraQYV/s1600/IMG_4951.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQhZX5pOxB5m1iXkcojCCxtCiWmdcHAx15flB1cg-nWKj4w7Nes1Dzm_qxp5BLI-LzwqYs1RfjtK698O13-slrYbmfmLk4CJ-JX7hUh8M781Jee5gtmRyPRZrIrV1c3z_W5o0TkyraQYV/s400/IMG_4951.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487909756215062226" border="0" /></a>Bye, guys!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYqlMzDQqF7y6gZzxly9TFuuHvHH8SED9lcGbrHDsTtZd7KBtEQs3FbjMGbECgD8iX79udsfWywbrR9Ds07OM1jCCX_qIbj-1nHt5cpEnjSPgcXyF7T1Yqb6IRkG_I0Sq6lo3S6PjUq7Y/s1600/IMG_4955.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYqlMzDQqF7y6gZzxly9TFuuHvHH8SED9lcGbrHDsTtZd7KBtEQs3FbjMGbECgD8iX79udsfWywbrR9Ds07OM1jCCX_qIbj-1nHt5cpEnjSPgcXyF7T1Yqb6IRkG_I0Sq6lo3S6PjUq7Y/s400/IMG_4955.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487909764999560818" border="0" /></a>Anyone else remember Puppy Surprise?!<br /></div><br />This one didn't come with any puppies because I got her at the Goodwill when I was little, but I had a dalmatian Puppy Surprise and a... pink cat Kitty Surprise. And am now puzzled over the fact that the gender-obsessed marketing of childrens' toys saw it fit to make a stuffed cat PINK. Like when I got Barbie's horse and it had eyeshadow on. I was appalled, even as a kid. Good thing there were always <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.breyerhorses.com/">Breyer horses</a>, of which I still have many and will keep if I can!<br /><br />Actually, Puppy Surprise reminds me of how demented I was, even as a kid. So was my best friend, Katie. Kitty Surprise had three kittens, 2 girls (pink) and a boy (blue) and one of the girls was small like a runt. So when we played with them, the runt was always the annoying little sister who would tag along and try to look cool -- a role we both played in real life with our older brothers. Only the big difference between us and the kitten was the fact that the kitten wasn't actually a little sister, she was the big sister. 21, to be exact (ancient to us back then) and every once in a while she'd have a tantrum and reveal that she was secretly old and the other cats would laugh and call her a deform. I think her name was Beano. Yeah, like the stuff that keeps you from farting. Wait, nevermind. Beano was a dog. Her name was Demento. Actually, she might have been the runt dog, not the runt cat. That doesn't really matter, but I owe Beano and Demento some accuracy.<br /><br />There are many more bizarre stories... like the mentally insane My Little Pony I named "Mr. Parasol" who went everywhere with a tube of toothpaste that he thought was his BFF. Mr. Parasol could do anything in the world because he was insane and therefore didn't know that there were things he "couldn't" do, like fly. Since he never had any self-doubt, he could fly and pull a million tons and break down walls, etc. Now that I think about it, Mr. Parasol was rather existential...<br /><br />So anyway, that was a lot to say for being lazy and not having the discipline to write.<br /><br />Oh yeah. The World Cup. Having played soccer as a child and a teen and growing up in a soccer family, the World Cup is always fun. This year it was a source of passion and pride. The US played amazingly and that 90th minute goal by Donovan against Algeria was rapturous. I'm still bummed that we lost to Ghana (with the Ghana team being such poor sports that they didn't fight to hold their lead but instead laid on the ground to eat up OT) but am still so proud of our boys.<br /><br />Check out the world's reaction to Donovan's goal last Wednesday.<br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jbn3rOPmR9w&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jbn3rOPmR9w&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br />My sister and I went out to celebrate in our red, white and blue by having lunch downtown but all we got were remarks from panhandlers. No matter how much support soccer has in the US, it's nothing compared to what it has in the rest of the world, and it's frustrating to have so few to celebrate with.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80foIrJK_BLxmPwrHxkKnl9awDcp85utj2nPxFSpYrlgGJDz-L4W57I-sHO1m17DAJTG5xjGCLILrhPVyu-v8UzPgvstggyKI-QHDDh6QSYrpLeVWqAIpL6TAUic1KlRq4nNqZs9Gxg1I/s1600/IMG_4811.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80foIrJK_BLxmPwrHxkKnl9awDcp85utj2nPxFSpYrlgGJDz-L4W57I-sHO1m17DAJTG5xjGCLILrhPVyu-v8UzPgvstggyKI-QHDDh6QSYrpLeVWqAIpL6TAUic1KlRq4nNqZs9Gxg1I/s400/IMG_4811.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487919018993664962" border="0" /></a>Awkward<br /></div><br />After watching Germany whoop England's ass yesterday, I hope Germany wins. Their control of the ball is amazing and they played clean. They're one of the few teams I've seen thus far who blatantly deserve their advancement, as they've proved every world cup since 1954. I could go off about soccer for a long time, including the fact that I'm sad that our national team was practicing at my school and eating at restaurants I drove by every day to get to class yet I lived my life obliviously unaware, and that I love our lads, but I'll resist. For the moment, anyway.<br /><br />What did you all think of our new SGA movie?<br /></div></div>Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-45329346379758707402010-06-16T22:48:00.000-07:002010-06-16T22:49:25.264-07:00I just Invested.In "Help Save Little Kaylahs Horse!!!"!<a href="http://inv.st/5K">I just Invested.In "Help Save Little Kaylahs Horse!!!"!</a>: "I Invested In Help Save Little Kaylah's Horse!!!!"<br /><br />Actual blogging will resume shortly, but I wanted to spread the word to help this little girl!Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-85216110414213410412010-06-06T17:30:00.000-07:002010-06-06T18:32:54.072-07:00Stargate Atlantis: Missing<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iFOXolETH_6Ayt-4aU4uki2CGR-ZC738nYCwlUlmtNC5HuAwa8YLGZhVWk8PegCKregRaRiPKpiVQmhGVsQvlKFx8fdFOKWCjXAK9hmMRUhliSBb516rdfOo3HtbI_Fo_hWgOh_WmhG2/s1600/Teyla+and+Ronon+Fight.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iFOXolETH_6Ayt-4aU4uki2CGR-ZC738nYCwlUlmtNC5HuAwa8YLGZhVWk8PegCKregRaRiPKpiVQmhGVsQvlKFx8fdFOKWCjXAK9hmMRUhliSBb516rdfOo3HtbI_Fo_hWgOh_WmhG2/s400/Teyla+and+Ronon+Fight.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479834822316239634" border="0" /></a>Ronon and Teyla gained a little weight<br /></div><br />I didn't have this ready for my last post, but here's a video clip of the introduction of the MFA degree and my little moment as I graduated. Enjoy!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Graduation</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzG55OruR48xdPQRaDHAttWsSHhXioc8cJpPodpqE1czPr0rl34iSpxXA6U11AREgEqH3YfoXtXc2vePat40Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />After a year and a half, we finally have a new <span style="font-style: italic;">Stargate Atlantis</span> fan film for you to enjoy! We'll hopefully have more free time over the summer to create even more fan films/parodies, but for those who haven't checked it out yet, here's the description:<br /><br /><span>A year and a half after the disastrous Halloween party, half of Atlantis is missing. Can Weir find the help she needs to find John? Will the Vs destroy the city? Watch and find out!</span><br /><br />Spoilers for the finale of LOST.<br /><br />Several characters from other shows make guest appearances, including:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn65MHzLMwZRarKsi54UzP5aNIRWmLBaI2E6ggPjaDTWW6jbgrPvCqxFhD_9r1GG3SLrRxwB-O0PeCRogujvZoa4W4xl6F37VJc38aeoEg1Yo6DvtD8U2FajD58KaRp_-NlKyDQFUZpbUT/s1600/Anna.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn65MHzLMwZRarKsi54UzP5aNIRWmLBaI2E6ggPjaDTWW6jbgrPvCqxFhD_9r1GG3SLrRxwB-O0PeCRogujvZoa4W4xl6F37VJc38aeoEg1Yo6DvtD8U2FajD58KaRp_-NlKyDQFUZpbUT/s400/Anna.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479834809495610722" border="0" /></a>Anna the evil V from <span style="font-style: italic;">V</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7AxqnKp7ONc6pEytanX-QVbNh1ezJeEu82q2xGaqh7nOjRrcwPM_FTAA_90LxWJcwLR6Kw4xjcUXj_8Xv4E0u1EtmD_fwUIS78gBSQmEOW1YAvEuJf_bEOCk2Hq8vQmwKHPYT4IVGHU_/s1600/Jack+and+Vincent.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7AxqnKp7ONc6pEytanX-QVbNh1ezJeEu82q2xGaqh7nOjRrcwPM_FTAA_90LxWJcwLR6Kw4xjcUXj_8Xv4E0u1EtmD_fwUIS78gBSQmEOW1YAvEuJf_bEOCk2Hq8vQmwKHPYT4IVGHU_/s400/Jack+and+Vincent.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479834816833150770" border="0" /></a>Jack Shepherd and Vincent from <span style="font-style: italic;">LOST</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNK-GtVYNn3oYdcscAVeIY-txxz7LrQCYv2fmMjSIot1amqHAwJjAmHNx4RUlcKnWJVOOlDMA4bfI_QI6DZzv2aRjd6jOQW-SXRYT0nQmpn6WgG8en-9tKTfbfhDezrVmIoqvLVCTwp45k/s1600/Lisbon+and+Jane.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNK-GtVYNn3oYdcscAVeIY-txxz7LrQCYv2fmMjSIot1amqHAwJjAmHNx4RUlcKnWJVOOlDMA4bfI_QI6DZzv2aRjd6jOQW-SXRYT0nQmpn6WgG8en-9tKTfbfhDezrVmIoqvLVCTwp45k/s400/Lisbon+and+Jane.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479834831765292258" border="0" /></a>Agent Lisbon and Patrick Jane from <span style="font-style: italic;">The Mentalist</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6frj5GOdj5W1XXqJ0uUmL0txgRGyUuiOpvQDXsi6B8iZV6yz3YxFS57uvLkJskrN61QHyI0xBJqy2cakDwggchZRJPxRdL_jK70lk1wWmgzj2-QvWwKL8V0syYja9-qQhE6eWtt_oX4kW/s1600/Gibson+and+Cho.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6frj5GOdj5W1XXqJ0uUmL0txgRGyUuiOpvQDXsi6B8iZV6yz3YxFS57uvLkJskrN61QHyI0xBJqy2cakDwggchZRJPxRdL_jK70lk1wWmgzj2-QvWwKL8V0syYja9-qQhE6eWtt_oX4kW/s400/Gibson+and+Cho.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479834835430380498" border="0" /></a>Agent Rigsby and Agent Cho from <span style="font-style: italic;">The Mentalist</span><br /></div><br />The entire movie is 45 minutes long, so here it is in 5 parts. I put the video up on Friday, but it was only today that I realized that it has the same title as another one of our SGA parodies... I'm not sure what to do about that!<br /><br />Oh, and Mackenzie's Momma -- I think you're gonna like our portrayal of Ty Evans.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Stargate Atlantis: Missing<br /><br />Part 1<br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yRSfDIIeW10&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yRSfDIIeW10&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br />Part 2<br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mDeNDakmYXo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mDeNDakmYXo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br />Part 3<br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WRclSPNiA_o&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WRclSPNiA_o&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br />Part 4<br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3g_800F7SDE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3g_800F7SDE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br />Part 5<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vTPMkNxz-UE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vTPMkNxz-UE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span>Actually, in case the site keeps being lame and not properly formatting the video embeds, here are the links to it on YouTube:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRSfDIIeW10">Part 1</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDeNDakmYXo">Part 2</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRclSPNiA_o">Part 3</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g_800F7SDE">Part 4</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTPMkNxz-UE&feature=related">Part 5</a><br /><br />the other amanda --</span> Thank you! And yes, I'm also glad Harry, Peter and Norman were able to come. It wouldn't have been the same without them. ;)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hammy --</span> Thank you, and I'm glad you enjoyed the video! :) We (obviously) had a lot of fun making it!<br /></div></div>Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-4735368182317008802010-05-31T11:08:00.000-07:002010-05-31T12:16:26.761-07:00Graduation!Thursday afternoon was my department's graduation ceremony. It had been raining torrents earlier in the day, then calmed down for the afternoon, which was wonderful because my housebound grandma was planning on attending and didn't want to get wet. The venue was supposed to be outside on a lawn, however the location was changed to the auditorium in the music building. A setting which made things feel much more formal.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGuwB0ZJya0cFLRcF1FRes7PaNMvgS2OrXoXkVDvHzf7Pq9E3MGp7m18SPTc0reF74XkdvDFWgs9uych9w857XcHqchkN1tbJFdhK6GPuErWpSysl6F4mNYxv_QUHbBIjci0RKl5gO2cg/s1600/IMG_3931.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGuwB0ZJya0cFLRcF1FRes7PaNMvgS2OrXoXkVDvHzf7Pq9E3MGp7m18SPTc0reF74XkdvDFWgs9uych9w857XcHqchkN1tbJFdhK6GPuErWpSysl6F4mNYxv_QUHbBIjci0RKl5gO2cg/s400/IMG_3931.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477498404172304354" border="0" /></a>The stage<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpauNEUqfzXh0OJyVpbUZXeb7xqRMfXGxLDQhp7rTE2tuVmg1ARYXp9-uv2ba40xJQ2qh2x7MTsP4TItnFa8grUGc1vdk36DCZ_lJ5rTdbpZJqd7qmtwYZBxsJoyZcobyuVuCOx0cTSurM/s1600/IMG_3932.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpauNEUqfzXh0OJyVpbUZXeb7xqRMfXGxLDQhp7rTE2tuVmg1ARYXp9-uv2ba40xJQ2qh2x7MTsP4TItnFa8grUGc1vdk36DCZ_lJ5rTdbpZJqd7qmtwYZBxsJoyZcobyuVuCOx0cTSurM/s400/IMG_3932.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477498420848237938" border="0" /></a>The gathering crowd<br /><br /></div>When receiving a Master's or a Master of Fine Arts, you have to wear a specific hood for graduation. Well, my graduation sack or whatever you call the robe is either left over from when I graduated high school or from the year I was Harry Potter for Halloween and bought one at the Good Will. I bought the silly hood and think I ruined it when I started trying to figure out how the heck it went. I wound up darting across the room to some friends to plead with them to help me fix it, but one of their responses was, "I have no idea how it goes. I was just gonna hand it to the teacher and hope that they knew what to do with it!"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFh0cpqDdD531XeaDUOagtUvmhV-HHJI4zhyphenhyphenGxBNtB8S_727ukzCgQYpQPdZ_nb3ifqOTCEUxqkj4t23SNmlYvy8YE_NZx0TExAbg6LU928AVHuJcoiaQ-3ssip88cc3gWeLVFnf_qPNJ/s1600/IMG_3935.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFh0cpqDdD531XeaDUOagtUvmhV-HHJI4zhyphenhyphenGxBNtB8S_727ukzCgQYpQPdZ_nb3ifqOTCEUxqkj4t23SNmlYvy8YE_NZx0TExAbg6LU928AVHuJcoiaQ-3ssip88cc3gWeLVFnf_qPNJ/s400/IMG_3935.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477499043428553090" border="0" /></a>Trying to sort out the darn hood<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDXzhpCMz_lnfv1EOAKtptOjxLbQysHcXy9mvQBzj6O1wELNcaiXpqf9SFHq2oLC7-1aVsli4Zpsc6wYj7EizEGdSDfT69Aw-otXuTUb7z76YlePivYyAwP7ubjc8jzFaGFHGvAiReSsA/s1600/IMG_3936.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDXzhpCMz_lnfv1EOAKtptOjxLbQysHcXy9mvQBzj6O1wELNcaiXpqf9SFHq2oLC7-1aVsli4Zpsc6wYj7EizEGdSDfT69Aw-otXuTUb7z76YlePivYyAwP7ubjc8jzFaGFHGvAiReSsA/s400/IMG_3936.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477499049605675554" border="0" /></a>Waiting for the ceremony to begin<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNA4TP3G2V3fXxHtxcidO0qf7mKR36iF3wbzS7h30epG8VmNbTIC9d6P-KQnP3NdvGJUwM6iP_J7ffXKOdxHme2sm2ZLfDlEyXeb-T3gIy2K_WTP5XhikxSlNsEuKMKqXncKZnmHVUjmsa/s1600/IMG_3938.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNA4TP3G2V3fXxHtxcidO0qf7mKR36iF3wbzS7h30epG8VmNbTIC9d6P-KQnP3NdvGJUwM6iP_J7ffXKOdxHme2sm2ZLfDlEyXeb-T3gIy2K_WTP5XhikxSlNsEuKMKqXncKZnmHVUjmsa/s400/IMG_3938.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477499053550054770" border="0" /></a>The professors file in<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Master's students went first, followed by us MFAs. There were only three of us at the ceremony so our section went by quickly and we each said a few words of gratitude after getting "hooded" by the professor of our choice.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXurfWvVeegvmZgMoXlKvh2ygsJ5fgQ016BPp8K2Mvf1Z1ldShAE7R1VTjq1gvjqrkwhY4ztrX0iI-dj3OoGyAwyr3dkKM-6cr282xhBiVLivUijVFk4iwiaC4sFjmjICo-dkY2k0SI17/s1600/IMGP9661.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXurfWvVeegvmZgMoXlKvh2ygsJ5fgQ016BPp8K2Mvf1Z1ldShAE7R1VTjq1gvjqrkwhY4ztrX0iI-dj3OoGyAwyr3dkKM-6cr282xhBiVLivUijVFk4iwiaC4sFjmjICo-dkY2k0SI17/s400/IMGP9661.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477508740226256082" border="0" /></a>Professor Taylor putting on my hood<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMJa4JbnK3kp9hiTeZw-LiCfNEu4GhAnxLKBKzOJOxZU9zrGh8pkaUU9iIMaQs_vyEIPUmFmks69ADWAnd-Y0XsHcPmYWz3GjnNq_bFcqGVwfD5uy91fwvMdXQQ3cJuAMDdvapiPOU4sP/s1600/IMG_3942.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMJa4JbnK3kp9hiTeZw-LiCfNEu4GhAnxLKBKzOJOxZU9zrGh8pkaUU9iIMaQs_vyEIPUmFmks69ADWAnd-Y0XsHcPmYWz3GjnNq_bFcqGVwfD5uy91fwvMdXQQ3cJuAMDdvapiPOU4sP/s400/IMG_3942.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477499063076007474" border="0" /></a>Giving my thanks<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_OhFISJrGJNyYnAzvZPUxBW63tG4GujUF78qmq9LfiL3RBMdAqnAn66Y81S_5nrnWGbD_pN7exzzcyIdNHr39y_XpU2WCJVGBQP8yOKcSZ5bSrRA2mK_c4Lo5nh7krKOgxEtiPwIoBhm/s1600/IMGP9662.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_OhFISJrGJNyYnAzvZPUxBW63tG4GujUF78qmq9LfiL3RBMdAqnAn66Y81S_5nrnWGbD_pN7exzzcyIdNHr39y_XpU2WCJVGBQP8yOKcSZ5bSrRA2mK_c4Lo5nh7krKOgxEtiPwIoBhm/s400/IMGP9662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477508748724811986" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsE2rfsNcV5i0l2xMnJEXcmqsAQ1Zn1nFK59sq37PnLdKBPjhg5XQaNqEdAX7lY_eJD_6R55blXASvH3pPvwYRDX0HigXCJHGWlLH9Pb_4CDqgHqJqOuOHsguzRk2FQVrfsWnwfr8BophC/s1600/IMG_3943.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsE2rfsNcV5i0l2xMnJEXcmqsAQ1Zn1nFK59sq37PnLdKBPjhg5XQaNqEdAX7lY_eJD_6R55blXASvH3pPvwYRDX0HigXCJHGWlLH9Pb_4CDqgHqJqOuOHsguzRk2FQVrfsWnwfr8BophC/s400/IMG_3943.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477499073627990178" border="0" /></a>Hugging Professor Douglass<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMcTlMUqpdLFDbiVToE9VPb6NtOzX5PxlqePccevLgEmPrEGQGomkwgRpQ5Ru7I2IqKwzwgFX-qDojFkR6KP7uiVzadhUOK_Ohc3HHS0HLVABMV0lFui5Be5BOg5JYR1pd1b8a8C_-GY7/s1600/IMG_3946.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMcTlMUqpdLFDbiVToE9VPb6NtOzX5PxlqePccevLgEmPrEGQGomkwgRpQ5Ru7I2IqKwzwgFX-qDojFkR6KP7uiVzadhUOK_Ohc3HHS0HLVABMV0lFui5Be5BOg5JYR1pd1b8a8C_-GY7/s400/IMG_3946.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477500341090236482" border="0" /></a>Jarred attended despite recently having surgery on his arm after an incident with his ripstik<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4qkEfKrsRdaAuabRjpi1gfjmP0JTB_RM__a-2CjTbtOUE47pmhC7YM2EQSGUchyphenhyphenUofDIcM_b3C07RKJ2piQUlxQFK0qB_2Jhy5jMTmCKW5a4kXTOrc8LHoL22zXKwa-LzXCo22jJCsuR/s1600/IMG_3949.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4qkEfKrsRdaAuabRjpi1gfjmP0JTB_RM__a-2CjTbtOUE47pmhC7YM2EQSGUchyphenhyphenUofDIcM_b3C07RKJ2piQUlxQFK0qB_2Jhy5jMTmCKW5a4kXTOrc8LHoL22zXKwa-LzXCo22jJCsuR/s400/IMG_3949.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477500352286818450" border="0" /></a>With my thesis director, Nick Taylor<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8eq2dzyKsl4E_Rw9UsQWqRMj_SBysBcDfqZaA3dy6zZEivpc7fm_-N5-PeYleJjbs8-fgM_x2zpb4-1cl892Z2iRQfN9lAaz4VCQzEpmfOEy8PpR_y6jbZS7aA7MVE2jllgNw0QyT3iP/s1600/IMG_3955.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8eq2dzyKsl4E_Rw9UsQWqRMj_SBysBcDfqZaA3dy6zZEivpc7fm_-N5-PeYleJjbs8-fgM_x2zpb4-1cl892Z2iRQfN9lAaz4VCQzEpmfOEy8PpR_y6jbZS7aA7MVE2jllgNw0QyT3iP/s400/IMG_3955.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477500354997460690" border="0" /></a>The rain paused for the afternoon<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KCaT022RAGI6eUId-RgR96vqUvcL0bGuQLnoO05DzQfinLF7u0pm1QUe3xque90WW_sFrHJyOl5k12fGU2aN3iixMeeI1a8gZ_ZhCSAni85iQQ55SjwPWZwZ_Hi9LI4SER0thNBgi-U2/s1600/IMG_3957.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KCaT022RAGI6eUId-RgR96vqUvcL0bGuQLnoO05DzQfinLF7u0pm1QUe3xque90WW_sFrHJyOl5k12fGU2aN3iixMeeI1a8gZ_ZhCSAni85iQQ55SjwPWZwZ_Hi9LI4SER0thNBgi-U2/s400/IMG_3957.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477500365728967042" border="0" /></a>Helping one of my professors who wished to remain anonymous. Not really, but the angle of the shot works perfect for that.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsY5rjRjfYEOpV-Lh35RiG8Gc8P31bvXWV2EaTq4iBRn0hY7-Ch8Om8YIgAy7FJ_-3U8TkYVQd392PejpWmBLt6z3pBJKg1pnmQ6vqMcRQLNu-t5ZxAn1oRJFvekzvCe0qtzSialn7Rt8V/s1600/IMG_3960.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsY5rjRjfYEOpV-Lh35RiG8Gc8P31bvXWV2EaTq4iBRn0hY7-Ch8Om8YIgAy7FJ_-3U8TkYVQd392PejpWmBLt6z3pBJKg1pnmQ6vqMcRQLNu-t5ZxAn1oRJFvekzvCe0qtzSialn7Rt8V/s400/IMG_3960.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477500370415056290" border="0" /></a>With my wonderful siblings<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmnqnfxvKPNTJsJf2cUe7oJ56hz75BAXqABcMDirgft4JOfcBKlbqxcLItpwmqSpJ4OViRnk1ZWcTmqKKAAvbfqOk8ACU8yl3mzi_jLZcNzinSuM3Mc8bd0jYiPV1c5oiDwsNxWyxky7t/s1600/IMG_3961.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmnqnfxvKPNTJsJf2cUe7oJ56hz75BAXqABcMDirgft4JOfcBKlbqxcLItpwmqSpJ4OViRnk1ZWcTmqKKAAvbfqOk8ACU8yl3mzi_jLZcNzinSuM3Mc8bd0jYiPV1c5oiDwsNxWyxky7t/s400/IMG_3961.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477501386854774978" border="0" /></a>My beautiful family<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0UMPsUWJKRKsK5kX6EP4o9yiqYAZdsb55-9auVpXqIy6ejrZQk91mGA9rP1GNltF45tZH8yNzhRKVmA3GCVcJNgSEutwaSY9v0G_yrt9cH6RRD3zO_ZfRRFQzJdJcelLNPqFGoY8aZ9I/s1600/IMG_3962.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0UMPsUWJKRKsK5kX6EP4o9yiqYAZdsb55-9auVpXqIy6ejrZQk91mGA9rP1GNltF45tZH8yNzhRKVmA3GCVcJNgSEutwaSY9v0G_yrt9cH6RRD3zO_ZfRRFQzJdJcelLNPqFGoY8aZ9I/s400/IMG_3962.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477501881782357154" border="0" /></a>Beautiful Alex<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwf6ctlWPjj1D1p6L3IWmvOcovqhY38A2odo7rUZ6BAvKWNwrgdgu3QrkKhq5S3QfX0IzdmdeTBb7WFokqIe7WFYbWnlTn4XRYN7MGMR8yPhSLNSx5XhyphenhyphennwVfDY3PVxQmEUfU7g3urrOR/s1600/IMG_3964.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwf6ctlWPjj1D1p6L3IWmvOcovqhY38A2odo7rUZ6BAvKWNwrgdgu3QrkKhq5S3QfX0IzdmdeTBb7WFokqIe7WFYbWnlTn4XRYN7MGMR8yPhSLNSx5XhyphenhyphennwVfDY3PVxQmEUfU7g3urrOR/s400/IMG_3964.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477501394130631170" border="0" /></a>Peter Parker, Harry Osborn, and Norman Osborn showed up<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmMYVjLgVPIOlX_1m2mL09f-RY9rhrWkEZ-0LeOtZdaFO1C9ayhwP3OorG5cli1JPSGPefpIZ5c7TFxcc4XgFLm_qTCfuBFiLyzv_Y2tInTcCU7lFvmGPNYkcI4JV6yau5yHteetHYfcY/s1600/IMG_3966.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmMYVjLgVPIOlX_1m2mL09f-RY9rhrWkEZ-0LeOtZdaFO1C9ayhwP3OorG5cli1JPSGPefpIZ5c7TFxcc4XgFLm_qTCfuBFiLyzv_Y2tInTcCU7lFvmGPNYkcI4JV6yau5yHteetHYfcY/s400/IMG_3966.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477501400754223826" border="0" /></a>Grammie! She was so proud and I was so happy to make her proud<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqByefI8M1BPJK3-1zselont4yUMMa6bJVRA2i8V46_gTjDjBZAzPtxLhlK-y3XRJElSB7NuGpYrJ659-lAKGJHJj9hhD1DqysuimcrHNRV1N01g_5ldfixNIveJT21dwFrnsv2IC1-63/s1600/IMG_3968.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqByefI8M1BPJK3-1zselont4yUMMa6bJVRA2i8V46_gTjDjBZAzPtxLhlK-y3XRJElSB7NuGpYrJ659-lAKGJHJj9hhD1DqysuimcrHNRV1N01g_5ldfixNIveJT21dwFrnsv2IC1-63/s400/IMG_3968.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477501897505584674" border="0" /></a>My amazing mom and dad<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After posing for many pictures, we made our way over to the reception.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3x6-YbhvrcrIHWI9CkhEIpxFJnWNZVX5tyV3ybPwSM5s-Kj2TNd3al_YR173nSEiJAJKHOuLIF1goo89rBPXIXFvPcqNKLM9KtW9jO_ui-uOJ1LwlOpkwkqCpgMs1s9pMOQbnKgMh7hh/s1600/IMG_3971.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3x6-YbhvrcrIHWI9CkhEIpxFJnWNZVX5tyV3ybPwSM5s-Kj2TNd3al_YR173nSEiJAJKHOuLIF1goo89rBPXIXFvPcqNKLM9KtW9jO_ui-uOJ1LwlOpkwkqCpgMs1s9pMOQbnKgMh7hh/s400/IMG_3971.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477501914867210178" border="0" /></a>An artistic shot of red and white reversed!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRaZn7dlKWpTjoaJc2u068Uj-GbnYv7jGf2mpSYHl6-fEaZVFw7UfvyYBFa9U1lX3XpzidTHy1WSzBs_4MWE_H3Dr_37yP20mcw2iIZA4x1JKfFJY1SPYdyoVzBVDX7q8CQ6AeGHBhV6A/s1600/IMG_3973.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRaZn7dlKWpTjoaJc2u068Uj-GbnYv7jGf2mpSYHl6-fEaZVFw7UfvyYBFa9U1lX3XpzidTHy1WSzBs_4MWE_H3Dr_37yP20mcw2iIZA4x1JKfFJY1SPYdyoVzBVDX7q8CQ6AeGHBhV6A/s400/IMG_3973.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477501933092297842" border="0" /></a>Matt!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYCe6ZlPfceoKo1DLIbzm55x5lKoZ_ksbBZ4gxvj_H-2sPmQ_o1VFMFtfO1UySt1Z4PrLTfBc4d-o_ItzbqYMAhJWGrZ0fhLK_qDHCFHdr6J7s5P1XJDQILN9Ihjtqjd7UbiOYxx1Z0mJ/s1600/IMG_3974.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYCe6ZlPfceoKo1DLIbzm55x5lKoZ_ksbBZ4gxvj_H-2sPmQ_o1VFMFtfO1UySt1Z4PrLTfBc4d-o_ItzbqYMAhJWGrZ0fhLK_qDHCFHdr6J7s5P1XJDQILN9Ihjtqjd7UbiOYxx1Z0mJ/s400/IMG_3974.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477501947221458722" border="0" /></a>I don't know what was happening, but we appear amused<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK28kqCJVt0Aq6rZ5iX3RN7qdDhVE8d-S29se_2o3V2SYnys2Ex4tgOCAfpluIIZ8yo2T5ns7hm1vNC9IqT9FrF58jjet_PaAzf-bDjy6eDkafHf0-8eaKfa9DK7ZHdPUiSePuDPs7Fa4/s1600/IMG_3976.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK28kqCJVt0Aq6rZ5iX3RN7qdDhVE8d-S29se_2o3V2SYnys2Ex4tgOCAfpluIIZ8yo2T5ns7hm1vNC9IqT9FrF58jjet_PaAzf-bDjy6eDkafHf0-8eaKfa9DK7ZHdPUiSePuDPs7Fa4/s400/IMG_3976.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477503725007101490" border="0" /></a>Poor Vince burned his hand in a cooking accident then fell and broke his nose on the way to the car to go to the hospital!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEuqLuz0p45VTk4JK3AQMmqbIsb8tzybF5Bii06VIDqMjT4rJVleT7g15Ja4LNb1YdMlPTTkbf8MQKUO2ZZp0KKD5UjI89Xkgc8fjbTfhMcqBE5clb8ViLp0awp-UTsx8BcuFJEBkWHiK/s1600/IMG_3978.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEuqLuz0p45VTk4JK3AQMmqbIsb8tzybF5Bii06VIDqMjT4rJVleT7g15Ja4LNb1YdMlPTTkbf8MQKUO2ZZp0KKD5UjI89Xkgc8fjbTfhMcqBE5clb8ViLp0awp-UTsx8BcuFJEBkWHiK/s400/IMG_3978.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477503716411959506" border="0" /></a>We all first met at the orientation three years ago. How time flies!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_UDgr1GbixfBaA2wv8T00PF_MBkDaVaYsLZSdOiZn4OLDctW9do03H9owJ-nqFB9y_om2PdXSkASJN57PTM8fprnZC-4SzAjsP3CcwIYSUwrxFMrv1LKN_DQX0MQ9x5gPtp8St-FK9c4/s1600/IMG_3980.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_UDgr1GbixfBaA2wv8T00PF_MBkDaVaYsLZSdOiZn4OLDctW9do03H9owJ-nqFB9y_om2PdXSkASJN57PTM8fprnZC-4SzAjsP3CcwIYSUwrxFMrv1LKN_DQX0MQ9x5gPtp8St-FK9c4/s400/IMG_3980.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477503741924260738" border="0" /></a>Beautiful Charanya is built like a model.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbAas7U6MCy-sxya8Z1eRopJRdcaWnRykv1PuKOZxXjxTLg2YcS2-DSP-rC6J6cmBzcjaiOfpfHyZyFBkOEO1ED1s-UVltj8XtYGWK00orMwjGJdhePVcp5vR6c6ZX7ZdVRLPjM0dtCxu/s1600/IMG_3983.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbAas7U6MCy-sxya8Z1eRopJRdcaWnRykv1PuKOZxXjxTLg2YcS2-DSP-rC6J6cmBzcjaiOfpfHyZyFBkOEO1ED1s-UVltj8XtYGWK00orMwjGJdhePVcp5vR6c6ZX7ZdVRLPjM0dtCxu/s400/IMG_3983.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477503746534256242" border="0" /></a>Gorgeous Mary and Professor Cox<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGRibf5Xbul1vh-kETjqyvlFYAb_YhDrKjY_Yx-SUN02VQKMgpKXetgnPBupzRLTxzSWcy0jl5n5Zrtw-nCukU77LFLikBcKgjv4ZXm7HJXLiWbDSaz-WqBGXddee_Zbj9s-hsnGBMes8/s1600/IMG_4001.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGRibf5Xbul1vh-kETjqyvlFYAb_YhDrKjY_Yx-SUN02VQKMgpKXetgnPBupzRLTxzSWcy0jl5n5Zrtw-nCukU77LFLikBcKgjv4ZXm7HJXLiWbDSaz-WqBGXddee_Zbj9s-hsnGBMes8/s400/IMG_4001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477504813601874082" border="0" /></a>Under the rainbow!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After the festivities on campus, we all headed over to the Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLO6A6IZ5DP8JJpuTYK_usJ57CyjSPzBu5T6DuyXYfDAfUuw83XNtaCguU6NGZRSAA9RFElg_F3MplpmHPMUUkveybrxSwDQS-zj-zyKbwntPt9iHeRoZLIwTC0m64pvaoxAwSFeh1Xxc/s1600/IMG_4007.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLO6A6IZ5DP8JJpuTYK_usJ57CyjSPzBu5T6DuyXYfDAfUuw83XNtaCguU6NGZRSAA9RFElg_F3MplpmHPMUUkveybrxSwDQS-zj-zyKbwntPt9iHeRoZLIwTC0m64pvaoxAwSFeh1Xxc/s400/IMG_4007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477504828624950482" border="0" /></a>Heading out<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQ0aaUFQGxNw2aX1i3oq1rICySWmADlgk4yqobkIRw7j9j1w7AVeJwnvHB4samOb5mEQXXIjfJTqNt7kW4ElCr7prvmMjo9P82dQfR6JJE_v0WkWMOGWUXA1vww4zJh0EYKzgJ_E1LAPO/s1600/IMG_4024.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQ0aaUFQGxNw2aX1i3oq1rICySWmADlgk4yqobkIRw7j9j1w7AVeJwnvHB4samOb5mEQXXIjfJTqNt7kW4ElCr7prvmMjo9P82dQfR6JJE_v0WkWMOGWUXA1vww4zJh0EYKzgJ_E1LAPO/s400/IMG_4024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477504836940128034" border="0" /></a>Opening a lovely gift from my aunts and uncle<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdy3gyq6NJRD1rVqGBlX6B5ki3FQqWUdIJWuoumfJptNpkX1hyphenhyphenNg4X1YafLfPYVOk3QVp4bKI-EbbNLXu_xAi4-DHd1zILehnN66piZgGCRGFVProWDzmr9uSd38y433MzRtmmTgadUlz5/s1600/IMG_4033.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdy3gyq6NJRD1rVqGBlX6B5ki3FQqWUdIJWuoumfJptNpkX1hyphenhyphenNg4X1YafLfPYVOk3QVp4bKI-EbbNLXu_xAi4-DHd1zILehnN66piZgGCRGFVProWDzmr9uSd38y433MzRtmmTgadUlz5/s400/IMG_4033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477512968003408290" border="0" /></a>Yummy half Mizithra and browned butter and marinara sauce<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oCDgdYw2C_cjEQozcgfyyTEvrQZxDDbA25irSKcOmgYFPbkyLivhzaFGTuTIgYQyMmx-U3ngZxaveH-EMomJ8tdVdmWKtsj3mUfEsw-DggtJoKCG_2JLKiU4g9PXg2JlaS546aeEZc_B/s1600/IMG_4047.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oCDgdYw2C_cjEQozcgfyyTEvrQZxDDbA25irSKcOmgYFPbkyLivhzaFGTuTIgYQyMmx-U3ngZxaveH-EMomJ8tdVdmWKtsj3mUfEsw-DggtJoKCG_2JLKiU4g9PXg2JlaS546aeEZc_B/s400/IMG_4047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477512976097619554" border="0" /></a>The girls<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FwHPHVD3e3VLluraJAvtyLUzIJjZJ6xRNsWpNyVLwjXKxa1d4J6wFS_k5nLj9dncrg0FukvlfOMonZei01a6qC1_UzyzBKnK04lGPpDaIbKUpIhtmBVh22nzKajZyloiLybVZmOq2JEP/s1600/IMG_4048.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FwHPHVD3e3VLluraJAvtyLUzIJjZJ6xRNsWpNyVLwjXKxa1d4J6wFS_k5nLj9dncrg0FukvlfOMonZei01a6qC1_UzyzBKnK04lGPpDaIbKUpIhtmBVh22nzKajZyloiLybVZmOq2JEP/s400/IMG_4048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477512982189447266" border="0" /></a>My big brother<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHJhL3anO1-eT4KL554TSCVG3prFrNzJ7Fb_S_Lwc5yz8PRmyPzM3n1Efn160dZHpppHrBer-UTzVUA29c4JBmfHaz0VOjduXbYwT0vFwhz4XARlLfDlvWaHHLp4UHUjE2O9wLvgim_76/s1600/IMG_4049.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHJhL3anO1-eT4KL554TSCVG3prFrNzJ7Fb_S_Lwc5yz8PRmyPzM3n1Efn160dZHpppHrBer-UTzVUA29c4JBmfHaz0VOjduXbYwT0vFwhz4XARlLfDlvWaHHLp4UHUjE2O9wLvgim_76/s400/IMG_4049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477512986419233762" border="0" /></a>Mmm. Yes. Indeed. Art.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tracie --</span> I love your dream of the meadow full of butterflies. You could watch them for hours. You must see the film Bright Star -- there are some amazing butterfly scenes in it!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">the other amanda -- </span>Whoo! But actually, having AB- blood means you're the universal recipient, so we're set. And Rachel's doing much better! ;)<br /></div></div>Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-77635577321271015072010-05-27T11:01:00.000-07:002010-05-31T12:18:40.603-07:00Animal Updates!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmfmHXtscrktIDIKMm59sN9Z1gQbQrHbAjJgb4hN3EocoXlE2BY7E1b1p0549ORfMzoTSA-cFfwF4HRgiGGZlLOJgYtlAqtr8QaEnSAHje3TX-oQk96Aq3HVVw4yqSUcN9_QMgrE-2xOT/s1600/IMG_4400.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmfmHXtscrktIDIKMm59sN9Z1gQbQrHbAjJgb4hN3EocoXlE2BY7E1b1p0549ORfMzoTSA-cFfwF4HRgiGGZlLOJgYtlAqtr8QaEnSAHje3TX-oQk96Aq3HVVw4yqSUcN9_QMgrE-2xOT/s400/IMG_4400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476017250980320930" border="0" /></a>Cheech comes to say hi with his new haircut<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgYQ8CrcT5Suc06L_Bd-BHxvZBXjVB8PC2SJTizNP9kRDgSbSM60ZAX0TcU4Od3BtyK0ouAgzDEglDrS6Tq2RHjVz21H7jT0k5cklp8G-37U4poFvC8fM_qPnTGOhzKoyradpQo_A4AE5/s1600/IMG_4389.jpg"><br /></a>Today, I graduate with my Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Fiction and Screenwriting. Given that I've been in school since I was two, this is a surreal moment. It will certainly take some getting used to. And today of all days, it is storming. The end of May in California, and the rain is pelting down! I don't mind because our drought has finally been alleviated and this rain means less likelihood of fires later in the summer, but it will add a bit more tension to today's proceedings, especially if my grandma (who has to be in a wheelchair) feels well enough to attend.<br /><br />Let's hope all goes well!<br /><br />Today I have some pictures of the animals. But first... here's a funny story.<br /><br />Yesterday, the high school was doing a blood drive so Alex donated. While she was waiting for it to be her turn, her friend Rachel passed by on her way out and jokingly slapped her name tag onto Alex. Alex didn't think anything of it and filled out the forms then donated a pint of blood. My mom and I both have the rarest blood type in the world (AB-) so I'm curious what my sister's type will be when we find out (especially since, once again, someone mistook us for twins yesterday). Anyway, she donated the blood then went and sat down at the snack table to drink juice for a few minutes when all the sudden she started feeling queasy.<br /><br />She thought she was about to throw up, then felt light headed. A man rushed over and said "She's really pale" and several more helped her to her feet and tried to lead her to a bed, but apparently she announced that she was about to faint, then did.<br /><br />She woke up with a bunch of people in lab coats staring down at her, calling out, "Rachel?! Rachel? Rachel!" over and over. Alex blinked. Logically, she decided that she must be pulling a SpongeBob and have entered someone else's dream, so she ignored them for a few seconds. "Rachel? Can you hear us?" Then she recognized the gym and realized where she was, and said, "...My name is Alex." They all began to chuckle then.<br /><br />But could you just imagine? It's like a scene from a movie where someone wakes up and forgets who they are. We've been laughing about it all day. Apparently, the doctors were excited because they got to ring an emergency bell and everyone rushed over to tend to her. She felt cold and dizzy the rest of the day but should be okay.<br /><br />Now... onto the animal updates!<br /><br />About two weekends ago, Kate made this beautiful garland for Black.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSaLM20CNUIYr31BZ76Jnv6GUeb0feJ7PpXDgXB8EVrHaV8gGlx7yEYNAcZnRC0LPjAHAcn0sXzqItLv61zK7Bw_zkaWZRujJz-_5Z67rZiBaE4ZHgRZLiiXUhcj3nB7EUqqFjSIbJpH1/s1600/IMG_3780.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSaLM20CNUIYr31BZ76Jnv6GUeb0feJ7PpXDgXB8EVrHaV8gGlx7yEYNAcZnRC0LPjAHAcn0sXzqItLv61zK7Bw_zkaWZRujJz-_5Z67rZiBaE4ZHgRZLiiXUhcj3nB7EUqqFjSIbJpH1/s400/IMG_3780.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476015409089741762" border="0" /></a>Alex helps the Commie strike a pose<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQxQcx1LGs2vlR8CqYdz4mMih9RvPGeIqewjUfKvdGiVWZRdcfUetQzGahw34vuLEoFKS53d4HDE4aJCq4CdUSLNvEVEkJIwbhTT6A6cB9PeKx4BSi2ZIanoJj6vncG8P4Lz5SD90bXHI/s1600/IMG_3792.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQxQcx1LGs2vlR8CqYdz4mMih9RvPGeIqewjUfKvdGiVWZRdcfUetQzGahw34vuLEoFKS53d4HDE4aJCq4CdUSLNvEVEkJIwbhTT6A6cB9PeKx4BSi2ZIanoJj6vncG8P4Lz5SD90bXHI/s400/IMG_3792.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476015416280663778" border="0" /></a>Black and his momma, Froggy, snuggle. They look pretty good for 16 and 17!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEC-vbb0C3hc3p7iM1DgSU9T4iYOQA7Axs-VWazy1ymzg4oL41YHo8FA21z43fXlyA1AyE7buxXWzoYViUaXk-zRL3wOHZhGmSeIfDVh2o71o-e-Mv-cJZJQSznhPqy84SGCrZ7VdBdU9f/s1600/IMG_3795.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEC-vbb0C3hc3p7iM1DgSU9T4iYOQA7Axs-VWazy1ymzg4oL41YHo8FA21z43fXlyA1AyE7buxXWzoYViUaXk-zRL3wOHZhGmSeIfDVh2o71o-e-Mv-cJZJQSznhPqy84SGCrZ7VdBdU9f/s400/IMG_3795.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476015430229355554" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75tbwxKcXSm5GbUeaXgI6ucx6dKl5eKkbjyjZg8j0BrBr-scsv-fjoIRo3tYDQlVlgN7QGJoZgsRDrBSoXOL5BtM-mRC2FDIkiuv-ka8bcUkc36AUbgTA-2-l6hqRz4i92COMve4PGW3i/s1600/IMG_3798.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75tbwxKcXSm5GbUeaXgI6ucx6dKl5eKkbjyjZg8j0BrBr-scsv-fjoIRo3tYDQlVlgN7QGJoZgsRDrBSoXOL5BtM-mRC2FDIkiuv-ka8bcUkc36AUbgTA-2-l6hqRz4i92COMve4PGW3i/s400/IMG_3798.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476015435032470530" border="0" /></a>Froggy enjoys the warmth. When Alex was a toddler, Froggy would sit on the rock wall like this, watching over her as she played outside. She's such a good mommy. And she's obsessed with cheese, just like Teyla and Comanche.<br /></div><br />Teyla has issues with meeting new people. She barks and barks and barks, and sometimes she nips if someone reaches for her. Though Kate is over quite often, Toot still sometimes barks at her so we've told her not to pet Teyla yet, just in case. Though as you can see in this clip, Teyla seems ready to make friends!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzhsvpqqZDvXpqUTjzAGoBLaRJ8YybrdJ6btnhrvVy-fnXH9v_QlaIvbHeQKW56q1L2Y-h0oKqwPueQI5KM4g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />There was also a big surprise for Chee Chee... a new bed! I bought this one in the hopes that it would make him more comfortable when we go camping and he has no grass to lie on. Teyla is small enough that she can fit in a chair and has had her own chair since she was a puppy. At first Teyla thought she could claim the new bed, so Comanche still isn't sure if it's for him yet. He's going to be nine this September and has some arthritis issues that we're going to discuss with the vet soon, so I hope this helps him stay comfy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfFM6ymH3lLydTz8m45SP-d35QX7daY9DacCe-8Fc3bt2sHE6GSbm8rt12UfXKj8YN8CRdqregEVMmIVd_GcVzarlL7zsbLhxviMwQWq6C-Ugk5DLdJKL6KQmkoRLD3qznXms-zJ3EHtu/s1600/IMG_3808.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfFM6ymH3lLydTz8m45SP-d35QX7daY9DacCe-8Fc3bt2sHE6GSbm8rt12UfXKj8YN8CRdqregEVMmIVd_GcVzarlL7zsbLhxviMwQWq6C-Ugk5DLdJKL6KQmkoRLD3qznXms-zJ3EHtu/s400/IMG_3808.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476015443466524274" border="0" /></a>Yesterday while jogging, a tiger swallow tail butterfly crossed my path with four painted ladies in hot pursuit. I couldn't tell if they were attracted to it, or readying to dive-bomb it like songbirds on a raven, but the chase went on for as far as I could see. My idealized image of butterflies was shattered! Are they territorial? Here are some pictures of the painted ladies that have been so bountiful these past few days that they have literally been falling at my feet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3goX43jO9fXGmrPw01IpUUJA6r1f5a6siHalmYjfXfAib7bcuo2Tg1J_XnrdNKWY4h6edggBu4_kxP-XxIAh6WzHMP6n-6qbrmXqmWqvBbZ18UrHl7Opxf5JUCZx5lV1Sce-OJ5cSpLS/s1600/IMG_4386.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3goX43jO9fXGmrPw01IpUUJA6r1f5a6siHalmYjfXfAib7bcuo2Tg1J_XnrdNKWY4h6edggBu4_kxP-XxIAh6WzHMP6n-6qbrmXqmWqvBbZ18UrHl7Opxf5JUCZx5lV1Sce-OJ5cSpLS/s400/IMG_4386.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476017227545276674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkfSF7KvJM_QpLLnWKtQERWXyqk4Wt0qFCq5Y5cah0jyjvQJU6SRF8fsynjK81T8PE_2fKrzNLx-sPBHCDyG05Vgz_olQEHtPVKyK-oH8cAP78gGymYmPEAt9w7tpsZIiiaTqelDy35fk/s1600/IMG_4387.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkfSF7KvJM_QpLLnWKtQERWXyqk4Wt0qFCq5Y5cah0jyjvQJU6SRF8fsynjK81T8PE_2fKrzNLx-sPBHCDyG05Vgz_olQEHtPVKyK-oH8cAP78gGymYmPEAt9w7tpsZIiiaTqelDy35fk/s400/IMG_4387.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476017236902050146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwzsFEk6WNXwOMQmk3XTZ8APzAUwxowoylt_7lTemsfPHAmG1IP6I8nMHSxObWTSEqMiKEytsrqERuIsOCfULdiOugRPoV1Rg7BH49DNnDa1pNX5CRvWH8EAuOeaxQ9Q-oXxuTNcOCIVg/s1600/IMG_4388.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwzsFEk6WNXwOMQmk3XTZ8APzAUwxowoylt_7lTemsfPHAmG1IP6I8nMHSxObWTSEqMiKEytsrqERuIsOCfULdiOugRPoV1Rg7BH49DNnDa1pNX5CRvWH8EAuOeaxQ9Q-oXxuTNcOCIVg/s400/IMG_4388.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476017237441054146" border="0" /></a>And now for the most shocking picture of them all. While watching <span style="font-style: italic;">Be Good Johnny Weir</span> a while back, there was a clip of one of his competitor skaters. The young man (forgive me, I have already forgotten his name) looks from the scores to the camera, and in that instant... I realized that I'd seen that face before. It's Black! The Commie! He rarely looks at you, but when he does, he looks just like that!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyrferg2vCyp2H1nvWQU-m1NgaUSZaxvu6culRg3fKWn76SxjrKy9a4AwYKWyxjQcHB1bqcwKo2JbIx8pY_uw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPy6H17eD2VaSm1MI7m7aLA0YITx6taBV_ovx3og48kNertrKfvHoLy2SxbEBWL954mbs8n1z7ebHShuAQWjP98_jfrDshG15DL4I9Cd7K_I4ibtpzEgTmCjI8Ml5RpBtB51JVSQbiyr4j/s1600/IMG_3838.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPy6H17eD2VaSm1MI7m7aLA0YITx6taBV_ovx3og48kNertrKfvHoLy2SxbEBWL954mbs8n1z7ebHShuAQWjP98_jfrDshG15DL4I9Cd7K_I4ibtpzEgTmCjI8Ml5RpBtB51JVSQbiyr4j/s400/IMG_3838.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476017779806704418" border="0" /></a>Black as a human<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And since at least two of you asked... I got that shirt off of e-bay. It was a little expensive, and it kept shifting to be like "look at this boob! Now look at the other!" but it was worth it. The size ran a little big so I had to pin the halter strap. I bought it <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Funky-Green-Cowl-Neck-Off-Shoulders-Long-Sleeves-Blouse-/350278628803?cmd=ViewItem&pt=US_CSA_WC_Shirts_Tops&hash=item518e3bb5c3"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a>. They have a lot of cute designs that look a little impractical yet gorgeous.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mackenzie's Momma --</span> Haha I love your comment, and you're dead on with your observations. That door does look like a mouth, that pose does look like an action figure, and those cups are totally cheap. But given that the state schools now have so little money that they have to shut down several times a month (furlough days), I'm not surprised!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hammy -- </span>Thank you, and I totally (obviously) agree! Culture has this bizarre practice of trying to teach people that once you reach a certain age, you're not supposed to enjoy playing. That's a tragedy, and is one of the biggest sources of distress in adult life. If you don't feel okay to cut loose and be childish and playful and ridiculous, you live a sad life, in my opinion!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tracie --</span> Thank you! I'm hoping that I won't spend a lot of time unemployed, but given the current state of world affairs, that's an unfortunate reality. Matt will be flattered. I love him and he's one of my closest friends, and is quite the McKay, if you can imagine. I think he and David Hewlett were separated at birth (don't worry Matt -- that is a compliment!)<br /></div></div>Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-13818735709722007842010-05-26T11:23:00.000-07:002010-05-26T12:33:00.041-07:00Thesis Reading and Defense<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcd7-qpUcposB1_PCe485npKHAp7BG0-XBND576djrpPJQXJI7qzLVwVFR15VY6jK5aKBjofL2kscOuSLtTF1_JrtOFWikYYGERemNllkf6A0L1ueTOel8lmDaMuOS-VbNhKj_0wa3Zuxx/s1600/IMG_3861.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76wGv3nkQL4nGaFCmCbsj5RGz1iTy3q1zedq8OBfCpZeh-cwve8qiwZgfLjY-2rx0tEGJhVwFTOOt0YM35PgwV1MQ2fWQpeIMFTe6XYZh0SQre6KV4mN4ZJTTa8d5ir0IoK2OaBL5A3RT/s1600/IMG_3846.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76wGv3nkQL4nGaFCmCbsj5RGz1iTy3q1zedq8OBfCpZeh-cwve8qiwZgfLjY-2rx0tEGJhVwFTOOt0YM35PgwV1MQ2fWQpeIMFTe6XYZh0SQre6KV4mN4ZJTTa8d5ir0IoK2OaBL5A3RT/s400/IMG_3846.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475646992423318130" border="0" /></a>SJSU, I'm going to miss you<br /></div><br />Last Saturday, friends and family gathered in the Martin Luther King, Jr., library to listen to the my thesis reading and defense and those of my fellow MFA graduates. I have<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span> been nervous about reading aloud from my book for 10 minutes for ages now, so after I selected a passage, I practiced it aloud all week. I wasn't going for any dramatic effect -- I just wanted to be able to read the darn thing without stuttering. Once I make a mistake while reading aloud, I often stutter and get red in the face.<br /><br />My fiction professor and thesis director, Nick Taylor (author of <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Disagreement-Novel-Nick-Taylor/dp/1416550666/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274899746&sr=8-1">The Disagreement</a>) introduced me by using the nickname the screenwriting agent I've been working with has given me: "the poet laureate of bad ass women." Then he switched gears to talk about my, "dare I say it, sensitive side," which I thought was sweet but amusing. I know the female characters in my stories are full of piss and vinegar and that, after three classes with him, Taylor knows my irreverent, no BS side, but I never thought people actually perceived me as "tough." If only they read my blog, they'd know I spend my free time caging communists, playing dinosaurs, and decorating LOST cakes. He tells the story of how I once gave him an Iroquois talking feather.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Professor Taylor's Introduction<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dznu6MDGvhUPXC2adc78v241xHx7lWqzEvnNRp8XgMkJW19Ozhc4JdmbyciT6schHkW-_-uFUXRjGsc7_s9Sg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuymoUKFJDw4_pA2XIuvkGg53avLlo7lnVk83DYgszXyEfpjHaQ8xzZbBmQy4J0nuqgTt7Z4CdtUut0vtmAdhJiD0MjW4LP0S4pXtAc7dimJb-ZgtM311Y_0btbLNpU1MK0V3jpyCuWdQ-/s1600/IMG_3830.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuymoUKFJDw4_pA2XIuvkGg53avLlo7lnVk83DYgszXyEfpjHaQ8xzZbBmQy4J0nuqgTt7Z4CdtUut0vtmAdhJiD0MjW4LP0S4pXtAc7dimJb-ZgtM311Y_0btbLNpU1MK0V3jpyCuWdQ-/s400/IMG_3830.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475646959921781602" border="0" /></a>Thanking my family, friends and teachers before I read. I have no idea why I look so concerned.<br /></div><br />I don't really have pictures of the actual reading, but my friend was running about snapping them with a much nicer camera than mine, so if he sends me those, I'll have to share them. Overall I was happy with how I read. I don't think I stuttered at all, I remembered to breathe, and I paced myself so that I didn't read too fast. The only problem? By the time it was my turn to read (being at the end of the alphabet never has its advantages, especially in an air-conditioned room) my mouth was so dry that I could hardly speak. Hopefully everyone wasn't wincing, but I was sure uncomfortable at first. Here's a clip, and for anyone keeping track, this section takes place after the section I shared on the blog a few days ago. Isabel has followed Devon to his camp and the two have just shared a meal.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Snippet of my Reading</span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzRrKgltNkhLn5TCq6yv96-bZMwbhjECoZGwY7sK0I51rn-WYNUY6pTXv06tu1rFAAXec_vk_nCa7cVwly6tw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />After our readings, we all had to come back up and stand as if we were facing a firing squad and answer questions from our professors and the audience. That was our "defense."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0krXGVp3IHwZnwn2yJR1-Lw4cdxyQWVE2I2txbeMtBWNAYdghY6g8NorVNr-gXP7IBtwPRKSBR2NHn9RYOVL0cCPQ2DfxXhdtfyF10raayiduSNnB86P9Hs11-vV9mnJqS5NfZvgQv5g9/s1600/IMG_3833.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0krXGVp3IHwZnwn2yJR1-Lw4cdxyQWVE2I2txbeMtBWNAYdghY6g8NorVNr-gXP7IBtwPRKSBR2NHn9RYOVL0cCPQ2DfxXhdtfyF10raayiduSNnB86P9Hs11-vV9mnJqS5NfZvgQv5g9/s400/IMG_3833.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475646970396131682" border="0" /></a>If that isn't the most awkward bunch of idiots, I don't know what is<br /></div><br />One of the questions was about genre, and another was about marketing. A man who said he was in marketing asked how important that aspect of writing was to us, and after everyone else answered "Oh, I never really think of it," or "I'm just now working on a query letter," I jumped in and gave the answer you get glares for in the classroom.<br /><br />"Never forget that you're a product," I said. "Since I'm also in screenwriting, I've learned that you're never just selling your work, you're selling yourself, as well. If you want to view yourself as an artist who is writing something literary, then that's fine, protect that part of you by building a mask that you present to the world. I know I write to be published and assume the rest of us do, too, so you've gotta be able to pitch yourself."<br /><br />The director of my program, Alan Soldofsky, then commented "that's a lot of maturity." At the time I couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not (since, as I mentioned before, what I just said slapped the cult of the artist in the face which is a big no no in workshop) but apparently he was being honest. Then the daughter of one of my older classmates asked the question, "what advantage do you have at entering the program at your age as opposed to someone her age," pointing at me.<br /><br />In the span of a few seconds, it hit me that not only was I the one other female graduating, but that I was the youngest of our group. I'm not used to being the youngest (though to be fair, I think I've been tied for that position with a few of my other grad students for a few years now). If I was going to be singled out and profiled for my age, I was gonna call her on it. "For the record," I announced with a raised arm. "I'm 52." I didn't really think before I said it, it just sort of came out. The room burst with laughter that took too long to die down. For the rest of the afternoon, people were complimenting me on how great I look for 52. It wasn't really that funny, but I think people appreciated the fact that I wasn't going to just stand there and be judged, even though it wasn't something negative. I tried to shoot the woman's daughter an apologetic "sorry, I couldn't resist mate" face but wasn't sure if she got it. I still feel bad from taking some of the gusto away from my classmate's response (she sure as hell has earned her degree and the respect of her fellow writers) but she didn't seem upset, and her response was, "perspective."<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6huM6XtlfB_oJH9sNZK8deTjtNosRqaT7vbYJig-kcm4Bm3vnqwwNPDGVPb525_LcCAi5UVUPCEA_nv6ejGLQb_mBaapwy_JyNfs830v6jgvjM3srpV8pZiAWRdrk-JrO7hA1Ao0SlF04/s1600/IMG_3834.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6huM6XtlfB_oJH9sNZK8deTjtNosRqaT7vbYJig-kcm4Bm3vnqwwNPDGVPb525_LcCAi5UVUPCEA_nv6ejGLQb_mBaapwy_JyNfs830v6jgvjM3srpV8pZiAWRdrk-JrO7hA1Ao0SlF04/s400/IMG_3834.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475646979839852898" border="0" /></a>Matt: I am so f*&^%ing nervous right now.<br />Me: Just put on your Bruce Wayne mask!<br /></div><br />After the "defense," Professor Soldofsky awarded us with our "official proof" that we had graduated: SJSU Alumni key chains. I guess the diplomas won't arrive in the mail for a few weeks yet.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJlEHjzb7pMHy5-Wmr_xEVwK4r_WT36_0DakjEWt4hgSC15l7l1HZlDAgWReC4UCoPMh_dMNu1ENlZrrzBoZ9TiGoCOjEShLybuBzI6LZ71h2uNJIkND7WkaIdYAVyqbXNCszv9WfFLx8/s1600/IMG_3841.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJlEHjzb7pMHy5-Wmr_xEVwK4r_WT36_0DakjEWt4hgSC15l7l1HZlDAgWReC4UCoPMh_dMNu1ENlZrrzBoZ9TiGoCOjEShLybuBzI6LZ71h2uNJIkND7WkaIdYAVyqbXNCszv9WfFLx8/s400/IMG_3841.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475646984908195490" border="0" /></a>Receiving our prestigious key chains<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJlEHjzb7pMHy5-Wmr_xEVwK4r_WT36_0DakjEWt4hgSC15l7l1HZlDAgWReC4UCoPMh_dMNu1ENlZrrzBoZ9TiGoCOjEShLybuBzI6LZ71h2uNJIkND7WkaIdYAVyqbXNCszv9WfFLx8/s1600/IMG_3841.jpg"><br /></a>The reading was followed by a champagne reception where we all toasted each other as the future of California's writers. Yet on the way to the reception, a woman who had attended the reading was waiting for me outside to let me know how much she enjoyed the section I read, and how her daughters (who hate <span style="font-style: italic;">Twilight</span>) would love to read my book. She asked when it was going to be published and all I could give her was the address of my website where I'd certainly make the announcement when it happened, but talk about a compliment. That's the best response I could have hoped for!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHDwIsDepHd4kH_TXK3Lp1MpJp7lrv_0UEN44VRDeDqTHOuwW9vWmS9lXZLQCqT8SEni7eBXRc6QFnqGF9ixoNtc9mUVHyZaMVRLAMSfISZgDJECa7VUhlZBksaNaWjlECkwuCdycwDEv/s1600/IMG_3860.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHDwIsDepHd4kH_TXK3Lp1MpJp7lrv_0UEN44VRDeDqTHOuwW9vWmS9lXZLQCqT8SEni7eBXRc6QFnqGF9ixoNtc9mUVHyZaMVRLAMSfISZgDJECa7VUhlZBksaNaWjlECkwuCdycwDEv/s400/IMG_3860.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475647545249777842" border="0" /></a>Ben Linus and Richard Alpert celebrate<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1kQo6KXEXUnHk75mGnqk9kC_KuBXM9Z1mNmJiTQ8AcpYXeyHnAcJchtpQwSEP_GTyX5tgcFuDeh8n_ZGf3HUp5bmcRCsnC2SRHwaw2FFIIHjdOrqNe5MQd_J-_omRCm0TzntHXGh9MBY/s1600/IMG_3848.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1kQo6KXEXUnHk75mGnqk9kC_KuBXM9Z1mNmJiTQ8AcpYXeyHnAcJchtpQwSEP_GTyX5tgcFuDeh8n_ZGf3HUp5bmcRCsnC2SRHwaw2FFIIHjdOrqNe5MQd_J-_omRCm0TzntHXGh9MBY/s400/IMG_3848.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475647532628516706" border="0" /></a>Chatting with the Department Chair<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgZXvz1NlYw3n5g0KEeA3r5tPWOModYR-_ekcp8rVhgfRJUIJ7PiZvCKFX-19U3JjFqPe3ogankNuDqoyefh5GiTji0adDTeTzbhUcIoSRaTdDHutOAQUBeDylpKb6FQn2JfSZ-8aLOZk/s1600/IMG_3854.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgZXvz1NlYw3n5g0KEeA3r5tPWOModYR-_ekcp8rVhgfRJUIJ7PiZvCKFX-19U3JjFqPe3ogankNuDqoyefh5GiTji0adDTeTzbhUcIoSRaTdDHutOAQUBeDylpKb6FQn2JfSZ-8aLOZk/s400/IMG_3854.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475647540087658546" border="0" /></a>In this picture, you can glimpse the hair decoration that I made in honor of Mickey, Clara, and Junior. It is made of the feathers of a local woodpecker (as far as I could tell -- I usually gather the feathers off the ground when a bird has been plucked by a predator), a white seagull feather to symbolize the white dove who came to visit, and Mickey's hair from his mane, along with beads representing the four directions in the Lakota mandala.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8x7cu0qa-VQ_4TwQQdQwCxvIZlCCUrmyv_LvGCXGhaP2BLnTuyjtg58xArEIGwvgIenFaIFaqaSbWpzfdR9G0sCdJj_bMhESDnuj2Slqd4hmVUYJ06aHfeQWUniXjNDYQUrqAsSwImEc/s1600/IMG_4412.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8x7cu0qa-VQ_4TwQQdQwCxvIZlCCUrmyv_LvGCXGhaP2BLnTuyjtg58xArEIGwvgIenFaIFaqaSbWpzfdR9G0sCdJj_bMhESDnuj2Slqd4hmVUYJ06aHfeQWUniXjNDYQUrqAsSwImEc/s400/IMG_4412.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475650355513293682" border="0" /></a>My hair decoration<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1kQo6KXEXUnHk75mGnqk9kC_KuBXM9Z1mNmJiTQ8AcpYXeyHnAcJchtpQwSEP_GTyX5tgcFuDeh8n_ZGf3HUp5bmcRCsnC2SRHwaw2FFIIHjdOrqNe5MQd_J-_omRCm0TzntHXGh9MBY/s1600/IMG_3848.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcd7-qpUcposB1_PCe485npKHAp7BG0-XBND576djrpPJQXJI7qzLVwVFR15VY6jK5aKBjofL2kscOuSLtTF1_JrtOFWikYYGERemNllkf6A0L1ueTOel8lmDaMuOS-VbNhKj_0wa3Zuxx/s1600/IMG_3861.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcd7-qpUcposB1_PCe485npKHAp7BG0-XBND576djrpPJQXJI7qzLVwVFR15VY6jK5aKBjofL2kscOuSLtTF1_JrtOFWikYYGERemNllkf6A0L1ueTOel8lmDaMuOS-VbNhKj_0wa3Zuxx/s400/IMG_3861.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475647559859772978" border="0" /></a>You can see it better here. This is my lovely auntie. You can so tell that we're related.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76wGv3nkQL4nGaFCmCbsj5RGz1iTy3q1zedq8OBfCpZeh-cwve8qiwZgfLjY-2rx0tEGJhVwFTOOt0YM35PgwV1MQ2fWQpeIMFTe6XYZh0SQre6KV4mN4ZJTTa8d5ir0IoK2OaBL5A3RT/s1600/IMG_3846.jpg"><br /></a>At the reception, three people came up to me to tell me how much they appreciated what I said about being a product. It is admittedly a tough lesson to learn, and one that most only learn through experience. I was lucky enough to have it driven into me in Las Vegas last month and wish we were more exposed to it in the classroom. One woman introduced herself as an artist and said that in a workshop she was taught that buyers don't want just the artwork, they want the story of the artist so that they could point to the piece of art and say, "And you know, the woman who made this..." They want a conversation piece.<br /><br />Tomorrow is my actual graduation where I have to wear robes and this dumb hood thing. I was gonna be cheap and just use my Rasta zion lion scarf instead, but then heard my mother's voice in my head hissing, "we're going to be sending these pictures to relatives!" and thought better of it. Then... I'm done. I don't think the fact that, after being in school since I was 2, I am finally done, has hit me yet. Nor the fact that I am now leaving the campus where I spent 8 years both as an undergrad and a grad student. It's a lovely place, and a great school. There will be times that I'll miss it.<br /><br />As for what I'll do after graduation? I wish I knew. I'm living off hope for the moment. I have a new script with the agent and manager and am awaiting their opinions. Two literary agents have requested pages of <span style="font-style: italic;">Sing Moonlight</span> but I also have yet to hear back from them. I've learned not to hold my breath, but I'm hopeful that something will work out soon. In the meantime, I need to get busy working out the outline for my sequel, my new script, and the details of a TV show to pitch...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">the other amanda --</span> Isn't he amazing? I'm glad he's interested in perusing music as a career. And the LOST cake not only looked good (or convoluted) but was very tasty!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mackenzie's Momma --</span> Yes, you would have been lost (as were many longtime viewers, though!) and I agree. I have rarely, if ever, had the opportunity to hear him play and he's amazing.Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-11630870099246780702010-05-25T10:42:00.000-07:002010-05-25T11:45:52.234-07:00Gymkhana and Piano Recital<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-1jZXiJTgzGKcC107bjzcGwEyOWlxC5WNd0rnzqTb25BzPznlvJGGIUebFBn8T5iJWCf1daL2F6Sq3U0IkFE0JFKnBc5oQYepEv5GDh53gaeXCasmx-MYSRwjkkrlgXUEHdpiQXUtkfv/s1600/IMG_3870.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-1jZXiJTgzGKcC107bjzcGwEyOWlxC5WNd0rnzqTb25BzPznlvJGGIUebFBn8T5iJWCf1daL2F6Sq3U0IkFE0JFKnBc5oQYepEv5GDh53gaeXCasmx-MYSRwjkkrlgXUEHdpiQXUtkfv/s400/IMG_3870.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475270500372243122" border="0" /></a>Sparrow in her champion halter that she won in 2008<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCLIyG0rgrEeQy5U3GQdBlXSpFQPxxJmE8rPBq6hyphenhyphenwmgPU95InWHJF2b0uB8d5AwbKNGw-S1-6cRueAx61xtb_Sa3-z71ouRaA90RdwiEweIjLaEhQYktSqCr84F8RBDYQTNmYOEZ5Cf-/s1600/IMG_3865.jpg"><br /></a>I've stolen pictures from my sister's camera. It's only fair since she's using my memory card.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCLIyG0rgrEeQy5U3GQdBlXSpFQPxxJmE8rPBq6hyphenhyphenwmgPU95InWHJF2b0uB8d5AwbKNGw-S1-6cRueAx61xtb_Sa3-z71ouRaA90RdwiEweIjLaEhQYktSqCr84F8RBDYQTNmYOEZ5Cf-/s1600/IMG_3865.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCLIyG0rgrEeQy5U3GQdBlXSpFQPxxJmE8rPBq6hyphenhyphenwmgPU95InWHJF2b0uB8d5AwbKNGw-S1-6cRueAx61xtb_Sa3-z71ouRaA90RdwiEweIjLaEhQYktSqCr84F8RBDYQTNmYOEZ5Cf-/s400/IMG_3865.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475270492659950770" border="0" /></a>Sweet girl. She got stung by a bee on her nose later in the day! :(<br /></div><br />Sunday was a busy day. It began early with a gymkhana for Alex and Sparrow. They placed first in two events and second in another (slower by a tenth of a second or something crazy like that). All of this despite Sparrow's advanced arthritis. She certainly has the spirit of a competitor. My mom was in the announcing booth with a horse trainer, and the trainer kept watching Sparrow and saying, in disbelief, "That horse isn't sound?"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWBYt2xsPH5XSQbRe0-M2i-hfjcHmK0FXG7nU3gMgmMjtayIuoXG5QWfkX0gGyvJ6BDZmYeZeelpbiS87xRKWArh57MTq2YO99xlp13Ws1Wns02_6M9b2ujLOFuaDBZnqPnO9-AVn5pWS/s1600/IMG_3888.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWBYt2xsPH5XSQbRe0-M2i-hfjcHmK0FXG7nU3gMgmMjtayIuoXG5QWfkX0gGyvJ6BDZmYeZeelpbiS87xRKWArh57MTq2YO99xlp13Ws1Wns02_6M9b2ujLOFuaDBZnqPnO9-AVn5pWS/s400/IMG_3888.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475270502925419442" border="0" /></a>Barrels<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSov87tI2X6px40xwOLwSVCOBAcmzvaa9hU5HUrnr-chAlZSkW-SdOsrpmW5qsn6GbncxXxMxxAYmFoNHZIfHlI1e5ulTd13-c2rx5YMZO5MzH11Dv9wOCL_D4XUfP4EPD-1BfdPNX4Vr/s1600/IMG_3891.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSov87tI2X6px40xwOLwSVCOBAcmzvaa9hU5HUrnr-chAlZSkW-SdOsrpmW5qsn6GbncxXxMxxAYmFoNHZIfHlI1e5ulTd13-c2rx5YMZO5MzH11Dv9wOCL_D4XUfP4EPD-1BfdPNX4Vr/s400/IMG_3891.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475270876939373522" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wCf_nEnvjI6kHVEJiash8lOTlXebYZOHtIEaDtmrtNd5ncs9aCBGRjAw8fLOqghD41qX9magMwHZ8cckTHJscdCF3EgcWMLKm4Ij3HS_0z07ZK9oJgSt4MjCBWO4eG3Ma6Uc3DIlosWP/s1600/IMG_3899.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wCf_nEnvjI6kHVEJiash8lOTlXebYZOHtIEaDtmrtNd5ncs9aCBGRjAw8fLOqghD41qX9magMwHZ8cckTHJscdCF3EgcWMLKm4Ij3HS_0z07ZK9oJgSt4MjCBWO4eG3Ma6Uc3DIlosWP/s400/IMG_3899.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475270511462414914" border="0" /></a>This might be single stake<br /></div><br />That evening was my cousin's senior piano recital, accompanied by a performance by his band <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/triunitymusic">Triunity</a>. Given that the recital was an hour's drive away and we had to put the horse, gear, and trailer away before grabbing some kind of dinner and make ourselves look presentable, we were lucky we got there on time. I'm so glad we did, because he played beautifully. He has a lot of talent.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy_8IzrwL3IqHFCha3cS-HvafEfeDgGZNbaz5yHFpo0y8ZlcMDo4d5dk5f-BT2gvmzxe2jmTyqDWXl1SIS-YQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />And so does his band!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxnIVvmhiCMi7fW-pZbpMNfKHPreiKFDKnnzgTzb7KJruxHbjlyTCRZBP1HnFx59PWHsfunhdWL1uv5lEakDA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />Psst. You can buy their first album <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.cafepress.com/tritriptych.386611045">here</a>.<br /><br />I shouldn't be surprised, but of course, there was drama even while we were sitting there as still as we could, watching him perform. Alex found a tick on her neck (the ranch we were at for the gymkhana had a lot of vegetation) and flung it. She mouthed that she didn't know where it was. The lady in front of us kept giving us the stink eye without looking directly at us every time Alex moved because her chair squeaked loudly. Then I found the tick crawling on my arm and held it up for Alex. Kate, my brother's girlfriend, rummaged through her purse and handed us a receipt. We wadded the tick up in it then didn't know what to do. I was wearing heeled boots so I gestured for Alex to set the tick on the ground so I could crush it, but we were worried it would draw the attention of the Ms. Holier Than Thou in front of us. In the end, Alex darted off in-between pieces and flushed the tick down the toilet. All of this was going on while my cousin was playing a rambunctious piece. It was like being in a silent film.<br /><br />Afterward, we headed home for the finale of LOST. We even had a LOST cake which we decorated.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTd4SO4lQYa8-QnLqJT6JT11j6IPFfmmD0y826dzmu0KQEkgJ392jk_Jr83SI8UsRR9prPMbyfEc-sY1CnUonMU7h3PH0QLIWVQESCVY_KgO6xfxrmdgp2IXqFdfILoAQpkFsUcMk-Nr-c/s1600/IMG_3916.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTd4SO4lQYa8-QnLqJT6JT11j6IPFfmmD0y826dzmu0KQEkgJ392jk_Jr83SI8UsRR9prPMbyfEc-sY1CnUonMU7h3PH0QLIWVQESCVY_KgO6xfxrmdgp2IXqFdfILoAQpkFsUcMk-Nr-c/s400/IMG_3916.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475272689629102274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oYUKkCHfdkjmBeYIiNlkoxSNcIc4bEj-G6RNQMKVuQfQXCrDpgpbr_IE9LGoq5IKYGzWK-IIb4Hi42DXksDG4Fi1oo77vWGB9jjz5TbFOL2JcubTP6ir5uqZ8IuUki5QplcN5oC7rXhk/s1600/IMG_3917.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oYUKkCHfdkjmBeYIiNlkoxSNcIc4bEj-G6RNQMKVuQfQXCrDpgpbr_IE9LGoq5IKYGzWK-IIb4Hi42DXksDG4Fi1oo77vWGB9jjz5TbFOL2JcubTP6ir5uqZ8IuUki5QplcN5oC7rXhk/s400/IMG_3917.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475272696025422802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0HsvWXVzwLhhb79V0h_pJrFdzOUoXGMrz0LtDuJc3N3ROKAUgKbGVtQBQ0pRPchIxGzxiM637RI9O9I0Ad1d2gPITql7IWUXu94Np9zXBK-smKUL8qEs-woLAGacoIwPaKBdjxMJUphB/s1600/IMG_3918.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0HsvWXVzwLhhb79V0h_pJrFdzOUoXGMrz0LtDuJc3N3ROKAUgKbGVtQBQ0pRPchIxGzxiM637RI9O9I0Ad1d2gPITql7IWUXu94Np9zXBK-smKUL8qEs-woLAGacoIwPaKBdjxMJUphB/s400/IMG_3918.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475272706968945890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FVTwleYNYuRl9PJkkLHyKymluPoiQqYKdhklSWQBLUH2HEdqxP_rymXike3S8dttikjUX2cJhX7YqUVWUmhxgaieBph2E-50Khhaw0fMfV9c3rD7u02us4nnBScvY8UnsJ8AI3RSDDVG/s1600/IMG_3919.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FVTwleYNYuRl9PJkkLHyKymluPoiQqYKdhklSWQBLUH2HEdqxP_rymXike3S8dttikjUX2cJhX7YqUVWUmhxgaieBph2E-50Khhaw0fMfV9c3rD7u02us4nnBScvY8UnsJ8AI3RSDDVG/s400/IMG_3919.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475272710162491058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglBeVV_Mv2npB3qvkp4m_TrbJAyJ6pfCYBTri2W1ixgT02jC9v6EqTLCQvGxiaIFffx3QgOhXMrjqU9v2Ps5mFKQGWSxr9u-Vt9-4o3EscxhMqlkq3dGAgg7Fd0AMdBBOPYGCQS6m1zwc/s1600/IMG_3920.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglBeVV_Mv2npB3qvkp4m_TrbJAyJ6pfCYBTri2W1ixgT02jC9v6EqTLCQvGxiaIFffx3QgOhXMrjqU9v2Ps5mFKQGWSxr9u-Vt9-4o3EscxhMqlkq3dGAgg7Fd0AMdBBOPYGCQS6m1zwc/s400/IMG_3920.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475272719542627298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxh04VBo3g239euXOie_DeXZcq1rLkDgcUJtg5eVMT7VJNEVogJx4Quby65G7REow22wwxsmFPDFHIhR6FjTnj4ENcKqSuS_ClMJ9XOiknZ4XyfRrAhjcA7qjeGyjfppmEXOp0PsUIqWT/s1600/IMG_3921.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxh04VBo3g239euXOie_DeXZcq1rLkDgcUJtg5eVMT7VJNEVogJx4Quby65G7REow22wwxsmFPDFHIhR6FjTnj4ENcKqSuS_ClMJ9XOiknZ4XyfRrAhjcA7qjeGyjfppmEXOp0PsUIqWT/s400/IMG_3921.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475272984872792882" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIf09YFCovHcPi7Q4A9GPjtecvgZwGdB_URSgymuTT75J_YVQOoWzhYzDQ_Fxa-JFCTgenP0mFhDln21Yz_1w6Xt9hJwbW_bwVNOPK83XDj8khyphenhyphenA5FvTJJCCUJyy2QFw_IqJYIX1gbCCcK/s1600/IMG_3922.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIf09YFCovHcPi7Q4A9GPjtecvgZwGdB_URSgymuTT75J_YVQOoWzhYzDQ_Fxa-JFCTgenP0mFhDln21Yz_1w6Xt9hJwbW_bwVNOPK83XDj8khyphenhyphenA5FvTJJCCUJyy2QFw_IqJYIX1gbCCcK/s400/IMG_3922.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475272999386374882" border="0" /></a>The explanation of the cake:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyeuBaqeFyAiXR1bMuslhsH4JaMgCgRp69mWqECEZEMtbjBZR2eBPAbMCkrXh3GMVycxH1kn0CrK1esEDZdgA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Yes, I did predict the end of the saga on the Island, but that's only because in the second to last episode, Hurley said "I'm just glad it's not me." That was like drawing big red arrows pointing to Hurley, saying "It'll be him!" Plus with the whole Jacob leading Jack to the Lighthouse thing, it was clear that he was manipulating Jack into volunteering.<br /></div><br />And we even... dressed up as two of the characters to watch the show. The wig didn't stay, but but this dressing up for finale's thing is Alex's genius idea, and it has happened more than once now.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRixflZxtBMjdthNsd3fHCuO2fxKsChSTWs8siGPHbFG_JlavX7wmaYD0knF1bNJmHZHDNieG59mL9EJPKjXWdJgDEb1udvF-nwwRJ8KnJdIBr-vx0V-fI5dqGd2DVYvrjiMNfa7pa9-oQ/s1600/IMG_3924.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRixflZxtBMjdthNsd3fHCuO2fxKsChSTWs8siGPHbFG_JlavX7wmaYD0knF1bNJmHZHDNieG59mL9EJPKjXWdJgDEb1udvF-nwwRJ8KnJdIBr-vx0V-fI5dqGd2DVYvrjiMNfa7pa9-oQ/s400/IMG_3924.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475273000503287010" border="0" /></a>Sweaty Jack and Sayid stopped by<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">POwriter --</span> Thank you, Peter! I'm glad you shared a similarly enjoyable experience, and I agree. I look forward to either watching the series on DVD or catching the odd rerun, because I know it'll only enhance the meaning.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tracie --</span> Yes, um... well, Sawyer, shirtless or not, was certainly the main attraction for every season. Especially the boring seasons. I look forward to whatever Josh Holloway chooses to do next!Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-8949283889349924162010-05-24T11:44:00.000-07:002010-05-24T15:02:20.416-07:00LOST<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysybu-KbcEn_NcdXWclRLI-_obv4euuU9ga9fiFBCo_SMxWJXQxdQDpagVf2aky6aXdpROPmTfJ1CSAyHUHaMFTxdmihqDu72FQX5SVkx2Cf-EPNjHqUJVrqkpUYsCmlBrMG43P-OEqMS/s1600/lost-logo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysybu-KbcEn_NcdXWclRLI-_obv4euuU9ga9fiFBCo_SMxWJXQxdQDpagVf2aky6aXdpROPmTfJ1CSAyHUHaMFTxdmihqDu72FQX5SVkx2Cf-EPNjHqUJVrqkpUYsCmlBrMG43P-OEqMS/s400/lost-logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474929886743650866" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">WARNING: Spoilers below.</span><br /><br />In August of 2004, I sat on a stoop outside my university, watching a bus drive by with a poster for the new show LOST on the side. It was premiering on September 22nd. I smiled. That was a day after my birthday. As an avid <span style="font-style: italic;">Lord of the Rings</span> fan, I was excited to see Dominic Monaghan in his new role as a castaway, and claimed that the premiere was my birthday present. Little did I know what the show would turn into.<br /><br />A narrative adventure unlike any ever seen before.<br /><br />I have a lot of respect and admiration for this show. It broke new ground in countless ways, and the series finale last night was emotionally fulfilling. No, all the loose ends weren't tied up in a neat bow, all the questions weren't answered, but there's a reason for that. Let me explain.<br /><br />I am not a die-hard LOST fan by any means. In fact, somewhere in season 2 or 3 (you know, when most people got frustrated and stopped watching), the only reason I kept watching was for laughs. Then Linus and Locke visited Jacob's cabin, and shit started moving on its own. That scared the crap out of me and was so unexpected that I was hooked again. Thank goodness I kept watching.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkUEvxo2h1FlBfyVV4dc5mpinjPF1sm0vyk-5XuIFe-a5l-YomnKG3T9WFh3OYYRqIkg3V9OG8Big2CunwREeKOA9tw6I1-AMYwE_6M5OfR1XlFFcivoy8EfrhdFVqhwWRvsxMBF4uCYb/s1600/LOST.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkUEvxo2h1FlBfyVV4dc5mpinjPF1sm0vyk-5XuIFe-a5l-YomnKG3T9WFh3OYYRqIkg3V9OG8Big2CunwREeKOA9tw6I1-AMYwE_6M5OfR1XlFFcivoy8EfrhdFVqhwWRvsxMBF4uCYb/s400/LOST.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474929898161929794" border="0" /></a><br />I have never kept track of all the little tidbits and throwbacks I know the writers have thrown in over the years, weaving their own mythology, and I have missed an episode here or there, and there are questions I don't care about because I've forgotten them. To be honest, half the time the episode would be in and out: I'd watch it, have fun for an hour, then forget about it. That changed this season when the stakes were raised, and I found myself not only wondering about what I'd seen in each new episode, but looking forward to Tuesday nights when it would be on again. The episode dedicated to Richard Alpert's story was particularly gripping.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_SZeW1muLdyIqWmD4IqwpLcb5b3IeaKB8kJcFBWBu3Mg59n1vPDBvGJxXRmlxIVdw8WdXBZlArqsPAUggnt7lh4lTkXdOq6tGiTCY8_1Yaue4-Jz2Z4vfsz3cspX3Xyz6VYCQ7ZxvL4b/s1600/Richard+on+the+beach.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_SZeW1muLdyIqWmD4IqwpLcb5b3IeaKB8kJcFBWBu3Mg59n1vPDBvGJxXRmlxIVdw8WdXBZlArqsPAUggnt7lh4lTkXdOq6tGiTCY8_1Yaue4-Jz2Z4vfsz3cspX3Xyz6VYCQ7ZxvL4b/s400/Richard+on+the+beach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474930884496223010" border="0" /></a>When Ricardo first came to the Island in the 17 or 1800s<br /></div><br />Last night's episode was poetic, poignant, and left me at peace with the characters. From reactions on Facebook, it's obvious that everyone wasn't so pleased. My thought would be that those are the people who were waiting for one final gimmick, one last big twist to blow them away. In other words, they were hoping for something cheap and plot-driven. Instead, LOST remained true to what has powered it all these years: character.<br /><br />When it was revealed that the flash-sideways have been the characters' journeys to realizing that they're dead, I was touched. The memories they would have of the Island after being reunited with each other were their memories of their real lives. Their flash sideways lives (post mortem, apparently), I interpret to be what they imagine their life would be if they hadn't crashed. Sayid could keep Nadia out of harm's way. Sawyer could deliver justice on the right side of the law. Claire could have the family she never knew. Kate could prove that she's a good person. And Jack... Jack could save every one.<br /><br />They all died at different times in their lives, but they each had to go through a mental/emotional journey in their symbolic "after death lives" to reach the understanding that, like Jack's father said, their time together was the most important period of their lives, which is why they all waited for each other before moving on. The end message was one of love. There were countless reunions and tears, and it was clear that love was the binding force of their universe, and ours.<br /><br />I won't get into the plot of the show other than to say that, as a screenwriter currently in the process of pitching her own TV series, I am very grateful to LOST. It proved that unconventional narratives with a diverse cast, flashbacks, flash forwards, flash sideways, time travel, myth, and the supernatural can all exist in a compelling story told one hour every week. Before LOST, nearly everything on that list was considered impossible on TV.<br /><br />Maybe people who aren't in the industry don't realize just how restrictive writing for TV and film is. Not only must the budget be considered, but precedent. If a genre or style or story has not been proven to make money in the past, then it is considered a huge risk that is usually never funded. That's why you see so many cop and lawyer and doctor and ghost shows (oh, and remakes). They're safe bets. LOST sure as hell wasn't a safe bet, and I am thankful that the people behind the scenes were brazen enough to gamble on the show.<br /><br />But the chances the writers took lost a lot of viewers. The impatient slipped away, claiming that the writers "have no idea what they're doing." Sure, there was a lot of creative playfulness in the show, and there were times that I also thought "they're just making this up as they go along," but the more experience and education I gained as a writer myself, the more I realized that they certainly did know what they were doing, and I gained faith in them.<br /><br />This will piss people off, but those who gave up on LOST, I'm willing to bet, are not necessarily creative people or artists, and more than likely are not writers or big readers. Why? Because ultimately, LOST is a show <span style="font-style: italic;">for </span>writers and avid readers. Just like anyone who has written enough scripts or read enough books, I can predict the end of most TV shows and films. It's my job to recognize and mimic the story patterns, after all. Unfortunately, this means that the stories told on most TV shows (like <span style="font-style: italic;">Grey's Anatomy</span>) often bore me. LOST, however, was like metafiction: it is narrative that talks to its own devices. It blew convention and rules out of the water, which made it highly enjoyable for those of us who were used to predictability. It made the show both a game and a challenge for the writing mind.<br /><br />Like the best self-informed works of literature (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Things-They-Carried-Tim-OBrien/dp/0767902890"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Things They Carried</span></a> by Tim O'Brien comes to mind) the series and finale were a perfect blend of form and content echoing theme. For those of you who no longer watch, the main theme of LOST has long been reason vs. faith. Does it get much more Romantic than that? And I don't mean faith as in religion. In fact, the church Jack enters at the end of the finale made a point of representing icons of nearly every religion that it could fit into the scene. This is Enlightenment vs. Romanticism -- rationality vs. sublime.<br /><br />I had no problem shifting my view of John Locke from good guy to bad guy when he became the Man in Black, because he was always the bad guy to me. I never liked him and he scared me. It wasn't just his appearance, but his blind faith that I immediately recognize as dangerous. And it was dangerous. His blind faith led to naivete and his demise. Jack, on the other hand, learned from Locke's example and ultimately found a balance.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr90s33ycqD1BwhA3-JV0cMKdUztRTIr2eNoVHzku1c62rh8nmpROFZbTfSOQdbyU5oLRZ1VwOqA9QZdJ762i-IgMJH5nR1vjkwO8cs1bxFkL_kJ7XRLKWRYK_5nBXThvil9xWxsR__vMO/s1600/Lost_Locke.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr90s33ycqD1BwhA3-JV0cMKdUztRTIr2eNoVHzku1c62rh8nmpROFZbTfSOQdbyU5oLRZ1VwOqA9QZdJ762i-IgMJH5nR1vjkwO8cs1bxFkL_kJ7XRLKWRYK_5nBXThvil9xWxsR__vMO/s400/Lost_Locke.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474930885994733042" border="0" /></a>Locke<br /></div><br />Thankfully, LOST did not confuse reason with science and faith with religion, unlike many other stories. Jack was a doctor, a man of science, but instead of the false dichotomy of science and religion at war, he represented the journey of the rational, modern man (a sort of everyman given that his name, "Jack," has been so common for centuries) confronting that which reason couldn't explain, thus gaining the faith to trust that there are forces at work in our world that we can neither explain nor understand. It's John Keats' theory of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_capability"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Negative Capability</span></a> and a very Buddhist idea: the belief of accepting and embracing not knowing.<br /><br />This is why the final episode's content matched its theme. Everything was not explained, and in the end, all that was important was the love shared among the characters. Love is intangible and beyond reason, nearly as beyond reason as possible, and yet even the most rational of us put our faith in it every day. Jack had the biggest transformation of all the characters. He learned what Hurley always knew: that love is enough.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8Xnujz8igHK4P7CJ2MgdzOTM9ZTxepe3Ltrb9ebgQqa5I9yWym6U_W1jfN5lvBnMPvcrybDzs7Hj8rz548NzJpG4T652-TQxYK4Q87hojjWlfv5LwSAfJRI3KJ9wBSAbZ7U3kB1FHNWq/s1600/Jack-Shepard-lost-615943_1024_768.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8Xnujz8igHK4P7CJ2MgdzOTM9ZTxepe3Ltrb9ebgQqa5I9yWym6U_W1jfN5lvBnMPvcrybDzs7Hj8rz548NzJpG4T652-TQxYK4Q87hojjWlfv5LwSAfJRI3KJ9wBSAbZ7U3kB1FHNWq/s400/Jack-Shepard-lost-615943_1024_768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474930880181843298" border="0" /></a>Jack<br /></div><br />I have never been a fan of Kate, and as one of my friends pointed out, my dislike of her stems from the fact that (at least for the majority of the show) she wasn't a character, she was a device. The whole Kate/Sawyer/Jack love triangle was stupid and boring and unbelievable. But her character finally started to evolve beyond the role of the manipulative vixen, and the more I began to care about Jack, the more I began to care about Kate. The scene in the finale when Kate saves Jack by shooting Smokey made my heart speed up, and the moment in the flash-sideways death world where she greeted Jack after the concert and said, "I've missed you so much," tugged on the heartstrings. I used to despise Kate, and through the journey of the characters, the writers (and actors) have managed to make me not only change my mind about her, but become a Jack/Kate fan. Yes, I'm a Jate shipper. That's a big deal.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFuyzA0lR7ZQ5xuh6uoz3wkSRzEYzX4ly0ElPfTUVgwICk3QNku2vvTeZlC4QciJhJza13j0ANyKQxkxNpRrvIT_q_XOuyzATI-1y8IMl9fp0MLxrW3MHQzr2nDEunvjjGGDr0W1NeBHo/s1600/Jate.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFuyzA0lR7ZQ5xuh6uoz3wkSRzEYzX4ly0ElPfTUVgwICk3QNku2vvTeZlC4QciJhJza13j0ANyKQxkxNpRrvIT_q_XOuyzATI-1y8IMl9fp0MLxrW3MHQzr2nDEunvjjGGDr0W1NeBHo/s400/Jate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474929900958180850" border="0" /></a>Jack and Kate<br /></div><br />The show also had the most poetic ending one could ask for. The series began with Jack opening his eye after the plane crash, and ended with him closing it as he died, lying next to Vincent, knowing that the woman he loved and the others he fought for had escaped. They valued Jack and knew what he had sacrificed for them, but Jack had yet to accept the good within himself. His flash-sideways death world journey was about him learning just how much his sacrifice on the Island was worth, gaining true faith in his self-love (as evidenced by his father, who made him feel that he wasn't good enough in life, welcoming him to the afterlife) so that he could gain the peace to move on.<br /><br />And the scenes of the plane wreckage during the credits? I could be wrong since it's been ages since I've watched an episode set on the beach of the original crash site, but my take was that that's what the beach looks like in the current timeline: The Island is alive and well but utterly abandoned.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qCsoLkILbc_nos4EdmmMTNg9j9St9S-Y6zdLdxzEdr5y4dP_xjdiLUsRINPGG5vd-odeRtz5vf8BcYAtr9vnjyPg57O0USOaueQHwLwOkFtsKebnDIYKrWK96dPq2DH7GjklnUULfd6i/s1600/jack+and+vincent.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qCsoLkILbc_nos4EdmmMTNg9j9St9S-Y6zdLdxzEdr5y4dP_xjdiLUsRINPGG5vd-odeRtz5vf8BcYAtr9vnjyPg57O0USOaueQHwLwOkFtsKebnDIYKrWK96dPq2DH7GjklnUULfd6i/s400/jack+and+vincent.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474943440995771938" border="0" /></a>Dying with a dog snuggle isn't a bad way to go<br /></div><br />It has been an emotional journey and I will miss LOST. It's certainly not a show for the casual viewer who just wants a quick dose of fulfilling entertainment with no loyalty attached, and I'm thankful for that. We have too much of that non-transgressive fodder as it is. LOST is a show for the philosophically-curious, for those tired of the same old boundaries, and for those who are perfectly willing to admit what they don't know in life, and embrace the mystery of not knowing.Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-63399784225541517862010-05-20T11:21:00.000-07:002010-05-20T12:02:37.844-07:00Official BEA Photos and Novel Excerpt<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHq8TNmxZV-TNxkvXf8-k8HxUNIuiSxKnMpPJ3J6qA9MDbMm-44Ghbj177GjWBLdMxcXY47Vyi1sO6IobvjJSUnVsvmzcCIvnS1ly7sGCFeAT7ZcrUDwOWw6rnQP_9HOdqJYMQaq-LU8kc/s1600/BEAA0641.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHq8TNmxZV-TNxkvXf8-k8HxUNIuiSxKnMpPJ3J6qA9MDbMm-44Ghbj177GjWBLdMxcXY47Vyi1sO6IobvjJSUnVsvmzcCIvnS1ly7sGCFeAT7ZcrUDwOWw6rnQP_9HOdqJYMQaq-LU8kc/s400/BEAA0641.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473419841566119234" border="0" /></a>Me with Michael McAlexander<br /></div><br />Here are the official pictures from the BEA website.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVul8-OiUcrnX0UC_ciFWGNAJkcFsy9xFIqKzDN6U18yS1b01DX95PxaIk17yUpVRVLZlrm5wuOcxcdsrgmMwTCpCuH6Yjx9qlwm-EOweZU6JuPU7g4Vc7odVVHRO37Pvwx0PeT5yeZyII/s1600/BEAA0465.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVul8-OiUcrnX0UC_ciFWGNAJkcFsy9xFIqKzDN6U18yS1b01DX95PxaIk17yUpVRVLZlrm5wuOcxcdsrgmMwTCpCuH6Yjx9qlwm-EOweZU6JuPU7g4Vc7odVVHRO37Pvwx0PeT5yeZyII/s400/BEAA0465.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473419830874989026" border="0" /></a>Giving my acceptance speech<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfF7PEDhYgc9iNMQh2TzYTY1amLYgVyuHgeSn2PklKqqiBbA3G-rCTEcf1_KKN4HZLHJNgfn_HF2QKsMo6UpfyYcDsJrPcMUqL_tk6zaloSJPIg8-fK_vRbuMaDTWjuVkVy5VuzSSOFsL/s1600/BEAA0284.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfF7PEDhYgc9iNMQh2TzYTY1amLYgVyuHgeSn2PklKqqiBbA3G-rCTEcf1_KKN4HZLHJNgfn_HF2QKsMo6UpfyYcDsJrPcMUqL_tk6zaloSJPIg8-fK_vRbuMaDTWjuVkVy5VuzSSOFsL/s400/BEAA0284.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473419811065308194" border="0" /></a>Chatting with an aspiring producer. I need to start wearing make-up. My buggy eyes always make me look ghoulish when I wear black.<br /></div><br />While there, several people asked me if I had a website, so when I got back, I took a look at what's available for free (<a href="http://www.webs.com/">webs.com</a>) and did what I could. If you haven't yet, please feel free to check it out! Click on the link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://kellierice.webs.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kellie Rice Storyteller</span></a><br /><br />Under "My Work" you will find links to pages created for my most respected writing.<br /><br />And remember when I asked if anyone wanted to read an excerpt from my novel, <span style="font-style: italic;">Sing Moonlight</span>? You can do so on the site <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://singmoonlight.webs.com/excerpt.htm">here</a>, complete with swashbuckling background music. Or... you can continue reading the rest of this post!<br /><br />Note to all potential pirates... all of my work on the site is copyrighted, so don't waste your time.<br /><br />To put the excerpt in context...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmXFoxt0QTTBX8X44y5svRjoeKhOCKqW5KYCEILknS-spru9gkJycgGX7r_MMWjKPc4-Cdiangaei1OulmwGYWCH9gGSkgjdS9aQgXJvPcXvv6g1YWPQCgAU2mFRfh371Io5ACWyzOnJL/s1600/Sing+Moonlight+Maybe2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 109px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmXFoxt0QTTBX8X44y5svRjoeKhOCKqW5KYCEILknS-spru9gkJycgGX7r_MMWjKPc4-Cdiangaei1OulmwGYWCH9gGSkgjdS9aQgXJvPcXvv6g1YWPQCgAU2mFRfh371Io5ACWyzOnJL/s400/Sing+Moonlight+Maybe2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473429063725782146" border="0" /></a><i>Sing Moonlight</i> is a Young Adult Fantasy novel that follows thirteen-year-old Isabel Alcott as she is kidnapped and taken to a world similar to the <st1:place st="on">Spanish Main</st1:place>. She strikes up an uneasy friendship with a seafaring boy named <st1:place st="on">Devon</st1:place> while she tries to find her way home. Having been a slave as a child, <st1:place st="on">Devon</st1:place> isn’t a trusting person. However, throughout their adventures, Isabel and <st1:place st="on">Devon</st1:place> forge a bond of loyalty and devotion.<p>Robert Louis Stevenson's classic <i>Treasure Island</i> was a source of inspiration, along with Phillip Pullman's <i>His Dark Materials</i> and Louisa May Alcott's <i>Little Women</i>, for there is a bit of Lyra Belaqua and Jo March in Isabel.</p><p><i>Sing Moonlight</i> is the first in a series.</p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Excerpt from Chapter 6 -- Isabel and Devon's First Meeting </span><!-- ParagraphTitleEnd --> <div class="fw-text"><!-- ParagraphBodyStart --><p>She didn’t know if she had run for several minutes or for many when she heard something crashing through the brush to her right. She came to a halt, hastily wiping at the rivulets of sweat that stung her eyes so that she could see properly, then ducked behind a large fern, shoving the fronds over her head as cover. The thrashing noises charged towards her and she curled up, covering the back of her neck as if she were in an earthquake drill at school, fearing that her wheezing pants would give her away. </p> <p>The crashing of leaves grew louder and in an instant something smacked into her, tripped, and toppled on top of her with a yelp. Isabel squawked in surprise and scrambled to get away from the thing that was likewise scrambling to get away from her. Through the swaying fronds she glimpsed the bare foot of a human and looked up. </p> <p>A boy lay on his back, propped up by his elbows, looking just as wild and red as she did. He was wearing tattered trousers that cut off at his calves and his loose white shirt was stained with dirt and sweat. A leather satchel was slung across his chest and she realized that he was holding a knife as if ready for her to attack. There was something wild in his eyes that stilled Isabel’s tongue.</p> <p>The crack of a musket shot startled them both and the boy scrambled to his feet and was gone in a heartbeat. Isabel could hear more thrashing sounds heading nearer, accompanied by the shouts of men, and remembered the horseback riders she’d seen charging across the field. Hastily rising, Isabel raced after the boy, shoving leaves away as often as she could to keep his darting form in view. After a few yards she lost him and paused to attempt to reorient herself when she caught the scent of the sea. </p> <p>Shoving through the brush once more, Isabel ran towards the beach and within a few moments broke through the foliage to see the boy hastily shoving a makeshift sailboat out into the surf. A horse grunted further down the beach as it slowed from a canter after breaking the cover of the trees, its hooves digging into the fair sand. The rider was a bearded man with leathery skin who didn’t hesitate to raise his musket and fire into the air as soon as he saw her. “Over here, boys!” he bellowed and Isabel could hear the rest of the mounted men charging towards him through the fronds.</p> <p>Isabel sprinted towards the boy who was now climbing into his boat as the mounted man and his comrades grouped and charged down the beach towards them. She cried out in frustration as the water slowed her down, sucking at her feet as she trudged towards the boat. The boy saw her approach and rose in his rickety craft, stabbing an oar into the water to shove against the seabed, trying to take off. Isabel dove into the water and swam towards him. “Wait!”</p> <p>The boy’s only response was a more frantic attempt to get away before she could reach him. One of the men aimed and shot at the two children and the ball hissing through the water near them momentarily distracted the boy enough for Isabel to latch onto the side of his boat and hoist herself up. “Jones!” he shouted then turned to her with a sneer and abandoned his oar to try to shove her out. “What are you doing?”</p> <p>“Stop it!” Isabel squeaked as she kicked him away from her. Both heard the crack of another musket then the clunking thud of the ball sticking into the wooden hull. The two shared a look as the noise registered and in the brief moment before both scrambled for the oars to shove off together, Isabel noticed what made the boy appear so wild before: his eyes were a shade of honey that she had never seen, like liquid amber. Both stabbed against the ocean floor with an oar, hauling the small craft away from the beach as the riders skidded to a halt and took aim.</p> <p>The boy darted an arm up and untied the twine lashing the sail to the mast, unfurling the small patch of canvas only to drop onto the floor of the boat as the men fired another shot. Isabel ducked behind a barrel and heard the lead hit water behind them. The boy scrambled back onto his knees and grabbed the end of the boom, angling the sail into the wind. He glanced at her over his shoulder. “Grab the tiller. Tack starboard!”</p> <p>Isabel stared for a moment, having no idea what he was talking about, then ducked as another gunshot was fired. Part of the sail tore from the ball and Isabel grabbed the wooden handle sticking out of the back of the boat then shoved it to the right. When boat hardly moved, she swung it to the left and the boy let out a whoop as the boat suddenly tacked and gained speed, slicing through the waves into the open sea. Isabel smiled as she watched the men on shore gesticulate and shout at each other before firing a few more futile shots. </p> <p>The boy handed a rope attached to the end of the boom to Isabel then shrugged off his satchel and climbed to the bow, a bare foot on either side of the boat with the ease of a monkey, and cupped his hands over his mouth, bellowing at the men on shore what sounded like a playground chant. “For devils and scum be the likes of some but lower than a lubber are ye!” One of the men fired a shot that stuck into the mast right above the boy’s head and he dropped back down into the boat like a diving swallow and crawled back towards Isabel, taking the mainsheet and rudder from her. She sat down beside him and watched as the men grew smaller and smaller as the craft gained speed out on the open water.</p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tracie --</span> You have elf ears, too? We should start a club. :) And that's great that you can have chickens in your area now! I think you should get some. Nothing beats fresh eggs!<br /></p></div>Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-87208308435931244652010-05-19T13:53:00.000-07:002010-05-19T14:55:23.491-07:00Random Pictures<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidaG6ezu0kBUjrep0tz-6lJXf8_Qqbl-CoxW5Jj04KtT3naOYy_xCe8bd4geEKze-74w_XhzFl24xmSY5yxcT48Iu4SHJKeggypGcMouRT4xub_SSQVNEHnKZfNAz1vr4ImNfp17ytbgm/s1600/IMG_8796.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidaG6ezu0kBUjrep0tz-6lJXf8_Qqbl-CoxW5Jj04KtT3naOYy_xCe8bd4geEKze-74w_XhzFl24xmSY5yxcT48Iu4SHJKeggypGcMouRT4xub_SSQVNEHnKZfNAz1vr4ImNfp17ytbgm/s400/IMG_8796.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473094450261432818" border="0" /></a>After I got a short fiction award in 2007<br /></div><br />This post is about random pictures that I found on my laptop. As I mentioned last post, my camera is broken, so here are some things I took pictures of and always meant to write about, but didn't.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJWzsYygyaWAK7qcQeA3SBKHze_3FRzWacSbtGCYojJxNGz6PW3dlt0x4y6j1nTmmRHk2BbeOepTYlKCoCjSK8RGIsn_XUQ6MO2jgiKlDCM2Ze6uYMo8fX3l26_U8-r-iEPjLe9ky6YOd/s1600/IMG_7088.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJWzsYygyaWAK7qcQeA3SBKHze_3FRzWacSbtGCYojJxNGz6PW3dlt0x4y6j1nTmmRHk2BbeOepTYlKCoCjSK8RGIsn_XUQ6MO2jgiKlDCM2Ze6uYMo8fX3l26_U8-r-iEPjLe9ky6YOd/s400/IMG_7088.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473088035238615474" border="0" /></a>This guy was crawling away from the lawn at around 10 pm one autumn night at my university. It's like, a hammerhead worm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQ4dtNGlqGx61oHa1BVhPvzcKtsQqhMJiGzfIJDG7zDQ_CZtnsHngBm0CHYrR1FJ1LC5adnHGGKPXPLe6xvt3jlD9vqU6ABPFwQE9lFwLKJu3bzlohk5QkrAHMXCaT82mQs3irNZT3Kz4/s1600/IMG_7076.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQ4dtNGlqGx61oHa1BVhPvzcKtsQqhMJiGzfIJDG7zDQ_CZtnsHngBm0CHYrR1FJ1LC5adnHGGKPXPLe6xvt3jlD9vqU6ABPFwQE9lFwLKJu3bzlohk5QkrAHMXCaT82mQs3irNZT3Kz4/s400/IMG_7076.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473088050296232706" border="0" /></a>I thought the lighting was so etheral. This was on a hike in one of the local redwood state parks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMUsoNF1GSLCOHd7I7eUbEuyVWi4aAVcwoXUW93xyrckU9QubSdEADqxDQweC-K99oWeDU88bI_j3wayjvoFy2Y6o4aw0VzGQVw0Ywdh24IGqrh_sF5-A6nXvvZtlaipRIMtw2PISnErS/s1600/IMG_0856.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMUsoNF1GSLCOHd7I7eUbEuyVWi4aAVcwoXUW93xyrckU9QubSdEADqxDQweC-K99oWeDU88bI_j3wayjvoFy2Y6o4aw0VzGQVw0Ywdh24IGqrh_sF5-A6nXvvZtlaipRIMtw2PISnErS/s400/IMG_0856.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473088062851290978" border="0" /></a>Something is wrong with this picture. Could it be the Swastika on Buddha's belly? Yes, yes, I know it is an ancient symbol that belongs on images of unity and harmony like this, but still, in a post-WWII world, you can't negate the irony. A Nazi Buddha.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">These pictures were taken after a storm in January of 2008, I think. They've been on the blog before but they're so Caravaggio-esque that I just had to share them again.<br /><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz9fWWp4eVF6JmR0KRI97X6J53UgcatsVjWDOaP29SgycMOJYAAgXLCXNI4Axxv2jfjT39mkmJN8yt_5hndrvyFGDfKOcvta64igvuHvuqITyASIvSP_LdJVlJII_mFzQYKWrgzQVyhLr/s1600/After+the+Storm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz9fWWp4eVF6JmR0KRI97X6J53UgcatsVjWDOaP29SgycMOJYAAgXLCXNI4Axxv2jfjT39mkmJN8yt_5hndrvyFGDfKOcvta64igvuHvuqITyASIvSP_LdJVlJII_mFzQYKWrgzQVyhLr/s400/After+the+Storm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473088069920180450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMUsoNF1GSLCOHd7I7eUbEuyVWi4aAVcwoXUW93xyrckU9QubSdEADqxDQweC-K99oWeDU88bI_j3wayjvoFy2Y6o4aw0VzGQVw0Ywdh24IGqrh_sF5-A6nXvvZtlaipRIMtw2PISnErS/s1600/IMG_0856.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LciIGIb0oI9KJoTkZUg5SHZKXddOCdEgEbnGA2VFNPCa_JtFSSsO6NyIxE9bW-cHoCTXccOdat6D7hSLzQ_rI5PLApXDn8I0nyC3EHXZYY2pnUujkC6Kx96pkwKtxLkiet_3RQfIde5I/s1600/Caravaggio+Transpires.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LciIGIb0oI9KJoTkZUg5SHZKXddOCdEgEbnGA2VFNPCa_JtFSSsO6NyIxE9bW-cHoCTXccOdat6D7hSLzQ_rI5PLApXDn8I0nyC3EHXZYY2pnUujkC6Kx96pkwKtxLkiet_3RQfIde5I/s400/Caravaggio+Transpires.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473088080372430050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jF3x5T44l9bKS3YPB1DKkn14cjvWHBYAbJ_ARmW-X9Gz0NO1I_aLLcjsL95l8QzFR0m-SmdwsgsD-TYMvMc4BmO9ESc1otBqBQaJBtbZMHzbjMihQ3AuMnH8kafarMncWHrHT80mp_Zf/s1600/IMG_0846.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jF3x5T44l9bKS3YPB1DKkn14cjvWHBYAbJ_ARmW-X9Gz0NO1I_aLLcjsL95l8QzFR0m-SmdwsgsD-TYMvMc4BmO9ESc1otBqBQaJBtbZMHzbjMihQ3AuMnH8kafarMncWHrHT80mp_Zf/s400/IMG_0846.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473088621340574866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJWzsYygyaWAK7qcQeA3SBKHze_3FRzWacSbtGCYojJxNGz6PW3dlt0x4y6j1nTmmRHk2BbeOepTYlKCoCjSK8RGIsn_XUQ6MO2jgiKlDCM2Ze6uYMo8fX3l26_U8-r-iEPjLe9ky6YOd/s1600/IMG_7088.jpg"><br /></a>Next we have... little Nick-a-boo's birthday! Well, he's not so little anymore. He's 9 now! Given that I've helped take care of him as a nanny since he was 18 months, I am so proud of the wonderful young man he is shaping up to be. Time has flown by so quickly!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJTs2xKTpu2GdLTgKgQqQglCIVIPpRXV6rvdarCcGL33OoN9tMMrmPk7zicztn3b_xyMXbDKcTzcT2o-s3CH8OmxbLJNsaPaA1Ioxiu1CxbVfqtQEzMLR_NBIJ5BaVahKRhzkwXbs0seK/s1600/IMG_4327.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJTs2xKTpu2GdLTgKgQqQglCIVIPpRXV6rvdarCcGL33OoN9tMMrmPk7zicztn3b_xyMXbDKcTzcT2o-s3CH8OmxbLJNsaPaA1Ioxiu1CxbVfqtQEzMLR_NBIJ5BaVahKRhzkwXbs0seK/s400/IMG_4327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473090477085119586" border="0" /></a>Happy birthday, Nick!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0bHik4HWwH-5pLpZALqCz0LWIUvMfR8KBWEPBDktHCYb_fDiKYkgBYwMIktxmyQ2DHlvgADL7dArFfE0Ah4n8vCctebPV0opWDZDNHg_la0A4wqrHzBW-_p5vGjF1yXujzBV0DHK3jAV/s1600/Me+and+Boo+and+Mickey.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0bHik4HWwH-5pLpZALqCz0LWIUvMfR8KBWEPBDktHCYb_fDiKYkgBYwMIktxmyQ2DHlvgADL7dArFfE0Ah4n8vCctebPV0opWDZDNHg_la0A4wqrHzBW-_p5vGjF1yXujzBV0DHK3jAV/s400/Me+and+Boo+and+Mickey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473091155232275410" border="0" /></a>Dressed as a pirate to give rides on my "ship" (sweet Mickey boy) on Boo's 5th birthday<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHS7qKkcqBg4QXP5zSSelt4B0lNnI6C4nBCeAV4H0uPfSt526eHBs68k_iE0McRyacdMbaueHdC6AiXeQPyhjlKTCxOZMssUlnC2g5rZxYlgJra9VDRmBHTUZbvqkYYQxJEioNg3eDdLM/s1600/IMG_4256.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHS7qKkcqBg4QXP5zSSelt4B0lNnI6C4nBCeAV4H0uPfSt526eHBs68k_iE0McRyacdMbaueHdC6AiXeQPyhjlKTCxOZMssUlnC2g5rZxYlgJra9VDRmBHTUZbvqkYYQxJEioNg3eDdLM/s400/IMG_4256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473088635053770706" border="0" /></a>Figuring out the clues on a treasure hunt<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqHAxuvP3YU7_ZwNPLNN3bmu_Sn-ftZHgmZ0ZFxE9JHZvT2X4gaq9gIp-5s8EH2X78JqpC6PDq0cmuTIozA0Gl_g0S9xYG9UCaYgVUZsACejXR-tDVqgkuUTXwi8imDuxGhOL1uNRGelK/s1600/IMG_3973.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqHAxuvP3YU7_ZwNPLNN3bmu_Sn-ftZHgmZ0ZFxE9JHZvT2X4gaq9gIp-5s8EH2X78JqpC6PDq0cmuTIozA0Gl_g0S9xYG9UCaYgVUZsACejXR-tDVqgkuUTXwi8imDuxGhOL1uNRGelK/s400/IMG_3973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473088641322803410" border="0" /></a>Comanche and Teyla wrestle<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Fierce savages!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxHNke6kdRZzT5NCKE8pzNJfBUVSfbeT1fRau1aRpDHWqukyuj4KVUjGzK9zC05SKi8wRFxWGFd06Qch4CzXw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The rest of these are just plain random and I'm putting them up because... I don't know why. I just am.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIV9_L9OSTqxeaz4-L4ztB0joyGRVz-5LtN0wNC9N1vm_p7KKEGUIO6jjuAV6V_J7mrgUQLgIZ7-qG7fMkOGrJYvV39DM7oNlG23w_EBXke300Ir9Y80_c6xNJbsZKVe-oeD6pICCAonhn/s1600/IMG_1486.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIV9_L9OSTqxeaz4-L4ztB0joyGRVz-5LtN0wNC9N1vm_p7KKEGUIO6jjuAV6V_J7mrgUQLgIZ7-qG7fMkOGrJYvV39DM7oNlG23w_EBXke300Ir9Y80_c6xNJbsZKVe-oeD6pICCAonhn/s400/IMG_1486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473092964797709618" border="0" /></a>Alex and I as the Corpse Bride and Victor, her groom, on Halloween of 2005<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVH9VrPCw8iV7hFa0f4ZqU83tea407peW6LaJEHZ40jcoSsPDCElp0MqBAD7BwOPx9uYUpXKvm05gRkSrywdLlHkThyx32fka98C2Bg35wu1JJh5R1LJcZn_MdXTj0jkFZeo6w4D2CITIk/s1600/IMG_4168.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVH9VrPCw8iV7hFa0f4ZqU83tea407peW6LaJEHZ40jcoSsPDCElp0MqBAD7BwOPx9uYUpXKvm05gRkSrywdLlHkThyx32fka98C2Bg35wu1JJh5R1LJcZn_MdXTj0jkFZeo6w4D2CITIk/s400/IMG_4168.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473092971753076306" border="0" /></a>My great uncle Larry and aunt Carol. At least I think he's my great uncle. He was my grandma's brother. Does that make him my great uncle? They're both amazing people and I wish we got to see them more often, but they live in Washington state.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpXja4vxyE-RKq1-TDpsw_RHmOvuQqguATzJs3g-hosAnab6-3BFltQWVqVgOZQdCOzL2EgOUvBtdZO6hD4psj5wKls13L0PbMbXAigLA9LLFJ7ughCwJdoXDHwc4MVi_UlPqhyJoUnU8/s1600/IMG_9319.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpXja4vxyE-RKq1-TDpsw_RHmOvuQqguATzJs3g-hosAnab6-3BFltQWVqVgOZQdCOzL2EgOUvBtdZO6hD4psj5wKls13L0PbMbXAigLA9LLFJ7ughCwJdoXDHwc4MVi_UlPqhyJoUnU8/s400/IMG_9319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473092983914674258" border="0" /></a>My big brother with a big bass at the lake before he let it go<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OyrRE_ESQhJ_BA1jUKfAWP29cY0TuY5WyjhyphenhyphenpUAHgWlOXaIFql-goP2okuIWdnlsHxMm25Z_CkCEzZdxNBKkR6JpU5g_7YXea7O1i4PJPVGL11m1iFvLenng1VSEkc-SXlTRGLdCJVgH/s1600/Kellie+and+Baby+Brody.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OyrRE_ESQhJ_BA1jUKfAWP29cY0TuY5WyjhyphenhyphenpUAHgWlOXaIFql-goP2okuIWdnlsHxMm25Z_CkCEzZdxNBKkR6JpU5g_7YXea7O1i4PJPVGL11m1iFvLenng1VSEkc-SXlTRGLdCJVgH/s400/Kellie+and+Baby+Brody.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473092990008562130" border="0" /></a>Me with my baby cousin Brody when he was just born. I was 17.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SyIfKE46AYoxcXbFRXjsf1LMpTqHATpv_Jw02HgWuujNIAF1_o3EEsAJKm0J6mssjBOUfTOu3jM_A17ZitdZYLJl0tsOa9dkZPO97Mu8oBS9Km2ejI1IAUM28q8scIlFkyZ5vf4iLmC8/s1600/goofballs.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SyIfKE46AYoxcXbFRXjsf1LMpTqHATpv_Jw02HgWuujNIAF1_o3EEsAJKm0J6mssjBOUfTOu3jM_A17ZitdZYLJl0tsOa9dkZPO97Mu8oBS9Km2ejI1IAUM28q8scIlFkyZ5vf4iLmC8/s400/goofballs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473093990248124962" border="0" /></a>With Brody now. He's 9! And obviously related to my "special" sister and I<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now that you've seen me at 17, look at my progression as a human being (or lack of progression).<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitepxEesP7rNneN8chTkHKHDhxrZWXHSNkAtI0qAhc0zwn6wv_VqFWNn_7IIXueUTUzLl5oMaSCrhKuBN9dzrlgPLsjmEc1Y__DW6gkAKbSdhvO1tNpoH3z5T-Fqz_odddcaB-eLv7axSr/s1600/Little+Shash.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitepxEesP7rNneN8chTkHKHDhxrZWXHSNkAtI0qAhc0zwn6wv_VqFWNn_7IIXueUTUzLl5oMaSCrhKuBN9dzrlgPLsjmEc1Y__DW6gkAKbSdhvO1tNpoH3z5T-Fqz_odddcaB-eLv7axSr/s400/Little+Shash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473096278811559026" border="0" /></a>With my momma as a baby. I also still look the same.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BuXEphMc0-LZFDbVPQMWr8Dv_FHw6_bVtN3nLZzP1g3jpXDBeTuOmrHERJJjWNDbTIn_ZJC4hsLtq7YLtYizT43Pi0cyzLLkgFEdo35RazjPoj67B9eUnRcTAF-sHUZjsMjmjtUEI8Jn/s1600/Baby+Shash.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BuXEphMc0-LZFDbVPQMWr8Dv_FHw6_bVtN3nLZzP1g3jpXDBeTuOmrHERJJjWNDbTIn_ZJC4hsLtq7YLtYizT43Pi0cyzLLkgFEdo35RazjPoj67B9eUnRcTAF-sHUZjsMjmjtUEI8Jn/s400/Baby+Shash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473097207520464290" border="0" /></a>At 1 or 2<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEC-O5hZNwdghZrTbIrFauMyMnlYUSw64L5xzfrRG_bh2xEjMASUA-6lSrgXIPu-WUSVO7zVwjiK8Mn9yQA9BDYk2W23KnvUNzpihBnX_9p9xqtrZsH-R1VqUdy_j0hiCGRWPY9IvvKK87/s1600/Little+Shash+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEC-O5hZNwdghZrTbIrFauMyMnlYUSw64L5xzfrRG_bh2xEjMASUA-6lSrgXIPu-WUSVO7zVwjiK8Mn9yQA9BDYk2W23KnvUNzpihBnX_9p9xqtrZsH-R1VqUdy_j0hiCGRWPY9IvvKK87/s400/Little+Shash+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473097216751709986" border="0" /></a>At 3, I think.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now you know why people I've only known in pre-school can recognize me as an adult. I never changed! Well, my elf ears have gotten less pointy, at least.<br /><br />And here's the grand finale! Alex's Random Lunch from 2006. It's a classic, what can I say.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz9H9vvDDPgERC1p6Z1tQSMkNraoSPT9D1rh5oZbfViNp9TNkfmCmsEQHkSvRsbRY3iop7uquobkkcoEyTU2g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mackenzie's Momma --</span> Thanks! And I can't wait to see the pictures of the Alpine kids. :)<br /></div></div></div></div>Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-224232818813491452010-05-18T11:04:00.000-07:002010-05-18T12:18:54.748-07:00Spring Cleaning... Animal StyleThese pictures are from a week or so ago because my camera recently fell and caught the "lens error" disease. I don't know if it's worth the money it will cost to send it in for repair or if I should just buy a new one, but in the meantime, I have no camera. I'll either have to steal pictures from my sis or post about old stuff.<br /><br />Anyway, here are some pictures of Toot and Chee getting their baths and spring trims in an attempt to stop them from picking up pickers in their fur. Chee Chee has already had several burrow into his skin. :(<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5DPEH-OlO5KzZC1UZIs3zJ9TBuMHF8XaxJUqlhoYAvIIThTKvmAMJgNehadcLk_gse_oE6aAR2EBmZbpvTThKF1ki1L3tdToROOckyyi19REV3ozhrJxRtbTMN2uIiAzd69zrRHFb5nw/s1600/IMG_3842.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5DPEH-OlO5KzZC1UZIs3zJ9TBuMHF8XaxJUqlhoYAvIIThTKvmAMJgNehadcLk_gse_oE6aAR2EBmZbpvTThKF1ki1L3tdToROOckyyi19REV3ozhrJxRtbTMN2uIiAzd69zrRHFb5nw/s400/IMG_3842.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472673669764434978" border="0" /></a>Teyla doesn't know what's about to happen...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnIfe7vQkCponMZ7RXA451FY47Z2XPE89tQJXzhYR35Xl-bY2SlE0RtyuuY7Y1V18HEOuOJd4f2RMqcPrgKzd3Ct2gcwbd53MmZPOkF3hhWDDkFoCttUPhWgGGkbSGSHIVt8ZvafP3AXi/s1600/IMG_3847.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnIfe7vQkCponMZ7RXA451FY47Z2XPE89tQJXzhYR35Xl-bY2SlE0RtyuuY7Y1V18HEOuOJd4f2RMqcPrgKzd3Ct2gcwbd53MmZPOkF3hhWDDkFoCttUPhWgGGkbSGSHIVt8ZvafP3AXi/s400/IMG_3847.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472673686015335218" border="0" /></a>Cheech senses that something's up...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJR2eJfrcvhj1Qh5SQdF2INvMiXDiJxwTbKkic_JGfdwfxHAkx850g01TCWBjSXe_4Kv8gVt2vBGuf4g8uOMBPJNheGQiZ8LIs63sKCXuJU2WFlIIZ_7oBurXcPDb_CF6GDw0hfkv9hscW/s1600/IMG_3850.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJR2eJfrcvhj1Qh5SQdF2INvMiXDiJxwTbKkic_JGfdwfxHAkx850g01TCWBjSXe_4Kv8gVt2vBGuf4g8uOMBPJNheGQiZ8LIs63sKCXuJU2WFlIIZ_7oBurXcPDb_CF6GDw0hfkv9hscW/s400/IMG_3850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472673693471868802" border="0" /></a>Getting much of his fluff shaved off<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkasFZ8y2jgyjoztUwVVGgA1Dk1N2w53liRhapnn6YTkwWyFDCJ-0yzs3N-UcphTc99BHHT7pGbiWMkF4xM9dtsAIaddguaxsFg5fZ4CyyTLUHfzNj4lsm1HpC60Wafi9G2w0BOiKxSgp/s1600/IMG_3854.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkasFZ8y2jgyjoztUwVVGgA1Dk1N2w53liRhapnn6YTkwWyFDCJ-0yzs3N-UcphTc99BHHT7pGbiWMkF4xM9dtsAIaddguaxsFg5fZ4CyyTLUHfzNj4lsm1HpC60Wafi9G2w0BOiKxSgp/s400/IMG_3854.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472673696222491346" border="0" /></a>Poor Toot being "tortured"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxACH4ShN0R9_Q2okcohSYjySi3PYBeOWCS0fjaYBZMElbWTDMQgV6zOPQIIcp1Idyz6f0xpdc3eujI2GyTcqCDGCy4hP0t3ntQni4iZ_L-LLJbh021Yya3TtuH7BY5ps2ib50xSqSyplL/s1600/IMG_3855.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxACH4ShN0R9_Q2okcohSYjySi3PYBeOWCS0fjaYBZMElbWTDMQgV6zOPQIIcp1Idyz6f0xpdc3eujI2GyTcqCDGCy4hP0t3ntQni4iZ_L-LLJbh021Yya3TtuH7BY5ps2ib50xSqSyplL/s400/IMG_3855.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472673708247080994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsZzZQZ1fM1qcILqTIVn86ed7ZUb4SLec5mWkiRcOaGUCZoKR9nR4GkeP4UHtY5h2kyM8jgYC9z10CFOgmyQYg5kEQ4QiRTlb5z6uYot3tM7DJMcrjyy90ZF5aID2pUFEIScC_e0qZRG2/s1600/IMG_3857.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsZzZQZ1fM1qcILqTIVn86ed7ZUb4SLec5mWkiRcOaGUCZoKR9nR4GkeP4UHtY5h2kyM8jgYC9z10CFOgmyQYg5kEQ4QiRTlb5z6uYot3tM7DJMcrjyy90ZF5aID2pUFEIScC_e0qZRG2/s400/IMG_3857.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472674125665836050" border="0" /></a>Drying off<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2FVsoQlu_c6Lqd1a7o8eZC9zt9HP9HWa9Uf1n9uXrf2S2M1vJzujxOieMBbXC_fgENEQZE_MRgYofmD3jvjghZSTGFAQiVgNnOHQX6q0xo402iASQ66GMOXQqBmkXQUQHkxKNguhdT2z/s1600/IMG_3858.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2FVsoQlu_c6Lqd1a7o8eZC9zt9HP9HWa9Uf1n9uXrf2S2M1vJzujxOieMBbXC_fgENEQZE_MRgYofmD3jvjghZSTGFAQiVgNnOHQX6q0xo402iASQ66GMOXQqBmkXQUQHkxKNguhdT2z/s400/IMG_3858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472674137581588258" border="0" /></a>Recovering. The poor thing was so distraught that when I'd give her a bone, she'd hold it in her mouth for a while then start to chew.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRpfT7iI704iaFVZ1OaQFJsZQzlub-dZLfkBsydylvNvD9XlsQfrvqyUHKe7oV_5JG3YiCF7lEaNn_pNLVmkNDYgY7ZtUhKwPpDSy4eAB39BcRo7bo96ualCdTzmuf71DeIgYEIOfferN/s1600/IMG_3862.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRpfT7iI704iaFVZ1OaQFJsZQzlub-dZLfkBsydylvNvD9XlsQfrvqyUHKe7oV_5JG3YiCF7lEaNn_pNLVmkNDYgY7ZtUhKwPpDSy4eAB39BcRo7bo96ualCdTzmuf71DeIgYEIOfferN/s400/IMG_3862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472674144574813346" border="0" /></a>As a lab/retriever, Cheech doesn't mind getting wet as much as Toot does<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4MLkJMUJDHzUGhyhHzVfIKnUznCHB6Rmn_Yub9N5ctuVmU32yvQ-IOVcc0s2DXbZwHaxS0F9A9W_myrdOUFlcoey5-9690Sx9j9cMfKOqHLLTfArJCkG3dvKI0iM7LAfX3g-Fb4eOTqz/s1600/IMG_3864.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4MLkJMUJDHzUGhyhHzVfIKnUznCHB6Rmn_Yub9N5ctuVmU32yvQ-IOVcc0s2DXbZwHaxS0F9A9W_myrdOUFlcoey5-9690Sx9j9cMfKOqHLLTfArJCkG3dvKI0iM7LAfX3g-Fb4eOTqz/s400/IMG_3864.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472674149010456674" border="0" /></a>Beautiful toesies<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8v59ToBp8ULWB5loGKLGj_DE9oYUB8pS1voHKcUbKUbfNPwlVDL1mQbpXKMxeSUaAGeo-pB4YOleRdHc_L-TF-YYbX6ujxA61IBi1AvmztLWSKHQYOgd5rhqas37mysOEjQ34V3kg_0Cb/s1600/IMG_3865.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8v59ToBp8ULWB5loGKLGj_DE9oYUB8pS1voHKcUbKUbfNPwlVDL1mQbpXKMxeSUaAGeo-pB4YOleRdHc_L-TF-YYbX6ujxA61IBi1AvmztLWSKHQYOgd5rhqas37mysOEjQ34V3kg_0Cb/s400/IMG_3865.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472674160025804962" border="0" /></a>Slowly recovering from the trauma. But at least her white fur was white again!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The grass is now turning yellow, despite our May rains, but just a week or two ago, it was greener and the goats and Sheepy were out enjoying it. Alex tries to get them out a few times a week, just for a change of scenery, but they're always happy to go back into their safe pen.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GQnBWAyjlHoleCzZEzp-k6F0C3ssOz0ZZly3wg10FYWBH1mEFknE4VL7m47JMyerpUAjE94u0xMQon_T28WJgj2rhIk7AbQSjy7flrrkATcGfi8AdO_1HFLwzk1Lf5DSHjYuQXhokoXo/s1600/IMG_3662.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GQnBWAyjlHoleCzZEzp-k6F0C3ssOz0ZZly3wg10FYWBH1mEFknE4VL7m47JMyerpUAjE94u0xMQon_T28WJgj2rhIk7AbQSjy7flrrkATcGfi8AdO_1HFLwzk1Lf5DSHjYuQXhokoXo/s400/IMG_3662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472681080647325330" border="0" /></a>Tumnus<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AV4AFYMQg3iqJWmxWB8fOfHKYk1J0cYV0rXrDJ9K2u2rTEpEuaMfom50LJuk3bEluvj0IbNbo2a97QcAZbg_-mtXk4X3Fw8oiGogRbBFVzeo4SW2pLYDoU9SGYW84BqrjFEETFG9ZRHo/s1600/IMG_3663.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AV4AFYMQg3iqJWmxWB8fOfHKYk1J0cYV0rXrDJ9K2u2rTEpEuaMfom50LJuk3bEluvj0IbNbo2a97QcAZbg_-mtXk4X3Fw8oiGogRbBFVzeo4SW2pLYDoU9SGYW84BqrjFEETFG9ZRHo/s400/IMG_3663.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472681086368654498" border="0" /></a>Patch poses<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuN9IGW6i6NYt2MWnVWjcx9x8vEsfp3qaKkVdKJnKENh7KeUrQxQUDOSXILjjn55xf3dzowMXzjfGoqUR-5_IdQG9rmkj95udVjNGYfcf8MFv0axuyoXktjzfmYNs2ywfKupJ7TNZAulB/s1600/IMG_3664.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuN9IGW6i6NYt2MWnVWjcx9x8vEsfp3qaKkVdKJnKENh7KeUrQxQUDOSXILjjn55xf3dzowMXzjfGoqUR-5_IdQG9rmkj95udVjNGYfcf8MFv0axuyoXktjzfmYNs2ywfKupJ7TNZAulB/s400/IMG_3664.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472681095813402450" border="0" /></a>Orangie. Don't let her innocent appearance fool you. She and Batilda Jr. escape the chicken run every day and waltz around the property like they own the place, digging up everything. What's worse, we get fly predators in the mail and sprinkle their eggs/flies on fresh horse poop because the predators eat the fly larvae and keep down the fly population. It's a natural way to control pests. But Orangie keeps coming along and eating the fly predators. I had a battle with her the other day and even Houdini helped me by blocking her off from reaching the poop. Then he got bored. Orangie won.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1T8HHL62pJLNjCqX_RXRKCjaaVQpXKT6wM0v2-shIA77grOeHRwwnolkUTxwEC9fiHOlDooD-uX_KRMV2pzJsdNN_nb5R_Vp2B6mX4EFrcepfcojk_SDvVE4yOKlKVd_LumnW4gjKMn8/s1600/IMG_3665.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1T8HHL62pJLNjCqX_RXRKCjaaVQpXKT6wM0v2-shIA77grOeHRwwnolkUTxwEC9fiHOlDooD-uX_KRMV2pzJsdNN_nb5R_Vp2B6mX4EFrcepfcojk_SDvVE4yOKlKVd_LumnW4gjKMn8/s400/IMG_3665.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472681106146187954" border="0" /></a>Sheepy<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOl8LuG9JPJQNvQR7JHsO7iWS8KTLDnSyErgVLhtGQcfwlkJ7P1yrdvNLgqoHdGUlsQrBY7ZY9tHZW4kEJjwzWCZtdvC2ii7ttQsnTNlUiFigWxoSb-7iSJw03peBplp5fBcjh3q_HdRY7/s1600/IMG_3669.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOl8LuG9JPJQNvQR7JHsO7iWS8KTLDnSyErgVLhtGQcfwlkJ7P1yrdvNLgqoHdGUlsQrBY7ZY9tHZW4kEJjwzWCZtdvC2ii7ttQsnTNlUiFigWxoSb-7iSJw03peBplp5fBcjh3q_HdRY7/s400/IMG_3669.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472681112260174114" border="0" /></a>Yes, she's fat and needs a shearing<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaRWW1FJwYDbkfEDcq8j85kNq_RCzH8rzne0xOTKVus_grcu3BTgaqXLpXzU1QvemVNyC0qmxFhBeWv3-ZOt-9qGqOSxaanH2xywwrc2qgjap5DWP8m2VEZHoHQEubg_A8RuE2L3OM3KO/s1600/IMG_3672.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaRWW1FJwYDbkfEDcq8j85kNq_RCzH8rzne0xOTKVus_grcu3BTgaqXLpXzU1QvemVNyC0qmxFhBeWv3-ZOt-9qGqOSxaanH2xywwrc2qgjap5DWP8m2VEZHoHQEubg_A8RuE2L3OM3KO/s400/IMG_3672.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472681802367885746" border="0" /></a>Peaceful for the moment. The goats and Sheepy tend to pick fights while grazing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2BXYYmrI7pHOs1sIcLF01ICjkGmNn86w5_BalxPT3EdFBwFadTB6ndIyc15y3CazUeW3mEm_lt7jVPjBszcxXAWvryO9byJIN-2Pynw8C86S3DgnTh6dH-i1pC9f54YO1B2jS4fz0JEY/s1600/IMG_3674.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2BXYYmrI7pHOs1sIcLF01ICjkGmNn86w5_BalxPT3EdFBwFadTB6ndIyc15y3CazUeW3mEm_lt7jVPjBszcxXAWvryO9byJIN-2Pynw8C86S3DgnTh6dH-i1pC9f54YO1B2jS4fz0JEY/s400/IMG_3674.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472681807064754354" border="0" /></a>Like this. Cora is about to butt Sheepy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqObLAXO01l5ZC68yLxVCyJ6QiNynJw3W4hXygoGVLeNyx5aMYPPe9XW83VczYwxwQ539GdqeakZ6VNfUYzI5Pj9TozR4JqXFs8hbvP-W1K0gf82wDodtcWNY1IJVesHjei1gbnh7owIJQ/s1600/IMG_3675.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqObLAXO01l5ZC68yLxVCyJ6QiNynJw3W4hXygoGVLeNyx5aMYPPe9XW83VczYwxwQ539GdqeakZ6VNfUYzI5Pj9TozR4JqXFs8hbvP-W1K0gf82wDodtcWNY1IJVesHjei1gbnh7owIJQ/s400/IMG_3675.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472681816570074322" border="0" /></a>Cora's hackles are still up!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_wXHErb0vtLWM29k_uf-bjyYELKY95Cle_2TTENDXZWeRFsyCgrLleF-NpHAhTn84UES1MLE4KeKBzGfUzAZRe5Rf9vT2gnGoB97CD7VzM4XdKF9U0uxFH5Ngu9J8zYUdy-PgoRfus-m/s1600/IMG_3677.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_wXHErb0vtLWM29k_uf-bjyYELKY95Cle_2TTENDXZWeRFsyCgrLleF-NpHAhTn84UES1MLE4KeKBzGfUzAZRe5Rf9vT2gnGoB97CD7VzM4XdKF9U0uxFH5Ngu9J8zYUdy-PgoRfus-m/s400/IMG_3677.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472681823557942546" border="0" /></a>Beautiful Patch (Cora's daughter and Tumnus' niece who is older than him)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JuCc5oy4s0K2YqedeCGsiNlRszteAKRMBtSLqQOz_pOr0R2uDxfDt-_VJeq5OAAknnxxGqoPg6ZRoiqlcyjCIYhqBnm5MfZGLSIYF5as0Zv8GPq1cusuLqPuO1uDjZ_tRnMhZb4jcZF8/s1600/IMG_3682.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JuCc5oy4s0K2YqedeCGsiNlRszteAKRMBtSLqQOz_pOr0R2uDxfDt-_VJeq5OAAknnxxGqoPg6ZRoiqlcyjCIYhqBnm5MfZGLSIYF5as0Zv8GPq1cusuLqPuO1uDjZ_tRnMhZb4jcZF8/s400/IMG_3682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472681830362857378" border="0" /></a>Run, Tummy, run!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dywugsMPs8-mazRu62q6pPEgC3Wr8j4KmK8Q00a_vxMIy5d6yygii2rd28h-XIZAM_nKf_9xF1uwa73pO_TRA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSAfUivBv2_4UO7ufD-jYpdTOTK7kSQiL_Ua8Y1ct1cxEEWSe07rdJSLqmtX0jrffJYclbfVVLuGRGtEDQqy0fecrnsUbOXSHDmb22JZVS71nqQe1NV-GsQi2lRGt0nthX1fsuy6Eyn-u/s1600/IMG_3689.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSAfUivBv2_4UO7ufD-jYpdTOTK7kSQiL_Ua8Y1ct1cxEEWSe07rdJSLqmtX0jrffJYclbfVVLuGRGtEDQqy0fecrnsUbOXSHDmb22JZVS71nqQe1NV-GsQi2lRGt0nthX1fsuy6Eyn-u/s400/IMG_3689.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472682621024383330" border="0" /></a>Yum<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mtcujnugyTd-9VlbBTzurNXn-fwkSgPEuGuff8ZFHYNvtrSW1cshEU7ozXpt3DWLHOfm2TvLokWqxslESI-Q_QdYAHtqbz2QmODycXN9ns73r__3dwoPWIzisAKAXuRQPivsVifeAWsE/s1600/IMG_3691.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mtcujnugyTd-9VlbBTzurNXn-fwkSgPEuGuff8ZFHYNvtrSW1cshEU7ozXpt3DWLHOfm2TvLokWqxslESI-Q_QdYAHtqbz2QmODycXN9ns73r__3dwoPWIzisAKAXuRQPivsVifeAWsE/s400/IMG_3691.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472682625639693170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZZ8sX4_3ZeuMCSZ_xbTiyIcRXl8PjhLhDDbNO5bNE66-f8Lk15IJP_BErL4eF5ED7EKO9lULmeQByyW663RjF8sTOSbD6SGzzcur2AsN_JgUPBFdmofT3oorBdyDri4-lmM9qzI5gVQb/s1600/IMG_3696.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZZ8sX4_3ZeuMCSZ_xbTiyIcRXl8PjhLhDDbNO5bNE66-f8Lk15IJP_BErL4eF5ED7EKO9lULmeQByyW663RjF8sTOSbD6SGzzcur2AsN_JgUPBFdmofT3oorBdyDri4-lmM9qzI5gVQb/s400/IMG_3696.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472682634211308802" border="0" /></a>Tumnus in technicolor!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXJB64cx0Si82LoSZXeJlB_h7I9snnPJR4pHV4C5CZ-EUjNpJatu73eQDbGQZbrdYKwX5yrhIRftw1KYvQx56LiUJ1ins8r6H2TW_i10nD1iOFjzJ_SFruqqJVHnrBfeOebtQ8bPvlxZP/s1600/IMG_3699.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXJB64cx0Si82LoSZXeJlB_h7I9snnPJR4pHV4C5CZ-EUjNpJatu73eQDbGQZbrdYKwX5yrhIRftw1KYvQx56LiUJ1ins8r6H2TW_i10nD1iOFjzJ_SFruqqJVHnrBfeOebtQ8bPvlxZP/s400/IMG_3699.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472682643682183298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqQ4EGSbhYleTKzgCopeSxFoBNQgoiPxDBPDz3VYpAV-qjknZHb2w5bHbJCkE36QvqmpCBFY1lX24Vpi0wQD5Tf_YiqWfAobPXHDsULAgLncHCH-Md5Pz88x4ogOqraWSYwbA2jMykCo_/s1600/IMG_3700.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqQ4EGSbhYleTKzgCopeSxFoBNQgoiPxDBPDz3VYpAV-qjknZHb2w5bHbJCkE36QvqmpCBFY1lX24Vpi0wQD5Tf_YiqWfAobPXHDsULAgLncHCH-Md5Pz88x4ogOqraWSYwbA2jMykCo_/s400/IMG_3700.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472682654041019506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyWQPJSwkqDtAaCvOqPxCqregoglGlmjV7MIBXYqVUYhsqOlT38a6E-otMzBS1O3AhkR0gGAPxQj86tCef6JFSGA5HxYKclNa3SAQ7y0XtVamvBeJX6LqdEC6e7xScO_Wryb_0bM_WMQ2/s1600/IMG_3717.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyWQPJSwkqDtAaCvOqPxCqregoglGlmjV7MIBXYqVUYhsqOlT38a6E-otMzBS1O3AhkR0gGAPxQj86tCef6JFSGA5HxYKclNa3SAQ7y0XtVamvBeJX6LqdEC6e7xScO_Wryb_0bM_WMQ2/s400/IMG_3717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472683079178393778" border="0" /></a>Beautiful Cora. You can see why she was a grand champion like her momma, Banana!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qnBlLczHMONK4lhyphenhyphenjPdi0LBw3RWw5epFqe5_DHBGUcOI-C6D3MoQgR9d5CBGFLd0eeRnXtoz2jlUrMiiISpI7OamGqv6p8mn4QKoJKo5we7dDiFMBjIlKpSSUhSKsVeewIksIIC_whQE/s1600/IMG_3718.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qnBlLczHMONK4lhyphenhyphenjPdi0LBw3RWw5epFqe5_DHBGUcOI-C6D3MoQgR9d5CBGFLd0eeRnXtoz2jlUrMiiISpI7OamGqv6p8mn4QKoJKo5we7dDiFMBjIlKpSSUhSKsVeewIksIIC_whQE/s400/IMG_3718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472683086545057106" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzXOZKFLXyeKTAVVT0vECFFqTeeftn5Xs6ZTGdOMmrO8Mfp14EtU7vCcy4Nw_wcUP9MvQCnrQqTIlnGmD15nQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />Houdini and Sparrow now have access to Mickey's stall. Houdini spent a lot of time bucking and prancing about with excitement, then bit everything (he's never lived in a wooden structure). The novelty has since worn off, but sometimes when Sparrow is in the stall and he can't see her, he whinnies and bolts, looking for her. I worry it's because after Mickey died, Dini often stared at his stall (he couldn't see inside), waiting for him to come out. But he never did. During these anxious bouts, Houdini skids to a halt a few centimeters from the door. A true quarter horse. And a total momma's boy.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOThPlOuM44N5nqUPt0l4_5iPXCjobe7pEIvzm6ioa5rUhOe_62U64yomqCgYvMcB0RPt8NpNYOdJcUbVglFdJ8Mm0tP8ApW89zOFf1GFMXXT07Lxbp3i_HxlUhZDMc3VbPJdTF8B7as6/s1600/IMG_3724.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOThPlOuM44N5nqUPt0l4_5iPXCjobe7pEIvzm6ioa5rUhOe_62U64yomqCgYvMcB0RPt8NpNYOdJcUbVglFdJ8Mm0tP8ApW89zOFf1GFMXXT07Lxbp3i_HxlUhZDMc3VbPJdTF8B7as6/s400/IMG_3724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472683089521155634" border="0" /></a>Houdini looks like a hippo!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The vet came out yesterday to give Houdini and Sparrow their vaccinations and she said that they were both healthy. Sparrow is getting up there in age and has bad arthritis, but she loves to compete. The vet gave us some new medication to try, but was amazed at how sound she was despite her age and injuries. I think it's because of her spirit. She is a horse in the same make of <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruffian_%28horse%29">Ruffian</a>. She wouldn't show pain until it incapacitated her.<br /><br />Houdini had a bad bout of sand colic when he was one or two. He rolled so much that his colon flipped over. He almost died and had to get emergency surgery and stay in a horse hospital for 2 weeks. Ever since, he has been terrified of vets and women in hats. So having the vet visit is always an ordeal that involves much kicking and thrashing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Dini checks out the smoothness of a trash can lid<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzkPkyIYHqFUZ2CUgxve0bq426dyAC6538-kgg6Wip1GCRtDZOTe7vYGK_whYSXdN8MHhUXvj_cC9OAzJWKzQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />Yesterday, Sparrow was sedated a little so that her vaccinations would be more comfortable. Houdini was snacking on grass hay at the time, but while the vet was showing my mom how to inject her new medicine into her neck, Houdini noticed something was up and started smacking Sparrow with his head, trying to get her to react. Since she was sedated, she didn't. Worried, he trotted into the next stall and nickered as he touched her nose with his.<br /><br />She barely responded and he began to grow anxious. Of course, by then it was his turn, so all the vet had to do was enter the stall with him for Houdini to become a firefoot. Luckily, the vet handed my mom the sedative then backed off, and while I held Sparrow nearby (in an attempt to keep him calm) , my mom quickly gave him the injection. After 15 minutes, his head and lips were hanging, the poor goof. The rest of his exam went well, and while I was worried he was fat, the vet scored him at a 5 (with 10 being obese) and said she couldn't hear any sand in his gut. That's a great relief given how big his tummy is and that we live in the sand and he's a fricking vacuum cleaner.<br /></div></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mackenzie's Momma --</span> Your neighbor's dog sounds so cute! I should've guessed that you guys would also be the hangout for loose animals in the area. ;) And oh no! Yes, you must e-mail me the story. Do I need to beat someone up for you?Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-65968623493217087002010-05-17T17:54:00.001-07:002010-05-17T18:27:08.125-07:00Visitor!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3a0RHEPMDELsfVZedyle3XHyYO32Zb_g2RNQkLYO2ZI520QzThD_IeKtajZFlQONqTT7j283tUWHq04u6zX0xI9eVstjNRskSauVzGrDkEeOGo-Sia9nEXU36v6HAlEffrmZeSLW9Xmy/s1600/IMG_3601.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEiS5wA5sPKDl6LMaqtXZlPoGwRA9gb0yd3ZCGFqlOMxI1VLBLtOkEGiK5RW7q6DQ4HfMBYkKpfyrEXXAnRTjgzgh3FmjLWMlcvKgZ-0cKBPeD8Qzts5_gBMVhqnmQ20KEaNgtD09fnHY/s1600/IMG_3599.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEiS5wA5sPKDl6LMaqtXZlPoGwRA9gb0yd3ZCGFqlOMxI1VLBLtOkEGiK5RW7q6DQ4HfMBYkKpfyrEXXAnRTjgzgh3FmjLWMlcvKgZ-0cKBPeD8Qzts5_gBMVhqnmQ20KEaNgtD09fnHY/s400/IMG_3599.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472407468056715698" border="0" /></a>A handsome young man came to call<br /></div><br />Last week, while playing my ukulele, I paused to let my hand rest and heard panting outside. I looked out my window to see who I assumed was Chee Chee, looking sleek after his trim, only to see Chee Chee following... a stranger.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8YjJeo2Gp8IM3OwCcmHyNBr82qnl9r4B4XdwQd3F6GmYIE_GFXo7oycd19E3ep2GxWHPaV2Hc-1_U7NDUwW7yI_XJlB90Wly5aCezdEqCCj1ucUGX9V7aDuNRBLOZyS2_UQnit636mjh/s1600/IMG_3600.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8YjJeo2Gp8IM3OwCcmHyNBr82qnl9r4B4XdwQd3F6GmYIE_GFXo7oycd19E3ep2GxWHPaV2Hc-1_U7NDUwW7yI_XJlB90Wly5aCezdEqCCj1ucUGX9V7aDuNRBLOZyS2_UQnit636mjh/s400/IMG_3600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472407476651927842" border="0" /></a>Beau<br /></div><br />A handsome young man had come to visit! Well, actually he was lost and we had to walk him around for a while to find his owner looking for him (it turned out that he belonged to a family whose child is friends with the kids I used to nanny -- my neighbors). At first his identity was quite the mystery since he was un-neutered, had no collar, and was wet. We wondered if he'd crossed the river, which would be very brave this time of year! As you can tell from the video, my grandma also confused him for Comanche at first.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz_81IJj-4VxFaocTm8FA5b36wC9Ho0otvo3tIWrkPYmAVkk-Pi5camxOaKb8Xxmyzdbb7-CDALiGsYC72C8w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /></div>Chee Chee tried to play with Beau for a while, but once Beau was on a leash, he kept jumping at Alex, trying to play with the lead, and Cheech got defensive and kept nipping at Beau's flanks, so we wound up having to lock Chee Chee up while our new friend visited. Teyla has anxiety issues with new people and dogs, so she stayed in the house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3a0RHEPMDELsfVZedyle3XHyYO32Zb_g2RNQkLYO2ZI520QzThD_IeKtajZFlQONqTT7j283tUWHq04u6zX0xI9eVstjNRskSauVzGrDkEeOGo-Sia9nEXU36v6HAlEffrmZeSLW9Xmy/s1600/IMG_3601.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3a0RHEPMDELsfVZedyle3XHyYO32Zb_g2RNQkLYO2ZI520QzThD_IeKtajZFlQONqTT7j283tUWHq04u6zX0xI9eVstjNRskSauVzGrDkEeOGo-Sia9nEXU36v6HAlEffrmZeSLW9Xmy/s400/IMG_3601.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472407487033698866" border="0" /></a><br />Maybe it's the fact that we have a menagerie, or maybe it's the energy we exert, but when local animals go missing, they quite often find their way to our house. We're always as accommodating as possible, and have even kept a few horses overnight when they showed up after dark. I always love it when we get to meet new visitors, like Beau.<br /><br />His owners had raised and trained a search and rescue dog before him, but the dog died from cancer when he was only 5. So when they got Beau, they decided to use him as a breeding dog, though they're thinking twice since he keeps escaping and... peeing on everything in sight.<br /><br />Here are two random clips and my thoughts:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund</span><br /><br />This seriously has to be one of the most awkward PSAs ever. I don't have much admiration for either men, but I love how Bush looks like he's just waiting and waiting to get to say his one line.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzyQag24_uiaAlvIDlaSS1aRnHq1t9gNtqsYvBrH51J1I7bHT5GTcNqznS6D5pHulQ822yFrY9tBRgfCNNHyw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. The Mentalist Dancing</span><br /><br />It's the Mentalist. And he's dancing.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwqhjAIrqc-qlno77VQUxUA3mAvYqIPOhhl7z1rxBGZDj4e1CDPcCfDSOMiGAbZKp8RgLSuJFO4j3qSoyPt_w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Toot and the Big Stick</span><br /><br />Trying to convince Teyla to carry a big stick. We're mean big sisters.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwfP5bXDkOW5NVZgF0rt-xyfEyMI9V_nsuz4S9AT_k7yUUz5KPv8hVDELLAZfTcJE7XeNRj2yEXOQTxpDqEwg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mackenzie's Momma --</span> Many thank yous, sweetie! I love that dress. I got it off e-bay for around $20, and given that it's a Tripp dress, it would be sold at Hot Topic for at least $40. Did you ever make it to Vancouver???<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ashley --</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Merci</span>! You know I love you blog. :) Thank you for your comments and for your condolences. You're so sweet. Give MissL a kiss for me!<br /><br />And <span style="font-weight: bold;">Traci</span>... I promise some Tumnus pictures in my next post!Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-91831138898931519132010-05-13T16:12:00.001-07:002010-05-13T17:33:44.719-07:00BEA 2010This is old news to all of you who are my Facebook friends, but to those who aren't, here it is! I spent April 15-17th in Las Vegas with my mom and sister. We left the day after Mickey died, and at one point we hit some turbulence and I realized that the thought of crashing and dying wasn't so bad, especially if it meant that I could see Mickey again. Alex and I still have hair from his tail tied around our wrists as bracelets.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzaj79o6guP1H-d4u_Yzwz6JzMeLa6jvqG7vO_HLh4Wk1iFCuyd1C9SI7gGW-LZdn8ngHZMEnHTgXdS4SstWKL60uL7poaf2eCJZMLwFAQR_koo4HTCeopImwRObNLBwQUpM0m_uPMq2R/s1600/IMG_2658.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzaj79o6guP1H-d4u_Yzwz6JzMeLa6jvqG7vO_HLh4Wk1iFCuyd1C9SI7gGW-LZdn8ngHZMEnHTgXdS4SstWKL60uL7poaf2eCJZMLwFAQR_koo4HTCeopImwRObNLBwQUpM0m_uPMq2R/s400/IMG_2658.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470902230652699842" border="0" /></a>Waiting to board. I guess I was worried Alex would steal my sushi.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NROL6IQ4ggZ_ljZkb2doKW0Taq6Bnq2qcjwb3XA57CruEwTSlyQbbqo0LhsUXUig8N3xz2jTjkoMWzHepkpyM3asJQmj5Qix0F0NKFqH1IgxhkRilt265g4mznP0Go-RM13MDsB_0Ahe/s1600/IMG_2688.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NROL6IQ4ggZ_ljZkb2doKW0Taq6Bnq2qcjwb3XA57CruEwTSlyQbbqo0LhsUXUig8N3xz2jTjkoMWzHepkpyM3asJQmj5Qix0F0NKFqH1IgxhkRilt265g4mznP0Go-RM13MDsB_0Ahe/s400/IMG_2688.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470902237063352786" border="0" /></a>Lots of rain for us = lots of snow in the Sierras!<br /><br /></div>We stayed at the Las Vegas Hilton, which was lovely except for the rude neighbors we had each night. A group of women came into the room next to ours on the first night and one kept screaming for no reason. They went out at midnight and returned at 3am, sounding pretty drunk. So when we were up early the next morning, Alex and I made sure to shout at each other as we got ready, hoping to return the courtesy our neighbors had shown us the night before.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGXMwhRo0xD9sQ28cycrMrHNyGfggrVUt3HTlYRS_X4TOpFOMpJ-gvtBDXMJPAUYEjldeHNM4jIOyrKJQs1Vj1cBA6yuF2FAROmywelmP0IITi9pA17-GrIJMRcnAQp0pGVjQDdV6r_ZL/s1600/IMG_3483.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGXMwhRo0xD9sQ28cycrMrHNyGfggrVUt3HTlYRS_X4TOpFOMpJ-gvtBDXMJPAUYEjldeHNM4jIOyrKJQs1Vj1cBA6yuF2FAROmywelmP0IITi9pA17-GrIJMRcnAQp0pGVjQDdV6r_ZL/s400/IMG_3483.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470902223624167474" border="0" /></a>The Hilton hotel. We stayed on the 28th floor!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR91WZTBVnibPnC9C5ZkYlUywvrDPbRBUd5MFgINa0XOA0XCKF1FNAB2039p89sYYqS0U3F-JK-w4IOQ1q74bfN-Cszmq0f3fu213lRaACOH6s8PiyWtPsuAMBTY-a3nwiUUnheNJ5JYsc/s1600/IMG_3464.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR91WZTBVnibPnC9C5ZkYlUywvrDPbRBUd5MFgINa0XOA0XCKF1FNAB2039p89sYYqS0U3F-JK-w4IOQ1q74bfN-Cszmq0f3fu213lRaACOH6s8PiyWtPsuAMBTY-a3nwiUUnheNJ5JYsc/s400/IMG_3464.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470901561941624658" border="0" /></a>Never-ending art deco hallways! And a ghost on the lower left.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTztR-irlNO3L7ID3_j5bT7ZpP4n7ulkWGsWwUUgHWscRLaVbsZCVHPpD-A4Q7znoyC6MLrdjdfXTGwg5wkwbGvQnMRAsCgGfZ1WDUZMtdjrNU6Av_lsBdBwCJJpEPz4TY2ad4QtxMPop/s1600/IMG_2779.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTztR-irlNO3L7ID3_j5bT7ZpP4n7ulkWGsWwUUgHWscRLaVbsZCVHPpD-A4Q7znoyC6MLrdjdfXTGwg5wkwbGvQnMRAsCgGfZ1WDUZMtdjrNU6Av_lsBdBwCJJpEPz4TY2ad4QtxMPop/s400/IMG_2779.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470902935802100610" border="0" /></a>Staying entertained<br /></div><br />On the second night, a group of young men were on the floor above us, shouting "We're in Vegas, whooo!" at the top of their lungs, over and over. I felt like shouting, "No shit, I'm in Vegas, too!" back.<br /><br />Aside from the onslaught of noise, slot machines and cigarette smoke, the trip was a nice distraction from our grief. On the first day, we did a little sight-seeing and took Alex into the Venetian. Alex and I had our first sampling of tiramisu there!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-uaHjlqk6ByU-DAMN3SzUb_I1q96444BIxqBjmiHx_d8UUzMUaYzB9J7Isfv_ACNi5RJC427LPeL6U07GvLvHwlXeYRju9ZWzdQR6t6DZQIK8-vu28JbzawLUb9Ebp2vv4-Kna09008E/s1600/IMG_2722.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-uaHjlqk6ByU-DAMN3SzUb_I1q96444BIxqBjmiHx_d8UUzMUaYzB9J7Isfv_ACNi5RJC427LPeL6U07GvLvHwlXeYRju9ZWzdQR6t6DZQIK8-vu28JbzawLUb9Ebp2vv4-Kna09008E/s400/IMG_2722.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470902254795053762" border="0" /></a>The outside<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6s9lGF_H27QQ0_B1s-okUREnZMWbI5maxZPUgzmzftGkmeke36XzOnm_Vz4DqgwTCUJsTjeKc850Htm8NQgs9WPdQYyP8jmODaxta8kvi8_ZY7mElWjGScQRAvUk1t1pQRU2U_VQhEc0p/s1600/IMG_2720.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6s9lGF_H27QQ0_B1s-okUREnZMWbI5maxZPUgzmzftGkmeke36XzOnm_Vz4DqgwTCUJsTjeKc850Htm8NQgs9WPdQYyP8jmODaxta8kvi8_ZY7mElWjGScQRAvUk1t1pQRU2U_VQhEc0p/s400/IMG_2720.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470902243900234706" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwtlJYL6kg5VlRk5iWv4WUdywr2zuXQ5du71O_6KIKop_TLlQwAn9Pf4AvLj6yBrkBcKA4B2KwLlfbbVII7rpAHukFrpw6-XNwCiljWjfwE9MhaYqgkB46CPCOryjPiXE0kQ1k2dy9lAx/s1600/IMG_2729.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwtlJYL6kg5VlRk5iWv4WUdywr2zuXQ5du71O_6KIKop_TLlQwAn9Pf4AvLj6yBrkBcKA4B2KwLlfbbVII7rpAHukFrpw6-XNwCiljWjfwE9MhaYqgkB46CPCOryjPiXE0kQ1k2dy9lAx/s400/IMG_2729.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470902906478572866" border="0" /></a>The fake sky is welcoming<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhh8xz18nS-xk-gO9M_4x2HBhfCGLzSGqht3-PK6XEX22qYYt5n9pr8Ek_9nSla_Sv75QpPCdA2iQVF9WO5VUmsPsyUKRRI38CgNrNO-snYY1lupwlvQpc5q9gmuYgiOGUSmxb3T_PzTP/s1600/IMG_2725.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhh8xz18nS-xk-gO9M_4x2HBhfCGLzSGqht3-PK6XEX22qYYt5n9pr8Ek_9nSla_Sv75QpPCdA2iQVF9WO5VUmsPsyUKRRI38CgNrNO-snYY1lupwlvQpc5q9gmuYgiOGUSmxb3T_PzTP/s400/IMG_2725.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470902902588925762" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71Mgyizsy8tb4gEJUO93YPzI28Ug8wcuQXngQv4VxNl8UTuNT1bpd0qTsK2q_G9RMlRubE63K8xfwlqSZBbFxFbn9cEdTwq30ue6kAgH2ChLstXfFuJvhS-GQIlsQKVvZhdKYznakw7mm/s1600/IMG_2734.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71Mgyizsy8tb4gEJUO93YPzI28Ug8wcuQXngQv4VxNl8UTuNT1bpd0qTsK2q_G9RMlRubE63K8xfwlqSZBbFxFbn9cEdTwq30ue6kAgH2ChLstXfFuJvhS-GQIlsQKVvZhdKYznakw7mm/s400/IMG_2734.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470902924579615090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8ntKDIdY1mq8ND0dQ2C_GblIYFoggubKhwbG5yjcY5y0gZ8IiziPqkLci4LGnLNyAOUUhqY24qSuFupVNuWsphE4Cb_bAddxQuyv9B4tlyxWsmORKJ1VbFxIH8WhxPNrm26ADClvJqmq/s1600/IMG_2732.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8ntKDIdY1mq8ND0dQ2C_GblIYFoggubKhwbG5yjcY5y0gZ8IiziPqkLci4LGnLNyAOUUhqY24qSuFupVNuWsphE4Cb_bAddxQuyv9B4tlyxWsmORKJ1VbFxIH8WhxPNrm26ADClvJqmq/s400/IMG_2732.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470902915296235474" border="0" /></a>Tiramisu! Or at least tiramisu custard.<br /><br />The river running through the hotel, complete with gondola rides. The boatmen sing live opera!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxBPRItOlCUV9bWo3iZN2Yf8lGVWowzi-FQfKOcbMDhOhGLWbOiRW-LcywJdPtmgAW0LVji9ZD27yYoCk6mlA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />Friday afternoon, I accepted my award for Best Feature Screenplay, after which I pitched to two industry professionals, who I later found out are friends with the agent I've been working with.<br /><br />Check out how fancy Alex and my mom were able to pin up my braids.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqr27o0eh0AnRrV4TtNS3ZrxpCVEmF4B_9ToKud7Jb-asFiRvHvBMnDVMIeNkzN5Wo1_Tzt0gztgTM9sHqk5RZhNjcYPwKcGFLPUh2uDoBSEl7HH2Lb11QZcyEbqbeQqA4hdfnEn4fsoe/s1600/IMG_2796.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqr27o0eh0AnRrV4TtNS3ZrxpCVEmF4B_9ToKud7Jb-asFiRvHvBMnDVMIeNkzN5Wo1_Tzt0gztgTM9sHqk5RZhNjcYPwKcGFLPUh2uDoBSEl7HH2Lb11QZcyEbqbeQqA4hdfnEn4fsoe/s400/IMG_2796.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470916498471288530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckivDKAWCAsrCZtiyw-A5G4whI4KIG-XFp64vPlnfgIPMDlFvgqHmTIvyHOutmfwYj2sX9WT6hfQJyWLFoDhvR6cW7kkQrLHy6UCbRNrPpUP3UTpGtydwonMQ9SZEoupr5-We-w8U9kaq/s1600/IMG_2795.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckivDKAWCAsrCZtiyw-A5G4whI4KIG-XFp64vPlnfgIPMDlFvgqHmTIvyHOutmfwYj2sX9WT6hfQJyWLFoDhvR6cW7kkQrLHy6UCbRNrPpUP3UTpGtydwonMQ9SZEoupr5-We-w8U9kaq/s400/IMG_2795.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470916488675848498" border="0" /></a>The pitch went much better than the pitch I did<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://moldypumpkin.blogspot.com/2009/04/las-vegas.html">last year</a> when the woman I was pitching to stated that no one would see my movie because it has a female protagonist and the hit movie in America at the time was Miley Cyrus because she's "what America wants." "But Miley Cyrus is a girl," I said, and then a vein bulged in her forehead and she nearly spit as she lectured me about "never talking back in a pitch!" In front of an audience, too. And here I thought that bringing up valid points was called a conversation.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsrADd47PoXpLF-pv3VnRx7XnC_UN9ERrZklX32_-95qwF0zpfWwrM11gxclnPOOxM3dTERAPA4awCRvvARiiZPLuH91EUlv8R0ElVBD8TU751zWh-YSZV-yvLlsBZMxNcWd89GVZrDNl/s1600/IMG_2803.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsrADd47PoXpLF-pv3VnRx7XnC_UN9ERrZklX32_-95qwF0zpfWwrM11gxclnPOOxM3dTERAPA4awCRvvARiiZPLuH91EUlv8R0ElVBD8TU751zWh-YSZV-yvLlsBZMxNcWd89GVZrDNl/s400/IMG_2803.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470903408048488354" border="0" /></a>This time around, they look afraid of me<br /></div><br />Anyway, check out a little funny snippet where I stuttered about before answering a question:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyYJBgvwFoSk3lNkFv7Q07wOaOioXP9JlJTddk5ALgE_9ssS51so0qdCziAwWFMTcBTj4QywnnDTE0MfYo5ag' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />After the awards ceremony, we got a quick lunch of brownie and lemon bar, then headed to the big event of the night: the Best of Festival Awards. They played a video to introduce the winner and her/his material before they called her/him up, and for my video, they used drawings that Ajla has done. We're collaborating on turning my winning script, <span style="font-style: italic;">Daughters of the Wind</span>, into a graphic novel. Her art is amazing. Here's the video they showed before I accepted my award. It was made by the talented April Vickers.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11255132&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11255132&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="225" width="400"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/11255132">BEA Student Scriptwriting Winner</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/apriljoyvickers">April Vickers</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><div style="text-align: left;">I was so blown away and pleased by April's hard work! It was also wonderful because lovely Ajla and her chivalrous younger brother got to attend the ceremony and see her work on the big screen. Something that made her crack up. Here is a video one of my professors made while I was there. At the end, you can hear my little acceptance speech.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Ignore my goofy expressions. It was filmed with a wide-angle camera which meant that it was literally just a few inches from my face the whole time.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eRyKjTswowM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eRyKjTswowM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /></div><br />Being emotionally exhausted/numb proved to benefit me while "performing." I wasn't very nervous throughout my pitch, which is uncharacteristic, and I'd been through so much drama recently that I didn't really care if I totally screwed up because it couldn't be worse than what I'd been through. Though at the end of that acceptance speech, I almost cried and had to hurry off the stage.<br /><br />After the ceremonies, they had us pose for professional photographs. I hope I get copies, because the ones we took turned out, well...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBqJEKf1HKMmjYOBtXYxMEkQoSBDQjSf8wQqwKtJfbWk0eL-d1kf66ScQl7BBxJib5tgyp9Grrh5V6slJZiZicrSaGCDe0zKtyp1wkKqQYOBvXstb3jCHAKBSD1RKnnzn0YM4sVo_RHCG/s1600/IMG_3456.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBqJEKf1HKMmjYOBtXYxMEkQoSBDQjSf8wQqwKtJfbWk0eL-d1kf66ScQl7BBxJib5tgyp9Grrh5V6slJZiZicrSaGCDe0zKtyp1wkKqQYOBvXstb3jCHAKBSD1RKnnzn0YM4sVo_RHCG/s400/IMG_3456.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470901532969866290" border="0" /></a>...Like we'd been sucking lemons.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlDvddNaCAS1OQkE1dovBtfXrSQ4T9tMVnei0qbzo3zQ06QLarunLG6GQClEUEpUJhdfY01BpX7pDJD9rjISZYqznPuc4HjrayY43QpsF2tGg3VKSOvT04oZWErBQ8G5BEGgyUf_wsYEw/s1600/IMG_3463.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlDvddNaCAS1OQkE1dovBtfXrSQ4T9tMVnei0qbzo3zQ06QLarunLG6GQClEUEpUJhdfY01BpX7pDJD9rjISZYqznPuc4HjrayY43QpsF2tGg3VKSOvT04oZWErBQ8G5BEGgyUf_wsYEw/s400/IMG_3463.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470910857945960882" border="0" /></a>Pretending to be a politician. I was gonna pretend to be Hitler then realized that might not go over so well. Even if I was making fun of him.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC79ZIUReHDEYVHbVbk0MVLo0dpTg4B0FkwYLr65wMt-S5QU1NuZBcfnz67Y-v0Wkt9qyXbiyYxxf1XxB63R6l4HRUYmhAYAmdvDpkTFldzxYhyClZOPk4IKHI3cpcb5G0Y0p_s3m2wN6/s1600/IMG_3462.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC79ZIUReHDEYVHbVbk0MVLo0dpTg4B0FkwYLr65wMt-S5QU1NuZBcfnz67Y-v0Wkt9qyXbiyYxxf1XxB63R6l4HRUYmhAYAmdvDpkTFldzxYhyClZOPk4IKHI3cpcb5G0Y0p_s3m2wN6/s400/IMG_3462.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470901554046979378" border="0" /></a>With my beautiful sister and mommy<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73De00A7yjR5lCi8g_rfyz09BcAlNICS7XzHhTCYDLWbUOyPmTQGIU45fNk53lHSUKSHZYL4ZkSbpIstgflQHkiORmzsqZH2VYqec7kJm1YB7fo-pKM7FtV-Ra9WXhm1N_0n5e-TagrF9/s1600/IMG_3460.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73De00A7yjR5lCi8g_rfyz09BcAlNICS7XzHhTCYDLWbUOyPmTQGIU45fNk53lHSUKSHZYL4ZkSbpIstgflQHkiORmzsqZH2VYqec7kJm1YB7fo-pKM7FtV-Ra9WXhm1N_0n5e-TagrF9/s400/IMG_3460.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470901547056548066" border="0" /></a>With Ajla, my "online girlfriend."<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBqJEKf1HKMmjYOBtXYxMEkQoSBDQjSf8wQqwKtJfbWk0eL-d1kf66ScQl7BBxJib5tgyp9Grrh5V6slJZiZicrSaGCDe0zKtyp1wkKqQYOBvXstb3jCHAKBSD1RKnnzn0YM4sVo_RHCG/s1600/IMG_3456.jpg"><br /></a>After all was said and done, we went out and had salads with Ajla and her brother. They're both wonderful people, and I'm so happy that we got the chance to visit despite my busy schedule during the brief trip.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEVCzDgZ5XWCdGGqwB2MmXJVZc351ydQbbPEE7uaeEQvRyaqA6PPlweGixubnyHbOWBLUTBMGSxPEOFJ5DVA3Ls8UDgDo2SjK0X7aCulWZzsl_kOo6z1SnAIXpV_SBHHjO7INNBO5oM5I/s1600/IMG_2818.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEVCzDgZ5XWCdGGqwB2MmXJVZc351ydQbbPEE7uaeEQvRyaqA6PPlweGixubnyHbOWBLUTBMGSxPEOFJ5DVA3Ls8UDgDo2SjK0X7aCulWZzsl_kOo6z1SnAIXpV_SBHHjO7INNBO5oM5I/s400/IMG_2818.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470903417133607842" border="0" /></a>I'll see you again soon, Ajlita!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfT2VrarVOOac-qPrHfDRSCFfMBsCX3LruDgzhoRovvWf9QyGcHfD1cq4Mc0W488NJSwmbRtDmeZns55oC8W7hd6XOAO6HajNsQAsel6qSeaTyg7JHqrXQrJmMIgploOfQ5MZIFLpJ9y7t/s1600/IMG_2819.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfT2VrarVOOac-qPrHfDRSCFfMBsCX3LruDgzhoRovvWf9QyGcHfD1cq4Mc0W488NJSwmbRtDmeZns55oC8W7hd6XOAO6HajNsQAsel6qSeaTyg7JHqrXQrJmMIgploOfQ5MZIFLpJ9y7t/s400/IMG_2819.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470911855534373730" border="0" /></a>Mak and Ajla<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I wish I could say the plane ride back home early the next morning was pleasant, but alas, I got air sick, then puked all over myself in the car when we were just 10 minutes from home. Yeah. I thought it was disgusting, too.<br /><br />While we were keeping ourselves entertained in our hotel room, however, we began a new series of videos. They're video diaries by both Ben Linus and Richard Alpert of LOST. Feel free to check them out <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/BoneRiceFilms#g/c/419AF22189181E41">here</a>!<br /><br />All right. I'm off to play a round of "MENTALIST." It's like "HORSE," except that you spell Mentalist. Because I've become obsessed with <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.cbs.com/primetime/the_mentalist/"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Mentalist</span></a>. I can't help it. It was meant to be.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tracie --</span> I always think of you when I post pictures of animals. I'll have a special post soon... That was a long time to be in the Navy -- good for you! I don't know why I'm afraid of crabs. They never seemed to like me, even before I ever ate one. And their arms rip off when they pinch something. It unnerves me.<br /><br />Mackenzie's Momma -- I hope you have fun in Vancouver! And thanks for the well-wishes. I picked up my thesis the other day and found out that there were so few mistakes that I don't have to edit anything, which means I can send in the final copy right away. :)<br /></div></div>Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-45781852107348170742010-05-10T16:13:00.000-07:002010-05-10T17:31:36.724-07:00Happy Mother's Day!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfSXGFDC5p8sGRPx1wjD7S34FfKOnbLFVi7vB0xYQbuib51Lpc1BNuLfiQ6rzvD6343t4C_qDd692Iy5x0EkSiuHSfaGhklezrXKF9GgYmTSQf3q7J8foHtRph6Xe_yR-TskJKJZqmS90/s1600/IMG_4071.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfSXGFDC5p8sGRPx1wjD7S34FfKOnbLFVi7vB0xYQbuib51Lpc1BNuLfiQ6rzvD6343t4C_qDd692Iy5x0EkSiuHSfaGhklezrXKF9GgYmTSQf3q7J8foHtRph6Xe_yR-TskJKJZqmS90/s400/IMG_4071.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469794950581989394" border="0" /></a><br />Yesterday, my mom, sister and I went for a hike at Wilder Ranch. The trails wind around the cliffs overlooking the sea, offering gorgeous vistas that make your heart swell with excitement and the thrill of the open sea. Enjoy the sights yourself!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcn-_IDctB0xEsjvgHFM1fxa24NfhX7khKqcHq-t_D81nh1qm8XPPgjyWJdoY-pZNlv4_gLh6GuxRzZAhLmpPe3YnnuqeV8rq1zd9LqFvWEu_ZJdehK4hp5z0oD_dJUQS9mXEWIQ0Hnde/s1600/IMG_4010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcn-_IDctB0xEsjvgHFM1fxa24NfhX7khKqcHq-t_D81nh1qm8XPPgjyWJdoY-pZNlv4_gLh6GuxRzZAhLmpPe3YnnuqeV8rq1zd9LqFvWEu_ZJdehK4hp5z0oD_dJUQS9mXEWIQ0Hnde/s400/IMG_4010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469792816272018082" border="0" /></a>The ranch was a dairy in the 1800s<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYpjwHjuOM5XGU18EM5olkR7q0HmW7aBVSZjWxHf8Uyc7pZoUdJKtdQzbG-70PMknsvc-UmK9aCz52yNBQovLsIVxjI0Y8BtSOsCeajjrufJ-dFTsC9W3h4A3DZv-sinapIu-S-UN4VYr/s1600/IMG_4019.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYpjwHjuOM5XGU18EM5olkR7q0HmW7aBVSZjWxHf8Uyc7pZoUdJKtdQzbG-70PMknsvc-UmK9aCz52yNBQovLsIVxjI0Y8BtSOsCeajjrufJ-dFTsC9W3h4A3DZv-sinapIu-S-UN4VYr/s400/IMG_4019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469792823769484930" border="0" /></a>A beautiful sir<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAT94Ly_ADUNAm8KeT6qaYuKNa3_bj6ExuCFkqLuypUOnrwjJZLBeBwQXZObyMcy7o4cgkVuMX8gN08Cn_srzD9c-3Zpf9tRVenTY1GS1Nup9QOXMxqsgW0KA6x5thnOqVbvMlAOfqQtR/s1600/IMG_4006.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAT94Ly_ADUNAm8KeT6qaYuKNa3_bj6ExuCFkqLuypUOnrwjJZLBeBwQXZObyMcy7o4cgkVuMX8gN08Cn_srzD9c-3Zpf9tRVenTY1GS1Nup9QOXMxqsgW0KA6x5thnOqVbvMlAOfqQtR/s400/IMG_4006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469792811800588786" border="0" /></a>A gorgeous barn cat taking an afternoon nap<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR5CeNBsEkhH6I-7sN4r_CkeUIKPLSVm4g6STpoycgCYh6cBksdRSeRQikIOMY36DSmwybH0HPZQqu-RMbX6je5VO5N9hh9HLmzxzX3vuZV71osW5v70M_6WnF32Bs39Y9et77-VzDOty/s1600/IMG_4004.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR5CeNBsEkhH6I-7sN4r_CkeUIKPLSVm4g6STpoycgCYh6cBksdRSeRQikIOMY36DSmwybH0HPZQqu-RMbX6je5VO5N9hh9HLmzxzX3vuZV71osW5v70M_6WnF32Bs39Y9et77-VzDOty/s400/IMG_4004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469792806245619458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsKFEQZ8NJGcQwuDF3xQ3MI7mDUiYGGb33UYvK6CLaoSX7NxOIvepkJ_b1r8RXcyiNjQV53YHDkyQ6RcpJxjFqcQpYSW7buE0sV4a6RZS2uc7wIRMTmN62QKv5Z5O2XMGNafSVyZgi5J6/s1600/IMG_4028.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsKFEQZ8NJGcQwuDF3xQ3MI7mDUiYGGb33UYvK6CLaoSX7NxOIvepkJ_b1r8RXcyiNjQV53YHDkyQ6RcpJxjFqcQpYSW7buE0sV4a6RZS2uc7wIRMTmN62QKv5Z5O2XMGNafSVyZgi5J6/s400/IMG_4028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469795593652699810" border="0" /></a>The Southern Pacific<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVd-MUuXfd_HAofDNRwUYLQRvWJPpl2gHFnmduQn1IkKlG5kDXuMZirq0Hz_BuUTrMoQxw7Dm5pHCtj0Sfic3thA1YIdKabK6NfCLM_Oic3rUJTn7qtUJ28B5ZCZ7zltjEj61zGii6VjHr/s1600/IMG_4046.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVd-MUuXfd_HAofDNRwUYLQRvWJPpl2gHFnmduQn1IkKlG5kDXuMZirq0Hz_BuUTrMoQxw7Dm5pHCtj0Sfic3thA1YIdKabK6NfCLM_Oic3rUJTn7qtUJ28B5ZCZ7zltjEj61zGii6VjHr/s400/IMG_4046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469793729516296194" border="0" /></a>The trail<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikH-o97dfUSKFWtphg4EWBHXrJRQc6lHYbTQV4kviaTjIPzrzT1cO9TB-VAP7S_hw51U2k37yN4Uy2-tynIDM1XRg12flJnVBDheBG5LhpAPgd0aPkLk8XLk0LUTLcIj5jwkwynwA0znZA/s1600/IMG_3614.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikH-o97dfUSKFWtphg4EWBHXrJRQc6lHYbTQV4kviaTjIPzrzT1cO9TB-VAP7S_hw51U2k37yN4Uy2-tynIDM1XRg12flJnVBDheBG5LhpAPgd0aPkLk8XLk0LUTLcIj5jwkwynwA0znZA/s400/IMG_3614.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469784323702092018" border="0" /></a>Where Oholone people once gathered food<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglV7wHu8PG-3ZbtBnDPD3yxX1p_Ke64RPBloJKtv7XOFhcBRRcza2oToKXxArdcBQc8YIHxK5HlpaFjHtqGtFDgKWBT4nsDjq2QLKK_FFPrJUc0PH0cSNOLR6GuE8XRbiY0nk2i7NKW4uU/s1600/IMG_3615.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglV7wHu8PG-3ZbtBnDPD3yxX1p_Ke64RPBloJKtv7XOFhcBRRcza2oToKXxArdcBQc8YIHxK5HlpaFjHtqGtFDgKWBT4nsDjq2QLKK_FFPrJUc0PH0cSNOLR6GuE8XRbiY0nk2i7NKW4uU/s400/IMG_3615.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469784330410323378" border="0" /></a>I thought the clouds resembled pyroclastic ash<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcO5spxIjCkPle_7RToih61hsAJBqZwjOHbMO3Q1fzCrVGgHehM_LcXRPKDIhXZ2J0KOe5zmqy9jfWhb6_Q0ZGJ2z5Jkmouj982nUp-RrcJ0_ErIEy9lC4V7oWlHwGE_ylGSrsFsO3q9n/s1600/IMG_3616.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcO5spxIjCkPle_7RToih61hsAJBqZwjOHbMO3Q1fzCrVGgHehM_LcXRPKDIhXZ2J0KOe5zmqy9jfWhb6_Q0ZGJ2z5Jkmouj982nUp-RrcJ0_ErIEy9lC4V7oWlHwGE_ylGSrsFsO3q9n/s400/IMG_3616.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469784344563509122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLuqLoIN8gZJnJ_Yj6t9340w958nfG9wzM_YF2dS1h8amiKJhAk5Bi3j0XMZBgPMdYdkRv5rd8KNatSBXTv-hGWSQNKkUK6jAUstGbZLoXsvj-E9Wmlo97j4dVJofShVKMqZQx8cvk69x/s1600/IMG_3617.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLuqLoIN8gZJnJ_Yj6t9340w958nfG9wzM_YF2dS1h8amiKJhAk5Bi3j0XMZBgPMdYdkRv5rd8KNatSBXTv-hGWSQNKkUK6jAUstGbZLoXsvj-E9Wmlo97j4dVJofShVKMqZQx8cvk69x/s400/IMG_3617.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469784352664312658" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLZgUX4ngN4UANnqjRYKVINouBefzsc7w0L6T21vwDAnhv87CEa4bgQyGi-_UTuOxqNVkNrRDjR5YPOEsr_CCyY4w_ZMQvx1jQl4pdmJZeU2VJyqoKX4kGTG0lsZDIGyubSIpw9EEuacT/s1600/IMG_3618.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLZgUX4ngN4UANnqjRYKVINouBefzsc7w0L6T21vwDAnhv87CEa4bgQyGi-_UTuOxqNVkNrRDjR5YPOEsr_CCyY4w_ZMQvx1jQl4pdmJZeU2VJyqoKX4kGTG0lsZDIGyubSIpw9EEuacT/s400/IMG_3618.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469784361695803010" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxq2T9_o9sesjQSKbui1kqTCJmFUO1cYydh3NulAXyT8Mav4eBjnyVAPLPV1Zi1xXhZ9CiIzBA6969UIcVYuexiDf7SzR6fZvhdFyTQQAoxtk0jhmkFRQjhaZe-PRYc-Dsr_HpZk-0wAi/s1600/IMG_3621.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxq2T9_o9sesjQSKbui1kqTCJmFUO1cYydh3NulAXyT8Mav4eBjnyVAPLPV1Zi1xXhZ9CiIzBA6969UIcVYuexiDf7SzR6fZvhdFyTQQAoxtk0jhmkFRQjhaZe-PRYc-Dsr_HpZk-0wAi/s400/IMG_3621.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469784895641948450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPg8210M_843B-qlCfcalhdJFH8wa0_hJ_O68xrLb5CIC5n_LGXiF76kQawsNVQnUiTPLlN6m6dYwl1J7-UDqB_wGYvwTXPSa2060zpkzg26S8ZDfKZJeUrlK0SMmWeHUWC3eNhIB8TnVe/s1600/IMG_3622.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPg8210M_843B-qlCfcalhdJFH8wa0_hJ_O68xrLb5CIC5n_LGXiF76kQawsNVQnUiTPLlN6m6dYwl1J7-UDqB_wGYvwTXPSa2060zpkzg26S8ZDfKZJeUrlK0SMmWeHUWC3eNhIB8TnVe/s400/IMG_3622.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469784902260553314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAB62P3tGUm_mMBXn8P1gom4BpjcPW12lzd-_91Lbylb-atM0E3A1DgRri-4YxwmiKDOnKa6N6nMx0DM45V_w_tnWP5hagV6zZoJ0RZROnnnZXHES-YbtIwmXXh023oqPUQ90l413Qgzb/s1600/IMG_3624.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAB62P3tGUm_mMBXn8P1gom4BpjcPW12lzd-_91Lbylb-atM0E3A1DgRri-4YxwmiKDOnKa6N6nMx0DM45V_w_tnWP5hagV6zZoJ0RZROnnnZXHES-YbtIwmXXh023oqPUQ90l413Qgzb/s400/IMG_3624.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469784912570503490" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOffGWAJeMYtTu9cHxArZ5N6y8ds1RcRziBEs-YPD0ATQ2MMy2GOHLpyZO9z6yNMXFyFrlCK8LoLP73f4inkJgtTCpLSxCAM_75dMFOgPFX7Ew7Fl2YZc0Gq3zm3iwTfn4VlYOuIzhtjVH/s1600/IMG_3630.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOffGWAJeMYtTu9cHxArZ5N6y8ds1RcRziBEs-YPD0ATQ2MMy2GOHLpyZO9z6yNMXFyFrlCK8LoLP73f4inkJgtTCpLSxCAM_75dMFOgPFX7Ew7Fl2YZc0Gq3zm3iwTfn4VlYOuIzhtjVH/s400/IMG_3630.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469784923883237666" border="0" /></a>The vast horizon<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dztgD7-BQszqyKlcmQletTE5rn0HPM7C1N80E-9gYMZZZ-AcbC4oj_WsIcUT3cxlpXnzRv3783ntOT6Mewi4A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGymM7QV-Ni9lO-hjiHl4UE_ymHliXaDQB_aEGlqr0CgrldYN771Cxh5C95dHc2hyphenhyphenj60XApKcyzUMxBYu6D9FzjSv_kZqXb03qnyEjHzEhIsgZto7DRFKc7_k5uSIGaXsDoCvcaKKonCmG/s1600/IMG_3632.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGymM7QV-Ni9lO-hjiHl4UE_ymHliXaDQB_aEGlqr0CgrldYN771Cxh5C95dHc2hyphenhyphenj60XApKcyzUMxBYu6D9FzjSv_kZqXb03qnyEjHzEhIsgZto7DRFKc7_k5uSIGaXsDoCvcaKKonCmG/s400/IMG_3632.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469784931398866498" border="0" /></a>Wildflowers<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOffGWAJeMYtTu9cHxArZ5N6y8ds1RcRziBEs-YPD0ATQ2MMy2GOHLpyZO9z6yNMXFyFrlCK8LoLP73f4inkJgtTCpLSxCAM_75dMFOgPFX7Ew7Fl2YZc0Gq3zm3iwTfn4VlYOuIzhtjVH/s1600/IMG_3630.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAPPwY6t8ILpKV4DfnpdIhqxrjxaEg2hBSA8_l4aQ2j5CmgPckQrgPUajWGIg_IEp-ralmPM6h6NL7A3q89aJlThYNAgJ6nhQVaDtGfB7ZTb_vNDLASnyuWrfY5QmrzlfgWf2dt3n5Qud/s1600/IMG_3635.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAPPwY6t8ILpKV4DfnpdIhqxrjxaEg2hBSA8_l4aQ2j5CmgPckQrgPUajWGIg_IEp-ralmPM6h6NL7A3q89aJlThYNAgJ6nhQVaDtGfB7ZTb_vNDLASnyuWrfY5QmrzlfgWf2dt3n5Qud/s400/IMG_3635.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469785667853859650" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN9tY_Q9-U7GDh6LtJN38vhr_HNigLeI1lziync3vjmrkvCM33SV0ioxfyAf76nRIslNlCqtMvwuel00uHKE74R-ueiVjrn9q2DNVYpUxQ7ML11la4a1nvoV2U-yzj3K0IKj4x_1E60gO/s1600/IMG_3636.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN9tY_Q9-U7GDh6LtJN38vhr_HNigLeI1lziync3vjmrkvCM33SV0ioxfyAf76nRIslNlCqtMvwuel00uHKE74R-ueiVjrn9q2DNVYpUxQ7ML11la4a1nvoV2U-yzj3K0IKj4x_1E60gO/s400/IMG_3636.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469785673786153746" border="0" /></a>Avast, matey! Thar be a pirate cove!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN9tY_Q9-U7GDh6LtJN38vhr_HNigLeI1lziync3vjmrkvCM33SV0ioxfyAf76nRIslNlCqtMvwuel00uHKE74R-ueiVjrn9q2DNVYpUxQ7ML11la4a1nvoV2U-yzj3K0IKj4x_1E60gO/s1600/IMG_3636.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN9tY_Q9-U7GDh6LtJN38vhr_HNigLeI1lziync3vjmrkvCM33SV0ioxfyAf76nRIslNlCqtMvwuel00uHKE74R-ueiVjrn9q2DNVYpUxQ7ML11la4a1nvoV2U-yzj3K0IKj4x_1E60gO/s400/IMG_3636.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469785673786153746" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAB62P3tGUm_mMBXn8P1gom4BpjcPW12lzd-_91Lbylb-atM0E3A1DgRri-4YxwmiKDOnKa6N6nMx0DM45V_w_tnWP5hagV6zZoJ0RZROnnnZXHES-YbtIwmXXh023oqPUQ90l413Qgzb/s1600/IMG_3624.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpHXyu9NL6BGMHW9yARc79pAa3mTGAfiS0LKfiIs6YLNh6pC9UBEUa8fxBcSZ5rzEtgZLtNqXK8J0G7V9ApXcpwwsxcYeSlut6PcQrNWjthfxf3wTT0jz9e1WZ6sK83Z4MMenvrZr2dyD/s1600/IMG_3643.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpHXyu9NL6BGMHW9yARc79pAa3mTGAfiS0LKfiIs6YLNh6pC9UBEUa8fxBcSZ5rzEtgZLtNqXK8J0G7V9ApXcpwwsxcYeSlut6PcQrNWjthfxf3wTT0jz9e1WZ6sK83Z4MMenvrZr2dyD/s400/IMG_3643.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469785692801757442" border="0" /></a>I was surprised by the clarity of the water<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3MtQ5Y9vHISMxjqSHXPNeZxqJNQED8AdqX4mvdSLKAjzPd5yeTDF5V_eJiW2qsql4MLi5EvS23vta-aY3ns9z79ts_rJ1lLacu3uVZ8hyphenhyphenYz-KApMV9NFtPiVNecB4B1CytpjtF4KeE9n/s1600/IMG_3640.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3MtQ5Y9vHISMxjqSHXPNeZxqJNQED8AdqX4mvdSLKAjzPd5yeTDF5V_eJiW2qsql4MLi5EvS23vta-aY3ns9z79ts_rJ1lLacu3uVZ8hyphenhyphenYz-KApMV9NFtPiVNecB4B1CytpjtF4KeE9n/s400/IMG_3640.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469785683914599714" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5fusP50zFT3iXkYBr58X43bDMlcNwO44gtIcpLCcCeHZE91l5eMmnXy9R3a7Lm2MsuE6Qfj_lrR8NkD55Fk_JrdyHRoki9uReTt7ahCzKXTfAh2wtu4NMwkieaj1uRCdGoIPQLaVFIBd/s1600/IMG_3647.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5fusP50zFT3iXkYBr58X43bDMlcNwO44gtIcpLCcCeHZE91l5eMmnXy9R3a7Lm2MsuE6Qfj_lrR8NkD55Fk_JrdyHRoki9uReTt7ahCzKXTfAh2wtu4NMwkieaj1uRCdGoIPQLaVFIBd/s400/IMG_3647.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469785699531202706" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwWSZhP10QYbYw-uizmqt55NfM7u2onTl2SFAw6XYVaxy_fz40ShdnaTSkzZtXvR0DZT6lPdsw8OcVMHCtABQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQl2WzpUqFZDbL8qgfnKu-pKxUd22O6cE_0vGfNcr7fMGb2_u8t-Tc24Ykc7nWFVK8oArUeAqm78cgpQzBA0epQUHwMYrJmTRyHwVuRiBODm-eV-TpkdrNs4KTaQpQAqove7lsA6jTAHSo/s1600/IMG_3649.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQl2WzpUqFZDbL8qgfnKu-pKxUd22O6cE_0vGfNcr7fMGb2_u8t-Tc24Ykc7nWFVK8oArUeAqm78cgpQzBA0epQUHwMYrJmTRyHwVuRiBODm-eV-TpkdrNs4KTaQpQAqove7lsA6jTAHSo/s400/IMG_3649.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469786637430864306" border="0" /></a>Someone ponders their existence<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMoHI5PfWp7-FEk1rtf-TBteiq75iLKYY1zh4NIEZyWhC6KUZMFi0SgXVo-xON7mZvcewUdLyU86f_1r-fk2rhutak0Dywv2o9oUR6Ft1BC-8I_X1AHCLVJ-VTifOW6ArN2J7MkEpmN5C/s1600/IMG_3652.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMoHI5PfWp7-FEk1rtf-TBteiq75iLKYY1zh4NIEZyWhC6KUZMFi0SgXVo-xON7mZvcewUdLyU86f_1r-fk2rhutak0Dywv2o9oUR6Ft1BC-8I_X1AHCLVJ-VTifOW6ArN2J7MkEpmN5C/s400/IMG_3652.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469786647999702674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAPPwY6t8ILpKV4DfnpdIhqxrjxaEg2hBSA8_l4aQ2j5CmgPckQrgPUajWGIg_IEp-ralmPM6h6NL7A3q89aJlThYNAgJ6nhQVaDtGfB7ZTb_vNDLASnyuWrfY5QmrzlfgWf2dt3n5Qud/s1600/IMG_3635.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7LkZHMz1CloD4eo6u62RFqE5aXtdECQBR4gBN92hD_cG8Avo6Gr0iWXVehmw3XQknHmDfMw092fHsd9V3YlukeyreEVaaj71YHYUDEahmq7e4TVJrL_kYWMGbGEPS_YcJHxwbIVSriBn/s1600/IMG_3656.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7LkZHMz1CloD4eo6u62RFqE5aXtdECQBR4gBN92hD_cG8Avo6Gr0iWXVehmw3XQknHmDfMw092fHsd9V3YlukeyreEVaaj71YHYUDEahmq7e4TVJrL_kYWMGbGEPS_YcJHxwbIVSriBn/s400/IMG_3656.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469786653045541650" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBLaW88dtL0YBViXKcnZwDJWu0fmqfr83fTWFaElKtArRpGraKLbaTdB0SXH3DG4oZCaLe5WU3mOJGc4wuoY3BTZn2s_Hh1-FOJrXp89_s_rq61bYPBnmOQ-YkRQO9CXy7fK1-gBArfU7/s1600/IMG_3660.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBLaW88dtL0YBViXKcnZwDJWu0fmqfr83fTWFaElKtArRpGraKLbaTdB0SXH3DG4oZCaLe5WU3mOJGc4wuoY3BTZn2s_Hh1-FOJrXp89_s_rq61bYPBnmOQ-YkRQO9CXy7fK1-gBArfU7/s400/IMG_3660.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469786665238257234" border="0" /></a>An ocean of another sort stretches out behind<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxt4bx4RDQQpPVbtHViWJiYqVJxajEslh2z_21JSos8qFzUZimeUACOT2Cc3rDkFQKISNP9ChH6qmJ1hptUtWhCiVwEFO-ZTMg6w9lKQccWbGAHj6BcS8DuQH2O8FhrEAV5n7FLLcmYC0D/s1600/IMG_3661.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxt4bx4RDQQpPVbtHViWJiYqVJxajEslh2z_21JSos8qFzUZimeUACOT2Cc3rDkFQKISNP9ChH6qmJ1hptUtWhCiVwEFO-ZTMg6w9lKQccWbGAHj6BcS8DuQH2O8FhrEAV5n7FLLcmYC0D/s400/IMG_3661.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469786678908696002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmzOcSyVUX9cWfeVANWd4LOuJEFzhhCC68q-FLnak2QEcHlVLGzu-IE0StBZUO-Qz_0T6K6WPIXhdh1Laux4oEkUgtVR4W80cHne_UMnuSlzxeUFdHzbS7fiXJuLiiqp5yOHxir-LjGVo/s1600/IMG_3662.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmzOcSyVUX9cWfeVANWd4LOuJEFzhhCC68q-FLnak2QEcHlVLGzu-IE0StBZUO-Qz_0T6K6WPIXhdh1Laux4oEkUgtVR4W80cHne_UMnuSlzxeUFdHzbS7fiXJuLiiqp5yOHxir-LjGVo/s400/IMG_3662.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469787512480738306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBLaW88dtL0YBViXKcnZwDJWu0fmqfr83fTWFaElKtArRpGraKLbaTdB0SXH3DG4oZCaLe5WU3mOJGc4wuoY3BTZn2s_Hh1-FOJrXp89_s_rq61bYPBnmOQ-YkRQO9CXy7fK1-gBArfU7/s1600/IMG_3660.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzomfL_0qnMLPFMTedep823BHkp5csLZhMik7zqp29pCM9D1YjDFBnCyGbifutGPVHlMOH5P-6UZOs4hMua_lt_YiZwM8XQ7BC3BwjgN18_PIBbQPX1jW0Vw3wMTQlmWXBFE54jTfqeq0/s1600/IMG_3664.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzomfL_0qnMLPFMTedep823BHkp5csLZhMik7zqp29pCM9D1YjDFBnCyGbifutGPVHlMOH5P-6UZOs4hMua_lt_YiZwM8XQ7BC3BwjgN18_PIBbQPX1jW0Vw3wMTQlmWXBFE54jTfqeq0/s400/IMG_3664.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469787521342271762" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsbSMkwaTMhHOuXmskpshLPI3_H5Jt95AQWkqDketuYiredEGxUEG-pTS5NVtlCJ-n8rf6zQYk4vJCwHGKYzc-_vxzad58dSgy04wPWZvTk0L1yLhjjGVG9W8TOiz-R88PccX7_6Ewt9N/s1600/IMG_3665.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsbSMkwaTMhHOuXmskpshLPI3_H5Jt95AQWkqDketuYiredEGxUEG-pTS5NVtlCJ-n8rf6zQYk4vJCwHGKYzc-_vxzad58dSgy04wPWZvTk0L1yLhjjGVG9W8TOiz-R88PccX7_6Ewt9N/s400/IMG_3665.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469787531287298450" border="0" /></a>Descending to the pirate cove<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFk5XmgVp30jtUe2nBevlHhUIkqYM6lLNJ2YzZPBlKjOdCuz6FshC3rGmFnji2OBNQz_wDeA4uYkQIsaHxuqpcz5YygbS4Zda3n3MkXfKppp6DUsMtxg_JxpVXk7TNUUckftypnq4lrlz/s1600/IMG_3666.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFk5XmgVp30jtUe2nBevlHhUIkqYM6lLNJ2YzZPBlKjOdCuz6FshC3rGmFnji2OBNQz_wDeA4uYkQIsaHxuqpcz5YygbS4Zda3n3MkXfKppp6DUsMtxg_JxpVXk7TNUUckftypnq4lrlz/s400/IMG_3666.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469787541420487826" border="0" /></a>Gorgeous<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMoHI5PfWp7-FEk1rtf-TBteiq75iLKYY1zh4NIEZyWhC6KUZMFi0SgXVo-xON7mZvcewUdLyU86f_1r-fk2rhutak0Dywv2o9oUR6Ft1BC-8I_X1AHCLVJ-VTifOW6ArN2J7MkEpmN5C/s1600/IMG_3652.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuM_Bd0daOq1lChTz-CEv-jQGVLO32KI1xLkIsvaJgO8Pl1HqqIziF5nwWoLzJBegDLc_xOAj3HSBQNA-ThRSh5Hom5ahQXhR7PyYGjAqN5xrHmm4swlloy-YkaLtZkJcwb-qsMoiPCv6/s1600/IMG_3682.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuM_Bd0daOq1lChTz-CEv-jQGVLO32KI1xLkIsvaJgO8Pl1HqqIziF5nwWoLzJBegDLc_xOAj3HSBQNA-ThRSh5Hom5ahQXhR7PyYGjAqN5xrHmm4swlloy-YkaLtZkJcwb-qsMoiPCv6/s400/IMG_3682.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469787549165032962" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9lNSUfVQvnmf8XQAQH7jCjGXLzcb5j6nu0IJRzYXDohR3SpUnb5M4ZsPqnrJReCdKfexugL9Sn8xnPjS-TQePIOS3qh75Lz4LNhuEolcWaSWKMX4WDvIbipiJKVr75exVzbi3RJqjijK/s1600/IMG_3688.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9lNSUfVQvnmf8XQAQH7jCjGXLzcb5j6nu0IJRzYXDohR3SpUnb5M4ZsPqnrJReCdKfexugL9Sn8xnPjS-TQePIOS3qh75Lz4LNhuEolcWaSWKMX4WDvIbipiJKVr75exVzbi3RJqjijK/s400/IMG_3688.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469788607263874962" border="0" /></a>It is said that the foam of the sea is dead mermaids<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkI2DEdW741c-vV6TKcE-j-lnk91djePPwYhcdg7yqqARK9Iv8Ek8AiuZX6pPpbp-vMJz2YPGfCnMQ-TDWvxlx99mRYpfNC4QMKOvx2Yqq52nD-DCp0qhTbPFJa_DaAwxUOTkgH9Fc-Wg/s1600/IMG_3710.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkI2DEdW741c-vV6TKcE-j-lnk91djePPwYhcdg7yqqARK9Iv8Ek8AiuZX6pPpbp-vMJz2YPGfCnMQ-TDWvxlx99mRYpfNC4QMKOvx2Yqq52nD-DCp0qhTbPFJa_DaAwxUOTkgH9Fc-Wg/s400/IMG_3710.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469788617046514610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIpUwCRjd9ARyq2_jDdb-0K_GuG-1go1TwztD4C_fsmOvaJkZHR6ovIu7YiHXTuQy-bv6rfbSjma_NkvcIgouEMVgA6uAIpLKW3GRRc3AlQUD_5L7Gj3dtg7KV7sU_J748eISm_KBg9X5/s1600/IMG_3714.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIpUwCRjd9ARyq2_jDdb-0K_GuG-1go1TwztD4C_fsmOvaJkZHR6ovIu7YiHXTuQy-bv6rfbSjma_NkvcIgouEMVgA6uAIpLKW3GRRc3AlQUD_5L7Gj3dtg7KV7sU_J748eISm_KBg9X5/s400/IMG_3714.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469788624140437858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2lsenxhvPEmOLgbnQX-3vZMViMF1eGgb3JQxLfcfD7hc63gREql6Hx7D244_Gz21VP3Fa-zknsuEV2dcdlrpaYILH6wRFPqGSZgoL07Bt5_JHNHK1BShgMlGAeeGWN7Z_jLRFfjwqliP/s1600/IMG_3717.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2lsenxhvPEmOLgbnQX-3vZMViMF1eGgb3JQxLfcfD7hc63gREql6Hx7D244_Gz21VP3Fa-zknsuEV2dcdlrpaYILH6wRFPqGSZgoL07Bt5_JHNHK1BShgMlGAeeGWN7Z_jLRFfjwqliP/s400/IMG_3717.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469788635219944738" border="0" /></a><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzwolIlpIRwnDBEL8neEgU-nSp6TJUAHEXu_N4hgaJZ4ydqyjvOguDuAoLWX9hs-fLVX-G4ypbjNwDe8Ir90Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />While my mom sets off to explore one cave, you can see a baby in the distance toddling out of another. The place is so beautifully wild. I felt like I was in the world of <span style="font-style: italic;">Sing Moonlight</span>, and I wasn't alone. My mom kept saying "I feel like I'm in your book." :)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzomfL_0qnMLPFMTedep823BHkp5csLZhMik7zqp29pCM9D1YjDFBnCyGbifutGPVHlMOH5P-6UZOs4hMua_lt_YiZwM8XQ7BC3BwjgN18_PIBbQPX1jW0Vw3wMTQlmWXBFE54jTfqeq0/s1600/IMG_3664.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPCcZaxa_OEXLrnFa0aRKmjzT0ooPaKos50ouAfniPVG0gVjCdcdK00un8enmZ9wTXQnXOVsJ7N7F9Jp_QNCjSItZh66AoUQuF0bH9lnrpE1ZuJSPaJ7IG9LPkgJuu5VcfQId0We_8sRF/s1600/IMG_3724.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPCcZaxa_OEXLrnFa0aRKmjzT0ooPaKos50ouAfniPVG0gVjCdcdK00un8enmZ9wTXQnXOVsJ7N7F9Jp_QNCjSItZh66AoUQuF0bH9lnrpE1ZuJSPaJ7IG9LPkgJuu5VcfQId0We_8sRF/s400/IMG_3724.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469788644607251138" border="0" /></a>Moss growing on the side of the cave<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwDUDDLfFkpoTrpPR4cKgL_95jV8RtvqlGAZmAcQttyHL8iC5uG3YI8cpWbIZofoDuv7gUhfEZhakHjhJRYTQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Water dripping inside the cave<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2lsenxhvPEmOLgbnQX-3vZMViMF1eGgb3JQxLfcfD7hc63gREql6Hx7D244_Gz21VP3Fa-zknsuEV2dcdlrpaYILH6wRFPqGSZgoL07Bt5_JHNHK1BShgMlGAeeGWN7Z_jLRFfjwqliP/s1600/IMG_3717.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAMkscmFF0QbbdcsgMKFw-iy0z_tYRo7PkwLm9tCUVx7CfInz4pBUEOdmxn1iMb4_SF7f0Kl1ZA9cAK8NT78tE1p1B8XBPhhAiqZ47tmhqJvd-gDq0NGDIxyeJ7Rx_Mh2PcNl435EMFUX/s1600/IMG_3726.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAMkscmFF0QbbdcsgMKFw-iy0z_tYRo7PkwLm9tCUVx7CfInz4pBUEOdmxn1iMb4_SF7f0Kl1ZA9cAK8NT78tE1p1B8XBPhhAiqZ47tmhqJvd-gDq0NGDIxyeJ7Rx_Mh2PcNl435EMFUX/s400/IMG_3726.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469789500244151986" border="0" /></a>Alex looks out at adventure<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIpUwCRjd9ARyq2_jDdb-0K_GuG-1go1TwztD4C_fsmOvaJkZHR6ovIu7YiHXTuQy-bv6rfbSjma_NkvcIgouEMVgA6uAIpLKW3GRRc3AlQUD_5L7Gj3dtg7KV7sU_J748eISm_KBg9X5/s1600/IMG_3714.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcPWuXAheuTTOzSMC7x9qriTin_DIVLHKr6RNmNatWgcQ0RJjLvMAmsKFHzEHwcV9O5fXg5TFNa6pNBFpBe4lA9cj5L4KCcVvorD8_fR-EoFYd-15kzCgTbQppj5a1Sf055pp2fUSyblt/s1600/IMG_3727.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcPWuXAheuTTOzSMC7x9qriTin_DIVLHKr6RNmNatWgcQ0RJjLvMAmsKFHzEHwcV9O5fXg5TFNa6pNBFpBe4lA9cj5L4KCcVvorD8_fR-EoFYd-15kzCgTbQppj5a1Sf055pp2fUSyblt/s400/IMG_3727.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469789505778926034" border="0" /></a>Be this rope the vestige of a reckless lubber, or the last survivor of a squall?<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb21-vwqXi1z_x2hqQoM_kg38rul55PN7HOUKOHh-zI690NW1XKxULai90XAJaeuo-6vdSOBjhdxEAafwFzxyOTNF8ag8aAGM7b5OunbT1tbyOVojw0NMO2Nu9NJSa48Ge8sZi41t39QGr/s1600/IMG_3729.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb21-vwqXi1z_x2hqQoM_kg38rul55PN7HOUKOHh-zI690NW1XKxULai90XAJaeuo-6vdSOBjhdxEAafwFzxyOTNF8ag8aAGM7b5OunbT1tbyOVojw0NMO2Nu9NJSa48Ge8sZi41t39QGr/s400/IMG_3729.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469789514644824914" border="0" /></a>The waterline was dotted with the bodies of sand crabs<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInWRWjzRfOm9H7QfahfoH2UuhZE7tR70K1ZrHcWKdNBZAe0TN96JvvHbiEokS9HLi8CpwBZ8f5Ztru-H9V1fgZjsCkue28WU4eLjDclPgMyGmoJaa5nd6SZUmUrJEbkYMtfA2l_ue8yAk/s1600/IMG_3732.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInWRWjzRfOm9H7QfahfoH2UuhZE7tR70K1ZrHcWKdNBZAe0TN96JvvHbiEokS9HLi8CpwBZ8f5Ztru-H9V1fgZjsCkue28WU4eLjDclPgMyGmoJaa5nd6SZUmUrJEbkYMtfA2l_ue8yAk/s400/IMG_3732.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469789528641324306" border="0" /></a>All that's left are their shells<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvU1ujkGYn0Hxx7t4YQX4ANWue7WRCSJhF_lYJpkENXrCaHPdrV2CRcmublldG2BRuyFX0_ziwGqc01S9UKZtD-LpVpW6ZD0BhSy8Jh66_A8mhmwiXvbnxOdmymlEYn0U8RFDO4m8pDi6/s1600/IMG_3734.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvU1ujkGYn0Hxx7t4YQX4ANWue7WRCSJhF_lYJpkENXrCaHPdrV2CRcmublldG2BRuyFX0_ziwGqc01S9UKZtD-LpVpW6ZD0BhSy8Jh66_A8mhmwiXvbnxOdmymlEYn0U8RFDO4m8pDi6/s400/IMG_3734.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469789534979999154" border="0" /></a>The appendage of a real crab. I'm afraid of them.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInWRWjzRfOm9H7QfahfoH2UuhZE7tR70K1ZrHcWKdNBZAe0TN96JvvHbiEokS9HLi8CpwBZ8f5Ztru-H9V1fgZjsCkue28WU4eLjDclPgMyGmoJaa5nd6SZUmUrJEbkYMtfA2l_ue8yAk/s1600/IMG_3732.jpg"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzs8hUnRQKGms0I7yJYmmk2IS-3xAJE2ndPXsP54oIT353oQtaYkHbMED6G00Gg35h81oBliqxbdoaZYdrX2jc9dHHU7cKMMGuHInlytXtAP2h7W3tBxJLi6N7ZZh9PSP1W7dDI7u3d2O/s1600/IMG_3735.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzs8hUnRQKGms0I7yJYmmk2IS-3xAJE2ndPXsP54oIT353oQtaYkHbMED6G00Gg35h81oBliqxbdoaZYdrX2jc9dHHU7cKMMGuHInlytXtAP2h7W3tBxJLi6N7ZZh9PSP1W7dDI7u3d2O/s400/IMG_3735.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469790270032063010" border="0" /></a>Water sculpture<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cKjzkh5k9HlDpis3mUXbQuqDQJoTYzqER8hyphenhyphengtlIuHnyJuTE1fZjQVNuWMX6HuZSiTyedW-2m_8tzLYtuxcsAsDP9kvVpYnr5SZiqpxgoBvTq0DuJFkt4hj25rF7JS_lkYnvRFUClS3K/s1600/IMG_3738.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cKjzkh5k9HlDpis3mUXbQuqDQJoTYzqER8hyphenhyphengtlIuHnyJuTE1fZjQVNuWMX6HuZSiTyedW-2m_8tzLYtuxcsAsDP9kvVpYnr5SZiqpxgoBvTq0DuJFkt4hj25rF7JS_lkYnvRFUClS3K/s400/IMG_3738.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469790281982058626" border="0" /></a>A beautiful day<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Below are pictures of the flowers growing in the garden by one of the ranch houses.<br /></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBtF2GNdmVOl7K53ULJrL0LphdyvVqT0qIsGFFdogJcuR-T5NMD5Uqdjpx_2kp9ZwTqD0_yMdNrXMOXGd_yFdqp1eZ-sLZ8AlWmzuBxgyrL6lI04FkEit8ZWd2pQp47G2-ChMdJsDBJft/s1600/IMG_3742.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBtF2GNdmVOl7K53ULJrL0LphdyvVqT0qIsGFFdogJcuR-T5NMD5Uqdjpx_2kp9ZwTqD0_yMdNrXMOXGd_yFdqp1eZ-sLZ8AlWmzuBxgyrL6lI04FkEit8ZWd2pQp47G2-ChMdJsDBJft/s400/IMG_3742.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469790309848130546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM09acn6OAv20CVkBIjSXc2cj1XiD2EqSk8-wMvbn9G7btQtBeNVHfqBb3ZSeYWEvbmyC_jLsE_g-KFA9fNBNSKOu-pgKvCrxav5z7tOW8ZdVHOLQ4_VZmA8-RVbyB-5aOOSW81hPBfg5C/s1600/IMG_3741.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM09acn6OAv20CVkBIjSXc2cj1XiD2EqSk8-wMvbn9G7btQtBeNVHfqBb3ZSeYWEvbmyC_jLsE_g-KFA9fNBNSKOu-pgKvCrxav5z7tOW8ZdVHOLQ4_VZmA8-RVbyB-5aOOSW81hPBfg5C/s400/IMG_3741.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469790303308242386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmkFi8mJtf3Btl3KvdGXQzdJ3isgxYj3D7aTSSVJuSEyTT5F-1oWUe0bqc6JDcAHqOml5bwXmFPG-mM-SdxyoTEaa3khxLpnKVMVH1wt2Wvm59SwOJ5p3CAXgY9cL2956ruXPOZx_C669/s1600/IMG_3740.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmkFi8mJtf3Btl3KvdGXQzdJ3isgxYj3D7aTSSVJuSEyTT5F-1oWUe0bqc6JDcAHqOml5bwXmFPG-mM-SdxyoTEaa3khxLpnKVMVH1wt2Wvm59SwOJ5p3CAXgY9cL2956ruXPOZx_C669/s400/IMG_3740.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469790294602047010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZatWdptVo9mVlkzMkiLCF5owIdPPswN7EX-UQCl_KadZH_CmSh3YLJqkMLS_rUxq9oW1y0-nB1vo62SXQwCogDOf5-NRaWtLLIHnXDhgCgjVBqENtkNiKYr8XTDiaE0W0H4tASuT0cb8m/s1600/IMG_3750.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZatWdptVo9mVlkzMkiLCF5owIdPPswN7EX-UQCl_KadZH_CmSh3YLJqkMLS_rUxq9oW1y0-nB1vo62SXQwCogDOf5-NRaWtLLIHnXDhgCgjVBqENtkNiKYr8XTDiaE0W0H4tASuT0cb8m/s400/IMG_3750.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469790919978428578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVvYEsSX6D106BBLQ88vS40Zt5WA3GaonBaa9xbzUFTECofZdcEd4LLBuoEhqLRO-l6STErgSPtfYCdNYCBiyy0QNKWfGvuZMbLVjF2hT4ezeTsS94ObK6Ag9-KnCPlprWJAb0Ru9EFVT/s1600/IMG_3748.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVvYEsSX6D106BBLQ88vS40Zt5WA3GaonBaa9xbzUFTECofZdcEd4LLBuoEhqLRO-l6STErgSPtfYCdNYCBiyy0QNKWfGvuZMbLVjF2hT4ezeTsS94ObK6Ag9-KnCPlprWJAb0Ru9EFVT/s400/IMG_3748.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469790913931487682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1CqU_HuesGScvclUHM0mBYOe2Wnq7u8bhYlNUPKJSx_38bETGjGIgD9Ha7XwDqpwu50rKZ76yvGvK-rTJC6rL5eKgb0wF0VVHq-PC-lqI9EshgspyZKnbbFjDdqA74XEW7u_YXK6tCnl/s1600/IMG_3746.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1CqU_HuesGScvclUHM0mBYOe2Wnq7u8bhYlNUPKJSx_38bETGjGIgD9Ha7XwDqpwu50rKZ76yvGvK-rTJC6rL5eKgb0wF0VVHq-PC-lqI9EshgspyZKnbbFjDdqA74XEW7u_YXK6tCnl/s400/IMG_3746.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469790907032966002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghczPCWHpk1ct6uXi1vY52USMrt1dIVmN-21rlwxEdREUYfrsFcJkcraWlN0jDT1ZPaQWVOTsWxziXqKfhX_CDNQyQcrW_tM4Geqo2cSoocSMXnrCc1EzWRZD7fTrnJfCRYROfCfFlUlY-/s1600/IMG_3744.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghczPCWHpk1ct6uXi1vY52USMrt1dIVmN-21rlwxEdREUYfrsFcJkcraWlN0jDT1ZPaQWVOTsWxziXqKfhX_CDNQyQcrW_tM4Geqo2cSoocSMXnrCc1EzWRZD7fTrnJfCRYROfCfFlUlY-/s400/IMG_3744.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469790895915356498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_cUkCXgQ1Nkiw4VpSxjH6hR4Zb2laasN97TeHGJ3sdd_fDVfTvUwzOQY29Dp3p_gjUIN2UE23Vc0_vWmRZrGePB7KzQtgFUiTPxIlaK37U4t6Fg4s0G_rHbd75YAM-QTtUHWbfhkcWSM/s1600/IMG_3743.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_cUkCXgQ1Nkiw4VpSxjH6hR4Zb2laasN97TeHGJ3sdd_fDVfTvUwzOQY29Dp3p_gjUIN2UE23Vc0_vWmRZrGePB7KzQtgFUiTPxIlaK37U4t6Fg4s0G_rHbd75YAM-QTtUHWbfhkcWSM/s400/IMG_3743.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469790887360045138" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzs8hUnRQKGms0I7yJYmmk2IS-3xAJE2ndPXsP54oIT353oQtaYkHbMED6G00Gg35h81oBliqxbdoaZYdrX2jc9dHHU7cKMMGuHInlytXtAP2h7W3tBxJLi6N7ZZh9PSP1W7dDI7u3d2O/s1600/IMG_3735.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_k7ja2sABMG_f8sMMo14T9xecBuuaJa8FG_1UeW5zjxca16td0KC0J8nxjvwoMGR8MDcBNIF2Y6A7Y4U8bQS_5b0EPifIHv7RmrpAGdT102ctVQB_K5AsiJxQXZUkOxeYIzHOj9c5UGDu/s1600/IMG_3753.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_k7ja2sABMG_f8sMMo14T9xecBuuaJa8FG_1UeW5zjxca16td0KC0J8nxjvwoMGR8MDcBNIF2Y6A7Y4U8bQS_5b0EPifIHv7RmrpAGdT102ctVQB_K5AsiJxQXZUkOxeYIzHOj9c5UGDu/s400/IMG_3753.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469791242924555666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfeXCxGYlkBao9dVFJgqH7QPj_ayBVkQVANnOIgK-5FuXLQOFmGnPzM1FGAcrtJIBTn6uiWdBuo8-jVjIYLpYUL9RR20GoNIsIlxtXCMPmg22Yx_7dIGvqFJX-s4-avIbz-fhMzdeELWT/s1600/IMG_3752.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfeXCxGYlkBao9dVFJgqH7QPj_ayBVkQVANnOIgK-5FuXLQOFmGnPzM1FGAcrtJIBTn6uiWdBuo8-jVjIYLpYUL9RR20GoNIsIlxtXCMPmg22Yx_7dIGvqFJX-s4-avIbz-fhMzdeELWT/s400/IMG_3752.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469791234406141938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrm0r9Radi-gcwOUYAMA5-bdQH65MNNlNLZu1L_MK4modxPjneF2v00_rls7oiBYOrs3SMmmrsyWU2Ibc15902sBRA5jAewvcq4duzsUGdLQkCUsSStHkXMnrKQE997aXXZh8yBESH1j3D/s1600/IMG_3751.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrm0r9Radi-gcwOUYAMA5-bdQH65MNNlNLZu1L_MK4modxPjneF2v00_rls7oiBYOrs3SMmmrsyWU2Ibc15902sBRA5jAewvcq4duzsUGdLQkCUsSStHkXMnrKQE997aXXZh8yBESH1j3D/s400/IMG_3751.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469791225389746802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcPWuXAheuTTOzSMC7x9qriTin_DIVLHKr6RNmNatWgcQ0RJjLvMAmsKFHzEHwcV9O5fXg5TFNa6pNBFpBe4lA9cj5L4KCcVvorD8_fR-EoFYd-15kzCgTbQppj5a1Sf055pp2fUSyblt/s1600/IMG_3727.jpg"><br /></a>When we returned home, it was to discover that our father had cooked up a storm. Not only had he made French toast that morning, but he took it upon himself to make several delicious meals. Halibut with lemon and wine sauce, lobster tail for his mother, fettuccine alfredo, and artichokes, along with chicken nuggets for those in the family who aren't fond of fish. And for dessert, he made a flour-less chocolate cake with a raspberry sauce, and a pan of ranger bar cookies. Talk about the next Emeril Lagasse! And everything was absolutely delicious.<br /><br />Not only is my dad a great cook, but it runs in the family. His grandpa was FDR's chef back when he was governor of New York!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHK9ykU8bRFClGXPQ9c7POCRrhfWftACY221tFzrhKVGp9nzbDIUMpGPqVk9ehDEx7Zb24mvSKTyCCtWKGCIt4fIVBsFOcNwQk-G1QXCQYwhqPyE1w91u_12NOwVHnU8zyRHZOiZeXr7HK/s1600/IMG_4170.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHK9ykU8bRFClGXPQ9c7POCRrhfWftACY221tFzrhKVGp9nzbDIUMpGPqVk9ehDEx7Zb24mvSKTyCCtWKGCIt4fIVBsFOcNwQk-G1QXCQYwhqPyE1w91u_12NOwVHnU8zyRHZOiZeXr7HK/s400/IMG_4170.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469794204169065858" border="0" /></a>Halibut<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmzOcSyVUX9cWfeVANWd4LOuJEFzhhCC68q-FLnak2QEcHlVLGzu-IE0StBZUO-Qz_0T6K6WPIXhdh1Laux4oEkUgtVR4W80cHne_UMnuSlzxeUFdHzbS7fiXJuLiiqp5yOHxir-LjGVo/s1600/IMG_3662.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlQB2sRfBAm1DEAdlDgDNKp-ZxHlh0MC2sD_OYHwWijhx3UQyKyoGSgVCHPd3Y383PU4RR9r1PtanN0uXAYizV5uKpeFh-aQMXbnsYT0e4zr26XGrAzIdf1vWxQqIRk7Tbjq8HvW2oLCi/s1600/IMG_4172.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlQB2sRfBAm1DEAdlDgDNKp-ZxHlh0MC2sD_OYHwWijhx3UQyKyoGSgVCHPd3Y383PU4RR9r1PtanN0uXAYizV5uKpeFh-aQMXbnsYT0e4zr26XGrAzIdf1vWxQqIRk7Tbjq8HvW2oLCi/s400/IMG_4172.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469794219434886114" border="0" /></a>Cake<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClbnZy6Ib2cPaw6Red3xiPGxHuTMYJMyoamUc9HEi0Q4p9DS3N59ofkjaR_2Pv69o2wg657y2HBRPMIAsQvD9oHwPihRxRSUPZGQXgjD5xPaoEpY45LhTC-g05D3NnheN_kZlLSyAi4U4/s1600/IMG_4171.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClbnZy6Ib2cPaw6Red3xiPGxHuTMYJMyoamUc9HEi0Q4p9DS3N59ofkjaR_2Pv69o2wg657y2HBRPMIAsQvD9oHwPihRxRSUPZGQXgjD5xPaoEpY45LhTC-g05D3NnheN_kZlLSyAi4U4/s400/IMG_4171.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469794212187025330" border="0" /></a>Soon-to be bar cookies<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHK9ykU8bRFClGXPQ9c7POCRrhfWftACY221tFzrhKVGp9nzbDIUMpGPqVk9ehDEx7Zb24mvSKTyCCtWKGCIt4fIVBsFOcNwQk-G1QXCQYwhqPyE1w91u_12NOwVHnU8zyRHZOiZeXr7HK/s1600/IMG_4170.jpg"><br /></a>It was a lovely Mother's Day.<br /><br />I'm glad to have something fun to post about after the sorrow of my last entry. And to those who don't know... remember the MFA exam I had to take in the midst of trying to spend every second that I could in the barn with Mickey? I had already decided that if I didn't pass, I would say "screw it, I don't need an MFA to write" and continue on my merry way. But then I found out that my professors were so impressed that they passed me with the highest marks they could give. I was in shock since I felt like my essays were barely adequate. I also received the good news that my thesis was approved. I'm heading in tomorrow to pick it up and look at the changes Graduate Studies & Research have requested, and hopefully pass my foreign language exam in Spanish. Hopefully.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you so much to all who have offered their kind words and support during this difficult time, both here and on Facebook. It means a lot to all of us.</span><br /></div>Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-12991627570438272232010-05-06T14:26:00.001-07:002010-05-06T16:07:33.448-07:00House of Mourning<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicapKzEsx4vrfD-vgrqLX6tEI2Lo188hjAPeh7M16VSzZ4uvivYrVJubkeaMkOwnliD795n4vfzRdnSyRqX1mVb6DM0nNJnU7JRklc3xIrXQovfi310BFzKMs3XGApLU9x_pVhxCN2KuzT/s1600/IMG_3317.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicapKzEsx4vrfD-vgrqLX6tEI2Lo188hjAPeh7M16VSzZ4uvivYrVJubkeaMkOwnliD795n4vfzRdnSyRqX1mVb6DM0nNJnU7JRklc3xIrXQovfi310BFzKMs3XGApLU9x_pVhxCN2KuzT/s400/IMG_3317.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468286927537120706" border="0" /></a>I love you, Mickey boy<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiafH_TBY_CyL7sDi83aBJSN5YltlJk69NYhfEi_QWciEzYNNsRugDZgJy9_qk8nnQB4ab2OalhG8W9oZjVL-T6mvhM7Vj14VFHUrx-rqciH4GAC2CsrMboHOtVaYEGQVz5w-wYcYT9Mbe/s1600/IMG_3303.jpg"><br /></a>It's been a month since my last post, though it feels longer. Much longer. I've been avoiding updating for some time but have forced myself to do it. I've lived in a house of mourning.<br /><br />For several days, Mickey's stall sat empty. Some of his fur that he shed was still fluttering about, getting plucked up by chickadees for their nests. His water bucket sat still and cool, as if waiting for him. The meal he never finished lined his trough. These were the hardest things to see. Remnants of daily life when he was gone.<br /><br />Mickey was a true warrior. He fought to live until the very end. Over the two weeks that he had colic (which the vet thought must have set some kind of record) he had good times and he had bad times. When he was lying on the ground, twitching or trying to roll in pain despite being on Banamine (a powerful painkiller), the idea of putting him to sleep seemed reasonable. But then, an hour later, a half hour, or sometimes minutes, he'd get back up and start nosing his hay and playing the nipping game with Houdini, our other gelding. It was a decision that was nearly impossible to make.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXzaqLgzTjjshB955TXCgzWQUc3QFnLQaGLJ04K9AnWZb6sLfTVO-0BJFtxNGz1Zi_H9Q5LzL52vxiINdxIWQXw_PuM8weDZH0SK93YqeY7JKgO8BQcXW2agkKwvgY4n-afZHNybfzDX5/s1600/IMG_3197.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXzaqLgzTjjshB955TXCgzWQUc3QFnLQaGLJ04K9AnWZb6sLfTVO-0BJFtxNGz1Zi_H9Q5LzL52vxiINdxIWQXw_PuM8weDZH0SK93YqeY7JKgO8BQcXW2agkKwvgY4n-afZHNybfzDX5/s400/IMG_3197.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468286895143399762" border="0" /></a>Brothers<br /><br />Enjoying the Afternoon<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwSJvDr99kwFiPZn890Lnw4Q3vJAdmhkLMLnbws6tKYItcQCZ3Y4GU1dFzq2hCrLqOkBVgkLhyIMfzuZJt6cg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9d54SsRMJPMdMkXRsllqHEal14nDVgZrKuW6Ast8TNvny-3sIe2ZDQuLM1kdV3d2UkcDp6rioJSex8rK8HNsEghirI6Vy6IcTLYypIwceQ3NNsdnF-iCh7BXEc3v4sZwoDN2VGe4A4RM/s1600/IMG_3383.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9d54SsRMJPMdMkXRsllqHEal14nDVgZrKuW6Ast8TNvny-3sIe2ZDQuLM1kdV3d2UkcDp6rioJSex8rK8HNsEghirI6Vy6IcTLYypIwceQ3NNsdnF-iCh7BXEc3v4sZwoDN2VGe4A4RM/s400/IMG_3383.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468287830499290786" border="0" /></a>Taking a nap with Chee Chee's paws on his head<br /></div><br />For many days, we hydrated him through his IV, gave him painkiller, watched for and warded off Laminitis, walked him to ease his cramps, grazed him to get his guts going, brushed him until he was sleek, which was no small feat considering what a woolly mammoth he became every winter. In the midst of all this, when all I wanted was to spend time with Mickey, I had to write my MFA Exam. I did what I could with the essays and sent them in, not having the energy to give a damn. My little brother also turned 21, so we did the best we could to celebrate under the circumstances. The vet tried a belly tap and flooding his intestines with a huge dose of IV saline to test for a rotting part of his gut: nothing. She pumped him with oils to help him pass a blockage: nothing. His colic was a mystery.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvP5OJcnZ0VhqPAHCwO3PUUnaOkU8sEqTQ5ROEqoRNDmYyGc2tAI18-Vg96vdpjYTnh10jtMNdpyY4UqigWryyDD4twuOODrA1W3y_InI12Lj9tSohZiJO7iYANMZE3_k44VZnv7iOc-y/s1600/IMG_3413.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvP5OJcnZ0VhqPAHCwO3PUUnaOkU8sEqTQ5ROEqoRNDmYyGc2tAI18-Vg96vdpjYTnh10jtMNdpyY4UqigWryyDD4twuOODrA1W3y_InI12Lj9tSohZiJO7iYANMZE3_k44VZnv7iOc-y/s400/IMG_3413.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468287843825504594" border="0" /></a>Cheech watches us with Mickey. The Commie slinks by in the background. The vet kept watching him and saying "...That is a <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>strange cat." She agreed that he was a communist.<br /></div><br />But when she pulled out hard stool in a rectal exam and saw how dark it was, she knew that there wasn't much more reason to have hope. The poops were literally like rocks, smelled like booze (fermenting) and the dark substance coating them was more than likely intestinal blood. We'll never know what exactly was killing him, but it was likely a lipoma: a tumor constricting his intestines, blocking the passage of poop.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9A7PuCHt9_SaA_LGFuILV5D3TLjGBfqtE3qqOsPZNcUVBZ4ruY0JC8xQmQMLf0RW9u4Ik85f1m0gJLM3wl0Ymy54tbDIh6sXLMi1mxZQBsbLRCLupoh991SbFO6D3xVQ7errzoK7iwpF/s1600/IMG_3422.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9A7PuCHt9_SaA_LGFuILV5D3TLjGBfqtE3qqOsPZNcUVBZ4ruY0JC8xQmQMLf0RW9u4Ik85f1m0gJLM3wl0Ymy54tbDIh6sXLMi1mxZQBsbLRCLupoh991SbFO6D3xVQ7errzoK7iwpF/s400/IMG_3422.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468287858183634626" border="0" /></a>Poor Mickey watching the vet warily<br /></div><br />There is an equine surgical center an hour or two away, but unfortunately, Mickey wasn't a surgical candidate because of his bad heart murmur. In fact, the first vet who came out to treat him heard his heart and panicked, thinking we should put him down right then and there because he was suffering from heart failure. She said it was the worst heart she'd ever heard. I'm sure she's great at what she does, but she was only a few years older than me, so I kept thinking, "okay, but how many bad hearts <span style="font-style: italic;">have </span>you heard?" It turned out that my mistrust in her prognosis was well-placed, for when our regular vet made it out to see him, she didn't think that his heart was an issue and said it sounded the same as it always has.<br /><br />After we saw the hard stool, she reminded us that we had to look at the whole picture. While there were times when he was alert, pain-free, and content, there were plenty where he was roiling in pain, and there was nothing we could do to fix him. That made the decision a little easier to make, but no easier to bear.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfT_W287DDp_1o5X_U31eQQ0dueaflpSYXH3zgD37lxxtMHwzaAYC0ZbTl9vlHsj7uwFRZ7GBXhwRMfSfRRTQk5KzhYdR_pKLHPmRJfa3EBfP-v_mk-ki8MMrKj1tc5-4x9FU-_uAmLQR/s1600/IMG_3443.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfT_W287DDp_1o5X_U31eQQ0dueaflpSYXH3zgD37lxxtMHwzaAYC0ZbTl9vlHsj7uwFRZ7GBXhwRMfSfRRTQk5KzhYdR_pKLHPmRJfa3EBfP-v_mk-ki8MMrKj1tc5-4x9FU-_uAmLQR/s400/IMG_3443.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468287870243954322" border="0" /></a>Saying goodbye to Houdini and Sparrow</div><br />I am so grateful for those extra 10 days that we had with Mickey since my last post. But as my mom wisely observed, "It'll never be enough time." While he was sick, I woke up every morning, ate breakfast, and went straight to the barn to simply sit beside him. Nothing else mattered. I could hardly stand to watch TV at night, for it felt like I lived in a different world than everyone else who was not looking loss in the eye.<br /><br />On that last day, he wasn't eating much aside from the fresh grass (thank goodness he got sick in the spring!) and carrots, so I spoiled him by feeding him a whole bag.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXFVK2-TlH8Xh4eltpZaZySuy3ksuw3wrumdTt6YAJNq4DaS4vCxIDZyOQVmdn3hfvVLXCLLvcmp0n63M0RZNQ3X0sKK2GWfnPCbNo26koY3XgqvdKIYD12MQ87rPGKQ9pb5PISy5-feA/s1600/IMG_3364.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXFVK2-TlH8Xh4eltpZaZySuy3ksuw3wrumdTt6YAJNq4DaS4vCxIDZyOQVmdn3hfvVLXCLLvcmp0n63M0RZNQ3X0sKK2GWfnPCbNo26koY3XgqvdKIYD12MQ87rPGKQ9pb5PISy5-feA/s400/IMG_3364.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468287817697348802" border="0" /></a>Grazing at his favorite patch of grass<br /><br />Enjoying a carrot<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyrFmnwiPgRmfCItx8DmW9xoV1MB_DIIXb6JJktR93b00jVDlfq2A1w9FoEHOm22AZQnzMubLwQ6g7lFXQA6Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />The sun was out and I like to think he had a pleasant last day. He got to graze, eat treats, be brushed, feel the sun, and play with Houdini a little. The night before, I sat with him in his stall, watching as he gazed, transfixed, at some deer grazing in the distance. The birds were singing as they sought roosts for the night, the insects were chirping, and all was peaceful. I will treasure that time with him forever.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiafH_TBY_CyL7sDi83aBJSN5YltlJk69NYhfEi_QWciEzYNNsRugDZgJy9_qk8nnQB4ab2OalhG8W9oZjVL-T6mvhM7Vj14VFHUrx-rqciH4GAC2CsrMboHOtVaYEGQVz5w-wYcYT9Mbe/s1600/IMG_3303.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiafH_TBY_CyL7sDi83aBJSN5YltlJk69NYhfEi_QWciEzYNNsRugDZgJy9_qk8nnQB4ab2OalhG8W9oZjVL-T6mvhM7Vj14VFHUrx-rqciH4GAC2CsrMboHOtVaYEGQVz5w-wYcYT9Mbe/s400/IMG_3303.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468286915770634994" border="0" /></a>Watching the deer<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfT_W287DDp_1o5X_U31eQQ0dueaflpSYXH3zgD37lxxtMHwzaAYC0ZbTl9vlHsj7uwFRZ7GBXhwRMfSfRRTQk5KzhYdR_pKLHPmRJfa3EBfP-v_mk-ki8MMrKj1tc5-4x9FU-_uAmLQR/s1600/IMG_3443.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTk1bgQVQmryMcut2AYKszbVOghovGb9c2NS0ccEaYSMrz92gYEQvJtnlfF2TvoFAj7eleSRQqQ3zx2h_5mXIGc6mrxwg0uYqWJaN1y-GFSjS3R9mnD9le_m0CQXLQgs9M_f3xvjAeEC6/s1600/IMG_3345.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTk1bgQVQmryMcut2AYKszbVOghovGb9c2NS0ccEaYSMrz92gYEQvJtnlfF2TvoFAj7eleSRQqQ3zx2h_5mXIGc6mrxwg0uYqWJaN1y-GFSjS3R9mnD9le_m0CQXLQgs9M_f3xvjAeEC6/s400/IMG_3345.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468286936761890690" border="0" /></a>I'll always remember his silhouette<br /></div><br />This is very difficult for me to write, which is why I have been avoiding it for so long. My eyes are pooling with tears. I will love and miss him forever. He was my big brother. One of my earliest memories is of walking down to the barn to meet him when I was five, and being too short to see over the stall door. He has taught me so much, and we have shared so many adventures. He gave the best hugs in the world. When I wrapped my arms around him, I was filled with a deep sense of peace, as if my soul were soothed.<br /><br />I don't think you ever really get over the loss of a horse. My mare Maya died when I was thirteen, and I still weep for her. The bond we share with every animal has a unique nature. That which you share with a horse is the most spiritual. It is a bond of pure trust and affection. When you ride, you trust the horse with your life, as the horse trusts you, for you are his herd leader, his <span style="font-style: italic;">Itancan </span>and he is your imitator, your <span style="font-style: italic;">Waunca</span>. On his back, you are literally spine to spine. You become one. Where you look, he looks. You give direction with the slightest pressure in your knee or heel or brush of the reins upon his neck. When deer and other wildlife see you, the see you as one animal and they only smell the horse. You are free to re-enter nature as an herbivore, not a predator, and observe life without the fear of man. That bond, that unity of spirit, that oneness is beautiful, emboldening, and one of the greatest pleasures and sources of pride in my life. The pain of it being ripped away is terrible.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBrJqTMUZxmh3bzhy3-5dBw1KX1TGDBZ0MB4Uf5C5lPZGOG0DR1SRnyq5VgmaoQH4TImH7Nctr113hMPUtTl4ADzUmU-mR2wApWIBk-J6GgTH4kXmyS4w-GCfKMsxuxWuXVC_1iQUnTWD/s1600/IMG_3226.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBrJqTMUZxmh3bzhy3-5dBw1KX1TGDBZ0MB4Uf5C5lPZGOG0DR1SRnyq5VgmaoQH4TImH7Nctr113hMPUtTl4ADzUmU-mR2wApWIBk-J6GgTH4kXmyS4w-GCfKMsxuxWuXVC_1iQUnTWD/s400/IMG_3226.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468286908122446498" border="0" /></a>Since I cut some of his hair to keep, I gave him some of mine<br /></div><br />Those who have never bonded with a horse will find it difficult to understand the pain. Losing any animal is awful, but there is a sense of a sundered spirit with the loss of a horse.<br /><br />Unfortunately, Mickey wasn't our only loss. Clara, Alex's beloved guinea pig and my "little piggy sister" or "grandchild," passed away on a Wednesday night after our frantic attempts to save her amidst caring for Mickey. She was nearly seven, however, which is the full lifespan of a guinea pig. The following Wednesday, Mickey was put down. He was at least thirty, which is old age for a horse. Watching him fall after the vet injected him with poison was one of the most horrible things I've ever witnessed. The following Wednesday, the third in a row, my cat Junior, or "June June" was unable to eat and bleeding a little from her mouth. We took her to the vet and he said that she had a tumor in her throat that was so large that if they removed it, she wouldn't have enough tongue to eat. She left this world peacefully and didn't leave my arms from the vet clinic until I laid her in the ground amidst spring flowers.<br /><br />Our animal cemetery is getting full.<br /><br />And while I think of it, here's a tip directed at no one in particular, but based on how I have felt these past few weeks. If you are fortunate enough to have never lost a beloved animal, much less a human you were close with, don't offer the grieving advice. Don't try to give pep talks or say "I know how you feel" or "this will pass," because, frankly, one of the emotions of grief is anger, and saying things like that might make someone want to punch you in the face. Especially when they know you've never been through a death.<br /><br />Losing three animal siblings has been very hard. I'm so lucky to have my family, and that we all have our health. In a way, knowing that so many of my loved ones have gone before me has made me see death with more comfort than in the past. If there's the chance that I'll see them again, then I'll be all right.<br /><br />And on the subject of the Other Side... I think the dove "Jesus" was more than a dove.<br /><br />We tried to find her home by putting up signs and placing an ad in the paper. At least two people offered to adopt her (we took it to a local who raises them and she said it was a female, however she pointed out how drastically different it looked compared to her birds, which was odd) but no one claimed her. When the ad in the paper was going to end, I intended to set her free and see if she would fly home.<br /><br />The evening that Mickey was put to sleep, we were all gathered at the barn, weeping and hugging his body. My dad went up to the house for a minute and heard a commotion. He looked out at the rock wall where we had been placing the dove's cage so that she could watch the other birds at the bird feeder, and she wasn't there. The cage was on the ground, open, and the neighbor's puppies were up the hillside. Maybe they pushed it, but the spring latch to the door would be next to impossible for a dog to open. Thumbs do have their advantages. We've tried to get the cage to spring open on its own by dropping it to no avail.<br /><br />The white dove appeared on Easter, the first day we knew Mickey was sick. She left ten days later, shortly after (or during, for all we know) his death. And she hasn't returned. Given that she'd been hanging out at the bird feeder on Easter before we found her in Mickey's stall, you'd think she'd return for a meal or two. The vet heard the story and thought it was as strange as we did.<br /><br />Most cultures view birds as messengers of the gods, or embodiments of visiting spirits. We wondered if she could have been Maya or Misty (Mickey's old friend who died a few years ago) or even our grandma come to guide his spirit. When we were in the vet's office with Junior, my mom told the story to the receptionist. She said her friend, who was an Indian (I don't know what nation), had told her that in her culture, it is believed that white doves come to guide the spirits of the dying. While we were in with Junior, the receptionist called her friend to double-check, and wound up crying on the phone. She had the story right.<br /><br />It could easily be explained, but it also makes you wonder. Maybe enough people have observed these things that over the centuries, and the beliefs that birds are messengers/guides has stuck for a reason. Maybe it's true.<br /><br />The other part of the puzzle that made me wonder was Junior. As the runt, I used to have to pull other kittens away from teats so that she could nurse. My older brother often picked on her just because she was "my" cat. She also had an independent spirit by nature and spent most of her time hunting. Because of the time I spent with her, she always let me pet her more than other people. But recently, she would even take a swipe at me when I'd stop petting her, like she would do to everyone else. Holding her was almost always out of the question (unless you wanted to have scars).<br /><br />Yet in that hospital room, she turned sweet as can be. She rubbed on everything and everyone, let me hold her, and even snuggled against me, sitting in my lap. Never in her life had she been so affectionate. Twice she looked me in the eye for an extended period of time, and Alex said she looked her in the eye, too. Junior normally would never hold still long enough to look at our faces. My grandma loved cats, and I started to wonder if she was there, calming her, looking through her eyes at her granddaughters. I hope that's true, because the idea of grandma taking care of June June feels right. They'll take care of each other.<br /><br />On top of all this loss and graduation stress, I headed to Las Vegas to accept my screenwriting awards. I'll post more about that later. We left the day after Mickey died and came back three days later.<br /><br />That evening, I wandered into Mickey's empty stall and headed down to the corner where he always loved to lie in the sun. He had the sweetest scent I've ever smelled on a horse, and suddenly I was overwhelmed by it. I thought there must be some of his fur on the ground, but didn't look, and took in several wonderful breaths, smelling him. Then the breeze blew and the scent was gone. When I looked, there was no fur, no hair, and I realized it had been too strong for that, anyway. It was as if my nose had been buried against his mane.<br /><br />I love and miss you, too, my sweet brother.Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942079898777346435.post-42783397055672941342010-04-06T20:47:00.000-07:002010-04-06T21:40:12.251-07:00Sick Horses, Jesus, and Bureaucrats<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_E1XqQPaChsqM0DyIMLfibfIUo9hin5dRAnaZxbHS3r6quBzEon0Fo8auhnA4nzp2Ly9eeoeKp9ULEJxFfNtPyAo126Zz1ee7cmzkaRx5jHu1SFOiM1rQZlywlJIByCVbpTNoy5GJt_mF/s1600/IMG_2932.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_E1XqQPaChsqM0DyIMLfibfIUo9hin5dRAnaZxbHS3r6quBzEon0Fo8auhnA4nzp2Ly9eeoeKp9ULEJxFfNtPyAo126Zz1ee7cmzkaRx5jHu1SFOiM1rQZlywlJIByCVbpTNoy5GJt_mF/s400/IMG_2932.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457237677802678674" border="0" /></a>Easter cheesecake!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZQGRDP1TZwmtIKC4K_lWnrVWdVi_GJtonjQaQtJcZT_3h841aOylhrzALNVR6E4H1S2YluRnNw3WpLt0GQ6KzvSv1vWGMO-AbRChd4f1N2CubO19TssplOermczetQ3gOYD0_eciPH_Q/s1600/IMG_2937.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZQGRDP1TZwmtIKC4K_lWnrVWdVi_GJtonjQaQtJcZT_3h841aOylhrzALNVR6E4H1S2YluRnNw3WpLt0GQ6KzvSv1vWGMO-AbRChd4f1N2CubO19TssplOermczetQ3gOYD0_eciPH_Q/s400/IMG_2937.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457237688228443570" border="0" /></a>Alex takes a bite of a See's Scotchmallow egg<br /><br /></div>Happy Easter!<br /><br />It was quite an eventful day for us, though not in the most pleasant sense. The morning was slow and started off with one of my professors paying a visit, of all things, to sign my thesis form. After we hunted for eggs and found our Easter baskets, of course, and breakfasted on coffee cake. It was a rainy day and when my mom went down to feed the horses, she discovered that Mickey wouldn't get up. That's never a good sign, especially for him since he loves food so much.<br /><br />We knew he had colic and set about doing what we could to help him. For those that don't know, a horse's stomach is a one-way street. When they get any sort of blockage or intestinal problem, they can't throw up and can quickly get so ill that they will die. When I was 13 I lost one of the greatest friends of my life, my horse Maya, to sand colic (a sand impaction in her gut). The only way to treat colic without the help of a vet is to walk the horse in an attempt to get their guts going.<br /><br />We walked Mickey lots, and he grazed on the fresh grass every once in a while, which was a good sign. We listened to his heart to make sure it wasn't beating too quickly (a sign of a more serious type of colic) and while it was normal, his heart murmur was frighteningly loud. To compare, I listened to our other horses' hearts, and while I was doing so, Mickey did a huge fart and a poop, which was great because it meant that he wasn't completely blocked.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkf73DsSTIznv1ENYxGD5tL8Dc1rRcivMT5_LIVO4q61XnX8ns4yu-sMbhjW1LC8dToKlKomC4VkDILzVdV9PDHGqFQNqQtBMXuOKN_X4tWsSmceKeGi8opJAPRDlGT01wEPFehbKjPWy/s1600/IMG_2979.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkf73DsSTIznv1ENYxGD5tL8Dc1rRcivMT5_LIVO4q61XnX8ns4yu-sMbhjW1LC8dToKlKomC4VkDILzVdV9PDHGqFQNqQtBMXuOKN_X4tWsSmceKeGi8opJAPRDlGT01wEPFehbKjPWy/s400/IMG_2979.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457238613829130786" border="0" /></a>Black the Communist watches us care for Mickey<br /></div><br />We put a rain coat on him for the night and hoped that he'd get better, but he didn't. I had to head in to school to turn in my thesis, so I wasn't there while the vet came, but Alex took these pictures. Mickey was severely dehydrated and that might be what caused the colic in the first place. Sometimes horses won't drink when it's cold out, and it's been unusually cold lately. The vet hooked Mickey up to an IV and gave him three huge bags full of liquids. He started to perk up and ever since he has been doing his best to get better, but he's not back to his old self yet, which has me worried. When he's all better I won't mind looking at these pictures, but for now they're a painful reminder of the discomfort of my friend.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtmGwh7_VaNkQbWFCdAeiCrX0eSjC0MwrxK8ECGpnOfBDBtI9tkFlJl45Tbnn-VPjqYn6iLubnIu8F_Jkqye5dU8eLq7FQxdyfTow8wPaQfTqKgyOj_F5RvEFxBAghS04it89zDIjwhRS/s1600/IMG_2941.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtmGwh7_VaNkQbWFCdAeiCrX0eSjC0MwrxK8ECGpnOfBDBtI9tkFlJl45Tbnn-VPjqYn6iLubnIu8F_Jkqye5dU8eLq7FQxdyfTow8wPaQfTqKgyOj_F5RvEFxBAghS04it89zDIjwhRS/s400/IMG_2941.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457237699591707394" border="0" /></a>Mickey's catheter for the IV and any medicine<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxG0skDeeSy-rpQw6ssFIRv_2iRE5-Vqgs1AhwwtqLNiRQlVjNtxgneNHZafBXCfObCqmh_FI0n2teLasLZvCYDo9q0hveR8aO1oVPMdIbQl2CYaHY7rUVZ3hjCBPRC23rDHOaKjdiCt3X/s1600/IMG_2945.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxG0skDeeSy-rpQw6ssFIRv_2iRE5-Vqgs1AhwwtqLNiRQlVjNtxgneNHZafBXCfObCqmh_FI0n2teLasLZvCYDo9q0hveR8aO1oVPMdIbQl2CYaHY7rUVZ3hjCBPRC23rDHOaKjdiCt3X/s400/IMG_2945.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457237703412250754" border="0" /></a>The gallons of saline<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhpBORpxzBMpO0yUvOsvzaScXwrCs5s8-YZP8pWce2HcKT0wPb7xOf5RU-zCtjsfj38YoyejE9myTjL5dhWXAplxCcx3or_OJZkernnQl2J8IqCj0lp-Lg6FJEqaKElSuoWnYJ-jrPCVN/s1600/IMG_2973.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhpBORpxzBMpO0yUvOsvzaScXwrCs5s8-YZP8pWce2HcKT0wPb7xOf5RU-zCtjsfj38YoyejE9myTjL5dhWXAplxCcx3or_OJZkernnQl2J8IqCj0lp-Lg6FJEqaKElSuoWnYJ-jrPCVN/s400/IMG_2973.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457238608066986866" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegiKt1L6QPLbFHSK5qqy-WgONVOkKqDDS0Z7Gqiz-y00qKCGoCLBOPOa3hnWW7VutkyiMVemJZLAlgbED7CDV3NX9CUtSUrDFjj6dE00WDGCMx1HIqemnMfg6DJqiMCTcAoXJquKJMbcG/s1600/IMG_2952.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegiKt1L6QPLbFHSK5qqy-WgONVOkKqDDS0Z7Gqiz-y00qKCGoCLBOPOa3hnWW7VutkyiMVemJZLAlgbED7CDV3NX9CUtSUrDFjj6dE00WDGCMx1HIqemnMfg6DJqiMCTcAoXJquKJMbcG/s400/IMG_2952.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457237712987363234" border="0" /></a>Enjoying some grass. We left the catheter in because we had to give him two more bags of saline today and might have to give him another tomorrow.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVZGXSy6COv3RuEsDuM-Vwa827zdNvZAAm_DMjCNhCjy2BVa8KUHrxF4kFwyLLuyXJAuOFZRXCFxXmGC5X3txLYWftVw34b-fPP7THirfvmBLCumukSy0LURabX76nhyh0fjtzmyNxZbS/s1600/IMG_2966.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVZGXSy6COv3RuEsDuM-Vwa827zdNvZAAm_DMjCNhCjy2BVa8KUHrxF4kFwyLLuyXJAuOFZRXCFxXmGC5X3txLYWftVw34b-fPP7THirfvmBLCumukSy0LURabX76nhyh0fjtzmyNxZbS/s400/IMG_2966.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457238598850707010" border="0" /></a>Chee Chee and Black watch all the goings on<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOtmbl-TLEYM04khW21Uvp0iXIjF91NgRq7pv-oozV8NDXQl-2NHUnrdVo4GIvdgzsVOEK5GpBgilA-v8WRUxOpJkR07e8LwXZnsgq8t5R-egXlRghXpE3L9ZQqKqPlGdXz_4OKKjx5gt/s1600/IMG_2970.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOtmbl-TLEYM04khW21Uvp0iXIjF91NgRq7pv-oozV8NDXQl-2NHUnrdVo4GIvdgzsVOEK5GpBgilA-v8WRUxOpJkR07e8LwXZnsgq8t5R-egXlRghXpE3L9ZQqKqPlGdXz_4OKKjx5gt/s400/IMG_2970.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457238291990375074" border="0" /></a>The peacock struts his stuff for Orangie and Bathilda Junior, the hens, while a grossly fascinated Houdini watches<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbEYMBKrjN_tieSqOVPn52-0gRWwdeVr0MWEsBxhwnF2XAeXtE7ZNFpL97OJp_TN1TWdZoARAVN_IRxdSgKFs-tLJq9pEW0gEW99HVHRbjhieG7u_Avf7KxFX2av56ZsxQxUSfy1FkRFe/s1600/IMG_2955.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbEYMBKrjN_tieSqOVPn52-0gRWwdeVr0MWEsBxhwnF2XAeXtE7ZNFpL97OJp_TN1TWdZoARAVN_IRxdSgKFs-tLJq9pEW0gEW99HVHRbjhieG7u_Avf7KxFX2av56ZsxQxUSfy1FkRFe/s400/IMG_2955.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457238272352054306" border="0" /></a>Mickey is making a fashion statement by wearing my mom's tanktop on his neck to keep his catheter covered up<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iTXemItaZ7-t_rSFZJ2lt8i6-KgTwjdDXtnQ_y2BjQnQ2dyoA0ObVVjHfKA-nMDWcA8yj2F72VuP1GOh6TrrtPpcqwPe8xkgWarMQEMPDTdZbdacJk6B7F_4pA-DX-tf04EBVX12OJwv/s1600/IMG_2985.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iTXemItaZ7-t_rSFZJ2lt8i6-KgTwjdDXtnQ_y2BjQnQ2dyoA0ObVVjHfKA-nMDWcA8yj2F72VuP1GOh6TrrtPpcqwPe8xkgWarMQEMPDTdZbdacJk6B7F_4pA-DX-tf04EBVX12OJwv/s400/IMG_2985.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457238622438402994" border="0" /></a>Commie says hi!<br /></div><br />I've grown up with Mickey -- he's like my big brother. A part of my soul is in him and a part of his is in me. Which is why the thought of losing him is almost unbearable, but I know it will happen someday. I just hope that someday is far, far away.<br /><br />On the bus ride to campus yesterday I was finding it hard to keep my mask in place and not cry. I was so worried over Mickey. Memories of Maya kept flooding me, for there was a point where she pooped and we thought she was better and that she would make it, then she died. It was several years before I even rode Mickey again after losing Maya.<br /><br />Getting my thesis formed signed involved SNAFU after SNAFU that if I shared here, I would sound rather preposterous. Literally everything I did engendered some sort of unforeseen complication. It got to the point where I was ready for something to go wrong at every turn.<br /><br />One of my professors was down the coast at the time and we'd arranged (and cleared with Graduate Studies) to have her sign and fax my form to me at the university. I waited outside the English Department Office for them to open after lunch, and when they did (10 mins late) the woman who "helped" me smelled of cigarettes and was so disrespectful and absolutely vile that I'm considering filing a complaint against her with the organization that polices state employees.<br /><br />After first berating me for the audacity to suggest that an office admin would be willing to help me send a quick fax to a colleague, she proceeded to tell me how a signed fax would never be accepted in the first place, and I had to spell out my situation for her and even hand over the e-mail from Graduate Studies to prove that I wasn't a moron. She read every word of the e-mail then handed it back saying "I don't know why they would do that" then snatched the fax from me and sent it, claiming "I have things to do, I can't sit around and wait for your fax to be returned." I wasn't under the impression that short, overweight, dyed-blondes with too much make-up needed to sit beside fax machines for them to work, but whatever.<br /><br />As I gave her the fax number I almost started crying. Not because she was succeeding in her quest to belittle me and make me feel as guilty as possible, but because all I wanted to do was get home to my sick horse and do what I could to help him, and here was this petty person lecturing me and taking up both of our time. In fact, in the time she took to lecture me, she could have sent and received the fax.<br /><br />I offered several times to take my business elsewhere but she insisted that she would do it, then continued to complain. I've seen that personality before. The type of person who will assist you but not before making you feel as small and guilty as possible. What a sad life. I apologized for imposing on her and she snapped "It's fine" as she walked away. She was the hyperbole of the bureaucrat.<br /><br />In the end, she sent the fax then sat in her office for the rest of the time I was there. I picked up the received fax myself, and when my professor called to make sure I received it, I warned her that she might get a complaint because the staff wasn't happy that I asked to use their fax machine. My professor asked who complained then went on a short tirade of what I should tell her -- that my teacher had requested it and that if she had any problem with it, she should talk to my teacher and not me.<br /><br />Once I had the fax I stopped by Graduate Studies to double-check that they would accept it, and the woman who helped me there was very polite and kind and laughed when I said that a woman in the English office thought the signature wouldn't be accepted, because my e-mail giving me permission was from the thesis coordinator herself, who is far above any office employees. "Someone's power tripping!" she said when I made a brief comment about what I had to go through just to get the fax!<br /><br />Anyway, after many miscommunications, bureaucrats, names on a page and editing of my manuscript, my thesis is turned in! I await Graduate Studies' requests, and will take my MFA exam this coming weekend, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.<br /><br />Oh, and on Easter, when we went into Mickey's stall to check on him, Alex pointed with wide eyes, too shocked to speak. I stepped into the stall and followed her gaze. A pristine white dove was nestled by Mickey's feeder. When I went to pick it up, it flew away a little bit, out into the rain, yet clearly didn't have the strength to fly very far. Since it was Easter, I immediately shouted "Wait, Jesus come back!" I had to chase Jesus a bit, but eventually caught him/her and tucked it into my raincoat.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_zsbbKLwqWQzQKp7ve_pP5uIT0cdiHq_reblRi4evtWxurVJNWn7l7y-enas446TpS3BwoNf77UiubGBMEQhpVGg3SS8BxD7NMcjE265h_TmR8kEdz6IVr9aBbQWIwH9PNUOYpfm0cwv/s1600/IMG_2958.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_zsbbKLwqWQzQKp7ve_pP5uIT0cdiHq_reblRi4evtWxurVJNWn7l7y-enas446TpS3BwoNf77UiubGBMEQhpVGg3SS8BxD7NMcjE265h_TmR8kEdz6IVr9aBbQWIwH9PNUOYpfm0cwv/s400/IMG_2958.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457238255342530178" border="0" /></a>Jesus, our guest<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Jesus took shelter in our barn from a storm, but he clearly belongs to someone. Today we took Comanche out on a walk with us as we posted "Found White Dove" signs up. Hopefully someone with information will call soon, because Jesus isn't fond of our dogs, who are very fond of him. Chee keeps pawing at the cage and wagging his tail, enjoying the reaction of the bird running around. We've since covered Jesus' cage up so that he can get some peace and quiet<span style="text-decoration: underline;">.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYseScLqrvQTkyIhl117Dfb3hohuGQ7uSr80ZB9ELhVyxCqgl4-VHoQ_2dVJBqGL59q70DwkTmT331n7O9A8u-K4po2hzR12c0EbZXPnln2ECJbg0rM8D0__VXpnsbb5OEhyphenhyphen2l_QFp9oOL/s1600/IMG_2960.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYseScLqrvQTkyIhl117Dfb3hohuGQ7uSr80ZB9ELhVyxCqgl4-VHoQ_2dVJBqGL59q70DwkTmT331n7O9A8u-K4po2hzR12c0EbZXPnln2ECJbg0rM8D0__VXpnsbb5OEhyphenhyphen2l_QFp9oOL/s400/IMG_2960.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457249061619245234" border="0" /></a>Comanche watches Jesus<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tracie --</span> Yeah, he scares me, too. I think he looks like an Ewok. And thanks for your encouragement!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">the other amanda --</span> There's a chance that Winnie the Pooh chair is still out there! ;)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mackenzie's Momma --</span> No worries, sweetie. I'm glad you took the time to stop by again but am sorry to hear of the stress lately. How's your grandma doing? Yes, he is a Persian, and thank you for your support! :)<br /></div><br /></div>Kelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11780845099722720545noreply@blogger.com5