More Thoughts on Walking

Thought #1:Waking up

Many years ago, when Elizabeth first came up with the sadistic idea of walking at 5 a.m., I didn't think it would last. But it did.

A year or so after that, I thought I would eventually reach a point where getting up that early would get easier. But it hasn't.

It still takes me a huge amount of time and a significant amount of cussing to drag myself out of bed after the alarm goes off on weekdays. On weekends, however,  when I could sleep in, I wake up wide awake hours before the alarm goes off. I think my newly developed inability to sleep in might be some sort of masochistic response my body has come up with to punish me for subjecting it to all of those early mornings.

Thanks, Liz.

Thought #2: Back to Nature

When the weather got cold sometime around November, my intrepid walking buddy and I started walking/stair-running/ramp climbing inside my junior high.

After I got back from my spring break adventure, Diane and I went back to walking outside. We prefer walking outside for a variety of reasons, including...
1)The beautiful stars
2) The fresh, non-8th-grader-scented air
3) The fact that, if there happens to be inclement weather, we can take it as a heavenly sign that we are supposed to go back to bed. We LOVE inclement weather. A lot.

Thought #3: Skunks

The only problem with walking outside is the skunks, or more specifically, my fear of getting skunk-ta-fied by a surprised critter early in the morning. Over the past week and a half, on four non-consecutive days, the air in my neighborhood (the neighborhood in which we walk) has had a distinctive skunk-funk going on. I know the skunks are there somewhere. Waiting. And it freaks me out.

Thought #4: Patterns

Elizabeth walked with me for over three years, and then she married Ratha.

Then Krystal walked with me for a couple of years, and now she is engaged to Reed.

Coincidence? I think not.

What I am having trouble figuring out, however, is what my newest walking buddy (Krystal's sweet mom)  is going to get out of the deal.

I mean, Diane is already married to a very nice bishop and even has an assortment of grand kids, so what prize will she find at the end of the early morning walking rainbow?

My money is on a call to a mission presidency. But don't tell Diane. I'm not sure that is a blessing that is will be wanting in the next couple of years, and it's not easy to find someone who is willing to get up so early for a walking/talk therapy session.

Especially when we have been blessed with so little inclement weather.

Now, if you will excuse me, I need to pray for rain and then hit the sack.

What I've Been Doing...

Finishing this year's yearbook, outlining next year's book, and picking a new yearbook staff.
Trying to get the kidlets ready for the ISAT.

Planning, filming, and editing a 13 minute video to show at the sixth grade orientation.

Missing Brady and Mia (and Brianna and Spencer) .

Going to some library meetings... and not going to other library meetings.

Creating "records" for the High Priests' dinner centerpieces.

And giving a 20 minute talk on "The Strength of a Woman" to a group of twenty three Methodist women, two Baptist ladies, and one Relief Society sister. How did I end up giving a 20 minute talk on "The Strength of a Woman" to a group of twenty three Methodist women, two Baptist ladies, and one Relief Society sister?

That is an excellent question.

And when I figure it out, I will let you know.

Souvenirs

I have been back from Buffalo for almost a week, but only just got around to unpacking.

Jenny and I came home with a lot of memories, and a few souvenirs.

Souvenirs like "signatures" of the Book of Mormon, printed in the Grandin Building in Palmyra. And dog hair from my furry niblets in Buffalo.

Souvenirs like Bills shirts...

...and earrings from Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.

All with slight sprinklings of Brady-hair.

O Canada! I brought home a good many souvenirs from that lovely country too.

And Mia sent some of her fur back to Idaho too. Isn't she sweet?

Brianna also schooled me in the magical ways of the underwater, color-changing, night-lighty thingies so impressed me in her and Spence's home.

It's it awesome! And a little bit hairy. But mostly awesome!

To tell you the truth, finding dog hair on assorted items over the last week has made me smile. I miss Brady and Mia desperately.

Almost as much as I miss their parents.

Thanks again for a great trip. You are all welcome in my cute little cow town any time!

Spring Break Update: Travels within a Journey

We have been doing so much and having such a good time, I kind of got behind on my posting. Following in my sister's photo-collage footsteps, here are some shots from our weekend adventures...

Saturday was Canada day as I was able to visit my much-loved mission land and Jenny was able to leave the country for the first time in her life. We spent the afternoon touring around our neighbor to the north, and then played around in Buffalo that evening. As with most H* family outings, food played a staring role. We picked up a nice supply of candy

in Canada (along with Tim Horton's Cocoa and more Timbits) and had some great meals in Orchard Park and Buffalo. Spence and Brianna introduced us to the original Pancake House, then we followed in the footsteps of Guy from Dinners, Drive-ins, and Dives to have Cheeseburger Soup at Grovers.
It was wet and cold when we got to the falls in the early afternoon, but we all dried out when the sun made a late afternoon appearance. Besides revisiting the top of the falls, Brianna got us tickets for a tour of the tunnels BEHIND the falls. It was pretty awesome.

We also had some non-water-fall-related excitement. First, the GPS kept trying to kill us by directing us into the lake and on-coming traffic, and then Spencer was attacked by a Timbit-loving seagull. He gave the bird two Timbits, but the feathered freak swallowed them whole.

If you look at the dumb bird's throat, you can see the outlines of the two round timbits in its throat.

We did some shopping while we were there, mostly for candy that you can't get in the US, but also for some other souvenirs. I had a lot of fun looking at the items commemorating the War of 1812, that the Canadians are under the impression that they won.


The next day was devoted to Church History. We visited the Palmyra Temple, then took the tour of the Smith Family farm.
It was a wet, rainy day, but that didn't stop us from taking a long walk through the sacred grove. Since the first vision happened in early spring, it felt very authentic and, even without all of the leaves, it was beautiful and amazing.

We also had time to visit and tour the Book of Mormon publication site and the Hill Cumorah. Our visit to Cumorah was brief, thanks to a poorly timed hail storm, but it was the capstone to a wonderful day of walking where the Prophet Joseph walked.

For more prolific collages, check out Jenny's blog:

Canada Click Here

Palmyra Click Here

Spring Break, Buffalo Style

A few weeks ago, during their spring break, Spencer and Brianna visited Idaho. While they were here, I got to show Spencer where I work. On Friday, Spencer returned the favor. Hello Ralph Wilson Stadium!

My little brother, the keeper of the keys to the kingdom...

I chose to hang out in enemy territory,

... while Jenny went right for the promised land: The Bill's Locker Room.

I followed and spent some time in #14's locker.

... and checked to make sure his game jersey had been properly laundered.

Then we ran (ok, we didn't so much run as we did walk, but whatever) down the ramp into the stadium.

My cute little cowtown could fit in this stadium over seven times. The whole town. Over seven times.

This is the closest I will ever get to front row seats...

Jenny preferred to stay on the sidelines and exercise her inner-cheerleader.

At the 50 yard line...

I have to admit that Spencer has a pretty cool job.

And he must be doing a pretty darn good job because they signed him to a contract extension a year before his old contract was up.

That night, we visited Brianna at her "office". She is getting yet another advanced degree so she is in class/surgery during the day and works as a helicopter flight nurse at night.

Brianna was kind enough to let us try out the night vision goggles and hang out in the air ambulance.

Yes, my brother works for the NFL and my sister-in-law is a superhero who literally flies around saving lives. I have an awesome family.
For all of the day's photos, check out Jenny's blog... Stadium and Mercy Flight HERE