Avatar flux

Mom & Dad's Bday money + B's Dad's gift certificate+20% off = bday dreams come true

I've gotten 2 avatar feet comments and one Ion flux feet comment. I can do the tree pose in them (which I can't do in normal sh oes or barefoot) and I ran a mile in them non stop, so they are obviously magical, cause without them I'm pretty lazy.


Vibram Fivefinger shoes, Treksport

April= A few big purchases

At the end of April, the canyon was still a little icy and we discovered that hikes up Lambert park—though a perfect biking challenge—were a little too wimpy for a hike, and so we took the plunge and bought a tow hitch oh, and a bike rack

The hitch installation, an alleged easy one-man, 1. 5 hour installation project took B and his dad something like 4 hours (and partially disassembling our car) to get it on properly. On the plus, we can now tow a small boat. You know, like the one I keep in my back pocket.

After a lot of research and some bought and returned rack purchases, we found a bike rack that fits our car around the tire mount
It not only fits with the bike-holdy part up (horrah)

But also with it down (bonus)

Only catch is we can't switch the holdy-things (I am so technical) up and down without hitting the cover (grrrr)

Unless we lean the whole thing down first
Which gives us enough room to open the back to let Polo out.


So in the end to get a hitch that fit around our spare we ended up with a fancier, lighter, double folding, hitch than we planned— and it also came with bonus hitch and bike locks.

And thus the biking season for us has finally started... and we've done 3 short bike trips to Lambert Park.

This weekend when we went, there were high concentrations of various flowers in patches here and there... (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE PORT-A-POTTY DAFFODILS—in the post to come— which were gone by the time these flowers came

There were at least 4 varieties of wildflowers, but I only really got shots of the purple ones.
Such a pretty place to ride... with just the right amount of challenge.



Polo takes shady refuge when I stop to photograph. He usually gets restless when I stop, but here he is bury because he is all worn out from the 4 hikes (one 6+ mi long) we took when Freckles was staying over. Polo does not have Freckle's non stop energy.

New Board Game

Easter Weekend, Brett came home with a new board game. Remember when I was joking about this?

Well Brett got it and over the next two weeks we played it something like 6-7 times. We rather liked it. My skill varries a ton on this game.

Brett also got Acquire, a family favorite. usually we play it at Nathanial's, but now we have our own copy.


Our copy is to cheep, Nanials, is unnecessarily bulky.... I still dream of making my own wooden set from scratch, but brett didn't have the patience to wait 20 years for that.

Cargo Noir!

Yes! I was wondering when they were going to make a family game about the family business! Maybe for my 6th anniversary we'll splurge for it...
This totally made my day. ha ha ha ha ha—ahhhhhhhhhh.

Let there be pope.

I had these made for my family christmas. I was intending to do a different kind of Pope Light, but Brett found this engraving option, and, though it was more expensive, it was far more useful as a gift than my idea.

After Brett did all the work of finding a good priced place who would do it in small orders (cheeper engraved then the plain ones on Amazon), I decided to try and make the logo fancy. I go back and forth on whether I like the font I used, but I'm glad I didn't just have them pick a font and do whatever.

What the Pope Light? Two Christmases ago My brother Corky had the christmas gifts shipped to the family house. Nathanial started peaking, and before he got caught he caught a glimps of the words "Pope Light." We spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out what a pope light was, and how the heck Corky bought it on Amazon when there were no Pope Lights on Amazon, let alone anywhere on the internet... although now there actually are a few out there.


Turns out it was a Pop Lite popcorn maker, and that Nathanial cannot read. Nathanial claimed to be fairly disappointed that he didn't get a Pope Light.
...and that's how the Pope stole Christmas

return of the ties

The point I wanted to make with my previous tie picture is that Brett had maybe 3 ties when we got married. We didn't have much money, so he got maybe 1 a year after that. Then earlier this year, I went through a tie buying phase (gone are the days of the lip gloss fetishes). If you think this is a lot, you should see how many I returned.


Back when we went to lake arrowhead, I went crazy with the shirts. I rarely find shirts in brett's arm/neck size, and they had a bunch at an outlet for $15, which isn't bad, considering the hours and hours and hours I've spent looking for his size. I've found dress shirts cheeper, but not worth the time to find ape arm shirts. .

So now he can go a whole year of sundays and only wear each tie twice. Hardly necessarily, but maybe one day he'll have a tie job. I've committed to not buy anymore ties and shirts now.

I don't remember which orange shirt he wore for halloween, but he was pretty dapper.

And Brett decided

to keep this one. It is a little bigger, has lid protectors that will probably get lost, dimples on the inside of the lid (which are supposedly good), and can easily be returned to Costco if we determine that it is crud.

No Brett, you can't keep them all.

So Brett loves the Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven thingy his mom got us last year. I admit, It's pretty cool Easy to clean, goes from stove, to oven, to table.
Having amazing foresight, I bought Brett A more affordable version and hid it in the garage for his upcoming birthday. So of course, I let him open it early when he came home from costco last night with the kirkland signature version of it.
Now he is torn because the Cuisinart one "matches" the le cresuet more, but the Kirkland one is one quart bigger and has a prettier red.... And I can tell he is tempted to keep them all.

But really, three? yes, occasionally two would be nice, but three is a bit excessive.
So no, Brett, you can't keep them all.

Attack of the pink

Brett and I are getting new phones and he doesn't know it, 'cause I'm sneaky. And we all know that sneaky is a euphemism often used in reference to the most lovable wife in the world.

And no, I didn't have to renew my phone contract.
And no, I didn't have to pay for them
and no, they aren't used.
And no, I am not worried he is going to find out about the suprize because only checks my blog once a year, if he remembers.

Certainly they aren't super data phones or anything, but they are better than the dented scratched ones I have now. Plus, it will help us put off renewing any contracts until they make B's dream phone for verizon.

And this is why you should make friends in H.S.—because you never know which ones will grow up to work for Cell companies and have a surplus of phones. She is a user interface designer for Nokia. I think that's one of the coolest jobs ever.

meet Greta

She's my new best friend. She doesn't run away for the summer and leave me for California; no, she hangs out and waits for me at work... making people pee their pants when they first open the door to my studio. That'll teach them to snoop! Oh, Greta, you are such a prankster!

She is especially good at scaring people when she wears her sunglasses... they are marvelously intimidating.

Do you like her accessories? Most of them are actually mine, you see, the Hat, scarves (2), and arm-warmers were a birthday gift from my knitting friend (Dikla) in Seattle.

I'm letting her borrow them today, but I cant wait to wear them in the winter. Arm-warmers are the awesomerest in the world.

Passport

Oh Passport
I tried to get you...
I battled Lehi traffic to acquire you
I needed a birth certificate to obtain you
which I left at home.

Oh Passport
3 days passed
and brett threw away my application
because it was creased
and unacceptable for receiving
government documentation.

Oh Passport
I neglected you
for a week and a half
forgive me
my sister was getting married
and I left town.

Oh Passport
I was diligent
I sought to receive you
I reprinted my request
i remembered my birth certificate
I went to another post office
on my way to work

Oh Passport
it was the wrong post office
apparently the Mountain View Post Office
is not the one by Mountain View H.S
forgive me
I was not the only one in line deceived

Oh Passport
I went to the real post office
it was out of my way
but I longed for you
I beat the other girl there
Incase they didn't have time to process 2

Oh Passport
I needed an appointment
there were no more appointments
for that blessed Tuesday.
I didn't set an appointment
because that post office is far away.

Oh Passport
if I ever find you
where shall I take you
I want to ink you
with foreign inks
that smell like brie

Oh Passport
Don't forget me
I have not forgotten you
I will obtain you
I even have a home for you
I got it for my birthday.


Thank You Carrisa.
It stares at me reminding me to keep trying
so that I don't let my passport down.

Did you see they have a matching umbrella? I don't know where to get it though, because I found it on Amazon UK.

my new mountain bike

FInally! I've wanted one now for 2 years or so, we had the money, I test drove a bunch and found my favorite in my price range... It was 200 bucks less than my 3rd favorite and 150 less than my first favorite (though if it had ben't been last year's model it would have been as expensive as my 3rd favorite). I like that my favorite ended up not being the most expensive!

I'm loving the disk breaks and the suspension, and that I don't have to turn the handle to switch gears like the rusty one I had years ago.... Purple wasn't my favorite color, but I liked it much better than the red bikes... For some reason Red bikes look manly to me... and no, I didn't pick it based on color.

Now I just have to catch up on work from being sick so that I have time to ride it!

oh and about being sick.... I havent had the gullbladder area pain in several days... though the lower cramping stuck around. My cough is rare in comparison to before, my sinus is better.

This morning I found out what the other cramping has been about... turns out I am still a woman. I'd kinda forgotten that I get periods sometimes.

I have my chick moments

So, to make up for my ipod, I got brett a blu ray player. Unfortunately I told him I was thinking of getting it for him, and he spent hours yesterday measuring the livingroom for optimum placement for the projector he is going to buy to watch movies on. He rarely watches TV or Movies. Seeing as we don't currently have a TV, it looks like I am going to be watching TV on a projector...


Anyhow, in honor of his blu ray player, I spent the last of my xmas money on the ultimate chick movie:


That is right, 5 hours of hating and loving Darcy.

I also ordered myself Bleak House.


It is not often that I get all chick flicky (seriously, check out my movie collection so far I have NONE) but I darn embraced it today.

I think I am going to save up for some older classics too, like Bringing Up Baby, and Philidelphia Story... maybe Charade ( I love Carey Grant... and Katherine Hepburn. ).

SURPRISE!

So I have Christmas money left over. I've been debating whether to spend it on a pressure canner, a peacoat, Ski lift tickets, or a video nano.

But while I was dragging out the decision process of how to spoil myself, Brett was busy secretly spoiling me. Thus today I found out that Brett had ordered (for me, with his own christmas money) an video nano. It is orange, and says "brett loves char" on the back.

For some reason, the upload on blogger isn't working right, so I will have to share some video s with you later.

Horrah for boots! (boo for tacky fur)

Dressing for Snow sucks.

It was about 5 years in Utah before I learned the magic of layering. Where I grew up, if it was cold, you put on a hoodie. if it was cold and windy you put on a light jacket.

And so I slowly learned to wear long sleeves, with a hoodie, with a sweater, with a jacket...and I was still cold.

Then one day I married a Brett, and he taught me how to shop for winter clothes.

And I got some end of season ski mittens for 15 bucks, and they were much better than layering 15 of the 99 cent gloves.

And he picked out for me an end of season ski jacket for 80 bucks and it was much warmer than the 80 buck ski jacket I picked out my freshman year.

ANd he taught me that scarves were worth the hassle.

SI wish I had Had a personal "dressing for cold weather advisor" back in 2000 when I first came here. I might have hated Utah less.

So, This has been the best dressed winter for me, but instead of my usual stingyness, I've been holding out until I can splurge and go all out on the thing that is just perfect.

like spending $20 ski leggings for under my pants instead of wearing $5buck girly leggings.

SO I spent a great number of hours searching for affordable snow boots under $100. bucks. Because I hate walking in the snow and getting wet feet.

after many stores, I found these boots. I was going to buy something else, and I found them ditched by the cash register. They were the only pair left in the store, fit all of my requirements. AND they were my size.

Mine looks more universally black though.

My requirements
1. They were waterproof.
2. They don't slip around on my heel (like those stupid ug-like ones).
3. The are comfortable enough to walk around in for a while (these were the only boots I tried on that passed this one)

Bonus features I wanted but would have went without:
1. fast on and off, so I can slip them on to take the Dog out potty.
2. Black
3. They aren't the ugliest of the boots I tried on.
4. awesome traction
5. decently warm.

Disappointments:
1. Fur. I hate fur.


So while there are sexier boots out there, It made my day (Tuesday) that I found the otherwise perfect boots for my needs.

It also made me happy when I looked online and found them for 140... and I was feeling guilty for spending 60...

I take it back

I was telling brett that I wanted the flip camera, and he pointed out that the new nano takes video. I don't need another mp3 player, but 50 bucks more,and you can fit 8 hours of video instead of the 2 that the flip fits.... heck. And I can probably get it in orange. Yummy.

The problem with shopping for other people

I woke up this morning at 3.

This going to bed earlier thing is being very strange to me. I sleep about 6 hours instead of 9. I mean, I've heard that the sleep you get before midnight counts as double, but this is weird. Also, each day I want to go to bed earlier and earlier. Before you know it, I am going to be waking up at midnight... or I am going to be a grandpa. never sleeping, just taking hour long naps every 3 hours.

Anyhow. With nothing to do, after an hour of lying in bed, awake, I got up to see what 4 am had in store for me. I scoped all the black friday ads I could find online, and found myself thoroughly untempted. There goes entertaining myself driving from store to store.

So, I shopped amazon. Checking the gift lists I made on it (I love that you can make gift lists for people... Then I come back later and remember what things in the past I came across and thought someone would enjoy BUT I HATE THEIR FORMAT. They could make it much more user friendly). Anyhow, it is a shame, but some people are still gift-idea-less, while others have several prospects. ... so I went on the hunt.

And of course, I find cool things that iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii want.

And that is the problem with shopping for other people. It makes me lust for material things.

I'd love to share all the cool ideas I have for other people, but then they would read this and their surprise would be ruined. For me, this is the joy of gift giving. trying to come up with things people want, but don't expect... or didn't know they wanted. I enjoy the hunt.

Since I can't spoil all the surprises, I give you, my temptations, in no particular order.

1.
I want to buy it for myself while it is this cheep. How nice it would be to have a camera that didn't weigh 10 pounds. sometimes you don't need HD. you need blogging quality, and that is it. I cold make Brett buy it for me, but that t akes the fun out of christmas.



2. I want one of these... to can soups and chilis and other meaty suchs. That way when we make a big batch, we don't have to eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner. The thing is... I see it as too practicle and wrestle with weather or not I want it as a gift. Maybe I'd rather not have it at all so I can get something fun. I'm a brat I know.





3. I am always wanting tools. Such a girl. Most of the ones I want are several hundred dollars. This, is only 50.... ( not a cheep one, but a good one) but... A lady at work insists I can borrow hers if I get my own tip, and that is much more practical until I determine how often I will use it. I have some projects I want to do, but don't know if I will have enough time.




4. I've also wanted one of these for a while, though my desire to dable in the soldering arts has suppressing my desire to learn and play around with silk screening. I just love making things and learning knew "arts"

Brett, the inventor

B is always building funky solutions (like the thing that hung our bikes flat against the ceiling in the garage so we could walk under it)

Well, last time we moved, Brett build a platform for his motorcycle. He uses ratchets to secure it standing up on the platform, so we can actually have the motorcycle in the back of the truck, and not have to rent a ridiculously expensive trailer hitch for it.


Well, this time B decided to build a shelf on top of the platform so that he can put boxes on top of the motorcycle and not waste space (we needed it). This is brett building it (and a pic of him just cause). It is not done in this photo, and the ratchets aren't on (cause he still has to drive the motorcycle up the truck ramp first).






The shelf is now in our storage unit, giving us space to walk into it to find things.

Happy Father's Day.

For Father's Day we went to Bee's dad's place in SLC, and I wen't to Church at the single's ward with his sister. There are, without a doubt, less than 20 people in the ward. In RS we heard a weak "help help" comming from the hallway. Some chick feinted in the bathroom.

We gave Bee's dad the prize from the cereal box (it felt wrong to keep it on father's day) and this video game:

I started out one of the better players, but I didn't improve at all, while everyone else did. Thus i became the worst, and the worst (B's Dad) became the best.

MY DAD likes to play dress up, especially at extended family gatherings.... and, with the Clark reunion approaching, I got him a set of eyebrows. Here are some photos he sent me of him and my sister modeling the "grandpa" eyebrows....( the mustache, I believe, is from a set one of my brother's gave him a while back).










My dad also likes drinks, so I got him some Wine Soda (non-alchololic, made from wine grapes) in 3 flavors: Chardonay, Rosé, and Pinot Noir. I gave him a 3 pack of each... a three pack because they came in a 4 pack and I made him share one bottle of each with B, Ceese, and I. I know, I am a selfish jerk (hey, I was curious).