Snow Cone? Don't Worry. It's Lemon.

Saturday night was our neighborhood block party. We had gotten a flyer advertising the event and had decided to go based on the words "free snowcones". What can I say? Drek really likes snowcones.

Anyway, besides the flyer, there wasn't much else in way of letting us know this event was going on. Because of this, I had assumed it would be a small, mostly forgotten get-together.

I was wrong. Very wrong. Apparently, this neighborhood takes their block parties seriously. Very seriously. There were blow up slides and bounces houses and a blow-up jousting thing. There was a live band and three dinner buffet tables. Hundreds of chairs were set out on the lawns and hundreds of people showed up.

It was fun to talk with the neighbors. Judging by their conversation this block party thing has been a tradition forever. If you miss it I think you are thrown out of the neighborhood. Good thing they had they snowcones.

Hamburgers were supplied by...well, whoever threw the party I guess, as was the cotton candy and the snow cones, but everyone was supposed to bring something depending on your last name. If you were A-H you brought drinks, if you were I-P you were supposed to bring dessert...That sort of thing. There was so much food! One I was done with dinner, I started eying the dessert table. What did I see? A store-bought container of pumpkin-chocolate-chip cookies! Pumpkin-chocolate-chip are my favorite!! Alas, on top of the container was a box of donuts, and I could not figure out how to move the box and get a cookie while looking casual. I walked up and down the dessert table a few times, trying to find a spare space to set the donuts on, but could not. Too many desserts. I finally gave up, got myself an oatmeal cookie (that was amazingly good) and went back to Drek. As soon as I got there I noticed another family arriving at the party with another container of store-bought pumpkin-chocolate-chip cookies. Huzzah!

A few minutes later I walked back to the dessert table to get my cookie. To my surprise, there were now four containers of store-bought pumpkin-chocolate-chip cookies opened and waiting. Hmmm... must have been a sale. I put two on my plate and rejoined Drek. While I was walking toward him, another family was bring another dessert to the dessert table. Can you guess what the dessert was? That's right! Yet another container of store-bought pumpkin-chocolate-chip cookies. A while later it was time for Drek and I to leave the wonderful party. On our way out we passed a latecomer with more store-bought pumpkin-chocolate-chip cookies. That must have been some sale. Or maybe it's part of the neighborhood tradition.

But I Was Netting Butterflies!

For our anniversary (back in July) I had wanted to take Drek to see the musical "The Scarlet Pimpernel" but it wasn't playing until now. So, on our anniversary I gave him the tickets and on Friday Drek and I had a 2nd wedding anniversary celebration version 2.0.
It was amazing! The stage was in the middle of the audience and it rose a story high! The special effects were amazing, the singing was lovely and I had the best date in the whole world. To make it even better, Drek had bought me Lindt chocolate. Yummy!

Afterwards we went home and watched the movie "The Scarlet Pimpernel". Oh, I love that movie so much. I love that I have a husband that wanted to watch that movie. I am so lucky.

Smoking is the Equivalent to Carrying Around a Salt Lick, Laced With a Little Bit of Cyanide

I do not have empathy for smokers. I just cannot grasp the stupidity of people who smoke. When I see an older person smoking, I feel bad for them, I know it's hard to quit blah blah blah...But when I see a young person smoking I just ridicule them. Srsly? You smoke? I cannot even guess how stupid you have to be to start smoking. This only proves my point:

This straight off of Not Always Right (see link on sidebar)

Me: “Can I help you, sir?”

Customer: “A packet of 20 Marlboro Lights, please.”

(I hand him the cigarettes.)

Customer: “Wait, I don’t want these ones.

Me: “Why? They’re Marlboro Lights. Did you change your mind?”

Customer: “No, I don’t want ones with this health warning about cigarettes causing impotency.”

Me: “Ok. Do you want ’smoking harms those around you,’ or ’smoking causes testicular cancer?’”

Customer: “Give me the ‘harms others’ ones.”

Your Baby Blues, So Full Of Wonder

Back in March we bought a Zero Gravity Chair. I love this chair. Acouchi loves it more;





She gets so tired after a long day of grasshopper-hunting.

Our Arrows Will Blot Out The Sun. Then We Will Fight In The Shade. . .

Drek and I have dinner and I get a caving for a late-night apple something. I decide to cook up an apple pastry from scratch using the green apples in our fridge.It turns out amazing (ah, the benefits of working in a bakery) and Drek and I enjoy it while playing my version of two player RISK. I think my strategy is close to flawless, but Drek manages to win in one fatal swoop. Alas, as soon as we leave the game to clean up our plates, Acouchi shows us who really controls the world.
At least she waited until the end of the game.

Look Like They've Jerry-Rigged it With a Pressure Catch. We Could Probably Bypass That Easy.

For the last few months my remote key for my car has been broken. The lock, the trunk, and the alarm buttons all work, but the unlock button does not. It is frustrating to to have to resort to the old fashioned sticking-they-key-in-the-lock way of unlocking the door after being able to get close to the car, push a button and voila! Oh, the hardships.

I have not gotten it fixed because I am too lazy to figure out how. The Saturn dealership. . . left. I heard a rumour all of Saturn was shut down. Maybe not, maybe just our Saturn dealership? Anyway, so who would I go to? Is the government taking over Saturn warranties? Then would I take my key to my congressman? I am jut too lazy to find out.

Today I went over to my sister's house. My niece took my keys and began to push all the buttons. She does this every time she finds my keys. Usually we are too far away for her to set off the car alarm, so I don't see a problem with it. She can push those buttons to her little heart's content as far as I'm concerned.

Afterward, when I went out to the car, I pressed the unlock button out of habit. It worked! My two year old nice fixed my keys!! She's already a genius!

Let's Play

The Ultimate Saboteur was, I think, a huge success.



There is another game next week. I'm not quite sure how it will play out yet.

You Have No Real Talant For Cooking

I attempted Baked Alaska. It was scary, but I really wanted to see if I could make it. Lucky for me, Xirax and Lexi volunteered to be testers.

I used Brownie instead of cake.I thought this would be more delicious. It was, but brownies is harder to mold and harder to cut, so it ruined the visual. Here was the first step:
One layer of brownie, one layer cookies and cream ice cream, and another layer of brownie.
Next you add the meringue:
Bake until a golden brown:
And slice. Or attempt to slice. The brownie made it hard. Next time I will use cake.

You'll Be Dead Within Two Minutes Unless You Do Exactly What I Tell You. I'm All Ears.

Drek and I are taking an Adult/Child/Infant CPR/AED class. This is my fifth time certifying in CPR. My first time was in 2001. The last time was in 2005. My certification has been expired for... um, three years. My WSI certification and my Emergency Responce certification have only been expired for two years. As a side not, my Lifeguard certification expired four years ago. Yeesh, I am so old!

Last night was our first class, we have another one tonight. It was so much fun. None of my other classes were fun, well, except when we certified in my Intro to EMT class and and played Oreo Hockey, but that's not the point.

Chest thrusts have completely changed. Completely. Twice the teacher said "They used to teach CPR this way..." and in fact they did. That was the way I learned it. That is not the way they teach it now. Now it is more efficient and saves more lives.

The thing that shocked me the most was the breathing barrier. I have one from 2003 that is a little bigger than my hand. It is a plastic mask that resembles an oxygen mask...well, it is an oxygen mask. It has two attachments, one for an air tank and one for a mouth. You have to be trained on how to position the mask, how to seal it, how to clean it and so forth. I keep in in the car in case of an emergency. The breathing barriers now are a piece of plastic. Entirely flat. It fits in a pouch that hangs on your key chain. There is no wrong way to use it, you just lay it down and there you go. Amazing.

More shocking was the attitude toward the breathing barrier. In all of my previous classes I had been told over and over not to do CPR or rescue breathing (they don't even have rescue breathing anymore!) without a mask. NEVER. One teacher said he was supposed to tell us to let the person die if we didn't have a mask, but he said his conscience, personally, would not allow that. We were told to make the decision for ourselves.

This time the teacher talked about how the stars would have to be perfectly aligned to get any sort of disease from doing CPR without a mask. He said if we have a mask, use it. If we don't, who cares? Do CPR anyway. You'll be fine. Wow.

It was a fun class, well worth it. I loved that I was taking it with Drek. He is so wonderful. I found it funny that while Drek has never been certified in CPR before, he finished the test before me an got 100%. I took longer and missed one (It's truly pathetic that I still can't tell my left from my right in writing. But I know where to put the AED pads in reall life!). My husband is a genius.

Like I said, tonight we have another class. This class focuses on the child/infant part. Which is why we are taking the class. I'm excited!

Were There Space Monkeys? Some Terrifying Space Monkeys Maybe Got Loose?

More big projects! This time, I am trying to get me office ready. It needs to be a room for massage and infant massage classes. I received these wonderful window/mirror things and they seemed perfect, just in need of a coat of paint.

Wouldn't you know it, I found a place that would give me free paint. It was only a pint, but it was more than enough. Here is the my office before I started the project;
A close-up of the mirrors (Can you spot the sneaky cat who knows she is not supposed to be in my office?)
I taped up all the mirror-parts so I wouldn't get paint on them. I used cut up plastic bags and masking tape. This was the longest part of the project, but I am very messy, so it was vital.
I did one coat of paint and then turned them upside down so I could do another.
Drek helped me hang them. I think they are wonderful! A fantastic start, anyway!

Everybody Has a Boss, Elsa.

I'm done with work!! Yesterday was officially my last day!! I am now, officially, self-employed!! I have my own business and I am my own boss!! Hooray!! Look at all the double exclamation marks I'm using!!

Dear Boss,

I am an excellent, very hard-working employee. As a human being, I look out for what's best for me, but as an employee I am always wanting to do what is best for the business, sometimes at my own cost. I am always trying to improve the workplace and make the business run smoother, better, more efficiently and more productively. I want to make my boss happy! I thrive on compliments and responsibility. I promise to always give my best for you and to always give my best to the business. Together, we will make this business thrive!

Dear Employee,

I am a great boss. As the CEO of a business, I look out for what's best for the business, but as a boss I also want what is best for my employee. I know that without the employee, the business will go nowhere. I will work hard for your loyalty and support, because if you want the business to be successful, it will be! I promise to listen to your ideas and suggestions. I promise to never take out money from your paycheck without telling you. I promise to pay you what I promised to pay you. I promise to not look for every little way to make you make less money. I promise to not scam good people and then blame you for it. I promise not to lie to you. I promise not to try and scam you. I understand that if I hurt you, I am only hurting the business and myself. Together, we will make this company thrive!

But Like He Did So Long Ago In Jericho God Just Made A Wall Fall Down

Acouchi's thyroid levels right before she got her first treatment was 38. That is high. So high, no one seemed to have experience dealing with a level that high. One month after her treatment, it came down to 26. 26 is a level they had seen before. They seemed much more comfortable with that level. The number it needs to be is 1.

Yesterday morning I took Acouchi to the animal hospital to get her blood drawn so her thyroid levels could be tested. They needed the exact number so they could give her another treatment of Radioactive Iodine today. She cried the whole way there.

I was supposed to take her in at 10am this morning and leave her there for round two. Once again she would have to stay for two weeks and then I couldn't touch her for 28 days.

I was woken up by a phone call. Acouchi's "surgeon" was on the phone. She said she had the results from the day before; Acouchi's thyroid levels are at 13.

13!!!!!

She said the RIT can keep working up to three months after the original injection. She's never seen it bring it down this far, usually the level at the one month mark is the level it stays. But Acouchi seems to be doing to well that now we're going to wait the full three months. Maybe it will get itself back to 1!

Acouchi is happy. I gave her tuna this morning to celebrate. I think I'll make Drek catch a grasshopper for her to chase. She thinks today is the best day ever. It is.

Carrots! Medicinal Use Carrots That Were Here When I Moved In And I'm Holding Them For A Friend.

This morning I wanted to make egg omelets, so I went into my backyard and picked some tomatoes and a green pepper from our garden.
I love our garden! It's so nice to have delicious food growing right in our backyard!

It's Every Man For Himself. And Every Woman For Himself Too.

Today I went to the bank to drop off my paycheck in my account and Drek's paycheck in his account. I went through the drive-through (drive-thru?) and sent off the checks through the little container thing. The teller asked me via intercom what I needed done, I explained that the account numbers were on back an just needed them deposited (Easy. I do this every two weeks).

She did stuff on her computer and sent me two receipts via the little container thing. I took out the receipts, looked at them, and became confused. Drek's seemed right. But unless my check had a few invisible digits on it, this was not my account. I then looked at the name; George E. Baily*. I paused and then pushed the "call" button. The teller came over the intercom. I explained that I was not George E. Baily and I may have given her the wrong account number. I then verbally told her the correct number. She said that is what I had written down, she must have punched it in wrong. She apologized and said she would fix it. So I sent that receipt back through the container and waited while she did stuff on her computer. She then sent me a receipt. I looked at it. It still said George E. Baily. I pressed the "call" button again. I asked for a receipt to my account. She was confused, thinking that was what she had sent me. She then realized she had gotten the two account mixed up and had taken the amount for the check out of my account and added it to George E. Baily's account. I now had negative the check amount, and George E. Baily had double the check amount. At this point I suspected the teller of being Mrs. George E. Baily, but I didn't say that. I just sent the receipt back and waited. Another receipt came back, this time reflecting the correct account and the correct amount.

So, I apologize, George E. Baily. You could have just gotten free money, but I wanted my paycheck. Besides, according to your bank balance, you seem to be doing pretty well on your own.


*Name has been changed.

Fine. Give Me Your "Even Better Than Coffee" Substitute.

Today was supposed to be Starbucks day. I got all excited when I got a coupon for a free pastry with the purchase of a drink at Starbucks. I got two coupons, one for Drek and one for me, looked up the closest Starbucks to our house and was all excited for the yummy breakfast. I've only had Starbucks hot chocolate once, but I remember it being AMAZING! And, Starbucks now serves smoothies so I knew there was something for Drek.

Drek said no. "Avoid the appearance of evil". On the list of Topics We Argue About, that is number two (The Word of Wisdom being number one). When I say "argue", I mean Drek presents his side, I present mine. He counters, I counter. He finds flaws in my counter, I find flaws in his. He cites scripture, I cite scripture. He quotes a prophet, I ask him where that quote is written. We both stick to our side and no opinions are changed.

We argued about this last night. I was going to go by myself, but it's no fun to spend money alone. So this morning I got up, looked up a recipe for Apple Strudel, baked one from scratch and mixed myself a delicious cup of Ghirdeli's Double Chocolate Hot Chocolate. It was an amazing breakfast and I didn't have to pay someone else to make it.

But I will say for the record my making breakfast rather than going to Starbucks is a sign of me hating to spend money on stuff I can make and NOT me admitting defeat to Drek and/or saying Drek is right.

We'll Make the Air With Music Ring

Drek is in the ward choir. He is so faithful about going to practices and doing his best; I really admire this about him. Yesterday the choir performed in church and did such an amazing job. I thought it was their best performance yet and was really moved by the song; Come Come Ye Saints. Later that day while I was making dinner I turned my iTunes to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Performance of the same song. I have always liked this song, but after hearing these two renditions I've decided it's now in my top 10 favorite hymns. I just love it.

Sing Me To Sleep

I had a night terror last night (I figure if I document them I might be able to figure out why I have them? I'm working on a new theory...) Drek was off on a canyoneering trip--I was alone. It was not fun.

Timing is Everything

My dad passed his first test! If he continues to pass his tests, he is officially done with Chemo!

Acouchi failed her test. She is supposed to go back in for another treatment of radioactive iodine. She needs to wait a month, so her thyroid levels even out, but she needs to be not-radioactive when the baby comes, or...well, that would be bad. So I need to work out that timing. Hey, baby, when are you coming? I need to schedule you in.

We're Going To The Zoo, Zoo, Zoo. How About You? You? You?

My sisters, my niece, and I all went to the zoo. We had a wonderful time. It was perfect weather for a zoo trip and we went early in the morning so it wasn't too hot. Here are some of the animals we saw.









Aw, aren't they cute?

We'll Shine Together, Told You I'd be Here Forever

Drek and I have been married for two years!! It's gone by so fast!

We had a wonderful anniversary! It seemed to have a lot of really fancy food, so that is the part I will focus on. That morning I made fruit and cream for breakfast.
We ate just after out landlord showed up to start installing our garage door opener (very excited to have this installed!).

Drek has to work for a little bit but finally it was time for his lunch break so we dressed up in fancy clothes and went to a very fancy restaurant. I had made reservations the day before and I was glad I did! They seated us right next to the window to we had a beautiful view while we ate. Drek ordered the Prosciutto Stuffed Chicken: Chicken Breast, Shaved Prosciutto Ham, Swiss Cheese, Basmati Rice, and Vegetables of Season, and I ordered Cheese Tortellini: Three-Cheese Tortellini Pasta Served with Mushrooms in a Light Cream Sauce with Asaigo cheese topping. It was so good! We ordered the German Chocolate Cake for dessert and that was the most yummiest of all. The fun part was really the experience. It was fun to have three different waiters, two different forks and three different spoons.

After lunch we went to a place where you can rent board games. We rented two games; Ninja Versus Ninja and Zerts. The first game is really fun and quick, while the other game is easy to learn but is a very complicated strategy game. Acouchi especially liked the Ninja Versus Ninja game; the ninjas are little 3D action figures and she liked to knock them off the board while we were playing.

After Drek got off work for the day we went to go see Up in the theatre. I had free passes so we didn't mind not waiting for it to get to the dollar theatre. It was a cute movie. I really liked Doug.

For dinner I took Drek on a picnic. My attempt for dinner was to make a super fancy meal, so I made the fanciest thing I could think of: Lobster Tails. As side dishes we had vegetable pasta in lemon and rosemary sauce and a light carrot salad. The picnic was wonderful. It was here that I gave Drek his presents (a DVD and tickets to go see The Scarlet Pimpernel). When we got home Drek game me my presents (Pyrex dishes and Ghirardelli double chocolate hot chocolate!!) We watched the DVD while we curled up together with the hot chocolate.
Happy anniversary, Babe. I love you with my whole heart!