Not What I Expected

Every now and then, something really, really surprises me, just like this little "What Disney Princess are You Quiz" just did:

You Are Snow White!

Pure and trusting. You are a gentle soul who can get along with just about anyone. Everyone you meet instantly falls in love with you. How can they resist? You have a pure, lovable nature that's irresistable. Just don't trust everyone who comes across your path.

Naturally, I didn't believe a word of it, because that could hardly be true. So, I took it again and changed the one answer that I knew could have gone either way. Boom, just like:

You Are Pocahantas!

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Now, true to self I am really curious about how exactly this quiz works, so I "View all possible quiz results", and this is what is says:

11%=Ariel-Headstrong and feisty. You have a mind of your own that's full of romantic dreams about the world around you. Exploring exotic places is your ultimate dream, and although you can be a little naive you'll realize that there is something to be gained from your family's wisdom.

11%=Cinderella-Dignified and hard working. With a gentle and soft-spoken manner you have something many people don't. Patience. Even through the moments of heartbreak you're still able to hold onto all of your hopes and dreams. Bide your time; your dream will come true.

11%=Belle-Intelligent and kind. Your beauty goes much further than your appearance. Also, you make judgements of people based on their personality and not their looks. Attaining all the knowledge that you can is one of your major goals in life, but you are also a person who can make things happen.

11%=Pocahontas (read above)

11%=Jasmine-Independent and adventurous. You don't want much; just to break out of the guilded cage society has put you in and experience life to the fullest. Following orders isn't really one of your strong points, and you would rather live a life of poverty than being forced into something that you hate.

22%=Megara-Charming and witty. You are always the first person to come up with a wisecrack. Sure, you have an attitude, but that's why people love you. You keep them on their toes. Sometimes you can be misleading, but always end up doing the right thing for the people you love.

0%-Mulan, Aurora, Esmerelda.

I am left wondering--Who is Megara, and why, if I am 22% of both Snow White and Megara, does it default to Snow White?

So, naturally I run the same analysis on the Pocahontas results--again, 22% Pocahontas, 22% Megara. Does that mean really Megara is the description that fits me the most? Thoughts anyone? Which description do YOU think fits me the most? :) Now, Which Disney Princess Are You?

Salt Lake Break

Right after fair, the girls and I headed straight for SLC to see LaDonne, my best friend from college, who was in town from Philly, and to check out Dr. KaLynne's new condo. It was a great little break, just to be able to relax in the comfort of air conditioning and great company. Oh, and even watch a little Olympic swimming and gymnastics despite the fact that we boycotted it in my house since the Olympics were held in communist China, something we certainly don't support.
The girls loved feeding the geese in the park and walking down the wood chip trail. Kate was completely obsessed with LaDonne's zipper purse (it is one big zipper that zips around to form a purse). We went to the strangest sculpture garden on the face of the planet (my opinion of course, but you would certainly agree), enjoyed the beauty of Temple Square (notice the purse again below), ate at a Hawaii-inspired restaurant, and were able to splash around in the fountain at Gateway Plaza.

The extra topping on the pizza came when we were at The Pie waiting for our food, and I start to eye the temptingly delicious pizza at the table next to us. The steam rolling off it about sent me over the edge, and I think I really was about to reach over and grab a piece when I look up and the face of its owner snaps me back to reality. "Tom?" I questioned exactly how delusional my hunger was making me, but he turned at the sound of his name and with excitement in his voice responded, "Tiffany! What are you doing here?" Whew, I hadn't completely lost it, and it was great to catch up with another great friend from college. Tom (his real name is Thongphan Phanthavady, but apparently some people have a hard time with it?) was my chemistry lab partner in college, and I had even spent a day in the hospital feeding him red jell-o when he was too deliriously drugged up and injured to feed himself. He had sustained a bad neck injury when a car slammed into his little pickup from behind, during I can't remember which college year. The doctors hoped that it would heal on its own, but after what was probably 6 months in a neck brace, they had to do surgery. He was so worried at the time that the surgery would affect his range of motion and thus interfere with his plans to become a great surgeon or some other world-renowned doctor. The great news is that he did heal completely (thanks to my superior jell-o feeding and hospital sitting skills, I am sure) and that he is currently in his 3rd year of medical school. I had lost touch with him right after Kate was born, so I wasn't sure which route he had gone. He is going to be an ER doctor, which just made me so proud I could probably pass as his mother because, if I had been a doctor, the ER would be my first choice as well.

We had a nice time, and of course look anxiously forward to the next time we get to see LaDonne (and hopefully Ian too), because it is never often enough!

Fair-y Princess

By the time the Saturday market animal auction rolled around during fair week, the girls were finally tired of the fair, and Kate and I had to make a little compromise:Princess Dress? And, to make matters worse, the morning was FILLED with compliments on how nice she looked, and how under dressed the compliment-giver felt. Do people NEVER want me to wash that dress or what?

Jessa, on the other hand, was her normal, reasonable self, and made friends with the other kids playing in the dirt. My sweet little beautiful, perfect all-American girls.

It wasn't until I was getting ready to leave that I suddenly started laughing aloud as I realized it gave a whole new meaning to "Fairy" Princess. I have hysterically brilliant children, and it took me a whole half-a-day to figure it out!

Owyhee County Fair

We love our county fair, and since I was appointed by the County Commissioners to the Owyhee County Fair Board a few years ago, we go to fair at least 4 days during fair week. Kate and Jessa love to go because it is only under these hot, dusty, days-too-long conditions that mommy breaks down and buys them crazy things like ice cream and snow cones. Kate and Jessa had a fun time building veggie animals, and never tired of petting and looking at animals. They also enjoyed playing in the dirt and making new friends. I was overjoyed to learn that I swept the Professional Photography Division, receiving both the Champion and Reserve Champion ribbons, with a third photo receiving a blue ribbon as well! Yipee. For all you smart-allec friends and fam., there were a lot of other entrants, sheesh! It makes me particularly glad that as a fair board this year we decided to use a classier purple, white, and black ribbons instead of the traditional purple and white ribbon--I just might put those ribbons up on the studio wall!

My favorite Hawaii shot from last summer that I have HUGE above my computer (we're talking a 60x40 inch canvas here) was the Champion photograph, and the judge said that if the Professional division was allowed to be judged with the other divisions, it would have been Grand Champion. When people see the canvas version on the wall at home, they always ask, "Did YOU take THAT?" Which always makes me laugh because I am not sure if they think it is so great is is unbelievable, or if they are just surprised that even I get lucky every now and then. :)

At the last minute I decided to enter this photo of the Helm family from a session I did earlier this summer. It was Reserve Champion, and there are two things I would change about it--can you guess what they are?

10 Year Reunion

The next day after returning from Alaska, I hit the highway headed towards my high school Alma matter in Eastern Oregon for my 10 year high school reunion. It was phenomenal, and we were only missing 6 of our classmates! Over those 10 years, I had rarely and by accident seen a few of my classmates, so I really had no clue what the majority were up to, though I have always been horribly curious. It made for a very exciting weekend and a lot to talk about! After 10 years, nearly everyone looked similar, though apparently I must REALLY look the same because everyone kept telling me, "You look EXACTLY the same!" I think that must be an okay thing, but I couldn't help but wonder if it was because my killer current style (heavy sarcasm) keeps me looking young, or if it was because really, I am one of those people that have been trapped in the time warp of their high school years and that I look like I stepped right out of 1998 despite the fact that I decided to leave my plaid flannels at home in the closet and gave my colored denim Rockies to DI a few years ago. Also, the consensus is that I have the same quirky sense of humor, and probably even more unrealistic levels of energy than before....Wow, I have so much to be proud of! It was absolutely WONDERFUL.

I particularly enjoyed catching up and retelling old stories with Seb, Sara, and Brenna (pictured), whom I was so proud of when as freshmen or sophomores I finally convinced her to let go of inhibitions and jump off the second floor balcony in the gymnasium onto the high jump mat, only to be devastated when she injured her sternum in the process and had to make up a story to tell her parents. Learning their only child had been persuaded into jumping off the balcony would not have been a good thing for her parents to learn at the time, and my involvement, we were sure, would not help our friendship. Luckily it wasn't a major injury, but after that I never tried to convince anyone else to jump that didn't want too--though for some reason it really didn't seem to stop me from continuing the outrageous behavior. That high jump mat seems a lot smaller these days than I thought it was back then though.

At the school itself, not much has changed:

In case you can't identify this device, it is the sink in the upstairs girl's restroom. Pretty cool, hunh?

The Complete Alasksa

There is much I would have liked to post on Alaska, but just have not had the time. At this point I am so far behind I fear I will never catch up, so in case you want to see all the photos that could have potentially made it here, they can be viewed in 3 of my facebook albums. I made them open for everyone to see. Fishing to Hoonah: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=48276&l=a9d7b&id=522096244 Alaska Finale: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=48497&l=23f8b&id=522096244 The Pocket Cam Album: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=48505&l=60cf8&id=522096244

In those albums you can see and read all about the great fishing, the pocket cam. incident, my first ice climbing excursion with my little bro for his birthday, and everything in between. Enjoy, because we sure did! Warning: You will want to go to Alaska.