tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83180988891132025772024-02-07T04:35:34.729-08:00liveforwaterKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-62995425208950882372014-01-11T17:02:00.000-08:002014-01-11T17:02:41.651-08:00Moving dayOkay, this will be the last post on this site for now.<br />
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In the future, please look for me at <a href="http://saltwaterswoon.wordpress.com/">http://saltwaterswoon.wordpress.com</a>. There is a place there to enter your email address should you like to have it emailed to you, but if you have a Facebook page, it is also set to post the entry automatically on your newsfeed if you are a "friend" of mine. I am not sure about this ability. It feels like I am force feeding this stuff to everyone I know, so that might get changed in the future.<br />
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For now I will be keeping this site alive if only because it has stuff on it that I like and I don't know how to move it.<br />
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By the way, I have a headache from doing all this like you. would. not. BELIEVE!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-90802126831387592482014-01-10T11:16:00.001-08:002014-01-10T13:37:33.103-08:00Tele-posting Sunshine!Today I am conversing with you from a local coffee house. No, not Starbucks. Whiskey Gulch. There aren't any sea lions out today, mom, but the ferry is in full swing.<br />
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The truly funny thing? I am sitting at one table (by the window) and Jeff is sitting at another on the other side of the room, waiting for the other half of his "meeting" to get here. I have already texted him twice rather than get up and walk across the room or holler over the table of "ladies who lunch" next to me.<br />
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I could get used to this coffee-house blogging...good thing I most likely won't, as this writing thing is not a money maker and a Mayan mocha with a sugar biscuit every morning could put me in the poor house within the week.<br />
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So, recap of the day so far...<br />
LOTS of wind last night. I know of at least two separate times that I woke up to the noise only to be made aware of the fact that there were three extra bodies in the bed (total of 12 extra feet or maybe 13 if you count all of Stellah's extra toes). The alarm went off at 5 but I, apparently erroneously, assumed that with all that weather the cable would be out, so slept in until 5:45. Got two kids and one dog breakfasted, supervised the making of lunch and got them off to the bus.<br />
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Came home to the smell of microwave popcorn.<br />
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Took a deep breath (painful, it is not my most favorite smell) realized he received <u>two</u> bags -- two bags have now been consumed. End of story. Done.<br />
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Hid in the shower until child #3 was out the door.<br />
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I think I did okay. Good Mood is still intact.<br />
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Win.<br />
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Okay, I still have coffee left, so I'm gonna keep blathering (interesting note, I can hear Jeff explaining our life story to his counterpart in his meeting...happens to be the interim pastor of our church --wondering what kind of notes are being taken on THAT!)<br />
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So has anyone else noticed that this year the concepts of happiness and joy seem to be the New Year focus of 2014? I still see the requisite articles and magazine covers dedicated to organization and weight loss but what seems to stick out to me is the push to work on seeking personal happiness and joy in one's life this year. I am thrilled! In fact, I have a entry that I drafted but never finished in November entitled "My own personal happiness project". I wish I had actually written something under it, I don't even really remember what I had intended. But I have to say that, although I don't ever recall consciously wallowing in <i>un</i>happiness, I know that I haven't given it the proper amount of conscious thought that it probably deserves.<br />
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(whew, it's getting loud in here, shoulda brought earphones)</div>
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Aside from suddenly being the surprise recipient of a subscription to a magazine devoted to the subject, some of my favorite bloggers have taken up the flag and started their own personal projects. Lilblueboo has challenged herself to writing 31 Days of Joy. I had to laugh when she got to day #6 and became quite overwhelmed with the goal she had set for herself. Sounded so like me. Yesterday she posted <a href="http://www.lilblueboo.com/2014/01/25-quotes-of-joy.html">25 Quotes of Joy</a>. Okay, I skimmed most of them but certain ones stuck out, such as:</div>
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<i>Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life; the quiet confidence that ultimately everything will be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.</i></div>
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<i><b>-Kay Warren</b></i></div>
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and </div>
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<i>Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves</i></div>
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<i><b>-James Barrie</b></i></div>
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and my favorite</div>
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<i>This is is the true joy in life . . . being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one . . . being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. <b>-George Bernard Shaw</b></i></div>
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As I have gotten older, or perhaps more as I have watched my kids grow up and I realize what I want for them, it has become apparent to me the ultimate control we have over our happiness, life after all is nothing but choices that we must make. My children are fond of saying "it wasn't my fault that I hit him, he <i>made</i> me do it by being annoying/loud/not listening blah blah blah". Some day they will actually hear me when I tell them for the 56,800th time that it was their <i>choice </i>to hit rather than walk away/ask for help/stick out their tongue. Life is like a menu, your choices depend on what is available, but you will ALWAYS. HAVE. A CHOICE. You want hot dogs and all they have is foie gras and horse tongue flambé? You still have a choice. You can eat nothing, try something new, or walk out the door with the hope of finding something better . . . or worse (worse than horse tongue flambé? Eek!).</div>
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So how does God fit in as being in control if we make all the decisions? He presents us with the menus...and the doors. He has the final job of clean up, making sure that no matter what our messes get us into, they will result in an ultimate Good. We may not see it, but I love that I can at least rest in the surety that somewhere down the road, my poor choices, will ultimately make a positive difference in the life of someone else, even if only so that they can point to me and say "THAT is why I choose not to eat horse tongue flambé!" Bravo for them!</div>
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Taking responsibility of our choices is--wow, it is SO hard. SO HARD! It is also key to becoming a happier person. The quote from George Bernard Shaw about recognizing your purpose and being a force of nature versus bing a "feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances" just may end up being written on the walls of my house (note to self, USE THE CHALK BOARD). I love it and it is so apropo for my family. And me. How often do I sit and bemoan the fact that all I do is sit in parking lots and argue with kids over food rather than use that time to read great books and let them make decisions for themselves; skip the gym because I never got around to making dinner first; vacuum the house instead of do something fun because I feel that the concreteness of a clean floor has more tangible worth than my personal delight in something. And how much happier am I when I break through that barrier and do the "happier" thing? But most often I am that whiner. I'm a "feverish selfish little clod".</div>
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So not a pleasant picture.</div>
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My goal from now on is to be a force of nature.</div>
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I want my actions to result in the happiness of others and yet at the same time I want to remember that my happiness is not dependent on <i>others</i> making me happy, but rather, my happiness is dependent making others happy, not through my misery and self deprivation but rather by being joyful in and of myself.</div>
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I want others to see my joy and derive joy from that!</div>
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Funny, I just realized that this is the same way I want to announce my faith. </div>
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I will not go about clonking people over the head with a happy stick/Bible. I can only hope that they see me as a force of nature, are drawn in by my actions, and spun off with a positive charge that they can sustain in a positive force of their own making</div>
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I think I have some work to do.</div>
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Okay, a lot of work to do.</div>
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A LOT of work to do.</div>
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This little cloud break needs to get worked up into a sustained period of...</div>
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okay, no weather similes are forthcoming right now... dangit.</div>
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Let' go with this for now...</div>
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-53181805396673697262014-01-09T08:54:00.002-08:002014-01-09T08:54:29.242-08:00E-mail UpdateI am still trying to figure this site out.<br />
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As such, I erased the setting that forcibly e-mailed new posts to certain people, whether they wanted them or not. You can still sign up for having it e-mailed to yourself.<br />
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As for comments, you do have to sign up for Google something or other. To my knowledge, I have not been spammed or otherwise bothered by having done this on other blog sites. You can also just feel free to email, call, text, Facebook or knock on my door. I have no issues with you sharing at this point, either.<br />
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This is going to be a learning experience to say the least. Right now I have just learned that I think I need to find a new blog page...Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-31461081681358149112014-01-09T08:38:00.002-08:002014-01-09T08:38:32.891-08:00Forcing a Re-doUgh.<br />
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I'm grumpy today.<br />
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I just erased an entire diatribe on the disgusting eating habits of one of my children and how he is trying to make it my problem.<br />
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It wasn't making me feel any better to rehash it and I was only talking myself in circles as far as trying to make it his fault and not mine but acknowledging the fact that I didn't help matters by getting mad about it.<br />
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I actually started out my day great! Woke up at 5, prepped breakfast for the two kids who will actually eat what I make them (albeit, sometimes not without a face or three), made a cup of coffee and DRANK it while reading my latest issue of LiveHappy magazine. Seriously, there is such magazine, and I get it for free. It's working already!<br />
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Then I took two kids to the school bus and came home to the question of "can I make my popcorn for breakfast?" That absolutely derailed me, and at the risk of going into my rant again, can I pose the question here as to whether or not it is okay to allow kids to make crappy food choices so long as there are good ones available? Seriously, there is peanut butter and jelly (the peanut butter isn't sweet enough), bread, cheese, Spam (at his request), eggs, sausage, bananas, there was smoothie already mixed and in the blender, lunch meat, cereal (both hot and cold) and any number of combinations there of...and according to him there is nothing else worth eating but his theater-style, yellow lard-iced, salt-soaked<span style="text-align: center;">, nasty-ass popcorn.</span><br />
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So I told him to pop it. I also told him he was an idiot. <br />
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Well, actually I told him that there was absolutely nothing in that entire bag of popcorn that made it a good choice. The only thing it had going for it at all was the whole grain, but that due to everything else in that bag, he would be just as well off eating the paper sack.<br />
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He cared not at all. He just glared at me.<br />
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Because it is my fault that he can't have frozen corn dogs for breakfast, lunch and dinner.<br />
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Honestly, at this point, I would love to stuff him with nothing but twinkies and hot dogs for a month except for the fact that (a) he probably wouldn't suffer and (b) CPS might get involved.<br />
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Crap, I just rewrote my whole negative rant again. And again, it hasn't made me feel any better to get it out. It just made me relive it. Okay, Katie. So fix it. How do I relive this in a positive light?<br />
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Well. He ate the damn popcorn and there is no more to bug me about tomorrow.<br />
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Yay! I win!<br />
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So on a totally unrelated note, I read in my magazine today that the positive effect that pets have on our health is so powerful that the chief cardiologist at one British hospital actually prescribes a <i>dog</i> for men who have just had a heart attack. As a result he has found that the chances of a second heart attack in these men are cut by <i>400 percent!!! </i>Which leads me to wonder how absolutely horrible my life would be without Floki, and even the cats (who actually cause a good percentage of my stress on any given day). The amount of stress I can generate in a day by simply being me can be pretty disgustingly ginormous. I can't imagine how intolerable it would be if I didn't have at least one entity in my household who would come when I called without saying "just a sec" or else say "coming" only to arrive 10 minutes later...if at all, eat everything I give him gratefully, <i>want </i>to be in the same room as me without saying "I know!", "Can I?", or "Why not?", and not need much more other than about 15 minutes of my time either throwing a ball or sitting still so they can simply sit in my lap. <br />
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Why did I have kids again?<br />
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Probably so I can appreciate my pets more. I think I hear a Chuck-it calling my name.<br />
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-5362312723235263402014-01-07T10:51:00.000-08:002014-01-07T10:51:09.294-08:00Mind the gap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I have no illusions of grandeur with this blog. In fact, I know for certain that my mom is the only one who is reading it right now (good morning, mom!)<br />
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And that's okay, because I know (a) knowing she is reading it will keep me grounded, (b) at least she will love me anyway, and (c) her comments will at least be nice.<br />
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I have spent most of the morning trying to revamp and update this blog and boy am I learning some things. Namely that I need to have someone else do it for me. For the life of me I can't get an Instagram gadget on here (mainly for my mom, 'cause I know she won't access it regularly otherwise) but for those of who might, for now it is http://instagram.com/mswvjmpr and if you know how to help be get the gadget to work, please speak up. I am afraid it is something to do between Google and Instagram for the moment.<br />
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As such, I haven't gotten much else done today other than get two boys to the bus stop on time. Ugh. Seriously, it is 10:19 and I have done nothing else but drink coffee, get two of four kids to school, and play on my computer. But I think I am going to decide to be okay with this for today. One of my favorite bloggers, Ashley Hackshaw of <a href="http://lilblueboo.com/">Lilblueboo.com</a> posted today that "nothing is more real than nothing". So nothing is something. Sometimes the gaps are wherein lie the seeds of your next big thing. So perhaps sitting here on my bum, trying not to think of all the things that my brain thinks I should be doing (i.e. planning dinner, vacuuming this <i>disgusting</i> carpet) will bring forth an idea of something my heart wants to do. No i.e. here. I'm still waiting to find it. I think that is the mystery of the gap, though. Looking won't get you anywhere when there is nothing to look at. Nothingness brings its own ideas and my job is to simply receive it when it is given.<br />
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I can hope, though. And I hope it brings me something awesome. Something that I can be excited about despite the work that will be involved. It has been a long time since I have enjoyed the labor as much as the result. Don't mistake that for appreciating the labor as much as the outcome. I did NOT enjoy the experience of childbirth as much as I love my son. I appreciate it. I would do it again. But it does not equal the excitement of having him. No, I am talking about having a goal that requires work that I love to do, that I am excited to get up and start every day, that I enjoy so much that even if the attaining of the goal seems so far off, it doesn't really matter, because the process is so much fun and so rewarding. Gaah, it sounds like I want to be a perpetual college student! But truthfully, maybe that is what I want to be. I want to find something that I love so much that learning about it on a full-time basis will be ultimately fulfilling.<br />
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OooooO! I can't wait! <br />
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I have exactly 30 more minutes of gap to wait for it. I hope it comes today!<br />
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**claps hands and hops up and down**</div>
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But if it doesn't, I will just try harder to look for more gaps in the days to come and be sure to mind them!</div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-73040112451446240862014-01-06T08:18:00.003-08:002014-01-06T08:21:02.616-08:00Little piles everywhere, including in my brain.(PS I am writing this at 6 am, before anyone else is up. So I at least get that gold star...)<br />
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So, I'm having issues with organization. I can't believe that "just writing" can end up being such a complicated issue? For instance: Paper or computer? If I do paper, well, all i have to do is haul a notebook around with me, but there will be no way to share should I feel that I have something share-worthy to write. How do I attach photos? Do I want to attach photos? Small problem, but seems to be an issue for me. If I do it on the computer, do I use a journaling site? A blog? Do I automatically set it to share EVERYTHING? Can I set it to do otherwise? And do I really feel like doing all of that research?<br />
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Well that's an easy on to answer. Hell no! No research, that would assume that I knew what I was doing to begin with. And here is where I become frustrated with myself! Why can't I take the time to do research and do something right? Why do I feel that all it ever does is bog me down. It makes me feel like I am simply skimming along in life, not really bothering to get the most out of any experience, but rather rushing ahead to simply get the gist so that I can get to the doing part and check it off my list as "been there, done that". But in the end, I haven't! Half of the doing of something can often be the preparing, the learning of it, the knowing why and how so that you can get the fullness of it while it is being done. I would think that raising chickens, for instance, would be much more interesting, not to mention successful, were I to do some reading up on them. Learn what breeds do better in certain circumstances. Perhaps there are REASONS they need that special roost and not just because it looks better in the back yard. Maybe there are simple ways to prevent common problems that could develop into real issues. My gut reaction is to buy the chickens, THEN build the roost, then possibly learn from everything I've done wrong, but most likely just give up because it all seems hopeless and pointless as they make a mess of yard, annoy the neighbors, and start keeling over from mystery illnesses.<br />
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To be fair, why I don't like to research is that it takes TIME. Time that I would rather spend enjoying the outcome, that in my imagination will be rosy and perfect and all work out for the best if it is meant to be. I also seem to get easily bogged down. The first "option" that comes around will throw me for a loop. How do I know which is better? Do I have the time to try them all? What in the heck does that word mean? Is it important? Does it matter? DO I JUST CLOSE MY EYES AND PICK OR JUST IGNORE AND JUMP IN? <br />
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A vicious cycle. Which results in, half the time, me not doing ANYTHING, researched or not!<br />
<br />
I need to be more dedicated to the journey and not just focus on the destination.<br />
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Okay. I think that is it. I need to spend more time thinking and learning. I need to SLOW down. God, that raises my blood pressure just thinking that. "I CAN'T!" my brain screams, "I have only a set amount of time before the kids take over my life every afternoon, and that set amount of time has to be shared with house work, food prep, errand running, "me time" (aka The Gym), exercising the dog, getting dressed, trying to play at cleaning my house so that I am not distracted by my seeming failure to be a good mom/wife. If I'm gonna have chickens in this lifetime, it needs to be now or never! (why chickens? No idea. I do not want chickens.)<br />
<br />
Bingo, herein lies my problem.<br />
<br />
I am distracted by all that I have and trying to keep it from falling in on itself. I am distracted by the clutter that is house and my life. My house is too small for all that I find important to have. My life is to cluttered up with what I think it should be to see it for what it is. However, we are not in the market to up-size (at least, not seriously) and I know for a FACT that all that I have is not truly that important to my happiness. And I know that what my life IS, is perhaps just what it should be at this point in time.<br />
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So lets start on the concrete for now. My house. Maybe, instead of quitting something every Thursday, like Bob Goff, I need to quit my house of something every day. And there must be a distinction between getting rid of, and putting away. This house has no closets. The floor space is maxed out and all chests, drawers, boxes are full. So where do I start? A room a day? A wall? A corner?<br />
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Knowing me, this is how it will go. I will start in a corner of the living room where there dwells a rolling cart we use as a coffee table (we do not need a coffee table, nor do we really have room for it, but it was a project I <i>had</i> to do, and far from selling it as I had hoped, it now resides in said corner). It is covered in crocheting supplies and coffee table books that I thought it would be fun for the kids to go through. The kids have not noticed the books at all. I will stuff the crochet stuff back in the suitcase. There, easy, done. I will then pick up the books and stand there in the middle of my living room for several minutes, books in my arms, perhaps turning in circles as I eye the glutted armoire, the packed-to-capacity bookshelf, the matching pile of coffee table books that exist on the chest/end table of the other couch (yes, three couches in this room, getting the picture?) Will I bite the bullet and return ALL of these books to Good Will, whence most of them came? Most likely I will try and rearrange the bookshelf at the other end of the room. This will lead me to wonder what to do with the treasures that also reside on these shelves. I have read most of these books and keep them because I love them and would like to be able to have them to share with others. Some of them I have not read yet. They called to me once, but have been silent since taking up residence in my house (I do not know why that is, it is weird. But if I do not read a book immediately upon it's purchase, it quickly loses its voice and I forget it is there and why I wanted to read it in the first place...reason #359,493 not to hoard. Except - I really like those books. I actually have hopes of a large bookshelf someday. And isn't hoarding books just another way of saying "I have a library"? And what is so bad about that? Maybe I should start with the box on the bookshelf instead...) There is a really cool wooden box on that shelf that upon opening up I will most likely find a whole bunch of "Stuff" that was too cool to throw out or give away last time I cleaned off this shelf, but that I have forgotten about for at least a year, meaning it should be gotten rid of now...but --- it's probably sea glass, or cool shells, or lavender wands from two years ago or some stupid Pinterest craft that I made and spent too much money on to simply throw away. So I will gather it up and take it out to the shop, where I will try to incorporate it into my crafting drawers...and so on and so on and so on. By the time I have to leave for spin class, I will have never gotten around to eating breakfast, I will have left a path of destruction through my living room and out to the shop and will have only one or two books in my Pile To Be Gotten Rid Of. Which I will promptly place back on the cart in a neat pile with hopes that I will remember to grab them to put in a Good Will pile when I find a bag.....<br />
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Wow, that was fun. <br />
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Of course, now I know the warning signs, maybe I can plow through it without all of that drama.<br />
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Maybe I should start with breakfast.<br />
<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-44900289394511257642014-01-02T19:58:00.002-08:002014-01-02T19:58:40.009-08:00January 2nd.<br />
<br />
Why is it such a struggle to sit down and write. I <i>want</i> to write but it is so much easier to sit and think about about writing than to take the time to sit down and do it. Mainly because I like to be able to multi-task. I believe my MO is to get as much done as possible. Not because I want to have time to do other things, because let's face it, there will always be more to things that seemingly <i>need to be done</i> than there will ever be time to complete them in. I fall into the trap of "I will do X/fun/enjoyable thing once I get Y/not so enjoyable/chore thing done", but I pretty much have myself convinced that as long as there is something that needs to be done, I will never be able to enjoy doing what I would like to do. What a waste.<br />
<br />
What. A. WASTE!<br />
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There was a time when I would get up in the morning and spend at least half an hour doing a Bible study reading. I cannot put into words how beneficial this was for my day. There was nothing more positive that could be done to put my day in a positive light from the get go. It didn't really matter what the reading was about. And even better if it required me to put something into writing. To think and produce thoughtful insight, first thing in the morning, was a beautiful thing. It was nothing like sitting down at the keyboard at 4a.m. and typing up dictation - words form someone else's brain; someone else's product. No, it has to be mine.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow, I wake and write.<br />
<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-89919245482102153392013-12-31T17:34:00.002-08:002013-12-31T17:34:54.976-08:00December 31, 2014<br />
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I sit here with a shot glass of single malt, my family sitting not 10 feet away enjoying my favorite of all shows, Dr Who, and it being New Year's Eve. I have been counting down to the day when I would start this again. This being....well, writing. Sharing. Creating. Unburdening. Unloading. Unfolding. Stretching out. I honestly thought I wouldn't start until tomorrow, but suddenly that seemed too cliche. Too forced. Too expected. <br />
<br />
So.<br />
<br />
Here I am.<br />
<br />
What now?<br />
<br />
What do I expect to happen? What am I hoping for? What do I want?<br />
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I don't know, exactly. But having been seeming hounded by blurbs on the internet:<br />
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and </div>
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I can't help but think I am looking for an excuse or else the world is waiting.</div>
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Again.</div>
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For what?</div>
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Alright, enough of the drama. I <i>want</i> to write. I want to create. I have always admitted that my most favorite and successful crafting projects have involved nothing but an hour of my time from set up to tear down and what is more perfect that a writing project. However, even now, right this second, I can feel the desire to trash this and walk away, start again some day, or maybe never, begin to hound me. I have a problem with commitment and carry through. I have lost my string of thought. I can't remember the fabulous lead in that I thought up last night laying in bed, preparing for New Year's Day, when I would wake up an hour earlier than every one else, make my cup of instant coffee (can't even wait for a proper brew, time is an issue apparently) and sit down and empty my prolific brain on a sheet of screen, in preparation of a brand new day. </div>
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Weird. Way too planned out and organized for me.</div>
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But yet, look! I'm writing! I'm not just thinking about it but doing it. What a huge step for me. Yay me! (pat on the back)</div>
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It is easy. And hard. There is a lot of fear in committing to a plan. And to that, I have failed to make one. Why make a plan that I am fully willing to break at the first sense of inconvenience? I know I will. It is what I do. Things come calling. Dog hair MUST be vacuumed. Dishes must be done. Oh shit! There is still laundry in the washer....</div>
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Okay, laundry is in the dryer, the dog is fed, I refilled the cracker bowl and restocked my snack plate....aaaand I had to force myself to sit back down. So I assume I am doing okay. I made it back. I am sticking to this writing thing. </div>
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Small victories.</div>
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-60294529035152558642013-04-15T15:47:00.001-07:002013-04-15T15:47:29.665-07:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrmcb_HxXYzUMVAymyWWP9q9DkTChwWveH2cYcKXxGWke3etplYZnDv91YiTKxTzAF1h4ivCsZ_dbM_K63S-vtIvQw_avu2Qk9jnTGeT4KxV-nAZ0NrPcwr-ada5JGSM0jzVLdWFTVbM/s1600/IMG_5859-749666.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrmcb_HxXYzUMVAymyWWP9q9DkTChwWveH2cYcKXxGWke3etplYZnDv91YiTKxTzAF1h4ivCsZ_dbM_K63S-vtIvQw_avu2Qk9jnTGeT4KxV-nAZ0NrPcwr-ada5JGSM0jzVLdWFTVbM/s320/IMG_5859-749666.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5867209012862983474" /></a></p>I wish I could attach the smell of warm pine needles....Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-67916301848528095082013-03-26T09:32:00.001-07:002013-03-26T09:32:46.496-07:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Iww5UwalxHWVAzk9UbLZLEYd0PFh5J2coVgRAopZ2bhw0GGSLqoqOY1HbRcZw9Sl-mol-wcelpDQS_mfzwbYEjY98V-L_9E9DMy0G0sImGpzXZePjognR1pwyRtYGwhQ_VK1bvOH7i8/s1600/IMG_9483-766496.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Iww5UwalxHWVAzk9UbLZLEYd0PFh5J2coVgRAopZ2bhw0GGSLqoqOY1HbRcZw9Sl-mol-wcelpDQS_mfzwbYEjY98V-L_9E9DMy0G0sImGpzXZePjognR1pwyRtYGwhQ_VK1bvOH7i8/s320/IMG_9483-766496.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5859690744194129698" /></a></p>Spring cometh!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-72641729394925397382011-06-19T14:10:00.000-07:002011-06-19T14:10:11.379-07:00Some Lessons from my Dad, for Father's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJw-qlpeuT4-qvKUJlOiZpl9TDz0oex-9JFfHuTRUKBvC2q6piNRT6dgpCeihRMLRLlOLdROIq3ZSezaZfuG-ds9rcDMPolfuhPmZg7s9ZEiR5rTQyjt6hcecU1TlXq9wWnRI261tlBDE/s1600/IMG_1293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJw-qlpeuT4-qvKUJlOiZpl9TDz0oex-9JFfHuTRUKBvC2q6piNRT6dgpCeihRMLRLlOLdROIq3ZSezaZfuG-ds9rcDMPolfuhPmZg7s9ZEiR5rTQyjt6hcecU1TlXq9wWnRI261tlBDE/s320/IMG_1293.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So, it being Father's Day I have decided to share a few of the important lessons that I learned growing up as his daughter. The most important at this point being,(seeing as that the day is half way over), "Better late, than never". My dad had a very active career in the Coast Guard, and as such, wasn't always there for what we deemed "important things" when we often thought he should be. But in the end, when he would finally get there, we immediately forgot about the tardiness of his arrival and revelled in the fact that he was actually there!! Finally! Christmases were sometimes late or at other times early, birthday's weren't always celebrated on THE day of birth, and sometimes, he just couldn't make it, no matter what. But we always knew that he was there in spirit and if he could have moved Heaven and Earth, he would have done so to be there in body as well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcA5knjh6c0K0d-e9lZ2yDAb4nqhyphenhyphen6PLHDF8Eos40gBMnS-4teIyDZ11yMu-iXcnsOHoQ-3NrtL3mgMhsN9o6Mge_0vowSMmQtpNXyGGt-tbDxPDPVKLUTxWgVkG-UZXRlr2b4CkvfB2M/s1600/IMG_1295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcA5knjh6c0K0d-e9lZ2yDAb4nqhyphenhyphen6PLHDF8Eos40gBMnS-4teIyDZ11yMu-iXcnsOHoQ-3NrtL3mgMhsN9o6Mge_0vowSMmQtpNXyGGt-tbDxPDPVKLUTxWgVkG-UZXRlr2b4CkvfB2M/s320/IMG_1295.JPG" width="284" /></a></div>Lesson #2: Do a good job the first time and you won't have to wash the car six times in a row and waste your entire Saturday in the driveway. This is a lesson I am now heartily trying to bestow upon my own children. I need help.<br />
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Lesson #3: Breaking big, impossible-looking things down into smaller more manageable chunks makes everything from Algebra problems to school payments seem less impossible and more doable. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7OBrGAEdUsNb9gdZHPhyphenhyphenYkjL_c-ta3SQBXJbCLxM4Whu2vGnM1U7DWgHRRM5SemKr6R5q32rWCbypqpOP67VuEvzY-6THNXZOL9kh-0ptsWqL_2XJC2wssQG9bIqI8F152zfQvhXMYE/s1600/IMG_1515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7OBrGAEdUsNb9gdZHPhyphenhyphenYkjL_c-ta3SQBXJbCLxM4Whu2vGnM1U7DWgHRRM5SemKr6R5q32rWCbypqpOP67VuEvzY-6THNXZOL9kh-0ptsWqL_2XJC2wssQG9bIqI8F152zfQvhXMYE/s320/IMG_1515.JPG" width="311" /></a></div><br />
Lesson #4: NEVER present the whole candy bar when offering a "bite". Unfortunately, my kids have already learned this one and I never even got the chance to teach it!!!<br />
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Lesson #5: Being absent during the catastrophic events (broken bones, stitches, boyfriend breakups, deaths and funerals) does NOT mean that you don't share in every ounce of the pain. Thank you, Daddy, for sharing these with me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQuxyz8NjAOu1at9MudfpJyYcYBnxMt6-J3v1Ab2Hq3rq99UOK2UtCS16V5Gbz4Q_TFM4_mAcNK6D_vHvRXhmLTNxH6DWwTsdAdlA595Vc62HHC_DGjhNzWsNl2LCDudREKDscEwz_n4/s1600/IMG_1514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQuxyz8NjAOu1at9MudfpJyYcYBnxMt6-J3v1Ab2Hq3rq99UOK2UtCS16V5Gbz4Q_TFM4_mAcNK6D_vHvRXhmLTNxH6DWwTsdAdlA595Vc62HHC_DGjhNzWsNl2LCDudREKDscEwz_n4/s320/IMG_1514.JPG" width="305" /></a></div>Lesson #6: Being Daddy's Little Girl doesn't mean you get the car, the Letterman's jacket, the class ring etc. But it <em>does</em> mean that you will have the best of everything you <em>need</em> and all of the love that his heart can provide, even if sometimes it seems like more than you can handle. My dad has made me cry more often than any one person I know, more often than not by simply loving me rather than punishing me. I knew I deserved the punishments, they just made me mad. But the support that he gave me in difficult and unsuspecting times were what brought me to tears. Why? Because I didn't always think I deserved them and a few times I wondered if I would be able to match them or live up to them.<br />
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I love my dad, and if I could right now, I would give him the biggest hug...and then cry all over him.<br />
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I love you, Dad!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-4370376615782225682011-06-03T08:16:00.000-07:002011-06-03T08:16:50.655-07:00Last Installment of Mexico<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are just the random pictures....basically just us playing with the autofunction of the camera. But first of all I would like to point out something interesting....These first two pics are from our first few hours in Mexico.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUDZ0F7zdoC3e8j3cwEIO1sLFfL7DzINKsZc7yuza7Iif5dOhHMXZ7FaLt1-9CPVpTIGc-weZyoEMMyyQC0lYxH9Jnalm79MLAQ4wgyyf01_9lkrRh36xZ1snyKuftFViHKRudHxAtZg/s1600/P5200007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUDZ0F7zdoC3e8j3cwEIO1sLFfL7DzINKsZc7yuza7Iif5dOhHMXZ7FaLt1-9CPVpTIGc-weZyoEMMyyQC0lYxH9Jnalm79MLAQ4wgyyf01_9lkrRh36xZ1snyKuftFViHKRudHxAtZg/s320/P5200007.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup, thrilled to have survived the trip.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP35Bl4SxPHFa_Huvu8rsCZeqBtTqTHT7qKYGkEjLh25B3MHBp1sqorl075LM1ivJS1zeRkRAdWlbywk1MLWy6tTpQ2d5TOpmpADXUQDNypAdARn-wewTuu5CQaFZEF6RGBPAqvbhCDOY/s1600/P5200008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP35Bl4SxPHFa_Huvu8rsCZeqBtTqTHT7qKYGkEjLh25B3MHBp1sqorl075LM1ivJS1zeRkRAdWlbywk1MLWy6tTpQ2d5TOpmpADXUQDNypAdARn-wewTuu5CQaFZEF6RGBPAqvbhCDOY/s320/P5200008.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you say "tired"?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> And these are from our last night in Mexico.</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2qWKKwlTIgsUOsM3H-xMMB59WoeSu652oZkUpnuM9npqSu0QgSk3XxblTDFjfWH9gKAV5dwkJwS9S58EhTMZahA9ktVS0FTP1sE77RsWMsZ7Kn4wLyjxzs50QSZPtvNGMJvje2s2NHk/s1600/P5260548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2qWKKwlTIgsUOsM3H-xMMB59WoeSu652oZkUpnuM9npqSu0QgSk3XxblTDFjfWH9gKAV5dwkJwS9S58EhTMZahA9ktVS0FTP1sE77RsWMsZ7Kn4wLyjxzs50QSZPtvNGMJvje2s2NHk/s320/P5260548.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a><br />
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<div align="center">Some more sunset photos.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPId8dffTWvp5WUPS_w9VVS4XJNdv6byDkcIKfHjJj-KyPolTPUa6ger6gMRbfs-8xgunkaN9vrVWU3lut8MGEkBqWSyDJ3enZRpzAH1FQDPE1uz51-k01D-f-dho83GEbVJ2d1vSXJo/s1600/P5240399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPId8dffTWvp5WUPS_w9VVS4XJNdv6byDkcIKfHjJj-KyPolTPUa6ger6gMRbfs-8xgunkaN9vrVWU3lut8MGEkBqWSyDJ3enZRpzAH1FQDPE1uz51-k01D-f-dho83GEbVJ2d1vSXJo/s320/P5240399.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRdXRNC2ZfrACQ470d4765neV8fKq4a3JepZhKq_1wFuea5ujs9M_3MQSgDi7n1s5rVwuIUpIHNcPvO6MA5nCECsc9km5RmTZAhWWVQfYktpazxhWjKiP7vSnh9aA7aOnQc19Xk4Wcmg/s1600/P5240403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRdXRNC2ZfrACQ470d4765neV8fKq4a3JepZhKq_1wFuea5ujs9M_3MQSgDi7n1s5rVwuIUpIHNcPvO6MA5nCECsc9km5RmTZAhWWVQfYktpazxhWjKiP7vSnh9aA7aOnQc19Xk4Wcmg/s320/P5240403.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">These are some that we took on our way to dinner one night. Yes, it was about 7 p.m. and we were about to break a sweat just sitting there. But doesn't it look gorgeous?</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXAA4N1B41XGFau8-RDVzmMDVkbB2Gqer96ze1cYCaYFmqutFOk3XH4r2VhpHoBpS8Vqhdkg35t9nT66Px344A0jYBmz5lwLkHKzdAS_UBfHDXOcA1i9YL5K3Llm3_R0cSmTKVG94h9U/s1600/P5250444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXAA4N1B41XGFau8-RDVzmMDVkbB2Gqer96ze1cYCaYFmqutFOk3XH4r2VhpHoBpS8Vqhdkg35t9nT66Px344A0jYBmz5lwLkHKzdAS_UBfHDXOcA1i9YL5K3Llm3_R0cSmTKVG94h9U/s320/P5250444.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vmYR4k3DxsQ3hG31nCJvmTZyCR7TntpCAoLS_d0M3PTBhAkw3iIhUuMfSic4fm_vZBiMu8mDiN8d-9bPvxtoXff2cchoCwbuLXLkOAOitwjzyNUaqvH_JabF3a9pxGghv3-88Oqh3-Q/s1600/P5250446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vmYR4k3DxsQ3hG31nCJvmTZyCR7TntpCAoLS_d0M3PTBhAkw3iIhUuMfSic4fm_vZBiMu8mDiN8d-9bPvxtoXff2cchoCwbuLXLkOAOitwjzyNUaqvH_JabF3a9pxGghv3-88Oqh3-Q/s320/P5250446.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-QpTDq8CJdXzBZu2RVzO8fpMEHM15Ws2qVU0beUaVmEJ1h5qenF98te8vgUDRkBq4h4mRBZoaVI4s9xQpBNX-JMK5JqkIOaqPKvHg_loi0_UNqiM95_MuBKeLYdkOIHASHjBxSjOnN8/s1600/P5250451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-QpTDq8CJdXzBZu2RVzO8fpMEHM15Ws2qVU0beUaVmEJ1h5qenF98te8vgUDRkBq4h4mRBZoaVI4s9xQpBNX-JMK5JqkIOaqPKvHg_loi0_UNqiM95_MuBKeLYdkOIHASHjBxSjOnN8/s320/P5250451.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><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/AVvXsEjjw7x2lVDXCCnstIn-e8TEItxsSl25h1PVlApnD0WiJT4XTC1On0S0NJZy2kTQNPhQV8yNkennL4Rrl91r4iW6wVIJjyVO0ra9S6LkorsEl6KTW_zoo8B1O1318_9wA_grdLShduGXMGs/s1600/P5250492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjw7x2lVDXCCnstIn-e8TEItxsSl25h1PVlApnD0WiJT4XTC1On0S0NJZy2kTQNPhQV8yNkennL4Rrl91r4iW6wVIJjyVO0ra9S6LkorsEl6KTW_zoo8B1O1318_9wA_grdLShduGXMGs/s320/P5250492.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Secon- to-last night, tasting rums and settling on Pina Coladas.<br />
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">We were truly blessed with this vacation. Once again, I can never thank those that helped us get there enough. This was a vacation we will always remember and against which all future vacations will be measured.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">God Bless!</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-24255576216993028152011-06-02T11:04:00.000-07:002011-06-02T11:04:02.404-07:00Mexico (part tres)These will just be pictures (and comments). I swear. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oACP5k-IHHnCKt4Eaq-Q97oMSsUR74vG3fu7QxOCw_eUq44DKSbW3r_3l4k7sWMamKUr1LCxR69bfa1QnasRjA37ColueqTff0FNsyEUjMyJ_ZuSrSy9POL0FPZEnRAFfzMrOlo5jkA/s1600/P5210021+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oACP5k-IHHnCKt4Eaq-Q97oMSsUR74vG3fu7QxOCw_eUq44DKSbW3r_3l4k7sWMamKUr1LCxR69bfa1QnasRjA37ColueqTff0FNsyEUjMyJ_ZuSrSy9POL0FPZEnRAFfzMrOlo5jkA/s400/P5210021+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I did actually watch them polish these. They were by the entryway though, so I cut them some slack (and then promptly came home and polished mine....)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZqOvQnq_cDUOnI6NK3CRZHAJjOXDxqu4KqagUgiWAKwXKpSB8P0VfBhEzNUounzf6-xTYCv-VRVUYbLFt6oc10VwJb1Gh_vnbDmcba8kVRXEjGTlZYGm5GFfvpRNzx5J-ZiUSYIPgHg/s1600/P5210024+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZqOvQnq_cDUOnI6NK3CRZHAJjOXDxqu4KqagUgiWAKwXKpSB8P0VfBhEzNUounzf6-xTYCv-VRVUYbLFt6oc10VwJb1Gh_vnbDmcba8kVRXEjGTlZYGm5GFfvpRNzx5J-ZiUSYIPgHg/s400/P5210024+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think it looks like it was painted this way. The greens were absolutely beautiful. And SOMETHING around there smelled like freshly cut jalapeno. I am sure they thought we were crazy smelling everything trying to find it. Never did.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33CBgci0NwzAQ4jObdNjKpMMWXu0V6A5ZB3olFzZX9TVVjuIKKce6eBQ6-H1cBaS_HwwZ-S9Ia1viBmGYCXwLxmAqjC6EIHc5pPw5iRQUiGBEAId_xb6bQfXc0H36h1YqxrT-Ur9Zf4k/s1600/P5230226+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33CBgci0NwzAQ4jObdNjKpMMWXu0V6A5ZB3olFzZX9TVVjuIKKce6eBQ6-H1cBaS_HwwZ-S9Ia1viBmGYCXwLxmAqjC6EIHc5pPw5iRQUiGBEAId_xb6bQfXc0H36h1YqxrT-Ur9Zf4k/s400/P5230226+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This may have been jasmine but almost looked like an orchid of some sort.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4z5FugP-O74Lez3UgVjFhIp3qPmvxZIWbV7nooyMT0WK1ly8viWVUQ2155LEh0c9e0jYgvz9cfmN7OnO8rk7EhnxcQOpOtketuSCwGpM8RFo4R9jesHN9xJJD2TxBgUvRSGTe2dlsGA/s1600/P5230229+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4z5FugP-O74Lez3UgVjFhIp3qPmvxZIWbV7nooyMT0WK1ly8viWVUQ2155LEh0c9e0jYgvz9cfmN7OnO8rk7EhnxcQOpOtketuSCwGpM8RFo4R9jesHN9xJJD2TxBgUvRSGTe2dlsGA/s400/P5230229+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YAY!! My favorite, Plumeria!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbyCIQW53C5dDeBu6sAKfnhacD9jee9qrwPgyjts86G51N9uaWfekPrqx9i6obIoz9XXUOvZ4sd8FxszLh2TV5fPMm6WggrSh0uEX_dNz4Ni4yrsTgg72KNWze8oDU4KbmfxJLEIWpco/s1600/P5240257+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbyCIQW53C5dDeBu6sAKfnhacD9jee9qrwPgyjts86G51N9uaWfekPrqx9i6obIoz9XXUOvZ4sd8FxszLh2TV5fPMm6WggrSh0uEX_dNz4Ni4yrsTgg72KNWze8oDU4KbmfxJLEIWpco/s400/P5240257+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, I know they sell these here and I think I remember killing quite a few of them as house plants....They were HUGE down there. This is literally the size of a giant hydrangea blossom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftfrdBeoFGUvEaMZqVlB8topa8KpqmXp1q3EPpsjlbq2pNBSv354FfO8mVGrzz9pSTCWHhtIXIXj8AhY7AhKyIywxwfqe4sgFccnSmnMamuiBFWfu_1oI9jj3I7mJOcXTOG54GqhGHGo/s1600/P5230225+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftfrdBeoFGUvEaMZqVlB8topa8KpqmXp1q3EPpsjlbq2pNBSv354FfO8mVGrzz9pSTCWHhtIXIXj8AhY7AhKyIywxwfqe4sgFccnSmnMamuiBFWfu_1oI9jj3I7mJOcXTOG54GqhGHGo/s400/P5230225+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jasmine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<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/AVvXsEil_ifq6FNoEYKDBOhZui35vMZZSW3Rn-AIrPLjIkIIvlExEMLfnZiRDRL0sWQms639l28BXbvaYsr2p-muBIZBem9qPYQt0N7JEpA5MESsrC2W5Zq_M4wPaf2kWEKf1bONxH9XKgdYh4U/s1600/P5230230+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_ifq6FNoEYKDBOhZui35vMZZSW3Rn-AIrPLjIkIIvlExEMLfnZiRDRL0sWQms639l28BXbvaYsr2p-muBIZBem9qPYQt0N7JEpA5MESsrC2W5Zq_M4wPaf2kWEKf1bONxH9XKgdYh4U/s400/P5230230+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="384" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plumeria. If they hadn't been so few and far between I would have picked them all!<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<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="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKYHPbVUTabCRb_xaVe7Qk373ihBFWwGgbF03H2YUjIa5mdoMVv65yE0hdL8tmmcepeHQDYgqadKyZuIch7z1jfXvfsEpHiOWp_XD2T4MqPU6URPqrqfCn-39jCOwbY6BNjzUYeOajDI/s1600/P5240281+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKYHPbVUTabCRb_xaVe7Qk373ihBFWwGgbF03H2YUjIa5mdoMVv65yE0hdL8tmmcepeHQDYgqadKyZuIch7z1jfXvfsEpHiOWp_XD2T4MqPU6URPqrqfCn-39jCOwbY6BNjzUYeOajDI/s400/P5240281+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think it is a Bird of Paradise.<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Okay, so much for the Flora. Now onto the Fauna...</div> <div style="text-align: left;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWIN8OOGacrD-QJjBz7up4h4PZE3MALLwJOCDBPK48I_2mkc0pEsXB5S8B7-ghz8H6zWMNSGm0S60-nsE1XTdO5hsqI2JBu1U4N8vFb1b9ETAiM-X4TEK2yRvD21GUx9ecMd7zt-nS4U/s1600/P5230198+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWIN8OOGacrD-QJjBz7up4h4PZE3MALLwJOCDBPK48I_2mkc0pEsXB5S8B7-ghz8H6zWMNSGm0S60-nsE1XTdO5hsqI2JBu1U4N8vFb1b9ETAiM-X4TEK2yRvD21GUx9ecMd7zt-nS4U/s400/P5230198+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a turtle trail up to it's nest. We would see these every morning on the beach. Sometimes they would leave two nests, one as a decoy? I need to do some research on this. Supposedly they had crews that would scour the beaches every morning and relocate the eggs in a safe place. I never saw that happen but wasn't about to go digging to double check.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<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/AVvXsEj3oIwE9W_fVCXVj_5oqHWBzgkpmqWIT2uBZCfUpbRAo1DEYS-X6CqqRX5Lc3judGLjGn-VMPgMU3nxIa4RJiK1y2RmlWI7fPQ2C1SFZaalGrVngASWrHN_mtFCLAxZDf4qsUtz9_3uRs4/s1600/P5230192+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oIwE9W_fVCXVj_5oqHWBzgkpmqWIT2uBZCfUpbRAo1DEYS-X6CqqRX5Lc3judGLjGn-VMPgMU3nxIa4RJiK1y2RmlWI7fPQ2C1SFZaalGrVngASWrHN_mtFCLAxZDf4qsUtz9_3uRs4/s320/P5230192+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reason Number One why I limited myself to short amounts of time in the surf. He was a good 10-12 inches from tip to - uh, tentacle?</td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEickLy8lNIr1jv3aTNPGxs57Fr-N9TRtiYMHSqWBPEQspY5y5L5YPRLfVqI87DuEYRsK1vobkqvstQoi5JSkahzpri11uSE2k_jObyiHjS4XETuBSduDHqUyqwwvqXM207bIzt6IKYhXV4/s1600/P5240372+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickLy8lNIr1jv3aTNPGxs57Fr-N9TRtiYMHSqWBPEQspY5y5L5YPRLfVqI87DuEYRsK1vobkqvstQoi5JSkahzpri11uSE2k_jObyiHjS4XETuBSduDHqUyqwwvqXM207bIzt6IKYhXV4/s400/P5240372+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This basically said that due to the presence of lakes and ponds on the property, that there was a chance you would see a crocodile and you shouldn't feed or "disturb" them. We never saw one but not because we weren't looking!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CDO7-orsnGbnZSkhgAwsv3JoZ3wxYu5V3TJCr2wAmEyfug3Y6xUaNF6J7w2dxCJd4latUFDX6Sf_iakuJn6d9QSOQ9MThODPWI6LCPFzzQDK9ll18M5tQboE7p-eGZ7VzNhyiZmCtH4/s1600/P5240280+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CDO7-orsnGbnZSkhgAwsv3JoZ3wxYu5V3TJCr2wAmEyfug3Y6xUaNF6J7w2dxCJd4latUFDX6Sf_iakuJn6d9QSOQ9MThODPWI6LCPFzzQDK9ll18M5tQboE7p-eGZ7VzNhyiZmCtH4/s320/P5240280+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caught this guy sunning himself, he was one of many we saw just kinda hanging out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpT-fnEEmu0iJwFhDE9dXYGBbnIjgN4iXVhEzherqZQDRwUsq6-0X64wwBIEtesb3Kx9cNuQ2g6sx9J-2djXkOIGkoB-mRsKH6Ctbbr1mxpZVSiEM_owNAL2NRK5rm3Cw-9CQYELfY0f8/s1600/P5250481+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpT-fnEEmu0iJwFhDE9dXYGBbnIjgN4iXVhEzherqZQDRwUsq6-0X64wwBIEtesb3Kx9cNuQ2g6sx9J-2djXkOIGkoB-mRsKH6Ctbbr1mxpZVSiEM_owNAL2NRK5rm3Cw-9CQYELfY0f8/s320/P5250481+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the duck in the tree? Yes. A duck.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLXISYEYg2Rs9YuCg67nC6HjkVm9xrA4b5NUKN5fu_0oQfSw09X7c4sV-WRjjBnZrZV-fuKTQrmW5cn_5VsIhn0tLlNXRi1wzHdtOzmry7Am_yMYcRbSTUjNbhTVA61qDZMlZsxbGFUs/s1600/P5240311+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLXISYEYg2Rs9YuCg67nC6HjkVm9xrA4b5NUKN5fu_0oQfSw09X7c4sV-WRjjBnZrZV-fuKTQrmW5cn_5VsIhn0tLlNXRi1wzHdtOzmry7Am_yMYcRbSTUjNbhTVA61qDZMlZsxbGFUs/s320/P5240311+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reason Number Two why I limited my time in the surf....keep in mind a good portion of him is in the sand going after his dinner.**shiver***<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">And back to flora....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNG8fcDUJuWOm5zzhZI19ZHGCguV2qYiYU-fsjeBmj4786B-BHbgDaRKtFcpMif62QOb2N6pKnYAlSYYb0S7iElvjyeNSfu402b6doTu2ATtecFloOdgqEMpRdx0o8vUcR87lDjqg1Qxk/s1600/P5260520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNG8fcDUJuWOm5zzhZI19ZHGCguV2qYiYU-fsjeBmj4786B-BHbgDaRKtFcpMif62QOb2N6pKnYAlSYYb0S7iElvjyeNSfu402b6doTu2ATtecFloOdgqEMpRdx0o8vUcR87lDjqg1Qxk/s640/P5260520.JPG" t8="true" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sure beats the pine needles we get in our pools around here....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFldRSexfaTvl0j4KlqDPtqgpT_M00jEdgFRwVdVv47vgHd1H7S_ZErZ5z4JdyfVOgZtOylSgedU7qB1SyxcdKxFoIEXhsCw5_YIZo6N4zsAt5SVH4bN49UkyJaLWPmLMex3MturOTggk/s1600/P5260523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFldRSexfaTvl0j4KlqDPtqgpT_M00jEdgFRwVdVv47vgHd1H7S_ZErZ5z4JdyfVOgZtOylSgedU7qB1SyxcdKxFoIEXhsCw5_YIZo6N4zsAt5SVH4bN49UkyJaLWPmLMex3MturOTggk/s400/P5260523.JPG" t8="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKVJkHNkXugjrl35XFyLz86sDzGB00vcjFi3notaNdGwNQAZvF7gy4lU1n0iALD3KiIL05foRGmjBcNHCVP2SnXF3chbOGbQ1gH_O8CF0Sb_rouCW_O2ET1gY5E6apDSQ0se2DiuopAg/s1600/P5240371+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKVJkHNkXugjrl35XFyLz86sDzGB00vcjFi3notaNdGwNQAZvF7gy4lU1n0iALD3KiIL05foRGmjBcNHCVP2SnXF3chbOGbQ1gH_O8CF0Sb_rouCW_O2ET1gY5E6apDSQ0se2DiuopAg/s320/P5240371+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hWXC_nohvuRR6k86nakEKXTY5MXN6cmy9ThL_J2fWpMYKkUoZOWnHiUeSwOV6eSnB8xO1b6RrDvrmqVySrTPFTJ5BL93ZGlA2KxN37p4CCYoLyV12Db0mSzuCaR04b-xa0awdHxby5Y/s1600/P5250433+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hWXC_nohvuRR6k86nakEKXTY5MXN6cmy9ThL_J2fWpMYKkUoZOWnHiUeSwOV6eSnB8xO1b6RrDvrmqVySrTPFTJ5BL93ZGlA2KxN37p4CCYoLyV12Db0mSzuCaR04b-xa0awdHxby5Y/s320/P5250433+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forgot this one in the Fauna section. Another Iguana, he raced out of the green bush at the bottom of the tree, thus his bright hue.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwpl-UjuOhElE4nWQ5CxjFlu-3OsO1wNOcVvYDDM0l1SpjEp8Y2QIkrciQhlvYa8Lbq4DwzGEOd02LzxGGDo_0ZHeel2IG9MXvbdNShVhYEhctsVHcny81rTd6ibcu9XyAc9zaQyK0k4/s1600/P5240277+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwpl-UjuOhElE4nWQ5CxjFlu-3OsO1wNOcVvYDDM0l1SpjEp8Y2QIkrciQhlvYa8Lbq4DwzGEOd02LzxGGDo_0ZHeel2IG9MXvbdNShVhYEhctsVHcny81rTd6ibcu9XyAc9zaQyK0k4/s320/P5240277+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18ixlKmSnTJNztibIE_9ZiVtD4EOC0XZQhslKFfkaQj_nN9p1RAUzgN02G3xVf3teoyNcSRUKG-3a52LwOXGhyv6i0Z2qCrNKkLUn2UCmiA1wFz8Ycu3cFoP-14gQYhy9vTjrhgfiC-g/s1600/P5240263+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18ixlKmSnTJNztibIE_9ZiVtD4EOC0XZQhslKFfkaQj_nN9p1RAUzgN02G3xVf3teoyNcSRUKG-3a52LwOXGhyv6i0Z2qCrNKkLUn2UCmiA1wFz8Ycu3cFoP-14gQYhy9vTjrhgfiC-g/s320/P5240263+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFpbUgV6HcGZPi5yDtf2yDBgILSg7L36ZdofYBcqT9Kfhsljk7KijgnWA56-AW6GQEf6HUNPqmTSVrgzcrKt6ChIiTVXVH-a0bNaF7Tv86qX6-FvquZSoqN91iEpKVKlPc56bNc_1Rr8/s1600/P5240266+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFpbUgV6HcGZPi5yDtf2yDBgILSg7L36ZdofYBcqT9Kfhsljk7KijgnWA56-AW6GQEf6HUNPqmTSVrgzcrKt6ChIiTVXVH-a0bNaF7Tv86qX6-FvquZSoqN91iEpKVKlPc56bNc_1Rr8/s320/P5240266+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were a bunch of hidden little grottoes like this off the beaten path. Kind of weird, because you literally had to climb through the bushes to get to them, but they were obviously groomed and mowed and such. They were super pretty, if not a bit too humid for my taste. Several had high rocks that the plants literally cascaded down. Idyllic site for a small wedding party or something.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-79626704566623939182011-06-02T09:37:00.000-07:002011-06-02T09:37:03.939-07:00Mexico (part dos)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So basically I am just going to post picture with blurbs. Honestly, we didn't do anything to really talk about other than lay around the pool, read, nap and drink all day. The second day we discovered a pool that was much less populated. We determined that this being the slow time of year, it is also the time when Mexican families take advantage of the lower rates, so the pools around our building that had all the kid friendly options like wave pool, lazy river and shallow areas were PACKED. We quickly decided it was well worth the hike to go to one of the outlying pools, plus it was right on the beach and the breezes were blocked by all the trees and bathrooms....We weren't the only smart ones, it was basically the same 10 people every day, just shifting around trying out different locations around the pool every day.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-42O_qwsHf8SFVUhzK5purjasRDhjidYFM2Vo7deIhz91bF_tjJXCQAdZGccvLV6QyQNGKscdjlBNCQclhRu1ABirgbqkt5GJ6TJYII0tilEhnWAdyyMX-lOX-7VNDEjCnpQZWfNZMk/s1600/P5220090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-42O_qwsHf8SFVUhzK5purjasRDhjidYFM2Vo7deIhz91bF_tjJXCQAdZGccvLV6QyQNGKscdjlBNCQclhRu1ABirgbqkt5GJ6TJYII0tilEhnWAdyyMX-lOX-7VNDEjCnpQZWfNZMk/s320/P5220090.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shopping, resort-style. For the record, he got us to come over by announcing he had all sorts of "cheap junk". Sorry, I think the cheapest thing in there was a $40 (american dollars) charm....oh well.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcq-0bH_rCyU2oYqPPd9YyiQ2IHdU2fUixh15CSluOIkj2ju6HNMmhueVuJQpvJoQfj2HaL9B6j6lelMlqWW5pKLW0Y5rB9TbGEhzVOAYZXDVQJeY8ZxAbWEA2Zx_chc_O5a_fSLlwPSE/s1600/P5220091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcq-0bH_rCyU2oYqPPd9YyiQ2IHdU2fUixh15CSluOIkj2ju6HNMmhueVuJQpvJoQfj2HaL9B6j6lelMlqWW5pKLW0Y5rB9TbGEhzVOAYZXDVQJeY8ZxAbWEA2Zx_chc_O5a_fSLlwPSE/s320/P5220091.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff did a lot of "knitting", which was the only thing our bartender could think of to call it....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HtigW9RY8fjUnqdO1pTSy2mK2-pvxMNtYrh9tuk03bukTr7N3q59YdqScETCl4ogHshFepgecCdJ-rLd0vjfxLOAavQ5ul69CQbQ8xDskgmqX2QRAx8KVvrdhsTupCyawT_WGUDIER8/s1600/P5220123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HtigW9RY8fjUnqdO1pTSy2mK2-pvxMNtYrh9tuk03bukTr7N3q59YdqScETCl4ogHshFepgecCdJ-rLd0vjfxLOAavQ5ul69CQbQ8xDskgmqX2QRAx8KVvrdhsTupCyawT_WGUDIER8/s320/P5220123.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup, life was rough.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6-pXH6X98FT7bS-mDvjQYC07JxTzeMhd4NlON5osfXDrAVtnJlysZEddDTIIR19Z6KjQldjSRJs9U1ciHW6ePlP_wNxo9GUJkXuAJ9Y5a_wtgc4tLQjzacmS47yzBD3Q1UbUInrojXA/s1600/P5220134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6-pXH6X98FT7bS-mDvjQYC07JxTzeMhd4NlON5osfXDrAVtnJlysZEddDTIIR19Z6KjQldjSRJs9U1ciHW6ePlP_wNxo9GUJkXuAJ9Y5a_wtgc4tLQjzacmS47yzBD3Q1UbUInrojXA/s320/P5220134.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi410YAreXXWo1YTx62ipbS3YwLu6F-SPRl25Z05myina1aY9W_un5_X6iCrEvVzxfHL7jzUdZ_yOkcfBrurB0IwMK3U8BVLVE7b-5RiA9p6x1BGSUIEjZw6F9RTHTdHmUBKdlOamIn1fo/s1600/P5230168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi410YAreXXWo1YTx62ipbS3YwLu6F-SPRl25Z05myina1aY9W_un5_X6iCrEvVzxfHL7jzUdZ_yOkcfBrurB0IwMK3U8BVLVE7b-5RiA9p6x1BGSUIEjZw6F9RTHTdHmUBKdlOamIn1fo/s320/P5230168.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did leave the pool occassionally, to go to the beach. We learned quickly that you WEAR YOUR SHOES up until you are ready to step in the water. We developed some near-blisters one day trying to run across the sand to where we had left them. Couldn't believe that sand could GET that hot!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDY6bFWZ37NH0JJUktiWnDyRQxTUXv9fOIq6LyRphJT7qugrd_X6H-phc7SK431gOrtIyZV745UVlpwgaEwoL2YbRvWJdMHACieCqXKsJ3kWzBSvwOTZ8TXuC0uzphuZ-qGYPWcH0bHk/s1600/P5230180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDY6bFWZ37NH0JJUktiWnDyRQxTUXv9fOIq6LyRphJT7qugrd_X6H-phc7SK431gOrtIyZV745UVlpwgaEwoL2YbRvWJdMHACieCqXKsJ3kWzBSvwOTZ8TXuC0uzphuZ-qGYPWcH0bHk/s320/P5230180.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ocean water was warmer than the pool water. And had a few more obstructions in it as well as you will see in later pictures....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVp1Ocgz60yJLw7jllKLrbOflp7dFfPUTGJnkCypzhyiTnuljYWziOnSbpBYFZqu36YKFlQfZmWm-7g-Ru2ohhFpCLFWbbSqmpW6aFtgoU4FpBD8efuMgR56CMqsvu7BVqP0MhkdIUGU/s1600/P5230233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVp1Ocgz60yJLw7jllKLrbOflp7dFfPUTGJnkCypzhyiTnuljYWziOnSbpBYFZqu36YKFlQfZmWm-7g-Ru2ohhFpCLFWbbSqmpW6aFtgoU4FpBD8efuMgR56CMqsvu7BVqP0MhkdIUGU/s320/P5230233.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup, guess who got a sunburn the second day?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfu3QuZ8CPHVo-Z-QDr3Pt7br3gKIYmJkDq5NIAT8HOG0eGwWAwSnGAaOd3pbr2PQHrESPka4mpbpI0b_ATFY21Huxk2Yw690mSHf-3mjcB4jGtwHwslpSd84SHK_sc1HEtNas74gKmM/s1600/P5230579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfu3QuZ8CPHVo-Z-QDr3Pt7br3gKIYmJkDq5NIAT8HOG0eGwWAwSnGAaOd3pbr2PQHrESPka4mpbpI0b_ATFY21Huxk2Yw690mSHf-3mjcB4jGtwHwslpSd84SHK_sc1HEtNas74gKmM/s320/P5230579.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pool rocked. My hair hated it and it was a little hard on the elbows when you were trying to read in it (or drink) but for the most part, it was heaven!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMagJLue2Hy1RbLSztBDbxIcJ6upiWEJkf8EEV8I0a4OLNcO3YweBypniXZqs3jiWX8clsJEFe0luJY-7mBWiMsem-KM4Upwm70PXtxhNhv77DIUi4Tl1d5n1P7bC8WoA0D_Eufhd2Mw/s1600/P5240332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMagJLue2Hy1RbLSztBDbxIcJ6upiWEJkf8EEV8I0a4OLNcO3YweBypniXZqs3jiWX8clsJEFe0luJY-7mBWiMsem-KM4Upwm70PXtxhNhv77DIUi4Tl1d5n1P7bC8WoA0D_Eufhd2Mw/s320/P5240332.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the beach....from the pool.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGTlxRUewojNj50txxFHAvevWz_BlOTJyLLMomK-IB-YfiHVlsTb54NwxSAauJvkmPPNZcdcDWADLDDK6xbq8NLTcGOVLsWKxRbkymVXcnxp_I4ZRAq0Dl-MB6Sy8ShfW9pDoXaa9Ug8/s1600/P5240348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGTlxRUewojNj50txxFHAvevWz_BlOTJyLLMomK-IB-YfiHVlsTb54NwxSAauJvkmPPNZcdcDWADLDDK6xbq8NLTcGOVLsWKxRbkymVXcnxp_I4ZRAq0Dl-MB6Sy8ShfW9pDoXaa9Ug8/s320/P5240348.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superman!</td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEjWnONuEbQtAh02j93c5WLGUjDnYTx6_FaTfhCzmEOeE3b-d1gfHIvSPa5gFn4UUehbguL9i-V-4MlRXFxx6pYGg9gnnDuJFYIXM-rPhjrh4ysVUazmI4HTRX7540KAGIsSxTX0qInhOLo/s1600/P5250436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnONuEbQtAh02j93c5WLGUjDnYTx6_FaTfhCzmEOeE3b-d1gfHIvSPa5gFn4UUehbguL9i-V-4MlRXFxx6pYGg9gnnDuJFYIXM-rPhjrh4ysVUazmI4HTRX7540KAGIsSxTX0qInhOLo/s320/P5250436.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My elbows were seriously unhappy with all of the work I made them do, propping me up so I could read and tan my backside at the same time. I don't know what I was thinking....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtI8b-kKguXmtp0PdPlajH619h2jNUALq127taRi1D4UlZqX_6bnxM_yBgb7xT8Lpy_TiDfNNcMlZhLCy5XU4pd91VyiwGQqsCOeirZ1ECBmVAQQxLncF28XTNGP8K_FKaimEoV7Q5jbE/s1600/P5260510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtI8b-kKguXmtp0PdPlajH619h2jNUALq127taRi1D4UlZqX_6bnxM_yBgb7xT8Lpy_TiDfNNcMlZhLCy5XU4pd91VyiwGQqsCOeirZ1ECBmVAQQxLncF28XTNGP8K_FKaimEoV7Q5jbE/s320/P5260510.JPG" t8="true" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">OMAR!!! The man of the Happy Hour and almost every other hour as well. Yes, they would literally bring you a bucket o'beer. Or a margarita (or three).</td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEjATJuYhYuxeHx5mia2AloUfxVRKqJMOzZn0oqWLiTg9ornlOeOUuMSU7r1Z0aBgdMFJirTVjMZ9hAAFyXv6ahSbvWDMEoJB2jN_ceTzt9Hp6-lLu4z2DnBllbsazLQLecz4Xi88siEPds/s1600/P5210048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATJuYhYuxeHx5mia2AloUfxVRKqJMOzZn0oqWLiTg9ornlOeOUuMSU7r1Z0aBgdMFJirTVjMZ9hAAFyXv6ahSbvWDMEoJB2jN_ceTzt9Hp6-lLu4z2DnBllbsazLQLecz4Xi88siEPds/s320/P5210048.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Detoxing.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopg9AykI-KpICS7xaBj153eUO8LfsqkLzrU6vzCfKjSG3WDHWHSHI1rGjafNsNATlD5DRAvNMHgHsnIFc7QPKuYuRtvxXEm-YDoPmp3vK4wJfOM8-OLxe6AJr7FnpVvxBHwonGhADAXU/s1600/P5230146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopg9AykI-KpICS7xaBj153eUO8LfsqkLzrU6vzCfKjSG3WDHWHSHI1rGjafNsNATlD5DRAvNMHgHsnIFc7QPKuYuRtvxXEm-YDoPmp3vK4wJfOM8-OLxe6AJr7FnpVvxBHwonGhADAXU/s320/P5230146.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't tell if this is morning hair or after pool hair. The coffee cup doesn't help as it pretty much lived out there the entire week. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArKwuYIjyitV_zSagTBWtI4tOai5U2qtTThpD1D0IsxQ16vObffBE0CHQ1aiM1XANXEmw9vwA0HBbIenJe-u6V_YpGS7E6p4jUlv2Vem1xDlKvPUCFiAI5AhYZFxvkyz0kF3wVxjPZlk/s1600/P5260528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArKwuYIjyitV_zSagTBWtI4tOai5U2qtTThpD1D0IsxQ16vObffBE0CHQ1aiM1XANXEmw9vwA0HBbIenJe-u6V_YpGS7E6p4jUlv2Vem1xDlKvPUCFiAI5AhYZFxvkyz0kF3wVxjPZlk/s320/P5260528.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunsets were gorgeous EVERY SINGLE night,</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIM74q04iiJ87XJ6_XdCFBL_iKbQ2QjX3fdlPH9ITi8WHBckIJID4efTyuDI_E03E0JSr7jgr3FgRiV1_py8QTHGYo5LyuDT-jxfQl0bCvUZrBsdYW2LJRM5Z0mwm605M1kx8ZWeVuaQ/s1600/P5260529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIM74q04iiJ87XJ6_XdCFBL_iKbQ2QjX3fdlPH9ITi8WHBckIJID4efTyuDI_E03E0JSr7jgr3FgRiV1_py8QTHGYo5LyuDT-jxfQl0bCvUZrBsdYW2LJRM5Z0mwm605M1kx8ZWeVuaQ/s320/P5260529.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The camera really doesn't do it justice.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlmzTJu-3n47re7vbTpnLP3J-3hzCgHCl4IdYjVICTR6U9m-Yx5wBh3i4aogAb5Pa6ukLh-UIl8hVyDUwjyCTU8vgeEGVStsYAtlHXpTpFYd8vbec78s5mG0dzHOtNL7uBOmfb0A4O4w/s1600/P5260554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlmzTJu-3n47re7vbTpnLP3J-3hzCgHCl4IdYjVICTR6U9m-Yx5wBh3i4aogAb5Pa6ukLh-UIl8hVyDUwjyCTU8vgeEGVStsYAtlHXpTpFYd8vbec78s5mG0dzHOtNL7uBOmfb0A4O4w/s320/P5260554.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-60535294505738878582011-06-02T08:55:00.000-07:002011-06-02T08:55:34.901-07:00Mexico (part uno)First of all, I need to give a GIANT thank you to those who made this vacation possible, namely Mark, Jeff's boss who gave us the use of his timeshare, AND my parents, who stayed with all of our two- and four-footed monsters for the entire week and lived to tell the tales.<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><span style="background-color: purple; font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">MUCHISIMAS GRACIAS!</span></span></span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">We left for Mexico dark and early Friday morning with a stopover in San Francisco and then on to...PuertoVallarta. Well, technically, we were staying in Nuevo Vallarta which is a little north of the town. This being our second time doing the "resort" thing, we were better prepared to ignore the gamut of timeshare hawkers and rouge taxi drivers who are willing to promise you anything to get you in their car. It was still a bit unnerving but we kept our eyes straight ahead and peeled for the driver in the blue shirt. Thank GOD there was only one!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Our next challenge was to decline, decline, DECLINE the free breakfast and discounted drinks we could have if we sat through the sales pitch one of the days of our stay. We learned the hard way last time that even though they drive a hard bargain to get you in there, it was pretty much a waste of an ENTIRE day basically repeating word "no" over and over again to sleazier and sleazier dressed sales people. Plus it was HOT and last thing I wanted was to be traipsing all over the resort <em>watching</em> people relaxing while I was sweating and getting grumpier by the second. Been there, done that. NO THANKS. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CqB3DqRaZw2XX-In7xin2kwTi1XnHmZjW2nY9IFlunhXdARoGzFWeRdDSAYBtkapfy8KgL8s7gjODVgCirfMIT4nme7NrGaaGXnX6JQ6qmna3XfLlTIWw_A8yoy0Zot0x6YzsqDfqvM/s1600/P5200007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CqB3DqRaZw2XX-In7xin2kwTi1XnHmZjW2nY9IFlunhXdARoGzFWeRdDSAYBtkapfy8KgL8s7gjODVgCirfMIT4nme7NrGaaGXnX6JQ6qmna3XfLlTIWw_A8yoy0Zot0x6YzsqDfqvM/s320/P5200007.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruWJBlvFQj5_Qc3Jcz7SsST5R-Y83txD4XWgl8CN-WdDMxDo12BpKyyyWKH8wfCQv4Q9YIzwfYL64gbier1IHXupTiDIEedbnVBI_zp2tcfgbQLvVaYp_NiBq6Jo8iQdVIhDo4LmIbaU/s1600/P5200008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruWJBlvFQj5_Qc3Jcz7SsST5R-Y83txD4XWgl8CN-WdDMxDo12BpKyyyWKH8wfCQv4Q9YIzwfYL64gbier1IHXupTiDIEedbnVBI_zp2tcfgbQLvVaYp_NiBq6Jo8iQdVIhDo4LmIbaU/s320/P5200008.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left">But by dinner time we were sitting on the beach, looking a little worse for wear, but drinking our first Mexican beverages by the beach.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">The rest of the week pretty much followed this schedule:</div><div align="left">Up by 8 or 9 a.m. and cooking eggs and coffee in our room (we had a full kitchen, TWO full suites and a living room that would have slept about 8, I think, so don't think we didn't consider calling EACH and EVERY one of you all to come fly down and join us!).</div><div align="left">10 a.m. - Head to the pool.</div><div align="left">11 a.m. - Partake of the special of the day (beverage) as supplied by our friend and waitstaff, Omar, while we watch the hardcore ladies participate in water aerobics.</div><div align="left">1 p.m.- First happy hour.</div><div align="left">4 p.m. - Second happy hour.</div><div align="left">5 p.m. - Back to the room for a shower/nap</div><div align="left">8 p.m. - Dinner somewhere.</div><div align="left">10 p.m. - Bed.<br />
The following pictures are of our surroundings while we were there.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><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/AVvXsEg36-kDy7_VSg0CEJMP5KXoBPqH1Q99Z6lKPCB8J0RKTq6AJWffeNFsNy63q_ecPziOiv28vV3k_fBiRbPEw_Igf50WVOfvv0vNeewIhvMy610D5UMZBNr-nsxkrrNIpTrpwB2KJtzgUjg/s1600/P5200001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36-kDy7_VSg0CEJMP5KXoBPqH1Q99Z6lKPCB8J0RKTq6AJWffeNFsNy63q_ecPziOiv28vV3k_fBiRbPEw_Igf50WVOfvv0vNeewIhvMy610D5UMZBNr-nsxkrrNIpTrpwB2KJtzgUjg/s320/P5200001.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lazy River that was right outside our room. They had inner tubes for sitting in while you drifted around and around. It was actually quite gorgeous if you could avoid the waterfalls....and thankfully they shut it down about 8 p.m.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLX1stYmt-Bmy01zsnUs8_tQo90nC7ItCjuia-Bjuk9KaXWv3tbf-RmeXksDkvjgPn16UKbkeTpjOqlPKjy6meJYJss5BFsfWcwTOqSCwARcdepbq4uZ8KUS6Qv9wPyQwCARffETIBhis/s1600/P5200002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLX1stYmt-Bmy01zsnUs8_tQo90nC7ItCjuia-Bjuk9KaXWv3tbf-RmeXksDkvjgPn16UKbkeTpjOqlPKjy6meJYJss5BFsfWcwTOqSCwARcdepbq4uZ8KUS6Qv9wPyQwCARffETIBhis/s320/P5200002.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that is a swim up bar. No, I did not swim up to it. I preferred to watch the people who did as they attempted to stay on their stools, three sheets to the wind.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB92a3IjtxOPar8MWYhJ0WIo0NuHzR2zgJY2UI3luhDf3q_urj836ABh_tf6sM3SymKY2OKBxzQuWbx3ZpddaCyt3IxZztsU1dXGnWunY6pXAa6W-NA0z0c2Xgb0nMYklBeKeE9Zb7GY/s1600/P5210012+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB92a3IjtxOPar8MWYhJ0WIo0NuHzR2zgJY2UI3luhDf3q_urj836ABh_tf6sM3SymKY2OKBxzQuWbx3ZpddaCyt3IxZztsU1dXGnWunY6pXAa6W-NA0z0c2Xgb0nMYklBeKeE9Zb7GY/s320/P5210012+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast day one. The rest of the week we cooked breakfast in our rooms and it was not NEARLY this yummy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSERz7MYpd18fjo5wHftanr-mnr3QOKfKmaYCDLD15CzF-kDQe5Ue_wCkGHHctZAeb0kixpdDkHIPID1T-BeRKNBP2AOfKr9wJ3iBUesJELNOLzIjUPBjczMfaga5Mjp-YG7ACXXnd34/s1600/P5210017+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSERz7MYpd18fjo5wHftanr-mnr3QOKfKmaYCDLD15CzF-kDQe5Ue_wCkGHHctZAeb0kixpdDkHIPID1T-BeRKNBP2AOfKr9wJ3iBUesJELNOLzIjUPBjczMfaga5Mjp-YG7ACXXnd34/s320/P5210017+-+Copy.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the Lobby there were about 6-8 of these monolithic statues lining the walls. The lights were very dim (especially if you were still wearing your sunglasses) and they were playing a rather eerie Aztec inspired soundtrack. We watched as several children walked in and then ran <em>right</em> back outside only to have to be carried in hiding their eyes and covering their ears in order to get through it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJhVz3DaCo4cmffwxxxZgIWGLxJEhDEANZjpgCAi1ufzm0gKGpqSRBf7_-Y1xUtv55NrEB3HHlLqgYGDRT9G-zfGyGTEw-6s5scDfbF2CcxXUIRzwX3NkH6wHm-bDEd__5_fztu6HXGw/s1600/P5240414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJhVz3DaCo4cmffwxxxZgIWGLxJEhDEANZjpgCAi1ufzm0gKGpqSRBf7_-Y1xUtv55NrEB3HHlLqgYGDRT9G-zfGyGTEw-6s5scDfbF2CcxXUIRzwX3NkH6wHm-bDEd__5_fztu6HXGw/s320/P5240414.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See me? They were really huge!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChCZzZ-RJaHmRAnwvqapcBiLhav-G8liU31YFb6Osrz5vEJ8a96ZZYjEajDU7E9DEbdGc207O3U_M8CBl-gpyWhfeScOfXn5bo_8SjltRCsfvC6I1vbmMlqHJ96wwndGIi7i_J0s9Kn4/s1600/P5210029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChCZzZ-RJaHmRAnwvqapcBiLhav-G8liU31YFb6Osrz5vEJ8a96ZZYjEajDU7E9DEbdGc207O3U_M8CBl-gpyWhfeScOfXn5bo_8SjltRCsfvC6I1vbmMlqHJ96wwndGIi7i_J0s9Kn4/s320/P5210029.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry, another view of the bar as well as our "hotel".</td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEhGCrLyht47i0fnbgUf7q44WXqcoUgEWbZntLDmxAfB5FxGKidmNcQY_r2StGKICuKxhfUuk_WI1h9rdVF1f3nh5saiunsJhH0h7xXVd5f7gKyU9mSF5s4B5kkic2cswnkcqNatzSHJcyE/s1600/P5230174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCrLyht47i0fnbgUf7q44WXqcoUgEWbZntLDmxAfB5FxGKidmNcQY_r2StGKICuKxhfUuk_WI1h9rdVF1f3nh5saiunsJhH0h7xXVd5f7gKyU9mSF5s4B5kkic2cswnkcqNatzSHJcyE/s320/P5230174.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of these buildings belonged to our resort, although several of them were closed due to low traffic or remodeling. I can't quite figure out where Jeff was standing when he took this picture.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7pmpy_Cdl68pxUXpEpcxVRuYnihNqlXRJuL2vXuyxV500qikZTholr21FdD6h26D1hLAYTq3xTnAl0cReakaYL0kdAFKzZylfCFw5o5dHvmqrUnJNfxL0k2JX7ZoPHyWfpSxB2Kx2Q4/s1600/P5230186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7pmpy_Cdl68pxUXpEpcxVRuYnihNqlXRJuL2vXuyxV500qikZTholr21FdD6h26D1hLAYTq3xTnAl0cReakaYL0kdAFKzZylfCFw5o5dHvmqrUnJNfxL0k2JX7ZoPHyWfpSxB2Kx2Q4/s320/P5230186.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south toward Puerto Vallarta. It was hazy like this most mornings but it created the most beautiful shades of blue in the mountains and along the shore.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITeOrJIEeAo4znPJXtJpVwQDMc98qJMjAcSnM88cdU4VRcrhITsvYya92VjiSa7Twz0v_6JJb1wfLEsgTl42-GXlGgS2gBfQODGoKJuvMrHCfDmJZkRBVjXdFT8BCwvpVOgKJcdLahSw/s1600/P5250462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITeOrJIEeAo4znPJXtJpVwQDMc98qJMjAcSnM88cdU4VRcrhITsvYya92VjiSa7Twz0v_6JJb1wfLEsgTl42-GXlGgS2gBfQODGoKJuvMrHCfDmJZkRBVjXdFT8BCwvpVOgKJcdLahSw/s320/P5250462.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the "trail" to our favorite pool. The plants were gorgeous. Hard to believe they are the same varieties we can buy at the grocery store and kill in three days.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Kj1U89IX_6StVtIrRt5As3J_nX1dsRkXHtryPzlrgnSsKPhIOTf6hquLw5FaB6lKNwXMhVZiQ65oWou70hhuumly2Tfzmq412yVGegY8YCDapHdBvI5He27RVMiavcUugdM8l5RYsIk/s1600/P5250470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Kj1U89IX_6StVtIrRt5As3J_nX1dsRkXHtryPzlrgnSsKPhIOTf6hquLw5FaB6lKNwXMhVZiQ65oWou70hhuumly2Tfzmq412yVGegY8YCDapHdBvI5He27RVMiavcUugdM8l5RYsIk/s320/P5250470.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the walkways in front of one of the buildings. This one was actually fresh water, not pool water. Your nose could tell the difference.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_WZ9l1d27S_AXGX0nxwGhBfmVt1-G047V7NHWgVjCo9yBzG6tsDfzrKqEW0e6U56PnxqhvohZdgyYMqF1A2FXlOB6Xq7Png2ZsYNZx5bi07bM_emvgeMX5bYXv8sH5DVccpABbbDC1U/s1600/P5260526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_WZ9l1d27S_AXGX0nxwGhBfmVt1-G047V7NHWgVjCo9yBzG6tsDfzrKqEW0e6U56PnxqhvohZdgyYMqF1A2FXlOB6Xq7Png2ZsYNZx5bi07bM_emvgeMX5bYXv8sH5DVccpABbbDC1U/s320/P5260526.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, in case we didn't get enough of the pool during the day, we had a soaking pool on our patio.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81NS6rSbhIF55oGkO5e58VPjxntU38EjfOTBNhnZg0o6mmOFqnajwUd1fpwJZGPifD2EYkOwMEHMgM5HTsZYS6sjfL0AUWcNTs1PBgCIlPV1Ac_qznS_7zTNotLmxJoB7R_sWMW0mFbY/s1600/P5250474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81NS6rSbhIF55oGkO5e58VPjxntU38EjfOTBNhnZg0o6mmOFqnajwUd1fpwJZGPifD2EYkOwMEHMgM5HTsZYS6sjfL0AUWcNTs1PBgCIlPV1Ac_qznS_7zTNotLmxJoB7R_sWMW0mFbY/s320/P5250474.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a huge sculpture of an origami crane in the lobby of one of the buildings. See the couch at lower left for scale.</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-74804278961827488072011-05-08T08:02:00.000-07:002011-05-08T08:02:29.838-07:00For Mom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0UUhdPwBjsHe_yCihYzC7q1nr1Bz7trzyea8ANd1EkkDwnUtLQeU95VmGBlF1QBHtKBLdMOM0dXHmjJBvaRwiM6TasssfeSW9t2S6BdZ8F9uotj7p469BgsokPdjaVA1mOpgtyODhQU/s1600/IMG_1296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0UUhdPwBjsHe_yCihYzC7q1nr1Bz7trzyea8ANd1EkkDwnUtLQeU95VmGBlF1QBHtKBLdMOM0dXHmjJBvaRwiM6TasssfeSW9t2S6BdZ8F9uotj7p469BgsokPdjaVA1mOpgtyODhQU/s320/IMG_1296.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I ran across these pictures the other day as I was looking for pictures of my kids...as it was, these turned out to be the most timely discoveries...Happy Mothers Day, mom. I hope that when you look at these they bring back fond memories of being my mommy. Admittedly, I don't remember many of these times, but as they were the building blocks to who and what I am now, I believe that they had to be full of love. I thank God that He chose you to be my mom, and though I may not always think that live up to your accomplishments, I am thankful that I have you to look up to.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lV-Pz2zzLOyXeckygG0XJ_SswkksBlzRW1xMosy3Sc4Jmuw3B4DHl5ajgvzXLcAhnlV53Yj8tAEBjdA742Koswe30BT6ELxOZqN6mP0KQNWkBEiMuOS7wdd3Xl4758Jpw76-f9oeTUw/s1600/IMG_1295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lV-Pz2zzLOyXeckygG0XJ_SswkksBlzRW1xMosy3Sc4Jmuw3B4DHl5ajgvzXLcAhnlV53Yj8tAEBjdA742Koswe30BT6ELxOZqN6mP0KQNWkBEiMuOS7wdd3Xl4758Jpw76-f9oeTUw/s320/IMG_1295.JPG" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAHFKGZgZSGax5bHcTO79aSnN9p_1GtYCUqVWML01brvr1Hdla7Yt8NQQnSymyOz-7vU39nGk0mbQ0fgvaLG2ZQuIkODFNrUsU99L5sHSuE_OARbVqrw1L43UoIEsrhDLSdo5R0PpILU/s1600/IMG_1292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAHFKGZgZSGax5bHcTO79aSnN9p_1GtYCUqVWML01brvr1Hdla7Yt8NQQnSymyOz-7vU39nGk0mbQ0fgvaLG2ZQuIkODFNrUsU99L5sHSuE_OARbVqrw1L43UoIEsrhDLSdo5R0PpILU/s320/IMG_1292.JPG" width="215" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClyKXuKBX2hyIwUy0jnW21h8cpcuLfRbxRCxfSpewHYQZOo3plUS6k46s-mxfCO-fpLp-vYk3QNjZElOo30QKOrczV0gbFQXB0uJlebfMA4gtdMu_D1Dq8Cc50jXj20rOIJY9KUqf5nU/s1600/IMG_1294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClyKXuKBX2hyIwUy0jnW21h8cpcuLfRbxRCxfSpewHYQZOo3plUS6k46s-mxfCO-fpLp-vYk3QNjZElOo30QKOrczV0gbFQXB0uJlebfMA4gtdMu_D1Dq8Cc50jXj20rOIJY9KUqf5nU/s320/IMG_1294.JPG" width="132" /></a>Even through the tough times (remember 13? The Year of Madonna? The Prince Purple Rain Album?) I knew I was loved. You made so many sacrifices for me, many of which were purely mental, I am sure. Looking back and comparing your reactions to things I am just now experiencing thanks to my kids, I am amazed I didn't just get locked in the closet some days. Did you really let me go to England by myself when I was just a year older than Mac is now? How did you listen to hours of my music in the car...in Spanish? What possessed you to let me play the same record over and over and over and OVER in the basement and you never told me to shut it off? Were you drunk when you agreed to take me and my friends to the Menudo concert?? How did you handle it when I ROLLED MY EYES AT YOU!!! How on earth did you deal so gracefully with birthday parties and overnights? Two things which I can't even bring myself to deal with now! Then there were the boyfriends, Van Halen concerts, school issues, attitudes (I assume, I still have a hard time remembering any of that), car accidents, weddings (yes, plural)and everything those entailed, grandchildren births...sigh! You can bet I will be thinking of calling you when dating begins, school dances, <em>driving lessons</em>, trips abroad...oh Lord!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">But for today, I give thanks. Thank you for NOT locking me in the closet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpTwJrBGOhj-lnSuH5jD9iUmJnK9TIHuYc6n7bw0SSVe4BorVe90xxiAXZmnkglTTJ-bmmQRe0eqjHAzkFe-34xjGQOHMRqgqVixgLp30RZUeyg3weBW8LLTEzkSWO9Y3FsMqnD5HOIA/s1600/IMG_1291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpTwJrBGOhj-lnSuH5jD9iUmJnK9TIHuYc6n7bw0SSVe4BorVe90xxiAXZmnkglTTJ-bmmQRe0eqjHAzkFe-34xjGQOHMRqgqVixgLp30RZUeyg3weBW8LLTEzkSWO9Y3FsMqnD5HOIA/s320/IMG_1291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-10454225893165521712011-05-07T16:03:00.000-07:002011-05-07T16:03:28.489-07:00Easter <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXIZscLJCyKCBEc5_zOJIjf7XmeOzgHO3FriVBIXGZoBdI3-yNOmhzbCUaRy8Kuh8lyzhkmvnpXmaI5PtF0rvwrwFjf8DNxQq-XKlJP-RlbXupSgnVgBmC6mtGwvIAyZ5GkIzwgEEnPs/s1600/IMG_1233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXIZscLJCyKCBEc5_zOJIjf7XmeOzgHO3FriVBIXGZoBdI3-yNOmhzbCUaRy8Kuh8lyzhkmvnpXmaI5PtF0rvwrwFjf8DNxQq-XKlJP-RlbXupSgnVgBmC6mtGwvIAyZ5GkIzwgEEnPs/s200/IMG_1233.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter bread from the local bakery.</td></tr>
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I love our family dynamics. It seems that every major holiday now, we spend with Gary and Annette, at THEIR house, eating THEIR food and enjoying THEIR hospitality. Hey, it works for me. Luckily, it works for them too and we truly do enjoy and cherish each other's company...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutest cake EVER! The missing teeth were my fault.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2G8W_-Zb7eswZRRyjr1xrfWcmvDBKlN4Flc7n5mvNIO9-pIpVtIs2E3f79H7_txW61slFVDqumc8wTflkyCabW_ZALyWaPCMU_zOXgx2dIOOH4kipOd7n-1JoikhKpFXhSBJ3wRTAQ0/s1600/IMG_1344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2G8W_-Zb7eswZRRyjr1xrfWcmvDBKlN4Flc7n5mvNIO9-pIpVtIs2E3f79H7_txW61slFVDqumc8wTflkyCabW_ZALyWaPCMU_zOXgx2dIOOH4kipOd7n-1JoikhKpFXhSBJ3wRTAQ0/s320/IMG_1344.JPG" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sammi had a LOT of catching up to do with Grampa. She was on his lap 90% of the time.</td></tr>
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Easter this year was an attempt to downplay the whole bunny thing and focus more on the story of the Resurrection story. Each child got an Easter basket, and there was the chocolate bunny and Peep or two, but there was also a new Bible or daily devotional for each child, oh and a bike or new pair of skates. You know, church stuff.<br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Unfortunately that was the extent of my picture taking that day, but what you don't see is everyone in their new Easter duds (thank you Nana and Poppy). You also don't see all FOUR of them at the front of the church filling out all of the acolyting positions that Sunday. Even Jeff and I had jobs as lector and usher! Grandpa's job was to keep our spot in the pew and, of course, be Sammi's personal lap provider and captive audience throughout the entire service.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was so proud of my family. The WHOLE family. I believe that they actually <em>got </em>the meaning of Easter this year and there was very little grumping about not having an egg hunt, though there was candy enough to distract them, even without one. The Bibles and devotionals are in daily use still and intelligent questions are being asked and conversations regarding Bible stories are being held. I remarked Mac, after reading about the Abraham, how amazing it was that he was so old when he died. He replied, "no, not so much, God had a lot for him to do." Sigh, schooled again.</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-30405563029016921832011-05-05T08:34:00.000-07:002011-05-05T08:34:39.497-07:00catch up timeUgh, I am so behind on this blog and it has been causing me so much anxiety that I am just going to post pictures and forget about all the wonderful bits of insight that I was planning on sharing along with them. Add your own, I know you can!<br />
As these mostly date back from Spring Break, there aren't any of Noah and Lydia...they were at their mom's. Ben and Mac had to suffer with me! (see below)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day #1. Can you feel the excitment?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We spent a lot of the week like this (I was parked at the time, by the way).</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOlkardkLorAoqSh-omyc0Ut7OIT8I8z9yhplBgYsnS7vS63vQY8KY2AiG_0zeJ7aOeUVi-9Qru0Tcg-7MHosnzPnoD_o9_jac_IIWLv2ty1rqOT8hyphenhyphenBdE_Xogfu7pVWs6SsqU5ozLKo/s1600/IMG_1139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOlkardkLorAoqSh-omyc0Ut7OIT8I8z9yhplBgYsnS7vS63vQY8KY2AiG_0zeJ7aOeUVi-9Qru0Tcg-7MHosnzPnoD_o9_jac_IIWLv2ty1rqOT8hyphenhyphenBdE_Xogfu7pVWs6SsqU5ozLKo/s320/IMG_1139.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun apparently did come out, but notice the winter coat and hat....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<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/AVvXsEimC6mKg9_6HI5f_zDAjdm6WD4Ru-7K-CP36tJsem9ogfhteIClAL-bEDSmhaRmTlyZjd2wyThN-DrB3fELhi3-saPgct4Osa8SD1CIz0u6u8J7YQ_lC1RUjNLmQ-9FBnIzKnfAsR1dOOs/s1600/IMG_1143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimC6mKg9_6HI5f_zDAjdm6WD4Ru-7K-CP36tJsem9ogfhteIClAL-bEDSmhaRmTlyZjd2wyThN-DrB3fELhi3-saPgct4Osa8SD1CIz0u6u8J7YQ_lC1RUjNLmQ-9FBnIzKnfAsR1dOOs/s320/IMG_1143.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We decided to re set the stones around the remaining raised bed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJu9hIxcaQkypmhtwD0U3UjPf1jzq_9EgpN6JzRMcKBPoCUzSkexpQ016dkwAicq6yqC5dL913Lx5xjWi4c3GkCl2Idj4nIUspEstsKCTu_enff-T6lrjfbtemDygfrio_Tpn7zToqZ4k/s1600/IMG_1144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJu9hIxcaQkypmhtwD0U3UjPf1jzq_9EgpN6JzRMcKBPoCUzSkexpQ016dkwAicq6yqC5dL913Lx5xjWi4c3GkCl2Idj4nIUspEstsKCTu_enff-T6lrjfbtemDygfrio_Tpn7zToqZ4k/s400/IMG_1144.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flashbacks from two years ago. *^%$#(* roots!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJXI0dEqqNpUMuGxlcVq9NjlIGuK4lmV0g_c40eBLD9_SrMGHuKIoWHS7l3LzLH8V7LNDftwD6dQj1zUygjux3ua8K8S3Bd6LZmJOzEcuvzdxRLeEyO-7fmObBt7SeVyWUZcMfKjTXhU/s1600/IMG_1146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJXI0dEqqNpUMuGxlcVq9NjlIGuK4lmV0g_c40eBLD9_SrMGHuKIoWHS7l3LzLH8V7LNDftwD6dQj1zUygjux3ua8K8S3Bd6LZmJOzEcuvzdxRLeEyO-7fmObBt7SeVyWUZcMfKjTXhU/s320/IMG_1146.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8zjqTFLFmJMw-b0IpNX-GNafmY0pwlVcNCCSOjhebFoasxA-xU-MHKORIyIs1wF3uWNuqcWhOgZ3tQtGraJAPCA1O7UQr2AmUUK3BMs-Vf4BPxzTzGhMniXwF5acMpNYMOBfhj1_t9A/s1600/IMG_1152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8zjqTFLFmJMw-b0IpNX-GNafmY0pwlVcNCCSOjhebFoasxA-xU-MHKORIyIs1wF3uWNuqcWhOgZ3tQtGraJAPCA1O7UQr2AmUUK3BMs-Vf4BPxzTzGhMniXwF5acMpNYMOBfhj1_t9A/s320/IMG_1152.JPG" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A day at the Park.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacpiDBYRq-C5k29cCTDhQXwYVHZXQAgJY5QVTSJfkJFqTfzAfIsTXg3Z9FQzBqOmcaHEMJjccT7vmj7OgPMuR-J5Tcxn-9J4eu_srxZ-A2VToWnT8VLTD494WTyO5nxAdBJSAkr9DJlg/s1600/IMG_1167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacpiDBYRq-C5k29cCTDhQXwYVHZXQAgJY5QVTSJfkJFqTfzAfIsTXg3Z9FQzBqOmcaHEMJjccT7vmj7OgPMuR-J5Tcxn-9J4eu_srxZ-A2VToWnT8VLTD494WTyO5nxAdBJSAkr9DJlg/s320/IMG_1167.JPG" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A day at the Roller Rink.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaMzY3uKhRPoPTItfoJoE3ql52k9RxDCFsfOniQUhRm5pl6UIl-7guSedebtUN7BpJHCHUN0NjgC3dEdb08E1NLHNSiNTNB2dxB69N0JqZEfaAeFRJveN5sI8WVqh8TZKrCuyhiBRRMY/s1600/IMG_1171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaMzY3uKhRPoPTItfoJoE3ql52k9RxDCFsfOniQUhRm5pl6UIl-7guSedebtUN7BpJHCHUN0NjgC3dEdb08E1NLHNSiNTNB2dxB69N0JqZEfaAeFRJveN5sI8WVqh8TZKrCuyhiBRRMY/s320/IMG_1171.JPG" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some one is a really good sport (and a Hokey Pokey Pro)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZn6sD2D29rWiIOimU_5_7j61-KhCU5UTfoF2tE5LGDDWxW8zoT9WrxnNBXOHSgE4EMzrckJq5kX-H1NFBR2A88l4FGU79gl6UgyM1zX0EEEJYRcFsc1Pqt6zRiZ78a6UyUcx4_Vo9KQ/s1600/IMG_1173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZn6sD2D29rWiIOimU_5_7j61-KhCU5UTfoF2tE5LGDDWxW8zoT9WrxnNBXOHSgE4EMzrckJq5kX-H1NFBR2A88l4FGU79gl6UgyM1zX0EEEJYRcFsc1Pqt6zRiZ78a6UyUcx4_Vo9KQ/s320/IMG_1173.JPG" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was about the extent of her skating for the day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB42o6IXrPOtVRYd0cXwK67xX6LR8siyGuQGP6Kfg4gIxr5caubVlhW2ZfZaRtgqkDCcnF3mbr7sglf_cgi44-3C2XSBU2FCRIRO0zVZg9V7RqVtoF5YyMjAGaKuROUGvTIb3w6ZI_Gcs/s1600/IMG_1177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB42o6IXrPOtVRYd0cXwK67xX6LR8siyGuQGP6Kfg4gIxr5caubVlhW2ZfZaRtgqkDCcnF3mbr7sglf_cgi44-3C2XSBU2FCRIRO0zVZg9V7RqVtoF5YyMjAGaKuROUGvTIb3w6ZI_Gcs/s320/IMG_1177.JPG" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opening day. I SO dispise the SEEDS!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdckNDXTI0awysqYAOo-PwcLvkpvh4zM_dwJ1OirgezGPZtdiG24CYoc2wyoyL7OotztxxdaKdMd845V760FJLAm2spWassc0sg57e6MfaPFcBoxkS1pWTCEKlStNKJTA_D0fOJG8MwGI/s1600/IMG_1178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdckNDXTI0awysqYAOo-PwcLvkpvh4zM_dwJ1OirgezGPZtdiG24CYoc2wyoyL7OotztxxdaKdMd845V760FJLAm2spWassc0sg57e6MfaPFcBoxkS1pWTCEKlStNKJTA_D0fOJG8MwGI/s320/IMG_1178.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Possibly my favorite picture of all time...hee hee.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4xrKqbzh_gSmWsldizYOvdm25d6T27mHOvihUJH9hqd7f4hP0_lz2BEj9ibdUY2PhWIvzfN4mnkRftG9RlFlY0ncgJrxyC37Q4cN9IdkzxxLWwWht5vaadd5FID-A7ErSKiPXUqnUEc/s1600/IMG_1179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4xrKqbzh_gSmWsldizYOvdm25d6T27mHOvihUJH9hqd7f4hP0_lz2BEj9ibdUY2PhWIvzfN4mnkRftG9RlFlY0ncgJrxyC37Q4cN9IdkzxxLWwWht5vaadd5FID-A7ErSKiPXUqnUEc/s320/IMG_1179.JPG" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was right before Spring Break at their Heading West assembly.</td></tr>
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</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-9286130174232651652011-03-04T10:02:00.000-08:002011-03-04T10:02:20.564-08:00Fancy Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLdi6wTW8FqYkZ2dI3XgvikXWWjnnZv4NF5UsvM7f9hCkUQQE0a25DqEOCpdVH7_pFWpoBSw0YuIrzuXv_PBI5Cm3uJmqC-FR8NLHKJum2t3p2At6ef8RlHz5mlDG1Y2hYVWRU6SLOl0/s1600/P2261057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLdi6wTW8FqYkZ2dI3XgvikXWWjnnZv4NF5UsvM7f9hCkUQQE0a25DqEOCpdVH7_pFWpoBSw0YuIrzuXv_PBI5Cm3uJmqC-FR8NLHKJum2t3p2At6ef8RlHz5mlDG1Y2hYVWRU6SLOl0/s320/P2261057.JPG" width="245" /></a></div><div align="center"></div>We were on the plane home from Miami, where we had enjoyed several nice dinners out, some fancy-ish, others just plain enjoyable, when Jeff turns to me and says,"We should have a fancy dinner at home some night where the kids have to dress up and use their manners. We could use all the fancy dishes and a white tablecloth and have courses and lemon water!"<br />
<br />
Lemon water?<br />
<br />
Fancy dishes?<br />
<br />
Um, hang on, a sec, I thought, this sounds fun to him who never cooks save for the odd plate of waffles, but to me it sounds like work! And even without the tablecloth and lemon water, meal time is already too much work for me! And aren't they supposed to use their manners ALL the time? I think I smiled politely and made some sort of "Mm Hmm" noise and went back to reading My Life as a an Experiment, trying not to think about how badly I had to go to the bathroom.<br />
<br />
Two days later I come home from running errands to have the precusor to this beautiful piece of art sitting on my desk. It was at this point that I new I was stuck.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3MgptGbBX0euyZ1R7i6U_g9_CP39CtxGTE771AGYVhWtuZNuwaPke83CAU3TTfYwFRHHfuOVjgzuwq3Yfd05ZBhyEBm5REEhI2rtNlbuFAV8-aXfp6-monE4svVpLm_XKTcI54JMSz0/s1600/gable_ave_grill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3MgptGbBX0euyZ1R7i6U_g9_CP39CtxGTE771AGYVhWtuZNuwaPke83CAU3TTfYwFRHHfuOVjgzuwq3Yfd05ZBhyEBm5REEhI2rtNlbuFAV8-aXfp6-monE4svVpLm_XKTcI54JMSz0/s400/gable_ave_grill.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now let me say right here that this is one of the reasons why I love my husband. While I believe that I come up with some pretty smashing ideas on a regular basis, I seldom get them any farther then from my brain to maybe out of my mouth. On a good day, I will go to the store to buy supplies. On a REALLY good day, I will actually purchase something from the store, though it will have nothing to do with the original idea and then it will sit at home waiting for divine providence to either do something with it or my next trip to Goodwill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But not my husband.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He says it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He does it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Amen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The farthest I got to nixing the idea in the bud was putting it off by one day. He wanted to do it on Friday, I got it pushed back to Saturday. But he had the kids all excited. They were informed that this was going to be a "special dinner" for which they would have to dress up. We left it at that, because in reality, our kids do not have the clothes to really "dress up". Clean is good. A collar, they were told, was a necessity. Shoes were optional. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My next issue was the tablecloth. I don't have a white tablecloth. I don't even have a white sheet. My first inclination was to head to the store, but knowing what my track record is, I decided it was better to make due with what I had. Jeff conceded. So lavender and green it was. I did pick up some flowers to match when I had to go to the grocery store to find dessert. I couldn't bring myself to dirty up the kitchen for brownies. I started to get a little excited about the whole idea when I started realizing I would actually get to use some of the things I have had around for years, because I like them, but have never actually used! The sushi plates (for bread)! The clear glass bottles (for lemon water)! The fish plates (for salad plates)! My pickle jar...okay, I use the pickle jar a lot, but it had never been this pretty.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6BFwF1trZ5ISDHXI-oyEoJGruiMfy4gfno9KJVhJ0hfekdXQ_kSZX1AgghyqVj3wKMItmvHLriCCh7N64CtNShGmCDyQvxOTC7ElKZENcIBG7Dr5OsZDZ6BueSDL6K52Ghh17mwBHMI/s1600/P2261042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6BFwF1trZ5ISDHXI-oyEoJGruiMfy4gfno9KJVhJ0hfekdXQ_kSZX1AgghyqVj3wKMItmvHLriCCh7N64CtNShGmCDyQvxOTC7ElKZENcIBG7Dr5OsZDZ6BueSDL6K52Ghh17mwBHMI/s400/P2261042.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The kids, admittedly, got into it. Showers were taken, ties were dug out of underwear/sock drawers, hair was gelled....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVVXaYB9Il2sG3o2JSHUYsw0CKhEdD7roEbZ15Flqn3S_QCLfJ7eq7dVOOSGZ-xZmFy5Vjv3fczx5HNRwbLuQka5PKOYop4pWMxD31sV-5dm40FZgasLuFbw9woZOnC_6clwOdu7k6xU/s1600/P2261048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVVXaYB9Il2sG3o2JSHUYsw0CKhEdD7roEbZ15Flqn3S_QCLfJ7eq7dVOOSGZ-xZmFy5Vjv3fczx5HNRwbLuQka5PKOYop4pWMxD31sV-5dm40FZgasLuFbw9woZOnC_6clwOdu7k6xU/s400/P2261048.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBDobdg_w53lzFrD-0fSth9Di5o6SoQx__rkV_piQOQQ3ZMe9LyWURJZe8x0Nz4MdATQsoDE1TkHISrsegSiIuff3yXRVwvbLKtvu2ud_zLmg_tMzWp4Qb6enp9qxU5wvUJh5qvssSdQ/s1600/P2261050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBDobdg_w53lzFrD-0fSth9Di5o6SoQx__rkV_piQOQQ3ZMe9LyWURJZe8x0Nz4MdATQsoDE1TkHISrsegSiIuff3yXRVwvbLKtvu2ud_zLmg_tMzWp4Qb6enp9qxU5wvUJh5qvssSdQ/s320/P2261050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> The one snaffu we hit was when the grill wouldn't stay lit to cook the carne asada. Jeff wouldn't take a shower until after the meat was cooked because he didn't want to smell like bbq during the dinner, and it was FREEZING outside, so while he battled the elements and his own hygiene issues, I tried to keep the kids out of the kitchen and from resorting to their usual wrestling/teasing matches that break out when they are bored.<br />
And as usual, when stress kicks in, my immediate thought turns to wine...but as I wasn't about to break the motif of the evening (what kind of hostess stands in the living room berating her customers while quaffing from the wine bottle? Although....I'm sure it isn't unheard of....) Instead I introduced the idea of "cocktail hour" to the kids. Each was given a small glass of Martinelli's and allowed to sit in the living room and "visit".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIkJsquPdm5fyrBaDpiYNPvLBxtsf2VdbXEBp4VZ6yBjOfOUa7jWVLz9JqJGb0-c-sUPVr4ctbALEZpIsMkiB2nRdYXCwRas-4RJ9r2b9owtMp9KzIZVgnqSuBUgflG8VlxbJ2I-j7oM/s1600/P2261055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIkJsquPdm5fyrBaDpiYNPvLBxtsf2VdbXEBp4VZ6yBjOfOUa7jWVLz9JqJGb0-c-sUPVr4ctbALEZpIsMkiB2nRdYXCwRas-4RJ9r2b9owtMp9KzIZVgnqSuBUgflG8VlxbJ2I-j7oM/s320/P2261055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Amazingly, Lydia's natural abilities really carried this one off. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Soon dinner was ready though and I got to play Maitre d', bringing them into the "restaurant", seating them and offering their choice of beverage (lemon water or.....uh lemon water?). Of course, they all chose more Martinellis.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We started with the bread and dipping oil. This totally made me laugh because each child's survival mode kicked in. (How many pieces do I get. How many should we leave for mom. If I put her share on her plate, can feel free to eat the rest? There is an uneven number! Someone's gonna get more than me!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think we were pretty successful in putting fears to rest by quickly placing the salad course before them. CROUTONS!! They magically make everything better.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FbEof6yPpNVhnXLLyERNOkxuoIJYXVSxAe0Lzu5L6vL5gSGelBsUjQVmaoB_XsVPcsbdtMucwyXXL9sjUra6H7RwYccY3Ij_atd1-TJV4kcGJNugvVESrtTx2J-jOQj0CxYBTKGVBOc/s1600/P2261062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FbEof6yPpNVhnXLLyERNOkxuoIJYXVSxAe0Lzu5L6vL5gSGelBsUjQVmaoB_XsVPcsbdtMucwyXXL9sjUra6H7RwYccY3Ij_atd1-TJV4kcGJNugvVESrtTx2J-jOQj0CxYBTKGVBOc/s320/P2261062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMjdNvxI2jfVLujEkvtFBZ0PBaWaUYw1NtXZ-B7jxNHD80PUqC99gnXauCgkTYgtwmtkQJHp1WfOgUOrDxn6WW3YsKzNQ-zjv4rQS1HC7UY8NaTmK2ZEoFNOTSgLSjW2GXg-_hoP4IWY/s1600/P2261056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMjdNvxI2jfVLujEkvtFBZ0PBaWaUYw1NtXZ-B7jxNHD80PUqC99gnXauCgkTYgtwmtkQJHp1WfOgUOrDxn6WW3YsKzNQ-zjv4rQS1HC7UY8NaTmK2ZEoFNOTSgLSjW2GXg-_hoP4IWY/s320/P2261056.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perusing the menu. No, no choices guys. It is prix fixe.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnjDZn4LWkTZAfCO3-oenrFAGmZvx2y7OAkzeyPI-yThD1DzlF1zThuVM7N7oY_d13UlU5Nvgnz6WMe1Y6Y69NcL-az9PP1ZsnEwrrOGBoZR19Z2m-5la3BP6gb0oB9KRpwmCYGAlIFY/s1600/P2261066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnjDZn4LWkTZAfCO3-oenrFAGmZvx2y7OAkzeyPI-yThD1DzlF1zThuVM7N7oY_d13UlU5Nvgnz6WMe1Y6Y69NcL-az9PP1ZsnEwrrOGBoZR19Z2m-5la3BP6gb0oB9KRpwmCYGAlIFY/s320/P2261066.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Host for the evening's festivities and Brain Child behind it all.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The major rules that were set before we started included the following:<br />
1. There would be no talk of killing or other violence at the table.<br />
2. No interrupting or flying hands, food, or utensils.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">3. You must USE your knife AND napkin appropriately.</div><div style="text-align: left;">4. You must try everything, and short of it making you vomit, you can leave that which is uneatable on your plate, making no reference to it for the entire meal unless asked directly. At which point, you must STILL be polite in your answer. *this was a BIG one as the salad had <em>herbs</em> in it :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PZKAc8aDs7RszRMsVMvJR1GHZW8l1N5F1r99gVJDI5z2Kjc8tIA4RIgXlAxcCkxudbKeplAVv5fa3eNctVHs4BHpw4N6nElQi4y51Scjf_UsTn15iW98mCwH-HBOS5Fl7SS8HP_i2Js/s1600/P2261059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PZKAc8aDs7RszRMsVMvJR1GHZW8l1N5F1r99gVJDI5z2Kjc8tIA4RIgXlAxcCkxudbKeplAVv5fa3eNctVHs4BHpw4N6nElQi4y51Scjf_UsTn15iW98mCwH-HBOS5Fl7SS8HP_i2Js/s320/P2261059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjnxc4xuwXML8xLad-hyr-DPkrHsUbJwtxBvFCibQmpFMo4ru-CZHRhy-6-34JQbUTro3RDJUXBiLGcEzoL5SvGSuoBAhnHfwJnjBI9YKoqiJaPXVi-NwLTK0sHWqgyVd7tHMGckiktw/s1600/P2261058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjnxc4xuwXML8xLad-hyr-DPkrHsUbJwtxBvFCibQmpFMo4ru-CZHRhy-6-34JQbUTro3RDJUXBiLGcEzoL5SvGSuoBAhnHfwJnjBI9YKoqiJaPXVi-NwLTK0sHWqgyVd7tHMGckiktw/s320/P2261058.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">May I just say. The evening was a success. The food was pronounced not only eatable but "awesome", the wierd salad stuff not withstanding. No one complained that they only got one serving (just like in a restaurant). Manners were pretty much impeccable and dessert rocked!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSvYq6nO3XGFbi82ltQO358hH-CsNb4LvB2MeK1CEFluMxo_GR3H_112HFybXUdrwpjyyPEoyVc4QfNysCtZKrOOP0E8yaIUnaID6RmJBznGdyrX32pJr0ngVcZ934JJ2VeAv_X2IJmo/s1600/P2261063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSvYq6nO3XGFbi82ltQO358hH-CsNb4LvB2MeK1CEFluMxo_GR3H_112HFybXUdrwpjyyPEoyVc4QfNysCtZKrOOP0E8yaIUnaID6RmJBznGdyrX32pJr0ngVcZ934JJ2VeAv_X2IJmo/s320/P2261063.JPG" width="278" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have to admit, when I saw these in the store, THAT is the moment I started to get <em>into</em> the whole excitement of the evening. Especially because it meant I got to use my doll-sized plates!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><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/AVvXsEj9mFEI641K0OrNcXY7Zl7fsnyC-FkzUgNYvCTFbatU1MfUpu5R6xhnjuTRLC-HcH-M2F08Sq2LVt7kRdjCZxQ3cbBW-SVJlj-U1-01E8hMJ1-AnsYeBeJCoo1bHSVvKchmzmgW-7GuN1g/s1600/P2261071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mFEI641K0OrNcXY7Zl7fsnyC-FkzUgNYvCTFbatU1MfUpu5R6xhnjuTRLC-HcH-M2F08Sq2LVt7kRdjCZxQ3cbBW-SVJlj-U1-01E8hMJ1-AnsYeBeJCoo1bHSVvKchmzmgW-7GuN1g/s320/P2261071.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Host and Maitre d' of Gable Avenue Grill. Look for our Zagat rating!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfNBcbLrN4Ew5uI4JhTOAhLu5Dbyf-2l0N0G4hNxJmhFNY1Y7dj3OK5oYraw4Nju1XoGWtNrDq42muAJgnsXAmMlYPBbiVqSlchOVVhKtu03Xc1LEcidj_h5RHR1wIpwBw7X3ghJ0x4Y/s1600/P2261074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfNBcbLrN4Ew5uI4JhTOAhLu5Dbyf-2l0N0G4hNxJmhFNY1Y7dj3OK5oYraw4Nju1XoGWtNrDq42muAJgnsXAmMlYPBbiVqSlchOVVhKtu03Xc1LEcidj_h5RHR1wIpwBw7X3ghJ0x4Y/s320/P2261074.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nod to our sponsor and emergency back up. Which we didn't even really need, just enjoyed.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAJQkiv3249oOTQIGVk53OAXJMApv1AueDwaMLM9lkPZlxj3T_Erimwhpj3e1fqCjt6-GzfHHjNPUshCv47KUp8XM-LKtR-hdtosBYPnWvoCQ_CP4HAX31N0Qr9CpNl1jkLbLBR2OtY8/s1600/P2261075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAJQkiv3249oOTQIGVk53OAXJMApv1AueDwaMLM9lkPZlxj3T_Erimwhpj3e1fqCjt6-GzfHHjNPUshCv47KUp8XM-LKtR-hdtosBYPnWvoCQ_CP4HAX31N0Qr9CpNl1jkLbLBR2OtY8/s320/P2261075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, the success of the dinner immediately veered into talk and plans of weekly, quickly paired down to monthly, repeats of the same. Perhaps with new foods thrown in for variety (see, I told you! WORK!) to which I agreed tentatively but my favorite idea was actually saving up our money and <em>going </em>somewhere. Admittedly, before this experiment, the thought of subjecting other diners who were paying more than $5 for their dinner with fries, to my brood and their habits was a bit depressing (okay, can we just say that a cold sweat would develop and an immediate need for that glass of wine). But I think now, with pleasure, I could do it. The problem being. Where to go around here? The one requirement that almost everyone had was that there be tablecloths (and lemon water!). So if any one knows of such a place in our neck of the woods that we won't have to wait for our next tax return to try out...</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-91039189139565390452011-02-27T14:10:00.000-08:002011-02-27T14:10:22.115-08:00Miami (part deux)<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So I have taken a lot of pictures that I find interesting, but that when I stop to think about it, others might not find as fascinating. I know that, personally, when I look at other's blogs, I would much rather look at pictures of people that I know, see how they have changed, love the expressions on their faces, etc. So why do I take so many pictures like this?</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3a_qVIDJ6Mvasz62QNXeG0RuhwOQ-xr017ajLp0s8NoMrIoA-PyUZjg1eV_4ClOzBPqg-eX7XmtyL_-9D3m57VwUzMX_uquoMNvfgqUd3oZ5KNedonxOUnwARKzrgUPDOghdOYhiBTE/s1600/IMG_0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3a_qVIDJ6Mvasz62QNXeG0RuhwOQ-xr017ajLp0s8NoMrIoA-PyUZjg1eV_4ClOzBPqg-eX7XmtyL_-9D3m57VwUzMX_uquoMNvfgqUd3oZ5KNedonxOUnwARKzrgUPDOghdOYhiBTE/s320/IMG_0755.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I actually took this one because it is an ENORMOUS bird-of-paradise, which I am used to seeing at about 1/3 this size. If you look in the midst of the yellow portion, you can actually see what looks like a flower about to bloom, I can only imagine what that must look like!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRXkopSzHPvbM-rZeHfGF_PP08Clym8DTYuxnKfNwOLS1k0nlAzAP-uYr4U9vC8pmqsuoT-8s6h1Pb10l-yV6V1pn-alWo0h_u0yt_WOcuRpcKW2jDoCLDW1jGrkokltjih_Fp9R7CfA/s1600/IMG_0851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRXkopSzHPvbM-rZeHfGF_PP08Clym8DTYuxnKfNwOLS1k0nlAzAP-uYr4U9vC8pmqsuoT-8s6h1Pb10l-yV6V1pn-alWo0h_u0yt_WOcuRpcKW2jDoCLDW1jGrkokltjih_Fp9R7CfA/s320/IMG_0851.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of those man-of-war jellies I mentioned in the last blog. If you can imagine one of those plastic bubble things that kids tend to love, that comes out of the tube, you blow into a straw to inflate it. That is EXACTLY what these look like, especially as they cook on the beach and they are a VIBRANT blue color. We saw several in the water that actually had small fish swimming in an amongst their tentacles.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lVnrDjZqai1UJQBX-DeV3yM1Q920tEgWkSux9oIUylifijUDNxgmtNuTHXFKhyd7oczp4YeB7tL1WvD789TS1aN07SPXMqTMiv5FZQKG6DZWpRqkqtfJC0mEpVoLadcbUxz45y1ZPgQ/s1600/IMG_0777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lVnrDjZqai1UJQBX-DeV3yM1Q920tEgWkSux9oIUylifijUDNxgmtNuTHXFKhyd7oczp4YeB7tL1WvD789TS1aN07SPXMqTMiv5FZQKG6DZWpRqkqtfJC0mEpVoLadcbUxz45y1ZPgQ/s320/IMG_0777.JPG" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a "sandbox" outside one of the resort hotels. They all created their own versions, some had small boats or forts with slides in them!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwcPEIMwpQWmRnmDsa05_GuODAboA91FfvhjW6VwlgllCmwIN8XHCtlPGBCYZ8ydTLXNc-k5iJQ3teP21Z-bFtiZHXflm6FBI4kNNb1LkF7JpeJ6N4wZomRCytb6h3GNisWUu8NRAh80/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwcPEIMwpQWmRnmDsa05_GuODAboA91FfvhjW6VwlgllCmwIN8XHCtlPGBCYZ8ydTLXNc-k5iJQ3teP21Z-bFtiZHXflm6FBI4kNNb1LkF7JpeJ6N4wZomRCytb6h3GNisWUu8NRAh80/s320/IMG_0774.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> So anyway, I will try not to post too many of those types today.;-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1o6MRKBKgFPVtSMTce8fnvG4-ki1ffh4nCOT-u2LYD-cdZwhUnHC_H3kRQe-KLDTp1TU6TUZu7WBfgSa3TxsPNxa9w00LBDO9h_FrN3x2TF5GMrSv6T9lh87yOA59eijAI82DtLxq2y8/s1600/IMG_0785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1o6MRKBKgFPVtSMTce8fnvG4-ki1ffh4nCOT-u2LYD-cdZwhUnHC_H3kRQe-KLDTp1TU6TUZu7WBfgSa3TxsPNxa9w00LBDO9h_FrN3x2TF5GMrSv6T9lh87yOA59eijAI82DtLxq2y8/s320/IMG_0785.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is an amazing picture of someone who has been awake, in some form or another, for WAAAAAAY too long. I think I was thinking violent thoughts at this point, doesn't it look it?</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Our first day of the show was, how shall I say this....GORGEOUS! This is the view out the window from our favorite breakfast place, David's Cafe. This is a Cuban place that, since we have been coming, has expanded from a window connected to a small mini mart from which they dispensed Cuban coffee, and small sandwiches, to a full blown restaurant, staffed by family members and people we REALLY enjoy seeing in the morning. Most of the time, since we are pretty regular in our schedule, we have the same person serving us and it was a treat to have someone know exactly what we wanted and how as soon as we sat down.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagcurSRTAHftuNstjHX35HPAVgYfh6plQB-YZz3VgfWQPIUwhW_ZPEDyZQqJKIxvW0ldPaVKT4A2lpv2nMbJbTWaJfBnXK9dmslD5G4Wv_dpAf5UY2B0rBZ8hRnz5y25T4cZIVAALzH4/s1600/IMG_0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagcurSRTAHftuNstjHX35HPAVgYfh6plQB-YZz3VgfWQPIUwhW_ZPEDyZQqJKIxvW0ldPaVKT4A2lpv2nMbJbTWaJfBnXK9dmslD5G4Wv_dpAf5UY2B0rBZ8hRnz5y25T4cZIVAALzH4/s320/IMG_0772.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyway, we set up the booth the day before the show. People hate us because it literally takes us minutes to do this, while the people with all of the propellers, hardware, boat cushions, sail wenches, clothing, etc, have to take a whole day to assemble their displays. I feel for them. Especially at the end of the show...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUetq87p6ap_2HmLXnZ9D5Jl4yCeTfqxiYcCy-KlyGtQHPR4FBcEuK2B9Gtu4WtsY5qBfGxDKCY8UVPArsu2flDntD-Hk5Op-zj03jHhO5qE57Xkm3ugenv7Ct_JxPkE3uSdmZC7ggAM/s1600/IMG_0786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUetq87p6ap_2HmLXnZ9D5Jl4yCeTfqxiYcCy-KlyGtQHPR4FBcEuK2B9Gtu4WtsY5qBfGxDKCY8UVPArsu2flDntD-Hk5Op-zj03jHhO5qE57Xkm3ugenv7Ct_JxPkE3uSdmZC7ggAM/s320/IMG_0786.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpSEAhbnujnjzAiOnVMQ8ePOYkom-bmIgNnqTiWWVg3ul72Z5ymHBU5R_c3FiCwzsdM4obpW1np0SKXMcPuKVm3ZdY0DbkcA38kNIPgRtkYRpo-yPOW_cgaZptvKroMPlLAqOU-LBGgc/s1600/IMG_0771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpSEAhbnujnjzAiOnVMQ8ePOYkom-bmIgNnqTiWWVg3ul72Z5ymHBU5R_c3FiCwzsdM4obpW1np0SKXMcPuKVm3ZdY0DbkcA38kNIPgRtkYRpo-yPOW_cgaZptvKroMPlLAqOU-LBGgc/s320/IMG_0771.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>You would not BELIEVE the number of dogs that were at the show this year. I had noticed last year that there were a few, one of the more memorable was stuffed in a front carrier on his owner's chest. Several sported less than official looking "Helper Dog" vests. This year, they obviously loosened the rules as there were several that traveled in style like the one above, and others who just plodded along looking for treats and collapsing in heaps when their owners would stop at yet ANOTHER booth. There was another one that traveled in a stroller-type contraption outfitted with a water dish and food dish and a canopy. My favorite was a little 4 lb white mop named Tallulah. I met her in the restroom one day when I pointed out to her owner who was ahead of me in line with Tallulah in her arms, that there wasn't anywhere to set her in the stalls other than the floor, which at that time of day was less than pristine, and I offered to hold her while her owner used the toilet. Okay, is this weird? I think she had a little reticent at accepting my offer, but one look at the floor and I think she realized she had no choice, this wasn't a dog you set on the floor of a public bathroom! Needless to say, I fell in love with the poor pup who just laid in my arms like she had never walked a step in her life. Afterwards I realized I probably could have walked out of there with her and kept her easily hidden in my bag the whole trip back to Washington. Damn.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATj5g_RSq24_vcXq12Gq2uEFqKwKgHwyzzRNtJ4FEPkgBPl7vHKECutqVxGsGSKuGBUPbo5L427zoTdltUY76MB49VicIkYodYekavkLCnkKRdqNQ2tfL92QaC4aBrlqKPJubpBEywDI/s1600/IMG_0773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATj5g_RSq24_vcXq12Gq2uEFqKwKgHwyzzRNtJ4FEPkgBPl7vHKECutqVxGsGSKuGBUPbo5L427zoTdltUY76MB49VicIkYodYekavkLCnkKRdqNQ2tfL92QaC4aBrlqKPJubpBEywDI/s320/IMG_0773.JPG" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is NOT Tallulah. But I loved him anyway. He kinda personified how I felt at that particular moment.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZEC5mrUp8DuESM0Bh0Z9hsiBDNuiVy9pFSYmfq6OKO2_qiSc3VcZ84rXeWxeE8Zb1OH-EqK30ArnSSc8hRC97Pcll1TML18n_izkW-ewqaMKZyfJKhFj14XFeG6Xg6fsUzwM6Iw6iNw/s1600/IMG_0790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZEC5mrUp8DuESM0Bh0Z9hsiBDNuiVy9pFSYmfq6OKO2_qiSc3VcZ84rXeWxeE8Zb1OH-EqK30ArnSSc8hRC97Pcll1TML18n_izkW-ewqaMKZyfJKhFj14XFeG6Xg6fsUzwM6Iw6iNw/s320/IMG_0790.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is where our shoes lived the entire 8 hours we spent each day at the show. Save for trips to the bathroom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK3EmiON0emBqdQuSkWRD9BgoUcouCXuM3z68ysHftkErQVygmaeVBxqUFgttVhNt5YWWorbUTDnAkix4HZ_sBAwQmZdYto06-elh6U9D8gjkzhth_YZF0gH1rjJuQaMkPhCUcDesbIM/s1600/IMG_0815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK3EmiON0emBqdQuSkWRD9BgoUcouCXuM3z68ysHftkErQVygmaeVBxqUFgttVhNt5YWWorbUTDnAkix4HZ_sBAwQmZdYto06-elh6U9D8gjkzhth_YZF0gH1rjJuQaMkPhCUcDesbIM/s320/IMG_0815.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff doing his job. He is so stinkin' smart. Several people talked with him, then went to visit our competition but came back to us, despite our slightly higher prices, because they liked HIM.....so proud!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKCoTU9aBvzh20jG-3Rt9p8Fp-vwDhmDTlV8vGGZZ90xFa1QNoQATPj1XYJn8xav3x32-8kouD51YhL99d6LgWJR9U1dedCeQEkrsQWVbnLKGepcvdbqti5me_NOgP8Ga0XRZ3JDUzNo/s1600/IMG_0984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKCoTU9aBvzh20jG-3Rt9p8Fp-vwDhmDTlV8vGGZZ90xFa1QNoQATPj1XYJn8xav3x32-8kouD51YhL99d6LgWJR9U1dedCeQEkrsQWVbnLKGepcvdbqti5me_NOgP8Ga0XRZ3JDUzNo/s320/IMG_0984.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was taken by the booth next door. I was out getting lunch but he was totally busted anyway.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XeTgbocB3Aw0KQzWn3Ra9RrfdNIaZwGgmVBQRYzIR66P9PC3lXcMyWb2L3n12ltmDkxQp1Pkh6SaqBuwoavh56oSd_L2N0F8c0MUIYptH4HFKc6LCpObqoPFmoenhgvOH4V-7MXPV8g/s1600/IMG_0830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XeTgbocB3Aw0KQzWn3Ra9RrfdNIaZwGgmVBQRYzIR66P9PC3lXcMyWb2L3n12ltmDkxQp1Pkh6SaqBuwoavh56oSd_L2N0F8c0MUIYptH4HFKc6LCpObqoPFmoenhgvOH4V-7MXPV8g/s320/IMG_0830.JPG" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good portion of our time was spent doing this. Thankfully the weather was so nice as to make it not such a chore.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQQJj4mUc-RsMob4Qh9yVEzy4p71PgPXrh2Xhv7iL13WJAmxJ7X3ypJiNHmrSjW3LjE2TK0IybrJYe0d0dJszXRaAtIABRm0HDzMrxrZCk3SnJGGnOjvguPI2xrLlUF7-nR3HGjN1_y4/s1600/IMG_1002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQQJj4mUc-RsMob4Qh9yVEzy4p71PgPXrh2Xhv7iL13WJAmxJ7X3ypJiNHmrSjW3LjE2TK0IybrJYe0d0dJszXRaAtIABRm0HDzMrxrZCk3SnJGGnOjvguPI2xrLlUF7-nR3HGjN1_y4/s320/IMG_1002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing what I do best. Reading magazines and playing Solitaire.<br />
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</tbody></table>I <em><strong>really</strong></em> enjoyed Miami this year, not that I don't usually, but this year was especially nice. Whether it was due to the two extra days we had at the beginning to just kinda vegetate on the beach and get acclimatized, or the fact that we had bus passes (no more un-needed purchases at the drug store just so that we had $1s for the bus), or perhaps it was the fact that the weather was just THAT nice and our booth was located on the outer fringe of the tent instead of in the muggy inner aisles, it was just fun this year. We had moments of frustration when the bus wouldn't come for hours and we would be forced to hire a taxi (so much for being prepared with bus passes) or when our room wasn't ready for us to collapse in, or the shower didn't work, but the memories this year will be of long walks, sunshine, fun people and great food (fried plantains stuffed with guacamole and seared tuna, anyone?). <br />
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My parents, of course, were the saints in this story. Weathering power outages within hours of our leaving, basketball games and practices, ferrying kids to the, uh, ferry, and everywhere else in between. Without them I wouldn't be able to take this trip each year and every year, and upon my arrival in Miami, I realize just how much I really NEED this trip. A shot of sun in the middle of February may be all that gets me to July in somewhat decent shape. The kids do their share as well, making sure that Nana and Poppy still want to come back each time. Of course, my parents had their own trip to look forward to at the end, down to Arizona for their own shot of sun. Believe me, I know how important it is and I hope they enjoy it just as much as I did.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-70873874689301425412011-02-26T08:24:00.000-08:002011-02-26T08:24:42.557-08:00Back from MiamiOkay, I just noticed that I misspelled "spring" in my last title. Lame. "Sping" does have kind of cute ring to it, though. Hmm.<br />
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Well, as you most know, Jeff and I just returned from a week (+2 days) in Miami Beach, Florida. Actually, most of our free time was spent in South Beach, that being where we did all our sleeping and eating and a majority of our walking. So here is the low down.<br />
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We took the red-eye to Miami, which I absolutely hate. Hate is a strong word, but it is not strong enough to fully describe just how much I detest that flight. We even had decent seats (thanks to Jeff's MVP status on Alaska, which he is so very proud of :-) but no matter how much leg room, the fact that fully reclining your seat results in a 90 degree angle REALLY makes me cranky! That on top of the fact that I can't sleep sitting up due to the fact that my jaw won't stay closed and tend to drool all over myself tends to make me a not very nice traveling companion. Anywho....we did arrive and it was a beautiful day in Florida.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IYyEIIx9LtA2AB62wmw1GDvpSePVcPKq36YuR6vdUWkmj6Vw7MdLs8oWVNhiha3WEmEsEZlyCgJrlWorena5Wz0AmMC90k4UbG8lagsOuZMzskUBjLrTMvf3Vwvwy8jjEZAa9QzrR6I/s1600/IMG_0784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IYyEIIx9LtA2AB62wmw1GDvpSePVcPKq36YuR6vdUWkmj6Vw7MdLs8oWVNhiha3WEmEsEZlyCgJrlWorena5Wz0AmMC90k4UbG8lagsOuZMzskUBjLrTMvf3Vwvwy8jjEZAa9QzrR6I/s200/IMG_0784.JPG" width="148" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> We landed, found our luggage and a taxi and were in front of our "hotel" within an hour. I use the word "hotel", but I have come to think of our usual domain on South Beach as more of a hostel of sorts. Having only stayed in two of the rooms, they are all very different though based on the same layout. Just an efficiency room with a small kitchenette right next to the bed, a bathroom and a closet. I believe that many of the rooms are actually owned privately, as in a condo. This is what we rent when we are there. Our room is privately owned, so we don't get hotel-type ammenities, such as towel service. Of course, upon our arrival, we didn't care, we just wanted to LAY DOWN! Unfortunately, the new person at the desk was unfamiliar with our situation and we had to wait until the next shift started when there would be a lady who could help us. Sigh. Luckily it was only an hour or so spent on the lobby couch (uh, yeah, I guess it could be called that). When Mel finally arrived, it was only to inform us that the room wasn't ready for us. UGH! She did allow us to go up and dump off our suitcases, at which time we changed into our bathing suits, grabbed the beach chairs and headed to the nearest Walgreens for towels and sunscreen and proceeded to spend the next few hours passed out on the beach. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCOlit8kkvWNqnHljUiiERbA2jRKHQKRDtvqHvm3KlwbqSExYIRR1ZvPuEuAYeoZALInI_Nl8TG7Ih0_AFvP7n0-eRVufq4th-ab0bWcyeD2JuNJbveXSGC5cdBgtwU4uHhpi5nJzMUA/s1600/IMG_0719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCOlit8kkvWNqnHljUiiERbA2jRKHQKRDtvqHvm3KlwbqSExYIRR1ZvPuEuAYeoZALInI_Nl8TG7Ih0_AFvP7n0-eRVufq4th-ab0bWcyeD2JuNJbveXSGC5cdBgtwU4uHhpi5nJzMUA/s320/IMG_0719.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>I swear, we probably looked like homeless people as at that hour, we pretty much were the only ones on the beach and sleeping in our clothes at that (it was still a little coolish for bathing suits). Quite honestly, I don't remember much more of that day. We eventually went back to the room and took a shower, only to find that the shower consisted of an anemic dribble that if you held the shower head up with one hand, and splashed the stream with the other hand onto your body, you might get wet. Not happy. Oh yeah, that is what we did the rest of that day, we searched up and down South Beach for a pair of pliers. Finally had to resort to asking the guy at the front desk for a pair and then carefully avoid telling him exactly what we wanted it for.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRThzx2ssExVNNI2cUBbxM-Lwx0-WP4O_5OAo-6YgyiFQVYKTbtXbJVKBqSrzLQwcvXWqXy7Z_NIaLVqIKUXspIezSfh0htpWUVPoW272WZcMAnb9BCv_1rkw6kYCmTPAmfwlvVNxm1j0/s1600/IMG_0732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRThzx2ssExVNNI2cUBbxM-Lwx0-WP4O_5OAo-6YgyiFQVYKTbtXbJVKBqSrzLQwcvXWqXy7Z_NIaLVqIKUXspIezSfh0htpWUVPoW272WZcMAnb9BCv_1rkw6kYCmTPAmfwlvVNxm1j0/s320/IMG_0732.JPG" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvzEYkE_7HPBULLZEqDbPqD-H46Qa-MzgGhnOs2_INbkQTE-CzN9oNofImi-vQqe_-8_bBx4OroctmtgJHZfWY-C_r0sDOZJMRK9GxHGSSf0NpjRutCvVGAuNNmVMn5iCaaYA-EkeFZ0/s1600/IMG_0730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvzEYkE_7HPBULLZEqDbPqD-H46Qa-MzgGhnOs2_INbkQTE-CzN9oNofImi-vQqe_-8_bBx4OroctmtgJHZfWY-C_r0sDOZJMRK9GxHGSSf0NpjRutCvVGAuNNmVMn5iCaaYA-EkeFZ0/s320/IMG_0730.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My husband is amazing. He basically removed what we believe must have been an attempt at a water saving device and tightened the shower head and we were able to enjoy a REAL shower the rest of the week. You would have thought we were staying at the Ritz!</div><br />
The next day was a dream! We woke to sunny skies and a great breakfast at our favorite breakfast place, David's Cafe.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLUkZ7TOh7YPZLAg0oNVRSZyfahclpOE08WS8m119RGWnsVNVRl25DP3hrlrtKksIX2yT1UrG-kWFtpFGC3ToDEjSIVmkSj4_pUJdHDmTJrl8TCZEmJYHr_qakiORf3G7QR9RkxYiRqo/s1600/IMG_0704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLUkZ7TOh7YPZLAg0oNVRSZyfahclpOE08WS8m119RGWnsVNVRl25DP3hrlrtKksIX2yT1UrG-kWFtpFGC3ToDEjSIVmkSj4_pUJdHDmTJrl8TCZEmJYHr_qakiORf3G7QR9RkxYiRqo/s320/IMG_0704.JPG" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PjOoyBPOHyWS54qYKRJXkL05EG6DzcYohK1K3dyHgzY5vGsTtk3iRHFLho-SXZ0OAaCQzjPUZt9gxGCLbkw_8rOqf5tXVImzchlLAkfOhL2Z401uclRgjEzXgIxfqefkVadSMmA6S8s/s1600/IMG_0703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PjOoyBPOHyWS54qYKRJXkL05EG6DzcYohK1K3dyHgzY5vGsTtk3iRHFLho-SXZ0OAaCQzjPUZt9gxGCLbkw_8rOqf5tXVImzchlLAkfOhL2Z401uclRgjEzXgIxfqefkVadSMmA6S8s/s320/IMG_0703.JPG" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then we hit the boardwalk! Jeff found this promenade the last time he was here on his own and it was a wonderful start to the day. Basically, it starts out as a sidewalk along the beach, then winds its way between the beach front hotels and the shore. Eventually it turns into an honest to goodness boardwalk constructed of wood and elevated off of the beach. The hotels are actually quite pretty at that end and the foot, bicycle traffic makes for excellent people watching!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpIxuf7IAvmT6Z3VvuxwWbD0csawemuMkdgXs9Y3TvctZv0rCqWMkCIMEOqYXXjJOtp1ips0yreYoj0ZrPC9vEKn6zRSlbLN2lVRWLKZkTxRMbbNDmJFh1BpZcrQtfQHwv6vn3Tgy_iI/s1600/IMG_0706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpIxuf7IAvmT6Z3VvuxwWbD0csawemuMkdgXs9Y3TvctZv0rCqWMkCIMEOqYXXjJOtp1ips0yreYoj0ZrPC9vEKn6zRSlbLN2lVRWLKZkTxRMbbNDmJFh1BpZcrQtfQHwv6vn3Tgy_iI/s320/IMG_0706.JPG" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChjbKpr6rFQrP02qIE_9wI3h9yZyDsuEewHj6ZbdxwBk4T26eH_4UStaDWRcwZrjXaJHVpkZXnub6ypcFFLUZi3YLbSF51Cuaal753nVdrAxk6ZbDgYuJ4PwUB3c1PWJoJLrNtaRhbLM/s1600/IMG_0717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChjbKpr6rFQrP02qIE_9wI3h9yZyDsuEewHj6ZbdxwBk4T26eH_4UStaDWRcwZrjXaJHVpkZXnub6ypcFFLUZi3YLbSF51Cuaal753nVdrAxk6ZbDgYuJ4PwUB3c1PWJoJLrNtaRhbLM/s320/IMG_0717.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5E994K-Qu5F4xxgPIRsJyYUIuU8asfQSMTtUau5PbmuAmYYrPf0wwbVqMhGhok1KpHw3RvlG7uQa44O3t-93EoU9xgv331Ueqilel7DKiVWmZxxpoOZ41krtD1141lfDfFlhE8m4YwA/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5E994K-Qu5F4xxgPIRsJyYUIuU8asfQSMTtUau5PbmuAmYYrPf0wwbVqMhGhok1KpHw3RvlG7uQa44O3t-93EoU9xgv331Ueqilel7DKiVWmZxxpoOZ41krtD1141lfDfFlhE8m4YwA/s320/IMG_0708.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3_4e8OWAMq1rNkaGcNJ-PKow1Hj8BbY-v2uNz8iu67w1z9Y0mj6nBz-u-4Rv2ZUbJptySH8_3Pi_4HZiNihWSKew8N0KlPm7K819wmFBRWT3cW51mqJf3DIqKJLvKcemQcxR2TjdPVI/s1600/IMG_0722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3_4e8OWAMq1rNkaGcNJ-PKow1Hj8BbY-v2uNz8iu67w1z9Y0mj6nBz-u-4Rv2ZUbJptySH8_3Pi_4HZiNihWSKew8N0KlPm7K819wmFBRWT3cW51mqJf3DIqKJLvKcemQcxR2TjdPVI/s320/IMG_0722.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I was actually quite facinated by the number of women completely clothed in black with either terry cloth turbans covering their heads, or some other head covering. Most wore long skirts with black tights and fancy tennis shoes as they walked, pushed strollers, or just sat and visited with others of thier kind. Jeff said they were Jewish women and in fact I did see some of them reading from their prayer books in Hebrew. I don't know whether they lived nearby or were all on vacation, or just actually kept residences in the hotels there on the beach. The few that I heard speaking sounded straight from New York, however. This picture of the three people walking, really touched me. A man and his wife (on the left) and his daughter (on the right).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAji5CN1s32Hne4dcej_xItVrbwhS9TTLGhkiMNiNRGik6wR7Nv45WnJSNk4VC8H9VGrqG7JjyrklA2ObtEfAs9dbysAiGwGAJKjYuYguaP_E5JOgHI0cKhs3-2WPImcgyWoj7r6UmueQ/s1600/IMG_0724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAji5CN1s32Hne4dcej_xItVrbwhS9TTLGhkiMNiNRGik6wR7Nv45WnJSNk4VC8H9VGrqG7JjyrklA2ObtEfAs9dbysAiGwGAJKjYuYguaP_E5JOgHI0cKhs3-2WPImcgyWoj7r6UmueQ/s320/IMG_0724.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We followed them for quite a ways before we passed them. It was such a nice view.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-54204084042977326092011-02-11T09:42:00.000-08:002011-02-11T09:42:37.796-08:00MORE basketball (and sping)This week represented the official end of Noah's 4th basketball season (if the picture count on the fridge is correct) and the beginning of Ben's second and Lydia's very first. Actually, this is a big deal for Lydia as it is her first experience at any sort of organized sport, team or otherwise. I have to say, I think we may be on to something here for her.<br />
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Ben is somewhat of a pro, having played one other time in his life, which to be fair, is a whole lot more than anyone else on his team has played apparently. As such, he has nominated himself to be assistant coach. Great.<br />
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Lydia, with her long limbs and endless energy, may just have found her niche. As soon as she can keep her hands on the ball. She is still working through the whole "catch the ball" not "smack the ball" thing, but I have faith that she will get it. If nothing else, she will be a dominating defensive player, jumping around and waving her arms at anything that moves.<br />
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Their first game happens to be next week, while Jeff and I are gone so please keep Poppy in your prayers, as he will most likely be the one navigating Port Orchard in the dark trying to find the hidden entryway into the school. I don't know what it is around here, but schools in Port Orchard do NOT illuminate the entry to their parking lots. That, paired with the fact that the majority of them are located on small, two lane roads which lack street lights of any sort, makes it a real pain in the bum to try and find them when you are late to practice!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWFeFKRSHqFiq4vsuVnKwWsnhgqf1sHe5ZSDx5ZbJw3nceHi9RSjn2NJsnM8D05P9DuAd7o-BMyY9scXUtI-ZMTQIAIvPen9-btVQSd8oJH17t0w9fEW6GIoPtGwB-v7LvEplMyvU3sM/s1600/IMG_0681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWFeFKRSHqFiq4vsuVnKwWsnhgqf1sHe5ZSDx5ZbJw3nceHi9RSjn2NJsnM8D05P9DuAd7o-BMyY9scXUtI-ZMTQIAIvPen9-btVQSd8oJH17t0w9fEW6GIoPtGwB-v7LvEplMyvU3sM/s320/IMG_0681.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All legs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VVYpPdtwg0E_zqEQPTU8ThFrgbvP2zbTMClgZUEcERreIIzmJz3igdi4-jKKVJMMBKvmG441TRpGLLdloDB_u4OSYtGoovm00i7COI_Hk60vJIFmpD1WKMdrs6NLujqdWyWbaniCW-A/s1600/IMG_0683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VVYpPdtwg0E_zqEQPTU8ThFrgbvP2zbTMClgZUEcERreIIzmJz3igdi4-jKKVJMMBKvmG441TRpGLLdloDB_u4OSYtGoovm00i7COI_Hk60vJIFmpD1WKMdrs6NLujqdWyWbaniCW-A/s320/IMG_0683.JPG" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, so he LOOKs like an assistant coach...</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYh0LaPN8vOo0OmdXfi7P04hg6_lYXEKtgH1YmQ6YYw_pSpMderPY4q2NJlltGkpU9TCQnFysspXSOXsqL1kYRZbdxKnYYXsTHX4PdIdkOKI8fM-96vYgfDks0b0Im7GqDnl0K8KePsqY/s1600/IMG_0698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYh0LaPN8vOo0OmdXfi7P04hg6_lYXEKtgH1YmQ6YYw_pSpMderPY4q2NJlltGkpU9TCQnFysspXSOXsqL1kYRZbdxKnYYXsTHX4PdIdkOKI8fM-96vYgfDks0b0Im7GqDnl0K8KePsqY/s1600/IMG_0698.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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As a sign off, this is what is coming up in my yard now...despite the 30 degree temps in the mornings around here. I pray they live to spring time!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjHrMeZ9WcnLtGdBeTl7tCRCkn4JzIShFwoOweim8QfUFvAXnJGP-KH_NGJ45Jy0mUUw48tjsCLTI3Wa2q4szBCbrUd_ql2BKLBz8d_UZ535bmMDJoq-vcYx1YaCNl2h7YSCD9gsC5xg/s1600/IMG_0702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjHrMeZ9WcnLtGdBeTl7tCRCkn4JzIShFwoOweim8QfUFvAXnJGP-KH_NGJ45Jy0mUUw48tjsCLTI3Wa2q4szBCbrUd_ql2BKLBz8d_UZ535bmMDJoq-vcYx1YaCNl2h7YSCD9gsC5xg/s320/IMG_0702.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-27898236657303203402011-02-10T08:43:00.001-08:002011-02-10T08:43:33.164-08:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wbpA-8I19fBRuLlZYOvwh1i5rkaAX3NdVqMoJhqiFG-yTqjOGyinDlDHw5SestJpyBxuBBxuzHBLkVo1Wm7zA5Mp92LbnmVCN-VgosAXC4Zd1cnaEGI4n4O0aBKB_mDiJKy1HMftlMk/s1600/IMG_7136-713165.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wbpA-8I19fBRuLlZYOvwh1i5rkaAX3NdVqMoJhqiFG-yTqjOGyinDlDHw5SestJpyBxuBBxuzHBLkVo1Wm7zA5Mp92LbnmVCN-VgosAXC4Zd1cnaEGI4n4O0aBKB_mDiJKy1HMftlMk/s320/IMG_7136-713165.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572102514259995218" /></a></p><tr height="15" style="border-top: 1px solid #0F7BBC;"> <td> Where I would love to be right now... </td> </tr> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-21064160421681877512011-02-07T11:15:00.000-08:002011-02-07T11:15:43.001-08:00The beginning of the beginning....Well, it was an interesting weekend. I'll tell you this, I didn't think of Ozzy Osborne ONCE all Saturday. Part of that is because I believe I had complete faith that God was looking after Noah and I didn't need to worry about it. Part of it was because my brain was truly completely taken up with other goings on.<br />
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Earlier last week Jeff and I signed the papers to put the Canal house on the market. Once more, God blessed us by sending us Pat McGuire as our realtor. Not only is she a member of our church family, but she has intimate experience with our home away from home, as she and her family actually stayed there last summer. They were the winners of the Relay for Cancer raffle that we put did last year. How perfect! She really put our minds at ease, at the same time trying to keep us realistic. Telling the kids, namely Lydia and Noah was infinitely harder and the reaction was worse than I had expected, don't know about Jeff, but I wasn't ready for the some of the belligerence and hyperventilation. To be fair, this is the only home that N and L have had, consistently, that they can remember. My heart broke for them but even worse for Jeff. He has handled it so well so far, I am so proud of him. As a result, I think I have broken down twice as much.<br />
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Actually, I did pretty well....until Saturday night. We had spent all day trying to finish up little projects around the canal house (removing the last vestiges of Rosie's remodeling attempts etc), throwing away, giving away, organizing for the final move, and generally trying to empty out a LOT of stuff! I think it finally hit us that we not only owned two houses, we owned to HOUSEHOLDS, and the thought of trying to combine them into one is really starting to stress me out! Granted, there isn't a lot of the furniture that we want to keep, a dining table, a chair, a bed and a dresser, but even those have no place in our "town" home. THERE IS NO ROOM!! I wish I had taken pictures of the car loaded up for the first trip to the thrift store. It was packed, and yet we could still barely walk across the floor of the front room. I was able to clean out the dresser, the bookshelf and the closet in the guest room, half of the closet and bathroom storage in the master bedroom, the junk cabinet in the kitchen and most of the upstairs. The hardest part was deciding how much to do. Did we want to still be able to use the place or did we want to get as much out and cleaned up so that the final one will not be so painful? It was hard. Hard, hard, hard. In the end, I left a few towels and our toothbrushes, but forgot myself and got rid of all the extra pillows that the kids used. Threw out all of the flip flops and water shoes (none of which fit any of our kids anymore) and packed up everything eatable, but left all the past-date and condiments in the fridge (I can't remember why, might have been out of room in the garbage can by that time). I think we left all of the movies but I know that we got rid of the VHS player and the TV. Sigh.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Anyway, piles were pretty much consolidated by the time my brain completely quit and I found myself carrying around a handful of dryer lint that I had dug out of somewhere and wearing two different pairs of shoes (I guess at some point I was trying to see if I still wanted either pair, I didn't). It wasn't hard to determine where we were going to eat, you couldn't get to the refrigerator, let alone find the top of the table...so off to Robinhood we went.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkuI1nKompzAz1bFFm76IWIQGIMwLn0CRkcNSUwjAJqHjGY6JVqH13tMIk8-iIFDSaeM3ZCJv8phemTIEwt0XbHyDxi_Jp1-SJNkqRq80jkY3H0T4ARKrVTw8PnkKwNkDNfn3K2TichU/s1600/IMG_0656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkuI1nKompzAz1bFFm76IWIQGIMwLn0CRkcNSUwjAJqHjGY6JVqH13tMIk8-iIFDSaeM3ZCJv8phemTIEwt0XbHyDxi_Jp1-SJNkqRq80jkY3H0T4ARKrVTw8PnkKwNkDNfn3K2TichU/s320/IMG_0656.JPG" width="238" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Two beers and half a hamburger each and we were feeling much better, although I will admit that I was in no big hurry to go back but I couldn't convince Jeff to stay for one more drink when, as he pointed out, we had a liquor cabinet back at the house that we were going to have to empty out one way or another.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here is where the night got interesting. As we poured our first shot of whatever, we found ourselves standing in the exact spots in the kitchen and having the exact type of conversation that we were having 5 years ago, almost to the month, the first time we actually admitted to still being in love. Well. That set me off. Tears and memories were kept flowing by another shot or two and they ended up all good as we went through Jeff's catalogue of pictures from the canal on his computer. Ugh, he has ALL the good pictures, I really need to steal all of them, but here are the few that I managed to get him to send my way...</div><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="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhR1z_YjaLoL6zlHEXNfnLHZOwvPTdX2Iz6TZp6GlgTlMcLQIf7Sm4tpQzxJSg-9xNZBFpE1hpv-zOkwCt_8qGG48YYYilCxw0QKtq2vWqCCnsB2IZnp5jHUxmO8Hlw_P58_wBtkyNrJA/s1600/IMG_0660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhR1z_YjaLoL6zlHEXNfnLHZOwvPTdX2Iz6TZp6GlgTlMcLQIf7Sm4tpQzxJSg-9xNZBFpE1hpv-zOkwCt_8qGG48YYYilCxw0QKtq2vWqCCnsB2IZnp5jHUxmO8Hlw_P58_wBtkyNrJA/s320/IMG_0660.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken this year. This (checking the crab pots) was a SERIOUS undertaking. Next year plans include a six-pack of root beer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6r-kqFkGgQUQy9PfoOOGnLHG-pkYVUDfx-pLuz5YyjvtneIsgqyU94HBiSHd4EuHJ2DM9RsGLy4AeZky4-GySsMJMXGOwVJCWm_KmLTXg7UlkcdPJM7tbfGoUk4lZTcHTnitknOzmmY/s1600/IMG_0661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6r-kqFkGgQUQy9PfoOOGnLHG-pkYVUDfx-pLuz5YyjvtneIsgqyU94HBiSHd4EuHJ2DM9RsGLy4AeZky4-GySsMJMXGOwVJCWm_KmLTXg7UlkcdPJM7tbfGoUk4lZTcHTnitknOzmmY/s320/IMG_0661.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this picture. LOVE IT! That chess set has been a big hit at the canal the past few years.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHcaxoHiVmjn9K-I8KpR304E9DjYXCLzFBSPf7fYPTQFApBnuYKSS-IWVy8C95AC476-QeFRgSqWBSp6UDT1Sm4XAUG60W-3mRDfN6Nk453ZLI_ztVBRyWwr46m6maKucBXRQ_HIt3wk/s1600/IMG_0659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHcaxoHiVmjn9K-I8KpR304E9DjYXCLzFBSPf7fYPTQFApBnuYKSS-IWVy8C95AC476-QeFRgSqWBSp6UDT1Sm4XAUG60W-3mRDfN6Nk453ZLI_ztVBRyWwr46m6maKucBXRQ_HIt3wk/s320/IMG_0659.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Success! Definitely root beer worthy.<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I think we easily spent 3 hours just looking at pictures. And I am so glad that we have them all, along with the memories. I have to keep reminding myself that the memories are ours to keep, they have nothing at all to do with the state of ownership of the building or our future time spent there. We get to take the best parts with us and they don't take up space in our home (leave that to the dishes, linens and clothing) or cause me stress or cost money to upkeep. No moles destroy them, electrical outages will never affect them, there are no monthly dues or neighbor issues to mar them (well, except maybe the memory of such issues, but they can be selectively forgotten over time). I am really excited for what is to come. I truly am. I know that our decision affects more than just the kids and Jeff and I, our neighbors and extended are family are sad and somewhat shocked by our decision as well, but change is good. Without it we won't grow. I won't go so far as to speculate what might be coming down the pass, but I know that it will require us to try new things, see new places, and meet new people. All of which, rather than taking the place of that which we are leaving behind, will be ADDED to them! How awesome is that! And no vacuum storage bags or Rubbermaid tubs are necessary!! LOVE IT!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8ChTXIl1U-v5yhkcrxcVmTPmoyvo1qYTH1Kkuc7s5jTgXgwdAs0sLw10Pwxw-1hLJu3u-6GXP2_jf5bs7ySJZOiz2P1NU8kQMbzsMIhSLKM3Nddehd9MZE9J59gBKBFGsiGkT6P2HYk/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8ChTXIl1U-v5yhkcrxcVmTPmoyvo1qYTH1Kkuc7s5jTgXgwdAs0sLw10Pwxw-1hLJu3u-6GXP2_jf5bs7ySJZOiz2P1NU8kQMbzsMIhSLKM3Nddehd9MZE9J59gBKBFGsiGkT6P2HYk/s320/IMG_0657.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To what is to come. May it be worthy of the memories of all that which came before!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318098889113202577.post-3102818972530846562011-01-24T11:14:00.001-08:002011-01-24T11:14:50.769-08:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3KNB0vsBL9-MTLOYfyzgITrdLTuY_Gywy00cldyniOZe8orw3zYtgIkfpV3KRCnfL-c3ADC2Mzg8q5yoPmXHkRGZACW6hppknLvmHaktQhyphenhyphenYHPYTPmzUPvCdHfSU9D-v-nb9SynyvPE/s1600/IMG_0173-790770.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3KNB0vsBL9-MTLOYfyzgITrdLTuY_Gywy00cldyniOZe8orw3zYtgIkfpV3KRCnfL-c3ADC2Mzg8q5yoPmXHkRGZACW6hppknLvmHaktQhyphenhyphenYHPYTPmzUPvCdHfSU9D-v-nb9SynyvPE/s320/IMG_0173-790770.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565833049090129122" /></a></p><tr height="15" style="border-top: 1px solid #0F7BBC;"> <td> Third one of the day and it is only 11am. Lord help me... </td> </tr> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725533162107771275noreply@blogger.com0