Spring Mountain High

Today we drove into the mountains with Lola and took pictures in the snow. Gwen insisted that we listen to holiday music throughout the journey. Feliz Navidad has been blasted into our heads and the image of Gwen dancing in the front seat with a huge, toothy grin is now a permanent Christmas memory. It was a perfect 70 degree day with blue skies and beautiful scenery. We encountered deer, eagles, hikers, and snow. Once in the mountains, we had breakfast at a little lodge which consisted of bacon, waffles, potatoes, cheesy scrambled eggs, avocado omelets, and coffee. After a leisurely meal we got back into the car and went to higher altitudes. We found a short trail head near the ski slopes and took Lola for a short walk where we took more photos. For me, this was a perfect beginning to the holiday season and a family ritual that I look forward to continuing. Usually, Mr. Hanky, the Christmas Poo (South Park character) gets the two of us ready for the Christmas season. Mr. Hanky is a little turd that hosts a Christmas special.

A Movie with Real Bite

I just returned from seeing Let the Right One In and it is an incredible movie. I am too tired, uninspired, and lazy to write a quality review. Basically, the film is about a bullied twelve year old boy who unknowingly befriends a vampire that has been twelve for a long time. It is a horror movie and will keep you guessing and uncomfortable throughout. The relationship that develops between Eli (vampire) and Oskar (mortal) is touching. The cinematography is also beautiful as it is shot in some sleepy, wintry suburb in Sweden. This is a foreign film and these typically do not do well in American theaters and have a tendency to disappear after about a week. Go see this. I understand that many are thinking, "that's all good and well, but all of my vampire voids are filled with the Twilight machine (books, posters, dolls, candy, stickers, t-shirts, magazines, etc.)." Do yourself a favor and check this movie out.

A Hiking We Will Go

On Saturday morning, I kissed the baby and wife and walked out the door to travel a glorious 5 minutes down the road to some mountains on the other side of the highway and into the canyons with a friend. After about a fifteen minute walk we finally passed the teenager party pits with the charred wood, beer bottles, and bullet casings and into a place that looked as untraveled a place I have ever seen. We found a interesting geologic formation where we could pull rocks out and find fossils. We found all kinds of interesting fossilized critters. With each piece of limestone that I jarred loose I couldn't help but wonder how old the dust was that I was breathing. It reminded me of a sci-fi story where I would unwittingly release some long dormant strain of nastiness that would wipe out or alter all life on earth. Let's go mutants! We then hiked up a mountain with no trail and found more fossils in the exposed rock. It was one of the more challenging hikes that I've been on lately, but also one of the more interesting. There were signs of sheep everywhere. I plan on exploring further into the canyon this weekend.

The Twilight Series

Absolutely loved the series. It only took me a few weeks to read and I am not the best or fastest of readers. Once I started a book, it was hard to stop. When I wasn't reading them, it was hard to concentrate on much else. Sounds dramatic? Yes, I know, but anyone who has read the series understands why. The movie? Go see it but READ THE BOOKS first. I can't wait for the next movie to come out and it better. The obsession? Read them and find out why. I personally love a good love story and the story line is amazing. Each book in the series is a page turner, all 600 plus pages. When I first saw how long each book was, I almost decided they were to long
(remember - not the best or fastest reader). Enough of my rantings. Go and get the books! There are worth every penny and every minute of your time.

Yesterdays

I was not sure what to expect with this years birthday. I was born November 14, 1977 and my grandmother passed away November 14, 2007. I remember getting the call from my mom. It was early in the morning and I had just gotten to work. I knew that my grandma had been in the hospital for a few days and I really was not surprised when she passed away. She was weak and tired. My first thought was that I should be with my mom in GR and hated that I lived 2000 miles away from home. My second thought was that she was alone, which thankfully, she was not. There was no question that I would be at her funeral. I was pregnant with Lola and saddened that she would never meet her great grandmother. I had become close to my grandma as I got older. When I was growing up, we took a family vacation to Iowa every year and every time we went, I would groan and ask to stay home. You see, my grandma put me to work doing chores that I did not like to do and we had to go to church on Sundays, which I hated because I was on vacation and wanted to sleep in. Grandma had rules and thou did not disobey Grandma. As I grew older, we would write letters back and forth and I would look forward to her letters in the mail. Every birthday, I would get a card and maybe $5. I have to admit that I was worried that this years birthday would be darkened by her passing, but it was one the best birthdays I have had in a long time. I miss the trips to Iowa. I miss the letters from Grandma.

Proud to be an American

Last night we gathered together with friends and watched with anticipation and hope an amazing moment in our American History. Some had tears in their eyes and others were smiling with excitement as our newly elected President Barack Obama came on stage to deliver his acceptance speech. The feelings in that room were among relief and more importantly hope for something better than this. I am not the most political person, but I have felt impacted by this election and the possibility that the United States can be better than what is has become. I know that not every one who reads our blog feels this way or even voted for Obama, but as he said last night, he is our President and it is time to unite together and begin to repair this country.

That is it for my political rant.

Mc-Splosion

My friends, "Our long national nightmare is over."

Halloween