No Trespassing Allowed

Yesterday there was a hesitant knock on my door. A single knock followed by a long pause and then another single knock. If I hadn't been sitting in my living room I would never have heard it. Through the peephole, I saw two teeny tiny little boys standing there with their mother. They couldn't have been cuter or smaller or more scared. I was curious enough that I did something I almost never do - I actually answered the door. It turns out that they had accidentally thrown their Frisbee in my backyard and were wondering if it was OK if they went in to get it. I would think most people would have just opened the gate and grabbed their Frisbee (being that my backyard faces the common area, is easily accessible through a gate that doesn't lock, can be seen fully over the low white picket fence, and takes up only about four feet). I love the fact that their mom was teaching them to ask permission first. Such good manners!

I Love My Neighbors

I attended an informal HOA meeting this week regarding our doors. Apparently there has been quite the debate raging regarding the possibility of adding security/storm doors. So, once the lawyers said the board could do what they wanted, we were all invited to bring a lawn chair to the common area to discuss the choices. Being a good community citizen (and not feeling like hiding out in my own home since they were all right outside my back door) I grabbed a chair and joined the masses. This is quite possibly the only HOA meeting I have attended. My cute neighbors were very excited to see me and happy to hear that I was in town for a couple weeks. Fast forward to today and I get a call from the Lowe's installation department letting me know that they only have a couple of doors in stock and that "your neighbors said you should really get yours first". Awwww shucks. I love my neighbors!

Monday Memory...on a Tuesday

One of my friends recently posted this oldie on Facebook so I thought I would share. This is Crystal Crest (the annual awards ceremony) at Weber State University circa 1990 or 91 (I think). I would be the one in the front with the helmet hair apparently threatening someone off camera!

Front: Lane, Tracy, Vicki

Second: ??, Christa, Jeni, Len Heather, Shane

Third: ??, Jeff, Mark, Quinn, Rich, ??

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Quinn was my date for this one in his "not out of the closet" phase. In fact, at least three of the guys in this picture were in that phase. Wow, that really didn't bode well for any of us girls. Anyway, it was "Quinn's year" for Crystal Crest (he was the Student Body VP in charge that year) so he mostly spent time running around trying to get everything set up and keeping things running smoothly and I mostly spent time trying to keep him from having a total stress meltdown. Ah, good times.

40 and Fabulous

Most of my friends from high school are turning 40 this year (and we are still trying to figure out how that is possible!). Every couple of months we get together for a 40 and Fabulous lunch or dinner to celebrate the latest set of birthdays. Above is a photo from our dinner at Chili's. This is a Happy Birthday Shout Out to the girls in the photo Nancy, Laurie, Sarah, Ruth and Pam. Here's to being 40 and Fabulous!

Badminton and BBQ

We had a great family celebration for the fourth. Played a little badminton (who knew we were so competitive!), ate some BBQ (delicious), lit some fireworks (and watched Trey light some fireworks - a little nerve-wracking!!!), then finished off with some homemade ice cream (always a favorite). Thanks family for a great evening!

Sky Art

I am a huge fan of fireworks. I love to watch them. I find the shapes and the colors and the art of them amazing. I am awestruck when I watch them. I have been lucky enough in my life to have been to some truly amazing firework shows. One Independence Day, I was with my friends in New England and one night we watched fireworks from the ferry as we traveled from Nantucket. The next night we were in Boston for the fireworks show with the Boston Pops. It really has to be experienced to be believed. When I lived in San Francisco every year they would have a fireworks show out over the Bay which was always incredible to see. One year I watched it from the top of one of the office buildings - a truly spectacular experience. There was a show in Quebec City with my team from ADP that was so incredible there really weren't words to describe it. There was a fireworks show over Sydney Harbour that was magical. There was a new years show in Hawaii and the time my room in Chicago overlooked Navy Pier and I got to see the fireworks every night from my room. There have been countless shows put on by Disney - the pyrotechnics there really know what they're doing. At my parents house you can sit on their back porch and watch all the firework shows happening across the valley. And let's not forget the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics, which even though we were really cold and really wet, was still one of the most enjoyable shows I have seen. Still, with all of the great shows I have seen, my favorite tradition is to watch the Centerville City Fireworks on July 3rd...from the comfort and convenience of my own home.I live about a block from the park where they set the fireworks off. My first July in my new house, I was home on the 3rd and suddenly heard fireworks. I rushed upstairs and discovered that I had a perfect view of a fireworks show from my spare bedroom. I pushed the window open and could hear the music that the fireworks were timed to. It was such an unexpected and delightful moment. A tradition was born. Today marked the 4th year that I have watched the fireworks from the comfort and air conditioned convenience of my own home. Thanks Centerville City! The pictures above are from tonight's show.