tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74621784722763771502024-03-13T13:13:06.245-07:0052andNewA Lifetime of Saying Yes to 52 New Experiences!Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-9253887506713482442015-02-21T14:15:00.001-08:002015-02-24T16:33:07.885-08:00Our Cruise to Mexico, February 2015<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Puerta Vallarta</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLy60r7rUfQn56eBL1w0duv0JNaUssTVuri3BMdC2jpUfNNahiu-l4R6FYfv1xGs50PKwfVp9_-ndurkYCvi96DoZFDnAnK2vDQH0C5UwA8HQZscL0PL7X68vunKcQdv69Deljk-vT1ns/s1600/After+rapelling+down+the+waterfall+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLy60r7rUfQn56eBL1w0duv0JNaUssTVuri3BMdC2jpUfNNahiu-l4R6FYfv1xGs50PKwfVp9_-ndurkYCvi96DoZFDnAnK2vDQH0C5UwA8HQZscL0PL7X68vunKcQdv69Deljk-vT1ns/s1600/After+rapelling+down+the+waterfall+(2).jpg" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>We had a blast in Puerta Vallarta Zip-Lining, Rappelling, Water Sliding</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4_OkagnUQC36lfwvjwaWlrG2Aa5jJMU_9sNnNQ-iqo0VQqsH1XVHFMSI5XE8YJ25eTFEeSTK8KrfOMWjc5DsD4G3Fira7UIq__ATce5JkKtKCuzJHhLq_mG7hWbaH1DtbSe3dfDbj2s/s1600/Boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4_OkagnUQC36lfwvjwaWlrG2Aa5jJMU_9sNnNQ-iqo0VQqsH1XVHFMSI5XE8YJ25eTFEeSTK8KrfOMWjc5DsD4G3Fira7UIq__ATce5JkKtKCuzJHhLq_mG7hWbaH1DtbSe3dfDbj2s/s1600/Boat.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The day in Puerta Vallarta started with a boat ride to a hidden cove south of the city and port.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPTRKmSAiwQF9kk2cYjH_MW-hBap5_tARD6DxR_XM1b3XZoxgYv0RWfmJpQxuqU8saOKHzMncC7SKJAuuk85fk_LsuVmEZvzOWIP5__2l-bEeIc4TdFgtLnqF81ggjsrqj0h_IwLhSq8/s1600/On+our+adventure+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPTRKmSAiwQF9kk2cYjH_MW-hBap5_tARD6DxR_XM1b3XZoxgYv0RWfmJpQxuqU8saOKHzMncC7SKJAuuk85fk_LsuVmEZvzOWIP5__2l-bEeIc4TdFgtLnqF81ggjsrqj0h_IwLhSq8/s1600/On+our+adventure+(2).jpg" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">After the boat ride, we all loaded up in these yellow Mercedes climbers to get high up in the mountains to the rain forest. We're kissing because we're glad to still be alive and we have no idea what's coming up for us.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqrqIDtGvY6IcyKQm7SJ2M4mzEoqjQsYJIU1PiO9e9cW4f30JluruPoc3303XTTwsEYqEFFWa6gSxMNSW6HfWt90sb_UqGfNfpWln5qfZsHVR5xBE8JGsTBA4cjbUB6XoZ-4bhk8A83w/s1600/John+on+his+Mule+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqrqIDtGvY6IcyKQm7SJ2M4mzEoqjQsYJIU1PiO9e9cW4f30JluruPoc3303XTTwsEYqEFFWa6gSxMNSW6HfWt90sb_UqGfNfpWln5qfZsHVR5xBE8JGsTBA4cjbUB6XoZ-4bhk8A83w/s1600/John+on+his+Mule+(2).jpg" height="266" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">After the yellow vehicles, its on to a mule to make it to the true outback.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxU5OYTPz7T8InUKEzDHn7RFNu1gGOG72xL1yky8bE8qqJj_FyjpxOGq2s4rMTd7NvqQEXU9oi-LiSlVTJMX1Tj-ySrtryMmZv6-mAEbMM8vwBh7HWenUuVKGs4Gu-Ec-J9zoi-0Xo0qU/s1600/Annette+zipping+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxU5OYTPz7T8InUKEzDHn7RFNu1gGOG72xL1yky8bE8qqJj_FyjpxOGq2s4rMTd7NvqQEXU9oi-LiSlVTJMX1Tj-ySrtryMmZv6-mAEbMM8vwBh7HWenUuVKGs4Gu-Ec-J9zoi-0Xo0qU/s1600/Annette+zipping+(2).jpg" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The first line was super high and very, very long.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzZK50egUGSr-nwKBmimeel-eXMOQd5DYjJcQkWRbx94ZTbXsm3QMUBx6FgJhbFgWO_V4o64pUw9toqkEyGl0gbR7McmMIJa6xMOEZjdcG-HwXB2GOxjtfIGuz94EYfADVi3vnDUugS4/s1600/Here+I+goooo+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzZK50egUGSr-nwKBmimeel-eXMOQd5DYjJcQkWRbx94ZTbXsm3QMUBx6FgJhbFgWO_V4o64pUw9toqkEyGl0gbR7McmMIJa6xMOEZjdcG-HwXB2GOxjtfIGuz94EYfADVi3vnDUugS4/s1600/Here+I+goooo+(2).jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There were a lot of variety in the zip lines and zipping areas.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrEZZuGrVEXQdDWPRtP3JMEkDQVaVv0X-w1Wv2UwIarFDFVvXlCa7W12zD1dx1JeHJXN2Aw8miV9hSVGb7ox12Ex4D_y6yKdLWua6DnGqwD_ya9oEofLdgcdq5n5y4j5fYSjvhxH_R2Y/s1600/John+Zipping+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrEZZuGrVEXQdDWPRtP3JMEkDQVaVv0X-w1Wv2UwIarFDFVvXlCa7W12zD1dx1JeHJXN2Aw8miV9hSVGb7ox12Ex4D_y6yKdLWua6DnGqwD_ya9oEofLdgcdq5n5y4j5fYSjvhxH_R2Y/s1600/John+Zipping+(2).jpg" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">John on the first long zip.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76Jejk9iwKJBG0ec6NRo4rW5V4P6eV2C2HNKVySN9JLVoU8WYZyksuzfWbAOBwixro6iPoGSHYCOOKDybynuV8oJ8TZcxFHjmzJmaXPTYvRdsJuGnkKDtH_y2QoRsl6ACEDHVQxmWYQ0/s1600/Yes+there+was+a+waterslide+too+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76Jejk9iwKJBG0ec6NRo4rW5V4P6eV2C2HNKVySN9JLVoU8WYZyksuzfWbAOBwixro6iPoGSHYCOOKDybynuV8oJ8TZcxFHjmzJmaXPTYvRdsJuGnkKDtH_y2QoRsl6ACEDHVQxmWYQ0/s1600/Yes+there+was+a+waterslide+too+(2).jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There were a few surprise water slides on the long, long course.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsyD9U9vTnf-NSRfiVjRK8l1pFSFFxsaqcjHtoxDjKmRO0YX_nxFqwBGdx6lwJuoVFjwYBS2OHh86sizgUpiFU6tEEOnV3qeL_uTA055F3Hry97JCc_gir7FrOo4oP5Ix3HnkPnQtvJY/s1600/More+fun+than+scarey+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsyD9U9vTnf-NSRfiVjRK8l1pFSFFxsaqcjHtoxDjKmRO0YX_nxFqwBGdx6lwJuoVFjwYBS2OHh86sizgUpiFU6tEEOnV3qeL_uTA055F3Hry97JCc_gir7FrOo4oP5Ix3HnkPnQtvJY/s1600/More+fun+than+scarey+(2).jpg" height="266" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It took a great leap of faith for me to take the first step down this waterfall face.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorVXL-Y3Pe8npuxlghfXQM3fgA86L-D3RgOE0k6jGkRK_c26Jgm4ICmcOgd4MlHQUhp2AlOYOMAZs1p7qsCqdGFU0Watni9nVyohSHp9gDZa2-_oP7eAqPncKA5vW6WFX7VA1HTCB8PM/s1600/Who's%2Bafraid%2Bof%2Bheights%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorVXL-Y3Pe8npuxlghfXQM3fgA86L-D3RgOE0k6jGkRK_c26Jgm4ICmcOgd4MlHQUhp2AlOYOMAZs1p7qsCqdGFU0Watni9nVyohSHp9gDZa2-_oP7eAqPncKA5vW6WFX7VA1HTCB8PM/s1600/Who's%2Bafraid%2Bof%2Bheights%2B(2).jpg" height="266" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">John looks way cooler than me in these shots.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3voZaHjORRR_2EtmlyNtqjcdfDA5SfiszCplrc-m3A62yocXBxzJCEXyoot9OMORCylNeoG6cSkKFn-kkViHU5lLc3l1nLea3dtsvnG0YexPzfbv-f5z0_bO8uJRKM1-Idtr3BYY8w_g/s1600/What+was+this+madness+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3voZaHjORRR_2EtmlyNtqjcdfDA5SfiszCplrc-m3A62yocXBxzJCEXyoot9OMORCylNeoG6cSkKFn-kkViHU5lLc3l1nLea3dtsvnG0YexPzfbv-f5z0_bO8uJRKM1-Idtr3BYY8w_g/s1600/What+was+this+madness+(2).jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And what was this madness?! We were like the "Silver Surfers" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">about 300 feet above the ground.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRV3pE90aT1bAILVkto85MBMlJ574MKoXXcHz-k4dzUKOaxiRt2zbakHQVR8LJHcQudrjf7RTnaQpnUokPpkcIUsOaW05STfdoZp1RnSbBIH1uC5Ybpkt45_T1wpCHla-RQrb9seWz8rg/s1600/Yellow+Vehicle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRV3pE90aT1bAILVkto85MBMlJ574MKoXXcHz-k4dzUKOaxiRt2zbakHQVR8LJHcQudrjf7RTnaQpnUokPpkcIUsOaW05STfdoZp1RnSbBIH1uC5Ybpkt45_T1wpCHla-RQrb9seWz8rg/s1600/Yellow+Vehicle.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Back down the hill at the end of the day.<br /><br />This Vallarta Adventures was booked through the cruise line several weeks before we left on our cruise and its a good thing since it was sold out by the time we got on the ship. I think this adventure cost around $150 a piece and, let me tell you, we got our money's worth! We just went from zip line to zip line with lots of other adventures around every corner -- line rope bridges, rappelling areas, crazy water slides, sweet little hikes and more. I highly recommend this for anyone who can go, go, go for 3 or 4 hours non-stop. They keep the pace very tight so there's no time to question what the heck you're doing, you just zip, hike, and jump! As an added bonus, on our boat ride back to the ship, we got right up next to a pod of whales....there were whales everywhere, pretty much every day during our cruise....February is a great time to be out along the Pacific Coast.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mazatlan</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjLCzYaBnY7pMT4RBkbsRJYKw9eOCg_WTjDvCpOgsPLO_LyvXoQwqzIfT9wmCWUi5Wtxi7QZUi7Uh9Z92ix8ESzPCnO3UfT7HNckkfaEYGimIZyjiTXNzawDk2acFQcbncNr0jTdYYnU/s1600/IMG_0517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjLCzYaBnY7pMT4RBkbsRJYKw9eOCg_WTjDvCpOgsPLO_LyvXoQwqzIfT9wmCWUi5Wtxi7QZUi7Uh9Z92ix8ESzPCnO3UfT7HNckkfaEYGimIZyjiTXNzawDk2acFQcbncNr0jTdYYnU/s1600/IMG_0517.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started our day in Mazatlan out with an open air taxi ride to the base of the lighthouse mountain....followed by a steep little hike to the top. (Just what we needed after enjoying the all day buffets and great food on the ship for several days!)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">The Mazatlan Lighthouse -- the highest lighthouse in the world.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-kPq98WTXRhujvCHCj5kpAjlpLhzy7KQGieis6DufC0EV6GJh9VAkCB_A-1BrQk6YFMnE9GCfoGPazepmMAzj-TpVbtt7wKx5MQZBkJBo3xJvSZd4w_VV4_W48OqaNS7_hW7p0bsvLo/s1600/IMG_0525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-kPq98WTXRhujvCHCj5kpAjlpLhzy7KQGieis6DufC0EV6GJh9VAkCB_A-1BrQk6YFMnE9GCfoGPazepmMAzj-TpVbtt7wKx5MQZBkJBo3xJvSZd4w_VV4_W48OqaNS7_hW7p0bsvLo/s1600/IMG_0525.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Pictures from the top of the lighthouse mountain.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISqMepDuC7Y7eWUAynnzv0w19tJINGip7WnaZNY2kcvWuTTscb15XD_xoCSu5vSJ3VSjnl8421jUsfTNQ5a86cO5SyMdZavsRRdWXYJqDaojwpom-9SqeifOsMYrdo4uYnQlSyr9aBlc/s1600/IMG_0527.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISqMepDuC7Y7eWUAynnzv0w19tJINGip7WnaZNY2kcvWuTTscb15XD_xoCSu5vSJ3VSjnl8421jUsfTNQ5a86cO5SyMdZavsRRdWXYJqDaojwpom-9SqeifOsMYrdo4uYnQlSyr9aBlc/s1600/IMG_0527.MOV" height="358" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">We grabbed another taxi to get to the Historical City Center to wander around, see the church and have some a</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">mazing tacos from a little family-run restaurant.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This shot if for April and Wes.....Mazatlan was founded in 1820 by Germans who wanted to set up a shipping port. (Just FYI, Aleman -- their last name -- is Spanish for "German".)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7t1vnVvj6pp8FgkIJptJqECwiIDHmwVif0S00mvkG0GkeO7tmq8iNcS5W4Oxs4L4BDv-aXt5YToyFgdvNKdgHe3ahR5EM5NFIUV5tZBVkugbuPNM4vmI4eLzKjVjpJ8XLbZwRkC8yUA/s1600/IMG_0514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7t1vnVvj6pp8FgkIJptJqECwiIDHmwVif0S00mvkG0GkeO7tmq8iNcS5W4Oxs4L4BDv-aXt5YToyFgdvNKdgHe3ahR5EM5NFIUV5tZBVkugbuPNM4vmI4eLzKjVjpJ8XLbZwRkC8yUA/s1600/IMG_0514.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The city of Mazatlan as we were leaving port that evening.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the Ship</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0ng9uG-lHGis2fNhEEvZwuzWqqUrSBsZG9Ftn1Y4CjCJ4DuNPvTwqRaK2j17fk1j4i1yv7oZJ9Yfp9dOR0vSKrTvLBmZLB4HhEkTaXc3S1ZxfdBN4yfRDK-aunRoqlFk1uH4zeYls9g/s1600/IMG_0557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0ng9uG-lHGis2fNhEEvZwuzWqqUrSBsZG9Ftn1Y4CjCJ4DuNPvTwqRaK2j17fk1j4i1yv7oZJ9Yfp9dOR0vSKrTvLBmZLB4HhEkTaXc3S1ZxfdBN4yfRDK-aunRoqlFk1uH4zeYls9g/s1600/IMG_0557.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZunPLPJ1GlnhH1OlQo1E-xwkrrRe3RK5gMC45S9SwvrQZVoWoFENIUfkJ5OofOmSQuHgt-UGfYHV1M4hHPtwFpLLUOivNl_nFjHjzBhv1PkX79UYU10rkEVK85QpBBjQsyPuDz5BgEg/s1600/IMG_0552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZunPLPJ1GlnhH1OlQo1E-xwkrrRe3RK5gMC45S9SwvrQZVoWoFENIUfkJ5OofOmSQuHgt-UGfYHV1M4hHPtwFpLLUOivNl_nFjHjzBhv1PkX79UYU10rkEVK85QpBBjQsyPuDz5BgEg/s1600/IMG_0552.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We lucked out and had a the same table for two back in a corner dining room with our own window each evening. </span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cabo San Lucas</span></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NCY8B3zQFq-6g6i2OxMLTgjHPO15VoDSDWBHQ0h6KM04XVgx8tTLA5sc2eFRBXR8u9va_PGLcfUoXk-aQ-KO1WnTBdCjHWCBaNAK_jT89lbEDYMpsFnR-owFEm7ToabOrOy1DSor5XQ/s1600/IMG_0551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NCY8B3zQFq-6g6i2OxMLTgjHPO15VoDSDWBHQ0h6KM04XVgx8tTLA5sc2eFRBXR8u9va_PGLcfUoXk-aQ-KO1WnTBdCjHWCBaNAK_jT89lbEDYMpsFnR-owFEm7ToabOrOy1DSor5XQ/s1600/IMG_0551.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our room on the ship had a balcony so I was able to wake up early and catch the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean on our way in to Cabo San Lucas.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In Cabo we went on a Pirate Adventure/Snorkel trip -- again we got in a bonus whale watch with the deal.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In front of Los Arcos -- at the very tip of Baja California.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJuCnlIapXgP5c2MonzQX6f96MUAsVRAtAU0JTU-QtJU_CK-cC9BZQ9o-9dlYKMc8eBWZgYzkWHRe18VA-1sm4ONvPeyEUcZjityqrWyl0xIqxlSffmwaWhHxY42vMNWi7oAMxKVKA3w/s1600/Jumping+in+for+snorkling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJuCnlIapXgP5c2MonzQX6f96MUAsVRAtAU0JTU-QtJU_CK-cC9BZQ9o-9dlYKMc8eBWZgYzkWHRe18VA-1sm4ONvPeyEUcZjityqrWyl0xIqxlSffmwaWhHxY42vMNWi7oAMxKVKA3w/s1600/Jumping+in+for+snorkling.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Here we both are taking the plunge from the boat to start our snorkeling....</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_wzijhCpCCWsrTLmyfgSVPnrYFPWZraKlGhyphenhyphenCkHHxwPyes84qQKTcxRMhJgiBYQqW0YxGzj7lGvRqMWdyYuS4NN_bDNuWKO8_7fA3W7Pp9TtayiT_FGcuFDaaTVrECnW0n1KAs4_l-A/s1600/John+Jumping+In.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_wzijhCpCCWsrTLmyfgSVPnrYFPWZraKlGhyphenhyphenCkHHxwPyes84qQKTcxRMhJgiBYQqW0YxGzj7lGvRqMWdyYuS4NN_bDNuWKO8_7fA3W7Pp9TtayiT_FGcuFDaaTVrECnW0n1KAs4_l-A/s1600/John+Jumping+In.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_miBYBcoBIoNuKHm9fgkqbvaShNQBQlG1V1PTexLT-Zv9RFdt1n6mFYkM2_ou19h3ceO5tPYZ1QRGmLT-sNBzAfiWK5vace22LOnrpOdqYiCcgINyxZI_Mq1dKj8mPMhX0W7TxhUxNLA/s1600/Lots+of+whales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_miBYBcoBIoNuKHm9fgkqbvaShNQBQlG1V1PTexLT-Zv9RFdt1n6mFYkM2_ou19h3ceO5tPYZ1QRGmLT-sNBzAfiWK5vace22LOnrpOdqYiCcgINyxZI_Mq1dKj8mPMhX0W7TxhUxNLA/s1600/Lots+of+whales.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the whales we saw off Cabo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a great week at sea from Saturday, February 14th to Saturday the 21st. We enjoyed the outdoor adventures but also loved coming back every day and getting cleaned up for the elegant dinners -- definitely the best of both worlds. We both did a lot of sleeping in, reading (I finished two novels) and enjoyed some good movies (among the best "The Hundred Foot Journey") and programs on the lives of famous artists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was another unique vacation and one I'd recommend to anyone. Thanks to April and Heidi for giving us good advice on fun things to do. </span><br />
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-fGuyZuP-6YM%2FVOj1un1jUKI%2FAAAAAAAAaWo%2FZ1FBEE4bKWc%2Fs1600%2FIMG_0557.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0ng9uG-lHGis2fNhEEvZwuzWqqUrSBsZG9Ftn1Y4CjCJ4DuNPvTwqRaK2j17fk1j4i1yv7oZJ9Yfp9dOR0vSKrTvLBmZLB4HhEkTaXc3S1ZxfdBN4yfRDK-aunRoqlFk1uH4zeYls9g/s1600/IMG_0557.JPG" -->Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com2Mazatlán, Sin., Mexico23.2494148 -106.4111424999999823.0159828 -106.73386599999998 23.4828468 -106.08841899999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-32808955041639578002014-01-23T18:53:00.001-08:002014-01-23T18:53:15.427-08:00Our Long Weekend in Death Valley, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzYkTJar1yjxGGrrI_shpbp-r8OmuzHpmdTnvmFGbaimXVQOM5CUpHo7WFgMnalPpZ4LfRxbWdZHPyDCKP7A4Y4e1WG6CTBahurptnIunfSNVa5_X666NGKgDctJWPNDm0_W9MIcxvRc/s1600/132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzYkTJar1yjxGGrrI_shpbp-r8OmuzHpmdTnvmFGbaimXVQOM5CUpHo7WFgMnalPpZ4LfRxbWdZHPyDCKP7A4Y4e1WG6CTBahurptnIunfSNVa5_X666NGKgDctJWPNDm0_W9MIcxvRc/s1600/132.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Looking down into Death Valley from Dante's View</div>
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Furnace Creek Ranch Diner </div>
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Hiking in Golden Canyon </div>
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John's Hoodoo</div>
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Playing at the Devil's Golf Course</div>
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Our Hike Up to the Natural Bridge </div>
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There's a little sign up about half way up that says Sea Level</div>
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Mosaic Canyon at the end of a long day of hiking</div>
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The marble walls of a very narrow stretch of Mosaic Canyon</div>
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Scotty's Castle before our tours on Monday</div>
Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-18362714180652316922013-05-14T10:04:00.000-07:002013-05-23T16:05:39.059-07:00Zip Lining in Big Bear<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Saturday, John and I, along with Heidi, Ned, Ella and Asher; went up to Big Bear Lake for a zip lining adventure. We had purchased Groupon packages for Christmas and needed to use them before they expired.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmB0Yx34ye4KRRG0UsYdYPyLt7IRDuivImvzl3GPowO3_bRYPHHJQtDbCdB8bePME2xMpqaYysPmKJIfaAzvRQCh9YzCZ9q53c_p5xKhz4D67dJE_fTgH7xjz6ThZj8pSxBAzy-JkM_3w/s1600/Office+Photos+May+2013+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmB0Yx34ye4KRRG0UsYdYPyLt7IRDuivImvzl3GPowO3_bRYPHHJQtDbCdB8bePME2xMpqaYysPmKJIfaAzvRQCh9YzCZ9q53c_p5xKhz4D67dJE_fTgH7xjz6ThZj8pSxBAzy-JkM_3w/s400/Office+Photos+May+2013+030.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">All harnessed up and ready to fly.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYJqOVB7rbwFiTdJxRmhB6gXNQyQkuGp9Np1exQu6EM-MPGIZxFKdZ1tHHcRQOyfcqbpLZDrcpIUo9BzbGkbQZzGc21ZyzRIgqYOpR8zxVqn4hmjt5kV9vngo_8IWxY0MVmabpZx5dAY/s1600/May+2013+Our+Crew+up+in+Treehouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYJqOVB7rbwFiTdJxRmhB6gXNQyQkuGp9Np1exQu6EM-MPGIZxFKdZ1tHHcRQOyfcqbpLZDrcpIUo9BzbGkbQZzGc21ZyzRIgqYOpR8zxVqn4hmjt5kV9vngo_8IWxY0MVmabpZx5dAY/s640/May+2013+Our+Crew+up+in+Treehouse.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our Entire Zip-Lining Group Up 95 Feet Waiting for the Next Zip (as you can see, we were all harnessed in).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF66i9MbG1UrF7NqldmC5Qs_JxY8bz0KktUYTp5HhRXTMEyezJCQqblNGWKqonaV_glXAUadgh1ektNpIiZzFlLLW1F9NJw6n8rtPBu9pXDexSFiu69R4-UDkwKtKKHfUOSkJvGaLeNAU/s1600/May+2013+Nana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF66i9MbG1UrF7NqldmC5Qs_JxY8bz0KktUYTp5HhRXTMEyezJCQqblNGWKqonaV_glXAUadgh1ektNpIiZzFlLLW1F9NJw6n8rtPBu9pXDexSFiu69R4-UDkwKtKKHfUOSkJvGaLeNAU/s400/May+2013+Nana.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a great time up in the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a video of John coming down the final zip line.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-21400174376334386982012-03-10T22:32:00.019-08:002015-02-21T14:34:06.930-08:00Our Balloon Ride -- Up With 10 Passengers, Down with 6...What's Up (or Down) With That?<span style="font-family: arial;">All my life I've looked forward to someday going up in a hot air balloon. I think it all may have started with my early obsession with the Wizard of Oz. <img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquAB0dwBLyM9IMVA7SEamRFj7JgTwMw-bsNy_S-2kXRxF8fwp1fvhyphenhyphenV5JXThygDxiVPfWoJgsLf3_8IJizdbajIXaks_nAX_GLVUSfeC2mF00ieRcpCbxXYiLctTjcP7pedBLG2BdGb4/s400/Wizard+of+Oz+Balloon.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719960202938351602" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 225px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" />When we were kids, there were no videos and when this movie came on TV once a year, it was a big deal. We carefully laid out blankets in front of the black and white TV (we knew that OZ was in color but it didn't matter to us), popped popcorn, and nothing could drag us away.<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_bgIMvETLkWl5n1uVkno2E4V8nHl5rycm8HTvMPaBVjvCHeyO3QpLtbjSSXWTZHloRXOQY9d77PMwA2XsUIh7oQ1iNk3aaKVFxoLfxvHt8FIekrGcPvw77Rd_sr_wYQPAinLYn0pYM0/s400/March+2012+465.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719950810754876450" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Last year, I bought a prepaid discounted balloon ride package from Zozi and intented to use it last summer. When William got so sick, we completely put this out of our minds. <img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUJNKyrFMQIzaxv5YVfCozuVgB1pmUdaZeQ04z2hdzpIU5UIjbtsm61-Mr6v9obkJctmpF-wfyptY0BC3vM1wiqwRyPmR-qQyCp4vLLeqwNCwPBaEbUv_TfHO1JqH9UKqHDI7mb4iQV8/s400/March+2012+048.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719963544001787106" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" />Finally, a couple of Saturdays ago, John and I finally found ourselves stepping into a big wicker basket ready to go up in a multi-colored balloon, lifted up by nothing more than hot air, to float where ever the breeze happened to blow us.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxh-seHZDpfr6h5CLoa6NMKkwamIbPK-orURRApU7cKSwSEvLCjUge1Vd_BgStwcb0Fz-2Gd88szdC7dMTEB2yyx89e62M2CuvVyAnrf1mvoqU6xIoDrlTTs603DJ1apUBFmjjEBcjmc/s400/March+2012+489.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719950818850126770" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQA7VK4kNq_IiFIwT3BM2-5ZfM5JHUflxWp6hiVLIoXDIigRAz1MgNNs3MUrhAcx1MDo1fY_7Ezrmj6Po7AfJRP-1UdXGmVtxrCwQIvOMNCUOJtOoh9rYTsYK31pjOkTrsfqAvSPKhl4/s400/March+2012+495.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719950798414303170" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />On that early morning, after a week of sky-cleaning Santa Ana winds, we met at the Perris Airport at 6 am. We got into a big Ford passenger van and were driven south and east to McCall Road where, in a large undeveloped field, four large balloons, some from Perris, others up from Temecula, were being laid out on huge tarps to begin the inflation process. <img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjXdqRbK__Ie0c6S3x-VRfH-X1KiWs8JSjrZ1uTFpzqEQMAn4B_SSwcmL9ENRbcjrf86ijbp3wX5XnHOIPe__wdeQnla3tHybQLwLKW6WmG4hOewBSC9u6hXoZcYgpn6SxGCtAbGQi7M/s400/Here+we+go.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718531970509643970" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjna3xY1cD2lgwwPfiG8linz2sGnPd23RE5y5317V6sDYz3Fv6h3HPy0CTKj00f5INcSX1xd66U4bKmjoWQY0s5bqwtmFMAqcE0syCkY8SIhLIhrdZ_Xs6Pd60U8thYj_lqn8xHvSThIvc/s400/Diamond+Valley+Lake+from+our+Balloon.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719955450942192690" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />The ride was relaxing and everything I’d hoped it would be. We were fortunate enough to have 4 parachutists with us...2 with "flying Squirrel" suits and two that went straight down. The two with the winged suits really soared down and out quite a way north from the balloon. It really looks like they were flying and they really took their time before they pulled their chutes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">If you watch about two minutes into this video, you’ll see just what we experienced from the balloon. (This was taken on a different flight, but from the same company we few with, Above the Rest Hot Air Ballooning out of Perris.) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEhDkIhOexs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEhDkIhOexs</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Because we had the jumpers with us, we had to climb to up around seven or eight thousand feet. We were so high that we could see the skyscrapers of downtown Los Angeles, Catalina Island and over the mountains into Orange County. Watching these jumpers step out of the basket, onto the wooden plank, work up their nerves and then take their plunges, made our own balloon ride so much more fun. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">On a balloon ride, you literally go where the winds blow you. After about an hour long ride, the pilot has to be pretty creative on where he chooses to land (to avoid power lines, houses and other developed areas). He keeps in close communication with his ground crew so they can be there to help pack up the balloon and get the passengers back on the van. (The same ground crew picked up each of the parachutists earlier.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">When our pilot, Phil, picked his landing spot and started descending, he warned us all to bend our knees and hold on tight. We obeyed and had a blast as the basket tipped onto its side and skidded accross an alfalfa field over several yards. I wasn't the only laughing out loud through this crazy landing. (If you're crazy enough to go up 7,000 feet in a balloon and enjoy watching four of your fellow passengers leap off into thin air, you're just nuts enough to think a sideways skidding landing is great entertainment.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiZzqdA4KG5jI3H8vxYw4tX3lbHX5q74z7Dwt0PzO9hI6Ck0qDB4FR5smhhmFpEf7yJ0jthvCXBluxQTIJLfxoWVN4HTINqJX5pbjgUj8NTt-EG7yuX0i8dmZM6FggZTXt6kLeku9X2Y/s400/March+2012+514.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719953921033281058" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitj-BjLQZwhKOHsP_w6i88z8Z2KmA8Xkwi3Cf_PkBbWoqMQ4dMj-rDdW4GbpZ_T1DqXN5PUzdT714tE8Ey1P5YP7ut7NrhE9q9hQj3JorR5zjsga-mZyhz27kpVpux57jgZrVrCQ1a7Qo/s400/What+a+beautiful+day+it+was+for+a+balloon+ride.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719960197455567122" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZl0zA0Ldo6UJRnoeBL9NNbp3q-fjgQ8JuV3fS4LJsorK1JlSErp3UMikL4tJ2Rat1JUrHCgYkTfBaDU-AK6h4E0tRzJG6qnCQS70pKlFGdky-9WsMxiMSiA25bwti25oPJBFWb3iNfY/s400/March+2012+505.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719963556070126194" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />I whole-heartedly recommend a ballon ride to anyone! John is afraid of heights and gets scared on a Ferris wheel, but, he didn't get a bit nervous on our high flying adventure. It really feels and is safe and is a great way to spend an early, clear morning. </span></div>
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Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-17640463322935990712012-03-06T10:05:00.006-08:002012-03-06T10:21:36.845-08:00What do Weird Al Yankovich and I Have in Common? We Both "Lost on Jeopardy"!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtawlyKSKi_RaAJavsXzeLfMqvMkQNiq2RUXDjZhT2mi6lO27_TSvjutMBwDaasDfR4f2DXjxy-A7HPY1HvP7AMLtHS1aDEqksfYDmQ7QanWfMM102wuwJt7s2SkhTkAINSWAHG_8k58k/s1600/Annette_Todd_6325.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716848747221532866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtawlyKSKi_RaAJavsXzeLfMqvMkQNiq2RUXDjZhT2mi6lO27_TSvjutMBwDaasDfR4f2DXjxy-A7HPY1HvP7AMLtHS1aDEqksfYDmQ7QanWfMM102wuwJt7s2SkhTkAINSWAHG_8k58k/s400/Annette_Todd_6325.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">One of the crazier challenging things I chose to do this year was to go on national (possibly international) TV and very probably make a fool of myself! Each year, over 100,000 people take the Jeopardy on-line test and of those, only 400 people are selected to be contestants on the show. I was, depending how you look at it, one of those fortunate or one of those deluded people who think they’ve got a chance. But, let me tell you, being a successful, winning contestant is not as easy as it looks at home. First of all, the people you’re playing against are no dummies and those darn buzzers are impossible to master – at least for me. I went in with a fear that I’d be one of those poor schleps that were in the red when the game got to Final Jeopardy and had to leave the stage. When the real game began I was totally challenged by not being able to ring in many times (you’ve seen those players going crazy with their thumbs – I think that was me), ringing in too quickly or hesitating just a millisecond too long and missing out on what should have been an easy answer.</span> <br /><div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Putting myself out there to be on this show was a bit of a risk, but, the way I look at this experience and, pretty much life in general is, “why the heck not?”. I’m proud that I tested well enough to qualify and performed strongly enough in the auditions to be selected. The taping day at the studio was a blast. My taping date was back in November of 2011. Let me tell you, you don't get any questions or study materials before you test, audition or tape. You bring in just what you happen to know and just hope that the categories are consistent with your personal data base.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Of course, I got to meet Alex Trebek and meet Jimmy from the Clue Crew. Those of us who taped in the afternoon got to eat lunch at the Sony Canteen and see a lot of behind the scenes studio happenings in the production of Jeopardy. I got to have my make-up done by an artist and, hey, even the runners up win some money.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Since moving to California in the mid 80’s, I’ve had the opportunity to be on several game shows including Scrabble, The Home Shopping Game, Joker’s Wild, Win Ben Stein’s Money, Shop ‘Til You Drop, Crosswords and now, Jeopardy. I actually did win Ben Stein’s money in 1997; and Heidi and I won a ton of prizes and a fun weeklong ski trip to Vermont in 2004. You win some and you lose some. I’ve found I do much better when I’m not focused on winning but just focus on enjoying the experience itself. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">I apologize for not posting this earlier. I was feeling very insecure about not winning and didn't want to invite the world to watch me lose, but I realize now that was a mistake. Although, it was just slightly painful for me to watch -- I know that other people are not so critical (so I'll keep a copy and try to share it in the future).</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">By the way, I did stay in through final Jeopardy but still came in third. Now what to do with my big $1,000 prize? (I'll report on that in a future blog.)</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.swrnn.com/2012/03/02/local-game-show-veteran-to-take-on-jeopardy-tonight/">http://www.swrnn.com/2012/03/02/local-game-show-veteran-to-take-on-jeopardy-tonight/</a></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-48164466515250268442012-02-25T19:46:00.009-08:002012-02-25T20:12:10.715-08:00A Day at the Fair<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">It was such a beautiful day today that John and I decided to go out to the Riverside County Fair and Date Festival in Indio. </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Of course, we enjoyed a date shake -- I've been wanting to try one of those for at least 20 years. And, as I thought I would -- I loved it. We also had fun in all the display buildings. We saw some agricultural displays, a big train set, lots of arts and crafts, paintings and photographs...and we just sat and people watched for quite a while</span> too.<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 210px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 255px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713288562434933154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66WScGY3MK5yL8s31dINT__NGfZiGS0Y9UUFZlCRYiZzS6NNVqCgLv_5_rYG45aTRqf0qqDwAh_PW2zWrD1EFo7gtLGHA2zXhAo79NYjE0LYXyq0G6H29NsCmvnALd7WrEy3Ju2InKZk/s400/Winter+2012+026.jpg" /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">We both played with some world musical instruments.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 202px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713288262207933746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV017WLfA0S4vyS_sT56KDAdW_NWNJCHMucJtWfJAASSoIBHWbITv_rS9COdOsTmsw2BfFuvcQmfFjt_yYcQYMIRQzPSRDWb96auI8Vl0oupoo5NucriR6bLvXAOho0A9qKNbBS225Qw/s400/Winter+2012+029.jpg" /></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713287909091184466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhyYaO8JEOOE3Uh6CqOp6XwhsEP3Ns35S_lTIQ0LWkBEDKdkiFjCa5gWoArVh8xiIpIn3X8ihwnc2fgncaZui6MjjnU2UzeZVleZekOwFz9QShpYj03HPBd6XxiJCeiPw2AODjDkpe1Y/s400/Winter+2012+2+014.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713287793236777090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXtEwZkfu2aeDm8o_GKF7W00BzZp53alVF3SerLJil3oy68HF2raUcii8IUsf2MdXYFS_Q-xHb1lEN18Ht01Sdutq5YapGJlw_kEjVXO6n-py1hX8f6ey9wVtYL6AbCIUSM7rMbS1YNc/s400/Winter+2012+2+006.jpg" /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I got to ride a camel (check out my guide there with his gold turban).</span></div><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 298px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 217px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713289068416423074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiXkXoDjkrrUhH8c6mFZAdGDfV2CTv8zlFO2vSGcE5zkoCt58_OLKhAYNAFlVeB9YtLpAjiOO4cXK4sgf48MEcgJ3_ytxuvU2nTcqPiQm9JxZ4WoAwHQ2tCkWNBBYq67z3JMzMShT2yY/s400/Winter+2012+2+015.jpg" /> <span style="font-family:arial;">And, I had my picture taken with Randy Caballero...a bantam weight boxer. </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>(I wish I was bantam weight....)<br /></em></span><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div><br /></div>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-74062622814744609902011-11-24T11:16:00.000-08:002011-11-24T11:43:57.609-08:00A New Old Bench for Our House<span style="font-family:arial;">William’s summer long hospital stay was followed up by just a few weeks of normal life. After our trip to Washington D.C. and Virginia, John became very sick in late September. After a week of high fevers and abdominal pain at home, he spent over a week in the hospital, had numerous tests and eventually, invasive gall bladder surgery. After that, he had to spend another month at home recuperating and still dealing with some post–surgical issues. Now he and Baby William have very nearly matching (and long) abdominal scars. I’ve always said those two have an uncanny connection, and so it continues.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">So, for the month or so that John was pretty seriously ill, it just didn’t feel right to leave him at home or in the hospital just so I could go out and do some of the activities I had planned for this Fall. I did, however, have one great find – an antique bench for our living/dining room. I came across it one afternoon at an antique store near the hospital as I was taking a walk just to get out to get some fresh air and exercise. I had been looking for a unique (and hopefully antique) bench for the wall along the stairs in our dining room for a few years now. I wanted to add some practical seating to complement the large dining room table – to replace the accent table along the wall.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678646415582744450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXL49Zf60dNKR0FBbpM2IYybcfiwP73eD5SXjho0JURcDK2Nzt3AaL5Qd2Vvper6dg8sryFu83373VdiiDrHsfvxDDd52kPYotBN6lm7gDDVmJh8lrWvUOBQk0onO3u7WyQZv0vdVqaA/s400/DSCF0357.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">So, I still need to paint the wall and get some more dramatic artwork, but, since that might take a while, here’s a photo of the bench itself for now.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></div></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678649274326586802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYX1yjPG49Qapw91xAfWHJwGOhlfzDCNu_lFQzEzm1xyFQ6dWvqPH0lrOeL7Xu9Q1qJppx0uaBWqAscLh4jsky810HnehwSUCiHyalB2aiR8a7DBZrhUC-KhmZPcgFNfwcMX84ZDHABAA/s400/DSCF0351.JPG" border="0" /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">In looking at the shopmark on the bench and after talking with the owner of the antique store (and doing a little research on my own), I found that the bench was made by the Ford and Johnson Furniture Company out of Chicago. They were in business between 1867 and 1913 and were among the exhibitors at the International Universal Exposition in Paris in 1900 (along with Louis Comfort Tiffany).<br /></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmGvzZZFJmgvoWOxr2I2aiMV0F5jRB829lyJUQvY366tElm3OAPOCqnOvCv7q-auFoujMyvR3Up1Mw6fQueGUD8BHLdurjCOZEu-xenq-Ek0Yph_QdrlxEdI-wmsbRpKoVOnka3OMG_M/s1600/DSCF0347.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678646935063368322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmGvzZZFJmgvoWOxr2I2aiMV0F5jRB829lyJUQvY366tElm3OAPOCqnOvCv7q-auFoujMyvR3Up1Mw6fQueGUD8BHLdurjCOZEu-xenq-Ek0Yph_QdrlxEdI-wmsbRpKoVOnka3OMG_M/s400/DSCF0347.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">One of the features I like best about this bench is the shield and star motif across the back of the bench...very American and a nice Arts and Crafts touch.<br /><br /></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">This particular bench was in Chicago’s Union (train) Station for most of the 20th century. When they remodeled the Chicago train station a few years ago, the Los Angeles Shriners purchased much of the furniture. The Shriners divided up the lots and somehow, this particular bench made it to our local antique store, and now, to our home.</span> </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Ford, J. S., Johnson and Company</div><br /><div align="left">Maker: Ford, J. S., Johnson and CompanyYear: 1867-1913</div><br /><div align="left">Reference: The Official Price Guide to American Arts & Crafts 3rd Ed., David Rago and Bruce Johnson</div><br /><div align="left">Notes: Ford, J. S., Johnson and Co. Chicago retailer. 1867-1913. John S. Ford and Henry W. Johnson, founders. Factory in Michigan City, IN. Called second largest chair manufacturer in US; various styles; high quality Arts &Crafts. Red shopmark.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-79718843758609585862011-10-15T11:24:00.000-07:002015-02-21T14:59:02.481-08:00Washington D.C. and Virginia<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: arial;">To some people a vacation means doing nothing. If I want to lay around and do nothing, I’ll just stay home and save the money. To me a vacation means getting out and seeing new places, trying new foods, and, best of all, learning something new. Staying in bed beyond, say, 8:00 (at home or on the road) becomes kind of tortuous for me. I often just get up and leave the room for a walk, jog or to get a snack and read the local paper while my poor exhausted traveling companions snooze away. (Some of my favorite times have often been these little solitary reprieves.)<br /><br />So, with that, earlier this year, I got an email from United Airlines saying that I had 49,750 frequent <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">flyer</span> miles that were about to expire if I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">didn</span>’t use them within a week or two. So, back in February, I had to look ahead and think of someplace John and I could fly to later on this year. In the end, (after buying up a missing 250 miles) we just picked Washington D.C. We’re both history nerds and love United States and Civil War history so this seemed like a good plan.<br /><br />I got a great deal on one of those bidding websites (it was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hotwire</span>...for some reason, I just can't ever remember the name of that website) for a great room at the Capital Hilton (just a block up 16<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> street from the White House).</span></div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq21az6AOru4oaY9l0n3NLW5Fp-VTuyPsDvziimIzEoC4H-H9sfYLSOfbncqYB67XWovzA44eo0PS-2n_6NuOE4IldoxdiIwOwpAAVLYTi2v89OJFUQkpBfEGEdwaNExuyfxAkHnxX7bQ/s400/Washington+DC+September+2010+002.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665008832808597410" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /> <br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">That's our hotel across the street there..<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">….yeah, us and the Obama’s were pretty much next door neighbors for one week in September.</span> </div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYzpPB1vmcWJ7QNH4qxNDqpgz1L_qmpl0dnyQxpN54u6AyBwzDj1hQNGmc5U-eAJQUlAKZlaDviawDIqIP5O5ibF1P6BnFEdpsG9yMPMdVueYpCmGim9zHCH0x_nJeFLO2iqpK8h6V-A/s400/the_white_house.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664979758614391522" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 225px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /> <br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">And, who knew, that with our great deal, our room key also got us passage to the VIP lounge on the 13<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> floor with breakfast and a fridge stocked with pop anytime we wanted it. OK, so, we’re really easy to impress…free breakfast and cans of pop make me pretty happy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">We’d been to D.C. once before back in 2005 with a great group of students and teachers from Grace <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Yokley</span> Middle School <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">where John</span> taught. Mr. Collin Kenny and Randy Garrett, both history teachers and engaging historians really made that trip come alive for us -- especially, Yorktown, Gettysburg and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Williamsburg</span>. But, on that tour, there were a few stops we <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">weren</span>’t able to make, so this time, I contacted our congressman’s office and go tickets for the White House Tour, the Capitol; </span><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0rGTk2oPq0S9kS73wswh9GoKgM87FZg4t4-4kwXVvWGbMnCONXgAFBzp708xsbLpgaMDpyBDeWwI1CsdVKWelOl5cZzd2gNkYBlHyX3082Go2dYp2YZ18N2q3r9wC4ttoLmC9Nalag0/s400/Washington+DC+September+2010+056.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664972755471656914" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLG64cQW4iWEE1Yst4FIi10hQwm5m9GBi8gBbQgsBSRehYQ1mRPh1Zfi4yveQPtC90mXYbXeW6vvmLv6tj3ajFruwmgQgckPh8lxqJcpfAUAqtxGwRfLoS13Xsm-YwyzRaEBtQTIqOPm0/s400/Washington+DC+September+2010+035.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664972751494341186" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgva5krsvmW89LUtxDtwCSILlTvgrRJ6QJeJOwF5LyJRZKzlOUXo2Bexjs_-DWczDA6tzj4fNQWmhEZQugwhsT6wqi-Ga6MM45YchzFxhvAdZBp1cYnuUm-dBKvr4DowCg_wjK_efz2gEc/s400/Washington+DC+September+2010+012.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664973624246049698" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">the Supreme Court, and the Kennedy Center. We also stopped to see the National Cathedral <img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjFPhSQkLOHG-CwhZKwnFC9pSxDwJ0fJqZ5QHc1qPF_sA26crrjxtXKHJTZRypa-bjD69LaKwL7n44tcOt9gYyZ1p5nIJ81DelNJgbW4_TaBPK60hTyCAyP0xWdXRCkuTf2QT7ZV2M_w/s400/Washington+DC+September+2010+061.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664972759255325970" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />but found that it was closed down from some damage from the huge East Coast Earthquake (did you sense a bit of mocking in that statement?) a week or two before our trip. We went to several of the Smithsonian Museums <img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3hIBnXyXYi785_vCny9F70XEhVlPssKDqT8DMtvjLWSF6ENmJAHY8ZAgUKQ9SESnmYNNytcbeWd4zPlmIf7DmNI5i4raBNRJGGUxlvKYqz-_lv-xAlExhPUefVCnP711rsdleaBVHQo/s400/Washington+DC+September+2010+007.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664971756377602498" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">as well as the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Folger</span> Shakespeare Library (I'd just finished reading two good books about Shakespeare "Will in the World" by Stephen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Greenblatt</span> and "Shakespeare, the World as Stage" by Bill <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Bryson)</span> and just had to visit after this place's collection of folios was mentioned in the latter.</span><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLthyUYwDGNxSFv0i5lHkorrf1UzHREqzcRVT2VFTbnDu9IuDpQ6gvGGs2RYPKPVZ9GA8oblkgj0xE_ZoBUJuthX2ACFTbimWiJHuyqYV6-8rObDoTRwLVciWE4MBsTFavCpbJp82M40/s400/Washington+DC+September+2010+015.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664971785668012178" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">John in the long dark main hall of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Folger</span> Library</span> </div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: arial;">A highlight was a boat tour up the Potomac.</span></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8wJn0AAvwP9CjgJLb_iwlNXTFbBJFykFczzOTQ-hyqp6tYS5KzXuYW3JYC9tgNVobreO1dc51DWH7mjuPOazV8LWpXKbOQysvXWXR37Rkw4B5jt-d4V5Ssfb-9fhumXljYaHQgqy-bo/s400/Washington+DC+September+2010+065.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664972776949232002" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">We also went to the National Archives and saw the original Declaration of Independence and Constitution (now I want to see National Treasure again). We ate in fancy pants places and at dives, and, as usual, I like the dives best. Our most memorable meal was the one Saturday night we were there eating at a Peruvian restaurant near our hotel, called, what else, but, The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Casa</span> Blanca. Because we were the only people there for a while, we had the owner turn the channel to ESPN. We watched the entire <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">BYU</span> game, cheering for a win even as the place filled up through the evening and we just kept getting refills on our sodas. Another night we grabbed pizza near the hotel and ate it in our room while we watched the TV version of the movie “Gran <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Torino</span>” in our room. I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">ve</span> given a lot of thought to the story in that movie since that night – I’m not sure what the original uncut version was like, but I highly recommend the edited version we saw..</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">After a few days in the city, we were ready to head out and see a few other sites. We first went by to see the Washington DC temple </span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CZhjEGuPWNH6kNhqmRte_Quyy_8c9ZIBMlo8fP1rj82eVxJL41M87ylFvioiHu0dUCWYOtkzKCT231dWsqtMrHmvJwFe8gTXKypANP1fzBU7znLBQy-51BOLjszIcssOZy8DCMMk3ow/s400/Washington+DC+September+2010+081.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664972769308190210" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">
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</span><span style="font-family: arial;">then headed to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Manassass</span> to the see the sites of the 1st and 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">nd</span> battles of Bull Run. </span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Zc3buk6oTd6gkFKqhUJs_0qR7_VmtthVyByXW8dd1y8wrUKKlP9f-z50jluaM4i0Dtr4rhQEihqfqpsFRgIN6xVDziYqk02zVc6HRt2wehVVBe6Kv594hejkIvehMUOEYWee2ems6Vk/s400/Washington+DC+September+2010+111.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664973608638100658" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Looking for Civil War ghosts in the basement of an old inn that was used as a hospital at Bull Run.</span></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD3xXcvTGx-kWHNQ2P2KiVWycFz4idyI4MaRdWr3XE56HoqcONCa4VzEpTM5ghi1Wxne6wNBS4DTAWp2pXRM0xs_qabO7kw_9xv2N7mvDHdDb6BE6ujAUTcgrLen6R39ZpGBwW1DnW_U/s400/Washington+DC+September+2010+122.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664973602196032002" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPt08tKw_ZSs7I8NVScCPmp8tCNFXBl7GbakOrgi3Q4al8wcBEbaierM3f957h8jpls7KHnVUDuaYMleEEBTGWdX7E5DIDDQMZseHtEFNzkjno8j08ZuC8HJ_rw2iX0SpvXF7IG5hy960/s400/Washington+DC+September+2010+090.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664973599816123250" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">We HAD to eat at least once at the Golden Corral buffet and it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">didn</span>’t disappoint (steak, shrimp, hush puppies, okra, sweet potatoes, and lots of desserts.) I don’t know if they have these buffets in California and if there are any near me, I really don’t want to know. Eating at these palaces of gluttony is a treat I want to reserve just for my infrequent visits to the south. And, beyond the food, oh, just the people watching at this place was worth the price of admission. And we fit right in after a long day on the road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">We loved our relaxing day at Mount Vernon<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fOnCq8iC0hxR9uHbjoYnLSwwmVuQoFRjOpZ35DiUJTu_dPW5oVmSyF8qaHgUStXBMwmPa7rOFiod8lRqv3dfLFG_6Tx3HYs1lboBZ0RaFi8bxb02knItvk_rzUzEnGuFejH_BdXyNCI/s400/mt.+vernon.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664978426700187378" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 168px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> (on our last trip we spent a morning at <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Monticello</span>; they’re both amazing homes). </span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2qeq6dtwiOyH64R1cVtP2rS2HkjuvLJJTdcXFXLVWyJidZJ-s8yEaE5_iW-_T0FFR2P9N4Ft4WzrN3vjoF59QdSZ6JgXSJF7BDNKMA3yYZmuANlL-di5iphyphenhyphenQZAmYrvtSXOcBpM95c8/s400/Washington+DC+September+2010+129.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664973620480346066" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">I dragged John to a Cuban restaurant (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Kuba</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Kuba</span>) in Richmond I found on the Food Network site. I loved it, he remained reluctant. It was in a great old neighborhood though which was totally worth seeing up close and walking through.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br />We spent a day in Richmond, toured the Confederate White House & Confederate Museum <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">drove</span> down Monument Avenue and ate for the first time in both of our lives, at a Waffle House. We both liked this place -- what's not to love about waffles and Virginia Ham anytime of the day or night?</span></div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulLbO-5We56eRJgN69TgGYokbX2YfrgvTgrPPWUHM9sGb80FZ37bpLI_ExCptsFdf3vpiyruOzkZn9KBierauUXifgN5sWD_uc4H8tQSKDy3xD8GrVSiTvPqXlOuk4xiBiMfCV4Ynllg/s400/Waffle+House.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664971747352187234" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 165px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 198px;" /> <br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">From there, it was time to head back up to Dulles for our flight back home. Another great vacation for us. Now, I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">ve</span> got to renew my passport, I keep seeing these great ads for tours to the Holy Land and think I want to be on one of them in the next year or two…oh, yeah, there’s also the temple dedication in Rome – sometime in 2013. With that, I need to get back to earning money to support this habit. </span>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-45775769478740789662011-09-18T18:02:00.000-07:002011-09-19T16:27:06.497-07:00The missing weeks…<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">My last blog was on July 3rd and since then, I’ve had many new experiences, not the kind I would have planned on but the kind that have made me appreciate my faith, the strength of prayer and every member of my family more. It all began in Yosemite. </span>
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<br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Our family enjoys camping together. We’ve camped at the beaches for years – Doheny State Beach is a favorite and we’ve camped at Zion National Park and back in 2009 in Yosemite. This year, we had reservations at the Upper Pines Campground in Yosemite Valley. This means that several months ago, we set a strategy – choosing a week and a range of campsites and gave everyone the date and time that the coveted and hard to get reservations would open. On a Sunday morning in March we all woke up early and had our hoped for reservations chosen on the National Park Service Reservation website </span><a href="http://www.recreation.gov/"><span style="font-family:arial;">www.recreation.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> . At exactly 7:00 a.m., the moment the reservations opened, we all pressed enter. I had two computers logged in, kept<a href="http://www.bing.com/shopping/instant-tent-8-14-x-8/p/6FC65E1514D33EE75003?q=coleman+instant+tent&lpq=coleman%20instant%20tent&FORM=HURE"></a> pressing enter on both, and snagged just one campsite. Other family members, immediate and extended were doing the same thing at the same moment. Between several families, we reserved five sites and the plans for the camping adventure began.</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653891451331801458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsA0gofuEmTm1k9qJvhTCuh0XXnpJhzirTsYKfTNtG69pR7EiJKHkW31-vPxIx4-eAviTx9zyUGHDyinHw62rnS0ef_YFA6Pm0VBXhEUZ90WX2uz9Y_L0gglG1MuEv6mLB64LqXOAcpnQ/s400/June+%2526+July+2011+021.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;">John and I left Riverside on Wednesday, July 6th and met Hayley and Ryan at Uncle Tex’s cabin in Mammoth Lakes. They had gone up to ski on the 4th of July and remained there when Adam had to come back down south to work. Mammoth Lakes was a new experience and it’s a great little town and beautiful area. We took a shuttle bus ride up to the lakes and were surprised by all the snow and ice there this summer. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653883044417948754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 148px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 74px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQDiPDQTk0YCadJqV-KoGxh4Ljki0Ffv_l2gDtQ_j9IiEhjTuhPwPjPmsH0Xjv6DN0bA9-zqM_pzgiKJ-jK2A8rHPZGhbAflZdD6IJMe_fS5YdO2Aj0QsSE2Gl_IoMd9t_EW9gTOKpx4/s400/Mammoth.jpg" border="0" />The rivers and falls were massive – I’m not sure all the snow that fell last year ever really melted. By now, it’s probably starting to rebuild again.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">John and I had purchased a new Coleman “Instant Tent” </span><a href="http://www.bing.com/shopping/instant-tent-8-14-x-8/p/6FC65E1514D33EE75003?q=coleman+instant+tent&lpq=coleman%20instant%20tent&FORM=HURE"></a><span style="font-family:arial;">at Target and, let me tell you, this is the way to go. On Thursday afternoon, July 7th, we got our campsite set up within minutes with no arguments maybe for the first time ever. We went over to the John Muir show near the Visitor's Center and learned a little more about an historical figure we admire greatly.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653882091525356834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxJRjvFC8BZbnZt5QfX0FhyphenhyphenX5Tm8cQGGlH3sjyKrHLSnzOOqxKZ1dj4s_gmxmag3Rayk8zN6cMq11lyTx4pqxF1ll3TkflUoUN1oGgyI3VZrhycMtJ_nIKPT1Y_QeMIoyLwNwQcwtCdQ/s400/Yosemite+2011+001.jpg" border="0" />During that first night camping, my son, Danny’s little 16 month old baby boy, William, had diarrhea and was just very fussy and couldn’t sleep. I got up to go to the camp bathroom about 3 in the morning and saw my daughter in law, Sarah, pushing little William around the campground loop in his little umbrella stroller. The motion of the stroller seemed to sooth little Willie’s discomfort.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I joined them and made it around the loop a couple of times. We whispered and laughed over by Heidi and Ned’s site, listening to someone in a tent snoring with great gusto. I then went back into my tent. Lying there, I could hear the little wheels of that stroller pass the tent every five minutes or so. I started feeling pretty darn bad for both of them and didn’t think I’d be falling back asleep any time soon. So, decided I might as well go give Sarah a break and take over the stroller duty so she could get a little rest herself. </span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The campground at 3 in the morning is pretty dark; the only lights are from the bathrooms spaced every 10 or 12 campsites. William and I went around our loop once or twice and then back by Heidi’s tent, William lifted up his little hand to indicate something that caught his attention. I looked up to try to see what he was pointing at. It was hard to make it out, but right there in the light of the bathroom just 15 feet or so in front of us, I made out the silhouette of a pretty decent sized bear. (Maybe what we thought was snoring earlier was that bear?) </span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I know what you’re supposed to do when you run into a bear; but, in the middle of the night, with my sweet baby grandson, I forgot all I knew and quickly turned around, growled as loud as I could and just ran and pushed that little umbrella stroller away as fast as I could. The bear had been between us and our campsite, so, by turning around, I had to run the long way through the loop to my tent. I didn't dare look behind me. I just kept running, imagining a silent stealthy bear right on my heels. When I finally reached our tent, out of breath and flushing with adrenaline, I picked up little William and, without realizing he was buckled in, lifted him and his attached stroller up till the little stroller crashed to the ground on its side. All this while I jerked at the door zipper and tumbled in.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">We laid there together with him on my chest on in my arms for the rest of the morning. I would drift off to sleep and I think William did as well. But, he would squirm and groan in obvious pain every few minutes. Finally, at dawn, with a diaper that just got filled, I was just getting ready to take him back to Sarah, when she came to my tent to get him.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In the meantime, my husband, John, woke up in great pain. (What a morning!) He disappeared for over an hour in the restroom. I sent the grandsons over to check on him, I was so worried about him. He finally came back, pale and with sunken cheeks, looking like death and said to me, “you’ve got to take me over to the clinic”. Well, we unhooked the trailer very quickly and got cleaned up enough to be seen outside of the campground. I walked over to the campsite Danny & Sarah were sharing with her parents and let them know that I was taking John over to the clinic, and as long as we were heading over, they might as well bring William on over with us.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">So, just before 9:00 in the morning on Friday the 8th, the four of us, John, me, Sarah and William, pulled into the clinic parking lot. We waited till the doors were unlocked and were the first patients of the day. John was seen first and within just a few minutes, it was determined and confirmed that he had passed a kidney stone. By the time he actually saw the PA, the pain had subsided and he was feeling pretty much back to normal. </span>
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<br />By this time, William’s diarrhea had blood in it and this concerned all of us as well as the very professional caregivers there at the Yosemite Clinic. After giving William a very thorough going over, they told Danny and Sarah that they needed to get him down to the Children’s Hospital in Fresno right away. I don’t really know if they gave him a diagnosis at this point, but that would come soon enough. I'm sure Danny and Sarah would have taken William to the doctor soon, but I can't help but think that the pain John experienced by passing that kidney stone might have been a way for us to get Willie to the clinic the minute it opened that morning.</span>
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<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Sarah’s parents were there with all of our family and her brother Jake, and his Fiancée, Amy Swanson. Between the two sets of grandparents and many aunts and uncles, we kept Danny and Sarah’s other two children, almost four year old, Claire and six year old, Carter. Keeping those two older kids with us up there in Yosemite while Danny and Sarah spent their times in hospitals (first Fresno and then LA) helped them out as much as anything else we could think of doing for them. </span>
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<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653885222517872402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx0te4l_uYrbd3bIZfsEqKpljAfIul1060CGVJQmRkkloaZs7Nd4EXoYPYMNS-5u2OKwqgd1UPWoiL-lX3bozPXJyVc0FR5qSwqAngieE9novyI-P8mT_fKvBW2Pg8kVPe5PkPhlkZyc/s400/Yosemite+2011+017.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653887633577485490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRZIc7HncGPJ4W1Eb1CKU4M0Lm4EMYod25ffE7fwmnwETHvm-sLNK9SpxFJxx83t6RxGM-oWFihmYXVtDSzwgv2WilFq8wcvOG6elaCixVHZJPPv-nCJbQxFs_lTPNx5X4S6iX2xpzeA/s400/Yosemite+2011+052.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;">We didn’t have electricity at our campsite, so I was constantly trying to keep my blackberry charged up in the bathroom. The lack of a charged phone, combined with limited phone reception, made it hard to keep in constant touch with Danny & Sarah while they were gone. However, they were pretty quick to identify the fact that William had an e. coli bacterial infection. And, a pretty serious e.Coli 0157 h7 strain at that. </span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">We hiked, rode bikes, swam and rafted in the Merced River and just tried to help all the grandchildren enjoy a wonderful week in the beautiful outdoors. The bear William and I saw on Friday morning, romped through the campsites in our loop on Saturday morning. We kept busy, held a special family prayer and felt comfort knowing that William was receiving good care for his condition. </span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653887645079408114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XLqvUG3Ya4RMogKuBpUrTowZP_cx1EjfzoSwbM-8ddIHtqxYEnivJaPOA7WN7HG73pA1Cwt0sv-37C4u_xCL-MfG2ZEcT3ZV05loUX1tyF6BUJxXPDhkLHCHKkGcjHlp3722Fjobj-I/s400/Yosemite+2011+056.jpg" border="0" />
<br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Vernal Fall
<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653887638304102050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSVRfmIXL-AsFZGfOErKMvDMLqXacqsOoyr4N9J9pnw08CJFPb3qtFRqfW2felSRn9jC-gAjeZc-8C2qZn5AXAbq_XBc77BWGH2Uwgq0Yycqs1AbZimLMDej1u6zjENuwf41TiYJEkL8/s400/Yosemite+2011+054.jpg" border="0" /></span>
<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653888528670456882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYdfCZtkQVjrEOgrm2x_VeMQ5hBgVQMZQDi_IE2iEVUDmwXFi8otMy0-3uFoppxXjAZuhhzgI8dooE_U5x_Ldes8_bvEAsJ0r1W_hxp7QtgdlQWZJTytvJKto1dLOVjMYsW2dbLlS624/s400/Yosemite+2011+042.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653889788471032322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0dX8O230Tml9Ivwpvahiz357S403fzIEo6KWztBOJkr0d8tPdaR36HL-g28Tqbbf4V_wXWPvGZePOBAzSGVrT8TL2dT18SLtRF65ywE09buzFVOCyQYAD1E8qOsbG-VE5qOjIT_t3fE/s400/Yosemite+2011+047.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653884071289862690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaq7kBdU_ijyzxZyAKKwv9NxV7zgLvSFEr2IcdKUNG6mOgpO9z9iyrRP8Kg4oF1KQA6n_u929_6H7PvPBW396d62pPgo7gNnL6VSk2Um2GORjJdIfT_XC8AFbQaxCwUERL7Bd_Ip-lHtU/s400/Yosemite+2011+005.jpg" border="0" />
<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">After a couple of days in the Fresno Children’s Hospital, they found that William was one of the 5 - 10% of e. coli cases to get a horrible complication, HUS (Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome) that shuts down the kidneys and adds another extra level risk. With this new information, on Sunday, July 10th, William was airlifted from Fresno to Los Angeles. </span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">We all stayed in Yosemite until Wednesday the 13th and stopped by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to see our little grandson and to drop off Carter and Claire on way home that evening. I think we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies driving down Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood in our Expedition with the heaped up trailer filled with camping gear and covered up with blue tarps and bungee cords. We didn’t care. We stopped by a Target in Bakersfield to get some clean clothes to wear in the hospital. </span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It was tough seeing our little whirling dervish of non-stop energy just lying in a hospital crib hooked up to I.V.s and, worse yet, a dialysis machine. At this point, his belly had swollen up quite a bit. Something wasn’t just right with the little fella</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I went back to work on Thursday and showed up on Friday morning as well only to find out that William had another worst case scenario. His colon had necropsied and ruptured. He had to be rushed into emergency surgery to remove the dead colon and to clean up from the rupture. From here, William’s day to day situation, progress and support is well documented in this blog </span><a href="http://www.williamantoniotodd.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">www.williamantoniotodd.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> . You can go back to the oldest posts and see the details. What it all comes down to is that for a few days there, we weren't sure just what God's will for little Will was but through prayer and faith, we felt comforted and just had to trust in whatever God's will was. We had several little sayings that helped us through this ordeal. One of them was, “Where there’s a Will there’s a way” with so many meanings for us. About every second or third day for the 5 or 6 weeks that he was in Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and then Kaiser Sunset, we’d drive from our home for about an hour to stay with William for a few hours and then drive back home. One night, I spent the night to let Sarah go home and get a real night’s sleep. Knowing that Sarah had been doing that every night, my respect for her grew immeasurably through that exhausting long night. On August 8th, we celebrated Claire’s fourth birthday at the Ronald McDonald house and on the 29th, Danny’s birthday in the Kaiser Hospital cafeteria. These were memorable new experiences. But, all of this is why my blog ceased to be updated for these weeks</span>
<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653889795153683026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKaJV2yEzCwT9LiY3CygLoiVqkju-xB03cBh6bl5B8IV-kY5VXzSoF4Wm23z26DWbSr-VPpPVm9ttlkPQwfPGGSclDuCIa_9h8LAfwU28v-yaOCJaCKrY6ImveZidajW3o_iaU5bxt-DA/s400/William+August+2011+012.jpg" border="0" />
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<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653889793630127010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrSTs22B0P-4FQIiZY0DQ2rQEHYtZNTr9X0kWxhyphenhyphen3ciW1wHExol0z81OsPD1tqSSFGELaYVQ2Qst9wb2plUDYH7qN9g4_259-FQxNSm68T4LyBqujWwyFfluNF1n8enl71sRMv12-L4w/s400/William+August+2011+007.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;">William had his surgery to reconnect his colon a couple of weeks ago and is now home. His kidneys were compromised and will have to be carefully monitored for the rest of his life along with a modified low sodium, low potassium diet. His shortened colon means he will be using the bathroom more than he would have otherwise. But we’re a grateful family. We’re all getting back to a little more normal life and our usual routines once again – especially the younger Todd Family -- Team Todd. And, I’ll be getting back to the usual weekly blog updates now. </span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Life is always interesting and often unpredictable. We’re glad that our love and faith helped us weather this unforeseen trial and come out stronger in faith and our love and support of each other. We’ve seen overwhelming expressions of love from friends, acquaintances and even strangers – many of who are now friends. </span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This summer will be one we will never ever forget. Our memories will be of hospitals, fatigue, and worry and of prayer, faith, love, friendship, family and answered prayers.</span>
<br />Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-20914460193600002152011-07-02T08:03:00.000-07:002011-07-02T21:17:04.217-07:00Week 24, U2 Concert<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">We've had tickets to U2's 360 concert tour for a year and a half. We got them as part of a package of Angels baseball tickets I got for John's Christmas gift back in 2009 (for the concert in June 2010). Bono injured his back last year and the concert was postponed. So, I've had yellowing concert tickets pinned to my bulletin board for 18 months.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">On Friday night, we were so excited to go to the concert. We went to Lone Star for dinner on the way (yea restaurants.com). We paid to park, got a good spot and as we were going through security, we were told that the old tickets we had were for Saturday night. (It was impossible to find out -- I searched on the internet and even called and talked to someone at the Angels tickets office.) </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">We got our $25 parking fee back, went to McDonald's for ice cream cones and just went home -- we both tried to have a good attitude knowing we'd be coming back the next night -- which we did.</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Saturday night felt like a total deja vu experience -- at least up to the time we actually used our tickets to get in the gates. As usual, were there a little early (I am kind of a freaky about getting places early -- or at least very on time.) </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">The opening act was Lenny Kravitz -- amazing. I've always loved the song "Are You Gonna Go My Way" (great guitar). Kravitz's playlist included that song as "It Ain't Over Till It's Over," "American Woman," and "Fly." </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GZKfZYX5gZ0PYZhnNfAWATOxHmQJcGifRM0SZ-Fo9cVr8Rx_Ydsf2ezhVx_MpyoyBlinr4dtuMxdeiSpjPyGKBWHEoiCGPcCCjoZVA_XG0F-3flm_-8Dk9t6VP7xqwRlESvYTkQJXrQ/s1600/U2+Set+at+Angel+Stadium.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624771285100020050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GZKfZYX5gZ0PYZhnNfAWATOxHmQJcGifRM0SZ-Fo9cVr8Rx_Ydsf2ezhVx_MpyoyBlinr4dtuMxdeiSpjPyGKBWHEoiCGPcCCjoZVA_XG0F-3flm_-8Dk9t6VP7xqwRlESvYTkQJXrQ/s400/U2+Set+at+Angel+Stadium.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Once U2 came on -- it was just an amazing spectacle -- the staging was phenomonal and it was hard to imagine that all that great music came out of these four guys!JH<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624771287085087042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 333px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMEHq8Td0DBAzr5S1btxxagOi0kERGfToEru1iZBGtNnAvhovzj-cGHmsjLSgSlJTHszvN_IOrL1YtGSo_FJPYwrM9itUhpXBodfbp_1u0LXUtQiNc8cDULEN7xsiQp8WifbTf-sFjmM/s400/Bono.jpg" border="0" /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">John and I are not rocker fans and generally avoid large arena/stadium venues, </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">but, we had a rockin' good time -- </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">an enjoyable event to add to this year of doing new things.<br /></div></span>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-72422901108374481482011-06-13T11:12:00.000-07:002011-06-13T11:27:38.177-07:00Week 23, Painting an Old Bench<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I was still tired from running that half marathon last week, so last week's "new thing" was just renovating an old bench. It had been sitting in the middle of my front flower garden getting sprinkled every day and it was either the trash or the paint brush.</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617769282817884226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCOO6uLPtHvemEFi6mz7YnHin0EGEYzssVjgQ2mu6Q3V6qQvvh16AAQ6sgQRTm67hCYjjttWMhlc6rL3B1-GqKjyoDQy7wMDbSl_ZWGlno-IIlW5AlzvVmse6N9vFxTMohXHO5KiS3Gc/s400/May+%2526+June+2011+005.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Before</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3JkNcPWVBD-JOKxZ7SgCUaWRRwjLFQ-rHc63o1s4an7Qe7SqKEoj3ijw6DTivpdGAzs-HzLLRjEkYzbt_fCVL3179O3gDlXIPBBwVDeBzsk06gS97YowAYuUbRccM5vuJP5R-0mSZqI/s1600/May+%2526+June+2011+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617769289166941378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3JkNcPWVBD-JOKxZ7SgCUaWRRwjLFQ-rHc63o1s4an7Qe7SqKEoj3ijw6DTivpdGAzs-HzLLRjEkYzbt_fCVL3179O3gDlXIPBBwVDeBzsk06gS97YowAYuUbRccM5vuJP5R-0mSZqI/s400/May+%2526+June+2011+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> After</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">It's not much of an ambitious project and </span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I still may take some dark finish to it for an antique look. </span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">But, for now, it looks better and, </span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">after my recent physical challenges, </span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I have nice place to sit and relax and just read!</span><br /><br /></div>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-14537792764931003542011-06-09T15:43:00.000-07:002011-06-09T16:03:02.137-07:00Week 22, Completing a Half Marathon<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Several months ago, I decided it would be a great accomplishment to complete a half-marathon. Why? I really haven't figured that out -- but I will say there is a great sense of accomplishment having now finished one -- the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Fontana</span> Days Half-Marathon on Saturday, June 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span>.</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">The training was tedious. I've been waking up early and running on my own on weekdays since January and doing long runs with April every Saturday. Some of these training runs were great fun. We ran for miles by the orange groves and beautiful homes along Victoria Avenue in Riverside with Sarah and her friend, Jessica. A few times we ran with Heidi from her house through the hiking trails to Lake <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Perris</span> and then across the top of the dam watching the birds, fishermen and water skiers as we did. </span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">We were all looking forward to the run on one hand, but, I have to admit, I was pretty scared. There was a posted minimum pace to keep and I wasn't sure I was up to maintaining it for 13.1 miles. But, hey, if I didn't finish, its not like people would have called me on it. Nobody but me really cared how I did or if I even did it at all-- but for me, it meant a lot to get this thing done!</span> </div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615696414072849890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OOpna4CTkfOK0OMdJAs1g1dS6L_RHXBMugha7pN8RiSmHFYzsDSjYM_twaunHLozwhWhGtQHBpyfXMz9DkuqhUboealaiW75KubRmhJBPx0pMqyvru1_0D2cElRYwDxrqCj5qhu3p0I/s400/Pasta+loading.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;">On Friday night, the whole family and some of Sarah's friends joined up for a Pasta Loading party at the Spaghetti Factory in Riverside.</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">On Saturday morning, we got up at 5 to be in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Fontana</span> to catch a bus which drove us up, up, up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Lytle</span> Creek Canyon for the cold start of the race. April and I stuck together and did our best to help each other mentally prepare for this great challenge. We enjoyed visiting with a lot of friends while we waited for the race to actually begin -- and we stayed to the back of the pack -- knowing we weren't going to be sprinting with the superstars -- not even at the beginning. It was here where I spotted the weaker-looking runners -- the elderly and obese. Knowing they were there in the field, gave me comfort in thinking that I should at least be able to stay in front of them.</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">It was there that April's friend, Holly Hull gave us the great-looking, pink, Run Like a Girl shirts to wear from her family business <a href="http://www.thresholdcycle.com/">http://www.thresholdcycle.com/</a>. It was sort of like we were sponsored -- even though it was just a free shirt, it was cute and it made all of us who wore them look really cool. I've always been a little bit envious of runners with matching shirts -- it gives the impression that they're regulars at this and really good at it. And, well, every group has to have one person who's the slowest -- for our Run Like a Girl group, that was my role.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">From the cold start at 7:30, it was all downhill -- literally. My strategy was to take a walk break at each of the watering stations set up every two miles -- to hydrate well and walk for a minute or two while I made the most of the little paper cups of liquid. That strategy worked really well for me and the mile markers just seemed to keep <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">flyin</span>' by for the first 7 or 8 miles-- even though I lost April at mile 2 or 4 (I can't remember which) because I didn't want my middle-aged strategy to hold her up.</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">The last 5 or so, the mile markers were no longer <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">flyin</span>' by. I started doing a walk/run combo after mile 8 and then when I passed mile 10 I just put myself into a slow run trance, just staring at the pavement in front of me and just kind of zoning out. I guess you could call my state semi-deliriousness at that point.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Finally, as I got within a quarter mile or so of the finish line, I saw Heidi in the distance waving at me. She ran back up the street to meet me and run down with me for a few minutes. I have to admit, I started crying when I saw her coming toward me. I cried because I was happy that this self-imposed ordeal was almost done and that I had actually done this very hard thing; and I cried partly just because I love her so much and really appreciated her coming back for me. I guess the delirium had something to do with it too.</span> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616074607382654690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 287px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObCOeXmB1pq0YMBQs2kAbszRtts60djw6EZaOZE2VsIERmtMgc-FNLQzbKwo3OLu2F-vbTq418Yk8n_dOlSaIBZrofp0eQwmX5ea3ScqP1XNGtycvaf-7Yt3tFkwNUewfGvcUV3vnslQ/s400/IMG_9268.JPG" border="0" /> <br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Heidi and me running into the finishing zone. </span><br /><br /></p><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616063963477423650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekjXn6csXvrNfx97gZVIjJBu_ucR2iToEg3knIxNCHgvZMcl5jUH-Qi7EtjWPBPmpKlt1GIkLTlQuShXTHHCP2ZwcB4Ha_CGFfzQM3xXM7C5ZOlaCTsOz-TmT-eJGGiyhZdOSr6yGWqY/s400/Annette+Finishing+the+Half+Marathon.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:arial;">I'm seeing that finish line ahead and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">nothin</span>' can stop me now.</span><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616064189544975890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JlNPapN7cyAxEics0_e9KDfwJRdPT5p-pa_L2HSgeRm2YQXE015htK4k3NGpQZdme6wocSWmo1KhPjshG3E4DGu9PoAVUzv6ym1gHW_nhjC7TbxM_25YBQcs66kh7YTf5YM3ZpIaxMI/s400/IMG_9276.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:arial;">Oh, this was the best part of the entire day. </span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I'll always remember the great feeling of running over those timing sensor carpets! My time was 2:33 -- not bad for a lady running her first half marathon at almost 52 years old!<br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616064185944210194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLa1xW8X6mmebVQo-WIxDaXkl6_ZtdqirMtgnHXlvSNmlNYsfwU16fpkFRJxUoQv29Zt_RTStty_8IxIJcXQJeJKJV40kBSQbpw-FO3BvnfjfmfHgKm1LpAjCAAL-APYiP73oA1ZSRyk/s400/After+the+Run.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:arial;">It's over -- and here I am with my support team April, Heidi (me) and Sarah-- I love these daughters of mine. Thanks for dragging me along with you girls! </span></div>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-62204411752502069942011-05-30T08:05:00.000-07:002011-06-06T21:56:12.163-07:00Week 21, Disney's World of Color<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21_XtztnRCXcdAyCUP12C9mccuPu3zM-3ZAeF9vOoLpklsSp78rze5XceR7KXs5U4VdwxsAJLBeUcwHNKSL-Yr0qNZnUD5GJj4uw9XWZ1duGqDUDoOvMkvkQtXhm0sJ6TwajQZXmJhZA/s1600/World+of+Color+Ferris+Wheel"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615329615019925490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21_XtztnRCXcdAyCUP12C9mccuPu3zM-3ZAeF9vOoLpklsSp78rze5XceR7KXs5U4VdwxsAJLBeUcwHNKSL-Yr0qNZnUD5GJj4uw9XWZ1duGqDUDoOvMkvkQtXhm0sJ6TwajQZXmJhZA/s400/World+of+Color+Ferris+Wheel" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Our family has been Disneyland annual passholders every year since about 1994. We generally buy the least expensive passes which, unfortunatley, include a lot of blackout days -- especially during the summer. I don't mind; The days that are blacked-out on our passes are the more popular days when the parks are more crowded anyway.<br /></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">So, I know Disneyland and the California Adventure parks REALLY well. Some of my favorite things in the two parks are: Soarin' Over California, Toy Story Mania and Buzz Lightyear (we're a very competitive family), </span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615329608961430658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 144px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieE5fCVgbs6Yhrj6PDy3FI_Ck124eYM7oUxBy49jLwR5uLKwKEoxa9i1OCJwtMoCwXvpCjg7UJ4TFPP5ne4Bdg8IqyYJaw0GvOQRMF5NkMqQ6QtN0I2DQy-3higaDWBiuWN6rnFcXQILE/s400/mission-tortilla-factory.jpg" border="0" /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">the Mission Tortilla mini-factory & samples (we're a very hungry family too). <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615333731293998514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 329px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6ImUikFne11xklhDnRrblZHdXQe8In13IAsNyXOXlKGjG5rh6k1nUvOLpOlIzPxLQ4aun7f_giwX9IwKjbddXTH0Ox91dwj20RZsg-aj10lftQUyBFyUpejaqB1Hs3X93x-ZSf3pDxs/s400/Teacups.jpg" border="0" /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">and the teacups.</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615333737116201122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHFscOmaErp_b14SgXMyMcPYlHyioZhyzGeZrh7aXvudWAMgSCfii7X-tFEEVwz9_9GZ1VM21tcLPw3IoCEEleeXj28H_G_fhdBMpH1cPCwulDsmHwvHvkLM3t1BhxYtP5ltOSnfbdPU/s400/Toady.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;">If I'm with the grandkids, I like whatever they like and just enjoy being with them. If I'm with the little kids, I love to go on It's a Small World, the Carousel, the Storybook boat ride and anything else in Fantasy Land.</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615333726915999986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoqTQs51-7AXeZLTHcRSfWHcD56qtDUzgqW5nCwGnRwD5UP9lZmpNpDU2g3tvi0JsUcMWaY1wRt9t8aQzccWLvcpx_fGnT4HlKhOMtkGcTQKtsi_dCeWAiFlydFZJOrkjvBKb3Zu_Th0/s400/Pineapple+Whip+at+Tiki+Room.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:arial;">I used to love the Electric Light Parade -- especially that synthesized soundtrack. It makes me happy still when I hear that never-ending song -- wherever I am.<br /><br />Last week, I decided I wanted to see the Wonderful World of Color Show before my summer blackout dates kick in. It started showing at California Adventure last Summer and we still hadn't had a chance to see it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I had heard that you could buy a dinner which included reserved spots for the World of Color show. In my mind, I thought that buying the special dinner package would mean enjyoing our dinner while we sat and watched the show.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615329604868782530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdsmj9zP9gcp_m-0Izkkgobbfy_TQRApSrcP36UA0fkHLZcVsYyR7OBo26fSVpHr6LMRgMMaj8ShMeCi5Gfp1JZNwDim55TQJUDlC8qM0QxBvzClMCvvnm9CR1Z21Dd8jQ741OEaLvJ4/s400/Mickey+Ferris+Wheel.jpg" border="0" /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">But we found out that you just pick up a reserved meal (we had the cold fried chicken dinners; they were pretty decent except for the cole slaw). The dinner is eaten by the winery long before the show begins; you're just give a special pass for the show. -- and that meant that we got to stand around with everyone else -- but in a specially designated standing area -- not necessarily at the front of the crowd or anything but not bad. John and I just sat on the pavement and enjoyed watching the people around us and the Mickey Ferris Wheel across the water with its colorful changing light patterns.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615327042309412226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwexySzEiC2iJEV1yKWIUdcnTtaPrbBf7GkEt1zFN_mSZlfG2dYqIaFTSKJKTOmT7EWTgzIuyo3yNQVQIiAGmrlM1KF6zGGTCTT_e2mljzALlPNCAPsvF_G1k0beBUcCzI4wcyF9qzMr8/s400/World+of+Color.jpg" border="0" /></span> <span style="font-family:arial;">I loved the way the show began with the theme song from the old Wonderful World of Disney television show from the 60's...."the world is a carousel of color". Anyone around my age (you know, 52) has some great memories of Sunday evenings watching "Disneyland" with the family. </span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615327057260760210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-3DhP0C_9KeRL2iPMPA6UHgDaPpQZ0vrIz2YeB5bUOpQBIlaN5Kgj___RU90yj03YJF1zu1MmQ7MYgPC6Xlmdye7asE05BQJ_9ap0E8uxqdDPUB13m8Z8rx-kvytwS1mUnogyUACjRA/s400/World+of+Color+2.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:arial;">The show featured some other favorites too, A Whole New World and for this watershow, the song "Just Around the Riverbend" worked so well too. </span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615327068342022802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 259px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzv5OIRjpIh2jimBWNDSmY6uJv8VwHeH_RVqjtkroCUREsphxTI_tW0CEGsdOgWcAh-FhD5iT1v26UT2n7LE6zBy-PCn8eaEoc_Q0B5HHmygpv0AWV3dvhwWltOHOFEhljXsdpadoeDfI/s400/World_of_Color-Little+Mermaid.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;"> Anyway, we both enjoyed the show -- it was just great to be outside on a nice early Summer evening at the Happiest Place on Earth.<br /></span></div>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-74217497795828584142011-05-21T16:24:00.001-07:002011-06-13T11:12:41.214-07:00Week 20 Tinman Triathlon<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">So, you've heard of an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ironman</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Triathlon</span> right? <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609329139147770882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 95px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2nTAb31tseSbUab7-kbwsZUqNsREtqvtNRWxrEfT6ER_CK3JsUbBaS_hkigbysX5PT0fBO0FBcn3ylq8J91JuG7kQAXQOI8rM_4Cm7S0xfBpUCY8qcZVKc1jTSTdzHk1XeDW8UNBg-w/s400/ironman.jpg" border="0" />A real <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ironman</span> event consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a full out 26.2 mile marathon. </span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Well, I did complete a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">triathlon</span> on Saturday morning -- but instead of an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ironman</span>, this one was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Tinman</span>.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609329139564284386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 128px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 163px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8RX3WDkTUd98M0LPYrV0Qtrk1OhIJuwdkm5ehEzox0Ediv126FyhpSjJjAjtM8tmInGkoPZK-ppysjAIzBnOdDB-QpuKrGT2vtdRmN0Y_f9SZwHjAqFL-p-MB65hyaQsT_s2wsbtFeM/s400/Tinman.jpg" border="0" />And, well, I feel pretty darn proud of myself and had a surprisingly really fun time doing it! The Riverside <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Tinman</span> </span><a href="http://riversidetinman.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://riversidetinman.com</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> is a free <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">triathlon</span> sponsored <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">by </span>the Riverside Stake (Mormon term for a group of wards or congregations). The event, held at Riverside Community College (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">RCC</span>) consists of a 150 meter swim, a 5K or 3 mile stroller friendly (of course) run\walk and a 10 mile street & mountain bike finish. My total time hasn't been posted yet but I think it was around 88 minutes for all three events.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I completely stunk at the first event -- the swim. But, hey, the only swim lesson I ever got was when my dad threw me in the deep end of the Douglas, Arizona public pool when I was 5 or 6. I figured out how to struggle to the top, gasp for air and how to doggy paddle from that harrowing experience. Shortly after that, my parents divorced (his method of swimming instruction played no part in that but it does give you just a brief glimpse into his smoth people skills). But after that, as the kid of a single working mom, there wasn't a lot of money or means for luxuries like swimming lessons. On this morning, I started doing an ugly crawl (I've never quite "got" that arm-breathing thing) and ended up doing a modified backstroke which was really more like floating on my back while kicking and waving my arms. It was ugly and kind of slow at just under 5 minutes, but hey, I survived (sadly, last year, a participant suffered a heart attack and didn't survive the swim). From there, I was able to move on to the events which take less learned skills.</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">A side note, I did have a photo taken of me in the pool <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">lookin</span>' super hot with my skirted <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">tankini</span> and some borrowed goggles, but, alas, my trusty Canon Elf camera got misplaced. I'm hoping because this was a gathering of Mormons, somebody found it and it might somehow find its way back to me.</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Moving on to the run -- the 5K...my time on that run was 33.03 -- just 15 seconds faster than my time at this event in 2009 when all I did was the 5K. Not bad, but I was hoping for a faster time since I've been running (OK, really, its jogging) a lot more the last few months to train for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Fontana</span> Half Marathon next month. But, still, the way I look at it, I'm almost 52 years old. I have been blessed with a healthy, well-functioning body. I honestly consider this one of the best gifts of my life and I say prayers of thanks often for this blessing. I think often of how my body is not "me" but a vessel in which the true me, my soul, resides. I will continue to do everything I can to keep it -- and my mind -- healthy and working as well as possible. Too many women are so critical of how they look compared to some crazy, unrealistic ideals perpetuated by Hollywood, the media and just society as a whole. Instead of focusing on its health and how it's working, they focus on how it appears -- there's a big difference there. So, with that, I'm grateful I am able to run at all.</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The bike ride along the Santa Ana River Trail -- heading north along pretty flat terrain felt more like recreation than a part of the contest. I guess I could have pushed harder, but it really just felt good to sit down on the bike seat. I was riding pretty much on my own and, being pretty unfamiliar with the streets around <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">RCC</span>, got a little lost and let a younger woman (I guess I could say "sister") catch up to me. With the little competitive "<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">oomph</span>" still left in me, I downshifted, turned up the heat and blew her away in the last 100 yards or so (once I knew where the finish was).</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609315712173283458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3lgXKZrBxqMjZiwiQav3bHEihLjHy9hlcZTzisLnY6fYh5tN24Fxwfs-AjIl4e5Cm-783qZbqhz9ASIdaZSQkxipo5mfuJxaVkXKNbS6MMKvaKEx6uTLFNTpNM22UBZ_ET8yx5Nxh6U/s400/Triathalong+Ending.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:arial;">My sweet little Ella cheered me on through the swim and was there to meet me at the end. How I love her....and, yeah, I look like a total nerd with my helmet and baseball cap on -- but, it worked. </span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></div></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609315716583270962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Kzd0o92uKCdo41JLc1yEi5aGsKWMk3fnhv7Axle64JRPp01vKWnMCegmL8AaM4psiB7HXZIfmxgM2xusvgXoDApXMYfFBYm6Goa6TY5TiT0gE98KT1Ez2VDIRYj83-8IH5l6URNAMWo/s400/Girls+at+end+of+Tri.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:arial;">This is all of us who stayed through the end (Hayley swam but then had to go home to get Ryan to his ice hockey practice)...April, me, Ella and Heidi and Sarah. We had several other friends and Sarah's Mom, Sue Carter, there too. </span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">This was a very fun event and I think I'll be participating in upcoming years now too. Come join us next year! </span></div></div><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">(By the way, thanks new friend Esmeralda for sending the I-phone photos above.)</span></p>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-6655623707006479962011-05-20T11:52:00.001-07:002011-05-20T12:17:49.896-07:00Week 19 -- Shakespeare at the Redlands Bowl<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Last Saturday after a grueling early morning practice run for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Fontana</span> Half-Marathon with April, I was ready for an evening off my feet. </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Instead of just sitting home though, I talked John into doing something I've been wanting to do for years -- going to the Shakespeare Festival at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Redlands</span> Bowl.</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><a href="http://www.redlandsshakespearefestival.com/?page_id=722"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.redlandsshakespearefestival.com/?page_id=722</span></a></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">That night, the production was "The Merchant of Venice" -- a nice easy to grasp comedy. And, one of my co-workers, Michael Pierce, happened to be playing the part of the Prince of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Morocco</span>. Because of this, there have been emails at work about the festival as well as posters in the break room to remind me of this easy-to-miss event.</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608873345376816066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsZXJPqKd8bVbc5o64jluRSvgfJ9EhB_oIuy8QjYKOmNAtHzWDvxnU-CBtMV8HNpxy-xhILsf5oUXi9M48m9_a2IT-6T-ItXckZOGqVRLynTAwILQG-2UtiVDC-fPwI8iE2gFjNAx_7Q/s400/May+2011+002.jpg" border="0" /> <br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Michael Pierce as the Prince of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Morocco</span></span><br /></p><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">T</span><span style="font-family:arial;">he acting was great and the staging was phenomenal. I'm no drama critic, so I may not even describe this correctly but it was done in the style of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Commedia</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">dell'arte</span> -- you know, the old tragedy and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">comedy</span> masks -- kind of like that. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commedia_dell"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commedia_dell'arte</span></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjkXMcAZEDLGsbiTDk6QU-vICNh2Pnoi80CvdpU08qUwVudnztoSdCAMmjDI47w1FreL8oueSiheazO0At9Rk18OFRBdea6wue4vd4b0q7vmNbhd4W6BbAgp68Caiev-8ZVwoTXZyXlM/s1600/May+2011+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608873368241259490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjkXMcAZEDLGsbiTDk6QU-vICNh2Pnoi80CvdpU08qUwVudnztoSdCAMmjDI47w1FreL8oueSiheazO0At9Rk18OFRBdea6wue4vd4b0q7vmNbhd4W6BbAgp68Caiev-8ZVwoTXZyXlM/s400/May+2011+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> It was easy to just relax, rest my feet and legs, drink in the whole experience in and imagine I was really in the 16<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">th</span> century at a beautiful outdoor theater on a sweet, if cool, May evening.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608873361127425458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKg4ujGcu-Rl-XxJkz66PMeIoaMiwGWsRpQXyc9m-d6suhjAKq_2z7jRgEanFJaSVjHzIUGUdz1toNFe6bu1V-cQtkI6KCdBWOgwqXq7kD-4KKLNO1ou0VyH_MdZTrAFnb60eqsxKy9k/s400/May+2011+005.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:arial;">The festival is still going on for a few more nights. If you like Shakespeare or just being outside at a beautiful old venue listening to beautiful language, and seeing the talent of people who really love this stuff and who, you can tell, have rehearsed for months to put on a great production, you might want to just drop by. Otherwise, maybe I'll see you at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Redlands</span> Bowl later this summer at their Summer Music Series.<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div><br /></div>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-78261349484878472112011-05-17T14:46:00.000-07:002011-05-17T20:58:30.616-07:00Week 18 -- Pasadena Showcase House<span style="font-family:arial;">Last week, some of my great Chino Hills friends, Nancy Sorenson, Valerie Gallagher, Monika Tolman, and Lauri-ann Hart and I, spent the day living like "ladies who lunch" and went to the Pasadena Showcase House </span><a href="http://www.pasadenashowcase.org/mcontent.php?mid=25"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.pasadenashowcase.org/mcontent.php?mid=25</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">. They really are "ladies who lunch"; I had to take the day off work to join them.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eiHee8X4uhMkUNl4KofioXmRqtM-yL5VjftazY_wKkyoGQevleoWD9irMDbMNREkLreQdjeTsV8ddKwr6N6tCpsW_vZI2Yc9mtr_kszDjgk2UsxWKZmo93dRA2kQwWnwgpon3gvrTDA/s1600/May+2011+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607805027954777666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eiHee8X4uhMkUNl4KofioXmRqtM-yL5VjftazY_wKkyoGQevleoWD9irMDbMNREkLreQdjeTsV8ddKwr6N6tCpsW_vZI2Yc9mtr_kszDjgk2UsxWKZmo93dRA2kQwWnwgpon3gvrTDA/s400/May+2011+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Lauri-ann, Monika, Nancy and me -- Valerie took the photo.</span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">To get to the house, you park at the Rose Bowl and go by shuttle to the actual house. There was such a crazy route to get to the house, I could never find it on my own or drive to it again. I really can't even tell you where we were -- its called the Pasadena Showcase House, but the book said the house was in Flintridge -- either way, great house, great neighborhood.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway, the rooms in the house -- well, really, mansion -- are amazing. The entire ex</span><span style="font-family:arial;">terior as well as every room on the inside has been redone by some of the top designers in Southern California. Some of the before and after pictures show that before the redisign, some of these rooms look like they could be a part of a haunted house -- and after, well, they're gorgeous. I don't often covet, but some of these rooms make me wish I had a few mil of my own to live in and surrounded by such beauty!<br />There is a strict "no camera" policy at the house -- so I can't show you how amazing some of the </span><span style="font-family:arial;">rooms were. But, my favorite was this green bedroom -- the "Lady in Waiting".</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9euGDIlYzPrw0tIkKogBL7vN2jdpHy1_3tv7Qh1EO2A5wTksyM5nnpmxcmP2qpoxFSvUgDaJzzhy0sddpIKTyYHyBRIVc9J8crzgTTqMwwfAcOYbZgZfBVggO3YgU42mWm7UxUzCnQmo/s1600/Pasadena+Showcase+House+2011.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 423px; height: 327px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9euGDIlYzPrw0tIkKogBL7vN2jdpHy1_3tv7Qh1EO2A5wTksyM5nnpmxcmP2qpoxFSvUgDaJzzhy0sddpIKTyYHyBRIVc9J8crzgTTqMwwfAcOYbZgZfBVggO3YgU42mWm7UxUzCnQmo/s400/Pasadena+Showcase+House+2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607890831272354450" border="0" /></a></span><br />Its that amazing bed that I just love. (If you look back a few weeks, I used a similar photo with a poem.) I think I need to find a bed like this and that way I can pretend I'm sleeping in the woods like in some intense fairytale. (I was raised on the authentic Grimm Brothers and Hans Christian Anderson fairytales -- the ones that are kind of scary with tragic endings.) Anyway. I LOVE this bed and room. I can so see myself plopped on those pillows reading a book -- while eating one of those apples.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRj4_o5dpuiQS7ViZYCKiXJa1PxNTw1yiU_8TPdGA4jtcn6uFKHA-J4kleyfiZXVEbpRfpG5pOgEv1ptCz4xFK3qahZ5DeGYj0kkqoia690DInGhIO3IMmn5gc0spSWvf7xRVT6uPzwQ/s1600/Garden.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRj4_o5dpuiQS7ViZYCKiXJa1PxNTw1yiU_8TPdGA4jtcn6uFKHA-J4kleyfiZXVEbpRfpG5pOgEv1ptCz4xFK3qahZ5DeGYj0kkqoia690DInGhIO3IMmn5gc0spSWvf7xRVT6uPzwQ/s400/Garden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607893357959029810" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;">And, this garden is what I am constantly trying to achieve in my own backyard. And I shant (it is an English-type look, so I can words like shant that when I'm in the cottage gardens) give up until I have achieved something very similar. I've had two trailers full of mulch brought in so far this Spring alone and plan to continue to do whatever it takes to bring more green into my life and yard.</span><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">After touring the lush yard and gardens, we had a great lunch after the tour (I chose the Rosemary Chicken with Balsamic Mushrooms) and enjoyed shopping in the boutique. -- Well let me rephrase that -- my friends enjoyed the shopping. I cased the whole place out in about 10 minutes. My friends spent about an hour there -- some of that time, I sat on a plastic lawn chair watching all the other ladies -- now that's enjoyable (lots of facelifts and plumped-up lips -- ugh, who says that looks good?) </span></div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I don't often buy stuff (most people who know me know one thing -- I really hate shopping) at such venues. But, I found a pair of comfortable black OKA b flip-flops that I understand can be washed in the dishwasher (or clothes washer)...but the dishwasher thing is what makes them sound so unique and just right for a shoe-abuser like me.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607812682598785410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 94px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 82px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBe8ZtoHHhKfTIDbtDmLorNnhyphenhyphendDDxuVGf3isFzlsHWH6JtM-Ow5xRg6BePEPSjjqLZzY9p-AtgQdFCGlJ34y_uXKDPFx317HJwR7aaTndhjj7Lb0pungLmpJzb_RobZWCCX4KVVi-S6M/s400/Oka+b+Sandal.jpg" border="0" /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.shoesthatloveyou.com/?gclid=CIzT552D8KgCFQImbAod_FJQDw">http://www.shoesthatloveyou.com/?gclid=CIzT552D8KgCFQImbAod_FJQDw</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> <br />I've got my eye on some higher heel sandals called Flora at this website -- I'm just trying to decide between the two colors now -- dark brown or camel....now, this is how I like to shop!</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">On the way home, I stopped by Lauri-ann's house, saw her gorgeous rose garden and she hooked me up with lots of seeds and plants to try to fill up the gigantic hillsides in my backyard. I came home and planted them all. I have the before pictures ready....but, it might take years and LOTS of work for the "after" to be ready to share.</span></p><br /><br /><div></div>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-39785357098128394462011-05-04T13:43:00.001-07:002011-05-17T14:46:46.020-07:00Week 17, A Three Hour Cruise...<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Okay, I'm cheating here. My last post was about Flat Cami and her boat ride adventure. This blog is just more of a part two of that one -- on the other purpose for our San Diego boat ride adventure. </span><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">As I mentioned earlier, I started a new job in January with North American Medical Management. Our company manages many independent IPAs. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">One of the IPA's my company manages, </span><span style="font-family:arial;">PrimeCare of Hemet, sponsored a "get to know the doctors" Sunset Dinner Cruise (a three hour cruise) out of San Diego. </span></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">And, yes, I can't deny it, this is one of the reasons I love my job. Of course, being invited, John and I were more than happy to come along and get to know some of the doctors and, at the same time, help entertain some of the other guests to do the same.</span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607786121521699250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 305px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGr8U9aN6DMpmdXkFC_BSwfTGYQcuCKhDu-Qx38XiLIEsZ5tXe8xlHYXPaWhuVaveBGv3x-ZVGNVh5uLooXuL4eF89yY4ecPg3G56GKXWrID0DMykC8lyk2_XJS8VkFAVe67rz8aTPPc/s400/John+and+Anette+San+Diego+Dinner+Cruise.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;">John and me just getting ready to board for the evening</span>. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607786434026296322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWu1TkKBKrDS-QcurcSPzAnjldNOyVB7D3u1DsxjbYIJkMXKjFp3DqKEd_sH18DZT_V_giukdfJT8QXOhy6PqR6W3enEQhDZRD6bAMwFunlWYUMEVKcmemUTCvGBTquT0xTc2mNR3WQfg/s400/Sunset+Dinner+Cruise+with+Doctor.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;">Me, Dr. Sudha Madabhushi and one of the Hemet Employees.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607786133522216018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUchKS6TGhsofEaH4bxDsPa0anuHYpL7BEHGVOu5m4SOcxcFoJ1N-7CRyKIJmJNM-yBjM0F9cV8FyPfWf6Q7ZfrJ0VBZqzWtX44wozU_8rS4POyP8_o0eDqxeKbWxqJgvm7QEKyoOob0/s400/Sunset+Dinner+Cruise%252C+Hemet.JPG" border="0" /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">John, me, Dr. Tin Tun of Hemet and Dr. Anthony Flores and his wife. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Dr. Tun is originally from Burma (now Myanmar). We really enjoyed talking to him about the history and more recent developments in his homeland. I love having these kinds of conversations with new and old acquaintances -- from near and far. It made for a very enjoyable night. </span><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607786115110504018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iaDqb0amu5FFufuE9dLSPFZsDxQLLj8nlPatNHmj9990acDXSKtWT4kZvgYqB89rpwASouyaCIIkFGOfZpOyvAWsR0YjILbVfI1qoGxbxGB79VKra39DRyG9J1lSbE7QSTw7eo06rsk/s400/Charisse+and+Annette+April+2011+052.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:arial;">My co-worker, Charisse Contrereas, and me. Charisse is totally my right hand at work and pretty much runs the Marketing end of our department single-handedly</span>. </div><br /><div align="center"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607789913022931730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 384px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 292px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-VumRrpdSO-Of8C7PROeXfE88XmVRBsV1u7CA2XZBtc94WpTlKFvj1CPbGeSIYpTrZSKiM8Sb89n6DreogVkWRoON0-_vG4wO0FXEVKLlt005fotvp_oqG4Z2FrWUc8zBD_sVPOvMV8/s400/John+and+Annette+April+2011+050.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6JF7k8f4_iumuCXbWmYs5IELrLk3eMxrUvZfRm0HQ1JGWk-CUjduN9bTK92jeqnd8vPuO5o_PwkYMtTJr8X_1uIKW-ArGDBw2fm40ns0doDOcD-myqZLC37t7_ifdIvbEeIBTMpV5_s/s1600/April+2011+John+and+Annette+on+Boat.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div></div></div><br /></div></div>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-2769313837721261902011-05-01T21:09:00.000-07:002011-05-04T13:50:07.767-07:00Week 16, San Diego With Flat Cami<div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">John and I took Flat Cami down to San Diego with us and made sure we photographed her in front of a few San Diego landmarks. </span></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Cami is my cousin Connie's daughter. Her</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> class (2nd grade I'm quite sure) read the book "Flat Stanley"and made flat versions of themselves to vacation around the globe. </span><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />To read more about what this is all about, visit </span><a href="http://flatterworld.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://flatterworld.com/</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> .<br /></p></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PHrqMh5dJOOvugkj3keMXgH74BosPf5EZdL7FrJMLCEeSlrTaq6eD9vTYcG9vjJNdc8GWHpRsjFaRO21rYoyF91Q06PefCN5wj82v1FzCTzEgtt7LPr7Ne0mnmArXUTb7f6t51oEXDw/s1600/April+2011+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602955644244799714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PHrqMh5dJOOvugkj3keMXgH74BosPf5EZdL7FrJMLCEeSlrTaq6eD9vTYcG9vjJNdc8GWHpRsjFaRO21rYoyF91Q06PefCN5wj82v1FzCTzEgtt7LPr7Ne0mnmArXUTb7f6t51oEXDw/s400/April+2011+036.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Cami just checking out the Star of India</span>.<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_India_(ship">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_India_(ship</a>)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVoCvRKSMD-YmuvTwtccxWJ1FmDkRZgIC1DeZuTHBkKite0hcDNFBqiPT_RDXG1OqMp72uebQdg03VXCoRG5PXJmwj_IjIISQwy_wMMJkAtd8DBU4ZhSPXRuCTyh7tfRLs-rFung-PD8/s1600/April+2011+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602954326671473186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVoCvRKSMD-YmuvTwtccxWJ1FmDkRZgIC1DeZuTHBkKite0hcDNFBqiPT_RDXG1OqMp72uebQdg03VXCoRG5PXJmwj_IjIISQwy_wMMJkAtd8DBU4ZhSPXRuCTyh7tfRLs-rFung-PD8/s400/April+2011+038.jpg" border="0" /></a>Hey Cami, I hear this ship might be haunted, what do you think? <a href="http://gothere.com/sandiego/Ghosts/Star_of_India/index.htm">http://gothere.com/sandiego/Ghosts/Star_of_India/index.htm</a><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602955665204143234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnOxg49pvyxmCXtKPeLHgm6xpADRpGHKkGXWxjj4Trj7cQxo2gKyqh4zG_-HYA0IQvXqk1h5nNHXC1n2UwfFagoCAqQ3UpstzlxeIV5n4_S99JHJN-TOq_odMx9LsDm3UVJqZoBlXZ20/s400/April+2011+039.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;">Cami may or may not believe in ghosts but I don't think she like climbing up too high on the masts.<br /></span><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602955668547774754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrv3eP1YPd86f96NA7aZpmNb3Cy4mkeFOhruQWUiDFB8WrpCMY1_vCbowzLjDNhow_5MgAeKX3BKfRJ24NMCl0EvyJXm-ehtRWT-aHGSwqvmI9VzF-Z9rgDOUD-lVlLH5mLX2fXOh69i4/s400/April+2011+041.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;">Captain Cami, "Hoist those sails mateys!"<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjSqZwOJ2ltOElFvlz4J6S1JyOwD7IOx6uv-mjYFIp-bNLP1MCMvjhox2_urbwQX8MI2ycmKRMoCiadAlyUfb1mRH6qGMNtO6WISgAYCbnzXOveXZA7PTEaiO3UwRfvKuQ4qlwKJo_tE/s1600/April+2011+044.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602954317749200514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjSqZwOJ2ltOElFvlz4J6S1JyOwD7IOx6uv-mjYFIp-bNLP1MCMvjhox2_urbwQX8MI2ycmKRMoCiadAlyUfb1mRH6qGMNtO6WISgAYCbnzXOveXZA7PTEaiO3UwRfvKuQ4qlwKJo_tE/s400/April+2011+044.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Cami just pondering the possibilities of a cruise in the Pacific -- maybe down to Mexico, up to Alaska, or East to Hawaii or the Orient.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx83Y-r2fY6yTy5pKcRFB0LfB1UdeCxYhJien_nv2RkukP9cy12jnKh9tCBBJy6TeLGmPoCGTvFOgB_C6SGkXZbyAJqEQMX5-O2bou7suod7ezNXmH_-NG95gbzA9puLfSdgD9juAXa3w/s1600/April+2011+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602954314265169570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx83Y-r2fY6yTy5pKcRFB0LfB1UdeCxYhJien_nv2RkukP9cy12jnKh9tCBBJy6TeLGmPoCGTvFOgB_C6SGkXZbyAJqEQMX5-O2bou7suod7ezNXmH_-NG95gbzA9puLfSdgD9juAXa3w/s400/April+2011+045.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Cami in front of the USS Midway<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GuwfmULjfgY/TcGxQfaUUuI/AAAAAAAAAkg/3F3lStkJxRI/s1600/April%2B2011%2B048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602954308293513954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GuwfmULjfgY/TcGxQfaUUuI/AAAAAAAAAkg/3F3lStkJxRI/s400/April%2B2011%2B048.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Flat Cami just relaxing at the front of the boat -- enjoying the sights of the San Diego Harbor.</span></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602965467583412978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZBklikh-TZVh99A0T_W0DC-uZ5MVpxhIJ9EjlK51z8YyStKVupEPKyCRRM5KotvM4JFw2-LDLUuTRUazUuvo3aq0081Z_VcNh7MAUSnoFAAMejOV4x52NICo_sDg34qyhR4QRQ4_fIM/s400/Sunset+Dinner+Cruise+views.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602965464562041666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKaCjZZaZlQyUp6tESrmoFU0GuDzej5QdtBwnrBIttf-pIuEi2jSP8Rl5hO0H4ohIB9cWq99QBVo-d_UOwrkFH7BGSkusRS2qPw9Y2Vc5AxJfnxfx9zYMqhhtHrgExZQQGazvPh_r30k/s400/Sunset+Dinner+Cruise%252C+PC+Hemet+in+SD.JPG" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">More Southern California adventures are in store for Our Cousin, Flat Cami!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-17749813495723423052011-05-01T16:26:00.000-07:002011-05-01T20:55:57.488-07:00Week 15, Self-Defense Training<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">A few months ago, our ward Relief Society, gathered items to prepare and donate survivor kits for victims of sexual assault to the Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center. Debora Monroe Heaps, one of our members, is one of the managers of the center. </span><a href="http://www.rarcc.org/"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.rarcc.org</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Without saying too much, I would just say that after we made that donations, someone close to many us, became a victim of such an attack, which brought this issue far too close to our hearts. </span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">So, to help prevent anything like this from ever, ever happening again, we organized a Relief Society meeting during which Debbie Heaps gave some great tips for protecting ourselves. We learned and practiced moves and stratigies for escape.</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601955419734238818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kLwKk4FyVprPEr3YCQWNFmDa_omR4AdRjnlSBA6abcdZvRLduFn2vfg54pjH74GWmfLpK4gIZpoH1nAQq4YsIHGX0aG1AnjMiHpBg2_jrLtlquEFADaOImU8TJirSRp-9sFIFQ8sN9U/s400/April+2011+001.jpg" border="0" /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JFPjXl9lUEU/Tb4kzNAXXAI/AAAAAAAAAjw/BJrg1gTrbP4/s1600/April%2B2011%2B016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601955448578595842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JFPjXl9lUEU/Tb4kzNAXXAI/AAAAAAAAAjw/BJrg1gTrbP4/s400/April%2B2011%2B016.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Look at Donna Hall's Face -- I wouldn't mess with her!</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCKjvObcGmOcc37JZr4YZ2iD7Kjdk8dRhyphenhyphen3SGWEy8sgldbbP0Wg8AUsVA1G1N-Qt-tjM8RkWDhgPHKSIfYFy4or5befR_qw-9yBhPFnCdrwWC57dCk5Eb0UWLzT7QLTjEFK7-MopVZI4/s1600/April+2011+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601955437273595730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCKjvObcGmOcc37JZr4YZ2iD7Kjdk8dRhyphenhyphen3SGWEy8sgldbbP0Wg8AUsVA1G1N-Qt-tjM8RkWDhgPHKSIfYFy4or5befR_qw-9yBhPFnCdrwWC57dCk5Eb0UWLzT7QLTjEFK7-MopVZI4/s400/April+2011+015.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Each of the sisters took a good upward kick -- Above, Judy Strickland, Barbara Schultz, Carol Crouch and Donna Hall.</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7rPnAQg1S0s/Tb4kyB8jYzI/AAAAAAAAAjg/puWIyBIOVIQ/s1600/April%2B2011%2B013.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601894069094558050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WCrKU9UC3FhqEsu9RjDHCSUf23KJAQ_sR6XgvK7zBhVll4jfYohHoKxXOO7FwZ3MF0ogCYgcu7NFovaaD6876W2vS6ZbryXzZt5OjeXUR0op4zUEQEgDHO07N7n3vlQDI0veqjV8NdA/s400/April+2011+003.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:arial;">Look at those strong stances....you don't want to mess with these Relief Society Sisters.<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601894090131740082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeGf7YNIEhTEbXCCQEkKcpvrvwjPAjCn0xh-kJWBeUTqJJVFWlyiWI8lbGnmjrJTgDQBvLVsCWS4lRg3yEjYrD0msVFm7fqZW-mHvf08rTFE8Q4-GvhsPSUzqEodFlHdwpfINKVtxUkU/s400/April+2011+011.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Barbara Schultz taking a whack at the attacking dummy....</span></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcqkFnL03kr21xwKCx4-UrvlLwjhQqCGS5ShS3uylq9hdzcdwTZkIeJXOX3FpOpQQZun5BDBz73RntlTG-ukQyn1zJEo1VBNKQ_WDvySBaqDtfr2xAx97p8W8M-gMPFIMUyOPkgxN12A/s1600/April+2011+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601894085124337090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcqkFnL03kr21xwKCx4-UrvlLwjhQqCGS5ShS3uylq9hdzcdwTZkIeJXOX3FpOpQQZun5BDBz73RntlTG-ukQyn1zJEo1VBNKQ_WDvySBaqDtfr2xAx97p8W8M-gMPFIMUyOPkgxN12A/s400/April+2011+008.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">With Joanell Ellis looking on, Natalie Sandgren shows the dummy what's up!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRr42PccJvpQM1U1f3ZikJYFpmvWBPM0AhZ-yMinvfOkVQIwiruNIkcql7qak6TcC2P9OrD9DSjUEIZjtGFvaWEJ2TTByNcA97Jk7DHGYSx9fjbM8Ni6yb0dM6iMy6qwNtiUnnnXfJBwY/s1600/April+2011+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601894072047891506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRr42PccJvpQM1U1f3ZikJYFpmvWBPM0AhZ-yMinvfOkVQIwiruNIkcql7qak6TcC2P9OrD9DSjUEIZjtGFvaWEJ2TTByNcA97Jk7DHGYSx9fjbM8Ni6yb0dM6iMy6qwNtiUnnnXfJBwY/s400/April+2011+004.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Here's the real expert, Debora Heaps showing the rest of us how to stop this guy and leave no mistake about who is NOT his victim.<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdFY11Z0i61-U_2Qv1MoFtPMFLwd3KAtKrRDckyou1WwiTpGWYTVMNp8JapjE0BwOA83hyeMSQGa7A-RC85PiYZjxJATOZBVnPL9d53oWvASnFmGVgmvh8ONnvCVFJr5jR7tvRutIRGI/s1600/April+2011+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601894062082329954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdFY11Z0i61-U_2Qv1MoFtPMFLwd3KAtKrRDckyou1WwiTpGWYTVMNp8JapjE0BwOA83hyeMSQGa7A-RC85PiYZjxJATOZBVnPL9d53oWvASnFmGVgmvh8ONnvCVFJr5jR7tvRutIRGI/s400/April+2011+002.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">The good sisters of the Jurupa 1st Ward intently listening to instruction. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I hope that we can take the lessons we all learned and share them with our friends, sisters, daughters. Ask me for some tips next time you see me. And, if you're feeling real strong and brave, let me demonstrate some of my new defensive moves on ya!<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-33991814105190265142011-04-09T21:28:00.000-07:002014-11-04T16:30:28.540-08:00Week 14, Alfred's Baptism in San Diego<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: arial;">Our Grandnephew Alfred Fisher was baptized down in San Diego and we were happy to be able to go down to visit my nephew and his family and my Sister Jill and Brother in law Roger, who came down from Utah for the occasion as well.<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kjjcBQQ-uLo7QsO-fX9BoY4KOFDZiPddgjkiLoCUdlbAZlQJV-BRCHEI9rNvvBwvcaE7GGIrXYMxv-fQZ1LmNdqKMpTQAms7h05qgN2vLB_Y0I7P5dcScJ4xjiNTxTBN5voJqD1TRS8/s400/Alfie+the+Violinist" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593809265447120546" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">When we got to their place on Friday night, we were fortunate to have Alfie pull out his violin and favor us with a couple of pieces, the Theme from the Titanic -- I guess its called, "My Heart Will Go On" and our favorite, the shark attack music from "Jaws".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">The next day, Alfie was baptized at the San Diego Stake Center. Its always hard to get a lot of people -- espcially kids to pose for a photo. You can see above, Claire (in front of me) wasn't too happy about more photos....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcUOW3J3u2vEhh0zWSbcgynU8bn27mwJ7Jwnga5sk_0ujI8xIaI8GQ-KFEv25RKJ0xw2bhPRgrD928bwxvXde_mNSS_7O6RrpC6Cw0lI3qH9nHQ9yC1toK-DaDz_FaVUfqBhEWDTxoes/s400/At+the+San+Diego+Stake+Center" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593809801744777810" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Everybody is much happier just doin' their own thing.... </span></div>
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Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-57292583398949706202011-04-04T21:28:00.000-07:002015-02-21T14:39:14.519-08:00Week 13, Work Events and Seeing My Cousin from Minnesota<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The week started out with a fun work event. I was invited by my co-workers at PrimeCare Chino Valley to join their table at the "Taste of Montclair and State of the City" address and luncheon. Montclair does have a lot of great restaurants because of the Montclair Plaza. My friends and I ate Mexican, Italian, Asian food and sampled a lot of yummy desserts. I ran into Rich and Viriginia Riley, some great friends I got to know well back when I wrote my community column for the Daily Bulletin. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jkYTesik6w1Y1XzQ7Yg1JDOqdEvr-umjXIDzlXk0dvkRrCek_EhIvGrooocpzxGtNL8mXGiYkIJAoVN-QJP1IB5cFQR54nC14c6OjMOqPv7iS9fGtTTZS6FbBSXjboyoVTmeOaEuzGk/s1600/IMG_2830.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jkYTesik6w1Y1XzQ7Yg1JDOqdEvr-umjXIDzlXk0dvkRrCek_EhIvGrooocpzxGtNL8mXGiYkIJAoVN-QJP1IB5cFQR54nC14c6OjMOqPv7iS9fGtTTZS6FbBSXjboyoVTmeOaEuzGk/s400/IMG_2830.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591952788288186034" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 300px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 400px;" /></a> <br />
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M<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">y cousin, Mary Lahammer and her husband, Chad Flynn, come to the desert from Minneapolis for the BNP Paribas Tennis Tournament in Indial Wells. Chad and his partner qualified for the amateurs doubles play and ended up winning the consolation championship. Knowing that Mary was just over an hour away, I had to take advantage of the proximity and drive on out to see her and her cute little daughter, Bayliss. Mary and I thought it would be nice for Bayliss to meet some of her young California cousins (and for them to meet her) so John and I gathered our our three oldest grandkids, stopped at 7-11 for Slurpees and headed on out to the timeshare complex they were staying at out in Indio and enjoyed a couple of hours just chatting and letting the kids enjoy each others company, which they certainly did!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZxKBf9BGVKhccnt9G0JDM0TfLsJpmlOKMytyPHkMXB3a-T_LdWr3iIIqWYlV35R_QFbWnLSzoMRNopu3lGbnqsAmg1_1Q5Hf8pXicp7s4zASNnTDbu8X0pMjTnTCCRfkH6yfuayE5Qk/s1600/IMG_2819.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZxKBf9BGVKhccnt9G0JDM0TfLsJpmlOKMytyPHkMXB3a-T_LdWr3iIIqWYlV35R_QFbWnLSzoMRNopu3lGbnqsAmg1_1Q5Hf8pXicp7s4zASNnTDbu8X0pMjTnTCCRfkH6yfuayE5Qk/s400/IMG_2819.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591953708330032850" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 300px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEika0UFnKuv8mIgCJA0IlkDd03AY-dmoUgplRBV_oDc1C0fZS8tGurIoLbKgTqAOySvVXFO9gC-U9BpxjwCVbl4PSlnpj1UYuGZjCko8Y899OgKKWeddlrbihElzllnjX3H80msVKJ8Q4A/s1600/IMG_2823.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEika0UFnKuv8mIgCJA0IlkDd03AY-dmoUgplRBV_oDc1C0fZS8tGurIoLbKgTqAOySvVXFO9gC-U9BpxjwCVbl4PSlnpj1UYuGZjCko8Y899OgKKWeddlrbihElzllnjX3H80msVKJ8Q4A/s400/IMG_2823.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591953715413012834" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Carter showing off his version of a totally natural blossom bracelet. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJ6l0zV6ujLD46Imc3VFbwhozoorGLYGn2cyzhGEJDbPiIUljlko1mbHTJId181I3LhDmyc6ObnA3hkiV93ZWxeams4owH59XU7bEpNKxwiGhpGrvyP2pUpIlLKyxmb5zBVTB-lZEP7k/s1600/IMG_2827.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJ6l0zV6ujLD46Imc3VFbwhozoorGLYGn2cyzhGEJDbPiIUljlko1mbHTJId181I3LhDmyc6ObnA3hkiV93ZWxeams4owH59XU7bEpNKxwiGhpGrvyP2pUpIlLKyxmb5zBVTB-lZEP7k/s400/IMG_2827.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591952762288465938" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 300px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 400px;" /></a> Carter, Bayliss, Ella and Ryan <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQE3QbuV2tjDiB7o1l3lvCefknQ8W7d5xNtnRVClHpyI_fTa2K4RVqjSfv6ePu5UTRKT83kMkUb0ZJPS8E5Y1uxKDhqBViFphK_yOFbihErpTMNg2OFa-cb7DgznI3qCPML7KMp4uwdOw/s1600/IMG_2825.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQE3QbuV2tjDiB7o1l3lvCefknQ8W7d5xNtnRVClHpyI_fTa2K4RVqjSfv6ePu5UTRKT83kMkUb0ZJPS8E5Y1uxKDhqBViFphK_yOFbihErpTMNg2OFa-cb7DgznI3qCPML7KMp4uwdOw/s400/IMG_2825.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591952762657085554" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 300px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 400px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYR8Zn-aI_5bwLoVj_qc-qV1MLSkotfNcC1IkUWr3uBSrwvluu62AB27ybaDa4T4Ok2vZPxi7MWFxpR-Y0UYpDn7vcpRMLVe3QlIYxB6wE-0u-1g_G6_0oWoVaQs40kzH1Fy-ab7Jne4/s1600/IMG_2829.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYR8Zn-aI_5bwLoVj_qc-qV1MLSkotfNcC1IkUWr3uBSrwvluu62AB27ybaDa4T4Ok2vZPxi7MWFxpR-Y0UYpDn7vcpRMLVe3QlIYxB6wE-0u-1g_G6_0oWoVaQs40kzH1Fy-ab7Jne4/s400/IMG_2829.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591952771593670322" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 300px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 400px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXoFjNTkvV7G-Vb8S1BJzr6LDEp9wGDAj0rUnWIwTpCoiILkylLo6U0ksvTnv65fPi-oLxcmzDE6bT_v6Z88NNz0SR2o_U_GyWqrMh7L1A3A1_Xj3_OS9ynnYeHCJxj57lDi3_Ch04Yms/s1600/IMG_2833.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gQjmHZFvNzoMYvaNbaCZk4izTnrcQaAru9jzmUgKVOUJWeoU68ZtTXuxWIxotsC0jdTfaX5zQ2SMZV-nzGzyRIlwIKiQMIvgwsvtLQSbh8-7OmflXxw67J7jLvEnbnsbVo_jhLZumJY/s1600/IMG_2834.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNybC3u_8kRKagy8biL7TrMk1HN_vZqVZDgXcDIoZPCe4jjTLtHbhrZ_wrowvD_fNJZgnYOidGBCHua0JUq92g74xQXO8ySvQDD0uniu_J-yru3SFCJzn1pIQnrFZ9naqEf9IpRHiuLLM/s1600/IMG_2844.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNybC3u_8kRKagy8biL7TrMk1HN_vZqVZDgXcDIoZPCe4jjTLtHbhrZ_wrowvD_fNJZgnYOidGBCHua0JUq92g74xQXO8ySvQDD0uniu_J-yru3SFCJzn1pIQnrFZ9naqEf9IpRHiuLLM/s400/IMG_2844.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591955411168196034" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 300px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 400px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCu4ZXLRkJOYlirWhdKJ2ksPJjccW_FAhoQEh4Suvs3q8KBAccmp4B3vYQMxwYK9wzDTAPtILS9Ux-yNknWjYu91OoeVQZdnaCAxbGJ3TS7hq73Zn0QQQc-_n-ZqYGPXcg02HYRcGkbY/s1600/IMG_2842.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCu4ZXLRkJOYlirWhdKJ2ksPJjccW_FAhoQEh4Suvs3q8KBAccmp4B3vYQMxwYK9wzDTAPtILS9Ux-yNknWjYu91OoeVQZdnaCAxbGJ3TS7hq73Zn0QQQc-_n-ZqYGPXcg02HYRcGkbY/s400/IMG_2842.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591954586292769042" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 300px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxkCUF3yFpyXQ9ORYs2nHpDbhLv61HS-QJXJb0S9JgRLEcimdZGh1_nE03LkCmfFaXY96z68VgSHRfxtBYbjsN6w3evnmbNisywej8cJHvKeQA0KBMDckVBUp458c0DLk7UAFlRxtUcc/s1600/IMG_2841.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxkCUF3yFpyXQ9ORYs2nHpDbhLv61HS-QJXJb0S9JgRLEcimdZGh1_nE03LkCmfFaXY96z68VgSHRfxtBYbjsN6w3evnmbNisywej8cJHvKeQA0KBMDckVBUp458c0DLk7UAFlRxtUcc/s400/IMG_2841.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591954582542593362" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 300px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 400px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CD8Q3NFdfSP2f_W9JNQzhpRby9jRw6DYmyc8-3EpQ43lwDT62xu3vKp2DWvBMu8zR2VOKbJedO6OqYwXt9Y63LMdL_ayDLYNcNWPTSMLpv0C3h3UHU5alFZFV4Vrc5Tehz6kceu0g04/s1600/IMG_2840.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CD8Q3NFdfSP2f_W9JNQzhpRby9jRw6DYmyc8-3EpQ43lwDT62xu3vKp2DWvBMu8zR2VOKbJedO6OqYwXt9Y63LMdL_ayDLYNcNWPTSMLpv0C3h3UHU5alFZFV4Vrc5Tehz6kceu0g04/s400/IMG_2840.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591954572928864162" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 300px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8-3IT-HrqJah2yjIPMbsbm3MO8sE7nkCZLJDH7Wgj9QYrrGsBkI_pcC9GSTY629rq3Dpdj3rC1-mPSgzd-_kLwmPesv0eSAmZEVfUn4boLYQjJ9qmNbcWSWdmHPKAZNwgdZl_jTtIKM/s1600/IMG_2838.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8-3IT-HrqJah2yjIPMbsbm3MO8sE7nkCZLJDH7Wgj9QYrrGsBkI_pcC9GSTY629rq3Dpdj3rC1-mPSgzd-_kLwmPesv0eSAmZEVfUn4boLYQjJ9qmNbcWSWdmHPKAZNwgdZl_jTtIKM/s400/IMG_2838.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591954570155495746" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 300px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 400px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLiSVrMmSd9baeVRlJqL40nWXBEozBfPFe1I1agWjhDYPUr-I4LD6uun2fDfeRK1hKOLrYW92DREW3Ky1gsPeko-JSNX1ykx7X4AYRgS0bHC47-Rw0qP7MwtJrjSot7r7KvNQQTAGErE/s1600/IMG_2843.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLiSVrMmSd9baeVRlJqL40nWXBEozBfPFe1I1agWjhDYPUr-I4LD6uun2fDfeRK1hKOLrYW92DREW3Ky1gsPeko-JSNX1ykx7X4AYRgS0bHC47-Rw0qP7MwtJrjSot7r7KvNQQTAGErE/s400/IMG_2843.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591955415726243106" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 300px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 400px;" /></a> We went with April, Wes and Peyton down to San Diego on Friday night and ate dinner at a Luche Libre Taco Shop at 1810 West Washington Street and had a great time getting into the spirit of the place. The food was great but, the atmosphere was even better -- we love to go to fun, even outrageous places. We met some fun people from Miami who had seen the place on some food channel show. The only show on the food network I watch is Unwrapped. I think this place was featured on Man vs. Food? Anyway, I just took the advice of April and ordered a shrimp and steak burrito and, yeah, it was dang good! I'll eat at Taco Bell and I think its great (even with its filler-filled beef). But there's nothing like crazy little hole in the wall places for great Mexican food. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jkYTesik6w1Y1XzQ7Yg1JDOqdEvr-umjXIDzlXk0dvkRrCek_EhIvGrooocpzxGtNL8mXGiYkIJAoVN-QJP1IB5cFQR54nC14c6OjMOqPv7iS9fGtTTZS6FbBSXjboyoVTmeOaEuzGk/s1600/IMG_2830.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwfVZL6JVp52NM53UOhPOc0RKi73Il4_ouc2T2byG9dk-ud-m1nBiuNXJBUFrGXzVL-Mw3zaV-xKIarz2LQah5JcBwbV76DBL4DugeTSk_zhzaScaT5dWtX8ndQA68LM8rqVv0LdGEj4/s1600/IMG_2847.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwD5ZyVti-NYaZNQd5hJ_YrI1_UEwZxbALRqyeeIlaA5arE2FcROBm9dTcP-Hn-oOxARorlYTqTR1QZY06CKSasyIgRTdpz6WAWEVn3FPDfZFTzYMrkgomWz9Rv8QO9vRM_IcS6h3QADI/s1600/IMG_2846.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJ6UOxRfcVYf1CkWuVcbnuF1SIx-weLBOvPXUXKCsRb14xjR5ai1OLiw6K7mab8N41ujjXuNCuGoFFopd7DlkEbdjWUOkDWGU-z_dm1igfGiFErL-lPoxitypdIj0yJ2mmK2Jm_vFRBA/s1600/IMG_2836.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLuY1-Q3VJf6CN22hIEF0V3GS6pIGSIWd70ZAAmc1-TyA8cUgbvsowFgyGaKwaVLVYTqxZ41VspEHzd-4N2U2DBIW4Ki4DDQylc4APqB76yNkrNznuxTAdcUg_R_hyO2jK_a6sFoJeOw/s1600/IMG_2835.JPG"></a>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-42131826102039155592011-03-27T13:28:00.000-07:002015-02-21T15:03:28.418-08:00Week 12, Visiting Sisters in the Ward -- A New Committment<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: arial;">The blessings and burdens of being a Relief Society president</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Along with my commitment to write regularly on my blog, I’ve also made another goal this year and that’s to visit with at least 52 of the sisters in my ward by the year’s end. Like the blog, it may not be exactly one a week – I hope it’s actually more on most weeks, but that way, with vacations and illnesses, I still want to say at the end of the year, that I’ve visited 52 sisters in their homes this year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">I’ve keep a list of the sisters either I’ve visited either alone, with the entire presidency or at least one other member of the presidency. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;">So far this year, among those that we’ve visited are a woman with 3 young special needs children whose husband has been unemployed for at least a year. Another sister, a convert, just recently started coming back to church after several moves and life found her in inactivity. She’s raising a grandchild as her own, has cervical cancer, and works nights as a janitor. Another sister was attacked and raped last month; another mother of 5 children was abandoned by her husband. She isn’t in the country legally and has to work jobs at which she’s basically abused because they know she can’t complain. Another sister is a single mother of five all of whom live in very small mobile home -- along wtih her sister. Another one of these sisters is losing her house and is desperately looking for any kind of work – cleaning houses, offices, anything, as she is housing several of her teenage and young adult grandsons. Another sister has never joined the church but is one of the wards most regular attendees and volunteers her time for many of our events. And, I'm pretty sure that one very skinny and frenetic lady I helped one time had to be on meth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">And on top of that, we have the usual blessings of new babies and the occasional funeral (we fed over 250 at a huge funeral last month) and general illnesses, injuries and hospitalizations. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;">The list goes on and on and now that I’m writing it and thinking about all of the need and heartache, it can seem overwhelming. One of our sweetest sisters lost her husband this week; another sister no longer comes to church because of a doctrinal issue, another one subsides on intravenous nutrition, and yet others are bed-ridden by illnesses or pain. We have two residential mental health facilities within our ward, and we almost always have at least one sister living in one of them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Even as I’m writing this, my heart aches and I wonder if all wards have such issues and pain. I want to help and yet feel frustrated that I can’t “fix” it all. What we can do, I guess, is just provide love, support, education and even resources. Last month our ward Relief Society prepared survivor kits and donated them to the Rape Crisis Center in Riverside. Next month, we’re having them come and teach all of our sisters self-defense and safety. I’ve prepared a resource sheet of church and social services available in our area to try to help in any way possible -- see below. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;">We listen and counsel with them and pray for these sisters, and always pray <em>with</em> them at every visit as well. We plan lessons on the importance of education, setting goals, of faith and of overcoming trials. We count on the love and service of good teachers and counselors, visiting teachers, friends, neighbors and a very loving, caring, and busy bishop. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;">On top of all of this, it’s our common love of the Savior that unites us all and as he taught us: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (</span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/16.33?lang=eng#32"><span style="font-family: arial;">John 16:33</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;">.) We’ll keep visiting, listening, praying, teaching and organizing ways to help and ask for Heavenly Father’s guidance and love as we do so.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_5941" ratio="0.772727272727273" scrolling="no" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/51667845/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-a8vjcorz4jc2xwk3llc" width="100%"></iframe><br />
<script type="text/javascript">(function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "http://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })();</script>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-57339969319677896052011-03-18T18:26:00.000-07:002011-03-18T20:29:32.619-07:00Week 11, A Hockey Game<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI9MdOrI6jzlYchs1BiNB47OY8cSvrg6aduVDSrOWwV9mKkGSdCbJgow4UQ3SVgDgZ6fu7VkAcJU6_l2EwVv-d4jZxYPyJ6bnlXrc54FcfUukbUKzcHQtbX8jedE8NETR_Qs8t-ixKuo/s1600/1Reign+Hockey+Game.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585596567493773778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI9MdOrI6jzlYchs1BiNB47OY8cSvrg6aduVDSrOWwV9mKkGSdCbJgow4UQ3SVgDgZ6fu7VkAcJU6_l2EwVv-d4jZxYPyJ6bnlXrc54FcfUukbUKzcHQtbX8jedE8NETR_Qs8t-ixKuo/s400/1Reign+Hockey+Game.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Ontario Reign Hockey </span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">One of the last times I went ice skating, I broke my tailbone (yea, falling again) and couldn't run -- or slouch -- for a year. So, I'm not so free form on the ice any longer. I did try outside ice skating at the Riverside Festival of Lights a couple of years ago and stayed upright the entire session.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">But watching other people who know how to combine skating, hitting a puck with sticks and, best of all, fighting -- all while on slippery ice -- now that's worth the price of admission! But, one of the nice things about my new job is that we place ads with the Citizen's Bank Arena and with The Reign so our company gets tickets every once in a while for the employees to use. </span><span style="font-family:arial;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpflY0VeiswvtG9rDgwRjtwtc2-j2z4WZf_PFAa59wMSpsVtAy7sUK_3lUDfmpQOquHeZNJsbvnqEVmLnexAMcQG8adBsuG9TTl5Z2wyDKIs_6G7suCND9SxXwL5cBpWbRmNy_GG4zpI/s1600/1Mascot.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585604373471943058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpflY0VeiswvtG9rDgwRjtwtc2-j2z4WZf_PFAa59wMSpsVtAy7sUK_3lUDfmpQOquHeZNJsbvnqEVmLnexAMcQG8adBsuG9TTl5Z2wyDKIs_6G7suCND9SxXwL5cBpWbRmNy_GG4zpI/s400/1Mascot.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Last week on Wednesday night, after a long day at work, it was a fun mid-week break to kick the old routine and go on up to the arena and watch a fun hockey game with John, Hayley and Ryan. Our seats were on the third row just a bit off the center of the ice. The Reign beat the team from Idaho, we enjoyed popcorn and pop and had a great night! </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </p>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-35763743947071092662011-03-06T17:37:00.000-08:002011-03-06T21:07:29.223-08:00Week 10, New Routes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljjQ75tsMu_OzUwKt_5vNE1UZ-dAWQnZ8NAecLDOl0xD7RYoD0mfjFtQl4NbTIMOFN2sigcfs_nZgPxy0fO8V6Ff0SuORpvuOH2ImknbdZ0dR6UNluF7RsMf7jPSG-QneTgQnG2r_CX4/s1600/Annette+at+DLand.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljjQ75tsMu_OzUwKt_5vNE1UZ-dAWQnZ8NAecLDOl0xD7RYoD0mfjFtQl4NbTIMOFN2sigcfs_nZgPxy0fO8V6Ff0SuORpvuOH2ImknbdZ0dR6UNluF7RsMf7jPSG-QneTgQnG2r_CX4/s400/Annette+at+DLand.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581198729940217986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="font-family: arial;">April, Sarah and I signed up for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Fontana</span> Half Marathon in June. So, with that, we have to train and train and train. Sarah and Heidi trained and ran the St. George Marathon back in 2003 before either of them began their families. I've run several 5Ks before and 3.2 miles is about the farthest I've ever run up until last week. </div><br /><div style="font-family: arial;"> </div><span style="font-family: arial;">I found a half marathon training plan on-line which we're making a decent attempt at following. Until Saturday, all the runs on the plan have been within our comfort zones of 4 miles or under. This was the first week we plotted out and ran a route over 5 miles. Heidi, April and I met at Heidi's house out in </span><span style="font-family: arial;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Perris</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> on Saturday and began our big </span><span style="font-family: arial;" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">circle route</span><span style="font-family: arial;">. Once we reached a certain point, you just have to finish....that's why I like big circles better than "out and back" routes. The five miles took us an hour because I'm still pretty slow at the run and I still need to build in walking breaks now and again -- especially after about 3 or 4 miles. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Still all the daughters I run with, April, Heidi and Sarah, are nice and patient with me -- saying they're just happy to be out getting fresh air and exercise. But, I think they're just trying to be supportive of me and help me out...and, I love 'em all for that. Five miles wore me out and next week, I think we're supposed to be up to 6 miles. Its good for me to know I can go farther than I ever thought I could -- or would want to -- but there's a lot of satisfaction in these long runs -- especially when they're OVER!</span><br /><div style="font-family: arial;"> </div><br /><div style="font-family: arial;">Hayley and I decided to go for a hike up Mt. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Rubidoux</span> this afternoon. Instead of taking our usual main paved trail off of 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> Street, we set off up the side of the mountain from the Dog Park by the Santa Ana River. It was a challenge getting up that way, but the real fun was coming down off the beaten path. Hayley slid and fell on her butt twice and then when we were at a pretty good clip, I tripped over a rock and just found myself <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">airborn</span>. I flew about 5 feet forward and during those split seconds of being <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">airborn</span> my brain remembered how I tried stopping a fall once before (1998) with my arms and broke both the radius and ulna (both the lower arm bones) of my right arm.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJZFELeu4y2PT4ytlLsOw5Kfrzwd875Je0ZzPvMoJIhVrDATVL6rhLeIaXRzsBmLp5uFyizw7NB_B04QHpsdGYY1GbI9VhxySOiQxsKLFvDL1yJqwFakURqmBAdlT4qGOq9VkcykTmQc/s1600/1998+Annette+and+Danny+Todd.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJZFELeu4y2PT4ytlLsOw5Kfrzwd875Je0ZzPvMoJIhVrDATVL6rhLeIaXRzsBmLp5uFyizw7NB_B04QHpsdGYY1GbI9VhxySOiQxsKLFvDL1yJqwFakURqmBAdlT4qGOq9VkcykTmQc/s400/1998+Annette+and+Danny+Todd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581176017242604338" border="0" /></a>So, this time, my experienced instincts told me just to kept my arms forward, like superman and just fall on my chest and stomach. It wasn't so bad at all! In fact it was pretty dang funny. I wish I could have seen it from an outside perspective -- my sunglasses even flew off my face!<br /><br />If I didn't fall all the time, I guess my ego might be bruised, but, if you know me well, its quite likely you've seen me fall at least once -- so, I have no pride along these lines -- this is what I do and who I am. And, really, I'd rather be falling on my butt than sitting around on it!</div>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7462178472276377150.post-57596110092660357702011-03-03T16:46:00.001-08:002011-03-03T17:00:30.092-08:00Week 9, An UnBirthday Party<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">On Sunday, after dinner, we decided to have an "Unbirthday" Party. Some of the grandkids have been watching and reading Alice in Wonderland and, since we have no birthdays between Carter's in December and William's in March (and we happened to have a large cake left over from Ward Conference), we decided this would be a fun idea.</span></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580020309766958738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIITPktkKwykMxIoI0LhBHbeKA9312TqXZBaAsNeoCrjY_EBPfdg9U0J81tZOz7FfxYnYkL9IOsmbrQFO9KgtFMvk2SOnJR3keGD-dhMx9z-ELYasq83kn79S9tSbOqmjSC7ep9vNO1Ys/s400/Singing+the+Unbirthday+Song.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;">We started by singing "Happy Unbirthday" but it sounded pretty bad. I've never even seen the Disney version of the cartoon so didn't even know how it was supposed to sound -- but, really, that wouldn't have mattered anyway. (If you've heard me sing, you know what I'm talkin' about.) </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">The fun part is that every kid around the table got to blow out candles. (I buy them in bulk at Smart & Final. They come in 500 packs there so you can birthday or unbirthday party all you want!)</span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580020321945191938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8N_i0XApD6hw4Y-QrZ3qDQYYsRHRYGV0nOs7KXKUR0G2EBdE6Cn78kZfH-2GjRw8wqOcotC8ZrQwiZqA_ewYHj1ZNrK53DUoOf4UtaVj714_4ScPRKPooZ6r3E1V1A0ikg9Kl-4g11w/s400/Asher+at+Unbirthday.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Asher asked to have his picture taken and then did this pose up all by himself and then smiled when he saw the results. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">(He must know how doggone cute he is!)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580020314941219970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWC3XwYXbYppqhG_AEZxOZ_UWJrcQctN0vJR6IiIun56TgMYk2GOiMhtprV8yuI3dxCA2kbZDyumrtLyOr-GZXbVG6VOQTrlWvT43a2GOlX_HljXvydmI6FElgmwOBFYYU2oatap3c-M/s400/Carter+boy+eating+unbirthday+cake.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:arial;">And, sweet Carter just loved being able to dig in to a nice big piece of chocolate cake!<br /></span><br /><br /></div>Annette Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056563755804880184noreply@blogger.com0