Road trip to Utah

I finally went back down to Utah after almost a year since I moved back to Washington. I got to spend a lot of time with Julie, Bill, Penny, Shane, Nicolette, and I saw many of the other people I used to work with. It was a weekend of rest, and fun which is what I needed. Friday I went with Julie to lifetime, and visited C-11, and went to the Benefits meeting so I could see people. That night I went to dinner with Julie, Bill, Penny, and Shane, then went for icecream, and Julie and I watched movies all night. On Saturday I went to the mall with Julie and played with Vantasia (her niece), the went and fed ducks with Penny and Shane. That night I went out with Nicolette, Julie, and Julie's sister. I don't remember the guys name. Anyways, we went to Teasers in Ogden and had a great time. Sunday I had to drive back to school but spent a little bit of that morning in temple square which was beautiful (as always). It was nice to spend some good quality time away from Pullman and my life as I know it now :)

What a trip!

Okay well it was a very short trip back home. I left Pullman for the weekend to spend time with H-Dog before she leaves on her Mission to Chili! Thats right she's going to Chili. I am very excited for her, and still I will miss her and all the late night phone calls, crazy adventures, etc.. We spent the day learning to skim board, visiting the cross country meet, eating at Dick's Restaurant in Seattle, playing in the fountain and crashing a fiesta and a book launching party. It was a great time. Pictures are on the way. Thanks to a good friend of mine so I will have pictures up shortly either here or on Myspace. More to come at a later date.

Skimboarding

Lego Star Wars

Lego Star Wars

So this is here in honor of my friends who are fans of Star Wars. Such as Liz and Gary along with many others.

Wow

So this has been a crazy semester already and its still only september. I am an Intern at the Department of child and Family Services. It is exciting, although so far I am just redacting files. I get to go on my first visit this Friday! Other than that I had to quit my job, replace my computer, and my car has been broken. So I'm caught in a snowball of problems. Nothing I can't overcome, just more stress than I would like to deal with. I have been getting to know the people in my church a lot better, which is very nice. I finally got the pictures off my phone thanks to Gary :) A few of them can be found on my myspace page, if you want to see a picture of Anneke's bald cat, among other things. Lets see what else... I have an exam tomorrow... So on that note I'm going to sleep so I can wake up very very early and study for the exam and take my car back to the shop. Thats all for now. Oh check out Liz's blog for a cool lego video!!

Ice Climbing

Ultra funny: Running Maschine!

I love Sky!

funny britisch commercial!

Katrina

It has been over a year since the devastation of the gulf coast, and there has been very little progress made. It is very hard to imagine being among the many without homes today. There is a very good set of photos of the damage if you click on the link below. It only takes a few minutes to watch.
Katrina

Super Mario

Super Mario

Days Fly By

Classes have started. Lots of new opportunities are all around. My computer doesn't have an internet connection currently so this is going to be short for now. As soon as I get my internet back I will post more.

Summer is Fleeting

The little town of Pullman is filling back up with college students, it was a very nice summer here with most students gone for the summer. Life must continue, the work must go on, or at least that is what I am told. It is exciting more than anything. Another year of possibilities, adventures, and of learning. What could be better?

Pictures from reunion

These are just two pictures from my family reunion. The top one is of my dad and I, and the bottom one is of a beautiful sunset and I guess I'm in there also. It was an amazing sunset that night.

Treasure in a bog

In this undated photo provided by the National Museum of Ireland an ancient book of psalms is seen at an undisclosed location. Ireland's archeologists heralded as a miracle Tuesday, July 25, 2006 the accidental discovery of an ancient book of psalms _ discovered last week when an exceptionally alert construction worker spotted something as he drove the shovel of his backhoe into a bog. The approximately 20-page book has been dated to 800 A.D. to 1000 A.D. and, according to Trinity College manuscripts expert Bernard Meehan, is the first discovery of an Irish early medieval document in two centuries. Never before has such a fragile, old document been discovered buried in the soggy earth of Ireland. (AP Photo/ National Museum of Ireland, HO)

Keith and Nicole

This is just a nod to my favorite country artist. I wish them the best of luck. All of Keith's songs are amazing and he has so much talent. If your not a country music fan, just give him a chance. He sang the song "Making Memories of Us" to Nicole at their wedding reception and to me that is beautiful.




Making Memories of Us
I'm gonna be here for you baby
I'll be a man of my word
Speak the language in a voice that you have never heard
I wanna sleep with you forever
And I wanna die in your arms
In a cabin by a meadow where the wild bees swarm

And I'm gonna love you like nobody loves you
And I'll earn your trust making memories of us

I wanna honor your mother
I wanna learn from your pa
I wanna steal your attention like a bad outlaw
I wanna stand out in a crowd for you
A man among men
I wanna make your world better than it's ever been

And I'm gonna love you like nobody loves you
And I'll earn your trust making memories of us

We'll follow the rainbow
Wherever the four winds blow
And there'll be a new day
Comin' your way

I'm gonna be here for you from now on
This you know somehow
You've been stretched to the limits but it's alright now
And I'm gonna make you a promise
If there's life after this
I'm gonna be there to meet you with a warm, wet kiss

And I'm gonna love you like nobody loves you
And I'll earn your trust making memories of us
I'm gonna love you like nobody loves you
And I'll win your trust making memories of us

The 2006 Family Reunion

I just returned home from my family reunion this evening. We spent the weekend in Ocean City, Washington. I have to admit I am partial to the Oregon Coast, it was a beautiful weekend on the Washington coast however. The families stayed in little cabins about two miles from the beach. It was a neat little set up. The big story for me was the fact that I found out that two of my cousins were at school over here and we didn't even know we were related. I have a very large extended family and I can't keep track of them, so I came to rely on my grandparents to inform me if I have any relatives nearby. Apparently I'm not the only one who can't keep track of everyone, I can't blame my grandparents for they can't know everything (I guess).
A long story short two of my 3rd cousins (I think its 3rd) and I had been attending church together for a whole semester and never figured out that we were related. My family got a real kick out of the whole situation.
They also loved hearing about the million dollar dog.. Okay maybe it was the 3,000 dollar dog. My Moms Pomeranian had surgery on both her knees to fix a birth defect and people find that very amusing. If you knew my mother you would know that fixings Polar's knees was the only option.
We all ended the weekend with some new memories, a few laughs, and some sunburns. All in all it was worth the very long drive from Pullman to the Ocean. Now its back to the real world, one more week of class, more fun times at work (ha), while nursing my sunburns.

I am here, somewhere

The world is a big place, the more time I spend the larger it gets. The smaller, I become. I wonder if I am alone in the fact that some days I feel like I am watching the world go by instead of participating. Its like I get stuck behind this window and I'm begging for someone to rescue me. To break me out of this prison. I have so much to say, I just can't seem to say it. I look in the mirror and see a girl with potential, but she's trapped. Behind doubt and fear, longing to escape.
I watch people and think of what I could do if I only.. I think of the things I want to learn the things I want to do and see, yet here I sit. It seems very few people in this world know me, or know who I wish to be. I want everyone to know the thoughts, wishes and dreams I have, just don't want to waste their time. So many doubts. Yet I see potential and the girl in the mirror gets closer every day, I just wonder if I'll ever really truly reach the other side of this window?

Sounds Good

I was on Myspace looking for a concert, checking out some local bands and found a whole list of artists that I liked. I thought I would take the time to share them with you all. Check them out on MySpace.
-Plain White T's
-Brightwood
-Daphne Loves Derby
-Meg & Dia
-This Providence
-Joanna
-The Classic Crime
-Foolish Things
-Jenny Owen Youngs

The end of take a penny, leave a penny?

There is new talk of removing the penny from the United States currency, and then starting a rounding system. Apparently a penny is more expensive to make than it is even worth, which means making them is no longer economical. There is an artical and survey if you click this link Check it out.

ZIDANE a new way to solve problems.. do it like zidane...

If you watched the final game of the world cup then you know what this is referring to, if not well hopefully you'll see the humor anyways. I'm not sure if it's really the best way to solve a problem, but it is a funny video!

Just Another Day

Just another day
It was just another day
You walk past
I don't notice
I walk past
You don't notice
Two lonely souls
Both lost between here and there
Coming or going
Neither really know
Rushing always
Towards an invisible finish line
How long will it take
How far will they go
How many times will they pass
The one who will touch their soul
The one who holds the finish line
It was just another day
Another day you walked past

Happy Independence Day

I know it is late but everyday can be independence day right? Anyways, I hope everyone had a fabulous 4th. I spent the weekend with my family at the lake, we had BBQ's, late nights, and great weather. We all watched the annual Mason Lake firework show on the 3rd and I was back in Pullman on the 4th. Here is Pullman they put on quite a show, it was truly breath taking. Cooper didn't like it, poor pup. After that its been back to the daily grind, work, school, more work...

The Practice of Slowing Down

This is what I needed to read tonight it was posted on another blog and I think we all should keep this in mind. Follow the link below and listen or read the essay. It won't take long, but its worth it.

Slow Down

Me Procrastinate??

So I have a paper due tomorrow at 3pm. There have just been so many other things I would rather do than research and write a paper. I'm dreaming of the day when I could just type a paper up in a couple hours and turn it in. No real work, no real research. Now I have a whole book outlining how the paper should be formatted. There is running heads, citations, authors, tables, statistics, journal articles, abstract, title pages...
Anyways its my fault I should have started writing it before Thursday. Other than that life is good. I played volleyball last night for the first time in at least 2 years. It was not a pretty sight, I had fun though. It has been in the upper 90s the past few days here in Pullman, summer has arrived.

A Comcast Technician Sleeping on my Couch

What great service!

It's Summer!

Summer officially arrived this week! The week flew by, its already Friday!! The fact that its Friday is both good and bad, its bad because its one day closer to my paper being due (school during the summer is a bad idea), it is good because well it's Friday!
I have spent a lot of time over in Moscow at the dog park with Cooper. He loves going and playing with the other dogs. My little white dog is a BULLY! He picks on any dog that will let him. He does not really know how to make friends.. Poor puppy. He did get invited to a birthday party though. Mia, the terrier, is having a party on Saturday evening. There will be homemade dog biscuits and cupcakes for the dogs. Its a very exciting summer here in the Pullman/Moscow area!
I have watched a few of the World Cup soccer games. That is an exciting game! I was drawn in and could not turn away. It would be awesome to actually be in the stadium where they play the games. I have a few neighbors who are big soccer fans, and they were fun to listen to cheering at the T.V.
That is the gist of what is going on in my life currently. Nothing too exciting, just school mostly. I have been out of work for a few weeks. I turn 21 in just over a month! I've started counting down. Lynette is here for ALIVE at WSU, she starts school in the fall and I'm very excited to have her in Pullman.
I hope everybody is doing well, making plans for an exciting summer. I hope to hear from you all at some point.
Take Care,
Steph

Danger!

Man runs through neighborhood naked, gets shot at

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — A marriage-minded man ran naked through his neighborhood, trying to show his hesitant girlfriend that taking risks is important.
He got more than he bargained for when he ended up being chased and shot at.

The couple were discussing marriage early Wednesday when the woman said she wasn't sure if she was ready, according to Ann Arbor police reports.

After running naked across the street, the man ducked into some bushes when he spotted a couple walking.

A 28-year-old man spotted the bushes rustling and bare feet underneath, and drew his .40-caliber handgun, and ordered the naked man to come out, according to police.

The naked suitor ran away, but the armed man gave chase and eventually fired a shot, police said. The naked man fell to the ground, suffering minor injuries.

Police arrested the gunman on charges of aggravated assault and carrying a concealed weapon. The naked man was not arrested.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The moral of this story is to be careful where you go in your birthday suit! What I wonder is are the naked man and the hesitant girlfriend going to get married?

Father's Day

Happy Fathers Day to all you dads out there! Especially to my father, who is amazing. I am so blessed to have such a patient, understanding, loving dad. He is wonderful, unfortunately I could not be with my dad today :( Very sad. Dad I love you, miss you, I will see you in July.

It's June Really?

Hard to believe it is June with the weather lately... Where's the SUN? I figured out how to have trivia on my blog; do you know the answer? If you get the question right... Well give yourself a pat on the back! If not better luck next time.

"We have been given two ears and but a single mouth in order that we may hear more and talk less."
- Zeno of Citium

Now that was hail!

I got up early this morning, not because I had somewhere to be, not because I wanted to. Mostly because of the hail. It was nickel size hail and there was a lot of it. Cooper was very worried about all the noise it was making, and I was worried about my car. All of the autoglass companies must love hail storms! Anyways, I found some interesting facts about hail, check out the link below. If you scroll down the definition it tells you about some very large hail storms, very cool. Check it out.

The Tree Stand

I went camping and on that trip we found a tree that had a hunting stand on it. At first all we could see was a white plastic chair up really high in a tree. Of course the burning question, "why is there a chair on that tree, in the middle of a forest?" Not being a hunter I had no idea that hunters put chairs in trees.. Anyways, after exploring a little (following a trail) we found the tree in question. The next question was, "How does the hunter get all the way up there?" In order to answer that we had to walk up to the tree (imagine that). Well these hunters had found a very logical solution and had placed large nails leading all the way up the side of the tree. This picture is of me testing the nails to ensure that they fulfill their responsibility of getting one to the "tree stand".
The questions left unanswered are does the hunter who uses this tree stand drink alcohol while up there? I could see serious negative consequences from those two activities. If so how would the hunter, in question, get off the tree stand drunk? That first step could be a real problem...
It was a fun trip into a national forest in Idaho, we had great weather and a better view. There are other pictures from this trip if you go to the my pictures link, to the left.

My Photos

I find new things everyday. I now have my photos up on the web all you have to do is click on the link that says "My Photos" on the right under "Links". I mainly have some pictures from the camping trip I went on over memorial day weekend to Idaho. Feel free to check it out.

Charmed Woman Marries Cobra in India

"A woman who fell in love with a snake has married the reptile at a traditional Hindu wedding celebrated by 2,000 guests in India's Orissa state, reports said.
Bimbala Das wore a silk saree for the ceremony Wednesday at Atala village near the Orissa state capital Bhubaneswar.
Priests chanted mantras to seal the union, but the snake failed to come out of a nearby ant hill where it lives, the Press Trust of India (PTI) said on Friday.
A brass replica snake stood in for the hesitant groom.
"Though snakes cannot speak nor understand, we communicate in a peculiar way," Das, 30, told the agency."

This is no joke. I had no idea that you could marry a reptile! Its a story you may need to read to truely believe.

Charmed woman marries cobra in India

Attn: Skateboarders

I have been meaning to post this for a couple of weeks now. I was sitting in the grass one sunny afternoon in Pullman and I see this skateboarder coming down the street, following directly after him I see a cop. Who promptly instructs the skateboarder to pull to the side of the road. I was fully curious at this point. Did they know each other? Was there a warrant for the skateboarders arrest? Hmmm. Well it turns out that there was no warrant out for his arrest, the cop pulled him over for running a stop sign! Yeah! He even tried to get the guys ID. I could not believe what I was witnessing. So for all you skateboarders out there, especially those in Pullman. Here is how to stay out of trouble with the police, and what you should have if you happen to get in trouble.
1. Don't Drink and Skate; there could be serious legal consequences!
2. Look both ways before crossing the road or going through an intersection (may want to have a friend guide you across the street).
3. Stop at all stop signs you may encounter and only cross the street when it is clearly your turn.
4. Wear a helmet, you may want to add elbow, knee, wrist and shin guards also.
5. Don't apply makeup or fix your hair while skating.
6. Remember your drivers license (just in case).
7. Last but not least; try not to run into a car or pedestrians. If you do serious charges may be brought against you.

Did you know...

Banging your head against a wall can burn up to 150 calories per hour.
Personally, I am glad that I didn't have to be the one to test that theory!

Gas Prices

I had to put this picture here for all to see. My friend Ali forwarded it to me and I feel that it captures the true essence of gas prices today.
I filled my car up the other day and dreamed of the days when it was 1.39 a gallon! I used to complain about prices that high, but now I can only dream of them...

The Smell of Rain

I LOVE rain! More specifically the smell of rain, when I walk outside and it surrounds me. What happy times. I also love thunder and lightening. There was thunder and lightening when I left class this morning and you would have thought I won the lottery or something... but no I am just 5 still and love storms!

There is a person...

There is a person who inspires me,

Who points out my faults,

Without words,

Who pushes me to be better,

Without trying,

Who makes me feel invisible,

Without ignoring me.

The more I learn,

The more I like,

The more I learn,

The less worthy I feel,

The more I learn,

The farther behind I am,

The farther behind I find myself,

The more I want to catch up,

That person,

That is the person who inspires me,

To be more than I am, yet still myself.

Stoplights...

Have you ever wondered how come traffic lights are green, yellow, and red? I my friend have found the answer. Check out the link below:

http://www.coolquiz.com/trivia/explain/docs/stoplights.asp

A riddle for you:
What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?

Summer classes

Today I began my summer of research methods courses. Seven credits in just research methods between my sociology class and my psychology class. I think it may just turn out to be fun.

I would like to leave you wih this thought:

"People can live 100 years with out really living for a minute"

Welcome to my blog

Hey all, I've never done anything like this before but I am happy you came to check it out. Its hard to say what all will end up here but knowing me it will be random thoughts, funny stories, and just me. Come back often, I look forward to hearing from you.

What a Beautiful sunset!