I finished another book!

It's like a new world record for me. Since I posted that first reading one... I believe it was just one month ago... I've now finished 3 of those Sisterchicks books.

I'd really LOVE to recommend them to everyone. They're awesome. You seasoned readers out there, will zip right through them in just a few hours, I swear. (I mean heck, If I can do it, you all surely could.)

The one I just finished reading was Sisterchicks On the Loose! - Robin Jones Gunn, it's a story about two gals (aka: sisterchicks) that visit Finland, to visit one of their long lost aunt and family. I grew up 2 houses down from a part Finnish family, their dad was from Finland, and mom was from Utah I think. I'm not sure, but I was good friends with their daughter. She only taught me two words in Finnish. Lintu, means bird, and I'll spare you the other one. Its colorful, but not a swear word. lol

Anyway, the reason for this post, is because in the back of the Sisterchicks on the Loose book, there are recommendations for other books, that may be of use to a few of you in the near future.

The first, I think would be awesome for Brianna (even though you may not want her to grow up... she will), and maybe even Hannah... It's Gentle Passages: Guiding Your Daughter into Womanhood Here's what they say about the book:
"Every woman who has an adolescent daughter recognizes her own forgotten questions and insecurities mirrored in those bright young eyes. How can she let her know that she understands these changes, too strange and intimate for her daughter to mention? How can she make the passage into womanhood not a shameful, unpleasant experience but a harmonious and joyful one -- an invitation to a treasured role in God's eyes? Robin Jones Gunn shares stories of how this uncertain transition can become the loveliest time in the life of a mother and daughter, inspiring women with special traditions to carry on for generations to come."


I kinda wish I'd had this book what... 15 years ago?

There's another one that I'd like to have once I finally do have kids too... It's Mothering By Heart. Synopsis:
"Focusing upon the special bond between a mother and child, this unique gift book offers lilting poetry, poignant prose, spiritual insights, romantic photographic images, inspiring quotations, and heart-warming journal entries. A delightful companion to women of every age and background celebrating the vast and myriad joys of motherhood!"


I now adore Robin Jones Gunn, and I really hope to read all her other books, especially the Glenbrooke Series I'm going to try Sophie Kinsella next though. The "Shopaholic & Sister" book is next up for me. I just really can't believe I'm *this* excited about books. I always figured I was a teensy bit dyslexic, my eyes would always jump around when I read, and it was always super hard for me. Maybe its just with these Robin Jones Gunn books... It really doesn't seem that hard anymore. We'll see how I do with the Shopaholic books though, before I start screaming on the rooftops that my partial dyslexia has been cured.

Anyway, I can't recommend them enough. :) Go. Read. Love.

PS: No mail again today, and I'm leaving in a week! ack! I NEED it. :(

Beautiful Disaster

I've resigned myself to not ever getting that letter from my mom. I'm stopping watching the pot of boiling water. Now I've got to find a ride to Buffalo for next Tuesday the 31st, then when I come back, I should be able to come in with my jeep. If not, I have a "worst case scenerio" plan. I drive to CT, get new plates, and drive up through Quebec. They're like a whole other country... almost. They'r enot run by the same laws as the rest of Canada, for some reason. I'll have to learn french real quick to help me get by. But that's the plan... for now. :)

Hayley just introduced me to Jon McLaughlin. I likey. Although, I'm afraid the term "Beautiful Disaster" has long ago carved out a spot in my heart. LONG ago. LONG people.

In August of 1997 (In my opinion, the height of my music lovin') 311 put out their Transistor album. I fell in love. 311 isn't for the weak... and probably shouldn't be for the LDS either... but I love 'em. It's a weakness I guess. But ever since I've heard this song, I've loved 311, thought I was *THE* beautiful disaster, and I'd say this song is definitely in my top 5 faves of all time. :) Here's the music video, although I won't be offended if you no likey. Lyrics are below the video, but these are my favorite lyrics:
"you're a butterfly in the wind without a care, a pretty train crash to me and I can't care, I do I don't whatever."

I'd like to think I'm a pretty train crash too.

311 - Beautiful Disaster

Today seems like a good day
to burn a bridge or two
the one with my old wood creaking
that would burn away right on cue
I try to be not like that
'cuz some people really suck
some people need to get the axing
chalk it up to bad luck

I know a drugstore cowgirl
so afraid of getting bored
she's always running from something
so many things ignored
I might do that stuff if
it didn't make me feel like
I'm on some old reality tip
so many trips in it

Beautiful disaster
flyin' down the street again
I tried to keep up
you wore me out and left me ate up
now I wish you all the luck
you're a butterfly in the wind without a care
a pretty train crash to me and I can't care
I do I don't whatever

I know a drugstore cowgirl
so afraid of getting bored
she's always running from something
so many things ignored
I try to be not like this
but I thought it'd make a good song
there's nothing to see shows over
people just move along

Beautiful disaster
flyin' down the street again
I tried to keep up
you wore me out and left me ate up
now I wish you all the luck
you're a butterfly in the wind without a care
a pretty train crash to me and I can't care
I do I don't whatever

:)
Plus, the lead singer is cute:

The End.


Added Monday July 23, 2007 12:09PM
I edited out the swear word... I didn't realize it had one (sorry Amy), the version I listen to has it edited out. But then I realized the video doesn't edit it, so I just took it out. ;) See... Pretty train crash.

7 things about me...

Hayley, Holly, and a few of their friends have posted 7 things others may not know about them. So, I figure, rather than fret about mail I haven't received, and rather than play Desktop Tower Defense, or play with my fishies, I'll post *my* 7 little things... just as soon as I can think of them all.

1) I had eczema on my feet as a child. like really bad. They would crack and peel, I'd have to soak them nearly nightly, put some kind of cream on them (My favorite was this stuff called "Happy Feet" which we seemed to only be able to get from my dad's dad, Gramps.) And then put socks on, which would explain why it's hard for me to go to bed without wearing socks. For some reason, when I was in college, it seemed to clear up completely, for the first time, I had smooth feet, and it was awesome. :) In fact, a friend that had been in my elementary school classes, asked me if I was allergic to the rubber slippers worn in Hawaii, because he noticed my feet were always dry, peeling, and cracking. Later I found out he had a HUGE crush on me and would notice something grodie like that. I was such a nerd in 3rd grade. see?

This pic is actually 2nd grade, no idea where my 3rd grade picture is. look at that dorky hair cut. lol ...anyway...

2. I often wonder why I don't have diabetes. I am a sweet FREAK. I like NEED to have sugar. I think I'd die without it. It's insane. I used to eat sugar cubes, sugar packets, whatever... Now I just buy candy and hide it. I'm also amazed I'm not 800 lbs. While I am a little heavier than I'd like, all this walking I've been doing without my car, has allowed me to lose at least a pants size. And I can take my jeans off and pull them on without undoing the snap. Yes, I need new jeans. Maybe I'll get some in Utah in 2 weeks (or less!). If I had to give up sugar, I think I'd die.

3. I've recently learned that I can't handle being a hostess to more than 4 other people at a time. My husband was planning a HUGE BBQ for Canada Day, and kept inviting people over. more and more and MORE. At one point we had 10 people PLUS us invited over, and the worst thing was, he said "You bring the fireworks, I'll provide the beer." These are like, his parents' friends from the bar... while they're good people, they'd drink us out of house and home. This in a month where our rent was 10 days late. ANYWAY, I had a HUGE anxiety attack the Thursday before Canada Day, and I could not handle the stress of it all. It was ugly. I totally freaked out. The BBQ was cancelled, my husband was disappointed (in me mostly), but we've moved on, and I'm back to "normal" now. But I hate being a hostess. I'm terrible at it. bleh!

4. I didn't have a first boyfriend (if you could call him that) till I was 18. And like the Bon Jovi song says... Our very first kiss WAS our first kiss goodbye... he kind of stopped calling me as much, and we hung out WAY less than we did the 5 months before that... I still wrote to him on his mission and kept in touch for 2 years... when he came back he married my neighbor. Not that I was expecting him to marry me, I just didn't think she was his type. :| Yes, I have deep-seeded issues. Many issues. Also, like Holly, the number of guys I've kissed fits on 1 hand. And I shouldn't have kissed 2 of them. lol moving on...

5. Holly's braces post reminded me of my horrid past with my teeth. When I was 22 or 12, the dentist figured that I needed to have 2 teeth pulled, otherwise I'd end up with a snaggle tooth (thank HEAVEN he realized that! I hate snaggle teeth!) Anyway, the one on the right side of me found the airport, and grew in as it should... the other one... not so much. That single tooth has caused me SO much pain, anguish, and tears in my life. yes, tears. I've had oral surgery on it at least 3 times... They had to go up into my gums (where the new tooth was) wrap a wire around it, and leave the end hanging down like a hook. They put braces on me, and gently (ok, not so gently) tightened it weekly, and over the course of a year and a half or so, they had pulled that sucker into place. I think I ate a LOT of milkshakes those years. I could barely bite anything on that side of my mouth. BUT my teeth are straight now, No idea where my retainer is though. I remember I cracked it once, and they had to fix it. it was hideous, and thick after that. I think its in Utah.

Oh, and last year, I had to get a root canal on that darn tooth. My poor kids. They're going to have the same teeth issues, AND a big huge gap (like my husband has, and like I had before the braces... My dad and brother have it too.) They'll be like David Letterman kids. *sigh* I need a trust fund set up just for their teeth issues i think.

6. I don't like pickles. Vinegar is gross. I use it as a cleaning product, not something to eat. I had the same aversion to Mustard too, but that is slowly going away. Odd, because when I was a kid, I used to get a pickle on a fork and eat it. I loved relish too. Hotdogs weren't complete without relish. Now, I don't like it. My husband's "cure all" for every illness is what he calls "ACV". "Drink some ACV Shelley, you'll be fine." I have. I nearly horked. ACV = Apple Cider Vinegar. Lemme tell ya, it tastes NOTHING like Apple Cider. bleh!

7. I adored cats/kittens when I was a kid. I had posters, wall calenders, stickers, you name it. I finally conned my mom into letting me have a kitten, and we got one. She was an all black cat, we named her Panther. (At least, I think she was a she). She was a garage/outside cat. I don't think I had my allergies yet... and even if I did, a cat dander allergy wasn't at the top of the list. Anyway, she couldn't have been older than 12 weeks, when a neighbor across the street said she thought she found out kitten, dead, on the side of the road in front of her house. I remember it vividly. My dad got the shovel, scooped her up, and solemnly took her to the back yard to bury her. It was so sad. I shouldn't have looked, but I did, and I remember it so vividly. Horrible.

Then in High School, I put a cat out of its misery. The car in front of me had hit it first, and it came spinning out from behind their car, and I heard a thud when it got near my muffler area. I knew it was dead. It was at night, we had a study session at the school, and of course, it happened right in front of the school. I told one or two people, they asked why I was so shaken up at the study group. The next day, they had nicknamed my car "anikill" the Animal Killer. horrible. Since then, it seems, by no fault of my own, that animals seem to flock to my car like magnets. With that same car, I'd hit a mongoose, and a bird. With other cars, there have been issues with another bird, and an opossum. Its horrible. I honestly can't help it. I don't do it on purpose either. Issues. That's only the surface of the issues.

I guess it'd be unfair to put an 8th thing, but doing these reminds me of a good quote. From the original Psycho. Norman Bates says "We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven't you?" Yeah huh! I'm a little mad a lot of times, actually. It's kind of appropriate for these 7 things.

The end.

No mail

The saying "No news is good news" does not apply in this scenerio. I'm still waiting for the mail from my mom. Thursday will be 3 weeks since she sent it. I'm beginning to feel it was lost in the mail.

The one piece of important mail I've ever needed or wanted in my life... lost in the mail. How typical. How depressing.

Anyway, church is going well. Our Young Women's group has now grown to 10 total. I'm so excited. Before, we had maybe 6 active YW. We had 7 go to camp with us. One of our girls invited her 2 non member friends, and her aunt (who is barely 2 years older than her. :) ) so we had a good sized group with us. After our border changes, we've gained 4 more girls! Very exciting. I believe I still only have 2 Beehives to look after, but they're good girls, I like them.

Tomorrow we're making Journal Jars for our activity. Each of the girls gets to make, and decorate her own. I'm excited about it. Back in May, I taught a Journal lesson, and the girls LOVED it. It was probably the best lesson I've ever taught. I totally felt the spirit, I was MORE than passionate about the subject, and the girls were really into it! Especially since for New Beginnings in April, we gave them Journals as a gift. It was supposed to go along with the "Let virtue garnish thy thoughts" theme for the year. They were adorable little journals my mom found for like 3 bucks in Utah. Even after shipping, they were TONS cheaper than anything I found up here!

So, now the girls get to make their own jar, with the journal jar questions I had found for my lesson. So there's something to look forward to this week... even if I don't get my mail, and eventually my car back so my husband can get a job. *sigh*

Anticipation

I can not tell you how much it is killing me... anticipating getting this letter in the mail from my mom that says I've got a file number. I really REALLY wish I had been able to talk to her before she sent it off to me. I would have had her send it to the people watching my jeep in Buffalo... With delivery confirmation.

I mean seriously, she sent it 2 weeks ago. Thursday, June 28th. It's retarded how long this is taking to get here.

Meanwhile, I got my brother Dave and his fiancée Logan's wedding invitation, which was post marked on June 28th. I don't know when it got here, because I was at camp when it arrived. AT CAMP! I've been home from camp almost a week! How is it possible that my mom's letter, which was mailed on the SAME day from the SAME town (Provo) hasn't gotten to me yet, and the wedding invitation (which is freaking cute btw) did get to me... probably a week ago!

Such a pet peeve of mine. I hate how unpredictable the mail can be, its just Canada... its not like we're Cuba people.

Anyway, I've been stewing... I had a ride to buffalo all set up for Tuesday, expecting this letter already. My bishop goes there weekly for business. Turns out this week he went on Tuesday AND today... so because I don't have those papers, I don't get to go yet again.

AND, because I'm bored, and I think my brother and his fiancée are SO cute together, I'm posting their wedding announcement, because I actually received it in the mail.

This is the front, and it opens from right to left... not up and down... if that makes sense. Isn't it cool? I absolutely love it. They have great taste. They're not having a "typical" reception either, just a small open house... I think. Anyway, here's the inside, they're such a gorgeous couple. :) Welcome to the family Logan!



Anyway, here's hoping I get MORE mail tomorrow, because otherwise I'm waiting till next week (as there's no mail delivery in Canada on Saturdays), and I'm already saddened enough by not having my car back by now. :(

Got blood?

So, last week while I was at camp, apparently the Canadian Blood Bank called for me. I didn't bother calling them back when I got home.

Last night around 7:30pm they call again, and say they're going to be at Jackson Square (the "mall" downtown where I do shipping every day) tomorrow, and asked me if I could make it to donate blood. Before I hung up the phone and confirm my appointment, I was upstairs taking two iron pills. See, I'm not entirely anemic, its never been diagnosed by a doctor anyway, but I've been denied to give blood before because the level isn't quite what they require for blood donation.


Well, I was denied again today. :( My red blood/iron level was 118, and they require 125... I think in the states, they use a different measure, because I was always told it had to be 12.5... and I have always been 11.9 or somewhere around there. So I don't quite know if I'm anemic or what, but maybe I'll be able to donate blood another time. *sigh*

It's a little after noon, and I still haven't gotten any mail. I saw the mail man up the street (did you know the mail people in Canada walk EVERYWHERE? no little mail trucks! And mail boxes up here are near each house's front door, so they have to walk up the stairs... it seems like such a work out!) Anyway, I saw him up the street when I left for my appointment just before 11 this morning, but we still have an empty mailbox. :( I'm so jonesin' to get my jeep back. I so miss it! Say a little prayer that I get that mail from my momma soon! That's all I'm waiting for now! :)

Thank heaven for my husband!

Words can NOT express how thankful I am for my husband right now. He is awesome. I love, Love, LOVE that man. The temperature has risen...


That is now 107.6°F.

The reason I so love my hubby right now, is that he heard the ice cream man, knew I was miserable and slowly melting into a puddle of goopy goop, so he ran out there, and got me a chocolate dipped ice cream cone. Unbeknownst to him, I took his picture because I wanted to remember how sweet he really is, and how much I take that for granted.


He is just so precious. I don't think I'd run (not in this heat) out and get him an ice cream cone. :) Let alone, one dipped in chocolate!

The letter from mom didn't come, so it looks like I won't be going to Buffalo tomorrow. :( sucks.

I'm spoiled. Now I can go shower and see if I can finish the laundry before I leave for the post office in 25 minutes. :) That cone was JUST what I needed. Totally hit the spot. Thank you Jon! I Love You!

Its another heat wave

I think its worse this time though.

That "Feels Like" temperature of 40 Celcius is 104°F. I have no AC. I only have two fans, and my husband keeps turning them off, because he says "they're just blowing hot air around"... so? its better than stifled no air blowing around.

We have GOT to invest in some AC... even if its just for Jon's office (where the expensive computer is...) I don't care... its too hot to live!

Its so hot, that I'm only wearing my Hawaiian lava lava/sarong/pareo thing (undies too). Its wrapped in the classic dress style, but I twisted the "straps" in front before putting them behind my neck to tie them.

Its days like this that make me want to take a razor to my hair and just get rid of it ALL. Maybe I'll go fill the bathtub up with icy cold water. :)

Other than that I don't have much else to report. We haven't yet gotten the mail today (and if we did, nothing arrived). My Bishop is going to the states tomorrow, so if I don't get my letters from mom today, I'll have to wait another week. Not good... Maybe the folks watching my car & stuff (Dan and Shara) will be coming up this weekend? I'll have to check. I hope it comes today though!

Girl's Camp!

I forgot how much fun, drama, tears, and joy Girls Camp was. The last time I went was probably 12 years ago. And lemme tell ya, camp in Hawaii is soooo much different than it is up here in Canada. Kind of a scary picture of me, but whatever, I'm campin'!

Our theme for Girls Camp this year was "Believe" simple, yet pretty much all encompassing.

I did take *a* camera, but it was our old junky 2.0mp Toshiba camera that gives every picture a blue hue. :( Very upsetting. I'll do my best with the crappy photo editing software we have here (not my strong suit), but I can make no promises. I just really hope I'm able to extract a few good pictures here. :( Or I'll be super upset.

I "stole" our laminated copy of the schedule. I figure no one else wants it, why not? So here's that scanned in...


As you can see, we had a very jam-packed week. We arrived on Tuesday July 3rd at about 10:30. It was held at the Byng Island Conservation Area camp grounds (you pronounce that like Chandler Bing ;)). Which is about an hour or so south of Hamilton. The camp grounds had been so dry lately that there was a fire ban, and so we couldn't have a campfire. :( Very upsetting. But, we were all set-up by noon or 1pm or so, which was lovely. We all made "crowns" and wore them to dinner provided by the stake. We had turkey, ham, corn, rolls, baked potatoes, it was quite the "Royal Feast", which goes along with our "Daughter of a King" theme for the year. After our royal dinner, we had an activity complete with archery, croquet, and a relay game too. I didn't get pictures of these events. I was too busy shooting an arrow 50 feet past the target and losing it in the forest. Don't worry though, I found it the next morning on my way to the WLM (Ward Leader Meeting - which I pronounced almost like "William" Wull-um, all week long). After dinner and the activities, we had a great devotional where we talked about the creation, and I saw my first firefly! Justine invited her two friends Alysha and Kelsi to come camping with us. They're not members, and I think it was a really great experience for them. After that we all went to bed without too much trouble and "shhhhhhhhhhhhh"shing.

That night it started raining... and raining... and raining. It didn't stop.

Even though it was raining cats and buckets... er dogs... and the tents were all wet, the girls were able to do a service project. They made some adorable Autism awareness ribbons for the Autism society of Niagara Falls. They made 752 ribbons. Last year they made 500, so I guess the rain was a motivating factor in this, there wasn't really much else to do! Our amazing Craft Princess, Maxine Elliot, (LOVE HER!) said these ribbons would be sold to raise money and given to supporters of Autism in the area. She also said we made enough ribbons to sustain them for the next 10 months. Simply amazing.

Our canoe-ing was cancelled for Wednesday, so our girls got ingenious and made a slip-n-slide out of about 5 big black garbage bags and duct tape. It was awesome. So awesome, that other girls from other wards followed suit, and they wanted to play too. THEN the stake activities people pulled out a big fancy slip-n-slide that you could race with (it had two lanes for racing). Everyone who slipped and slid had a good time. Even a leader did it! And I think she was in her fifties!

Here area few pictures. The blue hue is annoying, so I'm putting up black and white pics for now. :)

Justine slipping on the garbage bag slide. Dorina off to the left. Our other girls Heather, Alysha, Kelsi, and Laura are in the background with Sarah, our YW President.


It was held in with tent pegs, and wasn't too safe. The stake brought out their fancy one and even more girls had fun in the rain. I was safe under my umbrella.



I'm so glad they were able to see an up-side to all the rain. They sure kept my spirits up!

Later that night, it stopped raining long enough for us to watch a movie. They brought in a huge screen, and all kinds of technology and we watched the 3rd Work and the Glory movie. I was totally lost. I haven't seen the first two, nor have I read the books... yet? I can't quite get into them right now.

For dinner Wednesday night, we ate enchilada pie. No idea which recipe we actually used, but it was a white sauce thing, with cream of mushroom soup. Which would have tasted AMAZING if we hadn't used so much lighter fluid on the top of our dutch oven coals. Everyone who ate the top cheese layer felt ill, and said they could taste the lighter fluid. I tried to make the best of it and joke around that I liked lighter fluid for dinner... some giggled, others thought I was really serious, funny stuff.


Sarah, our fearless leader with the lighter fluid.


I thought it tasted amazing, except for a slight chemical taste. I don't think anyone was too horribly sick as a result. Alessandra was ill the next evening, but I don't think it was related to this. This was our first meal gone awry.

While the enchilada pie was being made, we had a mini hair salon in the food tent. Heather gave me two french braids. After that, everyone around camp started walking around with french braids. Girls are fun. :) I likey.



Thursday we woke up at 6am to start a fire for the backpack chicken. Thankfully it had stopepd raining long enough for us to start a fire and heat up the rocks. We didn't realize the fire ban was still on... OH WELL! Unfortunatly, the rocks weren't hot enough and our chickens didn't cook. What a sad waste. :( After that, we were all a little sad and depressed that it didn't work out. Next time (should we do this next time) we're putting the rocks IN THE FIRE instead of around the fire pit. Second meal ruined.

Thankfully we had a backup. Dorina's Taco Potatoes! I was so looking forward to them. Unfortunatly again, she said her mom bought the wrong kind of potatoes (You need white baking potatoes, we got yellow/gold type ones... and it didn't quite work, but if you ask me, it tasted awesome none the less.) Since it was raining, we couldnt' cook the potatoes in a fire. Anyway, I'm getting the recipe for the meat, although I'm sure you could just cook a taco-night meat of your choice, and put the toppings on a scraped-out baked potato. :) We had meat, cheese, lettuce, sour cream, tomatos, salsa, and crushed up tostitos on top. So very yummy. I definitely think I'll try and make this at home some day. Our potatoes weren't done all the way, so we couldn't scrape them out, but they were mostly done enough to have a mashed (almsot) potato/taco salad type thing. Everyone was full. Definitely a good thing, even though Dornia said it was our 3rd failed meal.

Friday we had bacon and eggs for breakfast. Something we will NEVER again do at camp. The bacon was a disaster. we cooked it on our grill thingy, and the grease got EVERYWHERE. THEN The pan wasn't cleaned until I started to clean it for our Grilled Cheese lunch at noon! Next year, no playtime without cleaning up the kitchen FIRST. We had girls go tube-ing on the lake/river whatever it was before the breakfast dishes were done. I was not amused. This was right after our WLM/testimony meeting too. Totally ruined my spiritual high. :(

By this time, we were all a little frazzled, some more than others. Our YW president had a PMS related crying break-down and thought she had failed us all. Our 1st counselor Lisa had a depression break-down and she almost went home. I felt like I had to keep it happy and light, otherwise, I think the hatchet would have ended up bloody. Seriously. Next year, we'll be better off. It didn't help matters that our ward apparently (every year) breaks camp early, and sleeps outside on the last night. So Friday we had to take down all our tents, and we had a few murmurings amongst the girls until I told them about Sarah crying, then they seemed to chip in for the next hour or so, which was good. :)

The tents weren't quite fitting into the bags so well, so I steam-rollered them so they would. Lisa snapped a photo of me rolling around. Kinda funny.



So, after the tents were put away, we went down to the Grand River and watched the canoes and tubing activities. The girls convinced me to go tubing with them. President Glandfield (in the Stake Presidency) has a boat and was pulling 2 girls at a time behind the boat like a water ski. I went out with Dorina and Justine. We sat on the front nose of the little boat, and I totally enjoyed going over the waves we were making. It was super fun, until the two girls (he took 6 out at a time on the boat, and 2 at a time on the tube) right in front of us lost their crocs. Who the heck wears crocs while tubing? It's quite beyond me why they didn't leave them in the boat. Really. I think they also fell off the tube, and we had to pick them up. Annoying. That took like 5 minutes alone. THEN began the search for the crocs. We spotted them, and told Cap'n Glanfield where about it was. He pulled up as close as he could to it, and ended up getting a little too close. So much drama. The propeller ended up getting bent, and so he couldn't get too close to the shore anymore. BOO. Our tubing adventure was ruined. BUT I saved the croc, whoop-id-dee-doo. Why am I not happy? Well, because I got a hideous bruise as a result. I rested my leg where I possibly shouldn't have. On the silver round thingy next to the rope tie-off thing (its called a cleat, I looked it up. yay me!). Anyway, it looks like this one I found just now. Only the boat I was on ONLY had the round thing and the cleat (where the rope is tied in the figure 8 way).


So the first layer of skin or so went with it. The cleat bruised me a tiny bit too. I documented it for blogging purposes with the good camera just now. I woke up today with a very sore leg, and I'm sure it will be quite sore all week too.

Pretty huh? Pretty disgusting!


Let's see, where was I? Oh yes. Friday afternoon at the boat. SO, we didn't get to go tubing, but President Glandfield said he'd invite us to go some other time. I suppose there's always next year!

This is the longest post ever. lol

Friday the bishopric came up for a visit. It was SO fun having them. They brought desserts! But firstly we had our dinner. We cooked spaghetti and meatballs. We decided months ago to do a "Monk's Meal" for the dinner where the bishopric came. The idea, is that you eat like a monk. In total silence. If you don't, you lose a utensil. First the fork, then the spoon, then the knife, then you lose your hands, then you lose your seat and have to sit on the ground and eat. I didn't lose anything, but Kelsi, Dorina, and Alysha all lost their drinks. We had juice boxes with it, and Kelsi ended up poking her straw into a meatball to eat it... which was also confiscated.

Here are a few pictures of the madness.

Sarah Confiscating a Spoon.



Alysha, sitting on the ground, eating off of the seat. Hey, at least she still had a plate! I suppose it could have been worse!



Kelsi, Alysha, and Dorina eating outside of the tent, on the ground. I'm not sure if they finished eating or not. Poor sister Gao, she's from northern China and I think she's part mongolian... She didn't have a clue what was going on. She's super green, and she was baptized about a year and a half ago. She's a rock though, she and her mom wake up at 3am on Sundays to attend church at 5am, its a 2 hour drive! She didn't lose any utensils, but she rarely talks, so she was safe. :)


After all the madness at dinner, the bishopric brought out drumsticks! No, not a turkey drumstick, ICE CREAM! It was awesome. It totally hit the spot after the week we've had. They brought like 32 of them, so we each indulged in two of them.

We then went to devotional, awards, and testimony meeting. Here's a funny-ish group shot as we were getting ready for it to start.

Back L to R: Laura, Sarah, Kelsi, Me, Heather. Front L to R: Justine, Dorina, Sister Gao, Alysha, and Sister Sylvester. Our sister missionaries got special permission to come to girls camp, I'm guessing it was because of Kelsi and Alysha, our two non-member gals.


At the testimony meeting, I'm happy to say that 6 of our girls bore their testimonies. Only Alessandra didnt' get up there, she doesn't like public speaking. But I was so happy when each of them got up. We were about 30 minutes in to our 45 minute testimony meeting and no one had gone up. I was so close to crying, feeling like a failure, so I said a prayer. I knew that if Justine went up, everyone else would. She got up first, then Kelsi did, then Alysha. When Dorina got up, she totally made me cry. She talked about how excited I was to see my first firefly, and how she'll never look at a firefly the same way again. I was totally bawling. I don't know why I was so excited, but those bugs are so cool! I almost wish all bugs were so cool-looking... but if they were, I wouldn't be as excited. :) Anwyay, Heather and Laura also got up. Alessandra said they ran out of time. Maybe she'll get up tomorrow and give a recap. :) The testimony meeting was great. We had a fire all ready to go after the testimony meeting, and Sister Sylvester shared a few Idaho Girls Camp songs with us. So fun.

This is the "baby shark" song. I think they're doing Grandpa shark right now. See, no teeth. :)


After THAT, we had some cake! A girl who recently graduated from Young Women's (Jen Schulke) made us a cake, it is ADORABLE!

See? totally cute. VERY tasty too.


THEN we set up our tarps, and slept on the ground. I didn't get too many good pictures, because 1) my camera sucks (except in the dark for some reason... what's up with that?) and 2) I was trying to be stealthy. It was 5:45am when I woke up and took these pics!

Everybody!


The Lamb/Cow, Justine, & Dorina.


Alessandra & Heather.


Kelsi & Alysha.

I have more pictures ones I took, of me with each of the girls, but I want them fixed up before posting them. It's been a long, long, week. And this post has seriously taken me the last 3 hours to do. Thank heaven for autosave! Its now 9:03pm... it says I posted it at 5:46pm, which, of course, is the time I clicked "new post" not the actual "publish post" time.

Anyway... I hope you enjoyed my camp experience. :) I did for the most part too. I was just super glad to come home and shower, and take a little nap in my own bed. :)

PS, While I was gone, Sasha got a litter box, catnip/toy, food, and a collar. lol All she does is sleep all day long. Sounds like me actually. :) I guess we have a pet cat.

Bye till Saturday!

I'm off to camp, my ride will be here in like 2 minutes.

:)

I'll miss you all this week! Ta ta!

The cat is still here...

And apparently Jon has named it Sasha. I don't think that cat is going anywhere, anytime soon. Kinda sucks though, we're both a little allergic to it. I've already taken 2 Claritins within the past 48 hours, and my eyes feel a little puffy.

I'm guessing though, unless there's some big reward for this little thing, it'll be staying right here. Hubby was talking about getting her spayed, shots, flea bath just in case, etc... I don't know if that was supposed to be a deterrent for me, or him. I think he likes the cat more than I do. He brushes her, talks to her, hand-feeds her. Its kind of cute. I didn't think he had that side to him at all. lol


It seems the cuts on her ear have been re-oppened, I'm assuming she was scratching the scab because it got itchy. So I put some neosporin (wait, it was polysporin... they don't sell neosporin in Canada) on her ears, and she cried and tried to scratch me. Hopefully now she's a little better taken care of, and she'll let herself heal now.

Hubby gets to take care of the kitty this week. I'm leaving for camp early tomorrow morning, 8am or so. I still have to pack, and I don't really have a clue what I'm bringing. So I've really got to go pack. :) I may post again before I leave. :)

Bawled like a baby!

Happy Canada Day!


Ok, so today was fast sunday. I was the first one to get up (something that has NEVER happened before) to bear my testimony. This crazy American just wanted to share the good news of having a file number for Immigration! I also cried and cried. I just really love Canada. :) A few people told me they appreciated my testimony, and that it made them feel special. :)

THEN for the closing prayer, we sang "O, Canada" I bawled my head off. Sniffling, shaking, quivering... I don't know why, the water-works were like Niagara Falls people. It's SUCH a powerful song. I guess I just really felt God's presence there with me. Margie Schultz (adorable mid 50's lady with short greying curly hair) put her arm around me for the durration of the song, and by the 3rd verse, I was able to sing most of it. I'm so glad I had a tissue with me!

Here are the lyrics of the song. Even if you don't appreciate Canada as much as I do, you should be able to appreciate God's creation, and know that the Americas (ALL of them) are a part of God's Choice land.

1)
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land, Glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee;
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

2)
O Canada! Where pines and maples grow,
Great prairies spread and Lordly rivers flow!
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western sea!
The land of hope for all who toil,
The true North strong and free!
God keep our land, glorious and free.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!

3)
O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies,
May Stalwart sons, and gentle maidens rise.
To keep thee steadfast thro' the years,
From East to Western sea.
Our own beloved native land,
Our true North strong and free!
God keep our land, glorious and free.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!

4)
Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our Dominion, in thy loving care.
Help us to find, O God, in thee,
A lasting rich reward.
As waiting for the better day,
We ever stand on guard.
God keep our land, glorious and free.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!

I have been so blessed in my life. I'm so thankful that I'm able to see God's divine creation on this earth, and know that no matter where I live, He will always have a hand in my life.

Hopefully you can feel that power in your lives as well. :)

Cake & a Kitty!

I made my cake!

My hubby surprised me and said we could get the pound cake, jello, cool whip and strawberries for my cake! (I so know it doesn't look like the picture... food *I* make never does. :( ) For those of you who don't get my facination with this cake, I love all things Canada, I love to bake, even if its just pretend (I didn't even bake the pound cake for this thing!), and currently our financial situation is not good. Not even sure if we'll make rent on time. So this is a MAJOR splurge for us. :) Do you like how it turned out? (I'm not thrilled with it, but I'm no artist, and I knew the maple leaf would give me issues. DH so happily pointed out that its not even centered. lol I tried man! I really did!)



I even got a self-portriat of me with it. Hubby took one too, but the dirty dishes are in the background, so that picture will be destroyed/deleted. :)

This picture just makes me really want to 1) eat it (I suppose we're saving it for tomorrow) and 2) pluck my eyebrows. yikes!

Anyway, so my dear husband invited his brother Christian over for a day of BBQing, xbox, and beer (it's ok... he's not LDS) Saturday, and during our BBQ, we had a little visitor.

A little tiny kitten who looked a little lost came into our back yard and started meowing. Maybe she liked our green grass? Not sure, but as some of you may know, a cat lover, I am NOT. This poor little thing is adorable though. She's a himalayan, and she has a really high-pitched meow, more of a mew, really, so I'm thinking she's just a kitten still.

Anyway, She looks like she was in a fight recently, and she's got no collar. We fed her a can of tuna fish, which she just ate right up, so she was definitely hungry. Then she went exploring in our house, which quite frankly, I didn't mind. There are other mangey cats/strays in the neighborhood that come in our house quite frequently (there's no screen on our back door, so they just climb right in when its too hot to have the wood door closed). I normally chase them things right out. This one though, I let her explore. I don't know why. It's possible that I'm allergic even, but she's adorable. This coming from a supposed cat-hater! Look at her though, she's pretty!



I don't think she quite knows what to make of our house... and she's a little scared still, but she ate, and then started purring. Thankfully my husband knows how to handle cats, he used to have a few. (Which I always made fun of him for having till now. lol)

Kitty keeps crying, which is why I'm posting at 2:30am instead of sleeping. Sucks, I have to teach tomorrow, and I'm only like 50% prepared. We definitely had a busy day... All that whilest being addicted to that desktop fighter game. I'm surprised we got prepared enough to eat anything.

I think we'll have a tiny bbq tomorrow, after I get back from church, so we can eat the cake, and potato salad I almost made (left out the mayo... no idea why... I got tired maybe?) And I'll more than likely take a nap too, especially after finding out its good for me, I can now do it guilt-free. :) hurrah! It's now 10 to 3am... I should try to sleep a little. I tried letting the cat out, but she didn't wanna leave. *sigh* She'd better hush up, or I won't get any sleep! Goodnight!

New Game!

So, my husband has been playing this computer game for like 3 days straight now... I'm feelin' a little neglected... So I ask him "what's the big deal with this game?"

Mind you, we were supposed to have a HUGE Canada Day BBQ tomorrow, and I was supposed to make my Canada Flag Cake, but that's not happening anymore, because 1) I'm too stressed out to handle his mom coming over and seeing our pig-sty of a house 2) I'm still a little sick from 3 weeks ago and 3) My husband's back went out 2 weeks ago, and what needs to be done is taking boxes upstairs, and since I have hideous asthma, I can only take up a box every 10 minutes. lol

So anyway, the BBQ is off, and both of us have been playing this game, him for 3-4 days, me... just over one.

It's at http://www.handdrawngames.com/DesktopTD/game.asp Here's a picture of my current game:


See, the section on the left is the game board, and these little "attack guys" come from the top and the left. (On the easy game, they only come from the left). Their object is to get to the other side. (Same reason the chicken crossed the road.) Your object is to stop them, basically shoot them down. You can make a maze with the guns, and the different weapons on the right.

The thing is, unless you're playing a "fun" game, with unlimited money, its super hard. The cheapest gun is 5 "gold", and they don't do too much damage, unless you click on them and hit U (for upgrade) which also costs "money". For a beginner, I'd suggest playing in "Fun" mode with 10,000 gold, that way you can get a feel for the game, and kick some butt.

That's how I started last night, and then I tried the easy level, beat that, and now I'm working on Medium, and I have yet to even come close to beating that level. I will say though, its an excellent waste of time.

All this in a week before my lesson tomorrow, girls camp, and my trip to the states to get my car. (Tentatively planned for after girls camp, once I get the 2 letters from my mom, which she sent off on Thursday.) I'm so not getting anything done, anytime soon. :)

Reading Record!

I can't believe it. I've actually finished the book. I started it at 5pm yesterday, its now 2:45pm, and I'm done. I actually slept last night too, what... 8 hours? AND we watched a movie last night too.

I don't think I ever even read a babysitter's club book that fast. I had all of them. up to like 61? and the first 7 "super special" books too. I loved reading those, and I loved buying them with my allowance or babysitting money.

Anyway, I'll be off to the post office (which is conveniently right next to the library) in about an hour, and I'll be getting me another one of these books. :)

Seriously, I can not believe I finished that whole thing in less than a day - (not including sleep...maybe half a day even)! :-o

Reading

Ok, so basically everyone I know loves to read. Me? not so much. Yes, my mom was a librarian, yes, we each had our own book bins we'd put our borrowed treasures in for the week, yes, I was read to as a child, yes... I actually DO know HOW to read English... (stupid immigration people...) But I don't usually get that much enjoyment from just picking up a random book and reading it.

I love me some John Grisham books, and I've read nearly everything he's put out (Currently finishing up his first work of non-fiction "The Innocent Man", I didn't think I'd like it because it's real, but it is quite intriguing.)

Anyway, I usually don't venture that far away from Mr. Grisham. 4-6 months or so ago, I borrowed the Bridget Jones Diary books, which were very easy to read, and quite enjoyable too.

Yesterday I needed some ME time, so I went to the library in hopes of finding either Lipstick Jungle or 4 Blondes, both by Candace Bushnell. And I'm kinda glad they weren't there. So I trudged over to my typical spot over in "GRI" section for a good 'ol John Grisham book, didn't find any I hadn't read, and my eyes wandered a few shelves to the right, and I came across some fun looking books.

Yesterday I discovered (yeah, like I'm Christopher Columbus here...) the Sisterchick books by Robin Jones Gunn. I picked up Sisterchicks do the Hula! The cover is cheese-a-rific, but I picked it up and started reading it in a little corner of the library. Before I knew it, I was on chapter 8, and had read like 80 pages! (This is so not a typical Shelley thing!) I do NOT read and read and read, nor do I love it usually.


I kept reading it. I couldn't put it down, but it was like 6:15pm and I figured I should get home. (I got to the library at 5 or so). I read another chapter on the way home, like those book nerds walking and reading, totally oblivious to everything around them? Yeah, that was me yesterday. I don't live that far from the library, but by the time I had gotten home, I'd finished another chapter! I got a blanket and pillow and set it up on the lawn in the backyard, and kept reading till sunset (9:30pm).

I also read after dinner too, before I fell asleep. And I read some more when I got up. I honestly think I'll finish this book today, which is a world record for me. I only have 5 chapters left... That should take like an hour. It's an odd thing, that a books makes me feel so thankful for all of my blessings, AND makes me homesick all in the same package. Love this book!

You serious readers out there are probably getting a major giggle out of me and this book. It's only 278 pages, and is spaced how I used to space my term papers in college (for maximum pages), but the depth of these books are so much more.

I'm assuming Robin Jones Gunn is a Christian, it'd be hard to write books like these and not be. There's a character in this book named Hope, she sees God's creation in everything, and takes the time to say thank you to Him for it. It's really opened my eyes today to start thinking and feeling like that. I'm just as grateful as she is, why shouldn't I tell Him that? He, apparently, would LOVE hearing that.

Anyway, its kind of like hot tea for the soul. ;) I will definitely be finishing this up today, and getting another sisterchick adventure book today.

Funny thing though, there's a little sticker on the spine that says "Inspirational" on it. I didn't realize that meant that it was religious... (I don't think a non-Christian would be as enthused in this book as I am). BUT... If you are... and you haven't read these books yet, I highly recommend them. They're a super simple read (hey, if I can do it in a day, y'all could finish them in an hour!)


I'm excited for the next one! And maybe I'll read her whole Glenbrooke series too!

I can't believe I'm actually excited about a book! The last time that happened was probably when I was like 5 and read a book by myself for the first time. lol! Its quite obvious that I recommend these books, and I can't wait to read the rest. :)

Immigration update

So, this morning I wake up to an email from my mom. She says I got two letters from the Canadian Consulate General's office in Buffalo. Two? I think... Two is not good news.

The first one, though, was good news. My application has been given a file number. (yay!) Which means I'm now "in process". My application has not yet been accepted, but basically, they've cashed my check, and have put my name in with the thousands (millions?) of others they have to process. And now it is just a waiting "game", here's how long they figure I'll be waiting.

30% of cases finalized in: 18 mo. (Dec 2008)
50% of cases finalized in: 21 mo. (Mar 2009)
70% of cases finalized in: 25 mo. (July 2009)
80% of cases finalized in: 31 mo. (Jan 2010) yikes!

Now, as soon as mom forwards me up these two letters, I should definitely be allowed into Canada legally, WITH my car *yay!* as long as it has insurance, i'm good to go.

There was some "bad" news though. Apparently from the information I gave them (letters, transcripts (from my edumacation in hawaii mind you...) etc) they don't feel that I've proved my proficiency level in English, (and I'm sure if they read this blog, they'd KNOW for certain I am not proficient in English. lol) So, to prove my literacy/proficiency in the English language, I'm required to take an international English proficiency test, which is going to cost me like $300 bucks. not fun. At least though, the library has books I can use to study with, so that should be somewhat helpful. Oh, and I have 120 days in wish to complete this, and send it in. Why can't they just say 6 months?

~

We'll be singing "O, Canada" in church on sunday... I'll probably cry again like I did last year...

Anyway, this is somewhat good news. Now I just take my english test, and wait. :)

hurrah!

Kill me now? please?

I thought yesterday was plain awful!

Today is even worse. Sorry I don't have much else to post except the weather. I'm so boring! I already took a shower, and I need another one before I go out at 4 to do the shipping... Then I'll probably take another one before our YW activity at 7...

The only good thing about all this, is that I'm able to dry the clothes on the clothes line. I'll go see if I can take a picture... And maybe get one of my tomatoes... IF my batteries charged properly. It's quite windy outside, but inside this house is pure misery. Lots hotter than the 102.2° it claims to "feel" like outside.

Added at 2:26pm:
I took pictures! Yay for charged batteries!



This is my garden fairy. She and Bat Girl are watching over my tomatoes so they grow ok.



My happy little tomatoes! You can see bat girl in this one if you click it for the bigger picture.



Lovely picture of our backyard. Off to the left garden area is where the lonely basil plant is, by all the butterfly thingies (hey, they came with the house... might as well use them!). My sheets are almost dry. They're blowing like a hurricane out there. It's expected to rain this evening, so I should get them inside soonly. You can also see the shed, and my tomatoes again. :)



This pic is for my mom, she's always curious about what my house/yard etc looks like. This is the back yard. I'm afraid to post a picture of the front because our front door is badly chipping off, and looks like white trash people live here... but our landlord won't let us paint it (I guess he likes being trailer trash... Speaking of, I should take a picture of HIS trailer. he IS so white trash, its not even funny.)

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the mini tour of my backyard. :) May the garden fairy grant you a happy garden wish! (I just really hope she doesn't let my tomatoes die in this heat!)

Added at 3:10pm
Holy moly. It just started thundering and lightening-ing 20 minutes ago. Thankfully my sheets were dry (that was fast!) and I got them in before that. Our neighbor leaves hers up all day while she's at work, so now hers are all soaked again. Too bad, so sad. Anyway, here's a new picture from the back door... Everything is soaked!



The stupid weather network hasn't updated their weather yet... so I can't post that its all rainy and thunderstormy... It's just evil humid now. Totally evil. *sigh*

Yay! Sunset!

The sun has FINALLY gone down, and its FINALLY starting to cool off a little. I think I still need my third shower, but it is getting cooler, and that is something to be grateful for.

See:


YAY! I think I might go sit outside and drink my ice water for a moment.

Today is also Andrew (my big brother) and Amy's 11th Anniversary. They have 4 beautiful children, and I love and miss them a lot. :) Congrats guys!
:-D

So Hot!

No... not me. I'm talking about the weather! It's so hot, its h.o.t.T!

Ok, so I know I like to complain if it drops below 70°, but now I'm complaining because its hotter than Hawaii (which at the most is 88° + humidity).


For you silly Americans, here's the translation of that "feels like" temperature of 37 Celcius. ;)


Thanks to my handy dandy Opera conversion widgit, I get to see how hot it really is outside.

Most people have air conditioning in almost 100 degree weather. not us. I've got to suffer through this with one ceiling fan, and a crappy stand fan we found in the trashola a year or so ago.

I think its time for some ice cream. *sigh*

Should I melt into a puddle, divide my belongings amongst yourselves. TOO HOT!

Tomato Plants!

I was evil yesterday, and against the wishes of my lovely husband, I bought two tomato plants. There's this Chinese variety store that I walk past practically EVERY DAY on my way home from the post office, and I've seen these tomato plants grow up from teeny babies to the size they are now... like 2 feet tall. Each plant was $1.50, and had four separate plants in it.

So, we planted them at around 6pm or so, and weren't finished till around 9 when the sun went down and it got "cold" (I'm assuming it was mid to upper 60's). But we got them all planted. They're not adjusting too well today, but they look better now than they did this morning when I may have over-watered them.

I'd take a picture but our batteries aren't holding a charge. I think I shall get new ones from Sam's club this summer when I'm in Utah. We've had the ones we have for a few years now, and I think we're due for a new batch. Or maybe a different charger (the newest one I got is stuck in Buffalo :'( ).

Anyway, no pics of my 'maters just yet. But My back is sore, and my arm is too, so all that hard work can't be wasted. Please pray for my lil' tomatoes, I really want them to live! :)

Oh, we planted some basil (pronounced bay-sul... not bas-ill) too. Our landlord had an extra plant, so he gave it to us.

We're planning on having a BIG Canada Day BBQ so hopefully I can kinda get this house somewhat cleaner... My mother in law is coming to visit. Apparently she has never EVER been to her son's home in the 15 years he's been on his own... So this is a big deal. I just hope she doesn't judge me or my dirty house. lol

Lots to do in less than a week... And 2 days after that is Girls' camp. Oh drama. Hopefully my sickness goes away completely and I'm better able to function. Pray for me (and my tomatoes).

Organized mess.

That's the story of my life.

It seems no matter where I live, or whom I live with, I live in an organized mess. I know where everything is, but it looks as if nothing could be found where I say the scissors are.

I need a serious overhaul of my "stuff" which is probably 90% trash. I want those TLC Clean Sweep guys to come to my house... The only problem with that, is that hubby is a pack rat (as am I), but he's in denial about his packratty status. Which makes organizing near impossible. (He claims it saves us money... I don't see how... the mess is literally making me sick.)

We also have two very VERY different ideas about cleaning. I prefer to go through every single box, have it organized, and know exactly what's in it, while the husband sees stuff not in a box, and wants to put it in a box and call it "clean". SO FRUSTRATING! We have a huge basement (however, unfinished) with NOTHING IN IT. Instead, my "office" is in our dining room (we have no table). I'm fine with that, but I can NOT keep a clean desk. I don't know what's wrong with me.

I cleaned it off the left side of my desk this morning, and almost immediately put papers on it. Now there's an empty ice cream bowl (yum!) tape, scissors, a bottle of water, stuff I should toss, my little notebook, AND hubby's slot machine (very cool)! Not to mention the right side of the desk. lol That's a big BIG mess.


I just need a system. A system that works for both of us. Any suggestions? (Suggestions by strangers are welcome!) I need help! (the more inexpensive, the better.) ;)

~

Added at 11:09pm:

OH MAN! I tried my way of organizing, going through papers, etc, and having a keep, and toss pile (none of which could have been sold, trust me), and I kind of got yelled at. Hubby said I was throwing out stuff that meant something to him.

He went through what I tossed out (in the recycle bin) and he pulled out MY 2005-2006 catalog for Ontario schools that I ordered (back when I wanted to take classes to become an esthetcian), and is obsolete (hullo! its 2007!). A new one can be gotten by calling some phone number. Why would he save that? It wasn't even his!

Man, no wonder we live in a sty. The boy saves stuff that isn't even his. Hunny, if you're reading this, I love you, but I'm sorry. The mess is killing me. :(

Taco Potatoes

At our final girls camp planning activity, we discussed the menu, and I learned a new "recipe" from the girls.

We're having Taco Potatoes for girls camp.

You take a baked potato, cut it so you can scrape the insides out (I'm picturing it like a bread bowl for soup... lop the top off, and scrape the innards out). Once the insides are scraped out, you treat it like a taco, meat, cheese, lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, salsa (personally, that's the order it's meant to be in. Cheese on the meat so it melts). Then You just eat your taco potato, and then you can also eat your "mashed potato" innards on the side. It sounds super delish, and I can not wait to try it!

We're also having backpack chicken, as sugested by Sister Sylvester (from Boise). This sounds super scary to me (salmonala wise). You get hot, hot rocks from the fire, stuff it inside the chicken, wrap the chickent up in newspaper, and then towels, and stuff it all in a backpack... While its in there, its cooking, and you're supposed to go on a hike... and magically like 45 minutes or whatever later, your chicken is cooked and its allegedly supposed to be super yum, and falls right off the bone...

We have mac and cheese as a backup in case this "backpack chicken" doesn't pan out.

~

Turns out my burnt cookies weren't a waste, nor did they die. My husband's brother Christian came over today and they had an xbox day. He ate all the burnt cookies! lol I was *thisclose* to hucking them out! hah!

Also, I'm still slightly sick, and my ear is still clogged. I'd say I'm running at about 90% of full capacity.

Dagnabbit!

I burnt the first batch of cookies. :(

This stupid gas oven is WAY too hot for its own good. I knew this already because this is not the first time I've tried baking in this house. Recipe calls for 350°F, so I put it at 350° thinking that's a good compromise.

NO!

After just 9 minutes, the darn cookies were burnt. Like, take the battery out of your smoke detector burnt. :( Even scraping the bottoms doesn't help. 12 dead cookies. *sheds tear* so sad.

SO, the next batch, I turn it down to 300°, and it works! Granted I have to leave them in for slightly longer than 9-11 minutes, but it works. Now I have some perfect cookies. :) I'm making one big one, that's the last of the dough, its about 3-4 inches across. I love doing that.

I still hate my oven though. (Thank heaven its a rented house, and the darn thing isn't mine. If it were, I'd have put a sledge hammer through it by now!)

Anyway. mmmmm Cookies!

PS, I'm also convinced that the Nestle Toll House recipe (even if you don't use NTH chocolate chips) is the best cookie recipe out there. It's super simple too.

The End.

I am the Procrastinator

Ok, so I've been sick since last Saturday (June 9th people). I'm sick of it. (literally). I haven't felt well enough to do the dishes, or anything else in this house (not like I do all that much around here anyway)... but now I have over a weeks' worth of dishes, and its hot and humid, and I got sun burnt yesterday (I was putting the finishing touches on our Girls Camp Castle/Mailbox for like 4 hours). I really honestly don't want to do the dishes... but I've procrastinated doing them for over a week.

NOW I want my kitchen back so I can make cookies! How's that for incentive? I just hope (REALLY hope) that I'll have the strength/motivation to make cookies once the dishes are done.

In other news, my cough is merely a dry cough now, still annoying and it wakes me up at night, but a dry cough isn't as bad as a gross cough is it? My ear is still plugged up, but it tried to pop yesterday. I just hope that pops too. I asked my Bishop for a blessing yesterday for my cough and other issues plaguing me (my jeep in buffalo, immigration etc). And I hope and pray that I'm able to do all I have to in order to receive the blessings that I need.

I'm just so sick of being sick (and not able to go to a Dr. too). So I'll be doing dishes for the next few hours (I'll be listening to music via my Creative Zen (cheaper than an iPod) ;) so I should be ok). Wish me luck, and pray for me if you wish. :)

Flight Plans

Mom just emailed me my flight information for David's wedding in August. Here they are:

Tuesday - 31 July 2007 Flight

Flight #: DL6241 Airline: Delta Air Lines Inc
OPERATED BY CHAUTAUQUA AIRLINES
Depart: 11:04 AM Airport: Buffalo Greater Buffalo Int'l Arpt
Buffalo, NY
USA
Arrive: 12:39 PM Airport: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Arpt
Terminal 3 Cincinnati, OH
USA
Aircraft: Emb145 Embraer Confirmation: 28E5T4
Seat: 15-A Mileage: 410
Class: Coach Travel Time: 1.35
Meal: None Stopovers: 0

Tuesday - 31 July 2007 Flight

Flight #: DL0049 Airline: Delta Air Lines Inc
Depart: 04:55 PM Airport: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Arpt
Terminal 3 Cincinnati, OH
USA
Arrive: 06:30 PM Airport: Salt Lake City Int'l Arpt
Terminal 2 Salt Lake City, UT
USA
Aircraft: Boeing 757-200/300 Confirmation: 28E5T4
Seat: 44-C Mileage: 1447
Class: Coach Travel Time: 3.35
Meal: None Stopovers: 0

Monday - 6 August 2007 Flight

Flight #: DL4002 Airline: Delta Air Lines Inc
OPERATED BY SKYWEST AIRLINES
Depart: 01:52 PM Airport: Salt Lake City Int'l Arpt
Terminal 2 Salt Lake City, UT
USA
Arrive: 05:27 PM Airport: Minneapolis St. Paul Int'l Arpt
Terminal L Minneapolis, MN
USA
Aircraft: CR9 Confirmation: 28E5T4
Seat: 16-B Mileage: 990
Class: COACH Travel Time: 2.35
Meal: None Stopovers: 0

Monday - 6 August 2007 Flight

Flight #: DL6778 Airline: Delta Air Lines Inc
OPERATED BY NORTHWEST AIRLINES
Depart: 06:45 PM Airport: Minneapolis St. Paul Int'l Arpt
Terminal L Minneapolis, MN
USA
Arrive: 09:39 PM Airport: Buffalo Greater Buffalo Int'l Arpt
Buffalo, NY
USA
Aircraft: Airbus A319 Confirmation: LZ2XOZ
Seat: 14-C Mileage: 733
Class: COACH Travel Time: 1.54
Meal: None Stopovers: 0


Which means I'll be in Utah for 6 days. Wedding is on the 3rd. So I can play probably Saturday. Maybe earlier? not sure what the schedule is... But I'll keep you updated with that too. :)

yuck!

In a vain attempt to thwart my constant coughing, I just now added boiling water to some pepper, honey, garlic, and mint leaves from the garden. I let it steep for 10 minutes (just like the website said to), and now I don't wanna drink it. :(

I guess I'm stuck coughing huh. :(

I was taking a nap from like 7-8:15 when I woke myself up because of a coughing fit. Now my chest hurts, and I really don't want to drink this yucky stuff I made. While my husband is trying to make me drink apple cider vinegar (we call it ACV in our house). Its like the worst of two evils... and honestly, I have no idea which one is worse! Ah man! :(

Wanna Date?

Ok, I personally never really knew what dates were good for when I was growing up, I know we put them and a TON of other stuff in our fruitcake our family made for Christmas... But really... what else are they good for?

WELL... I'll tell ya. I recently have been exposed to Date Squares, and they are AMAZING. I think its more of a Canadian or a Southern US type dessert, because I don't think I ever had them growing up. Pity I didn't, because they are AWESOME. Here's a recipe I've used. The best thing about it, is that it looks hard, but is SUPER easy. (Hey, I did it, and loved 'em, they can't be *that* hard!)



Canadian Date Squares

Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 30-35 min
Bake: 350° F
Makes: 20 Servings

2 1/2 cups pitted dates
1 1/2 cups water
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups large flake oats
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup margarine
2 tbsp water


Chop dates then place in a medium saucepan with water. Simmer, uncovered, stirring until mixture is thick and just a few pieces of dates are visible, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Cool.

Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C) and lightly spray a 9-inch (23 cm) square baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir flour with oats, sugar and baking soda until mixed. Using your fingers, mix in margarine and water until crumbly.

Press half the mixture on base of pan. Gently spread cooled date mixture over top. Crumble remaining oatmeal mixture overtop, pressing gently. Bake until crumble is golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool completely before cutting.


~

In other news, I'm STILL sick. :( I don't think its terminal, however I really do hate this. My ear is slightly still plugged, although its trying to drain! But I think I should get some cough expectorant. My chest hurts from all the coughing.

We have a YW activity tomorrow, and I don't think I'm going to make it. :(