Monday, Monday

So here we are at another Monday.  This last weekend was...strange. It had highs and lows.  Let's get the lows out of the way first.
Friday morning we had to put our old dog down.  He was 14 and he just couldn't get around any more adn was in such visible pain that we just wanted to let him be at peace.  So good bye Guiness.

As for a high, Nick and I have been married for 17 years as of Saturday. We didn't really do much.  It was a laze about kind of day.  But still, we made it 17 years!  Love to my wonderful hubby!

And now for some music:
Brett Eldridge with Lose My Mind:

Drake White with It Feels Good:

Alan Jackson's with Jim and Jack and Hank:

Have a great week!

Spin Cycle--Love/Hate

So this week on the Spin Cycle it all about Love/Hate.  Do you love something everyone else hates?  Do you hate something everyone else loves?  I can think of several things I love, but most other people love them too.  I do have a few things I hate that other people love.
Onions.  Especially raw onions.  I really don't like the texture, taste, smell or anything about raw onions. I can handle cutting them up to add to recipes, but not a fan of adding the raw version to my salads. 
Nick loves them.  He would add them to any and all sandwiches if he could. He loves them in salads, and would add them to other dishes raw if he could.
I think the fact that I don't like onions came to a head when I was pregnant.  As all mother's know, your sense of smell ramps up when you are pregnant. I could smell things that I never had before.  This was not always a good thing.
Nick was helping some friends with some remodeling and they made him lunch--pork tenderloin sandwiches with slices of raw onions and mustard.  Nick loved them.  Then he came home.  Where I smelled the raw onion on his breath for three days after that. Ugg, it was awful.
I'm not sure of my boys like or dislike raw onions.  Since I don't eat them, they are not often on the menu. They will get to try that particular vegetable on their own.

Tuesday Random Time

Tuesday.  Just a buffer between Monday and the downhill slide of the week. 

Not tons going on here. Let's see what random stuff we can come up with:

• Oh, we did make an investment in our recreation fun.  We got another four wheeler.  And a trailer to haul them both on.  We went for a bumble down some dirt roads last Thursday and had a ball.  We even got to see a bull moose less than 50 yards away from us.

• So yeah, we did that and plan to do more four wheeling this coming weekend.  
• Nick and my anniversary is this weekend.  17 years.  Where exactly has the time gone? We have figured out what we want to do for our 20th anniversary. We want to take the train from Denver to California.  Crossing the Colorado Rockies and the Sierra Nevadas by train sounds wonderful, especially if we can get a sleeper compartment.
• Mobile party?

•  And for those who haven't thought since school ggot out:  Work this one out:

Have a wonderful week!

Join in on the random fun  with  Stacy.

Bact to Monday

Yep, here we are at another Monday.  Our weekend was quiet.  I got the majority f the laundry done.  Nick took Turbo to Hunter's Safety class.  Bruiser lazed around and enjoyed having no demands on his time.
Hunter's Safety class is a requirement to hunt here in Wyoming.  Both Nick and I did it as kids and this summer, as Turbo is old enough to hunt, it was time for him to take it.  What helped was that Nick had an old friend who had a son who was also old enough to take the class.  Turbo passed the test with flying colors and is all set.
It was a hot, lazy weekend here, but sometimes you need those kind of weekends.  Helps with heading back to the grind.

ANd now for MMMM
The theme this week is Funny Songs and Songs about Work.  Here goes:
Lonestar with Mr. Mom:

Toby Keith with Drinks After Work:

Alabama with 40 Hour Week:

A couple classics, enjoy!

Wednesday--Let's Hodgepodge

1.  I recently read here about four secrets to happiness from around the world. They were-
Overcome your fears by facing them head on, allow yourself to relax and reset, work to live versus living to work, and find the good in life. Not sure if these are the actual secret to happiness, but which of the four do you struggle with most? Which one comes most easily to you?

For me it would be facing my fears head on.  I'm more the stick my head in the sand and they will go away type. Nick and I have a good handle on the relax and reset thing--we like to play and know when we need to recharge.  We are working hard on the work to live not live to work.  That's why we have the kayaks, and we go camping and take road trips and spend time with our boys.  We also try to do the connect thing in the form of dates every now and then--even if they are lunch dates.
I tend to be more optimistic than pessimistic.  I try to find the good about situations.  I also spend time reminding Nick of the good, not the bad.

2. How would you spend a found $20 bill today?
I would go hit the thrift store or consignment store and find myself some new clothes.  Retail therapy, where I can get more for less is awesome.

3. Ego trip, power trip, guilt trip, round trip, trip the light fantastic, or trip over your own two feet...which 'trip' have you experienced or dealt with most recently? Explain.
Round trip.  To the mountains camping this last weekend.

4. If you could master any physical skill in the world what would it be, and how would you use that skill?
Karate or some other martial art.  To stay in shape and feel more confident.

5. As July draws to a close, let's take inventory of our summer fun. Since the official first day of (North American) summer (June 20th) have you...been swimming? enjoyed an ice cream cone? seen a summer blockbuster? camped? eaten corn on the cob? gardened? deliberately unplugged? watched a ballgame? picked fruit off the vine? taken a road trip? read a book?  Are any of these activities on your must-do-before-summer-ends list?
We have been swimming, the kids have enjoyed ice cream cones and movies with the grandparents, we went camping last weekend, we have had corn on the cob off the grill, worked on our flower beds, we unplugged while camping, I have read several books, we have a road trip planned for next month to Jackson Hole WY.
Ballgames are not ewasy to get to and not high on our to do list, and the tomatoes we have growing in the back yard are not ripe yet.

6. The Republican Presidential candidates will debate on August 6th. What's your question?
I'm truly not up enough on the issues to ask an intelligent question.  I feel it's ridiculously early to be dealing with election stuff.  I wish it was a more limited campaign season.

7. What's your most listened to song so far this summer?
I'm not sure if I have listened to it the most, but I do like Kacey Musgraves Biscuits

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Back to school has hit the stores.  Not so sure if I'm ready to have summer be over.  I know we have about a month left before the kids head back to school, but it seems to be going by so fast...

Random Tuesday Thinking

And howdy all!  It's Tuesday in these parts.  Let's see what random fun might be lurking:

• There was snow in Jackson Hole yesterday.  Like big flakes, wet, white snow. The storm system responsible will not make it this far south, so we won't get snow, this time. But it's coming.  The first snow storm is out there and this year it just might be earlier than we thought it would be.
• We however, have been having a run of nice days.  I could use a handy thunderstorm to water the yard, but I'm not complaining.
• In honor of our camping trip:

•  The dinner battle continues.  I truly do dislike meal planning--especially in the summer.  Winging it happens more often than I like to admit to. And I feel like this more than i like to admit too as well:

 So on that lovely note--have a wonderful week!

Join in on the random fun  with  Stacy.

Camping, Jones Style and MMMM

So we finally got out camping this last weekend.  A fantastic time was had by everyone. Wanna see some highlights:

We had such a relaxing time.  It was just what camping should be.

Now for MMMM:  Freebie week so here you go:
Sam Hunt with Raised On It:

Kenny Chesney with Save It For a Rainy Day:

Kip Moore with I'm to Blame:

Have a great week!

Airy Kind Of Hodgepogde

1. Is your home air conditioned? If it's not air conditioned, is that by choice? Did you grow up with air conditioning? If not how did you cope with the heat? Share about a time or place you remember as being too hot-the temperature kind of hot, lest anyone be confused.
No, our house is not air conditioned.  We really don't need it.  We have the dry kind of heat here (most of the time) and at night we routinely drop to the 50s in the summer.  All you really need is to open the windows and maybe add a fan. Of course when the temps don't limb much over 85 during the day, the heat is not that intense.
Growing up I lived at a lower elevation so it got hotter during the day, but still cooled off at night enough to need a sweatshirt. Dealing with the heat during the day--well playing in the sprinkler, hitting the outdoor pool, heading to the mountains and often just staying in the shade was enough to cool us off.
When Turbo was 5 we took him to Florida. Our plane landed late at night, around 11.  Turbo was very concerned looking out the windows, while we were waiting for a car, that we would need our jackets.  We assured him we were OK.  He didn't believe us until we went outside and we hit the wall of warm, humid air.  He was astonished that it was dark and still warm.  It's never like that here in Wyoming.

2. What's something in your life right now that falls under the heading 'up in the air'?
Well, for us things have finally settled down.  At work, back in April, there was lots of talk about us moving to another town as there is a new office opening there for our particular institute. We were quite concerned that we would have to move and all the headache that would entail. We are now assured that we will be remaining here and we are eternally grateful.
As for "up in the air" plans, we have tentative plans for a camping trip this weekend. I think we will be going, but I'm not certain.

3. Your favorite light and airy dessert? 
Sliced strawberries sprinkled in sugar, then added to whipped cream.  Oh, so good in the spring when strawberries are cheap.

4. When did you last feel like you were 'floating on air'?
Last night when Turbo gave me a spontaneous hug.  He's growing up so fast and speeding toward independence, but every now and then the little kid part of him is still there.

5. Airport, airmail, airtight, airhead...which have you most recently encountered? Explain.
Airhead.  As in both my boys.  They can be the most airheaded kids about everything.

6.  Have you ever been to the Alps? If so where did you go? If not, is this a destination on your must-see list? If you were headed that direction this summer, which of the following would be your preferred activity...a gentle walk, a serious walk, a bike ride, a boat ride around one of the lakes, or summer snow skiing?
Nope, never been to the alps.  If we were to go, a walk or hike would appeal.

7. What is one saying or phrase that was considered 'cool' when you were growing up?
 I was a late 80s kid in a very small town.  Slang hit us a bit late, but it did make it to our small town.  Words like Totally, Chill, and Wicked were heard in the hallways often. 
We did have some of our own slang, such as Cross country running--in reference to the weekend it meat the cops had busted a party that was held out in the country.  The underagers would scatter to the hills to hide and leave the two or maybe three legals to stand around looking like quite the alcoholics. I never had to get that kind of exercise, but I heard about it at school frequently enough.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
And my successful procrastination of the laundry ended last night.  I got all the clothes folded and put away.  Still have the towels screaming for attention, but I plan to shut them up tonight.

Random Fun

Well, after having survived Monday, here we are at Tuesday.  Let's get this random show on the road:

• The laundry is winning this week.  It's still sitting at home waiting to be folded.  I live for the day when laundry is self folding.Or this happens:

• We are finally over the really busy part of the summer.  Now all we need to do is have fun.  Mostly.  We do have our big trip coming up the end of August.  Really looking forward to it.
• Now if we can just figure out time to go camping...
• Or maybe just spend some days in the mountains.
• I would just love to curl up at home and read.  with a glass of wine and some nibbly snacks.  Too bad that doing so is not so good for my hips.

• However a dinner like that would make the evening more fun!

• My new favorite poem.

Have a great week all!
Join in on the random fun  with  Stacy.

And, Monday!

Not so sure I'm ready for it to be Monday, but it's here all the same. This last weekend was quiet, for the most part--far busier for Nick than me.
Nick had his Archery Tournament, the 3D outdoor two day event. He had things a bit easier than last year as he was president this year and the vice-president runs the shoot. He did well, gettting second place in his division.
I on the other hand did next to nothing productive.  Oh the laundry is sort of done--I have folding to do and towels still to wash, but a migraine derailed me yesterday.  I hate migraines.  Today will be better.

On to MMMM.  80s music, but with a twist--the songs must be funny 80s songs.  So here goes:

Weird AL Yankovic with Eat It(1984):

Ray Stevens with The Shriner's Convention(1987):

Ray Stevens with Mississippi Squirrel Revival(1984):

Ray Stevens was a favorite of my brother and I when we were kids.  Fun songs.
Go see  Stacy.