Goodbye 2015

I am ready to say goodbye to 2015. It's been a rather challenging and depressing year, especially the second half. We said goodbye to our dog, my grandma developed severe dementia, and I had shoulder surgery. Then there's the plethora of other life annoyances like busted pipes, broken sprinklers, and boat repairs. The tough moments tend to dim the positive things we did like horseback riding, water parks, hosting our Japanese exchange student, and enrolling at the community college. I am looking forward to having a fresh start in 2016 with things returning to normal and making new lasting memories.

The above photograph I took with my iPhone, with minor app editing, near River Front Park along the beautiful Spokane Falls. It was snowing (for about the fourth straight day!) and G was running along the trail chasing snowflakes. She was laughing childlike and simple and I ran ahead of her to snap a photo. It was truly a loving and memorable moment and I think my image successfully captures that. She turned seven the day before so I'm glad to have a photo that freezes the joy of her childhood before it's over. Plus, how many photos of kids does one have in a fancy dress while frolicking through the snow?! Right before this, we toured the historic Campbell House in Browne's Addition. I feel like this picture could also be a relic of nearly a century ago. Similar activities were probably how children at the turn of the last century enjoyed playtime. Lucky for me I had a modern gizmo to document this precious moment.

My Candid Opinion Regarding The Starbucks Cups

My newsfeed have been littered with controversy over this year's Starbucks's jolly holiday cheer-or lack thereof-beverage cups. In case you missed it (although I'm pretty sure you haven't), Starbucks is using plain red cups rather than a festive design. There are some outspoken believers claiming this is the corporation's way of stamping out religion during the Christmas season. Of course, that attitude has been met with the practical idea that a disposable coffee containers should not be defining your reason for the season. I think it's a bunch of hulabaloo with passive-aggressive efforts to remove any thing that could remotely be construed as offensive.

The holidays should be celebrated with appropriate icons on the cups. What are "appropriate icons?" The vast majority of Americans celebrate Christmas in some way. Some celebrate it with Christ or simply a tree that Santa Claus places presents under. Then there's simply snowflakes, hats, and mittens symbolizing the winter season. Appropriate holiday symbols are subjective and vary from person to person, but none should be construed as offensive.

Christmas is offensive for those who don't celebrate it. Okay. Didn't I just mention that the vast majority of Americans celebrate Christmas?! Even if Christmas isn't celebrated for religious reasons, it is still commonly celebrated with Santa, a tree, and the gift-giving tradition because, you know, IT'S WHAT WE DO HERE! Christmas isn't offensive. If a person of another faith wished someone with "Happy (insert chosen holiday)" there is no need to get your panties in a wedgie-induced wad! It's their way of expressing joy during the holiday season. If Americans moved to another country and protested that their holiday celebrations were offensive I don't think it would fly. I think it's more important to appreciate and welcome all forms of seasonal celebrations. Different customs should spark our interests and curiosity, help us learn about one another, and bring strangers closer together. 

Liberals are trying to wipe out Christmas to be more sensitive to various beliefs. And here is where the heart of Starbucks's stunt lies. Starbucks originated in Seattle, land of liberals and left-wing transplants who force their cockeyed ideas on the rest of the state. There IS a rest of the state outside of the metropolitan blue spot by the way, and we tend to lean red and don't take to all their hippie views too easily. C'mon, the left-wing craziness emitted by the west wing of Washington is as clear as day with their NFL team's colors: Blue for the liberals, green for the pot (I am really the only one who's noticed that?). The middle-of-the-road-to-conservative population of the state doesn't want to give in to their "let's constantly be sensitive to everyone's feelings" antics.

Frankly, plain red is a pretty boring marketing chose if you ask me. I preferred the cups in previous years with a cheery, jolly design on them. I'm not going to be as excited about a seasonally offered flavor served in a plain ol' cup, meaning I probably won't be spending extra money on it. I don't see why there can't be festive cups and just original ones for the overly-sensitive liberal whiners, but it's not my corporation.

Ultimately, yeah, I do think the Starbucks cups display a passive-aggressive way to stamp out Christmas because that's the liberal standard. Starbucks sells other Christmas merchandise in their stores, so I feel the cups should also be a seasonal representation of that. I also feel that this is all blown a tad out of proportion. They're just cups. While I have pretty vivid opinions about the sinister undertone they portray, it's just a paper cylinder that will become trash. Disposable beverage containers shouldn't hinder feelings or beliefs about holidays. Boycott the product, or if it's that bothersome bring stickers to decorate them in a festive fashion. If this plain red cup hulabaloo is, in fact a liberal-minded-anti-Christmas-so-we-don't-hurt-anyone's-feelings-ever-again antic, shame on Starbucks. I know I'm not the only one who is tired and annoyed of being forced to cater to a one-size-fits-all mentality because it can't be done. I'm not letting a giant corporation take control of my happiness during the holidays and neither should anyone else. 

So It's Been A Month

I guess it's been over a month since I started my English 101 class at Spokane Community College. It's intense and I am definitely being challenged. Writing generally comes easy to me, but when I have to think of topic sentences, themes, and following a prompt it makes things much more complicated! I also have to put my creative writing edge on the sideline in order to focus on the assignment organization.

The college had a family fun night in honor of Halloween. I took G to this carnival-type event where she collected a bag of candy, got her nails painted, and jumped on a bouncy house. She even got to meet my professor who we happened to run into as well.

Munchkin has been enjoying first grade. She is learning in a way that seems quite foreign to my recollection of grade school. It's definitely harder. The math is different because the simple things are made much more complicated. Adding basic numbers requires number bonds and fact families and not allowing students to use traditional mathematical methods. I understand that each student learns differently, but if they can add numbers the old way then why do they need to know all the other "new" ways? Well, whatever. She seems to be picking up on most of new ways just fine and even explains it to me.

I don't have much time to free-write so I will just keep this short and sweet and hopefully will come up with more involved subject matter next time.

Egelloc

Egelloc is College spelled backwards. I enrolled at Spokane Community College for the fall 2015 quarter, I suppose I'm going about this all backwards. Most high school graduates go on immediately to college but not me. I don't care to delve into the reasons at the moment but bottom line, I didn't. Now I've changed my mind a bit and would like some experience in college.

I'd like to improve my writing skills (and/or see how they stack up) and have contemplated enrolling in a class before but I just couldn't find the gumption and courage to do it. Everything appeared so complicated: the application process, registering for classes, schedule coordination. When G started Kindergarten last year I gave it more thought, but I was into CrossFit and was devoting my time to that. Then my shoulder continued to worsen and to be perfectly honest, weightlifting isn't exciting anymore since I can't do it. Life became a bit too simple. I was becoming bored at home and there's only so many iPhone games and social media surfing one can handle. A small series of events happened over the spring and summer as well which really got my drive going for school.

The mail flyers. The Community Colleges of Spokane probably send them out to all households, and we've received many over the years, but the last one said, "Enroll now. What are you waiting for?" I asked myself that. I was feeling the need for mind stimulation and may have found the answer to it.

Then my dad had asked me if I ever thought about going back to school to earn my degree. I didn't know about a degree per se, but taking a course or two here and there would be enriching.

Another day after working out at the gym, I made a trip to the public library to check on the status of a book I placed on hold. As I entered the parking lot, I saw Mrs. C my high school Humanities/English teacher. My heart jumped, I was so excited! I crookedly steered into the next available parking space which happened to be quite a ways down the lot. While still hot and sweaty (and tired) from my workout, I hopped out of my car and booked it in Mrs. C's direction dodging other patrons and vehicles yelling, "Mrs. C! Mrs. C!" Huffing and puffing, I reached her just in time as she was entering her car. (All that CrossFit training came in handy at that moment!) It was so exciting to see her again. She didn't remember my name initially but remembered my face and that I was "so creative!" I was incredibly touched by this comment. I remember being quite challenged to satisfy Mrs. C's criteria for writing and whatnot. Maybe what she was trying to push me to dig deeper with my skills. As a know-it-all teenager, though, I wouldn't have caught on to this. Her compliment was what I needed to latch onto my wish to enroll at SCC and take some writing courses.

Nervously, I made the initial phone call the college asking how to get started. I needed to complete an application, take a placement exam (as it'd been so long since high school), and finally register. I asked what to expect about tuition and cost of books. I had second thoughts after figuring the cost as I had to take a prerequisite course before taking Creative Writing. It seemed like a lot of money just to take a class. Then I found a Certificate of Achievement in English Studies offered by the English Department. It sounded challenging and gave me something to strive for. I was elated to sign myself up for English 101 for fall quarter.

I found college life to be an adjustment as most people do I assume. I was nervous that first week. I was unsure of myself and questioning my intellectual abilities. I was thankful for the weekend and the chance to unwind. It was ValleyFest weekend, which is one of my favorite times of the year. I discovered that the effort of studying allowed me to unwind more easily and enjoy free time. I ran a 5K race, took G to ValleyFest activities, and we even, unexpectedly, got the chance to ride in a tethered hot air balloon. I felt free, unstoppable, and fortunate. I was renewed when Monday came along and much more relaxed with the school environment.

It's as though like I'm on a new daring endeavor: Exciting yet out of my comfort zone, unsure of the expectations or outcome. Similar to the unexpected hot air balloon ride, I'm going to embrace the challenge of academics and let it heighten the attributes of my mind.

Remembering Boonie

We knew this day was eventually arriving, just never quite emotionally prepared for it. Early morning on Sunday, August 16, 2015 we lost our precious Boonie. At 14, the arthritis had progressed badly and was causing nerve and bowel issues. We noticed he was also becoming disoriented and confused at times. Our veterinarian said it's possible for elderly dogs to become senile. The night of August 15th into the 16th was awful and I could hardly sleep because I knew how uncomfortable he was. Finally, as I tried to help him onto his dog bed, he whimpered in agony and growled at me which he has never done. I called T at work around 2:00 am and advised him to return home as Boonie couldn't take anymore. It's heart-wrenching to let our pets go, but it's worse to watch them suffer. Plus, it seems as though they need us to make that decision for them because they are too loyal to expire without our permission.

We adopted Boonie when he was about a year old from T's sister who was studying veterinary medicine. Boonie was a pound puppy who she decided was too cute to return and was "saving" him for someone. We named him after Bret Boone, our favorite former Seattle Mariner baseball player, who the sports announcers sometimes referred to as "Boonie." His manner was gentle, laid back, and all around adaptable. His sweetness seemed to emanate where ever he went and it was not uncommon for strangers to comment: "What a nice dog," "He's good-looking," or "I wish I had a dog like Boonie." I have to admit, we lucked out with him. He was an easy going pooch who was truly compliant and loyal. I have never really considered myself a dog person but am proud to call a soul like Boonie our companion.

Not long after acquiring Boonie, T purchased his first boat. We camped and fished and he immensely enjoyed sharing these experiences with us. One of the funniest memories I recall is a time on the boat where Boonie must've leaned over the side for a drink. There was a giant splash and when we turned our heads, Boonie was gone and only a plume of bubbles lay on the water. He quickly surfaced although a bit traumatized, cold, and shaky. It was pretty comical...to us anyways. He was never really fond of the water after that incident.

Boonie absolutely loved his walks around the neighborhood. There was a nature park near our home in Moscow ID which we would typically walk through. Rabbits lived amongst some of the homes and during each stroll he examined the yards for the little fuzz balls with stick-up ears. He also enjoyed car rides and sometimes even got to romp with doggie friends, depending on who we visited. For whatever reason, he had a prejudice against yellow labs and Asians. We never received a clue as to why.

Shortly after we moved back to Spokane, I became pregnant. Around Thanksgiving, about eights months along and home alone, I experienced an attempted home break-in. There was banging at the front door and Boonie became aggressively defensive. This was the only time I have ever seen him act viciously. He snarled and barked with claws protruded, and all his fur stood out like in a cartoon. After that, no one was allowed in the house without his approval. If the doorbell rang he raced to the door ahead of us to stand guard; he refused to take any chances.

He obviously played a large companion roll for G since he has been around since the day she was born. It's fair to say that all our animals were her first friends. He used to alert us of the need for a diaper change by sniffing her bum! Boonie was ever so patient and withstanding when G didn't know any better and would try to ride him or pull his tail. He enjoyed chasing her outside and then letting her chase him back. The first night without Boonie, G cried and admitted that earlier she had ventured outside calling his name hoping he'd return. Oh boy, did that yank at my already tender heartstrings!

We are all having a rough time emotionally with losing him, but we cherish the memories. It's tough when anyone we dearly care for leaves us, because the love we hold for them can no longer be placed with a physical form. All the little things that remind me of our life with Boonie are like phantom whispers: Hearing his paw-steps shuffling to his dog bed at night; Waking and opening the blinds by the slider door, expecting to see a 65 lb black furry mass by my side waiting to be let out for his morning tinkle; The rattle of his food pouring into his ceramic dog dish. I know it will eventually get easier, but for now, it still hurts...a lot.

All dogs go to heaven. They received the greatest one of all.

"Exercise? I Thought You Said Extra Fries!" Grand Coulee Dam Excursion And Beyond.

School started on Wednesday. G has more of a year-round schedule, therefore, she starts earlier than the mainstream schools. We had no big summer plans nor took a vacation. We didn't even go camping, but we've done a variety of little things. One of which was a quick side trip to Grand Coulee Dam. If you aren't familiar, it is the largest concrete structure in the world! It's massive. Have you ever seen Hoover Dam, the one that gets all the attention? It's tiny compared to Grand Coulee. Several years ago, T and I took a tour bus through Hoover Dam and all the other tourists were oohing and aahing over it. We looked at each other and laughed in slight disappointment: "That's it? It's SMALL!"

Back in the 80's, there used to be a laser light show and the dam served as the screen backdrop. The show ceased for a while but recently it was brought back. With only a couple days left of summer we decided to jump in the car and drive over. The show, titled One River Many Voices, was a documentary of the history and creation of Grand Coulee Dam that started at 9:30 pm. By the time we got there the sun was setting. We made a pit stop at the visitor's center which has several hands-on displays and is pretty awesome. By the time we were done, it was dark and I didn't get any photos of the Dam itself this time. (Use the link the first paragraph if you'd like to see pictures of Grand Coulee Dam.)

My photo at the top shows the empty jugs that contained water from each state which was poured over Grand Coulee Dam. The photo in the center describes: "On June 14, 1951, fifty princesses and the queen of the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival participated in a symbolic pouring ceremony. Standing at the top of the canal wall, they emptied gallon jugs of water from all 48 states, the territories of Alaska and Hawaii, and the District of Columbia into the newly completed feeder canal. The ceremony symbolized the entire country's contribution to the project, and the benefit the project would have to the county's economy when irrigation started the following spring." The photo of me is a jack-hammer tool such that the workers used. I squeezed it and felt the vibration, although the sign stated the intensity was 100x that! G is reluctantly standing behind a diving suit. Somehow T evaded the camera!

This place is sorta special to us. G's very first overnight trip away from home was at Grand Coulee Dam when she was five months old. I bet you can guess why we came here. Hint: There is a river, and think of a rhyming word that would complete this sentence: "Wishing I were _______."

Alrighty, I need to back up a bit because part of this experience was the journey there. I spotted so many funny and interesting things, I felt it was writing worthy. First I'll start with signs. In order to get to Grand Coulee, one must pass through a more rural area of Washington State. Two-lane, unlit, windy highways through small towns to be exact. I chuckled at many of the signs we passed. Who says small towns are boring? The first one was a road sign:

Private Road

No Warning Signs

Ummm. Okay, except for that one I guess??

This one was a mattress business' sign:

Don't Give Up On Your Dreams

Just Go Back To Sleep

Pizza Parlor:

Of Course I'm An Organ Donor

Who Wouldn't Want A Pizza This!

And my personal favorite was advertising a burger joint:

Exercise? I Thought You Said Extra Fries!

Driving through rural areas is incredible fun. You see all sorts of crazy things. However, some not so pleasant. A few miles east of Creston we watched a thunderstorm. While it was raining quite hard at the time, it's otherwise been extremely hot and dry this summer. Lightening, while thrilling to watch, isn't necessarily welcoming. The bolts streaked down the sand colored sky with tall trees and thirsty sagebrush surrounding the landscape. We got through the brunt of the storm and then it hit us: The unmistakable smell of a forest ablaze! We couldn't see the source of the smoke, but the strong smell encompassed the car.

As we approach the town of Creston, four emergency fire vehicles pass us in the opposite direction, presumably towards the brush fire. Remember in the movie Planes Fire And Rescue there was the fire truck who had a hard time extinguishing the fire in time because he was old and rickety? Those were the type of vehicles that passed us! An antique parade on wheels out to save the day! Support your rural firefighters folks. Seriously, if that's what these men and women use to work a volunteer position, I can only imagine what their gear is like. I said a little prayer for them as they scooted by.

Finally, around 8:15 pm we enter the Grand Coulee area. Driving down the hill through Lake Roosevelt Recreational Area towards the Visitor's Center gives us a glimpse of the dam. There's a bridge at top that spans the width of the river. Way back when, you were once permitted to drive your car over it. I remember taking a middle school trip doing this very thing. Our bus stopped in the center of the bridge and we got out and looked over the edge of the dam. Once on the other side, we toured the underworkings of Grand Coulee by riding an elevator down to the turbines and such. Unfortunately, after September 11th that all changed. Terrorism isn't just life threatening, it takes away our fun, DAMmit!

As we prepared to leave, I noticed bats feasting around a stadium-style flood lamp. They dashed and flapped using their radar to hone in on insects. G thought they were interesting as we don't come across them all that often. Public Service Announcement: If you stand too close to their feeding ground, you could be mistaken for food and they'll dive at you.

Finally, we are back in the car ready to head home down the same darkened, windy roads. The sky is clear now, and sparkling with stars. I will admit the best part of this trip was witnessing not one, but two shooting stars! The Perseid Meteor Shower was arriving a couple days later and I wondered if these were the group leaders. They were like little laser lights on a infinite black backdrop.

Fishing Princess & Funny Fish Tales

We like to fish. If you know us, then this comes as no surprise. G has been on a boat since she was four months old and has naturally been exposed to the hobby along with the great outdoors. We mostly fish for crappie as they are relatively easy to catch and fillet and they taste marvelous! Bake 'em, fry 'em, sushi 'em; all good. Okay, maybe not the sushi part. Don't want a tapeworm or other parasitical manifestation.

Typically we troll at our favorite Local Lake. It's easier than casting and reeling all the time and covers a larger area to determine the hot spots. But when you're six, that can get boring real quick. Even with the portable movie player and toys, after approximately 17.36 minutes it's simply not entertaining. G gets antsy for some action so she will pick up her kiddie pole and practice casting. Notice I said practice? Kids her age are still uncoordinated which makes this task seem complicated. Holding down a button, throwing the rod backwards and then forwards, and letting go of the button at the precise moment while continuing to grasp hold of the rod, probably appears to be the equivalent of ninja mastering. Boredom overcomes inability so away she goes and gives it her best. One day, her best was a treble-hook crawdad crankbait that nearly hooked my eye. Luckily, I was paying attention. Most days could be considered successful if the lure landed a couple feet from the boat. Her practice is paying off and she can cast far away enough to catch fish now. This makes the fishing excursions much more interesting. If only those finned creatures would bite and hang on every single time. She has also become a bit of a celebrity. The second and third photos above are displayed at the Post Falls Cabela's store brag board. (I figured Cabela's wouldn't appreciate the sported Bass Pro Shops t-shirt in the first photo!) The employees were thrilled to see more photos of kids, especially girls, with their prized catches.

We have recently lost more equipment. Local Lake has now swallowed two princess poles, a no-hook fishing net, and probably a pair of sunglasses. The first princess pole was "accidentally" dropped in the lake. I continue to believe it was a rouse disguised as an excuse for Daddy to make another desired trip to Cabela's. The second pole was drug into the water by, supposedly, "a really big fish." You see, we only have two rod holders so her kiddie pole gets placed in the unused seat pedestal hole. One day it snagged on thick seaweed, I mean hooked onto a monster, and was sucked under the abyss before anyone could react. After raising the water level with her shed tears, G picked out a green spinning reel combo, an upgraded replacement compared to the princess set-up. As an additional insurance policy, we now use three rod holders.

The net. How the heck does one loose a fishing net? When not in use, the net is placed on top of the boat's bimini cover. It's a fairly easy place to reach and it stays out of the way. This act is usually accompanied by a faint female voice traveling through the Captain's first ear known to repeat the phrase "dumb place," which, unfortunately, quickly exits out the opposite ear. When one night fishes, it's easy to forget the temporary storage location in the darkness and, well, you know which way the warning went. Pack up, fasten imaginary seat belts, throttle in forward gear....clank crack SPLASH!! And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how it's done.

Credit Falls To More Than Just Teachers

(Some handprints from G's Kindergarten class. Hers is the green one.)

It's the end of the school year. Honestly, it's hard to believe Kindergarten is over. Alright, I can believe it, but maybe I don't want to accept it. I logged 40+ volunteer hours at G's school mostly in the library. Placing my presence inside the school allowed me to see many of the people that make our children's education possible, and I will tell you it's not just the teachers. Yes, my child's wonderful teacher had the biggest impact on her kindergarten success (duh!), but each day I took her to school I noticed the variety of staff members who make each day's routine possible.

As we drove to school in the morning, Mrs. J, the crossing guard, was always at an intersection near the school. No matter the weather, she risked her life multiple times per day, wearing her bright orange vest and flag, warning drivers to stop for schoolchildren. It's a 20 MPH zone which drivers aren't always mindful of (if that happens to be you, pay attention!). While we don't walk to school, we waved at Mrs. J as we go past just to acknowledge her.

Recently, G began riding the bus home. I trust Ms. Bus Driver to safely deposit my child at the designated stop each afternoon. Think about it. That's a pretty important responsibility. The school releases our kids to one person who also has to drive and operate an incredibly large vehicle full of (I'm guessing) rowdy kids anticipating their arrival home.

As I mentioned, I volunteer in the library. I love books and reading and spent many summer afternoons at my own public library. Mrs. L, the school librarian, didn't have as many parent volunteers like the classroom teacher did. I also didn't realize that library is now a graded class taught by a certified teacher. She works well over the 40 hour work week (probably as most teachers do). Volunteering my time for her mostly consisted of wiping down germy books before organizing and returning them to the shelves. A cartload of books easily took an hour or more to put away. It's not difficult, but it's time consuming. Mrs. L expressed her gratitude each and every day I was there. I was touched that my seemingly minimal efforts greatly eased her duties.

For an end of the year appreciation, I brought these staff members a simple thank you gift with a personalize note thanking them for their services. I didn't want them to be overlooked. The way I see it, every job is important for the successful function of our school. And in case you're wondering, no, I didn't forget about her classroom teacher either. The dedication of our educators blows me away. I'm excited to see what the next school year brings!

Yearly Memorial Day Cemetery Visit

I know Memorial Day was created in honor of military members who lost their lives bravely serving and I give thanks to them. I also feel that Memorial Day is a good time to remember anyone no longer with us. My maternal grandfather passed away 16 years ago and I choose this time of year to go visit him. He also served in the USAF during WWII so it's fitting.

Back up a little to my blog entry about my garden flowers. Remember the yellow irises I received from a Palouse friends? When they bloom, it's also my reminder to head to Holy Cross Cemetery. I believe yellow is the color of peace and when placed with an American Flag it looks rather stunning. Since my yellow flora opened early than usual this year, they also began to die off earlier. So I had to change it up and mix some of the mauve irises with them.

A word of advice when visiting cemeteries: Go alone. I take the back road which has hills. Shortly after I begin my trek, I start choking up with a lump in my throat. Either Grandpa knows I'm on my way, or those hills are aggravating my motion sickness. Ahem, yeah, must that motion sickness.

I lucked out and there was nobody else in the mausoleum when I arrived. I had the whole place to myself. Well, okay, technically I wasn't alone in there if you count all the folks resting in peace. I got the vases set out on the headstones and proceeded to arrange the flowers I brought. I also reflected of the two new family members had been added recently since my last visit, which is sad to me. There's a generation soon to be lost to the sands of time. Cherish what is left of them and don't forget when they leave. Go visit. They know you're there.

My Grandpa Al with my flower and flag arrangement. Miss him incredibly. He used to take my sister and I bowling nearly everyday during summer vacations. We got pretty good at it, too!

Grandpa's brother, Joe, and his wife Yolanda (one of the recently passed).

Grandpa and Uncle Joe's oldest brother, Fileno, and his wife, Louise. 

Grandpa's parents. Someone already placed flowers so I didn't add more.

My Grandmother's parents. I vaguely remember Great-Grandpa Julian while he was living with my grandparents.

Uncle Johnny, Grandma's brother, who recently passed away.

Uncle Johnny's wife. When she passed away it was really my first experience with any sort of family death. I had dreams about her for a few weeks after she died. 

After business is complete at Holy Cross, I head on over to Fairmount Cemetery. Grandpa has two brothers, who died as children, buried there. Also, Great-Grandpa and Grandma Julian had an infant who died only a few weeks old. She would have been Grandma's older sister and Grandma always said she wanted a big sister. Reflecting upon their memories is important to the people who are important to me. I can manage an afternoon yearly for simple remembrance.

I have a hard time finding this nameplate. This time I marked it on my map so I won't spend 30 minutes making the same wrong turns each year!

I had to ask the groundskeeper to turn off the sprinklers in order to find her. I wasn't leaving without my mission complete!

If you have never wandered through Fairmount Cemetery during Memorial Day, they line the pathways with hundreds of American Flags. It's striking and beautiful and even if you don't have a loved one resting here, go take a look. It's a pretty sight. 

Thoughts From An LEOS

MAY 15th is PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL DAY

Please take a moment of reflection for those 

who bravely served their communities.

Recently a local Police Officer was shot and subsequently died of his injuries. The community is devastated and heartbroken at such a loss. Most of you already know the story. I'm writing about a related variant: Being an LEOS (Law Enforcement Officer Spouse). Countless times I've answered questions such as: "Why does he want to do such a dangerous job?" "How do you handle it?" "Don't you worry all the time?"

The men and women who chose a career in law enforcement are one of a kind. They have to return to their jobs day in and day out after witnessing harrowing circumstances. Long hours at night and on weekends is strenuous. While the rest of us sleep they are diligently keeping watch. Regardless whether they are cussed at, spit on, or fought, they are expected to return to their watch to continue protecting and serving. Afterall, they swore to do just that. If you imagine all the different scenarios and gore they encounter (their job goes beyond those pesky traffic infractions), perhaps you can realize why they appear rough around the edges at first.

I suppose each individual has their own reasons for doing such a dangerous job each and every day, some cases night. I would say most feel that their communities are important enough to them to choose public service. They live here, too, and are making it safer for everyone, including themselves and their families.

To be frank: No, I don't worry about him all the time. He chose this profession fully acknowledging that the worst could happen and I accept that. His job is stressful enough as it is. A worrying spouse doesn't help. No one wants to hear the hallow echoing sounds of bagpipes and know it's in honor of their own loved one, but it's part of the package. I trust he is skilled to take care of himself and his comrades to the best of his ability and vise versa. Sometimes I wake up frightened in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. A quick call to hear his voice is soothing. Leaving a voice mail is comforting enough sometimes (I get to hear his voice on the greeting).

Unfortunately, once in a while, tragedy hits home. Several years ago while living in a small Idaho town we heard the pop-pop-pop of the automatic rifle that killed an officer. Due to coincidental change of events, my LEO had started with another agency only weeks before and therefore not on duty that night. I have never seen my husband weep painfully as he did that day. There is a different connection among them. Something I acknowledge, perhaps not fully understand, but I respect it.

So when another local officer was murdered, it again reminds us of the hazards they work in. I'm deeply saddened by the outcome but I'm not permanently rattled. The man was doing what he was sworn and honored to do. Obviously, I do not wish these circumstances for anyone including our family, but I must be strong-hearted to face the possibility of a final EOW (End Of Watch). How do I do it? I can't say for sure. I simply recognize the universe may call my LEO. I have no immediate control over this. We love each other and cherish our time together as anyone does.

It sickens me that there is this movement against law enforcement personnel. They're just normal people with families and feelings and bills to pay like any ordinary household. Most of them do care about communities and want citizens to be good wholesome people. Perhaps, the reason they were grumpy writing you that speeding ticket was because on the previous call they witnessed the ambulance and fire department wipe up the splattered brains of a driver off the road so the morning commute won't bear witness to it. Sure, there's no way for you to know this but I have a simple suggestion: Thank them for their service and remind them to stay safe. Your loves ones are expecting you to come home safely. We want that, too.

Garden Show-Off

I was given a new camera lens as a Mother's Day/early birthday gift (thanks, Dad!). It's a 50mm F1.8 lens which I wanted for low light use. It also helps me create some superior flower shots. (For Dad's info the first picture was taken at F1.8 1/1600 ISO 400).

I think there's something about each season that I appreciate, but I especially like when my garden starts blooming its colors. I was especially especially excited to discover a new brilliant color of iris: violet. I currently have yellow and mauve irises. I noticed two new plants growing which I had assumed were rhizomes that dropped from last year's thinning. (Iris are a wonderful hearty plant. The tubers spread so thinning is necessary every few years.) Much to my surprise they are this lovely shade of deep violet. A quick Internet search informed me that when irises germinate (not the same as the tubers spreading) they don't necessarily bloom the same color as the parent plant. And since I obtained this information on the Internet it certainly must be true.

My irises are truly my prize garden flower. They are happy-looking and when I give a bouquet to others it brightens their day. I can't get enough of them and wish they would bloom all year long. They smell fantastic and make excellent cut flowers. I received the yellow tubers from some friends down in Palouse who I think of each year when they bloom. I purchased two mauve irises from a gentlemen at a yard sale a few years ago. For a couple bucks I added more color for the yard. 

I also purchased a lilac start from that same yard sale gentleman. I wasn't sure if it would take or survive it's first winter but it did. I live in the Lilac City, I need to have a lilac shrub. 

No one likes wasps, but they are intriguing little creatures nonetheless (annoying animals are smart animals right?). The peonies, from my sister, haven't opened yet, but the buds are leaking some sort of nectar or dew and the wasps enjoy lapping it up. I got lucky with this mid-flight shot and managed to avoid any kind of angry hornet effect. 

Out Of My Comfort Zone

Most of my life I have struggled dealing with change in any amount. Even today, a minor tweak along my personal time-space continuum stresses me out. I've recognized that while it's not possible to control how I feel, I can control how I react to them. It's an ongoing learning process to improve handling my emotions more efficiently.

Lately, the kiddo (G) has been asking for a fish. We weren't really thrilled about getting one, but agreed to think about it for a few weeks. After the thinking was done, (and G wouldn't forget about a pet fish), we headed to the pet store to do some research on prices and whatnot. We decided to go ahead and get a betta since they are inexpensive, easy to take care of, and can survive in a small container. I think we spent $11 to take home a bright blue betta imaginatively named Blueberry Jewel.

While I researched online about how much food to feed this little guy, I discovered they actually do not care for small spaces. Since only one betta can be kept in a tank at a time (they fight other fish), it's not cost effective for pet stores to house individual fish in separate tanks. Therefore, as a marketing tactic they just tell customers they prefer small domains like bowls or vases. Great, now I feel the guilt of animal cruelty. I've got to get Blueberry Jewel more spacious accommodations. Now I'm stressed. Not only do I have to spend more money, but I put pressure on myself to obtain it ASAP. Plus, I have to learn how to care for an actual aquarium rather than maintaining a simple little bowl. It seems silly, but I constantly worried about this, upsetting my time-space continuum and providing myself with headaches. I starting having regrets about adopting this fish in the first place, but I had also become attached to him. And so began my mission to upgrade his living quarters.

Fish tanks are pricey. I wanted a 5 gallon tank and aquarium kits can run $50 and up at the pet store. I was able to purchase a decent second-hand set for $20. I still had to purchase a few supplies and a GFCI outlet adapter (to protect us from electrocution from the heater and filter). An $11 investment quickly turned into a $62 investment. Luckily, my father-in-law is an experienced fish keeper and held my hand through the set up process. Blueberry Jewel is happy in his new pond. I'm feeling much better knowing a living entity is in a proper environment. I'm learning this new skill of fish keeping and the silver lining is: I'm enjoying it so far.

To continue with the out-of-the-comfort-zone theme, G took a big step this week as well. (Yes, I'm afraid she's inherited some of her mother's anxiety.) She rode the bus home from school! We don't live too far from her school as it, so it's a quick ride after classes to the bus stop which is about a half mile or so from our house. This is really quite exciting! We walk home together which saves gas, of course, but it's also a great way to spend some time together before she's in the house and plopped in front of the TV. And I don't need to get in the car, drive to school, park in the lot, walk into the school, walk back to the car, wait for my turn to back out, twiddle my thumbs while the parade of school buses pull out onto to road, get through the congested intersections a second time. Well, you get the idea. It's only been a few days of this new routine, but she seems to enjoy the extra independence so I'm rolling with this! 

Name That Sunset

I was scouring my brain for a writing subject and decided to do something fun: I gathered some sunset photos I've taken over the years and see if anyone recognizes where they are from. I also thought this was a good illustration of varying degrees of sunsets. The natural differences certainly distinguish one from another, not only by location, but time of year and how early/late during the sunset phase the photo was taken.

They were shot with digital cameras, mobile phones, and even 35mm. I compressed most of the file sizes by a large margin and most of my color adjustments didn't register on the upload (not sure why) so don't judge too harshly on quality.

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

g.

h.

i.

j.

k.

l.

m.

Keep

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The

Answers

a. Spokane Valley outside out home

b. Moscow ID I think the white speck in the middle is a planet

c. Oregon Coast

d. Moorea, Tahiti, French Polynesia 35mm. Color is really off on this one Hmpf! 

e. Jacksonville FL taken from a moving vehicle

f. Wanapum Dam WA on the Columbia River

g. Spokane Valley in our backyard

h. Whitefish MT

i. Sprague Lake WA

j. Waikiki Beach, Oahu, HI

k. Mississippi, again the color quality is messed up on the grass

l. Ozarks MO

m. Seattle Waterfront

It's easy to get caught up in the beauty of the setting sun and simply watch in appreciation of nature. Afterall, it happens every single night, but grab your camera once in awhile. Maybe even start your own collection. 

How many did you guess correctly?

My CrossFit Open 15.5 Experience; The Finale

15.5, the final open WOD of the 2015 season.

For time, which means I have to complete everything in order to enter a score:
27 cal row
27 thrusters (Rx 65 lbs, scaled 45 lbs)
21 cal row
21 thrusters
15 cal row
15 thrusters
9 cal row
9 thrusters

Hey, did you know that thrusters spelled backwards is royal-pain-in-the-ass? Yep, that's exactly what it spells. And I own a 70 HP EvinRude so I don't need to mess with this rowing crap. However, I did willingly sign up for the Open so I'm damn well gonna finish this sucker!

As our women's class is preparing, Coach Salem is giving us general pointers and strategies. "...pace yourself [blah blah blah]....go right into full speed [blah blah blah]....you're gonna die....[blah blah]" wait, WHAT?! I've known this woman awhile and this is the first time she's hinted the possibility of expiration. Now she's telling me the end of my earthly existence could go down via thrusters and rowing. Fan-freakin'-tastic!

We paired up and I was with dear, sweet Robin. She gets stuck with me who, if Universities offered degrees in the field of Smart-Assness, I'd hold a PhD. I supposed I'd have to get my Bachelor of Science first, you know, my B.S. degree. Muahahahaha. Okay, okay back to 15.5. At first glance, this WOD doesn't sound so bad, but anyone who knows anything about this sport is keenly aware that WODs are farrrrrr more than they appear. As Robin's partner, part of my job is score keeping and the other part is encouragement. I encouraged her to stretch her rowing effort because a mako shark is tailing her. Ha, maybe I nearly killed us all with my imaginary aquatic creature. Nah, it's shark's fault so I'm off the hook...pun intended. I did make Robin laugh a few times. I'm not sure if she actually thought I was funny or if she secretly wanted me to shut up. But she got the workout done along with everyone else. No casualties. Good. That's good since no one had time to write their eulogies.

Here I go in the second heat. Not gonna lie; I was nervous. Rowing and thrusters are both leg torture and I struggle with low body strength. I opted for the scaled version again but it was still SUPER hard. My legs felt on the verge of spontaneously combusting. I just wanted to get it done and over with. Robin did a great job keeping me focused and reminding me about minuscule things like breathing and that the mako shark was after me this time. I still had to set the barbell down several times even though I paced myself. I probably took the longest, or close to the longest, of anyone, but 14 minutes and 32 seconds later I finished and I survived! Here is some footage if you're interested: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=937712236239317

So what did I learn? While this was most definitely a challenge and I knew I wasn't going to finish quickly, I concentrated on form and engaging my hips more in the thrusters. I need to work on my posture, too. I felt fairly strong on the rower. I also learned that I should take reflux medicine before starting 15.5. Climbing and descending stairs after this WOD is not wise. And under no circumstances allow your kid to convince you to dance to the Cha Cha Slide especially the part the goes "...Can you go down low? All the way to the floor...." Ugghhhhhhhhhhh!

Cheers and peace out from the 2015 CrossFit Open.

My CrossFit Open 15.4 Experience (& Extra Credit)

15.4 Rx version is an 8 min AMRAP (as many rounds/reps as possible) consisting of a varied ladder of HSPU (handstand push-ups) and cleans at 185 lb men/125 lb women. Those weights for the cleans are heavy, even for seasoned athletes. HSPU is apparently a new movement for the Open. HSPU is just how it sounds: stand on your head and push up with your arms, lifting your head off the ground. 

The scaled version (which I did) is:
8 min AMRAP 
10 push press 65 lbs
10 cleans 75 lbs

I can't deny I was a tad disappointed because in the Live Announcement (scroll to about 18:25) Dave Castro hinted the scaled version may have been regular push-ups rather than a push press. A push press is getting that 65 lb barbell from shoulder to overhead. I realize that movement resembles a HSPU more closely than a standard push-up, but I like those and am fairly good at them. Cleans are getting the 75 lb barbell from the ground to shoulder. (See this link under week 4 for more explanation on the movements).

Well, I knew this was going to be a very challenging WOD for me with two weightlifting movements. I was wrong: it was extremely challenging and quite the lung burner. My goal was to get through three full rounds. And guess what? I DID IT! I completed 62 reps which is three full rounds plus two extra push presses. This was certainly a testament to upper body strength. I was thankful for this because......

I signed up for a 3 mile run/race the following day. Yes, I must be crazy. The CrossFit Open and a race?! Originally, I only signed up for the run with the intention of skipping the Open this year. I made a semi-last minute decision to go ahead and join. I'm glad 15.3 (wall balls and jump rope, remember?) was last week and not this week so my legs were saved. Unfortunately, I didn't do as well in the run as I would have liked. I was aiming to finish in under 30 minutes, but I got plagued with the dreaded side stitch pretty early on and couldn't get rid of. Sometimes I can run and/or breathe them out, but it wasn't happening this time. Frustrating. I finished about 32:45 and it was a struggle to get that. But I was happy to get some exercise and some friends happened to be there and they cheered me on. The weather was unpredictable that day, but for the race it was decent. It had rained earlier so the air was damp, cool, and comforting. However, the wind picked up something fierce afterwards. I ran during this little pocket of calm weather which, I suppose, was especially for the event. It's so funny how everything works itself out. 

"I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition."  
~ Martha Washington

Musical Memories

Munchkin and I visit Great-Grandma (that is not her in the photo, it was just the only snapshot I got that day) at her retirement community on Saturday, March 14th.  The Royal Lilac Court Princesses and Queen were visiting and, uh, G does NOT pass up a chance to mingle with princesses. I thought it started at 1 pm but was mistaken and it actually started at 2 pm. We had this hour to kill and luckily the retirement community was celebrating St. Patrick's Day with Irish jigs played by a live band and Irish step-dancers performed, too. 

You know how you hear a song and are instantly transported backwards in time to some random event that you correlate with that song? I saw that happen with 70, 80, and 90+ year olds. The band struck up "My Wild Irish Rose." There was simultaneous gasps and I could sense the flashbacks manifesting and swooning over the residents. They all sang along, including my Grandma. I wondered what memorable event(s) were triggered by this melody: A wedding, a dinner party, a school dance? Did they image the song as the band played it, or were they replaying the soft whisper of static penetrating from their parents' record player? I supposed it isn't necessary to be privy to those memories. The aura of what I witnessed touch me. Something so simple as a melody can jog the most joyful and possibly forgotten moments. I'm so thankful I made the mistake about the event time, otherwise, this experience would have only passed as a blip on life's timeline. 

My CrossFit Open 15.3 Experience

Well, it sucked. 15.3 was kind-of a surprise. It started with muscle ups.

14 min AMRAP (as many reps/rounds as possible)

7 muscle-ups

50 wall balls (14 lb to 9' target)

100 double unders 

Not everyone can do a muscle up, myself included. Even if I had previously succeeded at one, it doesn't mean I can perform more anytime I want. They take continual practice and upkeep. I've come close, and honestly they are fun to attempt. I enjoy swinging on the rings. I like the rush of flying in the air and the momentary suspended "floating" feeling before trying to flick my body up and over the rings. 

For 14 minutes with a group of other fabulous women, we tried to achieve the coveted muscle up. Many of us were almost there, but in order to count it must be complete. I managed to make it upright to my armpit area, but still wasn't high enough over those rings to push myself upwards. However, I felt like I was closing the gap on my path to a muscle up which is progress. I'm not unhappy with my effort and like I mentioned, they're fun to try anyways. By the end we were all rubbing various arm joints. That's usually a good sign to take a break (well, for me anyhow.) 

We all had to record scores on the scaled version of 15.3:

14 min AMRAP

50 wall balls (10 lb to 9' target)

200 single jump ropes

Yeah, 14 mins of BLECH! Endurance wise, I'm not efficient at either; they suck the life out of me pretty quick. Plus, I was disappointed that the third element was omitted rather than scaled. Why not a few push-ups or weighted sit-ups in place of the muscle ups? Well, at least wall balls and jump roping were in the same workout so they probably won't be in either of two remaining 2015 Open WODs...knock on wood.

I got through 2 full rounds plus 39 wall balls. That equals 539 reps. Which I know sounds like a lot, but it probably wasn't. I have myself to blame for this one. I neglected eating wholesome foods the days beforehand, slacked on my water consumption, and was simply all around lazy (I picked up a book and read about 200 pages in a day). The excitement and anticipation wasn't in me this time and I'm okay with that. I suppose I have to be if I'm owning up to my mistakes. In addition, my mindset needs to be adjusted going into future WODs. I'm going to be more aware of this and strive to change it for the better. There's always room for growth!

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." ~R. Collier

My CrossFit Open 15.2 Experience

Ahhh....It's week two of five of the CrossFit Open. This week's WOD is a repeat from last year. To quote Dave Castro (the evil villain who eats, sleeps, and breathes the fire that ignites the Open), "15.2 is 14.2."

Every 3 minutes for as long as possible complete:

From 0:00-3:00

   2 rounds of:

   10 overhead squats (95 lb men / 65 lb women.)

   10 chest-to-bar pull-ups

From 3:00-6:00

   2 rounds of:

   12 overhead squats (95 / 65 lb.)

   12 chest-to-bar pull-ups

From 6:00-9:00

   2 rounds of:

   14 overhead squats (95 / 65 lb.)

   14 chest-to-bar pull-ups

Etc., following same pattern until you fail to complete both rounds

Well I ran into this problem last year: The stupid OHS! At that time I had never performed one that heavy. Somehow I managed 3 reps.  Yeah, that's all I got. It was frustrating because I CAN DO CHEST-TO-BAR PULL-UPS!!! So here I am a year later facing the same dilemma. I can do 65 lb OHS somewhat more easily now but I didn't think I could even get one round in the first three minutes, let alone two. 65 lbs is still quite heavy for me for an OHS (my 1 rep max is 75 lb). There's another factor: I've got a semi-messed up shoulder. I will leave out the details for now, but it's caused some grief over the last few months. Stuff that's slightly heavy for me really aggravates it. Thankfully, our Evil Villain has softened for 2015 and created a scaled version which I was beyond excited about:

Every 3 minutes for as long as possible complete:

From 0:00-3:00

   2 rounds of:

   6 overhead squats (65 lb  men/ 45 women lb.)

   6 chin-over-bar pull-ups

From 3:00-6:00

   2 rounds of:

   8 overhead squats (65 / 45 lb.)

   8 chin-over-bar pull-ups

From 6:00-9:00

   2 rounds of:

   10 overhead squats (65 / 45 lb.)

   10 chin-over-bar pull-ups

Etc., following same pattern until you fail to complete both rounds 

45 lbs is manageable yet still challenging and regular pull-ups....my favorite! And I'm good at them (or I like to think I'm good at them)! The first sets starts at 6 reps rather than 10 in the Rx version so that's helpful, too. My goal was to reach the fourth set with 12 reps in it. 

The first set of rounds was fairly easy. I went slower cause it's essentially a "death by" workout of OHS and pull-ups so I didn't want to gas myself too quickly. I kept the slower pace for the second set, too. I also started noticing that the other competitors who already finished began gathering to watch. (Oh goodie....now there's multiple sets of lively eyeballs upon me.) About halfway through the third set I started to get really tired. I wanted it to be over. I remembered my goal to get to the fourth set. I made the last pull-up with a few seconds left. Whew!....Ok, now my lungs are burning. Hello! Oxygen what the hell is taking you so long?! Life, please return back to my airways, like, pronto! I vaguely heard my good buddy, Katie, who was keeping score, tell me to keep going as I was at my desired set. I gritted my teeth, gripped the barbell and snatched it overhead. 45 lbs is now feeling like twice that. Twelve more times I went down and up stabilizing the barbell with whatever fibers remaining that still worked. Such relief to put down that thing! With tiny beads of sweat dotting my skin, I kipped my chin over the monkey bar above my head eleven more times. Then the timer went off. I splatted to the floor in euphoric release awaiting the arrival of oxygen in regular smooth intervals; you know, normal humanoid breathing. The floor felt cool on my hot skin. Katie plopped my tumbler of lime-infused water on my belly. "Here's your water," she said. Just what I needed after surviving death-by OHS and pull-ups!

I was ecstatic to accomplish 119 reps in twelve minutes. 

But I'm not gonna lie: the following day I was sore. My muscles ached and my shoulder is feeling it. I hope it recovers over the weekend as I'm looking forward to next week's Open WOD. I'll get done what I can get done with what my body will allow. However, I would like a break from pull-ups.