I've Overcome, But This is Gross

For those 2 or 3 people that read my post, remember this one: PoopIssue

Well this morning I pretty much overcame that I believe. At 5 or may be it was 4 A.M. I awoke this morning with one thought in my mind...I am going to puke soon. I laid in bed and listened as BF slept soundly next to me. I tried not to move too much. At 5:53 A.M. I moved quarters into the bathroom. I slapped the pillow next to the toilet because when I puke I pass out and bang my head around. Not bad on carpet, but tile sucks.

I laid on the floor with blanket and actually asked to puke rather than lie in wait. My stomach was bloated and I was generously realizing the bloat. At some point...ok this going to get a little gross...I sat down upon the toilet and pretty much vomited liquid out my ass. I am not kidding you when I say this went on for about 20 minutes straight.

And then I felt it...in a short time I would be vomiting out both ends at the same time. I reached for the trashcan because the bathtub was just too far over to reach without shooting whatever liquid was coming from the other end onto the wall.

Remember I pass out when I puke. In years before, I have passed out and seized or passed out and continued to throw up. When I was a child, I would yell for my daddy. While in college (and not puking from drinking) I would call a friend to come over and hang out for the day. There have been times when I have passed out for hours. So little to say, I enjoy some company to make sure things come out alright, no pun intended.

I screamed BF's name as the first wave of vomit exited my mouth. And he came running in the bathroom immediately. Remember, I am still on the toilet having vomit ass as well. He didn't hestitate when I asked for the glass of water and a wash cloth. I was shaking. And he warmed the water before giving me the wash cloth. When I felt I was going to be ok, I said I was ok and he went back to lay in bed until I gather my composure to face him.

We laid in bed for a while and I told him to go back to sleep. I went back to the bathroom to vomit out my ass. I hate being sick. Now, I enjoy taking naps every day, but that is my choice to lay in bed. I hate it when I have to lay in bed and completely still.

And right now, I hate it more than ever because I have been away from BF for 5 days and tomorrow we both drive separate ways for another 10 days. We see each other on the 9th and then I fly to Another State on the 10th and will be gone for approximately a week.

Anyway, I think I have overcome the pooping issue. I mean as my friend, Booby, said when I told him about it "now that is true love". And it is because I have been waited on all day and I am not milking it. Ok, may be a little I am.

The Long, But Beautiful Drive Back

I awoke this morning at what I thought was 630am. I didn't realize it was really 730 until I flipped open the phone. I had to stop at the lab for some routine blood work and to pee in a cup and then it would be a relaxing 5 hour drive to Moab.

I stopped to gas up and get something to eat because I had just fasted for 12 hours. I went inside to pay and when I returned heard this noise. I can't even describe it, but when I realized where it was coming from I decided I should stop it. The guy on the other side of my pump left his nozzle unattended and it was overflowing considerably. I moved over and clicked it off just as he came around the vehicle from where he was sitting and went to grab it. All I could think of was static electricity and he was going to be on fire shortly. Thank goodness it didn't happen. He then continued to fill up his tank. I was dumbfounded. And when I told the cashiers inside they put kitty litter on it. Bet that stuff masks the smell.

I headed out on the open road. Ever feel like you are the only person on the road even though people are flying by you? And then when someone does something stupid, you think 'that person thinks he/she is the only person out here'.

The weather was a little dreary, but nonetheless beautiful in its own rite. The sky was quilted with clouds as well as down balls preparing to make more quilts. The blue was scattered around and it was the most vivid light blue I've seen in a long time. The red rocks were not shining and glowing the awesome red, but they had another hue that was just as nice.

I came around the corner outside of Kayenta and viewed an Indian ruin I had not seen before. And then Tsegi canyon which always leaves me breathless and saying 'I want to hike up there'. Unfortunately, it is not allowed. I stopped in Kayenta for a drink at Sonic because they have crushed ice and I am addicted to crushed ice. Instead of turning on 163, I drove straight. The Navajo hitchhiker I had picked up asked if I had been through that way and I said only in the dark. He said you need to do it when it is light out and he was correct. There was so much I had not seen before. Normally in Kayenta I gas up, but today I decided not to. It is always when you play it close that the gas gauge drops considerably quicker than normal.

As I was driving through Bluff, I noticed a cemetery on top of a hill. Bluff is a very old and historic Mormon town of Utah so I turned around and decided to stretch my legs with the dead. I will tell you that the dead have a beautiful view of the valley. And just down from them is an Indian ruin with a great Kiva. I wonder if the whites and reds meet up each night to tell stories of the old days. Would I love to be there for those stories! I had no idea that the ruin was there so I need to go back sometime and check it out with the tour. Tour only, which doesn't mean stupid people don't clamor around there anyway. The oldest grave I found was 1820, Nelson, and he was one of the founding individuals that was sent out to find the place. There was also an individual who had participated in the Mexican War of 1846. MexicanWar and TheView

And that got me to thinking, if he wouldn't have fought, I might not be living in Utah. And I wondered where I would be living. I would probably still be back in Iowa. And heck if it weren't for the Mormons who fought during that time then Utah might not be Utah. Interesting to ponder no matter where you live.

I drove on at the speed limit because from Bluff to Moab the UHP and Sheriff are a plenty. I stopped in Blanding for gas and then traveled past over 500 storage sheds toward Monticello. Wonder why I included the storage sheds. The Mormons stop pile a year's supply of food. And I think that is what is in those storage sheds. The town only has like 3000 people.

In Monticello, I had a blue pickup pass me probably doing 50 miles an hour in a 30. And then shortly thereafter a blue car passed me. I was doing 80 at the time because I have to speed up going down the hills to get the Rocket up the hills. I smiled because I knew that at least one if not both would be pulled over at some point before Moab. I was also going through my mind how I was going to handle the accident they were most likely going to cause. The blue car was pulled over about 20 miles outside of Moab and upon reaching Moab another officer was pulled over on the side of the road. I assumed he was finishing up the ticket of the blue pickup.

Coming down the hill into the valley, I had to pull over to the side of the road because white car was driving in my lane. The crazy thing is that she really didn't correct the action, but just kept driving in my lane. I have done it. Looking at something in the distance, hell minutes before I had done it looking at a tree, but I always put up my hand like sorry I was being an idiot. Nothing. Just casual as can be. I just let it slide.

I am home now and the weather is just beautiful. I have already started laundry and repacking because I am leaving on the 30th for Vegas. I hope every one has a wonderful New Year Eve and New Years. Be safe. FullMoon

Traditions of Christmas-What's yours?

As the post below said, I drove from Moab to Phoenix. My sisters all live in Phoenix and that is where we usually meet for Christmas. For one, it is warm there. I mean Christmas day was 65 degrees and no wind chill factor. (That is a family joke).

On I-17 there is a location where I love the tradition that comes into view during that drive. Someone, and no one has any idea who, has a tradition of decorating a large juniper tree every year. One day it isn't, the next day it is. No one knows who does it. There is speculation. But I think not knowing is the excitement of seeing it during the drive. And it has become a tradition for people to go with their families up to the tree each year. Just to view it. As I drove down this year I thought, geez, what if they didn't decorate it this year. And what happens--is it passed down from generation to generation? I hope to continue to see it every year that I do that drive.

So what is your tradition?

There are many traditions and some I don't know if they are traditions. First, we make butter cookies and frost them. I think they are better frosted. And then you freeze them. BF thought I was crazy until he tasted one and then realized I was right. (Well, I am female.) But we've made butter cookies from as long as I can remember. When my nephew and I would make them, if we broke them during frosting, we got to eat them. A lot of them got broken.

Again, what is your Christmas family tradition?

Happy New Year

This morning I left Moab, UT and headed south to Phoenix. It is about a 7 hour drive, a little more with gas ups and short stops to pick up the Navajo hitch hikers. This drive, 466.5 miles, is through some of the most beautiful country of Utah and Arizona. And it was during these approximately 7 hours and 466.5 miles that I had quite a bit of time to reflect and think. Between flipping through my XM stations and the beauty of the land, I reflected about my life, but there was one thought that kept coming through my mind...

No matter how difficult your year was. No matter how far in debt you went. No matter how much weight you gained. No matter how much time you spent in depression. No matter how difficult your life seemed. No matter how old you turned this year. Primarily, no matter what...it can't be that terrible because you are alive to read this. And I am not saying that this is going to be some grand writing. What I am saying is that you are alive. So you accomplished something great.

You made it another year. So somehow you are smarter. Somehow you are brighter. Somehow you are wiser. Somehow you survived. And so I congratulate you and welcome you to another year. Have a Happy New Year.

Christmas Time Blahs

I hate Christmas time. I am a major scrooge. Most of all I hate Christmas music. Every place plays it from telephone recorders to stores. It drives me insane. And I don't know why, but I just hate it.

Christmas got different for me I suppose after I learned the truth. But I doubt it. We have 6 siblings. And some of them have children. So once we got of age (18 in my book), we all started drawing names. Then we would just buy for one person. But it got stupid--Hey what do you want? It was nothing about thoughfulness or giving. Then we went to the theme Christmas--PJs one year and sports equipment the next. It got too difficult to make up themes so we gave those up as well. Now we barely do anything for each other. The nieces and nephews under 18 still get something. I went simple this year and they all received gift cards.

My family (sisters and b-i-ls) did start adopting a family every year. Someone that needed more than we did. Hell, we didn't even celebrate Christmas anymore in my book. I believe once they decided instead of just sponsoring a family for Christmas to sponsor the family for the entire year. In my book, this is what Christmas is all about. They still do it every year. Sometimes I participate, sometimes I don't. It really has to do with my job situation. This year things are not going well for me so I didn't participate, but I know they did.

I head to Phoenix on Wednesday for the warmth and Christmas time. We will spend the Eve at one sisters. Sometimes we theme that as well for the dinner. And then Christmas day at my other sister house. Open present, eat butter cookies, eat dinner, and play games and croquet until 4am. Doesn't sound bad does it.

I decided to make my annual calendar this year. I put everyone's birthdays on it and a photo or more. This year because of money, it was only one page. One year, I filled the entire calendar with photos of me. I thought it was a good idea. But I also made a little gift box of lotion, bubble bath, and soap. Good stuff. The boxes came out pretty good I think. But it was the throught of GIVING.

I suppose if I had children I would be may be more into it, but I don't. So I am a scrooge at Christmas. The thing I am going to enjoy the most is hitting the movies on Christmas Day with family. And we aren't even Jewish.

Everyone have a great holiday. I will no matter what because the weather I sure is going to be better than it is right now.

From a Dog's Point of View

I woke up this morning and yawned a loud one to wake up the two legged creatures sleeping in the comfortable place above me. It took several tries before I was able to get one of them out of the comfortable place and take me outside. The one creature often stays in the comfortable place for a few more hours and sometimes returns there after our walk. Anyway, the creature that got up, I'll call it boy, forgot to feed me before boy left for where ever he goes each morning.

Finally, the other creature, named girl, got up and sat down on that stupid chair and started looking at that blank screen. I went back and forth from the room that holds my food to her, but she didn't get the clue that may be I was hungry. I eventually gave up because she just wasn't getting it. I looked outside and could tell it was a great day and wondered why the hell I had to be cooped up inside all day. Build the damn fence so I can play in the backyard all day two-legged creatures.

Finally, girl got up and took off something to put something else on. She put those things on her feet and I knew then we were at least headed outside. About arfing time. Finally she told me to get in the thing that moves and I jumped right in. Unknown to the two-legged creatures, I played them up big time for a while pretending I couldn't jump into the vehicle so they would have to lift me. Sometimes I still try it, but they got smart and won't allow me to. I was placed in the backseat which I normally get to ride in the front. Bitch.

We drove through town and stopped at the same damn places we stopped yesterday. We go to the same place each day except Sunday. She goes in and comes right back out. Sometimes with things, sometimes without. And as we drive, she talks to me like I am going to answer her back. "Do you want to go for a walk?" Well, yes stupid I want to go for a walk every damn day. Finally, we are headed to where I want to go. Canyon

This is one of my favorite places to explore because it has water the entire way and I can splash and run around in it. Water When I get wet I go insane and run in circles real fast. Anyway, we went to the M. Creek. I get to stay off the leash unless another person is coming or I get in trouble (which I did today). She kept calling my name to stay in view, but there was too much to explore. And why should I wait for her, she should keep up with me.

She insisted on crossing over to the left and going up that canyon today. We crossed over eventually and then had to come right back around. Unfortunately she didn't fall in the water because that would have been damn funny. So we went up the right fork as usual, but we went a lot farther this time. And that is when I got in trouble because I wasn't staying in her eyesight just in case people came. Anyway, I was only on the leash for a short while and it taught me to stay close. If I got too far ahead where I couldn't see the slower two-legged creature, I waited until I could and then went on. Why they went to walking on two legs is beyond me. You can go much faster on four legs. Four legs ruled way before two. Waterfall

She kept stopping to take photos, whatever the heck those are, and occasionally made me stop for her to take one of me. We finally finished up the hike and the two two-legged creatures finally put together I hadn't eaten. So we came home and I was finally fed. I am currently resting my wet body on their clothes on the floor. It sure is warmer this way. Rockforms and Deadtree and Snowmtn and another snowmtn

I wonder if they will remember my dinner tonight and take me for another walk tomorrow. Wish me arf!

I Long For Warmth

I look out the window and see the backyard spectacled with whiteness. And then I look further or is it farther out across the backyard to the cliff face in the distance and see it blanketed with whiteness. The sun is barely shining on the cliff face. I haven't been outside yet today, but making an assumption, which is strictly against the Four Agreements, I would say it is cloudy. At some godly (do you capitalize it when you are using it in that form) hour this morning, I took out the dog to the freezing rain. Thank goodness BF's body temperature is 900 degrees so I had something to warm myself up again. The high today is supposed to be 41 and the low 31. Not much of a change, but enough for me to complain and bitch. If you read Green you might come away with that he doesn't like the cold. But who the hell does like 3 degrees. My real question is was that really the temperature or did he make it up. (That is an inside joke with us). I leave tomorrow to head to Phoenix.

THURSDAYHi: 64°Lo: 46°Sunny

FRIDAYHi: 68°Lo: 52°Sunny

SATURDAYHi: 75°Lo: 54°Sunny

SUNDAYHi: 75°Lo: 53°Sunny

Yea, I think I am going to hate those temperatures. NOT! (Remember when that was such a cool word). I am going to be able to go out of the house without 12 shirts, 2 of those long underwear, 3 jackets, 5 pairs of gloves, 16 socks, and a stocking cap. As you might notice, my body temperature is not 900 degrees. I have lived in the desert for so long that I think I am part snake and should hibernate in the winter. My BF doesn't understand why I sleep all day---well besides being clinically depressed---it is a lot warmer in the bed.
I look at the temperatures above in purple. Several things stand out...

1. SUNNY times 4
2. The low is higher than our high
3. SUNNY times 4
4. 75 degrees
5. SUNNY times 4

BF might be driving back to Utah by himself. I mean hey I am not working so I really don't have to get back to anything right away. I might just stay in the warmth. Unfortunately, my sister rented out my room to another family member so I guess I will come back to the cold, which will be even colder at SUNNY 75 degree temperatures.

December 7th

I used to work at a juvenile detention center when I lived in Phoenix. I worked in a specialized unit of the facility instead of the normal units. We dealt with substance abuse issues during the week and repeat and first time offenders during the weekends. During the day, the juveniles were taken out of the facility for community service projects, educational trips, and once a week we went to the Federal Prison. Sometimes one of the members of the afternoon crew would go with the group.

On December 7, 2000 Dave and I would be the ones accompanying the juveniles to the prison. When we arrived at the prison, we were met by Chuck who would usher us into the prison visitor area. As we had walked into the prison, we noticed their flag was flying at half-mast. Dave asked Chuck if they had an officer killed? Chuck said no, why? And Dave responded that their flag was lowered. It was one of those moments where 'here is your sign' is kind of appropriate it. Chuck said 'it is Pearl Harbor Day. OUCH!

I told that to another colleague and said I was never going to forget December 7th again in my life. The following year on December 7th that colleague called me. She started with small talk and then asked me what the day was? I said I have no idea and what was she talking about. She threw 'here is your sign' in my face again.

However, these days I don't forget December 7th because our country might be a little different if those men and women would not have sacarficed their lives. And so I thank them not only on December 7th, but on every day that I wake up.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN

Pop Rocks-Strawberry Flavored

I remember the first time I really tried the pop rocks. I was somewhere between the fourth and sixth grade. Ok, so I don't remember the exact date, but it was when I was in elementary school. I do remember the first time I put them in my mouth and kissed someone else with them in his mouth. I remember exactly where I was and remember it like it was yesterday. I was in sixth grade.

And the cool thing to do back then was to go to the Roller Palace which was this open air skating rink. We would often sneak out and head to the mini-mart up the street for candy and stuff. Why? Not real sure because it was all sold right there. I remember sneaking out back to make out and almost always getting caught.

Wow, life was different back then. It was fun and peaceful and we didn't have to worry about getting into a fight and then being shot later that evening.

Anyway, I was sitting near the bathroom over in a corner and I put the pop rocks in my mouth. I can't remember the flavor, but I would say probably strawberry once again. I remember Sean Bard, who is likely in jail these days put them in his mouth as well. And then we kissed. I really don't remember the whole outcome of the experiment.

But after giving pop rocks another experiment last night I am sure it didn't really work back in sixth grade either. Being in my sixth life and a bit older and more experience in the world of kissing, we gave pop rocks a try last night. As adults you can use your imagination. My father reads this site so I am not going to go into detail.

I will tell you that it was fun, but it is an experiment I don't recommend. There were pop rocks everywhere and they were stuck to everything. I am sure for the next week we will be finding them even though we changed the sheets.

I live by the motto: don't knock it until you have tried it. I tried it and although fun I don't ever need to try it again.

Another Use of Malox

Do you know of a use of Malox other than for stomach relief? Let me know...

Well here is mine. In 2003, I started having some issues with my toenail. There is a post here that talks about it in 2004...Taking off the Edge. Anyway, in May 2003 I had hangnails removed, a toenail removed, and numerous shots. To be exact in a week and half, I had 18 shots between my head and toe. They were IVs, pain killers, and antibiotics. On the 18th shot, I believe I almost started crying because I had been poked so much. And let me tell you, it wasn't a poking I enjoyed.

Along with the shots, I started taking antibiotics and painkillers orally via pills. All that torment on my body took some terrible affect on my inners and decided food wasn't necessary. And if I did happen to get some food into my body then it would immediately come out via my ass.

And so an adult diaper rash appeared. I went to the clinic, which was run by friends because I was a million miles from civilization and PQ told me that one of them could look at it. I said I didn't think one of my friends was going to bend me over and look at my butthole. So she gave me some diaper rash ointment and told me to rub it on there.

I think it got worse. It was constantly moist and so it was just keeping it from getting better. I passed by the clinic one morning going to work and PQ and Shane were sitting there. PQ asked how it was going and I said not getting any better. Shane suggested taking Malox. Now not drinking it, but taking some on my hand and placing it in my butt crack. Oh great. PQ again suggested they could do it and I again said I would be happy to do it myself.

So I tried it out and guess what...it worked. It cleared up the next day. So again I was passing the clinic on my way to work and PQ asked how it was going. I said I was all better. She said so it worked. I said yes, but I got this minty flavor in my mouth.

She almost fell off her chair she was laughing so hard.

For those gullible folks, I didn't get that flavor in my mouth. But it works. Why? Because instead of staying moist it dries and heals up the problem. Be advised that this is not a known medical cure and should be tried only if you are willing not to sue me.

All Aboard The Unsinkable Titanic

I stepped up to the bottom of the gangplank. The attendant handed me my boarding pass. I am Mrs. Coutts and I was traveling with my two young sons, William and Leslie. I am 36 years old. My husband has finally earned enough money in the States to send for us. To save us money I bought Third Class tickets. And we walked up the gangplank to the Unsinkable Titanic to start our new life in America. And so my journey began.

When we returned from Costa Rica, we went and listened to a gentleman talk about his involvement in the Titanic Exhibit. He has been able to go down and view the ship up close and personal. He also told us some of the little facts about artifacts that have been retrieved and are on show at different places. He also brought some pieces to allow us to view and touch. I didn't touch any of it because I felt like it was touching the dead. Anyway, one story in particular stands out in my mind. During one of their trips to the bottom of the sea, they brought up a leather satchel. When they opened up the satchel they were hit with an overwhelming smell of perfume. In the satchel was several little sample bottles of perfume that a gentleman was taking to America to sell. And the end of the talk, we were given discount tickets and we made the decision to head to the exhibit in Salt Lake City.

And so I climbed aboard the ship and set out on my journey. What would America hold for me? For us? I walked into the rooms and looked at all the artifacts that were on display. There were parts of the ship like the portholes, wrenches, and such. There was a model of the ship. And I imagined walking along the decks and watching Europe disappear and waiting to see the Statue of Liberty.

Out of the first room and into a hallway. A hallway that resembled a hallway that would be seen on the ship. A set of doors that I had the thought of wanting to open and wondering what room would be behind them. A complete sense that I was actually on the ship. I was taking a walk in time. The date was April 10, 1912. I had no idea that in 5 days the ship, the unsinkable ship, would sink.

I was able to walk through the boiler room and see faces of the men who had worked there. One touched me particularly as he looked to be just entering his teenage years. And I doubt that he made it. There was such a great amount of coal on the ship and so much barely moved the ships. Quite a few of the passengers were only traveling on the Titanic because there was a coal strike and the other ships were docked. Tell you what, if I was a coal striker back then, I would feel horrible in a sense.

I looked over the jewelry that was found. There was a quite a bit of money as well. And items that were in leather including the leather were in good shape because leather's process of tanning keeps the microorganisms from eating away the leather. And then I came to the leather satchel and the perfume bottles. At the same time a woman stepped next to me with a strong amount of perfume on and I was overtaken with emotion.

I walked by the gates to the Third Class deck as well as a room where I would have stayed with my two young boys. I had placed my boys in the beds and was sitting in my own bunk thinking about being reunited with my husband in America. I was awoken at 1140 PM by a loud noise. We were to grab our lifejackets and prepare to leave the ship.

I walked by the iceberg and touched it with my hand. It was quite cold. And then I stepped upon Lifeboat 2 with my two children. We watched the ship sink at 220 AM on April 15, 1912.

Mrs.Coutts

Obviously some of it is my own thoughts as I walked through the Titanic Exhibit. If you have a chance to be able to walk through one, I highly recommend it. One question I had for the gentleman that did the talk was whether items found with information of the owners were returned to their heirs. He told me that they are when possible. One lady asked for her Great or Grandfather's watch and then when she passed away had it in her will that it was given back.

Again, if you get a chance, take the walk.

Comb Wash Drive

We piled into the vehicle, kids and dog, and headed out of town. We are new to this dog thing because we forgot the dog's dish and food. We knew we would be well beyond the time frame for her nightly feeding. But she survived.

Our mission or adventure of the day was to drive down Comb Wash which butts up against Comb Ridge. The ridge is huge and before the roads were blasted in, crossing it must have been a nightmare. And according to Mormon history it was. Thank goodness for progress and dynamite.

We stopped in Blanding and grabbed some grub and then headed to the turn off. Once leaving the paved highway and entering the cottonwoods of Comb Wash, we stopped to let the children and dog play and pee. This would be our routine for the rest of the day. Drive a little, explore a little, pee a little, drive, etc.

To the west of Comb Ridge is Cedar Mesa. And Cedar Mesa is covered with Indian ruins so we figured that we might find some things as well. And we did. As we were rambling down the road, Benny was sitting in the very back because Jenna had taken over the back seat and he asked to pull over by this pile of rocks that had a road leading to them so him and his friend D-child could scramble. And there upon the rocks were several places of rock art. The name Curly was also scribed there which was a cowboy were ran with the Robber's Roost Gang (previous story). We also found a small granary there. And this would also be our routine as we drove down the road. Anytime there was a road off to the left, we decided there had to be something at those pile of rocks. And every time except one (which we didn't even get out to explore so there could have been) we found Indian remnants.

The next pile of rocks held some pretty interesting rock art. And as I stood there and looked at each thing, I ponder what the hell were they trying to tell me. I mean the elk (deer), bighorn, and snakes are pretty simple to figure out. Sometimes it is questioned whether the squiggly things that we think are snakes are actually canyons, but none the less what does all the rock art mean? Alien? The boys or dog didn't give a crap about any of it because they immediately headed over to the rocks and scrambled around. Which was fine to me because they weren't home playing stupid video games. Rockart

We loaded back into the vehicle, which became quite the chore with the dog. She can jump onto the couch and bed no problem, but hell no can she jump into a vehicle. Where she chose to sit was also an issue because she prefers comfort like the back seat rather than the hard back of the vehicle. She is no dummy. And then we arrived at the next road and the next pile of rocks. There didn't appear to be anything there, but BF saw a trail so we followed it and hit jackpot. We found pottery, handle, rockart, and another granary. We spent a great deal of time here. There was so much to look at. We also found another room which looked out at the place where most of the pottery and rock art was located. And the boys had a good time checking out all the pottery and of course crawling all over the rocks.

While the children and dog and I were waiting for BF to come back we all sat on this rock. Another place the dog had no problem jumping onto. When BF walked up, it was of course a perfect photograph opportunity. The dog went berserk. But she was barking and snarling at BF to the point that it was a little scary. But we finally did the photo taken and finally lifted her fat ass back into the vehicle. I have to say though she is a smart one as she learned how to drink out of a Nalgene bottle.

A little ways down the road, we came to another left hand road and drove down it, but didn't get out. Didn't look like anything was there so we drove on to a little cabin down the road. Nothing much to it but a fence, cabin, trough, and an outhouse. The boys didn't quite understand why it didn't have a toilet in it. We had to explain that sometimes it was just a hole in a board. And that JC Penny catalog pages were often the toilet paper. cabin. Look close you might see a ghost from the past in the cabin... photo

We finally hit pavement and it was time for the boys to switch seats with the dog. It would prove quite difficult to do. As you can tell by the photo it wasn't something that was that easy to do. We had to bribe her with a wheat thin. We entered the paved road, drove through the blasted part of Comb Ridge, and then turned off the dirt again on to Butler Wash Road. We were now on the east side of Comb Ridge which is also lined with ruins and the Indian's past. As we traveled along the road battling the last of daylight, we noticed several places that held beautiful ruins. However they would require hiking to see up close and personal so we planned for another day to explore and adventure.

As we hit Highway 95 for the second time that day, I glanced back at the ridge. I felt that I had just taken a drive through history and walked with the spirits. They showed me things of their past and shared with me the feeling of living in the fields and on the cliffs. And as I looked back at the ridge, I saw a silhouette on the ridge top wave saying good-bye, but don't be a stranger, visit often.

The rest of the Photos

My first thoughts about the election...

Cpl. Roberto Abad, Sgt. Michael D. Acklin II, Spc. Genaro Acosta, Pfc. Steven Acosta, Capt. James F. Adamouski, Pvt. Algernon Adams, Sgt. Brandon E. Adams, Spc. Clarence Adams III, 1st Lt. Michael R. Adams, Pfc. Michael S. Adams, Lt. Thomas Mullen Adams, Spc. Jamaal R. Addison, Lance Cpl. Patrick R. Adle, Capt. Tristan N. Aitken, Spc. Segun Frederick Akintade, Lance Cpl. Nickalous N. Aldrich, Spc. Ronald D. Allen Jr., Sgt. Glenn R. Allison, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Allred, Capt. Eric L. Allton, Cpl. Nicanor Alvarez, Cpl. Daniel R. Amaya, Pfc. John D. Amos II, Lance Cpl. Brian E. Anderson, Airman 1st Class Carl L. Anderson Jr., Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael C. Anderson, Spc. Michael Andrade, Pfc, Spc. Yoe M. Aneiros, Lance Cpl. Levi T. Angell, Army Spc. Edward J. Anguiano, Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Todd Arnold, Lance Cpl. Alexander S. Arredondo, Spc. Richard Arriaga, Staff Sgt. Jimmy J. Arroyave, Spc. Robert R. Arsiaga, Sgt. Evan Asa Ashcraft, Pfc. Shawn M. Atkins, Maj. Jay Aubin, Capt. Matthew J. August, Lance Cpl. Aaron C. Austin, Spc. Tyanna S. Avery-Fedder, Lance Cpl. Andrew Julian Aviles, Pfc. Eric A. Ayon, Sgt. 1st Class Henry A. Bacon, Sgt. Andrew Joseph Baddick, Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Bader, Staff Sgt. Nathan J. Bailey, Spc. Ronald W. Baker, Spc. Ryan T. Baker, Sgt. Sherwood R. Baker.
Pfc. Chad E. Bales, 1st Lt. Kenneth Michael Ballard, Maj. Spc. Solomon C. Bangayan, Lt. Col. Dominic R. Baragona, Pfc. Mark A. Barbret, Pfc. Collier E. Barcus, Sgt. Michael C. Barkey, Spc. Jonathan P. Barnes, Command Sgt. Maj. Edward C. Barnhill, Lance Cpl. Aric J. Barr, Sgt. Michael Paul Barrera, Maj. Carlos Barro Ollero, Sgt. Douglas E. Bascom, Spc. Todd M. Bates, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Battles Sr., Gunnery Sgt. Ronald E. Baum, Spc. Alan N. Bean Jr., Spc. Bradley S. Beard, Spc. Beau R. Beaulieu, Capt. Ryan Beaupre, Spc. James L. Beckstrand, Sgt. Gregory A. Belanger, Cpl. Christopher Belchik, Sgt. Aubrey D. Bell, Pfc. Wilfred D. Bellard, Staff Sgt. Joseph P. Bellavia, Sgt. 1st Class William M. Bennett, Spc. Robert T. Benson, 1st Lt. David R. Bernstein, Spc. Joel L. Bertoldie, Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Bertolino Sr., Staff Sgt. Marvin Best, Cpl. Mark A. Bibby, Sgt. Benjamin W. Biskie, Sgt. Michael E. Bitz, Sgt. Jarrod W. Black, Chief Warrant Officer Michael T. Blaise, Capt. Ernesto M. Blanco, Command Sgt. Maj. James D. Blankenbecler, Spc. Joseph M. Blickenstaff, Spc. Nicholas H. Blodgett, Sgt. Trevor A. Blumberg, Lance Cpl. Jeremy L. Bohlman, Gunnery Sgt. Jeffrey E. Bohr Jr., Lance Cpl. Todd J. Bolding, Sgt. Dennis J. Boles, Sgt. 1st Class Craig A. Boling, Petty Officer 3rd Class Doyle W. Bollinger Jr, Sgt. 1st Class Kelly Bolor, Staff Sgt. Stevon A. Booker.
Chief Warrant Officer Clarence E. Boone, Capt. John J. Boria, Pfc. Rachel K. Bosveld, Spc. Mathew G. Boule, Staff Sgt. Elvis Bourdon, Pvt. 1st Class Samuel R. Bowen, Staff Sgt. Hesley Box Jr., Pvt. Noah L. Boye, Lance Cpl. Aaron Boyles, Spc. Edward W. Brabazon, Cpl. Travis J. Bradach-Nall, Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. Bradley, Staff Sgt. Stacey C. Brandon, Spc. Artimus D. Brassfield, Pfc. Joel K. Brattain, Pfc. Jeffrey F. Braun, Chief Warrant Officer William I. Brennan, Staff Sgt. Steven H. Bridges, Spc. Kyle A. Brinlee, Staff Sgt. Cory W. Brooks, Sgt. Thomas F. Broomhead, Sgt. Andrew W. Brown, Tech. Sgt. Bruce E. Brown, Lance Cpl. Dominic C. Brown, Cpl. Henry L. Brown, Pfc. John E. Brown, Spc. Larry K. Brown, Spc. Lunsford B. Brown II, 1st Lt. Tyler H. Brown, Spc. Philip D. Brown, Pfc. Timmy R. Brown Jr., 1st Lt. Tyler H. Brown, Cpl. Andrew D. Brownfield, Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal, Lance Cpl. Cedric E. Bruns, 2nd Lt. Todd J. Bryant, Sgt. Ernest G. Bucklew, Spc. Roy Russell Buckley, Pfc. Paul J. Bueche, Lt. Col. Charles H. Buehring, Lance Cpl. Brian Rory Buesing, Sgt. George Edward Buggs, Spc. Joshua I. Bunch, Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda, Staff Sgt. Michael L. Burbank, Staff Sgt. Richard A. Burdick, Spc. Alan J. Burgess, Lance Cpl. Jeffrey C. Burgess, Pfc. Tamario D. Burkett, Sgt. Travis L. Burkhardt.
Pfc. David P. Burridge, Pfc. Jesse R. Buryj, Pfc. Charles E. Bush Jr., Pvt. Matthew D. Bush, Pfc. Damian S. Bushart, Sgt. Jacob L. Butler, Capt. Joshua T. Byers, Cpl. Juan C. Cabralbanuelos, Pfc. Cody S. Calavan, Sgt. Juan Calderon Jr, Sgt. Charles T. Caldwell, Spc. Nathaniel A. Caldwell, Staff Sgt. Joseph Camara, Spc. Michael C. Campbell, Sgt. Ryan M. Campbell, Spc. Marvin A. Camposiles, Spc. Isaac Campoy, Spc. Ervin Caradine Jr., Spc. Adolfo C. Carballo, Pfc. Michael M. Carey, Cpl. Richard P. Carl, Pfc. Ryan G. Carlock, Pfc. Benjamin R. Carman, Staff Sgt. Edward W. Carmen, Spc. Jocelyn L. Carrasquillo, Sgt. Frank T. Carvill, Capt. Christopher S. Cash, Spc. Ahmed A. Cason, Pfc. Jose Casanova, Lance Cpl. James A. Casper, Capt. Paul J. Cassidy, Staff Sgt. Roland L. Castro, Sgt. Sean K. Cataudella, Lance Cpl. Steven C. T. Cates, Pfc. Thomas D. Caughman, Staff Sgt. James W. Cawley, Spc. Jessica L. Cawvey, Petty Officer 3rd Class David A. Cedergren, Lance Cpl. Manuel A. Ceniceros, Cpl. Kemaphoom A. Chanawongse, Spc. James A. Chance III, Staff Sgt. William D. Chaney, Chief Warrant Officer Robert William Channell Jr., Spc. Jason K. Chappell, Pfc. Jonathan M. Cheatham, Sgt. Yohjyh L. Chen, Lance Cpl. Marcus M. Cherry, 2nd Lt. Therrel S. Childers, Spc. Andrew F. Chris.
Staff Sgt. Thomas W. Christensen, Spc. Brett T. Christian, Spc. Arron R. Clark, Staff Sgt. Michael J. Clark, Lance Cpl. Donald J. Cline Jr., Pfc. Christopher R. Cobb, Lance Cpl. Kyle W. Codner, 1st Sgt. Christopher D. Coffin, Pvt. Bradli N. Coleman, Cpl. Gary B. Coleman, 2nd Lt. Benjamin J. Colgan, Sgt. Russell L. Collier, Sgt. 1st Class Gary L. Collins, Lance Cpl. Jonathan W. Collins, Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence S. Colton, Spc. Zeferino E. Colunga, Sgt. Robert E. Colvill, Sgt. Kenneth Conde Jr., Sgt. Timothy M. Conneway, Spc. Steven D. Conover, Capt. Aaron J. Contreras, Lance Cpl. Pedro Contreras, Sgt. Jason Cook, Command Sgt. Major Eric F. Cooke, Sgt. Dennis A. Corral, Chief Warrant Officer Alexander S. Coulter, 2nd Lt. Leonard M. Cowherd, Spc. Gregory A. Cox, Pfc. Ryan R. Cox, Lance Corporal Timothy R. Creager, Sgt. Michael T. Crockett, Staff Sgt. Ricky L. Crockett, Sgt. Brud J. Cronkrite, Lance Cpl. Kyle D. Crowley, Pvt. Rey D. Cuervo, Pfc. Kevin A. Cuming, Spc. Daniel Francis J. Cunningham, Staff Sgt. Darren J. Cunningham, Spc. Carl F. Curran, Cpl. Michael Edward Curtin, Staff Sgt. Christopher E. Cutchall, Pfc. Brian K. Cutter, Pfc. Anthony D. D'Agostino, Spc. Edgar P. Daclan Jr., Capt. Nathan S. Dalley, Lance Cpl. Andrew S. Dang, Spc. Danny B. Daniels II, Pvt. 1st Class Torey J. Dantzler, Pfc. Norman Darling, Capt. Eric B. Das.
Spc. Shawn M. Davies, Pvt. Brandon L. Davis, Staff Sgt. Craig Davis, Staff Sgt. Donald N. Davis, Spc. Raphael S. Davis, Staff Sgt. Wilbert Davis, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey F. Dayton, Pvt. Jason L. Deibler, Spc. Lauro G. DeLeon Jr., Sgt. Felix M. Delgreco, Sgt. Jacob H. Demand, Staff Sgt. Mike A. Dennie, Spc. Darryl T. Dent, Pfc. Ervin Dervishi, Spc. Daniel A. Desens, Pfc. Michael R. Deuel, Pvt. Michael J. Deutsch, Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher M. Dickerson, Cpl. Nicholas J. Dieruf, Spc. Jeremiah J. DiGiovanni, Spc. Jeremy M. Dimaranan, Spc. Michael A. Diraimondo, Spc. Anthony J. Dixon, Spc. Ryan E. Doltz, Sgt. Michael E. Dooley, Chief Warrant Officer Patrick D. Dorff, Petty Officer 2nd Class Trace W. Dossett, Lance Cpl. Scott E. Dougherty, 1st Sgt. Robert J. Dowdy, Pfc. Stephen P. Downing II, Spc. Chad H. Drake, Pvt. Jeremy L. Drexler, Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, Staff Sgt. Joe L. Dunigan Jr., Spc. Robert L. DuSang, Spc. William D. Dusenbery, 2nd Lt. Seth J. Dvorin, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason B. Dwelley, Pfc. Sheldon R. Hawk Eagle, Staff Sgt. Richard S. Eaton Jr., Cpl. Christopher S. Ebert, Sgt. William C. Eckhart, Spc. Marshall L. Edgerton, Pfc. Shawn C. Edwards, Spc. Andrew C. Ehrlich, Sgt. Aaron C. Elandt, Spc. William R. Emanuel IV, Lance Cpl. Mark E. Engel, Spc. Peter G. Enos, Senior Airman Pedro I. Espaillat Jr.
Pfc. Analaura Esparza Gutierrez, Sgt. Adam W. Estep, Pvt. Ruben Estrella-Soto, Pfc. David Evans, Cpl. Mark A. Evnin, Pfc. Jeremy Ricardo Ewing, Sgt. Justin L. Eyerly, Pvt. Jonathan I. Falaniko, Sgt. James D. Faulkner, Pfc. Raymond J. Faulstich Jr., Capt. Brian R. Faunce, Capt. Arthur L. Felder, 2nd Lt. Paul M. Felsberg, Spc. Rian C. Ferguson, Master Sgt. Richard L. Ferguson, Master Sgt. George A. Fernandez, Staff Sgt. Clint D. Ferrin, Spc. Jon P. Fettig, Cpl. Tyler R. Fey, Sgt. Jeremy J. Fischer, Sgt. Paul F. Fisher, Lance Cpl. Dustin R. Fitzgerald, Pfc. Jacob S. Fletcher, Spc. Thomas A. Foley III, Sgt. Timothy Folmar, Gunnery Sgt. Elia P. Fontecchio, Spc. Jason C. Ford, Capt. Travis A. Ford, Chief Warrant Officer Wesley C. Fortenberry, Sgt. 1st Class Bradley C. Fox, Spc. Craig S. Frank, Lance Cpl. Phillip E. Frank, Staff Sgt. Bobby C. Franklin, Pvt. Robert L. Frantz, Pvt. Benjamin L. Freeman, Sgt. David T. Friedrich, Spc. Luke P. Frist, Spc. Adam D. Froehlich, Pvt. Kurt R. Frosheiser, Pfc. Nichole M. Frye, Sgt. 1st Class Dan H. Gabrielson, Lance Cpl. Jonathan E. Gadsden, Capt. Richard J. Gannon II, Spc. Tomas Garces, Lance Cpl. Derek L. Gardner, Cpl. Jose A. Garibay, Spc. Joseph M. Garmback Jr., Sgt. Landis W. Garrison, Sgt. Justin W. Garvey, Spc. Israel Garza.
1st Sgt. Joe J. Garza, Pfc. Juan Guadalupe Garza Jr, Spc. Christopher D. Gelineau, Lance Cpl. Cory Ryan Guerin, Cpl. Christopher A. Gibson, Pvt. Jonathan L. Gifford, Pvt. Kyle C. Gilbert, Command Sgt. Maj. Cornell W. Gilmore, Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronald A. Ginther, Pfc. Jesse A. Givens, Spc. Michael T. Gleason, Cpl. Todd J. Godwin, 2nd Lt. James Michael Goins, Spc. Christopher A. Golby, Spc. David J. Goldberg, Lance Cpl. Shane L. Goldman, Cpl. Armando Ariel Gonzalez, Lance Cpl. Benjamin R. Gonzalez, Cpl. Jesus A. Gonzalez, Cpl. Jorge Gonzalez, Lance Cpl. Victor A. Gonzalez, Cpl. Bernard G. Gooden, Pfc. Gregory R. Goodrich, Sgt. 1st Class Richard S. Gottfried, Spc. Richard A. Goward, 2nd Lt. Jeffrey C. Graham, Sgt. Jamie A. Gray, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael J. Gray, Sgt. Tommy L. Gray, Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray, Cpl. Jeffrey G. Green, Lt. Col. David S. Greene, Pfc. Devin J. Grella, Spc. Kyle A. Griffin, Staff Sgt. Patrick Lee Griffin Jr., Cpl. Sean R. Grilley, Pvt. Joseph R. Guerrera, Chief Warrant Officer Hans N. Gukeisen, Pfc. Christian D. Gurtner, Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, Pfc. Richard W. Hafer, Staff Sgt. Guy S. Hagy Jr., Spc. Charles G. Haight, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Halal, Pfc. Deryk L. Hallal, Pvt. Jesse M. Halling, Pfc. Andrew Halverson, Chief Warrant Officer Erik A. Halvorsen, Capt. Kimberly N. Hampton, Sgt. Michael S. Hancock.
Pfc. Fernando B. Hannon, Sgt. Warren S. Hansen, Sgt. James W. Harlan, Sgt. Atanacio Haro Marin, Staff Sgt. William M. Harrell, Sgt. Foster L. Harrington, Pfc. Adam J. Harris, Sgt. Kenneth W. Harris Jr., Pfc. Torry D. Harris, Pfc. Leroy Harris-Kelly, Pfc. John D. Hart, Sgt. Nathaniel Hart, Sgt. 1st Class David A. Hartman, Sgt. Jonathan N. Hartman, Staff Sgt. Stephen C. Hattamer, Staff Sgt. Omer T. Hawkins II, Sgt. Timothy L. Hayslett, Chief Warrant Officer Brian D. Hazelgrove, Sgt. David M. Heath, Spc. Justin W. Hebert, Pfc. Damian L. Heidelberg, Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, Spc. Jeremy M. Heines, Staff Sgt. Brian R. Hellerman, Staff Sgt. Terry W. Hemingway, Cpl. Matthew C. Henderson, 1st Lt. Robert L. Henderson II, Staff Sgt. Kenneth W. Hendrickson, Sgt. Jack T. Hennessy, Spc. Joshua J. Henry, Pfc. Clayton W. Henson, Spc. Armando Hernandez, Spc. Joseph F. Herndon II, Pfc. Edward J. Herrgott, Spc. Jacob B. Herring, Sgt. 1st Class Gregory B. Hicks, Spc. Christopher K. Hill, Spc. Stephen D. Hiller, Sgt. Keicia M. Hines, Pfc. Melissa J. Hobart, Sgt. Nicholas M. Hodson, Sgt. 1st Class James T. Hoffman, Spc. Christopher J. Holland, Staff Sgt. Aaron N. Holleyman, Staff Sgt. Lincoln D. Hollinsaid, Spc. James J. Holmes, Spc. Jeremiah J. Holmes, Cpl. Terry Holmes, Airman 1st Class Antoine J. Holt, Pfc. Sean Horn, Master Sgt. Kelly L. Hornbeck.
Staff Sgt. Jeremy R. Horton, Capt. Andrew R. Houghton, Lance Cpl Gregory C. Howman, Pfc. Bert E. Hoyer, Spc. Corey A. Hubbell, Pfc. Christopher E. Hudson, 1st Lt. Doyle M. Hufstedler, Staff Sgt. Jamie L. Huggins, Spc. Eric R. Hull, Cpl Barton R. Humlhanz, Lance Cpl. Justin T. Hunt, Spc. Simeon Hunte, 1st Lt. Joshua C. Hurley, Lance Cpl. James B. Huston Jr., Lance Cpl. Seth Huston, Pvt. Nolen R. Hutchings, Pfc. Ray J. Hutchinson, Pfc. Gregory P. Huxley Jr., Spc. Benjamin W. Isenberg, Spc. Craig S. Ivory, Pfc. Leslie D. Jackson, Spc. Morgen N. Jacobs, Chief Warrant Officer Scott Jamar, Cpl. Evan T. James, 2nd Lt. Luke S. James, Spc. William A. Jeffries, Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert B. Jenkins, Sgt. Troy David Jenkins, Spc. Darius T. Jennings, Pfc. Ryan M. Jerabek, Sgt. Linda C. Jimenez, 1st Lt. Oscar Jimenez, Capt. Christopher B. Johnson, Spc. David W. Johnson, Pfc. Howard Johnson II, Spc. John P. Johnson, Pfc. Markus J. Johnson, Spc. Maurice J. Johnson, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael Vann Johnson Jr., Spc. Nathaniel H. Johnson, Staff Sgt. Paul J. Johnson, Chief Warrant Officer, Pfc. Rayshawn S. Johnson, Pvt. Devon D. Jones, Capt. Gussie M. Jones, Staff Sgt. Raymond E. Jones Jr., Spc. Rodney A. Jones, Lt. Kylan A. Jones- Huffman, Sgt. Curt E. Jordan Jr., Sgt. Jason D. Jordan.
Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Jordan, Cpl. Forest J. Jostes, Spc. Spencer T. Karol, Spc. Michael G. Karr Jr., Spc. Mark J. Kasecky, 1st Lt. Jeffrey J. Kaylor, Spc. Chad L. Keith, Lance Cpl. Quinn A. Keith, Lance Cpl. Bryan P. Kelly, Cpl. Brian Kennedy, Chief Warrant Officer Kyran E. Kennedy, Staff Sgt. Morgan D. Kennon, 1st Lt. Christopher J. Kenny, Spc. Jonathan R. Kephart, Cpl. Dallas L. Kerns, Chief Warrant Officer Erik C. Kesterson, Capt. Humayun S. M. Khan, Spc. James M. Kiehl, Pt. Jeungjin Na Kim, Staff Sgt. Kevin C. Kimmerly. Spc. Levi B. Kinchen, Staff Sgt. Lester O. Kinney II, Pfc. David M. Kirchhoff, Staff Sgt. Charles A. Kiser, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Brian Kleiboeker, Spc. John K. Klinesmith Jr., Sgt. Floyd G. Knighten Jr., Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric L. Knott, Spc. Joshua L. Knowles, Staff Sgt. Lance J. Koenig, Cpl. Kevin T. Kolm, Pfc. Martin W. Kondor, Chief Warrant Patrick W. Kordsmeier, Capt. Edward J. Korn, Sgt. Bradley S. Korthaus, Cpl. Jakub Henryk Kowalik, Sgt. Elmer C. Krause, Pvt. Dustin L. Kreider, Pfc. Bradley G. Kritzer, Capt. John F. Kurth, Sgt. 1st Class William W. Labadie Jr., Sgt. Joshua S. Ladd, Sgt. Michael V. Lalush, Lance Cpl. Alan Dinh Lam, Spc. Charles R. Lamb, Spc. James I. Lambert III, Pfc. James P. Lambert, Sgt. Jonathan W. Lambert, Capt. Andrew David Lamont, Staff Sgt. Sean G. Landrus, Gunnery Sgt. Shawn A. Lane.
Pfc. Moises A. Langhorst, Spc. Tracy L. Laramore, Spc. Scott Q. Larson Jr., Chief Warrant Officer Matthew C. Laskowski, Staff Sgt. William T. Latham, Pfc. Karina S. Lau, Cpl. Jeffrey D. Lawrence, Staff Sgt. Mark A. Lawton, Lance Cpl. Travis J. Layfield, Staff Sgt. Rene Ledesma, 2nd Lt. Ryan Leduc, Cpl. Bum R. Lee, Pfc. Ken W. Leisten, Staff Sgt. Jerome Lemon, Spc. Cedric L. Lennon, Pfc. Farad K. Letufuga, Spc. Justin W. Linden, Spc. Roger G. Ling, Spc. Joseph L. Lister, Staff Sgt. Nino D. Livaudais, Sgt. Dale T. Lloyd, Sgt. Daniel J. Londono, Spc. Ryan P. Long, Spc. Zachariah W. Long, Pfc. Duane E. Longstreth, Sgt. Edgar E. Lopez, Lance Cpl. Juan Lopez, Sgt. Richard M. Lord, Staff Sgt. David L. Loyd, Capt. Robert L. Lucero, Pfc. Jason C. Ludiam, Lance Cpl. Jacob R. Lugo, Pfc. Jason N. Lynch, Pfc. Christopher D. Mabry, Lance Cpl. Gregory E. MacDonald, Lance Cpl. Cesar F. Machado-Olmos, Pfc. Vorn J. Mack, Lance Cpl. Joseph B. Maglione, Spc. William J. Maher III, Staff Sgt. Toby W. Mallet, Chief Warrant Officer Ian D. Manuel, Pfc. Pablo Manzano, Pfc. Lyndon A. Marcus Jr., Staff Sgt. Paul C. Mardis Jr., Cpl. Douglas Jose Marencoreyes, Master Sgt. Jude C. Mariano, Spc. James E. Marshall, Sgt. 1st Class John W. Marshall, Pfc. Ryan A. Martin, Staff Sgt. Stephen G. Martin.
Sgt. Francisco Martinez, Pfc. Francisco A. Martinez Flores, Pfc. Jesse J. Martinez, Spc. Michael A. Martinez, Pfc. Oscar A. Martinez, Spc. Jacob D. Martir, Sgt. Arthur S. Mastrapa, Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Villareal Mata, Lance Cpl. Ramon Mateo, Spc. Clint Richard Matthews, Lance Cpl. Ramon Mateo, Cpl. Matthew E. Matula, Staff Sgt. Donald C. May Jr, Pfc. Joseph P. Mayek, Spc. Patrick R. McCaffrey Sr., Lance Cpl. Joseph C. MacCarthy, Pfc. Ryan M. McCauley, Cpl. Brad P. McCormick, 1st Lt. Erik. S. McCrae, Spc. Donald R. McCune, Spc. Dustin K. McGaugh, Pfc. Holly J. McGeogh, Sgt. Brian D. McGinnis, Spc. Michael A. McGlothin. Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott R. McHugh, Hospitalman Joshua McIntosh, Spc. David M. McKeever, Spc. Eric S. McKinley, Pvt. Robert L. McKinley, Staff Sgt. Don S. McMahan, Sgt. Heath A. McMillin, 1st Lt. Brian M. McPhillips, Cpl. Jesus Martin Antonio Medellin, Spc. Irving Medina, Spc. Kenneth A. Melton, Cpl. Jaygee Meluat, Petty Officer 3rd Class Fernando A. Mendezaceves, Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Menusa, Staff Sgt. Eddie E. Menyweather, Spc. Gil Mercado, Spc. Michael M. Merila, Spc. Christopher A. Merville, Sgt. Daniel K. Methvin, Pfc. Jason M. Meyer, Sgt. Eliu A. Miersandoval, Spc. Michael G. Mihalakis, Pfc. Matthew G. Milczark, Cpl. Jason David Mileo, Pfc. Anthony S. Miller, Pfc. Bruce Miller Jr., Staff Sgt. Frederick L. Miller Jr.
Sgt. 1st Class Marvin L. Miller, Sgt. Joseph Minucci II, Sgt. First Class Troy L. Miranda, Spc. George A. Mitchell, Sgt. Keman L. Mitchell, Sgt. Michael W. Mitchell, Spc. Sean R. Mitchell, Pfc. Jesse D. Mizener, Staff Sgt. Jorge A. Molinabautista, Pfc. Anthony W. Monroe, 1st Lt. Adam G. Mooney, Lance Cpl. Jason William Moore, Pfc. Stuart W. Moore, Sgt. Travis A. Moothart, Spc. Jose L. Mora, Sgt. Melvin Y. Mora, Pfc. Michael A. Mora, Master Sgt. Kevin N. Morehead, Capt. Brent L. Morel, Petty Officer 3rd Class David J. Moreno, Sgt. Gerardo Moreno, Spc. Jaime Moreno, Pfc. Luis A. Moreno, Spc. Dennis B. Morgan, Staff Sgt. Richard L. Morgan Jr., Pfc. Geoffery S. Morris, Pfc. Ricky A. Morris Jr., Lance Cpl. Nicholas B. Morrison, Sgt. Shawna M. Morrison, Sgt. Keelan L. Moss, Spc. Clifford L. Moxley Jr., Sgt. Cory R. Mracek, Sgt. Rodney A. Murray, Sgt. Krisna Nachampassak, Spc. Paul T. Nakamura, Spc. Nathan W. Nakis, Pvt. Kenneth A. Nalley, Chief Warrant Officer Christopher G. Nason, Maj. Kevin G. Nave, Spc. Rafael L. Navea, Spc. Charles L. Neeley, Staff Sgt. Paul M. Neff II, Pfc. Gavin L. Neighbor, Spc. Joshua M. Neusche, Cpl. Dominique J. Nicolas, Lance Cpl. Joseph L. Nice, Spc. Isaac Michael Nieves, Lance Cpl. Patrick R. Nixon, Spc. Allen Nolan, Spc. Marcos O. Nolasco.
Sgt. William J. Normandy, Spc. Joseph C. Norquist, 1st Lt. Leif E. Nott, Staff Sgt. Todd E. Nunes, Spc. David T. Nutt, Cpl. Mick R. Nygardbekowsky, Spc. Donald S. Oak Jr., Pfc. Branden F. Oberleitner, Lance Cpl. Patrick T. O'Day, Spc. Charles E. Odums II, Spc. Ramon C. Ojeda, Cpl. Terry Holmes Ordonez, Cpl. Brian Oliveira, Spc. Justin B. Onwordi, Spc. Richard P. Orengo, Lt. Col. Kim S. Orlando, Lance Cpl. Eric J. Orlowski, 1st Lt. Osbaldo Orozco, Pfc. Cody J. Orr, Staff Sgt. Billy J. Orton, Sgt. Pamela G. Osbourne, Lance Cpl. Deshon E. Otey, Pfc. Kevin C. Ott, Sgt. Michael G. Owen, Lance Cpl. David Edward Owens Jr, Sgt. Fernando Padilla- Ramirez, Pvt. Shawn D. Pahnke, Spc. Gabriel T. Palacios, Capt. Eric T. Paliwoda, 1st Lt. Joshua M. Palmer, Staff Sgt. Dale A. Panchot, Pfc. Daniel R. Parker, Pfc. James D. Parker, Pfc. Kristen Parker, Cpl. Tommy L. Parker Jr., Sgt. Harvey E. Parkerson III, Sgt. David B. Parson, Staff Sgt. Esau G. Patterson Jr., Master Sgt. William L. Payne, Sgt. Michael F. Pedersen, Staff Sgt. Abraham D. Penamedina, Spc. Brian H. Penisten, Sgt. Ross A. Pennanen, Staff Sgt. Gregory V. Pennington, Pfc. Geoffrey Perez, Staff Sgt. Hector R. Perez, Sgt. Joel Perez, Spc. Jose A. Perez III, Pfc. Luis A. Perez, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Perez.
Spc. Wilfredo Perez Jr., Petty Officer 1st Class Michael J. Pernaselli, Staff Sgt. David S. Perry, Pfc. Charles C. Persing, Staff Sgt. Dustin W. Peters, Spc. Alyssa R. Peterson, Staff Sgt. Brett J. Petriken, Staff Sgt. James L. Pettaway Jr., Staff Sgt. Erickson H. Petty, Pfc. Jerrick M. Petty, Lt. Col. Mark P. Phelan, Pfc. Chance R. Phelps, Sgt. 1st Class Gladimir Philippe, Sgt. Ivory L. Phipps, Capt. Pierre E. Piche, Pfc. Lori Piestewa, Capt. Dennis L. Pintor, Spc. James H. Pirtle, Pfc. Jason T. Poindexter, 2nd Lt. Frederick E. Pokorney Jr., Staff Sgt. Andrew R. Pokorny, Spc. Justin W. Pollard, Spc. Larry E. Polley Jr., Sgt. Darrin K. Potter, Pfc. David L. Potter, Sgt. Christopher S. Potts, Spc. James E. Powell, Lance Cpl. Caleb J. Powers, Cpl. Dean P. Pratt, Pfc. James E. Prevete, Pvt. Kelley S. Prewitt, Sgt. Tyler D. Prewitt, Pfc. James W. Price, 1st Lt. Timothy E. Price, Lance Cpl. Mathew D. Puckett, Sgt. Jaror C. Puello- Coronado, Staff Sgt. Michael B. Quinn, Staff Sgt. Richard P. Ramey, Sgt. Christopher Ramirez, Spc. Eric U. Ramirez, Pfc. William C. Ramirez, Pfc. Christopher Ramos, Spc. Tamarra J. Ramos, Pfc. Brandon Ramsey, Pvt. Carson J. Ramsey, Sgt. Edmond L. Randle, Pfc. Cleston C. Raney, Capt. Gregory A. Ratzlaff, Spc. Rel A. Ravago IV, Spc. Omead H. Razani.
Spc. Brandon M. Read, Pfc. Christopher J. Reed, Pfc. Ryan E. Reed, Sgt. Tatjana Reed, Staff Sgt. Aaron T. Reese, Spc. Jeremy F. Regnier, Sgt. 1st Class Randall S. Rehn, Sgt. Brendon C. Reiss, Staff Sgt. George S. Rentschler, Sgt. Sean C. Reynolds, Lance Cpl. Rafael Reynosa- Suarez, Sgt. Yadir G. Reynoso, Cpl. Demetrius L. Rice, Sgt. Ariel Rico, Spc. Jeremy L. Ridlen, Pfc. Diego Fernando Rincon, Cpl. Steven A. Rintamaki, Sgt. Duane R. Rios, Capt. Russell B. Rippetoe, Pfc. Henry C. Risner, Sgt. 1st Class Jose A. Rivera, Cpl. John T. Rivero, Spc. Frank K. Rivers Jr., Sgt. Thomas D. Robbins, Sgt. Todd J. Robbins, Lance Cpl. Anthony P. Roberts, Lance Cpl. Bob W. Roberts, Spc. Robert D. Roberts, Staff Sgt. Joseph E. Robsky, Sgt. Moses D. Rocha, Pfc. Marlin T. Rockhold, Pfc. Jose Francis Gonzalez Rodriguez, Cpl. Robert M. Rodriguez, Spc. Philip G. Rogers, Sgt. 1st Class Robert E. Rooney, Cpl. Randal Kent Rosacker, Staff Sgt. Victor A. Rosales, Pfc. Richard H. Rosas, Sgt. Scott C. Rose, Sgt. Thomas C. Rosenbaum, Sgt. Randy S. Rosenberg, Spc. Marco D. Ross, Sgt. Lawrence A. Roukey, Capt. Alan Rowe, Spc. Brandon J. Rowe, Sgt. Roger D. Rowe, 2nd Lt. Jonathan D. Rozier, Spc. Isela Rubalcava, Pfc. Aaron J. Rusin, Sgt. John W. Russell.
1st Lt. Timothy Louis Ryan, Chief Warrant Officer Scott A. Saboe, Spc. Rasheed Sahib, Cpl. Rudy Salas, Cpl. William I. Salazar, 1st Lt. Edward M. Saltz, Capt. Benjamin W. Sammis, Spc. Sonny G. Sampler, Spc. Gregory P. Sanders, Pfc. Leroy Sandoval Jr., Spc. Matthew J. Sandri, Staff Sgt. Barry Sanford, 1st Lt. Neil Anthony Santoriello, Spc. Jonathan J. Santos, Pfc. Brandon R. Sapp, Staff Sgt. Cameron B. Sarno, Staff Sgt. Scott D. Sather, Lance Cpl. Jeremiah E. Savage, Capt. Robert C. Scheetz Jr., Spc. Justin B. Schmidt, Spc. Jeremiah W. Schmunk, Pfc. Sean M. Schneider, Cpl. Dustin H. Schrage, Maj. Mathew E. Schram, Lance Cpl. Brian K. Schramm, Spc. Christian C. Schulz, Master Sgt. David A. Scott, Pfc. Kerry D. Scott, Spc. Stephen M. Scott, Spc. Marc S. Seiden, Capt. Christopher Scott Seifert, Pfc. Dustin M. Sekula, Lance Cpl. Matthew K. Serio, Sgt. Juan M. Serrano, Staff Sgt. Wentz Jerome Henry Shanaberger III, Spc. Jeffrey R. Shaver, Maj. Kevin M. Shea, Spc. Casey Sheehan, Sgt. Kevin F. Sheehan, Sgt. Daniel Michael Shepherd, Sgt. Alan D. Sherman, Lt. Col. Anthony L. Sherman, Pfc. Harry N. Shondee Jr., Lance Cpl. Brad S. Shuder, Capt. James A. Shull, Pfc. Kenneth L. Sickels, Lance Cpl. Dustin L. Sides, Cpl. Erik H. Silva, Pvt. Sean A. Silva, Sgt. Leonard D. Simmons.
Pfc. Charles M. Sims, Lance Cpl. John T. Sims Jr., Spc. Uday Singh, Spc. Aaron J. Sissel, Pfc. Christopher A. Sisson, Pfc. Nicholas M. Skinner, Petty Officer 3rd Class David Sisung, 1st Lt. Brian D. Slavenas, Pvt. Brandon Ulysses Sloan, Lance Cpl. Richard P. Slocum, Lance Cpl. Thomas J. Slocum, Pfc. Corey L. Small, Sgt. Keith L. Smette, Capt. Benedict J. Smith, Sgt. Benjamin K. Smith, Pfc. Brandon C. Smith, 2nd Lt. Brian D. Smith, Chief Warrant Officer Bruce A. Smith, Cpl. Darrell L. Smith, 1st Sgt. Edward Smith, Chief Warrant Officer Eric A. Smith, Pfc. Jeremiah D. Smith, Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Smith, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Smith Jr., Spc. Orenthial J. Smith, Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Capt. Christopher F. Soelzer, Sgt. Roderic A. Solomon, Cpl. Adrian V. Soltau, Maj. Charles R. Soltes Jr., Sgt. Skipper Soram, Pfc. Armando Soriano, Cpl. Tomas Sotelo Jr., Pfc. Kenneth C. Souslin, Spc. Philip I. Spakosky, Pfc. Jason L. Sparks, Cpl. Michael R. Speer, Staff Sgt. Trevor Spink, Maj. Christopher J. Splinter, Sgt. Marvin R. Sprayberry III, Pvt. Bryan N. Spry, Sgt. Maj. Michael B. Stack, Pfc. Nathan E. Stahl, 1st Lt. Andrew K. Stern, Staff Sgt. Robert A. Stever, Maj. Gregory Stone, 2nd Lt. Matthew R. Stovall, Pfc. William R. Strange, Sgt. Kirk Allen Straseskie, Pfc. Brandon C. Sturdy.
Spc. William R. Sturges Jr., Spc. Paul J. Sturino, Lance Cpl. Jesus A. Suarez Del Solar, Spc. Joseph D. Suell, Spc. John R. Sullivan, Spc. Narson B. Sullivan, Lance Cpl. Vincent M. Sullivan, Staff Sgt. Michael J. Sutter, Pfc. Ernest Harold Sutphin, Chief Warrant Officer Sharon T. Swartworth, Spc. Thomas J. Sweet II, Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Swisher, Maj. Paul R. Syverson III, Sgt. Patrick S. Tainsh, Sgt. DeForest L. Talbert, Sgt. 1st Class Linda Ann Tarango-Griess, Spc. Christopher M. Taylor, Maj. Mark D. Taylor, Capt. John R. Teal, Staff Sgt. Riayan A. Tejeda, Lance Cpl. Jason Andrew Tetrault, Spc. Joseph C. Thibodeaux, Master Sgt. Thomas R. Thigpen Sr., Cpl. Jesse L. Thiry, Sgt. Carl Thomas, Staff Sgt. Kendall Thomas, Spc. Kyle G. Thomas, Sgt. Anthony O. Thompson, Spc. Jarrett B. Thompson, Sgt. Humberto F. Timoteo, Capt. John E. Tipton, Pfc. Joshua K. Titcomb, Spc. Brandon T. Titus, Spc. Brandon S. Tobler, Sgt. Lee D. TodacheeneCpl. John H. Todd III, Sgt. Nicholas A. Tomko, Master Sgt. Timothy Toney, Pfc. George D. Torres, Lance Cpl. Michael S. Torres, 2nd Lt. Richard Torres, Spc. Ramon Reyes Torres, Lance Cpl. Elias Torrez III, Sgt. Michael L. Tosto, Spc. Richard K. Trevithick, Pfc. Andrew L. Tuazon, Staff Sgt. Roger C. Turner Jr., Pvt. Scott M. Tyrrell, 2nd Lt. Andre D. Tyson, Spc. Eugene A. Uhl III, Lance Cpl. Drew M. Uhles.
Rick A. Ulbright, Pfc. Daniel P. Unger, Spc. Robert Oliver Unruh, 1st Sgt. Ernest E. Utt, Sgt. Michael A. Uvanni, Staff Sgt. Gary A. Vaillant, Lance Cpl. Ruben Valdez Jr., Sgt. Melissa Valles, Spc. Allen J. Vandayburg, Spc. Josiah H. Vandertulip, Chief Warrant Officer Brian K. Van Dusen, Lance Cpl. John J. Vangyzen IV, Lance Cpl. Gary F. Van Leuven, Staff Sgt. Mark D. Vasquez, Spc. Frances M. Vega, 1st Lt. Michael W. Vega, Staff Sgt. Paul A. Velazquez, Cpl. David M. Vicente, Sgt. 1st Class Joselito O. Villanueva, Cpl. Scott M. Vincent, Staff Sgt. Kimberly A. Voelz, Staff Sgt. Michael S. Voss, Spc. Thai Vue, Lance Cpl. Michael B. Wafford, Sgt. Christopher A. Wagener, Sgt. Gregory L. Wahl, Staff Sgt. Allan K. Walker, Sgt. Jeffery C. Walker, Sgt. Donald Ralph Walters, Pvt. Jason M. Ward, Pfc. Nachez Washalanta, Lance Cpl. Christopher B. Wasser, Pvt. David L. Waters, Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon Waters-Bey, Maj. William R. Watkins III, Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher E. Watts, Chief Warrant Officer Aaron A. Weaver, Spc. Michael S. Weger, Staff Sgt. David J. Weisenburg, Spc. Douglas J. Weismantle, Pfc. Michael Russell Creighton Weldon, Lance Cpl. Larry L. Wells, Chief Warrant Officer Stephen M. Wells, Spc. Jeffrey M. Wershow, Spc. Christopher J. Rivera Wesley, Sgt. James G. West, 1st Lt. Alexander E. Wetherbee, Spc. Donald L. Wheeler, Sgt. Mason Douglas Whetstone, Pfc. Marquis A. Whitaker.
Staff Sgt. Aaron Dean White, Lt. Nathan D. White, Sgt. Steven W. White, Lance Cpl. William W. White, Pfc. Joey D. Whitener ,Spc. Chase R. Whitman, Spc. Michael J. Wiesemann, Cpl. Joshua S. Wilfong ,Sgt. Eugene Williams, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Williams, Spc. Michael L. Williams, Sgt. Taft V. Williams ,1st Lt. Charles L. Wilkins III, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher R. Willoughby, Spc. Dana N. Wilson, Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry L. Wilson, Staff Sgt. Joe N. Wilson, Lance Cpl. Lamont N. Wilson, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Wilt, 1st Lt. Ronald Winchester, Spc. Trevor A. Wine, Lance Cpl. William J. Wiscowiche, Spc. Robert A. Wise, Spc. Michelle M. Witmer, Pfc. Owen D. Witt, Spc. James R. Wolf, 2nd Lt. Jeremy L. Wolfe, Sgt. Elijah Tai Wah Wong, Sgt. Brian M. Wood, Capt. George A. Wood, Spc. Michael R. Woodliff, Spc. James C. Wright, Pfc. Jason G. Wright, 2nd Lt. John T. Wroblewski, Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Wyatt, Pfc. Stephen E. Wyatt, Sgt. Michael E. Yashinski, Sgt. Henry Ybarra III, Pfc. Rodricka A. Youmans, Sgt. Ryan C. Young, Lance Cpl. Andrew J. Zabierek, Spc. Nicholas J. Zangara, Spc. Mark Anthony Zapata, Pfc. Nicholaus E. Zimmer, Cpl. Ian T. Zook, Lance Cpl. Robert P. Zurheide Jr.

May they rest in peace.

And may they forgive us someday.

We had a baby

BF said he wanted to get a dog. So weekly I would find dogs that I found to be suitable for my liking. I would say we have to drive by the drug store knowing full well there was supposed to be 'an adoption' day put on by the Humane Society. Luckily, however; unluckily it wasn't going on at the time we drove by because if it had been, we would have got the baby on Saturday instead of Tuesday.

This morning after VOTING I went out to the park. We had a visitor who reported a pretty important fence having some damage so I was going out to find the problem and fix it. But before I could even get myself into the vehicle, Flapper said why don't you come into town with me when I vote and check out these labs they have at the pound. I am a lab lover since I have grown up with them providing hunting services to my father.

So we went into town and met with the pound man. He showed us a beagle and a male and female lab. They think the labs were brother and sister. And there is a possibility our girl is pregnant because she was in heat when she arrived. She will be getting an abortion shortly. But I immediately said I wanted her.

The kicker was talking the BF into it since it is going to be his house and making sure his son was going to like her. So after work we drove to the pound and checked out the dog. His son and him took her for a walk. The pound man knew I was already sold and I told him to work them over because I am sold. She is about a year old. She had been well taken care of because her coat is nice, but smelled. We have realized that she might have been abused a little since sometimes when we say NO she cowers away. She received a bath and didn't fight us too much. She has attempted to get into bed with me and twice has crawled onto the couch.

We've got some lessons to teach her. Although if completely up to me she would be sleeping with us. I've ruined two good hunting dogs that way when my dad left them with me. Oops. But we are excited about the new addition. Should we have a dog shower? Why not, people who have new babies get to have parties to get stuff. What do you think? (Picture Below)

Our baby 

The Student Driver

I was driving the other day down the road of course when I came around the corner and observed a brown vehicle coming towards me, luckily in the other lane. It was the all too familiar vehicle of the "STUDENT DRIVER". How did I know? Because for some reason here (and I have seen it in other towns too) they marked the vehicle. This one has a sign on top like a pizza delivery person and I believe something written on the side. Two things went through my mind at that time...

1. Why do they mark the vehicle?

2. Should I swerve and see if they could react properly?

Oh please, I know quite a few of you out there have had similar thoughts.

The answer to the first one came to me via a website when I was looking for a good photo of a student driver. Creates a safer environment for kids while learning the rules of the road in the family car. Alerts other motorists that there is a beginner driver sharing the road. Reduces frustration levels for the student, parent and fellow motorists. Increases awareness on the road.

Well whatever is my answer to number one. For all of us devil-ish, impish individuals out there it just draws more attraction to the vehicle and conjures up more thoughts of cruel things to do to them. By the way, I did not swerve because by the time the first question went through my head, the vehicle had passed and the second thought was just coming to mind.

But honestly, I think marking the vehicle just makes it easier for people to screw with them more.

Another Paint Story

I logged on this morning to read Jack and he referenced Jay so I read his too. And then I realized I had a story of my own of the paint world. And no matter which blog you read first, you will come to the same realization...huffing paint will destroy somebody's world-fast.

For almost two years I worked in a substance abuse unit for a juvenile detention center. Most of the kids we got in our program were using weed, but there was that occasional other breed that had moved beyond the realms of weed and started experimenting with the other half.

I have also witnessed the effects of the drugs of choice on every other unit in our facility. I watched as juveniles as young as 9 came into the facility high on some sort of drug. I have had to assist with getting them restrained in every manner including a 4-point bed restraint. None of it was pretty. I watched as children went through the DTs from meth, heroin, and anything else in between.

Besides the kids who had found the wonderful destructive drug of meth, the children who had found the great high of paint were far worse. As Jack said, there is always this perma-smile on their face. I remember having several children come through our program. You would ask them a smile question such as what is your name...and then you would count off in your head...one, two, three and upon reaching 10 and sometimes 20, Johnny would finally raise his head, give you this smile, and answer your question.

And in one lobe of your mind, you kind of giggled, but you realized that was probably the only lobe that child had left. And then you realized the sad of it all. He was forever in a world of his own and probably never going to amount to much.

So when you parents sit your child down to talk about the realm of drugs, don't forget the over the counter drugs of the hardware store. We had kids that huffed the paint, but they also preferred gasoline, carburetor fluid, and pretty much anything else. But of the paint--silver and gold were tops on the list.

If I had to list the top drugs that kill the brain cells and body the quickest of our youth:

1. Ecstasy-we watched a video that showed whole lobes missing from a girl's brain

2. Paint-watched it in person

3. Meth-observed a child incarcerated over and over and the effects it did to him

4. Heroin-numerous times I watched the children hooked on this return to our facility

Bored out of my mind

I recently became unemployed in September. Thanks to an unknown political figure and the funding of the National Park Service, there wasn't enough money for my job so I was laid off. Boss Lady said FIRED, but didn't really mean it that way. I was prepared for it I thought. I would have so much free time and get so much done. Well, in a sense I have done that, but in a sense I am bored.

First, I took that vacation to Costa Rica and that was great and all, but it is over and I am back in civilization and wondering where the hell my life is going to go. I received a great email from Little S the other day, it went like this:

Recently found yourself unemployed. Unsure about your life. Tight for money. Need a vacation. Well I have the job for you. Travel with me in an all paid expense trip across I-70.

I couldn't resist it. She was going to do all the driving because I can't drive a stick. I mean I could if I had to, but I don't so I don't practice. Lame I know, but oh well. So sometime in November, I head out to Rhode Island and drive back across I-70. Excited. Not too much.

Anyway, I wake up each morning with my boyfriend because the rooster alarm goes off and today I ate breakfast with him. And then I jumped online and did some things we all day. I then did a project. I came back in and laid down because I haven't been feeling well since arriving home from CR. I read my book "A True Story of Sex and Death on the Internet-Anyone you want me to be" by John Douglas. Great author and scary book. I then fell asleep for a while. Little S woke me up and asked about the I-70 trip.

I did some more online bullshit, started the makings of dinner, and then watched Dr. Phil and Oprah. Then I did another project. Completed the dinner thing and am now checking on things again.

Can you tell I am bored out of my mind. I had said I wasn't going to sleep my days away during this unemployment but I am. Oh well. This weekend I will be volunteering at the park during one of the busiest weekends there is. Finally some action in my life.

But men, can you answer me this...my projects that I do have to do with little things that my boyfriend just doesn't get around to doing and it irritates me most of the time. Today, I put his rocket box on top of his vehicle. Simple task that took no more than 10 minutes start to finish, except I need him to help me tighten a bolt. And I am making dinner. Now men, wouldn't you love to come home to a home cooked meal every night. And this is what boyfriend writes in an email today:

And no, you don't need to be doing these projects (but, you are majorlyappreciated).

Lets see I sit home all day bored out of my mind and he doesn't want me doing them. Men, would you have the same answer or would you leave me a 'possible' list of 'chores' you'd want me to get done? Let me know, please.

Survived Costa Rica

This story starts a little ways before October 11th. It starts on October 9th really. We were in Phoenix visiting family and getting together with Jeff. In the few days before arriving in Phoenix, I had lost my sunglasses and cell phone. We were at the grocery store and I said 'I should get some cash so I don't have to deal with it on Monday. The ATM machine ate my debit/VISA card. I figured I would just come on Monday and get it back. Of course they don't service the machine and it was destroyed by the time I got to the bank. They gave me a temporary ATM card that would shut off when my new one was issued while I was in Costa Rica. Let me just say THANK GOODNESS my boyfriend was going with me. There is so much to tell really that I might leave some of it out. We were going with not much of a plan. Jeff, Murray, and I were ready for the adventure of it all though.

October 11 We arrived in San Jose at 930pm. Ginger Love said she would pick us up, but upon leaving the terminal we didn't see her. We were immediately attacked by taxi drivers wishing to help us. We said possibly, but we had a friend coming. One of them followed us across the street and waited. As I had my back turned, Ginger passed by and cross the street. Jeff said is that her and I said Ginger. Taxi man immediately starting yelling GiGi, GiGi. Jeff burst into laughter as I went to get GiGi. That was her name the rest of the time there. She whizzed us though the streets of San Jose in a crazy mode that we would realize is how everyone drives down there. It made us a little comfortable having a good place to stay the first night even if it was filled with mud because her house had gotten flooded.

October 12 We would make reservations to go rafting and then head back into San Jose. While waiting for the bus, I made mental notes of our surroundings because we would have to get back here at some point. We arrived in San Jose and followed the GiGi map perfectly to our destination. We stopped at the post office because it also had a tourist information office. I had noticed that the police were out in great numbers, but didn't think anything about it. As we stood in the tourist office, we heard what Jeff thought was a parade. And then we saw things starting to fly. Jeff was standing on the stairs and was immediately ushered into the building as they locked the building up and storekeepers were closing up shop. We did what any other tourist would do--snap a photograph.The Riot Upon leaving the building there was spray paint and broken windows, but the shopkeepers were already cleaning up. We spent the rest of the day in a bus (minivan) traveling to Monteverde. It was one of the bumpiest, suckiest, rides I have ever endured in my life. We stayed at a great B&B where Yolanda made great breakfasts.

October 13 We had arranged the night before through Yolanda to do a canopy tour. This included 15 zip lines, a Tarzan swing, and a walk through the rainforest by ourselves. Jeff on Zip I loved the zip lines and the walk. I hated the Tarzan swing as I hate that feeling of flying. Me on Tarzan swing Jeff kept saying that this isn't something he normally does. I think he was a little worried about going on vacation with Murray and I to begin with as we are a little crazy. He enjoyed the hell out of all of it and said the Tarzan swing actually relaxed him. We did our walk in the rain as we would so many other days. We just got used to it, me especially considering I hate the rain and water dropping on me.

After missing a bus to hit the national park, we ate lunch. Murray had no idea what it was like to get Jeff and I together laughing. While eating lunch, this Australian had diarrhea mouth sitting at the table next to us. The gentleman with him got up and Aussie immediately engaged us in conversation. Murray did most of the talking because after Aussie described his projectile vomiting and diarrhea experience in Cuba, Jeff and I were laughing uncontrollably. We got up to pay and the gentleman that had been sitting with him said the guy had been talking nonstop since 8am the previous day.

That night we went on a Night Walk Tour with Johnny. We saw a kinkajou, a possum, tarantulas, sleeping birds, and other night creatures. Johnny spent a little too much time on ant hill, but overall it was a great tour.

October 14 Yolanda had arranged for us to take a "jeep", boat, "jeep" over to La Fortuna. The "jeep" is actually a minivan. How he got us to the boat (Lake), Jeff and I are unsure as he just seemed to turn at the weirdest places. The only thing I didn't like about driving with others was that we couldn't just pull over and take photos when I wanted to. Plus on this trip, Chatty Cathy talked the entire time. Murray finally realized what Jeff and I had meant about Gabby on the bus ride to the canopy tour. We got in the boat and skirted across to the "jeep" that would take us into La Fortuna. Have a reservation to a hotel, get in this "jeep". No reservation climb aboard this one. They took us to La Choza Inn.

Let me just interject for a moment and tell you that you are not supposed to flush the toilet paper down the toilet, but instead put it in a waste paper basket next to the toilet. As some of you might know from my bathroom issues, this didn't sit very well with me.

Anyway the room didn't have its own bathroom but for $28 bucks a night per person which included a Volcano tour and a soak at the hot springs, I wasn't going to complain. The tour was great and sitting in the hot springs watching lava rocks roll down the sides of the volcano was great. They had one hot spring that was 187 degrees. No, we did not go in it. During our tour, we saw monkeys, turkeys, birds, and of course leaf-cutter ants. Volcano

October 15 We woke up to the light. We dressed and then started to head down the stairs. I stupidly asked what time it was and was told it was 5 minutes to 6am. I about cried. We ate breakfast and then headed out to the waterfall. It was 5 km away. After walking for about 5 km or more, Jeff and I finally flagged down a taxi and asked about the waterfall. He laughed at us and said get in and I will take you there. We picked up Murray who was looking at some sort of bird and drove to the entrance of the waterfall. Upon going to pay, the cashier informed us he didn't have change. This would come to irk the shit out of Jeff as time went on. We paid and hiked down to the waterfall. It was quite beautiful I have to say. Upon returning to the top and heading back to town (walking), we somehow picked up a companion. This dog followed us the entire way into town until our hotel miniature dog scared it away. It was a long walk back it felt like, but we made it in time to catch the bus into San Jose. I attempted to use my atm card but had no luck with it. We arrived in San Carlos where there was a bus change. All the locals got off, but the 5 white people stayed on unsure what the hell to do. Jeff, thank goodness for us, could speak enough Spanish to figure things out for us. When we arrived in San Jose, the same thing would happen.

So we arrived in San Jose and hired a taxi to take us into the heart of the city to grab something to eat before heading out to GiGi's. The town was busy and scary and I kept my head looking at my knees. I was also sick of being in a vehicle by this time. Jeff was looking around and getting a little nervous as well. His nervousness broke loose when he looked over to see the prostitute have her breast flapped up and down my her little pimp. He turned to us and said I am willing to pay for the taxi all the way to GiGi's. Having taken in the landmarks by GiGi's the first day on the bus would prove helpful. By this time, I was in full anxiety attack mode. Murray was trying to keep me calm, but my heart was racing 90 mph. There are two lanes-one turning left and one going straight. Taxi man pulls between the two lanes and cuts in front of the straight lane. I told him he would have been shot in the states if he had done that.

We arrived at GiGi's safely thank goodness. We went out to dinner at this great restaurant where we were treated to an Argentina show. Glenn and Keith had showed up at the house before we left, but they had to return to rental car. Upon returning to the house, introductions were made and then we went to sleep as we were awaking at 5am to go rafting.

October 16 No rest for the weary. We were back on a bus and then another bus. I attempted to get cash again from an ATM, but it didn't work. Once again, thank goodness for the boyfriend being with me. Our time was going so quickly. Our boat crew was made up of Jeff, GiGi, Keith, Glenn, Murray, and I. All friends of GiGi's visiting from the states. Our guide was Juan. After our bus trip to their headquarters and paying for the trip, we headed to the river via another bus ride. Getting around places seems to take an entire day sometimes. We started rafting on Class II and III rapids. We arrived at the lodge. Now for those of you that have taken Colorado River Trips--the accommodations are not tents. We ate lunch and then went on a short hike to this small waterfall. We started down this other trail, but decided to return the way we came since we didn't know where the other went. The next day we found out that it came out right at our cabin and we all had quite a laugh about it. That night we had a great meal and then headed to bed where a stream ran right behind our cabin. The boat crew

October 17 We awoke to rain and an amazing leaf bug on a plant outside. We ate breakfast and then hung out while the rest of the rafters left. We were the only ones staying over 2 nights so we would have the place to ourselves. The 6 of us, two guides, and the daughter of the owner along with her friend. We threw on wet clothes and hiked back up to the waterfall and then climbed up the waterfall. A place where even our guides had not been. There was also a waterslide on the rocks there. Before arriving at the waterslide, I would slip and hit hard on the rocks. I grabbed my arm and said "no bones sticking out, we are good to go". Since the rain was still pouring, we skipped the canopy tour and just relaxed all in our own way.

October 18 We awoke to blue skies. It was great. We ate breakfast and then did the canopy tour. The entire time Glenn kept saying "Murray, we have to open one of these in the states". It definitely would be a blast. Afterwards, we packed our bags and packed the boats for our departure. We would be hitting Class III and IV rapids today. The rapids The other boat that met up with us would lose their occupants several times, including the owner's daughter at one point. She abandoned ship and road with our supply boat after that. I wonder if her guide still works there? Upon ending our trip we passed under a bridge where a couple of kids jumped probably about 60 feet into the river. It was a set up for the visitors as he was waved to jump by our guide and then climbed into our boat. Jeff thought he was swimming towards us to collect tips. We ended the trip with a great lunch at the headquarters. GiGi did her talking and got them to drop us off at her residence instead of downtown San Jose. We BBQed that night and again hit the sack earlier.

October 19 Oh the time is going too damn fast. We took the city bus into San Jose. Glenn would be accompanying us on this leg of our trip, but getting off in Hermosa. We got down to the city early because we had to run some errands. I once again tried to get some money, but it didn't work. Murray and Glenn were able to get some money. As we were standing there, Murray said here why don't you take some of this...I said is this for last night or this morning. Jeff started laughing. I said 'you weren't supposed to hear that'. We went down to pick up the disk of photos from the raft trip. We had paid for 3 and were only given one. Jeff talked to the guy and he said he would meet us at the bus stop. We got to the stop and were approached by this man. When he said something to Jeff, Jeff said No. It was the guy from the raft company giving our disks. We finally got them, boarded another bus, and spent the day traveling to Quepos.

We arrived in Quepos surprisingly. The bridges were the most scariest things I have ever traveled across in my life. We were immediately given a business card by a kid about a hotel room for $6/night/person. We took it, checked in, and went to dinner. The hotel was noisy and had a prostitute standing outside. Oh well, what can you expect for $6/night. Upon returning from dinner, my bag was crawling with ants. I can't stand ants. I felt like I had bugs crawling on me all night. The next night we moved hotels.

October 20 We headed down to Manuel Antonio National Park. Another bus trip. It wasn't that long though. We hiked through the rain forest and along the coast. We saw monkeys, an agouti, lizards galore, a raccoon, and of course birds. Monkey We went swimming in the Pacific Ocean. I hate the ocean, but I went in and hung onto Murray the entire time. When we were almost to the end of the park road, the squirrel monkeys started crossing the path via the trees. Flying monkey I think Murray must have taken about two dozen photographs. And the best part of them was when one shit on Jeff's arm. Of course it would not have been funny if it had happened to me, but I thought it was rather funny. We also saw a deer that was raised by the park rangers. We left the park, ate lunch, and took the bus back to Quepos. We did a little shopping and resting.

Murray and I went out that night to a bar. Everyone in there, 20 people, were whites and probably Americans. Hell, even the bartender was from Austin Texas. We said we were on a scouting tour and he said "be careful. I did that and the second time I never left". We watched history in the making as The Boston Red Sox beat the Yankees. Of course by the time, Murray and I ate and went back to the room, I was drunk and almost fell asleep during the last inning. Murray kept waking me up though.

October 21 Guess what? We boarded another bus to San Jose. This one was an express bus so it wouldn't have so many stops. We checked into a 5 star-hotel compared to some of the other ones we had stayed at. We then hooked up a taxi to take us to the Doka Coffee Plantation for a tour. It was quite a ways away so instead of coming back, he just hung out and waited. I think he was paid well for his waiting. Jeff gave him some rum, I gave him some chocolate covered coffee beans (and women don't part much with chocolate), and his payment was well over the $10 he said quoted. We walked to the souvenir shop outlet which wasn't an outlet at all and then to dinner. We were asleep early as we had another plane to catch at some Godly hour.

October 22 We awoke at 445am and headed out the door to the airport. Everything went smoothly and now I am back home in Moab. My next adventure is awaiting me on Monday I am sure.

Sorry for the length, but hope you enjoyed. Check photos out for a slide show of all the photos I have listed for Costa Rica. Between Murray and I, we took over 300 photos.

Costa Rica

It is great here. We did this ZIP line that had 15 different ones. Night walks. Today heading to Volcano and Hot Springs.

Photos abound.

I Simplified

In 2000 a friend and I were talking about another friend. I wouldn't say it was behind his back but more like John Boy lives like this when he doesn't have to. See John Boy comes from one of those privileged families and has money. But John Boy sleeps on the floor, doesn't have a television, has a few clothes, and lives simply. I bit. Just that mere thought of living like that peeked my interest and I made the decision to do some what of the same...

The first simplification was every electronic device except this stupid computer. I called the cable company and said come get your box because with 500 channels, I still can't find anything to watch. The tv sat idle for sometime before my sister came and picked it up. I downsized my stereo to only include the radio portion. I got rid of the alarm clock with CD player, the scanner, and anything else that required batteries and a plug.

Once I made the initial decision, I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my chest. Even though I didn't think at the time that a weight was on my chest.

One year in college my father counted up my CDs in my collection. At the time I believe I had around 50 of them. He asked how much one usually cost and I said approximately $15. He said you have $750 worth of CDs here. I chuckled like any good youngest of seven spoiled child would and said with a smile "No Dad, you have $750 worth of CDs. He didn't chuckle back. The year was around 1994-95.

So you can image that when the year 2000 came around that I had much more than 50 of them. I go rid of everyone of them.

My family and friends freaked. Mostly they kept saying just let me hold on to them while you go through this phase. But to me it wasn't a phase at all. At least at the time I didn't think it was. It was ridding myself of materials, materialistic items in my life. Now, my sisters will laugh at that statement because I always have the newest fad thing for example XM radio. But at the time it made a lot of sense and today it still does.

Did I end up sleeping on the floor? Yes. I lived in an apartment constructed in 1918 and had beautiful hardwood floors. I would put down my nanny blanket and then throw my down comforter over me. I would cross my hands across my chest and tell myself to clear my mind. And peacefully I would fall silently into the floor and into the earth and sleep peacefully. Today, I sleep terribly and have weird ass dreams nightly. If I didn't like cuddling to the warmth of BF, I would probably be sleeping on the floor. It is better to be closer to Mother Earth.

When DVDs became the hot item, I started my collection of them. And then one day I decided it was time to simplify again. Again, my friends freaked. Just let me hold on to them until you realize your stupidity. Today, life is simple in a sense.

But probably the most important item I ridded myself of was a watch. My watch used to be a life line of sorts. I couldn't leave the house without the heaviness on my right wrist. It took a little while getting used to, but I finally did it. And this year when I placed it on my wrist every day for the mere instance of work, it felt like a heavy weight. By taking off the watch many years ago, I felt I slowed my life down. Sure I had a clock that got me to work on time, however; it wasn't a necessity to get me out of bed. I quit stressing about making it somewhere on time. I mean if I had an appointment, I would get there on time. But time wasn't an essence to me. I was living in the moment every day and so two minutes from now or two minutes ago didn't mean a damn thing to me. There was nothing I could change or do to change those minutes before or soon. I was living in the now and it became my motto. As I read in a book "The Miracle of Mindfulness", you must think about what you are doing presently than what you are going to do afterwards. By doing so, you were actually experiencing that instance. In doing so, it put a smile on my face.

As you might have read, I have lost my sunglasses (Oakleys, a pretty price) and my cell phone (not cheap either) in the last couple of days. I have been very irritated over the loss of them both. Each day I would go where I think they were and go through the vehicles and every thing else. I was talking to Flapper today and she said sorry, but sometimes these things happen for a reason.

And all I could think of was SIMPLIFICATION.