Camping and Fishing -- We are from Idaho

A few weekends ago we had the chance to go camping with some friends of ours, Troy and Breezy. While the trip started a little later than planned (we got to the campground as our neighbors were zipping in for the night), it was great. Basically, my husband got to show off his camp stove culinary skills, which include eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage and some derivative of those mixed in with onions and generous amounts of grease, and we sat by a fire and went fishing. His meals probably won't be in a heart-healthy brochure anytime soon, but they were delicious and certainly appreciated. (We also appreciated the bandanna, which was an intentional throwback to the 80s. Rock on.)



I roasted starbursts and tried to help with the fire (e.g. balling up newspaper pages and holding the air pump to artificially enhance the oxidation process). What can I say? I'm handy. My starbursts were a hit. Apparently, our Girls Camp pastime hasn't made it to Georgia yet.


We wimped out on setting up our tent, mostly because it was dark and the campground felt a little too crowded to begin with, so we broke in our wedding gift gear with a nice car camping night. The Highlander was suprisingly comfy, with an air matress mostly blown up and the seats totally flat. I slept well, but it has been said I would sleep well in the middle of an interstate. It also didn't hurt that I was woken by rain and thunder at at 2 am... I have never really trusted my skills with the "rain fly", mostly because I think the emphasis is on it "flying away" while the rain comes. Glad to review my position on that from inside the SUV.


The next day we blew up our friend's dingy and went on the reservoir, hoping fore freat fish karma. Turns out it was the husbands' who were praying for fish karma because they were terrified that if we didn't catch anything we would never set foot on a fishing boat again. And voila! The gods smiled on me and I did catch a fish...you can see the footage here...

As a wrapup, it was a great trip, and who knew there was a reservoir in the middle of Granstville? Oh, and yeah, remember that when you ask your husband if your face looks red, because you suddenly realized that you never put sunscreen on, and you were out of your regular nice Olay lotion with light SPF...it means you want to know if you look sunburnt! And yes--red means sunburnt!!!

Sorry Debbie Downers...US is Still Alright

I haven't been able to rave about the pessimistic and hyperbolic media for a while, mostly because I haven't been around my Dad. Oh, the good times we share watching O'Riley and making fun of Pelosi...but I digress.

Fortunately, I found an article today on IHT which was suprisingly praiseworthy of the US--especially from someone who isn't from the 'ol red, white and blue.

Bottom line--yeah--everybody hates Bush, and they hate that we are in Iraq, and China is giving up crap about our economy (don't get me started...hey China...how are you baby girls doing? Oh that's right---you don't have any!) and everyone is catching up to us....but really, we still have the biggest market, the biggest brain economy, and the image of hope, independence and opportunity--and you just can't beat that.

Spring Cleaning--Leonard Style

When I was growing up, it was the running joke in our house that we didn't "do" spring cleaning...we moved.

It appears that I have carried the tradition of cardboard boxes, packing tape, and heavy lifting into our little family as well. On Memorial Day weekend we said goodbye to our little apartment (it being cute and little in all aspects, pretty sure it was about 500 square feet, at most). It was nice, but we were ready for a change. I took some pictures of it, wanting to memorialize it in the cleanest way possible.

We spent the whole weekend packing, unloading, loading, becoming Sherpas in the rain-soaked Utah air, hating our belongings with each flight of stairs. For a moment there, I resented my books and my shoes...but only a moment. :-)

After the big items were moved (bed, bookcases, etc., and were respectively dead-tired and cranky, we realized that while we had two apartments, 4 matresses and a lot of wall spackle...we didn't actually have anywhere to sleep. So, I suggested we do the easiest thing and turn the three single mattresses (and their boxsprings) into a bed tower stable enough for our King-sized Shamoo bed. Obvious, right?

My husband scoffed--he might have even done a eye-roll, I can't be sure. But low and behold---it actually worked!





We didn't have any incidents, although that might have "been a better story", in the words of the boy. We did carefully keep to our hemispheres of the bed though, to not tempt fate and the large crack between bedding supports. The good news...the next day we were able to have room for our proper bed. The bad news...a mattress is still in our hallway. Our new apartment might be bigger, but it certainly isn't big enough to have a mattress in there for "fun"!
I plan on putting some pictures up when we are all done--fully decorated and cuted' out. Wish me luck!

Shameless Sister Promotion--Yea for Mrs. Potts!

I have been scouring the internet to find the video news show that my sister and her Spokane CYT friends did for their Beauty and Beast production. I wasn't having any luck and just had to hear from everyone at home who gushed about it--while I am stuck in Utah and not able to see the play, let alone see my little sis' sing about Belle and the Beast.

But today--voila! Here it is. So, if you love B&B like I do, or want to see an amazing 16-year-old sing her heart out on morning TV, please oblige yourself. I am so proud of her!

P.S. We moved this weekend, so I have lots of pictures (most of them frightening) and will share the tale of how we slept, literally, on princess and a pea matresses 8 feet high one night. All forthcoming...

My Birthday...surely the event you were celebrating on Sunday, right?

So my birthday post is a little delayed. Mostly I would like to lay blame on the fact that it fell on Mother Day's this year, so May 11th was a little uncoventional in its singularly honoring of me for existing. However, this is no way disparages the wonderful care and treatment I received from my spouse and the lovely phone calls and birthday musical tributes from friends and family members.

Big thank-you to all--it was a big deal to even remember.

I started the day like any other leisurely (restful...a day of rest, right?) Sunday, by sleeping in and waking up to find my husband doing something because of his unfortunately inability to sleep past nine like his wife. I hope this can be overcome by breeding, because I am not sure how psyched I am for children who for some reason *can't* sleep in.

Michael then made me homemade--meaning no Bisquick-- waffles. With homemade whipping cream and lots of delicious strawberries (thank you Costco). I ate them on my "special day" red plate, it is a tradition in our family and was a wedding present from my Nonna.

We then waffled around, I did some sewing, I received some people by phone (kind of like Edwardian vistors with cards, but in my pajamas instead.)Then we went to church, and I looked cute in new clothes, thanks to Mom-and-Dad B-day/going home/shopping bananza present. The shoes weren't new, but were fantastic nonetheless. I bought them as retail therapy instruments when Mike went back to Coeur d'Alene last spring to work and I was stuck at school in P-town. Don't judge me--they are amazing shoes.

Dinner was fresh shiskabobs. Dessert was homemade Creme Brulee (too lazy to put the accent mark, but I know its there). All made by husband. All delicous. Ate an astonishing amoung, considering the low expenditure of caloric energy on Sunday. Fabulous.

Read outside on the grass in the park. Ate some Ben and Jerry's chocolate PB ice cream, because I decided I hadn't had enough sugar. Smelled my beautiful flowers from my man (see, if you bug them enough about it, they will bring them to you...oh...what a surprise...thank you!). Opened up my present from hubbie, new hot pink running shoes (crap...now I have to keep on running... :-))....

Wonderful day. 23 is looking good so far.

In honor of my Dad's B-day

On this day, May 6th, I have chosen to honor the occasion of my father's birth by participating in a long-standing family tradition--I will comment on his life and quirks with healthy doses of sarcasm and exaggeration.

The Reasons why we are glad Paul Leonard was born...

1. Certain words in the English vernacular have been presevered and even seen a resurgence because of his careful use and preservation...don't "go nutty", stay away from something that sounds "sketchy", hurry up and "let's get humping", when we were "zoobies", and "it is possible...?"



2. Many natural resources, such as wood and certain metals, were conserved and rescued from almost certain death and destruction by his watchful eye and undying loyalty to the green movement, conservation efforts to combat global warming, and the "I am not a handyman, why don't we just buy it ?" mantra



3. Several utility and telecommunications companies have expressed gratitude for his tireless efforts to push the frontier of long-distance phone calls and vocal volume. Centuries from now, alien visitors might be priviliged to hear him berating a customer service representative in escalating tones while question her lineage and study of the English language



4. His new interest in triathalong training, although done with the quiet intensity of a Burmese monk (pre-Junta but post-The King and I), will provide inspiration for the chosen few who are informed of his rise to athletic tri-stardom. His dedication to a sport where one's main goal is to not die will provide much-needed humor in an election year where two soulless Demorats battle for the white house. In fact, we may be allowed to participate in an important training ritual for him, such as the one detailed in this video...



5. Spandex might never have lived up to its full potential without the marathon product testing sessions that he has put the synthetic fabric through, teenage volleyball players and San Franciscan hairdresses named Coco salute him...



6. He single-handedly supports the Pacific Northwest golf economy. The rest of the players on the links might appear legitimate, but their support of the game is a careful ruse for them to discover how one can spend so much time with "clubs" without resorting to physcial violence...



7. The Hayden Lake Chamber of Commerce was happy to induct the "North office" into its rank-and-file membership, along with including some of the site's amenities and luxuries in its brochure to lithe Starbucks-infused Californians looking to relocate. The Chamber is still investigating what commercial activities actually occur in the North Office, but are confident that the enterprise will enlarge the tax base, attract the high-tech industry and cure cancer.



8. The abudant wildlife flourishing in the glades of Timber Creek raise their beaks, antennaes, and amoeba limbs to thank him for his crusade against the man. His fight for their scurvy groundwater and gritty swamp habitat have protected the sanctity of the wilderness while ensuring an interference-free DirectTV signal for neigbhoring properties.



9. Rogers and Hammerstein, George Gershwin, Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John and John Barry all are grateful for his creative contributions to their works and his renewed energy and zen he brings to traditional song lyrics and melodies. Simply put, the classics wound not have gotten to where they are without some ad-libbing and rthymic and meter distortion to fit modern themes and archetypes of the musical experience. Softly, slowly...now we brush the tee-th...



10. In all seriousness, I can't tell you how glad I am that my Dad was born 48 years ago today and that he has lived his life to be the kind of hilarious, strong, spiritual, fun-loving, intelligent husband, father and friend that so many love and appreciate today. I love his quirks and I can only hope to follow the example of one who can see the humor in just about everything while being a leader in his family and community. Love you lots Papa G!

The Mormon View

Check this out. This article, written by a witty LDS reporter for Vanity Fair, The Mormon View, is a "great overview of what Mormon’s believe, Reader’s Digest Style. If you are ever asked as a member of the church for tips on polygamy or how we Mormon gals get our bangs to puff so high, (I think this photo speaks for itself) this is the post for you. " I loved it, especially since Mormons aren't really known for their sense of humor generally, kind of like CPAs. Don't even get me started on Mormon CPAs.

In other good news--Mike and I will be moving--about a quarter mile away to our old south campus neighborhood. We are going to manage a small female apartment complex (saying female like that makes it sound like a monkey exhibit...but oh well) starting in a few weeks.

Also--Mike got into the Business/Finance undegraduate program. It is very competitive and he starts this spring and should graduate next April. Bring it on capital budgeting, tempt me income statements, and blow me away cashflow analyses!

The other piece of resounding good news, tied together with the previous two, is that we are going home to Coeur d'Alene this summer! Yahoo for Idaho (the pretty part). We, hopefully, will spend about six weeks at home, working, playing, interning, sunning, swimming, family bond-ing, etc. It will be great to have my little brother home and to spend such quality time the family, maybe one of the last times we will have the chance. Topping the summer off as a bridesmaid for one of my best friend's weddings, I think summer 2008 will be fabulous.