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.

Whales & Tails

Upon arrival in Alaska, we recommend dressing appropriately. This means a pair of ExtraTuff rain boots and a ratty old hooded sweatshirt will instatly have you looking like a native. Apparently, Carharts are a nice touch, and since Carharts are standard apparel for us anyway, we fit right in, and had people asking if we were from AK. Beaver hat, optional. As soon as we arrived in Juneau, we motored the boat towards Hoonah, out Icy Straight, where we were excited to do some Halibut fishing and see the native town. Juneau was still in our sights when we passed through a pod of whales, which were amazingly close and really put on a show! We saw many more whales on the trip, including Orcas, but they were never dancing around again quite like this! My favorite shot is already posted in Alaska At-last-a.
This guy was REALLY close to the boat--no zoom at all. When they were this close, Brandon would get terribly worried that they were going to hit the boat.

Kate and Jessa were TAGGED!

8 Things You May Not Know About Me.

Kate
1. I practically live in a swimsuit, regardless of the climate or whether or not swimming is something I will actually be doing anytime soon (we're even talking months here).
2. "Don't tell me what to do!" is a phrase I often use, even though it doesn't make my mom very happy. I learned it from "Uncle" Chad, who jokingly uses it ALL the time. That's what uncles are for.
3. I am a carnivore. All I want to eat is meat, and I like it medium-rare. Steak is my favorite, and yes I eat a whole one by myself, so don't even try to feed me one of those hotdogs!
4. I was born 2 weeks late. I like to do things at my own pace.
5. I have been all over Guatemala, hiking ruins, and parts of Honduras.
6. I can identify more African mammals than my mother, and she even has a biology degree!
7. I love to pitch horsehoes, and can cast my own fishing pole.
8. I make friends very easily wherever I go because I love to talk to everyone and dish out sweet, sincere compliments.

Jessa
1. No milk for me. I don't like it one bit.
2. I was born on my due date--Jan. 15th, less than 1 hour after my mom made it to the hospital. Whew. I guess she learned that when I mean business, I mean RIGHT NOW!
3. I am a happy, happy girl. Until I get frustrated. We are working on my patience, because I go from happy to frustrated instantaneously. You should see me attempt to tie my own shoelace, and I am only 1.5!
4. I am a jabberbox and have been babbling incomprehensables for over a year now.
5. I can sing my ABC's. Over. And over. And over. And over again.
6. You will rarely see me when I am not eating food. My parents call me the Lemur because I can consume fruit, and any food for that matter, nonstop.
7. I could sit outside and watch the chickens in the coop. All. Day. Long.
8. I am very neat and tidy. I love to help pick up trash or shoes, or put things back where they belong (I am trying to teach my sister, but normally I am picking up after her).

Thanks to Eden for the TAG! Cara (Josie, Cody, Allie, & Cash) and Hilary (Abby & Chloe) TAG you're it!

Alaska, At-last-a!

I have spent my lifetime dreaming of Alaska, imagining insanely amazing spectacles everywhere I turned--like this, for example:

you know, scenes like this:

I imagined wildlife THIS close:

an expected food this fresh, hunted and gathered by yours truly:

I fantasized about little towns like this:

and alpenglow on snow-covered mountains in the heat of summer!

The realist in me knew this place could only possibly exist in dreamland, and I was all but guaranteed the disappointment destined to accompany my quixotically high expectations. Someone please tell me how it is not only POSSIBLE, but that Alaska actually IS all I imagined, and MORE? Ahhh, just thinking about it now makes me relax and smile--my Alaska, At-last-a!

Bubba Louie Flys the Nest

On June 12th, my little brother Brett graduated from high school. I can remember when he was born, so surely this means I am now supposed to stop telling people my real age. Just to reinforce this, even though nearly a million pictures were taken (remember, this is MY camera, so I am not really exaggerating much), this is the only one I felt I looked decent enough in to actually post. I am generally not really self-conscious about this sort of thing, but I think the fact that I actually took that shirt from my grandmother's wardrobe that very morning was making me guiltily self-conscious. Really, I did. I am not joking one bit.

Here is the whole crew--the offspring of my wonderful parents: me, Brandon, Johnny, Brett (holding my Kate) April, & Cara. All my siblings were there to celebrate Brett's special day! It was a very special day, because for most of his school-years, we questioned the reality of this day...just kidding! Brett, I am ridiculously proud of you! And, being the over-achiever that this guy is, he also received his Eagle Scout award. Way to spread those wings and fly Bubba Louie! I finally got my Eagle Scout award too, even though my husband has been insisting for the last 11 years that it would be impossible since I am a GIRL and that Eagle's are for BOYscouts. Hah. I showed him! Brett surprised me with he honor of being his Eagle Scout Mentor, and I have a big shinny gold pin that you may see me showing off on occasion. According to the speech he gave at his Court of Honor, this means that I did an Eagle Project but he got all the credit for it. You gotta loooove this guy!

Here is an overjoyed Brett hugging beloved card-sharking, slot machine-dominating, bowling ball-throwing, Grandma Siemers. I love this woman so much, and if you know her, you know how wonderful she is, and that it is an honor to even touch her clothing, let alone actually wear an article of it.

Race Day Results (finally)!

'Twas the night before raceday and all through the abode....the creatures were stirring, particularly the toads!

We quickly went from just one toad--Chewy--to a total of three toads the very night before raceday--B.O.O.H and Flapjack were last-minute finds.
Can you tell Doug is an extremely popular toad trainer? When he came out to the race site, all the kids swarmed around him for all kinds of "toad talk". Once again, Hipwell stables took home the first place trophy! Flapjack, jockeyed by Megan Walker (she didn't have a toad, so we gave her one of ours) took home the first place trophy! Chewy and B.O.O.H had a little stage fright, though they each took 3rd in their respective heats. We had a wonderful time, as usual, and it even looks like the historical society is going to put Doug in charge of the race next year!

Proud jockey Kate showing off her toad handling skills. Only once the girls and I were headed to So. Cal., and Doug and Chewy were home alone, was Chewy able to return to his desert home. Kate wanted to keep him forever, and with her repeating "Chewy's my best friend!" all the time, we just didn't have the heart to send him off while she was around. See ya next year Chewy!