Pumkin Carving

Here is the results. Since YW was cancelled (unbeknownst to me until I went over and rang the doorbell), I went to Melissa's so I wouldn't have to carve my pumkin all by myself. Melissa's parents were there and since they like me.. it was fun! Its always fun to be with people that like you.

Can u guess which is mine?

It seems the older you get.. the weirder ur pumpkins... BTW, Dan is a Dentist.

IM from my Father

Here is a conversation I had with my father and he cannot say anything cuz he can't leave notes! WA-HA-HA!

We enter in the middle of the conversation... and comments not necessary to the joke were left out!

Smart: well.. tell Mom she left a note
Smart: I guess I better do one 4 u now
Home: I'm sure she will be very happy about that. Actually, I think she will finally register with the blog mania thing. Emily seems to think she actually NEEDS to do this.
Smart: yup... notes = love
Smart: comments = love
Smart: so... if she loves us
Smart: .....
Smart: if YOU love us......
Home: You can't equate love with blogging. At least I don't think that equates.
Smart: um... little do u know!
Smart: food = love
Smart: food for brain = comments = love
Home: No. Love=love
Smart: lots of things = love
Smart: u just have to find them
Home: I guess each of us do our own equations
Smart: perhaps we should add a subscript Melanie
Smart: but u'd have to add it for Emily too
Home: Melanie = Love?
Home: This is not logical.
Smart: notes on blog = Love (subscript Melanie)
Home: Well, whatever.
Smart: ok... put the subscript on the other side of the equation?
Home: $ = Love (subscript Dad)
Smart: lol
A few other comments
Home: Your mother wants me to eat breakfast. That's what I guess I'll do.
Home: (Smiley face)
Smart: food = love (subscript Mom)
Home: Right.

Trunk or Treat Ideas

OK... Neita wins on the idea sharing. The rest of u must be selfishly keeping them to urself. Only I'm allowed to be selfish. I guess u didn't get the memo. Shawna, Emily and Bethanie had great ideas but Neita sent me PICTURES!! She doesn't have her own blog so now I'm going to steal the pictures and put them up on MY BLOG! WA-HA-HA!! (evil laughter)

Side note... my roommates and I at Ricks decided the most evil laughter would be WA-HA-HA! WA-HA-HA! WA-HA-HA! hee! ............... you do strange things at Ricks (see Angela's blog) and think strange things are funny (see Angela's blog). Did u know NCMO backwards sounds like pumpkin? We then would ask if anybody had any pumpkin pie lately... with cream on top... and then laugh hysterically. (for those of u poor souls who don't know single saints jargon... NCMO = Non Committal Make Out)

Back to the Trunk or Treat ideas... look at this! Peace out dude!

Halloween Love.

Very impressive don't u think?

My favorite is the stickers. You have to click on the picture so you can read them.

And then they did this! Boise State

Fans... I loved the apron but my favorite is....

The baby bottle on the tail gate!

Now that's a real tailgate party with wieners and everything. Neita had a couple more ideas but I won't steal any more of her thunder.

Isn't the whole concept of trunk-or-treating so funny? Tells you somewhat about our world.... we don't feel comfortable about sending our children out in the dark with other masked children to get free candy from strangers. Strange that that makes us uneasy. :-)

What a different experience these kids are having than I did! I grew up trick-or-treating the whole neighborhood with all my brothers and sisters.

I remember walking down the street in Maryland (I must have been around 7 or 8 yrs old) singing "Do-Re-Mi", directed by my oldest sister Jenny (remember when they are all in the wagon and Maria points to each of the children to take a note? That's what I remember doing... yes, I accepted long ago we were strange). That year I was a princess with a high conical pointed hat that fell off every time I touched it. I was mad cuz the gauzy material wouldn't flow around me while billowing gracefully. Obviously that Halloween made a big impression on me since its the only outfit I remember wearing as a kid! (really.. I'm not so concerned anymore... no, really I'm not! look at my closet full of frumpy work clothes)

The rest of the time, I celebrated Halloween in White Rock, the small wonderful suburb of Los Alamos New Mexico (Can a town have a suburb if only 20000 people live there?). We moved there at the end of October so our first Halloween in New Mexico was spent living out of the hotel (THE hotel.. there was only one!). Dad took us over to a coworkers house to ask if his neighborhood was safe for us to trick or treat in. We had decorated paper bags but because the 31st fell on a Sunday that year, our costumes were our Sunday best. I remember it was out on Baranca Mesa where the mesa slims down so there is only room for the road. My older brother was kind enough to describe IN DETAIL the dangerous and steep incline on both sides of the road we were walking along since it was too dark to see. Ever since then I have been scared to drive along that road, even in the light!

What is your favorite Halloween memory? (good post idea, huh? especially if it involves ME!!)

How creative am I ... kinda

Thank u guys for ur ideas... I'm still waiting for even more! (Neita sent me pictures too... She rocks!)

So.. u all now know I am really not that creative (see previous post), but I do have spurts. So... in order to keep Shawna from getting too high on the creative ladder above me (Helloooooo!! Where did everybody go?), I want to share how creative I thought I was last Sunday. Granted, the lesson didn't go over well because I spent so much time on the handout and not so much on preparation, but... I'm still smart. (Melissa kindly pointed out that it was probably because my brain was fried from taking the test Friday)

Before I start, I have to tell you I bring food every week for the girls (except Fast Sunday of course... then I have to bring stickers or something else to keep them occupied). There is one thing you don't want on ur hands, low blood sugar teenagers. They are good girls, but with church at 11:30 am..... they can get pretty quiet and/or cranky by 2pm. I try and bring good things for them so they don't swing into HIGH sugar gear, so any candy I bring usually gets distributed at the end. You know, I once brought them each an apple sliced with the apple slicer and then tied back together with a fat ribbon so they wouldn't turn brown. I was surprised at how they snarfed those down... and a couple even took another one. Just FYI for u teachers. This week I gave them trail mix (most of them ate the M&M's and left the raisins and nuts.... *shaking head in disgust*)

Our lesson was on Individual Worth so I wanted to talk about the potential we have as children of our Heavenly Father. I wanted them to "be all they could be"...then I got this good idea while wandering around Walmart late at night looking for ideas (yes... that is where I get my ideas, Walmart... don't try this at home). They don't sell those big buckets of army men anymore, but I got a really good stash for under 2 bucks. Sunday morning, I made a little flyer with "BEE ALL THAT U CAN BEE", 2 cute little Bees flying around (this is a great website for good LDS clipart) and Romans 8:16-7. I then tied one of the little army guys to the flyer with a package of candy corns. I told them to ignore the orange strip and pretend they were bees. Hee Hee! Army guy and bees! I thought I was so funny. The girls laughed, but mostly at my excitement to give/show them what I had done. It's probably not quite right to have a bunch of 14 yr old girls laughing AT you rather than with you, but I can't help it. I just think I am so awesome. Smart IS my middle name.

Last week we were talking about taking care of our bodies (Word of Wisdom) so I gave them all hand sanitizer with a quote about our bodies as a temple and Davids song about clean hands. Yes.. I am so clever.

PS... this is the funniest thing I have ever seen.... but its only funny if u have read the Twilight series.

Quick... I need some ideas.

The ward trunk-or-treat is coming up on Friday (Halloween.. surprise surprise) and I need a theme for decorating my new Forester's trunk! My middle name IS smart, so I need to make sure people remember that. (humble IS NOT my middle name.. that's why I made this text small and HUMBLE)

To get your creative juices going... I'll tell u what I did last year. I am usually a witch (cuz I have this WAY COOL hat with gold stars on the brim and a WAY COOL cape that I made... how often do u have the oportunity to wear a cape except on a walk late at night with ur sister where there are no streetlights? Um... not that I would ever do that of course... ) so last year Bethanie suggested I do the Wizard of Oz. I put my small fake Christmas trees in the back of the trunk (forest)... with candles on them, my crocheted monkey Horace (didn't find time to give him wings), one crocheted doll dressed with a blue apron and another crocheted doll with tinfoil wrapped around her, a stuffed lion, a small scarecrow, and yellow construction paper on the ground cut into brick shapes. See? I was smart enough to ask my creative sister for ideas.

This year I was thinking about Little-Bo-Peep cuz I have a couple sheep, but I'm having trouble going on from there. Might have to stick with the witch. I know I can always just do Jack-o-lanterns and other such halloween scary things.... but its more fun with a theme.

Any ideas yet? Here.. I'll send u some smart vibes.

OK.. while ur thinking, I'll show u what I did to my courtyard on Saturday. I'm pretty impressed with myself. I made 2 trips to Home Depot to pick up the blocks and dirt. It only took 17 bricks... I just put some of my big pretty rocks I've collected from Red Rock State Park on either side rather than more blocks. I'm debating on whether to make the raised garden go all the way to the walls on either side, or keep it stepped like this cuz I have some established plants already there on either side. Oh yes, and the dirt looks like it's mounded up in the midde, but its pretty flat from one side to the other. The dirt only really reaches the first level of the blocks, but laying only one course of bricks looked pretty silly (hence the second trip to Home Depot).
K.. let those ideas you've come up with flow into the comment box!

PS. My brother Jared is famous! He is PUBLISHED! He didn't put it on his blog.. so I'm helping him out.

Missing in Action

I have been MIA for a couple of days because the great and awful day of the test did come. Most of u already know the scoop, but I'll give a quick rundown for those of u who haven't called me to see how it went... ah hem..

I didn't sleep well the night of, and on my way out the door into the garage as I set my oatmeal precariously on top of the books I had borrowed from work to turn the handle, I thought to myself "I'm going to spill this oatmeal". And it came true. I had oatmeal all down my front, on the IBC code (I pried the pages apart during the test... really hope nobody notices here at work), and of course my purse. After throwing everything onto the counter, I leaned over the sink and stuck the front of my shirt under the water. Then I wiped down the books, took what I needed out of my purse (my planner), and took off. I had to stop at work on my way down to the testing center to make a copy of my ID to tape to the front of my seat card. (WHY!?!?! WHY!?!?! How strange is that? Couldn't they just check our IDs and be done with it? Why add one more thing for me to STRESS about? sigh.. turns out I coulda gotten it copied at the center for 25 cents). Of course, with all the trials of the morning, not only didn't I get breakfast, I also forgot my water bottle and snacks. Luckily for me, they had offered a free lunch (someone was sponsoring it this year) so I got water and food at noon.

Right, sorry... you want to hear about the actual test. I felt pretty confident about the morning session (4 hrs of 40 multiple guess questions from the 4... I mean 5 disciplines of Civil Engineering (they added construction management this year)), but the afternoon kicked my trash. Akiko and I (the Engineering Intern here from Japan who actually has 10 yrs experience in construction/structures engineering in Japan) decided we are going to pick a different specialty for the afternoon. Structures really is the hardest. It doesn't matter which one I do, I just have to pass the test to become a PE. Eventually I would like to take the test to become an SE (structural engineer) but that is a totally different matter. For now, I just need to pass this test.

So.. in 3 months I will find out how I really did... then I will study for the next 3 months (this time I'll know what to study, how to study, and I'll make Melissa study with me) and hopefully pass it in April. That's the plan.

I just want to thank Melissa again for letting me come soak in her Hot Tub after the long testing day. 8 hrs is just a little long! Melissa and I were wondering why it felt so good and relaxing... sitting in 100 degree air certainly doesn't do it. Dan told us (Doctors always know). He said it gets our blood going and cycling around our body carrying all the impurities out cuz its trying to cool us down. Kinda ruins a bit of the charm, huh?

The lost blog of "Fishys"

OK... I confess. This entry was published last Sunday, but it was an accident! I quickly pulled if ott after I realized it had come up, but I guess it wasn't soon enough. I'm taking today and tomorrow off from work so I can study. So now u will get the prewritten entry it is in all its glory. After that.. u won't get one 'till Saturday. I know I know... cry ur eyes out. That just means u will have to leave all ur best wishes for a passing grade on on the notes for this one... and the one on Saturday! Hee hee.

I love fishys. Every day, I take this little container of fishys to work and eat them at 10:00 am.

I used to take pretzels with me, but one time fishy's were on sale at Smiths and I bought them. The joys of little crackers made of fake cheeze! I need something to tide me over 'till lunch. Its kind of like the little containers of fishys you bring to church to keep the children quiet. It doesn't really work to keep me quiet, but it does keep me happy. Keep that blood sugar level up!
I love crackers... I like fake cheezy crackers (or really any kind of crackers) better than chocolate. And you know what they say about chocolate.... So for me? Perhaps I should keep this G-rated.

Chocolate is hard to just snack on. U eat a piece (mine always comes in small wrappers... chocolate and peanut butter.... doesn't get any better than that) and then if u get another piece you feel like a big fat pig. Crackers are much more forgiving. Your supposed to eat a handful. Just like chips. Perhaps this is why I like my chocolate ice cream with a good vanila base, like Moose Tracks. If u haven't had Moose Tracks, man are u missing out! The other ones based on Moose Tracks just don't have that vanilla base. Too much chocolate. Granted, there are times and places for Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream made by Haagen Daas (3 sisters together in Provo, late after a concert, and an Albertsons across from the concert hall).... but you can never go wrong with the original Moose Tracks. NEVER.

(Although I did just discover mint Moose Tracks... oh my is that ever good!)

Tricksy Hobbit.. I mean Birdy.

A couple of months ago, Emily showed me some examples on u tube about teaching your bird to behave. She also had me read a book on clicker training (she uses it on her clients (foster kids)! Really, it does work on kids). I took it somewhat to heart and tried it on Spree. Little did I know his little bird brain could actually be taught! Now.. it may look easy on the video, but its taken alot of trial and error to get him to understand what I want (when I shoulda been studying!). He is VERY easily frustrated when he thinks he should be getting a treat but doesn't understand what u are asking. The target stick (the black pencil) was a very good help. Also.. making him subsist on heathly bird pellets and only getting fattening grain as a treat was a bit of a challenge. He was WAY mad at that. He thought he should get grain anytime he wanted.

More than u wanted to know about the bird, but here is some of the results. Emily suggested filming some of it... like on You tube. (this is for u Birgit!)

First.. the retrieve. He always liked to play with the red hair tie, so it was easy to get him to pick it up.

Now he will retrieve Emilys braclet as well (it's stiffer and so goes on the pencil much better)

Then I taught him to go through the tunnels.

Side view, Front view

Emily wanted to pet Spree so she made up this ingenious way of getting him to let her touch him. Last night I tried it out and it work really well!

Now I am trying to put some of his vocalizing on command but he only talks to the bird in the mirror of his cage. All other birds he now warns off. Emily thinks its cuz he's afraid that other bird will take his grain!

Pumpkin (Wo)Man Triathlon

Sorry this is late. I'm sure you are all just DYING to know how it went. I will relieve ur suffering. (Emily had me pose for this picture) They wrote ALL OVER me this time. I guess they really wanted me to know my number.

Here is the start (Thank you again Emily!)

I actually never heard the count down!! I just heard the horn.

I felt so much better in the water even though it was COLD. There was the normal fighting for position at the beginning, but once I got clear, I sighted and just did my own race. (this time I didn't swing way out or get caught on the buoy.. progress baby!) I also drank almost 2 whole water bottles on the bike so my tummy didn't hurt until towards the end of the run.. and I ran at least half the time while I was on the run! Let me tell you.. major MAJOR progress. You might not believe I'm progressing from my time (look under Division Short_Athena_39_and_Under), but my swim and run were faster than Kokapelli. I was 20-25 minutes slower this time because of the bike ride. We road UPHILL from Lake Mead to Boulder City. That was some climb! My goal was to stay over 10mph... but then my goal dropped to 5mph. Then I was just happy I never got off and walked!

OK.. now the 2 fun stories. While I was out on my bike.. just tootling along I hear someone calling my name.. huh? There is Emily by the side of the road cheering! YA! She did it twice and it shore made me smile. The second time I almost fell off my bike. I looked at her instead of where I was going and went off the road into the gravel. I was kinda worried she was filming at that time... but nope.. PHEW! Truth be told, it was the second time I had done it. That's why coordination isn't my middle name. :-)

She also cheered for me every times she passed me in the car... she is my BEST FAN EVER.

Second funny story. As we were driving along almost to Boulder City, I realized I forgot my bike shoes. OH NO! Emily was very stressed for me, but when I told her they were just my keds (those canvas cheapy things), she offered me her sneakers, but I was afraid they wouldn't fit well into my fake clips. We looked around for a Walmart... called Bethanie for her to look on-line... looked in Albertsons (Walgreens wasn't open at 6:00 in the morning!). Melissa called to see where I was and she suggested just using my running shoes. Duh. They were big, but Emily loosened my fake clips and I could get them in. Its a good thing I only had to do that once! I ended up with a blister, but it didn't hurt.

Here comes Melissa! We watched her come in. They started the Olympic distance after the Sprint so I was actually done before she even transitioned to her bike! Poor Melissa was done in!

The happy Triathletes! (I picked this picture of us cuz I look even more dumb in the other one)

Another triathlon down. On to the next! Emily and I talked about why this one was better than the others and we decided it was 1. Sleeping in my own bed. 2. Less anxiety (I had already done one) 3. Water Water Water. No rebelling tummy!

Oh yes.. thank you Melissa for letting us come try out ur Hot tub Saturday night. I had taken a nap that afternoon and was so stiff and sore. Now u know... don't lay down for a nap after doing a triathlon. (Probably shouldn't after a marathon either... just FYI)

Sister Surprise Cake

Ok.. so cake has nothing to do with this entry, but I thought it might be a fun title.

Thursday night, as I was watching the end of a TV show when I was supposed to be in bed, there came a knock on the door. Now I don't know about u, but getting a knock on your door at 10:45pm is pretty scary. Plus.. the only time I get a knock is from my VT's, HT's, or Melissa when she comes over for lunch (my one friend in Vegas now that Birgit is gone... don't feel sorry for me, feel sorry for Melissa!).

I turned on the porch light and peeped through the peep hole. Its a good thing I have a bird or I wouldn't know how to peep. There was Melissa! In her PJ's! I felt pretty safe opening the door now that I knew who it was, but told her "you scared me!".

"I'm here to drop off something".

Strange... I thought, she'll be coming over for lunch tomorrow and could drop it off then. Maybe she brought the calculator I was borrowing for my test next weekend.

And then out of shadows comes my sister Emily! WHAT THE?! Where did she come from?! SO EXCITED! But very confused. How did Melissa know Emily had come and why did she drive all the way down to my house just to introduce her?

"I picked her up from the airport!" Melissa said (THANK YOU SO MUCH MELISSA!). Oh.. right... Emily doesn't like to drive. *sheepish laughter*... But SO happy!! I told Emily I can't thank her enough for coming to cheer me on at the triathlon so every thanks... well.... just won't be enough. I am very sad she's going tomorrow. Emily said I can't feel bad because I didn't even know she was coming... but it doesn't work that way. Too bad.. I'm gonna miss my Emily!

It was SO FUN to have Emily here. I know all my family was terribly jealous.... too bad. Do ur own triathlon and u just might be as cool as me.

BTW. Melissa's husband told me he wouldn't have been excited if his family surprised him in coming cuz of the potential aweful state of his home. Ah ha... the joys of being a Hotel Mel. My house was all ready for visitors and I could just bask in having Emily with me. We ate, she read, I pretended to study (reading, sleeping, crocheting, triathloning, eating, preparing a YW lesson), and just spent time together in the same house. Doesn't get much better than that, eh?

(there Emily.. I used ur name 8 times... Now they certainly know WHICH sister came)

Riding the Train

I interupt this blog to yell... MY SISTER SURPRISED ME LAST NIGHT! She is here! She is here! (movie trivia... except he instead of she) Thank you Melissa for picking her up from the airport! We now return to your regulary scheduled blog.

Beware! Painful minute detail by painful minute detail of a business trip ahead. All those who wish to be entertained with wittiness and thought provoking ideas might just want to skip this one. Wait for the weekend and all the painful minute details of yet another triathlon. Well... on second thought, wait until Monday or Tuesday.

Everything started nicely Wednesday with a quick trip in Ken's truck to the airport and arriving 45 minutes before flight time to our gate. As the "lowest-engineer-on-the-totem-pole-because-she-doesn't-have-her-PE" (LEOTTPBSDHHP), I was designated bag watcher as my esteemed colleagues went to get coffee and a strawberry shake drink. 25 minutes later, as the C group was boarding, my colleagues came back and we entered the plane at the end of the line.. .(Just want to mention here that LEOTTPBSDHHP had made sure the day before we were all checked in early to get the coveted A group boarding passes). I didn't share my smarties with the said colleagues because i hadn't had time to fill up my water bottle. They said they would make it up to me.. (uh huh.. shure)

Sitting between 2 nice ladies (I had told my companions I would have to sit between 2 OTHER fat guys because we were boarding so late... hee hee), I studied somewhat while listening to my ipod. I was actually grateful I didn't have to sit with those engineers because I designate myself the conversation-keeper-upper and I was relieved from my duties during the flight.

Reno was a nice town to drive through on our way up to Virginia City Nevada. We passed the Jacobs offices there and saw a cool Walmart. On the way up the mountains, we saw a really cool looking bridge across the valley that we decided coulda been put in a much better place. As we rose higher in elevation, the trees turned to Pinions and Ponderosa with the Cedars in between. Reminded me so much of Los Alamos, New Mexico. It was so wonderful! Virginia City is a ghost town that reminded me quite a bit of downtown Park City Utah, although much less glitzy and very run down/old. More like Silverton Colorado in its touristy feel. I shoulda taken a picture of the boardwalk. We got to spend about an hour walking down the main street because the event started at 2pm rather than 1pm like Ken thought. I should have taken a picture of the main street. Sigh... my blogging skills are not fully tuned yet.

Here I am in front of the Catholic Church there. It was way cool. I really like old churches where every part of the building had some design.

We had to stop at the "Bucket of Blood Hotel and Casino" with the player piano. A Banjo player was playing along. I couldn't tell if the player piano was accompanying the banjo or if the banjo was accompanying the piano. I pondered on this for a second.

Ken had been to Virginia City many times and so took us to a nice old fashioned fudge place. I got peanut butter swirl... surprise surprise. Then we stopped in at the "Ponderosa Pines Bar and Casino" for my colleagues to keep the drinking going.. (The Event people gave them wine to tide them over until the Event ACTUALLY started)

Here they are... (they didn't really want me to take a picture, but too bad... I got them in the act)
And here I am drinking water. First time ever at a bar. It was a good thing I have strong self control (that beer and wine smelled NASTY)

At this point, it was a good thing the LEOTTPBSDHHP had brought Fishes and Pretzels to snack on. Those boys were hungry for lunch but since Ken understood we would have food on the train, we resisted stopping for lunch...

We arrived at the Depot promptly at 2pm... a ghetto looking stop with a tent, balloons and a couple of tables with snack food and lots of alcohol. I tried schmoozing with people (the whole point of going to these things), but everyone I tried to talk to either walked away quickly, ended up being the crazy newspaper man and his wife, or was some guy from Reno trying to get onto the train. (I struck up a conversation with him because his shirt said "Still play with TRAINS"... I guess I shoulda known). I did meet some important people from Carson City, but I can't remember who they were. (I told Ken they were important people that did things for people in Carson City.) We actually ended up sitting by them on the train when it arrived 45 minutes late.

Here it is in all its glory! (thank you Arvid for the picture). We sat for a bit until we finally pulled out of the station. The engine is actually pulling us down the hill. For those of u who don't know, this track will eventually connect Carson City Nevada with Virginia City Nevada. It will be kinda like the Durango train that goes up to Silverton... except not even close as cool. The views there are nothing compared to this little jaunt down some rolling hills, through a couple of tunnels and around an old pit mine. You also look down the hill and see a large abandoned 4 story building covered in graffiti. Pretty cool, not! OK.. don't get me wrong, the tunnels were cool and of course the steam engine was WAY cool. Its just that I can compare it to the Chama Toltec and the Durango train trips (way mucho cooler).

After going through the first tunnel (currently a brightly colored diesel train takes a batch of tourists every hour or so down through this tunnel and then back again.. all for the bargain price of 25 bucks!), we picked up the plush car full of REAL dignitaries (the mayor of Carson City, some city people.... and other people I didn't know). This took a while cuz the couples between the cars wouldn't couple on a curve. Eventually the 4:00pm diesel train pulled us backwards onto a straight area so we could hook up. Finally, we were on our way towards the tunnel!

Oh wait.. first we had to stop at the "scales" (another ghetto looking spot with a couple of tents, balloons, finger food, a couple sandwiches, and lots and lots of alcohol) to get some food. Ken had already eaten all my pretzels (he did feel bad, but he was nicer when his blood sugar was up so I didn't mind). More schmoozing happened, some people talked... some more people talked... and then the Mayor and a bunch of Commissionaires cut a ribbon stretched out between two ladies in Victorian era costumes out in the middle of nowhere. Very strange. Arvid wanted me to get a photo, but there were too many others crowded around with snapping cameras so I didn't bother. Didn't want those VIP's to feel too special. Finally we got back on the train and headed out.

Going through the tunnel was so fun as well as picking up speed heading down hill.

I mentioned to my coworkers that up in the engine there were some REAL engineers... a saying I later had to repent of.

It was funny watching people go flying every time the train jerked. And how... uninhibited people were getting.. At the "scales", all the alcohol had been brought onto the train in big coolers. It really wasn't that bad (no throwing up or really loud laughter), but for a little Mormon girl having only her second experience of an open bar... it seemed... well... strange. Too give u an idea of how things were going, after the engine passed us and started pulling us back the other way, one of the ladies I had been sitting by came back and said she was the first person to pee off the train along the new railway. Ken turned to me and asked "So what do you think about those Dogers?"

Here is Arvid (the even tempered Engineer from Norway... that's why he has a mustache) and I..

And the GQ look from Ken. This is why he makes the big bucks... can look happy even when he is cold.

By this time, it was getting dusk (and MUCH colder) and when we got to the place to leave the dignitary train, the big headlight on the train wouldn't work. I was getting antsy and wandered all over the train, outside, and along the tracks. I told Ken I could run up to Virginia City and bring the rental car down, but decided I hadn't brought the right shoes. I asked the conductor what the situation was, and he said they were working on it feverishly, but when I got back to Ken and Arvid, I told them if standing around doing nothing was working feverishly.... I guess the Engineer finally decided to hot wire the light just so we could get back to Virginia City. This all happened at a town called Gold Hill. Its interesting that on these old trains, you head down 4 miles and there is the next town.. um.. didn't we just leave the town? Apparently the Gold Hill Hotel is the oldest hotel in Nevada and is haunted by 2 spectres. Ken said we could stay the night there, one room for me and one for them. I said that was fine as long as they got the haunted room. As u can see.. it was a long wait. By the time we got back to Virginia City, we were going to miss our flight so Ken called and bumped us back to the next one. This gave us time to go back to Reno, get gas, eat McDonalds at the airport, and wait for our flight. I quizzed them on questions I was studying for the PE while we waited... fun game for me, not so much for them :-). Since there were only 27 people on the flight back, I got a seat all to myself. I finally got home after 11:30pm.

And so the adventure ended. Oh wait... what about Jamie and my visitors to the Mel Hotel? Ah... Jamie and her mother called me right after we got off the train and said after spending an hour with Melissa, they decided to tough it out all the way to California. What is the use of staying at the Hotel Mel when you can't see THE Mel? I had left them some money for dinner, but they didn't take it... sigh... I wish I could have been more help to them. At least they got to use my restrooms... for which they tipped me 50 cents.

And 2 last train video for my beloved nephew Gage (which I forgot to turn around at home so its still sideways... too bad so sad) "I think I can" SLOW

and "I think I can" FAST (that is Arvid in the video)

"I Think I Can", "Toots", and "THE TUNNEL"

OK, so you are going to have to wait until tomorrow for the whole Reno trip story because I'm crazy busy trying to get caught up from yesterday... so all u get now is Video. Fast, easy, and explanatory. My kind of blog.

Here is the first... "I think I Can". This is what Ken repeated all through the trip... OK, so just a few times. I picked up the slack when he got tired.

Yes, its sideways and if I was at home I would have the software to turn it. Too bad. Just turn your screen. Don't whine.. I'm tired.

That is Ken in the video.

Second video... "Toots".

Third and last... THE TUNNEL. (which is what Jacobs designed)

Stay tuned for the whole story. I just know u want to hear about the FOUR AND A HALF HOURS we spent on this train. Talk about much longer than planned. We even ended up changing to a later flight so we could make it with a short stop at McDonalds. My favorite when I'm on a business trip... ick.

All the sordid details will be shared tomorrow... and perhaps it will even be funny by then!

Are you Terribly Jealous? You SHOULD be!

I am riding on a train in Reno! So I wrote this yesterday, but don't u just love being able to schedule your posts? Nobody really know I wrote this at work... unless I tell them.

I'm so excited! So is Ken (Transportation lead... retired from the County a year ago... old enough to be more sedate) cuz he keeps reminding me to bring a jacket and that tomorrow is the day! I'm sure Arvid (Temporary Structural Lead) is too, but he's always been good at keeping his excitement inside. Very even-keeled, the epitome of a real engineer. Nothing phases him, even Angus's outbursts of malice and contempt (typical draftsman notice I didn't say draftsPERSON).

Ah.. the work place. How I will miss it today while riding peacefully on a train!

The only raincloud on my parade is the late night. For some reason, Ken didn't want us to miss anything so our flight gets in at 9:25pm tonight. ICK.... Ick ick ick. AND Jamie is coming through tonight with her Mom on her way home to California and needs to stay at one of the Mel Hotels (Melanie or Melissa). Unfortunately Melissa is SWAMPED at work. Why does everything come at once? Both of us go for days with out anything important to do at work and then all of a sudden Melissa has so much to do she's getting home at 9pm and I just happen to have a train ride. (Um... so my situation doesn't sound as bad as Melissa's..... I still won't be there to greet the travelers!)

Its like having a big triathlon the week before taking a test that requires hours of study. Or planning a birthday party to match 5 different schedules. Goodness, u'd think in the course of a whole month there would be one day nobody is busy!

Don't THEY say troubles come in 3s? I disagree. They come in any number from 2-6 except on the second Sunday after the full moon you could experience 1 or 8. In fall, they come in 3s, 10s, or 4s except on Mondays, Wednesdays, and weekends when you could see 2s, 5s or 7s. Don't even get me started on Friday afternoons before a big trip.

And I'm riding a train pulled by a steam engine!! FOR FREE!! You got to take the good with the bad.

The Name Game

I got my first ever comment from a random person I don't know! Isn't that exciting?! So... it's because I left a note on her blog first, but still... she reciprocated. That is way cool.

You guys didn't much like that last blog. I am a big fan of my last name but after thinking it through, I've decided ladies just can't get that exited about it cuz it changes on them.. at least the women that read and comment on my blog. I think I will always associate myself with my maiden name even if I married someone with an awesome last name of.... say... Gurr. (I really had a roommate with that last name! She married an Anderson, poor girl). Wouldn't Gurr be way cool? Think about it... u could name ur kid Catherine and call her Kitty or Cat. I know a boy named Forest... or Hunter.

Of course without experience I can't really say one way or another, but apparently I am more in love with "Helm" than others of my family.

I am off to Reno tomorrow to ride the train and hope to bring back some fun pictures. I'm a little worried about being all day with Arvid and Ken... and asking them to take pictures. Pretty sure they won't be bringing their cameras!

As a triathlon update, I went swimming last night and felt so awkward in the water. Like a whale with 4 paddle wheels. (Paddle wheels cuz they splash alot of water and don't move u very fast) The race this Saturday is going to be a joy.

Emily, I asked the Young Woman on Sunday if they would do the honors of coming to watch and take pictures since my best fan couldn't be there. (This is the first triathlon you'll miss!) It sounded like some were willing, but when Melissa told me we are going point-to-point, those little 14 yr olds wouldn't be able to drive to the next transition area. I decided not to push it. Of course, if anyone is willing to be there anytime along the route or even at the end I would love to have some action shots! Here is the info http://bbsctri.com/pumpkin.html ... click on the "Event/Course Information" and select Short Distance. Melissa is doing the Olympic Distance.

Shipley

There is a guy at work here who has a big framed picture of a ship on his cubicle. I was gonna blog about how cool is that since his last name is Shipley. Too bad his last name is Ripley! Sigh... it was gonna be a great blog... Now it will just have to be mediocre.

Wouldn't it be great to have something like that to define your last name? I need a big ship's wheel with D&C 126:16 written below it on a plaque. Or even better one of those cool viking helmets with horns coming out... That would be way cool. We have to have some Viking heritage with all the redheads in my family. Vikings are kinda notorious for leaving their.... well... lets just say people look like Vikings all over Europe.

How could u define your name?

PS. Ripley does have a cool wooden chest with the old carpentry tools of his fathers as well as some old engineering tools too.... wait... if he had a scraper that would work. Rip that wood apart!

The Weekend Cometh.. and there was much rejoicing

Yea.... *flags waving*

There is much rejoicing because the work week is over! I have lots of plans - none of which will get completely done, but I am always very sincere in my desires. Also... more rejoicing because I still have my job! 12 people were laid off yesterday in the Land Development group. Talk about scary times. This is in addition to the 8-10 people laid off at the beginning of the summer from all groups. For the time being the Transportation Group has work... yesterday we learned Jacobs was put on a short list for the South I-15 design build project. This means we have until March to submit preliminary designs to the County (for those of u who care). As I told Arvid, I guess I won't be moving to Utah yet! So most of this weekend will be studying. In order to stay marketable, I need to be a PE... talk about motivation. I am even going to miss the Young Woman's overnighter this weekend. I debated on whether to go (because those young woman like my songs... and I'll do almost anything to stay in the limelight! You should hear our rendition of "Bill Grogans Goat"), but perhaps my lively hood should come first, eh?

I've also been thinking somewhat about my blogaholic nature and the fact that right now I have 2 blog entries already written and scheduled to post next Monday and Tuesday at 12:30pm... and 7 more under construction. I thought the excitement and willingness to blog would have worn off by now, but as we all know, I shore dew like to talk about myself! I've thought about limiting myself even more than 5 each week but I do think this stage will pass, although not as quickly as I thought. Having important things to do at work will certainly help.

Oh yes.. and I decided to do the triathlon next week. I ran last night for a full 45 minutes (4 miles)! ITS A NEW MELANIE RECORD! Now that I have plenty of motivation to study.. I can do both. Um... 'course I decided to go ahead with the tri 2 weeks ago but.... well... now circumstances show I made the right decision, right? :-)

As an end note to this random entry, I want to thank you guys for leaving me comments. It makes me feel loved. And for those of u who don't... well.... where's the love people?!

The parable of the Puzzle

As u know, I like to hang puzzles up without glue. Here is the tale.

Once upon a time there was a puzzle hanging on the wall. He heard from the other puzzles by him that a little boy was going to come stay in their room for a couple of days. "How old is he?! Does he know anything about puzzles? Will he leave us alone or will he ruin our beautiful pictures?". The other puzzles didn't know and advised the poor worried puzzle to wait and see... all could turn out OK. Instead the poor puzzle began to stress. What would he do if he was pulled apart? How could he live a life shut up in a box again? Hanging up straight and tall on the wall was hard work but....

Finally the day came. The child spent very little time in the room, and the rest of the puzzles relaxed when they saw how short he was and that he was always supervised by loving relatives. However, this poor puzzle stressed even more. The child was so young and the potential for disaster was great! Finally after 5 days the puzzle could handle it no longer even though the child had actually left the premises. The stress overcame him and parts of him started falling to the ground below. "Give up, there is no reason to go on. All is lost!" he told the other puzzles. But they took no heed to him and stood up straight and tall.

The End.

(I could go on about the Puzzle-putter-togetherer coming and helping him to put himself back together, but the story writer got bored....)

I ask you... why else in so many months of hanging peacefully on the wall would a puzzle suddenly take it into his head to fall?

Testing jitters

I was asked to write a little about my testing jitters. On October 24th I will be taking an 8hr test so I can become a Professional Engineer (PE). I get a stamp (yes, an actual stamp with my name on it and sealed by the State of Nevada, but I have to get my own stamp pad :-)) and will be registered with Nevada as a licensed Civil Engineer. This means I can authorize any civil or structural plans and calculations in Nevada. In passing this exam, I can also apply for reciprocity in the surrounding states including Utah and Arizona. (California does their own thing because of the high potential of structures experiencing an earthquake. If I applied and passed the test there I would have reciprocity throughout almost the whole west... But who cares about earthquakes anyways?)

Unfortunately I am not experiencing testing jitters. True, my career depends on the this test and if I fail to pass:

1. I will feel incredibly dumb,
2. I will be out 300$ (company will reimburse if I pass),
3. The inevitable raise will have to be put off for another year,
4. And I won't be able to blame anyone but myself.

However, I have always had a high opinion of myself because I am a good test taker so I feel confident. This presents a problem cuz I don't get to studying like I should. It's like the pride cycle. The Lord blesses me by helping me be a good tester. I get prideful and think it's all me and so I don't study... then I fail. Then I decide that was the exception that proves the rule and I will certainly do better next time because I'm so wonderful! Hello, look at my parents! (shameless flattery) and so it goes... perhaps its more of a prideful slippery slope than a cycle.

Maybe this time it won't happen that way and I will be blessed in my wickedness.

OK.. so I've taken a class, tried to participate in a study group (NOT HELPFUL!!), gathered lots of material, suckered material off of Melissa who bought the books, and cracked open some practice questions once or twice for an hr or so. But that really isn't going to cut it.

I have many wonderful friends who help perpetuate the cycle. "You'll do great!" "Your so smart!". "Yup," I reply, "smart is my middle name".

Plastic and Hot Vegas Sun Don't Mix

It is hot here in Vegas. Just thought I'd point that out in case you have never been here.

This is the results of the hot.

This is what the blinds are supposed to look like.

I put a blanket up to keep it cooler in my room because when the evening sun hits that west window the heat gets trapped inside. It also kept my room very dark in the mornings. The blanket worked very well. Too well. Those are the blinds all melted and curled. Have u ever seen anything like that before? Sigh..
The good news is now I get to buy new blinds! Oh wait, I'm renting.
I miss my New Mexico sun. Hot in the sun, but cool in the shade. The air is warm, but not like an oven, and when the breeze comes through, it actually cools you off! Here its like blow drying your hair.... if I actually ever did that. I've never really understood blow drying your hair, especially in the desert.... just go outside! Why waste time, energy, and the power bill on something that will happen in an hr without any help?
There was one situation where I think it was appropriate to use a blow dryer. A friend of mine (whom shall remain nameless to protect the innocent, but if u figure out who it is from the story... I'm still telling the story) was going to go out to boat at Lake Mead with her future spouse and family. In the morning after a bike ride, she didn't want to show up smelly so she showered. Then she didn't want them to know she had showered before going out to play in an dirty, icky lake so she used a blow dryer to dry and fluff. This I understand. All woman understand. If you don't understand, ask a woman.

The Dangers of Cool Weather and Living Alone

The other night while getting ready for bed, I realized I might have a bit of a problem. Now that it is cooler, I open the house and cool it down with fans. (I use the term "house" loosely... townhome is more appropriate). This requires opening blinds for the air to come through. As I gazed out my bedroom window across our adjacent courtyards into my neighbors window (whose blinds were down... luckily) I suddenly felt rather exposed.

See... with it being so warm in Vegas and living alone, I don't see the need to be fully dressed all the time. Don't get me wrong.... I am never naked (forgetting ur underclothes after a shower and retrieveing them from the bedroom doesn't count), but lets just say.... No layers. As Mormons, like woman, we have extra padding against the cold. I don't think I need to be anymore specific.

Is it worth it to cool down the house if you have to wear more to bed? Perhaps I just need to remember some things can only be removed under the cover of darkness.

I have had this type of problem before. Big bushy shrubs used to cover the view of my door from the street. The homeowners association or whoever is in charge of my neighborhood front lawns decided to cut them down. Forgetting this, the next night I stepped out to turn the soaker hose off from the facet next to my door and looked up to see a car driving down the street and a few children loitering in the park across the street. I'm sure all they saw was a flash of white (if they were even looking), but this taught me a lesson. Look at all angles before following through. Hence the window gazing.

For all my paranoia of seeing people naked, u'd think I wouldn't have this problem. Uh oh.. I just had a thought.... Vegas is rubbing off on me!! AHH!!!! Somebody save me!

Conference Time!

I love Conference. I LOVE CONFERENCE! No teaching responsibilities, not too much responsibility in looking nice, just basking in the spirit with really not much effort on your part.

Mm... I think I understand why people like preachers. No work for them! They just go (have a little smoke on the doorstep before going into the church)... listen... and go home to watch football. They can get out of it whatever they want... no effort.

I also feel perfectly justified in crocheting while watching. I don't think crocheting at church is appropriate, but it's OK during conference and firesides. It helps me concentrate, much like people taking notes. I used to have Conference projects that took a couple years to get done because I only worked on them during Conference... 8hrs twice a year doesn't get you very far on an afgan. Now that I don't do afgans, (who wants a big warm blanket on them when its 95 degrees outside?) I can get lots done. Last conference I got together all the half finished booties I had and got them ready to give away. I think this time I will start another baby blanket... either to do edging or an actual crocheted blanket. Baby blankets are so wonderful to crochet! By the time your bored with the pattern, your almost done and the excitement to finish carries you through to the end! I don't think I'll ever go back to full afgans.

Anyway, YA FOR CONFERENCE! I can't wait to hear from the General Authorities, even the ones that kinda scare me (I won't tell u which ones and why cuz it might prejudice u against them). I am so ready to be spiritually filled. We need a conference cheer.

Conference Conference Come one and all!
Listen to the prophets voice so u don't fall!

Perhaps it needs a little work. Any ideas?

Seasons in Vegas

Yesterday, October 1st was the start of fall for Las Vegas. Yes, you might think fall starts with the September equinox on September 22 of this year (2008)... but in Las Vegas, they dance to a different drummer. And I have proof.
Ta-Da!

This sign was found at one of the Red Rock hiking areas. (Thank you Birgit for the picture) I was reminded again of this fact while hiking in Red Rock with Jared and Amy.

So.. Happy Fall!

I was wondering why they put Fall and Spring in larger fonts. Winter is the earliest closing date... so why not make those dates the largest? Things to ponder.

Work Field Trip

I'm going on a field trip for work! It just so happens that the sights we are seeing are in Reno and we'll have to fly out there and back in one day. I get to go to the opening ceremony for the V&T Railroad tunnels and get to ride on the train!! (My father is totally jealous!) Here's the low down.

Back many moons ago I helped design the extension and reconstruction up of a tunnel on the original Railroad line up in Reno. I'm not sure if it was called the V&T rail line then, but that's what it's called now. I then designed the Substructure (abutment, pier, footings) for the railroad passing over the freeway below Reno. That was quite the adventure with high abutments and not much right-of-way (property owned by the railroad for building on). The reason I was only doing the substructure is because NDOT had donated 2 spans of a steel railroad bridge replaced a couple years ago. Actually.. I think I have some pictures for those who might be interested.

There are actually 2 tunnels, but I'm not sure which pictures belong to each.

Here is my favorite picture of a hole.. (Someone else took all the pictures for us)

A roof

I think this is the other tunnel

This is them working on it. The construction company sent us these pictures because of a question about the welded pins attaching the concrete to the metal roof.
Did you see the guy standing on top of the roof directing the pump? Gives you some idea of the scale.

And here is the picture of the second span of the bridge we used... As u can see it was just sitting out in the middle of a field. I'm sure NDOT was happy to get rid of it!

For those of u who care, the beams sitting on the deck will be used to put the thing back together. You can see where they go on the far left of the picture.

Here is a shot of the other end of the other span.

OK.. I won't bore u anymore with random information. I'm an engineer! I think its way interesting.

PS. Ken (the Transportation Lead) told me to remember to bring a jacket (he's told me 3 times now. I think he's more excited to ride on the train than I am!). Us hot weather people have hard times with coldness. While Jared and Amy were here, I was shivering under my blankets in the morning while they woke up sweating.

PPS... Forgot to mention that it's October 15th.... still 2 weeks away