Our 10th Anniversary

Over the weekend we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary with a trip up to the mountains. We stayed at Garrett's grandfather's house and did the typical family events... a walk around the loop, a drive searching for elk and other wildlife and we had a picnic almost at the top of the highest peak in our state. What a beautiful day it was and it was so quiet up there. Even the critters and birds were quiet!

Peace.

Great Friends

These are some of the best friends a girl can have! We all worked together at the engineering firm (three of us have left) but have always stayed in contact and go out as much as we can. Unfortunately, Chris is moving to be closer to her son and new grandson.

Yummy! Yummy!

These are my goodies I get at the produce co-op. Just like home! Can't wait to see what I come home with tomorrow.

Blooming Desert

Okay, so it's been ages since I last blogged. I have no excuse.

I love living in the desert! The colors are so vibrant and alive and they just make me happy. I don't know what this purple tree is but they are in bloom everywhere and are beautiful!

Peace.

Home Foods

Last night I recorded "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern" because he was in Minnesota. Apparently he's a St. Paul resident. Anyway, he did a tour of the north shore from Duluth to Grand Marais and on the way he stopped at one of my favorite spots in MN - a little hole in the wall smoked fish shop. My dad and I LOVE this place! The smoked salmon there is to die for and I usually threaten death if I don't make it there on my visits home. Garrett even got a kick out of seeing this place on t.v.

Andrew even went to the MN State Fair - another must see at the end of the summer. Garrett had a great time when I took him there over three years ago. Keelee was with us and I found out I was pregnant with Brynna right after we were there.

It was so nice to see a slice of home! Thank you Andrew!

Peace.

What "Carrie" means...

What Carrie Means

You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Time with my girls..

This past weekend has been busier than usual... Thursday I spent an hour at school with Brynna for "Me and My Gal" day - what a day! We made clay vases, played outside and sang songs.

Friday, Garrett took the day off and we went to the Titanic exhibit at the science center - I was shocked at the condition of some of the artifacts! How perfect they were!!

Saturday was my birthday and I spent an action-packed day with Keelee: first there was an open house at the local GS camp, then rushed off to dance class and a quick shopping run; over to the school for their spring carnival; finally, off to poker night. I wasn't out first this time - yea!!! I didn't win money, but I wasn't out first, and that's all that mattered to me!

Sunday was our first mother/daughter scrapbook workshop. Keelee and I made a beautiful dance spread. The group decided to do this once a month!

Brynna is off on spring break this week, Keelee is home with Pink Eye and my father-in-law is in surgery to remove a huge blood clot. Does it ever end????

I'm up to 16 books now and I've lost my writing mojo. I hope to find it again soon.

Peace.

Happy Dance!!

I'm doing my happy dance!! The magazine with my first published children's article came today!!

Dance with me, won't you???

PhotoBucket Meme
Because Nathania did it first...
1. Go to www.photobucket.com (don't sign in)2. For each question below, type your answer in the "search" box and hit ENTER3. Use only the first page of hits that come up and select a picture. If no matches are found to your search query you can revise your answer.4. Copy the html for the photo you select and paste it in your LJ post.

What is your first name?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi251.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg307%2Fwalton_photo2007%2FCarrie.jpg&searchTerm=carrie&pageOffset=15

What is your favorite food?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi133.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq60%2Fmina87wien%2Fshrimp.jpg&searchTerm=shrimp&pageOffset=17

Where did you go to school?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi16.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb19%2Faggieteacher00%2FUniversity%2520of%2520Minnesota%2Fcae9.jpg&searchTerm=university%20of%20minnesota&pageOffset=16

What is your relationship status?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi231.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee276%2Fdontesbabygirl2%2Fmarried.jpg&searchTerm=married&pageOffset=13

What is your favorite color?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi262.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fii109%2Faligirl101_alicia%2Fblue.jpg&searchTerm=blue&pageOffset=12

Who is your celebrity crush?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi84.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk32%2Fstart_0statick%2Fdrdrew.gif&searchTerm=dr%20drew&pageOffset=13

Who are you listening to now?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi164.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu16%2Fwar_for_peace_x%2Fradio.jpg&searchTerm=radio&pageOffset=3

Favorite movie?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi56.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg194%2Fboyintheironmask%2Fcasablanca.jpg&searchTerm=casablanca&pageOffset=1

Favorite book?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr168%2Fmychemicalroses%2Fcatcher.jpg&searchTerm=catcher%20in%20the%20rye&pageOffset=18

Favorite Disney princess?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi278%2Fsamkiwi4%2FARiel.png&searchTerm=ariel&pageOffset=12

Favorite Drink?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi262.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fii111%2Fsystemfe%2FCoca-Cola.jpg&searchTerm=coca%20cola&pageOffset=1

Where is your dream vacation?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn67%2Flmtcleere%2FSwitzerland.jpg&searchTerm=switzerland&pageOffset=16

What is your favorite desert?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi260.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fii31%2Fcg9fighter%2FIce-Cream.gif&searchTerm=ice%20cream&pageOffset=19

What do you want to be when you grown up?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi203.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa62%2Fcutestpkever%2Findiana_jones.jpg&searchTerm=indiana%20jones&pageOffset=1

What do you love most in life?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi268.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fjj24%2FJujubee1215%2Ffamily.gif&searchTerm=family&pageOffset=3

One word to describe yourself?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi218.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc169%2Fscottyc1000%2Fa.jpg&searchTerm=creative&pageOffset=0

Up to 12...

It's almost the end of February and I've already read 12 books. I've also written almost five chapters of my book. And, I'm about to see my first article published in a magazine!! Yep, it's finally going to happen. The magazine went to press last week and I should have my copies right around my birthday. Words cannot express how accomplished I feel!!

I'm also pissed. Why can't people say "thank you?" It's two words. Two small words. And it's two small words that make peuple feel wonderful. They're not hard to say but what they say is amazing.

I've realized that my life is full of people who don't say "thank you" and I can't stand it!! No, "thank you for picking up those papers for me" or "thank for you for the birthday present fo myself or my child." I'm to the point where I don't even want to be around these people. Sad, isn't it? But you know what? I go out of my way to help some people and I get nothing from them. I'm done with that. I'm not asking for banners behind airplanes or boquets of flowers. Nope, I'm asking for two words.

I also have numerous people in my life who do say "thank you" and they say it often. I love being around them b/c I know they appreicate me - not take me for granted.

So, if I haven't said "thank you" for something then I'm saying it now. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

Peace.

Me by 4's!

4 Movies I've Watched Over and Over Again:
1. Tin Cup & various other Kevin Costner movies
2. Grease
3. The Empire Strikes Back
4. Any Julia Roberts movie

4 Places I've Been:
1. Berlin, Germany
2. Winnepeg, Candada
3. Seattle, Washington
4. Orlando, Florida

4 Places I've Lived:
1. Grand Rapids, Minnesota
2. Minneapolis, Minnesota
3. Flagstaff, Arizona
4. Gilbert, Arizona

4 TV Shows I Watch:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Paula's Home Cooking/Paula's Party
3. Project Runway
4. NCIS

4 items I can't live without on my iPod:
1. Josh Groban & Harry Connick, Jr.
2. The Goo Goo Dolls
3. Bryan Adams
4. Rascal Flatts & Garth Brooks

4 Things I Look Forward To:
1. Scrapbooking night
2. Hugs, kisses and snuggle time with my girls
3. Reading
4. Vacations

4 Favorite Foods:
1. Shrimp anything
2. Lemon chicken
3. Chef salad
4. Pulled pork sandwiches

4 Places I'd Rather Be:
1. Whale watching in Vancouver
2. Sitting a field of flowers in Switzerland
3. Reading in the Cayman Islands
4. Curled up in flannel sheets with a down comforter

4 favorite authors:
1. Nora Roberts
2. Stephenie Meyer
3. Sue Grafton
4. Clive Cussler

4 dream jobs:
1. Photographer
2. Archaeologist
3. Horse breeder
4. Fashion designer

Family Time

Last night we went to my friend Shelly's house for some fun family time. Of course, we played poker. You know there were cards, chips and money there so we just had to!
Out of 23 people playing, I came in 3rd!! Won myself $40 for our Disneyland fund.
Can't tell you how many kids were there but had to be around 100. So I exaggerate! But it sure sounded like 100.
Garrett did well, too. He lost in the 5th round but filled-in for a gent that had to leave early. Garrett ended up in 2nd place and split a $70 pot.
What a great night!

Peace.

Reading and Writing

Reading:
Well, I've finished two books for this year - "Eclipse" and "New Moon" by Stephenie Meyer.
I loved them! Predicitable but loved them!

Writing:
I just got my final assignment back and the first three chapters of my book are complete. That is, until an editor tells me to change them! Now it's time to write the remaining chapters and see where this story is going. Yes, I have an idea but that doesnt' mean that's where it will end up!

Peace.

Darth Vader

Garrett and I are watching the results of the New Hampshire Primary and we just heard the dumbest thing ever to come out of a reporter's mouth.

She was talking about John McCain winning the 2000 New Hampshire Primary and there was confetti flying and the most profound image was a McCain holding "a Darth Vader stick."

Sometimes I am so embarrassed to have a Journalism degree.

And this lady was on CNN - a somewhat respectable channel...

...and the elections are just beginning.

Save us.

Peace.