Empty Nest

Every so often, when the weather is nice, we carry Jack's cage outside and let him bask in the sun and sing outside. A week ago Jack was outside when Dave saw 3 other parakeets perched around Jack's cages. It was at this point that we started to feel like less like we saved Jack and more like we sentenced him to a year in solitary confinement. Taking into consideration that he never seemed to like us much, he made the biggest mess on my floors, and the bag of food I bought for him had run out, we decided to set him free.

After sitting outside for a few days, to adjust to the new environment, Dave removed Jack's roof so he could fly away. The little bird brain just sat there, too dumb to realize that he could fly off. Dave replaced the roof, and to be honest, was forgotten about for the next couple of days. Until yesterday when I removed his roof again. After watching him for sometime, the phone rang, when I got back he was gone.

I so wanted to see him fly away, but it brings comfort to know that there are fellow parakeets out there somewhere for him to be friends with. So to where ever you are Jack, good luck, your sweet chirp will be missed, but your mess on the floor will not.

I'm Going to Disneyland!

The last time I was in Disneyland there was no such thing as Toontown, and the Indiana Jones' Ride was nothing but scaffolding and mortar. Dave's previous experience didn't follow too long after mine. So with a four day weekend approaching we decided it was time we go to the happiest place on Earth!

Thursday was spent driving to Cali, and since Dave had never seen a tiger, elephant, giraffe, ect. in his entire life (he later, so kindly informed me, that he didn't live as privileged of a childhood as I) we decided to take a detour on our way to Anaheim and visit the San Diego Zoo. If you haven't ever been, San Diego has an amazing Zoo. It was well worth the extra 1.5 drive.
Dave got to see his first tiger, and many, many other animals. If you would like a complete documentation of our trip to the zoo just ask. I pretty sure Dave took 3+ shots of every animal in the park. We even have video footage we could share.
My favorite part of the zoo was the panda bear exhibit. The whole zoo was peaceful and beautiful, but the panda exhibit even more so.

Did I mentioned that I like the panda's.Friday we planned to tackle California Adventure part in the morning and finish off the day at Disneyland. It was a gorgeous day and we were so lucky to not have to stand in any really long lines.
California Adventure Park was all dressed up for Halloween. I never knew you could grow candy corns!
After Soring Over California we decided to get a little buggy at the Bug's Life 3D movie.
Waiting in line at the Buzz Lightyear ride, Dave posed with his hero.
I decided that nothing makes you feel more like a kid than Disneyland at night. There is just something so magical about that place that you can't help but smile.It makes me feel so happy, that I have no shame in taking my picture while wearing a little girl's Minnie Mouse souvenir hat.After a wonderful day in Disneyland we decided we were done with all the kiddy stuff and ready for some real rides, so we made our way to Six Flags Magic Mountain. We had a great time, but after about six roller coasters, we were feeling a little shooken up. So we drove back to Anaheim. We made it back in time to check out Downtown Disney and get a bite to eat. It was a busteling place, but we had a great time. We found a great place to eat, and while we eat, we got to watch the firework show at Disneyland.

Like most trips, the time went by way too fast. I guess that just means we will have to start planning another ... :)

Posting to Me

As time goes by throughout the day I often think of different things I would like to post about. While I drive my 57 miles each day, I begin writing sentences in my head, forming (what I think are) clever ways of telling, the few people that read my blog, about the things that matter to me.
Since my last post I have probably posted 6 new posts in my head, unfortunately none of them ever go posted. I posted to myself about how I was so excited that my favorite season, fall, had arrived, only to be heartbroken when I remembered that I don't live in New England and there is no such thing as fall in Phoenix. I also posted about my green beans, spinach, tomatoes, and cilantro that are growing in my garden. I thought about posting about my wonderful soccer team and all our scoreless games. Unfortunately, once my 57 miles has been driven all my drive for posting is gone, and I spend my nights trying to keep my eyes open until 9:30 rather than writing to you all.

Growing a Green Thumb

Unrelated to my quest to begin my food storage, on Friday I began planting my fall garden. In June Dave and I built this raised garden box. And when I say "Dave and I" I mean mostly Dave, I did however waterproof the wood :)
My hubby's the man when it comes to building things. Thanks hon, you did a great job! Too bad I didn't realize before the box was done that it is so small you can hardly grow anything in it.

I did plant some carrots, lettuce, spinach, and herbs in it though. So here is a shot of the completed box and day one for my little seedlings.

And to make up for the lack of space in the box I planted some, squash, broccoli, tomatoes, and peppers in the ground.

Since I am completely inexperienced in the world of gardening it will be interesting to see if anything edible is produce. Gardening is like rocket science to me.

Only two days after planting, I've learned that I should have made furrows. All my plants were completely dried up when I came home from church. Lesson 1 in gardening: water more.

Are you in?

At seven o' clock tonight I attended a meeting about food storage, now two hours later I am feeling pretty certain. Pretty certain that if an atomic bomb went off while Dave and I sleep tonight, and that if we aren't hit directly, we might as well be dead because we have nothing to sustain ourselves with.

So now that I am fully convinced that we are nowhere close to being prepared I am feeling motivated to get prepared. I have a long ways to go, a lot to learn, and a lot of intimidation to over come but I believe I can do it! If I can do it, you can too. If you haven't started yet, like me, let me hear you say your ready to start getting prepared.

Check out Anna's blog she has a ton of info.

Camping Trip

It always seems that after three months of tripple didgit temptures, I get fed up with Phoenix and get the itch to get away. Laybor Day weekend was my boiling point. So I politely declared to Dave that we needed to get out of this barren place and go somewhere liveable. So on this past Friday afternoon, I said goodbye to Kids Corner and we headed up to Payson. We had no idea where we were going, which made me a little nervous, but I was confident we would find somewhere off the side of the road to camp. Once we got up over the rim we lucked out and found the perfect little camping spot. With just enough sun light left, we set up our tent and got a fire going for the night.This was Dave and I's first camping trip with just the two of us and the whole time we kept asking one another why we have never done this before. We had such a great time hanging out by the fire and making smores.

After a good nights rest we awoke to a beautiful cool morning. We rosted cinamon rolls over the fire and took a walk through the woods. By 11 o'clock we had played every game together that we had brought and then looked at each other and said, "what do we do now?" So we packed up our stuff and by one we were heading back home.

Not wanting the adventure to end, we made an unexpected stop at the Natural Bridge (one of my favorite places.) It was a little warmer there, so we didn't stick around too long, but long enough to see all that makes the Natual Bridge great.

A Little Bit of Mexico

Dispite the fact that were I work at is call Swimkids USA it has several factors that remind me of Mexico. For those of you who have been to Rocky Point, or the like, you know the golden rule of being able to get around in Mexico; "there is no such thing as germs in Mexico." So it is at Swimkids. You must tell yourself, as you walk through the bathrooms barefoot and into the showers, "there's no such thing as germs." As you submerge a smiling child, with the biggest green booger in their nose, and see that is gone upon surfacing you must tell yourself, "there's no such thing as germs." And later when that same child spits up in the water and you watch it float by you, you must tell yourself, "there's no such thing as germs."

Those of you who have gone on a taco run at 11pm in Rocky Point can recall small children hanging out in the restaurante, usually glued to a television. Since no one at Swimkids believes in childcare, and it's a kid friendly environment, every day at Swimkids is bring your child to work day. A quarter of our brake room has been transformed into a mini nursery completly equipt with toys, infant swings, bean bag chairs, and a TV that is playing a movie 24/7. Employee's kids can also be found wondering around the gym, pool, and play area, and oh so commonly being held by employees while working the front desk. And if that's not shocking enough, nothing beats the child labor. Much like Mexico our employees have their children work for them. No matter how young they are, or how late it is on a school night, the cleaning lady's son can be found working right beside her cleaning windows and mopping floors.

Now don't get me wrong I love working at Swimkids USA, but sometimes it just reminds me a little of being in Mexico.