tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39258574714959890272024-02-02T08:45:19.696-07:00Rampant BellytantsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-11120334743275498442015-04-22T15:17:00.000-06:002015-04-22T15:17:18.686-06:00Earth Day 2015<img alt="Earth Day Tree" src="http://blog.customink.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Earth_Day.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image via <a href="http://blog.customink.com/2011/04/earth-day-activities/">http://blog.customink.com/2011/04/earth-day-activities/</a></span></div>
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What are you doing to celebrate?<br />
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I decided this year that I wanted to throw Mother Earth a <a href="http://www.hypnobirthingutah.com/what-is-a-blessingway-more-than-a-baby-shower/" target="_blank">Mother's Blessing</a> of sorts, without as much pomp and pampering as I've usually experienced at a Mother's Blessing, and about 100% less necklaces or other crafts.<br />
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I had talked about setting it up with a few friends, and then had some crises that needed attending so I didn't actually start planning with anyone until one of the people I had talked to picked up the ball and invited me to help planning it with her. We are going to meditate on intentions for the Earth, wrap our intentions (in the form of a ribbon/yarn/string) around a stick, then bury it in the ground and give the Earth a blessing. There will be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmpgbZvzkvo" target="_blank">chanting</a> and candles and washing of hands in rose water. My friends Natalie and Christina are energy workers and very good with words, and are collaborating to create the words for the blessing. Here's what Christina sent me this morning--it gave me chills!!<br /><br />
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"Mother Earth, with grateful hearts we desire to do for you as you have done for us, we desire to love and tend to your needs. We ask forgiveness for not listening. We collectively remove all feelings of uselessness and promise to open our ears, hearts, and minds. We acknowledge the worth of your wisdom and ask that our minds might rise to a new level of understanding.</blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Gracious and ever giving Mother let us bless you, let us do our part to help sustain you. Allow us to restore the patience we've worn thin. We bless your fears, like the sea, to return to calm. We bless your heart to know peace. We bless you with a renewed patience for those who are slow to understand."</blockquote>
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I can't wait to celebrate our earthy mother tonight!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-36408227990804966112013-10-18T15:41:00.002-06:002013-10-18T15:41:23.845-06:00Hints, Allegations, and Things Left UnsaidNamaste, Dear Reader. There are a few rambles ahead, so proceed with a salt shaker.<br />
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I am struggling today, wrestling with Words and Indolence, trying to fight them into submission. Words are elusive, slipping away from my consciousness whenever I get close. Indolence just sits there, laughing jovially at my attempts to get it to do anything other than be amused.<br />
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There are so many things I want to say about womanhood, about the divine, about trying to find my role in life. I want to be able to express what I'm thinking and why, to hear what you have to say, and understand your viewpoints and be able to understand where you're coming from. I want to be vulnerable and open and smart.<br />
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In my head, I feel incomplete, like there is so much to learn and be and do; yet I feel more complete and "me" than I've felt all my life. This is so fascinating to me, what are my reasons? Delving into heads has always been intriguing, but there are also usually no firm answers. I feel like I've accepted myself so much more fully than I've ever been able to before. I'm even okay with that. Yet I don't want to open myself and my opinions up to public opinion. Is there such a thing as a vulnerability firewall, which allows just enough vulnerability out to connect to people, soul-to-soul, while maintaining the parts of oneself that aren't ready to be unearthed and witnessed by others?<br />
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Anyway. I need to make a chocolate chip cookie pie, and that will save me from further "public" rumination.<br />
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Do you have any thoughts? When have you felt the most at home in your own skin, and can you say why?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-46688882611663383322013-09-02T23:58:00.001-06:002013-09-03T01:25:22.696-06:00Go Fund Me After You Find Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7FdgJ-oe2XplSGJkgfC9QihkapA2FHbo8bxHk3Ygvbq_zuMwc0hC2e2Cc8Zyp5FSmE6eLonz1H97Jtx0sMn22BdyhRM64Vs6PIcofsFwcSBkT3KdOhVnKZEIff-_D9D7UHCKbFvQwoRK/s1600/1231689_458471737584468_1972870316_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7FdgJ-oe2XplSGJkgfC9QihkapA2FHbo8bxHk3Ygvbq_zuMwc0hC2e2Cc8Zyp5FSmE6eLonz1H97Jtx0sMn22BdyhRM64Vs6PIcofsFwcSBkT3KdOhVnKZEIff-_D9D7UHCKbFvQwoRK/s640/1231689_458471737584468_1972870316_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Hint: I'm in Utah! Now fund me. :0)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1ttOAqKiIEW3kGV90l-jVORFJJgyEHjr8iKwdikxjaNAHH509TIDwZ_4D0PGRQhe8cTOWtnu0jiR4oVGhCMKpcWgwnHpV0h-FCAMOb85CBnzqmyyO460o0ZnFjsltVDwxDx4AYJNYXdU/s1600/1173830_458671090897866_15282908_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1ttOAqKiIEW3kGV90l-jVORFJJgyEHjr8iKwdikxjaNAHH509TIDwZ_4D0PGRQhe8cTOWtnu0jiR4oVGhCMKpcWgwnHpV0h-FCAMOb85CBnzqmyyO460o0ZnFjsltVDwxDx4AYJNYXdU/s400/1173830_458671090897866_15282908_n.jpg" width="400" /></a>As you may have guessed from my last post, <a href="http://empoweringfearlessbirth.com/index.shtml" target="_blank">I'm heavily involved in planning a birthing conference for a movement which we call Empowering Fearless Birth. </a> It's a funny name that really means we are all about giving mothers the education, opportunities, and power to have the kinds of births they want--from birthing in a watering trough in their kitchen to scheduling a C-section, being as medicated as she chooses and having the medical care she wants. We want all mamas to know their choices and be confident in what they want, because so many times what people do and say during a birth can impact a birthing mama for the rest of her life (for better or worse.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTXdgNLhg2jk_PsM3MdxjK_69ygzafhVwMMu8s3VhM9IXZw5FhN6WOthTHkxNry8Pq5Dwzw4zS3W39V_2RT9trHvbEEzj_GIU0G-RqjHcZCZXgrThhu5JLYTTb6a0PInUUW6YJAkWW3NR/s1600/1238983_458227974275511_2137323083_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTXdgNLhg2jk_PsM3MdxjK_69ygzafhVwMMu8s3VhM9IXZw5FhN6WOthTHkxNry8Pq5Dwzw4zS3W39V_2RT9trHvbEEzj_GIU0G-RqjHcZCZXgrThhu5JLYTTb6a0PInUUW6YJAkWW3NR/s400/1238983_458227974275511_2137323083_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
This past weekend, I sat down with my <a href="http://www.thetouchoflife.com/" target="_blank">two</a> <a href="http://www.tooelebirthandbreastfeeding.com/" target="_blank">cohorts</a> and we hammered out the class schedule. <a href="http://empoweringfearlessbirth.com/event_info/class_and_speaker_listings.shtml" target="_blank">We have a whopping 45+ hours of amazing women and men teaching classes</a> on everything from "Vaccines: Know the Facts" by a medical doctor, to "The Benefits of Placenta Encapsulation", to "Healing Birth Trauma" by a midwife who is also a CPM.<br />
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We have incredible and intelligent people coming from far and wide to help spread knowledge out to anyone who is willing to attend their classes! I wish I could go to every single one of them.<br />
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That's the problem.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWWmFkyjHf4xOo14g6b_lVW-9sO5aV59T9KCd7FwDVziwzuuUlk6kJ4w3AXnp0RxJEN9AsngP6RfewtFA5RV719ouVCJO8e8UopGHPLRtxZVBXSGsKqhRxQRiBiQe_CMBlKXDADVkyOjk/s1600/1238938_458394457592196_1430616100_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWWmFkyjHf4xOo14g6b_lVW-9sO5aV59T9KCd7FwDVziwzuuUlk6kJ4w3AXnp0RxJEN9AsngP6RfewtFA5RV719ouVCJO8e8UopGHPLRtxZVBXSGsKqhRxQRiBiQe_CMBlKXDADVkyOjk/s400/1238938_458394457592196_1430616100_n.jpg" width="301" /></a>We don't want all of this time and effort to go to waste. We NEED the classes to be filmed, and to be available to anyone who needs information about all of these subjects. Wouldn't it be amazing for a first-time mother, with no real support, to do a simple Google search on how to prepare for a hospital birth or how to protect her perineum during birth, and find an hour long discourse she can watch online and learn about what questions to ask and where to go for more information?<br />
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I think so, don't you? We barely have enough money in the budget to pay for the event, so we need help finding funds to film every single class. If you think this is even half as important as I do, <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/empoweringfearlessbirth" target="_blank">please help us out by donating to our Go Fund Me! I will personally send you cookies (even vegan and/or paleo ones if you so choose it!) if you donate more than $50.</a> Leave me a comment and what kind of cookies you like, and I'll be in touch. :0)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fUdEFSJuBENURBsGK5cKw13imgt2UMZHSI_rrA-uQ9ejdjXjYi_6Dpm_yZmMit8uEIVw6IJ-cYPEw47zxu8Ss_bFmY0JxSHLaeRrYXcgYC8DYLc2pF4CmFopN516rcom-uryiRGFX0s7/s1600/1237124_458227717608870_1710012850_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fUdEFSJuBENURBsGK5cKw13imgt2UMZHSI_rrA-uQ9ejdjXjYi_6Dpm_yZmMit8uEIVw6IJ-cYPEw47zxu8Ss_bFmY0JxSHLaeRrYXcgYC8DYLc2pF4CmFopN516rcom-uryiRGFX0s7/s640/1237124_458227717608870_1710012850_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">(all images of William courtesy of my fabulous sister-from-another-mister, April DeLaMare of </span><a href="http://delamarephotography.smugmug.com/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">DeLaMare Photography</a><span style="font-size: small;">. And Debbie of </span><a href="http://www.silvermaplemedia.com/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">Silver Maple Media</a><span style="font-size: small;"> turned ALL of these images into memes! Isn't she brilliant?)</span></td></tr>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/73116581" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/73116581">Empowering Fearless Birth Event Promo Film</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user12840175">thetouchoflife</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com4Lehi, UT, USA40.3916172 -111.8507662000000140.1981807 -112.1734897 40.585053699999996 -111.52804270000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-83228818704873449152013-08-23T15:43:00.001-06:002013-08-23T17:01:34.093-06:00Birth Changed My Life!"How?", some of you may ask. Well, that's funny. Perhaps you were never born yourself and can't imagine that being born had an impact on any mother or child. Perhaps you think I'm being snarky, and perhaps you're right.<br />
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As you may suspect, I don't remember being born, but I do remember giving birth to William just over 19 months ago, on the first of January in 2012. Wonderful day for birth, don't you think? New Year's Day is always so fresh feeling, and like it's the perfect day for beginning something.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet little William, just 2 days old.</td></tr>
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I had taken <a href="http://www.hypnobirthingutah.com/" target="_blank">Hypnobirthing classes</a> from the lovely Lauralyn Curtis and felt, if not prepared, at least like I had done <i>something</i> to prepare! <i>Something</i> is better than <i>nothing.</i> My mom had told me at the New Year's Eve party the night before that I looked like the baby's head was down near my pelvic bone, like I was just about ready to give birth, and I laughed at her but she was right.<br />
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The next morning, after realizing that I was maaaaaaaaybe in labor, my husband and I leisurely started our day with some cuddles and jokes, as we are wont to do. An hour or so later, quite unexpectedly, my water broke all over our bed and we had to make some decisions, and fast. Did we decide to move things to the hospital? Yes! Buuuuut we thought we probably had hours and hours of labor ahead of us, so I didn't move very quickly. Then it was too late to go anywhere unless someone carried me because transition hit like a prize-fighting bull on top of a freight train.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After being transported to the hospital, we were transported into different clothing.</td></tr>
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The urge to push was overwhelming, and it felt so good to curl up on our guest bed, moan like a cow, and just relax into my body and do whatever it wanted to do. It was incredible, so empowering and awe-inspiring. I felt like I could have done anything in that moment, had I wanted to--and yet there was nothing more that I could do or wanted to do then focus inward and try to work with my body.<br />
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Just a little after noon, my baby was born on my guest bed, into my husband's hands. He cried out, "Little dude!!" and handed him immediately over, both of us in wonderment at this little person. The paramedics were pounding at the door, and from that day forward has been a bit of a blur.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet, sweet boy.</td></tr>
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I still marvel at my body, and how it was able to foster this little egg and help it grow into a beautiful baby, and then know how to adapt and change to get that baby out, intact. It was the most incredible experience, ever--and it opened up my eyes to my own potential, and the potential of all living things.<br />
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That statement might feel a little grandiose, that from one morning's work of going with the flow, I was able to come to a vast appreciation for the universe and everything living and growing within it, but that's really how it felt. It's too big to contain in just one person! It was wonderful and empowering and so, so joyful.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holding a 3-day-old William on the bed where he was born.</td></tr>
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Let me tell you something. I did NOT think that birthing a baby would be such a life-changing event. I expected that having a baby in my life to take care of would be a monumental task, I expected that birthing would be hard and hurt, and I expected that it would be a lot of drudgery and pain. I did not expect the experience to be the most intensely happy, gloriously liberating experience I'd ever have!! It was truly amazing.<br />
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Now, I know there are a lot of people whose births are <i>hard.</i> They struggle, and pay for their experiences in blood, sweat, and tears (both kinds.) I know women who thought they were going in for an empowering experience, who did everything right and prepared themselves, and despite all that had traumatic experiences. For these women, my heart aches so dearly. I'm so sorry, my sisters. I have every hope that these women are able to heal from the trauma, and find freedom from those shackles by finding a soft place to heal their hearts and wounded bodies, to stitch themselves together and come back stronger than ever.<br />
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This is what <a href="http://www.empoweringfearlessbirth.com/index.shtml" target="_blank">Empowering Fearless Birth</a> is all about, people. Either experience. ANY experience. <a href="http://www.thetouchoflife.com/" target="_blank">We</a> want to help women be educated in their choices and then validate whatever choice they make. <a href="http://tooelebirthandbreastfeeding.com/" target="_blank">We</a> want to gather up the wounded women, give them a safe place, and encourage them to show their strength again. <a href="http://www.treeoflifemama.com/" target="_blank">We</a> want babies to be born in the best way possible for the mama and for the baby. <a href="http://www.hypnobirthingutah.com/hypno-doula-services/" target="_blank">We</a> want so, so much! And with a lot of <a href="http://www.empoweringfearlessbirth.com/event_info/volunteer.shtml" target="_blank">incredible help</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EmpoweringFearlessBirth" target="_blank">we are trying to make it happen.</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.empoweringfearlessbirth.com/event_info/giveaways.shtml" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.empoweringfearlessbirth.com/index.shtml" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhL6djI0T3ETk6KAM7wx-nhDfLm5htlkWzP8_llzmtoV06dHudPIV1tz_na8wTXrf7_oNV0837IYOWSc20SnwNaiHmKKwwv7kLGHe6zOgLo6S3eoZELpjB4NaWsYsRoxikFUFrBwVRpjo/s640/1174558_572896109413818_1745587541_n.jpg" title="Empowering Fearless Birth" width="640" /></a></div>
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September 21st of this year, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/466394316771890/" target="_blank">we're holding our second event</a>--the first one sold out, so we know it's something that's wanted and needed in the community. We want to help mothers see the different choices for what they are, and not for what the media portrays them as. We want to support all mothers, from women who are planning on a scheduled c-section to women who want to do a home birth in their backyard. All of it, all the between too. We love you and we want you here with us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlFhBQJQo3aGY6N5T2PanDpnO2AFy-j1C-DJUETnbANGef0hmcDtuAdUwJlTsDBDnCWhcoZbTLxD6O41LDkciMOtfmulwACRxH4HeLHeiB9MXZpGlxRM-Es3Hd6A2CHTlTyXAwzplPDJY/s1600/img5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlFhBQJQo3aGY6N5T2PanDpnO2AFy-j1C-DJUETnbANGef0hmcDtuAdUwJlTsDBDnCWhcoZbTLxD6O41LDkciMOtfmulwACRxH4HeLHeiB9MXZpGlxRM-Es3Hd6A2CHTlTyXAwzplPDJY/s640/img5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.knowmoreastranger.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rachel</a> holding fresh fruit of her womb--doesn't that look say absolutely everything? The joy, the love, the overwhelming sense of awe and accomplishment? <br />
(Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.katherineloveless.com/index2.php" target="_blank">Katie Loveless</a>)</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com2Lehi, UT, USA40.3916172 -111.8507662000000140.1981807 -112.1734897 40.585053699999996 -111.52804270000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-6196619131415305122013-05-30T02:04:00.004-06:002013-05-30T02:08:38.390-06:00Cream of What-Everrrrrrrrr Soup, Vegan'd and/or Paleo'dI am a huge fan of creamy things, like cheesecake and pesto mayonnaise and funeral potatoes. All super tasty things, in my opinion. Cooking such things is bred into my bones, my mother taught me from since I was as high as an apron's ties that adding cream of chicken soup and/or sour cream to a recipe made it instantly superb. I like superb. I adore superb, actually. I crave funeral potatoes like nobody's business, but I really don't want them enough for anybody to die over them, despite the awful name they've gotten.<br />
<br />
Anyway, back to creamy deliciousness--Cody becoming a vegan changed the way I had to look at recipes and it greatly changed the way certain dishes needed to be made.<br />
<br />
Enter cashew cream!<br />
<br />
This stuff is luscious. Creamy, bodacious, and only slightly nutty (because factoid! Cashews aren't nuts!), cashew cream makes an incredible alternative to dairy cream in vegan recipes, especially savory ones as coconut cream kinda tastes weird in certain contexts, like in a creamy vegetable soup, for instance.<br />
<br />
Last week we had this fantastically easy to make, amaaaaaazing tasting cream of broccoli soup because we'd gotten more cruciferous vegetables than we needed in our Bountiful Basket, and so needed a way to use them up. We gobbled it up in under 24 hours, even William had his share. So if you have picky eaters that don't like veggies, try this! It's got great fats in it too, and makes panini companions shine like the sun.<br />
<br />
Because I rock at the photography thing, here's someone else's picture of cream of broccoli soup that looks surprisingly like ours:<br />
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<b>Vegan Cream of Vegetable Soup</b><br />
<i>adapted from Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook, 11th Edition</i><br />
<br />
Cooked vegetable (see amounts and variations below with herb combinations)<br />
3 cups broth<br />
2 tablespoons coconut oil<br />
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (omit if doing a strict Paleo version*)<br />
1 teaspoon sea salt, divided<br />
1/4 teaspoon pepper<br />
1 cup cashews<br />
boiling water (about 1 1/2 cups-ish)<br />
<br />
In a 2-cup glass measuring cup, measure out the 1 cup of cashews. Pour the boiling water into the glass measure up to the 2 cup mark. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and let soak for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally if you want. It doesn't NEED it need it, but sometimes stirring is fun.<br />
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Once the cashews are sorta bloated and softened to the tooth, dump the cashews and their water into a blender or food processor and blend those punks up like they deserve it, a.k.a. until the mixture is white and creamy and no little bits of nuts remain visible. <br />
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Set the cashew cream aside and blend up the cooked vegetable of your choice in 2 batches, with 2 cups of the broth (1 cup of the broth with each batch of vegetable.)<br />
<br />
Heat a pot over medium heat. Make the roux by melting the coconut oil then whisking in the flour, remaining salt, pepper, and chosen seasonings for your vegetable. Cook until the mixture bubbles quite a bit. It won't look like a traditional roux, but it will still work, don't worry! Whisk in the remaining 1 cup of broth and cook until thickened and bubbly. Add in all of the blended goodness, warm, and serve.<br />
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Vegetable Options:<br />
<br />
<i>Asparagus</i><br />
6 cups cut asparagus/2-10 oz frozen package asparagus, 1 teaspoon lemon peel, 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg<br />
<br />
<i>Broccoli</i><br />
6 cups broccoli florets/2-10 oz package frozen cut broccoli, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme<br />
<br />
<i>Cauliflower</i><br />
6 cups florets/2-10 oz package frozen, 1-1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder<br />
<br />
<i>Mushroom</i><br />
10 cups sliced fresh mushrooms, 1/4 teaspoon thyme, 1 tablespoon sherry<br />
<br />
<i>Potato</i><br />
6 potatoes, peeled and cubed, or 3 &1/2 cups mashed, cooked potatoes and 1/2 teaspoon dried dillweed<br />
<br />
<i>Pumpkin</i><br />
2 cups canned pumpkin and 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg<br />
<br />
<i>Squash</i><br />
2 1/2 pounds acorn squash, cooked and scraped from skin, and 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger or nutmeg<br />
<br />
<br />
Soup it up!<br />
<br />
*The soup is certainly thick enough to not need the roux thickener; however, if you feel it needs thickening, consider using arrowroot instead.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-7969745665227936762013-05-12T02:01:00.001-06:002013-05-12T02:35:05.320-06:00Huffy Truff-a-ma Shuff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh Truff.<br />
<br />
She found a new home yesterday, and it's happysad. She's a good doggie and I already miss her, but this new family has a yard and kids that are anxious to have a dog, a family that hikes and runs and plays outside. I love you, Truffle, and I hope you have all the love and cheese they can give you!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-71355828692447412032013-05-03T16:40:00.001-06:002013-05-03T16:40:32.322-06:00Crunchy Livin' Lovin'<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZesBGmWf7RZEXl9x0ShyphenhyphenJsJjGjRz0bIQyvNKNgyZ44Z-5Q9zcrHOCPq7kd6ZI3KTDnwUKUWJGjKH_TRLzof8bMFC-c_T9B3GrBzwvU_-4cAjL06y_coxICruMcOu19cSh0-clNRZ4Xosx/s1600/Product_Image_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZesBGmWf7RZEXl9x0ShyphenhyphenJsJjGjRz0bIQyvNKNgyZ44Z-5Q9zcrHOCPq7kd6ZI3KTDnwUKUWJGjKH_TRLzof8bMFC-c_T9B3GrBzwvU_-4cAjL06y_coxICruMcOu19cSh0-clNRZ4Xosx/s320/Product_Image_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my postpartum pad sets. These are AWESOME for the post-baby goings-on.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The lovely Rachel Joy Jackson interviewed me as her blog sponsor on <a href="http://www.thecrunchycottage.com/" target="_blank">The Crunchy Cottage</a>, and the interview is up today! <a href="http://www.thecrunchycottage.com/2013/05/sponsor-and-giveaway-aunt-flows-cloth.html" target="_blank">Go check it out</a>, and enter to win a $30 gift certificate to my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/auntflow?ref=si_shop" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-65817474787723625762013-04-27T22:54:00.003-06:002013-04-27T22:54:24.056-06:00Jammin' to the OldiesAfter contributing for a 25-lb. box of Roma tomatoes in my <a href="http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/" target="_blank">Bountiful Basket</a> this week and wanting to put up some pasta sauce, I decided I would buy the <a href="http://www.henryfields.com/product/Pressure_CookerCanner/harvesting_and_kitchen_supplies?p=0613778&utm_source=shopzilla" target="_blank">pressure canner</a> that I'd been eyeing online for a while. It cans 22 quarts at a time and is $100, a super good deal, and will hopefully see our family through many a summer produce surplus.<br />
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ANYWAY. All of this canning talk urged me to peek at the canning supplies at the grocery store tonight, and I was enthusiastic to see that Ball put out a low- or no-sugar pectin that does flexible batches! Finally! I'm not sure but I think it's a better deal than the boxed pectin used to be, too...but I don't have any of my old receipts or anything to see. You can get 22 half-pints from this $5 bottle, and I thought that was pretty nifty. The only negative thing that I see about this new pectin is that it still contains dextrose as its first ingredient, so even if you choose to not add sugar to your recipe there will still be added sugar with this pectin, even if it is a miniscule amount. It's more readily available than <a href="http://www.pomonapectin.com/" target="_blank">Pomona's Pectin</a>, which you really CAN make sugar-free jams with.<br />
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<a href="http://www.freshpreservingstore.com/ball-realfruit-low-or-no-sugar-pectin-4-7-oz/shop/382667/?CCAID=FPPTPD1PRDTL" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqIMulIac9ygGaGI6T-FvEe0Tf54ckOPat3bfiO3wxprC-ri_LGVx4DzxMyS8XzmvK9ax6sg2McCIPZi4fPYtdZQB1_I8a029GldOzl2tCr43Kl9G7tUXY8cHPROI6YnAmNbIvzPIKp5N/s320/382667e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, if you're into all that preserving whatnot, check it out. It was $5 at my grocery store (not on sale) or on Ball's website, but on the web you gots to pay shipping, so getting it at the store is naturally the better deal.<br />
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P.S. I'm really not trying to sell any of you on stuff with all my links and whoodlyhaa. I just liked this stuff and felt the need to share! ;DAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-63803591815782251362013-03-31T18:54:00.000-06:002013-04-06T00:52:59.928-06:00March 2013 Stitch FixLast month, I started a service called Stitch Fix. I've really appreciated seeing other people's blog posts about it so I could get an idea for the items sent out and the cost of the items, so I thought I would contribute my own post to aide others like me! --I'm very novice at both blogging and fashion, so be kind. :0)<br />
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<a href="http://s291.photobucket.com/user/ruthiedel/media/march%20stitch%20fix/055.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 055.jpg" border="0" height="400" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll308/ruthiedel/march%20stitch%20fix/055.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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This coral Moon pencil skirt has a fabulous invisible zipper detail, you can see it on the right-hand seam. I love the color, it's more pink in person than it appears here. The biggest problems were that I'd just bought 2 pencil skirts from Target a month ago on clearance for $6.88 each, and that this pencil skirt costs $88. Cute, but I think I'll pass.<br />
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<a href="http://s291.photobucket.com/user/ruthiedel/media/march%20stitch%20fix/056.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 056.jpg" border="0" height="300" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll308/ruthiedel/march%20stitch%20fix/056.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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A snazzy shirt by Everly, this 3/4-sleeve Zig-Zag Blouse is a better deal at $58. I like the neckline, the hem length, and the sleeve length. I'm not so sure about the fancy buttons or the shapelessness of the blouse, but it's definitely a trendy print and in a classic way, so I'm paying attention.<br />
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<a href="http://s291.photobucket.com/user/ruthiedel/media/march%20stitch%20fix/057.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 057.jpg" border="0" height="300" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll308/ruthiedel/march%20stitch%20fix/057.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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At $58, this shirt by the brand Angie is (in my opinion) expensive but exquisite on details and fit. This thing may be made of chiffon, but it's absolutely gorgeously crafted. I love all the little studs, the gathers, the pintucks, the beautiful hem... It's just a cute shirt. I'm not sold on it because A) it's sheer and B) I'm not sure I want to spend that much money on yet another blue shirt.<br />
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<a href="http://s291.photobucket.com/user/ruthiedel/media/march%20stitch%20fix/058.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 058.jpg" border="0" height="300" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll308/ruthiedel/march%20stitch%20fix/058.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Aside from the ADORABLE!! star facing, this denim shirt by Lovemarks is a major "eh" at $68. Maybe I can't style chambray shirts? I just feel like they look super dowdy on me, no matter what I try.<br />
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And finally, the accessory:<br />
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<a href="http://s291.photobucket.com/user/ruthiedel/media/march%20stitch%20fix/059.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 059.jpg" border="0" height="300" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll308/ruthiedel/march%20stitch%20fix/059.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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This sweet little Marjorie Baer triangles short necklace. It's industrial chic, something I'm into lately, and it's a bit spendy for this cheap girl at $68.<br />
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So then I tried them all on. And tried to take pictures. It's kinda funny, so laugh if you want--I won't feel bad because I can't hear you.<br />
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<a href="http://s291.photobucket.com/user/ruthiedel/media/march%20stitch%20fix/060.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 060.jpg" border="0" height="300" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll308/ruthiedel/march%20stitch%20fix/060.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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"Is this thing on?"<br />
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<a href="http://s291.photobucket.com/user/ruthiedel/media/march%20stitch%20fix/061.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 061.jpg" border="0" height="300" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll308/ruthiedel/march%20stitch%20fix/061.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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"Oh hey, it's on." Here's the skirt and the denim shirt together. I slapped a necklace and heels on with it. Probably not the most flattering pairing, but I knew these two were the least likely to be picked to keep and ugh I dislike that shirt. The skirt is cute, just not $88 cute.<br />
<a href="http://s291.photobucket.com/user/ruthiedel/media/march%20stitch%20fix/065.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 065.jpg" border="0" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll308/ruthiedel/march%20stitch%20fix/065.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://s291.photobucket.com/user/ruthiedel/media/march%20stitch%20fix/065.jpg.html" target="_blank"></a><br />
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Again, probably not the best pairing. I love the way this shirt lays, though--it's really gorgeous. I think it's a toss-up between this one and the zig-zag one, unless I just go crazy and get the necklace instead.<br />
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<a href="http://s291.photobucket.com/user/ruthiedel/media/march%20stitch%20fix/066.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 066.jpg" border="0" height="300" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll308/ruthiedel/march%20stitch%20fix/066.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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An attempt to show the details on the shirt.<br />
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<a href="http://s291.photobucket.com/user/ruthiedel/media/march%20stitch%20fix/070.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 070.jpg" border="0" height="300" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll308/ruthiedel/march%20stitch%20fix/070.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Chevron? C'est vous? I think this is pretty cute aside from the flats. Needs a bubble necklace and you can call it a Pinterest-worthy outfit.<br />
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<a href="http://s291.photobucket.com/user/ruthiedel/media/march%20stitch%20fix/071.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 071.jpg" border="0" height="300" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll308/ruthiedel/march%20stitch%20fix/071.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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The necklace! I like where it hits. I think it works great with scoopnecks.<br />
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<a href="http://s291.photobucket.com/user/ruthiedel/media/march%20stitch%20fix/072.jpg.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 072.jpg" border="0" height="300" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll308/ruthiedel/march%20stitch%20fix/072.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Detail. I like the silver's finish, it makes it look sorta like galvanized steel.<br />
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So yeah, that's my Stitch Fix for the month. I'm still not sure which I'm gonna keep or what--if you have opinions, I'd love to hear what you'd pick and how you would style everything!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-53256271495362448932010-12-19T17:52:00.003-07:002010-12-19T18:34:48.555-07:00star light, star bright...Every year for Christmas my siblings and I all draw a couple name for gift giving. This year we got Elden and Rebecca, so we're donating to their daughter's Therapy Dog.<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" data="http://www.firstgiving.com/widgets/fgwidget.swf" flashvars="EggId=1469878" align="middle" height="230" width="150"><param name="movie" value="http://www.firstgiving.com/widgets/fgwidget.swf"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="flashvars" value="EggId=1469878"><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"></object><br /><br />Go forth, donate to it too if you have a few extra dollars! She could really use a helpful canine companion. ^_^<br /><br />But enough about us and our givings, this year we received a gift from Sarah and Jared...and it's quite awesome, if I may say so. They gave us a star!! The star's named after Cody and me! And as if that weren't enough, they wrote a poem to go along with it! I'm going to post it here for you:<br /><blockquote><br />a star in the sky that rings out your name<br />actually it doesn't the notions insane<br />but named for you it will stay in the sky<br />till the good lord tells it not to and it falls by and by<br /><br />from movies past we had seen this done<br />as a prize from a contest but someone else won<br />so when we drew you for christmas this year<br />and wondered what would offer you some long lasting cheer<br />we thought of the night at the movie so long ago<br />when we chose to kiss and not to watch the show<br />you stared in the sky<br />and averted your eyes<br />like a brother and sister<br />appalled at the picture<br /><br />but now in the future when you look up so high<br />you will have much more to look for with your star in the sky<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Jared and Sarah<br /><br />PS - my poem is awesome and has no punctuation as an artistic representation of my disgust for school.</blockquote><br />We love it. ^_^ Thank you, and Merry Christmas to everybody!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-15051681905487112472010-05-15T02:04:00.002-06:002010-05-15T02:22:39.359-06:00inexpensive but effective homemade cleaner!Because I'm annoyed at the cost of cutesy trendy cleaners, I'm gonna post a recipe I found somewhere for an easy custom scented all-purpose cleaner that I've been using on everything from windows to floors (I'd site the source if I remembered...but I do not. Sorry, Source.)<br /><br />1 cup white vinegar<br />10-20 drops essential oil, your choice (I like half lemon, half lime or lavender, personally)<br />1 tablespoon dishsoap<br />5-10 drops grapefruit seed extract<br />+ enough water to make the total recipe equal 4 cups<br /><br />Easy, right? I usually put some in a spray bottle and use at will, and keep some in an old quart-sized vinegar bottle to use for floors etc.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-81261447742066468972010-03-23T12:34:00.003-06:002010-03-23T14:45:52.708-06:00currytacularCody loves curry. LOVES it. He would marry it if it weren't illegal and if I didn't exist.<br /><br />Well, Cody probably wouldn't <span style="font-style: italic;">marry</span> it. But I bet he'd consider the idea once or twice.<br /><br />Anyway, Cody loves curry, and so I've found a few recipes he really likes, and I thought I'd share them today. :3 The first one's Thai, and the other two are kinda Indian. I dunno how authentic any of them are, but does that matter when they're delicious? Since the Indian ones go well with chapati, I shared that recipe I've been using. Chapati're basically tortillas, according to Wiki and my mouth, so I've used them in Cafe Rio-esque salads, too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Evil Jungle Princess with Tofu</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">from Thaifoon, it's Cody's favorite dish.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.lingandlouies.com/img/food-eviljungleprincess.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 181px;" src="http://www.lingandlouies.com/img/food-eviljungleprincess.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>1 tablespoon red curry paste<br />2 tablespoons sugar<br />2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter<br />2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce<br />1 13-oz can coconut milk<br />fresh Thai chilies (to taste, optional)<br />1/2 cup green beans<br />1/4 of a red bell pepper<br />1/2 cup asparagus spears cut into 2" pieces<br />1 teaspoon lime juice (pfft, just use a whole lime!)<br />1 tablespoon dry basil (or 1/4 cup fresh Thai basil, cut up with some chiffonade bidness)<br />1/4 cup fresh mint (or a couple drops of mint essential oil, or 1 tablespoon dried mint)<br />1 tablespoon roasted, salted, chopped peanuts<br />1/2 block tofu, rinsed, drained, cubed into 1/2 inch pieces<br /><br />Combine the coconut milk, curry paste, sugar, peanut butter, chili sauce in a skillet over medium low heat with a whisk until all the clumpies are gone. Add in the veggies and cook 5-10 minutes. Add in tofu and just heat long enough to warm through. Serve over rice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.media-allrecipes.com/site/allrecipes/area/community/userphoto/big/285434.jpg"><br /></a><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spicy-Vegan-Potato-Curry/Detail.aspx">Potato Curry</a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.media-allrecipes.com/site/allrecipes/area/community/userphoto/big/285434.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 223px;" src="http://images.media-allrecipes.com/site/allrecipes/area/community/userphoto/big/285434.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This delicious Potato Curry recipe's from AllRecipes.com. ^_^<br /><br />4 scrubbed potatoes, cubed (I prefer red potatoes)<br />2 tablespoons olive oil<br />1 onion, diced<br />2 cloves garlic, minced<br />1" piece of fresh ginger, peeled and minced/shredded<br />2 teaspoons ground cumin<br />1 1/2 teaspoons ground cayenne pepper (this is a LOT, I usually use 1/2 teaspoon. Last time I decided to try 1 teaspoon and our brains burned deliciously.)<br />4 teaspoons curry powder<br />4 teaspoons garam masala (or 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon each of cinnamon, cayenne, and cloves, and one bay leaf)<br />2 teaspoons salt<br />1 14-oz can diced tomatoes in juice<br />1 14-oz can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained<br />2 cups frozen peas<br />1 15-oz can coconut milk<br /><br /><br />Boil potatoes in salted water until just tender, drain and allow to dry for 5-10 minutes. Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat, add oil, then saute the onions until nearly translucent, or about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic and ginger and cook for a few more minutes. Throw all those spices in there, and then the tomatoes, beans, peas, potatoes, and coconut milk. Simmer until it's all warm and bubbly and delicious, and eat over rice or with chapati or warmed tortillas (or with rice and chapati!) with a dollop of sour cream or plain yogurt.<br /><br />I tend to add in however many potatoes as I feel like. I guess I just try for around a pound to pound and a half-ish. This makes a ton of curry--probably around 6-8 adult servings, so if you're not sure you'll like it, just make half for starters.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lazy Anda Curry</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Willa's mom made something like this for Willa's birthday while I was out visiting in Arkansas last September, and I liked it so much that I tried to recreate a lazy version after looking up a few recipes online.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPkIWHXnONs1qeTyBCOg1or4iG9o1RSCToAhn28p4TqeBftVDeq_dOwkI3qtnLjcn2GCy6mmoBOf1hw8r1l_CFgFvU4oxzmVltBrgyoblNSGgFstJ54c19RHh_OFHG3YR_voZbH_Q7vkN/s400/Anda-curry.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPkIWHXnONs1qeTyBCOg1or4iG9o1RSCToAhn28p4TqeBftVDeq_dOwkI3qtnLjcn2GCy6mmoBOf1hw8r1l_CFgFvU4oxzmVltBrgyoblNSGgFstJ54c19RHh_OFHG3YR_voZbH_Q7vkN/s400/Anda-curry.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>1 tablespoon olive oil<br />1 large onion, diced<br />2 cans diced tomatoes<br />2 tablespoons curry powder<br />1 tablespoon garam masala<br />4 eggs<br />chapati or rice<br />plain yogurt or sour cream<br /><br />Heat a medium saucepan (one that has a lid that fits) over medium heat. Add the olive oil, then the onion. Cook until the onion's translucent. Add in the spices, stir around for a minute or two, then dump in the tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Make a little pocket in the tomatoes with a spoon and crack each egg into its own little area, and poach with the lid on until the egg is cooked through. I usually cook it for another 10-20 minutes. Serve with chapati, or over rice, with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt on top.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Whole Wheat Chapati</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.manjulaskitchen.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/roti_chapati.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 161px;" src="http://www.manjulaskitchen.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/roti_chapati.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />2 cups whole wheat flour<br />1 teaspoon salt<br />2 tablespoons olive oil<br />3/4 cup hot tap water<br /><br />Mix the flour and salt together. Measure the olive oil into the flour, then add the water in all at once, and stir to incorporate all the flour. Split the dough into 8 pieces and let rest for 10 minutes. While the dough's resting, heat up a skillet over medium heat and let it preheat the whole time. Roll out each ball on an oiled surface into about 8" round and throw it in the ungreased skillet for 30-60 seconds, until it bubbles up and there are brown spots on the dough on the bottom. Flip and repeat. If the dough takes longer than 60 seconds, it's gonna be too tough to enjoy for very long, so turn the heat up a bit and wait before trying the next.<br /><br />Also, none of these pictures are mine, I stole them from the internets. ALL OF THEM.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-82399189447920422622010-03-17T21:02:00.003-06:002010-03-17T21:21:11.240-06:00so much food, so little timeI bet you didn't realize that you'd just be getting food updates and recipes when I said I'd try and post more on my blog...heh. Well. You are. I don't even have a picture today, because laziness prevails, my friends. Watch out, it's coming for you next.<br /><br />Anyway, Cody's doing this health challenge for work. It's been an adventure, since he's technically not supposed to have added sugar in almost anything except yeast-raised breads. You might be surprised by how much food has sugar as an ingredient (or high fructose corn syrup--same deal, he can't have it.) <br /><br />Regular condensed tomato soup has high fructose corn syrup, and even the fancy brands like Pacific Organics' Roasted Red Bell Pepper and Tomato soup has cane juice in it...so...when we went to do our standard throw-together grilled cheese 'n tomato soup tonight, I had to come up with something else to serve with it. <br /><br />But WHAT?<br /><br />What indeed...<br /><br />Are you sufficiently suspensified?<br /><br />I hope so.<br /><br />*dramatic fanfare*<br /><br />I made tomato soup from scratch tonight, and it rocked.<br /><br />Here's what I dun-did:<br /><br />2 14-oz cans petite diced tomatoes<br />Juice of 1 lemon<br />1 onion, finely diced<br />1/2 tablespoon olive oil<br />pepper<br />1 teaspoon basil<br />1 teaspoon parsley<br />garlic powder<br />1 tablespoon butter<br />1 tablespoon all-purpose flour<br />1 cup milk<br /><br />Turn on le olde broiler on the ceiling-of-the-oven setting. High? Whatever it's called. Throw those tomatoes, the juice, onion, oil, and spices into a 9x13" pan. Broil for 10 minutes, stir, then broil an additional 10 minutes and remove from oven. <br /><br />During the last 10 minutes of broilage, make a white sauce by melting the butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat, whisking in the flour until it gets nice 'n bubbly and golden, then add the milk all at once and cook until thick and bubbly. Remove from heat. When you get the tomato mixture outta the oven, throw that into the saucepan, stir, and serve.<br /><br />Next time I think I'm gonna blend it, 'cause it was a little thick as-is. Well, or add some broth? I'm not sure. I shared the recipe anyway, so do with it what you will. :PAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-67428443282275016502010-02-24T12:56:00.004-07:002010-02-24T13:27:28.614-07:00ta-daaaa!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1d/Marley_%26_Me_book_cover.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1d/Marley_%26_Me_book_cover.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RGRsqyWxL._SS500_.jpg"><br /></a>Finally, I finished le book, and it was cute. Not super cute, just... cute. I cried towards the end, though. I didn't like it enough to pursue the movie, if that tells you anything, but I don't really love movies that much anyway.<br /><br />Does anybody else wanna read it? I'll mail/hand it to the first person who says they want it in a comment. I might even send cookies with it!<br /><br />Now, to start The Secret Life of Bees. Today's nice and snowy, a perfect day for reading. ^_^<br /><br />Edit: Marley and Me has been requested by Rachel! Yay.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-17472877323020930502010-02-18T07:40:00.002-07:002010-02-18T08:09:53.248-07:00the thing that destroyed cream cheesia (totally a country)I'm eating some hash browns (slathered with Tapatio and pepper) as I type. ^_^<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1ahUC_7_a5lGG0a-ojah_Um9_vy7AkZd-TUm5-RMjtC4aw6qXN10v2W536jpzxTFT2wlK4S-_SUy8EB-vXF_Zu4J2Uh0fe_ZJHsjeB9TYyBFo8yumbGSgAeUwYxxjdh0v5uhnqrh1wMI/s1600-h/413.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1ahUC_7_a5lGG0a-ojah_Um9_vy7AkZd-TUm5-RMjtC4aw6qXN10v2W536jpzxTFT2wlK4S-_SUy8EB-vXF_Zu4J2Uh0fe_ZJHsjeB9TYyBFo8yumbGSgAeUwYxxjdh0v5uhnqrh1wMI/s400/413.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439600797863376466" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />from Sarah</span><br /><br />2 C Sugar<br />2 C Butter (at room temperature)<br />8 oz. Cream Cheese (again, at room temperature)<br />1 t Salt (freezing cold!! Just kidding...>_>)<br />1/2 teaspoon baking powder (I added this because I was afraid of the density, with all that butter and cheese)<br />1 t Almond Extract<br />1 t Vanilla<br />1/4 cup milk (or 2 egg yolks, or 1 egg)<br />5 C Flour<br /><br />In a large bow, combine sugar, butter, cream cheese, salt, almond extract vanilla and egg yolk; blend well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup, level off. Stir in Flour until well blended. Chill dough 2 hours.<br /><br />Heat oven to 375ËšF. On lightly floured surface roll out dough, one fourth at a time. to 1/8" thickness. Cut into desired shape with lightly floured cookie cutters. Place 1" apart on un-greased cookie sheets.<br /><br />Bake for 7-10 (I did 13, but my oven's funny) minutes or until light golden brown. Cool Completely. Frost and Decorate if desired. (They are actually really good plain I think)<br /><br />Makes 5-6 Dozen cookies.<br /><br />And I frosted them with:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cream Cheese Frosting</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">adapted from BHG New Cookbook, the 1996 edition</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>8 oz cream cheese at room temperature<br />1/2 cup butter at room temperature<br />2 teaspoons vanilla<br />4 1/2-3/4 cups powdered sugar<br /><br />Beat the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla together until there are no lumps remaining. Add in 2 cups of the powdered sugar, and beat in enough of the remaining sugar to get your frosting to the desired consistency.<br /><br />I also added in 1/4 cup milk, just because...well, I don't remember why. I just wanted to. >_<>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-39315566077027320162010-02-18T05:43:00.003-07:002010-02-18T05:44:53.545-07:00a new challenger approaches!Yeah, I know. It's been a while...<br /><br />I'm working on posting more schtuff! Like, "I have my phone hooked up to the computer to get all the pictures off of it 'n everything!" working on it.<br /><br />So...look forward to that, I guess?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-39266918598487508912009-11-02T13:51:00.005-07:002009-11-02T14:08:59.143-07:00uh...hello...That last blog is so OLD! He's all creaky 'n stuff.<br /><br />Anyway, I uploaded pictures from my phone onto the computer today, and I wanted to share this one:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguspUsYdwg9UmTMkVvmuXhiDkDR8-fS81Sj2-71P3C-o8gIbOtLnzVEjv9CWyJ0oem6MxcJPvNZmrKc6lBDtUEHEzPFeuYkB0EoiW5O2jZRbTSmENRwimRCA_1vklL_c-LtUEdLW0u2I2u/s1600-h/Photo0032.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguspUsYdwg9UmTMkVvmuXhiDkDR8-fS81Sj2-71P3C-o8gIbOtLnzVEjv9CWyJ0oem6MxcJPvNZmrKc6lBDtUEHEzPFeuYkB0EoiW5O2jZRbTSmENRwimRCA_1vklL_c-LtUEdLW0u2I2u/s400/Photo0032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399612743556998914" border="0" /></a><br />That's some leftover Oven-Roasted Veggies that I warmed up in my skillet then added an egg and some shredded cheddar to...:L It was SO GOOD!! I highly recommend it.<br /><br />So as my blog today I decided to share the recipe I've modified from my Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook for Oven-Roasted Veggies (they're way good with meatloaf, nut patties, what-have-you...but I'd make them just to have them for breakfast again any day!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">OVEN ROASTED VEGGIETABLES</span><br />3 medium potatoes (1 pound), scrubbed and cut into 1" pieces<br />1 medium turnip, peeled and sliced 1/2" thick<br />1 cup baby carrots, halved<br />1 medium onion cut into wedges and separated<br />3 tablespoons olive oil<br />1 teaspoon oregano<br />3 tablespoons lemon juice<br />3 cloves garlic, minced (or 1/2-1 teaspoon garlic powder...I sorta just sprinkle a generous amount in when I don't have garlic handy)<br />1 teaspoon salt<br />1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper<br />1 red bell pepper, cut into strips then halved<br /><br />Combine all ingredients except pepper in a 9x13" pan. Bake, covered, at 325 for 45 minutes, stirring halfway through. Turn the oven up to 450, uncover and add the peppers, and bake for an additional 20 minutes (stirring once.) Makes 6 side-dish servings.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-58744104564312223692009-08-28T22:43:00.003-06:002009-08-28T23:05:53.812-06:00little goodies<span style="font-style: italic;">Normal is getting dressed in </span><strong style="font-weight: normal; font-style: italic;">clothes</strong><span style="font-style: italic;"> that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a </span><strong style="font-weight: normal; font-style: italic;">car</strong> that you are still paying for - <span style="font-style: italic;">in order to get to the</span> <strong style="font-weight: normal; font-style: italic;">job</strong><span style="font-style: italic;"> you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the </span><strong style="font-weight: normal; font-style: italic;">house</strong><span style="font-style: italic;"> you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it. </span><br />-Ellen Goodman (Found on my friend <a href="http://johnnaudge.blogspot.com/">Audrey's blog.</a>)<br /><br />I like a quote that makes me go "huh, they're right..." or at least makes me stop and think for a minute. Our consumerism fuels itself. Want want want want want want want... I mean, there are definitely needs in there that we must find ways to meet, but the very core needs most of us have--food, water, shelter, love--don't demand the excess the majority of our society enjoys.<br /><br />Also, after researching to see if the above quote was accurate, I found this one by the same columnist:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We are told that people stay in love because of chemistry or because they remain intrigued with each other, because of many kindnesses, because of luck... But part of it has got to be forgiveness and gratefulness. </span><br />-Ellen Goodman<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><br />I remember learning somewhere (probably in Relief Society) that the root of all Christ-like love is gratitude. That's stayed with me, and when I'm feeling obstinate about someone or something, if I get myself to start thinking about what I'm grateful for in regards to that person or thing, I almost always feel my heart soften. Truly, I have a <span style="font-style: italic;">lot</span> to be grateful for. Most Americans do.<br /><br />So, as a random bonus, here are a few things I'm grateful for today:<br /><br /><ul><li>Cody <3</li><li>Air conditioning</li><li>Trying out new restaurants</li><li>Computers</li><li>INTERNET! (I have friends if I have the internet!)</li><li>Truffle's muffled sleep barking</li><li>Finding new songs or artists to enjoy</li><li>Chocolate</li><li>Good lotion</li><li>Learning new things</li><li>Juan texting me weird pictures or things that make me laugh</li><li>People that plant too many squash/tomato/cucumber plants and want to give away the deliciousness</li><li>My family</li><li>Mazda3s...and driving them...</li><li>Getting to talk to Adneisha; she has this way of making me feel useful, important, and loved</li><li>My new mascara, it's awesome</li></ul>So, friend/family member/person I haven't met, what are you grateful for today?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-42968313238644064892009-08-28T11:37:00.004-06:002009-08-28T23:07:54.916-06:00run! you might get....oh, you're tagged.Another tag, this time I stole it from Missy. :3<br /><br />1. Did you date someone from your school? Yupyup, but not until after high school. My only boyfriend before Cody (Aaron Croft, who I dated an astounding week or two in college) was also a ram.<br /><br />2. What kind of car did you drive? I didn't really drive much in high school. Sorry, Evany, Mark, Kristin, Anna, Steph...and whoever else toted me around.<br /><br />3. Were you a party animal? Yes. I was like a party sloth, always asleep and at home and not cool enough for parties.<br /><br />4. Were you considered a flirt? ...maybe? I remember something about a date with Mark that turned into me flirting with Brock, who was Evany's date. That was bad, I'm sorry Ev. Also, Rich only asked me to homecoming because I was very animated in talking to him. I wasn't really flirting, just talking and probably teasing; but my friends seemed to think I was madly in love with him because of it.<br /><br />5. Were you in band, orchestra or choir? Choir for 3 or 4 years. I can't remember if I was in Slaglebaby's class as a Frosh.<br /><br />6. Were you a nerd? Ummm...there're definitely smarter people than me, but I was always taking the honors classes and such, and I'm pretty much a dork. I'm gonna go with yes.<br /><br />7. Were you on any varsity teams? Negatory.<br /><br />8. Can you still sing the fight song? I don't even know if we had a fight song. I can still do the pep club cheer to the school song, though.<br /><br />9. Who were your favorite teachers? CORSI! for Concurrent Math and AP AB Calc, Southam for English, Slagle for Choir, Bee for Drafting, and I enjoyed Atiya for Physics and Minkley for AP BC Calc (even though I hated the subjects.)<br /><br />10. Where did you sit during lunch? Right by the science wing, outside of Dr. Atiya's room. I think we sat there almost all 4 years.<br /><br />11. What was your school's full name? Highland High<br /><br />12. What was your school's mascot? RAM!<br /><br />13. Did you go to homecoming and who with? Yes, Squashmore year I went with Richard Christiansen for my first date EVAR, and it was awesome. Junior year Cory Heintz asked me, and that was really fun too. :3 That was a fun group of guys to be friends with.<br /><br />14. If you could go back and do it again, would you? No. High school's over and I like it that way.<br /><br />15. What do you remember most about graduation? All the very loud screams from some classmates' families. >_< STOP SCREAMING, it's only making the horribly long ceremony even longer and even less fun.<br /><br />16. Where did you go Senior Skip Day? Hahaha, I skipped with Steph and Amy (a couple of Juniors) and we went down to 15th and 15th to Einstein's, then we went to Orchard Street Market and got fresh pineapple, then took it back to Slagle's classroom and ate it there. Slagle was the only one that didn't mind her seniors actually skipping, if I remember right. And Steph's right. Most of the stuff I ever plan, socially, involves food.<br /><br />17. Were you in any clubs? French Club, it was just an excuse to eat elcaires and baguettes with Nutella and Brie.<br /><br />18. Have you gained some weight since then? Yush. I dunno how many people actually stay the same size that they were in high school...<br /><br />19. Who was your prom date? Matthew Croft, but it turned a little awkward because we found out we're like 3rd cousins or something like that on the date.<br /><br />20. What did your dress/tux look like? It was white, with cap sleeves. Kinda boring, but I still like how Rebecca and I did my hair, with little roses and twists. I wish I could figure out how to do stuff like that on my own.<br /><br />21. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? Pfft. Reunions.<br /><br />22. Did you have a high school job and what was it? I worked at Hale Bakery from just before high school until just before college, and I love the girls I worked with. "If you wanna be my dustpan, you gotta get on the floor..." (sung to "Wannabe" by Spice Girls) I miss sitting in the walk-in fridge and eating Parfait cookies with whipped cream...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-1666740164940707752009-06-10T23:48:00.003-06:002009-06-11T00:20:26.665-06:00crentist the dentist<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/early_childhood/color/teeth.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 343px; height: 363px;" src="http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/early_childhood/color/teeth.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I think I'm in love with my dentist.<br /><br />No...I'm not going to leave Cody and join the circus only to return to Lehi and try to propose to my dentist (Dr. Groneman in American Fork) while he's performing a root canal on one of my molars.<br /><br />It's not that kind of love.<br /><br />The love I have for my dentist is based on his excellent care of my teeth with his weird water pic method of cleaning (also, he flosses my teeth! Shouldn't I be doing that?), and that he often compliments my teeth. "You have good teeth," he says. I blush. I do have good teeth! Thanks for noticing, Dentist Man! (And thank you for the teeth, Mom and Dad!) "No cavities," he says. "Nice work." I smile. See what I mean about the compliments? He knows how to make a person feel good about her mouth.<br /><br />Also, he has a superb memory...it almost seems like he and his assistants keep notes on Cody and me somewhere with our dental records. Do they? I might have to write them an anonymous letter or do some sleuthing while they're out to lunch, because it's uncanny how well they remember minute details about us. He and his assistants always ask follow-up questions to conversations we've had 6 months ago at our previous appointment! How do they do that? I really want to know. Is it because we have extremely odd tastes and stick out that much? I don't really think we're *that* odd, but maybe we are. I dunno.<br /><br />Aubrey, his main assistant, is always asking about our family and jobs and interests, and this last appointment she wasn't the one helping me--but she did tell the girl who was assisting "I like Ruthie, she's cute," after just seeing my face through the door. How does she remember every patient's name?! Seriously. We've only been going to Dr. Groneman's office for the past 2 years, so we've only seen these people 3 or 4 times.<br /><br />Even though Dr. Groneman and his assistants are extremely chatty and sociable, they're also happy to hand over a remote and let you watch tv while they take care of your routine oral hygiene needs. I've watched Pokemon and the Food Network while having a cavity filled. The Food Network might not be the best thing to watch when you can't eat for a few hours, but it's definitely on my list of favorite channels I don't have at home...so...it gets watched.<br /><br />So anyway, back to talk of dentistry...if anybody's in or around Utah County and wants a great dental experience, go to my dentist! He's awesome!<br /><br />(Disclaimer: Ruthie was not payed [much] to write nice things about her dentist.)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-18716088901037967222009-06-09T12:59:00.015-06:002009-06-13T14:36:24.027-06:00cruisin' usa...and canada!!Cody and I were lucky enough to go on a vacation with his family this past week, first to California for a few days and then on a cruise from LA to San Francisco, Victoria (in British Colombia, Canada--w00t!!), Seattle, then back to LA.<br /><br />Our boat, the Royal Caribbean Mariner. I heard it was the biggest cruise ship on the ocean, with an ice skating rink, 14 decks, a rock climbing wall, inline skating rink, miniature golf...blah blah blah...but I'm not sure and I'm too lazy to factcheck. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwIKfkl2q-L9f3ff6TcGHSRBtpTY2Ef5jy6zn56vnJRUlWmObJ8baGQPtUDX9tHXM53UTFkSE89-ECyVgEk8HCkfAbrY_Rsne_RDHCLRgBosvpiPSBxlnBr408ZEvvk_F8CiwB0k0Yd5d/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1393.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwIKfkl2q-L9f3ff6TcGHSRBtpTY2Ef5jy6zn56vnJRUlWmObJ8baGQPtUDX9tHXM53UTFkSE89-ECyVgEk8HCkfAbrY_Rsne_RDHCLRgBosvpiPSBxlnBr408ZEvvk_F8CiwB0k0Yd5d/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1393.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345410156292882130" border="0" /></a><br />Our stateroom, which was small but very well planned. It seemed a lot bigger than it was and had places for everything, although I'm not sure how we survived the 2003 cruise with the Higbees with 5 of us in one stateroom.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgpfVStoj1JiyM9Nt0xWkESZM3MfpiR4RW1vEWE_Bqo-5732G09kRdso69ExW1PGCu5pNQxdN049Ca3eM6hG_lFYUISlmEfbbWJicR8xKgRcG9FUrqH1OifxgHpD3e3blrnpOQdUbnmjJ/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1391.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgpfVStoj1JiyM9Nt0xWkESZM3MfpiR4RW1vEWE_Bqo-5732G09kRdso69ExW1PGCu5pNQxdN049Ca3eM6hG_lFYUISlmEfbbWJicR8xKgRcG9FUrqH1OifxgHpD3e3blrnpOQdUbnmjJ/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1391.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345410157153955410" border="0" /></a>The promenade deck, with all the shops. This is deck 5, 9 decks below the top deck.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dHJ-Ny4SEjDdBdGo51yne_vJJpAwNDQLg52QnFA1g3_e3JokzkqWuhh9NEreBaJ_JhZ9EHkO60WXs_zn8Jk53kEAJZvOaEfewgccxgcqxKZHAgQcLdmpFgRf4okZB7t-6g9RFnJkkspS/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1392.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dHJ-Ny4SEjDdBdGo51yne_vJJpAwNDQLg52QnFA1g3_e3JokzkqWuhh9NEreBaJ_JhZ9EHkO60WXs_zn8Jk53kEAJZvOaEfewgccxgcqxKZHAgQcLdmpFgRf4okZB7t-6g9RFnJkkspS/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1392.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345410153912926690" border="0" /></a>Our first stop was San Francisco. Cody and I opted out of all the planned cruise tours because none of them sounded that interesting, and we wanted to explore the cities on our own terms. The first thing we did once we got to port--besides text like mad--was to check on E3 (video game convention in LA) news for Cody, then we dropped off the laptop and headed out to play.<br /><br />Smartcar, parked smartly.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08frTsL1o7EoM4C_EYJeQOL4YG0cV0EhNwX5a7K1mcH1GYJ3pALbqywV28LfQM372tmFdrjMUpVm6sI0LtJgD_JT4R0dlx-mYZemkw2gN_wdy8689S0ipzYu59HXWqW1Dn1C7QSprvVxe/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1396.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08frTsL1o7EoM4C_EYJeQOL4YG0cV0EhNwX5a7K1mcH1GYJ3pALbqywV28LfQM372tmFdrjMUpVm6sI0LtJgD_JT4R0dlx-mYZemkw2gN_wdy8689S0ipzYu59HXWqW1Dn1C7QSprvVxe/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1396.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345409889165228642" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Cody in front of Viz Media's building in San Francisco. Viz Media's in charge of a few anime's English dubs, so although we mostly watch the Japanese dub with English subtitles, it was still cool to see something we could be nerdy about.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzznUsZNlm8Pl7YhnE7l-0woURJySsLFFAPmJGiOP7Mzcha7Url-OMvqiLCPFNoUyVfZKjkPv7m8LwBAM3i15P-AgoQZmA7XDpVBJ6PWGdMxs2BvbDbAL7ibgzOENc90SDwasSztY_mFA/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1397.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzznUsZNlm8Pl7YhnE7l-0woURJySsLFFAPmJGiOP7Mzcha7Url-OMvqiLCPFNoUyVfZKjkPv7m8LwBAM3i15P-AgoQZmA7XDpVBJ6PWGdMxs2BvbDbAL7ibgzOENc90SDwasSztY_mFA/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1397.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345409885337783154" border="0" /></a>I thought this building was interesting.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_oGUyB1dH7tFficIFE25aMdQEmOsdKmMxuu-iDPGXqObS_PZdusDhnqUwBISecliMAO_BQD56CwNwxSvSCNVxqLlPwqU6a4w2jrKTLNmB9DraM9GbLccujvR7cznBtGM6-pt72INpOPc/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1398.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_oGUyB1dH7tFficIFE25aMdQEmOsdKmMxuu-iDPGXqObS_PZdusDhnqUwBISecliMAO_BQD56CwNwxSvSCNVxqLlPwqU6a4w2jrKTLNmB9DraM9GbLccujvR7cznBtGM6-pt72INpOPc/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1398.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345409885348738914" border="0" /></a>I got some rose gelato and snarfed it down without a picture, although it tasted delicious and was very interesting. Then, we found this awesome little candy store that had metal lunchboxes, strange video game candy, and practical joke stuff.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYIuaUudWQ-p_q2nW1f9VMnIPt0IUaMfWHkNN9eMinasUyiQ7nAjEutXQkLUnC7k6adHcWBjcmjqeP8ONSMPUXcKeKsgSIWVhy08-M275Qjkj4HO9fFBfte0tVPJOivgt4Bq45vEhw1n0/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1399.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYIuaUudWQ-p_q2nW1f9VMnIPt0IUaMfWHkNN9eMinasUyiQ7nAjEutXQkLUnC7k6adHcWBjcmjqeP8ONSMPUXcKeKsgSIWVhy08-M275Qjkj4HO9fFBfte0tVPJOivgt4Bq45vEhw1n0/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1399.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345409408668491314" border="0" /></a>I totally bought some awesome bandaids there. Oh, and the dude that worked the counter (I think he might've been gay, but my gaydar's so off I don't trust it) asked me what designer my shirt was, and I told him it was a very exclusive place called the Gap Outlet. XD<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2Ra5YaE8SvOuLHxS-7fGGKy5kX7H-v7s0uCWLDcl3FcNLFWfgUo0T9uRaygnKeZo39sqBsVrEDQkDgc5qwj5IAp9eYhW7zOpw9h_uICJDg2fA5ONyvH6fHVHMUhOTn4DxG6EOttu7z1u/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1400.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2Ra5YaE8SvOuLHxS-7fGGKy5kX7H-v7s0uCWLDcl3FcNLFWfgUo0T9uRaygnKeZo39sqBsVrEDQkDgc5qwj5IAp9eYhW7zOpw9h_uICJDg2fA5ONyvH6fHVHMUhOTn4DxG6EOttu7z1u/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345409407899020738" border="0" /></a>The dining room was amazing, with three full floors and crystal chandeliers everywhere. Our waiter and waitress were fabulous, telling us all about their lives before cruising, and seeming to dislike waiting tables immensely while taking excellent care of us. It was rather ironic, but they definitely earned their keep. I hope they get to live some of the life they were talking about.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hW-ozLW8jP6g-Y1WJ8vG0L4C3yvFJ6APd3o7kpWuygfhW74DvfMy00ci8OdijlwbEZ_4btpgAFDPcId8t8FyNgtAW2JJifeuc1Aax0jbOqGnFol7h2rzIfFIz38B80FWafzy6wgcPC9M/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1401.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hW-ozLW8jP6g-Y1WJ8vG0L4C3yvFJ6APd3o7kpWuygfhW74DvfMy00ci8OdijlwbEZ_4btpgAFDPcId8t8FyNgtAW2JJifeuc1Aax0jbOqGnFol7h2rzIfFIz38B80FWafzy6wgcPC9M/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1401.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345409404061179282" border="0" /></a>The food was pretty good, although I missed our home cooking...but my favorite was when the chef would make a jaunty statement with a bunch of herbs.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNZhUERCT1UGPFUfe3eOM931KBlz2SW3uhsMXgH9ba1INt77V9tl1OmXPfrDuFUETPgx1mQPVCO8OhoN_kcmpnWd2J6bdrpd_HcDx67YIkBZMD79og8EP5YhPqP_aBt63o7HP7z6WKZNT/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1402.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNZhUERCT1UGPFUfe3eOM931KBlz2SW3uhsMXgH9ba1INt77V9tl1OmXPfrDuFUETPgx1mQPVCO8OhoN_kcmpnWd2J6bdrpd_HcDx67YIkBZMD79og8EP5YhPqP_aBt63o7HP7z6WKZNT/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1402.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345409403555368002" border="0" /></a>Us'ns<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30byRYtQ4pp0Sjx24jqJE5TwicgtYxmEhW1SxfbeAQFap6TgSPu1jMvnCWXobpnpcEBPeOI5Gu8AOxzToFBtwaHU1ZWSa9hcI82cMros_zyxWzh2VXkCpOOL9D2NNCgTg1GmpFanqGp83/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1406.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30byRYtQ4pp0Sjx24jqJE5TwicgtYxmEhW1SxfbeAQFap6TgSPu1jMvnCWXobpnpcEBPeOI5Gu8AOxzToFBtwaHU1ZWSa9hcI82cMros_zyxWzh2VXkCpOOL9D2NNCgTg1GmpFanqGp83/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1406.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345409403437734450" border="0" /></a>Richard was in love with the buffet for breakfast, and below is a picture of his favorite things there. The formal dining room always takes so much longer that it was hard to justify going there for every meal, especially when the food wasn't that much better, but the portion control the dining room offered was much more convenient than having to wait an hour for food. ^_^<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdW7jxXJ4MXl7eZH0VedwSoIWeS81me9vGWjnYw9EKYHVAv7vZJmC4ZCqMYSZoD_Ql4Z-_OEV0Oe0AGa_wjieR1veTZvZx2jGCBdFCsyFQpDle1_p6_Jx8lwynGO0gp1JjgP7KYG9BOZs/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1429.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdW7jxXJ4MXl7eZH0VedwSoIWeS81me9vGWjnYw9EKYHVAv7vZJmC4ZCqMYSZoD_Ql4Z-_OEV0Oe0AGa_wjieR1veTZvZx2jGCBdFCsyFQpDle1_p6_Jx8lwynGO0gp1JjgP7KYG9BOZs/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1429.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345409034075491794" border="0" /></a>Waiting for food was always better when I brought along my top.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hVXbU3FKcFGxR8RGIckiPy-zqeySVL5kChSun_iiHhQ9ccMQK_MMIL6NlMAG9xaMk4GSYZug4rfczjMt3eY0M-mLDfx32cxB6hd3sqU0cjgEXmu6Ss3VDJolggfgCUUEMBxkzw4Whwky/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1417.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hVXbU3FKcFGxR8RGIckiPy-zqeySVL5kChSun_iiHhQ9ccMQK_MMIL6NlMAG9xaMk4GSYZug4rfczjMt3eY0M-mLDfx32cxB6hd3sqU0cjgEXmu6Ss3VDJolggfgCUUEMBxkzw4Whwky/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1417.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345409031502899586" border="0" /></a>My homey away from home.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcNo7EYhOr1pT3Jbxh9JRjLadusZpZmnhhyphenhyphenujGNXNVbEJYzjwsrJ9MGuiv9xbkxde4KCEbVmkQ8_kxsJPYkuQY9bcva_s0i1P1QUVw-rrR1m2sgUfUc_AFaI9ujKUQo8vZBmrr18wBDPg/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1411.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcNo7EYhOr1pT3Jbxh9JRjLadusZpZmnhhyphenhyphenujGNXNVbEJYzjwsrJ9MGuiv9xbkxde4KCEbVmkQ8_kxsJPYkuQY9bcva_s0i1P1QUVw-rrR1m2sgUfUc_AFaI9ujKUQo8vZBmrr18wBDPg/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1411.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345409028082006690" border="0" /></a>Cody got inked! Fake inked! With glow-in-the-darkness stuff!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aum30p9PZuDiS2PsliLWzPs8YxL8DWPJRuHIwEQozVPiOaR6Lfp5BJ5DCrTTqkGVrrH0Qnr4cT1IKWvDqHMK4A4KADYp85tcFMu6_x2PuqPpIMTzMOG8dmyG1DLf8LahUZOGB1HIEOi1/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1413.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aum30p9PZuDiS2PsliLWzPs8YxL8DWPJRuHIwEQozVPiOaR6Lfp5BJ5DCrTTqkGVrrH0Qnr4cT1IKWvDqHMK4A4KADYp85tcFMu6_x2PuqPpIMTzMOG8dmyG1DLf8LahUZOGB1HIEOi1/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1413.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345409027886963922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-cm2MdBYmAJ5d7o4Vi6OQIZGTvvfoJ3-NnZxW57E2C9Stss7rnkD7cULZK6KcW_cwm7iTMtoJvOWnwGBzNQZ314hOLP9y64Vbg-JLRvuNTUVQCsojDZXY17bJ8rABd1B3pc4ywRERQAH/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1416.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-cm2MdBYmAJ5d7o4Vi6OQIZGTvvfoJ3-NnZxW57E2C9Stss7rnkD7cULZK6KcW_cwm7iTMtoJvOWnwGBzNQZ314hOLP9y64Vbg-JLRvuNTUVQCsojDZXY17bJ8rABd1B3pc4ywRERQAH/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1416.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345409023591747890" border="0" /></a>Dragon's Lair...there were so many hidden little bars, clubs, restaurants, theaters, etc. on our boat that I don't think I saw it all completely.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XkW4d3EJlJXrmd7m-hJ3_dQ6uHiDsIureIcQakVMKrT7ohyO33bIO0RPx3U5fqDzFwIp__KDL1RIlEIxtcR0ogcmVnKeqhB3bNsWfyvXQ-sWTNrFXJSeBw4uIE54zHYEzbJQXe2WPs_T/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1430.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XkW4d3EJlJXrmd7m-hJ3_dQ6uHiDsIureIcQakVMKrT7ohyO33bIO0RPx3U5fqDzFwIp__KDL1RIlEIxtcR0ogcmVnKeqhB3bNsWfyvXQ-sWTNrFXJSeBw4uIE54zHYEzbJQXe2WPs_T/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1430.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345408571622193058" border="0" /></a>CANADA! Here are some Canadian superheroes, Brave Beaver:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMCPJStPdaeNXk2c8iKpZeR4weYNELiYEFxIxl6F7laQMuxeYdxBBOG5m6tlb0fbpPVWmiv1sKac_hqhrabzA8CmuyfXRJpf08dWXipfLgQwdSMsAEWKTNU4PHEdSx6MDAix7q6x8uG5H/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1431.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMCPJStPdaeNXk2c8iKpZeR4weYNELiYEFxIxl6F7laQMuxeYdxBBOG5m6tlb0fbpPVWmiv1sKac_hqhrabzA8CmuyfXRJpf08dWXipfLgQwdSMsAEWKTNU4PHEdSx6MDAix7q6x8uG5H/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1431.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345408567047125586" border="0" /></a>and Mighty Moose:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwayrl-3soSf8PCdQaSzUqYf_03XdxkZxNVG1NRWFmWx_Dc0RZC1zAK8eVQaGqsuWuQMSIubuKGEwBYTzqzsyd8BS9_WO-0XvSnZjx520AIbTksbyS97wtc9zxsJsSf4zgECSiR4HyJB1I/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1432.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwayrl-3soSf8PCdQaSzUqYf_03XdxkZxNVG1NRWFmWx_Dc0RZC1zAK8eVQaGqsuWuQMSIubuKGEwBYTzqzsyd8BS9_WO-0XvSnZjx520AIbTksbyS97wtc9zxsJsSf4zgECSiR4HyJB1I/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1432.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345408569255484482" border="0" /></a>Cheesecake on a steeeek in Victoria.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwKCPieV-TXSqbyGxbFqi-Amiz3AUXGtiYR3PpKVDH8ne-YU2LhzkxQ6cbM12D52YU0ExywCDuLHorYLmWAtnWnQs33J5B5ciOFjnPTK85p_1HOHbikwt6BB2lJISI1lAsZOvoZ48v6eK/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1433.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwKCPieV-TXSqbyGxbFqi-Amiz3AUXGtiYR3PpKVDH8ne-YU2LhzkxQ6cbM12D52YU0ExywCDuLHorYLmWAtnWnQs33J5B5ciOFjnPTK85p_1HOHbikwt6BB2lJISI1lAsZOvoZ48v6eK/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1433.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345408564674840738" border="0" /></a>The red lights were ginormous in Victoria. I'm not sure why. It was worth me taking a picture, apparently.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhN6kMTpPGqiUPPgvoOmtPgF6UP6-W4bJP2LmPZNDYVRLoS9waOT6ONAp0CIM3gEiY8CEKBH2tyQX5sH957G4eNYFJgokDfu_sbAZf7wYBe7RD13WbChU8JXAhdg1UHkcEKkkF39DCTnR/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1434.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhN6kMTpPGqiUPPgvoOmtPgF6UP6-W4bJP2LmPZNDYVRLoS9waOT6ONAp0CIM3gEiY8CEKBH2tyQX5sH957G4eNYFJgokDfu_sbAZf7wYBe7RD13WbChU8JXAhdg1UHkcEKkkF39DCTnR/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1434.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345408563360211202" border="0" /></a>The public works building had an interesting sculpture outside the library.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWxSLfe-WYi3hNB2UU44EKZRLmf7_1liz5QMi2_en3ZBn0wsSgChsRnu5V-lw8fRiKflBMnf-kDz14QS9al4hYaBfihrzi5yht_0jtPVondUw_shZybhxgZcFNnh6oTBb9enJm8KVp59q/s1600-h/Cody's+Phone+%286%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWxSLfe-WYi3hNB2UU44EKZRLmf7_1liz5QMi2_en3ZBn0wsSgChsRnu5V-lw8fRiKflBMnf-kDz14QS9al4hYaBfihrzi5yht_0jtPVondUw_shZybhxgZcFNnh6oTBb9enJm8KVp59q/s400/Cody's+Phone+%286%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345408047400365522" border="0" /></a>The library in Victoria. Cody's obsessed with libraries, just in case you didn't know.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKklJdHwsDSF8XuezZXq7sHxyh-txiVX5p0LTq5EGM908cAhJ1xUbIv1gefh0Fep-bxt_glnVKGMykUOLACy1cWsNZsO0s9NaWCkkYJEmiEO-IE3SljQJbcvrZqSFfUbNi2j_DpZ9ewEkE/s1600-h/Cody's+Phone+%287%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKklJdHwsDSF8XuezZXq7sHxyh-txiVX5p0LTq5EGM908cAhJ1xUbIv1gefh0Fep-bxt_glnVKGMykUOLACy1cWsNZsO0s9NaWCkkYJEmiEO-IE3SljQJbcvrZqSFfUbNi2j_DpZ9ewEkE/s400/Cody's+Phone+%287%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345408044418504578" border="0" /></a><br />SEATTLE! This was maybe my favorite city to see, least favorite city to walk around in. The hills were worse than in San Fran! It was probably just the path we chose to take, but still. >_> onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTudoV003fn9dQp2d65eELwEPF2OJs4LWr8D93gHIEEfnSOS5tRHpN3Hz4zF1tLjNDSqYMYcqFmeUXyPErO27dHkPEJxGjflhkrM9ZbXe94uaQ0xvKBmpxdKmc5fclGTPdCPeiIHPUWtt/s1600-h/Cody's+Phone+%289%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTudoV003fn9dQp2d65eELwEPF2OJs4LWr8D93gHIEEfnSOS5tRHpN3Hz4zF1tLjNDSqYMYcqFmeUXyPErO27dHkPEJxGjflhkrM9ZbXe94uaQ0xvKBmpxdKmc5fclGTPdCPeiIHPUWtt/s400/Cody's+Phone+%289%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345408038266027266" border="0" />Richard imitating the statue:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSEdCAPBI-JojM_cJ_hJAhOnT50zxFD4YY5njN1ReLEmSpi5O55lnHGOa-9MQ58qnZaSRDweaIZ3Hy6I0zet7wnf08KyCzGPI_B7o1Xj5Q7Uxa9GIlnxkp3FurYBFzd3xuifSVQcb2Rvo/s1600-h/Cody's+Phone+%2810%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSEdCAPBI-JojM_cJ_hJAhOnT50zxFD4YY5njN1ReLEmSpi5O55lnHGOa-9MQ58qnZaSRDweaIZ3Hy6I0zet7wnf08KyCzGPI_B7o1Xj5Q7Uxa9GIlnxkp3FurYBFzd3xuifSVQcb2Rvo/s400/Cody's+Phone+%2810%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345408035271794146" border="0" /></a>While we were in Seattle, we met another friend from the anime forums named Thomas (SsriTelQuessir or ST'Q to anyone familiar with the tv.com Bleach Forum.) We had a load of fun hanging out with him, seeing MUPPETS! and eating delicious curry. I was glad he took time out of his busy schedule to come and meet us. Here's Cody and Thomas at the Seattle SciFi museum:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2iaNtj0g8H36a7lMW3MxOeb2QH434z0bcEcxdBuT6Xv-4PWtCJ2uLmbQB23UKVWIFrqN5NiMjHbOYpRVCO8O4-f2LDE6LuhFCHZWv-4rMcjLBr5IHet9jrpkhY3GxL6dY4zryjm2Zvwu/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1439.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2iaNtj0g8H36a7lMW3MxOeb2QH434z0bcEcxdBuT6Xv-4PWtCJ2uLmbQB23UKVWIFrqN5NiMjHbOYpRVCO8O4-f2LDE6LuhFCHZWv-4rMcjLBr5IHet9jrpkhY3GxL6dY4zryjm2Zvwu/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1439.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345407445141485714" border="0" /></a>Me playing with Animal on the drums:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj056LvhsBZqEgad9LrBpPM5tkpn7jW4RkF5UBpNzdUabppsQzQypVTV3wbU4ec5Zc5AyiHxoZJer_rBHkiuXjzPVI1RvVG2dIkHOtn2HEHsZlIRVrpNSKC7WRr5RnzRxTlxQPqkofeAc8Y/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1440.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj056LvhsBZqEgad9LrBpPM5tkpn7jW4RkF5UBpNzdUabppsQzQypVTV3wbU4ec5Zc5AyiHxoZJer_rBHkiuXjzPVI1RvVG2dIkHOtn2HEHsZlIRVrpNSKC7WRr5RnzRxTlxQPqkofeAc8Y/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1440.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345407441684352594" border="0" /></a>Some dude was playing a flute! He was pretty good, too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiem5EgtqJ0eNRv7IiL11pYMGg32Fd3qAOpGowZt-cTcww7eQFwbTsVOPueR1wWyuHjwf64PX2fzt-vpq4nU5IdR-wjCdf0M74p4m6vdzOMZFutN5b6DPrzz4-EUT6jPMT4wUia1Q2vdYgY/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1442.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiem5EgtqJ0eNRv7IiL11pYMGg32Fd3qAOpGowZt-cTcww7eQFwbTsVOPueR1wWyuHjwf64PX2fzt-vpq4nU5IdR-wjCdf0M74p4m6vdzOMZFutN5b6DPrzz4-EUT6jPMT4wUia1Q2vdYgY/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1442.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345407436477974562" border="0" /></a>Cody and I attempting to look like nerds. I was disappointed when I saw that we didn't look much different from normal...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6IuAG7mVpZ0gkV4SHZ6HZ5rq8KtxnwgYzTLzLdI6GXMraS17EvW6hn2LzWspvxvzRfno36j_i_rI7THCwx8umBRiK84o-uzRS-3h7qgbhZdmie4RIp1yjO-Pjdg97Z87uBko22BCsKPl/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1445.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6IuAG7mVpZ0gkV4SHZ6HZ5rq8KtxnwgYzTLzLdI6GXMraS17EvW6hn2LzWspvxvzRfno36j_i_rI7THCwx8umBRiK84o-uzRS-3h7qgbhZdmie4RIp1yjO-Pjdg97Z87uBko22BCsKPl/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1445.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345407434465984578" border="0" /></a>Rawrs! Kids attacked him with chalk, so he wasn't so fierce.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcNszFNUfGA5Cok-pC6sv6l5Lb1Jgeq0OhgROvyHr7hzIMzglgyZD06H_hDgWqakTCtTunm7qaFzvrRs68tSvbNWJE3-QtCrwtn21BulCfXwWAk5ObhSX9SrjFZrAsrlv5A1PyjV9z_eT/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1446.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcNszFNUfGA5Cok-pC6sv6l5Lb1Jgeq0OhgROvyHr7hzIMzglgyZD06H_hDgWqakTCtTunm7qaFzvrRs68tSvbNWJE3-QtCrwtn21BulCfXwWAk5ObhSX9SrjFZrAsrlv5A1PyjV9z_eT/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1446.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345407043037129730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4R6_vsBMW1qocSOr4B5DPr3VOJaqIhzWSURoD56qkh_R1frSTs0h5-VQbX2MvAf3hs3uBx4Z-TtmrdhWBwNtK6kwiy9Pt2PFD8IgYGwOZwVESkjmI5i_Mi51PeynRruU1iRBRYSQYpL8o/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1447.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4R6_vsBMW1qocSOr4B5DPr3VOJaqIhzWSURoD56qkh_R1frSTs0h5-VQbX2MvAf3hs3uBx4Z-TtmrdhWBwNtK6kwiy9Pt2PFD8IgYGwOZwVESkjmI5i_Mi51PeynRruU1iRBRYSQYpL8o/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1447.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345407040461498498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMF-Cz1XmFL8S2QFQXUKqFi6wtRE9AfbX-MatZgJXL-YnSveOv44fozucKQEzbf6lIRTec1DwhxsO7EtnTHutbkfm6oXccwJqRrx_eaVMsF5IR3gwetbGpKVKEezLN8lNBxzmUKKd3pZ1/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1448.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMF-Cz1XmFL8S2QFQXUKqFi6wtRE9AfbX-MatZgJXL-YnSveOv44fozucKQEzbf6lIRTec1DwhxsO7EtnTHutbkfm6oXccwJqRrx_eaVMsF5IR3gwetbGpKVKEezLN8lNBxzmUKKd3pZ1/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1448.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345407033009036930" border="0" /></a>Nevermore?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSCMBOCJGpsC0DnfNqhcruuGymv1PKr6EOwACkqxAnsPBWIavF7bpDjJ74ECcHB5cpMepquDnRlHouqie5oHQ0AcvWMC7pKr8O8Okwa5FbfIGTU0_oDzoXcjx_z0dSluN5O8UanIFCM7S/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1449.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSCMBOCJGpsC0DnfNqhcruuGymv1PKr6EOwACkqxAnsPBWIavF7bpDjJ74ECcHB5cpMepquDnRlHouqie5oHQ0AcvWMC7pKr8O8Okwa5FbfIGTU0_oDzoXcjx_z0dSluN5O8UanIFCM7S/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1449.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345407034418098418" border="0" /></a>Random Batman tattoo sighting on the Seattle monorail.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwC07M6qMCIERYWySFye-VawZcAwZyX72mwLzyFAXVnbGdPX8ZK7OdSsgjp-5mhTaDA3FUOKjfqZ1sjQmtVCKNlWtybfIxxQQr3YyuPBgtVL48odWNEIsQg6utQ5-_aZJwdyD1_xw_1PSK/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1450.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwC07M6qMCIERYWySFye-VawZcAwZyX72mwLzyFAXVnbGdPX8ZK7OdSsgjp-5mhTaDA3FUOKjfqZ1sjQmtVCKNlWtybfIxxQQr3YyuPBgtVL48odWNEIsQg6utQ5-_aZJwdyD1_xw_1PSK/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1450.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345407029683597682" border="0" /></a>Seattle public library, main branch.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3F4jW6cmhmXsyxM8bP9qWd7rCv_ncq-GXjjK31B7VAKCwInm6e2GIgLYX1QIK5SLt1X1Ak-jVH4DgHp_-p3YJNFF3eCCd91KxZpUZuiX2eeiUOkusqOuuqLzg-cNGq02jfdVBtsKwTTn/s1600-h/Cody's+Phone+%2817%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3F4jW6cmhmXsyxM8bP9qWd7rCv_ncq-GXjjK31B7VAKCwInm6e2GIgLYX1QIK5SLt1X1Ak-jVH4DgHp_-p3YJNFF3eCCd91KxZpUZuiX2eeiUOkusqOuuqLzg-cNGq02jfdVBtsKwTTn/s400/Cody's+Phone+%2817%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345406702545348578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvdBr1jXJS6wnXgnAEwyBjVZa0fMQoy6ZCjEaDx06KE1dXltsGzqe_yd8Pdz9_lufaSf8gkymY5xOQ1fYPuU4Yc7a_UmCUxeDeZdrdpQTcu8cpIKNCjbUjUIAiWIdjgxLkHug0ttt_Q7p/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1452.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvdBr1jXJS6wnXgnAEwyBjVZa0fMQoy6ZCjEaDx06KE1dXltsGzqe_yd8Pdz9_lufaSf8gkymY5xOQ1fYPuU4Yc7a_UmCUxeDeZdrdpQTcu8cpIKNCjbUjUIAiWIdjgxLkHug0ttt_Q7p/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1452.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345406700706939026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlaX7mYjRKiS3-LuMfAY6mTmcV9FBga-F5ESx2k66P4pKA3Elx5qTgigpdRBrYtjFXUTO9_mLgtsB1dh3pcQzpmpbel-AWh3KLJOwFyHmxVBdqFJln_Zm2rD_6oZA72AnrROFW0yr-qMt/s1600-h/Cody's+Phone+%2819%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlaX7mYjRKiS3-LuMfAY6mTmcV9FBga-F5ESx2k66P4pKA3Elx5qTgigpdRBrYtjFXUTO9_mLgtsB1dh3pcQzpmpbel-AWh3KLJOwFyHmxVBdqFJln_Zm2rD_6oZA72AnrROFW0yr-qMt/s400/Cody's+Phone+%2819%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345406701865321106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeW8rRUZ-7VdiQDs8TJhE6Hpf_IK3m8J6wwM5kKpfo_nGFcdXn1b106gOAGGrnv4zgDCTOiO6kwMsGYr69fX3RLcawdwtl5jgHOcMs5mDtSKkIWS5bGxbQl0u5tXxd7DZeHUlnJv1QWVvy/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1453.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeW8rRUZ-7VdiQDs8TJhE6Hpf_IK3m8J6wwM5kKpfo_nGFcdXn1b106gOAGGrnv4zgDCTOiO6kwMsGYr69fX3RLcawdwtl5jgHOcMs5mDtSKkIWS5bGxbQl0u5tXxd7DZeHUlnJv1QWVvy/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1453.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345406694134907442" border="0" /></a>Us! In Seattle! We're happy!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKZ19r6fuZmcTxvN-lbYMa0tGHdDkeS-O0cg39bNtT-6Ion1wHMcftyIFPFkjQajqRFgrS1fuXVKHjUb4Jg91Ws0vyWolECiXPOPt_QyufS6ASaFpaCjAOYd3sBZ74X9k8kX8Dvwozwat/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1455.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKZ19r6fuZmcTxvN-lbYMa0tGHdDkeS-O0cg39bNtT-6Ion1wHMcftyIFPFkjQajqRFgrS1fuXVKHjUb4Jg91Ws0vyWolECiXPOPt_QyufS6ASaFpaCjAOYd3sBZ74X9k8kX8Dvwozwat/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1455.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345406692598861922" border="0" /></a>I thought this was intriguing. A whole park just for 1st Amendment rights! w00t!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHpK_CyQSmGj1VIH_jnD8gtQWOUB8bNh7hx2fCRGRwWyjBf8ZRNnszsKiyD6aw3ElR8WFjMKc9uSOYVZ3pX47b4DkQYYeo9QzQmQx6_QDzbQEocZdnix_jerQ_BIm8ObZz9kIDUfcpzsA/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1456.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHpK_CyQSmGj1VIH_jnD8gtQWOUB8bNh7hx2fCRGRwWyjBf8ZRNnszsKiyD6aw3ElR8WFjMKc9uSOYVZ3pX47b4DkQYYeo9QzQmQx6_QDzbQEocZdnix_jerQ_BIm8ObZz9kIDUfcpzsA/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1456.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345405749826922466" border="0" /></a>Back on the ship, we played games. Tycee totally owned at Monopoly, despite her niceness and attempts to help people out.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZq5D-CHAkNEnBbmPKMXeIGTX8KdeLMwgZ5KlWN4Es0bY4kzDBLEy5rx7oHZog9sEJP-fIfSB9riZW9xrGRBQ8W0olvhJMyRH8JF2EhD4oMQkGtcplRzwfLQrWQ7McIu-N1IpA01Ngyma/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1457.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZq5D-CHAkNEnBbmPKMXeIGTX8KdeLMwgZ5KlWN4Es0bY4kzDBLEy5rx7oHZog9sEJP-fIfSB9riZW9xrGRBQ8W0olvhJMyRH8JF2EhD4oMQkGtcplRzwfLQrWQ7McIu-N1IpA01Ngyma/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1457.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345405744549808194" border="0" /></a>Our bed had curtains, and Cody is always wont to be silly around unusual things...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipf4PWO93LjMNv7R19uQ-gAcJla-WFr2NOoDt7acon_RGlN6pECrfJGOnLRAMI1eSSBqS9WAvRx4Z3v4BfY6cdq_lLp6gtMNmCx7VzeHLSihBB4OVtzFopFB72pOJlbk4Xqhnz_OpwSwZC/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1458.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipf4PWO93LjMNv7R19uQ-gAcJla-WFr2NOoDt7acon_RGlN6pECrfJGOnLRAMI1eSSBqS9WAvRx4Z3v4BfY6cdq_lLp6gtMNmCx7VzeHLSihBB4OVtzFopFB72pOJlbk4Xqhnz_OpwSwZC/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1458.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345405741035621026" border="0" /></a>The cruise ship had artwork/sculptures on every single landing on both sets of stairs. This was my favorite, kitchen utensils made entirely of aluminum wire:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUi7Qn_MeXF8Z7x7e1zkIEx3qZDyCxVPj_WF5N5y0FSxxMBQ5LqvAtzdh2pX9btxje7IHAIK0y16pj6IS7cqB4K95G07SfK5-2Kw3LGFIAARmJuJD7w_xymL5-iqUgwUdnUsm-TcgD0JCW/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1459.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUi7Qn_MeXF8Z7x7e1zkIEx3qZDyCxVPj_WF5N5y0FSxxMBQ5LqvAtzdh2pX9btxje7IHAIK0y16pj6IS7cqB4K95G07SfK5-2Kw3LGFIAARmJuJD7w_xymL5-iqUgwUdnUsm-TcgD0JCW/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1459.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345405743908370498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewpDxOK8F36ccdWcs2yCDfSB-XYbrrgLW_CvsUHw5f_Lkwt4wFQKi33E7dck2ZypkLH0JLI7dGd8Ozca5CiCuD5CoDN8dEskqGd7k_2X4xx7QcCHNXqBQlx3EEKpnIIw2JGBi2n8d3Wkv/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1460.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewpDxOK8F36ccdWcs2yCDfSB-XYbrrgLW_CvsUHw5f_Lkwt4wFQKi33E7dck2ZypkLH0JLI7dGd8Ozca5CiCuD5CoDN8dEskqGd7k_2X4xx7QcCHNXqBQlx3EEKpnIIw2JGBi2n8d3Wkv/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1460.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345405735576684834" border="0" /></a>Cody winning a medal for beating little girls at Wii Tennis in a family tournament. XD<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vgk1eTw7_XnWQvRzsCAb-wShTvOb8J3fhvAOaLNosTUM6_2PkaDiE9p6Gt0Qc-v9CXPKixX50LyWfhB5aWYrXxKPHp0pSykUnGay5xCEbnUB2nanAgYjhw9nvOaJyCgQp-TKaDuhbLkm/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1463.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vgk1eTw7_XnWQvRzsCAb-wShTvOb8J3fhvAOaLNosTUM6_2PkaDiE9p6Gt0Qc-v9CXPKixX50LyWfhB5aWYrXxKPHp0pSykUnGay5xCEbnUB2nanAgYjhw9nvOaJyCgQp-TKaDuhbLkm/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1463.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345405249156744850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5hzDAotVERN55hqsqmd05UlAAC_KiXZEvk1Gp9HTi8pQC17qcQODkzegtRJXhXJ8Xenv9bxbewqGTSv5WdCtCPpvkYMCvJuEKb2L-DN8q2zTkbPT6nEqmisRcESNHYC69MLry0N_6Myv/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1464.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5hzDAotVERN55hqsqmd05UlAAC_KiXZEvk1Gp9HTi8pQC17qcQODkzegtRJXhXJ8Xenv9bxbewqGTSv5WdCtCPpvkYMCvJuEKb2L-DN8q2zTkbPT6nEqmisRcESNHYC69MLry0N_6Myv/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1464.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345405249673314258" border="0" /></a>Dragon! On ice! It's the new Disney ice show, y'all.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtx1-MPU65BFfETL2kRcyMvwncCyW7hPx-9LMtcmFhWfEhywFquvz_2wTAioLE0nEIZXc1eMg9KSpuMFTS-Ril4iwn1HompDgBXuyTeH6SC3yfdlsZ9kUog9x_uXnyCr_JOP9G8RmE-538/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1467.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtx1-MPU65BFfETL2kRcyMvwncCyW7hPx-9LMtcmFhWfEhywFquvz_2wTAioLE0nEIZXc1eMg9KSpuMFTS-Ril4iwn1HompDgBXuyTeH6SC3yfdlsZ9kUog9x_uXnyCr_JOP9G8RmE-538/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1467.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345405244907803762" border="0" /></a>I played Bananagrams by myself a lot...I think some of those words are wrong, too. I wasn't too hard on myself when judging.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMVFw5otJWwSV9DsqNu5YawVnrbSANNnkK8SJ9cM88tpmEmPFsANB2NRKYb1gxL9hTwt8uUPrXHkdbJOnjovYm4glLiilZaHnc1df8lI0JhXcWKq32EzFEiwmUp6nIKP1xKVkIVQnR0Mo/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1472.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMVFw5otJWwSV9DsqNu5YawVnrbSANNnkK8SJ9cM88tpmEmPFsANB2NRKYb1gxL9hTwt8uUPrXHkdbJOnjovYm4glLiilZaHnc1df8lI0JhXcWKq32EzFEiwmUp6nIKP1xKVkIVQnR0Mo/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1472.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345405238344220850" border="0" /></a>And...well, that's all. We had a lot of fun, and I'm so glad we got to go...but it's SO GOOD to be home!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-17328454388117352642009-06-09T12:12:00.008-06:002009-06-09T14:13:28.624-06:00californiaWe woke up early (5 am is super early for people who barely drag themselves out of bed at 7:15, and cRaZy early for Cody who had to stay up working until 4 am the night before) on May 28th, and Diane graciously drove us to the airport, where this happened: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cBjTNtZaPT37vm12YbRJb_4SzmHYdZ8lLND05rz6__qn23AgDVYwrfD3Ml9NPTHvANmOfgKR80O1aadU8gMRy8bMZIRNRVbpIcDe3DZ-04FXZPWPZr_gAK5qUvLRkOFF46GH8nKfDQj5/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1378.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cBjTNtZaPT37vm12YbRJb_4SzmHYdZ8lLND05rz6__qn23AgDVYwrfD3Ml9NPTHvANmOfgKR80O1aadU8gMRy8bMZIRNRVbpIcDe3DZ-04FXZPWPZr_gAK5qUvLRkOFF46GH8nKfDQj5/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1378.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345394204277364802" border="0" /></a>We got to Long Beach just fine, drove to my Uncle Gordon and Aunt Marlene's house in Chino Hills, and proceeded to enjoy fine hospitality via my Aunt Marlene, and the sound of young children living life to the fullest by playing a dog-tail-flip tic-tac-toe game. We took a quick nap in the same room as a funny turtle (it's Holly and Sam's, Gordon and Marlene are letting it chill at their house until Holly and Sam find a place of their own) after saying hello, spotted some California Jell-O (who knew other states were even aware of Jell-O? :P), then headed out for lunch at Chili's, shopping at Trader Joe's (I LOVE TRADER JOE'S! Why aren't they here already?!) and games at Juan's with Juan and his little brother Isaac.<br /><br />Sadly, I stink at taking pictures at pertinent times, so we have no proof of Juan's family's awesomeness...or even of hanging out with Juan or Adneisha, but I can gush about all of them with words. Juan's little brother Isaac (he's 15, I think) is funny, skinny, and is a really good sport. All the Reveles kids are good looking people, and we enjoyed seeing Ivory whirl in and out of the house on her way to cheerleading tryouts. Then, Cody and I played some Super Smash Brothers Brawl live with Juan and Isaac for the first time, petted the three little doggies that were running around inside, ate tasty quesadillas (I think) that Juan's stepmom brought us, saw a treehouse Juan's dad built in the backyard, and walked over to 7-11 to get some Slurpee's with Transformers straws. After playing some more games...I think just Bananagrams, we poked our way outta the Reveles' house and headed back to Gordon and Marlene's, where we had a place to sleep. ^_^ To paraphrase Cody, "I got to play games and hug Juan, so it was a good day."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RVEARUw4uDk5vU9KcnPOQwqr4QQDS3x8C4cotXId5R100IOTPpbPcAu9xI35l-QknjVk120Cn6_SXvAtTDkQCzwZfQCzYxj2WyNQRqLSkntiP4GWBO-aUJS7ed_WAGAhYvtB12WMl37U/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1380.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RVEARUw4uDk5vU9KcnPOQwqr4QQDS3x8C4cotXId5R100IOTPpbPcAu9xI35l-QknjVk120Cn6_SXvAtTDkQCzwZfQCzYxj2WyNQRqLSkntiP4GWBO-aUJS7ed_WAGAhYvtB12WMl37U/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1380.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345393987552100754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgNbm0fOxpSSHNX0cpislSAkmXXsXKNhHcQ2nJ9OsTI3RqEVtTSW2zT_NXTK_tuvCptOuLYOC8Df6mkiujPXbZkLj8PFOEMvj7o12Puy-nqLkY24ZsIkfIpnxHSDcPqBu9m4xaL8na4KL/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1381.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgNbm0fOxpSSHNX0cpislSAkmXXsXKNhHcQ2nJ9OsTI3RqEVtTSW2zT_NXTK_tuvCptOuLYOC8Df6mkiujPXbZkLj8PFOEMvj7o12Puy-nqLkY24ZsIkfIpnxHSDcPqBu9m4xaL8na4KL/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1381.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345393980692596274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtd6bahw65eR4iq9HzZYa-87U_oHMTzt3ufQkaiXJvMeV4eDKUNku4N_6h2eEuOfJVP9UlP5lYvy2d-bQb7FZGShNMrpMeuUpS_IAXqud6-VnY_vCCPqC-YLWbZEXaEJUEvZ53sr64JKYe/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1382.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtd6bahw65eR4iq9HzZYa-87U_oHMTzt3ufQkaiXJvMeV4eDKUNku4N_6h2eEuOfJVP9UlP5lYvy2d-bQb7FZGShNMrpMeuUpS_IAXqud6-VnY_vCCPqC-YLWbZEXaEJUEvZ53sr64JKYe/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1382.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345393981870868770" border="0" /></a>The next day, we were planning on going to go to the fashion district with Juan and Adneisha, but Juan got attacked by a sore throat and phlegm monster early, so we waited a few hours to see if it would clear up, contacted Adneisha, and met up with with her to go to Santee Alley with Cody's family. 'Neisha's such a delightful person, and seeing her again was fantastic. We ran down the street towards each other when we first saw each other, and Adneisha threw her arms around Cody's neck in a hello attack when she first got to him. XD I like that girl.<br /><br />While shopping with Adneisha, I almost completely forgot to look for anything for myself because it was so entertaining to watch her and listen to her sing along to the songs playing over the stores' speakers. After Cody's family got tired and left, Cody and I drove Adneisha back to her house and got to meet her mom, sister Ebony, her pseudo-brother Tim, and Adneisha's gran; and Adneisha showed us her plushie collection and the artwork that Juan created for her, including this beautiful piece:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlQUI1qTH0koajOgFWKbNbOw8vC0TBuA4kv7bpb8GqK0mUvHzWAZJkFxEc2xRrSX3Z9JJ8MvWhEsWE83mLRn533lE10uS4iZll_ZVZ0yHBavO-sS2JhP9Uug7djdzcIkgbI9WXy9f09y6/s1600-h/Cody's+Phone+%284%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlQUI1qTH0koajOgFWKbNbOw8vC0TBuA4kv7bpb8GqK0mUvHzWAZJkFxEc2xRrSX3Z9JJ8MvWhEsWE83mLRn533lE10uS4iZll_ZVZ0yHBavO-sS2JhP9Uug7djdzcIkgbI9WXy9f09y6/s400/Cody's+Phone+%284%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345394205702778242" border="0" /></a>Those are characters Juan and 'Neisha collaborated on together, the way they do on a lot of stories and characters. She comes up with the backstories and he draws... The girl is based on Adneisha, is blind, and is in love with an alien...yeah, Juan and 'Neisha are crazy, but that just makes them more fun and interesting, no?<br /><br />No, I don't have sandals on...these're just my dirty feet after walking around downtown LA in flip-flops:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ARLSACiZyKrKK2WZndApLEzIlPFQjRrEcT4QXVRZJl0bjA8LcWi8x6gHSOjWUbaLy8dgD05Gc4ajmUbvC271OThsc8ly9ZSxxTOvycIum-qVG9VLGt0Bz2SymX53aJeC-72bLvQ5NErX/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1388.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ARLSACiZyKrKK2WZndApLEzIlPFQjRrEcT4QXVRZJl0bjA8LcWi8x6gHSOjWUbaLy8dgD05Gc4ajmUbvC271OThsc8ly9ZSxxTOvycIum-qVG9VLGt0Bz2SymX53aJeC-72bLvQ5NErX/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1388.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345393975398116130" border="0" /></a>On Saturday morning, Gordon and Marlene had their family over and Uncle Gordon made us pancakes. :L He makes special shapes on request, so I requested a porcupine, and this is how it came out:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFi5-gucr5RGwSngqlJsT1ZX5GjKYP-8lnf9ZkBbZmky4bBiyhe9bV3L8Ok3jQ4JryiquGb3QVMLo2AYTSBStaaDl3T-x8Sudg1PclBvDjIaLpTVTufgaZRfdtIJDJ65dNulKGp56xA5v/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1389.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFi5-gucr5RGwSngqlJsT1ZX5GjKYP-8lnf9ZkBbZmky4bBiyhe9bV3L8Ok3jQ4JryiquGb3QVMLo2AYTSBStaaDl3T-x8Sudg1PclBvDjIaLpTVTufgaZRfdtIJDJ65dNulKGp56xA5v/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1389.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345393190197114642" border="0" /></a>It was really great to see all the California Andersons! They're such fun people, and although I'm not very good at keeping in touch, I'm really glad we got to spend a little time with all of them. Even more, I'm glad that Holly and Sam's baby is all right, and that Brad and Katie's baby arrived safely and had the esophigal problem diagnosed and (hopefully) rectified so quickly.<br /><br />After we had breakfast, Juan was feeling better so we got to chill at his house while his family was gone, trying out the glory that is Guitar Hero 3 for the first time...which was pretty much epic. Then we met up with Adneisha and Tim and went to enjoy Star Trek and then out to eat at a delicious Chinese place in Hollywood. They even had veggie orange chicken! Woo!!<br /><br />Sunday morning we left for the cruise, but we tried to go to sacrament meeting with Gordon and Marlene. Unfortunately, we didn't know which building was the "big" building, so we ended up at the wrong place...well, at least we got some church in before getting on the boat. I'm sorry we missed them, though.<br /><br />And now, more random pictures! Below is a picture of a shopping mall that includes a store called BevMo (that's what we call Cody's grandpa Bevan to each other...)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrYBUujYgM3W9z2K2-A_whNpK5WCeKH4GQCIN1N-fqfAoyEK4_Ubbye8nmJyK_4-PTu4ttfUUj1xZgJ45JZop3OXCwIJLm4aL40QQzXoPwKFOBjVgyTUxIfY98Od1DubNInM_NYDvseys/s1600-h/Cody's+Phone.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrYBUujYgM3W9z2K2-A_whNpK5WCeKH4GQCIN1N-fqfAoyEK4_Ubbye8nmJyK_4-PTu4ttfUUj1xZgJ45JZop3OXCwIJLm4aL40QQzXoPwKFOBjVgyTUxIfY98Od1DubNInM_NYDvseys/s400/Cody's+Phone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345393186484602738" border="0" /></a>Tycee after eating with Cody's family at California Pizza Kitchen downtown.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MXBjDOP2rAxGDo3jXNf0BLst-468VW-CMrQVIc5IZWhvlialmbebAW_X8cONpDkz7Z_HBn1KVuNMkBisaEEkll0GA3GTVAM4GZvip9OqMbX0keiJWPTg2aru9K4gBb6WJ5olu1Nh2IRI/s1600-h/Cody's+Phone+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MXBjDOP2rAxGDo3jXNf0BLst-468VW-CMrQVIc5IZWhvlialmbebAW_X8cONpDkz7Z_HBn1KVuNMkBisaEEkll0GA3GTVAM4GZvip9OqMbX0keiJWPTg2aru9K4gBb6WJ5olu1Nh2IRI/s400/Cody's+Phone+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345393182429305602" border="0" /></a>Richard, taken the same time as the one of Tycee above.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIfzmxSx8f5ASaciOMGcztIRmswJe8BbfVJntkEXrG6EAsb8Jg2FW-qaA4x79ORuv9vIeSgR4mXi7xygTzrq7cToxVCpzYhwJSof0CavkC0dHSfr2yjHDqw1THGsy7-LVpq5cvJciyhRK/s1600-h/Cody's+Phone+%283%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIfzmxSx8f5ASaciOMGcztIRmswJe8BbfVJntkEXrG6EAsb8Jg2FW-qaA4x79ORuv9vIeSgR4mXi7xygTzrq7cToxVCpzYhwJSof0CavkC0dHSfr2yjHDqw1THGsy7-LVpq5cvJciyhRK/s400/Cody's+Phone+%283%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345393185566989826" border="0" /></a>Oh, and have I mentioned how awesome Juan is? I requested a portrait last year after finding out he draws, and while we were there he finished a portrait of my little sister Eliza Jane for me. ^_^<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYD8Qpvdz-bNdJ-XRIakzSR95FG16QJlDjs3Kcu1ssFtB7nVNRhVgGRv12eumNzhnqvEy1dtl-QHKZi-ENZBgBmeLKLoejE_U7z6FccvGPLA6AiR2tpLPH4MoCMqRJOhpuxb2kxjh4LNO/s1600-h/Jane+Sketch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYD8Qpvdz-bNdJ-XRIakzSR95FG16QJlDjs3Kcu1ssFtB7nVNRhVgGRv12eumNzhnqvEy1dtl-QHKZi-ENZBgBmeLKLoejE_U7z6FccvGPLA6AiR2tpLPH4MoCMqRJOhpuxb2kxjh4LNO/s400/Jane+Sketch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345393179595872290" border="0" /></a><br />When we got back from the cruise, we had a few hours to burn, so we rented a car and attacked Juan again. We played more SSBB with Juan, Isaac, and Isaac's friend Angel, then went with Juan to the downtown LA library and had a docent give us a tour. That place is awesome! I love the artwork throughout the old part of the library, and the new part of the library's artwork is interesting, too.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFXnYOI_o1YTEpwELqq8DpXYtBuNGoMdB9I_bWHQHffQ-9o0t89zNCdbO2dy-eSCrR42pKwCHK6Y1KtHrMY06nwhJgjlpZv8P0nvthbL8LCtE0FFOaFqstMu50nkLznOClr2mIFCYiodS/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1484.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFXnYOI_o1YTEpwELqq8DpXYtBuNGoMdB9I_bWHQHffQ-9o0t89zNCdbO2dy-eSCrR42pKwCHK6Y1KtHrMY06nwhJgjlpZv8P0nvthbL8LCtE0FFOaFqstMu50nkLznOClr2mIFCYiodS/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1484.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345394436617842466" border="0" />After the library tour was over, we got some food with Juan, found chocolate in our rental car from a previous renter (which I totally ate as seen below, thankyouverymuch</a>), said our goodbyes to Juanny boy and Isaac, and then flew away home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ebSOZ4r7YYDcAoYqgJPg4imSGE-7qI8bUP1GLjSlzjIvVXFX1lP0J-IcePGAwGsGg7agdiRfeoiBRqFKc7v5ibUlQvom9mrl_XnqMbSrWbSYZsLR0etQz3Fz2xBCSGARwfpI-E3pVLVV/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1486.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ebSOZ4r7YYDcAoYqgJPg4imSGE-7qI8bUP1GLjSlzjIvVXFX1lP0J-IcePGAwGsGg7agdiRfeoiBRqFKc7v5ibUlQvom9mrl_XnqMbSrWbSYZsLR0etQz3Fz2xBCSGARwfpI-E3pVLVV/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1486.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345394442724308466" border="0" /></a>Overall, I think the best part about LA is the fun people we have to love there.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-23155399468575884642009-05-10T12:49:00.003-06:002009-05-11T16:11:03.002-06:00random family whatnot<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWK3nERPJXReuK2cXMNCp4xCdBAXwhBq0Iap8oWllv3x84jiAuV09s41S5bfQk_cC3vYVAicXiDb2vJw71oJxnBvQVZL0-OPwCgdltjtNPhemg7phDG97DlEa7d6JDex0MaAqxQNN4o-vP/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1174.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWK3nERPJXReuK2cXMNCp4xCdBAXwhBq0Iap8oWllv3x84jiAuV09s41S5bfQk_cC3vYVAicXiDb2vJw71oJxnBvQVZL0-OPwCgdltjtNPhemg7phDG97DlEa7d6JDex0MaAqxQNN4o-vP/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1174.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334270084040325554" border="0" /></a>Note to self: when bathing a Truffle, make sure to dry her thoroughly before letting her escape to the wild blue yonder of the living room. She will always rub herself all over any dry patch of carpet she can find to pervade wet dog smell throughout the world.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLgHjF2bgfY0_03RKHco0TRwMtFD-NGJK40Q0cZ2fxeRo6-U4AC4czssoJaUvc1yhuGuC6E37-aMEdGk2LrCEpG1wpL21B-3bLXKk3PLpiMwOY3GqPS-7MLbs_Kw6G1b09EguWqP2IQRu/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1166.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLgHjF2bgfY0_03RKHco0TRwMtFD-NGJK40Q0cZ2fxeRo6-U4AC4czssoJaUvc1yhuGuC6E37-aMEdGk2LrCEpG1wpL21B-3bLXKk3PLpiMwOY3GqPS-7MLbs_Kw6G1b09EguWqP2IQRu/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1166.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334270083656123458" border="0" /></a>My cute mom and Jane. Poor Eliza Jane is terrified of Truffle, but one day I hope they'll be friends.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4eC270RYC5Wwe8RVoeXnY3EqKknlY5ko7mtTZLdtri8PsFkjsH-oE1P_dYfj9QnvFbmowIfzpi0cJnp7aKk33rb_lrHkx18CqbWo7Gpp2efOyfXsyOA4fVjlmqaUrXz8G-FXOd82jQEc/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1157.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4eC270RYC5Wwe8RVoeXnY3EqKknlY5ko7mtTZLdtri8PsFkjsH-oE1P_dYfj9QnvFbmowIfzpi0cJnp7aKk33rb_lrHkx18CqbWo7Gpp2efOyfXsyOA4fVjlmqaUrXz8G-FXOd82jQEc/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1157.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334270079075349778" border="0" /></a>CODY! We're chillin' on the porch steps after a hearty Sunday dinner last month at my parents' house.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF739NnLwdJqffbL4jcKtb9uXv0k2Cmsuwgl_oxO-fbAxlsOb3TrNtlylqAtcLAiKxxsgTTcS02hCIl4egs4rvldGRqK8AAdZzVYClVjRwI-zq4Mx-igPLvYrFNmgmtnzYCfnqjlSsWtZl/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1150.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF739NnLwdJqffbL4jcKtb9uXv0k2Cmsuwgl_oxO-fbAxlsOb3TrNtlylqAtcLAiKxxsgTTcS02hCIl4egs4rvldGRqK8AAdZzVYClVjRwI-zq4Mx-igPLvYrFNmgmtnzYCfnqjlSsWtZl/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1150.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334270076958562130" border="0" /></a>Said Sunday dinner...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf2KTodskS3aOxH8AFZunv30bSI0h_r41CH54ZBLre8mZFdAAjJVyLQ5wd_cQsq9kcr9alS2ensJhoV1r9weO01B1GD-2NL7EPUYhxftE-ST-l_zHOVSmqspjJQdhd7BZhqm0GGIdFFEf/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone0986.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf2KTodskS3aOxH8AFZunv30bSI0h_r41CH54ZBLre8mZFdAAjJVyLQ5wd_cQsq9kcr9alS2ensJhoV1r9weO01B1GD-2NL7EPUYhxftE-ST-l_zHOVSmqspjJQdhd7BZhqm0GGIdFFEf/s400/Ruthie's+Phone0986.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334270074245965106" border="0" /></a>My mom helping out George with his cold hands.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-51947068263230516422009-05-10T12:40:00.003-06:002009-05-10T12:48:04.098-06:00congratulations congraduate contycers!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWf4lkXVqyvE4dHm2WyLQwrMZY1NUmaY6EVqQJIfSz-bbqpMlft1DVs_sVeX77vk_4ZUWglq7L_e0RVA1jcLEAag9wUZ_3EVw5rcVIoCxwjnYI7OShlDf55RG1kh_mq8Ul8HhepEzsXtS3/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1249.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWf4lkXVqyvE4dHm2WyLQwrMZY1NUmaY6EVqQJIfSz-bbqpMlft1DVs_sVeX77vk_4ZUWglq7L_e0RVA1jcLEAag9wUZ_3EVw5rcVIoCxwjnYI7OShlDf55RG1kh_mq8Ul8HhepEzsXtS3/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1249.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334267725781108786" border="0" /></a>Tycee can cook! Tycee ate a cookie, too. Tycee also graduated from the University of Utah on Friday with a bachelor's in communication, emphasis on public relations. We partied heartily.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxCdd8sd_VT4ivTaczGe2sggyuK2qwx1Brr6gDKEd9JSjia4ZA3vhSh1ADiFQP04l5o3Qp1pU49S8XEUYvgQGijIF-UYXv-BfqH5kHbF_pVbizql4lIliyDE4oM0HT8rwhTGaRpEsvdbb/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1228.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxCdd8sd_VT4ivTaczGe2sggyuK2qwx1Brr6gDKEd9JSjia4ZA3vhSh1ADiFQP04l5o3Qp1pU49S8XEUYvgQGijIF-UYXv-BfqH5kHbF_pVbizql4lIliyDE4oM0HT8rwhTGaRpEsvdbb/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1228.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334267715019499794" border="0" /></a>Tycee and her husband Richard, bein' all smart 'n stuff.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTmZZCDW924Qb-kZ4iOEGb0ikd8rYcnb8iNi9Qp6Cwd7gB5P0-c80axJm5qAbrRERQTWAgc7eDz_sDr4-vb0gly-Q7n17Js9tePSxDjfcI76dMEdD-99tbtMoMBiwN2SRgpHF3_UsWxye/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1236.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTmZZCDW924Qb-kZ4iOEGb0ikd8rYcnb8iNi9Qp6Cwd7gB5P0-c80axJm5qAbrRERQTWAgc7eDz_sDr4-vb0gly-Q7n17Js9tePSxDjfcI76dMEdD-99tbtMoMBiwN2SRgpHF3_UsWxye/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1236.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334267714970200610" border="0" /></a>Cody showing off Tycee's graduation gear:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiARLEfzMg4xbFZyXwdsYF8MWI6DmVbUcfInBziZ5BwH610VafZO_PBESU0armlamAXaRI7JgOXTUJFv2Xf4G1xLEfqtEG0He7BASS4a0jlJR7sdCKbJcb_t96MNSYIjOumR_wz4WSTSZ/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1240.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiARLEfzMg4xbFZyXwdsYF8MWI6DmVbUcfInBziZ5BwH610VafZO_PBESU0armlamAXaRI7JgOXTUJFv2Xf4G1xLEfqtEG0He7BASS4a0jlJR7sdCKbJcb_t96MNSYIjOumR_wz4WSTSZ/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1240.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334267709344757794" border="0" /></a>Tycee telling us all why Richard rocks at a "yay Tycee!" dinner at Biaggi's that night, and all of us being entertained.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sQmwOqdbyIL2kZA7YASU7xsncOqki33yFNlYZvelzlcY71p8DQV9FspjiFHMD3UBmMwUa6YIfY3ww84H1Xh3hW9cu7irUH3j7VR75Khd56xaYa2g67pGgbRgDQwClSG3WihkeCz71u7S/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1254.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sQmwOqdbyIL2kZA7YASU7xsncOqki33yFNlYZvelzlcY71p8DQV9FspjiFHMD3UBmMwUa6YIfY3ww84H1Xh3hW9cu7irUH3j7VR75Khd56xaYa2g67pGgbRgDQwClSG3WihkeCz71u7S/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1254.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334267713426187186" border="0" /></a>So, congratulations! You did it, Tycee!<br /><br />I should also mention that my brother Don graduated from the U on Friday with a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, although we didn't make it to his convocation. XD! My brother's doing it toooooo!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925857471495989027.post-25354281502024900262009-05-10T11:58:00.011-06:002009-05-12T20:49:17.631-06:00loads of schtuffOkay, there's not really a rhyme or reason to any of these pictures. I've just been lazy and haven't blogged properly to keep up with all of them...so...um...sorry? And enjoy, if possible. Captions are below the pictures. I'm not sure why I do it that way...I just do.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEAVNnxrbtQeFtQACsrifw6RUouj_ZfEt2-FMqFoSCb4mQk_ZF0ASz4P81A9xHHmmAf6ujOMrRniwanMkEfjx5bjpN72Bvi_IWgTUhtTvafMk6bbiSPOkgBUfNM6eKFaX9UOJhoTj3TDZ/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1106.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEAVNnxrbtQeFtQACsrifw6RUouj_ZfEt2-FMqFoSCb4mQk_ZF0ASz4P81A9xHHmmAf6ujOMrRniwanMkEfjx5bjpN72Bvi_IWgTUhtTvafMk6bbiSPOkgBUfNM6eKFaX9UOJhoTj3TDZ/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1106.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334261720340310098" border="0" /></a>There's a crazy bird--I have no idea if it's a hawk or some random tropical bird--but it hangs out on the top floor's balcony of the building west of our clubhouse. I see him every time I go to work out, which isn't very often, but it's fun to see him.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyBYkpMqWIyNiuaGRdzsPGco2mVCBa-t5qm-1jYIH4SFwgBK63i4c7KGs1uKFXPJK9bD4dmXrh8GPG70UJpaJmbnCTIThhikERgOdzEYQcOgRFrpVJ0dJ5QaIxoQlgtBPTcHUQDzhzkzN/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1105.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyBYkpMqWIyNiuaGRdzsPGco2mVCBa-t5qm-1jYIH4SFwgBK63i4c7KGs1uKFXPJK9bD4dmXrh8GPG70UJpaJmbnCTIThhikERgOdzEYQcOgRFrpVJ0dJ5QaIxoQlgtBPTcHUQDzhzkzN/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1105.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334261720923131730" border="0" /></a>Uh...I made a mini lunch and put it in an Altoid tin for kicks a few weeks ago. Sad thing is, it's still in my fridge. I hope it's not moldy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EdksFTXyIi2e93x_lPFsruqEQz8Df4-guBSZ_y5i5YuiRf8a_mIacnED5mCJVAxEZzwm2J-4kneRHeBS8399JYaXtseNI1d1m82MVlD_Q2EzwYz1uUB10o_P93u77TH_-7sDu-p7lzhr/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1104.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EdksFTXyIi2e93x_lPFsruqEQz8Df4-guBSZ_y5i5YuiRf8a_mIacnED5mCJVAxEZzwm2J-4kneRHeBS8399JYaXtseNI1d1m82MVlD_Q2EzwYz1uUB10o_P93u77TH_-7sDu-p7lzhr/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1104.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334261710150998930" border="0" /></a>Closer view of the wheat thin sammich and mini carrot sticks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38rG8PEwrYbxwud44lDlNdwlHiESZ_kqS9nd0hxF5buL7li9_-Cwen3rfhSNzzcoFXuIWUjrKsYNIILNDIm8fM9rfFwYoCXqdKhtP6NPdbc2mrfdAY2IDQoj3EDzOPEw1ntYJdioGGRhh/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1100.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38rG8PEwrYbxwud44lDlNdwlHiESZ_kqS9nd0hxF5buL7li9_-Cwen3rfhSNzzcoFXuIWUjrKsYNIILNDIm8fM9rfFwYoCXqdKhtP6NPdbc2mrfdAY2IDQoj3EDzOPEw1ntYJdioGGRhh/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1100.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334261710202565666" border="0" /></a>Tycee showing off her impressive hiya skillz after we watched Australia at her and Rich's apartment.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0W4-U16Mj1KJcMdUD4THIcFujAOIpgRKsnDtaPH2JdOZ0deAs6v_ohFp5yy6_WyAfZcCQMMLu5U9nDMYsAxfhtwkgcI1SLpscYUHjNHejIxqqW0uEHpI9_8iMmKSW5WJSHzaMQMDG1ahk/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1099.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0W4-U16Mj1KJcMdUD4THIcFujAOIpgRKsnDtaPH2JdOZ0deAs6v_ohFp5yy6_WyAfZcCQMMLu5U9nDMYsAxfhtwkgcI1SLpscYUHjNHejIxqqW0uEHpI9_8iMmKSW5WJSHzaMQMDG1ahk/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1099.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334261705770775490" border="0" /></a>Enjoying the movie.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGcmlkyIk5pRCug9AfXfGmfAJKAoncodRyBbll3C9xnnY4BM3s0-a1LLA4F0qKT3p4mNM7Rk5g2nE1jt-B7htc5Xk09htB4U5HcaE33JRZ9gYyVYDR686_LAztVQUFr6zJYpRauyXajiq/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1085.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGcmlkyIk5pRCug9AfXfGmfAJKAoncodRyBbll3C9xnnY4BM3s0-a1LLA4F0qKT3p4mNM7Rk5g2nE1jt-B7htc5Xk09htB4U5HcaE33JRZ9gYyVYDR686_LAztVQUFr6zJYpRauyXajiq/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334261289981958754" border="0" /></a>Sadie, the Parker's doggy. Cody lived next door to the Parkers for 10+ years while growing up, and Sadie's been a part of that. She's getting old, so we wanted to make sure we documented the tenderness. Awww, Sade!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNJlRerUNislOhHNYW2dp_q5fnmrEpCJRrAmtNohTWGAjqZwFm_b-66plPSJWLw0Ms0T9AC-ijCVe8atq4m1v1wvMcY3hJbHY8-hAAeNvFqINCLQHSRbBG1EuOJ7MyIIAd7zCIFCUEfrV/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1087.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNJlRerUNislOhHNYW2dp_q5fnmrEpCJRrAmtNohTWGAjqZwFm_b-66plPSJWLw0Ms0T9AC-ijCVe8atq4m1v1wvMcY3hJbHY8-hAAeNvFqINCLQHSRbBG1EuOJ7MyIIAd7zCIFCUEfrV/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1087.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334261283689349122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFZDf2IsnNXHxlnrpOB4bZgY4M9tjxrgRCkdDh1ULJuZaMqv3xtk-2SDJBDSSLFvTsSjluAYC9LUkLBJ4wjhJOku6YD2InR5PRGK6z6-hkz4G8oRVnuHevPklZgSUDT1qCOiCxklo4ySK/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1084.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFZDf2IsnNXHxlnrpOB4bZgY4M9tjxrgRCkdDh1ULJuZaMqv3xtk-2SDJBDSSLFvTsSjluAYC9LUkLBJ4wjhJOku6YD2InR5PRGK6z6-hkz4G8oRVnuHevPklZgSUDT1qCOiCxklo4ySK/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1084.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334261285802168626" border="0" /></a>Cody nerding out at Best Buy. He loves touch screen tech, and really wants to have a Windows 7 touch-screen capable device for when it launches.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pNhGMK73HtqC4HjTzPoO3WXjx6C-gI5_iHacgcdYjA8ro1ZXcuTt7sfXLyCfXvSGUgfvfpBfoSItarnWEgU-eF9PVPHsQN3xBUbRQxjefBMuKcVF_X-TYZ6Ad_72rV3SjWYOZoErMtzN/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1077.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pNhGMK73HtqC4HjTzPoO3WXjx6C-gI5_iHacgcdYjA8ro1ZXcuTt7sfXLyCfXvSGUgfvfpBfoSItarnWEgU-eF9PVPHsQN3xBUbRQxjefBMuKcVF_X-TYZ6Ad_72rV3SjWYOZoErMtzN/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1077.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334261279491531426" border="0" /></a>Tabbouleh! This is my own. The other picture on the blog's one I found online.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4MxqCEpxuOl__9HsVayNmQJ598thPf38Lz06YsxIB-jqFIfzEEjvLI-fAygT5colgN5Bw15YOvgKC66cmM-qFg6u9fG5OwD1LueMV06_8yMIqLRvOrfmceMcJD1nXKCSCy4AMHcizXCf/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1074.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4MxqCEpxuOl__9HsVayNmQJ598thPf38Lz06YsxIB-jqFIfzEEjvLI-fAygT5colgN5Bw15YOvgKC66cmM-qFg6u9fG5OwD1LueMV06_8yMIqLRvOrfmceMcJD1nXKCSCy4AMHcizXCf/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334260695853301250" border="0" /></a>Lemon lime cake with berries... :L I do love my food, peoples.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDQIfqjONKbMi94ty40zgEuuITt1lQukuxxT82sXTKvDaUUVJsUrBm5Il9LSWiUrPvw8q_qubdT5Gb6karCFLq2QQec8TQzfLBP4pE0OHt1X0d4r1Q0rIujfMCDlOz-TdQRxIKS-StXyk/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDQIfqjONKbMi94ty40zgEuuITt1lQukuxxT82sXTKvDaUUVJsUrBm5Il9LSWiUrPvw8q_qubdT5Gb6karCFLq2QQec8TQzfLBP4pE0OHt1X0d4r1Q0rIujfMCDlOz-TdQRxIKS-StXyk/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334260692476924594" border="0" /></a>Truffle all scruffy lookin'.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkldBDUwOBWu4hVV-lgPJ0VLRDm6JgasXlEQVDN12slhI8A_85-6vZojtULifc9VmK1WjtwfU8D84DfxZxxtA9NQsncfUC01j5qwiCzGUUAbfudkFNBUppwaGLlnbcDZ9Gi-urL3QO7Bbk/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1063.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkldBDUwOBWu4hVV-lgPJ0VLRDm6JgasXlEQVDN12slhI8A_85-6vZojtULifc9VmK1WjtwfU8D84DfxZxxtA9NQsncfUC01j5qwiCzGUUAbfudkFNBUppwaGLlnbcDZ9Gi-urL3QO7Bbk/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1063.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334260686978195522" border="0" /></a>My sister Sarah's son George and my mom, making a snowman last month. Sarah and I sat back and enjoyed the snow, and took pictures. What adventurous lasses we be!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOez_jx6WWHies3L4UIbCh4yzRUywASASeH5dRSh7vKUA1ocA0QJdQiO8xVsODHKI_Eu_R42vB-M40p42mhUTlnIGdmmI0ulKZiBznwpL2wMFY77SSalU7rSxAfwovsdCT8PCrRWTuQGVR/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOez_jx6WWHies3L4UIbCh4yzRUywASASeH5dRSh7vKUA1ocA0QJdQiO8xVsODHKI_Eu_R42vB-M40p42mhUTlnIGdmmI0ulKZiBznwpL2wMFY77SSalU7rSxAfwovsdCT8PCrRWTuQGVR/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334260689973520290" border="0" /></a>Diane's beautiful butterfly cookie for Valentine's Day. Ah, I love my sisters.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYv2mosWXzFqHihg-aG2un_Nn-rNkkgsRFkf1oruTcunp9V1ClwE8a8kDbFp4kcqwMgA3_UP0pXOnl5y7glAQSK2c1L0eNuwK0PQPB4WHi2hxHWKIKDLKiftO1Z8qdBF7jLn5MOGaKrJaI/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYv2mosWXzFqHihg-aG2un_Nn-rNkkgsRFkf1oruTcunp9V1ClwE8a8kDbFp4kcqwMgA3_UP0pXOnl5y7glAQSK2c1L0eNuwK0PQPB4WHi2hxHWKIKDLKiftO1Z8qdBF7jLn5MOGaKrJaI/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334260686183514850" border="0" /></a>The caterpillar! He bloomed beautifully, didn't he?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AFvYjlZvgSEE2Qo8leBWVJ0rXfd6fuZ_FxBmFNcWqJO3Ojvjrm6sbYi4rkKRSOR5Ht8jfZgNbTHJ4e_F0E0EPSZkTUZlk1GSTBTHjHVRnRjbQvXxJxtygtRs4s0VDfIv1dGrdCXpfW6d/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AFvYjlZvgSEE2Qo8leBWVJ0rXfd6fuZ_FxBmFNcWqJO3Ojvjrm6sbYi4rkKRSOR5Ht8jfZgNbTHJ4e_F0E0EPSZkTUZlk1GSTBTHjHVRnRjbQvXxJxtygtRs4s0VDfIv1dGrdCXpfW6d/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334260190959316978" border="0" /></a>Cody pointing out his kinship to the Civic, with both of their scruffy beards. This was up in Logan, the day of Cody's grandpa Clint's funeral in February.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WIZQUIMztujYUeSYtLLIo7fOqBh3RmB80xT83Ip94GmDXgrFEvc4p7NYY5BcLFPPsHl7En4tA3EWZE82qVy6xkrHDaJLwp8xEYQsuH1zGBDzinclhnKHQxI_Eafmfy66x6RqovQtfIax/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WIZQUIMztujYUeSYtLLIo7fOqBh3RmB80xT83Ip94GmDXgrFEvc4p7NYY5BcLFPPsHl7En4tA3EWZE82qVy6xkrHDaJLwp8xEYQsuH1zGBDzinclhnKHQxI_Eafmfy66x6RqovQtfIax/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334260184829548546" border="0" /></a>My Valentine's day card from Cody. I LOVE it and smile every time I see it.<img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlUOXyA2CIOuElU-DMNIldpi2_OUl5mJpeCgH1PrbDWAAbcW2O8jxTNXB11eeONMCI_hWc6vxtCQvDPcQoHUmZBiojwnJ_Qy4DwngNtr65r9i-DeAlduVUbprh-Ty8y1BsvMtHvARTv7R/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334260188019626498" border="0" />I love where we live. I think pretty much everybody loves where they live and have things they enjoy and hate about the area. Personally, I enjoy seeing the scenery every time I'm outside here. It's just gorgeous.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6f2J21b1DjfddY3grnoyXF7J1nASEf2_tC516-SM8huleabxzJx107Hr0Q1DM09rB8Xj7qt1ed65ycGRaUJIRWfdRCS1-SSOGOi0MEKsim5YYTh3HX4wpKl3CZhSd1Y2_0rHUIneDd9S/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone1005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6f2J21b1DjfddY3grnoyXF7J1nASEf2_tC516-SM8huleabxzJx107Hr0Q1DM09rB8Xj7qt1ed65ycGRaUJIRWfdRCS1-SSOGOi0MEKsim5YYTh3HX4wpKl3CZhSd1Y2_0rHUIneDd9S/s400/Ruthie's+Phone1005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334260182821186658" border="0" /></a>Me in my awesome 3-D glasses, seeing Coraline with Cody.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCV5ufSk1lTaDsV_VT4zfN-nkRwroPpCctPUbgPGtsCUoHDpyym_B4BZOeAdTNGoep-LS9malaCKMbTVS51SZeo1MsSaMEmPNa8INnR_85kstDPeA_tBY5p2JOugNJ1dkRrQhBUr4L4cjS/s1600-h/Image000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCV5ufSk1lTaDsV_VT4zfN-nkRwroPpCctPUbgPGtsCUoHDpyym_B4BZOeAdTNGoep-LS9malaCKMbTVS51SZeo1MsSaMEmPNa8INnR_85kstDPeA_tBY5p2JOugNJ1dkRrQhBUr4L4cjS/s400/Image000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334260180678810226" border="0" /></a>Our friend Juan got one too many taunts from Cody and sent this picture with Cody's favorite character from a video game...it still makes us both laugh to see it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVCBh6r9Y3ESwj2FcMdnfhRItpKMNA8GOvZm6CC8PyDIPfliD2Fa0i5Fw6abphM_64PBENpPATmwkym0l5vBR5QKbZ-4vWfJ4zTEiij6SKcX1VFuhQ0x9beZ53-EFPcysZHA3BLZJ6-4Y/s1600-h/leon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 80px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVCBh6r9Y3ESwj2FcMdnfhRItpKMNA8GOvZm6CC8PyDIPfliD2Fa0i5Fw6abphM_64PBENpPATmwkym0l5vBR5QKbZ-4vWfJ4zTEiij6SKcX1VFuhQ0x9beZ53-EFPcysZHA3BLZJ6-4Y/s400/leon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334259676799186978" border="0" /></a>I promised pictures, so here's our friend Juan's avatar, which inspired:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPLviyCJ2ESo47orzhvWwctThhtlw4QNA0gsEEHakbwTghFbv6FjI2Gq8b_BxjE1M3Mj0SDbF9KrALhyphenhyphenxRX3ZDim-DWVEaBmAkF4eeUxMx_tnGiYw5XUZk6JTcK7geHVaqqWT6NmuVK47/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone0954.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPLviyCJ2ESo47orzhvWwctThhtlw4QNA0gsEEHakbwTghFbv6FjI2Gq8b_BxjE1M3Mj0SDbF9KrALhyphenhyphenxRX3ZDim-DWVEaBmAkF4eeUxMx_tnGiYw5XUZk6JTcK7geHVaqqWT6NmuVK47/s400/Ruthie's+Phone0954.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334259676758112578" border="0" /></a>The LeonMorado (purple lion) plush! To go along with his anime crush,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOygkDVgY5eqe-pOaVm5bcvKY5ifXB0KIFqt7viE4m6x0_vzA0S6Kx3X6sxOmSL_0YRWQPnhuafD92ZzX78C1lHUHMcwfU7eCI8vyv_tcfwwAQ0sB8sLe9yS1cCmewws4R8_ei78LNYT5/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone0953.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOygkDVgY5eqe-pOaVm5bcvKY5ifXB0KIFqt7viE4m6x0_vzA0S6Kx3X6sxOmSL_0YRWQPnhuafD92ZzX78C1lHUHMcwfU7eCI8vyv_tcfwwAQ0sB8sLe9yS1cCmewws4R8_ei78LNYT5/s400/Ruthie's+Phone0953.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334259669533883730" border="0" /></a>Neliel tu Oderschvank (without a face. Juan's an artist, he can finish it. :P) Cody and I are excited to see Juan and Neisha when we go to California at the end of the month.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKb4AG0WDwqY8NI8dMeccs9kAMJ9DOxahngFnCetwQ7lAN9YPN_XljBQv36i5XXqi3kipFcjiBySgY7N7re41T-2OMJtwVn-NjRpKaBbRDu91-0M7SBzioFytYafow9n2gpjgAMapFSNbl/s1600-h/Juan+and+Nel.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKb4AG0WDwqY8NI8dMeccs9kAMJ9DOxahngFnCetwQ7lAN9YPN_XljBQv36i5XXqi3kipFcjiBySgY7N7re41T-2OMJtwVn-NjRpKaBbRDu91-0M7SBzioFytYafow9n2gpjgAMapFSNbl/s400/Juan+and+Nel.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334265840923741874" border="0" /></a>Juan and a Nel cosplayer at last year's AnimeExpo in LA.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZECBR4RcGc9ND8CQHCIIzmZaJJIGi2Jk-CTl1aXeyHlwEnU1n44-NULiZKp4GjZthLuG_oyAuAczg2d2-6_hhGeG7BYe0Ci6e4eheAB4JJqC4qgG_rTdtCxdCfdXB3YTOnQnMWSbXZ4ck/s1600-h/P7040244~.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZECBR4RcGc9ND8CQHCIIzmZaJJIGi2Jk-CTl1aXeyHlwEnU1n44-NULiZKp4GjZthLuG_oyAuAczg2d2-6_hhGeG7BYe0Ci6e4eheAB4JJqC4qgG_rTdtCxdCfdXB3YTOnQnMWSbXZ4ck/s400/P7040244~.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334266253917422930" border="0" /></a>Juan and Adneisha, yay for meeting people online. XD They're both awesome and I can't wait to see them again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbJlgIAfhD_jDUwCsFNdOBVmpf9FBN9Nus_J43xbi4_JgQyu9GihxyIxiNVzaTZbvPXsLH1CgLjkQSfP54kot_fYJJKB-cwYDD5nINS2_X68QsnRL04TbZ9i5d0H2TDD66w25jp5l0prg/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone0958.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbJlgIAfhD_jDUwCsFNdOBVmpf9FBN9Nus_J43xbi4_JgQyu9GihxyIxiNVzaTZbvPXsLH1CgLjkQSfP54kot_fYJJKB-cwYDD5nINS2_X68QsnRL04TbZ9i5d0H2TDD66w25jp5l0prg/s400/Ruthie's+Phone0958.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334259665099125906" border="0" /></a>Cody's kitteh I made him for worksy, so he's surrounded by happy things.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqli9kcBmxrd2SYf7IUrQN1r1CDfQtsbH1Eobyjpb9uecNGBx6wH0mPNBNayEpakqCommvrDo7MTKnY-Iy5Z7NIgLyxyIRE6oIiI9oS_e3bk7iX0nTjnWf5DRNK-CD382prHMzy-64n1Be/s1600-h/Ruthie's+Phone0957.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqli9kcBmxrd2SYf7IUrQN1r1CDfQtsbH1Eobyjpb9uecNGBx6wH0mPNBNayEpakqCommvrDo7MTKnY-Iy5Z7NIgLyxyIRE6oIiI9oS_e3bk7iX0nTjnWf5DRNK-CD382prHMzy-64n1Be/s400/Ruthie's+Phone0957.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334259664327208002" border="0" /></a>2.0 view. The cat goes well with Cody's cat calendars (yeah, TWO cat calendars!) and Cody's insatiable love of felines.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458757741141083432noreply@blogger.com4