Extreme Jungle Croquet

We had an activity at my house tonight with all the priests. What can be better than extreme croquet and a BBQ!? Let me explain about this activity: it was set up in my backyard where the grass hasn't been cut in almost 3 weeks (somewhat planned), then we set up tunnels and ramps and well, a bucket to "launch" your ball. I knew this was a bad idea so what did I do? I video taped it of course! I can't post the video of the result of one "incident" we had but I will post a picture. I promised I wouldn't publish it anywhere.

The purpose of this is to launch the ball off the old screen door. It was a good idea and that is all that matters.

Tin can and ball to the face. Brutal.

Isn't this obstacle nothing but awesome?
Cooking burgers and playing croquet. We had a good time. I do have to admit that the priests in the quorum are top notch. We owe this to the parents and wonderful teachers and leaders they have had in the past.

Piano and Music

I was catching up on all the blogs I have neglected in the past year and all of a sudden I heard voices and then a LOUD bang at the door (granted this was at 9:45 or so tonight). Although I know you all believe I get visitors ALL the time, I really don't. The bishop brought back my chaps he borrowed for a ride him and his wife took this last weekend as well as dropped off the General Conference Tickets he "strategically" requested for me.

They stayed for a while in my very messy house (I have dumped a ton of my clothes in the front room and am trying to clean out the wardrobe). I like to have a clean house when people arrive so I believe I apologized at least a couple times. They then noticed I had a piano and asked me to play a song. I am not a fan of playing in front of people but I made the attempt anyway. Unfortunately, I played well enough for them that he asked me to play the piece I played (part of it that I know) for standard's night - where the youth will entertain the widows in the ward. I think I committed to it but am not at all excited about it. It is a difficult song and I have half of it to learn and the entire thing to master.

I love the piano and music. It calms me and makes me happy. I find that music will uplift me and bring the spirit into my soul quicker than almost anything else. I hope me messing up in front of everybody doesn't ruin this for me! ;-)



Oh - and here is a random video and picture of me wrecking that Brit requested...

Lawn chairs and Blogging

First off, I would like to dedicate this blog to my cousin Janet who basically called me out for not having blogged in well, a year.. again. I have come to the realization that I am not a blogger and may never become one. I am fine with this :).

In this very short blog, I would also like to mention lawn chairs. I was sitting in my lawn chair in my front driveway this evening talking on the phone. Although many might think this is odd, I do this as I have little reception inside my home. I usually talk at least 3 hours every evening on the phone but decided to talk only an hour and a half on this occasion ;). Anyway, during the call I decided to go for a walk (twice) and during one of those two times my parents drove by, saw the lawn chair and didn't see me anywhere so they kept driving. They thought this was a bit odd. What they don't understand is that it is a neighborhood custom. I had thought only one neighbor participated in this this but in fact I have seen at least 3 others do this on occasion. Here here to lawn chairs in driveways.

Planes....

Who thought that sitting in a field watching planes go over would be so much fun!? Well... now I am a believer. Or maybe it was the company... ??

I know this picture doesn't do it justice but here ya go..

Now with some sound... pretty suspenseful, no? Mad skills by the once KEPR news reporter, Andrea Candrian.

One Year Anniversary

For most, a one year anniversary marks a marriage or how long someone has been dating working at a job........ but for me, it marks just over ayear since I last posted on my blog! I couldn't be happier for myself that I have resisted so long to post something. I do have to dedicated this posting to my cousin Trina as she gave me a hard time at Twin Lakes for not having posted something for quite some time.

For all that happens in my life, I should write more. I have noted to friends and family that I could sell my life story as a soap opera.. its true. However, life is good and I don't have any complaints. Let me see... dating, always stories there. Then there is a trip that was going to take place for a month in Asia.. in retrospect, it is good that it didn't happen but I would have loved it. If I would have survived the military run government of Myanmar, my life would have once again been put in perspective. Often times it takes a trip abroad to put life in true perspective and realize what is and what isn't important. I feel as if we in the US live such a sheltered and abundant life that so many don't realize what we have here and what those abroad live happily on.

I moved to a family ward earlier this year and within a couple weeks had a calling as the Priest Quorum Advisor. It has been a blessing and kept me much busier as well. The calling takes me on week long scout encampments, Tuesday night mutuals, camp-outs, and much more. It has been a lot of fun and the priests are a good group of tight knit guys.

I have also been boating with good friends since February as well, Matt and Scott... it has been a good year for the river.

I didn't want to leave my new blog posting without photos I decided to put in some pics of my horseshoe pit I put in the backyard. I do have to admit that it looks pretty good, although basic.

Some preparations and measurements. Needs to be square and at the right distance.

I figure the more grass I take out the less I have to mow.

One of the two finished horse shoe pits. I need to get my grandpa over and have him whoop up on me again!

Mountain Biking... painfully wonderful good times

So...

I finally found my way back to my mountain bike.. I never found my stole Klein (blasted thieves). Yes.. I had to buy a new one but it is great, a Jamis Dragon 29er. It is a sweet bike and with the huge wheels I feel like I am on top of the world!

I picked it up on Tuesday at Scott's Cycle in Hermiston, OR.. you know why :). I took it up Badger yesterday night and it was a kick.. . Then tonight I went with my great friend Whit who lives down the street to State Patrol. I can't believe how many trails they have there. They are a bit overgrown and the trails are very sandy, some more than others, but what fun! I have never been clipped in quite like this to a mountain bike. However, what a blast! I was moving downhill at a pretty good speed one time and was launched sideways and landed on my side. Ouch! A busted up knee and a pretty good limp but I was able to keep riding the rest of the night. I am having a hard time with keeping a good balance on it, being clipped in that is, BUT what fun. I think I fell 8 times tonight. One time I lost my balance and fell in a half foot of sand/dust - no pain there.

I am looking forward to hauling my bikes around and having a good time and getting busted up a lot! I suppose I better wear a helmet.......

Here here to many wrecks and lots of painfully wonderful good times!!!!!

A little catch-up

Summer has finally arrived and although I prefer the 80s, I won't complain too much of the recent 100 degree weather that just arrived (and soon leaving). I try to not stay in town during the summer and so far so good. Last weekend I went with a couple friends to hike the Entiat North Fork Loop just above Wenatchee. I planned out the backpacking trip (only 3 days), and that is probably why it was a doozy. I didn't think it was going to be as tough as it was but I didn't mind it. The first day we hiked 8-9 miles. The last 1.5 miles was a 1700' accent up to Fern Lake at 6900'. We were also surprised to see snow at the top with the lake frozen over. Thankfully there was enough "dry" ground to set up two tents. That night was cold though as the wind swept along the snow and iced over river and then through us. The next day we hiked back down the steep climb and then hiked to Three Tree Camp, another 8 or so miles and significant climbing and descending. It was a beautiful backpacking trip and we saw a bear, deer, grouse and more.

This week later and this last weekend I went with Mike, Rich and Heather from Utah on the North Cascade Highway "Loop." As it was high 90s... it was hot and miserable in Eastern WA but once we reached Seattle, it was quite enjoyable. Also remarkable was Ellensburg during the summer.. the thought came to my mind, "I would live here." It was beautiful. We ate dinner at a tex mex restaurant called the Cactus. The food was remarkably good and had excellent flavor and a little kick to it. I very much enjoyed the food. We then hit up a hotel and then took off the next day across the North Cascade Highway. This is the second time I have made this trip and it was once again very pretty. The windy narrow roads and beautiful scenery (waterfalls, mountains, turquoise water, etc) was very enjoyable. We descended south from Twisp and hit Wenatchee and was sweating it out again. The very warm weather sucked the energy out of us and it was good to get back to my house. We then watched the fireworks from my house and the bow of my boat, which was parked in my drive-way. One of my neighbors almost killed us but it made things exciting... something about fireworks exploding on my neighbors garage and another's front porch :).

I look forward to much more backpacking, waterkskiing and an enjoyable summer.