Time Fer Some Learnin'

I found some interesting facts that could help you win on Jeopardy...

An average of 76 people a year die playing twister, and about 23 of which are through playing the nude version!

The average human will eat one pound of insects in their lifetime.

You are more likely to be killed by a rogue champagne cork than a poisonous spider.

Humans share one third of their DNA with lettuce!

Charlie Chaplin once came third in a Charlie Chaplin look-a-like competition.

Elvis Presley had a twin brother.

Zeuxis a Greek painter in the 5th Centrury BC laughed himself to death while looking at one of his paintings.

After being decapitated a human can still see for 20 seconds! (Not sure how 'they' worked this one out!).

Julio Iglesias once had five gallons of water flown from Miami to L.A. so he could wash his hair.

Michelangelo's cook was illiterate, so he drew her a shopping list, which today is priceless.

The architect who built the Kremlin had his eyes gouged our by Ivan The Terrible so that he would never be able to design another building like it.

Cher's parents married and divorced each other three times.

Volleyball is the most popular sport at nudist camps.

If you mouth the word "colorful" to someone, it looks like you are saying "I love you".

Camp Erin

Last week, I got on the Internet looking for volunteer opportunities here in Boise. I had originally been looking to find a fire lookout to work at for a month where I could take Adam. How much fun would that be! But I was too late for this year.

So, in order to make my "woefully pathetic existence" (see previous post) a little more meaningful, I found a wonderful camp that I've signed up to work in August. It's called Camp Erin and it's a 3-day grief camp for kids who've lost a family member (usually a parent). I got right on the Internet and emailed the Camp Director who sent me the application the same day. I received a call yesterday that I'll be helping with the "Challenge Course" and "Love Lights"! This is where the kids make a luminary that reflects their thoughts/memories of the person they lost and then they release them on the last night of camp over the lake. Next year, I'm going to apply early enough to hopefully be a "cabin buddy." They're the cabin leaders.

I'm really excited about this camp and know that I'll have the chance to work with some kids that will again remind me how truly blessed I am in my own life.

I found Camp Erin by doing a Google search for "Boise volunteer opportunities". Camp Erin has camps throughout the US, and if you're interested in finding a camp near you, here's their website: http://www.moyerfoundation.org/events/erin.aspx

Is My Existance Really This Woefully Pathetic?

I received an email from Sheri yesterday with an interesting bit of information.

Saran Wrap and Aluminum Foil have a little known fact about them. I have used them for years and been frustrated by rolls that fly out of the box while trying to tear off just the right amount. In fact, my roll of aluminum foil right now is without a box. I got mad and threw it away and started using the edge of the counter to tear it off the roll. Would you believe that those boxes have a design feature that prevents the roll from coming out of the box while tearing off what is needed?

On either end is a small perforated spot that has written on it "Press Here to Lock End". WHO KNEW THIS???? How long has this been here? I'm am absolutely AMAZED!

But, to answer the question on the title of this blog, the answer is evidently "NO."

As you're all aware, my blog is never without visual aids. So, while searching for a picture of Saran Wrap or Aluminum Foil on Google, I found several dozen blogs with this same wonderful information about these boxes and they were all as excited as I am! Thanks Sheri, for making my day. Now if I can just remember this wonderful information the next time I buy a box...

Going Through The Pictures On My Computer...

I'm STILL going through the pictures on my computer trying to organize them in order to get them put onto CDs so that I can get some of the memory back on my computer. Occasionally, I run across something that just amazes me or makes me think "What the hell!" when I manage to get several together that have the same theme.

So, below are some pictures that make me wonder, "Why do people end up with my underwear on their heads????"

Memorial Day...

Today, Grace called me and said, "Grama, we're going to have a picnic on the day we think about dead people. Do you want to come?" It took me a minute to figure out she was talking about Memorial Day. God I LOVE my grandkids.

Please take a minute to remember our soldiers this Memorial Day...

Looking For Mr. Right In Your 70s...

Athletic: he can get to the bathroom with a walker

Average looking: his nose and ears have only doubled in size

Free spirit: can go out to dinner if you drive

Friendship first: he can't get it up and will wait to see if its worth it to invest in viagra

Fun: loves to watch Lawrence Welk

Good looking: see average looking

Huggable: needs someone to lean on

Mature: just barely this side of death

Open minded: checks his zipper

Physically fit: can shuffle a good 10 feet without walker

Poetic: remembers jokes that start, There was a girl from Nantucket--

Stable: invested in a GOOD walker

Thoughtful: remembers your name

Looking For Mr. Right...

Someone I know... is looking for her match. I know she's always been interested in men in law enforcement so I decided to do a search for "law enforcement personal ads". This is what I found, evidently a cop had this posted on a law enforcement chat board.

What a Man's Dating Ad Really Means...

40-ish really means...
52 and looking for 25-yr-old

Athletic really means...
Sits on the couch and watches ESPN

Average looking really means...
Unusual hair growth on ears, nose, & back

Educated really means...
Will always treat you like an idiot

Free spirit really means...
Sleeps with your sister

Friendship first really means...
As long as friendship involves nudity

Fun really means...
Good with a remote and a six pack

Good Looking really means...
Arrogant

Honest really means...
Pathological Liar

Huggable really means...
Overweight, more body hair than a bear

Like to cuddle really means...
Insecure, overly dependent

Mature really means...
Until you get to know him

Open-minded really means...
Wants to sleep with your sister but she's not interested

Physically fit really means...
I spend a lot of time in front of mirror admiring myself

Poet really means...
Has written on a bathroom stall

Spiritual really means...
Once went to church with his grandmother on Easter Sunday

Stable really means...
Occasional stalker, but never arrested

Thoughtful Really means...
Says "Please" when demanding a beer.


Well this just doesn't sound real promising does it????

I Had Company Today...

See photos of the ceremony at http://www.ktvb.com/blocks/sframe.jsp?sid=http://picasaweb.google.com/ISPPhotos/IPOM2008Highlights

Last night, we held our candlelight vigil for the Peace Officers' Memorial. Afterward, the wife of our Executive Director took me aside and said, "I saw your dad standing beside you tonight." This came as quite a surprise because I had no idea she "had a gift". She told me she's not always right, and can't make it happen like others can, but she said she knows when it does happen.

This morning, after the ceremony, she handed me a piece of paper (a used envelope) and told me to read it when I had time. She said he was with me again today. She had written some notes. The notes were:

Tom Boy. Don't think of him as much as you do. He said he is "JUST FINE". He has the dog with him.

Now, I'm skeptical but I do believe some people have a gift. For those of you who don't know, no matter how bad things are, I've always said, "I'm gonna be FINE. JUST FINE!" In fact, it's now a joke with my sisters and mom. So, naturally, the part that absolutely got to me was the fact that she had written, he is "JUST FINE", in all caps and in quotes. Nothing else was written that way. The Tom Boy words, not sure what that means, but the rest sure made sense!

So, I guess dad and Smokey were at the ceremony with me today. I like that thought.

Life's Oddities...

Next year, I'm going to home-school Adam. It's through the Idaho Virtual Academy. He'll have a teacher and most of the work will be done online.

This has been a VERY long year. He hates school. We've considered maybe there's a bully, he doesn't like his teachers, or even, maybe he's just not smart enough. He's getting Cs and Ds in most of his classes.

When Adam started kindergarten, he started telling us he couldn't stand the feeling of paper, and if he had to use a pencil ON paper, well, it was really traumatic. As we all know, you can't get through school without touching paper, or reading a book (also paper), or using a pencil. So, every year from the time he was in first grade, we talked to his teachers to see if he could possibly at least use pens instead of pencils. Most weren't at all sympathetic to this unknown oddity and refused.

So, we've struggled through 8 years of school. A few weeks ago, Adam took one of his ISAT tests and was just 4 points short of "Exceeding" in that class. A class in which he has a D. I asked him why he did so well and he said it was because he got to use the computer for the test instead of having to use paper. Bingo, I had an Epiphany. I guess I had just never really understood how bad this problem was. Adam has never been able to eat off a paper plate, use a paper napkin, or a paper towel unless it was ABSOLUTELY a last resort.

When our nieces Kelly and Abbie tutored Adam in third grade because he was having such a hard time with reading, it wasn't because he couldn't read - it was because he COULDN'T read - he couldn't stand the feel of books.

So why did it take me 8 years of school to figure out how bad this problem was? We even took him to 3 different counselors last year and one did tell us that he thought this was a sign of Autism although he has no other signs of it.

I've tried looking this up on the internet under phobias and can't find a thing. Anybody have any ideas? I'm considering taking him to hypnotherapy this summer to see if we can make this more manageable. I mean, how can a person get through life if they can't touch paper or read a book???

Time For Another Elmer Fudd Story...

Yes, this actually happened...

Now don't get me wrong, I love my husband. But I have to admit, I sometimes feel a bit bad. Kate and Jacki read this blog called "Confessions of a Pioneer Woman." She's a city gal who married a cowboy and refers to him as "The Marlboro Man." Now how cute is that?

I however, have Elmer Fudd and like I said, I do feel kinda' bad calling him that but what else can I do when I have stories like this to tell.

Elmer Fudd loves being outside. It's his therapy. All the neighbors tell him he needs to get another hobby, that he shouldn't be working out in the yard all the time. (I think they're jealous of our yard). Elmer Fudd also loves his animals. I can't tell you how many times I've been reading or watching some fascinating show on tv and he comes to the door full of excitement and says "Honey, come see what the chickens are doing!" WTF??? They're chickens!!!! Ususally, it's something really exciting like they're eating the corn he just put out for them.

"Don't make me come and look at the chickens again unless they're doing the hokey pokey."

Last week, I was in the kitchen when Elmer Fudd came into the house from the backyard. I turned around to see him carrying Napoleon, one of the chickens. Before I know it, he's sitting in his recliner with that damn chicken on his lap! What the hell!!! It's a chicken for God's sake!

"Get that chicken out of the house!"
"Why? She likes being held."
"I don't care, it's a chicken and you can hold her outside if you want to hold her!" I'm beginning to feel hysterical... He pays no attention.

He's sittin' there in his chair rocking this chicken when the cat decides she wants to see what's up so she too jumps into Elmer Fudds lap.

Naturally, all hell breaks loose as the chicken realizes there's a predator within inches of her fuzzy black butt. The chicken flies off of Elmer Fudd's lap and he catches her in mid-air. We have a cat for hell sake, did he think this wasn't going to happen??

"Ok, get that damn chicken back outside!"
"Ok, ok!"

Black feathers EVERYWHERE! I can't believe I didn't take pictures before I vacuumed them up...

Awesome Picture...

In 2006, Ival and I took a great trip to Alaska with Steve and Marlette and our friends Chuck and Lowetta Beyers. Ival is usually not so good with the camera. He tends to forget to hold the button half way down in order to focus before he takes a picture. However, the picture he took below is one of the most awesome pictures I've seen. We were up high on a mountain when a float plane landed in the bay below us. One of the things I like about the picture is that it almost looks like the plane landed on snow/ice, but it's actually water. If you double click on the picture you can see it much better. I think someday I'll have an enlargement made and framed.

Mother's Day...

Isn't she gorgeous!

Relaxing...

Are they cute or what?

What a wonderful family we have...

Papa LOVES the grandkids!

Idaho Peace Officers' Memorial Ceremony

Friday is our annual ceremony honoring Idaho's Peace Officers who have died in the line of duty. This year is special because it's our 10th anniversary.

Because this is our anniversary, we're having vintage planes that will be doing a flyover.

It's also sad because this year, we're adding Officer Lee Newbill's name to the wall.

Painting Techniques I Love!

Not only do I love the paint, but they took games and put them on the wall! Clever! (I'm copying that too)


Mom and I both loved the colors in this room! It reminds me of ice cream.

I've been painting our bonus room. Mom and I went to some open houses last weekend and they had some of the coolest painting techniques so I copied one. Not done yet, but this will give you an idea. I'll post some of the other rooms they did in the next day or two.

Boo Hoo Hoo...

Bruce (our accountant and my brother-in-law) just pissed all over my parade. He said the price was way too high since the property is protected and can't be subdivided. (see previous post) He said $400,000 would be reasonable. God I hate reasonable people...

Ok, I Know What You're Thinking...

I know, this is DEFINITELY a hillbilly idea, but here goes...

Ival and I have decided it would be so cool to open up the Wall Tent Cafe. Much like Bogus Creek Outfitters, but on a smaller scale. We want to find a small piece of property to lease (best if it were near Hidden Springs) and put up a wall tent where we can serve dinner on Saturday and Sunday night. There would be no "menu", there would be a specific dinner that you have no choice but to eat! We would only be able to probably serve 10-16 people so it would be on a reservation basis. All of the cooking would be done in Dutch ovens and cast iron skillets. In the summer, we'd have tables outside, in the winter, we'd heat with a stove and have to put up an additional tent for seating. We'd start with just summer to see how it went.

I think we could get tons of publicity when we first open since there's nothing else like it (anywhere that I know of). So girls, what are your thoughts? Would you go to a place like that to eat just for something different? I called the County, and it wouldn't be that hard to get started, just have to find a place to do it. Do you think this is weird or could it be done? Be honest!

Miss Allie

There is a new post about Miss Allie but for some reason, it's below the sheep post. So scroll down and check out Miss Allie!

Life Really Is Good!

I remember every year, as a kid growing up in Garden Valley, waking up one morning in May to the sound of bells. Not church bells or anything like that, we lived 5 miles out of town and only had two neighbors. We'd jump out of bed to watch the annual migration of the sheep. Hundreds, if not thousands of them, ambling up Alder Creek with the lead ewes wearing bells and the hundreds of others following behind. The whole family enjoyed watching this yearly ritual and it will always bring back such fond memories of the best childhood anyone could have had...




Now, every year, the sheep come through the valley on their way to their summer range here at Hidden Springs. Today, there were thousands of sheep along the grassy hillside just below us. Yea, they're just sheep, but I love the idea that there are still Basque herders (there were two of them) who don't speak a word of English, that still live in those awesome wagons and continue doing things almost the exact same way that their families have done for years. Life really is good.

Miss Allie

Adam calls her Albert, kinda cute! She was born early and was SO tiny! She had to stay in the hospital for several days but she was so worth the wait. Allie has quite the personality. She's very independant yet so loving and gets quite a kick out of herself when she does something silly. At this point in her life, she lives for food. The first thing she does when she gets to our house is to go "shopping" in the pantry. She gets REALLY mad if she picks something I know she won't like and I won't give it to her.

Eating again...

Allie and Jacki (she's such a good mom!)

There's nothing better than grandkids, they are truly the love of my life!

Timmy Terrific !

I'm finishing my blogs on the family and Tim is my next victim!

I'll never forget the first time Jacki brought Tim home. OOOOOOOhhhhhh, he was cute! She had been having a hard time with an old boyfriend and I thought Tim was just awesome. It was evident that he was respectful and responsible. Jacki brought Tim home for lunch one day, and it was about the third time he had been over. They were watching one of Jacki's shows on tv about weddings and he told her "When I get married, I know I'm going to cry." Well, we were extremely lucky and he married our Jacki! And he DID cry - all the way down the aisle and during the entire ceremony. He was SUCH a handsome groom!

Tim and his dad before the wedding...

Here he is sleeping while Jacki was in the hospital in labor - he did wake up for the hard stuff...

And here he is with the finished product - our wonderful Miss Allie!

We're SO blessed to have him as part of our family. We love you Tim!