My 16 year old finally passed the driving test.  I think it helped that she got to use teh Driver's Ed car and the guy giving the test had a great conversation with DH about firearms and how to become a hunter's ed instructor.  Ixy said that most of the test consisted of listening to the administrator gripe about how his daughters don't appreciate the custom engraved Uzi's he bought them.
It's not that his girls aren't hunters and sportswomen.  It's just that they prefer archery to firearms. So they aren't interested in going out to the range to plink with him.  He was impressed that my dear won her first rifle by outshooting the adults at a Frontsight First Family 4th of July event.
Anyway, she passed the test and now it's just a matter of going down to the DLD and getting the actual piece of paper.

Accent: Utahn - yep, I know people who were barn in a burn. And I tend to say Mountains without a T in it.
Bra size: 34DD, down from a 38C
Chore I hate: Vacuum
Dad's name: Richard
Essential make-up: Moisturizer, now that I'm getting old.
Favorite perfume: Paris by Yves St. Laurent or Belara from Mary Kay
Gold or Silver: Silver
Hometown: Somewhere in Utah
Interesting fact: I changed the dress code at my religious college through my bad example.
Job title: Bottom of the Hill (you know, it all rolls downhill).
Kids: 3 and a beagle who thinks he's one.
Living arrangements: Comfortable, thank you.
Mom's Birthplace: Kotka, Finland
Number of apples eaten in last week: 2
Overnight hospital stays: 7
Phobia: None
Question you ask yourself a lot: Why do I put up with this?
Religious affiliation: LDS
Siblings: 4 brothers and 3 sisters
Time I wake up: 5:30, Thank DH for taking the oldest to school, roll over and go back to sleep until 7.
Unnatural hair color: Purple, Blue, Hot Pink, Indigo Black, Bleached white (that was the flat top), Green w/pink, etc. Refer back to I.
Vegetable I refuse to eat: Boiled Okra
Worst habit: Engaging mouth without starting brain.
X-rays: enough to be a cancer concern
Yummy food I make: Better than Sex Cake.
Zodiac sign: Pisces - The ultimate female....

Got this from a couple friends - the Wonderer and the Woozle.  Links are on the left.

As part of the Junior Ranger program at the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert National park, I promised to tell everyone what a great time I had there and to suggest to other people that they should visit it too.
I have no problem promising this first off because it is so close to Grand Canyon and in a way it's more kid friendly.  There are dinosaur bones and the exhibits are so much more interesting to the kids than the ones at the Grand Canyon. I was drawn to the exhibit of letters from people who had stolen pieces of the forest or other fossils from the park and felt guilty or had bad luck so they returned them.
If you want pieces of petrified forest to take home, the gift shop on the south end of the park gives away free pieces (not even with a purchase just free for the asking.)  I asked the proprietor why he did, he said that he was concerned about the continued status of the park.  They get so little funding because they have so few visitors.  Also, there was a fossil National park in one of the Dakota's that had to be closed in the 1950's because visitors stole all the fossils.  He would rather give freebies gathered legally than have people steal from the park.  I can see his point.  If the National park were to close, he wouldn't have a business.
The other cool thing is that the Junior Ranger program is open to all ages here.  Most of the other parks limit the Junior Ranger program to kids ages 6-14.  I love the junior ranger program.  It gives the kids more to do than look at the scenery and teaches them alot about the program.  My kids loved looking at the petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock after reading about what they meant. (By the way, there is a really, really cool one of an old man that I may draw up and stitch).
Anyway, if you're considering a visit to the Grand Canyon- swing over to the Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest/Painted Desert.

No one expects the Spanish Inquistion!!!

But you really should take the quiz just the same...

I read through the Friday Forum questions but the only one that stuck was If your life had a theme song what would it be? My daughter announced that my theme song should be Bowling for Soup's 1985.  Except I never had plans "to shake my @ss on Whitesnake's car" and my DH is not a CPA. But yes, my music taste is still stuck in the 80's. 

On top of that, I remember a Doonesbury cartoon from the 80's where the 60's characters are talking about the Rolling Stones and one of the kids in the strip says - "Where am I in an elevator?" The main guy then says. "Oh, no, I'm my parents!"  I just wish there was an oldies station in town that played my music.  I love Star in Las Vegas.  They play pop from the 80's.  I had totally forgotten about Falco and some of the other one hit wonders until I spent the weekend listening to that station.  Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to see if I can find an Elvis Costello CD...

All the rest of the world is asleep.  And all I can think about is what I've left undone.  My taxes aren't even close to ready.  I have bills I haven't looked at in months (automatic payment takes care of them).  I feel like I'm running on auto-pilot.  I know around here is a letter from the Dept. of Public safety saying they want a new picture of me.  Death Valley is having an incredible run of wildflowers and I have new people to train at work.  I haven't called my sisters in awhile, the youngest wants me to get a family picture to her by the 20th.  I can't find the "All Ears Bunnies" that I wanted to get for my friends this year and I haven't bought anything for the Easter bunny to poop out around the house this year - It's a long story.
I did read a book today that in the past would have had me happy and relaxed but instead I find myself worried that DH will succeed in his weight loss and the military would waive the age requirement and let him back in.  Yet, not even one of these is enough to lift this malaise. DH keeps apologizing for being down, this week is the 25th anniversary of his father's death.  It's the 5th anniversary of my grandfather's death.
I really can't put a finger on what's wrong but something is not right in my world.  I just can't see it right now and the insomnia isn't helping.

For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2nd Tim 1:7)

It may be time to start using that as a mantra again.

I now have bruises on my bruises.

On the 5th I fell down a flight of stairs.  At first I thought nothing was damaged but my pride. Sunday morning though I had a beautiful horseshoe shaped bruise and felt like I was 100 years old.  DH took one look at the bruise and asked, "So who gave you a boot to the bum?"  I must be getting used to him being an artist because I replied, "So what picture ideas do you have for it?"  We never made it to the studio though.
Yesterday, I went cross-country skiing for the first time.  I used to downhill quite a bit before I blew my knee out sledding (more dangerous than skiing in the long run). Anyway, DH cross-country ski's and he likes to snowshoe.  I came home from my excursion and told him that I really think that snowshoes for Christmas next year would be a good thing.  Then we could go winter hiking together and get out of the yucky valley air.  It was so beautiful up above the crud and junk.  The sky was beautifully blue and the clouds fluffy white.  And I only fell about 6 or 7 times but my bruise that was just starting to turn yellow and green, is now black again.  And it still looks like I took a boot to the bum.

How can you tell that the drum solo was horrible?

The bass player noticed it.

My old sewing machine died, and I've been looking for a new one. I looked at the DREAM MACHINE - a Bernina 440QEE but I just couldn't justify spending $3200 for a sewing machine when a hot tub for the back yard is only $2700.
I found a machine though.  It's new to me but it has been used.  It's an Elna 9000 computer.  I need to find a manual for it though.  DH wants me to find a repair manual also.

But I've figured out the basics and I have most of the blocks for DH's quilt finished.  I'm just looking for help deciding on the red or the black option. Tblog is being stupid and not letting the links work.  It loops the address back to the blog.  Anyway, there is a gallery button on the left and in Works in Progress are the two quilt options.

Leave me a comment and let me know your preference.