Amber Observations

Hello Again Internets

2011-10-12T21:52:00.005-07:00

Well, my blog has sat dormant with a Christmas 2010 post at the top for far too long. This year has been hectic, exciting, mind-numbing, and overwhelming. But in a mostly good way. I may go back and do more detailed posts; as I'm certainly not going to consolidate 10 months into one entry.

Family is one of the best and most stressful things to have. My youngest sister is engaged, and her wedding is in 10 days. That's right, 10. I called my mom the other night to see how things were progressing, and it turns out nobody knows. So I called an all hands on deck meeting (Thank god there are 4 of us girls, plus Mom, plus Heather, an amazing friend of Danielle's). We made a list, turns out most tasks were already being handled, and divided up the rest. Only one of us stormed out. All of us were testy. Hey, it's a wedding. Someone somewhere decided this was supposed to THE BIGGEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE, and it's evolved into a highly stressful, super expensive, biggest party you'll ever throw and people only care if there is free booze event. Weddings should be fun. They should be about committing to your partner, an event to be shared with family and friends full of fun and laughs. However, the fun and laughs come a lot easier if you have the money to pay someone to do it all for you.

Anyway, we've resolved most of the issues, and the day should be amazing. My sister is tall and slim and has a gorgeous dress, and her and her fiance love each other. We (the family) will all be there. Everything else will just fall into place, and if people complain, they aren't that important anyway.

I'll post pictures from the wedding next weekend. Until then, hug your sisters and tell your mom she's awesome. Because she is, having dealt with the four of us for the past 31 years.

Christmas 2010-Hello to Grandma Dixie

2010-12-25T18:28:00.003-07:00

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, because it means lots of time with the family!! I took a brief video for my Grandma Dixie in Illinois, since we were all together, plus Pete, Jill & Lili!!!

Labor Day Pool Party 2010

2010-09-18T19:47:00.003-07:00

As is customary on a holiday weekend, I invited over our friends and family for a BBQ and pool party! We had a great turn out this year, with all my sisters and their significant others, my parents, The Alvars, The Kings, and my friend Josh. It was great to hang out, watch the kids play in the pool (Sammy, my goddaughter, even let me pull her around using only a noodle and she would kick-pretty good for only being 2!!).

Zander was as friendly as ever, his face lighting up when he caught sight of the other kids and rushing right over to Elizabeth when he walked in the door: "Hi, I'm Zander, what's your name? Are you here to be my friend? Come see my baby and my daddy!!" All in one breath; he's definitely not shy!

My parents brought over the new puppy, so between Buddy the lab and Zoey the baby girl, there was plenty of cuteness.

A trip to the old home town . . .

2010-09-11T14:47:00.005-07:00

My parents grew up in Hillsdale, Illinois, a small town in the Quad Cities area of the state, near the Iowa border. My dad's mom lives in Bloomington/Normal with my Aunt Christine, her husband Lyndon, and my Uncle Bill, so my parents and I decided to take a long weekend (well, they decided and I invited myself along) to visit my grandma, their old hometown, and some other friends and relatives. We planned our trip for the weekend of August 27th-30th.

We arrived in Peoria early Friday morning, rented a car, and hit the road for Hillsdale. Even after 32 years of marriage, my mom still gets nervous as a passenger, especially when my dad's playing tour guide as he drives. I, however, loved riding around with my dad pointing out farms where he used to work, the meat packing plant (formerly Illini Meat Packing Plant, now a Tyson Farms plant) houses my maternal grandfather built, the river shack he grew up in, and the house where I spent the first four years of my life. It was an interesting tour; a lot of the places look like they haven't c

hanged much in the 25 years since we moved and the 14 years since my last visit.

We stopped by to visit my dad's aunt Doris, who still lives in the same house she lived in when my dad was a kid. Her daughter and daughter's family live there as well, and we got to meet the whole bunch. That was the first time I had met that particular set of cousins.

After that, we tried to visit my dad's Aunt Donna & Uncle John, but they weren't home. They are in their mid 80's and still active and social. We found out later that Friday is their night out on the town. They called and we arranged to go back the following morning. Donna & John live in East Moline, which is also the World Headquarters of the John Deere Corporation (my dad worked for John Deere in the early 80's, he was laid off, and we moved to Arizona). We drove by the old factory where my dad worked, which is still there,

although the building he worked in has been torn down, and also visited the World Headquarters, which has a free small museum right inside the entrance. The headquarters are situated on several hundred acres that is kept up as a park, and is beautifully maintained.

We arrived at 10 to 5, so only had a brief tour of the museum. Did you know John Deere started out building bikes?

After that, we headed into Moline to have dinner at Frank's Pizzeria, a local treasure, and some of the best homemade sausage I've ever had. My parents said it hasn't changed at all since they went on dates here during High School. We tried to get ice cream at The Ice Cream Palace just down the road, my dad talked about how when he was a kid they served cones with two heads so you could have double the ice cream. We were disappointed though; they may still be named The Ice Cream Palace, but guess what they DON'T serve?? That's right; they now only serve Mexican food as a sit-down restaurant. I didn't realize that signage was that expensive to replace. . . .

Still full from pizza, we decided the lack of ice cream was probably better for us, and headed to Viola to try and visit Paula Lundquist, my mom's best friend from high school. We were in luck, because even though we didn't have a working phone number, she happened to be home and she put us up for the night.

The next morning we woke up and visited with Paula's husband Doug (he had been working the night shift when we showed up, and Paula left for work early Saturday morning), then headed out to find some breakfast and back to Donna and John's house. We succeeded in both. I even bought some crafts that my great-aunt Donna had made, for my niece Zoey. (pictured here upon return from IL)

We did find ice cream after leaving John & Donna's, we stopped at Whitey's, a Quad City treasure. You can order it online and have it shipped, but $80 is a little pricey for me. I'll just have to go back for more. Finally we were on the road to Grandmother's house, quite literally over the river and through the woods. I hadn't seen my Grandma in over a decade, since she moved away from Arizona, and it was great to visit. Since I was just an annoying know-it-all teenager when my grandma had lived with us, I hadn't really taken the time to get to know her, or her stories. I spent the two days we visited catching up on everything I'd never asked before, and learned quite a bit. My grandma is a tough lady; she is currently undergoing dialysis 3 times per week, but her mind and memory as still sharp as a tack. My uncle Bill is working with my Grandma to develop a family tree and the stories to go along with it; and by memory she can go 4 generations back for both her family and my Grandpa Don's family. My grandfather passed away a few years ago from prostate cancer.

It was a great weekend. I hadn't seen Christine and Lyndon since my last trip to Illinois 14 years ago, and it had been about 9 years since I'd seen Bill, so it was nice to catch up with everyone. On Sunday we went to a town fair in Lincoln, then Bill made fantastic fajitas for dinner; and I impressed even Lyndon with my homemade salsa.

I'm looking forward to visiting again soon; this spring when the snow melts. Hey, I'm a desert dweller now!! I've posted pictures from the trip; as I review them I realize I didn't take nearly as many as I should have, but I was trying to take in everything and pay attention to my dad's stories, so forgive me for not having my camera always at the ready.

Seattle Weekend-Meeting Lili

2010-09-11T12:49:00.003-07:00

Pete & Jill decided to adopt, and after a year of classes, background checks, home visits and other preparations they received a call asking if they'd like to foster a little 7 year old girl, right around my Aunt Jill's birthday in October. After several months of fostering, and miles of red tape, they were finally able to legally adopt her just in time for 4th of July. Matt & I timed our visit to coincide with the Red Sox being in town, and got to meet our newest cousin.

It was a great weekend, nice to catch up with Pete & Jill, escape the 115 degree weather in Phoenix (although there was a massive heat wave in Seattle the temperature hit 80!!), and just relax. Lili had left us the most adorable welcome card on our bed, since we arrived after her bedtime. She wanted to know if we had pets, did we like to play the Wii (she bought one for the family with her own money) and what color our eyeballs were!! Too cute.

When we woke the next morning, Lili had already left for day camp, so the adults took advantage of being childless, and after a leisurely breakfast we headed out the door for vodka, wine, and beer tasting! (It was after 11am, no need to panic). From where Pete & Jill live in Bothell, we were able to hit Softail Spirits (vodka made from apples), The Columbia Winery, and then the Red Hook Brewery for lunch and a tour.

We made our way back to the house, Pete grilled dinner (steaks and king crab legs) and we hung out with Lili. She is an adorable little girl, and the three of them make a happy family.

After Lili went to bed we continued to drink wine and played cards, Shanghai. I refrained from throwing my cards at Jill during this game. It may seem silly, but sitting around, having dinner, talking, laughing, and playing cards is my favorite part of vacationing with family.

The next day we laid low, just hung around the house in the morning and early afternoon, Jill cooked breakfast, and Matt played Lili's tiny red guitar. She was quite impressed.

Afterwards, we headed into Seattle to eat at the World Famous Duke's Chowder House. I love Chowder, and the day was again beautiful. We took an after-meal stroll around the lake, then headed to Safeco field for the Mariners-Red Sox game (Lili's first ball game). Safeco field looked more like Fenway with all the Red Sox fans.

Sunday, our last full day in town, was devoted to a whale watching tour. It was an amazing day, with Minke whales, Killer whales, seals, salmon, bald eagles, and amazing scenery. The captain said it was one of the best wildlife days in memory.

All in all it was a fantastic trip, and I was sad to leave my family and the beautiful Pacific Northwest. but we will be back.

Family Dinner Night July 9, 2010

2010-09-11T12:38:00.003-07:00

My mom's dad, my Grandpa Jeff, lives in Maricopa, and we don't get to see a whole lot of him unless we make the drive to Maricopa. However, with the new great-granddaughter, my grandpa agreed to come to my parents' house for dinner. My aunt Cindy, her boyfriend, and kids also cam over for dinner. It had been a long time since we had gotten together, so it was a fun evening. It was also the first time my Grandpa had met Matt, and they seemed to hit it off. My grandpa was a fisherman in Alaska, and he always has lots of good stories to tell.

It's always good to get together; and we can be quite the rowdy bunch. Luckily we (my sisters and I) have not scared off our significant others yet. . . We all took turns handing around Zoey, who is still adorable as ever. Even Danielle, who swore she wouldn't hold the baby until she was at least 3 months old, didn't panic when Meghan handed her over.

High Sierra Music Festival-June 29th-July 4th

2010-09-03T14:54:00.004-07:00

As a special treat, I bought Matt & I tickets to go see the High Sierra Music Fest in Quincy, CA over the Independence Day Weekend. This was the longest road trip we have taken together. On the way out, we stopped in Las Vegas to have dinner with my friend Roni. We ate at Trevi, my very favorite Italian restaurant in Vegas, and Matt & Roni hit it off immediately. After dinner, we went back to our hotel, where I played the large Wheel of Fortune game, winning $100 when I spun the wheel!

Early the next morning we started our trek to Quincy. I chose the Nevada route because it would have less traffic than California highways. I didn't realize how much less though; there is very little between Vegas and Reno besides abandoned mining towns and military installations. We made good time on the highway, passing by an Amish man piloting a horse drawn carriage.

We arrived in Quincy and stayed at the Lariat Lodge, run by an amiable old hippy. We met up with people from the Las Vegas Jam Band Society, who had been going to the festival for years. They gave Matt & I great advice, and saved us a great camping space the next morning.

The weekend passed too quickly, and it was nice to feel so relaxed up in the mountains. Widespread Panic put on a great show, and I saw Railroad Earth and the Black Crowes for the first time in person.

The HSMF is one of the best run festivals out there. The camping is on site, and there are many artist playshops during the day that give the fans a chance to get closer to their favorite performers. My favorite playshop was the Horn of Plenty, with Karl Denson, Trombone Shorty, and Chris Littlefield. We will definitely be back for next year's High Sierra Music Fest!

Father's Day June 20, 2010

2010-09-03T14:28:00.006-07:00

With Zoey only 4 days old, my family gathered at my parents' house for dinner and celebrating Father's Day; My dad's 29th, Ron's 1st. To see the really cool geek gift I got my dad, go here.

We took turns passing around the baby, Matt played with Zander, and we all had a great time.

As I get older, I realize how important even these small get-togethers are in keeping our family close. I'm glad we all still live nearby and can make time for each other.

Day Glo Red plays in New River

2010-09-03T14:20:00.004-07:00

Matt's band is still playing on the Northwest side of town, so I bribed my friends Josh and Becky into making the trek to New River with me so I didn't have to drive alone at 3am. We had dinner at Kid Chilleen's Kick-Ass BBQ. I have looked at that place to the east of I-17 for many years, and finally had an excuse to have dinner there! After dinner, we headed to Gavilan Peak Sports bar, and watched the guys rock out. Unfortunately, there were only about 20 people there, but everyone enjoyed the music.

Welcome Baby Zoey!! June 16, 2010

2010-09-03T14:07:00.004-07:00

After delaying her original arrival date by a week, my niece Zoey finally made an appearance.

She was beautiful, even at less than a day old (these pictures are from 6/17/10, around 5 in the evening. She was born at 10:30pm, 6/16/10).

My mom is thrilled to have a granddaughter to spoil and dress up. Even Zander doesn't seem to mind sharing the spotlight with his new little sister.

See you next year, Phoenix Comicon!

2010-09-03T14:01:00.003-07:00

Becky & I woke to our third and final day at Comicon. We made our way over to the exhibitor hall, and waited for Aaron Douglas to arrive. While waiting for Aaron, Levar Burton showed up so I paid the $30 to have him autograph a poster for my mom's boss. Levar seems like a very nice person, and I understand that the money the celebrities' make at these shows is mostly due to what they sell and the charging for autographs. That being said, there was a small 11 year old girl with a Reading Rainbow shirt, but no money. Levar's handler told this girl (with Levar sitting right there) that he would be unable to sign the shirt without the payment. I thought this was bad form on his part. The other people at the show were more than happy to sign things, pose for impromptu pics and chat. He seemed removed from the process.

Aaron finally showed up (very handsome in person), and signed a picture for Becky that she purchased, posed for a picture, and chatted with us about hockey, Battlestar Galactica, and beer until more people realized he was there and got in line for autographs. Thanks for being cool Aaron!

The last part of our day was watching Spike Lee's question and answer session. Thank god for Mr. Lee. He is funny, intelligent, and realizes that his characters, while entertaining, are his creation.

I had a great time at the con. Kudos to all the workers and volunteers who make the show possible, and to the actors, authors, artists, and everyone else who shows up to contribute.

Phoenix Comicon Day 2-May 29th, 2010

2010-07-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

Day 2 did not start out as well as Day 1. I went bike riding with my dad, then took a shower and a nap. It took both Becky & I longer than we had planned to get on the road, and on the light rail we received the AZ Browncoats tweet that Geek Prom tickets were going to sell out!! We had an opportunity to buy them Friday, but didn't, becuase we didn't realize that there were only a limited amount. So we were sorely disappointed by the time we arrived at the Con and the tickets were gone. Grrr. Next year, Geek Prom, next year.

After that disappointment, we made our way to the Star Trek panel, with Wil Wheaton, Levar Burton, and Jonathon Frakes. It was the first time that those 3 had been on stage together at a Con! The three of them played off each other very well, and it was interesting to hear the comments about working on Star Trek. Again, Wil Wheaton was hilarious, and all 3 got some very interesting questions from the crowd.

After that we wandered around the vendor hall again, and then went to check into our hotel. Turns out, the Phoenix Hyatt was overbooked from the Comicon and Volleyball convention, so they comped a room for us at the Wyndham! That turned out to be awesome, since our sole reason for getting the room was to attend Geek Prom. Despite a flurry of Twitter and Facebook pleas, we never were able to obtain tickets. Instead we enjoyed our free room, had dinner at the Rose & Crown Pub so we could watch the Phoenix Suns lose to the Lakers (boo, hiss). I had never been to the Rose & Crown before, and it turned out to be a jewel. We got to eat in these large cushy living room-type chairs, and enjoyed meaty hamburgers and cold beers while watching the game. Later that we evening we ventured back to the convention hall for a bit of Star Trek jeopardy at the con. It was nice to just walk around town with Becky, free of kids and significant others and relax.

Phoenix Comicon Friday May 28th: Meeting Wil Wheaton

2010-07-16T13:25:00.001-07:00

My best friend Becky & I are both uber-nerds, and have been dubbed the "nerd twins" by her loving husband. In order to expand our nerdiness, we attended our first ever Phoenix Comicon at the convention center in downtown Phoenix. I got off work at 2, and Becky took the light rail downtown to meet me at the convention. It was fun waiting for her and seeing all the people who had already been in the con, with costumes galore. I'm sure all the regular business people were wondering what the heck was going on.

Once Becky arrived, we made our way into the building, and wandered the vendor hall. We had missed the NASA panel, but there was still plenty to see before the Wil Wheaton Awesome Hour. One of the more interesting panels we attended was the Learning to Speak Na'vi presentation. Note the fan in full Avatar make-up. He said it took over 6 hours!! The presentors had arranged for a skype call with the professor who created the Na'vi language, and despite a few minor technical glitches, it was an educational experience.

Afterwards we attended the Wil Wheaton Awesome hour which was, in fact, AWESOME. I had never heard him speak in person before, and he did not disappoint. He was funny, intelligent, a great story teller, and extraordinarily down to earth. He spoke for quite a while, telling a few funny stories from his blog, and giving advice on parenting using video games. Then he took questions from the audience, and answered mine about being "Evil Wil Wheaton" on the Big Bang Theory. After the lecture we waited in line with our free Star Trek posters for autographs (which a very cool Wil Wheaton signed without charging a fee) and I bought a special limited edition of his new book, which was already signed, but he personalized for me. I haven't read the new book yet, but I will blog about that and Just A Geek, which I have read, separately, for they are deserving of their own entry.

Having procured our autographs and a photo with Wil, we left the Con, but didn't get very far before we noticed the Red Cross Blood Mobile. Free Comic Books with donations!! Luckily both Becky and I were eligible (me by 2 days) so we waited and gave our very popular B+ blood for loot. The blood techs were mystified by the more costumed people at the convention and said Becky and I were the most normal ones they had seen all day. I'm not sure if that was good or bad. . .

Our First Camping Trip!! May 14-May 16th

2010-06-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

Matt & I share a love of the outdoors, so I finally marked a date on the calendar as our first camping trip, and said come hell or high water, we are hitting the road. After a few last minute trips to The Sportsman's Warehouse, we hit the road at 5am Friday morning headed for the White Mountains. Unfortunately, the most reliable vehicle we have at the moment is my little red Honda, which was packed to the gils. didn't mind.

The poor dogs barely had enough room to lie down. Sadie, who loves car rides and wags her whole body at the phrase "who wants to go for a ride in the car? Buster, who gets carsick, but loves to be wherever we are, put up with the inconvenience.

We arrived in Prescott and made a quick stop at Wal-mart to grab fishing line, and clean up after Buster got carsick. after coaxing the dogs back into the car, we headed for Woods Canyon Lake. We were about the 4th party into the campground by 8:30am, and everything looked a lot like an urban park. Firepits were already made, charcoal grills were in the camp, and your campsite was about 40x50. Not quite what I was expecting, but we were going to have a good time. We set up camp, then headed down to the lake to see if the fish were biting.

The dogs were extraordinarily happy to be out of the car, and were running around as far as their leads would let them sniffing the air, peeing on rocks and trees, and having the time of their lives. Woods Canyon lake was beautiful, but already pretty crowded. The weather was a bit chilly, and once the wind picked up we headed back to camp. I was exhausted, and irritated that the campground was filling up so quickly, complete with two tiny hurricanes that were running through our camp, shrieking at the top of their lungs. A nap sounded like an awesome idea, so I laid down.

Matt was 10x more irritated than I was, so he put the dogs (poor Buster!!) back in the car and decided to see if Bear Canyon (a much more primitive campground 15 miles up a washboard dirt road) was open. 1.5 hours later he came back, shook me awake, and we packed up and hightailed it out of Woods Canyon. Don't get me wrong, commercial camping is awesome if you have small kids, or don't know how to camp, but it wasn't what we were interested in. We made it out to the Bear Canyon campground, and it was perfect. There were only 3 other parties in the whole campground, and we managed to triangulate ourselves so that we weren't right on top of one another. There were no street lights, no paved roads, and we built our own firepit. (If you've never had a steak cooked over a campfire, you are missing out on a culinary delight!!). The sky was filled with stars; it felt like I could touch the entire Milky Way. And it was quite. No kids shrieking and running through the camp, no generators, just the sounds of the campfire crackling and my ipod playing softly in the background.

Buster, after 6 hours of being in the car, being carsick, and now freezing, was not having such a perfect time. I had even brought a small sweater for him, since he has thin fur and 0% body fat. The sweater helped, but he was terrified of the campfire, so he laid as far away as he could get on his lead. He did come closer when we offered him steak, but was still very cautious, and shivering!! It was pathetic, as you can see. Poor Buster, no dog bed, it's freezing, and he's still a bit shaky from the car ride. He is definitely not a camping dog. After dinner and stargazing, the 4 of us (2 people, 2 dogs) gathered in our 3 person tent. Buster slept right under Matt's armpit the whole night!! Sadie, who has been camping with Matt multiple times, enjoyed herself much more, although she wasn't used to being on a lead.

The next morning we got up, experimented with the old propane grill I borrowed from my parents, and ended up placing the percolator in the fire in order make coffee. The camping trip was a learning experience. After breakfast, we hiked down to Bear Canyon Lake, which was even more beautiful than Woods Canyon. There were quite a few Kayaks and Canoes on the water, but everyone was having a good time. After 2 hours of fishing, I noticed that I hadn't seen my bobber in a while, assumed I had gotten caught on something again, and started to reel it in. Once my line started to fight me, I realized I had hooked the first trout of our trip! Trout don't bite as hard as bass, and since I was reading rather than watching my line, I didn't realize right away I had a trout. This gives the trout an opportunity to swallow the hook, which is horrible if you're trying to do catch and release fishing. I wanted trout for dinner, and luckily my fish was plenty big to keep for eating.

We fished a while longer, but couldn't get any more bites. The dogs were getting antsy, so we headed back to camp for naps and lunch. We let the dogs sleep in the car, off the dirt, and where it was warm. Around sunset, Matt wanted to try his luck at fishing again, so we headed back to the lake. I was sending all sorts of good mojo to Matt, the lake gods, and the trout king, as I didn't want to be the only one with a fish. Luckily Matt reeled in a whopper after about an hour, and once the sun dipped behind the treeline, we called it a day and headed back to camp to cook our bounty.

Trout is best cooked in tin foil packets, with a little bit of seasonings and butter, placed directly in the campfire. The food was Buster's favorite part of the trip. He got plenty of fish and steak extras in order to coax him near the fire.

The next morning we packed up and headed home. Dirty, exhausted, and frustrated after trying to cram everything back in the car (we got it all out here, so surely it must all fit back in!!), we made our way home. Buster's torture was only completed upon the dreaded bath that was a necessity as soon as we walked in the door. Matt & I will definitely head back north to camp and fish again soon, but it will either involve only Sadie, or just the two of us, and the dogs can stay home with their comfy pillows and air conditioning.

For more photos of the trip, including beautiful shots of the Mogollon Rim and both lakes, please visit my Flickr page. http://www.flickr.com/photos/awilderm/sets/72157623990836829/

Zander's First Fishing Trip!! May 2nd, 2010

2010-05-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

Matt bought Zander a fishing pole and tackle box for Christmas, and just a mere 4 months later we took him on his first fishing trip. We went to Desert Breeze Park in Chandler, part of the Arizona Game & Fish Urban Fishing program.

We were running a little late, so Zander was filled with anticipation by the time we got to the park. He came running up as soon as he saw us, huge smile, and proclaiming "Aunt Amber, Uncle Matt, are you going fishing with me?!" And of course, we had bought our licenses and brought poles to fish with Zander.

Matt was very patient, talking Zander through the items in the tackle box, showing him how to tie a knot and bait a hook (but only showing, at 4, Zander is a little young for fish hooks).

Zander did show quite a bit of coordination for a 4 year old, and after a quick tutorial by Matt, he was soon casting like a pro.

Ron & Meghan were also in attendance, since Zander is still a little young to drive himself.

We were eventually blown out of the lake before we could catch any fish, with wind gusts at over 40mph, but Zander enjoyed himself, and can't wait to go fishing again!!

Matt's First Turkey Dinner!! April 11, 2010

2010-05-08T12:55:00.000-07:00

Matt received a Turkey for Christmas from his work, and since we both went to our parents for Christmas, we didn't get a chance to cook it. After rediscovering it, we decided to have a Thanksgiving in April, and invited my family over.

Zander, being very excited that it was over 80 degrees and that we
had a pool, brought his floaties.

Only he and Sadie were brave enough to swim in the chilly water, but they both enjoyed themselves.

Day Glo Red plays at Donna Jean's Libations April 9, 2010

2010-05-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

Matt plays bass in a band with 4 other very talented musicians, Will-lead vocals & acoustic guitar, Scott-electric guitar, Gary-Drums, and Tony-Keyboards.

They have been palying at Donna Jean's Libations in Glendale, and always manage to draw a good crowd. They don't disappoint! My favorite song is Little Vampire, followed closely by Tattooed Soul.

I have enlisted Becky, my fellow nerd, in making the trek to the west-side with me, but she also loves the music, so it's not too hard to convince her to go!

Diamondback's Opening Day 2010

2010-05-08T12:34:00.000-07:00

I kept alive my tradition and attended Opening Day with my friend Rick. It was a good day, Kurt Warner threw out the first pitch, the beers were cold, the chili dogs amazing, and the Dbacks pulled out the win. I even managed to not get sunburned.

Flagstaff March 5-7 2010

2010-05-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

Matt's friends know of a great place in Flagstaff to rent cabins, the Arizona Mtn Inn, right off Lake Mary Rd. It's close to town, but in it's own little area so you feel like you're out in the middle of nowhere. There were good storms, and we got quite a bit of snow, especially the second night. There was some 1am sledding down the mountain, and that was just the grown-ups!! It was a great weekend, no tv, just card games, friends, and music.

Moe. in Flagstaff!! 2/28/10

2010-05-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

For Matt's birthday, I bought us tickets to go see Moe. in Flagstaff at the Orpheum theater. I had never been to the Orpheum, and had never seen Moe, so it was a night of firsts. We raced a thunderstorm to Flagstaff from Mesa, but got to see a full arch rainbow. After arriving at the hotel, we headed into town to grab some dinner at the Beaver Creek Brewery. I highlyl recommend them to anyone in Flagstaff long enough for a meal, or even just one beer. I had one of their artisan pizzas, and we left with a growler. Yum!

After dinner, we walked over to the Orpheum and got settled in for Moe. What an amazing concert!!! They sang all of Matt's favorite songs, and they had an amazing light show. I wish they could have played all night, and will definitely be seeing them again.

Christmas 2009

2010-05-03T20:34:00.000-07:00

My Christmas Eve started off wonderfully, with Becky bringing by her two girls to drop off Christmas cupcakes and presents! I also had presents for the girls, and managed to get them to stand still long enough for a photo.

After Matt got off work, we headed over to my parents' house for our traditional Wildermuth Lasagna night and Christmas Eve pajama presents. Mom's lasagna is always a big draw, and my Aunt Cindy, her kids, my Grandma, and all my sisters were there to participate.

However, the poor dogs were relocated to the Arizona room to cut down on the begging during dinner.

With our bellies full, and having watched the Muppet Christmas Carol as tradition dictates, Matt & I headed back home for the night, where we exchanged our Christmas presents. It was a Christmas full of music, Matt got an acoustic bass, and I got a keyboard!

The next morning we headed back for breakfast and presents at my parents house. Poor Zander was not all the way awake, and it took him a little while to warm up to the idea of Christmas morning. That did give the rest of us time to eat though.

Zander enjoyed his binoculars. It was difficult to pry them away. After exchanging all our gifts, we changed out of our Pajamas and headed to the theater for Sherlock Holmes. I was a bit dissappointed, it seemed like almost everything was in the previews. Hopefully the sequel will leave more to be discovered.

After the movie Matt & I headed to the Vestal household for their traditional Christmas dinner, cooked by Matt's mom, and gift exchange. Dinner was wonderful as always, with roast beef, polish sausage, mashed potatoes, and all sorts of great desserts. We got Matt's parents a Wii, and they were thrilled.

All in all, a very happy family filled day.

Thanksgiving Weekend 2009

2010-03-16T20:27:00.000-07:00

Wildermuth family tradition decrees that the Christmas tree is drug out from the shop and decorated over Thanksgiving weekend. My house (and my dogs) prevented me from having a tree, so my sisters and I all gathered at my parents house to decorate the tree as a family. Zander had a great time, and the tree looked amazing.

Matt & Ron (both newcomers to Wildermuth traditions) also managed to enjoy themselves. We did have a slight hiccup when we couldn't locate the box of hooks from last Christmas, but we pulled through.

We even managed to convince my Dad to join us for a family photo once the tree was complete!

Christmastime in the Desert. . . Hanging lights in flip-flops 11/27/09

2010-03-16T20:14:00.000-07:00

Ahh, Christmas in the Desert. The cactus have shed their needles, the rattlesnakes are in hibernation, and the masses get to hang Christmas lights with a frosty mug of beer in hand while wearing shorts and sunglasses.

It's the Great Pumpkin Zander-A trip to the Pumpkin patch 10/17/09

2010-03-15T21:05:00.000-07:00

There is a sweet little farm, Mother Nature's Farm in Gilbert that runs a pumpkin patch during October. My parents, sisters, our respective significant others, and Zander trekked out to pick out pumpkins. Unfortunately, Mother Nature's memo on fall weather had not quite reached AZ, and it was well over 100 degrees that day!! There was a small playground, and Zander scampered through the tunnels and made a few friends.

Meghan, Ron, Angie & Zander were much braver in the heat; they went on the hay ride while the rest of us sought refuge from the heat and bees in the limited shade that was available.

Note how red Zander's face is! Poor little man. He still had a lot of fun!

Boyce Thompson Arboretum-October 11, 2009

2010-03-15T21:03:00.000-07:00

Matt had never been out to the arboretum, and I was on an outdoors high after my trip to Colorado Springs, so I organized a trip out towards Globe with my parents for some hiking. My family has been going to Boyce Thompson for years, before it was as popular as it is today we used to have Easter picnics there every year. I highly recommend the trip out to BTA, just perhaps not on a holiday weekend.

There was a bird watching hike when we first arrived, which sounded neat, but turned out to be rather slow. I did get a picture of the elusive hybrid hummingbird. We did see a bobcat, briefly, but I didn't have my camera at the ready.

Howdy, Howdy, Howdy-Horseback Riding in COS 10/4/09

2010-03-15T20:35:00.000-07:00

Having already had a fantastic dinner, attended a concert, hiking (legal and not so much), and a party, Doug & I were still up for more adventure when Sunday morning rolled around. We took to the road, and stopped at McDonalds so I could run in for a cup of coffee (Doug and his green tea-nice for the afternoon, but I need caffeine to wake up), and it was the world's slowest McDonalds. All I wanted was coffee!! I eventually got my steaming cup of morning goodness, and we trekked to the Stables at the Broadmoor.

It was a quiet morning, just us and a a couple who arrived late. Doug & I were praised highly for being early enough to leisurely fill out our paperwork, and of course we got the best horses, Juliet & Cheese. Our tour guide Kenny asked if I had ever ridden a horse before, and I replied "not since I was 12" and he said, "So that would be a yes." He then asked Doug, who had been standing right next to me as I mounted my horse, if he had ever ridden a horse, and Doug replied, "not since I was a kid" The poor tour guide just shook his head and said, "so that would also be a 'yes'".

He was an excellent guide, funny, knowledgeable, friendly, and extraordinarily helpful. He took pictures for and of us. The views were absolutely breathtaking.

About 30 minutes into the ride, I had a saddle malfunction. I was sliding off the side of the horse, so I had to dismount and have Kenny re-adjust my saddle.

During the ride, I noticed that Juliet's ears seemed peculiar. I inquired to Kenny, and he explained that she had been born in the middle of a blizzard, and by the time they found her, she had frostbite in her ears, so she lost the tips. Poor thing! She is an excellent trail horse though, responsive, sure-footed, and calm.

The ride was about 3 hours, and I felt it towards the end. But it was worth the saddle soreness to be back on a horse (my first time since I was 12!!) and to be out on such a beautiful day and see a part of the trail not easily gotten to by foot.

Saturday in Colorado Springs-October 3rd 2009

2010-03-12T17:49:00.000-07:00

Well, it's taken me several months, but I'm back to blogging, and picking up where I left off. Saturday morning after our late night at the Better than Ezra concert, Doug & I still managed to hit the trail early for hiking!

We went up to St. Mary's Waterfall, and having found that was a ridiculously short hike, scrambled our way to another trail.

Our ridiculously short hike soon became a 4 hour adventure, as we scurried along rocks, dropped cameras, and ate snacks. We did our best "Anchorman" poses, then set off for civilization.

We rounded out the afternoon by having pizza at Leon Gessi's, ice cream, then some rousing bouts of Guitar Hero with Doug's friends. I even got to meet Colorado Amber.

Annual Colorado Trip-Friday Night Concert in Denver!! 10/2/09

2009-10-25T21:13:00.000-07:00

I embarked on what has become my annual trip to Colorado Springs, needing to get out of the lingering heat in the Valley of the Sun, and get away from work for a while. My good friend Doug is always willing to host me. He shares my love of food and good wine, as well as hiking and music.

We started our evening by having dinner at The Blue Star wine bar & restaurant in Colorado Springs. I mention this restaurant every year in my blog post, and will continue to do so. It's the best wine bar I've ever been too. The menu changes with the seasons, and I've yet to have anything that even approaches lacking in taste. Doug & I shared a Malbec, ordered a couple tapas to share from their wide selection on the menu, then each got an entree, with more sharing. We did manage to hold ourselves back and only order one dessert, with coffee.

After stuffing ourselves, we hit the road to Denver and the BlueBird Theater to catch Better Than Ezra in concert. The BlueBird is one of the cooler venues I've been to for live music; I highly recommend seeing a show there. There wasn't a bad spot in the house, and if you don't mind the crowd, you can be extremely close to the band.

Josiah Leming opened up the night, playing solo on his keys and singing. He was followed by a Denver based band, the Knew, who are bringing back Hair Bands!! They rocked, and I enjoyed getting to hear their music for the first time.

Finally, Better than Ezra took the stage, and right away they had the crowd in the palm of their hand. I have loved Better than Ezra since high school, when I first heard "Good." It was my anthem, the song I played with windows rolled down speeding down the highway. Soon after came "Misunderstood," and I was hooked on the band. I'm a little ashamed that this is the first I've actually seen them live, but they were worth the wait.

At one point the audience was singing the chorus to "A Lifetime" and it gave me chills. That's such a poignant song, and to hear everyone pouring their heart into the lyrics was amazing.

BTE rocked out, and Doug & I had a blast.

After the crowd threatened to tear the place apart they came back out for an encore set of 3 songs, the first with the Ken Griffin doing an acoustic song, then the rest of the band joining in for the fun. It was the day after KG's birthday, and the end of the tour for BTE, so they were willing to go all night long. Keep rocking, and thanks for the great show guys!!

The Edge Fall Frenzy-A Music Festival at Tempe Town Lake

2009-10-25T20:28:00.000-07:00

Danielle bought me tickets to the Fall Frenzy, which took place the weekend before my birthday. I met up with her and Mitch to enjoy some beautiful evenings (after the sun went down), beer, and good music.

I ventured out to see a few bands live in concert that I had been long enjoyed, but never seen live. Sunday night was the Bravery, followed by Ben Harper & the Relentless 7, Flogging Molly, and Social Distortion. What a rockin' night of music!!

Sunday at Boston-A Hot Completion Sunday August 16th

2009-10-25T19:58:00.001-07:00

Sunday morning rolled around, and all we really had left of our original plan was the Freedom Trail. (Since I botched the directions so badly earlier). We had some breakfast, then headed out on the trail. Unfortunately the sun had come out, and it was HUMID. We trudged out way around the town, with sweat glistening off us. About 20 minutes in, I realized this should have been the first thing we did, as the freedom trail goes through most parts of Boston, and we would have had a better layout of the town for our adventures. Live and learn.

We went through a few graveyards, discovered Little Italy (or the North End), and saw Old Ironsides, the oldest ship still in commission. We didn't make it all the way to Bunker Hill, it was too hot and we were done in.

We made it back to the hotel, collected our luggage, and took our last trip on the T back to the airport. Luckily we were upgraded for the flight home, and thus concluded our Boston Trip. Overall, it was a highly successful trip. We didn't kill each other, had several new experiences, and I got a ton of great photos.

Harvard, Museums, and Lobster Bakes. Boston Saturday August 15th

2009-09-08T21:50:00.001-07:00

We had purchased the Boston Ticket pack, which meant we had prepaid for admission to several museums in addition to the Aquarium, which we had visited on the first day. I wanted to walk through the Harvard campus, and coincidentally the Harvard Natural Museum was on the list of places we could peruse. We hopped the T (experts at this point), and headed to Cambridge. You exit the T right onto Harvard square, and it was impressive. The streets were filled with students and parents attending orientation.

To get to the Harvard Museum of Natural History, you had to walk through campus, naturally. It was beautiful, and we got to hear snippets of tours being led through the grounds.

I thoroughly enjoyed the museum; there were many specimans, fossils, glass flower arrangements from the 1800's, and a meteorite room!

After the Harvard tour we went back towards the Charles River to visit the Science Museum.

It was geared more towards kids, but it was free, and there were several really interesting exhibits, including the CritterCam by National Geographic that scientists attach to animals in the wild to observe their natural behaviours. Matt found a plane engine and a triceratops that he adored.

On our way back to the train station, we encountered a beautiful old hotel (way out of our price range). It was quite posh inside, but I was only able to snap a picture of the exterior.

After a quick nap, we left the hotel for a late dinner at Legal Sea Foods by the harbor. I received a Management Excellence award at work, and part of the prize was a dinner to be expensed! We went all out for our last night in Boston with a nice bottle of wine, crab cakes, a lobster bake, and a delicious berry tart with coffee to close the meal. It was my first whole lobster (well, the first time I'd had more than a tail, but we split a large lobster), and it was delicious. Our waitress was amazing, she had all sorts of great recommendations for wine, dessert, how to order the meal, and even gave us the name of a cool Irish bar for after dinner fun. What a great night!!

Sam Adams Tour!! Friday in Boston-August 14th

2009-09-08T21:21:00.000-07:00

Friday morning we lazed around the hotel room, then around 1pm, decided to head out to the Samuel Adams Brewery, which offers free (donations requested) brewery tours. For a $2 donation to a local charity you get an hour tour, a sampling glass, and three 7oz samples of beer. A young college student was our guide, and he got to carry a full size Sam Adams glass full of beer, which he drank frequently throughout the tour. That would have been a hell of a lot more fun than my college job!!

After the tour I made my way through the gift shop, buying a sweet Cherry Wheat tap handle that is too long to function on our new kegerator and a set of 4 Sam Adams lager glasses which came with a sturdy Octoberfest stein.

We went back to the hotel to deposit our loot, and since it was still early we decided to walk the freedom trail. Unfortunately I have no sense of direction and we cast out with a right turn instead of a left and wound up in a wrong part of town. After several more turns, trying to read the map upside down, and wondering if were going to be mugged, we gave up the search. Luckily, Matt didn't get angry at me, and we eventually found our way back to the hotel, then on to a bar for dinner. At least it was an adventure!!

Boston Trip-Fenway Day!!

2009-09-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

Thursday arrived, and with it our primary reason for vacationing in Boston. We got up, ate a quick breakfast at the hotel, then went to the train station to go to Fenway (It's at this point I wish we would have known the geographic layout of Boston better. We could have walked and avoided being packed into the T like sardines). Matt used to watch Red Sox games with his grandfather while he was growing up, so he has been a fan his entire life; going to a game at Fenway was a dream come true for him. I adopted the Red Sox back in 2004 when they came back from an 0-3 defiicit to beat the Yankees and Curt Schilling, a former Dback was pitching through his bloody sock to break the curse of the Babe.

We arrived at Fenway just before they opened the gates, which meant we had plenty of time to grab a few beers and enjoy the history of Fenway park. We meandered through, looking at all the old memorabilia, and eventually stumbling out onto Yawkey Way, which is closed off during games and considered part of the ballpark, so all ticketed fans can enjoy the shops and restauarants on that street.

It was a beautiful day for baseball, overcast and cool, with no rain. Unfortunately Verlander threw a shutout for the Tigers, and I only got to see Captain Varitek when he came out inbetween an inning to warm up the pitcher, but it was still amazing to be at the ballpark and watch a Red Sox game in person.

After the game we walked back to the hotel, enjoying the parks, architecture, and feel of the city. We had dinner at the oldest pub in Boston, Jacob Wirth's, with a delicious lobster macaroni and cheese. The bar has been open in the same spot since 1868, and it has a beautiful Mahogany bar, lots of great beer, and a friendly atmosphere.

August 12th&13th-Arriving in Boston

2009-09-06T10:22:00.000-07:00

Europe doesn't seem to be in my plans for 2009, so I took Matt to Boston, which was as far East as we could go. A co-worker of mine who lives in Boston said if we ever made it out that way when the Red Sox were playing at Fenway, he would sell us his season tickets for a game. I managed to arrange the trip for the week of the Detroit series. The game was Thursday, and we took a red eye out (less points and guaranteed first class) Tuesday night. We arrived in Boston after a 5 hour flight at 5am, EST.

After gathering our luggage, we made our way to the "T Station" and only had to change trains once to arrive at our hotel, which was conveniently located just outside of a T Stop on the orange line. I loved Boston's public transportation; it made life much easier, and was a lot more economical then taking cabs, which we didn't have to do at all. We checked into the Downtwon Boston Doubletree, found a Dunkin Donuts for coffee, avoided a ridiculously expensive breakfast at the hotel, then took the T back to the Aquarium stop and waited for the New England Aquarium to open up for the day.

It was grey and overcast, so we thought we would avoid the rain by staying inside. (Later this proved to be the wrong decision. The weekend was HOT and HUMID. This coming from two people who have lived in AZ almost their entire lives.) If you ever visit Boston, definitely make time for the aquarium. We spend a few hours there, and there were some amazing exhibits. A large tank filled with a representative sample of fish/turtles/sharks from the Caribbean, a Penguin display, a seal exhibit, and lots of little tanks with a ton of educational information. As the morning wore on, more and more families and school groups showed up, and it was encouraging to see the kids so excited about something other than television or video games.

After the aquarium we walked over to Faneuil Hall Marketplace in search of clam chowder and beer for lunch at a local pub. We were not disappointed. After lunch it was back to the hotel for naps, then getting all cleaned up for our dinner cruise aboard the Odyssey. The cruise was recommended by a few of my friends, and definitely worth the splurge. We got to dress up and get a few nice photos, as well as enjoy being out on the water, seeing the small islands in the harbor, and a light house. We shared two bottles of wine, had dinner, and danced. What a wonderful evening, and a perfect start to the trip.

Visiting Family in Craig, CO (July 25th&26th)

2009-08-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

Every now and then my work schedule enables me to do some personal travel on the weekend leading up to my client visit. I flew into Grand Junction, CO on a Saturday morning, then drove up to Craig, CO to visit with my aunt and uncle and meet my cousins for the first time. Which wouldn't be such a big deal, but my youngest cousin turned 12 during my visit. Hmmm. Must make more time for family in the future. After I arrived in Craig we drove over to Steamboat to walk around, have dinner, and enjoy weather that isn't 117 degrees.

We went to dinner at a local steakhouse in Steamboat where they had an open grill for the patrons to cook their own steaks. It was quite tasty.

The next day Dave and Krista took me on a stroll around Craig. There is a chainsaw art competition every year, and the entries are kept at the local park and around town. It's amazing the detail in these sculptures, considering a chainsaw is the tool.

Next we went to the Craig Museum, and met Clyde the Elk. I highly recommend this stop, as there is a lot of the history of the settling of the area, along with some very cool antiques.

Our last stop before I had to head back down to Grand Junction was the Nature Walk. Amazingly enough, my allergies didn't bug me at all, and it was nice to enjoy a brief walk with my family on a beautiful summer day.

Harry Potter Midnight Mania!!!

2009-07-15T23:45:00.000-07:00

My best friend Becky and I were finally granted permission to take our nerd in training to the midnight showing for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince since she just turned 11. I wanted to make Jocelyn's first midnight movie memorable, so I asked my friend Jill to make one of her amazing invitations. She surprised me and also made an invitation for Becky and myself!! Jocelyn was thrilled, and we ended up having a lot of fun at the movie. And the nerd/geek factor is passed to a new generation **sniff**

Sisters at Chase Field, new digital camera

2009-07-09T23:20:00.003-07:00

I share season tickets to the Diamondbacks with several of my coworkers. On July 9th, my sister Danielle and I went to the ballpark to enjoy the game. I also had my new camera, so it was fun to test it out and see how well the 12x zoom worked. I was impressed, and it confirmed that I had picked the correct camera for me. I have the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3, and absolutely love it. It takes great photos and is the most intelligent point and shoot I have owned. This camera corrects for everything, which is great since I have a tendency to shake while taking photos and always wind up with red-eye.

The game started out fantastic. There were a couple home runs, and the Dbacks took an early 7-0 lead. Then a Dbacks hitter sent a line drive at the pitcher, and it was all downhill from there. The pitcher left the field hurt and the Marlins rallied to have a 10 run 8th inning and went on to win 14-7. Even though the Dbacks lost (shocking, I know), we still managed to have a great time. Thanks Danielle, for driving and buying our beers!!

4th of July Party-Wildermuth Styel!!!

2009-07-04T23:04:00.003-07:00

For 4th of July this year my family came over to party, and my sister Danielle invited a few of her friends to enjoy a fine afternoon, a cool pool, and some great barbecue, courtesy of the ever-impressive Matt. Zander enjoyed the pool, Sadie had friends to live with, and everyone loved the pork tacos, babyback ribs, barbecued beans, and homemade potato salad.

After playing in the pool all day we headed over to Jim & Becky's for Jim's birthday party (fireworks every year) to watch the show from the school across the street and have cake. What a great holiday.

A Tad Delayed

2009-06-30T22:20:00.001-07:00

I am more than a bit behind on my blog posting. Tonight I posted entries from February-April, but I still have a few more to post for that time frame. I will get to them this weekend!

Congratulations Daniellee!!!

2009-05-14T22:26:00.002-07:00

My sister Danielle graduated from ASU in May 2009 with her Bachelor's degree. Quite an accomplishment, as she was also working full time, maintaining a social life, and making time for her family. We were there to celebrate as President Obama spoke at her commencement. Since he only spoke at 4 schools, it was an honor for him to be there, even though we had to brave 100 degree weather in the large tin bowl that is Sun Devil Stadium to hear him speak. There were plenty of protesters and supporters surrounding that made the wait entertaining.

The next day she received her diploma during the W.P. Carey convocation, followed by a party at my parents' house. She got a kindle!!

We also managed to take a family picture since all of us were in one place! That doesn't happen very often, so it's nice to document it.

One of Danielle's friends made her a beautiful cake. Everyone was proud of her!!

Seattle Trip-April 2009

2009-04-27T21:26:00.001-07:00

Matt & I went to Seattle for a long weekend to visit Pete & Jill (my uncle & aunt) and play tourist. Matt had never been to Seattle before, and we visited several places that were new to me as well. Our first day we arrived, then drove out to the Tulip Festival. Our timing was perfect, as it had still been freezing until the week before we arrived, so the flowers were freshly bloomed and the colors were amazing! We went back to see Pete & Jill's new house in Bothell, took a short nap, then had dinner at Red Hook and even got to see some live music and dancing!

The next day we got up and had breakfast at a bar in Seattle, drove out to the Sound, went to the Jimi Hendrix Music Experience and Science Fiction Museum, briefly walked through the overly crowded Pike's Place Market, toured the Seattle Aquarium, and had an amzing seafood dinner at Elliots. It was a great day.

The last day we visited Jimi Hendrix's grave on the way out to the Northwest Trek (as in Star Trek, as Matt so eloquently explained). They had quite the shrine, and I thought it was tastefully presented. The NW Trek was a lot of fun, after a tiny bit of drama when Jill realized she had left her professional camera at the Wendy's 45 minutes back. Luckily they had it, so she went for her camera while Pete walked with us. I really enjoyed the experience, with all of the animal exhibits, bears, beavers, moose, bison, and goats!

March 2009

2009-03-31T21:15:00.000-07:00

Matt makes a fabulous homemade meat pizza!

Danielle & I took Matt to the Renaissance Festival, his fist visit. As you can see, it was quite successful, complete with Turkey leg and Beer!

Sorry for the short post, but March was full of dog days:

Tour of California February 2009

2009-02-14T20:22:00.004-07:00

For Christmas, I bought my dad a dinner with the riders in the Amgen Tour of California. 2009 is Lance Armstrong's return year, and there was a lot of hype about him riding in a domestic race. My dad and I bike on the weekends (definitely nowhere near a TOC rider level) and he and my mom watch cycling on tv, so they were very excited about attending the race. In fact, I think my mom was almost more excited at seeing the announcers than the cyclists, which, as my dad said, was because you see more of them on tv than you do the cyclists!

We flew to Sacramento for the first race, the prologue time trial. It was cold, but luckily the rain held off until after the race. It was interesting to wander through all the booths and events before the race, and of course, during a time trial you are guaranteed to see every cyclist. I was surprised at the turnout; the news later said it was the best Sacramento had ever had for the tournament. I even got to see Kevin Johnson, KJ of the Phoenix Suns!!

At dinner we had our photos taken with a few of the more pleasant cyclists, even a few who didn't speak English! Thanks to team Saxobank and Ivan Basso for posing with me and my dad in photos!

The Coast of Northern California

2009-02-13T21:05:00.000-07:00

My parents and I traveled to Sacramento for the Tour of California. We arrived a day before the race to scope things out and decided to drive out to the coast. Even with the rain, it was a beautiful drive.

Super Bowl XVIII: Cardinals vs. Steelers

2009-02-01T23:58:00.000-07:00

After a long and stressful season, the Cardinals entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the NFC West. Even at #1, they were not favored to win any of their matchups. Yet, in a nailbiter, they defeated the Atlanta Falcons. Hope began to appear on the horizon. The next week they dispatched Carolina, at Carolina, in bad weather. People in Phoenix could barely contain their excitement, yet we had so many reasons to doubt, and then, in the NFC Championship, the Cardinals dominated the Eagles. The town went crazy, people were in shock, waiting for ice to coat the I-10, the Cardinals were headed to the Superbowl, led by Larry Fitzgerald & co.

The Cardinals played a good game, but a few huge errors, and the Steelers' coverage of Larry Fitzgerald, lost us the game. But we made it there, and hopefully we will again next year!

There was a lone Steelers fan at the Super Bowl party. Luckily he left at halftime, so we didn't have to watch the celebration at the end of the game.

The Sail Inn Grand ReOpening!!

2009-01-31T23:59:00.000-07:00

The Sail Inn, which had been a live music staple in Tempe for many years, closed in 2005. On January 30, 2009, the Sail Inn reopened. I ventured up to the bar for both Friday and Saturday of Opening weekend, and on Saturday, the Mojo Farmers played, featuring their new drummer.

Thanks to Gina for bringing back the best live music venue in Tempe!!

Meet Buster

2009-01-27T16:35:00.000-07:00

After Matt & I moved in together, Sadie, Matt's dog, was having a hard time adjusting to being the only dog, and has been chewing up the house, i.e. the floorboards, blinds, etc in response to her separation anxiety. So one day after work Matt & I ventured to the Maricopa County Animal Control center in Mesa and picked out a little buddy for Sadie.

Overall, Buster has been a very good dog, he listens well, responds to commands, is good on a leash and friendly. However, being only 7 months old, he chews EVERYTHING. I have lost DVD covers, a garden hose, leather work gloves, etc. So now the dogs are outside dogs whenever we are not home, but still welcome parts of our little family.

California Road Trip

2009-01-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

My aunt & uncle in Fallbrook (the avocado capital of the world!) recently completed a remodel of their home, so Matt and I drove out to see the new kitchen, and hang out with my family, whom I hadn't seen in over a year. After selecting the one weekend in January that wasn't compromised by football, we headed for SoCal.

We spent Saturday on a trolley tour of San Diego, with stops at Balboa Park, Old Town San Diego for some delicious Mexican food, and Coronado Island. It was a short weekend, but a great trip, and I can't wait to go back and hang out with Jeff & Debbie again soon!!

Happy Christmas!!!

2008-12-25T23:33:00.004-07:00

Christmas is a big day for my family, and it was nice for all of us to be together, as Danielle is the only one of us still living at home. My mom and dad just got a new puppy, so she was enjoying romping around while we opened presents. Zander, my 3 year old nephew, is getting to be the perfect age for Christmas, and he was very good today and patient with the present opening!!

After opening gifts, we went over to the Alvar's, where I gave my young paduan learner a matching t-shirt. Now we are all part of Team Cullen!!

The next stop was the Kings to drop off gifts. Elizabeth and Sammy were enjoying the Christmas Spirit!!

Our final stop of the day was the Vestal household for Christmas dinner. Matt's mom made a delicious prime rib and polish sausage, with all my favorite side dishes!!

Moving In

2008-12-25T23:10:00.008-07:00

My boyfriend Matt and I decided to move in together, and we moved the weekend I returned from Spain. Here are few photos of the two of us, with Sadie, Matt's adorable dog, settling into our new place. We have a 240 gallon fish tank in the living room that looks amazing, and on Christmas Eve we installed 2 pallets of sod in the backyard. Our new place is coming along quite nicely, and Matt and I are enjoying only having each other as roommates!!

Leaving Spain-December 3rd & 4th

2008-12-25T22:51:00.005-07:00

My Spain trip drew to a close, and I have to say it was definitely one of the best vacations I've ever taken. Doug is one of my good friends, and it is great that we travel so well together. He and I are both into history, and so he didn't mind lingering at castles, armories, and other sites of historical significance. Our last day in Spain Brent had to be at the school, so Doug and I tagged along to tour the campus and use the internet. We went back to the house for dinner, then dressed up and headed out to flamenco. I'm not sure why, but I don't have any pictures. The flamenco was amazing though. We arrived to the flamenco bar early enough for dinner, and since we also had dinner, we had the best seats in the house!! I actually felt the sweat from the dancers.

We got our drunk selves home, then played cards until 2:30 in the morning. I tried to get a couple hours of sleep, but we had to be up at 5 to get Doug to the airport. I though my flight was at 10, but it turns out I read my reservation incorrectly. I ended up sitting at the airport for 5 hours, since my flight was at 12. Oh well, I had plenty of time to get my tax refund, wander the shops, and eat my last Bocadilla del Jamon.

I flew home through Philadelphia, and the travel time is 2 hours longer going home. I felt every minute, mostly because I was anxious to get home to Matt. I have attached the requisite photo of my phone with all my emails and messages, as well as Elizabeth enjoying her flamenco dress I brought home!!

Spain 2008-December 2nd El Escorial & Valley of the Fallen

2008-12-25T21:36:00.005-07:00

Kelby, one of Brent's grad students, arrived from the States today to spend a week in Europe backpacking around. Fortunately for him he had a free place in Madrid to stay for a few nights. After Brent got back from the airport with Kelby, we let him have a bit of time to unwind, eat something, and shower, then we headed out to El Escorial, seat of the Spanish Inquisition. We toured the castle there, which is also the burial place of the Spanish Royalty.

We ate lunch at a local restaurant, with Kelby getting his first taste of Spanish beer and Paella. After lunch we drove the 6 miles to Valle de los Caidos or Valley of the Fallen. The Valley of the Fallen is a memorial to the Spaniards who died in the civil war, and to General Franco himself. The memorial is breathtaking, and we enjoyed a brief snowball fight.

We stopped at the grocery store on the way back to the house, where we picked up the ingredients for a tuna steak and grilled vegetable dinner. After dinner we had sombrero fun!!

Spain 2008 December 1st-Madrid

2008-12-25T21:08:00.006-07:00

Brent was finally able to break away from his duties at University of Madrid to play tour guide to Doug & I. After breakfast, Lara dropped us off at the Metro Ligero, and we got to enjoy our second experience with Spanish Public Transportation. We hopped the Metro Ligero back into Madrid. We got off the stop, and immediately I was shown proof that there are nerds world wide with a large advertisement for the Star Wars convention. Unfortunately we spent too much time with silly things like castles and cathedrals and didn't get to attend the convention.

We walked from the Metro station to the Royal Palace and toured the grounds, and then the castle itself. Doug got in trouble with the palace guards for standing on the concrete dots trying to take pictures. It was a beautiful castle, and I enjoyed the artwork, the furniture, the antiques. It was amazing.

After the castle we toured the cathedral, where I found a memorial to a saint with the last name Acosta. Chase, here lies one of your husband's ancestors :)

We then toured the town, with Brent pointing out significant historic spots. We made our way to the main square, and stopped for lunch at the Museo de Jamon or the Museum of ham. We ordered a few plates of assorted cheeses and hams, as well as a few bottles of wine. It was quite an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon.

Afterwards, I did a bit of souvenir shopping, including purchasing myself my very own Spanish cap to match Doug & Brent. Lara, Kelly, Jocelyn and Bryce met us for dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe Madrid.

After dinner we wandered through the Christmas lights display, then called it a night and journeyed on the Metro back to Boadilla.

A Madrid Thanksgiving-November 27th

2008-12-25T20:47:00.001-07:00

I spent Thanksgiving in Spain, and the Alvars did a wonderful job of pulling together a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner. This was Ana and Alfonso's second Thanksgiving, as they spent 2007 in the U.S.A. They managed to cook two turkeys, make mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, and veggie/relish trays. Unfortunately Spaniards aren't familiar with "pie" so we had to make due with cakes from the local pasteleria. (bakery)

We had a great time, Doug & I decorated the table, the undergrads helped Brent cook, and we played football in the yard while waiting for the turkeys to brown.

At dinner we laughed, ate, and played games. The girls even got to wear their Thanksgiving dresses I brought them!! I was thankful to have accompanied Doug on his trip, and to spend the holiday with good friends, both old and new.

Spain 2008-November 28-30th

2008-12-03T04:05:00.003-07:00

Denia, Javea, & Valencia

Doug found a very nice Marriott resort on the Mediterranean coast in Spain, in a small town called Denia. So on Friday morning, Doug, Brent, Kelly & I loaded into the Picasso car and headed for the coast. Friday was the girls last day of school, so Lara, Bryce and Joc took the train down after school got out. Denia was about a 4.5 hour drive, but it was interesting to go through the countryside, see the different landscapes, the small towns, and the industry. The giant bulls on the side of the road are advertisements for a Spanish Winery with the label "Toro." They are all over.

We arrived in Denia after a few small mishaps with the GPS unit, and unloaded our luggage and took off for the bar.

We even enjoyed the spa in the hotel for a bit, relaxing our travel-sore muscles in the jacuzzi and steam rooms. After that, we headed into Alicante, about an hour south, to have dinner and collect the girls from the train station. Alfonso had given us recommendations on what to eat, so we had the Arroz a la banda, which is a traditional rice dish with shelled seafood. It was excellent!!!

The next morning we drove about 15 minutes from the resort to Javea, a beautiful town on the coast where the British have their winter homes. We had breakfast, walked, took pictures, and stopped for hot chocolate. I even scaled a (miniature) lighthouse. The town was gorgeous, the sea was turquoise, and the clouds added to the beauty of the pictures.

Later that evening, after relaxing in the resort, we dressed up and headed out for dinner on the beach. We had only a slight delay, where Lara pulled herself over when the Civil Guard was just waving us through the intersection. Unfortunately, they were quite upset that we had 7 people piled into a 5 person vehicle, so Brent, Doug and I walked the remaining 4 blocks to the restaurant. Again, the food was amazing. We had Arroz a la Banda again, Arroz Negro (died with Squid Ink) and Fiduea, which is the traditional rice dish, but with pasta instead.

The next day we headed out to Valencia, where Doug, Kelly & I caught the train back to Madrid, so we wouldn't wind up in jail for having too many people in a car. The train ride was very nice, with a different view of the countryside. I tried to take pictures, but got quite a bit of reflection from the inside of the carriage. Once we arrived in Madrid, we had to take 3 more local trains, and then the light rail back to Boadilla, where Brent was waiting for us with the car.

Spain 2008-November 26th

2008-12-03T03:46:00.002-07:00

Toledo-Home of the swordmakers

Today Lara took Doug and I to Toledo, which is famous for its metalworkers, and also the huge Cathedral they have in town, which surpassed only by Rome for the riches within. The drive was about an hour, and again it was 0 degrees Celsius when we left. We arrived and parked at the train station; the main part of town is very difficult to drive, as the streets are all very narrow and cobblestone. I love being in all of these old towns, with their palaces and stone bridges. It feels like you have stepped back in time. Toledo was an open community, and the architecture is a combination of Jewish, Moorish, and Christian.

The Cathedral was breathtaking, with the stained glass windows, the art by El Greco. We shopped and wandered the streets, then stopped and had lunch in a tapas bar. We were the only tourists inside!!

Toledo is also the setting for the Man of La Mancha, by Don Quixote, and there are signs all over town commemorating his journey.

Spain 2008-November 25th

2008-11-30T16:22:00.004-07:00

Segovia

Doug & I were very lucky that Brent & Lara's friends in Spain, Ana & Alfonso, have decided to loan them their car for the remainder of their time here. That meant that Doug & I got the benefit not only of Lara's knowledge of Spain, already having played tour guide for many friends and family that visited before us, but she also became our personal chauffeur. After she dropped the girls off at school, she came back to collect Doug & I, and we left for Segovia.

The roads in Spain are very confusing, and definitely not on a grid like in Arizona. Most cars that you pass have a GPS unit mounted in their windshield, and ours was no exception. TomTom guides the trusty Picasso car through the labyrinth of Spanish highways with only small delays and detours. As we got closer to Segovia, which is in the mountains, we watched the outside temperature drop to below 0 degrees Celsius. There was snow on the ground, but that only made the castle all that more beautiful. La Granja is based on Versailles in Paris, which I have also visited. We toured the gardens and fountains first, which was lucky because while we were inside a snowstorm began!!

We hiked through the snow to a local cafe, and had the traditional Spanish lunch of bocadillas, which are thinly sliced ham sandwiches on tasty baguettes. The hot chocolate in Spain is almost the consistency of pudding, and warmed me right to the core. After finishing lunch, we drove back into Segovia proper to tour the Roman Aqueducts, and Lara brought us all through the town and pointed out interesting sights and shops she had discovered on our previous trip.

We wound all the way through this fascinating town past an ornate Cathedral to El Alcazar, which is an old fortress that has been turned into a museum, complete with suits of armor and weaponry from the middle ages.

After returning home, we had the usual Alvar evening of a late dinner, followed by a game and movie!

Spain 2008-November 23 & 24

2008-11-30T16:07:00.004-07:00

Traveling and Arriving

My good friend Doug (see Colorado posts) and I planned a vacation to Spain back in April. Our friends the Alvars are living in Spain for a semester, so we thought we would take advantage of the free room and board, and of course the wonderful knowledge they have picked up on while living abroad. On Sunday November 23rd I embarked on my Spanish vacation. Matt dropped me off at the airport, and I was pleasantly surprised that I had been upgraded to first class for the first leg of my trip, from Phoenix to Philadelphia. I made a few harried phone calls to let my credit card companies I would be traveling so I would not be cut off from my funds, then proceeded through my trip. The traveling portion was very good, and I remain satisfied with US Airways. I had a 4 hour layover in Philadelphia, where I watched the NY Giants beat up on the Cardinals. Luckily to counteract that disappointment, the airport was already decorated for Christmas.

I arrived at the airport, and waited with Brent and Lara for Doug's flight to arrive. Once we finally remembered where the car was parked, we were off to deposit our things at Brent & Lara's temporary home, then to collect the girls from school, which I had been looking forward to since Lara described Bryce's reaction to new visitors arriving. I was definitely not disappointed!!

We got to go to the local grocery store to pick up things for dinner, then met the two grad students still staying, Kelly and Chelsea. Both are absolutely charming, and I am glad to have met them! I brought the girls Thanksgiving dresses, and Doug brought them Obama Victory t-shirts. They enjoyed everything!!

Halloween 2008

2008-10-31T20:49:00.003-07:00

Here are some photos of my nieces in their Halloween Best!! Elizabeth was a princess bride, Riley was a princess peacock, and Sammy was in her Star Trek Onesie. Beam me up!!

Later in the evening I attended a party hosted by my friend Daniel Dodd (aka Bindi the jungle girl). There were quite a few good costumes, including a hillbilly couple, a missionary, and a Wheaties Box.

My friend Jim came as a Luchador, which was by far the best costume of the evening.

My boyfriend Matt & I took the most cost effective way to Halloween, utilizing items we already owned, and went as a Priest and a Catholic school girl.

Manitou Springs, CO

2008-10-19T20:37:00.000-07:00

Doug and I woke up Sunday morning and headed off to breakfast at this awesome little cafe called the Omelette Parlor, which was amazing. After enjoying down an omelette, half an order of biscuits & gravy, OJ, and several cups of coffee, we headed out for Woodland Park and the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center. The museum had a ton of displays for dinosaurs, ancient reptiles, fish, and birds. It is a working museum, and it helps to fund different digging projects throughout the U.S.

After the museum we went down into Manitou Springs, a quaint town with all sorts of shops, toy shops, antique shops, cafes, and art shops.

There were even a few old arcades!!

All in all, an enjoyable Sunday.

Colorado Springs-Garden of the Gods

2008-10-18T20:22:00.001-07:00

I visited my friend Doug in Colorado Springs a few weekends back, and we toured around Garden of the Gods. I am from Arizona and have seen the red rocks in Sedona, but this park was gorgeous, since Pike's Peak was in the background. The weather was perfect, in the 70s, and it was a great way to spend the morning.

We did a little bit of scrambling (climbing on the rock formations), and unfortunately found a sign that we were not supposed to be participating in this activity. Oops. :)

Nevertheless, we had a great time wandering the park, taking in the scenery and the wildlife. The pictures of the deer didn't turn out all that well, but it was amazing to come around a corner and see two deer just down the ravine.

Garden of the Gods 2

2008-10-18T15:32:00.003-07:00

Doug and I went to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO. The garden has amazing red rock formations. However, we somehow managed to find ourselves off the main path and decided to document our journey out in case we were eaten by rabid wolves. That way there would at least be a record of our final moments. Enjoy. . .

Presidential Debate and Upcoming Election

2008-10-15T23:27:00.004-07:00

Tonight I watched the final Presidential Debate between the Democratic and Republican Candidates, Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain. I received my mail-in ballot two weeks ago and was surprised to see 5 candidates listed on the ballot.

My hope is that every American who is eligible registers to vote and casts their ballot for the candidate that they feel will best lead the country. There are many good web-sites available, including The Voting Database by the Washington Post, and Project Vote Smart. Please take the time to vote, whether on election day, through early voting, or absentee voting. The more people who vote and take part in the process, the more we present our opinion to the politicians and can dictate what goes on in the government. Please take the time to research the candidates, research the issues, and make your voice heard!!

According to the U.S. Census Bureau in the 2004 presidential election, 72% of voting age citizens were registered to vote, and 89% of registered voters voted in the election. Let's get both of those numbers as close to 100% as possible!!

Jill's Birthday in Vegas!!

2008-10-15T22:35:00.003-07:00

One of my oldest (not age-wise!!) and dearest friends just celebrated her 30th birthday, and to celebrate properly she invited friends and family to Vegas to celebrate with her. My mom, my sisters Danielle and Meghan, and Meghan's wife Stacie all went and we had an excellent time. We arrived on Friday and started the evening by walking from Bally's where we were staying to the NY NY Casino to gamble for a bit, and hopefully get into one of my favorite pubs, the Nine Fine Irishmen. Unfortunately it was a bit late, and a bit crowded, so we just gambled until 2am.

The next day we walked up and down the strip, and went through The Forum at Caesar's where Pete Rose, the all-time MLB leader in hits, games played, and at-bats. I stopped by to get a baseball signed for my boyfriend, Matt, who is also an avid baseball fan. Pete Rose still hasn't had his lifetime ban from baseball lifted, but maybe someday the commission will allow him into the hall of fame and recognize his achievements behind the plate.

That night my mom treated Pete & Jill, and all of us girls to Mystere at Treasure Island. Treasure Island was remodeled a few years ago, and is a very nice casino.

On the final day, we rode the roller coaster at NY NY, I watched the Cardinals beat the Cowboys, and I won $110 on the Game of Life slot machines at the Venetian!! All in all, a fun family weekend.

End of a Season

2008-09-29T22:16:00.000-07:00

The last Dbacks game was a home game, and happened to be on my birthday! My best friend Becky and I went to the game. I had season tickets this year, and the seats were a small luxury I allowed myself (and Becky for most of the season!). At the beginning of the game, each player had a child or 2 with him, and they got to walk out onto the field with the player to the players position, play catch, and get autographs!!

The colors were presented by the Mesquite High School JROTC unit. As a side note, I was the commander of the first HS JROTC team to present colors for the Dbacks back in 1998. . .

It was a great game, pitched by Randy Johnson. He had a complete game and 9 or 10 strike-outs. The Dbacks won, and that was at least a good ending to an otherwise disappointing season. I am hopeful that the Dbacks will be back in the playoffs next year!!

The other good news is Birthdays are sponsored by Cold Stone Creamery and with an ID proving it is indeed your birthday, you get a free full size Ice Cream!! Hooray!!

A New LunchBox!!!

2008-08-09T10:10:00.001-07:00

I don't really remember my first day of kindergarten, but I do remember that having a cool lunch box was one of the most important parts of school. My "niece" Elizabeth just received her first lunchbox in the mail today, and I'm happy to say it's a square metal lunchbox that most of us remember from our school days. It was even adorned with a picture from the Last Unicorn, a movie from my childhood.

And just to show we have a good sense of humor. . .

Artemis Fowl-Author Presentation

2008-07-25T23:25:00.000-07:00

My best friend Becky and I took our young padawan learner to a presentation given by Eoin Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl series. I began reading the Artemis Fowl books after my sister Danielle recommended them to me. Unfortunately she was in Seattle when Mr. Colfer was in town, but I did manage to score her a signed book and pen!!

Mr. Colfer put on an amazing one man show; it is no wonder his books are so excellent. Becky had not read any of the books prior to us seeing the show, and is glad she waited because now she can "hear" Mr. Colfer narrating the story as she reads. I have attached a link to his presentation, Fairies, Fiends & Flatulance; it is definitely worth watching!!

Vegas Baby!!

2008-07-13T08:50:00.000-07:00

My sister Danielle had the excellent opportunity of interning with Costco Corporate this summer, which meant she spent 3 months in Seattle. We didn't get a chance to go to Las Vegas for her birthday, so a mid-summer trip was the perfect time to see each other again. My mom and I flew up mid-afternoon on a Friday, checked into our hotel, gambled a bit, and ate at a lovely Italian restaurant inside the casino. We stayed at the Rio, just across the highway from the strip.

We rented a car, so we drove over to the airport to pick up Danielle after dinner. There was hugging and crying, and once that was out of the way we were off to party!! We dropped off Danielle's things at the hotel, then went to the casino next door to play BINGO!!! (I know, we are addicts) I even won a round!! We finished off the night by gambling until 3am, then finally headed back to the room for some sleep

The next day we got dressed and drove over to the strip, so Danielle could see the famous fountains at Bellagio, the MGM lions, and as many other sites as we could fit in.

All in all, it was a great introduction for Danielle to Vegas, and a great trip for bonding for the three of us!!

Mogollon Music Fest 2008

2008-06-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

I attended the First Annual (hopefully!) Mogollon Music Fest the last weekend of May with the Mojo Farmers. The King family & I arrived Saturday afternoon, and it had been quite a while since I had driven north of Payson. My family used to have a cabin in Pine, AZ when I was growing up, so it was a great experience to drive through the main street and see all the places we used to visit while we were at our cabin for the weekend. But we couldn't linger, the Mojos were playing at 5, so we continued up the mountain.

The weather was absolutely beautiful. I hadn't been camping in years, and forgot how wonderful it was to be where you can't hear traffic and there is the clean scent of pine in the air. We arrived in time to watch Brewed to Perfection, one of my favorite local bands. After they played, Joy World Entertainment Co, a new addition to the local music scene jammed out on stage. Kansas and Red from Joy World were the hosts of Mogollon Music Fest, and they did an outstanding job for their first festival. There were plenty of awesome vans, cool vendors, a bar that served drinks for donations to troops, and of course, Zeke, the most awesome food vendor ever. He made a mean french bread pizza, which tasted even better when the weather cooled down.

At night there were several bonfires and the music lasted until well after 2am. I met quite a few new friends, hung out with some old friends, and had one of the best weekends of my life.

I hope to attend Mogollon Music Fest every year! Thanks to Kansas & Red.

The last 2 days in Dublin.

2008-05-19T23:15:00.000-07:00

It has been a while, but here is the final post from my Ireland trip! (Yes, I know the last day of the trip was May 19th, but never late than never!!)

Danielle and I used Sunday to finish up the rest of the tourist sites around Dublin, and bought a pas for the local tourist bus that goes all through Dublin and out to Phoenix Park.

We started the day at the Kilmainham Gaol, a historic prison located in Dublin. The prison itself was quite interesting, filled with bits of prison psychology, what worked, what didn't, stories of the over-crowding during the famine, and the famous rebels who were locked up during the revolution. Several movies were also shot here, most notably "In the Name of the Father."

After Kilmainham, we left for Phoenix Park, which houses the President of Ireland and the U.S. Embassy. Danielle and I toured the Phoenix Zoo, and took plenty of pictures of the Elephants for our youngest sister Angie, who loves Elephants!!

After that we just wandered through Dublin, soaking in the last bits of history, marveling at the churches and buildings built over 1000 years ago.

We finished the evening with a Literary Pub Crawl, which was amazing.
The two actors who gave the tour were full of good stories and anecdotes, and the quizzes, beers, and bars were all amazing. All in all, a great end to a fantastic trip.

The final few pictures are Danielle and I on our way back to the airport, exhausted, but happy to have crossed the Atlantic to enjoy a bit of history, culture, and of course, Irish Lore.

A Peaceful Scene, more from Glendalough on Saturday

2008-05-17T16:03:00.000-07:00

I took a short video of a creek flowing under a bridge at Glendalough. Hopefully you can hear how quiet it was, the sound of the rushing water, and the wind in the trees. I could have stood there for hours enjoying the peace and calm.

Saturday in Dublin-Winding Down

2008-05-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning started out eventfully for Danielle and I. I woke up, squinted at the clock on the TV, then noticed it was 8:25am. We were supposed to meet our bus at 8:50 for the Wild Wicklow tour!!! I shouted at Danielle, we threw on our clothes, grabbed the backpack, and sprinted out of the hotel for 3 blocks. We found the group we were supposed to meet, then proceeded to stand there for an hour. . . Finally I walked over to a nearby hotel where the concierge called Wild Wicklow. Turns out their tour bus had broken down!

Danielle and I then high-tailed it back to our hotel, where our friendly concierge called around and got us booked on a separate tour of the Wicklow area, which picked us up in front of our hotel. It turned out to be a lucky twist of fate. The driver/tour guide for the new hotel was amazing, he was funny, clever, and entertaining, which was nice since the majority of the tour was in the bus.

We drove out to the Wicklow area, and the Glendalough, a 6th century monastic settlement, and a quick walk to two very peaceful lakes. The day was beautiful, overcast with the sun peeking through at various times, casting an almost mystical light over the forest. I kept expecting to see fairies, or a hobbit, at least. :)

After Glendalough, the tour went through the town of Avoca, home of the handweavers. That was a very interesting shop to go through, and watch the process of the handweavers making a blanket or scarf. Danielle and I ate lunch in a little fish and chips shop overlooking the river, which was beautiful as well. I know I keep using beautiful in my descriptions, but hopefully as you look at my pictures you see why.

We napped on the bus ride back to Dublin, then took off for dinner around 8:30 (one of the advantages of the late sunset). We walked the famous Temple Bar area, noticed quite a few hen parties, with the ladies all decked out in boas, wigs, wings, and other such accessories having a great time.

Dinner was at a magnificent little Italian restaurant, where I had my favorite meal, a glass of red wine and penne arrabiata.

Day 5-Friday in Dublin

2008-05-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

After our day of golf, my sister and I did another day of sightseeing around Dublin. We started with the Book of Kells, located in Trinity College. I love books, and to see a book that has been around since the 9th century. It is a collection of gospels, written on calfskin. Just the sheer fact that the book has survived this long, and is still readable is amazing.

After seeing the book of Kells, you walk through The Long Room in the Old Library, which has approximately 200,000 of the libraries oldest books, which a team of volunteers are currently working to restore. This was one of my favorite parts of the trip, and my sister practically had to drag me out.

After that, we wandered around the Trinity College campus for a bit, and I marvelled at what it would be like to attend university at a place with so much history. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my 4 years at ASU, which has been around since the late 19th century, but Trinity College was established by Queen Elizabeth I and is over 400 years old.

After the college, Danielle and I went to tour the state apartments and the remaining structures of Dublin Castle. Again, as a history nut, it was interesting to be on these tours, hear about the revolution, especially when delivered with the humor and wit that the Irish are known for.

I even found a Knight in Shining Armor!!

Next up was a tour of the Jameson Distillery! I volunteered to be an official taste tester, and while I discovered that I'm not really a whiskey girl, I did enjoy the Irish whiskey better than the Scottish or American whiskeys.

We ate lunch at Apache Pizza, which I thought was appropriate since we are from AZ, then headed back to the hotel. We went out for some live music, and bar hopped a bit, which was a good ending to a great day.

Day 4-Golfing in Ireland!!

2008-05-15T23:23:00.000-07:00

Well, you can't go to Ireland without playing golf, especially when you enjoy the game as much as my sister and I do. We played at Hollystown Golf Club, near the airport. It was a beautiful day, partly cloudy, windy, and cold. The course has 3 sets of 9, so Danielle and I were pretty much on our own, which gave us plenty of time to soak in the experience.

After golf, we headed back to our hotel, then had lunch at the Hard Rock Dublin. American Music was nice to hear, and I collect the shotglasses, so I can be excused for eating in a trendy American diner.

After that we wandered through the city, stopping at St. Audoen's church for a quick photo op, then off to St. James Gate for the Guinness Factory Tour! Once you reach the top of the tour you get to enjoy a complimentary pint of Guiness, and excellent views of Dublin from on high!!

Day 3 in Dublin

2008-05-14T21:36:00.000-07:00

Today my sister and I woke up and went downstairs to consult with the concierge, who proceeded to book us on a half day tour out to Malahide Castle. We ate breakfast at the hotel restaurant, then head out to explore the city a bit more before we had to catch the bus.

The tour buses are excellent, because the bus drivers also act as tour guides, and are full of fun facts and information about Dublin and Ireland. The economy of Dublin has also suffered from the real estate boom and subsequent crash. Two years ago, a 3 bedroom 2 bath duplex cost 750K euros, and now is worth 200K less.

As we approached Malahide Castle, we learned of the story of the Talbot family, who inhabited the castle for 800 years. The last living member of the family, who currently resides in Tasmania, sold the castle back to the Irish Government in 1976.

After touring the castle, the bus drove us around the coast, and we got to see the beautiful blue water, the eye of Ireland, and more scenery. It was another beautiful day, blue and without clouds.

Unfortunately, my breakfast did not agree with me, so when we got back to Dublin, we went through one museum, the Museum of Archaelogy, which was full of exhibits about the Vikings, the history of the church in Ireland, and the evolution of it's civilization.

After the museum, we headed back to the hotel, and slept away my flu. But we still saw quite a bit!!

A bit o' Irish Cheer to you!!

2008-05-14T13:23:00.003-07:00

My sister Danielle and I are in Ireland for a week, and in an effort to make this a true vacation I did not bring my laptop, and planned on uploading my photos via the hotel computers. However, they have security software that does not allow me to plug my camera in, so you will have to wait until my return for photos!

So far we have had dinner in an Irish pub, complete with traditional music and dancing, visited the Malahide Castle, and wandered through a few museums. Tomorrow we are playing golf and visiting the Guiness Factory!

Just wanted to let my faithful blog readers know that I am okay, and enjoying the trip!! I will get up a blog post and pictures for each day when I get back.

Until then. . . .
Amber

Traveling to Ireland (Days 1&2)

2008-05-13T22:53:00.000-07:00

As I am sure many of you have found, all the pictures from my Ireland trip are posted to my flickr account. This is the first of 6 belated blog entries with a few of my favorite photos.

My sister and I set off for Ireland on Monday, May 12th, and oddly enough this was the only day of our trip where weather was a problem. Our flight was delayed almost an hour getting out of Phoenix to Philadelphia, and when we did get over Philadelphia airspace, they were still backed up from all of their weather problems, so we had to circle the airport. We were lucky though, at least our connecting flight to Dublin was still boarding when we arrived. Other people on the plane had to run across the concourse where their flights were being held (if they were lucky!!

Danielle and I had planned well, and slept for most of the flight, which was helpful since we left Phoenix at noon on Monday and arrived in Dublin at 10am on Tuesday!! We got through customs, which was slow. However, getting a new stamp on my passport is always exciting!!

We stopped by the Tourist Office in the airport and purchased 6 day Dublin passes. These passes are quite a good deal because they include free admission to several tourist places (Guiness Factory, Jameson Distillery, Dublin Castle, and various other museums and historic sites around the city), and discounts to many other places and shops. The passes also include "fast tracking" at many of the sites, where you get to skip in front of the line of people who are somewhat less prepared.

Dublin has an amazing transportation system. The public bus runs every 10 minuts from the airport to the city center. Luckily there was a stop only 2 blocks from our hotel, and the one-way transfer from the airport to Dublin was included in the Dublin Pass. I took many photos from the bus, then we got off and headed to our hotel, the fabulous Conrad Dublin The concierges at the hotel were incredibly nice and helpful, and iwthout them I doubt we would have seen or done nearly as much as we crammed into our week.

After checking in, we set out to do some light exploring of the city and grab some lunch. The weather was absolutely beautiful, big blue skies, mid 50's for the temp, and just a light breeze. The main area of the city has a pedestrian only street, the famous Grafton Street, lined with shops and restaurants. We grabbed a bit of lunch, then headed over to St. Stephen's Green, a small park in the center of the city that was filled with people in business suits, students, families, kids, lovers, and individuals, soaking up the sun and enjoying the unusual weather.

After this round of exploring, we took a quick nap, then made dinner reservations at the Arlington hotel for a night of traditional Irish cuisine, music, and dance. (not us, thank goodness, but professionals!!).All in all, a very successful first day in the Emerald Isle.

Fishing In The Dark

2008-05-11T21:15:00.003-07:00

In preparation for my trip to Ireland I bought a new camera, a Nikon Coolpix 8m camera yesterday. Some friends came over for dinner and to fish in our lake, so I considered that the perfect opportunity to test out my camera.

I even managed to catch a fish in the middle of all my photography.

Thanks to Brent for bringing over the fishing gear!

McDowell Mountain Music Festival-Saturday

2008-05-01T21:37:00.003-07:00

I apologize for taking so long to get this post up, my week has been very crazy!!! I was down in Tucson for work (no pictures either!!) and just got back into town and finally have a few minutes to myself.

Anyhow, Day 2 of the festival got off to an amazing start!!! Having never been backstage at a festival, it was certainly a first for me. It was amazing to be backstage as Blues Traveler & John Butler Trio's roadies were unloading their massive semi-trailers, and meeting multiple managers for each band. As for the Mojo Farmers, they only have me, but hopefully someday I will be managing other manager's for the Mojo's!!

We got to hang out back stage, unload our trailer, and get set up. Then there was time to watch Saturday's music lineup, which started with a fellow Arizona band, Peppermint James , who really got the crowd pumped up and ready for another day of great music!!

At noon it was time for the Mojo Farmers to take the stage. The Mojo Farmers played, with special guest percussionist Henri from Rocketline. Having Henri around brought another level of energy to the music, and the Mojo Farmers started the set off on a heavy rock note with Harvest Rain! The crowd was into the music, dancing and cheering throughout the entire 45 minute set. The guys would have loved to have played all day, but, had to make room for the great bands to follow, including Toubab Krewe, JJ Grey & Mofro, The Wailers, Blues Traveler, and John Butler Trio.

I have to say that overall, the festival was a great experience. Having VIP access certainly helped! There were air-conditioned bathrooms, food, and alcoholic beverages were included in the ticket price. I highly recommend VIP passes to anyone wishing to attend next year! The access to the poser deck also brings you so much closer to the stage.

I'm looking forward to next year!! Until then. . . .

McDowell Mountain Music Festival-Friday

2008-04-27T17:46:00.008-07:00

Ahh, Music Festivals. The combination of my favorite things in life: awesome bands, good friends, and the great outdoors!! The weather was beautiful Friday and Saturday, which only added to the entire experience. This was my first time seeing most of the bands live, and I have to say they all exceeded expectations. The McDowell Mountain Music Festival was at Westworld in Scottsdale Arizona with what else but the McDowell Mountains providing a breathtaking backdrop.

Friday afternoon my musical enjoyment started with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. I had heard of this band, as GPN has a song on Grey's Anatomy on TV. Grace Potter and Nocturnals are currently touring with Government Mule, who had the closing spot Friday night (more on them later!).

Grace Potter hung around to sign CDs afterwards. I bought both of her CDs, and the CD from her guitarist, Scott Tournet. The CDs have been awesome, and I was glad to be witness to their act.

The next act was Robert Randolph and the Family band.

The crowd was completely into the music, and it got everyone warmed up for Government Mule!! Government Mule is fronted by Warren Haynes, and the man is amazing. Being new to the music world, this is certainly an amazing introduction.

Lost in Laredo

2008-04-22T20:41:00.003-07:00

Tonight I'm sitting in my hotel room in Laredo, TX, trying to read "All Creatures Great and Small" by James Herriott, but am distracted by the sound of a storm ripping its way through the town. The wind is hard and punishing, the moon and stars are blotted out by dark grey clouds.

This is my second trip to Laredo, and again it strikes me how lonely this place is. Perhaps it is because I have read a few Larry McMurtry novels, but this town has a memory of harder times, when the West was still wild, and there were people struggling to make a living in this god-forsaken border town.

Or maybe it's because I've gone through a bit of upheaval in my life recently. But the town, with it's hot, humid weather, and the promise of rain on the horizon is haunting. It brings to mind sleepless nights, headlights on an empty highway, and the pursuit of almost forgotten dreams.

Nephew

2008-04-10T23:02:00.002-07:00

My nephew Zander swallowed a quarter this week, and unfortunately, it got stuck part way down. He was driven from Casa Grande Hospital to the Phoenix Children's hospital in a fire truck!! He was rather upset at having to spend the day in the ER, but was able to breathe, so it wasn't a life threatening situation. He is no worse for the wear, as you can see. Fortunately, when you are two, you bounce back from tragedy rather quickly!

Lake Tahoe

2008-04-01T20:36:00.005-07:00

I was in Zephyr Cove, NV, right outside of Lake Tahoe. It is beautiful there, although it is 50 degrees cooler than my home in Gilbert! There was still plenty of snow on the ski runs (I wish I skiied).

I stayed at the MontBlue Resort and Casino. It was an excellent place to stay, affordable, clean, and the restaurants were amazing. We ate at the steak restaurant, and it was one of those where the booths are all up against the wall, with heavy velvet drapes to draw closed for a more intimate dining experience. Since I was there with a work colleague, we dined at a table, but I enjoyed the people watching nonetheless. We were even given a complimentary dessert at the end of the meal!

I loved being in Tahoe, it was 35 degrees and sunny, and a welcome change from Arizona. I wish you could add scent to the blog, the smell of the fresh water, the bite in the air, and the pine trees. I'm looking forward to taking a weekend vacation up there sometime.

Mojo Farmers-Desert Sun Charity Event

2008-03-29T23:27:00.000-07:00

The Mojo Farmers, in their quest to provide a musical education and inspire a new generation, volunteered their time and talent at the Desert Sun Child Development Center's Casino Night Fundraiser. Throughout the evening, the Mojo's provided the crowd with plenty of great tunes to enhance the atmosphere. Darin is really fitting in well with the band, even though he was thrown into the song "Still" which I don't think he had heard before, but still played beautifully.

The evening was built around a silent auction and live auction, with plenty of donations from local businesses and talent to help raise funds for the school. There were also blackjack tables, roulette, and craps.

Plenty of fun was had by all, and the school enjoyed a successful fundraising night!

Easter Sunday

2008-03-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

Easter is a great day for my family and I. We always go hiking. Some years at the arboretum, other years at the Riparian preserve at the Greenfield Library. My parents, my sister Danielle, my sister Meghan and her family and I hiked around the Preserve. It was a peaceful day, a perfect Sunday.

And just for good measure, my god daughter Samantha, in her Star Wars onesie.. . .

Renaissance Festival-Huzzah!!!

2008-03-22T19:42:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite times of year is Spring, and with Spring comes the Renaissance Festival. I haven't been in a few years, and neither has Becky, so we loaded up the girls in the Honda and headed to the Faire. Elizabeth was thrilled to go and wear her Fiona dress from Shrek 3.

We watched the glass blowing, which is always amazing to me that they start with a bit of hot sand, and at the end is a perfect goblet. In this case, the goblet turned out to be not so perfect when the goblet broke off from the stem at the very end. Such a lot of hard work, with nothing to show at the end. The artisans were Andres & Chapman Glassblowing - Blown Glass Art & Glassblowing Demonstrations.

Elizabeth and I rode on the giant swan swing. I got some priceless pictures of her; she wasn't quite sure if she was enjoying the ride or not. It's the perfect mixture of pleasure and terror.

The finale was the Birds of Prey show, which is one of my favorites. I love seeing all the different kinds of birds. I got a few lovely pictures of the African White Vulture. Her name is Ed.

A Surprise Party!!!

2008-03-16T19:59:00.007-07:00

As noted in a previous post, I completed the work towards my Master's Degree at the end of February. On Saturday, my friend Allen and I went golfing at Papago Public Golf Course. It was a gorgeous day for golf, 70 degrees, and I played well, considering I haven't played for 10 months or so. But back to the point. Allen hasn't been over for a while, so we were going to have a few friends over for dinner, but Becky texted me to say that the Alvars had plans, and it would just be us, and she had to run out to the store, so she wanted to make sure I had my key. So Allen and I get back to our house, I open the door, and there are about 15 people in the living room yelling "Surprise" I most certainly was!!!

It took a few minutes to even register what the surprise was for, take in the fact that there were people at my house, and the fact that I was standing there after walking 9 holes of golf so all sweaty, with my hair a mess while there was a party going on for me!!! It was a great party, a great surprise, and just goes to show how great my friends are!!

We capped off the evening by going to the Big Bang piano bar, as my sister Danielle just turned 21, then watching the Mojo Farmers play at the Loft in Tempe. It was a good show, and the second show with the new drummer Darin Lugar, who has so far been an awesome addition to the band.

A Day Out with the Girls

2008-03-08T21:24:00.003-07:00

For Christmas this year I bought my honorary nieces a day out with their favorite "Aunt." I gave them each a gift card to Chick-fil-a, a movie ticket, and a Barnes and Noble gift certificate. The girls are 9, 6 and 5, and we had a blast. Of course, I think the parents that I borrowed the girls from were more excited about having the days to themselves. I'm glad I brought the 9 year old, because she hung out with me the entire day, while the 6 year old and 5 year old entertained each other.

We only had minor conflict. There were some accusations of cheating during a footrace, but it was only because the 5 year old is much shorter than the 6 year old. I had to explain that being taller is not "cheating." They sorted it out, and we enjoyed the movie "The Spiderwick Chronicles". Both girls shared my chair for the entire movie as it was quite scary.

At the bookstore we scouted around for books. Princesses and Berenstein Bears were the big winners. And at the end the youngest girl said "It was nice going on a date with you." Awwww. It's nice to have created memories like this for the girls, and for me.

A Mojo Sendoff

2008-03-07T23:30:00.001-07:00

On Friday the Mojo Farmers played at the Last Exit, which was fitting as it was the drummer, Tim Olson's, last show. Tim has been playing with the band since its inception, but has decided to pursue other interests. The show included previous members of the band as a reunion to celebrate Tim's contribution, and to wish him luck on his way.

Tim has been a big part of the band for many years, and I wish him luck on his future endeavors. Thanks for the memories and the music Tim!!

Mexico City

2008-03-05T22:08:00.006-07:00

I studied in Mexico for 6 weeks one summer in college, so whenever I get a chance to go back, I jump at it. This trip is a work trip (I love this part of my job!!), and I'm traveling with Chase. So far we have had a very good trip (please refer to her blog for the beginning) and I have had plenty of opportunities to practice my rather rusty Spanish. To me, Mexico is a place that tears at my soul. There is so much history; the land is rich in culture, in people, in different environments and terrains, but it has more than its fair share of adversity, with corruption, pollution, and poverty always right in the way. But there is a beauty and strength here that is undeniable.

However, a 3 day business trip isn't much of a chance to explore the richer sides of Mexico, so here are a few pictures from the 5 block radius around my hotel, the Camino Real Santa Fe. This area is a business district, with plenty of high-rise office buildings, including the Ford Tower, Jose Cuervo Corporate offices, and many other corporations, both foreign and domestic.

And, something that has absolutely nothing to do with Mexican history or culture, a Starbucks cup from the local shop. (there are two within walking distance of my hotel). It is nice to know that almost wherever I travel, I can always be comforted with something from home, namely a non-fat no-whip, venti cafe mocha. . .

Roadrunners Hockey Game!!

2008-03-02T20:47:00.006-07:00

Ahh, hockey. It is fast becoming one of my favorite sports to watch. I went to a Roadrunners game at US Airways arena. The Roadrunners are a farm team for our NHL team, the Phoenix Coyotes.

The game was excellent. The Roadrunners piled on the goals, and it was a high action game. Unfortunately, not many fights today, which is one of the high points of any hockey game.

Hot Child in the City

2008-02-25T23:05:00.003-07:00

Well, I'm not really that hot, but Albuquerque isn't much of a big city either, so I suppose we're even. :)

I'm traveling; my first trip in a long time without homework or other obligations, so I took myself out on the town, researching live music venues for my favorite band, the Mojo Farmers.

I had dinner at one of my favorite local spots, the Flying Star Cafe. It is a hip joint, with magazines to borrow or buy, and an excellent menu. I highly recommend the pasta pomodoro. There is always good music playing, in fact the set tonight could have been from my Mp3 player.

After dinner, I went over to the Launchpad, a great place right downtown for live music.

The show tonight was excellent, 3 performers all doing acoustic sets. I even bought the CD of the opening act, Alexa Wilkinson. She has an amazing voice, so please visit her myspace page. Next up was Joshua Radin, who has an amazingly deep voice. Unfortunately for me, most of the songs were sad, lost loves, breaking up, etc.

Ingrid Michaelson, the headliner for the evening, is a true MySpace success story. She started posting her songs on myspace, got a break by getting a song on an episode of Grey's Anatomy, and the rest, as they say, is history.

All in all, a very good way to spend the evening, and hopefully, my Mojo Farmers will be playing in Albuquerque very soon.

Gotta Tri!

2008-02-24T21:14:00.005-07:00

I competed in my second triathlon with three of my friends on February 17th. The triathlon was a sprint-tri, with a 200 meter swim, a 10.5 mile bike, and a 2.5 mile run. The morning started out cold, it was 40 degrees at the start of the race! Luckily, the pool was heated, so that ended up being the warmest part. Getting on a bike, still wet, was interesting. I was so cold, and chattering, my transition time was horrible! But I still wound up finishing in 1 hour and 14 minutes. The website spelled my name wrong. You will find me under Amber Windermuth.

Even though I was last in my age group, I still enjoy competing in the triathlons! I plan on training even harder for my next triathlon, tentatively scheduled for March 30th, and hopefully I will come in next to last. . .

My family also braved the cold to watch my friends and I compete. It was even my mom's birthday! I have to admit, having a cheering section really does help give an extra push to keep giving it all you've got.

Attainment of a Goal

2008-02-24T00:20:00.003-07:00

February 24, 2008 12:03am. I submitted my final research paper this evening, took my final exam, posted my last entry to a classroom discussion board. With that, I have officially completed my Master's Program. I feel very unsettled at this point. I began my quest for this degree in September 2003, and there have been several bumps along the way. I was new in my career at work, and demands from traveling, keeping up with my audits, and of course, trying to fit in a personal life took its toll. But here I am, 4 years and 5 months later, officially finished. I've had this as part of my life for so long, always a paper, or a discussion, or chapters to read. I'm not quite sure how I will move forward at this point, but I am looking forward to it. Knowing me, I will continue to over-schedule myself, but at least I have one more item checked off my life goal list.

I am looking forward to "living" a bit more, because, as my friend Jim so eloquently stated when he and his wife were heading out to a bar to watch live music while I was buried in a textbook, 3 chapters behind with two papers due, "A laptop isn't really living." No, it isn't. But getting this degree is important to me, and it was certainly worth the struggle over the past 4 years. So now, with this safely attained, I can start going out more and experiencing life beyond my laptop. I'm looking forward to the new challenge.

Baby Sam. . . .

2008-02-05T22:00:00.000-07:00

This post is a little past due, but my friend Becky (see Star Wars Baby Shower post) had her baby on January 25th, Samantha Ann King, came into the world at 7 1/2 pounds, and 20 inches long. Becky (mommy) is doing quite well, and we are all now happily settled back at home. I'm pretty fond of the new baby. She's fun to hold, she sleeps most of the time, and when she screams, the parents take her into their room on the other side of the house.

Another of the amazing benefits is all the mommies at the school where Becky works are taking turns dropping off meals!!! We won't need to cook for a month!! I am fully taking advantage of the situation. I get to hold the baby, enjoy the food, and didn't have to go through nine months of pregnancy or labor to enjoy the benefits. Please enjoy the pics, and I will get a few more well posed ones up soon.

Baby Shower-Star Wars Style

2008-01-19T15:47:00.001-07:00

This is how showers are run when nerds throw baby showers. Becky, the mommy-to-be, loves Star Wars, so a Star Wars shower she had. Slightly less girly than most showers, which was fine by me. We even had an R2D2 cake!!

My best friend is getting ready to have her second child, and while I was thrilled that she had not had the baby yet so she could attend the shower, she is anxious to not be pregnant. But she did have a good time at the party, and her daughter, who is 5, got several presents as well, so no one was left out!!

Good luck to Becky, and best wishes for an easy delivery and a healthy baby!!

Mojo Farmers at the PF Changs Rock N Roll Marathon!!!

2008-01-13T15:41:00.001-07:00

The Mojo Farmers played at the PF Changs Rock N Roll Marathon this morning. Congratulations to all those who ran in the race, both the half marathon, and the full marathon. For those who ran the full marathon, they were treated to the awesome sounds of the Mojo Farmers at mile 17.5. For those who are unfamiliar with the RNR marathon, bands line the course. This year there were over 70 bands on the course. The Mojo's sounded excellent, and the people running by were definitely pumped up when they heard them. Or maybe it was because there were less than 10 miles left at that point. . .

The weather was much nicer than 2007, which was the coldest marathon start yet. It was in the mid 60s, which was plenty warm for the runners judging by the amount of sweat pouring down their faces.

Elvis even joined the band for a bit

A Mojo New Year to You!!

2007-12-31T23:37:00.002-07:00

123107_21471.jpg
Originally uploaded by Amber Wildermuth

Happy New Year!! As always, the new year is a chance to reflect on what has gone by, what you would like to happen, and how you are going to accomplish that. Good luck, and Best Wishes in achieving all the goal's you set. . . .