tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-104005992024-03-07T13:31:34.228-08:00Praise the Lord and pass the ammunitionWhen I die, I hope my wife doesn't sell my hunting and fishing gear for what I told her I paid for it.willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-78344864940907142922009-04-23T14:46:00.000-07:002009-04-23T14:48:16.690-07:00Earth DayI celebrated by finally cleaning up all those old tires in my yard.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VPkVsQAs6_lA1Nu90S6p9uZG9JMQYmHeJPXJtFAbFTY3XWXAGDOnpzc127pMvuAnqVm-ncEL85C8aipGQ29HjejgJS2KNDmGovNXLSwVdcVqu2-t9gUq7_DiS7qy_AejsDl2/s1600-h/tires.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VPkVsQAs6_lA1Nu90S6p9uZG9JMQYmHeJPXJtFAbFTY3XWXAGDOnpzc127pMvuAnqVm-ncEL85C8aipGQ29HjejgJS2KNDmGovNXLSwVdcVqu2-t9gUq7_DiS7qy_AejsDl2/s320/tires.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328006873164339234" border="0" /></a><br />No need to thank me, just doing my part.willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-33353535604599792012009-04-19T23:11:00.001-07:002009-04-19T23:12:26.957-07:00From the vault<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHAnhwPGfPtkcjmE2ScMa0KOHPaXWrgU_b5eqzNt8PVY6wtH5KM1xiubLt8MlhyphenhyphentOCW_xvye3G9amjqUpRjoGI3QBOG1wxMIb0F1B6Bmc9PJ9PKVlAkXr91mq9rvFBv9-MwBN/s1600-h/DSCF0066.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHAnhwPGfPtkcjmE2ScMa0KOHPaXWrgU_b5eqzNt8PVY6wtH5KM1xiubLt8MlhyphenhyphentOCW_xvye3G9amjqUpRjoGI3QBOG1wxMIb0F1B6Bmc9PJ9PKVlAkXr91mq9rvFBv9-MwBN/s320/DSCF0066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326652429252743378" border="0" /></a>"I'm a swinger, baby!"willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-56771393207315865062009-04-09T10:08:00.000-07:002009-04-09T10:33:27.908-07:00And the topic is "Stupid things rich idiots say"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKaJ_0y6YJe1coNM2WAEhyphenhyphenNfux3dJiQ1Scz6qbq4JZaouQBVk6qD-3PAJeGLtuUIYEaF-ECuB7or11Fp3BcZbVkqdiikkon_R2Ghm6oMZsfOV4iWaxlQgukID3XHDI2gqVo9d/s1600-h/idiot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKaJ_0y6YJe1coNM2WAEhyphenhyphenNfux3dJiQ1Scz6qbq4JZaouQBVk6qD-3PAJeGLtuUIYEaF-ECuB7or11Fp3BcZbVkqdiikkon_R2Ghm6oMZsfOV4iWaxlQgukID3XHDI2gqVo9d/s320/idiot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322745766374393986" border="0" /></a><br />I've been working on multi-entity, multi-state tax returns for about a week for a new client. This client engaged us because his last beancounter botched his returns and he got into hot water with the taxing authorities. Before he engaged us he emphasized, "I want it done right, no shortcuts. I realize it will be expensive but you have a reputation for being thorough and doing good work which is why I want you to do it. I'm going out of town on April 12th, if you can have the returns done before then I'd appreciate it."<br /><br />The project was extremely complex and his supporting documentation was subpar. There were times I wished he hadn't engaged us. Nonetheless, I was able to finish the project last night (ahead of schedule!) . This morning he came into the office to sign the returns and get them into the mail. Upon seeing the stack of returns he exclaimed, "Holy *bleep*! What is all that?" I explained that the various entities each had multi-state filing requirements and failure to file would eventually subject him to the same problems he encountered with his prior CPA. He was visibly annoyed. After signing the last return he stood up and tossed the pen on the table. As he put on his jacket to leave he said, "You know, I don't think all those returns are really necessary, I hope you're not planning to bill me for them."<br /><br />Has anyone seen my gun?willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-81569407983944886942009-03-17T17:40:00.001-07:002009-03-17T17:47:23.544-07:00Chasing butterflies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhITb0K5bP2bezO21i_ds4wMWpHvvNYWeY3pwyXOO0I4zf30cVQMChUkn3P49GRUIDi4XiWGm8WH-juydN01XIGdSoqFoyQ_SWyepgF4-cgImeyHc2GzC_rzHw7eB6m_IoXOe/s1600-h/flying_butterflies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhITb0K5bP2bezO21i_ds4wMWpHvvNYWeY3pwyXOO0I4zf30cVQMChUkn3P49GRUIDi4XiWGm8WH-juydN01XIGdSoqFoyQ_SWyepgF4-cgImeyHc2GzC_rzHw7eB6m_IoXOe/s320/flying_butterflies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314321503417312786" border="0" /></a><br />I spoke to Donna a short while ago and I asked, "what are the boys doing?" Turns out it's the time of year when the monarch butterflies make their migration north and the boys are running around the front yard trying to catch them. Probably sounds silly but one of my fondest memories from when they were little (2 years old or so) was chasing butterflies with them. It was a year of an extraordinary migration and they were thick as flies at a fertilizer factory. We collected them by the dozens. <br /><br />But not today. Here I sit, looking longingly out the window and wish that I was chasing butterflies. *sigh*willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-83833745654141731402008-12-05T11:32:00.001-08:002008-12-05T12:26:38.257-08:00Advice on womenThere's a little girl, Faith, in Jack and Joe's class. Joe has had it bad for Faith since the first day of school last year. And when I say he has it bad, I mean <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">bad</span>. We bumped into her at the school's carnival back in October and it was all he could do to say "hi" to her without throwing up all over himself. Poor lad, he inherited his father's skillz when it comes to dazzling the ladies. <br /><br />Jack is a different guy altogether. He's got no problem chatting up just about any girl he comes across. At first I thought Jack simply believed that girls are just soft boys but I was wrong. He knows the difference and interacts with them on a totally different level. The kid has a confidence that just will not quit. If I could bottle that I could take over the world in a day.<br /><br />Last night, an hour or so after putting the boys to bed, I wandered down the hall and found this drawing on the floor next to Joe's bed. To fully appreciate this drawing you must click it so you can see the detail...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpg18N-lkcjRlrJCYZJNUvkIgboJnRDgFy2JeRBuyz9Ou49sbJPy9nZYFguVI4Sg34ZT5PvvAyEIDSCEhcPiwJts0HodgFHIPqYGKOHP546lTv4MsbQ32yO89Lx5NDFWItyAcl/s1600-h/drawing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpg18N-lkcjRlrJCYZJNUvkIgboJnRDgFy2JeRBuyz9Ou49sbJPy9nZYFguVI4Sg34ZT5PvvAyEIDSCEhcPiwJts0HodgFHIPqYGKOHP546lTv4MsbQ32yO89Lx5NDFWItyAcl/s320/drawing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276391191527668690" border="0" /></a>At first I thought Joe had written it and I had a difficult time containing my laughter. But when Donna saw it she said, "This is Jack's book, I think he wrote it." Which made it a lot less funny because I'm not going to put up with him clowning on his brother over such a subject. So this morning I took Jack aside and asked, "Did you draw this?" He didn't get his usual guilty grin when he's been caught doing something he knows is wrong and simply replied, "yeah". I started to lecture him about making fun of his brother and hurting his feelings when he interrupted me and said, "Dad, I wasn't making fun of him, I was trying to help. How's he gonna learn if I don't help him?" My reply? "Touche, son."willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-1213803406871910452008-11-11T21:19:00.000-08:002008-11-12T13:16:46.033-08:00Thankful<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpGImCL14KPZlmLpYlcWpE1pRDbwirA8g4QV4sQO9ITO4W1wpXzD-x76S9bCfWMAXXaF0bfeQ8H4eRhE4Cqbt82wJYEU4FRjyIaA_7V3P2urJfPGIA4dWFH2tZafwoZGHlGEX/s1600-h/thankful.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpGImCL14KPZlmLpYlcWpE1pRDbwirA8g4QV4sQO9ITO4W1wpXzD-x76S9bCfWMAXXaF0bfeQ8H4eRhE4Cqbt82wJYEU4FRjyIaA_7V3P2urJfPGIA4dWFH2tZafwoZGHlGEX/s320/thankful.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267636608542488322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(clicky for biggerness)</span><br /></div>I realize this year has been very lean blog-wise. It's not that good, blogworthy stuff hasn't happened to me it's just that I've been busy. And anybody that blogs will tell you that lots of times you have to just be motivated to blog. Over the past year...<br /><ul><li>I watched my sons step onto the field at Dodger stadium, their image projected on the jumbotron, and heard the crowd go wild as they said, "It's time for Dodger baseball!"</li><li>I went snowmobiling in Mammoth with my family, Mema and Mike & Melissa.<br /></li><li>I went with Donna and the boys to visit Nana & Papa in Georgia where we were absolutely spoiled. </li><li>I watched, teary-eyed as my son was wheeled into a surgical room and then I sat for what seemed like an eternity and forced myself to not think what life would be like without him.<br /></li><li>I spent 5 days in Mammoth with Donna, Jack & Joe fishing, napping, hiking, laughing.</li><li>I walked with my sons to within 20 feet of a beautiful 5x5 buck.</li><li>I did a major overhaul of the bedrooms to give Joe his own Dodger room and Jack his own hunting room. </li><li>I took both boys with me to Arizona to shoot dove and we had the time of our lives.</li><li>I celebrated 12 years of being married to the only one I could ever love and the only one that could ever love me.<br /></li><li>I took a fishing trip with my old best buddy that I hadn't seen in 6 years.<br /></li><li>I went on my first ever duck hunting trip and actually enjoyed it, in spite of nearly drowning.<br /></li><li>I watched Joe take the field and strike out 3 straight batters on 11 pitches, come back the next inning and strike out 2 more on 7 straight pitches and then proceed to bean the next 3 batters loading the bases. And when his teammates gagged an easy force out to end the inning on the next batter I watched as he kept his cool and got his team out of the inning by striking out his next victim with 3 pitches. </li></ul>All that stuff happened and a whole bunch more. But what I had to share was this precious note from my son. It was totally unsolicited, I just happened to find it on my bed next to my pillow. And now here I sit feeling totally unworthy of the gift of being Daddy to two very special little boys and husband to an amazing wife and I find myself saying, "Lord, I am thankful for You are my Father."willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-53513698885900472572008-08-11T11:59:00.001-07:002008-08-11T12:00:55.510-07:00Full of hopes and dreams<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TKJLHrey_8AHvTDGATMVqkmwZUgHCBoFjC7nttlhaKBEFvGhZjAE1IJn1-geuLdlMBxJe586n9fktTA7cxHMdVKKSy2xMqB-80taJ4rLH4m4_A8RQA3V_TUIcWSx8lObfyMI/s1600-h/jack+at+the+lake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TKJLHrey_8AHvTDGATMVqkmwZUgHCBoFjC7nttlhaKBEFvGhZjAE1IJn1-geuLdlMBxJe586n9fktTA7cxHMdVKKSy2xMqB-80taJ4rLH4m4_A8RQA3V_TUIcWSx8lObfyMI/s320/jack+at+the+lake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233337004443446290" border="0" /></a>willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-57802057137864144542008-07-22T17:59:00.000-07:002008-07-22T18:45:08.917-07:002007 Part III, the wrap-upBy popular demand (Steve, you’re popular!)…<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here we go, the end of 2007.<span style=""> </span>I’m going to breeze through this relatively quickly because I have some neat stuff in 2008 to share and really, you’re probably not all that interested anyway.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So it was the beginning of October and we were invited by some good friends to join them at their cabin in Big Bear for the annual Troutfest.<span style=""> </span>Since their kids are home schooled they planned to stop at <a href="http://www.rileysfarm.com/">Riley Farms</a> in Oak Glen to take in the Revolutionary War Adventure.<span style=""> </span>They graciously invited us to accompany them.<span style=""> </span>When Donna first mentioned it to me I wasn’t all that wild about the idea but I figured “when in <st1:city><st1:place>Rome</st1:place></st1:city>” so I agreed.<span style=""> </span>I couldn’t have been happier that I decided as I did.<span style=""> </span>That was one of the neatest experiences I’ve ever had.<span style=""> </span>If you haven’t been I highly recommend it.<span style=""> </span>You WILL leave with a greater appreciation of your freedom and the price paid by others for it.<span style=""> </span>Some pics of the experience.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbYbDBSdJ5VEVCBe4UYELuLM0wRS_vA81A0RbepYr3kZPVH6e2wyF1b3ubSf6mCMWn4zl2XC9K1WtpdSbuf1XCK4AJKHmCbtWxfT7kp_Z7-6zGEq8C2LGAVifR56ji1_m2bAW/s1600-h/marching.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbYbDBSdJ5VEVCBe4UYELuLM0wRS_vA81A0RbepYr3kZPVH6e2wyF1b3ubSf6mCMWn4zl2XC9K1WtpdSbuf1XCK4AJKHmCbtWxfT7kp_Z7-6zGEq8C2LGAVifR56ji1_m2bAW/s320/marching.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226009162331447314" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’m thinking of building one of these in the backyard for extracurricular learnin’ by the young’uns when they misbehave.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3HZxOI3iUg4LkSi_n9DXxNW5k4yaBS3njYmm-sZr5rI8AZEWG3xgA0mo1j1ZReYVImyHitgGIwYgmIoMxs5SNnjhxqNATDMzW4bJGM_3yK33YAAsQBmTpr7hzGIFVeg4Zf6B/s1600-h/blocks1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3HZxOI3iUg4LkSi_n9DXxNW5k4yaBS3njYmm-sZr5rI8AZEWG3xgA0mo1j1ZReYVImyHitgGIwYgmIoMxs5SNnjhxqNATDMzW4bJGM_3yK33YAAsQBmTpr7hzGIFVeg4Zf6B/s320/blocks1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226009562203976466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-150qSC_xu1ifzPLjoaGeeUA1e57DIUS4FdV3GToKsMstBM0u_vutPpB26BC-uY5vRbriW-bW5ZteBjmT6-QCTJT4Do0uexFOyWF6mdGBjz-ixoUfUUL1rUfREvACC8lU7nZY/s1600-h/blocks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-150qSC_xu1ifzPLjoaGeeUA1e57DIUS4FdV3GToKsMstBM0u_vutPpB26BC-uY5vRbriW-bW5ZteBjmT6-QCTJT4Do0uexFOyWF6mdGBjz-ixoUfUUL1rUfREvACC8lU7nZY/s320/blocks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226009462627076322" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">This guy was amazing, never breaking from character the entire time we were there.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8Ns9jVtFWMipQQpXDHG4-_rv9IPBVg5HzNbNabycBIS7Zonvh1fMYm8IjeNbDMd07T6guufOHit0yfeoiHi8-hhOarrJNzrqHYuo2TXza_qzj813mOLcuPjxSlQmrj4yvUjb/s1600-h/redcoat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8Ns9jVtFWMipQQpXDHG4-_rv9IPBVg5HzNbNabycBIS7Zonvh1fMYm8IjeNbDMd07T6guufOHit0yfeoiHi8-hhOarrJNzrqHYuo2TXza_qzj813mOLcuPjxSlQmrj4yvUjb/s320/redcoat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226009761340751378" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This man is the owner/operator.<span style=""> </span>He clearly sees this as more than a job, he sees it as a calling. Amazing man.<br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1XwaaJy7mDzAkgksNYqb1xnjFtr0wgVXmdkctcrgbcdw7yeU7Fk862LN9K90KUxCtK_F-8BKR9qKP8wFHw13tWV1Hs8NSdSRndMO1_BZyhRUIILDfDbtZNgGzwpxDe5wQR6l/s1600-h/colonist.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1XwaaJy7mDzAkgksNYqb1xnjFtr0wgVXmdkctcrgbcdw7yeU7Fk862LN9K90KUxCtK_F-8BKR9qKP8wFHw13tWV1Hs8NSdSRndMO1_BZyhRUIILDfDbtZNgGzwpxDe5wQR6l/s320/colonist.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226009659062786322" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After our Revolutionary adventure we drove up to Big Bear.<span style=""> </span>It was COLD.<span style=""> </span>The wind was blowing and big, dark clouds came in.<span style=""> </span>By <st1:time minute="0" hour="17">5:00</st1:time> it was snowing.<span style=""> </span>I’d like to remind you that this was the beginning of October.<span style=""> </span>And since it was the beginning of October and we were in <st1:state><st1:place>California</st1:place></st1:state> we were not prepared for snow. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The next morning we rose early and got to the dock and boarded our iceberg, er… ice-covered pontoon boat.<span style=""> </span>Did I mention it was cold?<span style=""> </span>The clouds had moved out and left sparkling clear skies in their wake but it was still blisteringly cold.<span style=""> </span>We cruised to the west end and anchored up.<span style=""> </span>Notice the “smoke on the water” in the background. And the red noses in the foreground.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVU4mHKJd8BBqhr6SXZ1gp3v_WabRcdQ3jP6gTrm1pgmkIo82P5xGCZC8DhCqxasslymTp_3sqKL5_nUZKNUWx0dVTvFNUrXHpIeicg2vLRhdPc6l_xkfoCqPQRpoVHLLrzrb/s1600-h/IMG_6286.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVU4mHKJd8BBqhr6SXZ1gp3v_WabRcdQ3jP6gTrm1pgmkIo82P5xGCZC8DhCqxasslymTp_3sqKL5_nUZKNUWx0dVTvFNUrXHpIeicg2vLRhdPc6l_xkfoCqPQRpoVHLLrzrb/s320/IMG_6286.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226010943663442130" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">After an hour or so we had no suspects in custody so we tried another spot.<span style=""> </span>Jack drew first blood for the men.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinB_G8kESeEr4XSyX1CQuoDD4g5tIsRF_2wHurcrmM2FWvMdERUnNTixroDJb0_4x6uLS4ojDDJePYcrle7x7hOXjbAIwr4kmo8T1FyduyWGYz45hyphenhyphenK06gnp4mt1r1pXc1WccQ/s1600-h/IMG_6301.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinB_G8kESeEr4XSyX1CQuoDD4g5tIsRF_2wHurcrmM2FWvMdERUnNTixroDJb0_4x6uLS4ojDDJePYcrle7x7hOXjbAIwr4kmo8T1FyduyWGYz45hyphenhyphenK06gnp4mt1r1pXc1WccQ/s320/IMG_6301.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226011052404072082" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The ladies weren’t far behind.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oNQx9QzsBzjJN8k2aKEV2-R39B7Z7xZqFu0PqHpBwpza31b_fBLAUluSy7-truSaBbghwMtWymIPKVo8K1Le9AqxotcFeJBALRaBctbE3JjN3VtPNarjILcZDaFg1QwKRpaq/s1600-h/IMG_6302.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oNQx9QzsBzjJN8k2aKEV2-R39B7Z7xZqFu0PqHpBwpza31b_fBLAUluSy7-truSaBbghwMtWymIPKVo8K1Le9AqxotcFeJBALRaBctbE3JjN3VtPNarjILcZDaFg1QwKRpaq/s320/IMG_6302.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226011212762500978" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Awhile later Pat landed a real hawg but I didn’t get any pictures.<span style=""> </span>Sorry Pat, I’m a loser.<span style=""> </span>After a little more time Jack caught another, Joe got one, I caught a little dink and then we called it a day.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Day number two was fairly uneventful fishing-wise but we did pretty good at the raffle.<span style=""> </span>Jack and Joe both won kid tackle boxes with fishing goodies inside.<span style=""> </span>I won a tackle box (with goodies inside) and a subscription to Western Outdoor News.<span style=""> </span>I was especially happy about the WON subscription.<span style=""> </span>I love to read that thing but I’m just too cheap to spring for a subscription to it (it’s like 40 bucks a year!).<span style=""> </span>Knowing how much I loved it, <a href="http://willhuntforfood.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html">Sally</a> always got a subscription for me for Christmas.<span style=""> </span>When I opened the envelope and saw the certificate I said to Donna, “Sally’s up in heaven pulling strings for me.”<span style=""> </span>I miss that lady. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">October brought Halloween:</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-Rj9n4DKBQ13jSQiZfkEE0SP1C14y2bSrWVkQiuCzapHhUfQnJ0QtZ9I7QAEVuKeVBqPR8yoOC0lXl35mknwdTAJ3AHX42X_AB3jLfsS9Axm5fVF4Hxr3NU7o8sy0PSzfKN_/s1600-h/halloween.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-Rj9n4DKBQ13jSQiZfkEE0SP1C14y2bSrWVkQiuCzapHhUfQnJ0QtZ9I7QAEVuKeVBqPR8yoOC0lXl35mknwdTAJ3AHX42X_AB3jLfsS9Axm5fVF4Hxr3NU7o8sy0PSzfKN_/s320/halloween.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226011754461959410" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">November brought a new roof.<span style=""> </span>American Cemwood, a POX on your house! Hey, wanna see what 20 grand looks like?</p>Before:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKhs9NQgMA5_MQ61D2oiOJw3PfpfSJxYOIpQIElcrUU1hJGZ0XDj5L6L6AC2UNeXEJyVv2-C_22PhioC_rj92usnoHAil11aRxrkcHt2ohudRd7fzyly8Zw2hEvhwn38RvRa9/s1600-h/before.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKhs9NQgMA5_MQ61D2oiOJw3PfpfSJxYOIpQIElcrUU1hJGZ0XDj5L6L6AC2UNeXEJyVv2-C_22PhioC_rj92usnoHAil11aRxrkcHt2ohudRd7fzyly8Zw2hEvhwn38RvRa9/s320/before.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226012006404927778" border="0" /></a>After:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTu3pOhx6Rq8tC0SthzUtI4OZEzcnf5U8L4SDPZ1SJPCekgixUtnsIuOiIGp4P0WCMhtjk_U0NSl1B2rjHSD1JV3x76tTLcQ7KR5G1JJXz2dje98qZDqnqqA56fmM1krWQVoz6/s1600-h/after.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTu3pOhx6Rq8tC0SthzUtI4OZEzcnf5U8L4SDPZ1SJPCekgixUtnsIuOiIGp4P0WCMhtjk_U0NSl1B2rjHSD1JV3x76tTLcQ7KR5G1JJXz2dje98qZDqnqqA56fmM1krWQVoz6/s320/after.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226012116456454338" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Not too impressive, is it?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">December brought a day pheasant hunting with the boys and Cabela.<span style=""> </span>Cabela has had no formal training but that dog has the skillz.<span style=""> </span>She locked onto an area and wouldn’t leave it, no matter how much I hollered at her.<span style=""> </span>Suddenly she zeroed onto a scrub bush that the boys and I had walked right by several times.<span style=""> </span>She started digging at it and out popped big rooster.<span style=""> </span>I let it get a bit out and dumped it.<span style=""> </span>She was on it before it even hit the ground and brought it back to me.<span style=""> </span>Good dog! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Z_fUJY9iwzWTKgg3Tio5fAZsVYOwKS81ADynRkbhMZ3L9fg4wBWtwwZ_wuhZ-XqGX0A9X-MM5YpUjd9p3kcyrwUPMTSSZJ_Fluhaz0__K-7ATF_oOWFvaBPsRlUx4VztvDsO/s1600-h/Jack+and+Joe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Z_fUJY9iwzWTKgg3Tio5fAZsVYOwKS81ADynRkbhMZ3L9fg4wBWtwwZ_wuhZ-XqGX0A9X-MM5YpUjd9p3kcyrwUPMTSSZJ_Fluhaz0__K-7ATF_oOWFvaBPsRlUx4VztvDsO/s320/Jack+and+Joe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226012562676237586" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPbKWDPmNCle2i2Aljp4zncyESrnLNPHSmg8dCjvaTlnroFtBTJgMmhTzg_M4pbstgJ14IdI80n14h7M2waKTFSax4xyIL8erbIlegZw7WK7NQXOCn4WbNJfL_DXQI-SdGgyB/s1600-h/jack+and+cabela.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPbKWDPmNCle2i2Aljp4zncyESrnLNPHSmg8dCjvaTlnroFtBTJgMmhTzg_M4pbstgJ14IdI80n14h7M2waKTFSax4xyIL8erbIlegZw7WK7NQXOCn4WbNJfL_DXQI-SdGgyB/s320/jack+and+cabela.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226012666676550242" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">Later that day Donna & I went to drop the boys at my mom’s house.<span style=""> </span>The plan was for us to meet some friends for a date night out.<span style=""> </span>But when I walked into the house… surprise!<span style=""> </span>Donna and my mom had put together a surprise party for my 40<sup>th</sup> birthday.<span style=""> </span>It’s a little bit creepy walking into a house with a bunch of your friends and family (unexpectedly) standing there yelling something at you.<span style=""> </span>My first thought – “Is this an intervention?<span style=""> </span>I’ll go on a diet, I promise.”<span style=""> </span>It was a great party and some friends that I hadn’t seen in a long time (even since high school) made it.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeZP-3pjB2WXnj4fXeQfZv2LbrnJ3pqjcLL8VP2bLb3ljemah_ML0tbQAlyjMpHkF2hS6l2vRlcMSHRMptrHxOgSO-aB4EiYvyxK_lZYkglNKBvMbhXFMXjYGeoSVF9AigXAn/s1600-h/party1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeZP-3pjB2WXnj4fXeQfZv2LbrnJ3pqjcLL8VP2bLb3ljemah_ML0tbQAlyjMpHkF2hS6l2vRlcMSHRMptrHxOgSO-aB4EiYvyxK_lZYkglNKBvMbhXFMXjYGeoSVF9AigXAn/s320/party1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226012944034058754" border="0" /></a>Party people<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qpKj5ynq_nsKQDHcjXGdM7zjrvChpXGA-guLobOzrG7t9d6hmUEjHr5rQphtP6qvgtIDAq0FDTyKWNJ5xi1h8BUGc4gwQJS3ehjqevQcD6TfcPyx0v9_WYkE4Q6qpO-n9L-x/s1600-h/party+people.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qpKj5ynq_nsKQDHcjXGdM7zjrvChpXGA-guLobOzrG7t9d6hmUEjHr5rQphtP6qvgtIDAq0FDTyKWNJ5xi1h8BUGc4gwQJS3ehjqevQcD6TfcPyx0v9_WYkE4Q6qpO-n9L-x/s320/party+people.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226013027485692722" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Check out this cake - shotguns & rifles to spell out my name. Awesome.<br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnw0zK8KO6tDYbgJYUx04adq9a7EEw-g26O5Ylxxwcc8ggDZ46gRBBVyTXB5kt81M32UdmzyR1U3CLlLqEkRQe9LbXnG1fC7F53mvuxEVwJACV-Tayq52_ZiHl_4StHHObaaRv/s1600-h/cake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnw0zK8KO6tDYbgJYUx04adq9a7EEw-g26O5Ylxxwcc8ggDZ46gRBBVyTXB5kt81M32UdmzyR1U3CLlLqEkRQe9LbXnG1fC7F53mvuxEVwJACV-Tayq52_ZiHl_4StHHObaaRv/s320/cake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226014320417335010" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">Later that month, as most red-blooded Americans do, we got ready to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. This includes spending a small fortune on a tree that barely fits inside our house. Yowzer, this year's was a big'un.<img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1FpqhZw3KewS7B2qTUopJEFUqHTweH4sW9ixF6nxATHf-dO9WWHlpfBAqxRPcfAn8vyXcki0uJl4AkaUHiAqgwXrXAwsJsh5wIsyOOwmmylOAIr6yMYWLxDwImY-wECuYsti/s320/dec0.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226013629409075778" border="0" /></p><p class="MsoNormal">You know, I've gotten a lot of great presents over the years but He is by far the best present I’ve ever gotten.<span style=""> </span>Here’s a few pics from His party.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rl37ptHdmc0FAdeTk7nvtZ9she0sxYOfsrOv6CuVNG9HYt-_ztXUJa8T-wTzo48BxnKQN00RlFFB2Wj9edWOZns1uKPMaT9ygsB0etVT5b1T1REq6DGWv9bYRPhnSOTHEf8r/s1600-h/Christmas1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rl37ptHdmc0FAdeTk7nvtZ9she0sxYOfsrOv6CuVNG9HYt-_ztXUJa8T-wTzo48BxnKQN00RlFFB2Wj9edWOZns1uKPMaT9ygsB0etVT5b1T1REq6DGWv9bYRPhnSOTHEf8r/s320/Christmas1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226016069196439154" border="0" /></a></p>Granny doin' her thing.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5mhMDh6koCtDRDQqY1zbnp82RmkofMSxR4hqd-VgKKR3maj00Ku_yxTNiOsUQTgIP669wqP2llpTJk67tTj6zvTHlLdZmLh_wBFhBG1dFMxn0vV6nSpdYY0ka8dEpiyhCkD0/s1600-h/Christmas2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5mhMDh6koCtDRDQqY1zbnp82RmkofMSxR4hqd-VgKKR3maj00Ku_yxTNiOsUQTgIP669wqP2llpTJk67tTj6zvTHlLdZmLh_wBFhBG1dFMxn0vV6nSpdYY0ka8dEpiyhCkD0/s320/Christmas2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226016142863274690" border="0" /></a>My favorite Little Gal with her new dolly.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfa4qqqbHBvUyg3nKLwFYN7mqZs_twJZvN4urdAU2pxxyCGC-Ve1vJCT6D6keu-jh2kJGLmr06deu-84MDnvNXul2j8xC8cZ2-1v2W0amyvssGZfhE_RuNJph6FfrWpdsr3-G/s1600-h/Christmas3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfa4qqqbHBvUyg3nKLwFYN7mqZs_twJZvN4urdAU2pxxyCGC-Ve1vJCT6D6keu-jh2kJGLmr06deu-84MDnvNXul2j8xC8cZ2-1v2W0amyvssGZfhE_RuNJph6FfrWpdsr3-G/s320/Christmas3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226016314821287106" border="0" /></a>Jack & Joe with their first real noisemaker.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwAiQ1BH1cyrdRyrYAFXCRDqhG8BdDYat1U0tQWBr1jS11pbow0MK8CuOiuzOMVOptegxz1cJ4nLrsOqRrHq0-GX_yGhTeQDtrKadEumswKtXo7VyJL24pv54k-LpdlKb78HG/s1600-h/Christmas4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwAiQ1BH1cyrdRyrYAFXCRDqhG8BdDYat1U0tQWBr1jS11pbow0MK8CuOiuzOMVOptegxz1cJ4nLrsOqRrHq0-GX_yGhTeQDtrKadEumswKtXo7VyJL24pv54k-LpdlKb78HG/s320/Christmas4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226016396115379714" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">A week or so later we rocked in the New Year by going to Kiko’s house and feeding our tapeworms.<span style=""> </span>I actually don’t think we rocked in the new year.<span style=""> </span>If I recall correctly, we snored it in because, well, I’m 40 now and I’m old.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Stay tuned for some great stuff in 2008.</p>willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-57224592462562262732008-06-24T14:29:00.001-07:002008-06-24T14:32:38.938-07:00You should be so lucky.I haven’t blogged in awhile even though there has been plenty of neat stuff to share.<span style=""> </span>I plan to get caught up in the next couple weeks. <span style=""> </span>But in the meantime I had to share this special moment… <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Yesterday was the first official day of summer, at least as far as the boys are concerned.<span style=""> </span>No school for three months!<span style=""> </span>After climbing out of bed yesterday morning Donna made her way down the hall to the kitchen.<span style=""> </span>She was turned back by Jack who told her, “We’re bringing you breakfast, go back to bed.”<span style=""> </span>Since we’ve been out of town for a week and the cupboards are pretty bare we waited nervously, wondering what was in store for us.<span style=""> </span>Watermelon with relish?<span style=""> </span>Cornflakes with ranch dressing?<span style=""> </span>It turned out to be pretty darn good.<span style=""> </span>Juice, cereal and toast (in massive quantities).<span style=""> </span>To see them walk into our room carrying a tray full of their labors, smiling ear to ear was a wonderful gift.<span style=""> </span>After handing a tray to me Jack raced to the kitchen and returned with a “bouquet of flowers”.<span style=""> </span>See the picture below.<span style=""> </span>Picked fresh from our backyard.<span style=""> </span>And yes, that’s a tomato in there.<span style=""> </span>I love my boys.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8MbZk21toK4iy6yJgIcPRtcbRadZT0ToksqM_PGbvH1HJ3k4LMfLsJJmJHMzH3PY_By7hMeZu0kYKKWXLm1Ci8oNSxfg2ZJY28WbXCIZRpxTFOGw8B0rQzzxH_jhWh-di0k2/s1600-h/IMG_9260.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8MbZk21toK4iy6yJgIcPRtcbRadZT0ToksqM_PGbvH1HJ3k4LMfLsJJmJHMzH3PY_By7hMeZu0kYKKWXLm1Ci8oNSxfg2ZJY28WbXCIZRpxTFOGw8B0rQzzxH_jhWh-di0k2/s320/IMG_9260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215563564607245570" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-30670296669806196332008-04-08T16:15:00.001-07:002008-04-08T16:20:06.032-07:00Is there an end to this week? This day?Is it just me or is this the longest day in the history of mankind? And then, as an added knee to the nutz I just realized that it's only Tuesday, not Wednesday. Like a highway in the desert this seems to drag on forever and ever and ever.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45Xsc0MXBS-BHCknQS1uj0sy23iTcQRNmC-ebZY3BmHH_Wt0oGO5r35acL082KLRjRSFfN9e7hZ5VQwzUr94UKR89pBnPZS1mmqN8z48Xt7uu5Pcpf0Z8mrlXSJISWvTfD4s4/s1600-h/endless.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45Xsc0MXBS-BHCknQS1uj0sy23iTcQRNmC-ebZY3BmHH_Wt0oGO5r35acL082KLRjRSFfN9e7hZ5VQwzUr94UKR89pBnPZS1mmqN8z48Xt7uu5Pcpf0Z8mrlXSJISWvTfD4s4/s320/endless.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187017298322240418" border="0" /></a><br />I just have to keep reminding myself I have this to look forward to...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfodg_2oprUWruvJ9dTkm-YRY4rGUirtsIBc_gY4tBAzL6ZWg7oD-OKJWP6lkW4gtCqmzS-3cIMCvnzcu7Lwxm-VoRYPhK3p55CLKJ2MoXTyuS4U2fgpznDtQp0k3fi38Af3gN/s1600-h/Joe+Dodgers.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfodg_2oprUWruvJ9dTkm-YRY4rGUirtsIBc_gY4tBAzL6ZWg7oD-OKJWP6lkW4gtCqmzS-3cIMCvnzcu7Lwxm-VoRYPhK3p55CLKJ2MoXTyuS4U2fgpznDtQp0k3fi38Af3gN/s320/Joe+Dodgers.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187017508775637938" border="0" /></a>willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-40723972718661494002008-03-22T12:21:00.001-07:002008-03-22T12:22:50.430-07:00He is risen!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVErDR_bJz19Sa1U2ZmdA81pf3WBjYRGwCTKDn_IQgUO3omwuGlSS9CXF7_UUe9E2J24MdL2LuBZotKL0br4y3goTwrQ4IX8O_GNiXMb4mDxj3Lej_bAcNjkOENCQrkGn-Lhy/s1600-h/Son+rise.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVErDR_bJz19Sa1U2ZmdA81pf3WBjYRGwCTKDn_IQgUO3omwuGlSS9CXF7_UUe9E2J24MdL2LuBZotKL0br4y3goTwrQ4IX8O_GNiXMb4mDxj3Lej_bAcNjkOENCQrkGn-Lhy/s320/Son+rise.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180648506067366802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";">You are more than what we can sing </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> You are God and nothing we bring </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Is fit for a King </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> So, search us and know deep in our souls </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> We praise You </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> You are infinite worth </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> When we’ve not the words </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Our hearts will sing </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> We are here on the earth </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> And somehow we ‘re heard </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> When our hearts sing to You </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> You are more than words on our lips </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> We are poor, with nothing to give </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> But, we want to bring </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> More than the song we sing to praise You, we praise You </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> You are infinite worth </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> When we’ve not the words </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Our hearts will sing </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> We are here on the earth </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> And somehow we ‘re heard </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> When our hearts sing to You </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> It’s You we engage </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> It’s You we embrace </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> When our hearts sing </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> You are infinite worth </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> When we’ve not the words </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Our hearts will sing </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> We are here on the earth </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> And somehow we ‘re heard </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> When our hearts sing to You </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <!--[endif]--></span><br /></div>willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-59383961991219435462008-02-29T11:03:00.000-08:002008-02-29T17:35:29.089-08:00I didn't write this but I could have...A couple was lying in bed one evening, when the misses felt her husband begin to fondle her in ways he hadn't in quite some time.<br /><br />It almost tickled as his fingers started at her neck, and then began moving down past the small of her back.<br /><br />He then caressed her shoulders and neck, slowly worked his hand down over her breasts, stopping just over her lower stomach.<br /><br />He then proceeded to place his hand on her left inner arm, caressed past the side of her breast again, working down her side, passed gently over her buttock and down her leg to her calf.<br /><br />Then, he proceeded up her inner thigh, stopping just at the uppermost portion of her leg.<br /><br />He continued in the same manner on her right side, then suddenly stopped, rolled over and became silent.<br /><br />As she had become quite aroused by this caressing, she asked in a loving voice, "Honey, that was wonderful. Why did you stop?"<br /><br />"I found the remote," he mumbled.willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-13853625188233604182008-02-26T22:08:00.000-08:002008-02-26T23:48:29.605-08:002007, Installment IIHere’s installment II and it’s not as soon as I’d hoped but I’ve been busy so don’t gimme a hard time. Since we returned from our roadtrip early we decided to hit the beach for a day.<span style=""> </span>After nearly 3 weeks of 100+ degree heat it was a little bit of heaven to sit on the shore in 75 degree weather with an ocean breeze in our faces.<span style=""> </span>I napped, the boys played in the surf, Donna read a magazine.<span style=""> </span>Sweet.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrsZuClVCao_nTvrBxM8ioZhEcWigk2rBihyyhYL3GZMPgBLzxtpQnFdylZ_OLpzXGguJL9ApqXRlxq7kQ_3MF8gbwjxiUNwyre-h73b9vRmLTQ3wsSE76r7InvJgcps_NZhF/s1600-h/IMG_5805.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrsZuClVCao_nTvrBxM8ioZhEcWigk2rBihyyhYL3GZMPgBLzxtpQnFdylZ_OLpzXGguJL9ApqXRlxq7kQ_3MF8gbwjxiUNwyre-h73b9vRmLTQ3wsSE76r7InvJgcps_NZhF/s320/IMG_5805.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171538731589853570" border="0" /></a>A family visiting from Kansas had laid their blanket out next to us and the lady kept trying to make small talk with me while a couple of their kids played in the water.<span style=""> </span>I don’t really like people in general and I really don’t like small talk with people I don't know, even when I’m not trying to nap.<span style=""> </span>I was wracking my brain for a way to distract her so I could move to the other side of Donna and get back to nappin’.<span style=""> </span>As the woman droned on about their long drive to <st1:state><st1:place>California</st1:place></st1:state> I was thinking of a painless way to kill myself (gnaw through my wrists?) when I noticed a school of dolphins had come close to the shore.<span style=""> </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMj6aDVV56gI09yzTkgBevjWU7GB128A6EHOpvN6MVoOhcxL8v85-3yBPNQyS3ChwXGdLkyGV2nVHh5iJTbikX3fbK0IwvSAF7kMUanjl2NzxedP0_MBKFEpVc7Bv4tUVmKFC/s1600-h/IMG_5797.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMj6aDVV56gI09yzTkgBevjWU7GB128A6EHOpvN6MVoOhcxL8v85-3yBPNQyS3ChwXGdLkyGV2nVHh5iJTbikX3fbK0IwvSAF7kMUanjl2NzxedP0_MBKFEpVc7Bv4tUVmKFC/s320/IMG_5797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171539002172793234" border="0" /></a>I seized this golden opportunity and began shrieking, “Sharks! Sharks! They’re in close!<span style=""> </span>Run!<span style=""> </span>Save your kids while you can!<span style=""> </span>Hurry! They’ll be eaten for sure!<span style=""> </span>Do something!”<span style=""> </span>The woman and her husband jumped to their feet and raced to the water, dragging their kids to the safety of the shore while I made my move to the safety of the other side of Donna, where sweet slumber awaited me.<span style=""><br /><br />Next came VBS week and that was fun but it was a lot of work and we were tired so </span>the following weekend we hooked up the pop-up trailer and met Mike & Melissa up at Emma Wood for a couple nights of beach camping.<span style=""> </span>It’s not really an ideal camping spot for the boys because it’s too rocky for their tastes but there’s something about going to sleep to the sound of crashing waves. Mike & Melissa<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSnaMkiSdb7JXAVFX3GQPnLu1oll0_rBigesSFlNwNKFKFZ13GgNYchQlfjT9B1N6y9OsslmALm2tdNFgzdeQ9msf4hkAXJcOlgUJJwnWu5Ro9DniahRJzCoURywLA9AOO2R5/s1600-h/aIMG_4778.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSnaMkiSdb7JXAVFX3GQPnLu1oll0_rBigesSFlNwNKFKFZ13GgNYchQlfjT9B1N6y9OsslmALm2tdNFgzdeQ9msf4hkAXJcOlgUJJwnWu5Ro9DniahRJzCoURywLA9AOO2R5/s320/aIMG_4778.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171540234828407218" border="0" /></a><span style=""><br />Here's me with my favorite little gal in the whole world, enjoying the morning on the beach.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolgGZK-2uPuPRYdD-1yCSYx2yXd8Q5FQJDg-htiX2LBV4sCzj1Wdf6SNeWwBhWN42Z-wqe_Pc4C4XBA8eNiIJvrQjAwhDByJpe2-rW7t8WKGmo_XuooQZetQbcGNwfy_4n_TY/s1600-h/aIMG_4814.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolgGZK-2uPuPRYdD-1yCSYx2yXd8Q5FQJDg-htiX2LBV4sCzj1Wdf6SNeWwBhWN42Z-wqe_Pc4C4XBA8eNiIJvrQjAwhDByJpe2-rW7t8WKGmo_XuooQZetQbcGNwfy_4n_TY/s320/aIMG_4814.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171540140339126690" border="0" /></a>At the beginning of August I set out on the annual “guys only” fishing trip to Mammoth.<span style=""> </span>In the past a slew of guys went and it was a blast.<span style=""> </span>This year the usual suspects fagged out for one reason or another – work, lack of work, mommy wouldn’t let them, whatever.<span style=""> </span>So it was just me and Dean this year.<span style=""> </span>I have to say, outside of the year Jason went I think this was the most fun trip in the 6 years of the trip’s history.<span style=""> </span>There was zero pressure to do anything, I didn’t hassle planning a menu & grocery shopping (we just bought food in town), there was plenty of room to sleep and plenty of room to fish.<span style=""> </span>And Dean is just an easygoing guy.<span style=""> </span>The fishing was excellent, I scored limits both days.<span style=""> </span>We slept in till <st1:time hour="10" minute="0">10:00</st1:time> each morning, we took naps, had great conversation around the campfire, I spent time in the Word.<span style=""> </span>It was just incredibly recharging.<span style=""> </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9EtLxJPHCzqTaxxE9visS-YvcLCvCnJ8fPUyovGgOJsJlkPVXz1fLlbqwto-EsTDAy4E18B7RhpgaSXpXUcz3Gu9v1BSaWwJ23UEjDa0sBgXcWHJsgKx7mIJ6Gcn187Ybdu2/s1600-h/tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9EtLxJPHCzqTaxxE9visS-YvcLCvCnJ8fPUyovGgOJsJlkPVXz1fLlbqwto-EsTDAy4E18B7RhpgaSXpXUcz3Gu9v1BSaWwJ23UEjDa0sBgXcWHJsgKx7mIJ6Gcn187Ybdu2/s320/tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171542755974210018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZc643lkHT_9_DYCNxHHJDSXoSKVWStWpb5uvoPlj3EjmC-1TVp5AEdjto0eGlp5pbZGL2DpY7JkGMMVlGbM6EQIHpdTiwYBry3xnTI0C5N1oUUwyc6CV3cM_ZPyag9yMWCeZ/s1600-h/lake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZc643lkHT_9_DYCNxHHJDSXoSKVWStWpb5uvoPlj3EjmC-1TVp5AEdjto0eGlp5pbZGL2DpY7JkGMMVlGbM6EQIHpdTiwYBry3xnTI0C5N1oUUwyc6CV3cM_ZPyag9yMWCeZ/s320/lake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171542648600027602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN08-4mKx9f3woxIKTvrgcGmUBFSFBu3KAlUio0gN1H9ESe0rjXVn-X30SWP0ffudhLzhYr9y0NWLRvKgv1N15x2TAVMDSPLvE0AbEuAw3byRV9QmnvSXNYfs_XMXmE-8FW9Fo/s1600-h/Fishing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN08-4mKx9f3woxIKTvrgcGmUBFSFBu3KAlUio0gN1H9ESe0rjXVn-X30SWP0ffudhLzhYr9y0NWLRvKgv1N15x2TAVMDSPLvE0AbEuAw3byRV9QmnvSXNYfs_XMXmE-8FW9Fo/s320/Fishing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171542545520812482" border="0" /></a>At the end of August school kicked off yet again.<span style=""> </span>First grade, these boys are growing like weeds.<span style=""> </span>Time really flies.<span style=""> </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKwXTx8ICT2HaM9DcSgKgEVQIvACb2FsjtJ9mfgoyW0uJArhXB2QDsHQfubJVvm0CyDwnwDt8xbAVFgZexr41OfXyasTWZVoBmWfjMeGYH3VdzVFf3E1t3oh-OVgBdtjJ8WQF/s1600-h/IMG_6020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKwXTx8ICT2HaM9DcSgKgEVQIvACb2FsjtJ9mfgoyW0uJArhXB2QDsHQfubJVvm0CyDwnwDt8xbAVFgZexr41OfXyasTWZVoBmWfjMeGYH3VdzVFf3E1t3oh-OVgBdtjJ8WQF/s320/IMG_6020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171543572017996274" border="0" /></a>This year Donna was asked to serve as the vice president of the PTF.<span style=""> </span>She’s incredibly gifted in this area so she took the position.<span style=""> </span>And it’s a pain in the neck sometimes but on the upside I get to call her “The VP” and I’m technically “Mr. Vice President”.<span style=""> </span>Which is nice.<span style=""><br /></span> <p class="MsoNormal">At the end of the first week of school Jack and I traveled to <st1:state><st1:place>Arizona</st1:place></st1:state> for the dove opener (as usual).<span style=""> </span>The heat was oppressive which translated to excellent hunting.<span style=""> </span>We got down there early and scouted our spot.<span style=""> </span>It was a great spot, there were a TON of birds in the area.<span style=""> </span>So the next morning we rose extra early and raced to the area.<span style=""> </span>We parked the truck and looked at the clock.<span style=""> </span>It read something ridiculous like <st1:time hour="15" minute="50">3:30</st1:time> in the morning. Take a close look at that clock. <span style=""><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sntYwafgUd3PBQs02QCz4o_i_46Hzbfz7lIzev_zDmzc67PvTqAiyf30f-qqliJvm6Etl7AA0sDs-1_jDH01DVuF4FXJGsqjWPX7JusyZgmWsyKRSVlhpNiMwjZS87gEcXD4/s1600-h/Hunting-6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sntYwafgUd3PBQs02QCz4o_i_46Hzbfz7lIzev_zDmzc67PvTqAiyf30f-qqliJvm6Etl7AA0sDs-1_jDH01DVuF4FXJGsqjWPX7JusyZgmWsyKRSVlhpNiMwjZS87gEcXD4/s320/Hunting-6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171556413970211330" border="0" /></a>So we sat in the truck running the air conditioning and guarded our spot, prepared to jump out and defend it with extreme prejudice if necessary.<span style=""> </span>Turns out it wasn’t necessary, we didn’t see another soul the whole time.<span style=""> </span>The shooting was fast and furious, we were dumping birds left and right.<span style=""> </span>The Eurasian Collared doves were in abundance so we knocked down a total of 10 birds before succumbing to the heat.<span style=""> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSXsZ84bGtYKpRmLKFVBOQDzFE0gLhR2vKJqk5HzWaKJSjhS0M93O4rAs6GZvxZrgvuXuaH3H_xlP2SEp-ih2ZUHnOq97UBmYNQVYHj0POTRVlxp3tj4ahXP6j4mtJgAm0rtN/s1600-h/Hunting-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSXsZ84bGtYKpRmLKFVBOQDzFE0gLhR2vKJqk5HzWaKJSjhS0M93O4rAs6GZvxZrgvuXuaH3H_xlP2SEp-ih2ZUHnOq97UBmYNQVYHj0POTRVlxp3tj4ahXP6j4mtJgAm0rtN/s320/Hunting-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171556478394720786" border="0" /></a><span style=""><br /></span>We retreated to the air conditioned sanctuary of the Super 8 for showers, naps, and pay-per-view movies.<span style=""> </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCoSvjgRgDKlJWUz8OqMKk_2pQn_mcdWRx94Ro9TeLopyHE4DC7lAiOwTm8zB04N-WmVcJrFxUO-OoyD3rIup_2i7LyF4Yc8e3S0RxXRzriX5x2PmlbRgndYsSKvaH1WhKk4V/s1600-h/Hunting-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCoSvjgRgDKlJWUz8OqMKk_2pQn_mcdWRx94Ro9TeLopyHE4DC7lAiOwTm8zB04N-WmVcJrFxUO-OoyD3rIup_2i7LyF4Yc8e3S0RxXRzriX5x2PmlbRgndYsSKvaH1WhKk4V/s320/Hunting-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171556753272627778" border="0" /></a>I took this picture because it just reminded me how he's my little boy... and I know someday he'll think I'm a dummy but right now he wants to do everything like me, right down to lining up his boots the same as mine. I wish I was half the man he thinks I am. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiW7CMGWsXGbfCllu2SDQIocOUenIJdWsjPMFSTt6um3jWf-6Sq0wbf90jlpbAfP2FYiNHRe8BbYzbimE3PRy5Efpe9rZJNzqUt8SvumV658YhYY5QOvYgamTNC0gU_xTVCZA5/s1600-h/Hunting-4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiW7CMGWsXGbfCllu2SDQIocOUenIJdWsjPMFSTt6um3jWf-6Sq0wbf90jlpbAfP2FYiNHRe8BbYzbimE3PRy5Efpe9rZJNzqUt8SvumV658YhYY5QOvYgamTNC0gU_xTVCZA5/s320/Hunting-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171556611538706994" border="0" /></a>Around <st1:time hour="15" minute="0">3:00</st1:time> Jack began prodding me, “Daddy, c’mon!!<span style=""> </span>Let’s go hunting!!”<span style=""> </span>I tried to tell him it was too early and too hot but he wouldn’t budge so we got dressed and went down to the truck.<span style=""> </span>I can’t really explain how bloody hot it was.<span style=""> </span>I have an outdoor thermometer on my truck that has a max reading of 122 degrees and the thing was pegged.<span style=""> </span>As we drove through town I was looking for any excuse to delay so we pulled into Dairy Queen and I bought him an ice cream cone.<span style=""> </span>I was pleased to see him take his time with it.<span style=""> </span>But eventually he was done and we were forced to brave the heat.<span style=""> </span>After a short drive we arrived at an alfalfa field where we’d had good luck in the past.<span style=""> </span>We took our position along an irrigation canal and waited.<span style=""> </span>As I had anticipated we were too early and it was too hot.<span style=""> </span>I don’t recall ever being so hot in all my life.<span style=""> </span>I was pouring ice water over both our heads and it wasn’t doing a thing.<span style=""> </span>Now Jack is a die-hard hunter and he’s not going to complain about anything but I could look at him and tell he was miserable.<span style=""> </span>When he said, “It sure is hot, isn’t it Daddy?” I knew he was struggling so I said, “Yeah, let’s get out of here.”<span style=""> </span>It was obviously the right choice because he didn’t protest one word.<span style=""> </span>We got into the truck and cooled off in the air conditioning and cruised the area.<span style=""> </span>After an hour or so we found a field that we nicknamed “The Mother Lode.”<span style=""> </span>The birds were thick as flies at a fertilizer factory.<span style=""> </span>We didn’t give a rat’s fanny about the heat as we dropped bird after bird.<span style=""> </span>I was one bird short of my limit when I looked over at Jack and noticed that he was doing his best impression of Bob the Tomato from VeggieTales fame.<span style=""> </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShCZEwd-el_VXuPwSdViIEvQ8JEvxBKFO6o19zECkruuKdCn3bI6MWHj_vVwg8352FrAd7WkoiGBrxwaPnBscKv67nPtJbr6Z3EWou0S40a_XXW4Gko9RgR-EtN70wroV4_lj/s1600-h/Bob+the+tomato.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShCZEwd-el_VXuPwSdViIEvQ8JEvxBKFO6o19zECkruuKdCn3bI6MWHj_vVwg8352FrAd7WkoiGBrxwaPnBscKv67nPtJbr6Z3EWou0S40a_XXW4Gko9RgR-EtN70wroV4_lj/s320/Bob+the+tomato.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171557908618830418" border="0" /></a><br />His face was a deep red and he looked miserable.<span style=""> </span>It actually frightened me.<span style=""> </span>I quickly cased my gun and began pouring ice water over his head and body.<span style=""> </span>Within a couple minutes he cooled down and was back to his old self.<span style=""> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KUp5lDijTvXY8wNTrUALs6lw5Xr1IkEt7OypfoLiryMt0XxxRQ603WVc1VTPErIiWTplq9K1BKbGbBRpA9SqHpXhKBqRtz1-GWQt2dSUf_VeBdi9lwPzCeBy8de_tZBrVWTR/s1600-h/Hunting-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KUp5lDijTvXY8wNTrUALs6lw5Xr1IkEt7OypfoLiryMt0XxxRQ603WVc1VTPErIiWTplq9K1BKbGbBRpA9SqHpXhKBqRtz1-GWQt2dSUf_VeBdi9lwPzCeBy8de_tZBrVWTR/s320/Hunting-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171556538524262946" border="0" /></a>But rather than risk anything happening to my favorite hunting partner we just rolled back to the hotel where we cleaned the birds and took showers.<span style=""> </span>We had an early dinner and then turned in early (we actually fell asleep watching The Sandlot).<span style=""> </span>We learned our lesson from the day before and slept in a bit.<span style=""> </span>We arrived at our spot just a few minutes before legal shooting time and got ready for another stellar day of shooting dove.<span style=""> </span>We were not disappointed as they bombed in on us from all angles.<span style=""> </span>By <st1:time hour="19" minute="30">7:30</st1:time> our limit was in the bag and we were on our way back to the motel.<span style=""> </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqa89Cex1n8V7uSpP_zNNQOW8_xRnOHl3ECTOINbUqxcK4prDJj9_8djzhtJSFrR0te-u52oW_OFq383NrOgXHdhnyCLaOtLU5MNgby21b_vg9DwsEQ0N-SmNNfPkb9bzmqV_h/s1600-h/Hunting-5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqa89Cex1n8V7uSpP_zNNQOW8_xRnOHl3ECTOINbUqxcK4prDJj9_8djzhtJSFrR0te-u52oW_OFq383NrOgXHdhnyCLaOtLU5MNgby21b_vg9DwsEQ0N-SmNNfPkb9bzmqV_h/s320/Hunting-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171558325230658146" border="0" /></a>We got home from Blythe around 2:00 and it was still blazing in the valley. We had already made plans for a Labor Day swim party at our house and as fun as it sounded in the planning stages.... I was just freakin' tired and didn't want a house full of people. But they came anyway and it turned out to be plenty of fun. I have pictures of Dean in various stages of slumber on my furniture but I'll spare you the ugly details.<br /><br />Later that month we took the trip to Independence with Dean and his kids. It's in the archives so feel free to dig it out. I'll just post this picture like any proud daddy would.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiojyAJqKtgAMhdhUhufEPAfAtDFJoHaYop9ayNwjjGD_NHZ65u7h3WutHRm-52pVQ1lsM14CZMvuwGNGrvmRNSPzUvmAbDVjC9oSUT4OfOATZB-mDB9cfz38fMfUieLFQ6_Ft/s1600-h/jack.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiojyAJqKtgAMhdhUhufEPAfAtDFJoHaYop9ayNwjjGD_NHZ65u7h3WutHRm-52pVQ1lsM14CZMvuwGNGrvmRNSPzUvmAbDVjC9oSUT4OfOATZB-mDB9cfz38fMfUieLFQ6_Ft/s320/jack.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171560008857838194" border="0" /></a><br />That takes us through September 30th. It's late and I'm tired else I'd keep going. I'll have the remaining 3 months up in a week. If it's not a week, it'll be two. Relax, it's not like you have anything better to do with your life.willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-41341210429524905672008-01-12T22:11:00.000-08:002008-01-14T00:07:28.079-08:00Better late than never, the year 2007 in review. - Part ONEI’ve had a pretty severe blogging dryspell but I’m hoping to make up for it here.<span style=""> </span>It’s the year in review, so sit back and get caught up on what’s happening in the lives of the jetsetting Hogskins. And remember, click on any picture for biggerness.<span style=""> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>In January we celebrated Donna and Melissa’s birthdays.<span style=""> </span>Look at this woman.<span style=""> </span>I love her.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoVXTCdle97utJrczQ6RowifKosf9Ws5pViyy7oRGfioiSVTIG7Blxwk0MtdRKKw5HqDJI63eJVOe_42WUGwH20BIbSVd7NnefH917e_9T8bNHpATuZ-oUQ8PcDw66pgiyw5H/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoVXTCdle97utJrczQ6RowifKosf9Ws5pViyy7oRGfioiSVTIG7Blxwk0MtdRKKw5HqDJI63eJVOe_42WUGwH20BIbSVd7NnefH917e_9T8bNHpATuZ-oUQ8PcDw66pgiyw5H/s320/1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154840472902974770" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We had dinner at Mema’s, chicken casserole.<span style=""> </span>My tapeworm was in heaven.<span style=""> </span>Here’s birthday girl number 2 with her other half and Joey.<span style=""> </span>It’s always nice to remind her that she’s 2 years older than me.<span style=""> </span>Booyah! </p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Wp9zo70yrot977sZimenvBm9zg30Z8gYlIjUoDFvNdRiiO0uVS0PCZtORmNnQj7WyG9orMcriiq45HPIgWlIEzA0hnU0MO_r1M3y-2tcTBIfKRUuK8FxUBnGSFHibgpQx3UU/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Wp9zo70yrot977sZimenvBm9zg30Z8gYlIjUoDFvNdRiiO0uVS0PCZtORmNnQj7WyG9orMcriiq45HPIgWlIEzA0hnU0MO_r1M3y-2tcTBIfKRUuK8FxUBnGSFHibgpQx3UU/s320/2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154840709126176066" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal">Here’s my favorite little girl with her Daddy.<span style=""> </span>She’s not really that small (and her daddy’s head isn’t really that big) it’s just the camera angle.<span style=""> </span>This kid is awesome, I smile whenever I think about her.<span style=""> </span></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfzwSPUCsYMyePrbWMxkzDARj44_-U_GFJNXs0g0q7AccHseP9wIJ5fzWdhQJTgMKDPtlwkMVM8oMlcZBkSAURunVm07ooBsiGG0UQULj2vJ49mJ3VZCTqLFxuucerXa8yWOo/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfzwSPUCsYMyePrbWMxkzDARj44_-U_GFJNXs0g0q7AccHseP9wIJ5fzWdhQJTgMKDPtlwkMVM8oMlcZBkSAURunVm07ooBsiGG0UQULj2vJ49mJ3VZCTqLFxuucerXa8yWOo/s320/3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154841018363821394" border="0" /></a><br />February rolled around and Donna went away for a scrapbooking weekend.<span style=""> </span>We had guy time so we threw a couple guns into the truck and headed for the hills.<span style=""> </span>Jack and Joe decided they wanted to shoot a big buck so I gave them my rifle and told them to meet me back at the truck in a couple hours and I’d help them skin it out.<span style=""> </span>Apparently their deer hunting skills are on par with their father’s because they came back empty handed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsnaMwpTASvGemaQ1Zy7sGlLoSwDuxz-Gv97fKjriijpdtg3tQt2J-kOSoFZZRdkQgZbY0i_9hUXqEBHrL78IXbuwAcQa4ZNPAaKjPLoh2UZt0hNQCs6oPDSV3eKcJ9rISTK4/s1600-h/IMG_3337.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsnaMwpTASvGemaQ1Zy7sGlLoSwDuxz-Gv97fKjriijpdtg3tQt2J-kOSoFZZRdkQgZbY0i_9hUXqEBHrL78IXbuwAcQa4ZNPAaKjPLoh2UZt0hNQCs6oPDSV3eKcJ9rISTK4/s320/IMG_3337.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154841546644798818" border="0" /></a>The end of February brought opening day.<span style=""> </span>They’re in the big leagues now, hitting balls from a pitching machine.<span style=""> </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9n5A-A433BaZHPT200XAnedHx3QAIGs-IKqQ1pHg6PxQh4dmnd7BF-Z0TgHMZdRNSFuIFNIOA5aeDbdk9SO-U468ryBTFWXmPLxayaoZlnubffKTZcp1UPjfQ7ytjN7I_I35C/s1600-h/Dodgers+2007-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9n5A-A433BaZHPT200XAnedHx3QAIGs-IKqQ1pHg6PxQh4dmnd7BF-Z0TgHMZdRNSFuIFNIOA5aeDbdk9SO-U468ryBTFWXmPLxayaoZlnubffKTZcp1UPjfQ7ytjN7I_I35C/s320/Dodgers+2007-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154841765688130930" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal">The boys celebrated 6 years of me not making good on my pledge to drown them if they didn’t buck up and behave by having a pirate/puppy party.<span style=""> </span>Again, Donna threw a great party.<span style=""> </span>I’m undeserving of that woman.<span style=""> </span></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVT82-F6cUcF2k4K33BqcDHKUGSY1lsNilOQNP5NLp-bLaUXqEle_mQhESVrNHC-yCNky2KIN2kXwFktc1UE4k2nnvSLHxz8hE7CliUCYm5STTg2uQHqSPvGrYn98cPyuhJM1/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVT82-F6cUcF2k4K33BqcDHKUGSY1lsNilOQNP5NLp-bLaUXqEle_mQhESVrNHC-yCNky2KIN2kXwFktc1UE4k2nnvSLHxz8hE7CliUCYm5STTg2uQHqSPvGrYn98cPyuhJM1/s320/1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154842246724468098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0ySS81YRk1nfUWsdh6HbvZVgxYP2ZqOjQGyfQjzsFAt3KJE-O_ZhqtQoUcQneap9BYJJnt5zcnLoqywE_dMDZqYeX1r0LOzXgHFamOpxX6jkK_HXcezwdkuVs8iSJHsLg2Gc/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0ySS81YRk1nfUWsdh6HbvZVgxYP2ZqOjQGyfQjzsFAt3KJE-O_ZhqtQoUcQneap9BYJJnt5zcnLoqywE_dMDZqYeX1r0LOzXgHFamOpxX6jkK_HXcezwdkuVs8iSJHsLg2Gc/s320/2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154842397048323474" border="0" /></a>About this time I went underground and didn’t really surface for about 6 weeks due to tax season hell.<span style=""> </span>This one was the worst in my 15 year career.<span style=""> </span>I hated it.<span style=""> </span>I considered going back to modeling.<span style=""> </span>Donna seized on the opportunity to take the boys camping with Danny & Mary & kids to Leo Carillo.<span style=""> </span>Judging by the pictures they had a great time.<span style=""> </span>I wasn’t bitter that they were camping at the beach while I was doing taxes.<span style=""> </span>Really, I wasn’t.<span style=""> </span>Not that much, anyway.<span style=""> </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzX6KbPIWAxdl8O6Y2k8Y5xBC6TT1vXhkpIFifvs8T5YwNz0KVRzYanKYf2hNQjmtHJkEkaeql2vJ6bj9gsJ1o5jcLD76TX2fSz8yYHDJHmb7gCz_wKLLJYuALjm546-wtKfe/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzX6KbPIWAxdl8O6Y2k8Y5xBC6TT1vXhkpIFifvs8T5YwNz0KVRzYanKYf2hNQjmtHJkEkaeql2vJ6bj9gsJ1o5jcLD76TX2fSz8yYHDJHmb7gCz_wKLLJYuALjm546-wtKfe/s320/4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154842792185314722" border="0" /></a>For my Sioux Falls pal that come March will be enjoying a daytime high temperature of -3 take a look at this.<span style=""> </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIzyDYRK7UkDbPQaD5sYw6mCBmusaFQIFXMBBV_NfrtxY5RqZAFcGKEdWT5G1_ZOdWryMojoCXopbt27WLzadklOCIy75N5Oz2Uo4T96vagCtIkHJb5LAmy6qLTWeG_uC5RdI/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIzyDYRK7UkDbPQaD5sYw6mCBmusaFQIFXMBBV_NfrtxY5RqZAFcGKEdWT5G1_ZOdWryMojoCXopbt27WLzadklOCIy75N5Oz2Uo4T96vagCtIkHJb5LAmy6qLTWeG_uC5RdI/s320/5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154843041293417906" border="0" /></a>I know the way things are going someday you'll be governor or king or president or whatever it is you freezing crazies have but doesn't this make you want to move back here just a little?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS62vgUxOwfxbV_gnVaLQtLQfxeUF6Kgg17ALwIEp3i_bI_SkeUOFLTYMA5HsT9e9d69bCsCHBbrFtq8xdCC09OGgMcZl5OE17AOnzoh_KlsbOsdVoV902foNLUikvs9WN1lPI/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS62vgUxOwfxbV_gnVaLQtLQfxeUF6Kgg17ALwIEp3i_bI_SkeUOFLTYMA5HsT9e9d69bCsCHBbrFtq8xdCC09OGgMcZl5OE17AOnzoh_KlsbOsdVoV902foNLUikvs9WN1lPI/s320/3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154843530919689666" border="0" /></a>Look at these two, a couple non-tax return preparing creeps if I ever saw any.<span style=""> </span>Like I said, I’m not bitter.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1eUuut8hs9OYIEA7owujA1XPyI6ifsISuhynFJAS1BmCOeACZXCcemGlAHurr4GzWMXxCzbY6NCTJ4M61XzjaFgOedneKenVgdTBLiTBNicNzFmcJ_jQ8a7AaXbJhcSSSjpq/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1eUuut8hs9OYIEA7owujA1XPyI6ifsISuhynFJAS1BmCOeACZXCcemGlAHurr4GzWMXxCzbY6NCTJ4M61XzjaFgOedneKenVgdTBLiTBNicNzFmcJ_jQ8a7AaXbJhcSSSjpq/s320/6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154843797207662034" border="0" /></a>Easter Sunday was kind of a bummer this year.<span style=""> </span>The night before Joe was up to the wee hours empyting his innards via his mouth onto the hallway carpet.<span style=""> </span>The next morning he sat on the couch and navigated his brother to the treats that the easter bunny had left him.<span style=""> </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhp_ZQuH_MBPonMm5nL0PYpHDbTlzfPtSKg5oYSxnEl3UFQPfSvNCQRwcS9UOreQSNPHW10yttyZM5x72EoPCmUUt-Pjj9s4P_gyBrtE6kboKKUjA4XRxsYkAKHHoiL4C_ole/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhp_ZQuH_MBPonMm5nL0PYpHDbTlzfPtSKg5oYSxnEl3UFQPfSvNCQRwcS9UOreQSNPHW10yttyZM5x72EoPCmUUt-Pjj9s4P_gyBrtE6kboKKUjA4XRxsYkAKHHoiL4C_ole/s320/1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154845016978374114" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">Eventually he decided, “This is for suckers, I’m gettin’ my own loot.” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cxgbZUsLZZjlNURB2kXR7cIJamLIQIiPz0Mv4N2hGvorqzlSNkdiKqNoJibt5cIXhGiAJSjur5UaXE8eqnwgvHRil7no2e6wHQXxi4ua1FarzWLnIv2LKgwov6dvyedjJMP0/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cxgbZUsLZZjlNURB2kXR7cIJamLIQIiPz0Mv4N2hGvorqzlSNkdiKqNoJibt5cIXhGiAJSjur5UaXE8eqnwgvHRil7no2e6wHQXxi4ua1FarzWLnIv2LKgwov6dvyedjJMP0/s320/2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154845188777065970" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I stayed home from church with Joe while Donna and Jack attended services.<span style=""> </span>At some point he felt better, at least well enough to go to Mema’s house for the outdoor egg hunt.<span style=""> </span>Looks like he’s feeling better, doesn’t it?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGU1ikSj-psZncBieNPc11mpjUP3Y1Pe6rp3nPi9ZICD7O4Ea3JBEUg9_rXdmamqt7HIv-iia4YCO6GxlYPE90e4zqDGzpJmKauLvvJg65jHcJ7Y9lhl7jhx-7D4tjdtRNyjj/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGU1ikSj-psZncBieNPc11mpjUP3Y1Pe6rp3nPi9ZICD7O4Ea3JBEUg9_rXdmamqt7HIv-iia4YCO6GxlYPE90e4zqDGzpJmKauLvvJg65jHcJ7Y9lhl7jhx-7D4tjdtRNyjj/s320/4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154845455065038338" border="0" /></a><br />Here’s my favorite niece sporting the latest in fashionable headgear.<br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHd-hidmx8y4pBH300jWELo68DiPKMkG433QH0FJs4-_7bn8k9B2SwX7SXescjw7pyTwMLRGnYOne-E7uRghHpJ8fe1n03UUcedejt9MTR8HYO5Irhv8p-8PDLbVDYlyK9nm8F/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHd-hidmx8y4pBH300jWELo68DiPKMkG433QH0FJs4-_7bn8k9B2SwX7SXescjw7pyTwMLRGnYOne-E7uRghHpJ8fe1n03UUcedejt9MTR8HYO5Irhv8p-8PDLbVDYlyK9nm8F/s320/3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154845536669416978" border="0" /></a>I can’t remember if I mentioned it but this tax season really sucked.<span style=""> </span>So I decided to take the boys on a little weekend camping trip.<span style=""> </span>The trip served dual purposes – besides the camping it gave Donna a little “me time”, something she hadn’t had in about 8 or 10 weeks.<span style=""> </span>We went to Cachuma with Dean and his boys for a couple nights.<span style=""> </span>We rode bikes, told guy jokes, scratched ourselves, fished.<span style=""> </span>It was pretty much heavenly.<span style=""> </span>Joe landed this hawg on the first evening.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybgMNkCDdb0fiyABRJGRJ_cQ36l3LKwHXhwGNzoYvVEinwLN-RNRRL5wuuvhZWQM1ohbnvCEUTyfdFWk7ueKZ7Y8hqcVjEGJNd0JdizS2OtlstPZOYtMLtgcwX07dk8uuT6S4/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybgMNkCDdb0fiyABRJGRJ_cQ36l3LKwHXhwGNzoYvVEinwLN-RNRRL5wuuvhZWQM1ohbnvCEUTyfdFWk7ueKZ7Y8hqcVjEGJNd0JdizS2OtlstPZOYtMLtgcwX07dk8uuT6S4/s320/5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154846163734642210" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Turns out it was the only fish to be caught.<span style=""> </span>I cooked it up for Sunday’s dinner when we got home.<span style=""> </span>Joe kept reminding us that he was the only one to catch a fish.<span style=""> </span>“Isn’t this a good-tasting fish I caught?”<span style=""> </span>“Aren’t you glad I caught this fish, because you guys didn’t and if I hadn’t caught this fish we wouldn’t have anything to eat?”<span style=""> </span>“Isn’t this a good fish?”<span style=""> </span>It was a big fish and a tasty fish but he was still a punk for reminding us like that. </p>At the end of May Joey participated in the school’s talent show.<span style=""> </span>He did a demo of “stack ‘ems” in front of the whole school.<span style=""> </span>I couldn’t get out of work but I watched the video of it.<span style=""> </span>He was the only kindergartener to perform.<span style=""> </span>I was so proud of him, he was clearly petrified but he choked it back and did great.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Fqp1v0Mm3s35Bu8UkrEXhxGdBdyPVyAn2j0i4TFRSHF7wh9PCP_yVtSD6fsJ0QuKdSp6O51Etgajf5A78QdeTVRT-x8Uo38SRtr5omNj0hxJCYsEf3LM4GSQmFRSfYBVSOh1/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Fqp1v0Mm3s35Bu8UkrEXhxGdBdyPVyAn2j0i4TFRSHF7wh9PCP_yVtSD6fsJ0QuKdSp6O51Etgajf5A78QdeTVRT-x8Uo38SRtr5omNj0hxJCYsEf3LM4GSQmFRSfYBVSOh1/s320/1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154846507332025906" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">June came quick and we attended my nephew Ian’s wedding.<span style=""> </span>Though I have a strict policy of not attending weddings there was no getting out of this one.<span style=""> </span>Especially after I bagged on the last one.<span style=""> </span>And I kinda wanted to go because I like Ian. So we went.<span style=""> </span>It was a surprisingly good time and I was glad I went.<span style=""> </span>But don’t tell my wife.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDULzwIO9VhnZxnHFEKAx-6impfTQRvgLafB5mq5jA3dI0oIllpCd6XacRA6K3C3MBi8UQMzBWdUSWETyTGvbhLXZjlgAxoo9S0h6xwlm89Y_L6rJaErDeE9ULG2ef3UGNclu/s1600-h/IMG_4893.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDULzwIO9VhnZxnHFEKAx-6impfTQRvgLafB5mq5jA3dI0oIllpCd6XacRA6K3C3MBi8UQMzBWdUSWETyTGvbhLXZjlgAxoo9S0h6xwlm89Y_L6rJaErDeE9ULG2ef3UGNclu/s320/IMG_4893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154846954008624706" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Alright, brace yourself because this is a long one.<span style=""> </span>This is the vacation we’ve wanted to do for years but there was always one reason or another we didn’t.<span style=""> </span>It was the mother of all roadtrips and months & months of planning went into it.<span style=""> </span>The itinerary was planned with exactness, there was no varying.<span style=""> </span>Except for when your wife is doubled over in pain two days before you’re supposed to leave.<span style=""> </span>My wife is tough and this was no ordinary bellyache, this was something special.<span style=""> </span>After much poking, prodding, imaging and hemming & hawing they said “You’ve got diver-something or other and you should cancel your trip.<span style=""> </span>Today is Thursday.<span style=""> </span>Take these pills.<span style=""> </span>If you’re not better by Monday go to the emergency.”<span style=""> </span>On Sunday (the day we were supposed to leave) she said, “I feel better, let’s go tomorrow morning.”<span style=""> </span>Then she fired up her van to go do an errand and it sounded like a cat was caught in the fan belt.<span style=""> </span>“Lord, are you telling me not to go on this trip because if You are, just come right out and say it by blowing up the engine because I don’t need this kind of stress.”<span style=""> </span>The next morning the dealer took the car in pronto and had it back to us in a couple hours.<span style=""> </span>We looked at each other and said, “Let’s do this thang” and loaded up.<span style=""> </span>Within an hour the house was in the rear-view mirror and we were on our way.<span style=""> </span>It’s kind of a creepy feeling leaving your house like that for three weeks.<span style=""> </span>Fortunately I had Dean to check on it and mitigate any major catastrophe like a busted pipe flooding my living room.<span style=""> </span>So we were on the road about <st1:time minute="0" hour="12">noon</st1:time> and we drove straight through to <st1:city><st1:place>Salt Lake City</st1:place></st1:city> stopping just long enough for fast food in Vegas and to stretch our legs at a UT rest stop.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbZJbRBCWSIGaInQV1QHlZwyzHPHU8jx8l_e5j5LEqXQ8fhfeR-XHCfkgJEwNRrM166bv-uorvlgoOGS6iKlsapdSZjNQ9XY2rxOfVBzG3yGDthYIj-G85vBmY5OS3TrAe7r6/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbZJbRBCWSIGaInQV1QHlZwyzHPHU8jx8l_e5j5LEqXQ8fhfeR-XHCfkgJEwNRrM166bv-uorvlgoOGS6iKlsapdSZjNQ9XY2rxOfVBzG3yGDthYIj-G85vBmY5OS3TrAe7r6/s320/1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155186874900299346" border="0" /></a></p>It was a marathon driving session.<span style=""> </span>After 11 hours we rolled into <st1:place><st1:placename>Salt</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Lake</st1:placetype></st1:place> and crashed at the Embassy Suites.<span style=""> </span>We were dead on our feet.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwU3iitKYFJyButR4zZInZLYXTkvgEPnWS7RgdlGwY0LkdZGfAHNHeF78TaRGctHQ5anMXWxVO-U4uEqg14M1tfD5Q9sr10YUn3LKsmIwc9gqN6gwUtBS7Gi2WGw5yMkI0BWQ/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwU3iitKYFJyButR4zZInZLYXTkvgEPnWS7RgdlGwY0LkdZGfAHNHeF78TaRGctHQ5anMXWxVO-U4uEqg14M1tfD5Q9sr10YUn3LKsmIwc9gqN6gwUtBS7Gi2WGw5yMkI0BWQ/s320/2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155186943619776098" border="0" /></a>We slept so soundly that we didn’t move until about <st1:time minute="0" hour="10">10:00</st1:time> and we missed the stellar breakfast we’d heard about so hit McDonald’s (I’ve started a petition to make it a felony to call that swill food) and then got on the road.<span style=""> </span>Within a few hours we were in <st1:state><st1:place>Idaho</st1:place></st1:state>.<span style=""> </span>This is about as much as we saw of it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b7IgStMpULHQvg-fmNLkOIJwBaC7FEd0jp-M2jr2vagXRiyssya6QQnx7Z5gI6vleGL1Fc4GDOzsIcoLqP5TuJuk6S4cpVbCLqSh-AqVb26GFMx-0v0M2FfbGR92COY4ORms/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b7IgStMpULHQvg-fmNLkOIJwBaC7FEd0jp-M2jr2vagXRiyssya6QQnx7Z5gI6vleGL1Fc4GDOzsIcoLqP5TuJuk6S4cpVbCLqSh-AqVb26GFMx-0v0M2FfbGR92COY4ORms/s320/3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155187360231603826" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">By early afternoon we were on the edge of <st1:state><st1:place>Wyoming</st1:place></st1:state>, looking over the <st1:place>Jackson Hole</st1:place> area.<span style=""> </span>To say it is beautiful is an understatement. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlOsXCV1dtxKBwqVWVE7BvxakloSX68SE5PFZhGpR5wwY7WcyMvWH9f_JgWVGm7eHB4iq_6PVWmHkYvHdVVXLYU1_9xlZ3FPCrEkTXXuPcEBVSWgb7PFimMxO8VFN3YVKYcpg/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlOsXCV1dtxKBwqVWVE7BvxakloSX68SE5PFZhGpR5wwY7WcyMvWH9f_JgWVGm7eHB4iq_6PVWmHkYvHdVVXLYU1_9xlZ3FPCrEkTXXuPcEBVSWgb7PFimMxO8VFN3YVKYcpg/s320/5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155188670196629122" border="0" /></a> <span style=""> </span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPcWuan4mjjBMdDx9RK2jdYL8wcU9ED72qr0Ff-TvuWESBVO4sFjDbxRmH6VwQY_uKPrnfaeIx8cjLzt9UfTJOVtYoq94wP3zEFjVCp-5HBub_Ltx-4dshXTL3EKTlq9evFYo/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPcWuan4mjjBMdDx9RK2jdYL8wcU9ED72qr0Ff-TvuWESBVO4sFjDbxRmH6VwQY_uKPrnfaeIx8cjLzt9UfTJOVtYoq94wP3zEFjVCp-5HBub_Ltx-4dshXTL3EKTlq9evFYo/s320/6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155188751801007762" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">We got down into the town of <st1:city><st1:place>Jackson</st1:place></st1:city> and went to the park with the four antler arches. <span style=""> </span>They’re pretty darn cool.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9GtIuhBG53Ws1fP7Df67hFWK9MSJAPVc29HR2ZV-LI4OBFbWXcKN9KoXre5Ksd1miujQWNQ-pk-y7G557fyBV-UelceB13j_ha3xgNofpmx5IrwRluax1QG8Qo5lQHf444GY/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9GtIuhBG53Ws1fP7Df67hFWK9MSJAPVc29HR2ZV-LI4OBFbWXcKN9KoXre5Ksd1miujQWNQ-pk-y7G557fyBV-UelceB13j_ha3xgNofpmx5IrwRluax1QG8Qo5lQHf444GY/s320/8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155192170594975394" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But the town of <st1:city><st1:place>Jackson</st1:place></st1:city> (in my opinion) is a total tourist trap and I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.<span style=""> </span>The traffic rivals the worst I’ve ever seen (since I drive the 405/101 everyday that should tell you something).<span style=""> </span>There was a bunch of shops where you can pay $20,000 for a blanket or a picture frame or “I {heart} <st1:place>Jackson Hole</st1:place>” t-shirt but that assumes that you can find a parking space.<span style=""> </span>We crept through town and finally made it north to our destination, the Flagg Ranch Resort.<span style=""> </span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFXEGdU9SOe3OGbVpWOYWeWiP76jO2a_oT6hJuZGi71uM1CJ1VmteraI73m1L2ld6l2aM8IdFmLcs4ZdNirW43NothBihZ-xKMVavhyphenhyphen0OQ4wh2jkx7s24npyTcAX9YYpfJktK/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFXEGdU9SOe3OGbVpWOYWeWiP76jO2a_oT6hJuZGi71uM1CJ1VmteraI73m1L2ld6l2aM8IdFmLcs4ZdNirW43NothBihZ-xKMVavhyphenhyphen0OQ4wh2jkx7s24npyTcAX9YYpfJktK/s320/9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155192247904386738" border="0" /></a>The place is really nice, individual cabins about the property which is located in between the <st1:place><st1:placename>Grand Teton</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>National Park</st1:placetype></st1:place> and <st1:place><st1:placename>Yellowstone</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>National Park</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>It’s nice because we were central to a lot of different stuff.<span style=""> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileyexiVuQ_EPXnJcoW_wJIxuGtmVq5cfaAv_2Tbhb_niFa7DBNiRNGZpv5UVeUQbYFXD8qYyk_vQJpJGxWB6I5Ln4jnH-oa70CT8HUcZ5QlP_LsYfQQv4-_iTCCo7-2GcQRXy/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileyexiVuQ_EPXnJcoW_wJIxuGtmVq5cfaAv_2Tbhb_niFa7DBNiRNGZpv5UVeUQbYFXD8qYyk_vQJpJGxWB6I5Ln4jnH-oa70CT8HUcZ5QlP_LsYfQQv4-_iTCCo7-2GcQRXy/s320/12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155193085423009474" border="0" /></a>We stayed there a handful of nights, making day trips to the <st1:place>Grand Teton</st1:place> park and into <st1:place>Yellowstone</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>We went to Jackson Lake, hiked to waterfalls, saw various critters up close. It was cool. Here we are at Jackson Lake watching a school of trout. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrsV48SOZ9AYjz3Q28POZgZ8stVe7G5TRaW9_ijnHS-8b8uPqfgDguC9pYggqfW8ogaB5KsVpZ3et81ItKxZnmlO6ziivJ0GyhUzyDIt6X6Hz6te4Lb-7RUG3yrlK7tnnPYEB/s1600-h/11.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrsV48SOZ9AYjz3Q28POZgZ8stVe7G5TRaW9_ijnHS-8b8uPqfgDguC9pYggqfW8ogaB5KsVpZ3et81ItKxZnmlO6ziivJ0GyhUzyDIt6X6Hz6te4Lb-7RUG3yrlK7tnnPYEB/s320/11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155193948711435986" border="0" /></a>Antelope<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jwMxi30HW89vTGzSHE3e4kI4SFrCDbFc3khWeIQjLIoNVW2LTe_IqO_wW5D_8YxpkK3wnmMYGmfsZ_cIE2Jm4TtBSgbVQKIlZXuwson5YNOtpf-oW5EQlOs1mGtYZpn-U-7U/s1600-h/17.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jwMxi30HW89vTGzSHE3e4kI4SFrCDbFc3khWeIQjLIoNVW2LTe_IqO_wW5D_8YxpkK3wnmMYGmfsZ_cIE2Jm4TtBSgbVQKIlZXuwson5YNOtpf-oW5EQlOs1mGtYZpn-U-7U/s320/17.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155194214999408386" border="0" /></a>Buffalo<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibymKcM7cr0737y-kn_oOAD7QR4P-GupD_Nj7Upi4J0gQ-sFybu1jYzX5PV3M-EyXBgeqVudMd4eo0ljYIAFbK_ijyGnFIw8Fk8xUDJ4y_2n2rYApeTB6XKx92sAAtLHtC2X0y/s1600-h/18.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibymKcM7cr0737y-kn_oOAD7QR4P-GupD_Nj7Upi4J0gQ-sFybu1jYzX5PV3M-EyXBgeqVudMd4eo0ljYIAFbK_ijyGnFIw8Fk8xUDJ4y_2n2rYApeTB6XKx92sAAtLHtC2X0y/s320/18.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155194318078623506" border="0" /></a>Two moose (mooses? meese? meeses?) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyE73gt9UIqlyxmXGaATG2c5XqRsaA_IblkOneJfixwULUyK-CXKOcPaaW-lHHdZioUwpjq2cFFNITEwgVpr3seox-khds6WXi06RiNdeOWsxsVr7roJgXm34nfjfMVlYEWvX/s1600-h/16.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyE73gt9UIqlyxmXGaATG2c5XqRsaA_IblkOneJfixwULUyK-CXKOcPaaW-lHHdZioUwpjq2cFFNITEwgVpr3seox-khds6WXi06RiNdeOWsxsVr7roJgXm34nfjfMVlYEWvX/s320/16.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155194141984964338" border="0" /></a>The boys at a waterfall we hiked to. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxouAkX54woAyeN2eqJLYkdORE5BAkCF_FV42yR765dNCwmM__PxB6dmanFzcy-RZ5RFk1ofP90XXS9e-CCzwHDoOu60TmAB0ifhfb7Dr0Ac2GP_bgc66ekqIyOxLMB4uokJp0/s1600-h/13.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxouAkX54woAyeN2eqJLYkdORE5BAkCF_FV42yR765dNCwmM__PxB6dmanFzcy-RZ5RFk1ofP90XXS9e-CCzwHDoOu60TmAB0ifhfb7Dr0Ac2GP_bgc66ekqIyOxLMB4uokJp0/s320/13.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155194038905749218" border="0" /></a>With the Tetons in the background<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-c6q_JJRXsuDMa8AxRLo5DypOtmjrb5quvCCbMZIA-dFH_zwXHMHUEJP3HTnZpVyw604YQme9h8RfNigvloCwVTKmuE9v6IMC8dtZ-EAb6q3rYA3fQZqPCkCVmsNGlxXaLwSQ/s1600-h/19.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-c6q_JJRXsuDMa8AxRLo5DypOtmjrb5quvCCbMZIA-dFH_zwXHMHUEJP3HTnZpVyw604YQme9h8RfNigvloCwVTKmuE9v6IMC8dtZ-EAb6q3rYA3fQZqPCkCVmsNGlxXaLwSQ/s320/19.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155195082582802210" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal">One day we stopped at a lakeside pizza place for dinner.<span style=""> </span>We sat on the deck, ate pizza and just had a great time.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnazp-04iury5Jw0b-kUArVGiWPIFwE1pbVDwJOzFgmKz8szuKlvtCsWqVYTsu90cKt59yC0DzguAswuKrQnBzMjIjyjqIiiMCrjEYLlmpxXMqZLdU2NaJLZ_DtZB0f4hN2dr/s1600-h/20.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnazp-04iury5Jw0b-kUArVGiWPIFwE1pbVDwJOzFgmKz8szuKlvtCsWqVYTsu90cKt59yC0DzguAswuKrQnBzMjIjyjqIiiMCrjEYLlmpxXMqZLdU2NaJLZ_DtZB0f4hN2dr/s320/20.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155195589388943154" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DRYSFATJBawujkz2HI76RJkY7FRnEcs_StAta7KbRvD_24fhSuv8FIpypIhFPcef24KfWEkLY_ibj_a__kr4F980YD3sMjLZUYlxRDadmtIQL5FRPEJ7jgFseQJwqum81K4i/s1600-h/21.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DRYSFATJBawujkz2HI76RJkY7FRnEcs_StAta7KbRvD_24fhSuv8FIpypIhFPcef24KfWEkLY_ibj_a__kr4F980YD3sMjLZUYlxRDadmtIQL5FRPEJ7jgFseQJwqum81K4i/s320/21.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155195744007765842" border="0" /></a>We had just gotten back to the car and were heading back to our cabin when my stomach began turning over. I knew I needed a bathroom but I figured making it back to the cabin was doable. But the thing about these national parks is that they are HUGE and to preserve their national parkiness they are not littered with gas stations or rest stops or stores. Or bathrooms. When we were about 20 minutes away from the restaurant I realized that we still had about 30 miles until we were back at our cabin. And did I mention that the speed limit is 40 mph to keep you from running over the abundance of wildlife? The situation was getting terminal - squirming in the seat, sweaty upper lip, gurgling noises from my gut when a campground magically appeared. I tore into that place and found the only toilet for 30 miles. Thank God it was empty because I'd have pulled anybody short of the good Lord Himself off of that throne.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">That night I didn't sleep well and I started to have some kind of worry attack. We were far away from home in the middle of freaking nowhere (which was the point of the story above, not to regale you with tales of my digestive gymnastics) and I just got this uneasy feeling that something bad was about to happen. The next morning the boys were up first, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. I was sitting on the edge of the bed with the camera in my lap and Jack walked up and stood in front of me with this big silly grin on his face. He didn't have a care in the world, it was like he knew that if anything happened his daddy would take care of it. I snapped a picture but I can still remember his expression without it.<br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VktHfhhL5R_-ziCOcUmuoepZOxwBC5KsSlITh1saJjCRwvRht71s90LWTauuBreg-VRxbQN2jt_7Zv2EpGRVaBWKkwE4NxsHdOFR5yDMHmfTLa_uwd1WO0bJQBs8w7K2IXCG/s1600-h/22.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VktHfhhL5R_-ziCOcUmuoepZOxwBC5KsSlITh1saJjCRwvRht71s90LWTauuBreg-VRxbQN2jt_7Zv2EpGRVaBWKkwE4NxsHdOFR5yDMHmfTLa_uwd1WO0bJQBs8w7K2IXCG/s320/22.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155195653813452610" border="0" /></a>At that moment I felt the Lord saying, "You need to have faith in Me the way this boy has faith in you." And I'm not some hocus-pocus type of Christian, I can only recall the Lord speaking to me in such a way one other time but I felt this total peace cover me and I just felt completely content and safe. It was a turning point for me. That day was a good one, we made a trip into Yellowstone and saw a lot of neat stuff.<br /><br />Like this elk...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQ8MCL9pdBkj618QUo9oFx2m1cLjWOKZ2ofhnKNvMBmgoU47y8f333bTshdvrov3nMq2q2DebawF4Eoqqcnp551DJ04GTsf3w2uTmhDyKSJrGcIApHPFM24l2v_oaCNkxwlLd/s1600-h/25.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQ8MCL9pdBkj618QUo9oFx2m1cLjWOKZ2ofhnKNvMBmgoU47y8f333bTshdvrov3nMq2q2DebawF4Eoqqcnp551DJ04GTsf3w2uTmhDyKSJrGcIApHPFM24l2v_oaCNkxwlLd/s320/25.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155199553643757410" border="0" /></a>And this incredible waterfall...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabgIpmuiSHaNCwlKlSG2UCAydfq82_7Cbv0BUOzNkP-GDNYTxhXWnWc_j42wT-s_5awgaRZ9IOAK1R1Y_38ZlUJmuL7Ysdf7EmM3rogBfrfKagjwVppvMYpzfqG6egxeABKg5/s1600-h/24.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabgIpmuiSHaNCwlKlSG2UCAydfq82_7Cbv0BUOzNkP-GDNYTxhXWnWc_j42wT-s_5awgaRZ9IOAK1R1Y_38ZlUJmuL7Ysdf7EmM3rogBfrfKagjwVppvMYpzfqG6egxeABKg5/s320/24.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155199807046827890" border="0" /></a> We made our way over to see Old Faithful.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjX4Rr6GMm1vRpm2Qt0aKUE9nOcmaStnAh682iD9gTAtvqN3f-Oe8yABdKIrGds6tjO1aYYApW3kINXt-R9wGBUK3VqU56KHmIE2dD0ljU5_mjoRTy4aQkoDvMlBfqawmryZn/s1600-h/26.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjX4Rr6GMm1vRpm2Qt0aKUE9nOcmaStnAh682iD9gTAtvqN3f-Oe8yABdKIrGds6tjO1aYYApW3kINXt-R9wGBUK3VqU56KHmIE2dD0ljU5_mjoRTy4aQkoDvMlBfqawmryZn/s320/26.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155200064744865666" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1u0Tb5sEC6mC7-aa3Z5CGoDDHXHuZekRrPTQ2uEMRqRtS9MJeKwsAlWR9ngE0H6Bdh_nHM1ANMGF5VBdytWke5eDu9rQoROOCJX-pf-peueu2h3X_PpoTwIg7sNtNSKYOzEV/s1600-h/28.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1u0Tb5sEC6mC7-aa3Z5CGoDDHXHuZekRrPTQ2uEMRqRtS9MJeKwsAlWR9ngE0H6Bdh_nHM1ANMGF5VBdytWke5eDu9rQoROOCJX-pf-peueu2h3X_PpoTwIg7sNtNSKYOzEV/s320/28.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155200258018394018" border="0" /></a>Outside of Old Faithful, there is not a ton else to see at this location. There's a whole bunch of these...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFTH40xjxo-lK35XAXZ57BDNA0yfyCb-s12-ymY-aawsqsY8rAZgrsFjaATZrFKFSLQl8AMfbj0D7y5JqYdsokOTIR8zvj9GuEJ_7b5qWQ5j7V9Ad7ENDwLnaGzChC0G25GTP/s1600-h/27.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFTH40xjxo-lK35XAXZ57BDNA0yfyCb-s12-ymY-aawsqsY8rAZgrsFjaATZrFKFSLQl8AMfbj0D7y5JqYdsokOTIR8zvj9GuEJ_7b5qWQ5j7V9Ad7ENDwLnaGzChC0G25GTP/s320/27.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155200146349244306" border="0" /></a><br />They're little holes in the ground with bubbling mineral water that smells like somebody put my old football jock & a full baby diaper into a blender and ran it for a good five minutes.<br /><br />Later that day we were back at the cabin for a wrestling match which ended up with one mild concussion when Jack fell off the bed and hit his head on the nightstand. I told Donna it probably could have been prevented if she had just said, "Knock it off!" but she didn't. She rebutted that she was screaming it the whole time, loud enough that the neighbors stopped what they were doing but we all know that my delicate little flower isn't capable of raising her voice like that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPc7Tylz4P39CpTwIkoKE_-nJSe4On4JRJhS61iVIitkJUL2PWss4oBymmc6gf86PU0WvNDhrYtwaPePpKBfA4mnDxsryXLA6ij7o7147hprYvWzyF1aqN7Q4KoFUANNo65x1/s1600-h/30.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPc7Tylz4P39CpTwIkoKE_-nJSe4On4JRJhS61iVIitkJUL2PWss4oBymmc6gf86PU0WvNDhrYtwaPePpKBfA4mnDxsryXLA6ij7o7147hprYvWzyF1aqN7Q4KoFUANNo65x1/s320/30.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155202237998317490" border="0" /></a>The next morning we rose early and took a scenic float trip down the Snake River.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fdJcZSbhDHCZOy7ObfDw8FrpqvN0ncMQgjHwb9M2TksSuC-VinKH55VCH3sPcCKliPuHaxlql-EhHk3Z67EjwkqxvzP6HKoW9Tqst5IeO2FsHZzHGmnZ0jEiQWELYIJf_XQq/s1600-h/34.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fdJcZSbhDHCZOy7ObfDw8FrpqvN0ncMQgjHwb9M2TksSuC-VinKH55VCH3sPcCKliPuHaxlql-EhHk3Z67EjwkqxvzP6HKoW9Tqst5IeO2FsHZzHGmnZ0jEiQWELYIJf_XQq/s320/34.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155202624545374146" border="0" /></a>It was really cool. We shared the raft with these two 65+ year old English ladies who were a delight. They were very knowledgeable about birds and waterfowl, telling us in detail about each specie we saw.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigm038iLAq9u2v6Z7Rm5xnFrNk5PGr1Zjo0mhBgFzm8JUa29bxyvH2EnTGJTwd-6ZveiFYvae7lHQwMLXapEtdM8DeE6SK7x1hQTeav2CqMojYG59CgnONgn7NjGKWdTH7f-w/s1600-h/32.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigm038iLAq9u2v6Z7Rm5xnFrNk5PGr1Zjo0mhBgFzm8JUa29bxyvH2EnTGJTwd-6ZveiFYvae7lHQwMLXapEtdM8DeE6SK7x1hQTeav2CqMojYG59CgnONgn7NjGKWdTH7f-w/s320/32.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155203079811907538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVt37rGHXldNaOqaNyNn9Y4L-SBnmbipPGwiNYSXcX7XbSILdb2vif8vBszFlcCVKTXkCIBK9rzZ5dmk0nkyWZBiwAXqWjav8OMfDiYB2-vKZO-OYvP5BWbpB9KG2xWZhZ5x5/s1600-h/geese.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVt37rGHXldNaOqaNyNn9Y4L-SBnmbipPGwiNYSXcX7XbSILdb2vif8vBszFlcCVKTXkCIBK9rzZ5dmk0nkyWZBiwAXqWjav8OMfDiYB2-vKZO-OYvP5BWbpB9KG2xWZhZ5x5/s320/geese.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155203719762034674" border="0" /></a>At one point we were cruising along and I said, "Say, isn't that a bald eagle up there?"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW9sE3acsO6-PoIA55RwiTF5_UAQefRVhsRGIrootFPfrsv2Zf-BhqYsNy4YKjtTcxFPDT9LXrsLU_VrF0pNLrONpuNp-I6q4WediOEyMPwnCtW6wHTHr3oLP3G_EMLzXYlAN/s1600-h/33.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW9sE3acsO6-PoIA55RwiTF5_UAQefRVhsRGIrootFPfrsv2Zf-BhqYsNy4YKjtTcxFPDT9LXrsLU_VrF0pNLrONpuNp-I6q4WediOEyMPwnCtW6wHTHr3oLP3G_EMLzXYlAN/s320/33.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155203144236416994" border="0" /></a>The English ladies clasped their hands together and said, "Well DONE, Mr. Hogskin!" (say it aloud in an English accent, it's pretty funny).<br /><br />Later that day we loaded up for our drive east to Cody. On the way we spotted this bull moose in a river...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBffZ9IsJr-W-rGYuJ_BIfcQRbO4aphuDjvUyKgMzlBd3qw0iawLW08aTNYabMJEE9spcUxa_nHPkJyqLzWqKS6RIbQj3bIbypuI3pY6LXE3vn4f0vMFwHdPdsWxzctUZGiDQw/s1600-h/35.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBffZ9IsJr-W-rGYuJ_BIfcQRbO4aphuDjvUyKgMzlBd3qw0iawLW08aTNYabMJEE9spcUxa_nHPkJyqLzWqKS6RIbQj3bIbypuI3pY6LXE3vn4f0vMFwHdPdsWxzctUZGiDQw/s320/35.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155205042611961858" border="0" /></a><br />I'd never been to Cody and only heard that it was a one horse town. What I heard was right. But it was one of the neatest places I've ever been, I suppose it just suits my redneck personality. I wouldn't want to live there but it's a great place to visit. We stayed at the Cody Legacy Inn (owned by Buffalo Bill Cody's grand-niece or somebody vaguely related). Couldn't have asked for a nicer place. The town is rich in history and character. Every year at that time they have a major rodeo invitational. We went to it both nights we were there and it was a blast.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQ3c17AAbBFMnwGG_0rs45tfZXkDQ48d_xZAbHyjzRtXcokGhbmsQWladdbV7gHsl3N6WqvfpAbXxIIJTOt6qxq3Gi9kEHtALrG9UcHD1yx4Si4nWYMZx6fB_ZGtVaWTaFoKX/s1600-h/7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQ3c17AAbBFMnwGG_0rs45tfZXkDQ48d_xZAbHyjzRtXcokGhbmsQWladdbV7gHsl3N6WqvfpAbXxIIJTOt6qxq3Gi9kEHtALrG9UcHD1yx4Si4nWYMZx6fB_ZGtVaWTaFoKX/s320/7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155208182233055282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51-238NxSU24ei5KViaaP4VnznV7ClCOLtbTKHlVujxGie8QeeIxnCBJzUWTWWYtjqehXDDNZ9hyphenhyphenldt32XJeRuxedHAVT5gY4IfwNP55eEhkGtSAV4cQwC0oUmY_r0Krbgv5V/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51-238NxSU24ei5KViaaP4VnznV7ClCOLtbTKHlVujxGie8QeeIxnCBJzUWTWWYtjqehXDDNZ9hyphenhyphenldt32XJeRuxedHAVT5gY4IfwNP55eEhkGtSAV4cQwC0oUmY_r0Krbgv5V/s320/9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155208023319265298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWz0EhiBkWCdD952RCtLgMp_CPjk0sbGgAqyvPirGO-9nqaNvY5LNn733GtnuBPiVCIVGecMJaabrjgZcgcwe67nt3Rhc7zkjXgemNivbG7s5Qlpy7HnJJ-UgRgBHiztx1RvO/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWz0EhiBkWCdD952RCtLgMp_CPjk0sbGgAqyvPirGO-9nqaNvY5LNn733GtnuBPiVCIVGecMJaabrjgZcgcwe67nt3Rhc7zkjXgemNivbG7s5Qlpy7HnJJ-UgRgBHiztx1RvO/s320/6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155208117808545826" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IZohpM2Ue2ZdPYPGp_DISQkP4a1RjvUOdZJB3XGvU47004T7THPbR6IxKgMxkCTVgZW2n37GI-_db2o8yEYx_hZZ7LGvJYjqOgOWeuFxO427TzDjF__0iOI8EdOrv-pzntON/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IZohpM2Ue2ZdPYPGp_DISQkP4a1RjvUOdZJB3XGvU47004T7THPbR6IxKgMxkCTVgZW2n37GI-_db2o8yEYx_hZZ7LGvJYjqOgOWeuFxO427TzDjF__0iOI8EdOrv-pzntON/s320/5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155208401276387394" border="0" /></a>There's a shop/mini-museum in town that has a miniature model of the history of the state. And I know you're thinking "lame" but it was actually pretty cool. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4YqgVuM5jybY8BXNyewvBwGiVPXoLMFdHI2hQz2a3BYVe_8kZDONQTX89S7czj39ku4i9vQ1bnB4kVm5i-P-K8Hgz0S6w_yz4lD4fmCgkN8Xx7jjZFJ49YWcF0GiDHmMzLZH/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4YqgVuM5jybY8BXNyewvBwGiVPXoLMFdHI2hQz2a3BYVe_8kZDONQTX89S7czj39ku4i9vQ1bnB4kVm5i-P-K8Hgz0S6w_yz4lD4fmCgkN8Xx7jjZFJ49YWcF0GiDHmMzLZH/s320/2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155209006866776146" border="0" /></a><span style="">I know what you're going to ask and the answer is "No, I didn't go to the Buffalo Bill Museum" because we ran out of time. And I was crushed about it but at least I now have a good reason to return. I did however hit the local fireworks store and did some damage. Donna & Joe were trying to harsh our mellow but Jack & I ignored them and went on a major spending spree. We bought a large assortment of felonious favors for the impending 4th of July.<br /><br />The next day we headed east to South Dakota and traveled through the prettiest country I'd ever seen. There were deep green meadows that went as far as the eye could see and there wasn't a soul around. Heavenly.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqzP2ValrzNAOfb1q_7B-dSls8aJY38X1PLNnIwUGNXxeZr9p0JH-8mASW55vsVjousz5NiFIlh6RUcxBKhfqa16yYrXwH9DxW9pAC92nUzIFN0PfngsDDD62PUKKaEH4ILRc/s1600-h/11.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqzP2ValrzNAOfb1q_7B-dSls8aJY38X1PLNnIwUGNXxeZr9p0JH-8mASW55vsVjousz5NiFIlh6RUcxBKhfqa16yYrXwH9DxW9pAC92nUzIFN0PfngsDDD62PUKKaEH4ILRc/s320/11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155210260997226594" border="0" /></a>It was a very, very long drive but we finally arrived in...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvLhKyVL8YGVsg1w5MSDJuOSWX54mHnZA8tUmo8eeuPmuF9_mze_AZdhCA_y6eviQ36wONk0B_UNik8XhpZhAzQxXbr770KAfM89XRyU3HJSTwEGdqabTvUA_4UMCjG8VYwBp/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvLhKyVL8YGVsg1w5MSDJuOSWX54mHnZA8tUmo8eeuPmuF9_mze_AZdhCA_y6eviQ36wONk0B_UNik8XhpZhAzQxXbr770KAfM89XRyU3HJSTwEGdqabTvUA_4UMCjG8VYwBp/s320/12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155210471450624114" border="0" /></a>We stayed at the K-Bar S Lodge and we had this view from our deck...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7xNhl04Ukv5GvnEGo70NNrELtqva-tAQyNunlZ4SNMVZhbHg7Yhdu4rq9JaAsBL6sJINq_9YhGuOMC3YEi3lC4-MISdybfEMzPdGV0aGXBX9e92CYoh0O7JI7xK8uwTMPGA5/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7xNhl04Ukv5GvnEGo70NNrELtqva-tAQyNunlZ4SNMVZhbHg7Yhdu4rq9JaAsBL6sJINq_9YhGuOMC3YEi3lC4-MISdybfEMzPdGV0aGXBX9e92CYoh0O7JI7xK8uwTMPGA5/s320/1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155215204504584322" border="0" /></a>Which was nice. As excited as I was to see Mt. Rushmore I was more excited to see our friends Jason, Tracy and kids. We got settled in, fed our tapeworms, and then went to the monument.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHCxBJe1Nmj_9KfW2sD9bdYNBO2ZgcL1zluqF1vo0HWwxL1-X7l9NFbpn3VpVa6JhporaEiep32kkVVDc_Tm5eVOEMvo_pUqTTNxM1qexMEDgqi0_NyQ51E6JxsPTWqTYA01Y/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHCxBJe1Nmj_9KfW2sD9bdYNBO2ZgcL1zluqF1vo0HWwxL1-X7l9NFbpn3VpVa6JhporaEiep32kkVVDc_Tm5eVOEMvo_pUqTTNxM1qexMEDgqi0_NyQ51E6JxsPTWqTYA01Y/s320/2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155215758555365522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dSaiIqovMm3dYKjR6ByWtwdqj2Q-VpecnzLN_DJpCCGr00J6wrrZyJxNiMQYbH1IJoabZZJgcy9s64pI39kC1GgNstP5xbMJrKKYynmIX7j4aBoWMx_8lVb1U2CKF2W-sBo3/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dSaiIqovMm3dYKjR6ByWtwdqj2Q-VpecnzLN_DJpCCGr00J6wrrZyJxNiMQYbH1IJoabZZJgcy9s64pI39kC1GgNstP5xbMJrKKYynmIX7j4aBoWMx_8lVb1U2CKF2W-sBo3/s320/4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155215926059090082" border="0" /></a>Jason, being an artist and a history buff was a wealth of info about the monument and its history. He might consider adding "docent" to the myriad jobs he's doing right now.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNEKJfc3w2QV2woIFSoSTel_i0AzUH-hE-D2M3sMV0FxJgHTHNEwbO4tdpA1683pJ-wDS4WQZFWzfzWeen_ayVTEKamYGJF5sNd4qgLs5UBQ5-UpJYorPKsI0OozrDsnvZ0R2/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNEKJfc3w2QV2woIFSoSTel_i0AzUH-hE-D2M3sMV0FxJgHTHNEwbO4tdpA1683pJ-wDS4WQZFWzfzWeen_ayVTEKamYGJF5sNd4qgLs5UBQ5-UpJYorPKsI0OozrDsnvZ0R2/s320/6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155215999073534130" border="0" /></a>The next day we visited a mine. The history of this area is rich and to see what some of these people went through in their quest for wealth is impressive. And crazy.<br /><br />Safety briefing...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPK39YPpOTecoPUZPNDneDNYvbvTiRm-MXjRc93ORSivXYTjNjOBXyxD562JUfW3KF7Osoc64WIi6xfq5wDhnpZLT2hhQw34rrEL6eV6AKf-mxLbvWow-fQsVaXa1UOK-tbmY/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPK39YPpOTecoPUZPNDneDNYvbvTiRm-MXjRc93ORSivXYTjNjOBXyxD562JUfW3KF7Osoc64WIi6xfq5wDhnpZLT2hhQw34rrEL6eV6AKf-mxLbvWow-fQsVaXa1UOK-tbmY/s320/8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155217296153657538" border="0" /></a>You get to wear a helmet that's been warn by about 500 other people which is no problem for a germphobe like myself. I had the willies pretty much the whole time wondering what kind of yet undiscovered parasites were leaping from this stylish yellow bucket onto my dome but the helmet was a necessity due to the low rock ceiling. We went pretty deep into the mine and my claustrophobia was swelling. I was glad to get out. Yes - germphobia, claustrophobia, I'm nuts. I know. Thanks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-p2NKPnlX_3pmuoRT-hiSzuDOMz0QBLhnQbmJimAHiEy-efnWQrO7QtrZ55mz1zqQhGbdIO5E0DOyJLYywYf90RvdORNVnzTQLk8MfDhcT3ms6XAZrk8MpEYwJp3vV2Ak9Tb/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-p2NKPnlX_3pmuoRT-hiSzuDOMz0QBLhnQbmJimAHiEy-efnWQrO7QtrZ55mz1zqQhGbdIO5E0DOyJLYywYf90RvdORNVnzTQLk8MfDhcT3ms6XAZrk8MpEYwJp3vV2Ak9Tb/s320/12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155217549556728018" border="0" /></a>We spent the afternoon at the Black Hills National Forest having a picnic, swimming in the lake. That evening we visited Camp Judson, a nearby Christian Camp where Jason speaks regularly. After we grubbed we sat on the deck while the kids played in the field below. It's a great place. I like having friends in high places that can hook us up like this.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-w2mJU4JGeGPUVfhpsX0RjFNZWROiIj-4IZCa0GKKWS1XsOe_xKLO9svRgVPG0Bmpld2UMTuKzri3doxtKi0_NDq_w7vbgF-y-C6Psl_VWqdVqaPUKH2QadLuLPBKwCvBS67v/s1600-h/19.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-w2mJU4JGeGPUVfhpsX0RjFNZWROiIj-4IZCa0GKKWS1XsOe_xKLO9svRgVPG0Bmpld2UMTuKzri3doxtKi0_NDq_w7vbgF-y-C6Psl_VWqdVqaPUKH2QadLuLPBKwCvBS67v/s320/19.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155219568191357154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8VGwDJeOtsxxaJY8S8-u0zemIZCLe62cRqJN9PcSp0pp7L3__1hxu8pAaAp9QZl0GW8y1xKCBC2pi6cMkDrKVa6bdTMG-S9rngNi-MAbdeq9dpGGVYUlO64BVBWOryjPyUw9/s1600-h/21.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8VGwDJeOtsxxaJY8S8-u0zemIZCLe62cRqJN9PcSp0pp7L3__1hxu8pAaAp9QZl0GW8y1xKCBC2pi6cMkDrKVa6bdTMG-S9rngNi-MAbdeq9dpGGVYUlO64BVBWOryjPyUw9/s320/21.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155219645500768498" border="0" /></a><br />On the way back to the lodge we saw this group of democrats. I tried to do the world a favor and take a few out with the bumper but they got out of the way too quickly. Them democrats are sly! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpScQPKe39QTjjmBLJV8jbqIQCQ1MsAVOWRkf1yejtP13euJbXDWe8_M2G_qy37QMcLdMXlFUD8ZSILZmYM6ZUT7nGCDAGlCHJ1H0uBJr3Bf7ckyjBYeIZIwh7lP-qonhWcis/s1600-h/25.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpScQPKe39QTjjmBLJV8jbqIQCQ1MsAVOWRkf1yejtP13euJbXDWe8_M2G_qy37QMcLdMXlFUD8ZSILZmYM6ZUT7nGCDAGlCHJ1H0uBJr3Bf7ckyjBYeIZIwh7lP-qonhWcis/s320/25.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155219989098152194" border="0" /></a><span style="">The next day we went east to Sioux Falls, Jason's home town. On the way we stopped at Wall Drug and if you've never been there I can't really describe it to you except to say it's the mother of all tourist traps and I LOVED IT. What you can expect if you decided to visit....</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Leo6b9_Sx1NJALJwunikMutSiihyphenhyphenXt5Lf0Dlx2rs5nYQ05wGbzqyBGat57nCfx19ADFLggqljhLsgyDvUrlAXiHTu9yMppqnl9wZNKE_DAFcVFmuHL9wTG8V0D-tn77zM9BZ/s1600-h/29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Leo6b9_Sx1NJALJwunikMutSiihyphenhyphenXt5Lf0Dlx2rs5nYQ05wGbzqyBGat57nCfx19ADFLggqljhLsgyDvUrlAXiHTu9yMppqnl9wZNKE_DAFcVFmuHL9wTG8V0D-tn77zM9BZ/s320/29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155220946875859234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7NV4wPysIQBKSuTLG2M1cdirGgjiwEpUaKLiH9EkQQE0jT1E8z9utKOdEEeflaVScnlht3hzAFunCi1jT_bNF1RbVw1GFgcnn4Kp5QDyZzWBYV_hv6_M5VNjLZPW7K2lrXvk/s1600-h/28.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7NV4wPysIQBKSuTLG2M1cdirGgjiwEpUaKLiH9EkQQE0jT1E8z9utKOdEEeflaVScnlht3hzAFunCi1jT_bNF1RbVw1GFgcnn4Kp5QDyZzWBYV_hv6_M5VNjLZPW7K2lrXvk/s320/28.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155220882451349778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjXLJZblw6LhAr_kXqMWa43xndPlN7Ea3o7_MaX_6KIki75tepMVbDjjDs2pDMjLLi0URuJCQ6VPL4yUN2oFQ0W5LUEK06eXH0Aqq6Kw6Oa9QNUfbVfpBuTg_9zC0jtnb-jGv/s1600-h/31.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjXLJZblw6LhAr_kXqMWa43xndPlN7Ea3o7_MaX_6KIki75tepMVbDjjDs2pDMjLLi0URuJCQ6VPL4yUN2oFQ0W5LUEK06eXH0Aqq6Kw6Oa9QNUfbVfpBuTg_9zC0jtnb-jGv/s320/31.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155221011300368690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyfd3-ttXSTr0iLd-41qd4RKs08nRtmuSv2aM4Y4FbTqZgS9PRA0Fk_6527fJ0bR31AK17bmu36Xu9Ealuh0ASMDNj2jy_9jdYOhyphenhyphend5vqSdZh5Re35cnX1jheXw3TaxRx55_x/s1600-h/wall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyfd3-ttXSTr0iLd-41qd4RKs08nRtmuSv2aM4Y4FbTqZgS9PRA0Fk_6527fJ0bR31AK17bmu36Xu9Ealuh0ASMDNj2jy_9jdYOhyphenhyphend5vqSdZh5Re35cnX1jheXw3TaxRx55_x/s320/wall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155221552466248002" border="0" /></a>We pushed on and made it to Sioux Falls. We stayed at the Ramada because they have an indoor pool with a pirate ship. You know why they have an indoor pool with a pirate ship? Because it's so freakin' cold ten months out of the year that an outdoor pool would be solid ice. Anyway, it's cool and the kids (and adults) had a blast.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0GvxtSqZlGL0dRKv_8d37wOqvQ2a2QFvmMLoSlWcDFaCDTRuqb5pqDbm9FrhU6yD-NVEcTfcr4jwYksgrvwzq8p93ruyOs4xbfMCE24Ic-tB44dteNryk8qIKXKyQBIkyGE_/s1600-h/30.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0GvxtSqZlGL0dRKv_8d37wOqvQ2a2QFvmMLoSlWcDFaCDTRuqb5pqDbm9FrhU6yD-NVEcTfcr4jwYksgrvwzq8p93ruyOs4xbfMCE24Ic-tB44dteNryk8qIKXKyQBIkyGE_/s320/30.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155222136581800274" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29wbX1SEmboKW2eBoQnU1w9b9fZJLp7vFM1MAsF36-zC4gXAmEOK7-8vaY49KDoky0GLhfgwsXKTO40DVg80OzYNAwoPOOZ1sU8li-Cl0B5VSi2_llAC1B9HAjI2gSWz8mgLK/s1600-h/33.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29wbX1SEmboKW2eBoQnU1w9b9fZJLp7vFM1MAsF36-zC4gXAmEOK7-8vaY49KDoky0GLhfgwsXKTO40DVg80OzYNAwoPOOZ1sU8li-Cl0B5VSi2_llAC1B9HAjI2gSWz8mgLK/s320/33.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155222235366048098" border="0" /></a>We stayed there a night and then our buddies put us up at their place. It's a great place and I have some cool pictures of it but I can't post them because he's a bigshot in the state and it would be like posting photos of my last trip to Camp David, a no-no. On the 4th of July we visited the falls of Sioux Falls. Beautiful. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8lVxNNGO8s3bFISB5EEPicUWnfCR4QZV6y5b1WJExP1XXaQ2ekghPk97sLAGpxDou_m4c5565EXzEocXnmgqvndrXVsXR8kKX0Hy4ys5Fu2mMa21TuKfJD-TnBVUWRT_HaET/s1600-h/36.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8lVxNNGO8s3bFISB5EEPicUWnfCR4QZV6y5b1WJExP1XXaQ2ekghPk97sLAGpxDou_m4c5565EXzEocXnmgqvndrXVsXR8kKX0Hy4ys5Fu2mMa21TuKfJD-TnBVUWRT_HaET/s320/36.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155222381394936178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy773HHKjFh_VbL_rGwtySFE48XmWpIbG5swjBjhQorUjxkH7JCLR4LhooyCCJacCRDA2nSiEkcxu5dppc2ksKOcgiH5XMEq4RDR0BPKTi5_8CD4_8ulVCAgwrUCBcruxfBBPu/s1600-h/40.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy773HHKjFh_VbL_rGwtySFE48XmWpIbG5swjBjhQorUjxkH7JCLR4LhooyCCJacCRDA2nSiEkcxu5dppc2ksKOcgiH5XMEq4RDR0BPKTi5_8CD4_8ulVCAgwrUCBcruxfBBPu/s320/40.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155222587553366418" border="0" /></a><br />I love being an American.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZNkNBpoH34P0g7JOHOo9Nsc3EHstyTENJ6iyhpg-zGwy3MgZ7xjMRgyxU_s0TaMAl6RdY8AUPW18OpK1xAKZVVznJ3In2EcIrBoi_mH8u9AtR3AuzaNFw9lF7lCbhMzsJGFI/s1600-h/39.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZNkNBpoH34P0g7JOHOo9Nsc3EHstyTENJ6iyhpg-zGwy3MgZ7xjMRgyxU_s0TaMAl6RdY8AUPW18OpK1xAKZVVznJ3In2EcIrBoi_mH8u9AtR3AuzaNFw9lF7lCbhMzsJGFI/s320/39.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155222488769118594" border="0" /></a>Later we had a barbecue, bought a bunch more explosives and then went to Jason's buddy's place to blow them off.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23OSOa3xdc7fMaihrjhGjYIiePfJnzoLEbHI1XBuX_alM2rjotvjJ2SnMFgwjIdgMxQXCOkzj5i0YrQ0IitR7EIM8zO8a_Nnuqyp9NJc-75_zgZPmcvMeJsJtQ8FMkxbtM8Hm/s1600-h/41.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23OSOa3xdc7fMaihrjhGjYIiePfJnzoLEbHI1XBuX_alM2rjotvjJ2SnMFgwjIdgMxQXCOkzj5i0YrQ0IitR7EIM8zO8a_Nnuqyp9NJc-75_zgZPmcvMeJsJtQ8FMkxbtM8Hm/s320/41.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155222660567810466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1tlHjMkHTHhOWUuDX0WIrSwprkjyGLg_iZKAqezFeBkhzMq2r5AOpbfUBaiX37sAOiIfqT-UZ9mb66IV8P9t-Zh_Jko_vm6TxQQtYLewWgy7fbiVzfc0EFCHzDSvGS_EXrfj/s1600-h/42.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1tlHjMkHTHhOWUuDX0WIrSwprkjyGLg_iZKAqezFeBkhzMq2r5AOpbfUBaiX37sAOiIfqT-UZ9mb66IV8P9t-Zh_Jko_vm6TxQQtYLewWgy7fbiVzfc0EFCHzDSvGS_EXrfj/s320/42.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155222759352058290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkR-5BEkxykQzzCllx_g_dEk0gseApnBK-cz5uoaBwPB7WftGinqnMzLLRHgJNcDblcL9zkufZjvMr22L3KSbgMGmCKuKpk5GaMaf4al6qpJMiu5P_w9dCN2GCk5CPm34XWn47/s1600-h/27.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkR-5BEkxykQzzCllx_g_dEk0gseApnBK-cz5uoaBwPB7WftGinqnMzLLRHgJNcDblcL9zkufZjvMr22L3KSbgMGmCKuKpk5GaMaf4al6qpJMiu5P_w9dCN2GCk5CPm34XWn47/s320/27.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155222956920553938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWK1RcvW_NPBtfi2BE_VO8KrbkLkycUjpWpDalTzYqwnI80orQhXzqJuSRIx2F0Dj-9gVuxK9mfzvlm5HwQ6wWVfo5H8mr9TihWd55KoVxja71oIZcjLWyefL2Y8eFzhyphenhyphenNK17/s1600-h/26.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWK1RcvW_NPBtfi2BE_VO8KrbkLkycUjpWpDalTzYqwnI80orQhXzqJuSRIx2F0Dj-9gVuxK9mfzvlm5HwQ6wWVfo5H8mr9TihWd55KoVxja71oIZcjLWyefL2Y8eFzhyphenhyphenNK17/s320/26.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155222901085979074" border="0" /></a>If there were mountains nearby I'd move there in a heartbeat. I was in heaven. Another one of those benefits of having friends in high places kinda things.<br /><br />The next day we packed the car and finally started to drive in the direction of home. I was a little sad because seeing Jason and his family was the high point of the vacation (for me, anyway). I miss them terribly. Anyway, we drove all day and ended up in Kearney, Nebraska to go to well, you know...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqBtK-a1BiRxJMM8u0GdmE9Z7EXLROHhNH_8w9ca19FCA0zQA4nFJK0-wBlAEHgynFYIE5kM7bkEBnk93XRqvF3gZ6knc89ATb0rVIboSYrto00T7TtKQHNY8WEklUP2uHKOp/s1600-h/IMG_5630.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqBtK-a1BiRxJMM8u0GdmE9Z7EXLROHhNH_8w9ca19FCA0zQA4nFJK0-wBlAEHgynFYIE5kM7bkEBnk93XRqvF3gZ6knc89ATb0rVIboSYrto00T7TtKQHNY8WEklUP2uHKOp/s320/IMG_5630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155225508131127778" border="0" /></a>I shot my wad (of money, that is) inside that place. It actually took two days to do so. We stayed at a motel overnight. I know, I accept your scorn.<br /><br />We went south and into<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIjnt4t8FXNt4Zih4FpAvPXTtKPd_bdZ0k7RJF6n2UEVEVx0MftdO0c33paahYPHUyoykZ7QyHOOV9Eyu6e5yXRVDRe4502iPZsIR6kU58Gd3LSMDy-g-G9OqtTRLLo97IP_y/s1600-h/IMG_5646.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIjnt4t8FXNt4Zih4FpAvPXTtKPd_bdZ0k7RJF6n2UEVEVx0MftdO0c33paahYPHUyoykZ7QyHOOV9Eyu6e5yXRVDRe4502iPZsIR6kU58Gd3LSMDy-g-G9OqtTRLLo97IP_y/s320/IMG_5646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155226564693082610" border="0" /></a>We stayed with our buddies, Bruce & Melissa and Bryce & Corey. Our first day there we went to Red Rock Amphitheater near Golden. A visitor's center told about all the bands that have played there. The list is impressive.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RPEqkn5SsLcATr9pbsoAqYOyzKEkBY7BrgfR3_-l4nvOQEe0TQvGWLXbyzh0Ui5J6Mjmi4Um071T0mjrP5eJPe5ny_HSW5piSt1WQ0LTMMpev7FV-lWN41qBIj1WCFJLxfoF/s1600-h/IMG_5669.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RPEqkn5SsLcATr9pbsoAqYOyzKEkBY7BrgfR3_-l4nvOQEe0TQvGWLXbyzh0Ui5J6Mjmi4Um071T0mjrP5eJPe5ny_HSW5piSt1WQ0LTMMpev7FV-lWN41qBIj1WCFJLxfoF/s320/IMG_5669.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155227277657653762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtW_eFeFk2SwOIwJ9UUeO7hFHDTRNDZYkt5Ze8XKdSCVIqU_22sIA5y_ZMe3lIcMqoCfQdBmKSaRVGxNeLZKT1Y12ZAFQnNOZa1OKDrj_1m0AOx_1ZfLt0BsWxJRO-nM-tWWk/s1600-h/IMG_5658.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtW_eFeFk2SwOIwJ9UUeO7hFHDTRNDZYkt5Ze8XKdSCVIqU_22sIA5y_ZMe3lIcMqoCfQdBmKSaRVGxNeLZKT1Y12ZAFQnNOZa1OKDrj_1m0AOx_1ZfLt0BsWxJRO-nM-tWWk/s320/IMG_5658.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155227372146934290" border="0" /></a>There's a river that runs right through Golden and we had a picnic right next to it. The local yokels grab any floating item they can find and float down during the summer. Looked fun but we weren't really prepared.<br /><span style=""><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsatFAEvdXsxLhlcOxJQ9p16EbKfGw6m_iRDMe5unZkg4GTy36fOlFIwJ4bMw62k8QXLdBmAafMSOwkeU0dhrH1DiqjBVlj-26ygGG5fdQFVDrYwcbZcESKUnUrPZDpVVjIpF/s1600-h/IMG_5686.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsatFAEvdXsxLhlcOxJQ9p16EbKfGw6m_iRDMe5unZkg4GTy36fOlFIwJ4bMw62k8QXLdBmAafMSOwkeU0dhrH1DiqjBVlj-26ygGG5fdQFVDrYwcbZcESKUnUrPZDpVVjIpF/s320/IMG_5686.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155227522470789666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdG1-FbeIUbeBBSi6cqYEo4cj9QHC4cdfnn9AtLoYFJU2PMCYLQMMuFwjerqWV5pLIxz7u-OIZTqcg3QfNGLZcDAGw7Uau7UplEM4j592TLoXl5w1w_Ioq49t7H1XWyP3WtJR3/s1600-h/IMG_5690.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdG1-FbeIUbeBBSi6cqYEo4cj9QHC4cdfnn9AtLoYFJU2PMCYLQMMuFwjerqWV5pLIxz7u-OIZTqcg3QfNGLZcDAGw7Uau7UplEM4j592TLoXl5w1w_Ioq49t7H1XWyP3WtJR3/s320/IMG_5690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155227595485233714" border="0" /></a>That night we visited the Adams family. No, the other Adams family.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_Dqm48DgQTqSPoVuD4_t9mXMRnnB67neDpRYIin6yfXOQlMxIzhsMcCvETWAnuoZNiLDBON-Cm-UOaLLo6xhQ7n96JNc2jybAEezNDFBruR3e0zNfWA1R_bzwC3IVGW0VrtE/s1600-h/adams.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_Dqm48DgQTqSPoVuD4_t9mXMRnnB67neDpRYIin6yfXOQlMxIzhsMcCvETWAnuoZNiLDBON-Cm-UOaLLo6xhQ7n96JNc2jybAEezNDFBruR3e0zNfWA1R_bzwC3IVGW0VrtE/s320/adams.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155228694996861506" border="0" /></a>And we got to celebrate Jeremy's birthday with them. Which was nice.<br /><span style=""><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGxX1uSxaIpm-XdzScv8myjtNu3yuHZMuqY0zt8cKc7yr0TQlZkumo7fdDjVxHH5rzR-3nVICFd_InhqoZ4BEK0SeValKtGlyG4r5t-l7QD2z7RJIPr1yb7C6vQFw0yXtWIz8/s1600-h/IMG_5701.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGxX1uSxaIpm-XdzScv8myjtNu3yuHZMuqY0zt8cKc7yr0TQlZkumo7fdDjVxHH5rzR-3nVICFd_InhqoZ4BEK0SeValKtGlyG4r5t-l7QD2z7RJIPr1yb7C6vQFw0yXtWIz8/s320/IMG_5701.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155228828140847698" border="0" /></a><br />The next day we loaded up and hit the road. We had planned to overnight in Grand Junction but we were making good time so we planned to push through to Vegas. Little did we know that darn near all of Utah was on fire. So we got stuck about three hours outside of Vegas and had to get a hotel. A nice place but in the middle of BF Egypt. The next morning the fire danger was gone and we made it into Vegas. I have to tell you, I really hate that place. The heat was oppressive. Everything is way overpriced. There's women walking around with their girlparts hanging out at all hours of the day & night. The whole place is just a big steaming pile. But we had a voucher for two free nights so we stayed one. We played in the arcades, saw the M&M museum (colossal waste of time, trust me on this), and went to see a movie. We're the only family I've ever known that goes to Vegas to see a movie.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ508VoR3ecA8ThV4ZRByToPkR9mDYTiEt6-J51ZpApbUKiP07B6yy-DUrALSML5RXJuFjsEx6PwgfQvAlfaQRXoEr44NewlB14H81FhvauN3qaoduC8Gwb3Wc2C_JvY1A44ak/s1600-h/IMG_5740.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ508VoR3ecA8ThV4ZRByToPkR9mDYTiEt6-J51ZpApbUKiP07B6yy-DUrALSML5RXJuFjsEx6PwgfQvAlfaQRXoEr44NewlB14H81FhvauN3qaoduC8Gwb3Wc2C_JvY1A44ak/s320/IMG_5740.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155232444503310946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIJgpxztEnC9XcZYuFECDSyBl_OG3s8hWH8NjUDNke3I7KChsokYCwFdnFYsAF8EiB8EboToM9JMoIzAS6Gq9PWmtVNrEpKzvVdQs4OM4xKofTxuvr54y7_fw01iWl6QAalSa/s1600-h/IMG_5756.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIJgpxztEnC9XcZYuFECDSyBl_OG3s8hWH8NjUDNke3I7KChsokYCwFdnFYsAF8EiB8EboToM9JMoIzAS6Gq9PWmtVNrEpKzvVdQs4OM4xKofTxuvr54y7_fw01iWl6QAalSa/s320/IMG_5756.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155232513222787698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPq27-YeXgVDJD7WJn8mhd3cNniuozIggq-Lk3agJW2SL683ulO-iUYb0QnxSYSkl5TSEgegJ-QmjBuNU9YCYdFUgJc4KAZ_ZXADC5cEgvjOGSeVewoL_6m6MXE7bjkNgF_GIN/s1600-h/IMG_5769.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPq27-YeXgVDJD7WJn8mhd3cNniuozIggq-Lk3agJW2SL683ulO-iUYb0QnxSYSkl5TSEgegJ-QmjBuNU9YCYdFUgJc4KAZ_ZXADC5cEgvjOGSeVewoL_6m6MXE7bjkNgF_GIN/s320/IMG_5769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155232607712068226" border="0" /></a>We were on the road and headed home by noon on day 2. We were antsy to get home and sleep in our own bed. We pulled into the drive around 5:00, totally spent but thankful for a great time. The boys behaved perfectly and never once got whiney about being stuck in the car. I was amazed. I think I'd like to do that trip again but with less structure so we can be more flexible as to where we stay & how long.<br /><span style=""><br />PART TWO of 2007 to follow shortly, stay tuned.<br /></span>willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-31986741113787236162007-10-01T22:48:00.000-07:002007-10-01T23:35:03.289-07:00Weekend getawayLast Friday the family unit & I headed to the eastern Sierras for a few days of camping with Dean and his brood. We camped due west of Independence, a few miles below Onion Valley.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbP2yY-ii80yKa7FdR09aqVDZj-o35XgBetorjt2j4GAIX2KAtyVxdui1kFe1nfC5GqXlYisSTI43yF0VOus2sf7NxfqwSmKXP2F7mNmNmLg7sldwLd6svZX9A1sjrLKvBaFf9/s1600-h/mountains.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbP2yY-ii80yKa7FdR09aqVDZj-o35XgBetorjt2j4GAIX2KAtyVxdui1kFe1nfC5GqXlYisSTI43yF0VOus2sf7NxfqwSmKXP2F7mNmNmLg7sldwLd6svZX9A1sjrLKvBaFf9/s320/mountains.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116614183707547682" border="0" /></a><br />I love the eastern Sierras at this time of year - the days are cool and crisp, the leaves are changing… I can’t really explain what I enjoy so much about it. I just feel like new life is being breathed into me. We arrived on Friday afternoon, set up camp and lounged around a campfire. It was a touch on the breezy side and when we turned in early (around 9:00 or so) I knew it was going to be a cold night. But I didn’t know it was going to be <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> cold. The next morning the thermometer in my truck read 38 degrees. And that was at 8:30 when the truck had been sitting in the sun for awhile. BRRRR!!! We had a traditional camp breakfast and then I was ready for a nap.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uIaLo_r5st_bzuwB0Vt0VH6vsDo9q-bKM6ZzFcIEmWxPt0jkBYSiu143TlryfvEOfloiwpIBgrzxB8IPaIku1Cb4dBQOcejfNrmtwv6j8HRSOO3qNdeJbYhXbyQaBeI4QnCG/s1600-h/breakfast.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uIaLo_r5st_bzuwB0Vt0VH6vsDo9q-bKM6ZzFcIEmWxPt0jkBYSiu143TlryfvEOfloiwpIBgrzxB8IPaIku1Cb4dBQOcejfNrmtwv6j8HRSOO3qNdeJbYhXbyQaBeI4QnCG/s320/breakfast.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116615193024862258" border="0" /></a><br />But the kids weren’t having any part of it so we went geocaching instead. Here’s a photo from the place our second cache was found.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHt-gsBkW1TWVpj4iWu7FN5dUrDwW8qJJsu6pW5zjHn8Cg8CuNTe2Y58mZTbkn8TdnVjFQF6beB3B4718SezJHU8rcuXHJ5NRThTtpJMyHWG0BqghDkcQD_3nETB_bqb-nIz2/s1600-h/geocachers.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHt-gsBkW1TWVpj4iWu7FN5dUrDwW8qJJsu6pW5zjHn8Cg8CuNTe2Y58mZTbkn8TdnVjFQF6beB3B4718SezJHU8rcuXHJ5NRThTtpJMyHWG0BqghDkcQD_3nETB_bqb-nIz2/s320/geocachers.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116615953234073666" border="0" /></a>On the drive back to camp we came across a small herd of muley does. They started to haul it out of there when they saw us watching them but I recalled having a deer call in my console so I took it out and gave it a few squeaks. They turned on a dime, stopped, and stared directly at us. A few more squeaks and they took a few steps toward us.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MOKDtN7Q6n6_iTzUGYKgIwo5Vr7Tsyf-vNxo8zGFKGFD2-8rjPnzv32U3z0-kjAvv-0x-2rZUmA47UN42V5qFs0byflVw1QIf7Pc-EVLN13X57NRxzQocVsNXVgO987Pc8-n/s1600-h/doe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MOKDtN7Q6n6_iTzUGYKgIwo5Vr7Tsyf-vNxo8zGFKGFD2-8rjPnzv32U3z0-kjAvv-0x-2rZUmA47UN42V5qFs0byflVw1QIf7Pc-EVLN13X57NRxzQocVsNXVgO987Pc8-n/s320/doe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116616125032765522" border="0" /></a><br />We watched them for awhile and then headed back to camp where we loaded up our fishing gear for an afternoon of drowning worms. We decided to hit Sabrina. I’ve never been there before and the beauty of that place is breathtaking.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5sQwchFeTY-XjPj6rPsHQkwtBgXyinrNAxp4lVcBHqPSpi8nQ328zHMPwgc0CtmTzCdKTMbvLF0tqPIXnMOf9j_keM0-PJKN5WUVN1D19HBt7TpJqjEq3_7-dGMfM7szAx6r/s1600-h/sabrina.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5sQwchFeTY-XjPj6rPsHQkwtBgXyinrNAxp4lVcBHqPSpi8nQ328zHMPwgc0CtmTzCdKTMbvLF0tqPIXnMOf9j_keM0-PJKN5WUVN1D19HBt7TpJqjEq3_7-dGMfM7szAx6r/s320/sabrina.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116617855904585842" border="0" /></a>We spread out along the shore and tossed in some lines.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fN44RzAJ5Ls-UbI3V-hS0l30KJjAMz_3wNzy3q67z3nsESr49aOnGqMMmqeXnA4MsnM4yGfQcOg2BbDu5gI5tZVDdFDon1EbA2goBQlDE3yIJ-0_TO4T-RZ-Or5-V6LE-ujq/s1600-h/joe.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fN44RzAJ5Ls-UbI3V-hS0l30KJjAMz_3wNzy3q67z3nsESr49aOnGqMMmqeXnA4MsnM4yGfQcOg2BbDu5gI5tZVDdFDon1EbA2goBQlDE3yIJ-0_TO4T-RZ-Or5-V6LE-ujq/s320/joe.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116618659063470210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2q285IknRJPcKoD-4ccNE_kNzvjq9d1MLCMDCBMH5QUnO-OfQG4Ij-X8WXhi88Oxr56-DQKTGmQs_aPDotC40m4N4yA3AORx6OOEmPerr-Hj0MaGd6iUpt1IAYE44IG8SlUdu/s1600-h/jack.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2q285IknRJPcKoD-4ccNE_kNzvjq9d1MLCMDCBMH5QUnO-OfQG4Ij-X8WXhi88Oxr56-DQKTGmQs_aPDotC40m4N4yA3AORx6OOEmPerr-Hj0MaGd6iUpt1IAYE44IG8SlUdu/s320/jack.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116619251768957074" border="0" /></a><br />As is often the case with kids, Jack and Joe started to get a bit bored after an hour or so of no action. They got to wandering around when Jack got a bite. I grabbed his rod and set the hook, all the while hollering at him to “get over here and reel this thing in!” It was his first fish and he was ecstatic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQG09RSAozZ-u2U4IBC3kqEWOe6CsfPyH0O_xO-I2qhHwfwWVCNdy4fcv9t4Ikhb72qaWTAzHIj2IQmaKsltmR0nnVHJLw1zgFkuquA7RrDXznfjFy5VaEjktjwn9DVzvVBf2/s1600-h/jack+and+daddy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQG09RSAozZ-u2U4IBC3kqEWOe6CsfPyH0O_xO-I2qhHwfwWVCNdy4fcv9t4Ikhb72qaWTAzHIj2IQmaKsltmR0nnVHJLw1zgFkuquA7RrDXznfjFy5VaEjktjwn9DVzvVBf2/s320/jack+and+daddy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116620089287579810" border="0" /></a><br />It was just a little guy and I proposed throwing him back but Jack didn’t want to hear any of that nonsense. Rather than ruin the moment I helped Jack put him on the stringer and high-fived him on a job well done. With a fish under his belt there wasn’t a snowball’s chance that he would get far from his rod any time soon. And it was a good thing because not 45 minutes later he had one tugging on his line. “Get ‘im, Jack!!” I shouted. And “get ‘im” he did. This one was no dink but a very respectable fish that was a good pound and a half. Celebrations ensued.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZMV37Kl-EBXrbbyCxf089dPztt7YO5uSWtnwkIb3DBpBlmuk1Vg4cg_lXj010Pvcp3UN-PDbD1T4nKEKNKMi8cQ2n3jNH_zUzENCJqqLlLp2LpO5hyphenhyphenqwNUIFGd82OX16kyoP/s1600-h/jack+with+big+fish.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZMV37Kl-EBXrbbyCxf089dPztt7YO5uSWtnwkIb3DBpBlmuk1Vg4cg_lXj010Pvcp3UN-PDbD1T4nKEKNKMi8cQ2n3jNH_zUzENCJqqLlLp2LpO5hyphenhyphenqwNUIFGd82OX16kyoP/s320/jack+with+big+fish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116620398525225138" border="0" /></a><br />With the tall peaks all around us the sun disappeared early and it got downright cold so we loaded up and headed back to camp. On the way back we came across a herd of Tule elk. I’ve been trying for nearly 20 years to pull a tag to hunt these beasts with no luck. If I ever do, I think I’d like to whack this guy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEnuaplt4g3kTLa-r7EE4I4BzpH8XLU7yOH53KOx6cPTURNxU-5dU824CYsTha5uGodi593Rj0jWx3tSglZzZeQWibnrDRECeKc3bZM9tN9nhbYmSryX5U7QYrk35b6j3CVUX/s1600-h/elk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEnuaplt4g3kTLa-r7EE4I4BzpH8XLU7yOH53KOx6cPTURNxU-5dU824CYsTha5uGodi593Rj0jWx3tSglZzZeQWibnrDRECeKc3bZM9tN9nhbYmSryX5U7QYrk35b6j3CVUX/s320/elk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116620570323916994" border="0" /></a><br />Back at camp we fed our tapeworms bratwurst sandwiches, baked beans, and an assortment of treats. I fell into bed at 9:00 and didn’t move a muscle till the next morning. It was heavenly. While we broke camp the boys hammed it up for the occasional photo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbm3XOr2C0aMgzc7NOEXAc_uYU7fqwOTfsYPnggJ3QrZj0Ue37D99gkJL4kgc_MOX5yfKRZlXX_ZG8ck11PiUnKVjKPuC2wzUJVtXlDw376JktbATmsbVt_BLZ4qX_1LJfg0o/s1600-h/the+crew.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbm3XOr2C0aMgzc7NOEXAc_uYU7fqwOTfsYPnggJ3QrZj0Ue37D99gkJL4kgc_MOX5yfKRZlXX_ZG8ck11PiUnKVjKPuC2wzUJVtXlDw376JktbATmsbVt_BLZ4qX_1LJfg0o/s320/the+crew.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116621210274044114" border="0" /></a><br />We even got a little bb gun target practice in, with Isabelle showing the boys how it’s done.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhns4EJEm2LoK257TzV-McecoWnVwPxNks0eKTtv2Agp7NSujQMqVjde0nOgu06gNSa0PlZyX2_d1l_C4tsbURw9QIJX2UpfqNEX5D30zd0vv5GanQvAJEOnxWFNuMPT3Bier/s1600-h/isabelle.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhns4EJEm2LoK257TzV-McecoWnVwPxNks0eKTtv2Agp7NSujQMqVjde0nOgu06gNSa0PlZyX2_d1l_C4tsbURw9QIJX2UpfqNEX5D30zd0vv5GanQvAJEOnxWFNuMPT3Bier/s320/isabelle.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116621871699007714" border="0" /></a><br />The drive home was uneventful (just the way I like it) and the boys were good helpers when it came time to unload. All in all a good trip, one I’m already looking forward to next year.willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-78428300120799497522007-09-14T12:45:00.001-07:002007-09-14T15:05:09.870-07:00Practice, practice, practice!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdSyW9qDH5YOg6nZLP8QXVMNiUou389s6M3X_sM3ff_7b1pd7LYOqogjOLARM4uQNnCwCnuOcn7yxecLbhEw8cFoAk9t5KRyUfwy8ZVUdW90hoOlSEMDfTDoo-ACze7cvbqnb/s1600-h/head+in+sand.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdSyW9qDH5YOg6nZLP8QXVMNiUou389s6M3X_sM3ff_7b1pd7LYOqogjOLARM4uQNnCwCnuOcn7yxecLbhEw8cFoAk9t5KRyUfwy8ZVUdW90hoOlSEMDfTDoo-ACze7cvbqnb/s320/head+in+sand.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110148965570671010" border="0" /></a>Here’s Joe practicing a skill that will someday qualify him to serve in a variety of positions. It could prove itself especially useful if he ever happens to become president of the United States and the issue of illegal immigration is brought to his attention.willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-5448841207211129162007-08-21T16:56:00.000-07:002007-08-21T17:04:21.325-07:00Manly-man in training<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-RcLkbPWV3JT7KBeQ83UOASA17CH6QqpjjF_hruKfvRp6kEJ8r0s-QKQPuvdUFfQb8nvhubhXMXzYAMSYCQkDPr3TKqbDtUWZbSpeuerQhxXadNSw3P-11w6ptABc9Yb_-wHG/s1600-h/jack.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-RcLkbPWV3JT7KBeQ83UOASA17CH6QqpjjF_hruKfvRp6kEJ8r0s-QKQPuvdUFfQb8nvhubhXMXzYAMSYCQkDPr3TKqbDtUWZbSpeuerQhxXadNSw3P-11w6ptABc9Yb_-wHG/s320/jack.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101308958378220562" border="0" /></a><br />Today Donna took the boys to see “Hairspray”. I know, I know. Anyway, after they saw the movie I said to Joe, “So, how did you like the movie?” “Daddy, it was really, really good. You have to see it!” Jack just sort of rolled his eyes. Later, Jack and I were driving in the truck...<br /><br />“So, Jack, what did you think of that movie?”<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />I thought it was really stupid. </span><br /><br />“How come? What didn’t you like about it?”<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />The whole thing was just dumb. There’s the movies that I like, and there’s the movies that I don’t like. This movie didn’t have any of the stuff from the movies that I like, it had all the stuff from movies that I don't like. And I’m pretty sure that one of the ladies in the movie was really a man. That’s the kind of stuff they have in movies that I don’t like. There was no guns in it. You can see it if you want but it’s a waste of money.</span><br /><br />Man, I love that kid.willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-84405333754434897332007-08-18T13:47:00.001-07:002007-08-18T13:49:22.639-07:00I'm a lucky guy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDR3GLJCZxYTG8YMP_VGAhRAzA4BHDUlVO_7d3DB_I5CH2wrzq-8cvoYhcmY5bB5xHDeT_tAhzwZ8KvLW1xaTnYoEmhAZor_WxG8J5dGGTREKW-2jRdSkROelPCnIdDF9WBwX/s1600-h/IMG_4781.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDR3GLJCZxYTG8YMP_VGAhRAzA4BHDUlVO_7d3DB_I5CH2wrzq-8cvoYhcmY5bB5xHDeT_tAhzwZ8KvLW1xaTnYoEmhAZor_WxG8J5dGGTREKW-2jRdSkROelPCnIdDF9WBwX/s320/IMG_4781.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100145456032701442" border="0" /></a>willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-57799004518657816902007-08-16T14:45:00.001-07:002007-08-16T14:57:33.623-07:00Cowboys<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7wUqIwEyHulnmh5Lbp6itd4TN2HVlEYbXV6IazQDLhHp-vJni4QCsSsGhzcoMvj0V78H9IG_7sU14Ui79uWeNtlpLGXC_SBsodquEr9BhpGeTNdFIal5xNmyHHVuGYsYLrFf/s1600-h/jack.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7wUqIwEyHulnmh5Lbp6itd4TN2HVlEYbXV6IazQDLhHp-vJni4QCsSsGhzcoMvj0V78H9IG_7sU14Ui79uWeNtlpLGXC_SBsodquEr9BhpGeTNdFIal5xNmyHHVuGYsYLrFf/s320/jack.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099418627307133922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggVbIIYkn1O9AkGugh4Cm-03hE3cuGqj7EoQOZDP7nxvRjWXZv5EORp0pc_ejGI9sSeTVyUp4NFWiaDPuwhnG4icSxS1cGqAf-ip8G0Ub2dY4ql6LkfZ375fGHTjbi91lhQbo/s1600-h/joe.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggVbIIYkn1O9AkGugh4Cm-03hE3cuGqj7EoQOZDP7nxvRjWXZv5EORp0pc_ejGI9sSeTVyUp4NFWiaDPuwhnG4icSxS1cGqAf-ip8G0Ub2dY4ql6LkfZ375fGHTjbi91lhQbo/s320/joe.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099418829170596850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9-Sdj-A_4BknA8Pylea3AzscjGhMkhRaBRAHNIyZ-DuCcO8iiBfbRFwlHxYuynFl0afZP9ej1JqCzuWBUo0dixXbS6LbXCEgMajWqwlJHHbfbOn-6ehFutmL3WUsr97eaWlz/s1600-h/boys1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9-Sdj-A_4BknA8Pylea3AzscjGhMkhRaBRAHNIyZ-DuCcO8iiBfbRFwlHxYuynFl0afZP9ej1JqCzuWBUo0dixXbS6LbXCEgMajWqwlJHHbfbOn-6ehFutmL3WUsr97eaWlz/s320/boys1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099418021716745154" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDuVeFWQzZNFfdS3_NeAHCn0_1lsgM4txJos8kUYg-A78716yI5wvGCScLeFNPZTv_lFYqSNaedtoIlWb6dQgJANgbl0s8vZERfXQKT8uFtGL3DWjRN1-F-HXRDilI7kcnJpv/s1600-h/bull.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDuVeFWQzZNFfdS3_NeAHCn0_1lsgM4txJos8kUYg-A78716yI5wvGCScLeFNPZTv_lFYqSNaedtoIlWb6dQgJANgbl0s8vZERfXQKT8uFtGL3DWjRN1-F-HXRDilI7kcnJpv/s320/bull.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099418335249357778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's a couple pictures from Cody, Wyoming. We went to the rodeo the first night we arrived and we all had a blast. On the walk back to the car Joe said to me, "Daddy, I want to ride one of those bulls." The next day there was a "bullriders only" event with all the country's hotshot bullriders appearing so we decided to take it in. In the concession area this bull was tied up and a couple of bucklebunnies were charging $5 to have your picture taken on it. I told Joe, "Here's your chance, buddy, get on that bull!" He paused and said, "Okay... but you have to come with me." I wonder if Ty Murray's daddy rode with him his first time?willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-84752819506152365422007-08-13T12:33:00.000-07:002007-08-13T12:34:13.715-07:00Good times<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6l7WD6JHItbbnJllqBAkchkswHTO9h6z4zBDLr2Arz60RRQysGKuFd6sAPOHzvXVnjs7_BHV-1dUvhWhJ3Pp8gFcV0hfkMsbOPhbCU6VFUlglCJ08YjISmLODSrhIoVNBLjh/s1600-h/unhappy+babies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6l7WD6JHItbbnJllqBAkchkswHTO9h6z4zBDLr2Arz60RRQysGKuFd6sAPOHzvXVnjs7_BHV-1dUvhWhJ3Pp8gFcV0hfkMsbOPhbCU6VFUlglCJ08YjISmLODSrhIoVNBLjh/s320/unhappy+babies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098270630721197602" border="0" /></a>willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-91962160098433259092007-08-10T16:29:00.000-07:002007-08-10T16:32:51.435-07:00Photo Friday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmy4Yupj7zGlADr1UsWsZ4W0qvqi0FQfg4bqwjxnsQZL0W33WuWDYgwc5GqSX8PM1Cszo_3m1FE8A4Z9bhuKEaWca4cyVAYmAwtNtLpnTJG_JA5JSEHER97tZ6U5LiU3NxB57/s1600-h/beaniekids.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmy4Yupj7zGlADr1UsWsZ4W0qvqi0FQfg4bqwjxnsQZL0W33WuWDYgwc5GqSX8PM1Cszo_3m1FE8A4Z9bhuKEaWca4cyVAYmAwtNtLpnTJG_JA5JSEHER97tZ6U5LiU3NxB57/s320/beaniekids.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097218471107859970" border="0" /></a><br />Was going through some old photos on my office computer and came across this one from when we were moving into our house 6 years or so ago. They'll probably be in therapy when I show it to their girlfriends someday, but it always cracks me up so here ya go. Love those little monkeys.willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-48298087772913712342007-04-23T22:29:00.000-07:002007-04-24T13:24:52.391-07:00Gone but not forgotten<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu29aiToFbHWTkkbDXGrhcATWWEs3fhn0UXQKu-6YrCCjaR9lZ6TE0tl2EcP0AwVPhW962uNIhrc9P6bz7RNcWRYDdP1uqmLZpuLSsuAVVVEOOlyGvlAsaP8f7LixyGiKfOu12/s1600-h/Sally.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu29aiToFbHWTkkbDXGrhcATWWEs3fhn0UXQKu-6YrCCjaR9lZ6TE0tl2EcP0AwVPhW962uNIhrc9P6bz7RNcWRYDdP1uqmLZpuLSsuAVVVEOOlyGvlAsaP8f7LixyGiKfOu12/s320/Sally.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056862630007587010" border="0" /></a><br />Some days it seems like yesterday but it was three years ago this past Thursday that one of God’s best & brightest went home to be with Him. She was like my second mother from the time I was 7 years old. This is the truth - in the 30+ years that I knew her I never heard her say an unkind word to or about anyone. I really believe that she was one of the kindest, most gentle people ever to walk this earth. If I were prone to believing hocus-pocus type stuff (and I’m not) I’d swear she was an angel sent to walk among us. She inspired me to be a better person. I think of her every single day and my heart aches as I grieve the loss of her. But if I close my eyes and let my mind drift I can imagine her approaching the Throne and I hear His voice, “Well done my faithful servant, come and share your Master’s happiness.”willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-53943773954771632612007-03-09T16:33:00.000-08:002007-03-09T16:34:16.511-08:00Backordered - DANG!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYMmETPeayQGCV22zsJRKQW_9E9YRRwpziMiW6w8OsZXvfcb94rPc9EUYUz5EwGgdJDlyE9HOUtO6kXnwLnEB6rs6lCh6WAojHrBF4VGUK2M9lXhhckCBPgX555QKmfHzagY5/s1600-h/zipper+mouth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYMmETPeayQGCV22zsJRKQW_9E9YRRwpziMiW6w8OsZXvfcb94rPc9EUYUz5EwGgdJDlyE9HOUtO6kXnwLnEB6rs6lCh6WAojHrBF4VGUK2M9lXhhckCBPgX555QKmfHzagY5/s320/zipper+mouth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040087643290041490" border="0" /></a>willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-1171668819671233202007-02-16T15:30:00.000-08:002007-02-16T15:33:39.693-08:00Greatest .gif evah!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1296/803/1600/881291/rumsfield1.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1296/803/320/164454/rumsfield1.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10400599.post-1169849088602529472007-01-26T14:04:00.000-08:002007-01-26T14:12:58.663-08:00Coming out of hiatus for this one...HER DIARY :<br /><br />Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird.<br /><br />We had made plans to meet at a bar to have a drink.<br /><br />I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it.<br /><br />Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn't say much.<br /><br />I asked him what was wrong; he said, "Nothing." I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn't upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior. I don't know why he didn't say, "I love you, too."<br /><br />When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent.<br /><br />Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. <br /><br />About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. To my surprise, he responded to my caress, and we made love. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else.<br /><br />He fell asleep - I cried. I don't know what to do. I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.<br /><br />HIS DIARY:<br /><br />Missed a big deer today, but at least I got lucky.willhuntforfoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850071718269945484noreply@blogger.com4